Meanwhile, Nathaniel studied the vibrations again, the deep notes resonating through bone. Each call echoed outward, answered by another whale in the pod. Communication was flowing around him, threads of sound weaving into a chorus. He couldn’t decipher the meaning, but instinct told him it wasn’t aggression, but some strategy.
The shark returned, a sleek silhouette circling dangerously close. The minute Nathaniel caught a glimpse of it, through the sliver of light, his chest tightened. Its predatory confidence contrasted with the whales’ measured calm. His host’s body shifted, interposing vast bulk between predator and prey. He was caught in a standoff.