Sequoia Coast oil tears

He watched as his father went beneath the ice. The urge to follow was strong! He was reminded of his first hunt and the struggle he had endured; and now it was time for Sirmiq and the others to go to the ice, and to go beneath.

'It would be best to stay above and to watch, and be ready if things go wrong.' He decided. As he turned to look for the first of his brothers to go, he saw Sirmiq. He watched as the boy plunged in to the cold and resisted the urge to grin as the boy struggled against the shock of the water.

Chakliux surfaced and Raiyuk moved to help his father from the water, or to be there; he knew his father was capable of much and did not want to be in the way of him, so he was quick to offer support and quick to move back again. It became a game of who can stay under the longest.

Each of the boys tried — leaving Raiyuk to wonder who would get a seal first.