The first thing the humans of Amity made when they reached the beach was the pipeline. The second thing they made was surfboards.
From the Journals of T'reka the Inquisitive:
Play is seemingly an important to these dangerous creatures as work is. I have personally witnessed their emergence onto the beachfront with a mixture of trepidation and fascination.
Their work was to build the pipeline previously mentioned. Their play… immediately followed. Some brought colourful discs with them for what I posit to be some form of weapon play [CENSOR ALERT: REFERENCE TO ALARMING FOOTAGE. File reference: Frisbee] Some made alarmingly temporary and illogical sand structures.
And some, puzzlingly, hurried away on their ungulates, only to return with baffling equipment.
It resembled an ovoid board, curved like a leaf and possessing at least one fin. It, too, was in bright colours. Its human bearers were also bedecked in toxic colours. A sensible warning for all life to not eat them, lest their bodies poison the entire ecology.
Each of these boards were strapped to the humans by the means of a long tether.
The humans then proceeded with their equipment into the water. They used these strange planks as impromptu boats, paddling out above highly risky depths. Even to the point of piloting through the waves.
At risk to my life, I documented what happened next. [CENSOR ALERT: REFERENCE TO SUICIDALLY DANGEROUS PRACTICES] One human in the group matched speeds with a wave and then stood upright on their board!
She made it dance on the waves before tumbling to what should have been her doom… and yet emerged alive and -I hesitate to say- laughing.
This scientist cannot fathom the meaning of this ritual. Is it a sacrifice to their ocean gods? A display of vitality and fitness? A mating display? Or is it used as a means to defuse their perpetual destructive rage?
Of course, I am keeping my distance and doing my utmost to remain undiscovered as I examine this bizarre and terrifying ritual.
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