But kind and respectful to the elders as they are, the young dislike their painful tales. Ea understands. She was once the same. The truth is hard to believe, harder to bear.
-- Narrator (Prologue)

Importance: This quote comes during the prologue, as Ea reflects on her story now that she is much older. As the novel goes on, this quote becomes even more resonant. Ea was one of the only dolphins who was willing to listen to tales of pain and woe even from a young age, shut out by other members of her pod because they did not want to hear about pain. However, she is proven right by the end, as, for instance, the whale she hears in the beginning talking about his pain ends up being a lifeline for the remaining members of the Longi pod after their homewater is destroyed by humans.

Loneliness and shame were gone, there was...
-- Narrator (chapter 6)