Mainstream

The Akalaka River was not only a palindrome, but a vibrant, thriving ecosystem. It was home to myriad species of riverine life that got along as interdependent species do. Not always, or even usually, as friends, but as partners in a joint enterprise or co-voyagers on the same road. Or river.

And they strenuously resisted the invasion of foreign species. This was one thing that united them. Which is why the arrival of the sea monsters was so difficult for them. The sea monsters included in their number assorted krakens, sea serpents, and giant squids, both Scylla and Charybdis (making navigation particularly precarious), and anything else you may have heard of.

"What are you doing here?" asked the trout who had been hurriedly elected spokesfish.

"We're thinking of moving in," said one of the more talkative sea serpents. "And to answer the question 'why,' which you would undoubtedly have asked next, had I not just swallowed you whole, it's awfully cold and dark out there in the depths of the ocean."

"You can't just move into other ... species' ... habitats without so much as a howdy-do!" protested the Akalaka residents from what they hoped was a safe distance.

"Oh, sure we can," said one of the krakens."But if it makes you happy, ... howdy-do."

And the distance proved not to be safe enough.

"We can put the coral over there," said the talkative sea serpent.

"And salt water, of course," said the kraken. "Got to have salt water. I can see a good spot for a pumping station."

"Now, just one cotton-pickin' minute!" objected the Akalaka survivors. "This is a fresh-water habitat!"

"Was a fresh-water habitat," drawled the sea serpent. "Was. And what do you know about cotton, anyway?"

"Idea!" a clever perch chimed in. "There are alligators in some of our tributaries. We've been successful in keeping them out of the Akalaka proper, but if we let them in, maybe they'll run this lot off. Don't care for alligators, but they're local, and they won't destroy the ecosystem."

"Now, you hold on right there!" harrumphed the sea monsters severely. "Letting in alligators is a very dangerous measure. This river must be restricted to mainstream residents."