Species: Killer whale (Orcinus orca)
Age: 22 (Kiko) / 20 (Max)
Height: 6'11" (211 cm, Kiko), 6'4" (193 cm, Max)
Weight: 255 lbs (118 kg, Kiko), 210 lbs (100 kg, Max)

Kiko & Max were born into a First Nations community on an island of British Columbia, Canada; their father is an elder in their tribe. While similar markings-wise, the two are easily distinguishable by their distinct sizes.

Kiko is the larger and older of the two, and his liking for the ocean and physical activity resulted him building up a remarkable size even from an early age. Max was born as the inimitable copycat; he sat and watched and sought to emulate his brother in everything. This hardly went unnoticed, the younger one gaining his nickname “Shadow” from his family and tribemates.

After several years, an opportunity arose. Kiko made the decision to move away from his tribe to begin studies in kinesiology at a university on the mainland. He stuck out dramatically from other students, for a number of reasons; his extraordinary height and unusual demeanor was one, not to mention that he was the only orca on campus. While not the most studious person, he always managed to get by in his classes. His greater longing throughout his studies, however, was for the water; and it wasn’t within easy reach for him.

After finishing his first day of classes, he made a beeline for the university’s pool; while the chlorine in the water initially made his skin burn, the familiar feelings of guiding his body through the fluid far overwhelmed any pain. He gained the attention of the university’s swim coach – a lanky otter who was several years removed from his own prime – who happened to be working from his office and noticed the orca slicing through the water. He saw potential in the cetacean, and encouraged him to join the school’s swim team.

Kiko’s first race was only a few months through his first year. Having never competed before and with his brother watching anxiously in the stands, Kiko touched the pad a full second faster than the previous state record. By the end of the day, a gold medal proudly hung around his neck. While the team didn’t place highly overall at that meet, and never really would, it was the orca that grabbed the headlines.

Two years later, it was time for Max to join; and in his true shadowing style, he couldn’t see himself doing anything better than what his brother was doing. The difference was, he actually had the book smarts; even though he was certainly competent in the water, he was far from his brother’s proficiency.

Outside of the pool, both gained a reputation among their peers for their generosity. Back at home, they regularly participated in their tribe’s potlatch ceremonies, the traditional means of redistributing wealth among its members. They learned that the greatest honour and prestige did not come that possessed the most wealth, but those that gave it away. On one occasion, the brothers purchased enough ramen for the rest of the roomies on their dormitory floor, an act that rapidly earned him the respect of their peers. While lacking the elaborate ritual of the ceremonies back home, they held the same spirit.

At the end of Kiko’s third year and Max’s first, though, disaster struck. Bad management and increasing deficits were starting to catch up with their school, and towards the end of the year, their coach called the brothers into his office to inform them that the athletics program was being cut significantly. There would be no swim team next year, and he was out of a job. But he knew that he couldn’t let said talent go unnurtured. He had already received calls from several other coaches expressing interest in the cetaceans, but recommended one in particular – an old friend of his. After a great deal of consideration and a call home, they made the switch.

After graduation a year later, Kiko received an invitation to compete for the national swim team, which he gratefully accepted. Max eventually came to the realization that he was never going to reach that level, but realizing that he could potentially still play a key role in his brother’s development, plans to become his brother’s full-time sport therapist upon finishing his own program.

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Just for the record, Kiko is the one in front in the blue swim trunks, Max is the one giving him the rub in the back.

Artwork by Anyare.