Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter six of "Ride the Wind." I didn't mean for it to take more than a week to get out. I had a case of writer's block. I decided to move the paragraph containing Rae's thoughts about her time as Willy's trainer to this chapter as I felt it fit better. I added more details to chapter five about the Nastelane and its dinghy. I also mention a clipboard being among the supplies Randolph gets. This chapter has a little bit of Jesse/Nadine. Stay tuned for chapter seven.

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Chapter 6: Examination Ends/Playful Interaction

Rae and Nadine watched Jesse get one part of the tape around the middle of Willy, who was on his back, and hand it to Randolph. The young man was in the water with the orca, and the Indian held the end of it while leaned over. Though it had been only twenty minutes since the examination started, it felt like it had gone on for hours to the women. They hoped it wouldn't be too much longer and that some of Willy's podmates would show up soon.

Rae sighed in content. She was glad that Willy was comfortable with Randolph and Jesse examining him. She remembered how he thought she was a wicked witch because of all the medical examinations she did on him. She'd hated that part, as he hadn't been trained for them. Despite that, she remained determined to monitor his health. Unfortunately, the lesions around his pecs had shown he was far from healthy. She knew the water was too warm, and her pleas for it to be changed were ignored. At least she could take comfort in the fact that Willy didn't have to deal with the lesions anymore.

Randolph brought the tape together with its end and mumbled inaudible words while looking at it. He released his hold on it and leaned back to seat himself. He jotted down the result on the clipboard. Jesse gathered the tape and headed to the dinghy's hull. Randolph went to him and got it. Jesse moved back a bit as Willy rolled right side up. He returned to him and scratched the orca's nose.

"Good boy, Willy," Jesse said proudly. "You stayed still the entire time just like when we measured the length of your body."

"Jesse, I need you to get Willy to give me a breath sample," Randolph said, showing him a petri dish.

"You ready for that, Willy?" Jesse asked. Willy nodded, earning a smile from him. "Great."

"Okay," Randolph said and leaned over the blowhole with the dish. "I'm ready for him."

"All right. One, two, three," Jesse said as he tapped his hand against the orca's nose with each count. "Go!"

Willy spouted much air from his blowhole. Randolph caught some of the mist in the dish while his ponytail flew upward, which made Jesse laugh.

"I guess he wanted to make your hair fly away," Jesse teased.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha. That was so funny that I died laughing," Randolph grumbled sarcastically. He put a top on the dish after leaning back. He went over to the box and placed it inside. He grabbed a syringe, a test tube, and a cap. He approached Willy's tail. "Now, I need a blood sample from him."

Jesse put his hand up. Willy chattered obediently and moved his head downward. He lifted his tail high enough for Randolph to touch it. He waited patiently as the Indian rubbed the right fluke until he was able to feel a vein. Randolph stuck the syringe in. He pulled the pump back until it was full of blood. He removed it and injected the blood into the tube before capping. Willy lowered his tail. He opened his mouth, allowing Jesse to give him a tongue rub.

"You did so well with the blood test, Willy. I wish I had a fish to give you as a reward," Jesse said regretfully.

"How about you give him a knuckle sandwich as a reward?" Randolph joked as he put the tube inside the box. He proceeded to pack up the rest of the supplies.

"I think I'll leave that up to you, Randolph," Jesse said and swam over to the dinghy's hull. He climbed in with a loud grunt and sat down.

Randolph looked up and shook his head slowly. "I don't think so."

Jesse nodded rapidly. "I do think so."

The men blew raspberries at each other. Randolph closed the box once he finished packing the supplies. He went to the dinghy's stern and steered it back to the boat. He parked it on starboard and reattached it. He grabbed the box and clipboard and climbed out along with Jesse. Rae and Nadine approached them.

"It was fascinating watching you two examine Willy. You work so well as a team," Rae complimented, smiling.

"Thanks, Rae. You can help us during Willy's next examination. That is if it's during your next visit," Jesse said.

Rae stopped smiling and became uncertain. "I don't know, Jess. I've never done an examination on a wild orca, let alone helped with one."

Jesse gave her an encouraging look. "I don't think Willy would mind. Besides, we can always use additional help."

Rae looked toward shore. Though she was still uncertain about assisting Randolph and Jesse, she knew the latter was right. After all, examining Willy could prove to be a very interesting experience for her. She turned back to Jesse, who was eager to hear her answer.

"You can count me in on examining Willy if it happens during my next visit," Rae announced.

"Yes!" Jesse cheered and gave her a five.

"How about up high, Jess?" Rae asked, holding her hand above her head.

"Okay," Jesse replied and hit it.

"How about low?" Rae said and lowered it.

"Sure," Jesse said and aimed for it, but she pulled it away, causing him to miss. He gave her a mock glare as she smirked.

"You were too slow!" Rae shouted joyfully. She laughed at him punching her shoulder lightly.

"I'll get a remote and put you in slow motion next time, so I can get that hand," Jesse warned playfully.

"You'll have to invent such a remote first," Rae pointed out.

A loud burst of air caught everyone's attention, followed by two more, though they weren't as loud. Randolph, Rae, Jesse, and Nadine wondered whom had made the second and third airbursts. They raced to the port and spotted Max and Isabella beside Willy. The young orcas spyhopped and wiggled their flippers. They emitted excited squeals and came back down.

"Max, Isabella, it's great to see you two!" Jesse shouted happily.

"I guess you couldn't stay away from your dad any longer, huh?" Rae wondered. Max and Isabella nodded slowly.

"We thought so," Nadine said with a chuckle. Without warning, Nikki emerged on the other side of Willy, taking her and the other passengers by surprise. "Nikki, where did you come from?"

"I think she wanted to surprise us," Randolph said, chuckling and smiling. He walked over to Nikki. "What a surprise it was, girl."

Randolph scratched Nikki's nose, which made her whistle in pleasure. She sank beneath the surface and came up. She touched his cheek with her nose. He wrapped his arms around her to give her a hug. He released his hold on her, and she went back down. Nadine couldn't hold back a smile.

"It never ceases to amaze me that Nikki loves you so much, despite she's a wild orca, Uncle Randolph," Nadine commented.

"If it weren't for Willy introducing me to her, there's no way I'd be able to do what I just did. We wouldn't be able to interact with Max and Isabella either if Willy wasn't their father," Randolph admitted.

"Look on the bright side, Randolph. They don't approach boats they don't recognize," Jesse pointed out.

"That doesn't stop whale-watching boats from chasing them and other orcas that live in this region down," Randolph muttered, cringing badly.

Nadine scoffed in anger. "Because of those boats, the orcas have to travel greater distances to find food." She curled her hand into a fist so tight that she would've broken a glass if she was holding one. "That makes them burn more energy and increase their hunger. As a result, they have to eat more food."

Rae sighed heavily. "We have to deal with the whale-watching boats chasing the orcas in Newfoundland too. Last year, more than four hundred citations were handed out in violation of the law of staying at least two hundred yards away at all times." She mumbled inaudible words.

"The boat captains know they are causing harm to the orcas, but they don't care. All they care about is making money from their trips," Jesse said through clenched teeth.

"I want to find those captains and yell in their faces for harming the orcas," Nadine declared.

Jesse punched his fist into his hand. "Why don't you let me join you, Nadine? They could also use a punch or two to each of their faces."

"Be my guest, Jesse. They deserved to be punched," Nadine answered, glancing up at her boyfriend.

"Thank you," Jesse responded, looking down at his girlfriend.

Randolph snorted. "Oh, my."

The couple shared a sweet kiss and rubbed noses. Randolph pointed his finger into his mouth and made gagging sounds. Jesse and Nadine looked at him with smirks on their faces.

"You can't get enough of us showing affection, can you, Randolph?" Jesse wondered and snickered under his breath.

"No, I can't. If you don't stop, I'm going to be sick," Randolph mumbled, taking his finger out of his mouth. He grabbed his stomach and acted as if he were about to vomit.

Nadine giggled. "Okay. We'll stop."

All of a sudden, Willy and Nikki spit water all over Randolph, Jesse, and Nadine. Their friends screamed in fright. The orcas let out amusing chatters. Rae started laughing hysterically.

"Willy and Nikki must've not liked what they heard and decided to spit water on you!" Rae blurted out at her friends.

"Oh, shut up, Rae!" Jesse shouted, looking at her in mock anger.

"Why don't you make me?" Rae taunted, balling her hands into fists.

"You can, but you have to come over here," Jesse said.

"Okay. I will," Rae declared. She was about to go over to Jesse when Max and Isabella spit water all over her, making her cry out. She glared at them as they chattered amusingly at her. "I can't believe you two did that!"

"Hey, they were able to stop you from coming over here," Jesse said smugly.

Rae gazed at her friend and waved him off. They, Randolph, and Nadine turned to the orcas. Willy, Nikki, Max, and Isabella squeaked curiously.

"You want to dance, guys?" Jesse asked, smiling at the orcas nodding. "Okay. Let's do it."

Randolph, Rae, Jesse, and Nadine started twirling around. Willy, Nikki, Max, and Isabella stuck more of their bodies out of the water and mimicked them. They allowed joyful squeals to escape their blowholes.

"You guys are such great dancers," Rae commented.

"Unfortunately, I'm getting dizzy," Jesse groaned and blew a raspberry.

"Me too," Nadine agreed, touching her forehead.

"Me three," Randolph added.

"Me four," Rae muttered, rolling her eyes.

The humans ceased their twirling. The orcas followed suit with quiet squeaks. They went downward up to their heads.

"How about a wave?" Randolph wondered. He chuckled at them squealing excitedly. "All right! Let's do it!"

Randolph, Rae, Jesse, and Nadine held up their arms. Willy, Nikki, Max, and Isabella rolled on their sides to expose their flippers. Their friends waved to them. The orcas mimicked them. They returned to right side up after seeing them lower their arms.

"You really enjoy that! Yes, you do!" Randolph cooed. Willy, Nikki, Max, and Isabella stuck their tongues out at him. "Oh, trying to be wise orcas, aren't you?" He made a mean face and growled playfully.

"If you don't put those tongues away, we'll tie them together—" Jesse started.

"So you will never be apart," Nadine finished, giving them a mock glare. The orcas decided to put their tongues back in their mouths, which made her chuckle. "Good for you. You wouldn't have wanted that, would you?"

"Okay. We'll tie our tongues together," Jesse quipped with a snicker.

"No, thank you," Randolph said.

Nadine shook her head slowly. "Don't count on it."

"It's not happening, Jess," Rae declared.

Jesse shrugged. "It was a thought."

Randolph, Rae, Jesse, and Nadine turned back to the orcas. They raised their hands in the air and waved them. Willy, Nikki, Max, and Isabella lifted more of their bodies out of the water. They wiggled their flippers while squeaking in delight.