Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter eleven of "Ride the Wind." I'm glad it took just a week to get out. I want to mention that Ruffles, Rhapsody, and Blackberry are all real members of J-Pod. They are very well known to researchers. Unfortunately, the first two are now deceased. Ruffles died in 2010 of old age. He was born sometime in the 1950s. Rhapsody was found dead on December 4, 2014. She was eighteen as she was born in 1996. She was found with a full-term female calf, which died sometime before her death. She was unable to expel her, resulting in an infection that killed her. That brought the Southern Resident population down to seventy-seven. Things were looking very grim at that point. However, five new calves have been born since December 2014, bringing it back up to eighty-two. More orcas of J-Pod will make appearances in this crossover. Stay tuned for chapter twelve.
XXXXX
Chapter 11: Just a Fun Time
Six people sat in the stands at the Angel Grove Aquarium's orca stadium around midmorning. It consisted of three sections and had twenty rows. The splash zone consisted of the first six rows. The tank was in a half-oval shape. It measured two hundred four feet long, one hundred eight feet wide, and thirty-seven feet deep. A glass panel measuring seven feet high surrounded it. Three rectangular-shaped back tanks could be seen behind it. They were ninety-one feet long, fifty-six feet wide, and nineteen feet deep. Further back was a hexagon-shaped close-up tank that was one hundred seventy-seven feet long, ninety-three feet wide, and thirty-three feet deep. It had artificial rocks along the sides and bottom to resemble ocean habitat.
Trini and Karone scratched Darlene and Maximus's tongues respectively while they were on their knees on the slideout. Both orcas squeaked in much joy. Darlene blinked three times. Her saddle patch was open on both sides, and a swirl could be seen in the right tip. Her eyes were light blue. Rakes went from just underneath her saddle patch to the base of her tail on her right side.
Maximus clicked twice. He resembled his mother, except that his eyepatches were large. They appeared to have been scooped out in the front and were wide in the back. A tiny black spot could be found in his right eyepatch. He had dark blue eyes with rakes underneath both of them. His left fluke had two small notches in it. Rakes could be seen around the bases of his dorsal and tail.
Trini and Karone stopped scratching Darlene and Maximus's tongues. They held up their arms. The orcas rolled on their sides until their flippers were exposed. Their trainers started waving. Darlene and Maximus mimicked them while letting out delighted squeaks. They returned to right side up after seeing them lower their arms.
"Great job, you two!" Trini said cheerfully.
"Do you know what to do when you see this?" Karone asked as she and Trini twirled their fingers around. Darlene and Maximus allowed squeals to come out of their blowholes. The trainers ceased their motions and laughed gleefully. "That's right!"
Trini gave the orcas two thumbs-ups. "You guys are going to do great in the first show of the day."
Darlene and Maximus opened their mouths and folded their tongues. Their trainers patted them gently. They put their arms in circles. The orcas slipped their heads through them, touching their cheeks with their noses. Trini and Karone gave them gentle kisses before scratching their chins.
"We love you so much," Trini whispered lovingly.
"There's no place we'd rather be than with you and your fellow orcas," Karone added.
Trini emitted a sad sigh. "We're going to miss you when we leave."
Karone sniffed softly. "I know you'll miss us."
The trainers released their hold on the orcas. Darlene and Maximus opened their mouths to get pats on their tongues from Trini and Karone. They received kisses on their noses from them. Trini and Karone scratched their chins and spoke baby talk to them. The orcas squeaked in much joy. Their trainers looked at each other.
"When I visited the aquarium for the first time at seven years old, the orca show blew me away. I'd never seen such spectacular stunts. The trainers weren't even afraid when the orcas threw them through the air like they were seals. I announced to my parents that I wanted to do this when I grew up. They supported me all the way," Trini commented.
"I can never forget Andros's angry reaction when he found out I wanted to be an orca trainer. He was determined not to let me do it. I'm glad he came around," Karone said, sighing in relief.
"You're lucky to have him for a brother. He looks out for you and protects you when you need it. He gives you advice when you feel you need some from him. Many siblings don't even think twice to do anything for each other," Trini whispered regretfully.
"I'm grateful to him for saving me from my dark side. I did many terrible things as Astronema. I feel very bad about them, but I'm determined not to let that control my life. If I did, I wouldn't be here right now. I'd be a complete mess," Karone muttered, a little fear lining her voice.
"You're living a good life on Earth. You have friends, family, and a boyfriend who love you dearly. You enjoy your job. You're focused on living each day to the fullest. You should be proud of yourself," Trini said sweetly.
"I am, Trini," Karone replied, allowing a smile to cross her lips. "Not once did I think I'd find myself living on Earth." She chuckled to herself. "After being here for eleven years, this beautiful planet has become my permanent home."
"You know what they say, 'Home is where the heart is,'" Trini murmured.
"That saying holds just as much meaning on KO-35 as it does here," Karone commented. "The civilians have always encouraged going where the heart lies. When TJ, Cassie, Carlos, and Ashley were about to head back to Earth, I realized my heart lied there. I decided to go with Andros and Zhane. It took a while to get used to Earth's customs, but it was worth it."
Trini and Karone shifted their attention back to Darlene and Maximus. They petted them on their melons, receiving pleasurable clicks from them. They glanced toward the stage, seeing forty-eight-year-old Dana and forty-five-year-old Kevin interact with Lilac and Orion respectively.
Dana scratched Lilac's cheeks before giving her a kiss on her nose. Being African-American, she was tall for a woman. Her skin was rather light. She had a somewhat muscular frame. Her short, straight black hair was braided against her scalp. Her eyes were hazel, and a small circular scar could be found on her right cheek. She had a tiny freckle on the back of her left wrist. Her face didn't have a single wrinkle.
Lilac stuck out her tongue, receiving a kiss on it from Dana. Her dorsal was straight and had a tiny knick in the middle. Her eyepatches were small and dotted with tiny freckles toward the back. Two rakes went through her right eyepatch. Her saddle patch was closed on both sides. Other rakes were on her right side from just under her saddle patch to the base of her tail. Her eyes were dark brown.
Kevin gave Orion a scratch on his nose and tapped his fingers on it. He was Hispanic and around Jason's height. His skin was rather tanned. He wasn't as muscular and had dark brown eyes. His hair was black and in the style of a crew cut. His left hand bore a scar on the palm, which went from the top to the bottom in a straight line. Wrinkles could be seen on his face here and there.
Orion felt Kevin move his hand downward to scratch the white underside of his mouth. His eyepatches were small and possessed the appearance of brush strokes along the edges. His flukes curled completely under, and the left one had a tiny notch in it. His saddle patch was open on both sides. Rakes started under it and went to the base of his tail on his left side. His eyes were dark blue. Underneath his chin were two small black spots.
Dana and Kevin stuck their hands in the air and waved them. Lilac and Orion lifted their bodies upward and wiggled their flippers. They let out a series of clicks and squeaks. Their trainers lowered their arms. The orcas stopped their wiggling. They came down to their heads and got rubs on their tongues from their trainers after opening their mouths. Dana and Kevin gave them warm smiles.
"Nice work, you two," Dana said warmly.
"You know what to do when you see this?" Kevin asked. He and Dana moved their arms in circles. Lilac and Orion squealed and twirled around. They came to a stop as the trainers put their arms down. "Wonderful!"
Dana laughed cheerfully. "We're going to make this show such a success! Yes, we are!"
Their trainers kissed the orcas' noses. They wrapped their arms around them to give them big hugs. Lilac and Orion sank beneath the surface. They resurfaced, spitting water all over Dana and Kevin. They chattered in amusement.
"You dirty little rats!" Kevin yelled in mock anger.
"You'll receive this along with the fish you eat if you do that again!" Dana said, holding up a fist. She heard chuckling and looked toward Trini and Karone, who were on their feet.
"I'm sure those fists will taste good to Lilac and Orion," Trini quipped.
"We should add some spices to them. Then the orcas will find they are out of this world!" Karone blurted out.
Kevin stood up along with Dana. He shook a fist at Trini and Karone. "You two better watch it, or Dana and I will come over and throw both of you into the water!"
"Then we'll get Lilac and Orion to pull your wetsuits off!" Dana added.
"Only if you can come into the water with us and let Darlene and Maximus pull your wetsuits off afterward!" Karone called.
"No way!" Kevin retorted.
Trini hissed. "Yes way!"
Without warning, all four orcas spit water on their trainers, making them scream in great surprise. They chattered amusingly at them running their hands over their hair.
"You naughty orcas!" Trini scolded playfully, shaking her finger at Darlene and Maximus.
"You just can't get enough of spitting on us!" Karone yelled.
"Not to mention your mouths can hold a ton of water!" Dana commented and shook her fist at Lilac and Orion.
"And fish!" Kevin added.
Darlene, Maximus, Lilac, and Orion squeaked in a happy manner. Trini and Karone smiled and got on their knees to kiss Darlene and Maximus on their noses. Dana and Kevin mimicked their actions with Lilac and Orion. They gazed at Trini and Karone.
"These orcas are so sweet and gentle," Dana said in a sweet voice. "They love being so close to us." She turned to Lilac and made kissing sounds.
"It's like they don't want to leave," Kevin commented in glee.
"I know. We are so lucky to be working with them. I wouldn't trade this job for any other," Karone said, sighing in content.
"I was disappointed that I had to delay starting work with the orcas after I learned I was pregnant with Benny. I was so happy to return here after my maternity leave ended," Trini said.
Kevin laughed, remembering that day. "Were the orcas excited to meet you!"
"In fact, Darlene and Maximus spit water on your first day in the stadium!" Dana yelled.
"They spit water on you too, Dana!" Trini shouted.
"They spit more water on you!" Dana retorted playfully.
Trini stuck her tongue out at Dana. "Yeah, right!"
Trini and Karone turned to see Ernie, Bulk, and Skull coming into the stadium. They gasped in joy and shifted their attention back to Dana and Kevin.
"Dana, Kevin! Ernie, Bulk, and Skull are here!" Trini yelled.
Dana became very excited. "Really?"
"Yeah!" Karone answered, nodding rapidly.
Kevin clapped twice. "What are we standing here for? Let's go see them while we can!"
Dana and Kevin walked off the stage quickly as Trini and Karone headed down the stairs. They made their way toward the group. Darlene, Maximus, Lilac, and Orion swam to each other.
00000
Ernie, Bulk, and Skull approached the glass. They placed their hands on it and their faces against it. They looked for the orcas and blinked three times. They whispered inaudible words to each other. Bulk tried to suppress a yawn, but he couldn't help himself. Trini, Karone, Dana, and Kevin made their way toward the group.
"Hey, guys!" Trini called. The men gazed at her and her fellow trainers. They gasped and formed big smiles on their faces. They removed their hands from the glass.
"Trini, Karone, you're here!" Skull yelled in gleefulness.
"Yes, we are," Karone answered and stopped before the trio along with Trini, Dana, and Kevin. "We were scheduled to work today."
"That's great!" Skull said.
"That means we'll get to see you perform with the orcas," Bulk commented.
"Yes, you will," Trini said with a wink.
Bulk and Skull cheered in excitement before pumping their fists. They decided to become police officers full time after Dark Specter's attack on the universe was thwarted in November 1998. However, they didn't want to be part of the main area of police business. They wanted to combat animal cruelty. They moved in together not long after.
With Jerome's help, Bulk and Skull went through a great deal of training. They joined the animal cruelty department three years later. Jerome accompanied them to it, so he could help them with anything they needed. They handed a variety of cases, including getting animals out of unusual places they were stuck in and rescuing them from terrible conditions.
Bulk and Skull ran their hands over their hair and straightened their white t-shirts. They smoothed them out with their hands. No one noticed a gull flying overhead and landing near the top of the stands in the middle. It flapped its wings to air them out and emitted a series of squawks. It bobbed its head. Ernie cleared his throat.
"It's nice to see you and Karone, Trini," Ernie said, smiling happily.
"Back at you, Ernie," Trini replied, winking at him.
"Today was my day off, so I decided to come here. I met up with Bulk and Skull at the dolphin petting pool," Ernie commented, gesturing toward the duo. "I've been with them ever since. It was their day off too." He smiled with pride.
"Cool," Dana answered. "By the way, it's nice to see you, Bulk, and Skull, Ernie."
"Right back at you, Dana," Ernie commented, winking at her.
Bulk gestured toward Kevin. "The same goes for him."
Kevin held up his hands. "The pleasure's all mine. At least you and Skull are not here to throw pies in our faces."
Ernie laughed, as did the others. He left to do volunteer work in South America in May 1997. The first task he assisted in was building a bridge for the Amazon. He learned about Adelle's purchase of the Youth Center and remodeling it into the Surf Spot from Jerome that October. He didn't mind it in the least bit.
He spent six more years in South America before he returned home. Just after his return, he found out Adelle had decided to move the Surf Spot to another location. He decided to remake the Youth Center. She offered to help him. He accepted it, and they worked together on it. He reopened the Youth Center after three months of hard work. Business went well as it became one of the main hangouts for a new generation of teens.
The entire group stopped laughing. Bulk and Skull turned to the glass to see Darlene and Maximus approaching. They reached up to touch it as the orcas came to a stop. Darlene and Maximus stuck out their tongues to press them against the glass as if giving Bulk and Skull's hands kisses respectively. The duo smiled and placed their arms at their sides.
"Thanks for giving our hands kisses," Skull said.
"Let's do a dance!" Bulk said.
The duo moved their bodies from side to side. Darlene and Maximus mimicked them with theirs. They allowed gleeful squeaks to come out of their blowholes. All four of them became still. The orcas opened their mouths widely as Bulk and Skull put their cheeks on the glass. Trini and Karone broke into a fit of laughter.
"It looks like Darlene and Maximus want to have you two for lunch," Karone commented.
"Look how hungry they look!" Trini said.
Bulk removed his cheek from the glass to look at his friends. "I think you two would be better snacks for them."
"I agree," Skull said, taking his cheek off the glass and looking at them. "Orcas consider trainers to be better tasting than former bullies."
"Okay. We'll let Darlene and Maximus eat us on one condition," Trini said.
"What's that?" Skull wondered.
Karone allowed a smirk to cross her lips. "You and Bulk have to be their second course."
Bulk and Skull made funny faces at their friends. Trini and Karone imitated them, unaware that Lilac was swimming up behind them. Lilac rolled on her side and splashed them with her tail. Her trainers yelled in surprise and spun around to give her a mock glare.
"Lilac, you little sneak!" Trini said and spit water out of her mouth.
"You've got a lot of nerve splashing us like that!" Karone growled playfully.
Lilac turned right side up. She opened her mouth and moved her tongue from side to side. Trini and Karone held up their hands. They wiggled their fingers in which Lilac imitated them with her flippers. The orca pressed her tongue against the glass. Trini put her cheek over it. She moved aside to allow Karone to do the same with hers. Lilac didn't move an inch. Trini and Karone looked at Ernie, Bulk, and Skull.
"Hey, guys. Why don't you let Lilac give you a kiss?" Trini suggested.
Skull nodded. "Okay."
"Sure," Bulk added, rubbing his hands together.
Ernie looked very eager. "I don't see why not."
Trini and Karone stepped aside, allowing Ernie to approach Lilac. Ernie placed his cheek on the glass, smiling in warmness. He moved aside to allow Bulk and Skull to do the same with her. Trini allowed a laugh to come out of her mouth.
"Lilac just loves giving kisses to guests," Trini said in delight.
"She can't resist it at all," Karone commented and licked her lips.
"Maybe we should glue the cheeks of guests to the glass, so she'd always be able to give kisses to them," Dana joked.
"Yeah! We can use superglue!" Kevin cheered in much excitement.
Ernie gave him a mock-annoyed look. "Slip into your pajamas, Kevin, because you're dreaming."
"Okay. I'll wear my pajamas to work tomorrow!" Kevin announced.
"Weirdo," Skull muttered.
Kevin smirked and wiggled his eyebrows. "I know you are, but what am I?"
Unbeknownst to Kevin, Orion swam up behind him. He spit water on him in which it caused him to yell in fright. Dana laughed aloud.
"Orion surprised you big time, Kevin!" Dana yelled.
"Just like he, Darlene, Sonya, and Sophia did when they helped the Power Rangers fight off Lord Zedd's monsters when they attacked the aquarium," Kevin replied.
"I remember that day very well. The orcas kept squealing in alarm and slapping the water with their tails and flippers. We couldn't understand why until Skull and I heard screaming and saw Tengas chasing Dana and Kevin across the stage," Bulk said, swallowing hard.
"It was very scary seeing that," Skull muttered, his body trembling. "Bulk and I high-tailed it out of there as Goldar and Rito arrived. So did everyone else."
Dana and Kevin looked at each other. They hated they had to leave Darlene, Orion, Sonya, and Sophia behind, but they knew it was too dangerous for them to stay. They were relieved to find the orcas were unharmed and had taken advantage of their situation to assist the Rangers in the fight. They had no doubt the quartet remembered that day. They turned back to the others.
"If there's one good thing that came out of that day, it's that it taught us what to look for when danger is about to strike," Dana said.
"Yeah," Kevin agreed. Suddenly, a thought hit him. "Of course, there was Dark Specter's attack on the universe. Maximus and Lilac were just babies then."
Dana shuddered in great fear. "I know. We could've lost them and all the animals of this world."
"Thanks to my brother shattering Zordon's energy tube, that didn't happen," Karone whispered in relief mixed with sadness. "I just wish I could've fought harder against the evil in me. Perhaps I could've—" She choked back a sob.
"It's okay, Karone. No one here blames you for what happened," Ernie interrupted gently. "That was Dark Specter's doing."
"At least you're alive and with your family here on Earth. That's all that matters now," Skull pointed out.
Karone nodded as she started to feel better. "Thanks."
Trini looked at her watch, letting out a long whistle. Lilac, Orion, Darlene, and Maximus blew bubbles from their blowholes.
"It's five minutes until the show starts. We'd better go get ready," Trini said.
"Sure, Trini. It was great seeing all four of you," Ernie replied.
"The same goes for you three," Dana replied, giving a thumbs-up.
"See you later," Kevin said.
The trainers walked off. The orcas followed them close behind. Ernie, Bulk, and Skull sat in the fifth row of the splash zone in the middle section. They were very excited about the orca show. They wondered if they would see Trini and Karone perform waterworks. More people began to arrive.
00000
The stadium was packed with people five minutes later. Ernie, Bulk, and Skull observed Trini petting Darlene's melon and Karone scratching Maximus's chin on the slideout. They saw the orcas kiss the women's cheeks with their tongues. They looked toward Lilac and Orion, seeing Dana and Kevin interact with them on the stage. The trainers wore headsets.
"Look at Lilac. She's small compared to Orion," Skull said.
"You'd think he'd be dominant over her," Bulk commented.
Ernie cupped his chin in his hand. "Oh, yes. Of course, that's not the case. Lilac is dominant over Orion. Female orcas rule over the males in all pods."
"At least she's not excessive in her raking. She does just enough to show him whose boss," Bulk pointed out.
Skull gestured toward Darlene. "The same goes for the other females of this pod."
Bulk nodded in agreement. He and his friends listened to the orcas' excited squeals. They watched the trainers pet them. Trini, Karone, Dana, and Kevin adjusted their headsets.
"Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Angel Grove Aquarium's famous orca show," Trini announced. "We have a wonderful show filled with education and entertainment for you today. We hope you'll carry a bit more knowledge about the orca when you leave."
The audience proceeded to applaud and cheer. Lilac, Orion, Darlene, and Maximus bowed in front of the stage. Bulk got out his camera to snap a picture of them. Darlene and Maximus went to the slideout while Lilac and Orion headed for the stage.
"The orca is the largest member of the dolphin family. It can grow up to thirty feet long and weigh up to fifteen thousand pounds. It's found in all the oceans of the world. It favors cold and temperate waters. It eats all kinds of animals, including whales and sharks," Trini explained.
"There are several ecotypes of orcas. The most well-known are residents, transients, and offshores. Resident orcas stay in one area and feed on fish. They're usually together for life. Transient orcas don't have a set range and cover long distances in their search for food. They feed on seals, whales, dolphins, squid, birds, and many other animals. Their pods often break off to join others or go on their own. Offshore orcas are the most mysterious type. Very little is known about them. They're known to feed on sharks and turtles," Karone said.
"The orca's lifespan varies from region to region. It can even vary from population to population. In the Pacific Northwest, males live twenty to thirty years on average. They can live up to sixty years. Females live forty to fifty years on average. They can live up to ninety years," Trini added.
"The average age of sexual maturity varies in different regions and populations. The Pacific Northwest sees the average age of sexual maturity for male orcas being eleven to twelve years. They usually don't breed until their late teens to early twenties. Female orcas usually sexually mature at twelve to thirteen years old and have their first calves at fourteen," Karone commented.
"The names of the orcas participating in this show are Darlene, Maximus, Lilac, and Orion. Darlene is the oldest member of our pod and its matriarch. She is twenty-six years old. She measures eighteen feet long and weighs five thousand two hundred eighty pounds. She joined us from Nova Scotia in 1984 along with a young male orca named Yankee. Yankee died in 1988 of a rare heart defect. This left Darlene alone until Orion joined her a year later. She is going to perform a barrel roll and show off her flippers as she swims around the tank," Trini said.
Darlene saw Trini move her arm in a circle. She nodded and headed underwater. She surfaced on the tank's right side and performed rolls while swimming around it. The audience stared in awe of her flippers.
"Each of the orca's flippers has five digits made of bones. They resemble fingers. You can think of the orca having a giant hand. It lost its back legs millions of years ago when it made the transition from land to water. All that remains of them are tiny bones located near the tail," Trini explained. She fed Darlene a handful of fish after she returned to the slideout. The audience applauded. "Nice job, Darlene."
"There's a stark difference in the size of the flippers between males and females. A male orca's flippers can measure up to seven feet wide. The female's flippers are much smaller, though they are occasionally large," Karone added.
"Now, Darlene and I are going to perform the surf," Trini said. "You ready for that, girl?"
Darlene squeaked in much happiness. Trini laughed and gave her a thumbs-up. She removed her headset and dove into the water. She swam to the tank's left side with the orca following her close behind. She tapped the water three times once she reached it. Darlene went under her. Trini got on her knees in front of her dorsal. She rose to her feet, but she stayed in a squatting position.
Trini gave Darlene's back two gentle slaps and rose to her full height. The orca swam across the tank at high speed. The audience went into a wild cheer. Darlene slowed down as she reached the right side. Trini dove back into the water. Darlene approached her, letting out a soft squeak. Trini touched the orca's melon. She kissed her on the nose.
Ernie, Bulk, and Skull smiled. They thought Trini looked so beautiful with Darlene. They remembered how much she talked about wanting to work with orcas. They weren't sure if she would ever achieve her dream, but they were glad that she did. They never got tired of seeing her perform with the orcas whenever they visited.
Trini got on Darlene's back and gave it a gentle pat. The orca spouted air from her blowhole. She went to the slideout and received a good amount of fish from her trainer after she climbed on. She kept her mouth open. Trini gave her two more fish. She patted her melon in a gentle manner before putting her headset back on.
"Great job, you two," Karone said and chuckled lightly. "Maximus is Darlene's son. He turned eleven recently. He is the youngest member of the pod. He was born April 18, 1998. He's the first orca to be born at the aquarium. He measures sixteen feet long and weighs four thousand eight hundred pounds. Orion is his father. Maximus is going to wave his tail, so he can show it off."
Karone glanced at Maximus and moved her hand from side to side. He squealed and slipped beneath the surface. He stuck his tail out of the water and proceeded to wave it.
"The two parts of an orca's tail are called flukes. Sometimes, flukes have notches in them. They can be used to tell individuals apart. The tail is very powerful. The orca uses it to stun its prey. It uses other parts of his body such as the dorsal and head for the same purpose," Karone said and held up her hands. Maximus stopped waving and sank beneath the surface. He came back up and opened his mouth to receive fish from her. She rubbed his tongue before giving it a pat. "Now, I'm going to do the hula with him in the middle of the tank."
Karone took off her headset and tightened her ponytail. She breathed deeply and leapt into the water. She surfaced and swam to the middle of the tank. Maximus followed her. She reached out to touch his nose. She made a motion downward. He clicked twice and moved his body into a vertical position. He emitted a soft click.
The trainer licked her lips and stepped on the orca's flippers. She tapped the water with one hand and held his nose with the other. He lifted a little more of his body out of the water and proceeded to go in circles. She held on tight with both hands and clenched her teeth. He squealed in much joy. The audience applauded them.
Karone blew her whistle. Maximus stopped and went back underwater. He got a kiss on his rostrum from his trainer after he surfaced. She grabbed his dorsal to be taken back to the slideout by him. She climbed on and gave him a big handful of fish. She knelt down and kissed his tongue when he presented it. She rose to her full height. She slipped her headset back on.
"Wonderful job, you two," Trini said and laughed lightly. "The orca breathes out of an opening called a blowhole. A flab of skin goes over it to keep the orca from breathing in water when it dives. If that didn't happen, it would drown. The orca has a nose, but it has no sense of smell. It's more commonly referred to as a rostrum."
"The dorsal fins of male and female orcas are quite different in size. The male's dorsal can grow up to six feet tall. The female's dorsal is much smaller and more curved. The fins of some orcas do flop over. Genetics and amount of time spent at the surface are two causes of the flopping. Many flopped-over dorsals are the result of injury," Karone added.
Trini clapped three times. "It's time to turn commentary over to Dana and Kevin."
Dana gave her friend a thumbs-up. "Thank you, Trini. Lilac is fourteen years old. She's seventeen feet long and weighs five thousand one hundred pounds. She stranded on one of our beaches on March 15, 1996. She was a less than a year old at the time. She had a severe infection and was near death. After intense treatment, she pulled through. She was deemed unreleasable due to her very young age. We were asked to give a home here. Darlene adopted her as her own calf. That helped her to care for Maximus after she had him."
"Orion is the largest member of the pod. He is twenty-four years old. He measures twenty-three feet long and weighs nine thousand eight hundred pounds. He came to us from Ridgeway Aquarium in New Hampshire in 1989 after his male companion named Sparky died from pneumonia. Both orcas arrived there from Nova Scotia in 1985. He became a source of companionship for Darlene," Kevin said.
"You may not believe this, ladies and gentlemen, but the orca is sometimes confused with the pseudorca. Their dorsals look similar when they surface at a distance. To identify them, you look for the eyepatch and the saddle patch. The pseudorca has neither. You guys aren't pseudorcas, are you?" Dana asked, glancing at Lilac and Orion. She received shaking heads from them. She gave them two thumbs-ups before clicking her tongue. "Lilac is going to perform a breach in the middle of the tank."
Dana looked at Lilac and jerked her arms to the right. Lilac headed underwater, her tail slapping on the surface. The audience showed anxiety in waiting for her. All of a sudden, she jumped out of the water in the middle of the tank and turned on her side. She created a huge splash after hitting it. The audience broke into a wild cheer and applause. Lilac returned to the stage, getting fish from Dana.
"Great, Lilac," Kevin said, smiling at Dana tapping her fingers on the orca's chin. "Orcas are well known for their breaches. It's not known why they do them. Some researchers say they use them to communicate in searching for food. Many believe they use them to stun their prey for eating. Others view it as a form of play."
"It's time for her to jump over me!" Dana announced eagerly.
Lilac squeaked excitedly as her trainer removed her headset and dove into the water. Dana swam to the middle of the tank, followed by the orca. She surfaced once she got there. She patted Lilac on the melon. She raised her hand and brought it downward in a curved motion. Lilac nodded and disappeared underwater. Dana turned to face the audience. Suddenly, the orca leapt over her as she put her arm up. Bulk snapped two pictures of them. Lilac hit the water and returned with her trainer to the stage. Dana fed her a bit of fish before putting her headset back on.
"Good girl, Lilac," Kevin called and rubbed his hands together. "The orca uses echolocation to find its prey in murky water. Echolocation is the sending out of sounds that bounce off an object and give the orca an X-ray image in its brain. Orion is going to demonstrate that, but we have to cover his eyes first."
Kevin knelt down as Orion positioned himself beside him. He put two white plastic discs over his eyes. He threw a metal ring into the water. Orion charged underwater with a squeak. The audience became nervous while waiting for him. Just then, Orion surfaced holding the ring in his mouth. He approached the stage to allow Kevin to take it from him. His trainer held it in the air. He removed the discs and threw fish into his mouth. The audience gave them a big applause.
"Nice job, Orion," Dana said. "You're great at echolocation."
Kevin became very excited. "It's time for his famous back bow!"
Kevin glanced at Orion and threw his arm upward. Orion slipped beneath the surface, swinging his tail upward. He leapt backward on the right side and arched his back. He reentered the water with a large splash. The audience applauded him. Orion swam to the stage and was rewarded with fish.
"Orion enjoys doing back bows," Ernie said.
"Yes, he does," Bulk said.
"You want to do a back bow, Bulkie?" Skull wondered.
Bulk glanced at his best friend. "Sure, Skull. However, I have one condition."
"What's that?" Skull asked, furrowing his brow.
"You have to do one with me," Bulk answered, moving his eyebrows up and down.
"Okay," Skull said and gestured toward Ernie. "In fact, Ernie can join us."
"No, thanks," Ernie said, shaking his head. "I'm not in the mood for back bows."
"Aw. You spoiled our need to have fun!" Skull whined, pouting.
Ernie smirked widely. "Put that pout away, Skull. You're not changing my mind."
Skull blew a raspberry at Ernie, who mimicked him. Without warning, Darlene appeared, swinging her tail and sending water into the audience as she swam around the tank on her side. Ernie, Bulk, and Skull were among those hit.
"Wow! Darlene can send water far into the audience!" Ernie yelled.
"No kidding! I think I got water in my ear!" Skull blurted out, sticking his finger in his ear.
"You probably have more than water in your ear," Bulk quipped. He chuckled at seeing Skull narrow his eyes at him. Darlene swam back to the slideout and had fish put in her mouth by Trini.
"Nice work, Darlene," Trini called, holding up her hands. "Now, let's play a little fish toss!"
Trini grabbed a fish and showed it to Darlene. She threw it over her head, seeing it land in the water. Darlene charged underwater, her tail going upward. She surfaced with the fish in her mouth. She swam back to the slideout. Trini took it from her and fed it to her along with more. She took deep breaths as the show continued.
00000
The audience clapped in a rhythmic fashion as Lilac, Orion, Darlene, and Maximus wiggled their flippers in front of the stage twenty minutes later. The show was near its end. All four orcas ceased their wiggling and disappeared underwater. They performed a series of bows across the tank before diving downward. Suddenly, Lilac and Orion leapt upward in front of the glass and spit water from their mouths on the right side. Darlene and Maximus followed suit on the left.
The orcas slipped beneath the surface. Darlene and Maximus jumped backward and landed on their backs in the middle of the tank. Lilac and Orion followed them. All four of them created huge splashes. They swam upside down toward the glass. They hit their tails against the water, splashing the audience. They repeated their action four times.
The orcas headed underwater. The audience waited for them, showing anxiety. All of a sudden, Darlene and Maximus came up onto the slideout and lifted their tails high while Lilac and Orion leapt upward and hit the water on their stomachs in front of the stage, creating two huge splashes each. Trini and Karone dropped to one knee and put their arms out. Dana and Kevin followed suit on the stage.
Bulk snapped a picture of Trini, Karone, Darlene, and Maximus on the slideout. The audience whooped and applauded very loudly. Darlene and Maximus slid back into the water. They opened their mouths wide as Trini and Karone threw handfuls of fish into them. They received pats on their melons from them. They emitted soft squeaks.
"That concludes our orca show!" Trini announced. "We hope you all enjoyed it. The sea lion show will start in forty minutes."
The audience filed out of the stadium. Dana, Kevin, Trini, and Karone took off their headsets. Ernie, Bulk, and Skull walked to them as Trini and Karone came down the stairs. Lilac and Orion followed Dana and Kevin to the back tanks. Darlene and Maximus stayed near the slideout.
"You ladies were wonderful out there," Bulk said warmly.
"You made the show great," Skull added. "You and your fellow trainers stayed focused on getting the orcas to perform their assigned behaviors."
Trini couldn't hold back a smile. "Thanks. It isn't always easy to get them to do what we want."
"Everyone knows orcas are very powerful creatures. They could kill us if they wanted to," Karone commented and crossed her arms.
"When they don't want to perform, we just let them do what they want," Trini said, holding up a finger.
"Like you did in that YouTube clip of Maximus and Lilac playing chase at the start of a show," Ernie said, a chuckle coming out of his mouth.
"I've watched that clip many times. It's funny to see the trainers powerless to get those two rascals to stop their game. They made waves like this," Skull commented, imitating a wave by moving his hand up and down.
Bulk laughed as he remembered that clip. "The audience seemed to enjoy their game. I kept hearing their laughter."
"Me too. They couldn't get enough of it," Skull agreed.
Trini and Karone allowed small laughs to leave their mouths. They removed their ponytail holders and shook their hair. They ran their fingers through the strands before ringing excess water out.
"The best part of the show was seeing Trini surf on Darlene's back," Skull said in proudness.
"She looked so cool!" Bulk added.
"Thanks. It takes a great deal of balance to surf on an orca's back. It swims at very high speed. One wrong move can send any trainer right into the water," Trini said.
"Or end up sitting on the orca's back," Karone added.
"If you're a man, you could end up yelling in a high-pitched voice," Trini pointed out seriously.
Skull cringed badly and squeezed his eyes shut. "Just like when our groins get injured." He let out a loud shudder.
"Believe me. I've had that happen more times than I can count," Bulk said, scratching the top of his head as Skull opened his eyes.
"I think all of us guys have gotten kicked in our groins at one time or another. It's never pleasant," Ernie said with a slight wince.
"At least the pain doesn't last very long," Bulk whispered in relief.
"Yeah," Ernie agreed. "Anyway, the neat thing about the surf is we'll get to see Karone do it in the future."
"I can't wait for that day," Karone said and formed a big smile on her face. "Until then, I'll stick with behaviors such as the hula and the hammock."
Bulk clicked his tongue. "At least you're performing waterworks in the shows now. You weren't ready for that last year."
"I know, but I'm happy to be able to do them in the shows now. When I'm with an orca in the water, it's as if no one else is there. It's just us," Karone whispered happily.
"I know that feeling," Trini said. She and Karone saw Darlene and Maximus coming toward them. They heard the orcas squeak. "We have to go. We need to get these two to the back."
"Okay. We'll see you later," Ernie responded with a nod.
Karone waved at the men. "Bye, guys."
Trini and Karone headed for the back pools. Darlene and Maximus raced after them. Ernie, Bulk, and Skull looked at each other.
"Since we have time to kill before the sea lion show, what do you say we head to pseudorca stadium?" Skull suggested.
"That's a great idea, Skull!" Bulk shouted in delight.
"What are we standing around for? Let's get over there," Ernie said excitedly. He and his friends started heading out of the stadium.
"The orcas are so lucky to have such wonderful trainers," Skull whispered in a warm voice.
"They really are, Skull," Bulk agreed. "The trainers are so eager to interact with them as we saw in the show. They don't want to be anywhere else."
"Lilac is so lucky to be alive," Ernie said quietly. "Had it not been for the trainers and veterinarians, she would've died."
Skull became very thoughtful. "It's rather interesting that Darlene adopted her as her own calf before she had Maximus."
"Yeah. It helped her in the end. She's so close to Maximus," Bulk responded. "Maximus treats Lilac as his big sister."
"I've seen that every time I've visited this stadium. There's no denying these orcas are one big happy pod," Ernie said.
Bulk felt his eyes brim over with tears. "I have no doubt the orcas will miss Trini and Karone. I know I will."
"Me too," Skull said, his voice showing some sadness.
"Me three," Ernie added. He and his friends continued on as people passed them on either side.