Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chaprer thirty-four of "Ride the Wind." I didn't mean to take more than a week to get out. I can't believe I've gotten over two hundred reviews. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. A special shoutout goes to Tasha Hill, Alex B Goode, Ghostwriter, TommyOliverMMPRFan, and Honza for being continuous reviewers. Your support means the world to me. As for other readers, please don't hesitate to review. I'd love to hear what you'd like to see in this fic. I don't mind that at all. If you really like it, put it in your author alert and favorites lists. You'll be able to keep track of it better. Anyway, this chapter has some Tommy/Kim, Jason/Trini, and Billy/Kat. Stay tuned for chapter thirty-five.
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Chapter 34: Always Warm and Free
On the Nastelane ten minutes before noon, Randolph, Tommy, Kim, Heather, Jason, Trini, Benny, Billy, Kat, and Olivia were twirling around. Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw were mimicking them. Joyful squeaks came out of their blowholes. The humans were unable to hold back laughs. No one noticed a gull flying overhead.
"You guys are wonderful dancers," Tommy said.
"Yep, yep, yep," Kim said, snickering to herself.
"Nice work at acting like Ducky," Jason commented and made babbling sounds. "Maybe you'll become her."
"Oh, shut up, Jason!" Kim warned with a playful growl. "I mean it."
"I have to say I am getting dizzy from all this dancing," Heather mumbled and made a funny noise while sticking her tongue out of the right side of her mouth.
The others voiced their agreement. They decided to stop twirling. Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw followed suit. They went downward up to their heads. They opened their mouths, folding their tongues.
"Okay," Randolph said, rubbing his hands together. "Let's do this."
Randolph, Tommy, Kim, Heather, Jason, Trini, Benny, Billy, Kat, and Olivia raised their hands high. Squeaking obediently, the orcas lowered their heads and lifted their tails out of the water.
"Nice work, you three," Randolph complimented. "Oh, yeah."
The entire group lowered his or her arms. Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw put their tails back into the water, lifting their heads.
"How about a pec slap?" Randolph suggested. He chuckled at the orcas clicking excitedly. "All right! Let's do it!"
The humans held up their arms. The orcas rolled on their sides to expose their flippers. Their friends jerked their arms downward. Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw slapped their flippers against the water. They returned to right side up, spouting air from their blowholes.
"Those were great pec slaps! Yes, they were!" Billy cooed. Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw stuck their tongues out at him. "Oh, you little wise orcas."
"You better put those tongues away—" Trini started.
"Or we'll put you—" Kat continued.
"In timeout," Tommy finished, narrowing his eyes at them. The orcas decided to put their tongues back in their mouths, causing him to chuckle. "Nice choice. You wouldn't have wanted that."
"Then again, we can always tie our tongues together," Benny quipped. "We'll never be able to be apart if we do."
"No, thank you," Randolph, Tommy, and Kim said with shakes of their heads.
"I don't think so," Heather, Jason, and Trini added.
"It'll never happen," Billy, Kat, and Olivia declared.
"It was just a thought," Benny commented while shrugging.
The humans turned back to the orcas. They raised their hands in the air and waved them. Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw raised more of their bodies out of the water. They wiggled their flippers while squeaking in delight. Randolph, Tommy, Kim, Heather, Jason, Trini, Benny, Billy, Kat, and Olivia stopped waving and placed their hands at their sides. Their friends ceased their wiggling, going down up to their heads.
"I have to say you three have learned to do these behaviors on command so well," Tommy said, cupping his chin in his hand.
Kim grabbed the railing. "Thanks to Jesse and Willy. They're great teachers."
"If Willy could talk like a human could, he'd say thank you," Trini said truthfully.
Kat smiled so widely that it seemed her face would stay that way. "Ditto."
"That's what Sam Wheat says to Molly Jensen every time she says 'I love you' to him in Ghost," Billy pointed out.
"I know. He's cute when he says that," Kat answered, looking up at him. "He's not as cute as you are, though."
Billy laughed in warmness. "I'm glad you said that. Otherwise, I would've tickled you until you did."
Kat elbowed Billy in the stomach. She jumped in surprise when he squeezed her neck. She smacked him in the shoulder and received a smack to hers in retaliation. They smiled and rubbed noses. They turned back to the orcas. Suddenly, a distant call came out of nowhere. Catspaw lifted her head, responding to it.
"It's Granny," Randolph commented in gentleness. "These three have to go."
"Bye, guys. Thanks for the fun morning," Tommy whispered.
"Try not to eat too much fish while hunting," Benny warned.
"You'll get tummy aches if you do!" Heather called and giggled cheerfully.
Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw rolled on their sides. They waved at their friends, whom all responded in kind. They turned right side up and swam away. They whistled softly while disappearing underwater. Randolph, Tommy, Kim, Heather, Jason, Trini, Benny, Billy, Kat, and Olivia glanced at each other.
"I have to say I'm very hungry for lunch," Tommy said as he touched his stomach.
"So am I," Kim agreed and rubbed hers before patting it very lightly.
"I'm so hungry I could eat a hyena," Jason quipped.
Trini laughed. "So could I, except it'd probably eat us first. After lunch, how about we all take a walk?"
"That'd be great," the others responded happily.
"Which family will go to the shore first?" Kat wondered.
"I've got it. How about Tommy, Kim, and Heather go first? Then Benny, Trini, and I will go next. After that, Billy, Kat, and Olivia can go," Jason suggested. He smiled at his friends, his girlfriend, and the children voicing their agreement. "Great."
Randolph snorted. "Just let me get the basket and blanket from the cabin."
Randolph went to the cabin to grab the picnic basket and a blanket. He and the others headed for the dinghy. He set the stuff in the center and unhooked it from the boat. He, Tommy, Kim, and Heather climbed in. Tommy, Kim, and Heather sat together at the bow while Randolph seated himself at the stern. He bit his lip.
Randolph steered the dinghy to shore and parked it there. He and Tommy grabbed the basket and blanket respectively. The group got off and walked to the edge of the forest. Tommy laid the blanket down in front of it, followed by Randolph putting the basket in the center. He, Kim, and Heather sat down on the left side.
Randolph returned to the dinghy and drove it back to the boat. Jason, Trini, and Benny got in, sitting down at the bow. He went to shore and stopped there, allowing the family to get off. They sat next to Heather. He went back to the boat. Billy, Kat, and Olivia climbed in. They sat at the bow. Randolph went to the shore. He, Billy, Kat, and Olivia got off. They seated themselves next to Benny. Everyone proceeded to get what food he or she wanted.
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All ten people were still sitting around the basket thirty-five minutes later. Heather, Benny, and Olivia were in their mothers' laps. Randolph wiped a tear from his eye while trying to contain his laughter. Tommy had been telling about the time he placed a rubber spider on Zack's shoulder. Everyone had finished his or her lunch.
"Zack's reaction to the spider was priceless. He overcame his fear of it, but he freaked out with a fake!" Tommy said, clapping three times.
Kim chuckled and ran her hand over Heather's hair. "Believe me, Tommy. I would've freaked out too."
"I'm not fond of spiders. They're too creepy-looking for my tastes," Kat commented.
Trini patted Benny's cheeks gently. "I don't like spiders either, but I do admit they are helpful in getting rid of flies."
"At least flies don't live very long at all," Randolph commented, folding his hands and laying them in his lap.
"Hallelujah!" Billy said in much relief.
Randolph, Tommy, Kim, Heather, Jason, Trini, Benny, Billy, Kat, and Olivia laughed aloud. They were so loud white-tailed deer that had been feeding on tree bark ran off in fright.
"I can't count the number of times I kicked my ball too close to my parents whenever we were outside. I was the champion of kickball in my day!" Jason said, sitting up tall and proud.
"The champion of kickball, Jason?" Trini asked as she looked at him in disbelief. You wouldn't even kick the ball unless it was rolled directly at the base. When you did, it was usually caught, or you were tagged!" She scoffed.
"All right, I admit it. I wasn't the best kickball player. At least I tried my best," Jason muttered in some embarrassment as he turned to her.
"Sure, you did," Trini said sarcastically.
"Are you being smart with me, Trini?" Jason asked in mock anger.
Trini smiled sweetly. "What if I am?"
Jason narrowed his eyes at her. "Then I will have to punish you with this!"
Jason gave his girlfriend a noogie. Trini swatted her boyfriend's hand aside. They made mean faces and growled at each other. Suddenly, their faces broke into smiles. They pinched each other's noses before sharing a laugh. Benny looked at his parents.
"Maybe I should throw some pies in your faces!" Benny squealed with delight.
"Go ahead, Benny," Jason threatened playfully as he and Trini gazed down at their son.
"We dare you," Trini added.
"Nah. I like you two just the way you are," Benny said, shaking her head.
Jason and Trini waved the boy off. They, Tommy, Kim, Heather, Billy, Kat, Olivia, and Randolph glanced up at the sky. A bald eagle flew overheard with a loud screech.
"I wonder if we're going to have another starry night tonight," Randolph said, unfolding his hands.
"Me too. I always try to count stars, but I always lose my place," Heather answered as she and the others turned toward each other.
"Everyone knows you can't count stars. There are too many of them," Jason said, crossing his arms.
"That doesn't stop me from trying, Uncle Jason. It's fun," Heather commented and smiled.
Benny expressed a little confusion. "Who came up with the idea that the moon was made of cheese?"
"I don't know, little man, but I can see why they said that. The moon is full of craters that look like the holes you find in Swiss cheese," Jason commented honestly.
"Why don't we send Jason to the moon in a rocket and see if he can find milk on it? He's always talking about being an astronaut!" Tommy snickered.
"I've got a better idea, Tommy," Jason said, looking toward his best friend. "Why don't we send you there?" He smirked.
"I'd love to, but I'm afraid I'm glued to the ground," Tommy said, placing his hands on the ground.
Jason growled in playfulness. "Then I will go over and pull you off!"
Jason jumped to his feet. He went over to Tommy and pretended to try to pull him off the ground. Tommy faked yawning in boredom. He felt his best friend let go of him and gave him a gentle punch to the jaw. Jason retaliated by smacking him in the back of his head. He returned to his spot, sitting down with a loud grunt. He looked at Trini when she laughed.
"You guys look so cute when you mess with each other like that," Trini said in a sweet voice.
"Cute is more for girls than it is for boys!" Jason retorted in a playful manner.
Trini scoffed in mock annoyance. "Yeah, right."
Jason smirked. "It is, and you know it."
Jason and Trini blew raspberries at each other. They smiled and shared a kiss, which disgusted Benny. They looked at the others.
"I'm ready to go on that walk down the beach," Olivia said eagerly.
"So am I," Billy agreed.
"You can count me in on that," Kim added with much pride.
"I'm in as well," Randolph said. He jerked his thumb in the direction of the dinghy. "Just let me go put the basket and blanket back on the boat, so the bears can't get them."
Everyone stood up to step off the blanket. Randolph took the basket off and laid it on the ground. He picked up the blanket. He folded it before grabbing the basket. He carried them to the dinghy to put them in. He got in and steered it to the boat. He climbed aboard with the basket and blanket in his hands once he got there. He took them to cabin to them on the floor. He returned to the dinghy. He steered it back to shore. He got out after he arrived there and went to his friends. They started walking along the beach.
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Randolph, Tommy, Kim, Heather, Jason, Trini, Benny, Billy, Kat, and Olivia found themselves on another part of the beach twenty-five minutes later. Screeching caught their attention, and they looked toward the water to see a bald eagle flying a short distance away. They stopped to watch it. The eagle let out another screech while flapping its wings to gain altitude. The fathers picked up the children, so they could have a better look.
"Talk about a beautiful eagle," Olivia said in awe.
"I agree," Benny said and laughed. "You would think we'd had our fair share of seeing eagles. Then another one pops up." He placed his hand on his cheek. "I don't mind, though. It's wonderful to see them."
"You don't get to see eagles in the middle of a big city like Angel Grove," Heather whispered in some sadness. "You only get to see them in wilderness areas like this."
"Nonetheless, the bald eagle is an interesting name for that bird. It's not really bald at all," Jason said in much curiosity.
"Would you like me to shave you bald, Jason?" Trini joked, touching his shoulder as she eyed him.
"You can on one condition," Jason said, peering at her in the corner of his eye.
"What's that?" Trini wondered.
"You have to let me shave off your hair. Then we can donate all of it to those charities that make wigs," Jason answered with a chuckle.
"That'd be nice," Trini commented with a smile. "In fact, I'd love to grow my hair even longer to make plenty of wigs." She ran both of her hands over her hair.
"I'd love to do that, but my hair goes haywire when it gets long," Billy mumbled with an annoyed groan.
"I'm lucky that my hair grows straight," Kat murmured as she took hold of her pigtails and held them up. "The same goes for Tommy and the other ladies in this group."
"Yeah. Tommy and the rest of you girls are so lucky," Billy whispered, pouting as he turned to his girlfriend.
"You have such a cute pout," Kat said as she gazed at her boyfriend. She ran her finger up and down his nose. He pushed her hand aside.
"If you do that again, I'll tie your pigtails together," Billy threatened playfully.
"Oh, that really scares me!" Kat taunted.
The fathers set the children on the ground. The group resumed walking. It looked toward the water again to see three Dall's porpoises surfacing in the distance. The porpoises dove underwater, swinging their tails upward. Three others leapt upward, landing on their stomachs and creating small splashes. Two more surfaced with loud bursts of air.
"It's been such a wonderful day. We got to see dolphins play around. We got to meet Willy, Littlespot, and Catspaw. We played with them for a while. We ate lunch at the edge of the forest. Now, we're seeing Dall's porpoises," Tommy said with much warmness.
"Not to mention you've gotten to see all this beauty," Randolph added, motioning toward the water and the trees.
"We would've lost all this beauty if Dark Specter had won," Kim mumbled, sobs rising her in throat. "Earth and other worlds would be—" Tears slid down her cheeks.
"I know, Kim," Tommy said, emitting a sad sigh. "All the universe's animals would be dead. So would all the humans and other sentient, moralistic species."
"Despite the efforts of well-wishing humans bringing species back from the brink of extinction, there is still much work to be done. It's made difficult by those who wish to profit from poaching animals and selling their body parts," Trini muttered disgustedly. She looked as if she were about to vomit.
"A world without whales, dolphins, and porpoises is a sad, empty one. I can't imagine that," Kat commented.
Olivia expressed a bit of confusion. "I don't get it. What makes the body parts of animals so special?"
"It's because some people think those body parts possess medicinal properties that can cure any ailment. They also believe eating them will make them strong," Billy explained.
Benny swallowed hard. "Whoa."
"That sounds really disgusting," Heather mumbled, laughing nervously.
"Oh, yeah. Some of the dishes containing the parts have weird names you shouldn't know about right now," Randolph commented.
"Remember, kids. Money isn't the best thing in world. It can never buy happiness or friends. Just because some people have a lot of it doesn't mean they are better than you are," Billy said in seriousness.
"On top of that, never underestimate what a small group of people can do," Randolph added calmly yet firmly.
"Okay," the children answered.
Tommy looked proud. "Good for you, kids."
Heather, Benny, and Olivia couldn't stop themselves from smiling. They wondered what the future would bring for them. They hoped it would include Willy and his podmates. They and the adults continued on their walk.