Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter forty-three of "Ride the Wind II: Justice Unbound." I am glad it took just five days to get out. I can't believe I've gotten over two hundred reviews. II want to give a shoutout to Ghostwriter for being the two hundredth reviewer. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. A special shoutout goes to Tasha Hill, Alex B Goode, Ghostwriter, and brankel1 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 Andros/Ashley and Zhane/Karone. This crossover has four chapters to go before it reaches its end. Stay tuned for chapter forty-four.

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Chapter 43: Still Stopped/The Forest Road

Jesse was still spraying Isabella seven minutes later. Brenda, Elvis, Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and Karone watched them from nearby. He focused on the orca's head. He moved the hose to the area in front of her dorsal and proceeded to spray it. She clicked softly while lifting her head. She laid it back down before spouting air from her blowhole. She squeaked in uncertainty. Karone came over to her and petted her nose.

"It's okay, Isabella. We will be on the move soon," Karone assured gently. "We promise."

Isabella opened her mouth and folded her tongue. Karone nodded at her and reached inside. She rubbed it so lightly that it seemed she wasn't even doing that. Brenda came to her side.

"I find it amazing that Isabella trusts you completely, though you don't see her often," Brenda said, letting out a long exhale.

"We bonded the second we met," Karone answered while giving the orca's tongue a gentle pat. She took her hand away, allowing her to close her mouth. "I was uncertain about touching her at first because she was a wild orca, but I managed to do it."

"Andros, Ashley, and Zhane were also uncertain about touching Willy, Nikki, and Max too. I didn't blame them," Jesse added.

"By the time Tommy, Kim, Ashley, and I headed to the Rubbing Rocks on our own, I was giving Willy signals," Andros commented proudly.

"Your attempt to get Willy to come to you failed miserably," Ashley said as she wrapped her arm around his. "He scared you out of your wits by surfacing in front of the rock."

"It wasn't my brightest moment, but at least we had fun playing with him, Polaris, and Rhapsody," Andros pointed out and winked at her.

"We sure did," Ashley agreed while laying her head on his shoulder. "I wrestled Kim off Rhapsody while I sat on Polaris."

"Kim didn't like that one bit," Andros said, stroking his chin. "Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope."

Ashley tightened her grip on her boyfriend. He kissed the top of her head before pushing her bangs out of her eyes. Brenda petted Isabella's nose as she looked up at Jesse.

"How much water was remaining in the tank you used on Willy by the time Glen and Annie came to help you, Randolph, and Rae?" Brenda asked.

"There wasn't a lot of water remaining in the tank," Jesse admitted, moving the hose to the area behind Isabella's dorsal. He proceeded to spray it. "While Dad worked on getting the trailer back on the road, I hosed Willy down. Mom sat with me. When Randolph needed my help with the boards, I asked her to keep Willy wet and gave her the hose. She agreed. Once we were on the main road, the tank was virtually empty. We headed to a car wash after Rae let Glen know Willy was getting too dry. Rae wet him down with my help."

Elvis snickered. "An old man actually told the group they had a nice whale while he and his companion were walking by. They left."

"Those men must've thought a truck pulling a whale looked rather odd," Brenda said, crossing her arms.

"Oh, they did," Jesse responded truthfully.

Zhane shrugged. "Anyone would."

Jesse made his way further down Isabella's back. He moved the hose to her side while speaking inaudible words. She opened her mouth a tiny bit. She wiggled her tongue before closing it. Brenda scratched her nose, followed by her chin. She took her hand away. She cupped her chin in it before suppressing a yawn. She emitted a long exhale.

"After the Taiji orcas were captured in 1997, they were taken away on trailers like this one," Karone mumbled as she laid her hand on Isabella's nose.

"Those orcas were crying as they were driven away to their life of captivity," Jesse said sadly. "The last survivor died in 2008. Her name was Ku. She first lived at the Taiji Whaling Museum with Nami. They didn't get along, despite they were both Japanese orcas. She was sent to Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium in 2003 with several bottlenose dolphins. She did very well there. Her cause of death was heart failure due to herpes."

Elvis frowned. "Talk about a horrible way to die."

"Asuka died in 2007 at Izu-Mito Sea Paradise. She first stayed at the Taiji Whaling Museum while awaiting a buyer. She was picked to be a companion for Yamato. He was called Tanouk when he lived at Marineland France. Her cause of death was never revealed," Ashley added.

"A movement to free the Taiji 5 started right after the capture. An adult female and a young male died at Nanki Shirahama Adventure World in the same year. She died of pneumonia. He died from herpes. Before then, the female miscarried her calf. The stress of the capture and transfer caused the pregnancy loss," Andros said, a heavy sigh coming from him.

Brenda cringed quite a bit. "That sucks big time."

Ashley sniffled. "The movement moved its attention to the three remaining survivors. It didn't succeed in its mission, but it did bring attention to wild orca captures. It was thought pressure would mount on countries to ban them. Unfortunately, it was proven wrong when a Russian female orca was captured in 2003. She lasted only a month in captivity."

"There were no captures for another seven years. Then a Russian female orca was captured in 2010. The capture was illegal as the hunters had no permit to acquire orcas. She was kept in a seapen, but she managed to escape due to a storm damaging it," Karone commented and sighed in much relief.

"Then Narnia was captured two years later," Zhane said, blowing hard. "Who knows how many more Russian orcas will be captured?"

Jesse scoffed irritatingly. "I don't know, but I do know one thing. Karma will come knocking on the hunters' doors at some point."

Jesse moved the hose back toward Isabella's head. She opened her mouth and wiggled her tongue. He smiled at her as he knew she wanted a drink. He sprayed the inside of her mouth. He did this for a minute before turning off the hose.

"Okay. That's enough," Jesse said, picking up the tank and putting it in the holder. He sat down next to Isabella. He looked at his friends and brother. "We should get going."

"All righty then," Brenda commented and clapped three times. "Let's go, everyone. Time is wasting away."

Zhane and Karone climbed into the back of the truck. They seated themselves with loud grunts. Brenda, Elvis, Andros, and Ashley walked to the front. The former two slipped into the front seat. The latter two got in the back seat. Brenda started the engine after everyone buckled up. She drove the truck back onto the road. She proceeded to go down it. Jesse petted Isabella on her eyepatch.

"I am so sorry you had to go through such a traumatic capture. I wish I could've been there to help you evade those hunters," Jesse apologized in a bit of guilt. He sniffled while laying his head against her. He let out a shuddering breath. "I have no doubt your parents cried out for you as you were lifted out of the water."

Isabella squeaked sadly while nodding slowly. She let out a quiet burst of air. Jesse stroked her eyepatch with the back of his hand. He showed much determination.

"You will be free soon, Isabella. We promise," Jesse assured and kissed her. He gave her a gentle pat.

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Brenda reached a fork in the road six minutes later. The left turn headed into the forest. The right turn continued going past fields. She made a left turn and began going into the forest. She slowed down somewhat. Elvis, Andros, and Ashley looked out their windows, watching the trees pass them. They proceeded to count them.

Zhane and Karone rubbed their hands together before yawning widely. They smacked their lips. They shifted their attention toward the trailer. They observed Jesse petting Isabella's melon and patting it in a gentle manner. They heard him whisper inaudible words to him. They turned to each other, their eyebrows raising.

"It's good Isabella has Jesse sitting with her and providing comfort to her," Karone whispered. She took her boyfriend's hand into hers and squeezed it gently. "Anyone of us would do the same."

"I am sure the security officers have woken up and alerted Dial and Harry to Isabella's disappearance by now," Zhane mumbled in some fear.

"Dial was very sure that Randolph, Rae, Jesse, and Willy would head for Dawson's Marina last time. He and his goons managed to get there before they, Glen, and Annie did. That didn't stop Glen from driving his truck full speed toward the gates," Karone commented.

"I don't doubt Dial and Harry are aware that Dawson's Marina is closed. They would need to make phone calls to get an idea of where we are heading," Zhane pointed out seriously.

She shuddered in a loud way. "It is likely they are on the road right now."

"I think you are right," Zhane admitted, chuckling nervously. "If they reach Jackson Marina before we do, they will be standing at the gate."

"Brenda said she wouldn't let them stop her from driving the truck at them full speed. That would make them scatter," Karone said, her voice showing much determination.

"I'm so grateful to her for joining forces with us to free Isabella," Zhane said, happiness beaming from his face. "Going against your bosses isn't easy."

"It isn't, but she knew it was the right thing to do," Karone said, letting out a long yawn. "I can't wait until we release Isabella into the water."

He sniffled. "I can't wait either. It will be sad to see her go, but at least she will be back with her family."

Zhane and Karone turned back to Jesse and Isabella. They could see him laying his head against her. The truck hit a slight bump, causing it to bounce. The trailer struck the bump in which it bounced. Jesse took his head off the orca.

"That wasn't a bad bounce," Zhane commented.

"No, it wasn't," Jesse agreed and yawned widely. He smacked his lips before emitting a soft snort. He heard Isabella squeak softly. "Yes, Isabella. We will be out of the forest soon."

Karone scooted over to the side and looked over the edge. "At least this forest road is a bit wider than the other one is."

Zhane smiled as she came back to him. "That's good. Let's hope we don't encounter any hills."

"Yeah," Jesse said, his body shaking a little bit. "The image of the trailer beginning to slide off the road will always stick with me." He made eye contact with Isabella. "If only you could read your father's mind and see that memory."

"Andros, Karone, and I can only read human minds," Zhane muttered disappointingly. "It'd be cool to read animal minds."

Jesse nodded in agreement. "It sure would. It is possible we could find out an animal's most embarrassing moment in its life."

Zhane and Karone looked at each other with shrugs. They started talking quietly amongst themselves. Andros and Ashley gazed out the window at them.

"I wonder what they are talking about," Andros whispered in curiosity.

"Me too," Ashley agreed and looked ahead along with him. "Some people are capable of carrying on conversations for hours."

"It takes much discipline to talk for a long time," Andros commented while touching her hand.

"I was described as being overly talkative when I was a kid," Elvis said matter-of-factly. "I loved to talk about stuff, especially baseball and music."

"Now, you don't talk quite as much," Andros said in thoughtfulness.

"Nope," Elvis admitted with a nod.

"My parents loved to talk about themselves. They boasted about their successful dental practice. They didn't like it when the conservation didn't focus on them. They always turned the attention toward them," Brenda said, rolling her eyes.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they took credit for your good grades," Elvis commented, his body tensing up.

"Oh, they did," Brenda responded bitterly. "Mom and Dad wanted me to join their practice. I wanted to be an animal trainer. They thought it was a pathetic job because I wouldn't be making a ton of money. I didn't care. I became one. I love it."

"Just because someone makes a good amount of money at a job doesn't mean they like it. It may be the only job capable of paying the bills," Andros said in much seriousness.

"Many people are willing to take pay cuts at new jobs if it means they can be happy," Ashley said.

"Happiness is an important part of life," Brenda commented and blew her bangs out of her eyes. She let out a long yawn. "We are the only ones responsible for our happiness."

Andros, Ashley, and Elvis voiced their agreement. Elvis ran his hand over his face, followed by his head. He propped his head up by his elbow on the door. He looked toward the trees.

"I can't help but wonder how many owls live in this forest," Elvis said in much curiosity.

"I have no idea, but I do know one thing. Forest is the perfect habitat for owls," Brenda commented.

Ashley twirled her finger around. "It's incredible how owls can turn their heads completely around."

"I wish teachers could do that. They would scare troublemakers silly," Andros said, laughing delightfully.

"Some troublemakers would get so scared that they'd pee their pants," Ashley added with a snicker.

"Ralphie beat up Scut after he bullied him one too many times in A Christmas Story. A person can only take so much bullying before they snap and strike back at the bully," Elvis said bluntly.

Andros smirked. "I bet Scut never bullied Ralphie or any other kid again."

"Though he wasn't beaten up by Ralphie, Grover probably stopped bullying other kids because he didn't have a leader anymore. When bullies lose their leader or leaders, they become powerless," Brenda pointed out.

"So true," Ashley agreed.

Elvis gave a sharp nod. "Yeah."

Brenda moved her head back and forth to stretch her neck. She started talking about life after Isabella was freed.