The Call of the Sea

The Call of the Sea follows a marine biologist who forms a deep bond with a rehabilitated dolphin, exploring themes of survival, trust, and letting go as they both navigate the untamed ocean.

Prelude to The Call of the Sea

The ocean had always called to Sarah, its vast and unknowable depths offering both solace and mystery. As a child, she spent hours on the shore, watching the waves crash against the rocks, wondering what lay beneath. The sea was wild, unpredictable, and alive with secrets. It both frightened and fascinated her, and as she grew older, it became her life’s work.

Becoming a marine biologist had felt inevitable, like following a path she’d known since childhood. Sarah had dedicated years to studying marine life, focusing on rehabilitation efforts for injured dolphins and whales. Her work at the marine rehabilitation center brought her close to creatures that had been pulled from the brink of death—animals wounded by human hands and environmental disasters, now given a second chance. But despite all her scientific training, Sarah could never quite shake the feeling that the ocean was more than a subject to be studied. It was a force of nature, vast and untamable.

It was this understanding, this respect for the wildness of the sea, that made Finn’s arrival so different. The dolphin had been found tangled in a fishing net, his injuries severe enough that even Sarah had doubted his survival. But something about Finn had drawn her in from the start. There was a quiet strength in his eyes, even in his most fragile moments. As Sarah nursed him back to health, a bond formed between them—one that went beyond her usual role as a scientist.

Finn wasn’t just another animal in recovery. He was a reflection of everything Sarah had come to believe about the ocean—its beauty, its danger, and the freedom it offered to those who were brave enough to answer its call.

But the ocean had its own rules, and no amount of care or preparation could guarantee what would happen when Finn was released. All Sarah could do was hope that she had given him the strength to survive. And in doing so, she would have to learn to let go of the one thing she had tried so hard to protect.

The Call of the Sea

Chapter 1: First Encounter

The rehabilitation center was quiet that morning, the smell of saltwater thick in the air as Sarah made her way down the narrow walkway toward the holding tanks. The early sunlight glinted off the surface of the water, casting shimmering patterns across the walls. This had been her routine for years—arriving before anyone else, savoring the peace before the bustle of the day began.

But today was different. Today, there was a new arrival.

“Finn came in last night,” Emma had told her over the phone, her voice laced with concern. “It’s bad, Sarah. We’re not sure he’s going to make it.”

Finn. Sarah had already read the initial reports—an adult male bottlenose dolphin found tangled in a fishing net off the coast, severely injured. He had been transported to the center after a local fisherman spotted him struggling in the water. When Sarah saw the pictures, her stomach had dropped. Deep lacerations along his tail, exhaustion written in every line of his body. He looked defeated.

But Sarah had seen dolphins in worse condition recover, and something about Finn’s story tugged at her. Maybe it was the timing—she had been feeling increasingly disconnected from her work lately, going through the motions without the sense of purpose that had once driven her. Maybe Finn would change that.

As she approached the tank, she could see him floating near the surface, motionless except for the slow rise and fall of his breathing. The water around him was still, save for the occasional ripple as he shifted slightly.

She stood at the edge, watching him. His body was covered in wounds, some freshly stitched, others still raw and exposed. He looked so fragile, so out of place in the sterile environment of the tank.

“Hey there, big guy,” Sarah said softly, kneeling beside the tank. “You’ve had a rough ride, huh?”

His eye flicked toward her, a weak movement, but enough to make her heart catch. It was the first sign of life she had seen from him, the first flicker of awareness. He was still in there, somewhere.

She reached out, gently brushing her fingers along the surface of the water. Finn didn’t move, but Sarah felt a connection form, fragile as it was. She had seen it before—the moment when a dolphin recognized that the humans around them were trying to help. It was subtle, but it was always there.

“You’re going to be okay,” she whispered, though she wasn’t sure if she believed it yet. “We’re going to take care of you.”

Sarah gently reaches out to Finn in the rehabilitation center, beginning the journey of trust and recovery.

Chapter 2: A Slow Recovery

The days that followed were difficult, a series of long hours and hard decisions. Finn’s condition was worse than they had initially thought. The injuries to his tail had caused severe muscle damage, and he struggled to swim without pain. Every movement was a battle.

Sarah spent almost every waking moment by his side, monitoring his progress, adjusting his medication, and ensuring his environment was as comfortable as possible. She coaxed him into eating, even when he refused, and sat beside the tank for hours, speaking to him in soft tones when the pain seemed unbearable.

It wasn’t easy, and there were moments when Sarah doubted whether he would pull through. But Finn was a fighter. Little by little, he started to show signs of improvement. The lacerations began to heal, the swelling in his tail reduced, and he started swimming more freely.

It was slow, but it was progress.

One morning, as Sarah prepared his food, she noticed something different. When she approached the tank, Finn swam toward her, his movements deliberate, his eyes brighter than they had been in days. He surfaced near the edge, letting out a soft whistle, a sound she hadn’t heard from him before.

Sarah smiled, leaning closer. “Good morning, Finn.”

He chirped again, nudging the water with his snout.

It was the first time he had actively engaged with her, and it sent a wave of relief and joy through Sarah. She had spent so much time worrying about his recovery, second-guessing her decisions, that this small interaction felt like a triumph. Finn was acknowledging her—not as a distant caretaker, but as someone he trusted.

From that moment on, their bond deepened. Finn began to respond to Sarah’s presence, following her as she walked around the tank, watching her as she worked. He was still far from fully recovered, but his spirit was returning, piece by piece.

Chapter 3: The Turning Point

Weeks passed, and Finn’s strength continued to grow. He was swimming more confidently now, his tail fully healed, though the scars remained. The trainers had started working with him on hunting simulations, helping him relearn the skills he would need in the wild. Sarah watched each session closely, her heart swelling with pride as Finn mastered each new challenge.

But there was still a long way to go.

One afternoon, as Sarah sat by the tank watching Finn swim, Emma joined her. She handed Sarah a clipboard filled with data from Finn’s latest session.

“He’s improving faster than we expected,” Emma said, her tone cautious. “But there’s something you should know.”

Sarah looked up, her brow furrowing. “What is it?”

“The board is starting to talk about release dates.”

Sarah’s stomach dropped. “Already?”

Emma nodded. “I know it feels soon, but Finn’s meeting all of the benchmarks. If he keeps progressing like this, they’re going to want to move him into the next phase.”

Sarah’s eyes returned to Finn, who was gliding effortlessly through the water, his sleek body cutting clean lines through the tank. He looked so strong, so capable. But the thought of sending him back into the wild, after everything they had been through, filled her with a sense of dread.

“He’s not ready,” Sarah said quietly.

Emma sighed, kneeling beside her. “I know you’re attached to him, Sarah, but we have to be realistic. Finn’s purpose is to return to the wild. That’s what we’ve been preparing him for.”

“I know,” Sarah replied, her voice tight. “But what if it’s too soon? What if he’s not—”

“He’s stronger than you think,” Emma interrupted gently. “You’ve done everything you can for him. Now it’s up to him.”

Sarah didn’t respond. She knew Emma was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. Releasing Finn felt like a betrayal. He had relied on her for so long, and now she was being asked to send him away, to let him face the unpredictable dangers of the wild alone.

But Finn wasn’t hers to keep. He never had been.

Chapter 4: Preparing for the Wild

The months passed in a blur of training, rehabilitation, and constant monitoring. Each day, Finn grew stronger, his movements more confident, his instincts sharper. Sarah watched with a mixture of pride and dread as the dolphin she had cared for slowly became less dependent on her and more attuned to the wildness that awaited him.

The rehabilitation center’s team, including Sarah, spent hours running simulated hunting exercises, teaching Finn to track fish, evade predators, and adjust to the fluctuating ocean currents they created in the controlled environment. Finn excelled, his body sleek and agile, cutting through the water with ease. The scars from his injury had faded to faint, silver lines, but they were a permanent reminder of the fragility of life in the wild.

“You’re a natural,” Sarah said one afternoon as Finn completed a perfect dive, emerging from the water with a sharp whistle of excitement. He swam toward her, nuzzling the edge of the tank where she stood.

Emma watched from a distance, clipboard in hand, her expression a mix of admiration and practicality. “He’s ready, you know,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “We’ve done everything we can. He’s strong enough now.”

Sarah knew Emma was right. Finn was ready—by all measurable standards, he was thriving. But the thought of letting him go filled her with an ache she couldn’t quite explain. It was more than just professional pride. Over the months, Finn had become a constant in her life. Caring for him had filled a void she hadn’t even realized existed.

“When’s the release scheduled?” Sarah asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

“Next week,” Emma replied, giving Sarah a sidelong glance. “We’re just waiting for final clearance from the board.”

Next week. The words hung in the air like a weight. She had known this day was coming, but hearing it spoken out loud made it real in a way she wasn’t prepared for. She turned back to Finn, who was now gliding lazily through the water, his dark eyes tracking her movements.

“You’ll be okay out there, won’t you?” she whispered to him, knowing he couldn’t answer.

Chapter 5: The Night Before

The night before Finn’s release, Sarah found herself unable to sleep. The small apartment she rented just minutes from the rehabilitation center felt claustrophobic, the walls pressing in on her as the reality of the situation settled over her.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that this was wrong—that Finn wasn’t ready, or maybe it was she who wasn’t ready. She had spent so much time preparing him for this moment, but what about herself? What would she do once he was gone?

Restless, Sarah slipped out of bed and dressed quickly, her feet carrying her almost automatically toward the center. The air outside was cool, the scent of salt and sea heavy on the breeze. The waves crashed rhythmically against the shore as she approached the familiar gates of the facility, her heart pounding in time with their beat.

The center was quiet, most of the staff gone for the night. Sarah let herself in and made her way to Finn’s tank, the place that had been her second home for nearly a year. She found him swimming in slow circles, his usual energy subdued, as if he too could sense the change that was coming.

She knelt beside the water’s edge, reaching out to him. Finn surfaced immediately, nudging her hand with his snout, his breath warm against her fingers. They stayed like that for a long time, the silence between them filled with unspoken emotions.

“You’re going to be incredible out there,” Sarah whispered, her voice breaking. “You’re going to be free.”

The word hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Finn was going back to where he belonged, the vast, untamed ocean where he could swim for miles without boundaries, without limits. It was what they had been working toward all along. But for Sarah, it felt like a goodbye to more than just Finn. It felt like a goodbye to everything she had been holding onto for the past few years—her work, her purpose, her control over the world she had created.

Finn let out a soft whistle, his body pressing closer to the tank’s edge. Sarah stroked his back, feeling the strength in his muscles, the life pulsing through him. It wasn’t fair, she thought, to feel so conflicted. This was a success. A victory. But why did it feel like a loss?

Chapter 6: The Release

The day dawned gray and overcast, the sky thick with clouds that threatened rain. It seemed fitting, somehow, for the occasion. The rehabilitation center’s staff had gathered by the water’s edge, the boat that would take Finn to the open ocean anchored just offshore.

Sarah stood at the dock, her heart in her throat as she watched the preparations. Finn was already in the transport tank, his sleek body gliding smoothly through the water as he waited for the final leg of his journey. He seemed calm, at peace, while Sarah’s nerves were frayed beyond belief.

“This is it,” Emma said, coming to stand beside her. “You ready?”

Sarah nodded, though she wasn’t sure if she meant it. She glanced at Emma, who was smiling, her face bright with excitement. For everyone else, this was a celebration. For Sarah, it felt like the end of something she wasn’t ready to let go of.

The crew moved quickly, loading the transport tank onto the boat, and within minutes, they were heading out to sea. Sarah rode silently at the bow, the wind whipping through her hair as the boat cut through the waves. The ocean stretched out before them, vast and endless, a world of possibilities—and dangers—awaiting Finn.

They stopped miles offshore, far enough from the coast that the sounds of the land had disappeared, replaced by the rhythmic roar of the sea. The crew prepared to release Finn, their movements efficient, well-practiced. But for Sarah, time seemed to slow.

As the gate of the transport tank opened, Finn hesitated for only a moment before swimming out into the open ocean. His movements were graceful, powerful, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along. He dove beneath the waves, resurfacing a few meters away, then again, farther out.

Sarah watched, her breath catching in her throat as he moved farther and farther away, his sleek body blending into the vastness of the sea. This was it. Finn was gone. He had answered the call of the wild ocean, the place where he belonged.

But Sarah wasn’t sure where she belonged anymore.

Chapter 7: Adrift

In the days that followed, Sarah found herself wandering through the routines of her life as if on autopilot. The rehabilitation center was busy as always, but without Finn there, the work felt hollow, the purpose blurred. She checked the tracking data obsessively, watching as Finn moved farther and farther from the coast, each ping of his signal a reminder of the distance growing between them.

It wasn’t supposed to feel like this. She had been doing this work for years—rehabilitating animals, preparing them for release, sending them back to the wild. It was the right thing. The natural thing. But Finn had been different. She had let herself get too attached, too emotionally invested.

“You need to take a break,” Emma said one afternoon, watching as Sarah scanned the tracking data for the third time that day. “Go out, take some time for yourself. You’ve earned it.”

Sarah nodded absently, though the idea of leaving the center, of leaving Finn, felt impossible.

Sarah spent the next few days going through the motions, but her heart wasn’t in it. Without Finn in the center, everything felt strangely hollow. She busied herself with the usual duties—checking on the other animals, updating records, attending staff meetings—but her mind was elsewhere, drifting out into the ocean with the dolphin she had grown so attached to.

The tracker’s blinking signal was like a pulse on the screen, showing Finn’s movements as he ventured farther from the shore. He was progressing well, moving through the waters like the free, wild animal he was meant to be. But instead of feeling the satisfaction she had anticipated, Sarah felt an emptiness she couldn’t quite shake.

She hadn’t realized how much of herself she had poured into Finn’s recovery. He had been more than just another rehabilitation case. He had filled a space in her life she hadn’t even known was there—a space that was now painfully empty.

“You’re distracted,” Emma said one afternoon as they worked side by side in the lab, prepping a new batch of data for analysis. “You need to get out of here for a bit. Clear your head.”

Sarah glanced up, blinking away her thoughts. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not,” Emma said, folding her arms across her chest. “You’ve been staring at that screen for days, obsessing over Finn’s tracker. You need to let it go. He’s doing fine, Sarah. You should be proud.”

Sarah sighed, pushing back from the desk. Emma was right. She should be proud. Finn was thriving, adapting to the wild the way he was meant to. But that pride was overshadowed by something darker, something she couldn’t quite name.

“I guess I got too attached,” Sarah admitted quietly, rubbing her temples. “It’s harder than I thought it would be, watching him go.”

Emma nodded sympathetically. “It’s natural. We spend so much time with these animals, caring for them, guiding them back to health, that it’s hard to let go when the time comes. But you’ve done your job, Sarah. Finn’s where he’s supposed to be.”

“Where he’s supposed to be,” Sarah echoed, the words tasting strange on her tongue. Where was she supposed to be?

Chapter 8: The Unexpected Call

The storm that swept through the coast later that week wasn’t unexpected, but its intensity caught everyone off guard. What had started as a low-pressure system off the Pacific quickly grew into a fierce cyclone, battering the shoreline with heavy rain and powerful winds. The waves crashed against the harbor with a force that rattled the foundations of the docks, and the sky was dark and heavy with clouds.

Sarah watched from her office window as the storm raged, her thoughts still with Finn. She had checked his tracker that morning, watching as he moved steadily northward, far from the reach of the storm’s worst effects. He was in deeper waters now, a good sign that he was finding his way in the wild.

But that evening, as the rain hammered down and the wind howled through the streets, something changed. A technician knocked on her door, his face pale, eyes wide with worry.

“We’ve lost the signal.”

Sarah turned, her heart dropping into her stomach. “What?”

“Finn’s tracker—it’s gone dark. We’re not picking up anything.”

Panic flared in her chest. Finn’s signal had been steady for weeks. He had been progressing, adapting, thriving. How could the signal just disappear?

“Run a diagnostic,” Sarah said, already pulling on her jacket. “It’s probably interference from the storm.”

“We did,” the technician replied, shaking his head. “It’s not interference. The signal’s just… gone.”

Sarah’s mind raced as she stormed toward the control room, where the rest of the team was huddled around the tracking screen. The map of the ocean glowed in the dim light, but where Finn’s blinking dot had been, there was now only empty space.

“It could be the device malfunctioning,” Emma suggested, though her voice was tense. “These things happen. The storm might’ve damaged the signal.”

“Or something else might’ve happened,” Sarah said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The words hung in the air like a weight. The wild was unpredictable. Finn could have been caught in a fishing net again, or attacked by a predator, or swept into a current too strong for him to escape. A dozen possibilities flashed through Sarah’s mind, each one worse than the last.

“I need to go out there,” Sarah said suddenly, the thought breaking free before she could stop it.

Emma turned, her eyes widening. “You can’t be serious. In this storm?”

“I have to,” Sarah insisted, her voice rising with emotion. “I have to know what happened. Finn’s out there, and if something’s wrong—”

“You don’t even know where to start looking,” Emma interrupted. “The ocean’s too vast. And you said it yourself—Finn’s far from the coast now. You won’t make it in time.”

Sarah’s pulse quickened, the need to act overwhelming every rational thought. She couldn’t just sit there. She couldn’t let him disappear into the abyss without knowing. Her connection to Finn ran deeper than any professional attachment—there was something primal about it, something she couldn’t explain.

“I’m going,” Sarah said firmly, grabbing her keys from the desk. “I’ll take the boat and head out to where the signal was last picked up. I need to try.”

Emma stepped forward, her hand gripping Sarah’s arm. “Sarah, stop. You’re not thinking clearly. The storm’s dangerous. You could—”

“I don’t care!” Sarah’s voice cracked as she pulled away. “I can’t just stay here.”

For a long moment, the room was silent, the tension thick in the air. Sarah could feel everyone’s eyes on her, waiting for her to back down. But she wouldn’t. She couldn’t. This was more than just her job. It was something else—something bigger.

Emma finally sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Fine. But you’re not going alone.”

Chapter 9: Into the Unknown

The boat rocked violently in the waves as they ventured out into the storm, the wind howling like a living creature around them. Rain pelted the deck in icy sheets, and the sky was an angry swirl of gray and black, flashes of lightning illuminating the horizon in eerie bursts.

Sarah gripped the wheel, her knuckles white as she steered into the churning sea. Emma sat beside her, scanning the radar for any sign of Finn, but the screen remained frustratingly blank.

“He has to be out here somewhere,” Sarah muttered, more to herself than to Emma.

The waves crashed against the boat with relentless force, each impact sending a shockwave through her bones. Sarah’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with the thought of Finn lost out there, somewhere in the deep. She had always known the risks of releasing him back into the wild, but she hadn’t been prepared for this—the fear, the helplessness, the uncertainty.

The minutes stretched into hours, the storm showing no signs of relenting. Sarah could feel exhaustion creeping in, but she forced herself to stay alert, her eyes scanning the endless expanse of water for any sign of movement.

And then, through the rain and the mist, she saw it.

A flash of gray—a dorsal fin, cutting through the waves.

“Finn!” Sarah shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of the storm.

She steered the boat toward the shape, her heart racing as the fin disappeared beneath the surface again. Was it him? Could it really be?

As they drew closer, the shape reappeared, this time closer—much closer. And then, in a moment that felt like a dream, Finn surfaced, his sleek body cutting through the water, his eyes locking with Sarah’s.

Tears welled up in her eyes, a wave of relief crashing over her as she watched him swim beside the boat. He was alive. He had made it.

But even as relief flooded her, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Finn’s movements were slower, more labored than they had been. He swam close to the boat, nudging the hull as if seeking comfort, his breath coming in short, strained bursts.

“He’s injured,” Sarah whispered, her heart sinking. “We have to get him out of here.”

Sarah’s hands trembled as she watched Finn nudge the boat, his once-powerful form now weakened and struggling. The storm had battered him, and it showed. His breathing was uneven, each exhale a labored whistle that made Sarah’s chest tighten with worry. She had always feared this moment—facing the wildness of the ocean and finding Finn not quite strong enough to survive it.

“He’s hurt,” Sarah said again, her voice thick with emotion. “We need to help him.”

Emma was already moving, grabbing the equipment they had prepared just in case something went wrong. The wind howled around them, rain pelting the deck as they worked. The sea tossed the boat relentlessly, and Sarah could feel the spray of saltwater on her face, mixing with the tears she hadn’t realized were falling.

“I’m going to get him closer to the boat,” Sarah said, more to herself than to Emma.

She reached out, her fingers skimming the water as Finn surfaced again, his dark eyes watching her. There was something in his gaze that made her heart ache—recognition, trust, and beneath it all, fear. He was scared. For the first time since his release, Finn wasn’t in control, and neither was she.

“Come on, Finn,” Sarah whispered, urging him closer. “Just a little more…”

With a flick of his tail, Finn edged closer to the boat, his sleek body brushing against the hull. He was so close now that Sarah could feel the tension in his muscles, the strain in his movements. He wasn’t just tired—he was injured.

Emma handed her a harness, a specially designed sling that they used to transport larger animals like Finn in emergencies. Sarah leaned over the edge of the boat, her arms reaching down into the water as Emma steadied her from behind.

“Easy, Finn,” Sarah murmured, her voice soothing despite the chaos around them. “You’re going to be okay.”

Finn let out a soft whistle as Sarah secured the harness around his body. He didn’t fight her—he trusted her. Even in his weakened state, he knew she was there to help.

Emma helped haul him up with a steady hand, and the two of them worked quickly, straining against the weight of both the dolphin and the relentless storm. After what felt like an eternity, they had Finn partially lifted out of the water, resting on the side of the boat. His breathing was still shallow, but at least now they could assess the damage.

“His tail,” Emma said grimly, pointing to the deep gash running along Finn’s fluke. Blood mixed with the seawater, staining the waves with a thin red stream. “He must’ve gotten caught in something.”

Sarah’s chest tightened. It looked bad—worse than anything she’d seen since they first rescued him. He wouldn’t be able to swim much longer if they didn’t act fast.

“We have to get him back to shore,” Sarah said, her voice shaking. “We need to treat him now.”

Emma nodded, already preparing the boat to turn back toward the coast. But as they struggled to get Finn settled, the storm roared even louder, the waves crashing against the boat with renewed force. Sarah could barely see through the rain, and the boat rocked so violently that she had to grab hold of the rail to keep from being thrown overboard.

“We won’t make it in this storm,” Emma shouted over the wind. “The coast guard won’t even be able to reach us out here.”

Sarah’s mind raced. She couldn’t lose Finn—not now, not after everything. She looked down at him, his body limp, his breathing shallow, and something inside her snapped into focus. There was only one option left.

“We’ll head for the inlet,” Sarah said suddenly, pointing to the narrow cove they had passed on the way out. It wasn’t far—just a few miles away—but it was sheltered from the worst of the storm. If they could make it there, they’d have a better chance of stabilizing Finn until help arrived.

Emma hesitated, her brow furrowing. “Are you sure?”

“It’s the only way,” Sarah replied, her voice firm. “We won’t make it back to shore in time. If we don’t try, he won’t survive.”

Emma nodded, trusting Sarah’s instincts. Together, they maneuvered the boat toward the inlet, fighting against the storm with every inch of progress. The waves towered above them, crashing down like giant fists, but Sarah’s grip on the wheel never faltered. She had to save him.

Chapter 10: The Shelter of the Wild

After what felt like hours, they finally reached the inlet. The narrow strip of coastline was protected by jagged cliffs, creating a natural barrier against the worst of the storm. The water was calmer here, though still choppy, and Sarah exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“We need to get him into the cove,” Sarah said, her mind already running through the steps they needed to take. The inlet’s waters were shallow and safe enough for them to work on Finn without the constant threat of the waves.

With careful coordination, Sarah and Emma worked to lower Finn back into the water, guiding him into the sheltered cove where the waves lapped gently against the rocks. Finn’s breathing was still strained, but the calm of the inlet seemed to give him a momentary reprieve. Sarah knelt by the water’s edge, her hands brushing against his skin, reassuring him as best she could.

“You’re safe now,” she whispered, her voice catching in her throat. “We’re going to get you through this.”

The storm raged on beyond the cliffs, but here, in the quiet of the cove, it felt distant. The world shrunk to just the three of them—Sarah, Finn, and the ocean that had always felt like home but now seemed more dangerous than ever.

Emma stayed by the boat, calling the coast guard to update them on their location and the situation. Sarah remained with Finn, her heart heavy with fear and uncertainty. She had seen injuries like this before—sometimes they healed, and sometimes they didn’t.

But this was Finn. He was strong. He had survived so much already. He had to make it.

As the minutes ticked by, Sarah worked to keep Finn calm, monitoring his breathing, checking the wound on his tail. The bleeding had slowed, but the gash was deep. It would need to be treated as soon as they got back to the center. But for now, all they could do was wait for the coast guard to arrive.

Sarah stroked Finn’s back, her fingers tracing the familiar lines of his body. She had known from the beginning that letting him go would be hard, but she hadn’t expected this—this feeling of helplessness, of failure. She had trained him to survive, but the wild was so much more than she could control.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, the words barely audible over the sound of the waves. “I should’ve done more. I should’ve prepared you better.”

Finn let out a soft whistle, his body shifting slightly as if to nudge her. It was a small gesture, but it was enough. He was still fighting.

Chapter 11: The Waiting Game

Hours passed, and the storm began to subside, though the rain still fell in a steady drizzle. The coast guard had finally responded, and help was on its way, but the waiting felt unbearable. Sarah stayed by Finn’s side, never leaving him, her mind racing with what-ifs and worst-case scenarios.

As the first rays of morning light broke through the clouds, Sarah’s exhaustion began to set in. She hadn’t slept, hadn’t eaten—her entire focus had been on keeping Finn alive. But now, as the storm gave way to calm, she allowed herself a moment to breathe.

Emma sat beside her, her face lined with worry but filled with quiet relief. “He’s going to make it, Sarah,” she said softly. “He’s a fighter, just like you.”

Sarah nodded, though the knot of anxiety in her chest hadn’t loosened. She looked down at Finn, his body floating gently in the water, his breathing more regular now, though still shallow. He was holding on, but just barely.

The sound of an approaching boat echoed through the cove, and Sarah’s heart lifted slightly. Help was finally here. The coast guard’s vessel appeared around the bend, and within minutes, they were loading Finn onto the boat, ready to transport him back to the rehabilitation center.

Sarah climbed aboard, her eyes never leaving Finn as they sped toward shore. The storm had passed, but the journey was far from over.