"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" laughed all the pups in the room.

"Haha, so, not only, you wiped out on your board, but you pooped in the ocean after you went unconscious for a few seconds," Chase recapped. Zuma could be seen smiling with a light blush across his cheeks.

"Well, yeah," Zuma laughed. "Looking at it now, it's kinda hilawious, but back then I must have been so embawwassed."

"Kinda! It's VERY hilarious," Skye said laughing her tail off.

"Says the giwl who faces planted twying to backflip off a building and ended up in the hospital for 5 days," Zuma shot back.

"Hey, I was only a puppy back then"

"So was I," countered Zuma. They all shared another laugh, laughing at each other mishaps. It was one of the best things they could do at the time. Currently, there was a large thunderstorm that hovered over the Seacliff Isles covering the sky in pure darkness, only being lit by the faintly glowing moon and flashes of lightning. None of the pup-houses had been waterproofed, letting water seep in, along with the fact that several of the team's members didn't like thunder nor lightning, Ryder had conditioned all the pups to sleep on the lower level of the lookout, keeping each other company. All in a circle, covered by their sleeping bags, lit by a lantern, the pups were telling stories to each other. Primarily about their adventures before he joined the team and some memorable moments they had as kids.

Zuma just got done telling the story of his first time riding a surfboard and how he had wiped out. Before that Chase explained his fear of the dentist, when he kept biting on a rock mistaking for a ball and had to get several of his teeth treated, and the dentist didn't have any knock out gas. Everyone had a good laugh out of that. And Skye shared a story about how she was learning to backflip and how she kept falling and ended up in the hospital because of it, along with some of the other pups telling several other stories.

"Hehe, either way, you two, these stories really crack me up," Rocky said wiping a tear from his fur. Zuma gave a bit of a salty look towards the mix.

"Well it's not like you haven't done anything embawwassing befowe when you were little," Zuma said. Rocky thought about for a while, with an empty result.

"Nope, not that I can think of. Sorry, Zuma." Rocky shrugged his shoulders.

"What about your feaw of watew."

"I have no fear. I just don't like it."

"What about a failed invention."

"I check my formulas and blueprints several times, leaving no room for catastrophic failure."

"W-well," Zuma looked around, attempting to poke a story out of the eco pup. "What about the cut on your eaw?" That statement directed everyone to Rocky's left ear to which he froze.

"O-o-oh. T-this. I got it, before I joined the team, when...a dog attacked me," Rocky said sheepishly. Rocky lowered his ears as his eyes were filled with sadness as the others minus one looked in shock.

"Oh, sorry I asked," Zuma apologized. "I didn't know you were so sensitive on the subject."

"No, no. *sigh* this snip taken out of my ear serves me as a reminder," Rocky said half-heartedly not wanting to continue the conversation.

Chase tilted his head to the side. "A reminder? A reminder of what?"

At that moment the quiet dalmatian deep in thought suddenly came out of it and got out his sleeping bag. He quickly stood in front of Chase.

"Chase, guys. I think that's enough questions. Rocky obviously doesn't want to talk about it anymore," Marshall said pointing to the mix staring at the ground. "So lets just, drop it," Marshall said trying to disperse the situation. The feeling is authority attacked Chase got out from his sleeping bag as well facing the dalmatian.

"How can you tell how Rocky feels. You go around peeping into people's personal lives all the time. You of all pups should be just as curious as the rest of us. We have a right to ask Rocky questions. Do we not?" Chase said practically yelling.

"It's not that Chase," Marshall said getting worked up. "IT'S BECAUSE of m-"

"Marshall!" a voice yelled getting his attention. "Don't worry about it, but, thanks," he smiled. "You guys have the right to know what happened so just keep your tails on." Marshall turned 180 degrees facing Rocky with a concerned look on his face.

"Rocky, are you sure?" Marshall asked making sure this is what the mixed breed wanted. Rocky responded by nodding his head. "Okay. I'm going upstairs. To clear my head," Marshall said. And with that, he had already taken the elevator to the top floor. Chase returned back to his sleeping bag calming down as he awaited at what Rocky had to say.

"Rocky, what was that all about?" Rubble asked watching the elevator rise to the top, leaving the dalmatian out of sight.

"You'll find out later," he responded. "Anyways, back to Chase's earlier question. This cut, on my left ear-" Rocky flicked his ear. "-reminds me of the time, before the PAW Patrol. The time when I was, alone. And a motivator to never go back to that life. "So, when I was little-"


(all italicized paragraphs will be Rocky narrating, or one of the pups in the real world talking.)

"-I didn't have a home. I didn't have a family. No friends, nowhere to go. It was just me and where the wind would take me. And to be honest. I was somewhat content with my life. I was able to wander around freely, explore the world, scavenge for food, and occasionally meet some nice people. It was all routine to me. It was completely normal. Even then, I felt something missing in my life. Someone to care for. Someone to care about. Someone to care about me. Even with my life, I still had to deal with constant bullying, stealing, and the fact I still had to survive. No matter how you put it, it was the world against me. And I was losing.

"Hey give that back!" a young puppy yelled. Down the street, two dogs could be seen running with something in their mouths.

"Late-a lose-a," one of them said laughing. The pup known as Rocky sat down on the sidewalk pouting.

"Oh well, there goes my lunch," he said. At that moment his stomach started to growl. "Umm, when was the last time I ate. Let's see, yesterday I was caught, the day before my food was taken, so three days. Huh, not too bad." His stomach started to growl again. "Still, I need to eat something. Maybe the park has some squirrels or chipmunks I can eat."

Rocky stood back up and made his way over to the local park. If he was lucky enough sometimes the kids would share some of their food with him or find scraps of bread left by the geese.

Once he got there, multiple families could be seen playing with each other but decided not to bother them. He walked over to the secluded part of the park, where not many people were and looked around for anything to end this hunger. Rocky put his nose low to the ground and smelled.

"Bird, *sniff* some old chocolate, *sniff* poop? Yuck!", Rocky said covering his nose. "Sheesh, that's strong." Rocky walked a bit away and started to smell up the smell. "Yes!" he shouted. He followed the scent to a squirrel digging something up in the ground. Rocky went into hunting mode, something he had to do quite often. He slowly stalked closer to the animal, not making a sound until he was a couple of feet in behind it. Ready to attack, he pounced forward, but the sound of the grass moving alerted the squirrel. The squirrel dodged the attack, which left Rocky to chase the rodent around the field.

"Get back here. Do me a favor and let me eat you!" Rocky yelled. The squirrel picked up its pace and jumped into some bushes and Rocky kept following. As Rocky was approaching the bushes a white head with the same squirrel from before on it poked out from the bushes.

"There you are Squeaks," it said looking at the squirrel on its head. Rocky came to a screeching halt but the momentum kept him going crashing into it. It was a pup. The pup shook its head. "I'm okay. How 'bout you Squeaks," he asked to which the squirrel gave a small squeak. The pup the noticed the other pups next to him. "Hey are you okay?" he asked helping Rocky out the bushes.

"Yeah, I'm good. OWW!" Rocky said holding up one of his paws. The pup looked at it.

"It seems you hurt one of your paws."

"Really? I didn't realize," Rocky said rolling his eyes.

"Can you walk?" Rocky took a few steps and then stopped.

"Yeah, kinda."

"Great, follow me."

The pup took a few steps into the bushes with Rocky lagging behind but still following. A minute passed and the pup saw his traveling partner was a significant distance behind, so he decided to slow his pace, walking at a similar speed. Wanting to get to break the awkward silence he engaged in conversation.

"So, um, what's your name?" he asked. Rocky turned his head towards him.

"Rocky. And you?"

"Hehe," the pup smiled. "I really don't know my name. I barely remember anything after I was born. Only faint memories. I just go by Joey."

"Joey? Why Joey, Joey?" Rocky said laughing at his comment.

"I don't know. I just like the name. Anyhow, what's your story? Do have an owner? A home?"

"No. Not really. I just move around a lot. I was born in a pound. The owners of the pound weren't total monsters and let me stay with my mom and dad for a year. After that I was tossed to the curb. They told me if I ever came back they'd shoot me down. Out of fear I ran away. For the past two years of my life over been trying to survive. It's not the worst. It could be better, but I don't really have a problem. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be." Silence filled the air for a few seconds before Rocky started speaking again. "What about you?"

Joey was somewhat caught off guard by the question but proceeded to answer. "Not much...I guess. I just remember waking up about two and half years ago on a sidewalk. I kinda had to fend for myself. I occasionally get memories from before then, but none to vivid to mean anything. I guess it worked out. I'm alive. It gets kinda lonely out here, but I make friends with some of the animals," he said as he looked up to Squeaks on his head. The two kept walking until they met a wall of leaves and another shrubbery.

"Well, this is it."

"What did you even lead me to anyway?" Rocky asked.

"This is kinda where I live. It's far enough from everything but close enough to where I can walk a reasonable distance to the main area." Joey said leading Rocky through the wall. It was a secluded area of the woods where a freshwater pond was present near the back of it. The area it seems was flat with grass growing on the ground. Light filtering from the overhang of the trees let in a moderate amount of sunlight and shade.

Rocky stood dumbfounded as to how beautiful the small place was. It had ever necessity apart from food. And best of all it was safe. It wasn't very visible from the outside and it was hard to see amongst the other plants. Joey waved him over near the pond. Rocky attempted to walk over there and succeeded.

"Lay down and let me see your paw."

Rocky did as instructed while Joey pulled some vines and leaves and started to wrap his paw in a makeshift bandage. While this was going on and Rocky was waiting, he wanted to ask some of his unanswered questions.

"So, Joey where'd you find this place?"

"Oh, I just kinda...fell in," he said. Rocky laughed at the statement. "No really, I fell in. I tripped on a root and ended up in the pond over there," he laughed at himself. "I'm kinda accident prone. That's kinda how I learned to do things like this." He finally finished. He got up along with Rocky but was interrupted by a stomach growl. A loud one.

"Umm, by any chance are you hungry?" Joey asked.

"...possibly," Rocky sheepishly answered. Joey smiled. He got up and walked to the side opposite of him and Rocky.

"Well, why didn't you say anything!" He began to sniff around until he came to a stop. Using his paws he began to dig down into the earth until he found what he was looking for. He stuck his head down and grabbed a price of food out, which appeared to be some sort of chicken. Joey walked back over to Rocky and gave it to him.

Rocky looked up and instantly teared up. Without thinking once he began to scarf down the food he was given


"Aww, that's so nice of him," Skye aid in awe.

"Yeah, you had a really good friend in Joey. I wish I could get to meet him. He seems really nice," Chase added. Rocky then began to laugh. "Hey, what's so funny?!"

"Oh, nothing. You'll see. I was just thinking," Rocky continued to smile.

"Umm, dude. I don't mean to be 'that pup' but when are we getting to the good part," Zuma started but instantly stopped himself. "Not to say this point in your life isn't important, plus I'm the cause of this in the first place. Could you maybe..hurry it up."

Rubble yawned. "Yeah, I'm getting a little tired as well."

"Go to sleep if you want. But it's story night. A story isn't good if it has no context. I could just say that x,y, and z happened and I got a piece of my ear torn, but that wouldn't make for a good story. Besides, who's telling it."


"Where'd you get this," Rocky said still stuffing his mouth.

"Hehe. I kinda starved myself in order to get food for people for about a week. I racked up a fair amount of food and saved it. Every month I just ask for more and I get some," he explained.

"Thank you so much, Joey. You're a great friend."

"Wait. You consider me a friend?" Rocky nodded. "Well, friend, do you want to play for a while. I mean after your paw feels better."

"Actually I'm up for some fun now. I haven't had fun in a while."

"Yeah, I just have Squeaks and the occasional bird. I get lonely quickly." Rocky and Joey laughed at each other before heading out to the distant area from the park.

They played, laughed, and just had fun. This lasted for a few hours, and in those hours they got to know each other more and more. Unfortunately for them, the sun started to set, and they were all tired out.

"Rocky. That was the best time of my life. I hope we can have another day like this," Joey said with back against a tree next to Rocky.

"Yeah. Well, I have to get going. I hope you're here tomorrow."

"Well, it's not like I have anywhere to be," Joey laughed. Rocky began to get up and walk. "Wait, why don't stay with me tonight."

Rocky shook his head. "No, you've already done so much for me."

"Well at least let me see you out." Rocky shrugged his shoulders and let Joey tag along.

Back in town, Joey saw the alley that Rocky slept in. It had dirty blankets covering the ground in a donut-shaped formation.

"This is where you sleep?"

"Yeah. It's like home for me. Well see you later," Rocky said laying down. Joey began walking away until he heard a noise come from behind him. Rocky noticed it too. Joey turned around. Two dogs were walking up to where Rocky was and he grew wary.

"Hey, runt. We've been missin' you all day. You forgot your afternoon beat up," one of the two dogs from earlier said towering over Rocky, who looked like he had already accepted his fate. Joey, on the other hand, wasn't going to let it happen. He stood in front of his friend defending.

"Step off. Don't pick on someone smaller than you!"

"Huh! Oh. Is that really you. Hey, short stuff. Haven't seen you in forever. Remember me?"

Joey stood there confused, "No, I haven't seen you in my life," he growled.

"Joey, get away. They'll hurt you," Rocky pleaded.

"Joey?! You really have lost it haven't you," the other said. "No matter!" He stepped pass Joey and went straight to Rocky biting at him. Joey knocked the dog out the way and clawed the other one.

"I can deal more damage if that's what you please, but I suggest you make like a pest and SCRAM!"

"Don't worry we'll be back," one of them said. Rocky got up and hugged Joey thanking him for protecting him.

"Don't worry Rocky that's what friends are for," he smiled. "Well, I gotta get going. See you tomorrow."

"Bye!" And with that Rocky was able to get a good night's sleep.


"Ohh, so that's how you got the cut in your ear. When he bit at you!"

"Nope," Rocky said. "He got me a little bit, but that's not where that came from. There's more to it. A lot more to it."

Rubble yawned again. "God this story has more layers than a stack of onions."

"Rubble, you can always go to sleep," Skye suggested.

"Nope I want to hear the story straight from the pup's mouth," he said yawning again.

"Anyways, I woke up that morning and I found something that surprised me.


Morning came and Rocky was greeted with at least 3 pieces of steak. It may not have seemed like a lot, but to Rocky, if he planned his rations outright, it could last him the rest of the month. Curious and cautious, Rocky began to sniff it for any poison, how close it was from rotting, and any familiar smells. To his suprise, he smelt a scent that he did recognize.

"Did Joey come all the way here to give me this? He really is nice. I should go see him later." Rocky was about to go hide his food when two dogs came up behind, growling.

"Heya, runt," Rocky heard from behind him. Hearing it made him instantly freeze. Slowly he turned around. And face the dogs that always seemed to torture him at the right moment.

"Hey, Dave, hey, Mitch," he sheepishly said.

"Is that food ya got there," the one called Mitch asked threatening Rocky.

"Possibly," he answered. Both Dave and Mitch snapped at Rocky making him flinch. Out of fear he spoke. "WAIT!" The two backed off. "I know where you can find plenty of food..."

"We're listening," he said in unison intrigued by the mix's statement.

"If you go to the forest in the southwestern corner of the park, go straight and make a right to where you see a grass amd vine wall. If you go through it there is an entire field with buried food."

"Ya know if you're lying to us, we WILL kill ya," Mitch said. Rocky gulped and rapidly nodded his head.

"Also, if you're here when we get back your crusin' for brusin' ya got that," Dave said. Rocky repeated his actions and waited for the two to be out of sight. Rocky knew what he did was wrong, but he couldn't bear the fact that one of these days, Dave and Mitch might actually kill him. But on the other hand, he could have just put Joey in danger. Someone so nice to him, he threw him under the bus. Rocky wanted to help, but at the same time, he didn't want any trouble. Overcome by fear he took all he could and found a new place to set up.

It took an hour for him to find a new place and finish, but he was done. With that out of the way, he went straight to where Joey was to check up on him, hoping that he was okay. He looked up at the sky noting it's a darker color than usual. Rocky knew it was going to rain. So he wanted to get this done as fast as possible seeing as he didn't like water.

When he got there he didn't like what he was greeted to. He saw his friend beat up and bruised with holes dig out all over the field. Guilt washed over the mix's face. Trying to play it off, he went over to him.

"Joey, what happened!"

"T-Those two dogs from last night came while I was sleeping. I woke up and they beat me up. They started to take all the food I had buried."

As Joey told his story, Rocky became more and more guilty so he decided to spill it out.

"I'm sorry. I told them. T-they were going to beat me up. Or even worse kill me! I didn't think this would happen."

Weakened Joey got up and faced Rocky. He stood directly towards his face. "Wait, so you mean you almost got me killed, in order to save your own hide," he said getting ticked off. All Rocky could do was slowly nod his head. "Rocky! Why the heck is wrong with you! I helped you, saved you, and fed you, where no one else would!"

"I'm sorry okay! You would have done the same thing!" he yelled getting frustrated. A lightning bolt crashed across the sky with a thunderclap soon after.

"Don't you accuse me of being a bad friend," Joey said with a scowl on his face. Rocky was now getting angry. He felt like even though he knew what he did was wrong, Joey couldn't even see it his way. Rocky, on an impulsive decision, pushed Joey to the ground. Now angry Joey pushed Rocky down and followed up with a claw to the face. He didn't let up. Joey went for the bite, but Rocky was able to move out the way only get part of his ear bit. Rocky rolled over to his feet and got up. Using his back legs he kicked Joey to the ground. Already injured from before Joey barely had the strength to get back up.

"Fine. If I'm such a bad friend, I'll just leave you here to rot." Rocky walked away, not looking back, trying to shake off the stinging from the scratch on his face. As Rocky left the park rain began to fall, but he didn't care. He was to mad to even notice the water soaking his fur. He didn't even go back 'home'. He just wandered the streets still mad.

As the time passed he began to calm slightly. He thought about the actions that occurred in a short amount of time. He hurt a friend in more ways than one. Still guilty he headed back to than the park when a lightning bolt struck very close in his vicinity. It was only one few feet away from the sound of it. And it was loud. After that, it started to rain harder. Rocky, startled, and the unpleasantness of the water in his fur, he ran. He found shelter between two building. One of the back doorways and an overhead protector which was perfect for him. He began to shake off the water when he heard a sound.

"Hey watch it," a voice cried. Coming out from under some sheets and other trash, Joey was there trying to keep out the violent weather. "Oh, it's you. Why are you here?" he said in a cold voice.

The two pups sat across from each other rain pouring down. Rocky looked at him beaten up a friend. "I was going to check on you until it started raining harder so I took cover. Why are you here?"

Joey sighed. "Those dogs from earlier-"

"Dave and Mitch?" Joey nodded his head.

"They came back a few minutes after you left. I was trying to wrap up some of my wounds from, you know what, and they came back telling me to leave. They said they were going to take your place but mine was nicer apparently and they told me to scram. I couldn't fight back so I just left. It started to rain, so I came here trying to get some rest."

Rocky stayed silent until he worked up the courage to talk to the friend he had hurt. "Look, Joey, I'm sorry. I acted hastily. I wasn't thinking. I was being a little selfish. I'm sorry."

"*sigh* it's okay Rocky. You had pressure on you. I guess I can see where you are coming from. Let's just let bygones be bygones."

The two sat in an awkward silence.

"...so, how's your ear...and face?" Joey asked.

Rocky chuckled, "it's fine they'll heal. Well...I don't know about the ear. It's not that big of a problem. It's not too big of a cut, just a nick I guess. What about you? How's your...everthing?"

Joey laughed. "I'm fine. It's nothing too serious," Joey said. Wanting to continue the conversation he spoke again. "When they came, they told me everything that happened to me before I lost my memory."

"Really?! What did they say?!"

"Apparently they work with my dad and his owner as a criminal pair. I had snapped at 6 months old after my mother did something to me or said something to me. At least, that's how they put it. Anyways, after that, I had killed my mom in her sleep."

Rocky's jaw dropped. He wasn't even able to form words.

"My dad had found out, and he and his owner beat me senseless. I was bloodied up, and unconscious. Those two, Mitch and Dave, threw me out far away from that part of town. I guess they migrated over here or something."

"...Joey.."

"And that's another thing my name wasn't Joey. They told me it was Marshall."


Chase spit out the water he had in his bowl

"Eww, Chase!" Rocky cried getting out his blanket to dry himself off.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't just learn my best friend killed someone and was apparently with you before either of you had joined the team."

"Yeah, dude that's...that's cwazy. It's kind of sad," Zuma chimed in.

"What happened after that?" Rubble asked.

"Oh look who's awake," Rocky teased.

"Hey, I only fell asleep during the second half," Rubble said.

"Well, me and Jo-, I mean Marshall, worked things out, and we promised each other we would never leave each other. A few months later in the year later, and we got separated. Marshall told me that he asked Ryder to help track me down after he joined, and Ryder saw my skills and said I could be on the team."

Rocky yawned as he got up. He walked towards the elevator.

"Hey, where are you going," Skye asked.

"Upstairs." He stepped in and pressed the button.

"But where-," Skye attempted to say, but he was already up and out of sight.

On the top deck of the lookout, Rocky saw Marshall on the outside deck, with the rain pouring down. Pushing away his discomfort he went out there with him and sat next to him.

"Hey."

"Hey. Did you tell them?"

"Yep. Everything."

"Even the part when I told you-"

"Yep." The two were silent for a few seconds until Marshall picked the conversation back up.

"You know rain is wet right?"

"Yeah. I just want to be out here for a while. Take some stuff off my head y'know?"

"Yeah...you know, we might catch a cold."

"Yeah, and Ryder might yell at us, and Chase might give us extra training drills, but when was the last time we just sat and talked. Just hanging out with no one around."

"It has been awhile. I'm always with Chase, Rubble or Skye, you're always with Zuma or Ryder. It's nice just to sit like this and talk."

"Like friends."

"Best friends."