*Lexi's POV*
Chase let out a growl and sprinted to the front door, pacing furiously.
"Just wait till I get my paws on him. He'll pay for what he's done." He fumed quietly. Me and the other pups stood at the stairs watching him.
"Chase, with all due wespect what awe you going to do?" Zuma questioned.
"I don't know but he'll get what he deserves."
"Yes he will. But not from you." I said firmly.
"But Lexi, he-"
"I know what he did Chase but he wants to hurt me. This is my fight. I just need to keep you safe, that's all I care about. What he deserves is prison and believe me he's got it coming."
"Why is he not in prison now?" Rubble asked.
"There was never enough evidence at the scene and he only confessed to me, no one else was around so I have no proof." I sighed. "Can we please stop talking about this it's making me feel ill."
There was a knock at the door and I glanced at the clock; 5pm. Austin was stood outside, just as predicted. I let him in and he waved something under my nose.
"Takeaway tonight. My treat." He declared.
"Well hello to you too Austin." I smiled at my best friend. "I'm gonna take a walk, I need to clear my head."
"I'm coming too." Chase said. There was no point arguing. Austin nodded and agreed to play with the other pups for a while.
*Chase's POV*
Me and Lexi took a different route than normal for our walk, a quiet forest path surrounded by tall trees.
"I mean it Lex." I said, breaking the silence. "I want to hurt him for what he did."
"Chase," she stopped and looked down at me "Dylan is strong. He would crush you like a bug."
"Don't take this the wrong way but what're you gonna do? I mean I'm guessing he's stronger than you as well." I said.
"You'd be surprised at how strong I am." Lexi said. I gave a small snigger. The tall girl picked up a fallen stick, quite a thick one. She forcefully brought it down onto her upper leg, snapping it clean in half. "See?" She smirked.
"Ok point proven." I admitted. I froze on the spot, sniffing the air.
"What?" Lexi asked.
"Shh!" I hissed. I listened carefully. "Wait here!" I bolted through the vast amount of trees on the side of the path, following the strange noise and scent. Lexi was calling me but I carried on running. I stopped when the scent was incredibly strong. Glancing around, I noticed a small grey creature, feebly dragging itself on the ground. I trotted over carefully for a closer look. On the ground beneath me, was a small grey puppy, much younger than me, about one week old at the most. It's eyes were still closed and it was yelping as loud as it could, obviously hungry.
"Chase!" I heard Lexi call me in the distance. I had to get back to her. Without hesitation, I gently picked up the bundle of grey fur by the scruff of the neck and carried it back with me to my owner's cousin.
"Chase what have you got?" She asked, confused when I first got back to her. She crouched down and held out her hands, I cautiously lay the pup down in her hands and watched her face soften yet still show concern.
"It was by itself. What was I supposed to do?" I asked.
"Good boy Chase. You did the right thing." She smiled, scratching me behind the ear. "Let's get this little one back and warmed up." She held the puppy close and we started walking back to her house, where Austin had no doubt already ordered food for everyone.
One things for sure, for a holiday, this has been pretty eventful.
*Marshall's POV*
When Lexi and Chase got back, they headed straight into the kitchen, only shouting a quick hello to us. I stood up and followed them, leaving the others watching TV. When I padded into the kitchen, Lexi was sat on the floor, a bottle of puppy milk in her hand and Chase watching something in her lap intently. I walked over and joined them.
"Hey Marshall." Lexi greeted.
"Hi. What you doing?" I responded.
"Look." Chase said. I looked in the same direction as Chase and saw that Lexi was holding a small sooty grey puppy, its eyes still closed, greedily drinking the milk.
"You found it?" I asked.
"Well, Chase did." Lexi said. Chase didn't seem to be paying attention, he just watched the small bundle of fur in Lexi's hand. We were in the kitchen for a while when the pup stopped drinking and yawned.
"I think it's had enough now." Lexi said. "I'm gonna check it over then I'll join you in the living room."
"Ok. Come on Chase were choosing films for tonight." I said happily. Lexi had promised us a movie night once a week and so far we hadn't done it but we would be tonight.
"Yeah yeah I'll be in there in a minute." Chase said, his gaze still fixed on the pup. I shook my head, smiling. Chase was always different around young pups. He was a big softie really. He is gonna be all kinds of affectionate when Skye comes back tomorrow as well!
*Zaidy's POV*
"What's up with them?" I asked as Marshall trotted back into the living room.
"Chase found an abandoned puppy so Lexi's just checking him over."
"That's so cool!" Rubble said. "Sad that it was abandoned, but cool still."
"Lexi does this a lot. She takes in stray pups and looks after them before they get rehomed." I explained.
"That's how you're so patient then?" Rocky asked.
"Yeah, I've been bitten, drooled on, slept on, peed on and anything else you can think of." I sighed. It was tiring but I loved helping my owner with these rescues.
Chase wandered back into the room and Lexi carried the puppy upstairs, probably to settle it down for the night. Everyone looked at the German shepherd expectantly.
"Well," said Zuma "how's it doin'?"
"One week old male, pit bull, healthy weight, good temperature was just hungry and needs a good bath." He explained, flopping down on the sofa.
"A pit bull?! Good job you found him!" I said.
"Why? Just because he's a pit bull?" Rubble asked.
"Well especially since he's a pit bull. If they're stray and untrained then well..." I trailed off, not wanting to explain what the fate of a wild pit bull was. Luckily, Lexi walked back into the room, phone in hand and sat on the sofa next to Chase and Austin.
"He's fine, I've got a monitor app on my phone so I'll listen out for him." She explained to the concerned pup beside her. "You shouldn't be so worried. Skye's coming home tomorrow and I can guarantee you'll be watching over her like a hawk as well." She teased.
"Oh ha ha, Lexi, you're hilarious." Chase said sarcastically, smiling still.
"Austin when's this Chinese getting here?" Marshall asked. I'm glad he asked, my tummy was growling louder than Rubble guarding a bone. As if on cue, the doorbell rang and Austin leaped up to get the food. He brought everyone's in and gave us our orders. Lexi put a film in the DVD player and we all settled down to our first normal night in a while. While the other pups have been here, it's been quite dramatic for a holiday!