Chapter 13

Ryder approached the pup they had put in a cage, bowls of food and water in hand. Knowing how great this pup was at escaping, he and the rest of the Paw patrol had put the pup in a special cage. There was no door so there was no lock to pick, it was held down by cement pillars, screwed into the cage. They wanted to be sure his escape was impossible, and they thought they had been doing a great job. He hadn't escaped so far right?

At least Chase thought so as he looked down at Ryder from the top floor of the Lookout. He smiled satisfied at the sight of the bandit laying on the ground in the cage. They had almost run him over with the Paw patroller just before they captured him, Chase had hit him with a sleep dart in his spy gear and they had taken the pup back to Adventure Bay. Chase's smile grew as he thought of what they had found on the bandit. He had still been wearing his hospital gown, and he still had a handcuff on his forepaw, but the best piece of evidence was a police gun missing 2 bullets. It had proved that he had escaped, and now he would be locked up for his crimes.

But there was a hinge of doubt, at the back of his mind, Chase really didn't know what Ryder wanted to keep the bandit here and not back at the jail for. Then again, he did escape from the solitary confinement section…

…

"Breakfast," Ryder said as knelt down and slipped the bowls under the cage. The pup they were for looked at them, Ryder, and then let his head lay back down on his forepaws. Ryder frowned.

"You need to eat pup, I had both Marshall and Katie check you over, they both said that you have mellow nourishment."

The pup didn't answer. Neither did he react to what was said. He just kept staring into nothingness.

Ryder sighed, stood up, and walked around the cage to where the pup was lying. He crouched down, opened a small hatch and started putting his hand through, slowly, gently. As Ryder's hand approached the pups head, the pup snapped.

Without warning, the bandit went for Ryder's hand. Ryder barely was able to yank his hand back and avoid it being bit. He fell back, the pup was up on his paws growling deeply, menacingly, teeth showing and claws fully extended.

Ryder took the hint. With a sad expression, he turned around and walked back inside.

…

Chase had seen the whole ordeal, he could not take his eyes off the bandit, feel nothing but rage, fuming with wild eyes. He was about to run down there in anger to give the husky a piece of his mind. But just before he could, he noticed something.

As soon as Ryder disappeared back into the Lookout, the expression on the bandit's face softened, then saddened. Almost like he was depressed to see Ryder leave. Then he laid back down, and…

Cried?

The pup was lying on the ground in the dirt, head buried in his forelegs, sobbing, visibly shaking with every sob, not even noticing someone was watching him. It looked pitiful, and he seemed so, frail. Was this really the same pup?

Chase really didn't know what to think of him now. His anger had been replaced completely by confusion, this was not what he had pictured the bandit to be. He had pictured a monster, clever and cunning, with no intention other than to steal everything he loved. This could not have been farther from the truth.

But whatis the truth about this pup. Maybe I should ask him, get his side of the story. Chase's thoughts were interrupted by his growling stomach. He looked down at it, and chuckled lightly. But first, breakfast.

…

Everest came to a stop just outside the Lookout. She had heard from Ryder that they had the pup in custody and she wanted to speak with him. She had told Ryder everything he had told her, but had asked for him to keep everything a secret. The pup seemed to be telling the truth, but she wanted to question him one more time before they made a decision. Ryder had formed a plan for the pup, both Jake and Everest agreed to help, he would need all the help he could get.

Upon jumping down from her snowmobile, she was greeted by the pups and was asked if she wanted to come inside and have breakfast with them.

"No thanks guys, I'm afraid I'm not here for just another visit," she said simlpy, but politely. It went without saying that all the pups reconized that it was much more serious than that however, if Everest denied food, something had to be up. Without arguement, she was taken to Ryder. Upon entering, Ryder asked to be alone with Everest. Once more without arguement, the pups walked out and left the two alone.

A/N: I am happy to see so much positive feedback! Also, someone asked if there would be something between Poet and Everest, to that I say…

Spoilers ;)