Chapter notice: Very long chapter
Chapter 53: Wounds That Don't Heal
Rubble, Everest, Rocky and Skye went to see Marshall, but he didn't want to see them. His heart was broken by them teasing him. Zuma was gone for a while but there had been no update on his status, when finally Silvera walked in from the Operating room
"Ryder, pups Anna wants to see you all" A tear dripped down Silvera's cheer
Ryder turned and looked at Marshall he didn't want to leave him
"I'll watch over him" Katie smiled placing her hand on Marshall's head "Go Ryder" she said pulling up a chair and sat down next to Marshall
Ryder nodded as he and the pups followed Silvera into the Operating room leaving Marshall in Katie's care
Marshall looked up at Katie tears falling down his cheeks "Why does everyone hate me?"
"Not everyone hates you Marshall, I'm sure the pups didn't mean it" Katie kissed his forehead "Look now is not the time for this, you've been through a lot and what you need now is to rest"
Marshall continued to sob "Rest? How can I possibly rest knowing how the pups feel about me? they hate me!"
Katie grabbed a needle from a bed side table "If you refuse to rest, I'll give you this" She held up the needle "Your body needs to rest Marshall, and all this stress is not helping"
Marshall sighed then rolled over and shut his eyes, a few minutes later he pretended to snore. Katie was convinced Marshall was asleep, so she placed the needle on the table
"Rest well Marshall" Katie pulled a blanket over him and took hold of her crutches then walked into the supply room to get some fresh bandages for Marshall's injuries, moments later Marshall's heart machine alarm sounded, Katie quickly raced back into the infirmary to discover Marshall was missing
"Marshall?!" Katie said as panic set in, she quickly ran into the Operating room
Meanwhile Ryder and the pups approached Zuma's bed, the ranger's were all waiting for them, Zuma was on a blood infusion because he had lost too much blood
"Ryder, pups" Anna said as they walked over to her "We saved Zuma's ear, however he is extremely weak due to losing so much blood, therefore Ryder" She turned to him "I suggest you take him off active duty for awhile, he can stay here in the infirmary with me"
"Thank you so much Anna for saving Zuma" Ryder smiled giving Zuma a pat "How long till he wakes up?"
"We had to give him an anesthetic, but he should wake up soon" Anna checked Zuma's stats "He's stabilized so it's..." She was cut off
"RYDER! RYDER!" Katie said limping into the Operating room "RYDER!" she almost tell over
"Katie? What's wrong?" Ryder questioned turning around facing her
Katie took a deep breath "It's Marshall"
Everyone's eyes turned to Katie who was catching her breath
"He is ok?" Rocky asked worried
Chase frowned at Rocky "Why would you care?"
"What?" Rocky said shocked from what Chase just said
"I said, Why... Would... You... CARE?" Chase got right in his face
"Because Marshall's our friend" Rubble added trying to calm Chase down
Chase sighed "Your friend? Since when do we treat our friends like a piece of trash?"
Rocky backed away from Chase "I... I..."
"Save it Rocky!" Chase growled showing his teeth
"He's our friend too" Skye spoke up to Chase
Chase turned to her "Since when do friends back stab?!" he growled at even her
"Chase please we didn't mean to hurt him" Everest frowned, as a tear filled her eye
Chase faced her "Everest! You're suppose to love him!"
"I do!" Everest growled at him, but Chase barked at her causing Everest to jump
"Yeah right! Everest! You joined in with them! Teasing him! how is that love?!" Chase showed his teeth at her
Everest lowered her head as tears fell from her eyes
Skye, Rubble and Rocky were all frightened by Chase, then quickly backed away from him
"You know what? You all no friends of mine" Chase growled at the pups, until Ryder stood in front of him
"Chase! Enough!" Ryder put his hands on his hips then turned back to Katie "What wrong?"
Katie looked at Ryder, then the pups and the Rangers "Marshall's gone, I left him for not even 2 minutes and he's gone, I think he's run away"
"He what?!" Chase got right in Rocky's face "See what you've done?! Nice going pups!"
Rocky, Skye, Rubble and Everest ignored Chase's words then approached Ryder
"We want to help" Rocky said sitting down
"Really Rocky? After the way you treated him?!" Chase yelled in Rocky's face
"CHASE!" Ryder was angry at the pups and at Chase but now was not the time for it "Leave the pups punishment to me, right now Marshall is out there and the longer you spend arguing with Rocky the longer it's going to take to find him"
"But Ryder si..." Chase was cut off
"I don't want to hear it, Chase if I hear one more word out of you" Ryder frowned "You'll also be grounded"
Chase instantly shut his mouth
But Rocky ignored Ryder "We care about Marshall too!" Rocky yelled having had enough of Chase
"Bul..." Chase was cut off as Rocky slammed into him, sending Chase rolling towards Ryder
"CHASE!" Ryder quickly knelt besides him "You alright?"
Chase got to his feet and bolted towards Rocky "You're going to regret that!"
Rocky ran at Chase, both pups collided but Chase being injured more then Rocky was under a disadvantage, Rocky knew this and was on top of Chase in the matter of seconds
"He's our friend to! Regardless of what you think!" Rocky yelled in Chase's ear "We all love Marshall!" He started smashing Chase's head against the floor
Chase yelped in pain "Stop!" Chase tried to kick Rocky off of him, but Rocky kept pushing his head on the floor by now Chase was almost unconscious
"Rocky! Chase! Enough!" Ryder tried to intervene but Rocky snapped at him
It wasn't till drops of blood started to stain the floor, Rocky let go of Chase and backed away from the injured pup
Anna was quickly by Chase's side, who let out yelps "Chase let me see"
"No" Chase pushed her away, he stood up and ran out of the Operating room "Leave me alone! I'm finding Marshall by myself!"
Ryder turned towards Rocky "That's it Rocky! You're grounded for one month! No games, no playing nothing! You are to stay with Anna until further notice"
"But he started it" Rocky talked back to Ryder
"I DON'T CARE!" Ryder snapped "First you insult Marshall by calling him names, now look what you've done to Chase"
"He deserved it" Skye mumbled under her breath
"Pardon Skye?" Ryder raised an eyebrow to her
"Nothing!" Skye quickly dropped her head
Ryder sighed "After we find both Marshall and Chase, I'm going to have a very long chat to all of you" he said crossing his arms
Silvera and the Rangers apart from Anna walked over
"Ryder we'll help look for Marshall and Chase" Silvera smiled "Also I suggest we get the Police helicopter's to look for him"
Anna nodded in agreement "There is just no way Marshall should be up in his state, his body is not just severally injured physically but also emotionally, you have to find him and fast"
"Can we help look for them?" Rubble curiously asked
Ryder still with his arms crossed glanced down at Rubble "Well I'm not sure I should allow any of you to help look"
The pups looked at each other
"Ryder please let us go, I want to apologize to Marshall" Everest said walking over to Ryder
"I suppose you all can come" Ryder said looking at Everest
"Let's go mates" Silvera said exiting the Operating room followed by the other Rangers
"Come on pups" Ryder followed the Rangers
Rocky went to follow but Ryder stopped and turned around
"Not you Rocky, you will stay here and think about your actions" Ryder said then shut the Operating doors behind them
Rocky sighed, then sat down on a pup cushion "I hate my life"
Meanwhile Marshall was walking further into the National Park's burnt forest away from Ranger HQ. As he continued to walk his paws began to hurt, parts of the ground was still smoldering from the forest fire, regardless of the pain Marshall forced himself forward struggling on 3 legs, everything hurt including his heart, tears fell down his cheeks like a river
"They don't need me anyway" Marshall mumbled to himself "They all hate me, UGH! They already laugh at my clumsiness then tease me when I poo and fart! I had an accident! And they laugh!" His feelings began to change from sad to anger
"I don't care anymore!" he looked down at his paw's, then with his broken one he slammed it against a smoldering tree the tip of his Cast began to burn "Stupid paw!" he said slamming it against the tree even harder "Stupid! Stupid!" with every hit Marshall flinched at the pain "I don't care how much it hurts!" He didn't stop until his body collapsed under him, he fell in the ashes left by the forest fire
Minutes past and Marshall lay there, his broken paw was not only hurting like nothing he'd felt before, but it also was stinging "I guess I better go back" he mumbled then used the tree to help him stand up, he went to take a step but fell over, realizing the extend of damaged he'd done to his broken paw he carefully lifted it off the ground and began to hobble on 3 legs
Suddenly Marshall stopped as he came into a clearing, cries were heard to Marshall's surprise he saw Rach sitting on a burnt out log, she was crying
"Ra...Rach?" Marshall said slowly walking up behind her
Rach turned around, she wiped tears from her eyes "Marshall? What on earth are you doing here?"
"I... I... needed to get away" Marshall accidentally put all his weight on his broken paw, pain instantly exploded from it
Rach got up and ran over to him "You should be resting"
The pain from Marshall's paw caused him to collapse but he found himself in her arms "Thanks Rach" he said as a tear dripped down his cheek
"Are you ok?" Rach questioned looking at the pups body "You shouldn't be up" she said lifting him up, something caught her eye "Marshall what happened to your Cast?" Rach asked seeing the Cast burnt, blood dripped from the end of it
"I walked through hot ashes" Marshall said determinant not tell her he'd done it himself "It hurts bad" he moaned as the pain erupted from his paw
Rach sat back down on the log, and carefully laid Marshall across her lap "I'm sorry Marshall I don't have the first aid training you have, what can I do?"
"It's ok, it's my fault anyway I was an idiot to run away" Tears filled his eyes "Ryder's probably going to ground me"
"I'm sure he won't be mad at you Marshall, and you're not an idiot" Rach gently rubbed her hand across his body removing the blackness from the ashes "Sometime's we just need time to think, do you feel any better?" she questioned gently wiping ash from his bandaged head
"No" Marshall shook his head but saw how red Rach's eyes were "Rach? What's wrong?" he asked changing the subject of off him
Rach stopped removing the ashes from Marshall then looked up at the surrounding forest "It's, well it's Ed" she looked back at the pup
Marshall flinched upon hearing his name
"My only family member I had is dead" A tear fell from her eye "And Marshall I'm so sorry for what he did to you" she looked at bruises around his neck
"You don't need to apologize" Marshall smiled weakly at her, his vision began to blur "It wasn't your fault"
"I know Marshall, but because I put him in charge of this operation knowing what he was like it..." Rach swallowed hard "He almost killed you, and now he's dead" tears continued to fall "I killed my brother"
"No you didn't!" Marshall said shaking his head his vision came clear again "Ed was a monster and killed himself" suddenly Marshall jumped as his pup tag beeped
"M...Ma...h..all?" Chase's voice came through but it was static "W...h..r.. a..r... y..o"
"Chase?" Marshall said into his pup tag "Chase? I can't hear you"
"M...s...all? I'm... l...o...ki...n..g... f..o... y..u..." Chase's voice cut out
Marshall frowned, but moved his paw wrongly pain once again erupted from it "ow!" he yelped almost passing out with the pain
"Careful try not to move it" Rach looked down at Marshall's paw "I think Chase is looking for you, but anyway we need to get you to the infirmary" Rach said but Marshall shook his head "Marshall what's wrong?"
A tear fell from his eye "I don't want to go back yet"
"Why not?" Rach questioned ripping a piece of her shirt and wrapped it around the burnt Cast on Marshall's paw
"Everyone hates me" Marshall mumbled shutting his eyes "They all hate me"
Rach was surprised hearing that come from Marshall "What makes you think that?"
"The pups called me names, and laughed about my accident" Marshall replied trying to stay conscious but he closed his eyes
"I'm sure they didn't mean it" Rach looked at him, she noticed him drifting off "Hey Marshall try to stay awake"
Marshall opened his eyes "I'm so tired, everything hurts" he said once again closing his eyes
"I know Marshall but please you got to stay awake" Rach once again noticed him drifting off "Marshall, keep your eyes open" Realizing Marshall was severally hurt she decided to ask him questions "What did they call you? Marshall?" She gently shook the pup causing him to open his eyes
"They called me fartshall" Marshall paused hearing the sound of that name
Rach gave a little giggle "Fartshall hey? It's not that bad, kind of sounds funny" she smiled placing her hand on his head
Marshall chuckled but evening chuckling caused him pain "I guess, but still they teased me" he frowned "I couldn't help it, I thought they were my friends even Everest joined in and teased me about my accident she's suppose to love me!"
"Look Marshall, everyone has accidents and the pups shouldn't have teased you like that" Rach planted a kiss on his head, while wiping the tears away from his cheek
"Thanks Rach" Marshall tried to smile but the yelped, as his pain started to become unbearable "Everything hurts" he cried snuggling into Rach's warm arms
"I better get you out of here" Rach said holding Marshall in her arms, she stood up and looked around "Um Marshall?"
Marshall looked up at her as tears fell down "What is it?" he asked struggling to stay conscious
"Do you remember which way we came from?" Rach questioned looking at all directions
"I... Don't know" He answered moaning
As Rach started to walk but the pain was so intense for Marshall that he let out a loud cry which echo'd through the trees
Rach looked at him concerned "Rest Marshall, but try to stay awake" she said holding him close to her body "I'll try to figure out which way to go"
Marshall moaned and let out one last cry which the wind blew away, his pain had become to severe he finally gave in and fell unconscious in Rach's arms
"Marshall hold on, I'll find the way back" Rach said carefully walking through the forest "Just hold on pup"
Meanwhile Chase had picked up Marshall's scent, blood dribbled down his face from his head. He suddenly stopped at a smoldering tree there were marks on the trunk like something had kicked it, Chase sniffed the tree "Marshall? what did you do?!" he said to himself worried, then spotted blood on the ground "oh no! Marshall!" he began to follow Marshall's scent when a gust of wind blew into him also bringing Marshall's cries into Chase's ear, he lifted his ears up to allow Marshall's cries continue to fill them
"MARSHALL! BUDDY I'M COMING!" Chase yelled out running towards the cries "HOLD ON!" his paws started to hurt as he ran through the same smoldering area Marshall has gone through
"Chase come in" Ryder said into his pup pad
Chase stopped when Ryder's voice came through "Ryder sir..."
"Where are you?" Ryder asked in a worried voice
"I'm following Marshall's scent" Chase replied "Marshall's in trouble but don't worry I'll find him" he turned his pup tag off
Ryder sighed and placed his pup pad into his pocket, as 2 police helicopter's flew over head all of the Rangers a part from Silvera was in them
Silvera rod up behind Ryder, on her horse Snowy "Ryder get up" she said holding her hand out
Ryder took hold of Silvera's hand and was pulled on the back of Snowy "Pups can you keep up?"
"Yes Ryder" Rubble and Everest both said running besides Snowy
Skye was flying above them, she used her goggles to help look
Rach was struggling to find her way back to Ranger HQ, and with each passing moment Marshall's condition was worsening he continued to moan, Rach was almost running but something caught her attention she looked up at the sky to see a Police Helicopter above them
"Down here!" She said still looking up, but her foot caught on a rock causing her to fall down a small embankment "AHH!' she screamed as Marshall fell out of her arms and rolled down the embankment besides her, both of them hit the bottom knocking Rach out cold
"OW!" Marshall cried out opening his eyes, he looked around and saw Rach unconscious "Rach!" he attempting to move over to her but pain hit him like a truck, Marshall laid on the ground a few meter's away from Rach, unable to move he knew he had to do something so he took a deep breath and howled as loud as he could in hope someone would hear him
Rach opened her eyes "Marshall? Are you ok?" she said trying to sit up but her arm slightly hurt "Uh oh Marshall!"
"Rach what is it?" Marshall questioned still laying on the ground fighting against his body which begged him to sleep
"Oh no!" Rach looked below Marshall "Do not move!"
Marshall couldn't move even if he wanted to, then without warning he began to sink into the ground below him
"QUICKSAND!" Rach yelled out then responded by reaching her good arm out for him "Grab on!"
"I... Can't" Marshall cried every time he tried to move pain exploded throughout his body "It hurts to much!" His legs disappeared beneath the sand "AHHH! HELP!"
Rach couldn't reach him "Marshall hold on!" she looked around for something to use, when a shadow flew over
Out of nowhere a net flew over her head landing in the quicksand underneath of Marshall
"I got you!" Chase yelled behind Rach I'll pull you out!" He said trying to pull Marshall out but the quicksand began to pull Chase towards it
Rach stood to her feet "Chase! Thank goodness!" She said running over and helping Chase pull
By now Marshall's entire lower part of his body was consumed by the quicksand, the sand continued to pull both Rach and Chase towards the it
"Ryder! Ryder! Come in! Anyone?! HELP!" Chase yelled into his pup tag but stopped when a noise was heard above them, Skye was in view
Skye looked below her "Ryder! It's Skye I found them!" She said hovering above the Quicksand pit "Marshall's in danger!"
"Great thanks Skye! We're almost there, we can see you" Ryder answered her
Moments later Silvera, and Ryder along with Rubble and Everest appeared over the embankment
"Chase! Marshall!" Ryder gasped at the scene "Everest use your grappling hook to help them"
"Right Ryder" Everest said as she carefully ran down the embankment "Ruff Ruff! Grappling hook!" It flew out of her pup pack
"Rach catch" Ryder yelled out
Rach caught it and wrapped it around herself then picked up Chase
"Alright let's get them all out of there" Silvera said as Snowy walked down the embankment "Ryder pick Everest up and Snowy will pull them out"
Ryder jumped off Snowy then picked Everest up and placed her on the saddle behind Silvera "Rubble, when they're out enough help me get Marshall" he said
"Rubble on the double!" Rubble said waiting then was joined by Ryder
"Slowly Snowy" Silvera said making Snowy walk backwards
Chase and Everest began to get pulled away from the quicksand, Marshall began to slowly get pulled out too
"Rubble now!" Ryder said taking hold of Everest's grappling hook "Pull!"
Rubble helped Ryder pull shortly after, Rach and Chase was pulled away from the Quicksand, Marshall was slightly conscious
But without warning Chase's net snapped sending Rach and Chase falling to the ground
"Marshall!" Chase yelled out quickly getting to his feet "Ryder!"
Ryder was already running towards Marshall, just as the Dalmatian started to fall back into the quicksand, Ryder quickly grabbed his collar pulling him to safety
"I got you pup" Ryder said taking Marshall into his arms "You're safe now" he examined his pup "Marshall's your paws are badly burnt!"
Marshall opened his eyes realizing he saved, he then began to cry in his owners arms
"Pup it's ok" Ryder said holding Marshall close to him, he took a bandage out of his pocket "Lets get these all wrapped up" he tore the bandage then wrapped Marshall's 3 burn paws, but noticed blood dripping from his Cast "Rach what happened to his broken paw?"
"I think it got burnt in smoldering ground, plus he put all of his weight on his it" Rach replied frowning
"Marshall, you know you can't walk with your paw" Ryder said looking at his injured pup
"I.. just had to get away" tears fell down Marshall's cheeks "Ryder I'm sorry"
Ryder held Marshall closer to his body "It's fine pup, just remember the more you use your broken paw the more chance it has of not healing"
Marshall released a river of tears which soaked Ryder's jacket "Ryder... I... I... hurt it"
"What do you mean?" Ryder questioned seeing how much pain Marshall was in "Marshall?"
"I did something stupid, please don't hate me like the pups do" Marshall begged him
Ryder smiled and planted a kiss on his head "I could never hate you, but tell me what happened"
"I got angry" Marshall took a deep breath "And I think I've damaged my paw more" he moaned unable to move
"How?" Ryder questioned examining his paw
Marshall began to slip into unconsciousness, he shook his head to try to stop himself "I.. I.. kicked a tree"
Ryder was shocked at what he just heard "Marshall why would you do that?"
No answer, instead Marshall once again gave in and fell unconscious
"Ryder he needs to be in Anna's care" Rach said holding her arm "He's in a bad way"
"We'll get him back mate" Silvera interrupted the conversation as she dismounted from Snowy then knelt besides Rach "Your arm looks bad"
"It's nothing" Rach smiled but regardless of what she just said Silvera wrapped Rach's arm then placed it in a sling
"Anna should examine it when we get back" Silvera said helping Rach stand to her feet
Everest approached Ryder who was sitting on the ground just finishing bandaging Marshall, but Chase got in her way causing Everest to jump
"Get away from him!" Chase growled at her, then yelped as his own pain began to take hold
"Chase? You alright pup?" Ryder asked wrapping Marshall in his jacket to keep him warm
Chase's head was still bleeding and just like Marshall his paws were burnt and began to blister
"Let us help" Rubble said approaching Chase who was close to passing out "Chase?"
For a minute Marshall regained consciousness still in Ryder's arms he glanced over at Chase, seeing the stat Chase was in Marshall began to slightly cry
Ryder turned his face to Chase "Let them help" he said noticing Marshall crying "You'll be ok pup" Ryder planted another kiss on Marshall's head
Chase backed away from Rubble and Everest, his vision began to blur "No I'm fine! I don't need help!"
Suddenly Chase fell over, but instead of hitting the ground he fell against something soft he looked up to see Skye smiling at him "Skye?" he growled at her then everything went black
Silvera walked over to Chase "We need to get them to Ranger HQ ASAP" she said kneeling besides an unconscious Chase
A call came through on Ryder's pup pad from a Police Helicopter "Everyone alright down there?" a Police officer asked Ryder
"No, my pups need medical attention" Ryder answered as Marshall groaned in his arms
"Ok we'll send Ranger Mark down with a harness, but this helicopter is not equip for these types of situations" The Police officer warned "Ryder I'm afraid we don't have much First Aid equipment"
"It's fine, just get us back to Ranger HQ" Ryder watched as the Helicopter hovered above him "Please you have to get us there fast, one of my pups is severally hurt he needs help"
"Don't worry sir, we will get you there fast" The Police officer answered
Everyone watched as the side door was opened and a ladder was dropped, Mark was lowered down with a harness
"We'll take Marshall" Mark said as he landed on the ground "Can you give me an update on his condition? So I can inform Anna"
Ryder nodded and was put in a harness still holding Marshall "Mark his paw is worse" Ryder said carefully making sure he didn't hurt Marshall by clipping himself into the harness with Marshall
Mark gave thumbs up above his head "Take it slowly" he looked at Ryder then Marshall as they began to get lifted up "He looks bad""
"He's in pain" Ryder frowned concerned for his pup "He needs medical attention"
"Don't worry Ryder, I'll examine him once we're up in the helicopter" Mark insured him
"Thank you Mark" Ryder tried to smile but Marshall let out a painful moan
Ryder and Marshall were both taken up into the helicopter, along with Everest, Rach and Rubble. Skye flew in her helictopter
"I'll meet you all there, with Chase" Silvera smiled picking Chase up and mounted Snowy, she watched as the Police helicopter flew off
Chase managed to open his eyes for a moment
"G'day Chase" Silvera said wrapping his head and paws with bandages "You feeling ok?"
Chase shook his head "I feel terrible" he mumbled as Silvera placed her jacket around him
"It's ok, rest" She said kicking Snowy's side "I'll get you to my HQ in no time"
Chase fell unconscious again
Snowy started to run back up the embankment "Easy" Silvera said making sure Chase didn't fall off
Once Snowy reached the top, Silvera made Snowy run through the blackened forest. Chase kept slipping in and out of consciousness
Meanwhile in the Police helicopter Marshall was still in Ryder's arms, when he regained consciouness the first thing he felt was the warmth of Ryder's touch
"Marshall how are you feeling?" Ryder questioned in a conerned voice
Marshall closed his eyes then reopened them "Everything hurts"
"Anna come in" Michael said into his communicator
"Hi Michael, any updates?" Anna asked him
"Ryder found Marshall, he's in a bad way" Michael replied "We're about 10 minutes away"
"Alright, we'll prepare everything here" Anna answered
"Anna wait, Silvera is bringing Chase in on Snowy" Michael frowned "Apparently Chase is pretty beaten up as-well, both pups are suffering from burnt paws"
"Ok thanks Michael, I'll meet you outside with Brad" Anna hung up on him
Mark checked on Marshall "Ryder his heart beat seems a little fast"
Marshall moaned several times, his pain was too much for him handle "Ryder make the pain stop" he struggled to keep his eyes open
"Is there any pain relief in this helicopter?" Ryder asked the pilot "My pup is in pain"
"We're almost at Ranger HQ, can't he wait?" The Police Pilot questioned Ryder
"No! he can't wait, my pup needs something for his pain" Ryder frowned
"Alright, there is a first aid box behind you" The Pilot said "We only have a mild pain relief, I'm not sure it will help"
Mark took the first aid box and found regular pain relief tablets "Ryder the Pilot is right, these won't help Marshall"
Marshall closed his eyes "Ryder... why does my heart hurt?" he let out a painful moan
Ryder held Marshall closer to him "It's going to be alright pup" he looked down at Marshall, who still had a fractured skull plus a severally broken paw, and Chase's bite wound and burnt paw's
Mark took 2 small white tablets "Can you get Marshall to swallow these?"
"Sure" Ryder took the tablets then lifted Marshall's head up "Pup you need to take these, can you do that for me?"
Marshall nodded and opened his mouth, Ryder placed the tablets in his mouth and rubbed under Marshall's neck to help him swallow, sure enough Marshall swallowed
"Good boy, you're going to be fine pup" Ryder gently brushed his hands along Marshall's fur careful not to press to hard to cause Marshall anymore pain
The feeling of Ryder's warm gentle pats almost made Marshall fall asleep "That feels so good" Marshall mumbled causing Ryder to smile
"Good, as long as it's helping" Ryder said as he continued to press his hands gently on Marshall's body, Ryder could feel Marshall's body start to relax "Let me know if I hurt you"
Marshall didn't respond he just laid there enjoying the attention from his owner, lapping up every touch which seemed to rapidly reduce the pain Marshall felt
Ryder smiled but was still concerned "Marshall?" he said lifting his hands off him
Marshall looked up at his owner, half asleep
"Marshall I want you to know no one hates you" Ryder gently started to pat him again "And I'm not mad at you for running away, so don't think you're in any sort of trouble" Ryder smiled
Marshall snugged up into Ryder's lap "I'm sorry"
"It's fine" Ryder said as he moved his hands across Marshall's neck he felt the damaged Ed had caused his pup so he began to gently massage around Marshall's neck relieving any tension there
Rubble and Everest saw how relaxed Marshall was and twice they both tried to talk to him but twice Marshall refused
"Pups let him be" Ryder said continuing to massage Marshall's neck "Give him time"
Both Rubble and Everest looked at each other
"What have we done?" Rubble said to Everest
"We teased him, that's what we did" Everest lowered her head "It was wrong, we shouldn't have done it"
"Yeah I know" Rubble felt ashamed for joining in "Marshall? if you can hear me I'm sorry"
Marshall just buried his head in Ryder's arms who stopped massaging him
"Let him rest" Ryder said placing both arms around Marshall
Rubble sighed and laid down next to Everest
(How can they be sorry? They teased me!) Marshall thought to himself (Suppose to be my friends!) without any warning his pain returned
Ryder could feel Marshall's heart beat getting faster, and his breathing getting heavier "How far till we reach Ranger HQ?" He asked patting Marshall's head he had slipped back into unconsciousness without Ryder knowing
Mark looked out the window "Not fair now" he said seeing the HQ in the distance
Marshall regained consciousness "Ryder it's back" tears fell from Marshall's eyes
"What is?" Ryder questioned him "Are you in pain?"
Marshall nodded then mumbled something which Ryder couldn't understand
"Just rest" Ryder held Marshall close to him
"Approaching Ranger HQ now" The pilot said to everyone "Please make sure you are all strapped in"
Ryder pulled his seat belt over himself and around Marshall making sure he didn't cause the pup anymore pain "You alright?"
No answer
"Marshall?" Ryder looked at the pup "Marshall?"
No answer
Mark sat on a seat besides Ryder "He's unconscious, most likely cause by his pain"
Marshall let out a painful moan, Ryder began to move his hands through Marshall's fur which began to relax him again
"Ryder is he going to be ok?" Everest asked concerned for Marshall
"Once we get him into the infirmary he should be alright" Michael said examining Rach's arm
"Ry..Ryder" Marshall opened his eyes slightly but lost consciousness again before Ryder could say anything
Meanwhile back at Ranger HQ, Anna was preparing everything for the injured pups she had finished both Jake's and Dani's operations they were asleep. Zuma opened his eyes and looked over at Anna and Brad, Katie noticed him awake
"Hi Zuma" She said pulling up a chair next to his bed "How do you feel?"
Zuma didn't answer he was to busy watching Anna and Brad "What's going on?"
"Marshall and Chase are injured" Katie said "From what I've heard Marshall is more severe"
"But don't worry about them" Anna walked over with some pain relief for him "You need rest, you've had a rough time too"
"Anna's right" Katie pulled a blanket over him "You need focus on yourself"
Zuma sighed "I want to meet them"
"I'm afraid that's impossible, you can't even walk Zuma" Anna said standing next to his bed "You've just came out of surgery"
Katie thought for a moment "Maybe he doesn't have to walk" she looked at a wheel chair "I could take him in that"
Zuma weakly smiled "Please? Anna?"
Anna checked Zuma's stats "Oh alright" she smiled at him "But Katie take it easy, also remember your ankle"
"I know Anna" Katie rolled her eyes
"I can see the helicopter!" Brad said looking out the window
"Ok lets go" Anna and Brad got two beds for Marshall and Chase "Wait, Katie I'll help you with Zuma, Brad can you take one of the beds out?"
"Sure Anna" Brad said pushing a bed out of the infirmary
Anna went over to Zuma "Katie let's make this as comfortable as we can" she placed a pillow and blankets on the wheel chair then unhooked Zuma was several drips
"Ready Zuma?" Katie asked pulling the blanket off him
Zuma nodded
"Let's take it slowly" Anna said as Katie picked Zuma up "Watch his ear"
Katie carefully placed Zuma on the wheel chair "You alright?" she asked
"I'm alwight" Zuma replied closing his eyes "A little sowe"
Anna brought a needle over "This will help with the pain" she put the needle into Zuma's side "Be careful when pushing him"
"I will" Katie hooked her crutches around the handles of the wheel chair "You better get outside Anna" she covered Zuma with a blanket
Anna smiled then pushed the 2nd bed out followed by Katie and Zuma
"Zuma you ok?" Katie questioned using the wheel chair to help her walk
"Yeah Katie, I'm fine" Zuma smiled at her
Katie gave him a pat "Good pup, if you feel pain let me know"
Zuma nodded as he was pushed into the infirmary, Rocky was asleep on a pup cushion
Brad walked past them "Good luck" he said entering the infirmary to look after Dani and Jake
Back in the Helicopter Marshall's condition was worsening the pain from his paw was causing Marshall to cry out, his cries were so intense the Police Officer's were getting annoyed
"Someone shut him up" one of the Police Officers blurted out he quickly covered his mouth
Everest snapped back "Why don't you shut up!"
The police officer looked over his shoulder "Err sorry, but his cries are deafening me"
"HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOU WERE IN PAIN!" Rubble shouted at the Police Officer
Marshall managed to open his eyes "I'm sorry" he said between yelps
"Pups it's ok" Ryder wrapped him tightly in his jacket "How far now?"
"Landing now" The pilot said as the Helicopter started to lower down "Hold on, it could get bumpy"
Slowly but surely the Helicopter began to get closer to the ground, Michael and Mark looked out the window to see Anna, Katie and Zuma waiting for them, there were also a few fireman waiting for Rach, it didn't take long before the Helicopter made a soft landing
Within seconds of landing Anna was in the Helicopter and at Ryder's side who went to stand up
"No Ryder, stay sitting we don't want to move him just yet" Anna said "I'll be back"
Ryder nodded and remained sitting, Anna pushed a bed next to the Helicopter door she then entered in with a First Aid bag
"Anna he's in pain" Ryder said holding Marshall tightly who moaned
"Alright, has he had any pain relief?" Anna questioned examining Marshall first thing she noticed was his paw
Mark walked over "Yes he had these" he showed her the package
"Ok those won't effect anything" Anna said giving a small green object that looked like a whistle to Ryder "Tell Marshall to suck on this, it will stop the pain so we are able to move him safely to the infirmary without causing him anymore unnecessary pain"
"Marshall can you hear me pup?" Ryder asked still sitting down
Marshall opened his eyes for a second "Ry..."
"Shhh, just suck on this" Ryder said putting the whistle into Marshall's mouth, he instantly began to suck it
"Great Ryder, alright let him suck on that for about 5 minutes" Anna said removing bandages from Marshall's paws which were all red and blistered "While he does that, I'll clean his paws"
With each suck Marshall's pain was rapidly reduced to the stage where he started to laugh uncontrollably
Ryder looked worried
"Don't worry Ryder that's completely normal" Anna smiled bandaging his paws "It means the pain is going"
"Ry...Rydeerrr..?" Marshall laughed "Why... can't... I stop... laughing?" Marshall asked as he released a loud laugh
Ryder giggled "Better question, how do you feel?"
"I...I..." Marshall closed his eyes but still laughed
Anna walked over and took the green whistle like object "That'll do, now lets get you into the infirmary"
Ryder stood up slowly and followed Anna out of the Helicopter, Marshall continued to laugh
"Wyder? is he ok?" Zuma asked as Katie pushed him over
"Zuma! You're ok?" Ryder was so happy seeing Zuma
"I'm alwight Wyder" Zuma looked at Marshall who was laughing still
"Ryder carefully place him on the bed" Anna said pulling blankets back
Ryder placed Marshall on the bed as Anna then attached him to a drip
"Is he ok?" Zuma asked again "And whewe's Chase?"
"Can't talk now, sorry Zuma I need to get Marshall into the infirmary" Anna said quickly pushing Marshall into HQ
Ryder knelt besides Zuma "How are you?"
"Tiwed but alwight" Zuma said when suddenly his ear began to hurt
Katie noticed and responded by giving him more pain relief "Ryder? Where's Chase?"
Everest and Rubble joined by Skye ran over to them "Zuma!" They all said together happy to see he was ok
"Hi pups" He smiled weakly at them
"Oh my gosh how are you?" Skye asked worried for him
"Yeah how are you buddy?" Rubble also asked
"Woah steady pups" Ryder suddenly got a call, he pulled his pup pad out of his pocket "Hello Silvera where are you?"
"Ryder? I need some assistance, Chase is really hurt! I'm bringing him in now" Silvera answered as she made Snowy run as fast as the horse could "Ryder please get Anna"
Chase felt himself falling in and out of consciousness, he opened his eyes to see the HQ coming into view he saw Ryder and Katie with the pups but suddenly everything went black
"Chase you need to hold on, don't give up on me yet!" Silvera yelled out worried "Come on mate! Stay with me! CHASE!"
To be continued
