Zuma...no… Rocky thought as he watched Zuma's sure demise play out before his eyes. Move, you have to move! Zuma stayed still, and Rocky knew he wasn't going anywhere. Rocky gritted his teeth, and fire sprang into his eyes. If you won't move, I'll do it for you.
But what about you?
I don't matter. Zuma does. Rocky felt a surge of energy go to his already rapidly moving legs, and he leaped, stretching his paws out and knocking Zuma in the side. Rocky watched as Zuma went flying to the other side. He's safe now. Rocky thought. He's gonna be okay.
Then the pain came. Rocky felt every snapped of his ribs, and crack in his forelegs, as he was hit while still in the air. It was like a small explosion had gone off in Rocky's pelt and Rocky felt long gashes appear on his pelt, brutally ripped open by the sheer velocity of the vehicle.
He was tossed in the middle of the street. Rocky watched the driver roll down the window, look at him, and speed away. Rocky tried to move, but everything felt...shattered...within him. He wanted to cry in pain, but suddenly, breathing became a chore, and his breaths became softer and more shallow, and much more frequent. Rocky felt a warm liquid gathering around him. It felt nice against his pelt...that was...until Rocky relized it was his own blood. Oh, shit...He tried again to bark, but he couldn't.
Suddenly, a familiar scent filled his nostrils, and the pain faded away.
"Wocky! You're gonna be fine! I called Ryder, and he's on his way!" He felt Zuma nuzzled his neck worried, and Rocky managed to lick his cheek.
"Zuma…" he said softly, finally able to say something.
"Yes, yes?" Zuma asked frantically.
"Stay...with me…" he begged. "It hurts...so much pain…" Rocky felt tears drip onto his pelt.
"Why Wocky?" Zuma asked in a broken voice. "Why did you do it?"
"I...love you…" Rocky replied. "Don't...want you...hurt…" Rocky closed his eyes feeling himself lose consciousness. Pair erupted all over his body, worse than before. He felt everything broken, cut, or bruised, and he cried out in pain.
"It hurts Zuma...it hurts…" Rocky gasped. More tears. He felt Zuma wrap his paws around him, and his touch sent an icy numbness through his body, pushing back the pain.
"Thank you, Wocky! Thank you!" Zuma whined earnestly. "Don't wowwy, help is coming!" Rocky felt his eyes closing. "It's okay, Wocky...just sleep...shhhhh..." Zuma kissed Rocky's cheek. Then everything swirled together and went black.
"Wocky? Wocky?! Wake up!" Zuma shouted. Rocky didn't respond, and Zuma took his pulse and made sure he was still breathing. His heartbeat was still surprisingly very strong, but it was Rocky's breathing that Zuma was worried about. He heard sirens and saw the entire Paw Patrol racing down the street. Chase blocked off traffic on both sides, and Marshall was out of his vehicle before it had fully stopped.
"What happened?" Marshall asked, assessing the damage.
"He got hit by a car...he was twying to save me!" Zuma cried.
"How long ago was it?" Marshall continued, wrapping up multiple injuries in medical tape.
"Umm...about ten minutes ago!" Zuma said. Marshall winced. "Is he gonna be okay?" he asked.
"I don't know, Zuma. From what I can tell right off, all his ribs are broken, and one of the shards has punctured his lung. He's lost a lot of blood, but if he gets him to a hospital soon, he might have a chance. As long as his heart keeps beating, he doesn't go into shock." Marshall spoke very professionally, with no trace of the clumsy, fun-loving pup he normally was. Ryder had already called the ambulance, and the pups circled Marshall as he did what he could on-site. Soon, the ambulance arrived, and two paramedics hopped out. They ran to Rocky, (who Marshall had managed to revive for a bit) and immediately began asking him questions.
"What is your name, sir?" The first asked.
"...umm…I don't remember…" Rocky said.
"How old are you?"
"Three….or five….or seven…" Rocky began losing consciousness again.
"What's going on?" Skye asked.
"He's lost too much blood. He's going into shock." One of them said. "My name is Kristen, by the way."
"Can you save him?" Zuma asked. They looked at him sorrowfully.
"We will do our best, honey," Kristen said finally. "If he's a fighter, he'll make it through this." They finished approving Marshall's work, and they picked Rocky up and put him in the ambulance. Zuma hopped up beside him.
"I'm sorry, only family is allowed." The other one, Drake, said. "I'll have to ask you to leave."
"I am his family," Zuma replied. "He is my brother…" Or is he? Did we become something more? Zuma showed no signs of leaving, and Drake had to let him ride. Zuma licked Rocky's ears and hugged him.
"I love you, Wocky...thank you…" he whimpered. "Thank you so much. You saved my life." He placed his muzzle close to Rocky's and could smell his faint breath. Why, Wocky? Why would you do that? Why would you save my life for yours? He softly kissed Rocky, and he could've sworn he saw Rocky smile.
The ride to the animal hospital was forever. There wasn't one in Adventure Bay, so they had to drive thirty minutes to Adventure City. Zuma notified the paramedics quite loudly (meaning screaming) every time he couldn't hear Rocky breathing anymore, or couldn't feel his heart beating. So, with Zuma's help, they managed to keep Rocky alive...more or less.
"How much longer until we get there?" Zuma asked worriedly.
"Only about five more minutes, pup." The driver said. "If I go any faster, I'll risk everyone's lives, including yours."
"I DON'T CARE!" Zuma shouted. He broke down in tears, and the female paramedic, Kristen, picked Zuma up and hugged him.
"It's gonna be okay, buddy. He's going to make it. When he gets to the hospital, everything will be fine. I know things are scary right now, but I need you to trust us." She said. Zuma began trembling
"You can't let him die...you can't…" he whined. Kristen scratched his head and behind his ears.
"It'll be okay, okay?" she said. "See, we are pulling up to the building now."
Upon arriving, things happened quickly. Rocky was rolled to the emergency room before Zuma had a chance to ask what was happening. Kristen picked him up and carried him to the waiting room, where the rest of the Paw Patrol was waiting.
"Zuma…" Ryder took Zuma from the paramedic just before he burst into tears again. "What happened, Zuma?" Marshall asked.
"Marshall!" Skye reprimanded. "Can't you see the condition he's in?"
"No...I'm okay, Skye…" Zuma said. He sniffed and curled into a ball. "You guys already know he was hit by a car...but it was my fault it happened." The pups gasped.
"What did you do?" Chase asked.
"Well, me and Wocky were talking down at the beach, when Wyder called us for a mission. I decided to race him back, but I wasn't paying attention to the road ahead of me. I tripped….and fell...sniff...and Wocky told me...to look out...sniff...and I couldn't move...sniff...and I thought I was gonna die...sniff...and Wocky pushed me! WHAAAAAAA!" Zuma was reduced to a weeping, soggy mess once again.
"Stupid Chickaletta. I would rather have left her stranded on the roof than have this happen." Ryder muttered.
"I'm starting to hate that bird." Skye snapped. Everypup agreed, even Zuma, who just nodded his head. All the pups hugged Zuma.
"He's gonna be fine. Don't give up on him." Marshall said.
Where...where is everypup? Rocky asked himself. Where am I? Why does everything hurt? Who turned out the lights? Rocky tried to open his eyes but he couldn't, it was like they were locked shut. Just let go, Rocky...sleep...Rocky heard his mind.
What happened to me?
Don't you remember? You were hit by a car.
I was?
Yes, you were.
Is that why everything hurts?
Yes. Rocky felt weird, and he didn't know if he was falling or rising. Strangely, it felt like both. Sharp spears of pain lanced through him every time he took a breath, and he was hyper-aware of his slow heartbeat. Everything was gray...a light gray that had no end. All color was gone. Memories began fading, and Rocky's hyperactive mind began slowly shutting down.
Please stop… Rocky begged.
It can all stop...just let yourself go...You are hurting badly. Just sleep...just let it all go.
Am I...am I dying?
Yes, Rocky. You were hit badly.
Why...how did I get hit?
Don't you remember?
No...everything is fading. And who is Rocky?
You are Rocky.
Who are you?
I'm your subconscious mind. I am keeping you alive. I am the core of who you are. All your memories, all your thoughts, all your emotions, this is where they are born. I keep your brain working, your heart beating, your lungs breathing. I am what blessed you with high intelligence.
Why...why have I never heard you before? Rocky asked.
You could never hear me before. Rocky felt his heartbeat weaken further, and warm dizziness came over him. In actuality, I am your spirit. But it's not up to me to tell you how to live your life. I'm preparing to put you to rest now.
No...I don't want to die… Rocky thought. Then the pain came back, washing over him in red waves of anguish.
Stop fighting me. Your will to live is hurting you. If you let go, and let me put you to sleep. Why do you want to live anyway?
I...I don't know...I don't even remember who I am...what is this? What is going on?
Shhh….Rocky. This is your brain trying to make sense of what is happening. You always need an explanation, so this is the best your dying mind can come up with.'
Is any of this real? Are you real?
Calm down, pup. The pain became too great, and Rocky stopped breathing. He heard voices, distorted, not intelligible. There doesn't that feel better? The voices in Rocky's head became softer and softer, and it became harder to hear them.
Nothing hurts anymore. Rocky thought back. I… Rocky was confused. What was I going to say? The fuzzy grayness began fading, not even to black...but to nothingness.
Your mind is shutting down now. It won't be long before it is all over. Your brain is making one last effort to save you, so if you just calm down and sleep, everything will be over. You don't have to think anymore.
I don't...have to think… Rocky felt like he was drowning, and he didn't have enough strength to swim to the surface. His mind was a muddle, it was more feelings than reality for him. Suddenly, a picture of his friends began appearing. Chase. Rocky thought, as he saw his friend against the nothingness in his mind. Suddenly, the picture began burning, until it had turned to ashes. Marshall was next. Then Rubble. Then Ryder
Wait...before I go...how did I get hit in the first place?
You saved Zuma from getting hit. You saved his life.
Zuma...Zuma...Zuma...who is he? Rocky asked himself, as he watched Skye's picture burn to ashes. There was only one left. His brain saved the best one for last. The moment he had kissed Zuma, the moment he finally accepted his love. The spray from the beach completed the picture, as the sunlight set the picture aglow. Goodbye… Rocky heard a bark and felt pain on the side of his face. Wocky….Wocky...don't leave me...The picture began burning as well. Rocky heard crying and he finally identified the voice to the speaker. He looked at the picture again. He felt a warm feeling around him and an even better one on his cheek.
Zuma? Zuma...Zuma! Rocky felt dread in the pit of his stomach. No, wait! I don't want to leave him! I remember him now! I don't want to die! I want to be there for him, I hurt him so badly! If I leave now, was today worth it?
Too...late… Rocky heard the soft response. When the picture burns...it's over. You'll meet him again in puppy heaven. Rocky growled in his thoughts.
No! I'm not letting myself kill...me...wow, that sounds really weird. This time, when Rocky struggled to swim to the surface, the pain almost killed him in and of itself. He looked at the slowly burning picture of Zuma kissing him.
Sleep, Rocky… he heard.
No...I've got to get back. Rocky felt his heartbeat start again, and his breathing, labored as it was, started again.
You'll never make it...you don't have enough time. You'll never see Zuma again.
No! I know who I am now! I have a reason to live, I want to live for him! Suddenly, the nothingness around Rocky went back to gray, and tinges of color returned to his vision. Memories, almost forgotten, came back to his mind. I'm coming for you, Zuma. Don't give up on me.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Zuma asked the moment a doctor came out of the room.
"I'm sorry, pups. We did everything we could. He fixed his bones up and stopped the bleeding. We gave him a blood transfusion..but he stopped breathing a few minutes ago, and his heart is only beating twenty times a minute. He's not strong enough...he's not going to make it. Most likely, he gave up trying to live." There was a chorus of protests from the pups. "If you want to see him before he passes, you need to come now." Zuma was the first one in the room, regardless that tears were blinding his eyes. Rocky was stretched out, with medical tape all over him. Spots on the tape were dark red with blood.
"Wocky...Wocky no…" Zuma whined, touching his pelt. "You...you can't leave me. Don't leave me." Marshall put a paw on his shoulder.
"I know he was your best friend. I'm sure he tried his hardest to come back to you." Zuma brushed his paw down Rocky's face and smiled sadly.
"Thank you, Wocky...you saved my life…" Suddenly, Rocky flatlined, and there was a loud wailing sound from Zuma. No….no not you, Rocky! Not you! Zuma hugged Rocky tightly, crying into his deceased friend's neck. Ryder looked crushed. The others whimpered, but they were more saddened by Zuma's reaction than anything else.
"I love you Wocky…" Zuma whispered in his ear. The doctor when to remove Zuma, but Ryder shook his head.
"He needs some time," he said. "Come on pups…" Ryder and the others left, leaving Zuma to cry over his dead friend.
"Wemember all the good times we had together?" Zuma said through his tears. "Our races...the movies we'd watch...our tickle fights…" Zuma hugged Rocky tighter, inhaling Rocky's scent and taking comfort in his warmth. "Wemember my birthday? You helped build me a new windsurfer...and later that day...you through cake at me...and then we slept under the stars...sniff...you built me my hovercraft...taught me to speak….you did everything for me, and I just wish I could've paid you back. I'm sowwy, Wocky!" He kissed Rocky's cheek and continued crying into his neck. Then the was a loud beeping noise. Zuma jerked his head up and looked at the heart rate monitor. It climbed up from 0 BPM to 20, and it continued going up. Zuma hit the button on the side of Rocky's bed, calling the doctor. Rocky's chest began moving again, and Zuma knew he was breathing.
"Zuma…" Rocky whispered. "Zuma...
"WOCKY!" Zuma exclaimed joyously. Everyone came back in, to a laughing Zuma. "He's alive!"
"How? That's not possible, his heart stopped, and so did his breathing." The doctor said, putting his stethoscope over Rocky's heart. "The machine isn't wrong...:" he said finally. "Everyone out! He might make it, but we've gotta move fast." Zuma didn't even argue, and there was much cheering in the hallway from the pups. Ryder wiped tears from his eyes.
"How did you do it, Zuma?" Rubble asked. Zuma smiled.
"I talk. Wocky listens."
Hi again! Yeah, this was supposed to be the last chapter, but this one ended up being longer than anticipated! So, there will be another one going up within the week. I couldn't do it guys. I couldn't kill Rocky. It was too depressing.
Also, I tried to describe a dying person's mind. If it was confusing, good. Rocky isn't sure who was talking to him in his mind. The best way he can describe it is his dying mind's way of making sense of what was happening.
But now, everyone is happy, and Rocky is going to be okay! I hope you like this, and I'll see you later!