Who Am I? - The Hunt - Chapter 2
The pups each headed down the slide none of them even had the desire to call out their catch phrases as they headed out to hunt down their friend. 'Will he ever be the same loveable Zuma as before?' all of them couldn't help but think.
Rocky watched the others drive away. He turned to Ryder with tears in his eyes. "Why won't you let me help. I know I hurt him" Rocky cried "I have to make it up to him somehow."
Ryder knelt down to Rocky hugging him tight. Ryder said "Rocky, you above anyone have shown more love and devotion for Zuma than anyone. I know for a fact that you did not hurt him on purpose. I also know that when we find him, you may be the only thing that brings him back. We will wait until the others find him and head there immediately"
"Ok Ryder" sniffled Rocky "I'll die if we can't save him."
Meanwhile, Zuma raced away from Katies. He frantically ran until he could no longer hear pursuit. He growled looking around and saw an open door of a nearby building. He cautiously sniffed and stuck his head in the door. Three was an older man standing at a stove cooking. Whatever he was cooking smelled wonderful, he was hungry and his stomach growled loudly. The man heard it and turned around.
"Zuma, hi" said Mr. Porter "Sounds like you are hungry" Zuma growled low and sunk to the floor backing away. "Zuma?" Mr. Port said slowly backing up "Are you ok?"
Zuma turned and ran as fast as he could. Mr. Ported yelled for him to come back but he just ran.
Mr. Port called Zuma's name several times thinking to himself "something's not right, I better call Ryder." Opening his phone he let it ring.
"Hello, Mr. Porter" said Ryder answering the phone "Is something wrong?"
"Ryder, Zuma was just here" explained Mr. Porter "He looked like he was looking for food. When I spoke to him, he growled and ran away. That's not like him, he's such a friendly pup."
"Zuma's been injured" said Ryder "Katie thinks he might have a head injury and may not know who he or anyone else is. Which way did he run?"
"That's terrible" said Mr. Porter "He ran toward the beach. I'll close shop and help look for him."
"Thanks Mr. Porter" said Ryder "Say Mr. Porter. You gave me an idea. Can you bring a hamburger. We might use it as bait to draw Zuma to us"
"You got it Ryder" said Mr. Porter hanging up.
The pups were all heading toward town when Ryder called to let them know where Zuma had last been seen. They all turned toward the beach where Mr. Porter had said Zuma was running.
They began arriving and Chase called them all together. Chase decided to send everyone in teams so no one was alone if they found Zuma. The teams spread out looking for their friend. Chase called for his megaphone and addressed the crowd at the beach.
"Attention everyone" called Chase "We are looking for a small chocolate labrador. If you see him call one of the Paw Patrol members and we will come to get him."
'I pray we can talk him down' thought Chase 'I really don't want to have to shoot him, even if it is only a tranquilizer"
Zuma ran and ran. He eventually found a park near the beach. He looked around looking for a place to hide from all these people that seemed to be chasing him. He spotted a row of hedges and ducked into them laying down, his head hurt really bad. He couldn't remember where he had come from and why his head hurt. Eventually sleep came and he closed his eyes.
Zuma had weird dreams of other dogs running and playing with him. He could remember anyone's name but he could remember having fun and feeling safe. He woke whimpering softly. He tried hard to remember anything. He knew he was a dog but that was about it. His stomach growled again and he decide to try to find something to eat.
The pups were looking everywhere and spoke to everyone they came across. No one seemed to have seen Zuma since he ran from Mr. Porter's. Skye flew back and forth trying to spot him from the air.
Marshall drove his fire engine down the beach looking desperately. It appeared that Zuma had vanished.
Chase drove down the beach calling Zuma's name over his megaphone. Even Mr. Porter drove around the area.
"Why haven't they found him?" asked Rocky "The town's not that big, could he have left town?"
"I don't think it's been long enough for him to get out of town" said Rocky "Maybe he got scared and is hiding."
"Maybe if Mr. Porter puts the food out Zuma will smell it and come out" said Rocky.
"It's worth a shot" agreed Ryder calling Mr. Porter. Mr. Porter agreed and pulled over to begin setting the food out. Ryder watched Rocky and decided they needed to head toward the beach. He knew Rocky was getting more and more upset just sitting and waiting.
Rubble was driving by and smelled the food. 'Man that smells good' Rubble thought, his stomach grumbling 'that would draw me out of hiding.'
Chase sat at a distance watching the area. He hoped that Zuma would be drawn to the smell. He knew they had been up and down the beach and decided to turn back toward town. Chase decided to turn toward town when he noticed a small brown shape moving near the bushes.
"I think I see Zuma" said Chase into his radio.
"Let him approach and eat" said Ryder "Maybe if he eats and gets full he'll get sleepy. We'll follow him and hope he lays down.
Zuma stood up taking a deep breath. He didn't know what that smell was but whatever it was he wanted it. He slowly stepped out of the bushes crouching low he moved toward the smell. He could see in the distance a blanket with something sitting on it, no one was around that he could see. He crept closer making sure no one was near.
"It's him" said Chase quietly and calmly "Everyone stay back and let him eat"
"Great job spotting him Chase" said Ryder "Everyone stay close but stay out of sight for now."
Everyone drove to the area and held back waiting for Chase or Ryder to direct them.
Rocky's heart rate increased, 'at least we found him' thought Rocky 'maybe we can convince him to come back to Katie's'
Zuma now saw that the smell was coming from a plate sitting on the blanket. He looked around and could smell others nearby but didn't see anyone close to the blanket. He kept creeping closer smelling the food. He got to the edge of the blanket and looked around. No one was near the blanket and it appeared like the food had been left for him. He slowly stepped onto the blanket and cautiously approached the plate smelling.
Zuma's mouth began watering the closer he got. He gave the burger a sniff, it smelled good. He stood and looked around again. He leaned down and licked the bun, it tasted ok. He slowly took a bite and stepped back looking around. Seeing no one approaching he quickly grabbed the burger in his mouth and ran.
"Skye stay close enough to track him" said Ryder "But far enough to not spook him"
"You got it Ryder" said Skye flying toward the direction Zuma ran.
"Everyone else" said Ryder "Follow but not too close"
