Who Am I - Finding a Friend Continued - Chapter 5

Rocky ran as fast as he could. 'How should I approach him' thought Rocky 'maybe if I crawl slowly and talk softly he won't run. I don't want him to feel cornered in the cave so maybe I should wait outside.'

"And maybe I should wait until I find out if he's even there" said Rocky, irritated at himself for getting overly excited.

Zuma was laying on the cool floor and woke slowly. He looked around realizing it had gotten dark and once again panicked from not knowing where he was. He was breathing hard as he searched the walls finding the cave opening and stepping out into the cool early evening air. He heard the surf and closed his eyes, 'this feels familiar, I think I'll stay here and try to remember more' thought Zuma. He closed his eyes and listened to the surf. He wasn't sure but as he listened to the waves and felt himself relax.

Rocky was running down the beach and as he began to get closer to the cave he slowed to a walk. 'If he hears me rushing toward him he might run again.' thought Rocky, tears coming to his eyes as he thought about losing his best friend.

Rocky was a couple hundred feet away and slowed to a crawl. He looked out and saw Zuma sitting near the surf looking out over the bay. Rocky sat and watched Zuma trying to figure out what was going on.

Zuma was sitting on the beach listening to the waves. Wash in, roll out, wash in, roll out, it was hypnotizing. He was thinking how peaceful this seems when he caught the smell of another dog, it was the one from earlier. Zuma was so unsure 'why can't I remember,' trembling Zuma thought 'I may have been running from friends or even family. I'm just scared, I'm just so unsure.'

Zuma stood and turned toward the smell, he could make out the outline of the other pup. He cowered down to the sand. He was trying to decide if he should run or not. The other pup didn't appear to be hostile, he decided to wait and see. He showed his teeth to let the other dog know he was aware of him and unsure.

Rocky watched as Zuma turned toward him and looked straight at him, 'dang,' thought Rocky 'I didn't check the wind. My scent must have blown right to him.'

Rocky watched Zuma expecting him to run any moment. Zuma crouched to the sand and as Rocky slowly approached he could see Zuma shaking. Tears lept to Rocky's eyes 'Zuma's not afraid of anything' thought Rocky 'but he's afraid of me.' Rocky walked slowly until he was about ten feet away.

"Hey," said Rocky "Do you remember me?"

Zuma looked at him obviously trying to think, he shook his head, rose and took a step back.

"It's ok" said Rocky "My name is Rocky, and I'm your friend. We want to help you to remember. I won't get any closer if you don't want me to. Let's just talk."

Zuma let out a Whine and looked around to make sure no one was sneaking up. 'He's actually talking, I wonder how he's talking' thought Zuma 'I wonder if I can talk'

"H-h-how a-are you talking?" asked Zuma

Rocky smiled "Like you just did" said Rocky "We are special, we are all part of a group called Paw Patrol. We can talk and even drive special vehicles"

"I-I-i don't remember" whispered Zuma "I'm sorry, I'm a little frightened. I'm not sure where I am."

Rocky sat on the sand so Zuma could be assured that he wasn't going to try to grab him.

"It's ok Zuma," said Rocky "You got injured. Katie thinks you might have lost your memory. We all just want you to be healthy. I need to know you're ok. You are my best friend in the whole world. I want to help you remember."

Zuma still looked unsure and confused. Rocky continued, "This is Adventure Bay, You and I have been friends for a few years. You showed me this cave last summer. We've been here to play several times."

"This place, the cave" said Zuma "I can smell myself an-and you in the cave. It feels familiar, but I just can't remember."

Ryder and the other pups were driving toward where Rocky described. Ryder could see the two pups in the distance and they appeared to be talking.

"Pup's hang back" said Ryder "we don't want to spook Zuma. If Rocky can talk him down, it will be a lot easier."

Ryder got off his ATV and began slowly walking toward Rocky and Zuma. He paused to allow them to acknowledge him and for Rocky to indicate if it was ok to walk closer. Ryder could see that Rocky had sat down but Zuma was still standing.

"Tell him to stay back" said Zuma "I'm still not sure what is happening."

Rocky turned toward Ryder "Stay back for a little bit more Ryder" said Rocky "He's talking, but he is very nervous still."

"It's ok" said Ryder sitting down in the sand "I'll just sit here, I will not come closer unless he tells me it is ok"

Zuma could see the others in the distance and said "How many of you are there?"

Rocky began listing and naming everyone, "That is Ryder, he is our owner and takes care of us, Chase is our police dog, Marshall is our Firefighter Medical dog, Skye is our aviation pup, she's flying the helicopter up there" Rocky said pointing "I'm Rocky, the recycling pup, Rubble is our construction pup, and Everest is our snow and mountain rescue pup, she lives on Jake's Mountain with her owner Jake."

"And I'm Zuma, right?" said Zuma "what did I do?"

"You are our Water Rescue pup" explained Rocky

"Water rescue, that explains why the sound of the waves was making me feel relaxed" said Zuma "Why can't I remember any of this?"

"You were in the water trying to find the propeller for the flounder" said Rocky "That's Captain Turbot's Boat, anyway you were in the water when I asked Captain Turbot to drop the anchor. I didn't realize you had swam under the boat and the anchor hit you. I dove in to rescue you and Marshal rushed you to Katie's clinic."

"You dove in, but you hate wat..e.r" said Zuma "Whoa, that just popped in my head. Do you hate water?"

Rocky's tail was wagging and he said "Yes, I hate getting wet. But I'd do anything to save you. Your my best friend"

"I want to remember more," whispered Zuma. "I'm Zuma and I'm a water rescue pup. And you're Rocky"

"Right," said Rocky, his tail still wagging. He turned toward Ryder.

"Hello Zuma," said Ryder from where he was "I'm Ryder, you have lived with me for several years. I understand that you are nervous. No one here will try to hurt you. No one will even approach you until you are comfortable."

"Ry-der," Zuma sounded out, "and you are their, I mean, our owner."

Zuma said, "You can move closer, but not everyone. I'm still a little scared. I can't remember any of this."

"It's ok Zuma" said Ryder standing and walking a little closer before sitting next to Rocky. "No one will get any closer for now" continued Ryder "We all just want to make sure you are ok. We aren't in any hurry, take your time. I understand you are confused and nervous. If you feel up to it, Katie would like to examine you and make sure you are healthy."

"N-no, I'm not ready for that," said Zuma, taking a step back.

"It's ok Zuma" said Rocky "No one will force you to do anything. We are just worried about you. I am worried about you. I won't let anything else happen."

"Rocky's right" agreed Ryder "No one is going to force you to do anything. Like I said we aren't in any hurry."