Chapter 7
Downtime
Everest shook her head as she tried to get her bearings "I wasn't really drunk, was I?" asked Everest.
"Not actually," answered Jake, but that's not important right now. What is important though, is that you need to understand that Ivan has to go through the same thing you just went through every time he gets drunk, except worse."
"Why would anybody do that to themself?" asked Everest.
"EVEREST!," screamed Jake out of nowhere, putting the little husky on edge. He then smiled and knelt down to meet her at eye level and began stroking her soothingly. "You see how your muscles are relaxing Everest? Alcohol tends to give somebody the same kind of feeling, and that's why a lot of people/dogs drink it."
"So, is that why he keeps getting himself hammered liked that?" asked Everest.
"That's probably part of it," began Jake, "but there's one other definite factor." Jake then gave her a kiss on the forehead. "But we'll worry about that tomorrow with the rest of your lessons, you've had enough for one day." He then smiled back at her. "I seem to recall promising you a reward for waiting patiently for me and Katie," recalled Jake. "Run along now while I prepare it for you," he advised. Everest nodded and did just that. An hour later, she heard Jake calling her name, and rushed over to him. To her pleasant surprise, Marshall was there with him. Upon seeing the Dalmatian Everest, not surprisingly, bounded forward and tackled him. As the two made out, Jake jokingly asked, "should I get you two a plate of meatballs and start playing an accordion?"
The two dogs and then looked back at him with a look of, "seriously." After a few more tender moments, Marshall suddenly asked, "Why did you do it?"
Everest's cheeks flushed as she sheepishly explained, "I was worried he would get drunk and ruin our date again."
Marshall then threw his forelimbs around her and hugged her. "I really appreciate your concern, but you really should have told one of us you were worried about that."
Everest sulked upon hearing Marshall's disappointment.
Upon noticing this, Marshall added in a more cheerful tone, "Cheer up, Everest, everybody makes mistakes."
Everest then smiled back, thankfully.
Meanwhile, Jake tiptoed out of the room to give the two some privacy. While she wasn't out of the woods yet, she had learned an important lesson that day, and she deserved a little downtime.
As I've mentioned before, I don't know where to take this series after this story, and uncertain how much longer I can keep it going. I have my final capping story written, and I am going to try to make at least #35, though part of me feels #40 or #50 would be more fitting. I only have 3 more ideas at the moment: A Marshall and Everest date by a pond in the woods (only have a premise for this one), Rex and Jura go on vacation in the jungle with Tracker (I have a few scenarios planned, but no real direction), and a seven years later story (meant as the penultimate one). I don't know how much longer I can keep this series going, and after two years and more than 30 stories, I think the time is coming to bring things to a close.
p.s. I am compiling the whole series into a single volume on Wattpad Account (Zootopiafan64)
p.p.s. I have ao3! Zootopiafan1914!