Chapter four: Changes
"Ready Rocky?!" Skye called from on top of the stack of pups.
"Locked and loaded, Skye!" The green recycling pup replied, plopping a fresh meatball into his small homemade catapult.
"Launch!" The Cockapoo called, to which the mixed breed responded with hurtling the meatball through the air. Skye hopped up to catch the meatball, backflipping down onto the trampoline in front of them; landing on her paws in the grass.
"Yay!!" The pup cheered excitedly, backflipping once more. Everyone laughed, as the Prescotts and Ryder came forward a bit more; when a familiar yawn behind them, got their attention.
"Chase! You're awake!" Marshall cried, walking out from under the stack; turning it into a pile of pups. Chase rubbed his eye as Marshall reached him. "Are you ok?" The Dalmatian asked him, secretly concerned(but only slightly).
"Yeah.." The German responded simply, still looking a little sleepy. "So what'you guys doing?"
"We're showing our new friends some of our fun tricks." Skye gushed. "You wanna join us?"
"I would.. but my shoulder doesn't feel quite ready yet." Chase sighed, flexing it slightly.
"Oh... right. Sorry." Skye remembered, guiltily.
"It's ok." Chase said, only slightly limping toward Boomerang and Mariana, who lay on their sides facing one another. He nestled in between the two of them, laying down with them. "I'll sit and watch for a while." Skye and the rest of the PAW Patrol just gave him an odd look. "I don't mind at all." Chase reinforced gently.
"Well... *sigh* ok. If you say so, Chase." Skye said, finally giving in. The pups headed off to play again, and Chase set his head down onto his paws; with a light sigh.
"Don't you wish you were out there with them?" Boomerang asked, looking down on the pup curiously. Chase's eyes widened slightly and he lifted his head to look him in the eyes.
"Of course I do, why?" He asked, almost surprised that he'd asked.
"Well it just seems like you don't seem as upset about not being able to play with your friends as you could be." The Australian Shepard observed thoughtfully. He's good. Chase thought to himself.
"I guess I'm still kinda sad for Kylie." The young German Shepard admitted. "I mean.. after we all escaped from Mrs. CorDan's mansion, I was able to be sent home right away... But Kylie-.. she-.. she doesn't ever get to go home."
"I know.. my heart breaks for her too." Boomerang sighed grimly, lowering his gaze momentarily. "But she'll get through it... I know she will.. Because she has a strong friend like you to be there for her."
"Not just me." Chase returned openly. "The rest of the Pals are there too."
"Yes, but you gave them their strength." Boomerang reminded him, his icy-blue eyes gentle and calm. "Remember, it was you who took charge and tried to inspire everyone to stand up to Mrs. CorDan, and it was you, who stood up for Kylie and fought Rex to defend her honor for her. And above all else, you escaped over the wall of the mansion grounds, which might I add, almost worked; and also took a major beating from Rex thereafter. And you did it all for them." Chase began to think about this, taking in what he'd just said. "You see young one;... your strength.. gave them the strength to overcome an obstacle. And now they know is they are stronger than they thought... because of you."
"But what did I do? I just did what I thought was right." Chase wondered innocently.
"You did what you thought was right.." Boomerang repeated. "And you inspired the others around you that they could too."
"I did?" Chase asked, a bit unsure.
"When they took you inside they had us all in cages outside." Boomerang recalled. "Who knows what they planned to do to us.. But after you were gone, Raul's and the others decided they couldn't sit around and wait anymore; and started to take action."
"What did they do?" Chase asked in surprise.
"They managed to overcome the cages. Their motivation led them to discover that the cages weren't secured down and we could escape by throwing it off of us. And they had that motivation because of you." The Australian Shepard's warm smile further demonstrated the truth of this fact. "Because you encouraged them to keep fighting and never give up.. they began to believe again. Believe that they could do it after all. You are the one they have to thank for that."
"Well.. I guess you may be right." Chase realized finally, smiling up at him. Boomerang returned a tender one.
"Indeed, and I believe that even though they don't always say it... they know it's true." The older dog finished simply.
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"Chase!!" Skyler never tired of being the first to ecstatically welcome the German Shepard to their room. "Guess what, guess what, guess what?!?!" She cried bounding around him once again.
"Ok, ok, just calm down and tell me already." Chase giggled, feeling dizzy just watching her.
"Oh right!" The sheepdog realized stopping short to look at him with thoughtful blue eyes. "Chase!! I have.. to best news.. ever!!!"
"Ok, what is it?" Chase smiled calmly. The Border Collie crouched down, peered around at her friends excitedly; clearly bursting at the seems to tell him. "I'm getting adopted!!" She finally sang, as Alex popped up from a pile of pillows behind her.
"What? Really?! By who?!" Chase cried excitement beginning to grow in him now too.
"Me!" Alex said, gesturing to himself. "Grandpa Porter decided I was ready for a pup of my own."
"That's great you guys!" Chase smiled happily, his tail beginning to wag pleaseurefully.
"-I know!!" Skyler gushed, lurching forward to hug him abruptly.
"Ahh, Sky- you're squeezing me!- can't breathe!" Chase cried unable to wriggle free from her embrace.
"Oh right! Sorry!" The sheepdog cried, releasing him quickly and gently stroking his wrapped up shoulder. Chase hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"How's Kylie?" He asked cautiously, afraid to know the answer. The pups' smiles faded, and they glanced over their shoulders at the little spotted figure laying in the shadow of the indoor playset, on a pup bed facing away from them.
"Not good, I'm afraid." Tiny sighed lightly. Chase's expression fell as well, an unfortunate sting in his heart piercing his chest.
"Well.. maybe this'll help.." Chase turned toward the door and nodded. When he did, Billy pushed the door open and Boomerang strode in.
"Boomerang!" The pups cried; the cocker not even looking up.
"Hey, wait for me!!" Rayla gasped; diving through the doorway into the room, before it closed. When she straightened up again, she, too, was surprised to see the Australian Shepard standing there. "Boomerang! You're back!!" She gasped, drawing closer. "How's life been with the Prescotts?"
"Not too bad; believe it or not." Boomerang returned, with a smile and a shrug.
"Glad to hear it!" The Golden Lab smiled. "Really. You deserve a good place to retire."
"And I'm very grateful." Boomerang beamed. "But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about you pups, and.. especially Kylie right now." The older dog's smile decimated, as they all looked to the Cocker Spaniel beyond them; still laying as she was.
"Maybe you can get through to her, somehow." Chase spoke up softly. "Maybe you could talk to her and help her feel better?" He peered up at the Australian Shepard cautiously; as though afraid he'd say no. Boomerang stood there a moment in thought, before making a slow approach. Rayla strode up closer to Chase.
"You think it'll work?" She asked him unsurely, looking at him quizzically.
"I hope so." Chase sighed.
"Well.. I'm sure he can do it." Tiny decided, a hint of doubt still twinging in his tone.
"I hope he can too." Chase sighed quietly, lowering his gaze directly down. The pups watched the conversation progress, tears were shed, and points were made. And though they couldn't hear what they were discussing,.. they could tell when they were finishing, as Kylie rubbed her tired, tear-filled eyes. And Boomerang laid his big gentle paw over her lovingly; as the pup willingly snuggled up to him in return, hugging him close to her in comfort and gratitude. Chase realized that he'd been holding his breath, and finally released it in seeing this; hoping no one would hear. After a short time, Boomerang wandered back over to them.
"She'll need a little time, but I think she'll be ok." The Australian Shepard told them sensitively. "But she will require our support, if she is going to find a new home." The pups all nodded intently, a feeling of determination to help coming upon them rather quickly. "As for tonight though.." Boomerang ventured once more. "She'll probably want some company to sleep for the night."
"I think we can handle that." Skyler nodded keenly; glancing at the others who nodded slightly in agreement.
"I wish I could stay, but I can't." Chase sighed unfortunately. "I have to be getting home, we have friends over and I don't wanna miss anything. But I'll come back when I can!"
"That's alright, Chase." Ci Ci spoke up, wearing a genuinely understanding look on her face. "We'll handle this." Chase shot her a smile and he and Boomerang set off for the Lookout. As Chase walked along, he couldn't help but recall the change in Ci Ci since she was rescued from the CorDan mansion. Then he realized how much they all had changed since then. They all seemed much happier, which was to be expected; but of course their situation was still not entirely happy, given the circumstances that stared them in the face. The ache in his shoulder was a sore reminder of everything he'd experienced and knew it would stick with him forever; even after he was healed.. if he ever did.
"Chase, you alright?" The German Shepard was immediately ripped from his thoughts when Boomerang's voice called him out.
"Oh..um.. yeah." Chase sighed rather smoothly. "Just thinking about Kylie again, that's all. What she's going through is awful." He walked with his head hung a bit, as he was also noticeably limping again.
"Aw don't worry about her." The older dog shrugged, watching up ahead of them again. "She's struggling, but she has you and the other pups to help her through it. And there's nothing better than that." Chase just dropped his gaze and kept walking, becoming immersed in his thoughts once more.
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"Chase, you're back!!" Marshall cried bounding up to his friend. "We were just gonna play Pup Pup Boogie; you wanna join?" The pups bubbly attitude burst from him in the unwavering excitement that he felt.
"Sorry Marshall." Chase sighed flatly, beginning to limp heavily past him. "I kinda don't feel up to it tonight." Marshall's smile faded into concern, as he turned to watch him go.
"E-excuse me, i-is this the PAW Patrol Lookout?" Chase, Marshall, and Boomerang stopped and turned around, as everyone else arrived find the origin of the strange voice. Only to find a strange, young man standing there in the main drive. He had dark curly hair and emerald green eyes; his tan skin fit well with these features as the perfect blend of colors. The quality of his clothing was quite expensive, made plain by just the look of the material used.
"I don't mean to intrude on your evening." The stranger stated insecurely. "But I have come all this way for an important purpose. One that I would be ashamed to return home without doing."
Chase turned around to face the man, thinking about approaching him; when he felt Chester step in next to him, a hostile distrust of the strange man infectiously emanating from his brother's mere demeanor. The man squirmed awkwardly, as if feeling the emotions of everyone there; although most of him were not sure what to feel. Chase felt this strange nagging feeling of continuity about this man's overall appearance, from somewhere beyond what his mind could reach at the moment. A strange sense of slight familiarity drew his eyes to the overall style of his attire, but he couldn't quite place it. Where did he come from? And what did he want? And what was so important for him to come all this way to talk to complete strangers whom he'd never seen before? Had he, himself, missed that much while he was gone? If so what had he missed? And what does this man have to do with it? All these questions ran through his head as everyone stared aimlessly at this lone stranger that stood in their midst; pondering how to respond.
Hi guys!! Finally got another chapter done!! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it!! This story has been so much fun to write already, even though I'm only in chapter four(actually five, which is not quite finished yet). And I have already planned out the storyline, leaving some room to discovery write as well. Hope you guys enjoy what I come up with, and I'll see you next time! Thx!!!