Chapter twelve: Help!
Air returned to his body as he lay on his back, with the world fuzzing back to him; after losing only a second that he'd never know he lost. Heavily sitting up, the boy found no light to escape through what he found used to be the exit, blocked with a lumpy darkness very different from the rest of the cave.
"Oh no.." Ryder breathed, rising to come forward towards rubble quickly. "Everest?! Can you hear me? Hello?"
"Ryder! You're ok!" The husky's voice returned relieved. "Are you alright?.. other than being trapped in there?"
"I'm fine.." the boy returned. "For now.." he finished, turning slightly away from the rock-covered entrance, then pulled out his pup-pad. Pressing even one icon, the screen pixelated black and gray; hissing with no signal whatsoever. "My pup-pad won't receive a signal in here." Ryder sighed, then looked up. "You'll have to call the pups on your pup-tag, so they can locate you here to help get me out."
"Great idea!" Everest barked. "Arf, Arf, pups! We need help!"
"Uh-.. why? -Did you find Chase?" Marshall's voice asked hopefully.
"Ehh-.. no.. uh not yet." Everest sighed. "But now Ryder's trapped inside a cave that we tracked Chase to. He may be nearby, but.. one thing's for sure.. we need to help Ryder; before the tunnel caves in even more."
"Ok, we're on our way!" Skye called.
"Just hang in there, Ryder.." Everest called when dropping the call. "The pups are on their way!"
Ryder then nodded with a feeling of satisfaction, even despite knowing the pup could not see it.
"Ryder?" A soft raspy voice he knew drew his eyes immediately down to where the cave continued, as a small shape and brown eyes peered out and creeped toward him sheepishly.
"Chase! You're ok!" The boy gasped, receiving the pup onto his lap as the pup pressed himself up against him thankfully.
"What's that Ryder?!" Everest called, responding to the muffle of voices she'd heard through the rubble.
"Uh-.. nothing, Everest." Ryder called back. "But you were right! Chase is here! And he's safe."
"Really?! Wah-hoo! We did it!" The husky cheered.
"Now all we have to do is get the other pups to help us get out." Rock crumbled and a small amount more slid into the block doorway. Ryder adjusted his position uneasily, holding Chase tighter.
"We're ok, Chase." The boy said, hoping to comfort him. "These walls are unstable. We should head further into the cave where it's safer."
Sending Chase in forward, the boy crawled after him a short distance before rising to walk with him.
"So what were you doing out here, Chase?" The boy wondered, searching and finding the pup earnestly in the darkness. "It seems you've been all over.. and barely in a night."
"I..uh.. never should've left in the first place." The pup sighed sheepishly.
"But why did you?" Ryder wondered halting their stroll in the moment. "I mean I know why you did, but.. do you know?"
"Then why are you asking me that?" Chase wondered, cocking his head curiously.
"Because I wanna know that you know why you did what you did." Ryder answered earnestly.
"*sigh* I know." Chase confirmed with a sigh, sitting where he stood.
"But then what happened out here?" Ryder asked, kneeling down to place a hand on his right shoulder. Only to discover a stickiness that felt immediately unpleasant, and he lifted his hand to shake it off.
"Sorry,.." Chase apologized upon noticing Ryder's slightly disgusted reaction. "But it's nothing.. really." He finished this just as Ryder pulled out his flashlight and flicked it on. The red hue suddenly flashed chills across his skin, then panning the light over to Chase he found the source by running the light up to his shoulder.
"Oh no,.. Chase." The boy sighed, lowering himself to his knees and reaching a hand over to him.
"Uh-..it's ok." Chase replied lifting a paw up to his hand and placing it to the boy's open palm; then sliding it around to his wrist as Ryder's hand touched his cheek. "I'll be ok.. once we get out of here and go home." Ryder scratched the top of his pup's head, successfully earning him a smile from the pup; as they hugged close once again.
"So how ya feeling otherwise?" Ryder asked next, hinting very clearly at something Chase knew immediately.
"Ok I guess.." the pup shrugged. "Aches a little, I'll be alright once we get home again." A yawn and Ryder could easily tell why, even in the darkness that surrounded them.
"And I bet you're a little sleepy from running around out here all night." The boy guessed, cuddling the German Shepherd close.
"Yeah.. maybe a little. *sniff* I'm sorry for running away.." The pup apologized regretfully. "I didn't know what else to do! I.. I wasn't very nice to you.. or my mom. I know I shouldn't get so upset.. but I.. just can't help it and.. I.. I.. *heavy sigh* I know I'm not.. exactly handling this all very well."
"Hey, it's ok." Ryder said, hugging his pup closer. "We know you're under a lot of pressure because of all you've been through. But let's try to do better about dealing with it.. ok?"
"You got it." Chase confirmed, snuggling up to him once more, when a pounding drew their attention up.
"What is that?!" Chase wondered, leaning into Ryder a bit nervously.
"I don't know." The boy said, getting to his feet again. "But I think it's.. ahh!"
"Ryder?!" Chase exclaimed, stepping toward him. Dirt, dust and rocks came upon them, the two coughing once again; finding the air to be heavy with the dryness of the earth and rock that surrounded them.
"Come on.." Ryder groaned between coughs. "Gotta.. get.. to the.. mouth.. of the cave.." staggering forward up the small incline more dust clouds burst, the thumping of stones keeping them on alert dodging any that fell and came rolling underfoot. Chase spluttered and pushed on, Ryder's red and blue jacket acting as his guide. Suddenly that jacket disappeared and a loud thump clued him in.
"Ryder?!" Chase cried, bounding forward blindly. He somehow found the boy, discovering him lying face down on the floor, his right cheek to the ground. No evidence of injury yet no sign of consciousness either. The pounding continued and more stuff fell.
"No,.. no, no! Ryder!" Chase whined stepping around him. "What have I done! Ryder?!.. Ryder!... RYDER!" Chase's voice must've echoed louder than he had thought 'cause at that very moment the pups outside froze.
"Did you hear that?!" Skye gasped.
"It sounded like Chase.." Zuma agreed glancing around at the group.
"What's going on in there?" Rocky wondered.
"Well let's find out by clearing away these rocks." Marshall reminded them, trying to roll one away once again. The work continued as Chase fumbled around Ryder, panicking profusely.
Flattening his ears to slid his head under the boy's arm, he used what little strength he had to flip Ryder over onto his back; falling over him as soon as this action was made. Chase tapped his nose to the boy's cheek, then proceeding to lick it to try and rouse him awake.
"Oh,.. come on.." Chase cried, whining and groaning at the same time. "Wake up!" More rubble fell down over him, small stones and dust falling upon his brown coat turning it a more dusty shade. Chase stepped away from Ryder as another clump of earth fell and shattered at his feet between them. A cloud rose up from the blocked entrance, as when he looked up to notice it.
"Oh no.." Chase breathed, then taking the collar of Ryder's jacket he began to tug with all the might and fight he had left, dragging the boy ever so slowly towards the crumbling entrance.
We can't stay trapped in here like this.. he thought. We CAN'T! Tears stung his eyes as his heart, he felt, began to grow heavy. His strength failed him, as Ryder seemed to cease moving and his own legs began to shake.
"..no.." Chase seethed, through the material in his mouth. "..I can't give up!..*pant*pant* I can't!" By now, streams had made their way down his face and he clenched his eyes closed to pull with every last ounce he may have had, when suddenly a rush of fresh air hit him and he found he could breathe again; losing his grip on Ryder to fall backwards with a gasp.
A White head coated with puffy spots peered in with his bright red helmet and gear.
"Chase! You're ok!" The Dalmatian cried. Chase's paw lowered, having shielded his eyes from the bright light, and revealed the deep red and purplish line smudged into his foreleg; Ryder still lying at his feet.
"Oh no,.. Chase!" Marshall whined coming closer to inspect him more thoroughly.
"Don't worry about me." Chase emphasized scooting away from him. "Worry about Ryder.. he's out cold and I don't know why and it's all my fault!"
"Take it easy, Chase.." Marshall soothed with the development of a low collected voice. "We'll figure this out."
Chase stepped back once Everest and Marshall came in to grab a hold of Ryder's jacket to pull him the rest of the way out into the fresh air of the moonlit night. Marshall sniffed around for a moment, snuffling the boy's still face, noting the lack of scuff marks or bruises. Laying an ear to his chest, he listened in silence; his eyes popping wide with a smile. Standing so his front paws were on top of Ryder, he shook the boy awake; who finally began to cough and open his eyes with a light groan. Chase stepped about anxiously where he stood, daring himself to come closer.
"But then.. what happened back there?" The pup wondered distraughtly.
"He must've just passed out from lack of breathable air. The rocks being unsettled must've kicked up enough dust that Ryder couldn't breathe very well in it.
"But then why didn't I pass out?" Chase wondered. Marshall opened his mouth to respond, but Ryder's groan filled the silent void before his words could.
"What happened." Ryder breathed, finding the sky above him.
"You passed out inside the cave." Marshall answered. "Probably from the dust during the rescue, but you'll be ok."
"Oh,.. good." Ryder sighed, now sitting upright loosely. "Thanks, Marshall." Ryder gave the pup a scratch, then his eyes panned over to Chase on his right side, and he could see his sheepish glance focused away from him; as he rubbed his own shoulder.
"We need to get Chase home, pups." The young leader began again. "He's had more than enough excitement for one night."
"Right... after we assess this wound." Marshall decided, shining his light on him to squint for a better view of the brownish-red stripe's origin.
"We can better assess it where there's more light." Ryder said, then flipping the screen on his pup-pad the face he wanted to see became visible.
XXXX
"Oh, thank goodness you're alright, Chase!" Katie sighed, upon seeing Ryder and the PAW Patrol enter. Hurrying over to them she immediately knelt down to hug the German Shepherd close.
"Sorry.." Chase apologized, his gaze lowering after the embrace ended. "You might not wanna touch me cause I..uh.. got a little dirty out there."
"That's why you're here isn't it?" Katie implied, meeting Ryder's gaze.
"*yawn*.. remind me what that is again?" Chase wondered after the heaviness of a yawn came and went. Walking his paws forward to lay down his head rested on them and he yawned once more.
"Hang on, Chase. Wake up." Marshall coaxed, nudging him awake once again, forcing the pup to look up. "We need to clean you up so we can help that wound heal properly, and it doesn't get infected. And so we can see just how bad it is." Blinking heavily, Chase groaned and forced his shoulders up to stand and drowsily stumble forward, being caught in someone's grasp that lifted him up off the ground.
"Don't worry, Chase." Katie said, holding him carefully in her arms. "This shouldn't take long at all." Then carrying him over to the line of tubs they found that one had been filled and Katie immediately set Chase into it, so his front paws perch on the edge of it with his head laid over them. Taking her brushes and beginning to scrub, Chase's eyes remained closed and he almost appeared to be asleep in the moment. His brows and head would shift and change every so often in response to the girl's work, but otherwise the young German Shepherd stayed silent as could be. Only when he was taken out of the bath, and wrapped in a fuzzy blue towel, did he rouse from the cold transition.
XXXX
Draped over a shoulder, head rested upon it,.. the dark night fell upon him again. But not even a realization coming, nor an acknowledgement of this fact from the little brown police pup. A deep yawn and Ryder smirked,.. then to finish off the night with the roar of engines fading into the darkness toward the winding incline awaiting their return.
Hey what's up! Another chapter, coming in hot! Man got pretty easy to finish this chapter. Hopefully that'll continue towards its completion(whenever that is XD). Anyway.. enjoy this next part and I'll see you next time.. Thx!