Pitter Patter went the Rain outside, making light taping noises against the soil but hard strikes against the roof of Elena's house. Tracker tossed and turned as he groaned, letting his body roll and shift suddenly off the Living room couch, making a solid thud on the hardwood floor. The Chihuahua immediately coming back to reality as of result, rubbing his paw against his head all sudden, the constant sound of thuds and bangs became clear to him.
To Tracker, it sounded weird but not all that distinguishable from the thunder and rain outside, but he knew it just sounded a little bit more unique than the violent natural weather. "I guess it's just the thunder" Tracker stated hoping right back onto one side of the couch where he fell from as Skye was seen sleeping on the other end, both not taking up more space as they weren't exactly big dogs.
"Help, we're trapped in here!" Valkyrie shouted as she continuously pounded on the basement door from within, trying to get anyone's attention to let them out. However, with the lack of acknowledgement, it proved to be futile. "Ughh, it's raining so hard they can't even hear us in here, you got any Ideas Elena?" Valkyrie asked as she turned back to see Elena leaning against the wall, taking deep breathes and trying her best to stand perfectly still.
"Woah Elena, What's wrong?" Valkyrie asked as she rushed down the Basement steps and right to Elena's side, looking like she was having some sort of Medical Episode or on the verge of fainting. "I don't…do well…In…Trapped…Spaces" Elena exclaimed with each deep breath in between each word. "Okay, control your breathing and stay calm, we'll find a way out" Valkyrie calmly reassured her, making Elena closed her eyes and began to breathe in hardly and slowly.
As she Exhaled and Inhaled, she slowly began to reconcile the terms she was in, being stuck in the basement with no known way out and all means of communication from anyone else in the house to let them out being not an option with the loud storm outside. "Welp, this storm isn't going away any time soon, Wanna just chat it out?" Valkyrie said, sitting herself down on the ground and patting the area right next to her, inviting Elena to take a seat as well.
The German Shepherd look at the Saluki in a very perplexed and confused way. "W-What, were trapped in the Basement for who knows how long, and you want to just Chat?!" Elena said in a frantic tone, Valkyrie looking back at her with a smile instead. "Yeah, we'll be out of here in no time if we just have some fun, Cmon, Where's the fun Elena I knew before?" Valkyrie asked again with a wide smile, tapping the spot next to her once more.
"If we have some fun, time is gonna fly by so fast, you'll see"
"Fine" Elena muttered as she slowly took a seat, right next to the Saluki as soon as a loud boom of Thunder shocks the sky, making both the Saluki and German Shepherd flinch. "Heh, Mother nature really is giving this county hell"
"Yeah, Must be a really bad storm passing by"
"So I guess now that we're alone, How about you tell me some backstory between you and Chase, You two must have bounded to have a lot of good times together" Valkyrie suggested, hitting the nail right on the head as indeed, there were a lot of good time between the two German shepherds.
"Mhm, It was really ever since I met him at the Orientation to when we Graduated from the Police Academy, He was really the best" Elena bragged as Valkyrie's tail wagged in reply, somewhat teasing her it felt. "Well go, Spill the beans" Valkyrie urged.
"Alright, So the day after the Orientation, Chase and I met back at the same place"
"Last Call, You're either on board or not!" A Uniformed Officer shouted as he stood against the outside of the bus full of Cadets, with his arms crossed and looking down at his watch constantly. Just a few feet away from him was Chase and Ryder, both hugging as if it was the last time, they were going to see each other.
"I'm gonna miss you Chase, I'll be waiting for you when you Graduate"
"I'm gonna miss you too Ryder, I promise to make you proud" Chase said with a puffed chest, making sure to bring truth to that promise however way you can. "I know you will, give it all you got Champ" Ryder said holding out his balled-up fist, letting Chase tap it before walking right past the future leader onto the Bus.
Getting inside and seeing rows of Cadets, slouched up against the window half asleep or on their phones waiting for the bus to leave already to the Police Academy. Chase slowly walked down the Aisle looking at each selection on seats, clearly looking for a vacant seat to take.
Suddenly looking at the back to see a familiar Black German Shepherd sitting alone right up against by the window. She sighed as she looked out the window and up at tall skyscraper in the distance, staring quite profoundly at it as if it had done her wrong, snapping out of the trance as she felt a weight slap into the seat beside her.
"This seat taken?" Chase jokingly asked with a smile; However, the joke made like a gust of wind and flew right over her head. "Umm, it wasn't taken, it's just open for everyone"
"It was a joke but okay, Whatever floats your boat"
"I don't have a boat"
"That's was an expression"
"Oh…Okay" .
"What's wrong, You seem kind of worked up compared to last time I saw you" Chase commented as he placed a paw on the German Shepherd's back, showing clear worry for her. "It's alright, I'm just nervous"
"Well, did you talk it out with your Parents outside, this is last time you're going to see them for quite a while" Chase asked, pointed out the window. "My parents didn't come" She stated.
"Oh, too busy?" Chase asked as he scooted a bit closer to the German Shepherd. Elena kissed her teeth as she starred back out the window, refusing to look back to the Male German Shepherd, knowing the truth but not wanting to say it.
"Chase, There's something you need to know, My Parents aren't exactly normal, They're-" Elena stated before the sudden jerking of the bus fell forward as it shifted into Drive and went forward, making Elena almost fall out of her seat before Chase in a good effort held her back.
Elena rubbed her nose in an effort to ease the pain, shortly going away and slouching back in her seat as she look once more out the window to see the skyscraper in the distance moving out of frame as the bus made a mix and twist and turns. "So, what was that you were saying?" Chase asked.
"Never mind" Elena said, as she twiddled with her paws and starred out the window at random pedestrians for a quick time killer as everyone waited for their destination to the Academy. "So, isn't it a bit exciting, doing what you've always wanted to do?" Chase asked in an attempted to start up a conversation.
"Yeah, it is, I wanted to do this ever since I was a pup, same with you?" Elena asked.
"Well, Yes and No I suppose. I'm teaming up with my Best Friend Ryder, we're going gather a team of super cool experts and be the protects of a town, Adventure Bay"
"You're Best Friend, how long have you known him?" Elena questioned.
"Ever since I was a pup, he literally saved my life once here in City"
"What about your mom and Dad?"
"I-I'd prefer not to talk about them" Chase said timidly with his ears down, seeing his expression turn from gratefulness to sorrow in a matter of seconds.
"Not a good relationship?" She asked to see Chase nod as an answer.
'I guess that makes two of us' Elena whispered under her breath as she slouched up against the window, leaving the conversation on a sour note instead of a positive one.
"So umm, Team of Experts?" Elena desperately tried to start up a new conversation, gladly seeing it working as Chase looked up with a small smile. "Yeah, we already have someone who can Fly, someone who can put out Fires and someone really good with Machines"
"Well, Good luck with that stuff I guess, Anyway I could join?" Elena asked with a smile.
"I don't think so, Bit I'll definitely ask about it though, It would be so cool to work alongside a friend" He said with a friendly pat as Both Chase and Elena violently slapped into the single wide seat in front of them, not realizing the length they had been taking for. Chase rubbed his head before leaning over and looking outside to see they had arrived.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP AND LISTEN, DROP ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES OR ANYTHING YOU DAMN WELL KNOW WE WILL KICK YOU OUT OF THIS ACADEMY IF YOU HAVE ON YOU IN THE BIN!" A Sergeant shouted at the top of his lungs as she stood at the top of the bus with a large plastic bin in hand, making the immediate order to hand over anything the Academy doesn't want in their grounds, for now atleast.
"YOU WILL GET THEM BACK IF DEEMED YOU ARE WORTH, FOR NOW, WE DON'T TRUST YOU WITH A DAMN FREE SAMPLE AT THIS POINT!" He said, raising the bin high and low for the Soon to be Cadets. Like clockwork, Row by Row the Sergeant had received Earphones, Smartwatches, Phones and even small bags of bagged processed foods.
Both Elena and Chase, as soon as their pain subsided, looked at each other thinking this was going to be real test of strength and might, it started now.
"Alright no Offense Elena, but how about we skip the small details and get to the Juicy stuff already?" Valkyrie asked with a smile. "What do you mean Juicy Stuff?"
"You know, Getting Tased and Pepper sprayed, how was that?"
"Oh, well something did happen when I got pepper sprayed" Elena stated as she seemed to be bit embarrassed to tell the story.
"Do tell"
"O-Okay, but promise you won't get mad though" Elena timidly said as she breathed out a large break of air before telling the story
"Everyone face the wall, Hands down at your sides or Paws down with your Back Up!" One Commanding Sergeant ordered as a line of Cadets came in, all in formation and formality. Wearing Bright blue shirts with the Words 'Cadet' in bright White for Humans, Canines wearing Bright K-9 Vests with the same Word plastered across, no different from their human Colleagues.
"Turn your backs to the Wall and Close your eyes shut, Do NOT open them back until the exercise is over" He exclaimed, as Conveniently Chase and Elena stood beside each other trying their best not to let a single creak in their eye lids let it be their biggest weakness.
"Pssh, I'm so going to ace this exercise, not even gonna feel it" Chase claimed right beside Elena, Elena didn't even respond at first as she tried to keep her eyes as closed as possible, forcing them so hard together that within time, they would eventually become one at some point.
"Elena, you know talking doesn't affect your sight right, how you holding up?" Chase asked after her bold claim, not getting a response back from the Black German Shepherd until now. "Shush, I'm trying to focus"
"Focus on what, just keep your Eyes shut" Chase replied as he cleared his mouth, just waiting for the pain to commence as he kept his own eyes shut but blabbing his mouth off instead.
"Focusing on keeping myself calm and still and one hundred percent fully…..You're making a silly faces at me, aren't you?" Elena sighed as she turned her head to the German Shepherd, still her eyes closed, just somehow sensing Chase was being a bit of a goof.
"Mhm" Chase muttered, if only she had her eyes open to see as Chase hung his tongue out and crossed his eyes in a silly way. "Chase, Will you stop being such a…" Elena was cut off as she opened her eyes to take a small peak at Chase's silly face and at the same time as orange spray of fire covered her eyes and even went into her mouth.
"AHHHHHHHHHH, IT BURNS!" Elena shouted, Shoving her face down into the ground. "Everyone open your eyes and observe" The Sergeant ordered as one by one each person opened their eyes and immediately look over to their sides to see Elena with her head down like an ostrich trying to stay as strong and silent as she could.
Chase looked at his side to see Elena in visible pain even though he face wasn't in sight, quickly raising his paw to the Commanding Officer in the Room "Ummm Sergeant, I thought we were all getting Pepper Sprayed for this Exercise" he asked.
"Negative, we're just observing the effects of Pepper Spray on an Individual, So please everyone, Take notes" The Sergeant responded motion over to Elena, implying she was the unsuspecting 'volunteer' for this exercise.
"CHASE, HELP ME!" Elena pleaded as she reached out her paw to the German Shepherd, Chase stood in shock as not really know if it was part of the exercise to help her out or let her wallow in her own pain for examination.
After a few efforts, Elena successfully grabbed onto Chase's Cadet Vest and pushed her face into Chase's chest fur which made Chase feel a bit flustered, making it feel like his hair was standing up on his own. "Mmmhhmm" Chase murmured as the Black German Shepherd swished her muzzle side to side into Chase's fur. Suddenly, Elena's continued to rub into Chase fur as she moved her head up further, going further and further up until for a split second two German Shepherd's suddenly locked lips.
Both shook suddenly, Eyes turned wide as Elena even though her eyes felt like they were on fire and ready to pop out of her sockets, could surely still feel, and felt what her brain was telling her. Squinting her eyes open to see Chase just a few centimeters away from her, throwing herself back immediately with her eyes still blood shot red from the chemicals.
"Oh my Gosh Oh my Gosh Oh my Gosh" Elena repeated to herself after throwing herself back up from her back, freezing in spot and touching her own lips as she shook, Immediately Elena was forcefully pulled back down onto her back and was administered small cups of milk being pours onto her eyes for the pain to subside.
"Alright, We're just going to ignore what just happened there, I hope everyone witnessed what they needed to see, Next exercise will definitely be every single one of you being put through the same thing" The Sergeant yelled as he walked out of the large room full of Cadets, standing in place watching as Elena was lifted back onto her paws, Milk residue falling from her eyes and being ushered out into another room.
The Black German Shepherd looking behind here to see Chase staring right back at her before reverting his eye to another part of the room, refusing to make eye contact that such an embarrassing event.
"YOU KISSED CHASE, MY CHASE!" Valkyrie exclaimed holding Elena by her chest fur and yanking her from front to back repeatedly. "I'm Sorry, it was an accident" Elena said as her voice cut in and out from being pushed around time and time again. Valkyrie in remembrance breathed a collection of deep breathes as she loosened her grip on the German Shepherd.
"You're right, and you did tell me not to get mad I guess, Sorry"
"I-Its Okay, I think I'd strangle anyone the same way you did if I heard some a story of someone kissing my Husband" Elena stated as both the canines giggled away their own misunderstanding. Just as suddenly the Flashlight Valkyrie wielded began to flicker.
"Uh oh, I hope you're ready for the dark cause this thing is about to go out" Valkyrie proclaimed as Elena brandished as worried face as by each second, the light from the beacon began to dim and flicker each passing second, only hitting it repeatedly to make it work again.
"Oh wait, I think I have something" Elena said, getting up and heading over to the corner of the room to the Beige Moving Boxes, quickly rummaging through one box, throwing out items that were in the way, everything from Trophies that crashed onto the ground and made a bang to small photos that just floated down peacefully.
"Ah Ha, Found it!" Elena said, holding up a Gaslamp with a singular box of Matches. "Alright, Gimme a sec" she said after as she laid the Lamp down on the Ground and began to fiddle with the matches, continuously striking the match against the box until it made a successful spark of fire.
Valkyrie smiled at the German Shepherd's quick thinking, stepping closer to her to offer her help with the matches until treading on what felt like a piece of paper, shining the flickering flashlight down at her paws to see it was the familiar family photo of Pup Elena and her Parents, and the Mother's face violently scratched out.
Picking it up and looking at it again with a curious look now, seeing the photo again giving a more ominous feeling than before. "Hey Elena…"
"What's up?" Elena asked as the match she struggled with lit profitably and brightly, touching the inside of the lamp with the flame as the inside the Lamp, the fire glowed more. Picking it up by the handle and walking over to the Saluki to see her holding…that photo.
"How do you feel about your parents?" Valkyrie curiously asked, Flipping over the Photo to Elena. Elena stared at the single piece of still memory before growling at it suddenly. Making Valkyrie back off instantly in result. "Okay Okay, we can talk about something else, no biggie" She said before the German Shepherd sighed in reply.
"No, I've been bottling this up for years, and now I think is the time for me to talk about it" Elena said reaching out and gently taking the picture from Valkyrie. Sitting back down on the ground as Valkyrie did the same, getting ready to listen to a real story.