(A/N): Hey guys. I have to break the schedule a bit and release this early, because of a certain issue with my internet that is going to be fixed. (Hopefully) So in a effort to be early not late, I decided to post this chapter today. Hopefully by next week, we'll be right back on schedule. If not, I will find some way to let you know.
It's finally here. A year has finally passed sine Marshall's death, and it hasn't started off very well, at least for Ryder's sake.
The question is, will the pups ever find out about Ryder's tantrum? And how would they react to seeing their owner broken down?
It's time to find out as we try to go through, the Day of the Dead.
Welcome back to Paw Patrol: The Ballad of Dally!
Chapter 31: Day of the Dead
No amount of assurance from a peaceful morning patrol could lift Chase's spirits up at all today. It didn't matter if the streets were super clean, and every person and animal were completely safe from any harm. None of those things could put a smile on his face. Because today was a dreadful day. A day that Chase wished never came. A day that crushed his inner spirit and shredded his heart.
Today marks the one year anniversary of the city hall fire that took Marshall's life away.
Chase admittedly, did not want to be out on patrol. He wanted to be back at the lookout, doing anything other than his job, but somebody has to watch over the town. No matter how rare crime was, anything could still happen.
Predictably, everyone in the town showed their sympathy for the pup. Giving Chase various flowers to put on Marshall's statue, while dogs and pups of all breeds howled in his direction. Marshall was not just a big loss to him and Paw Patrol, but to the whole city, which made the shepherd more determined to protect the city he loved.
When he passed by city hall, his heart rate slowed. The new building was constructed to look exactly like the original with a few differences here and there. It was built up to standards thanks to generous donations from the citizens and Normality, through Paw Patrol. They were able to get the building up pretty quickly with help from a construction company and of course Paw Patrol. Thanks to that, city hall was back to its former glory and stronger than ever, but it didn't come without a painful sacrifice.
A fountain stood in front of the building where the old city hall once stood. A circular garden orbited the fountain with a stone walkway leading to city hall's front doors. The spot where it was believed that Marshall died, was a stone plaque that had "Marshall Square" engraved on it. The entire area was named Marshall Square in honor of Marshall's heroic deeds for the city.
Chase didn't even stop to look at it. The pain in his heart was just too much for him to even be anywhere near it today.
When he crossed the bridge and climbed the hill, he drove past the tower and drove straight to Marshall's statue, where it continues to stand guard for Adventure Bay. Chase jumped out of his cruiser with a bouquet of flowers in his mouth. Collected from various citizens of Adventure Bay. He walked up to the statue to present the flowers for Marshall's memory. He could feel the town's appreciation and grief in each flower he had.
He placed the flowers gently at Marshall's paws and stepped back a few feet before perching in front of the only physical matter of his good friend.
"Hey buddy. I brought some flowers for you. They're from everyone in Adventure Bay. I hope you like them."
He eyed Marshall's eyes as he sat in silence, thinking over everything that has happened in the past year. Despite the constant hardship of moving on without Marshall, a lot of great things have happened. Chase and Skye confessed their love to each other, Skye realized her calling in being a medic pup, Chase and Zuma actually grew closer despite Zuma's bitterness to the shepherd earlier on. The team grew stronger as the missions got more intense. Most notably the trip to Wintergreen made Chase a more competent leader.
However, the one accomplishment Chase was particularly proud of, was Chase completing his spy training. The pup was practically over the moon with excitement, and couldn't wait to tell Marshall.
"I have some really good news buddy. I finally completed super spy training yesterday! That's right, I'm a full fledged spy now! I can't wait to use my new gear Ryder made for me. I wish you could see it, Marshall, it's so cool!"
Chase's excitement instantly went away. HIs smile faded, and his tail ceased it's wagging. His head dropped slightly as he let out a whine. "I wish you could see me. I wish you can see how much I've improved in my skills. I wish….." His eyes teared as he praised his head back up to Marshall fighting the urge to cry. "...You were still here."
Chase was losing the fight. The past year has been the most challenging year for him. He thought it was all over and he was finally out of a miserable maze, but it was a false exit, and Chase felt he was right back at square one.
"I….I can't be-believe it's been a whole darn y-year." Chase sniffed his nose. "I-I feel like you just talked to me yesterday."
Chase dropped his head more, as the tears oozed out of the cracks. "Oh Marshall….I miss you so much. There are so many things I wanna tell you. So many things that'll put a big smile on your face. So many things that…"
Chase looked up at the proud standing Marshall, letting the tears fall down his face. "...I need you for."
A very long silence filled the air, as Chase sat there saying nothing sobbing quietly to himself. Wondering if Marshall could see him now. After a few seconds of nothing but rustling leaves and birds chirping in his ears, a sudden chuckle escaped his lips.
"I know you don't want to see me sitting here, crying like a baby but…." Chase could barely get through his sentence. "...I just can't believe you're really gone…" Chase sobbed his words as the still statue looked on. "...and this whole year has passed without you.."
In his sobs, Chase walked up close to the statue, to where his nose was now touching Marshall's. The only thing Chase could see was the dally's baby blue eyes. For a moment, they were almost real.
"I love you Marshall." Chase said, before unconsciously licking the dally's cheek. Tasting the stone statue as he squirmed at it.
"Chase!"
Chase heard his name, but he was too much in the trance to acknowledge it. In fact, he himself thought it was Marshall speaking.
"Chase!"
Chase looked bewildered, it sounded like Marshall. Then, he suddenly saw the eyes blink. Another call and this time, it came out of Marshall's mouth, but it didn't sound like him this time. It sounded like….
"CHASE!"
Chase jumped back, as the cry of his name scared him out of his paws. He discovered that it was Rubble and Zuma who were calling him. Their faces were looks of deep concern for Chase.
"You okay dude?" Zuma spoke first.
"Y-Yeah...I just….didn't see you two come up." Chase stammered, calming his nerves.
"How?" Rubble replied. "From where he was running, you should've easily seen us."
Chase was finally calm but his mind was still trying to catch up. "I-I know. I just didn't notice you guys. Now enough about me. What about you?"
Zuma and Rubble looked at each other with suspicion at first, but then suddenly looked back at Chase with an uneasy expression. "It's Ryder, Chase. We don't know where he is."
Chase suddenly snapped his mind into gear. "What do you mean you don't know where he is?"
"We mean we can't find him anywhewe dude." Zuma whined. "We went inside to eat ouw bweakfest, but evewyone's bowls awe empty. We went upstairs to see if he was in his woom, but he wasn't thewe at all!"
"Did you check his office?" Chase asked.
Both of them shook their heads. "We couldn't. The doggie door is blocked by something, and we can't reach the handle to open the door."
Chase was stunned at that. Ryder usually never blocks off any door in the lookout, even when he's gone to do errands.
"He's not in the gawage either, and his ATV is still thewe! We looked evewywhewe awound the lookout and still couldn't find him." Zuma cried. "Please tell us you saw him on youw patwol Chase."
After Chase shook his head, Rubble and Zuma's whimpering turned into sobs. Chase noticed this and did his best to keep them calm. "Guys guys. Settle down. We'll find him."
Zuma immediately cried out. "But whewe could he be?! He's not in any of the places we can think of! I'm scawed Chase! Weally weally scawed!"
"You know what today is, Chase!" Rubble sobbed, implying about Marshall's death anniversary. "He could be out there feeling so terrible! We need to find him Chase! WE NEED TO FIND HIM!"
"Pups! Pups! Calm down!" Chase order softly. "Take a deep breath, and calm down."
"But Chase…"
"Rubble!" Chase barked with a little authority. "Pull yourself together."
The two did as they were told while Chase admittedly did the same form himself. The three pups took breaths before they were finally calm.
"Now, we need to keep ourselves together here. We're not going to find Ryder if we're running around with our heads cut off. We need to keep calm, and think of anywhere else he could be." Chase implored.
"But we looked evewy whewe Chase." Zuma whimpered.
"Not everywhere buddy." Chase insisted. "We still haven't fully checked his office."
"But Chase. We can't get in there. The dog door is blocked." Rubble pointed out.
Chase suddenly began to walk past them while he responded. "That doesn't mean he's not in there and since he's nowhere else, that's where he's got to be."
Zuma and Rubble said nothing in response, as they followed him to the lookout.
Chase had no idea what to expect, when they enter the office. There was a painful pit in his stomach that insinuated that Ryder was in danger.
Chase hoped it wasn't what he feared it was. With today marking a year without Marshall, and the unexpected set to happen, Chase would be shocked, but he wouldn't put it past him if Ryder had somehow harmed himself.
No. Chase shook his head at the mere thought. Ryder would never resort to that. Even with everything in account, Ryder wouldn't even think of something so drastic. Sure Marshall's death was hard, but Ryder knows he still has the pups to care for. There would be know way Ryder would want to up and leave them.
Then again, he had a similar thought about Rocky. Before made an attempt on his life. So Chase had to be ready for whatever was behind the door he, Rubble, and Zuma walked up to.
He pushed the flap on the dog door and like Zuma and Rubble said, it was blocked off.
"See? Nothing, we can't even look inside." Rubble said with a whimper.
Chase looked over the door itself and noticed something particular. Normally, to block a doggie door, a small panel of sorts would be inserted on the other side, to cut off access, making the flap to not move at all, but Chase saw and felt that a panel was not inserted. Ruling out the possibility that Ryder blocked the door himself. Something was just in its way, preventing entrance into the office, making the doggie door completely useless and now wway for the pups to get in. But Chase had to. Ryder could be in real trouble. Luckily, he knew one way to get in.
Excitement grew in Chase's heart. He knew exactly what he had to use to get through the door. "Wait right here pup, I'm getting my super spy pack!"
Before the two pups could respond, Chase bounded off towards the elevator, and took it down. When he came back up, he was in his super spy gear, boots and all. He ran up to the door and lifted the flap up to clearly see whatever was blocking the door.
"What awe you doing Chase?" Zuma asked.
Chase couldn't help but smile gleefully. "You'll see buddy. Just watch. Ruff Ruff! Lazer!"
Upon command, a tiny arm reached out of his pup pack. With a sudden bark, a lazer shot out, and traced around the area. It retracted as soon as it was done, prompting Chase to push on the panel, opening the way into the office.
Both Rubble and Zuma looked in amazement. "Whooooooa. That's totally cool dude."
"Yep. Sure is." Chase charmed, before he went through the opening, with Zuma and Rubble behind him.
Chase's glee suddenly went away when his heart stopped at the state of the office. Well…..what was left of it.
What was once a nice and organized, cozy office, was now the biggest disaster zone the shepherd had ever seen. Ryder's desk was upside down and the shelves and bookcases were lying in the remains of picture frames, the TV, and various decorations, movies, and games. Ryder's PC was destroyed, along with the many accessories that were in pieces scattered on the floor with beans and glass. Chase's breathing stopped, when he spotted the missing person, laying on his side, with his back towards the horrified pups.
Chase turned ghost white, as he launched over to Ryder's limp body. Rubble and Zuma were frozen in shock horror, as Chase turned over Ryder's limp body. All the air escaped from Chase, when Ryder's head slumped, revealing a dry blood streak from his hair to his chin.
"Ryder? Ryder! RYDER!" Chase shrieked as he tried to shake the boy awake, but frighteningly got nothing in return.
While Chase was trying to wake Ryder up, Rubble wasn't handling it well. He was completely completely paralized and couldn't move an inch. He couldn't even speak due to the shock of seeing his owner lifeless on the ground. As for Zuma, he was hyperventilating badly. Then his breathing suddenly slowed to a crawl and before anyone knew, Zuma collapsed on his side. His eyes rolled back as he blacked out.
Chase shot his head over at the sound, seeing the traumatized Rubble, and the unconscious lab. "Rubble! Take Zuma, and go into the observatory!" Chase ordered. "Whatever you do, keep him in there."
"Wh-What?! But what about Ry…" Rubble asked back only to be cut off by Chase.
"Don't worry about Ryder. I'll take care of him, just try to focus on Zuma right now buddy!" Chase added.
Rubble hesitated severely. "Chase. Please tell me….is he….." Rubble swallowed a baseball down, the mere question nearly broke him. "...you know."
Chase looked back at his owner with a million butterflies in his stomach. Looking for any sign of the boy's life. Then, he noticed Ryder's chest rising up and down steadily.
Still alive. Thank god he's still alive.
"No Rubble. He's okay. He's just sleeping right now." Chase answered. "You have nothing to worry about buddy."
"But...what about all that…..(Gulp) bl-blood?"
"I'm going to get Skye up here." Chase replied. Calm as a feather. "He'll be okay, Rubble. I promise. Get Zuma out of here, before he wakes up. There's nothing much you can do in here right now buddy."
Rubble was surprised at how calm Chase was in a situation like this. If he was in Chase's paws, he would freak out every second. Guess that's why Chase is a great leader.
The bulldog looked at the unconscious Ryder one last time, before he went over to the passed out Zuma, and slumped him over his back. He walked out of the office, crunching down to the tiny hole, so he and Zuma could get through.
When he was gone, Chase looked back at his downed owner and let out a sad whine. He was glad that he got Rubble to carry Zuma away and stay there. They shouldn't be seeing this, especially since they were now traumatized when they saw Ryder looking as dead as a door nail
He wasted no time in calling Skye. "Skye! Are you awake?!"
A groan came through the pup tag. "...I am now. What do you need, Chase?"
"Skye. I need you to get up here to the office fast, with your medic pack." Chase requested, doing his best to hold himself together.
"Wh-Why? What's wrong?" Skye asked, still groggy.
"It's Ryder Skye. He hurt himself!"
Zuma moaned for a bit before he was finally awake and aware of where he was. Rubble took notice and wagged his tail. Although his expression wasn't showing any joy.
"You okay Zuma?" Rubble asked, his voice a little fragile.
"Y-Yeah, I think I am." Zuma woozly with a groan. "Uhgh. What happened?"
"You passed out. Right after we found Ryder." Rubble answered. A hint of sadness in his voice. His concerns for Ryder were really getting to him.
It seemed that Zuma felt Rubble's pain as soon as he heard him, his ears drooped and Zuma shuttered his eyes as if he was in a nightmare.
"Wydew…" Zuma whined, tears leaking out of his eyes as he looked at Rubble again. "Is….is...is….he…...d-dead?"
"No Zuma. He's fine." Rubble answered blatantly.
Zuma started to shake in terror. "B-B-But what all of that ….. (Gulp) ...b-bl-blood?"
"I uh…..don't know about that buddy." Rubble admitted nervously. "All I know is that he's okay."
Zuma looked towards the office door and gave his whimpers. "Wydew… what happened to you?"
"You're not going back in there, are you?" Rubble asked.
Zuma looked at Rubble and shook his head. "M,m. No. I can't go in thewe. I can't deal with it at all. Especially with the…..blood." Zuma whimpered again. "Awe you suwe he's okay Wubble."
Rubble looked with sincerity, but inside, he was struggling. "Chase thinks so, and if he says he's okay, then I believe him."
Although Rubble was convinced, Zuma sat in and had a lot of doubts. It was bad enough to see Ryder laying in the middle of a destroyed office, but seeing the blood made it worse
Zuma and blood do not mix together well. Any sight of it would make him drop like a rock. It didn't matter if it was only a drop or smear, whenever Zuma noticed it, he would either freak out immediately or pass out on the spot. He understands that in his line of work, blood could be common, but no matter how much he would see, he'll never get used to it.
Not to mention, Zuma felt that whenever blood got involved, it made a simple situation turn into a dire one. Zuma would freak, when one of his friends was injured enough to spill blood. Being afraid that they were dying no matter how much they were bleeding. He can't stand it, not at all, and would wish that he would never see any ever again. But of course, that was a fantasy. Especially with his job on Paw Patrol.
Zuma hated his fear of blood. He always felt that it prevented him from being a big help when he was needed. He has tried and tried to overcome it, but he just wasn't strong enough. Like right now, where Ryder needed help, and he was outside the door, feeling powerless to help his owner.
Zuma teared up again about his worries for Ryder. "I want to do something Wubble. I want to help Wyder."
"I do too, Zuma, but we can't do much right now. The only thing we can do is hope." Rubble cooled as he went over to the weeping Zuma. "Ryder will be okay. I'm sure of it. As soon as Skye gets up here, Ryder will be taken care of. Relax buddy."
Zuma sniffed before he responded. "Can we go somewhere else Wubble? Being hewe makes me feel so…..powewless."
Rubble gave a small smile to the lab. "Sure buddy, let's go down to the lobby. See if we can, find some way to get our mind off of all this."
Zuma couldn't give a smile back even if he wanted to. "Maybe."
Skye didn't even bother using the elevator to go up, feeling that the stairs were much faster. When Chase called her to tell her about Ryder, her mind instantly sped up. From the way Chase sounded, it was pretty bad, so she knew she had to get up to the office as fast as possible.
Luckly, she took the habit of having her medic pack in her house all the time, so it would be easily accessed, instead of going into the equipment room. A page out of Marshall's playbook that Skye thought was genius of him.
Marshall.
In the midst of all his thoughts and worries about Ryder, Skye couldn't help but remember what today was. An entire year without one of her best friends nearly killed her. She thought she'd been through the worst of it, with the funeral, and the first year without him. But now, it seemed that the worst was yet to come.
When she finally got to the observatory, and shot over to the office door. The intensity in her body grew high. When she heard Chase say Ryder hurt himself, she was in complete denial.
Ryder? Inflicting harm on himself? No. No way. Why would Ryder of all people take his own life? It had to be an accident, it had to be! Ryder wouldn't willingly leave them all alone, would he?
Skye took a deep breath, as she pushed through the flap like a curtain. Slowly walking into the office, not expecting what to find inside. Hoping to god it wasn't too bad.
Unfortunately, it was way worse than she expected. The office was beyond recognizable to her. The carnage made her feel like a tornado ran through it. Her heart shattered when she saw her victim, slumped in a surviving bean bag chair, not even noticing Chase, who was looking around the room.
"Oh my goodness. What happened here?" Skye spoke out, as she walked over to Ryder to start her check up.
Chase's ears pereded up, as he finally noticed Skye, and joined her. "I think I have an idea, but let's focus on him first."
"R-Right! Arf Arf! Cloth!"
A simple piece of cloth ejected from the pup's pack as she took and started to wipe the dried blood streak on Ryder's face. When she got up to where the wound was, Ryder's body suddenly winced as a sharp groan came out of the body. It didn't wake him up, but it at least confirmed he was alive.
"Oh thank god he's alive." Skye graciously let out. "That's the last thing we need right now."
"No kidding." Chase said sternly while watching Skye bark out her X-Ray.
"You said he hurt himself. Is….is that true?" Skye inched out, as she scanned him.
"Yes Skye. He did." Chase replied frimley. "Though, I don't think he did it on purpose. It looks like it was an accident."
"An accident? How?" Skye asked.
"My guess, he threw a tantrum right in his office." Chase said with certainty.
Skye eerily let out. "Really? You think a tantrum did all this?"
"Not just a tantrum, a massive one. He was probably screaming to the heavens in here." Chase added, his voice dwindled.
Skye had a look of shock and confusion. The thought of her loving and calm owner, screaming and destroying his office in a massive rage made her shiver in her paws.
"A-Are you sure Chase? That doesn't sound like something Ryder would do." Skye gulped, as she was done with her X-Ray screening.
"Judging by how messy this room is, and how I found him, that's the only conclusion I can come to." Chase spoke with sincerity. He looked at Ryder. "How is he? Do we need to take him to the doctor?"
"He's okay Chase. I don't think he needs to go to the hospital." Skye reported while she put a band-aid on Ryder's wound. "He only has a slight headache, and the wound is just a minor one on his temple."
"That's a lot of blood for just a little cut Skye." Chase pointed out.
"Yeah, but that's only because of what it's mixed with. Blood doesn't usually flow like that unless it mixes with water or something." Skye responded. "He'll be fine Chase, as long as he takes it easy for the day."
"You made that sound easy, Skye." Chase let out a groan.
"I know how you feel Chse, but we can only do our best for him." Skye said. She then drops her head sadly a little. "It still bothers me though, what would make him throw a tantrum this bad?"
"I already know the answer to that question, Skye." Chase admitted.
Skye looked at Chase with anticipation. "Really? You know what it is?"
"Of course I do. It's obviously…."
Before Chase could get far, the two pup's ears perk up at a sudden groan and mean enter them. They shot their heads over to Ryder, who was rubbing his head and grimacing as he let out a few groans.
"uurrrrmmm. My head." Ryder spoke groggily.
"Ryder!" Skye and Chase exclaimed at the exact same time, scaring the boy senseless.
"Gyah!" Ryder cried out, as his two pup ran over to him, and showered him with licks that easily overwhelmed him. "P-Pups. Settle down. Settle down."
Skye ceased her licking as she buried her snout in Ryder's torso. "You're okay?!"
After subduing Chase, Ryder hugged them both, slightly confused as he was clearing the cobwebs. "Of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I beee…"
It was at that moment that Ryder finally looked around and was neatly lifted off his seat. "Oh…..oh….oh no. Wha-What happened here? Why is my office a mess?"
Chase and Skye looked at eachother, dumbfounded.
"R-Ryder sir. I-I should be asking you that." Chase replied, as he looked back at Ryder. "Rubble, Zuma, and I found you in the middle of all this. Rubble genuinely thought you were dead sir, and Zuma…ow!"
Skye gave a quick side kick to Chase.
"What was that for?" Chase groaned.
"Don't tell him that!" Skye whispered. "You are making it worse on him!"
"But it's the truth, Skye." Chase protested.
"I know, but you don't need to tell him everything." Skye insisted.
"No Skye, it's okay. I need to know when I screw up." Ryder responded sadly. "I'll have to apologize to them for scaring them."
Skye's head shot back over at Chase. Giving him a 'I told you so' look which only prompted Chase to Stick his tongue out aggressively.
Chase looks back at Ryder. Hoping to change the subject a little. "Ryder, what happened last night? Why did you throw a tantrum?"
Ryder looked around the carnage, looking as if he was completely lost. "I…..I don't remember what happened. All I can remember is….a few minutes ago."
"Wha? But Ryder sir. How could you forget something like this?" Chase pressed.
Ryder placed his hand on his forehead and sighed "I'm sorry boy. I just...don't know. Maybe It'll come back to me, but as of right now, nothing."
Chase and Skye whimpered in response. Their owners' health on their minds. Ryder in his haziness, offered them a reassuring smile. "Hey. It's okay pups. Whatever I threw it for, it's out of my system now. So I should be fine now."
Chase gave a smile back to him while Skye kept her whimpers rolling. "What do we do now Ryder?"
"Well, one thing's for sure, I've got quite a mess to clean up." Ryder replied. "Uggh. But to tell you the truth, my head is killing me. I sorta wanna lay down and rest for a bit."
Skye's smile finally came to her. "Don't worry Ryder, you can go rest if you want to. We'll stay here and clean up as much as we can."
Ryder chuckled at Skye's sudden excitement. "SSSkye. I appreciate it really, but you all shouldn't be picking up my messes."
"It's okay Ryder sir." Chase supported. "We don't mind at all. It's the least we can do to help you."
Ryder was still showing a little discomfort. "I-I don't know pups. This is quite the mess I made."
"Ryder, we're going to help you no matter if you rest or not. You might as well get some so you can get rid of that headache." Skye insisted.
Ryder gazed at his pups sternly. It took a few seconds before he responded. "Okay pups. If you really don't mind, you can start cleaning while I go get some rest. But at two, I will be back here. No ifs or buts about it."
Skye and Chase looked at Ryder with confusion.
"Ryder sir. It's already two'o'clock." Chase pointed out. "In fact, it's five past two now."
Upon that, Ryder scratched his next in embarrassment. "Oh….It is...um. Then I guess...five will do?"
The two pups looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. "Yeah Ryder. I guess that'll do."
"Good." Ryder turned to walk out of his office. He had to move the little bookshelf to get to the door which, thanks to the destruction, didn't take much of his strength. He opened the door but before he walked out, he looked at his pups with embarrassment again. "Chase? Skye?"
The two pups turn to look at Ryder. "Yes Ryder?"
"I….I'm sorry. For everything." Ryder sighed sadly. "I….you all shouldn't see me like that. Ever."
Chase gave a firm smile to his owner. "It's okay Ryder sir. It happens to the best of us."
Ryder inched out a smile in return before he finally closed the door, leaving Chase and Skye in the aftermath of his destruction.
"Well…..that was easy." Skye spoke out.
"Yeah….almost too easy." Chase replied with a suspicious tone.
Skye turned to Chase. "Oh come on Chase. There's no way Ryder would straight up lie to us."
"Why not? He already has." Chase gravely let out. Earning a shock gasp from the cockapoo.
"Wha? What do you mean?" Skye asked out of her confusion.
Chase closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "It's nothing. Let's just get started on this."
No amount of total guilt that Ryder ever had, could compare to what he was feeling now.
Not only did he go nuts last night and decimate his office, But he also scared the hell out of his pups. He was kicking himself every step, for allowing himself to show weakness. Not only that, but he also lied to Chase and Skye's face.
Of course he remembers what he cried about last night. It was clear as day, and he knew Chase saw right through him. He just hoped Chase isn't too mad with him.
There's nothing he could do about it now, except lay on his bed, and sleep his headache off.
He looked over at his bedside table and saw his pup pad still on the charger. It tempted him greatly to turn it off so he could get uninterrupted rest, but couldn't will himself to do that. Even though he needed to take the day off, emergencies don't. They happen whenever they want and it would be disastrous if no one could get a hold of him.
Ryder ignored it for now, as he set his pounding head on the pillow, and closed his eyes with much anticipation of what was waiting for him in dream land.
Ring! Ring!
As if by fate, Ryder's pup pad went off, right when he was almost fully asleep. Ryder groaned as he picked up the pup pad and sat up.
"Ryder here." He yawned, grabbing his still throbbing head. Seeing that it was Captain Turbot on the other line.
'Great. What has this silly captain gotten into now?'
"Ryder! I'm sorry to disturb you on a crucial day like this one, but we've got a super duper catastrophe on it's way to Adventure Bay!" Captain Turbot hollered at a thousand words per minute.
Ryder rubbed his head with his hands tiredly and painfully. "This better be a real emergency, Captain. Today is not a good day for us."
The captain seemed to be oblivious to Ryder's unusual annoyed tone. "It is Ryder! It is! Adventure Bay is in real danger!"
(A/N): What impeccable timing from The Captain! It seems that guy always has problems in the most crucial moments! What catastrophe could this be for Adventure Bay, and how will Chase and Skye react to Ryder taking on a mission in his condition. Don't forget of what came of Rubble's discovery a few chapters ago. Did he tell anyone?
Find out next time as Chapter 32: Secrets We Keep, is uploaded!
Question of the Chapter: Based on your insights, What is the state of Paw Patrol right now? Are they okay?
let me know in your review!
Please review and tell me your favorite parts and if you have any questions about the story or anything else, just put it in your review or pm me and l'll get back with you as soon as I can.
This Is Sean Thames of Dragonsfire Entertainment signing off!