Chapter 4: Adventure Bay (Normal POV) 8:45 PM
It's a full moon. The waves moved slowly as the ship sailed through them. There, Chase stood on the deck staring into the sky.
"A promise is a promise…" He thought to himself before closing his eyes. "Where are you guys…?"
"Something on your mind Chase?" Skye's voice could be heard from behind.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about Brian and Sutter." Chase responded. "So much has changed and it hasn't even been three months since they left. Who knows how they would react."
"Yeah. I'm sure they're doing just fine. It might take a while before they notice things are different but they'll come around."
"I seriously have to wait four years?"
"Who knows…? Maybe they'll hear about it sooner."
"Yeah, but still…"
"Listen, they're going to be okay. Think about it this way. They have each other after all."
"Hmm… I guess you're right. Maybe I am overthinking a little." Chase admitted. "Did you need something?"
"Right! Mr. Turbot wanted you to come inside and eat dinner. I think he made calamari."
"Yikes… Guess it won't hurt to give it a try."
"That's the spirit! I'll meet you inside!" Skye smiled while leaving the deck.
"They'll be okay…" Chase whispered before following Skye inside.
At the dining area…
"Look, sir, I don't want to talk about this right now…" Mr. Turbot sighed while washing dishes.
"Unbelievable! You told me you'd have it done three days prior, now you're coming up with excuses?" A man argued.
"I know! It's just that things came up and I had to pick up these pups along the way and-."
"I don't want to hear it! You know that's not a valid excuse!."
"I-!" Mr. Turbot tried to explain before Chase and Skye entered the room. "Look, let's talk about this later okay? Now is not really a good time."
"And you say you're going to become a captain? You're nothing but a disgrace Horatio. I hope you realize that." The man scoffed before walking out of the room.
"Geez..." Skye whispered to Chase. "Busy day Mr. Turbot...?"
"Tell me about it…" he mumbled before preparing their meal.
"Was that the captain?" Chase asked before Mr. Turbot nodded his head. "Wow, he didn't seem very happy," Chase mentioned.
"Captain Rivera wasn't always like this. I heard he used to be a cool guy until his father became the mayor of Adventure Bay. I guess they haven't spoken to each other ever since."
"That must be harsh…" Skye said.
"Yeah… But anyway, I made sure to boil instead of fry these last two meals for you guys so you don't get sick. I hope you enjoy it."
"Thank you, Mr. Turbot!" Chase beamed.
"No problem! I just hope one of these days, I'll become a captain myself."
"Hmm… Captain Turbot…Yeah! That has a nice ring to it." Skye thought out loud.
"You think so?"
"Yeah! I like the sound of that!" Chase agreed.
"Wow! You guys know how to cheer a guy up." Mr. Turbot sighed while wiping a tear from his eye. "So, what do you guys think?"
"Hmm… It's not bad, but I feel like it could use more salt." Skye answered as Chase nodded his head.
"I don't know. This is my first time trying seafood so to me, it's alright." Chase added.
"Really? You've never tried seafood before?" Mr. Turbot gasped.
"Nope. I haven't tried new things ever since my brothers left for medical training. What about you Skye?"
"Delilah cooked stockfish for me a few months ago. It didn't taste bad, but the smell was disgusting."
"Must have been from all the bacteria left behind. If you boil the fish in vinegar, that should reduce the smell." Mr. Turbot suggested.
"I'll let her know about that the next time we see her again," Skye assured.
"Are there any seafood restaurants in Adventure Bay?" Chase wondered.
"I don't think so. It's a small city, but it's very peaceful too. I don't usually get around often unless I'm needed on the ship. I'm sure you guys will like it there. There's a lot of nice people around and great places to visit. But…"
"But what?" Skye asked.
"Never mind. I don't think you'll understand politics at this age."
"Well, I'm going to head back to my room for now. Thanks for the meal Mr. Turbot." Chase said before standing up.
"Your welcome! Thanks for stopping by!"
"Wait. Chase! You don't want anymore?" Skye asked.
"Nah. I don't want to eat too much before I go to sleep.
"Oh! We're arriving in about two hours so try your best to not fall asleep! You might end up staying awake the whole night if you do."
"Alright, See you guys!" Chase waved before leaving the room.
"Wow, I guess pups do mature faster than we do. Back when I was younger, me and my cousin would always argue for another plate."
"Well, I didn't grow up with much. There were days where I only ate one meal, but I never complained about it. Even though Delilah was going through a hard time, she chose to take me in, and I've been grateful ever since then. As for Chase, he's always been like that. He knows that not everyone is born with opportunities. That's why he and his family always did their best to help out Roseville's community." Skye explained as Mr. Turbot sat down.
"That's how you met him?"
"Yeah. His owner's food bank ran out of supplies about seven months ago and he offered to help us out for the month."
"You mean that same food bank that was on the city's newspaper!?"
"Yeah…"
"So…! Todd, Anne, and Cooper were...!"
"Mhm…"
"And they're all…!?" Mr. Turbot gasped as Skye nodded her head. "Oh my gosh…! "H-How is Chase…?"
"He's managing. We've been through a lot over the last two months, but he's getting better."
"Wow… I never knew! I saw the headline but barely read into it. Do you know what happened?"
"I wasn't there for most of it, but based on what the police reported, the fire was caused by a defective propane tank Todd bought a few hours prior. The gas station he bought it from was held responsible for the accident and everything is still being taken care of."
"It must have been hard for him…"
"Yeah. I don't know what's going to happen to the food bank, but I promised Chase I'd always be there for him afterward, and I meant it."
"You're a good pup, Skye. I'm sure he's very lucky to have you." Mr. Turbot acknowledged while scratching Skye's ear.
"Thank you Mr. Turbot! I'm going to check on him and make sure he's still doing alright." Skye giggled before standing up.
"Alrighty then. Let me finish up here then go back to filling out the paperwork for Captain Rivera. I'll let you guys know when we reach the lighthouse."
"Ok! I'll see you around Mr… no… Captain Turbot. I know you'll become a captain one day." Skye smiled.
"Heh, I'll try my best! See ya!" Mr. Turbot replied before Skye left the room. "They're right! I can do this! I just need to believe in myself."
Later with Chase… 9:33 PM
After Chase left the dining room, he made his way to one of the four rooms where he sat for twenty minutes thinking about what the future holds.
"Everything is going to be okay… Just stay calm…" He thought to himself before Skye knocked on the door. "It's open!"
"Just making sure you're doing okay," Skye said before sitting next to Chase. "So, is there anything else you want to do before we leave the ship?"
"Nah, I think I'm about ready to get off," Chase replied before Skye giggled.
"Well, we still have time before we make it to Adventure Bay. So, let's see. I think Mr. Turbot mentioned something about a VCR in one of these rooms the other day. Maybe we can watch a movie?" Skye suggested.
"Sure! Did he say which room?"
"No, but I'm sure we can find it. Come on!" Skye chirped before leaving the room.
"Hey! Wait up!" Chase shouted before following her.
7 minutes later…
"Hey, Chase! I think I found some-! Whoa!"
CRASH!
"What was that!?" Chase said with a worried expression. "Skye!?"
"I'm okay! A box just fell off the shelf." Skye assured Chase as he ran towards her direction. "I hope I didn't break anything."
"Wow, that's a lot of VHS tapes!"
"I know right? These look like they haven't been used in years! Can you help me put them back?"
"I don't think we can reach that shelf Skye."
"Then… we'll just leave the box down here. See if you can find anything interesting." Skye said.
"All right, but just be careful next time, okay?"
"Don't worry about it! Let's see…"
"Science… Biology… Oceanography… Are these all just a bunch of documentaries!?" Chase asked with a puzzled look.
"Umm…! Nope..! I'm seeing a few Disney movies here." Skye answered while searching through the pile. "Dumbo?"
"Nah."
"Peterpan?"
"Pass…"
"101 Dalmations?"
"Seen it."
"How about Looney Tunes? He has a small collection of these! I don't think we'll be able to finish them all, but it should pass the time. "
"Hmmm…. Yeah, that can work!"
"Great! Let's pack up the rest of these and start watching!" Skye beamed. They finished cleaning up the pile of tapes and played the collection for the next hour and fifteen minutes. Then, Mr. Turbot's voice was heard on the loudspeaker.
"Hey, guys! We're almost at the lighthouse! If you want to come see the view, now is your chance!"
"Really!? I was thinking we'd at least finish two tapes before he called!" Chase bleated.
"Oh well, I guess we'll continue watching another time. Come on! Let's go!" Skye smiled while ejecting the tape. "I'll race you to the deck!"
"You're on!" Chase replied. "Ready? 3,2,1…! Go!"
On the deck… 10:52 PM
"I win!" Chase gloated.
"That's only because you got a head start-!" Skye scoffed before staring at the view of Adventure Bay's lights. "Whoa…!"
"This breeze feels nice!" Chase said with his tail wagging.
"And the city looks amazing at this time!" Skye added. "If only Delilah was here."
"Skye…"
"Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to bring down the mood."
"Don't worry about it. Like you said, it's better not to keep your emotions in."
"Right…!" Skye agreed as arrived.
"You guys enjoying yourselves?"
"Sure are! You're so lucky you get to see this often!" Chase stated.
"Well, I'm usually inside for most of my trips, but it's nice to come outside every once in a while." Mr. Turbot admitted while rubbing the back of his head. "If you look over to your right, you'll see the lighthouse. The light is kind of dimmed out because of a recent hurricane. We've been trying to get it replaced, but…"
"That's not good. What happens if there's an accident?" Skye wondered.
"City hall would have to take responsibility, but hopefully the mayor agrees then... "
"I hope so too," Chase muttered before entering his thoughts.
"Are there any animals in the bay?" asked Skye.
"There's a few seals and walruses around here but they don't come out at night." Mr. Turbot replied. "Anyways, we should be approaching the bay in a few minutes. It shouldn't take very long to dock, so you guys should be ready to go soon."
"Alright, we'll be waiting for your call," Skye answered.
"Okay, I'll keep a lookout for any obstacles. You guys take care!"
"You too!" Chase waved then stared back at the city view. "So this is our new home…"
"Yeah, it looks pretty calm from up here," Skye replied. "Say, have you ever seen a shooting star before?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Oh, I was just curious because I remember reading somewhere that if you wish upon a shooting star, it'll come true."
"Who knows? Maybe we'll find one tonight if we keep staring at the sky."
"Yeah. What would your wish be?"
"Isn't it supposed to be kept a secret?"
"Yeah, but hypothetically speaking. Like, it could be anything. Even if it's a little unusual."
"Let's see, how about a remote-controlled car? Like one of those small ones that we can fit in. I used to see people playing with them at the park, so I've always wondered how it would feel like to ride one of them."
"Oh yeah! That'll be cool, but isn't that a little dangerous?"
"Isn't that why helmets were invented?"
"You're unbelievable."
"What? I'm not wrong!"
"Yeah, but they can't protect you from everything."
"It's better than nothing." Chase smiled before staring back at the sky. "What about you? What would you wish for?"
"For me, I'd say… probably a pair of wings so I could fly."
"You mean like a bird?"
"Yeah, like a bird! I've always wondered how it's like for them to travel across the sky. You know what I mean?"
"Well, I guess that sounds pretty cool as long as it doesn't rain."
"Oh, that would be terrible. I wonder how they put up with it."
"I guess that they'll try and seek shelter immediately, but who knows? Maybe some of them prefer a challenge."
"Hey, you know I like a great challenge."
"Really? You're telling me that you'll try flying while it's raining?"
"Well, only if I have to."
"But isn't that a little dangerous?" Chase teased before Skye gently pushed him.
"Oh shut up."
"Heh heh! Well, if you're up for a challenge, we can always try having another race if you'd like."
"You're on! The first one to the front of the ship wins!" Skye said before running off.
"Hey! Who said you could get a head start?" Chase laughed as he followed her.
Later…
After the ship was docked, Mr. Turbot decided to watch over Chase and Skye until the animal clinic arrived for pickup.
"Ugh…" Chase groaned. "I think I'm starting to doze off over here."
"Yeah, me too," Skye replied.
"Oh, don't worry guys! We just need to find a car with the right banner on it, then you're all set!" Mr. Turbot said before the car arrived. "Looks like we didn't have to wait for long!"
"Thank goodness!" Skye solemnly said as a tall man exited the vehicle.
"Good evening!" He waved.
"Ah, You must be Mr. Jordan, correct?" Mr. Turbot asked before offering his hand for a handshake. "Horatio Turbot. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. I'm guessing these are the pups?" Mr. Jordan replied while accepting the handshake.
"You betcha! I don't think you'll have any trouble with these guys. They're very well behaved!"
"That's a relief. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to settle down all of the other animals."
"Wait, they're other animals!?" Chase gasped while wagging his tail.
"Well, it's mostly pups, but yes! There's a few hens, pigs, cats, and even baby lizards around the shelter, but we have to keep them separate from the pups for obvious reasons." Mr. Jordan explained.
"Wow! That's so cool!" Skye beamed.
"Alrighty then, we should get going now. You two must be tired from all the traveling, yeah?"
"You have no idea…" Chase yawned. "Well, I guess this is goodbye for now Mr-"
"Captain! It's captain!" Skye interjected.
"Captain? Oh, Captain Turbot! Right!" Chase laughed as Mr. Turbot smiled.
"Aww, thank you, guys! I'll see you two around, and I will become a captain one day!"
"We'll be waiting! Take care!" Skye said while entering Mr. Jordan's vehicle.
"You too! Enjoy your new home!" Mr. Turbot shouted before they left. "As for me, it's about time I finished what I started."
"He'll make it. I know he will." Chase repeated as they drove off.
In the vehicle...
The streets were silent as the radio finished playing its song…
"And that was Luke Star's latest song, 'Don't mind me!' I'm DJ Siphon and I've gotta say, things are getting very interesting as we get closer to the upcoming election day! I'm here with-" The radio said until Mr. Jordan changed the station.
"If I hear one more thing about this election, I'm going to lose my mind." He sighed.
"Wow, I guess everyone is excited over it, huh?" Skye asked.
"Well, this year might be different considering the competition."
"Competition?" Chase tilted his head.
"Well, it's a long story but it all started when the first mayor, Grover Goodway, was alive. From what I heard, he was considered Adventure Bay's greatest asset in history. He had amazing leadership skills and always did what was best for the community. That's what made this town so popular back in the days. But when the city lost him, things started to change. The mayors after him weren't as optimistic as he was, and eventually, the city began to suffer. There were fewer jobs, homes, tourists, and on top of that, the crime rates began to increase. Over the next hundreds of years, the mayors did their best to restore order, but no matter how much effort they put into it, things never changed. The city was pretty much on its last legs until the Rivera family showed up. I'm not entirely sure how they did it, but they slowly rebuilt this city to a whole other level. Ever since then, the last nine mayors have been selected from their family line. That leaves us with our current mayor, Harrison Rivera." Mr. Jordan explained.
"Wow! They must be good if the community trusts them that much!" Skye marveled.
"That's the thing. No matter who they're up against, they always win. Even when their campaigns weren't the best, the community still chooses them over everyone else."
"What about you sir?" Chase asked. "Did you vote for them?"
"No. I haven't voted in years for that same reason, but this year is different. This time, Mayor Rivera has to go up against Mr. Grover's great-great-great-great granddaughter, Brenda Goodway."
"Wait, his great-great-great-great granddaughter!?" Chase gasped.
"Yeah. Based on her campaign, she might stand a chance against the Riveras."
"A chance against the Riveras?" Chase thought to himself.
"So, who exactly is she up against?" Skye wondered.
"Mayor Rivera's second son, David Rivera." Mr. Jordan replied.
"Second son? What happened to his first?"
"I'm not sure what exactly happened, but after his father became the mayor, he left Adventure Bay and never came back." He explained as Chase and Skye looked at each other with a surprised expression.
"The captain of the ship..." Skye mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Huh? Oh! It's nothing!" Chase yawned. "Just getting a little tired, that's all."
"Well we've just about arrived, so let's get you guys all settled in so you can head off to bed." Mr. Jordan said as Skye smiled.
"Finally…" she whispered to herself.
Inside the Animal Shelter…. 11:25 PM
The building was silent. The lights to the entrance were dimmed to conserve energy overnight. The three made their way to the front desk of the main entrance.
"Wow… This place looks different than what I was expecting." Chase mentioned.
"Yeah, it looks rather calming." Skye agreed. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all."
"I hope you're right…"
"Don't worry I'm sure you two are going to love it here! I'm going to check if the head attendant is still awake." Mr. Jordan said while pressing a button on the front desk. "Hey, Katie? Are you still awake?"
"Yeah, I'm here! What's up?"
"The new pups have arrived."
"Really!? I'll come down right away!" Katie said before footsteps could be heard coming from the North-East side of the building. Within moments, a door slowly opened and a little girl walked into the room with an excited expression on her face.
"Oh my gosh! They look so cuuuute!" Katie squealed before hugging both of them at the same time.
"H-Hey! We're not stuffed animals you know!" Chase yelped before Katie released them.
"Oh! Sorry about that! It's just that I've never actually been face to face with a german shepherd or a cockapoo before so, this is kind of a big deal for me." Katie admitted.
"That's okay. I guess everyone has to have their moments sometime." Skye giggled.
"Yeah, something like that! Well, I'm pretty sure Mr. Jordan already mentioned me, but once again, I'm Katie! It's nice to meet you guys. We… heard about what happened in Roseville, and if there's anything you guys need, don't hesitate to ask us. We're here for you." Katie assured.
"Thanks, guys. I'm sure we'll be fine as long as we stick together. Right, Chase?" Skye asked.
"Right!" Chase smiled.
"Aww, that's so sweet! Anyways, you two must be tired so, I'll take over from here Mr. Jordan. I'll show you two around the place tomorrow morning. Now if you'll follow me, I'll lead you guys to your rooms, and that will be it for the night." Katie explained.
"Alright then, I'm going to head off. Enjoy your new home guys!" Mr. Jordan waved.
"Goodnight Mr. Jordan!" Chase and Skye said as he left the building.
"Well, shall we get going?"
"Yes please! I'm not sure I can last any longer…" Chase wearily responded.
"Okay, let's keep it quiet, I don't want to wake the other pups up." Katie directed them while leading them to the room. But before they could enter, the sound of laughter and movement could be heard from the hallways.
"What are they…?" Katie whispered to herself while approaching the door quicker. Once she opened the door, the first thing they noticed was a large crowd of pups chasing each other while a grey mixed breed sat alone in the kennel.
"Whoa…!" Skye gasped. "This is…"
"Umm… didn't you say they were asleep?" Chase wondered out loud as Katie clenched her fists.
"Guys… you might want to cover your ears…" She suggested while grabbing a whistle from her pocket. A few seconds later….
WHEEEEEEEEP!
"What are you guys doing!? Get back into the kennel right now!" Katie yelled as they all scattered. "Geez! Look at this mess! Why isn't Skipper watching over you guys!?"
"H-He- Umm… he was here, but he forgot to lock the kennel before he went back to his doghouse." The grey pup explained.
"Rocky you're such a snitch!" A different pup mumbled before Katie glared at him.
"One more word out of you, then you'll be receiving a 30-minute timeout during our activity tomorrow. Got that?" Katie warned.
"Y-Yes ma'am!" The pup gulped.
"I tried to warn them but, I don't think I'll ever get through to anyone…" Rocky whimpered.
"It's okay Rocky, you did your best. As for the rest of you, this better not happen again or else I'll be the one locking the kennels instead. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" The pups replied.
"Good. You all better make sure this mess is cleaned before you leave this room. Now go to sleep!" Katie ordered before turning to Chase and Skye. "Sorry, you had to see that guys, you two can sleep on those bean bags in the corner over there. We'll try to make some room in the kennel tomorrow evening, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you, Katie." Chase replied as Skye nodded her head.
"Don't worry about it. I'll see you all in the morning. Goodnight everyone!" Katie said before dimming the lights.
"Goodnight!" Everyone waved as soon as she left.
"Geez… what a kiss-up!" A pup mumbled quietly.
"I know right? No wonder everyone doesn't like him…" Another pup agreed. But despite all of their comments, Rocky calmly closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
"We'll be fine," Skye whispered to Chase. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Skye," Chase replied.