The pups were struggling to completely calm Marshall down. Sure, they had calmed him down a bit, but he was still very upset. He was still bawling tears after everything that just happened, not to mention all the memories that had been brought back.
After what seemed like ages, the dally finally stopped crying. He was still clearly shaken up, but he was somewhat ok now. However, now it was dark. Ryder had made dinner for everyone, so of course, they all ate, but they were slower than usual. Marshall didn't even bother to try and eat at all.
Chase was furious, and that was with some generous rounding down. His own brother was in the worst condition he had been yet because of some stupid husky's actions. That same husky also threatened to kill his mate, which wasn't helping his case.
"I hate him. He's the one that deserves to die after what he's done." Chase muttered under his breath, seeing how upset the dally still was. However, he was loud enough for Ryder to hear his remark.
"Chase, I'm as angry as you are, but we can't do much about it now. What we need to focus on now is helping Marshall, he comes first." He told the shepherd.
"I know that Marshall comes first, but just look at him. Look at what that idiot has done to him. He's practically ruined his whole life. He took everything from him." Chase exclaimed.
"That's not entirely true, he still has us." Ryder reminded.
Chase only signed in response. Ryder couldn't say he was surprised. Besides Skye obviously, he knew Marshall meant more than anything to him. He also would be lying if he said that a part of him didn't completely agree with Chase.
He wanted Damian to pay just as much, but he knew he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him. Right now, Marshall was suffering more than he could possibly imagine, so he would stay true to his word of the dally being his number one priority.
As he got off the couch, Ryder turned to the dally. "Hey pup, you wanna sleep with me tonight?" He offered. Katie had told him that if Marshall had some sort of an episode, someone had to stay with him. It wasn't safe to let him be alone. The pup nodded, a bit glad he'd have some company.
As the rest of the pups headed to their houses, the boy brought his pup with him to his room. He usually didn't let the pups sleep with him, but this was an exception. Marshall immediately jumped up on his bed, circled around, then laid down.
"Why do dogs always do that?" The boy asked. The dally shrugged in response and closed his eyes, hoping he would get any rest at all. That was fine with Ryder though, at least he was trying to get some sleep, even if he was a bit doubtful the dally would get much after what just happened. He was unsure if he'd even get much himself.
By three in the morning, the pup hadn't managed to get any sleep at all. He couldn't get what had happened out of his head. No matter how hard he tried to tell himself that Damian was wrong, he just couldn't seem to get the message through.
Giving up on sleeping, Marshall quietly left Ryder's room and went outside to try and clear his head. He went up to his favorite spot, which was that tree he had asked Everest out under. Her grave was actually there now, but he didn't mind. In a way, it made him feel like a piece of her would be with him when he was there, which was the same reason he wore the husky's collar. It helped him calm down and let him always have a reminder of her, an actually comforting reminder for that matter.
He laid down next to her grave and looked out across the crisp, cool bay. He tried to hold back his tears, but it was unsuccessful. Everything he had been through, today and within the last few months, just hurt too much.
The part that hurt the most was what Damian had told him. "Do it yourself. It's your fault she's gone anyways." He had said. It had planted an idea in the dally's head, one that he tried so hard to push away. Out of all the things he had done to himself, this seemed like way too much. Surely he hadn't sunken down that far, right?
"Treat for your thoughts?" Marshall snapped out his thoughts and turned to see Ryder and Chase.
W-what are you two doing?" He asked, caught off guard by the twos' sudden appearance. He had been so wrapped up in his mind, he hadn't even noticed them show up.
"Well I woke up and you weren't there. I figured you would come out here. Um, I think Chase just couldn't sleep." Ryder explained. Chase nodded in agreement, confirming what his owner had said.
"What were you thinking about anyway?" The shepherd asked, although he already knew what the answer was. It wasn't hard to put the pieces together, especially after earlier today.
"Uhm, nothing really. I just came out cause I had to use the bathroom." He lied. Chase sighed, knowing he wasn't being at all truthful. He had always been good at detecting lies, but Marshall was never one to be a good liar anyway.
"Marshall, we aren't blind. It's not hard to tell that you're upset. You were thinking about today, and what he said to you, weren't you?" The shepherd questioned.
"I...yeah, I was. B-but, you two shouldn't worry about me. Just go back t-to sleep, I'll come in here soon." He insisted.
"No, we aren't leaving you here alone." Ryder stated. "I know what happened today must've hurt, but don't let it get to you. Don't listen to anything he told you, because none of it's true."
"Y-yeah you're right. I mean, after all, I've been telling myself that it was my fault the entire time, w-why should this be any different?" The dally replied with a nervous chuckle. Ryder and Chase exchanged uneasy glances, knowing he was just trying to end the conversation.
"Pup, please stop saying that it was your fault. It never was. And besides, you still have us, we want to help you." The boy told him.
Marshall knew that the last part was true. He knew that they were still there for him, but they weren't who he wanted. The only one he truly wanted was Everest, and that was never gonna happen.
"I-I know. I think I'm just gonna try and go back to bed, night guys." He whispered sadly, starting to walk away towards his puphouse.
"Oh no, you're still staying with me tonight. Katie said you needed to so don't try and argue, plus, I'm too tired to fight back." Ryder called out, only kind of joking.
Marshall shrugged, knowing it would be foolish to try and get out of it, so he just walked back to the main tower. "Well, he's taken care of. Night Chase." The boy said as he started to walk back as well.
"Good night sir." Chase replied as he walked back to his puphouse, trying not to wake up Skye. Unfortunately, his attempt was rather unsuccessful. "Skye, go back to bed." He whispered softly.
Instead of doing as he asked, the cockapoo tiredly looked up and faced him, still too tried to stand up. "I heard the whole thing Chasey, is he ok?" She asked, letting out a yawn.
"Figures. Honestly, I'm not sure. He had a really hard day today, he's still a bit shaken up. Oh, and sorry that we woke you up, I just wanted to check on him." He apologized.
"Don't be sorry. Besides, I'm worried about him as well, especially after all he had gone through today." She replied with sympathy, even though she knew she had no idea what the dally was feeling. No one really did.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just glad things didn't go any worse. I-I was terrified when he threatened you like that. I don't know what I'd do without you." Chase replied, recalling the memory.
Skye smiled and leaned her body on his, starting to drift back into her sleep. "Then it's a good thing I'm still here. Night Chasey." She whispered, closing her eyes and falling asleep almost immediately. Chase licked her and closed his eyes as well, knowing they both needed to get their rest after such a long day.
The next morning, they all got up as usual. Nothing was particularly different, except for Marshall coming out of Ryder's room. That meant they didn't have to convince him to get out of bed, which was a nice change, even if it wasn't caused by the best circumstances.
After everyone ate, Marshall walked out and went to Everest's grave. He rested his head on the stone and looked out onto the ocean, not saying a single word. The others were a bit glad he was at least outside instead of locking himself in his puphouse all day, but it was still a depressing sight seeing him like that.
The rest were about to follow him and go outside to play, but Ryder stopped them. "Guys, before you leave, I have a suggestion. Something that might help out Marshall, even if it's only for a bit." Immediately, all the pups turned their attention back to their leader, eager to hear what he might have to say.
"In a couple of days, It's going to be his birthday. And we should do everything we can to make it his best one yet."
