Well it been a hot second, hasn't it, some might say 4 months is a bit longer than a 'hot second', but, hey. There is no time on the internet.

Chase's POV

I stayed with Marshall throughout the night, not letting my gaze wander from his face. I was waiting, hoping, he would wake up and jump into my paws. But dreams don't come true, they'll hang the prize right over your nose, and as you're about to grab it, they take it away, only to return, to repeat. You keep stretching to grab the prize, because you'll never know when you'll get it, but you never do. You might get a taste of it, but you'll never get the whole thing.

Anyway, it's somewhere around breakfast, at least that's what my stomach is telling me. Still, Marshall hasn't woken up, i know Katie said he'd be fine, but that doesnt put my mind at rest. She can't predict the future, nor is she always right. I trust her, but when dealing with my mate… friend, hell I don't even know what's going on.

I-I, damn… i can't even think when he's around, even if he is unconscious. I don't even dare to turn my back on him, the first thing he sees will be me, he won't go through this alone. He'll never go through anything alone, as long as i'm alive, even when i'm dead i'll still be with him.

"Oh Marshall what am i going to do with you." I say, resting my head between my paws, looking into his closed eyes. I thought about all the memories i had with him, as i reluctantly fell into the dark and comforting abyss of sleep.

Marshall's POV

A golden brown cockapoo was standing over me, her head was blocking out the dusk sky, her mouth, open in a silent laugh. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't move, it's like a movie, you know what the character should do, but no matter how many times you yell it, they won't listen. The cockapoo's paw comes up to my throat and starts choking me. Her hot breath fills my lungs, my last breath, it courses throughout my blood, setting my body on fire. Her teeth gleam, canines shining against some invisible light source.

"Marshall.", her voice fills my ears making my blood run cold.

"Marshall.", her voice echoes, as if she was in a tunnel.

"Marshall" her voice changed and so did the sky; growing lighter, as the scenery changed to a more familiar sight, the inside of the lookout. And right in front of me was a lump of light golden brown fur, sleeping peacefully. The German shepard's chest rising with each breath and falling with each exhale.

My own breathing isn't as peaceful, with each passing second, a new shaky breath escapes my ragged lungs, only to be replaced with a new breath. My vision blurs, more and more with each breath in, only to return to normal with each exhale. I will my muscles to move, but i can't even lift my head. I can only manage a feeble whisper, before the darkness envelops me, once again.

"Chase"

Rocky's POV

"Man, Ryder i didn't know we need to replace these filters so soon." i pant to Ryder, as we work on replace Marshall's puphouse air filter.

"I dont see any reason for this brand new air filter to fail so suddenly. It's not like them." Ryder thought out loud. "These are supposed to last 6 months and we only replaced them last month."

"Maybe it was faulty." I answered.

"Maybe." Ryder responded.

It was quiet for the duration of the time it took us to replace the air filter. After we finished Ryder thought it would be a good idea for us to replace all the filters in the puphouses, you never know, if one was faulty the other ones could be faulty too. It didn't take long for us to replace all the filters, it was fairly, rinse and repeat. Me and Ryder had gotten an early start to the day, so we could replace the air filter, so it was around breakfast time when we had finally finished. I decide to go find Zuma, and ask him if he wanted to eat with me. As always he is lounging by his puphouse, i swear that pup is the laziest pup i know, but i still love him.

"Zuma, you wanna eat with me?" i yell over to him.

"Oh hey Pebble, i would love too." he jumped up and trotted over to me who, for your information, had been petrified by that nickname.

"What hon, you don't like, Pebble." he smirked as he walked by me.

"I-I, Zuma call me Rocky, please." i stammered.

"So you don't like Pebbles. Hmmm, will note that. Anyway, i'm hungry so let's eat." he walked back up to me and kissed me on my cheek, turning me back into a semi-functioning dog. He walked beside me, gazing into my eyes, as we made our way to the lookout.

"I wonder how Marshall is holding up." i question out loud as we enter the lookout, Zuma shrugging is the only response i get, as we walk through the lookout doors . The doors closed behind us with a rush of cold air. Off of the main walkway, Marshall was laying on a bean bag, while Chase was facing him, sleeping on the cold hard floor. It didn't seem like they were awake, and i thought best for them to sleep, knowing the night they've been through. I usher Zuma into the kitchen, to grab a quick bite to eat.

Chase's POV

I awake to a rush of cold air, probably from Zuma leaving, his scent lingers, he smells of water and fish, and trash. Wait… that Rocky's smell, i guess they came in together, i should've known, they are inseparable. Aside from that Marshall is still asleep, and cute as ever. I hope he wakes up soon, i need him to wake up soon.

Well, there it is, a long awaited chapter. It only took 4 months, only 4 months, i'm sorry for that, i didn't forget about it, i just, everytime i tried to write i couldn't. And when i did, i would hate what i wrote, and call it a failure and start over, but the important thing is it's done. Chapter 4, the chapter that took 4 months. Let's hope chapter 5 will not take that long.Till next time...