AN: Wow, lot of love from the first chapter. Great to see. We're gonna see what's Zuma's fear is in this chapter. Also a question, which of the two is Ryder's actual "dog" dog, Chase or Marshall? It seems like Chase is the closest to Ryder and he is used the most on the show, but according to some wiki info there is indication that Marshall is his actual dog (the others I'm assuming he got at a later date). Does anybody know the canon 'cause I've been under the impression it was Chase, that's what I did with Marshall Gone Missing and since now I'm unsure I made it so that they both were owned by Ryder at the same time. Somebody please tell me?

Also this story takes place between Seasons 1 and 2. So Chase and Marshall have their secondary jobs and equipment, but Everest is not part of the team yet. Sorry Everest fans.

P.S. How do you like my new cover for the fic?

Disclaimer: I don't own Paw Patrol

Zuma was relieved when he woke up the next morning and none of the others bought up the conversation about his fears again. Truth was, Zuma had a fear, but it was one that he didn't want to think about, much less talk on. He knew the others were just curious, but he wanted to make sure none of them knew about his fear. Or about why he was afraid of it. Pushing these thoughts aside, Zuma watched his friends from the top of the slide as Chase pushed Skye on a swingset before she jumped up and flipped in the air, landing safely. She would then get back on and Chase would continue to push, all with a blush on his cheeks. Marshall, Rubble, and Rocky were building sand castles in the sandbox. Well, more like Rubble and Rocky were as Marshall was pretending to be a monster by stomping on them with a bucket on his head.

Looking over the park and sunshine it made Zuma sigh with joy knowing that it was a perfect day to play and relax. Maybe I'll head over to the sea later. Do a bit of swimming. Find some seashells… His eyes widened as a realization hit him in the head like a soccer ball at mock speed. "Oh, man!" Zuma quickly slide down the slide and rushed over to Chase with worry in his eyes. "Chase! Hey, Chase!"

"Yeah?" asked Chase, stopping his pushing. "What's up, Zuma?"

"Dude, what day is it?!" asked Zuma, pacing himself a he got ready to rush out if today was indeed that day.

"Um, May 20th I think," recalled Chase. He was about to say something, but Zuma was already rushing out of the playground for the exit. "Hey! Where are you going?!"

"I got to head to the beach and do something! See you guys later!" cried out Zuma, but before he could press further, his tag beeped and Ryder's voice came out.

"Paw Patrol! To the Lookout!"

"Ryder needs us!" shouted everyone as they howled, following Zuma towards the direction of the lookout.

Although he was disappointed this happened, Zuma knew that his duties as a rescue pup came first and foremost. He took a promise not to let anyone who was defenseless, or in need of help, down and he was going to keep it. Besides, I can always get the shells later after the wescue. And I might not be needed for it anyway!

Running at full speed, and leading the pack, Zuma found himself heading into the Lookout's main doors with his friends right behind him. He turned around and counted all four of his friends-wait, four?

"Hey, where's Mawshall?" asked Zuma as he and the others looked around for their spotted pup friend.

"Help! I can't see!"

The alerted pups all faced forward and gasped as Marshall, whose eyes was covered by his sand bucket, headed straight for them. They tried to shout out a warning, but it was too late. Marshall ran into them, knocking them around until they were another heaping pile of pups stacked on top of each other. Again.

Marshall finally got the bucket off his head and looked around, laughing. "Fear me! I am the monster known as Marshall! Destroyer of sand castles and wrecker of pups! With the Paw Patrol defeated I can take over the world!"

"Before you do, can you get your butt out of my face?" asked Rocky, feeling uncomfortable.

"Of course!" shouted Marshall, dramatically as he turned his head over his shoulder with an evil smirk. At least until the elevator started moving and made him lose his balance.

After getting back on all four paws, the Paw Patrol arrived at their mini-locker rooms halfway up the Lookout's tower and started putting on their gear. The only difference was that Marshall had his new medical pup gear laid out for him instead of his usual fire pup gear. Ryder had the ability to change what gear was to be used based on certain missions, and if Marshall needed to be the medical pup that meant someone was hurt badly. Knowing this, they dressed up even quicker with the intention of helping whoever it was that called for help. Once they were dressed up, Skye hit the button for it to continue and they lined up in proper order with their minds focused on the upcoming mission. Arriving at the top, Chase and Rubble jumped out followed by Rocky and Zuma, then Skye and Marshall last. They stood in attention as a smiling Ryder held out his pup pad.

"Paw Patrol ready for action, Ryder, sir!" shouted Chase, putting his paw down.

Pressing a button on his pup pad, Ryder activated the big screen to come down and show them a picture of what looked to be two large boats slamming into each other with people inside them. Captain Turbot's boat was also nearby with him running around going "help help".

Looks like a sea mission after all, said Zuma, with a bit disappointment for having his time cut short, but he smirked and stood further in attention. Well, guess it's time to get wet.

"Thanks for coming, pups," said Ryder with a smile before his face turned serious. "We have a major problem out in the bay. Two tourist boats have collided and are slowly sinking. Captain Turbot's been able to get some passages on-board his own boat, but he's running out of room. We need to help the rest of those passengers get off their boats safely, and make sure no one's hurt."

Ryder pressed another button as Zuma's pup tag appeared along with his hovercraft and another large boat. "Zuma, I need you to tie up one of the boats on the docks and drag it to the crash site so we can put the remaining passengers on board."

"Let's dive in!" shouted Zuma, stepping forward.

Ryder then brought up Marshall's pup tag and his medical pack. "Marshall, we may have some injured tourists who will need to be checked out. You'll ride on the boat Zuma's dragging. and bring your medical gear."

"I'm ready for a ruff ruff rescue!" shouted Marshall, giving a cheering howl.

Finally, Chase's symbol came up with his megaphone. "Chase, we're gonna have a lot of panicking people out in the bay. I need you to use your megaphone to help keep not only the passenger's calm, but help me guide them as well."

"Chase is on the case!" replied Chase, puffing his chest out.

"Alright, Paw Patrol is on a role!" shouted Ryder as the rest of the pups howled and cheered in response. Ryder headed for his sliding pole while Zuma, followed by Marshall and Chase, headed for the slide.

Zuma always loved this part as he slide down, raising his paws in the air while cheering at the speeds they were going. While Marshall was struggling to regain his balance, again, and Chase was howling, Zuma found himself landing in his pup house which soon transformed into his hovercraft. Turning the engine on, Zuma sped down the hill, followed by Marshall's EMT truck and Chase's police cruiser behind him. The lower garage also opened and Ryder headed out with his ATV.

"We'll split up from here. Chase, you come with me to the edge of our dock and eject into my jet ski. Zuma and Marshall? You guys make your way to the other docks."

"Roger, Ryder!" said the pups as they split up. Zuma watched as Chase soon ejected from his car, while Ryder quickly deployed his ATV into jet ski mode. He gave them a wave as they sailed away, leaving Zuma and Marshall to drive down to the docs.

It didn't take long for the duo to end up on the dock. Zuma drove for the water while Marshall got on one of the large boats. Wagging his tail, he leaned on the edge and barked. "Come on! We gotta hurry up and catch up with Ryder!"

"Arf! Arf! Buoy!" commanded Zuma as the front compartment of his hovercraft opened up, and shot out the life preserver and rope. Marshall grabbed it with his mouth and made sure to secure it on the boat's bow. "Hang on, dude!"

Zuma turned his vehicle around and pushed his paw on the gas as hard as he could, yipping with excitement as he sped down the water with the boat following right behind him. Marshall failed to take his friend's warning as he slipped back and ended up crashing into a fish bucket were the dead fish landed on his head. "I'm good… but kinda stinky…" he laughed before getting up and hanging on the boat, tongue flapping in the air.

After ten minutes of sailing, Zuma spotted the three boats and began to lower his speed. Ryder and Captain Turbot raised their hands in greetings as the boat was brought over. Zuma had to admit, things looked really bad. One ship had completely crashed into the middle of the other one as groaning tourists held their families together while covered in debris and cuts. Most of the tourists were on Captain Turbot's boat, but there looked to be very little room to maneuver. Up on the second floor was Chase, megaphone already out.

"Attention passengers! Medical assistance has arrive along with a second boat! Please remain calm, and we'll be able to attend to your needs!" announced Chase.

"Good job, pups. You came here just in time," said Ryder to his pups.

"Yeah, we got a messy megaton mess of a mishap!" shouted Captain Turbot.

"Zuma help me get the remaining passengers on the two crashed boats into the one you brought. Marshall, we got a lot of injured people here who could use your help."

"I'm on it Ryder!" shouted Marshall as he leaped over to Captain Turbot's boat and began asking everyone to get in a single line.

Zuma waited until Ryder was on-board before moving the boat to the first crashed one. Getting off, the two helped passengers get on, earning gratefulness from them. A little girl even petted Zuma and hugged him much to his joy. It was moments like these that he enjoyed being a rescue pup. Once the first boat of passengers had arrived on the new boat, Zuma got back on his hovercraft and was about to head to the other one. That's when Marshall called.

"Ryder! Zuma! I smell gas and smoke from here coming from the other boat!"

"I smell it too!" shouted Chase with worry.

"Smoke and gas… that would mean," whispered Ryder as a look of horror appeared on his face. "Zuma, quick we need-"

An explosion from the engine of the second boat sent out shock waves as a bursting fireball erupted and everyone screamed. Zuma managed to hang on in his seat, as did the passengers, but Ryder was flown out and landed in the water. "Wyder!" shouted Zuma with worry.

"I'm fine! Ack," spat out Ryder as he shook his wet head. "Get the other passengers! Hurry!"

Zuma nodded and drove forward, yelling the other passengers to hang on. The fire was starting to spread across both crash boats by the time Zuma arrived on the other side. "Evewyone on-boawd! Huwwy!"

The other passengers didn't need to be told twice as they rushed forward. However, just as the last one was seemingly on-board, someone shouted, "Look over there! Somebody's down!"

Zuma narrowed his eyes and saw what looked like a young adult male lying down, the fire only a few feet from him. Realizing he was unconscious, he ordered the other passengers to stay put as he jumped on board. Making his way to the knocked out man, he was about to grab him when he froze. Suddenly, nothing else in the world mattered as Zuma felt his entire body go cold upon what he saw; to the point where even his soul was frozen. The flames of the fire surrounding him couldn't even knock him out of his stunned state. His heart started beating faster and faster. He wasn't even sure he was breathing.

The man who lay before him has piece of wood dug deep into his back and legs, with second degree burns visible on his right side of his body from the explosion. And there was blood. Blood on his back, forehead, and limbs all forming into a small pool below him. Zuma started to sake as he saw that pool get bigger and bigger. And with it came the screams. Screams of horror, pain and pleading. Visions of furniture covered in blood with a knife cutting into the air, crimson raining down upon his head as he screamed. Screamed until his throat was burning, all for it to stop. But it wasn't stopping. The blood wasn't stopping.

"Zuma! Wake up and get out of there!" shouted Chase on the other end of his pup tag.

Zuma finally shook his head, but it was too late. Another explosion echoed in his ears. Before Zuma knew it he was screaming, flying in the air, before he landed in the water. He slowly started to sink as his eyes began to slowly shut. All he could think about as the water took him under was the names of those who he could hear screaming.

Gweg… Mawsha… Shelly…

Moaning, Zuma slowly opened his eyes only to see a white ceiling. He felt his entire body numb as he tried to remember what happened, but all he could feel was a headache pounding his brain.

"Hey! He's awake!"

Zuma turned around and saw his friends and Ryder rushing up to him with relief on their faces. "Guys? Where am I?"

"The hospital," answered Ryder, gently rubbing his pup on the head. "We rushed you here with the other tourists after Marshall got you out of the water. You've been unconscious for a few hours. Thankfully, nothing serious except for maybe a bit of a headache."

Zuma gave an understanding nod before his eyes widen. "That man! The one who was left on the boat! What happened to him?!"

Upon saying this, the group all looked at each other with sad eyes and worried expressions. Chase took of his police hat and placed it on his chest. "Zuma… I'm sorry, he… didn't make it. The second explosion got him…"

"You mean… he's… he's…" tears began to form in Zuma's eyes as he shook his head. "No… no no no no! Augh!"

He turned around in shame and, covering his head with his bedsheet, howling in sorrow. He failed. He failed to rescue someone. Ever since Paw Patrol had formed they had never lost a single casualty in any of their rescue missions. And Zuma had just brought in their first one.

"Zuma, it's alright," said Ryder, placing his hand on Zuma's side. "It wasn't your-"

"Yes it was, Wyder!" shouted Zuma, emerging from his blanket and growling at his owner. Tears dripping from his eyes, Zuma continued, "It was all my fault! I let him die because I fwoze up like a scawdy cat! All I had to do was dwag him to safety and he could be back home with his family! Only now they're gonna know that he died because of me! I let that man die, Wyder! I bwought our fiwst failure in Paw Patrol! And all because he was… was…"

Zuma gripped the side of his head as memories of three bodies, covered in red, with horrified faces flashed in his mind.

"… because what?" asked Rubble, too curious for his own good.

"Because he was bleeding!" screamed Zuma who began to yell and began to thrash in his bed, much to the horror of the pups. They had never seen their cool and collected friend act like this. "I couldn't save them! I couldn't save them, Wyder! I couldn't save them!"

A look of realization appeared on Ryder's face as he grabbed Zuma and held him close, despite the pup's screaming and crying. He turned to the other pups. "I need you to leave, now."

"But Ryder, sir," said Chase, looking worried.

"Chase," issued Ryder with a rare serious tone. "I'll explain everything later. I… I need to keep Zuma calm…"

The others didn't know how he was going to do that when it looked like Zuma was having a nightmare while away. Still, the five obeyed and quickly left, shutting the door. They all stood by in a huddle, listening to the terrified screams of their friend which made their hearts weep. They wanted nothing more than to go help him, but they had their orders.

Finally, the screaming soon faded into a whimpering sob. None of the other pups knew it at first, but they soon realized they were all crying. Out of fear or because of the sadness in Zuma's tears they didn't know.

"Blood…" whispered Marshall, getting their attention. "He's… afraid of blood…"

This made all the other pups look at each other in fear. What could have happened to Zuma before he joined Paw Patrol that not only made him afraid of blood… but like this?

Zuma… thought Rocky as he stared at the door where his best friend was suffering in his mind.