Put two chapters in one again because they were way too short. Enjoy the chapters and let me know what you think :).

Chapter 9, Concerns.

'You seeing what I'm seeing.' Rocky asked, wondering if he was just seeing things or if he was onto something.

'I see it to, what's up with him.' Chase said.

'I don't know, he was late in class today, and he didn't seem to be paying much attention during the classes.' Rocky responded.

'Hm, something to keep an eye on.' Chase said.

'Yeah, we should.'

The next morning Zuma woke up early, hoping to at least see Riley at the cave. Which he did, but not at the right time.

'Didn't expect you to show up.' Riley said, visibly upset.

'What happened?' Zuma asked.

'I don't understand why you're lying to me.' Riley said.

'Lying? What do you mean?' Zuma asked, confused at what the pup was referring to.

'You said you were with your friends, but I saw you weren't with them, why are you hiding things from me.' Riley said.

'You don't need to know everything about me.' Zuma said.

'But as friends, we are supposed to be able to trust each other, how can I do that if you are lying to me.' Riley said.

'Sorry, I just-.' Zuma said.

'I just don't understand, you were the one that were always honest, and now you're behaving like the other idiots.' Riley said, cutting off Zuma. Zuma didn't know what to answer.

'This place used to make me smile, but now it's just filled with fights, you won't find me here anymore.' Riley said, grabbing her backpack and exiting the cave. Zuma didn't know what to do, if his friends weren't gone before, now they really were. Zuma stayed in the cave until it was time to go to class. He wanted to cry, but didn't want to show others. Zuma arrived at the schoolyard, just before the school bell rang. Keeping his feelings inside his stomach, which felt heavier as time passed.

Chapter 10, Fire inside and out.

And so, time moved on, though it felt like it went slower than ever. Stuck in school a large part of the day, not really paying attention. Which was started to be represented by his grades. Meeting with the annoying dogs to be laughed at and bullied for a bit, going home and trying to not show what was really going on, sleeping. Getting everything ready in the morning, leaving early, and sitting in the "friend" cave by himself until it was really time to go to school. What a life. Stuck in an endless loop of loneliness, even with dogs around. Stuck in a loop of being made fun of, your confidence being torn apart piece by piece, which was also slowly being noticed by the other paw patrol pups during the few missions Zuma had. The others would talk to Zuma, but Zuma wouldn't open up and no one knew what was really going on. But there is this saying. If you've watched any of Dhar man's video's you probably know which one. "What happens in the dark will be brought to light.' The problem is, will it come to the surface before it becomes too problematic, well…

Zuma sits in class, waiting for the bell to ring, class is almost done. Zuma looks at the schoolyard, zoned out, the fastest way to pass time doing nothing. Rocky wasn't sitting next to Zuma. As he, and all the other pups had been fighting a wildfire in the forest for two days. Zuma looked at the clock, five minutes to go. Maya stood up from her seating position at her desk.

'Alright class, you can start finishing your final tasks, class is almost finished. Then you can all go home, except Zuma, I would like to have a word with you.' Maya said.

Zuma was surprised, he has had conversations with her about his drowning school performances before. But never directly as school finished, with no warning in advance. Zuma just nodded, packing up his things. The school bell rang, all the pups hurrying out of the classroom, Zuma staying in his seat. Maya sitting down in front of Zuma.

'I've been told by Ryder that he would like you to come home after school immediately. He needs your help with the wildfires, and don't be afraid to stay home a little longer if you need. I know you are smart and a very good learner, would be nice to see that back with your grades again alright.' Maya said.

'Okay.' Zuma said, trying to hide the frustration immediately boiling inside of him.

'Alright, then I'd advice to go home now, that wildfire is no joke.' Maya said.

'Yeah, true.' Zuma said. Grabbing his backpack and quickly leaving the classroom. Zuma cursed to himself after he closed the classroom door, knowing Bear and Jack were not going to like this. Zuma grabs his puptag, for the first time since knowing he was with the two dogs, sending Roscoe a message out of desperation. 'I really can't be there after school, Ryder wants me to come in for the wildfire chaos, I'll be there when I can, but that can be in a few days.' Zuma typed to his old friend. Zuma then went home via the route the other paw patrol pups would take. Meeting Marshall at home, who gave him instructions on how to help. Zuma went to work, as that was his job, hoping this hard job would be able to distract him for what future him would need to worry about, it didn't really work. The words the dog's said when they first met circling through Zuma's mind over and over again, as he and his friends got to fighting the fire. For once the fire wasn't the thing Zuma was most worried about. Which felt weird, but it had become reality over time. Ryder was also noticing that giving Zuma a break from school was not working, in fact, he seemed to be more nervous and distracted, causing him to make mistakes. Luckily with the help of a friend of Marshall, who flies firefighting helicopters on a daily basis, the fire was put out in around a week.

After the pups took a few days off to recover from the huge mission, everyone went back to school. Ryder keeping Zuma at home for a few more days. Trying to talk to Zuma and find out what was going on, but Zuma wouldn't budge. Not wanting Zuma to miss more school Zuma would go back to school on Wednesday, that was what was supposed to happen.