The elevator becomes slower and slower as he reaches its stop. The second floor of the station includes the kitchen, the living room and the bathroom. Also there is a extra room where the elevator stops and where you can enter it... so I'll just call it the elevator-room, okay? Great! The little room stops and the big door opens so Chase could leave. The door closes right behind him as Chase sits in the elevator-room and concentrates on sounds or voices he could hear with his sensitive ears. And there actual is a sound! It is music! And a voice but they're both coming from the Pup-Pup-Boogie video game. Someone seems to play it in the living room and that person must be very good.
The newest version of the Pup-Pup-Boogie has an actual commentator which tells you if you missed the move or if you nailed it. But the little chicken isn't gone. The little bird now jumps and dances with you when you are doing a good job or looks sad and sits on the grass-area when you aren't.
"Great! Great! Great! Perfect session! Good Job!", the male, electronic voice shouts and the music gets quieter and quieter until it is completely quiet. The voice also went away and Chases sees his chance to finally talk to Zuma. "The game is over, that is my chance. Zuma is the only pup who can reach a perfect run in this game so it must be him. Now or never Chase, now or never!", he motivates himself as he begins to walk up to the open door which leads to the big and comfortable living room.
The walls were painted yellow a few months ago and the floor is covered with a dark blue and soft carpet. Ryder bought the carpet last month and attached it onto the floor as soon as he came home. He was very excited but Chase understood him. The feeling of this blue sensation is just breathtaking... So soft and so warm... Almost like the fur of the brown pup who Chase is searching for. He felt the fur like thousands of times and every time it was a like a dream coming true. The brown, comfortable fur felt so wonderful and smelt as good as nothing in this world. Not even the smell of the best smelling flower could match this aroma. But let's get back to the living room. The room is very big and includes a couch, a blue wooden table, a flat screen, the Pawstation 2, the console on which you can play tons of games like Pup-Pup-Boogie, Wonderdogs, PawParazi: Become a Star, SuPawNatural, a horror game, and even a dress up game and dating game called Paw in Paw, Skyes favorite game next to Pup-Pup-Boogie. Next to it you can see a silver DVD-player and a little shelf with DVDs and the previously mentioned games. Also there is big bookshelf with many, many books in it from Sherlock Holmes, Once Upon a Time and Larry Pawter to the strangest horror stories with zombies, aliens, mummies and serial killers and the erotic lecture 45 Shades of Gray. But the pups aren't allowed to read the lastly mentioned books... at least not on their own. That is the reason why Ryder placed these books in the upper half of the bookshelf. The last object in the living room is a table with three chairs in front of it and a computer on it. Everyone is allowed to use it whenever they want but there are still a few rules. Ryder wrote these rules on a piece of paper which lays on the table next to the computer but every pup in the team knows them already so the piece of paper is pretty useless now. The rules are simple:
No.1: Don't accept any offers from strangers and ignore any pop-up
No.2: Every pup has a two-hours-limit each day!
No.3: No foods or drinks allowed
No.4: If something seems strange. call me! Don't try to fix it on your own!
See? Simple, aren't they?
Chase runs towards the couch but stops as he sees the white and black fur, the blue eyes and the yellow collar with the white and red dog-tag in front of the table on the Pup-Pup-Boogie Dancing-floor. "Marshall? He was dancing? What... Why... I am totally confused right now... Since when can he dance that good? I think he is the pup I least expected right now. What do I do now?", the thoughts are running wild in his brain as he just stands there and watches the Dalmatian, who is focusing the bright screen in front of him a short distance away. Only a few seconds later he notices the German Shepherd and greets him with a friendly bark and a grin. "Hey Chase! Do you want to play Pup-Pup-Boogie with me? I am sure I'll beat you this time", he asks the male but gains no answer until Chase finally snaps out of his confusion. But he still can't think totally straight even though he tries to form a sentence with success... more or less. "Hey... What... you doing here? Why are you... How can... dance like... Huh?" "Ehm... Sorry Chase, I don't really speak... whatever you call this language. Maybe you should try to form real sentences? Just an idea but maybe it works." These provoking words really help and the police pup is able to form real sentences again! In a language every pup understands. After thinking about the previous question he repeats them but this time he is sure Marshall will understand him. "What are you doing here? Why are you so good? How can you dance like that? The last time I saw you dancing you were, no offense, pretty bad! And now the commentator almost drove crazy because of you... How?" Many questions at once but the firefighting pup doesn't hesitate to answer them even though the first one is kind of useless. "Why would I ask him if he wants to play Pup-Pup-Boogie with me when I wasn't playing it before? Also he heard the music and the voice and even said that the commentator almost drove crazy because of me... Something is going on with him but I have no clue what...", the little, blue-eyed pup thinks and focuses his brownish pal next to him. "I... dance here? What else should I do? Practice my back flips while eating a whole carrot and singing a song at the same time?", Marshall explains with an ironical tone in his voice which makes Chase kind of angry. "I'm not stupid Marshall... Why couldn't you just answer the question without making one of your famous jokes? This one wasn't even funny!", Chase whispers as quiet as he can so the other pup won't hear him. Luckily he really heard nothing and continues smiling at the police pup as he answers the next question. "And I practiced a lot lately. But I also play the easier levels so I can learn the moves. When I play the hard ones you, Skye and Zuma always play I totally suck. I get one move correct and the next seven steps as wrong as even possible! So... Do you want to play?" Now everything makes sense for Chase and he begins to giggle quietly and slowly Marshall also begins to giggle and even laughs in his usual amusing way. The sounds of the Dalmatians laugh only empowers Chases giggle and turns it into a laugh in only a few seconds. "I was already worried you would beat me next time!", Chase answers while he tries to get a hold of himself but without success. It takes almost three minutes until both males stop laughing and Chase finally answers the question his usual clumsy buddy asked him. "No, sorry Marshall. I am searching for Zuma... Do you know where I can find him?" "Zuma? Zuma...", the Dalmatian begins to mumble and he thinks about the chocolate brown Labrador and when he saw him the last time.
"Oh man... I only remember that he was talking to Rocky outside when me and Skye were on our way into the station. He greeted us and we barked but then... Nothing. Sorry Chase... I can tell you where you can find Skye or Rubble! Rubble sleeps in his pup house and Skye is in the kitchen. She wanted to eat something. If you want to know where Zuma is you should ask Rocky! He may know where he is", the white and black pup explains and tries to remember every single detail. "Oh... Okay", Chase answers and takes a look at the still open door of the living room. He turns towards it and begins his way back to the elevator but Marshalls voice stops him and forces him to turn around again while Marshall excuses himself.
"Sorry I couldn't help you with your search... But could you do me a favor and ask Rocky if he wants to come here and spent time with me? I have the strange urge to watch a movie with him... Maybe an action movie or something scary! Or … another kind..." Slowly the Dalmatian turns his head towards the DVD-player and focuses a pink and red DVD-case. Then Chase notices a slight blush in the white face but he ignores it. "This is a thing between Rocky and Marshall. I have to concentrate on my own crush!", he tells himself and shakes his head for a very short duration to stop himself from starring at the obviously red colored cheeks. With a friendly smile he nods and watches as Marshalls big and blue eyes sparkle out of happiness and pleasant anticipation. "Thank you very much Chase! Good luck with finding Zuma", the firefighting Dalmatian answers with a almost singing voice and a happiness in his voice which could make the saddest pup on this planet smiling. "Thanks and no problem buddy. Have fun with Rocky!", Chase replies and, almost out of reflex, winks at the pup which face only becomes even more red colored.
Then the German Shepherd leaves the living room, opens the door of the elevator and steps into the room with walls out of glass. "Elevator! First floor!", he shouts and he feels how the elevator moves down. He just loves this feeling!
The door opens again and the German Shepherd leaves the little room for the third time now but surely the last time for the next few hours. The first floor of the Paw Patrol headquarter is just a big room with a few gadgets for very special missions like snow-chains, life-jackets, diving suits or night vision goggles for the pups and Ryder. Also there are some toys for the pups to play with like a rope to pull on or a Frisbee to throw and catch. The last items, and Chases favorite ones, are a black blindfold and a socket. With those the pups often play the game Marco-Polo, in which one pup is blind and can't smell anything while the other pups are surrounding him. Then the blind pup shouts Marco and the other pups answer with Polo so the blind one can search for them by using his ears and by detecting their voices. A lot of fun especially if Marshall is the blind one. He never catches even one pup but after like five minutes the Dalmatian gives up most of the times. His longest game was about twenty-seven minutes long! That was very, very tiring for him.
Chase looks around in the big hall but no sign that Zuma was or is still here so he decides to leave the building and to search for the brown Labrador outside or for the gray Eco-pup. "I hope I can find either Zuma or Rocky... Marshall said they were somewhere outside so I should go and search for them outside", Chase thinks and heads towards the big entrance only a few steps away. But suddenly the electronic door opens and the emotional Bulldog comes toward the police pup, who greets him with a happy "Hello". "Hey Chase, what are you up to?", Rubble answers with a question and both males stop in front of each other. "Nothing... I am searching for Rocky or Zuma? Marshall told me that he saw both of them outside. Have you seen them?", Chase explains with a big smile and hopes for a yes as the answer but first Rubble shakes his head to signalize that he hasn't seen them. A little depressed Chases turns his face towards the now gray, cold floor but suddenly the Bulldog almost shouts: "Wait! Of course I saw them! But Zuma isn't here anymore but Rocky is still outside. I'm sure he knows where our little buddy is now." With a big grin the police pup stares at Rubble and with an obvious happiness in his voice answers: "Great! Thanks Rubble, you're awesome! And... Where are you heading?" "I'll go and search for Ryder. I think something's wrong with my pup house and I hope he could take a look at it. Have you seen him?" That's the chance for Chase to give a little payback for the clues his kind, furry pal just gave him and with a waggling tail he explains, that the boy is still in the Lookout and he points with his left paw upwards. Rubble followed the direction with his glance and thanks his buddy. "Thanks Chase! I own you something", the pup says but Chase just laughs and corrects his furry friend. "You don't own me anything pal. You helped me and I helped you. We're even now. Well, got to go now or I may miss Rocky. Who knows where our little recycle-pup is heading next! See you later!" With these words Chase begins to move again and runs past the brown-white pup, who also continues his journey towards the elevator. "Yeah, Good luck Chase! Later!", he replies shouting and jumps into the little room and orders a ride to the Lookout, the third floor. "Good luck!", Chase shouts back as he leaves the hall and turns right as he notices a familiar pup on his right side only a few feet away from his current position. It is Rocky!
The gray-white Mixed Breed pup sits on the soft, wide grass-area, which surrounds the great building. It is a sunny day in the middle of the hottest summer since three years ago. The violets are blooming, the roses are growing and the trees are well-dressed with their leaves, fruits and little animals like squirrels, birds or little critters. Rocky is chewing on a yellow tennis ball before he settles down on his back and throws the round object into the air just to capture it again when it falls down. He loves balls of any kinds! Footballs, tennis balls, baseballs, golf balls, softballs and even snowballs! As long as you can play with it, it doesn't matter which ball it is. Chase increases his speed so he can ask his Eco-buddy where he can find the love of his life but Rocky doesn't even notices him. He is way too concentrated in his game to keep an eye or two on the nature around him or the brownish German Shepherd, who slowly walks around the gray furball to sit in front of his head. "Rocky? Hey?", he tries to get the pups attention but without success. But he doesn't give up and tries it again but this time he shouts! "Rocky! Rocky! Hey!" Again the pup ignores him and just catches his ball with his left paw, throws it into the other paw and then back into the air. The only thing that really changes is the height of the ball and the speed of it when it rises to the sky and falls down again. "Hello? Rocky? Do I have to send Morse codes so you'll finally answer or what?" He slowly gets annoyed by the flying object right in front of his face and by getting completely ignored by one of his buddies. "He seems to be hypnotized by this ball or something! How can I get his attention", the male thinks and searches for possibilities and, after a short amount of time, he already has an idea. " Maybe...", he whispers and a almost devilish smile decorates his furry face. With one quick move he leans forward and grabs the flying ball with his white teeth after the yellow object reached his highest spot and was already on his way back into Rockys prepared paws. "Hey!", the Mixed Breed shouts and instantly raises himself up onto his four paws, turns around to see a very, very, very well-known face, which smiles at him and winks.
"Chase? Where do you come from? Where is Zuma?", he asks after rubbing both of his eyes to be sure that he isn't daydreaming, as usual. Chases eyes become wider as he hears the words of the other male pup, spits out the ball and almost looks shocked because of the new information. "I came here maybe one or two minutes ago... You were into your little, silly game way to much. I tried to speak with you and even shouted your name twice! Is it so hard to react?!" His voice gets a bit darker and almost evil as he shouts at his fellow pup, who only looks at him with a worried mimic, a loose tail and shaking paws. He is not scared or afraid of Chase right now but he feels really bad about his own behavior. He hates it when he makes his friends angry or sad or even annoy them. "I'm... sorry Chase. I was talking to Zuma and then I found this ball and we began to play... It was so much fun", Rocky explains while he slowly lowers his head and tries to reject any way of crossing the German Shepherd glimpse. He is angry and the gray pup knows that. He continuous his explanation as he sits down with a shaking voice, whimpers and he even begins to snuffle. "I'm really sorry for ignoring you... Maybe I should really be more careful when I play..." "Great! Now Rocky thinks it is his fault that I'm a little bit angry and annoyed... Great... I should really think before I say something or I will hurt someone again... Maybe I will even hurt him! No, I can't let that happen! But first I have to make sure that my furry buddy here isn't depressed for the rest of the day", Chase thinks and begins to feel responsible for his action, which he obviously is! Sometimes even he can loses his temper and his patience and when he does... Wow... I don't even want to think about it! Rockys brown eyes are already glittering in the sunlight but not because he is full of happiness. He is about to cry and the first tears are building themselves up in them. Chase sighs and puts his left paw on the left shoulder of his counterpart, who tenses up and slowly focuses the brown dog in front of him. "I am sorry Rocky... I shouldn't have shouted at you just because I'm a little bit stressed and exhausted. You were just playing like you always do and I know that you can get a bit carried away when you're having fun." "But I wasn't listening when you said my name and even when you shouted it... I wasn't paying any attention to anything except my tennis ball... You have the right to be mad at me", the Eco-pup answers with his whining voice and turns his face towards the green grass and the little, yellow flowers underneath him.
This confession leads Chase to think about the whole thing again but he knows that Rocky is just searching for a reason so he can be the one who is responsible for everything.
That is so Rocky! He always tries to keep everything peaceful even though it means he has to take the responsibility for mistakes, broken rules or anything else.
"No Rocky, it is my fault. I know your personality, your behavior and everything else about you... Okay, maybe not everything but a lot! I can't expect that you change your personality just because I want so. I can't force you to do so either. I have to respect that and, when I shouted at you, I didn't. I'm sorry Rocky, I really am." This excuse stays in the mind of the recycle pup for a few seconds while he sobs again but slowly, very slowly gets a hold of himself. While he turns his face towards his pal again, he wipes the last tears out of his eyes and begins to smile. "Chase... Let's say we are both responsible for that and just forget about it, okay? I mean, come on... I was the one who didn't reacted so it is just fair that way. What do you think?" "Okay Rocky", Chase replies and he holds his paw out for the other pup to shake it, what he does only a few seconds later with a happy giggle.
Now Chase also sits down and looks around to see the nature. He hasn't been out of the building the whole day until now! It is a wonderful day! "It is very warm today... Perfect for a camping trip, a trip to the Adventure Bay Lake or something like that", he mumbles and now takes a look at the sky and the few little, white clouds. Rocky closes his eyes and nods in agreement while he wags his tail and brushes the grass that way. "Yeah! It is just wonderful! I was spending the whole day outside so far and I don't think I will come in by any chance! Only for a real emergency... Or when I'll get hungry."; He giggles again and Chase response to that giggle with a loud laugh from his site. Rocky can be really funny sometimes. Chase takes a look at the big building only a few feet away while Rocky also begins to take a look at the beautiful, blooming nature surrounding them. Suddenly the German Shepherd notices the window, which belongs to the living room, and he remembers the former conversation with his white and black furred friend. "Oh! That reminds me of something... Marshall asked me for a favor... And it had something to do with you... What was it again?" As Chase mentioned the name of the Dalmatian Rocky instantly focuses his glimpse on his friend and even stands up while the speed of his tail increases. "Really? What is it?"
He seems very, very excited while he waits for the brown pup to remember anything. "He wanted to know... If you would come into the living room to watch a movie with him. But I can tell him that you can't because you planned to spend the day outside in the nature. I'm sure he will understand that."
Chases tries to provoke Rocky with his explanation and the way he says it. It has this "He will be so sad because you can't come but you have better things to do" taste and Rocky surely doesn't like that taste. It is... disgusting. "What? I never said that! What kind of movie? And only the two of us?", the gray Mixed-Breed answers and seems shocked. He would never say no to a meeting with Marshall and especially not when the firefighter wants to watch a movie with him. And Chase knows that... "I don't know which kind of movie but I think it will be a very good one. And I'm pretty sure that he won't invite someone else besides you... So, yeah, just the two of you." "Yes! That will be so awesome! I can't wait!", Rocky shouts while he jumps out of joy and even more excitement. Chase isn't really sure but he thinks that his gray pal is blushing a little bit but he can't see it perfectly because of the quick movement. He begins to laugh and reminds the pup that he said he won't come in except an emergency calls for him or he gets hungry. But Rocky doesn't care about that right now. Spending time with Marshall is always an emergency! He begins to head towards the entrance door but Chases remembers the most important thing why he even went outside... He is searching for Zuma! "Rocky! Wait! I need your help", he shouts and, luckily, the gray pup reacts and stops his journey. "Oh... Sure! What is it Chase?", Rocky asks as he turns around again and faces Chase, who is now a short distance away from him. "You said you were hanging out with Zuma before... Do you know where he is or did he told you where he was about to go next?" "Let me think...", the Eco-pup replies and begins to concentrate. But he didn't even realized that Zuma was gone until Chase showed up and rid him out of his own world. But he remembers that Zuma said something... but what? "Wait... I think... something about the playground... Yeah! Most likely he went to the playground!" Hearing that makes Chases heart skips a beat and his eyes begin to shine and to sparkle in the sunlight. "Really? Thanks! I totally own you something! Well, have to go! I can't miss him." Chase turns towards the brown road almost thirty feet away, which leads to the playground.
"You're welcome but... Why? If I may ask you that?", Rocky answers shouting and waits for a explanation but the only thing he could understand was something about a possible future and that is is very important to him. "O...kay... Good luck, I think...", Rocky whispers as he turns towards the entrance again and walks through it to enter the headquarter.
In the meanwhile Chase is on his way to the dusty, dirty road to finally find Zuma and confess his feelings. "I hope he is still there... I don't know when Zuma left and maybe he is already somewhere else..." The German Shepherd begins to worry about the possible outcome when he reaches his goal but instantly forgets them. "No! I can't think about this now. Zuma must be there and is there... He just must be..."
The walk there only takes a few minutes but even this short amount of time can cost Chase everything right now. Every second Zuma could go away and vanish because no one could tell him where he could find him! "I've got to hurry!" The German Shepherd tries to encourage him to run as fast as he can even though he will most likely pant and gasp for breath when he finally arrives. But at least he won't miss Zuma... This chance is worth everything in the wide world! "There! I can see the slide!", Chase thinks as the big, red object comes into his sight and only a few seconds later (and a few feet) he can see both swings, the red and the blue one, the brownish golden carousel and the pretty large sandpit on the southern side of the playground-area. But he can't find a brown, attractive dog or even any dog at all! "Damn! He is not here! Or maybe he is hiding... I just have to search for him when I'm finally there." With these thoughts he increases his speed again and after a minute or two he arrives at the door, which forms a way through the fence.
The door is always open... That fact makes the fence kind of useless but he looks pretty. It has the colors of the rainbow and is almost as high as Ryder and it surrounds the whole area of the playground. Chase and the other pups often thought about the reason of this fence and finally came to the conclusion, that it should protect the children or maybe their toys like footballs so they won't roll away that easily. Yeah... Like I said, pretty useless.
"Zuma! Zuma! Are you here! Hey?", the police pup screams while he tries to find any sign of his true love but nothing. As if he was never here but Chase just knows he must have been here or may still is! Why should he lie to Rocky? Zuma isn't someone who lies or plays pranks on the other pups or someone else. He is often way to sleepy for that and he wouldn't even enjoy it. He hates to make his friends or even strangers sad, angry or even worse! "Zuma! If you're here and when you can hear me, come out! I need to talk to you! It is something important!", Chase tries it again but again no answer or any steps except his own steps. He begins to head towards the big slide. Zuma could hide there... And even though it is very unlikely, Chase can't ignore this possibility! He slowly climbs up the ladder just to see... nothing. No Labrador, no Zuma. With loose ears and a hanging tail he climbs back down and now focuses on the sandpit. "Maybe Zuma trenched a hole but it suddenly collapsed while he was still in it! Maybe he is trapped underneath the huge amount of sand!" Scared of the possible emergency Chase leaps into the sandpit and begins to dig for his crush even though he almost knows that the idea was nonsense. But he is desperate so he tries everything that comes to his mind. After half a minute he stops his action and slowly lays down into the yellowish sand underneath him. He also trenched a little hole now but he has no strength to keep moving... Zuma isn't here and slowly he thinks, that destiny tries to tell him that he shouldn't say anything to him. "Maybe... I should give up! There must be reason why I can't find him! Seems like I'm not meant to be with him... never... Well, I think I should head home again..." With his face facing the ground he raises himself upon his four paws and slowly starts his journey back home. "Maybe I should just go to bed and tomorrow everything will be better... or worse... But I must continue even though it means facing a life without Zuma as my partner...", he thinks while he is just about to leave the playground-area but suddenly a well-known aroma tickles his sensitive nose and forces its way into it. The smell reminds him of the sea... and of the brown fur he loves so much. Of the golden eyes he lost himself in almost thousands of times and the whole body of his love... Wait! That is Zumas smell! "This... this smell! Is it? No... Or maybe it is!", Chase mumbles while he tries to find the source of it but he can't see anything that could belong to the brown Labrador... and surely he can't see the Labrador himself either. But the smell is Zumas smell! There is no doubt! "It is Zuma! But where does it come from? Maybe I can track the source if I close my eyes and concentrate..." He closes his eyes and focuses on the sensation in his nose and the surrounding nature. He can slowly create some kind of path where the smell comes from so he opens his eyes again and follows his only chance to find the beloved male. Every time he loses the path he repeats the tactic and only a few minutes later he can point out the place where this smells source must be.
"The cliffs at the coast!", the German Shepherd shouts and increases his speed, "Zuma... Please be there! Please...!" A darker brown path leads him to the location he searched for and... he can't believe what he sees there! A brown, handsome Labrador with a dark blue collar sits at the edge of the cliff and just stares onto the glittering and sparkling ocean in front of him. Chase stops for a second and just observes the pup and the sight but especially the pup, who just sits there peacefully. "There he is... Wow, this place is pretty beautiful! What a coincident...", he thinks while he slowly moves towards the dog, who doesn't react. "Now or never Chase... Now or never!" He stops a few steps away from his crush and tries to say something but nothing but a cough comes out of his mouth. This sounds surprises the Labrador, who turns his head toward the Shepherd, who just stays there blushing. "Chase? Hey, how are you doing?", Zuma asks while Chases slowly comes closer and answers. "Very good... How are you doing Zuma?", he answers but his mind wants him to say something else. "It feels so good to hear your voice again. I really missed your cute accent, your unique high-pitched voice and especially the happiness in it. You're always happy and you're making me happy... Always..." "Great... I became bored of being all for myself anyway and you are exactly the pup I wished for", the captain pup replies and smiles at his best friend, who instantly blushes even more and gulps. "Now or never... Now or never", Chase repeats in his mind while he steps next to his best friend, who giggles and turns his attention towards the ocean again. Chase tries the same but he can't take his eyes of the brown fur, the lovely face and those eyes... Those beautiful eyes...
Wow... That was a long chapter^^ I hope you enjoyed it
The next chapter will take some time but, please, be patient :3
Thanks for reading 3