"I can't believe he really ran away", Chases whispers as he tries to take a step but instantly stops as an intense pain travels through his damaged hind leg. With squinted eyes he turns his face towards the ground and begins to sob silently. This outcome is one he never imagined before... Zuma ran away and left him behind even though he said that he also loves him. "I don't understand what just happened. I tell him my feelings and he says that he feels the same way about me... Then he suddenly acts totally weird and pushes me!" Every little piece of the previous event seems strange and Chase can't really put them together to understand what happened. The voice of the Labrador runs through his mind and the words he said, whispered, mumbled or even shouted. "Leave me alone... No!... I can't trust you... I can't be your boyfriend..." Every word breaks his heart, fixes it again and breaks it again as if nothing happened. But not only the word itself. Also the way he said each of them. The sadness, the despair, the anger and the hatreds in his voice supports these actions and makes them even more unbearable. "Why can't he...", Chase tries to figure out and, without even noticing it, tries to take another step which results to the same reaction. Pain and a sudden stop. "Damn... My hind leg... I can't follow him now and even if I could... What should I say? What should I do? What can I do? How should I react after he rejected me, pushed me and then just ran way?" The German Shepherd has no idea if he should worry about the chocolate-brown Labrador, if he should be mad at him or if he really should just forget about him. But suddenly a different question gets his attention and this question is all about the unknown and mysterious name. "Who is Lance? I never heard this name before and Zuma surely never mentioned this name before either. Is this even a name? Or something else? All these question and no answers... What can I do now?" For the third time he tries to move forward but again the sudden growing pain holds him in place. But he can't stop himself from doing it.
It is one of his oldest and strongest habits. Every time he thinks about something really important or when he tries to figure something out he usually walks in a circle or just in a straight line until he turns around and goes back to his original spot. Most of the times he repeats this walk a few times until he is finished with thinking and guessing. But now he can't go, he can't go straight forward and he surely can't go in circles now. The only possible thing he can do now is to stand still.
"Damn", he mumbles as he takes a quick look at his paw but instantly concentrates on the corner where the brown pup disappeared, "Maybe I should really head home... Marshall could take a look at my paw and then I could just go to bed and stay there. But I will see Zuma again, that is not preventable. He lives with us and is an important member of the Paw Patrol... But for now I should-" After hearing what he just said he stops and begins to think about it. "What am I talking about? I can't go now! Zuma seemed helpless and I am really assuming to head home and to leave him alone. A friend would never leave him alone! Not now... And a boyfriend wouldn't leave him alone either! He pushed me and shouted at me... so what? If I really want him as my boyfriend I can't give up because something isn't going the way I want it to go." He really can't believe he said such things! And he said he loves him!
With a new goal he tries his best to move forward but the pain isn't really helping him. With shaking legs he takes a short break but instantly takes the next step. The pain is strong and he really suffers but his heart is encouraging him and takes control over his body. While his brains tells him to stay where he is or to call for help his heart orders him to follow Zumas steps and to find the Labrador he still loves with every muscle in his body, every beat of his heart and every breath he takes. "If your brain can't help you... listen to your heart..." Ryders advice and voice appears out of nowhere and stays in the pups head while he takes one step after the other. This was the support he needed to ignore the pain once and for all and to turn his slow kind of walking into running. "I will listen to my heart! And it tells me to ignore everything that could hold me back now! I won't stop now, I can't stop now", the German Shepherd promises as he reaches the corner but stops there. "This way leads to the beach... But the beach is huge! He could be anywhere! Also there is the ocean. Maybe he just dives into it. Searching the beach AND the ocean! That's impossible!"
Maybe his journey really ends here. Even though his heart is strong and tries as good as it can to keep him going... It can't change the fact that Chase may won't find him. But is that a reason to give up? This is the question the police pup asks himself right now. He stares at the yellow-blue scene in front of him and decides to sit down for now. "He can be everywhere...", he whispers and begins to whimper but suddenly the well-known lovely smell he used before to find his crush returns and becomes his knight in a shining armor. The sensation in and around his sensitive nose gets his attention and, after taking one deep breath through his nose, his eyes begin to sparkle and to shine a little bit as he widens them. "This aroma... I remember it! Zuma!", Chase thinks as he takes another breath and closes his eyes to concentrate on it, "Without a doubt... No one smells that good... except Zuma..." He slowly loses himself in the arousing feeling and the salty but also sweet scent. Slowly a path appears in front of his inner eye and, almost without thinking, he opens his eyes again and begins to run as fast as he can right now. The pain is gone and new feelings are taking over his body and soul. Passion, joy, hope and love... the purest form of love itself...
Only a few minutes later he reaches the formerly seen beach and walks through the warm sand. The enjoyable feeling underneath his paws really helps him to calm down a bit but also tries to put him under its spell. "I always forget how lovely the beach is … especially on a sunny day like this one...", Chase begins to daydream but his bubble pops instantly as the scent grows stronger! Zuma is at the beach, there is no doubt! And staying isn't an option right now. He must search for him. "Wake up Chase! No time for fantasies right now! You already had enough fantasies for one day", his inner voice tells him as the scent grows stronger and stronger. The pup takes a look at the beach and ocean in front of him and slowly moves his glimpse to the left and then to the right. On the right side is only a short part of the beach but he can already tell that Zuma isn't there. There is not even the smallest amount of scent but the left side is almost covered with it. Seems like he ran around without a goal. The left side is way bigger and covered with a few rocks in different sizes, sunshades and beach chairs. Much to the pups surprise the beach is completely empty today! No visitors at all! Rare but somehow fitting. "When I search everywhere it can take me a few hours until I finally find Zuma... But he is worth anything!", Chase mumbles and knows that he can't back out now. But before he begins his search he closes his eyes again and takes another breath full of the special smell. Even though almost the whole beach is covered with the arousing aroma a special area seems stronger. Zuma must be somewhere there! "No time to lose!", Chase thinks and begins to run with a waggling tail and prepared ears to catch any voice or sound.
The area he suggests the brown Labrador in is far away but after ten minutes he reaches it. But now even his nose can't help him. The strength of the aroma is the same in this area so he has to use his eyes and his ears now. But the only places where Zuma could hide are behind a big rock, inside a strangely big hole or underneath one of the three sunshades. "Great... Now I really have to search because I have no-", the German Shepherd whispers but stops as a quiet sound reaches his sensitive ears. Whimpers and sobs! Someone is crying here and he is very sure that this special person is Zuma. While his ears detect the direction he slowly walks forward and looks around. "Where does it come from? Where... where...whe-ah! From there!" Chase stops and turns towards the big rock. That is the place where the Labrador must be right now. "Yeah... The whimpers are louder now... There is no doubt! Zuma is behind this rock", Chase explains to himself as he slowly heads towards the brownish gray object made by mother nature herself. The sobbing becomes louder and the whimpers sadder and sadder, almost heartbreaking! "Zuma... Poor boy...", Chase whispers but instantly shuts up as he reaches the rock. Now he must think about what he should do now. "Should I go to Zuma and ask him again or should I wait until he stops crying or should I... Wait a minute... What is this strange feeling on my left front paw? Something is moving!" With a fear in his eyes he carefully turns his head towards the tingling body part and realizes what causes this strange feeling... A crab! A little, brown and green crab! Chase hates crabs! Okay, not really hates them but he really, really, really doesn't like them... at all!
"A... cr...crab...", he whispers and tries his best to prevent himself from screaming but he has no chance. The image this sight gives him is too much! He instantly shakes his leg to get rid of the friend with two claws, who slowly walks up the brown furred limb. His sudden moves are accomplished by a quiet scream, which somehow sounds like a very light whistle. It isn't loud but a little bit annoying. Finally the little animal falls off and digs himself into the yellow, warm sand and Chase relaxes again. "Luckily I didn't screamed...", he congratulates himself but a sudden voice sends a shiver down his spine. Zumas voice! "Chase... I know that you are there... I told you to leave me alone..." The surprising sound freezes the German Shepherd as he widens his eyes, bites his lips and just waits for any more words but no. The whimpers and sobs return and Chase knows, that there is no reason to hide anymore so he slowly walks around the rock to finally see his friend again.
And there he is, sitting in front of the moving ocean. The blue glittering water wets his paws as it comes closer just before is retreats again. But only a short amount of time later it returns with new waves to touch the paws, the brown fur, the pup again. A never-ending circle... "I know Zuma... But I can't leave you alone now. Something bothers you and you know that... I promised I would always be by your side whenever you need a paw to hold you or a ear that listens to you or a mouth to give you advises. Who would let you alone when something worries you and depresses you?", Chase explains his action as he slowly comes closer but the answer surprises him. It leads him to stop a few steps away from the Labrador and to sit there silent. Zumas voice sounds even shakier than before and he gulps a few times before he finally answers the question his friend asked him even though he wasn't prepared for an answer at all. "A best friend would do that... If I asked him for it then he would've left me alone." "I don't think so...", Chase comments the sentence his favorite Labrador just said in his mind and a worried mimic cover his brownish face while a strong anger builds itself up in his entire body and soul. In the meanwhile Zuma takes a look over his shoulder to see his friend, who just stares at him with sparkling eyes and a harmed body. As he notices the new scratches he sends out a quiet whine but tries to cover it by coughing at the same time. "I can't believe what happened to Chase! And all that just because he wants a relationship with me... Why is he so eager? Why is he so stubborn? Why is he so focused on having me as his boyfriend? I already said no so why is he here?" He closes his eyes and turns his attention back towards the cold but somehow refreshing feeling of the water that surrounds his two front paws but the Shepherds voice catches his attention again and keeps it in his grip.
"But not a pup who loves you... Who cares for you. I wouldn't leave you alone! Because you are way more important for me than myself", Chase says with a confident in his voice Zuma never heard before. Even the moment he confessed his love his voice wasn't that way! What he just said is true and Zuma realizes that too. He slowly feels how his body temperature increases and his heartbeat gains in speed. The police pup is really stubborn sometimes but this is a whole new level of stubbornness! Somehow strange but even more charming. "You can do whatever you want but I will stay!", he continuous his explanation as his voice becomes louder and louder each word he says. At the end of the sentence he sits next to the captain pup, who jerks as he opens his eyes again and notices the well-known face next to his. With a more or less annoyed sigh he accepts the fact that he won't leave again and just adds one detail to this solution. "Fine but don't think I will tell you something... Okay?" "You can talk with me about it or you can just keep it your very own secret but I will stay here. That way I can at least support you with my companionship. But if you want to talk about it... this pup has two ears and is always ready to listen", Chase responds and slightly moves his ears to support his promise. This little show amuses Zuma and he giggles but instantly stops as he sees the little smile on the police pups face. "I won't talk... no matter what you're doing! I won't talk! I won't-" Zuma tries his best to encourage himself and his current action but his inner voice shuts up as a sudden pressure appears.
Something is touching his left front paw! He widens his eyes and takes a quick look at the pressured paw and sees another paw... a brown paw! Chases paw! "Why is he doing that? I said no! Why... Why is he touching my paw and why... Why is his paw so hot and soft... He tries it again but this time even harder! He really knows my weak spots! But I won't surrender... I won't surrender!" The urge to tell him everything grows but the fear of losing him still has his mind and body under its control. The supporting paw really encourages him to finally tell him the truth but it isn't enough... Not yet! Zuma stares a the pup next to him and gains a smirk and a wink but, instead of answering with a smile, he turns his head away and stares at the big blue in front of him. "Okay... That didn't worked either but I still have a trick up my sleeve... Luckily we have one thing he loves right in front of our faces", Chase thinks as he sees the brown pups reaction and also turns his attention towards the moving water. "You know Zuma", he begins and gains the Labradors attention again, "I can understand why you really love the ocean. It is beautiful! The reflection of the sun and all the little fishes, clamps, squids and-" He stops for a second as a shiver runs down his furry back. The slightest thought of this little animal already creeps him out and makes him shake in fear. But he has to say it because he can't think of an other animal right now and just canceling the sentence there isn't part of his plan. "crabs. A lovely place for them to live. And just look at the waves! How they grow and disappear again and how the water goes away and returns! And away and returns and away and re-", Chase continuous his sentence while he repeats the last words very often.
The reason for that is simple... Chase isn't the biggest fan of the ocean but he thought that talking about something Zuma loves could help him to tell him the truth. It worked once when Alex had the same problem. They talked about all the things he loved and he told them the truth. Well... Alex surely had no traumatizing past-event to deal with but it was still pretty tough for the little guy. But talking about the ocean isn't as easy as you might think. Chase knows nothing about the ocean except the animals ,who are living in it, and that it creates waves because of the movement of the water. So... to save a little bit of time, he just commentates the movement of the water while he thinks about other cool or interesting things about the big blue.
Suddenly a new, unknown movement shows itself in the returning water. Rings... As if something made contact with the water. The circles are growing bigger and bigger until the brown paw of Chase forms an obstacle with no way around it. The water goes away again and the formerly quieter sobs return but much louder and emotional. Also the whimper comes back and Chase is just forced to take a look to his right. Zuma cries again but this time it is even worse. He isn't only crying. He is shaking and mumbling and twitching a little bit as he closes his eyes. "Zuma! Stop crying please. I'm sorry for saying such things but I though... You love the ocean and if you see that I share the same opinion you might tell me the thing that bothers you so much. But it wasn't my goal to make you cry... I shouldn't force you to tell me anything if you don't want to and I shouldn't have come here... You told me you want to be alone and I have to accept and respect that", the police pup explains as he places one of his wet paws on the Labradors shoulder and attempts to get up, "I will leave you alone now." But before he could even turn around one of the brown paws of his pal grabs his own and holds it as tight as he could. He wants him here now and he needs him here... He wants to tell him what happened in his past! If there is anyone who can understand him... Chase is most likely the pup.
"Zuma?", he whispers but gains no answer at all. Feeling the strength in Zumas paw makes him comfortable but also worried. Why is he acting so different now. Before he began to cry again he was cold and almost ignored him but now he holds him in his place. "Chase... Please stay", Zuma mumbles, opens his eyes again and watches the blue, moving water in front of him, "Don't leave me now..." Hearing these words encourage the German Shepherds heart to beat faster and stronger as he nods without saying a word. As he sits down again the other pup looses his grip and gives the brownish paw the possibility to leave. But the body part doesn't move at all. Instead the rest of the body comes closer to the brown pup and begins to cuddle him a little bit. The sudden heat that covers his left site of his body cheers him up again but he still can't stop his tears. Thinking about his past always leads to tears but maybe telling someone about it will help! "Chase...", Zuma begins and takes a quick look at the pup next door, who answers with his glance and his attention, "You are right..." "I'm right? With what am I right? I hear that a lot but I am also saying a lot of things. Maybe! Will he explain what happened before and what is depressing him all the time?" Hearing the captains confession makes the police pup a little bit excited! He hopes for the chance to finally understand what his crush is going through. "I am? I mean... Of course I am. With what exactly?" "Talking about my problem may solves it or at least makes it easier to handle and... I wouldn't be alone anymore. I will tell you what happened but I warn you... It is a very dark and sad story", Zuma explains and sobs again but a wet sensation on his cheek surprises him. He knows that feeling but this time it feels somehow different... It feels amazing and makes his pulse rise, his body heating up and his tears almost disappear. As if this feeling swallowed all the sadness and fear inside of him. Chase placed his head closer to the brown furry face of the Labrador and licked his left cheek with his warm tongue. The reason behind his action is simple: He wants to show him that he can and will handle it if it is something that is important or something Zuma needs to share. He will stay here, listen and do his best to support his beloved friend. A boyfriend would to the same after all. But, even though the sadness and despair is gone, Zuma is sure that these feelings will return when he witnesses his own past again... Even though it is only in his imagination. With a surprised mimic he watches the police pup, who smiles at him and nods to show him that he is ready. But before Zuma can begin he takes the brownish paw with his own one and holds it. Knowing that Chase is with him is great but feeling him is way better.
"Okay...", he whispers and closes his eyes to concentrate and to figure out where he should start his story. Should he start when he first met Lance, should he start when he confessed everything to his parents or should he start before all of that happened? Chase must understand what happened so he most likely should start where everything began and that means before he even met his first boyfriend. His grip tightens as he tries to form his first few sentences and sees himself in front of his inner eye. He was way smaller back then and his fur was longer and a little bit curly. But that isn't unusual for his family. It is somehow a tradition that the fur is curly the first few years. "It all began when I were three... or were I four? I really can't remember that good...", Zuma begins his journey through his life as he opens his eyes again but the first obstacle shows up in no time. He can't remember when he first realized he likes males... It was very early! "Relax and think Zuma", Chase tries his best to support him as he notices the problem and the sudden tightness of the grip. He begins to move his own paw a little bit to somehow calm him down... with success. "Think! Come on Zuma! You remember that! It was one of the most important moments in my life! It was... it was... Ah! Now I remember!" The problem is solved and now he can continue. "I were three years old and I were at the beach with one of my best friends. Her name was Bloom and she was a unknown breed like Rocky. But her ears were longer and her fur was yellow-orange. We were talking about her last boyfriend as a group of five other pups talked to us. The group consisted of three male pups and two female pups. The males were brown, black and brown-white and the females were both light brown. We didn't knew them but they were very kind and funny. We talked for a few minutes and then they left again. I somehow noticed that I was always starring at the males. The females weren't interesting for me and when we talked about them I always talked about the males. That wasn't really the moment I realized that I may be gay but it was a hint. This moment was one month later when I had a dream... That dream was very... well... intense and it was about a male and me." Zuma stops and takes a quick look at Chases face who looks a little bit surprised. Did he just told him that he had a dream for matures with a male pup?! Why? It is important but why? Suddenly a little smirk shows up on the German Shepherds face as he tries to create a picture in his mind and the picture is very lovely. "Who knew Zuma was so... precocious in these kind of things. Now I want him as my boyfriend even more!" The smirk grows and Chase closes his eyes halfway to create a special look on his face. Seeing this look turns the brown cheeks of the Labrador reddish as he instantly looks away and orders him to stop that right now! A laugh escapes as Chase hears that but opens his eyes again fully to do like he told him to do. "I'll skip this part! All in All you only have to know that I realized my interest in males when I woke up. Now I will tell you about...", Zuma explains but stops as the time comes he is scared of. Lance is the next thing... The moment in his life he wants to forget every day and now he will witness everything on purpose!
He gulps and turns his glimpse towards the water that slowly leaves the pups more and more and not only because it goes back to create some new waves. The tide is over and now it is time for ebb to come and to steal the blue liquid for a long time. But Zuma can't stop looking at the leaving water and Chases realizes it. "About what?", he asks but gains no answer at all. Zuma lost himself in the movement of the ocean and, without even noticing it, escapes reality and enters his dream world. But a sudden movement in front of his eyes wakes him up and leads him to jerk and to look around hesitating and a little bit panicked. Much to his surprise it was only one of Chases front paws ,which he slowly moved up and down in front his face to check if he is even listening anymore. Luckily he was... more or less. He knew that Chase said something but he has no idea what it was. "What did you say?", he asks the pup next to him who repeats his question. "About...", Zuma tries again but he can't say it! Something is stopping him. He closes his eyes and just sits there silent while his face still points toward the one of the police pups. "Something really bad must have happened...", he begins to think and then it hit him! If the thing he assumes right now really turns out to be the truth everything makes sense! "That could be the name he mentioned before! Maybe the thing he can't say right now is... Lance..." It is worth a try. "But I'll have to say it not like it is something normal... maybe I should mention the name and then see how he reacts...", a new detail comes to his mind and adds up to his former conclusion. Slowly he places the free paw on his friends shoulder and asks him with a quiet and soft voice. "Is it... Lance?" Hearing this name is bad enough but from Chase? How can he even know about him? He never talked about him at all and surely never mentioned him! The water-loving pup opens his eyes, takes a quick look to his left and sees a surprised expression on the brownish face with the brown eyes. "How... Where...", he stammers and tries to form a sentence but without success. The shock is way to strong. "He can't know it! He just can't! How! I never told someone about him! I never even mentioned his name! How! How!" These questions and many more are running through his mind searching for answers of any kind. It doesn't matter how realistic they were as long as they answer his questions. But Chase is already a step ahead and answers them all in only one quick sentence of his own. "You said it when you rejected me and suddenly acted so strange... Also you said it when you stroke my paw away and..." Thinking about that event still sends a pain into the German Shepherds chest he can't ignore so he just stops talking and waits for Zumas reaction. "I... I... I did?", he asks and can't believe what his crush just said! That may answers his questions but still it is embarrassing and scaring at the same time! First: He said his ex-boyfriends name when he pushed the pup he loves. And Second: He really said his name without even noticing! And he assumes it wasn't just once. "I really said his name?", he asks to make sure he understood what Chase just said. Getting a nod as an answer is enough to make him facing the now wet sand underneath him. The water is gone. "So...", Chase tries to get the conversation back into its former groove because the silence somehow pressures him and he surely doesn't like that. Also he fears that Zuma may fights his story all alone in his thoughts if he doesn't continue and that is surely not what Chase has in mind now! He is here to help him and not to wait and stare at him while he fights for himself.
"Zuma...", Chase begins but again the chocolate-brown pups stays silent as he really begins to drive back into his imagination but the following words of his best friend almost force him to come back to reality... no matter how cruel it may be. "Was he your boyfriend?" That suggestion is the only one that makes sense for the German Shepherd and, as he sees how his beloved friend reacts, assumes that it is the right one. Zuma can't believe what his friend just asked him... It was the truth but how could he even know that? "How could he know? Did I also said that before or was it just a lucky guess. But why my boyfriend? Why not my best friend, my father, my brother or one of the male pups at the beach? Lance could have been anyone but why did Chase asked me if he was my boyfriend?", the Labrador begins to asks himself, almost desperately searching for an answer to his now overwhelming questions. Of course it was very obvious that it must have been his boyfriend and no one else. If Lance were one of the pups and dogs Zuma mentioned with his inner voice the pause after his sentence wouldn't have made any sense. Also he would've surely told Chase that his fathers name is Lance or something like that. "How? How can you know something like that?", Zuma asks silent and he takes a look at the now almost smirking police pup next to him, who begins to giggle and explains that he had no idea. He really just guessed but somehow he already had that feeling. This answer impresses Zuma and he also begins to smile and even to giggle... Sadly this expression of happiness and delight vanishes only seconds later as he sees himself forced to explain everything now. At least he doesn't have to explain who Lance is anymore. "You're right...", Zuma begins and tightens his grip around Chases paw to have something to hold on as he stares at the blue water and the white but also orange looking reflection of the sun on it. The sky already begins to dress up in his orange and red gown to welcome the evening and, after that, finally the night by disappearing. As he switches his glimpse onto the slightly orange horizon he sighs and realizes that it is already that late. He almost can't believe that, just that morning, he thought about his past and his self-made promise to keep it for himself forever... And now he sits here with Chase and introduces him to his former self and the past he lived in. Kind of ironic but also pleasant. He also can't really believe that he changed his mind in not even one full day. Chase surely knows what buttons he has to press to encourage him. But Zuma notices that he drifted away again and tries to focus on what he was about to say and, only after thinking about it for a short amount of time, he continuous his explanation.
"Lance was my boyfriend... The first boyfriend I ever had and, just to say it, he was the pup I had my first relationship with. My first relationship ever... He was a Beagle and he had a dark-gray fur. Very short and always clean and most of the time it had a special sparkle in it. His eyes were blue... As blue as the ocean in my old hometown... He was kind, he cared about me and he loved me. Also he was brave, smart, creative and someone I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. As you may remember I was interested in males that time because it happened almost one year after I had... these dreams..." He stops again and blushes as he ends his sentence and sees this expression on the German Shepherds face again. "I can't believe I actually mentioned it again! Why? If I keep this up I can just tell him that my dream was all about me mating with an other male! … What am I saying!? I should just forget it. That way I surely won't mention it again... And Chase should really stop making this face! It makes me feel a little but uncomfortable even though it looks pretty cute... But still!", his thoughts are rushing through his head as he keeps starring at the hated but also loved smirk on the other pups face. "Stop looking at me like that", the Labrador orders again and turns his head away, "It distracts me." With a slight chuckle the German Shepherd loses the smirk and opens his eyes again fully, awaiting the next part of the his crushs blast of the past. As Zuma takes a quick look at his friend again he notices that he really stopped and sighs in relieve. Now he can continue. "Anyway", he starts and begins to think again what he should say next. Meanwhile he closes his eyes and begins to move his lips as he tries his best to remember everything important. Chase, who is forced to just sit there and wait looks around to find a way to kill some time until Zuma can remember everything. But while he stares at the blue ocean already many feet away Zuma ordered his thoughts and is now ready to explain what happened until he came to the Paw Patrol. He hopes he won't forget something but more important for him is that he controls his emotions... Crying is something he wants to prevent at any costs.
"He was my boyfriend for a long time... I mean for the very first relationship it was pretty long I think", he starts and gains Chases attention as a result, who concentrates his glimpse onto the brown Labrador again, "Almost two months passed by and I enjoyed every day of it with every beat of my heart. He treated me like his most precocious treasure and promised me that we would spend the rest of our lives together, that he would catch every shooting star just to make sure my wishes would come true and he always told me, that his heart would always belong to me... But everything he said..." He stops and gulps a few times before he closes his eyes and hangs his head. The sudden pause and the actions of his friend worries Chase and, to make sure everything is okay, he places his spare paw on the brown, furry shoulders next to him. They are shaking, his whole body is shaking! "Oh no, not again! He can't loose himself again in this mode!", he thinks in panic and instantly tries his best to talk to the Labrador and he even answers. "Everything... Everything he ever said to me were..." After saying that Zuma pauses again, widely opens his eyes and then just screams as loud as he can with a voice full of hatred, sadness and despair! "Lies! Nothing but lies! He promised me we would spend our lives together and then he just left me! Left me without even saying why! He never mentioned it! He just went away and left me behind with my broken dreams, my broken heart and my depressed family... Because of him I told my family all about my sexual orientation and they were shocked, disappointed, scared, angry and they even blamed each other for that! I felt like a mistake, like a failure, lika a live unworthy being! But he promised me I could stay with him if that happens and then... he left me! I trusted him and this little cur threw me away like I were nothing but trash!" Chase pulled his paw away as soon as he heard the first words. He never saw his friend that angry and he never heard him screaming like that. It was almost threatening but he can understand why. "Lance used him like a toy! As soon as he became bored he went away...", Chase mumbles his own opinion and Zuma becomes quiet again and just punches with his paw the sand underneath him. "I can promise you... If I see him I won't hold back and show him how a German Shepherd defenses his mate! No one should ever dare to touch and harm you again because you aren't just a doll or a lifeless case or something like that. You are a living being and you have feelings and anyone who doesn't respect that will feel my teeth and my claws in his or her skin and flesh! And I am not just talking, I promise you that" As he explains himself his voice volume grows louder and louder and almost turns into a scream of his own. The Labrador next to him also notices the change in his voice and watches the obviously angry pup as he raises his free paw and slams it onto the sandy ground. He surely is furious right now! "Wow... My problem really bothers him too... I can't believe someone is able to feel such a strong emotion just because of a narrative. As if he was the pup Lance betrayed the whole time... As if he were me... As if he and I were one." The male can't take his eyes of the brownish pup, who breathes heavily and gasps for air to fill his now empty lunges with it. The story he heard really found its way into his mind and messed with him. He was totally out of control! He even swore to attack Lance and anyone else who tries to harm Zuma. "That was...", the police pup tries to form a sentence as he turns his head to the side to take a look at Zuma but he needs the air to survive now so he just stops talking for now. But Zuma won't let his turn get away and makes his move.
"Chase", he almost whispers as he still stares into the brown, breathtaking eyes of the mentioned pup, "The things you said... Are you serious about them or was it just because you were so furious and you couldn't control yourself anymore?" Not even one second passes by before the police pup answers this question with his most serious mimic ever. "I were serious there... I can't let someone harm you in any kind of way. After all you are my favorite pup in the entire world and I love you with everything I can offer. If someone wants to hurt you he has to defeat me first. But I won't stop fighting until I lose my life! Until I took my last breath! I promise you-" "I'm sorry but I really have my problems with such extreme promises... He always promised me things like that", Zuma interrupts the other male and explains his doubts he has right now. Suddenly a memory opens up in front of his inner eye he barely remembered before but now the scene is totally clear. "That may sounds be a bit strange but... Lance promised me the exact same thing you just did. With the same words... Now that I compare you two there are many similarities. Both of you share them same personality, both of you are totally stubborn, I fell for both of you even though I am still falling for you Chase... As if it is planned to play out like that. As if it is destiny." The way he talks right now is a little bit frightening. He sounds like a fortune-teller or someone who tries to explain the meaning of life. His voice has a sudden calm in it but when you hear the words they become serious and sound like total nonsense! Chase kind of understands what the Labrador tries to tell him but why is he talking about that right now? "Why does he compare me with a pup he called a cur? Just because I made him a promise? Also we are totally different! He is a real sod, he betrayed him and played with him without carrying about his promise. I, in the opposite, tried my best to take care of him, played with him because I really care for him in every kind of way and gained his trust and never lied to him just once! He should really stop thinking about him... That is surely not healthy at all!" The German Shepherds brains starts working on an even higher level now as it on the one hand navigates his thoughts and on the other hand listens to the words Zuma says. "We aren't the same at all...", Chase speaks without an order from his brain, which he now completely ignores. Again Ryders advice helps him to say what he really needs to say now. Zuma, who kept talking and comparing his two crushes, becomes silent and just focuses the brownish pup, eager to listen to what he has to say
"Comparing me with him is like comparing day and night, water and fire or darkness and light. I may share some of his personality but that's it. Everything he cared about was his own life, his own feelings and how he could take advantage of such a nice, friendly, trustworthy, helping and handsome pup like you. I know it sounds cruel and I don't have any right to say that but in his eyes you were nothing but a toy, a way to spend his spare time, you were a hobby. I really care about you... After all I've been searching for you for hours, I had the guts to tell you my feelings, followed you when you rejected me and tried my best to show you two things. The first one: I want to show you how much you mean to me and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't stop thinking about you and every night I see you in my dreams. You did the thing no one else ever tried before..." Chase gulps and watches into the golden eyes of Zuma. The Labrador listens very carefully and begins to smile and to blush strongly. It really impresses him that Chase tries his best to separate himself from Lance, to separate himself from every bad behavior, bad attitude and bad experience Zuma ever witnessed before. And he obviously gives everything he got. "Because of you I left my own zone, I listened to my feelings and shared them for the very first time with someone else", the German Shepherd continuous, "The second thing is one I realized after hearing your story: I want to show you that a relationship can turn out very good. Your first crush ended in a disaster but if you give me chance... I will do my best to keep our relationship alive for the rest of my life. It won't end the same way because it won't end at all! If you just... give it a tr-" Chase gets cut off as two lips land on his own, a sudden strong pressure knocks him onto his back and he feels the warm but wet sand underneath him. Zuma kisses him! Without even hesitating he took the chance to signalize his crush that he is willing to give it a try! Both of them close their eyes and just concentrate on the heat that travels through their bodies, the feeling of the other pups fur on their own. It tickles a little bit but mostly it connects their bodies. Chase is surprised but he finds himself unable to think anymore. And, to be honest, he doesn't even want to. Everything he cares about now is that his lover finally makes his dreams come true. Zuma, on the other hand, can't stop thinking about the feelings he has while enjoying the strong body underneath him, the soft and comfortable brown fur that touches his own body everywhere and the very surprising moving member in his mouth. It is a tongue! A little bit embarrassed he welcomes his guest with his own, battling for dominance and for pleasure. "Chase sure is eager... If we don't stop anytime soon he may go even further!" Two strong paws enclose the chocolate-brown neck and holds him in place, not that Zuma planned to leave anytime soon. This is the moment he waited for a long time and now he can finally enjoy it. And, believe me, he really does!
Exhausted breating
I think that was by far my best chapter :3 (Wow, that sounds so vain)
I'll let you decide that but it is my longest chapter for sure!
I know the scenario is a little bit strange and I usually planned to do it an other way but it became to complicated and I had no idea what to do anymore xD
Also, this is not the final chapter (I guess)
At least I planed to do an eight chapter
I hope you enjoyed the story so far and this chapter! I love writing for you guys because I always get positive reviews and everyone seems to love this story. That makes me really glad and I hope, when I write other Paw Patrol stories, all of you are with me!
You guys and girls are awesome! bark bark