Chapter twenty-five: Ghostly Fun!
As they walked away however, Ned smirked. He ran into The Lookout, and sat in front of the elevator, waiting for the others.
"Yes. I did. When we saw him as a ghost, Marshall freaked out and ran. I confronted the ghost and well, the ghost kinda got me. But when it was Ned, I was angry. He went too far scaring us when it wasn't needed." Snowflake replied.
"Aw, that must have been horrible.." Rubble commented sympathetically. "Horribly awful, I mean. I'm sorry Ned gets a little too carried away sometimes.. We'll try to keep a closer eye on him so it doesn't happen as much anymore."
"Thanks Rubble, but my brother can be like that sometimes. He can just be a goofball that gets carried away. So, you want to hang out?" Snowflake replied kindly.
Snowflake then thought for a moment and had an idea for how they could bond.
"Actually, I have an idea. Rubble, stay here and close your eyes. I'll be right back," Snowflake said with a smile.
"Uhh.. Ok." the bulldog pup complied, leaning down to cover both eyes with his paws.
Snowflake went over and gave him a hug. She then separated and ran into The Lookout. Seeing the two white sheets, she grabbed them and ran back outside. She threw one of the sheets onto Rubble before covering herself in the other white sheet.
Now looking like a ghost, she snuck under the sheet she threw on Rubble, and hugged the bulldog again.
"Okay buddy, you can open your eyes," Snowflake said.
Rubble looked over and saw who was hugging him and his brain momentarily had him fooled but a double take got his attention.
"Ahh! -ih..-oh..-er.. huh? Oh.. it's just you, Snowflake." Rubble sighed after the initial fright wore off. "Right?.."
"OOOOOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Snowflake said in a ghostly voice, separating from the hug as she stood in front of Rubble, waving her forepaws around.
"*gasp*.. S..Snowflake?" Rubble quivered, staring nervously at the white form right beside him. "That is you?.. r..r..right?"
"BOOOOOOOOOOO! OOOOOOOOOOO!" Snowflake said under the sheet as she flailed her forelegs around more.
"SNOWFLAKE!" Rubble cried out, hoping he was wrong about what he was seeing.
"BOOOOOOOOOOO! OOOOOOOOOOOO!- Huh? How did you know it was me?!" the sheet covered husky asked, surprised Rubble figured out her ghostly disguise.
She kept standing in front of Rubble with her forepaws in the air, still looking like a ghost.
"Well..I..hoped it was you." Rubble shrugged. "And I figured if I said it enough times I'd figure out if it was true or not."
"Yes, you were right," Snowflake replied. She thought of what to do, and a thought came to mind.
"Follow me!" Snowflake said as she turned around and started walking away. The sheet covered husky walked away, getting out of the bed sheet that her and Rubble were under. Rubble unfortunately got covered by the white sheet completely.
"Ok but.. how do you see which way you're going?" Rubble asked, stumbling forward as he blindly walked straight ahead of himself.
"I guess, and just have fun. Besides, there's no eye holes in the sheets. Come on ghost buddy! WOOOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOOO!" Snowflake replied. She walked forwards and flailed about pretending to be a ghost.
"Sure but I-woah!" Rubble tripped on something and felt himself roll forward, but putting his paws out didn't stop him from crashing into something and subsequently landing on top of it with an "oof!".
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Snowflake screamed as Rubble crashed into her, rolling on a skateboard. The two sheet-covered pups flew through the air before landing on the grass, still trapped under the white sheets.
"Ahh! What's happening?!" The bulldog cried, wriggling about under the sheet. They struggled for a bit when a realization came to Rubble's mind.
"What was the point of dressing as ghosts?!" He wondered, and finally finding a way out, he poked his head through immediately. "I mean I know we're both scared of them sometimes.." he continued as he came out from under it completely, while Snowflake was just finding a way out of it herself.
"But how does this help us get better about that?" He finished, pointing a paw at the sheet he'd just escaped.
Snowflake found her way out of the sheet, and crawled out from under it.
"I was thinking, by dressing up as ghosts it might help us not be so scared of them. Sometimes it can be fun... Actually, this is something I'm still trying to understand," Snowflake replied, her ears folding back a little.
Rubble's eyebrows furrowed sympathetically, then he blinked to shake himself out of the stare he'd developed.
"Well.. I don't know that it would help me,.. other than to scare other pups like Marshall." He said, thinking half humorously on this fact. "Maybe we could try something else that might work."
"Why do you say that? We're just dressing up for fun. Though like I said, I still don't understand my feelings towards ghosts. Yes, I'm scared of them, but it's mostly because I don't know who or what is under the fabric. Not just bed sheets, but other kinds like blankets, parachutes, tents, curtains, comforters, ect. But the strange part is, I do sometimes enjoy playing 'ghost' under those fabrics! But once I realize I'm stuck under the fabric and can't get out, the moment goes from fun to scary and I freak out. Yet at the same time, I'm scared of something I enjoy playing, and getting stuck in sometimes. I don't know how to feel about it," Snowflake said honestly. The husky pup then grabbed the white sheet she had been under and threw it over herself. She now looked like a ghost again.
"Sometimes I go under the fabric to comfort myself when I'm scared or embarrassed too. What do you think, Rubble?" Snowflake asked kindly.
"Wow.. that's.. a lot to unpack?.." Rubble thought aloud.
"Nope, still confused,.." he added after a pause. "So you're afraid of ghosts. But don't know why? You try to imagine what's under the material, but can't help but be afraid to know.. even if it turns out to be something not scary after all.. but you're ok being the one under the sheet or.. whatever material object, you just don't like it when you can't get out? Not exactly a straightforward fear I guess."
"Close. Yes, I'm afraid of ghosts and don't know why. I can't help but be afraid even if the person or object under the material isn't scary. I like playing under the sheet or fabric sometimes, but when I can't get out and get stuck is when the moment goes from fun to scary. What I don't understand is why I'm scared of sheet ghosts but I sometimes like playing as the thing I'm scared of. Does that make sense?" Snowflake replied.
"Um.. I think so?" The bulldog wondered. "You're not sure why you're afraid of getting stuck under bed sheets? Even if it's just you, and also when other people dress up as ghosts without you knowing it."
"Yes. I get scared of getting stuck under bed sheets on my own by accident, but also when others dress up as ghosts. But at the same time, I'm scared of others dressed as something I like doing for fun," Snowflake responded.
"I think I can understand that." Rubble nodded thoughtfully, his gaze settled on the ground for him to ponder this a moment.
"So.. what exactly are we gonna do about it?" He wondered after a while.
"Not sure. Got any ideas for how I can get over my fears?" Snowflake asked kindly.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. The sheet behind Rubble flew in the air and covered him again, while the sheet on Snowflake just billowed in the wind. Shortly, the wind stopped.
"Af! Hey!" Rubble gasped, mainly in surprise. "Ih!- arg.. ugh! A little help here?"
"Sorry, I'm stuck too!" Snowflake said, flailing around under the sheet.
Finding a way out quickly, Rubble came over and pulled the sheet off of Snowflake so she didn't have to struggle anymore.
"Maybe we should find a better place to do this.." he suggested, tossing the sheet on top of the other one and stepping on the edge of it to keep it from blowing away.
Ned watched from The Lookout, and smiled. He went over and grabbed the blue sheet before covering himself in it. He snuck behind them, trying to avoid detection.
As Rubble and Snowflake sat, the wind began to blow again.
Rubble turned into the wind, and shielded his face.
"It's getting windy again!" The construction pup noted, with some restraint to his tone.
The wind blew more and more.
"We should get inside while we still can." Rubble suggested, then turned his back to the growing breeze.
Suddenly, as he turned away from the wind, the sheets got loose and without warning, blew on top of Rubble and Snowflake again!
"Oh no! Not again?!" The bulldog of the two cried. "Help!"
"Ahhhhh! Help!" Snowflake exclaimed as she tried to get out of the sheet.
Ned smiled and walked over to the two. Shortly, the wind stopped.
"Hehe," Ned giggled before carefully throwing the white sheet off Snowflake, only to throw the blue sheet on top of her.
"Phew! I'm- Ah! Ahhhhh! What's going on?!" Snowflake cried out, struggling again.
Ned took the white sheet he had got off his sister and threw it over himself. He walked around to Rubble before waving his forelegs in the air.
"BOOOOOOOOOOO! OOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ned said, pretending to be a ghost.
"Hey?! What's going on here?" Rubble cried, trying to find his friends.
"BOOOOOOOOOO! OOOOOOOOO!" Ned the ghost said, before picking up Rubble in his forelegs, hugging him.
"Ahhh! What's this?! Help!" Rubble cried, beginning to struggle.
Ned kept hugging the struggling Rubble.
"Help!" Snowflake cried out, as she struggled.
"Please, say something!" Rubble begged his hugger. "Ryder!"
"BOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ned said in a spooky voice.
"Ned!" Rubble groaned, only partially exasperated by now.
"Yes. I love you," Ned replied as he kept hugging Rubble.
"Ih! What are you doing?! You almost gave us a heart attack!" Rubble gasped, but not in an angry tone. "We were just heading into the Lookout to get out of the wind."
"Oh. Sorry. But I wanted to give you a ghostly hug. Booooooo!" Ned replied, before setting Rubble down.
"But I thought you were gonna let us bond on our own?" The construction pup wondered lightly. "Weren't you gonna hang out with the other pups?"
"I was, but when Snowflake suggested ghosts as the topic, how could I resist?"
"Ned, go be a ghost somewhere else. Remember what I said?" Snowflake retorted.
"You're right, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone," Ned said before leaving.
Ned then took the white sheet off of himself. He walked around back to his sister before taking the blue sheet off of her and throwing the white sheet on her again.
"Thanks - Hey! Grrrrr!" Snowflake said as the blue sheet was taken off, only to be covered by the white one. Ned smiled and covered himself in the blue sheet again.
The sheet covered Ned left before going back into The Lookout. As he did he walked past the pups.
"What's up with him?" Chester wondered, noticing his odd entry.
"Hi guys," Ned replied as he walked past his friends. He was still covered in the blue sheet.
"What happened to you?" Marshall asked, as the husky drew near.
"I was playing 'ghosts' with Snowflake and Rubble. Booooo!" Ned replied. Once he got to Marshall, Ned hugged him.
Quizzical looks spread throughout the group.
"Why?" Marshall wondered, speaking this unanimous thought aloud.
"It's what they were doing, so I decided to join the fun!" Ned responded, still hugging Marshall, despite the husky being under the blue sheet.
"Right but.. what do we wanna do?" The Dalmatian wondered openly.
Suddenly Chase sat up, a bit of a gasp escaping him, which was enough to draw attention to himself. He eventually seemed to sense the eyes on him, 'cause he turned his head toward them, as his slightly noticeable breaths began to calm again.
"What?" He asked them blankly.
"You're awake," Ned commented.
"Uh.. yeah?" Chase answered, his tone wavering a little.
"You ok?" Marshall asked.
"Of course I am.." Chase answered, defensively turning to face him, but dialed it back to hopefully reduce the suspicion it may have caused.
"You sure? You seem on edge, Chase. Hug it out," Ned said, turning around. The blue sheet covered pup held his left paw out, with his right one still around Marshall.
"What do you say, buddy? Three pup hug?" Ned offered kindly.
Chase saw the outstretched paw and slightly backed off from it.
"Uhh.. thanks.. but I'm good." He answered somewhat nervously.
"Are you ok?" Rocky wondered, appearing by his side.
"Are you feeling ok?" Zuma added, also showing up beside him, next to Rocky.
Chase even backed off from them as soon as he saw them, especially since they'd initially startled him from they're sudden appearance, and he found himself edging back toward the door.
"Ohh.. hey.. look at the time.. looks like we're due for a perimeter check.." he wavered as he continued to casually make his way toward the door.
Almost home free! His mind breathed.
"Gotta make sure there's nothing out of place or.. in the way or-.. something?.." he said. But turning to leave, the Lookout doors opened to two faces that immediately met him and he jumped back slightly then announced in a formal and slightly frustrated tone:..
"I rest my case!" Marching between the two pups, he strode off out the door and Snowflake and Rubble watched till the doors closed behind them, since they'd come forward after Chase had begun to leave right past them.
"Did Chase just wake up or is something wrong?" Snowflake asked, both curiously and in concern.
"I'm kinda afraid it might be both.." Marshall sighed, and some knowingly concerned looks spread throughout the members of the PAW Patrol.. that had a level of knowledge, which two pups among them couldn't quite follow.
"Oh. I hope he gets better. Anyways, where's Ryder?" Snowflake replied.
"I'm here." Ryder said, appearing from around the elevator. "What's up?"
Snowflake looked at him quizzically.
"What are you doing back there?" the husky pup asked.
"Oh..that.." Ryder realized thoughtfully, when coming out from around the elevator to join them. "I just thought I saw something.. out the side door.. but it turned out to be nothing.. What can I do for you?"
"Rubble and I were wondering if you could help us with our bonding," Snowflake explained.
Ned kept hugging Marshall, until he got an idea.
"Hang on. Before you do, I want to talk to Ryder," the blue sheet covered pup commented. He separated from the hug with Marshall before wandering over to Ryder.
"What's up, Ned?" Ryder asked, easing himself down for a composed kneel; in hopes of maintaining his balance.
The pair had their backs turned away from the others as Ned talked with Ryder.
"It's been a while since anyone asked. You must be tired of this question, but, how are you feeling, Ryder? I just want to make sure you are doing okay," Ned said in a sympathetic voice.
"Aww, thanks for checking in." Ryder smiled. "And I'm good.. feels like I'm getting stronger every day."
"Good. I just feel sorry you can't play with us and have to rest," Ned replied, before hugging Ryder, despite the pup being covered in the blue sheet.
"That's ok.." Ryder lightly chuckled. "Rest is important.. I'd rather recover and get back to normal than try to do things that might hurt me more."
"Right. I just hope you can relax and have fun," Ned said as he kept hugging the boy. Carefully, Ned slid the blue sheet off as he hugged Ryder. The pup started to massage the boy's lower back during the hug.
"You haven't got much attention since Katie left, so I wanted to check in. Make sure you're relaxed and safe," Ned replied. He smirked as he carefully covered Ryder with the blue sheet. Soon, the sheet covered Ryder completely as Ned kept hugging him.
"After all, no hug is too big, no pup is too fun. Especially among friends," Ned added.
"Hahaha.. haha-I appreciate that." Ryder said, having laid on his back by now when the sheet covered him and was able to use his free arm to fold it down off his face. "But now I think Snowflake and Rubble had something they wanted to ask." He carefully sat up with the aid of his free hand, and stood up so he could turn to the other husky and Rubble.
Yay, we're back! And Ta da! Another chapter!.. Just a few more days left and then I'll be slowing down on posting again..
Can't believe it, but this story is progressing quite well,.. writing it has slowed down a little,.. but we're still shipping away at yet another chapter! So stay tuned, folks, 'cause more is yet to come! Thx!