Chapter thirty: Good Times
They kept running till finally the cable on her pup pack pulled tight.
"Perfect! This is the spot!" Everest declared. She peered around at all the trees among a snaking stream, which gurgled with the spatter of spring water that flowed within it.
"And a great one at that!" She added happily.
"Alright! Now back to the trail!" Snowflake said happily.
Everest looked down to her right and found a hole, bending down a couple sniffs told her all she needed to know.
"This den appears to be abandoned.." She said, straightening up to search out the skunk with her eyes. "You can make your new home here, little guy."
The skunk looked at her for a moment, then proceeded toward the abandoned den. He peered inside, then squeaked and dove right in, only poking his head out to chatter what sounded like a thank you.
"Aww, you're welcome!" Everest smiled. "Ok now we can return to the path."
"Yes, let's get back so we don't get lost," Snowflake agreed.
Then the two pups turned and ran to follow the retracting grappling line back to its source.
xxxx
Giggling and laughing, as they came from the woods they found themselves at the bottom of the slope right as some snowboarders came sliding down it.
"Sup, guys?" The two husky pups looked up when recognizing the voice, and found Chester and Rubble standing there with smiles upon their faces.
"Hi Rubble. Hi Chester. Everest and I just got back from checking out the trails. The paths are all clear," Snowflake announced happily.
"That's good." Chester agreed, nodding. "Wouldn't want some unsuspecting animal to wander into trouble out here.. can be a dangerous place for a little woodland creature."
"As long as it's ONLY the little woodland creatures." Rubble remarked nervously. "Once?.. a sleeping walking bear wandered through the slopes.. it rode on the chair lift?.. scared some skiers.. and even almost woke up because people almost woke it up!"
"That sounds dangerous! At least you guys were able to help it," Snowflake remarked.
"Bear-ly!" Rubble shuddered, but then burst out laughing moments later with the other three pups joining in; all in unison.
"So Everest, what else should we do?" Snowflake asked kindly.
"Hm.. not sure.. wanna hit the slopes a couple times?" Everest thought. "Er- maybe we better take a break.. since we've been hard at work with this tracking thing and all."
"That sounds good. Let's take a break, then we can snowboard for a while," Snowflake responded with a smile.
"Ok, a few more runs then?" Chester asked, turning to Rubble knowingly.
"Totally!" the bulldog barked then the two pups gilded away toward the chair lift.
And the two huskies headed back up the slope toward the cabin.
xxxx
"Whooph! That was some adventure!" Everest breathed, plopping down onto a pillow in the cabin's main living area.
"Yes, it was! At least we got to hang out and clear the trail. Want to hang out some more?" Snowflake asked curiously.
"Sure but.. What do we do now?" the mountain pup wondered. "While we rest I mean.."
"Well, I'm still trying to think of what I can do to help Chase. It's not like I can freeze his brain and the swelling of bad memories will go away," Snowflake commented.
"Wait what?" Everest wondered, looking over at her thoughtfully. "Am I missing something? Cause it really feels like it to me?"
Snowflake sighed.
"Whenever we talk about Rex or the events that happened, Chase gets tense and angry. I know he's upset, but it's like when we try to bring up the topic -even just talking among ourselves- he wants to move onto some other topic or he just gets angry at us. When the pups told Ned and I what happened, it was SO much to take in. The story also made me realize how broken Chase must feel, and it was worse than I could have imagined. The story... broke me," Snowflake explained, her ears folding back.
"Oh.. yeah.. think how Chase feels.." Everest thought, after a brief hesitation due to what she just heard. "But I'm sure whatever you're working on will help."
"I hope so too. Some of my fun bonding moments are giving me ideas, but given Chase's past experience, I may have to change out I try to bond with him. I can't just give him flowers, rainbows, hugs and affection. I need to have fun the way HE wants to, and be careful about how he feels too. But I really do want to make him better. He didn't deserve what happened. No pup does," Snowflake replied.
"Well,.. then,.. talk to the PUP Pals.." Everest replied. "They know just as much if not more about what he went through in that mansion than we do. They might also know of ways to help.. now that I think of it."
Snowflake gave her a very confused look.
"The Pup Pals? Who are they? I remember hearing about them, but I don't exactly know much about them. Plus, I have no way of contacting them," Snowflake replied.
"Well contacting them is easy.." the mountain pup told her, even as they still lay on the pillows together. "Chester and the other pups can help you with that.. but the PUP Pals are a group of pups that Chase befriended while at Mrs. CorDan's mansion in Barkingburg. I don't know as much about them as the other pups.. but I at least know they're names. Rayla, Tiny, Skyler, Ci Ci, Boomerang and Kylie. I guess you could say they're all honorary PAW Patrol pups simply because of how they tried to help Chase.. but.. yeah you'd be best to talk to them.."
"Okay, but only as a last option. I want to try my plan first. And cool! Thanks for telling me about them. I'll see what I can do," Snowflake said kindly.
Suddenly the door to the cabin opened and the two pups that entered shook off what little snow had accumulated on they're fur.
"Whooph! Hey guys?.." Chester huffed, sounding a bit out of breath. "It's starting to get a little late.. maybe we should start heading on toward home for some lunch?.. You know.. if you're not too busy."
"Yes, lunch sounds great! Everest, you want to join us or are you going to stay?" Snowflake responded before turning to the mountain pup.
"Thanks, but.. I'm ok.. I'll stay with Jake.." the husky in teal replied. "He might need me for mountain stuff. I'll still be around if you need me. Have fun with lunch!"
"Thank you. See you later," Snowflake said before getting up. The husky pup gave Everest a hug, before separating and leaving with Rubble and Chester.
"Last one back to the Lookout is a rotten egg!" Chester called, jumping into Chase's police truck and starting the engine.. and as soon as all three vehicles roared to life the race began!
xxxx
The distant drumming of a random thump seemed to bring him back to the world. But when he did, he sensed a reluctance to move.
Why, please, why?! Part of him groaned, then he realized the blessing to come out of this and sighed. Daring himself to shift, he rolled onto his back to stretch, cracking everything down his back and both shoulders; which was a relief except for the subsequent ache of one limb.
Just the same, he rolled onto his paws and stood up, shaking off the ruffled feeling on his fur when he heard the sound again.
"Aww yes! Do it again!!" called an excited array of voices, while shifting plastic began to click.
What now? The curious pup thought, then stumbled forward, as if his paws were not prepared to move, and approached the doors.
xxxx
As soon as the doors slid open though, he'd only taken a couple steps when he suddenly froze.
"Dude, wait till you see this next one!" Zuma noted, placing a paw on the yellow skateboard in front of him, with his friends all watching from behind. He eyed his target as Rocky stepped back from the tower of newly stacked cups, which he piled up like a pyramid, waiting to see what would happen next.
Finally Zuma pushed the skateboard so that it rolled across the driveway, past Chase a few feet from it, and right down the middle of the tower demolishing it with a loud crash!
"Yes!" the chocolate lab cheered, hopping his front paws up with excitement. "Now that's what I call a swish! Nothing but cup!"
"Nice job," Ned commented.
"Ok, your turn dude," the water pup told the husky, then looked up from the skateboard to notice Chase.
"Oh hey Chase." he said, but Chase didn't seem to hear him as he just stared at them with a low expression.
"How are you feeling?" Ned asked curiously.
Chase didn't answer, instead his downward gaze became a bit quizzical with the slight cock of his head at something they could easily guess was the skateboard.
The pups glanced at one another.
"Hel-loo.." Skye sang, coming over to Chase.
"You ok?" She asked, waving a paw in front of his face, which finally broke his gaze to land on her blankly.
"Um.. what are you guys doing?" Chase asked after a brief double take from realizing he'd been staring again.
"Rolling a skateboard against a stacked pile of cups. Kind of like bowling but different," Ned answered.
"Yeah but-.. why??" Chase asked, letting his gaze wander down, then up again.
"Ummmm. We're bored?" Ned replied, trying to think of a good reason.
Chase's brow arched, and his head cocked again, his eyes tracking across each of their faces; and they could tell he was still confused.
"It was Rocky's idea," Ned said.
"Um.. ok.." Chase finally said, yawning to rub an eye.
"Want to give it a try?" Ned asked.
"Um..-"
"Come on, dude." Zuma spoke up. "It's really fun!"
"I don't know.." Chase thought, apprehension holding his tone firmly.
"Come on, Chase. Give it a go!" Rocky goaded. "It's not as tough as it looks,.. and It's actually kinda fun! Even stacking the cups too!"
They all shared a laugh, and while Chase's light chuckle seemed a bit half-hearted, they hardly took notice of it.
"Please!!!" The pups all begged.
"Um.." Chase hesitated, leaning away from them.
"Oh alright!" He sighed, "but just this once."
Ned smiled.
Chase came up around the skateboard and stood where Ned used to be, when he'd stepped back. Chase eyed his target lightly, as he set a paw on the edge of the skateboard. After a long hesitation the timer in his head went off and reflexes took over from there. Allowing him to push the skateboard gently with enough force to roll it right into the center of the tower collapsing the whole thing.
"Wah-hoo!" Skye called, backflipping while the others howled.
"O-kay,.." Chase half chuckled. "That was kinda fun.."
Soon the Lookout doors opened.
"Hey pups." Ryder greeted with a wave. "Whatcha doing?"
"Playing a skateboard version of bowling. It's fun," Ned answered calmly.
"Skateboard version?" Zuma echoed boldly.. "That's not bowling! This is bowling!" And without a hesitation the chocolate lab jumped onto the newly reset skateboard, and rode it all the way over to the tower just moments after Rocky had finished restacking it!
Ned just stared at the chocolate lab in disbelief.
"Hey! I was going to do that! No fair!" Ned commented, annoyed that Zuma had pup bowled himself into the cups before Ned could.
"Hahaha!" Ryder chuckled, with the pups snickering. "Well looks like you're all having fun and using your imaginations. So Chase.. care to take a walk with me?"
"A walk? Um.. sure!.. I mean I guess." Chase wavered, trying not to sound too excited by this.
Then Ryder strode off and Chase soon fell in line with him, as they headed down the Lookout driveway.
"Sooo.. back to the game?" Rocky began again after they'd watched their two friends leave; and everyone's mischievous grins turned on the grey mixed breed.
"Yes. Time for pup bowling," Ned said as he kept a mischievous grin on his face.
And with that, the pups collectively howled and ran off to set everything back up.
xxxx
Chase strode perkily by the boy's side, even wandering back and forth along the path. Ryder smiled, and kept walking for a little longer. Eventually, as they passed Mr. Porter's restaurant, the boy felt the need to break the silence.
"So Chase, enjoying yourself now.." Ryder asked.
The German Shepherd suddenly paused mid-step and immediately began walking again with more of a hesitation to his step.
"Um.. yeah? Are you?" Chase answered shortly, almost daring himself to glance up at him.
Gotta be careful. The boy thought. He's already starting to catch on.
"Yes," he said, and the emphasis that rolled off his tone was enough to put him at ease again, enough for him to perk up a little and resume a more animated pace. "I'm just glad you're doing better, that's all."
What's he talking about? The German Shepherd thought.
"Better than what?" Chase wondered, then he thought till something came to him and he abruptly stopped. Ryder immediately paused to look back at him, taking care to not look as confused as he could so not to add any more suspicion for his pup to catch onto.
"Is this an intervention?" Chase asked forwardly, and Ryder's face brightened to show his astonishment.
How did he guess!? He thought, and after a moment he had to remind himself. This is Chase we're talking about,.. End of story.
"Why do you say that?" the boy asked him, now turning completely around to face the pup.
"Well you don't usually ask for one-on-one time with us, unless it's for something important.. And you don't usually take us on walks, cause we get enough exercise in other ways." Chase explained.
"Well we used to enjoy taking walks when you were little.." Ryder recalled. "'Guess I was hoping we could do that again for once."
"But that was a long time ago?" Chase reasoned, "We haven't gone on a walk in like,.. forever."
"You said 'yes' didn't you?" Ryder returned, and they resumed walking the same direction they'd been going. "Seems like I wasn't the only one hoping to recall the good times."
Chase's expression shifted, and he soon looked up at him.
"Look, everyone's been a little concerned for you lately and I hoped it'd be a good idea to take some time to clear your head.." Ryder shrugged with the slinged arm. "Start fresh, you know?"
"You really think that'll work?" Chase wondered, seeming unconvinced.
"I'd like to think it's that simple." the boy replied. "Unless you have something else in mind."
He's good.. Chase mentally noted. Wonder if he can hear my thoughts too..
"I know I can't read your mind all the time." Ryder said,.. making Chase's thoughts scream..
How'd he DO that?!
"But I also know that you don't ignore your feelings.." the boy went on. "I just wanna remind you that you can face.. whatever it is that you are going through right now.. But mostly I just wanted you to get a break from all the pressure you've been under to share it.. I know the pups have been trying really hard on you, and I realize that's not how you share things.. So I just hoped that this'll give you a chance to clear your mind and relax a little. Give you a clarity on what to do next. But most importantly.." he paused to face Chase.. "I just wanna know you're ok.. cause you and I both know that every ONE of us want you to be ok.. cause that's all that matters to us, when it comes down to it."
Chase just stared at first, then let his gaze wander down.. the gears, Ryder could tell, turning in the ever-moving thoughts of the pup before him. But even as Ryder awaited the German Shepherd's response he couldn't help but wonder what it was he was pondering.
"I'm working on it,.." Chase said finally, peering up on him carefully, as if hoping Ryder wouldn't be disappointed in him. "Ok?"
"Ok." Ryder decided. Suddenly the creaking of metal eventually drew Chase's eyes up and instantly made him react.
"Look out!" He blurted, lurching at Ryder to shove him out of the way.
The crash of a window washer's hanging scaffold landed where they once stood, and the window washer who had just climbed off it peered over the edge in confusion and surprise.
Ryder grimaced, as Chase recovered himself on top of the boy. Now laying upon the boy's chest he instinctively stepped his paws up to hold himself up a little.
"Oh! Sorry!.." Chase realized, shifting his weight of the tender areas of Ryder's upper chest; even looking away sheepishly.
"Hahaha," Ryder lightly chuckled. Then suddenly both their gazes drew up to Chase's left where a growing light made them realize that they'd ended up on the street, and they braced for impact to the screech of tires!!
Last chapter for a little while! Man, it's been a ride.. but now,.. back to the trenches of writing! We'll try to post a new chapter as soon as we can! Thx!!!