Chapter six: Rescue!?
"What?!" Ryder gasped.
"I know.. but we didn't wander too far." Marshall said, quickly recovering so not to alarm the boy more. "But then Fuzzy went missing, Chase, Chester, and Snowflake went looking for him.. and then Chase fell.. and then they followed the ravine til Chase dropped out on them. So.."
"Well whatever the case we have to rescue Chase." Ryder decided, barely missing a beat. "PAW Patrol,.. to the PAW Patroller."
"What'd I tell ya?" Chester smirked, as they finally came out of the forest to meet up with the other pups; who were hiking back from another direction. And as soon as they saw each other the other pups joined the charge towards the PAW Patroller.
Marshall noticed a small golden feather in front of him and he lost the concentration he'd held onto up until now; skidding into it and up the ramp of the giant PAW Patrol semi.
"Marshall, watch out!" Rocky cried. But when he bowled them all over, the Dalmatian somehow ended up on the bottom of the pile.
"Ooff!" Marshall gasped, popping his head out from under them. Then he watched slowly as the feather softly floated down to land on his nose, and remained balanced there.
"Hey,.. is it just me? Or does this pile feel at least one feather lighter?" He asked with a fake earnesty. Which turned to laughter as they all indulged the moment for when the door closed on them. And they could finally untangle themselves and head on into the control room at the front of the vehicle.
And as soon as they all sat down, the voice they were used to hearing didn't speak his usual lines; making everyone glance around at each other.
"Oh right.." Marshall realized. "Heh heh, no Chase."
"And that's exactly why we're here.." Ryder said, as a plan continued to formulate in the boy's thoughtful mind.
xxxx
"Ahh!" Chase cried, ducking as he ran until he hit something hard and fell forward onto his chest in such a way as to wrench his shoulder once again. Grimacing,.. he began to recover himself as a small weight landed on his back, and he hardly dared himself to look back at it.
xxxx
"Ok Pups,.." Ryder began finally, the big screen panning together. "According to Marshall's description, Chase fell in a hole and disappeared from view. And none of you could get a hold of him, which means he's too deep for his pup tag to work."
"We're gonna need the help of Skye big time, as always, which is why it's a good thing she's still out there looking." The boy continued. "So for this mission, I'll need.."
"Snowflake." And a slide brought up the binocular icon from his pup-pad to the big screen, lighting up with that bright shade of electric blue. "Since Chase can't find himself.."
"Not that he hasn't already tried, I'm sure." Chester murmured to no one in particular, causing some chuckles to ripple through the group.
"Yes, Ryder?" Snowflake replied, despite Chester's murmur.
"I'll need you to help us find Chase with your excellent tracking skills." Ryder continued.
"Leave no rock, tree or clue unseen!" Snowflake said, using her catchphrase.
"Great! Cause I'll also need.." he swiped through the icons for the right one. "Rubble! Since Chase fell in a hole, we may have to dig him out in order to rescue him. And Marshall? Stand by.. in case we need a medical assist."
"Let's dig it!" The bulldog responded.
"Ready for a Ruff, Ruff Rescue!" Marshall barked.
"Alright!" Ryder affirmed, pumping his fist. "And since Skye is already on the mission, we're all set! PAW Patrol, is on a-"
"Wait, Ryder.." Marshall chimed in. "You're still hurt how are you gonna lead this mission?"
"But handling it in the best way I can.." Ryder answered. "Carefully."
Then releasing the tension on the sling, he eased his arm through and slid it down to act as a sash; then reached for the gauntlet that retracted from the console; which fit nicely over the wrappings still stabilizing the injured extremity.
"Now,.. as I said PAW Patrol, is on a roll!" He called, racing off toward his vehicle's accessway, the pups selected took off to their vehicles. And when each had launched they sped off together into the surrounding woods.
xxxx
"Oh,.. Come on.." Skye begged softly to herself, as her goggles adjusted once again.. "Where are you?"
xxxx
"Ok, now to check in on Skye." Ryder said, pressing a button on his pup-pad, which brought up Skye's face.
"Skye! Have you found anything yet?" He asked.
"Nothing yet.. just trees, trees, and-.. wait!.." The long pause on the end of the line was mirrored by the odd looks crossing her face. Ryder screeched his vehicle to a stop as. The other pups followed suit.
"What is it, Skye?" The boy asked, sitting back to place a hand to his arm tenderly.
"I don't believe it,.. you won't believe it.. it's.." the camera view panned over and down below was a small brown shape shielding their face from the intense light of day.
"No way!" Ryder gasped, punching his vehicle faster with the other pups nipping at his tail to follow.
xxxx
Tires screeched to a halt, as Skye came running from her landed copter nearby. All members of the group approaching the sight for sore eyes that'd just stumbled from the cave now behind him.
"Chase! We're here!" Marshall cried, racing up to his friend.
"Dude, we were soo worried!" Zuma whined, as they all crowded in around the pup.
"Are you ok?" Rubble asked immediately.
"Did you get lost down there?.." Rocky added quickly.
"Woah, woah, guys, it's ok!" Chase gasped. "I'm ok.. Honest! Relax!.."
"Relax?!" Chester echoed. "Dude!.. I told you staying down there was a bad idea! What the heck were you thinking?! It's lucky, for you, that Hootie and Fuzzy didn't join you down there!.. For all we knew you were seriously hurt! Or trapped.. or Both! -Durgh!.." Ending his rant with an abrupt hug, Chase, only taken aback by this for a short time,.. returned the embrace while feeling the thump of his big brother's heart drumming against his. When he noticed something amongst them, that he hadn't realized until this moment.
"You called the whole team?.." Chase observed, as the embrace finally ended. "Why in the world would you do that? Ryder, what are you doing here?"
"I'm good, Chase." Ryder smiled, lifting a hand off his thigh from atop his ATV as an added gesture.
"To look for you. Did you really think we were just going to leave without getting help?" Snowflake retorted.
"O..kay.. but does it really require a full-on whole team to rescue just one of me?" Chase wondered, mostly innocent in saying this.
"Um.. let's see.. you fell into a hole and couldn't get out or answer your com.." Chester ventured in his continued frustration. "What the heck else did you expect us to do?"
"-I don't know.." Chase admitted, beginning to get just slightly annoyed by this. "-Just,.. not that!"
"Either way?.. I'm soo glad you're ok!" Ryder smiled.. coming to kneel down and hug Chase close, minding his arm by keeping it carefully folded against his body.
"But how did you find your way out of that cave all by yourself?" Rubble wondered.
"Oh I had help." Chase shrugged easily. "Thanks for the help you guys!" He called over his shoulder. And this made everyone look quizzically from the open cave to Chase, then to each other then back to Chase.
Suddenly, though, some chattering emerged from the cave, when three little heads popped down from the top of the open cave entrance. And three fanged smiles, squeaked their response.
"Ah! Bats!" Chester cried diving behind Chase and Marshall, who had come to stand by Chase when the pup turned around to face the cave.
"Relax Chess, they're not gonna hurt you." Chase told his brother, when glancing back at him briefly.
The bats swooped down and came to land in front of Chase all squealing for his attention.
"Hahaha,.. yeah thanks again, I bet I'll be seeing you around again sometime." He told the little creatures, lowering himself closer to them. "But hopefully it'll be under better circumstances." He finished lifting a paw for them to tap their claws to, in unison. Then with that said and done the three little bats flapped for the sky and scattered into the cave.
"You got saved by bats? Lucky!" Snowflake said, giving a slightly jealous look.
"She likes bats," Ned added.
"He-yeah.." Chase smirked at the reaction. "Um.. I can see that. And they didn't exactly save me.. they just helped me find a way out when I couldn't."
"Okay," Snowflake replied calmly.
"Um,.. which was how?..exactly?" Rocky wondered.
"I'll explain later.." Chase decided. "Right now we should get out of here."
"Why, what are you afraid of?" Chester wondered, reading the pup's odd glance, once again directed back over his shoulder.
"I think he just doesn't like being here due to what happened," Snowflake reasoned.
"Uhh, not exactly." Chase smiled lightly.
"Then what?" Marshall wondered, even more confused.
"Let's just say the experience was.. enlightening.." Chase answered hesitantly, glancing back over his shoulder once again. A step forward turned into a stumble and when he'd recovered, he just sighed.
"And here we go again." He sighed, knowing exactly what this was gonna mean.
"Be careful dude," Ned said, helping Chase up.
"Hey, that's my line!" Zuma commented, making everyone laugh.
"How about Ned takes Chase somewhere safe and after we go return our gear, we can catch up with them. Does that sound good?" Snowflake asked Ryder.
"Sure." Ryder smiled, with a light shrug. "After we take a look at that.. Marshall?.."
"Already on it!" The Dalmatian responded.
"*sigh* don't even bother.." Chase sighed deeply once again. "I know what you're gonna say."
"Aggravated sprain?" Marshall asked, after reading the screen.
"You got it.." Chase voiced, his dry tone unconvincing of his regenerating frustration. "*sigh* I'll be feeling that for a while."
"At least I can help you and keep you company. Cheer up, Chase! You're safe and got to make some bat buddies," Ned replied, trying to be positive.
"Ned's right. He'll take care of you," Snowflake added. It was a somewhat positive outlook despite the husky still being jealous of not getting to hang out with the bats too.
"I know.. I got it." Chase sighed, again.. even starting to become exasperated by now; unrelated to the Huskies offers to help. Some soft chattering sounded and Chase glanced back again, before turning around toward the cave entrance; then stumbled back around to put it behind him again.
"Uhh..-Come on.. let's start heading back toward camp." Chase decided, attempting his best march through the group to assume a staccato lead over the group. "We better get out of here and let these bats be.. They'll probably come out to play later when it starts to get dark."
As he left, Rocky snuck up beside Marshall.
"Is he ok?" The mixed breed wondered in a low voice.
"I think so, why?" Marshall murmured back.
"Well.. doesn't he seem a little off to you?" Rocky replied, as they slowly began following him with the rest of the group.
Chase hopped up to grab a hold of the side of his 4x4 with one paw, allowing him to awkwardly clamber up into it and adjust himself in the seat as Chester hopped in behind him.
"I'm.. not- sure." Marshall wavered, his awkward expression much like that of a curious cringe. "Snowflake? Ned?.. pick up on anything?"
"He is slow. Kinda concerned he didn't accept my help," Ned commented.
"Yeah. He also seems down. Like he's sad but doesn't want to say what it is," Snowflake added.
"Well knowing Chase he won't be able to keep up appearances for long." Marshall mentioned. "We'll figure out what's bothering him.. sooner or later. But definitely at some point."
Rubble and Skye, by now, had hopped into their vehicles and started the engines.
"You guys coming?" Skye asked, noticing the group of conversing pups.
"Yes," Snowflake replied.
"Right behind you." Marshall called. Then all the pups dispersed to hop into their vehicles and follow their leader back through the forest towards the camp site.
xxxx
Driving was almost a relief until something caught his eye. Chase slowed while the others filed around him.
"Hey look!" He said, stopping everyone to look back at him. Chester shifted himself up, with one paw supporting himself against Chase's back so he could view the sight more clearly.
"What's up, Chase?" Ryder wondered.
The young German Shepherd sniffed the air.
"Smells like,.. berries!" He said.
Glancing to their right they found a long stretch of bushes dotted with variant shades of red.
"Hey, you're right!" Rocky squeaked, hopping down. Sniffing them briefly, he smiled in pleasure of the sweet aroma.
"Looks like we have some wild raspberry bushes here." He added thoughtfully, turning to the group over his shoulder.
"This is great!" Chester gasped, hopping down excitedly.
"We could pick some up and eat them with our supper tonight!" He suggested. "Maybe even bring some home to make into desserts! Mmm!"
"That sounds good," Ned commented.
"Great! Rocky?.." Chase called. And the mixed breed obliged by beginning to shift his truck towards the berry bushes.. until a pop and a hiss sank one corner of the vehicle lower than the others.
"Oh no!" He cried, peeking down over the edge of his driver seat.
"Looks like a flat,.. probably caused by the sharp stones or debris around here." Chester guessed viewing the deflated tire.
"Maybe we should get our vehicles back to the campsite." Ryder suggested thoughtfully, still glancing back at them from his ATV. "It'd probably be better to have them stored up in the PAW Patroller for if we're needed for a rescue."
"Good idea, Ryder." Rocky agreed, as Chester hopped back into Chase's backseat.
"But what about the berries?" Rubble wondered.
"The berries aren't going anywhere, Rubble. Hmmm. Chase? Could you use your light to help Rocky with the flat tire?" Ned replied. Luckily, he had a plan.
"It's ok, Ned." Ryder said, as Chase began to move. "We'll just tow it back to camp so Rocky and I can change the flat."
Chase slid himself over the edge of his vehicle and slowly felt for the ground with his back paws, while his front paws lowered him down. However he had to drop short when one of them weakened and he couldn't maintain a hold. Dropping his gaze at his landing, he lifted them as Chester peered down on him.
"You know mom's gonna freak when she hears about this right?" The older German Shepherd mentioned loosely.
"So don't tell her, weirdo." Chase returned, shaking his head at his brother's hinted swagger.
"You know it's not that easy, don't you?" Chester countered.
"It is, if you keep the detail to a minimum." Chase shot back, and Chester just stared at him for a moment.
"Alright, alright, you win." Chester gave in. "When you're right, you're right."
"You've never said that." Chase declined, shaking his head again. "Usually you say that before you-…"
"Right, right, but not this time! Promise!" Chester interjected. "I'll only let that bone-headed mentality bite me in the tail once."
"You better." Chase answered softly, subsequently removing his paw from the side of his police truck.
Chester then crawled over the seat and sat down at the controls.
"Um,.. bro?.. what are you doing?" Chase asked him.
"Someone's gotta drive this puppy back to camp." Chester replied.
"Figuratively speaking that is." He added with a shrug.
"And I can't do that myself?" Chase answered, his blunt suspicion coming as an arched eyebrow with his unimpressed overall expression.
"Yes." Chester and Ned nodded.
"What?!-.. no!" Chase gasped, taken aback by their united response.
"Yes!" The two pups repeated, shooting a winked to one another.
"No.." Chase repeated more sternly.
"Yes!" The two friends repeated, smiling.
"No!" Chase cried.
Then Chester and Ned paused for another glance, then yelled.
"Yes!" They shouted, nodding their heads.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"No!" Chester and Ned called. And Chase instinctively yelled.
"Yes!"
"See I knew you'd agree." Chester smiled.
"What?" Chase asked, confused; and now having to think back on their conversation again.
"Besides,.. what kind of joyriding trouble would I really wanna get into.." Chester went on. "When there's a sweet treat waiting for me here?- bye!.."
"Wait-.. ugh.. Chester!" Chase called, beginning to chase after his brother as the truck sped off with the others, when a heavy weight pulled him down.
Hey, we're back! How 'bout that fun little reference at the end.. anyone know what it is? Or where it comes from?
Anyway this chapter was SOO fun! Sorry for the long wait, but my partner had a few things to tie up before continuing. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
And as always,.. enjoy! And see you next time! Thx!