Chapter eleven: Howls And Cheese
"Oh I have something!.." Rubble said, hopping up on all four paws. "One time.. Marshall and I were playing in the yard around the Lookout.. and one of Capt'n Turbot's old sails blew over and trapped us both!"
Everyone laughed.
"It took us forever to get them both untangled!" Skye giggled.
"And even longer to get it back to the Capt'n." Marshall grinned, while he and Skye exchanged smiles.
Snowflake raised an eyebrow.
"So the sail just blew on top of you guys and you got stuck? Have any of you other pups gotten stuck under bed sheets, blankets, parachutes, ect?" Snowflake asked.
"Yeah.. it was hilarious once we thought back on it." Rubble grinned.
"Which actually wasn't as bad as when Marshall was a sleepwalking bedsheet ghost." Rocky mentioned.
"Really? How did you end up sleepwalking under a bed sheet, buddy?" Snowflake asked, the husky pup still flailing about under the blue blanket.
"Well I'm still not sure why it happened.. or how it started.." Marshall shrugged earnestly. "But I do know that every morning.. I sometimes felt more tired than when I went to bed!"
"He was sleepwalking.." Rocky began.
"And sleep eating.." Skye added.
"Sleep dancing.." Zuma said, strutting a couple moves even within the small space he had.
"And sleep skateboarding!" Rubble finished with a bit of a chuckle. "Eventually we had to rescue him off a water board on a whale's back out in the middle of the bay!"
"Yikes. How about the rest of you? Anyone get stuck?" Snowflake asked.
"I thought you didn't like bed sheet ghosts, sis?" Ned asked her a smirk
"That doesn't mean I'm not curious about other pups getting stuck under fabrics," the husky pup retorted
"So you DO like bed sheet ghosts. You just like it when others look like them or get stuck," Ned teased.
"Only for fun! And get me outta here!" Snowflake exclaimed as she kept wrestling with the blanket.
"Why? I could take a picture and show you later, you look cute as a blanket ghost," Ned mused teasingly.
"Quit it, Ned!" Snowflake commented.
The chuckles that rippled through the group subsided again and they all regained their thoughts.
"Well, Chase has some stories." Rubble mentioned. "I'll wake him."
"No!" Everyone cried, freezing the bulldog in his tracks.
"What?!" Rubble wondered innocently.
Chase winced at their sudden vocalization, then shifted sides to turn away from them, the warmth of the fire almost keeping him asleep even after that brief disturbance.
"Chase needs to rest." Ryder said. "He'll probably sleep off those pain meds we gave him.. he could use the extra sleep."
"Why do you say that, Ryder?" Skye wondered, her face shifting to concern.
"Ugh! Isn't it obvious?" Chester groaned, he stood up to look over at his brother.
"Halloween night." He murmured, then sighed.
"It's all my fault." his gaze lowered to the flames, which licked the air of the dark night, and he could swear he could see his own memories travel across each fiery tongue.
"Halloween just won't be the same again.." he said, turning away from them, and the flames with it.
"And I won't ever live it down." He finished sadly and they could see his ears completely flatten.
"Chester, we've been over this. You may feel guilty, but we ALL got into trouble. Even Ned and I when I thought my brother was a sheet ghost. You had no control over the storm or any spooky moments. Besides, you've tried helping Chase since then. Even if things haven't worked out, you still tried to be a good brother. You've at least made up for it in some ways," Snowflake said with sympathy. She started to wander over, trying to find Chester in the process.
"Where are you guys?" Snowflake asked as the blanket covered pup wondered about circling the pups to find Chester.
"Wait, Ryder? I thought Chase DID get some sleep when he returned in the PAW Patroller?" Snowflake mentioned.
"Well, ever since that night,.. he just.. hasn't exactly seemed like himself." Ryder sighed thoughtfully. And this immediately made Skye and Marshall lock eyes, Rocky and Rubble's eyes cocking over to each other, and every other pup to glance around the circle.
Chester just watched them and sighed.
"Even if I have been trying to help.." he said. "It'll never make up for what I did."
"Chester?.." The origin of the voice made them think for a moment. Then suddenly, like the flip of a switch, they realized whose voice it was and all looked to Chase.
"I love you, brother." The younger German Shepherd breathed in his sleep, as he rolled back toward them. And everyone's heart melted.
"See Chess?.." Marshall smiled, turning from Chase to Chester. "Chase doesn't begrudge you."
"So I've been told." Chester answered, his frown hanging on.
"Chess,.." Ryder said, shifting his positions slightly for comfort. "I think you're trying to be way too hard on yourself. You need to let go of that if you're ever gonna move on."
"Ryder's right," Ned commented.
"Awww. That's cute. Even if I only heard it," Snowflake said, as she kept wondering among the pups. She carefully walked past the cockapoo pup, petting her head and feeling around in the process.
"Sorry, Skye," the blanket covered pup commented, walking past her.
She felt next to Skye and sensed nothing but a lump of something.
"Huh? Oh," Snowflake said as she felt the blanket covered Chase, only to hear him breathe comfortably.
"Sorry Chase, I was looking for Chester," Snowflake explained.
"Heh heh heh ha! Cheddar?!.." Chase giggled, but his eyes never opened.
"Cheddar? What?" Snowflake questioned.
"Hahaha! No.. stop! You'll melt me! Ah.. no! Not the queso!" By now he was on his back, laughing and squirming like something were directly causing it.
"What is happening!?" Marshall cried, while Ryder and Katie tried not to laugh, and Jake not even holding back.
"What? No buddy," Snowflake said confused, then going and giving the laughing German Shepherd a hug.
"Ahhhhh! No! You're melting me! I'm melting,.. MEEELLLTTING! It has been a pleasure, Fupple puffs! A vanderful Gouda life! Nooo!" Chase exclaimed, his dramatic wails turning into giggles.
"Dude? You're freaking me out!" Chester monotoned.
"Wait,.. what did he say?" Rubble asked.
"Fupple puffs!" Chase wavered, shifting onto his side so that the side of his face pressed into the blanket. "Keep up, Cheezit!"
"Oh no, not this again!" Chester groaned, his head tilting to the side dryly.
"He's, like, totally zonked out, dudes!" Zuma commented.
"Cheezit? Yum! But I'm not cheese! I'm a pup in a blanket. Chase, buddy? Are you okay? You're kinda scaring me," Snowflake commented as the blanketed husky kept hugging her friend
Ned giggled.
"Haha. My sister is cheese. Gouda one Chase," Ned teased.
"Don't encourage him!" Marshall cried.
"Ha! My brother eats cheese! Smorgasbord!" Chase laughed.
"Go to sleep, Chase!" Marshall stuttered, finding it harder to speak his internal thoughts.
"Oh yes,.. the rest is good." Chase mused, turning his shoulders to wave a paw at him. "Gotta feel free, when the great Saltan returns.. goodbye."
"No,.. the Saltan's return is a bad thing! Remember?" Chester shook his head as he stepped toward Chase. "That's how you were cast to the sea of misfit coals. Got it?"
"Pff! Whatever Fupple puff!" Chase scoffed, waving a paw at him without even lifting his head to look at him.
By now Jake had long since retired to the ground behind the long benches, laughing until he was crying, while Ryder and Katie heartily laughed alongside him.
"Heh, heh, heh, a-ha-alright Chase," Ryder snickered, crawling across the ground as the pups parted ways from him. "That's enough for tonight." He then began to rub the pup's back in slow strokes up and down his spine. Chase sighed deeply and nestled into his blanket a little more once again. Chester stood to his full height after bending over to talk to Chase, then realized all the odd looks he was getting from all the pups.
"What?" Chester wondered, studying each of their expressions in confusion.
"What was that all about!?" Marshall asked.
"Umm..-"
"Fupple Puffs? Is that a brand of dog food?" Snowflake asked, still under the blanket.
"What and who is the Saltan? Your owner?" Ned chimed in.
"What!? No! It's a game.." Chester said, giving them an odd look.
"What!?" The pups all asked in complete confusion.
"What do you mean?" Ned asked.
"Oh, it was some game Chase made up when we were pups. I didn't care for it but I played along just to keep him happy, otherwise he would be chasing butterflies and getting into trouble or trying to wrestle with anyone around him.
Chase shifted positions, grunted then shifted again.
"The Saltan was the bad guy we were always chasing down and vanquishing." Chester explained further. "And sometimes he made ME play him. The Fupple Puffs were the warriors that fought against him."
"Ok, then,.. what about Cheezit?" Marshall asked.
"Oh I have no idea where he got that." Chester shook his head. "Probably just his own goofed up thoughts talking."
"Okay," Snowflake said before letting go of Chase. She then wandered into Marshall.
"Oops, sorry buddy!" Snowflake said as the blanket covered husky pup hugged the dally.
"Mmmm! So soft. I love you Marshall-" Snowflake commented until she realized what she had said, and gasped.
"Um, thanks." Marshall answered, an awkward smile spreading across his face as he returned the embrace.
Chase sighed and shifted toward them again.
"Ok.." Chester spoke up, calling attention to himself again. "Who's up for a scary story!"
"Yes please! Looks like Snowflake has her cuddle buddy with her so she shouldn't be too scared," Ned retorted.
"Ned!" Snowflake exclaimed, blushing from under the blue blanket.
"What it's true! Snowflake and Marshall, sitting in a tree, K-I-"
"No! Anything but that!" Snowflake begged her brother.
"Okay, love pup," Ned replied calmly. Snowflake groaned at her brother's annoyance.
"Anyways, scary story?" Snowflake insisted.
"Well,.." Rocky began, earning everyone's attention instantly by the undertone in his voice. "Anybody heard of the legendary.. werepuppy?!" He then howled into the air, which made Rubble jump and the other pups shiver.
"Oooo, go on!" Chester goaded mildly, grinning his mischievous grin.
"Ok." The mixed breed obliged, as Ryder shifted his body to sit right beside Chase to keep a hand on the pup's back.
"Once many years ago," Rocky began, in his best narrator voice. "People were afraid of going outside, because that's when It could come creeping, and peeking, and prowling, and howling! The wild werepuppy!"
"Wait, don't you mean a werewolf? I've never heard of a werepuppy before," Snowflake said, the husky pup still under the blue blanket
"Ah.. but that's the beauty of it!" Rocky mused. "Mayor Goodway's uncle, Otis told us, that legend has it that a pup's got to be standing in water that's reflecting the full moon to turn into one. However, they can turn back into a pup by sniffing a sunflower from Sunflower Valley," Rocky said, telling the tale.
"Woah." Chester breathed.
A sneeze from Chase made Rubble leap onto Rocky for security.
"Hey..uhh.. it's not time for bed now is it?" Rubble asked shakily.
"Afraid so, Rubble." Ryder said, beginning to carefully stand up. "Jake, can you douse the fire?"
"Sure thing, dude." The young man replied, grabbing the pale of water.
Splashing the flames down with the water, Chase cringed from the splash of water and turned away, ending in a sigh. His ears twitched and he moved once more, though not in a full on shift of his body.
"Sounds good," Ned retorted.
"Okay. And I have my cuddle buddy right here!," Snowflake said, still hugging the dally
"Ahem, I'm sleeping in the same tent as you. Remember?" Ned pointed out.
"Yeah, and Marshall's sleeping with me, dude!" Zuma added.
"Ok, Snowflake, you can let Marshall go now." Skye said, grinning humorously.
"Oh, okay. Sorry buddy! You are cuddly though," the blanketed pup retorted before releasing Marshall from the hug.
"Um,.. thanks?" Marshall smiled, almost speaking this as a question. "So.. what do we do about him?" He asked, looking at Chase; who roughly shifted sides again.
"Yeah, is Chase sleeping outside or in the tent?" Ned asked Ryder cautiously.
"I don't know.." Ryder replied thoughtfully, then exchanged looks with Katie.
The girl then got up from her seat on the logs and came around to Chase's side. Bunching the blankets up around him, she slid her hands under him and proceeded to lift him up.
Chase squirmed.
"Ih-na! No!" He mumbled, his eyes opening about halfway.
"It's ok, Chase." Katie told him softly.
"Ugh! No! Queso what have you done to me!" Chase moaned. "Where's Cheddar!.. I mean Chester."
"It's ok, little bro, just go back to sleep." Chester told him, almost slightly begging him to.
Chase grunted and let his head go limp against Katie's arm, then began to struggle once more.
"Ok, ok," Katie said, beginning to lower him down again. And when she had laid him on the ground, she held a hand on him for comfort while he nestled back down and nodded off once more.
"Well,.. I think we have our answer." Ryder said.
"Will he be ok out here by himself?" Marshall asked.
"I'm sure he will once we're all in bed, and not making noise out here." The boy reasoned. "I'd rather him stay asleep where he's comfortable then try to move him and wake him up."
"And after that reaction, I'm not so sure he would go back to sleep." Rocky mentioned uneasily.
"I agree. Better to have Chase rest than wake up," Ned commented.
"I'm not sure I like the idea of leaving him out here alone." Skye said.
"Don't worry, Skye." Ryder assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll be nearby in case he needs something."
Ouch.. the sleeping German Shepherd's thoughts groaned.
"Ok pups, time for bed." Ryder announced.
"Alright. Wait! I need to give everyone a goodnight hug!" Snowflake exclaimed before wandering under the blue blanket, looking for anyone to hug or any sense of direction.
"Ahhh! Oof! Ahhhh! Ah! Hey! Where is everyone? I can't see! Where's my cuddle buddies?" Snowflake said, as she ran around, while trying to get out of the blanket; but mostly for hugs.
"Wait! Snowflake, be caref-uhn!" Marshall's sentence was cut short when the big, fluffy blanket-covered pup crashed right into him and the pups among him, which were Skye, Rubble, and Zuma.
Skye just groaned, but Rubble was scared.
"Ahhhh! No! I can't see! Help!" He cried, struggling to get away.
"Dude, relax!" Zuma told his friend. "It's just Snowflake."
"But it's still dark under here.. lemme out!" Rubble cried.
"Help! Pups? I'm stuck! Get me outta here! Where are you guys?" Snowflake exclaimed, as she too flailed about, trying to get out of the blue blanket.
And everyone sighed as the pups began to help their friends..
YAY! We're back! And with probably my personal favorite chapter yet! Even though we're WAY ahead in writing this story by now,.. this still remains my favorite chapter! And I can't wait to hear YOUR thoughts on it! Neither can my partner! ENJOY! Thx!