Chapter twenty: The Reset
"Ok Snowflake, what's up?" Ryder asked as they exited the elevator.
Snowflake turned to face them all before growling again.
"What's up? WHAT'S UP?! I come back with Rocky only for Chase to get upset, look like he's going to attack, and you just ask 'what's up'?! I brought you all down here to ask WHAT THE PUP TREATS HAPPENED HERE?! Clearly something happened because Chase wasn't so happy to see Rocky and I. Not to mention Chess arrived later. What did we do to make them upset?! I CALLED AND SAID WE WERE FINE!" Snowflake exclaimed angrily, her eyes starting to water.
"Ok, first of all, Chase isn't mad at you-uh..well maybe a little mad.." Marshall began carefully. "But what you don't know might hurt you." And his expression implied as to whether or not to continue.
"Go on," Snowflake said cautiously. And even Ryder and Katie exchanged curiously concerned glances.
xxxx
Silence remained in the room, Marshall had just finished his story and agonized in waiting for a response.
The husky pup's eyes looked around with a mix of concern, disappointment, and disbelief.
"Why would Chase be so concerned that Rocky and I hadn't returned? Didn't you all hear Rocky when he said hiking on Big View Trail? And I told Ryder to tell the others we said hi. I- I didn't think he'd get THAT upset!" Snowflake said in shock.
"Neither did we." Marshall sighed, then he looked up when Ryder came forward. The boy slowly lowered himself to a careful kneel.
"Marshall?" He said, his eyes deeply concerned.
"Why didn't you or one of the pups come tell me?" He asked. "I would've done things very differently if I'd have known."
"I.. I thought that's what Ned was doing.." the Dalmatian admitted. "But.. I guess I shouldn't have assumed when you came down in such a different mood.. I should've asked if he told you.. and.." he turned to Snowflake again. "We tried to talk him down.. but he's gotten so far with it that knocking him down a couple pegs might've made the whole thing crash."
"What did Ned do then? Gosh, I'm so sorry for not keeping you all in the know," Snowflake said feeling guilty.
"It's ok, Snowflake." Ryder said, standing back up with a bit of aid from Katie. "It's not your fault.. Chase just needs.. a.. bit of a break.. that's all."
"And to make up with Chester.." Marshall added, though he was doubtful that would be happening any time soon, despite his wildest and more earnest hopes.
"What matters now is how we handle it from here." Ryder continued. "Starting with checking up on everyone."
"What did Ned do when I was gone?" Snowflake asked with concern.
"Other than try to talk to Chester and practically go meditation pup on Chase? Nothing too bad, if that's what you mean." Marshall answered, still completely serious.
"Oh gosh! Meditation pup? How?" Snowflake asked, almost dreading the answer.
"You'd.. probably have to ask him." Marshall answered, thinking of nothing better to respond with.
"Okay. Let's go check on the others," Snowflake said, starting to calm down.
Then turning for the elevator they all boarded and went up.
xxxx
Chase and Chester remained silent while the other pups watched, they all heard the elevator again and everyone slowly looked up.
And when Marshall, Ryder, Katie and Snowflake returned from it, everyone stared waiting to see who would break the silence first.
"This is soooo awkward!" Zuma whispered to Skye, and the Cockapoo nodded.
"I'm sorry for my outburst everyone. I didn't know about what happened," Snowflake said calmly before turning to Ned.
"What did you do to Chess and Chase?" she asked her brother.
"I talked with Chester to calm him down. It kinda worked, but I can tell he's waiting to see how things work out. For Chase, I wrapped him in a blue sheet and tried giving him massages to relax him," Ned replied.
"Anything else?" Snowflake added, her question feeling more like a demand.
"No, not that I can remember," Ned said.
Snowflake looked to Ryder, nodding towards her brother.
Ryder just shrugged, and Marshall nodded until Snowflake turned his way to see it.
"They're right." Chester spoke up, coming over to Snowflake with an earnest look to his soft expression. "You're little bro was doin' alright.. it's just us stubborn ones that gotta learn to get over it."
"Who're you calling stubborn." Chase snapped, finally looking his way with hard eyes.
"D-I am including myself in that.." Chester informed him sensitively. "That's why I said 'us'.. point is.." he continued turning back to Snowflake. "Ned's on the right track here.. and.. I think it's paying off. He really missed his calling.. he could have a really good career going for him with this."
Ned blinked a few times before going over to Chester.
"My calling? What do you mean?" Ned wondered curiously. He never really considered having a calling in life. He mostly lived for fun, enjoyable moments with friends.
"Yeah.. you know.. talk pups out of a hole.. stopping them from jumping off the deep end like we did just now?.. that kind of thing." Chester's manner of speaking by now had perked up, and he was beginning to deadpan just a little; but taking a great seriousness to it kept it on the more earnest side of things. "Like some kind of shrink-pup or something."
"*sigh* it's not 'shrink stuff' if you're just talking about your feelings." Chase monotoned after a sigh, as if trying to argue but having no energy left to do so.
"I thought that was the point of a shrink?" Chester said, his tone openly directed toward no one in particular.
Chase turned to face him, but Marshall sensed this and couldn't stop himself.
"Oh for the love of pupperoni, knock it off!" The Dalmatian finally exclaimed. "Honestly.. I don't know what's happening here but it's gotta stop!" Chase and Chester both remained fixed on Marshall sensing that his rant was directed toward them.
"You guys are brothers for crying out loud!" The Dalmatian continued, looking at one Shepherd on one side, then over to the one on the other side. "And you've always acted like it,.. but this is just out of control! Especially you, Chase!"
"Me?!" Chase echoed, his own frustration beginning to bubble up again.
"Yes! I don't know if you're tired or not feeling the best.. but attacking Chess like that was so not fair."
"But- I-.."
"And you knew he wasn't very happy earlier, yet you pushed him anyway.." Marshall continued, turning harshly to Chester.
"Ok, I deserved that." Chester sighed. "But I wanted.."
"What I'm saying.." Marshall interrupted again, then he stepped over to pull Chester forward then hopped a few strides over to Chase to ease him into facing Chess.. leaving a few feet between them. "Is that you guys gotta drop this whole 'at odds' nonsense, and go back to being the good brothers you are."
Chester and Chase were still distraught by the ambush of Marshall's rambling, but after he'd finished they finally met each other's gaze with little to no hesitation.
Chester sighed with an earnest look, Chase by now had let his anger melt away and stared at him with a soft, thoughtful look.
And as they held each other's gaze, he could tell Chase's gears were turning, sifting through the information given to him and formulating a response that would likely make or break this moment.
But when a small frown furrowed his brother's brow, he could hear the back of his mind scream.
Break! Totally gonna break it!!
Furthermore he wasn't prepared for Chase to come lunging at him again, and was subsequently blindsided when he landed on his back with Chase standing on top of him.
He winced bracing for another attack, but he was amazed when Chase dropped against his chest to bury himself in it.
Is he?.. crying?! Chester's mind gasped as soon as he heard and felt the jerks of muffled sobs, which were clearly being restrained despite the unexpected need for it.
Snowflake and Ned watched, surprised by Chase crying into his brother's chest.
'Poor Chase. I wonder if the stress was too much for him to handle?' Snowflake wondered.
"Um.. ok." Marshall said. "That did something."
"But now what do we do?" Zuma wondered.
"Uhh am I missing something here?" Rocky wondered, still completely confused.
"I think this is his way of apologizing?" Chester guessed, easing his head around toward them. Then suddenly Chase's paw dropped, and he felt the pup's body go slightly limp against himself; and looking up he found out why.
Chase now lay on top of Chester with his head laid on its side, his paw supported his head and he slept with his mouth slightly open.
"Aww, the poor guy.." Ryder said. "Probably wore himself out after such a long day."
"Plus all the emotions he went through," Snowflake added.
Ned smiled sweetly as he saw Chase asleep. He got the blue sheet, went over, and draped it over the German Shepherd's body.
"Ha, 'seems my relaxation method worked. Probably premature compared to his stress, but I'm glad I could help him. You're welcome, little buddy," Ned said softly.
"Your method did nothing! It was his emotions!" Snowflake whispered, smacking herself in the forehead with her paw.
"Ok but.. what now?" Chester asked.
"What'do you mean?" Rocky wondered.
"Uh.. a little help?" Chester implied, lifting all his paws without stirring Chase.
"Oh, heh heh, guess you don't wanna be Chase's personal mattress." The mixed breed snickered.
"Actually, I don't mind that.." Chester answered loosely. "It's the fact that I just don't wanna go to bed just yet.. even if he is."
"Let's put him on one of the bean bags, then we can all hang out upstairs," Snowflake suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea." Katie smiled, then began to approach Chester. She took the sheet and wrapped it under a Chase and she slid her hands in between the two pups and lifted him off Chester. Snoozing Chase barely responded at all, instead he lay against Katie in the most awkward way; letting his head hang while his paws perfectly fit around the arms that held him. The girl finally laid him to rest on a pillow, and a hand on his back settled the pup down immediately.
"Well, now that that's taken care of,.." Katie said, finally standing to face them with fisted hands on her hips. "I think I'm gonna head home. You sit down and take a break, Ryder, rest that arm of yours.. and those ribs."
"Don't worry, Katie." Marshall smiled. "I'm all fired up!"
"Woah!" Rocky gasped, seeing how Chase never moved. "Not even a flinch!" He said, point him out.
"Well, he did just crash after a really stressful evening." Chester reasoned as the group came back together.
"But hopefully now he'll feel better once he gets some good, hard rest." Rubble hoped.
"Hopefully," Snowflake said calmly.
"So now that we're all back, who wants a massage?" Ned asked curiously, a smirk forming across his face.
"You know.." Chester sighed, stretching as he rolled over onto his stomach to stand up. "I could use a relaxing spa treatment." Cracking his neck after rolling his body upright, he strode forward and found a place among the pillows where he could drag one of them away and set it up a fair distance from Chase and plopped down on top of it.
"Who's all in?" he asked, and was surprised when every other pup dragged a pillow over to surround him.
"Oh.. well ok then." He said, blinking between the pause in his statement.
"Ummm. How are we going to do a spa treatment? I can't massage every pup at once," Ned said, both confused and satisfied at the same time.
"'Don't have to." Rocky said, he disappeared for a moment, then came back in with a rake mounted with smaller ones.
"Ryder can help give us a good scratch while you work your magic on one pup at a time." The recycling pup continued, smiling. "Meanwhile we can work on other fun and relaxing things."
"Like what?" Zuma wondered, making Rocky think some more.
"Hm,.. oh I know!" He took off to another part of the Lookout and came back with some brushes with the strap for a handle.
"We could brush each other's fur!" He said. "Like this!" He took up a brush with his mouth then slid a paw into the handle. And wearing it like a boot, he took it to Zuma's exposed back and watched the pup shudder with contentment.
"Ooo-oo-oo.." Zuma mused. "Totally rockin', Rocky Dude!" He smiled, turning back towards his friend.
"So, which pup should I massage first?" Ned asked, waiting for an answer.
"No thanks," Snowflake quickly said.
"Me! I call dibs!" Chester gushed, dropping down against his pillow again while the other pups willingly reconfigured their pillows around Ryder, who had just sat down on a beanbag just a couple feet from them.
Snowflake laid down on a pillow, while Ned walked over to Chester. The husky pup put his paws on Chess's back and shoulders and started to rub his friend in a soothing way. He even rolled his paws in circles to make the rubbing more relaxing.
"Oo.. ah.. er.. hah.. ok.. I'll say it.." Chester mused. "You really missed your calling.. not too late to get your spa certification.. hahhh.."
"Thanks. Now relax your muscles. Empty your mind, and think of a peaceful day outside. Everyone is having a fun time playing or relaxing in the shade. The birds are chirping, no cloud in the sky, and everything is fine. Relax, and be at peace," Ned said softly as he kept relaxing the pup.
"Why can't you be that kind all the time instead of playfully scaring me?" Snowflake questioned sincerely.
"If I did that, we wouldn't have as much fun!" Ned replied, before continuing the massage.
"Awh, that's just what brothers do, don't you know.." Chester mentioned, his relaxing tone getting the better of him, even with the wave of his paw. "I mean look at Chase and me?.."
Snowflake looked at Chase as he snoozed, then back at Chester.
"Yeahhhh. Not the same thing," the husky pup retorted casually.
"Ok, bad example,.." Chester shrugged awkwardly. "But you get my point, don't you?"
"Yes," Snowflake replied.
"Are you relaxed?" Ned asked as he kept massaging Chester. The pup moved his paws from Chester's shoulders to his back, then back up to the shoulders again.
"Awh,.. yes.. I'll admit it." Chester sighed. "Chase would never go for this."
"Well he should." Marshall decided. "He's been so strung out today it's not even funny. I don't know what we're gonna do with him."
"Rubber room!" Chester exclaimed. "Just saying." Making Ryder recall his earlier statement to Katie earlier that day.
"I wish.." Marshall sighed. "But that pup is more stubborn than any pup I've ever met.. if we could lock him in a rubber room to recover he'd probably still find ways to get into trouble!"
"Don't sell him so short, pups." Ryder interjected. "Chase just tends to get a lot more stimulated than the rest of you, and much faster too."
"Wouldn't surprise me." Chester shook his head thoughtfully. "He was always that way back home. Come to think of it, there was this old commercial on tv that every time it would play, he would get so amped up that he'd literally be running around the room. And it was a pillow commercial!"
"What? A pillow commercial? Why?" Snowflake retorted in shock. Ned smirked.
"Pillows! They're soft, comfy, and fun! Do you like pillows? Then buy the new pillow hugger for fifteen dollars! The pillow hugger can change shape based on your head shape, sleeping position, and more! It also comes in three levels of softness; firm, comfy, and super comfy. But wait! Buy one now, and we'll send a second pillow for free! Or you can buy our package deal with four pillows! Just pay shipping and handling, only five dollars! To buy pillow hugger, just call the number below; 1-527-Pillow-Hugger or go to the pillow hugger website. Must be eighteen years or older to order. Buy pillow hugger today!" Ned said as he imitated a goofy sales voice. He then went back to massaging Chester when he was done.
"How many talents do you HAVE?!" Chester asked in surprise, sitting up to stare at him.
"What do you mean?" Ned asked curiously.
"You sound just like those fellas on tv that try to sell you stuff." Chester answered.
"Well, I would see commercials from time to time. That was one of the more common ones!" Ned replied. He turned Chester back on his stomach so the husky pup could keep massaging his back.
"Ahhh.. nice.." Chester sighed. "Ok, who's next." He then hopped up and slid aside in a dramatic fashion, waiting to see who would approach first.
Hiyo! What's up, everybody! Sorry I didn't post yesterday.. got into another project that kinda sucked me in! ;D XD
Anyway, this chapter was pretty fun and full of hilarious moments! Courtesy of my partner, Bluewolfbat.
And just so you guys know the pillow commercial is a made up thing, it's not a real commercial! ;D
That being said I hope you enjoyed and as always I look forward to hearing from you! Thx!!!