Zuma awoke from an uneasy sleep with a groan as he slowly rolled over and guided his eyes toward the clock on his wall.
"11 am... *sigh* Guess thewe isn't a point in getting mowe sleep now." Zuma said to himself as he sluggishly got out of bed grabbing his pup tag. He walked out of his door letting out a big yawn as he rubbed his eyes, he was trying to wake himself up with the sunlight shining down on his fur. He took a deep breath feeling the sea breeze like he did every morning, it was usually very calming for the water pup but today he only felt his mind thinking about yesterday's events.
"I should check on Rocky" Zuma thought to himself, his eyes drawn to the green pup house as he approached, his paws lifting up and down off the warm asphalt below him. As he stopped in front of the pup house he found himself staring at the door as if he was hesitating. Zuma reached up with his paw placing three soft knocks on the door.
"Wocky?" Zuma asked through the door.
"U-uh, Yeah?" Rocky's muffled voice could be heard through the door.
"W-What's up?" Zuma asked as he usually would.
"N-Nothing much." Rocky responded.
"You wanna go fow a walk?" Zuma asked with a hint of hopefulness in his voice.
"Uh- I- Sorry, I'm trying to figure something out." Rocky stuttered out.
"Oh... okay. If you need me I'll be out then." Zuma said with disappointment in his voice.
"O-okay." Rocky said before Zuma walked away.
"FUCK! WHAT IS THIS!? WHY DO YOU MAKE ME ACT THIS WAY!?" Rocky yelled in his mind in pure desperation, as he buried his face back in the piles of crumpled-up paper on his desk. He felt a stinging in his nose as pressure built up behind his eyes.
"Fine *sniffle* I guess this is normal now. *sniffle*" Rocky said quietly to himself in a shaky voice as a few tears pooled under his face. Rocky couldn't do anything, his head laying on the table with tears running down his face as he stared blankly at the wall next to him.
Zuma was slowly driving around the quiet streets of adventure bay lost in his own thoughts, eventually finding himself parked and beginning to walk.
"It's fine Zuma, he just needs a little time. This is all new to him." Zuma thought to himself as he was walking down the sidewalk.
"He can deal with this. You just need to let him figure it out, deal with his feelings in his own time." Zuma continued in his head before he almost walked in to a sign outside a store. He looked up and saw the name on the shop front 'Harmony House Instruments' , and in the window he saw a small sign that he remembered seeing a few days earlier 'Instruments for dogs and pups.'.
"I guess I can take a look." Zuma sighed having nothing better to do. He pushed the door open and took a deep breath.
"Hello Mistew Hale." Zuma said with a smile to the man behind the counter as he walked in.
"Oh hello, Zuma was it?" Mr Hale greeted.
"Yep, I saw you got some instwuments fow pups now."
"Yeah, they are over on that wall over there." Mr Hale said as he pointed to some wall mounted shelves to his left.
"Thank you." Zuma said as he walked over to the shelves looking at all the slightly oddly shaped instruments, they were all designed around the body of a dog so most don't look like their human counterparts. Zuma walked up to and grabbed a small violin, his attempt to play only resulted in horrible squeals. He instead grabbed a pair of small bongos and drummed on them, he very quickly lost interest in their simplicity.
As Zuma was putting the bongos back he spotted something else, a small redwood box with silver metal strips, it had a hole in the center just like a guitar. Intrigued by this instrument he had never seen before he picked it up, a little confused on how this thing worked he put his 'thumb' on one of the silver strips and pressed down before letting the strip slip. The silver strip vibrated, the melodic hum resonating through Zuma's body as his mind instantly snapped back to the ocean as the hum quietly faded like a calm wave against the beach. Zuma stared down at the instrument before looking up to where he took if from where he read 'Redwood Silver Kalimba'.
Minutes later Zuma walked out the door with a smile on his face and bag between his teeth, he excitedly walked back to his hovercraft and hopped in quickly pressing a button causing the engine to turn over before he drove back to the lookout.
Zuma parked his hovercraft and jumped out with a spring in his step, he transformed the vehicle and walked inside with the bag. He sat down on his bed and opened the bag pulling out the redwood kalimba. He began plucking away at the silver tabs, he experimented with the sounds and even attempted to play some songs on it. He didn't do very well but neither did he get frustrated by it like he did with the guitar.
Rocky woke up with his head still on the desk staring in to the blank wall surrounded by crumpled up paper. He sat up straight in his chair with a sigh, rubbing his red eyes. He felt his stomach growl and it's emptiness gnawing. He looked up at the clock on his wall.
"10 pm. Well there goes that day." Rocky said with a sigh before he buried his face back into the mess on his table.
Hours later
Zuma peacefully awoke in his bed feeling refreshed by a good nights sleep. He stood up and stretched out his body with a peaceful sigh, he grabbed his pup tag and his kalimba placing the leather strap around his neck. He opened his door and was hit in the face with the warm beams of the early morning sun, as the leaves of the trees rustled in the nearby forest. After a second of appreciating the morning sensations he began walking towards the lookout door. Again his eyes landed on the green pup house.
"Being sad won't help anyone, be happy and ready if he needs to talk." Zuma thought to himself avoiding the ugly feelings from yesterday. He quickly walked past and in to the lookout, once inside he grabbed food from the dispenser and sat down in a beanbag. He started plucking at the silver tabs of his kalimba attempting to reproduce a simple melody.
Meanwhile
The train came to a screeching halt by the station, shortly thereafter the group came out from one of the carriages.
"Finally off that train." Marshall said as he took a deep breath inhaling the fresh bay air.
"Yep, now we just need to walk home." Chase said happily walking past the Dalmatian.
"*sigh* Right..." Marshall said exhausted from the train ride.
"It's okay Marshy, if we talk it will go faster." Everest said walking up next to Marshall who only responded with a sweet smile.
"Once we get home we need to start planning for the anniversary party, and there is a lot to do." Ryder said catching up to the rest.
"It's gonna be so much fun!" Everest said excitedly as the group continued walking towards the lookout.
After a minutes of walking the group finally arrived back at the lookout driveway much to Marshall's delight. He sprinted the last distance eager to grab food and throw himself down on a beanbag. Upon entering the lookout he slipped and tumbled landing on his back a fair distance in to the room.
"Hello Mawshall." Zuma giggled standing up from his beanbag chair.
"Hi Zuma." Marshall said as Zuma helped him to his paws.
"What's that?" Marshall asked looking at the instrument hanging around Zuma's neck by the leather strap tilting his head.
"It's a weally cool instwument I found yestewday." Zuma said plucking at the metal tabs.
"Huh, never seen anything like that before." Marshall said as the rest of the group made it through the door.
"We're back!" Ryder announced as he stepped through the door.
"Wyder!" Zuma said running up to the boy.
"Hi Zuma, how've you been?" Ryder said scratching the lab's head.
"Good, look at this." Zuma said showing off his kalimba.
"Oh, a kalimba." Ryder said as he took a closer look.
"This one looks really nice." He commented as he stood back up.
"Alright pups, we need to start planning for the anniversary. Does anyone have any ideas?"
"We can have a fire pit, a very safe one of course." Marshall suggested.
"On the beach next to the watew!" Zuma said excitedly.
"That sounds like a plan, if anyone has any other ideas I'll be in my room getting the logistics set up." Ryder said before disappearing in to his room.
Marshall quickly went to grab food and sat down in a beanbag turning on the TV. Chase scanned the room, noticing someone was missing.
"Where's Rocky?" Chase asked.
"I think he's in his pup house, why?" Zuma responded keeping his spirits high for Rocky.
"Nothing really, just I don't think I've ever seen you two apart before." Chase said as the two best friends were always together at every chance.
"Oh, well he said he's twying to figuwe something out, and you know how he can get when he's invested in something." Zuma partially lied to avoid telling them about what happened.
"Do I ever." Chase chuckled as he brushed the thought away and went to grab food.
"You'll tell them in your own time." Zuma thought to himself as he returned to his beanbag joining Marshall watching TV.
As the day went on Chase wondered where the rest were as he had thought they would all be coming home at the same time.
"I should probably just ask Ryder." Chase thought to himself as he stood up and headed for the door.
"Hey Ryder?" Chase said as he walked in to the boy's room, finding him by his computer.
"What's up Chase?" He asked turning around on his chair.
"I was just wondering when the rest were coming home?" Chase asked.
"Well, Rubble will be home tomorrow. But Skye asked to extend her stay, so I'm not sure when she'll be back."
"Oh... D-Do you know why she did that?" Chase asked hoping for a reason.
"No, I didn't ask." Ryder said as he turned back around and started typing on his computer again.
"Oh okay, I-I'll leave you to it then." Chase said walking out of the room.
"Alright Chase." Ryder said focusing intently on something on his screen.
"Good job Chase, now you've fucked that up too. Even though Marshall forgave you, that doesn't mean she'll look at you any differently. All she sees is just an emotionally unstable shepherd." Chase thought to himself before he looked up and saw Marshall and Everest cuddling in a beanbag chair.
"*sigh* At least you found yours." Chase said quietly letting a small smile escape his lips as he walked towards the lookout door, and back to his pup house.
Walking inside his pup house he reached in under his bed and pulled out the box and grabbed his weights and began lifting again as he got his mind off everything that was bothering him.
As the evening turned to night and the night to day, Chase found himself waking up on the floor of his pup house with the weights in front of him. Picking himself up off the floor he felt a numb pain in his forelegs as he struggled to stand straight at first. This was only made worse by the fact his hind leg was not entirely healed yet as well.
As Chase opened his door he was blinded by the bright sun already high up in the sky.
"How long did I sleep?" Chase said quietly to himself in a hoarse voice. He looked behind him and at the small clock on his nightstand. It read 2:13 PM.
"Fuuuuuck." Chase groaned softly to himself before he walked out of his pup house and towards the lookout door.
Upon entering he quickly surveyed the room as he usually would. He saw Marshall in front of the TV in a beanbag. Rubble had also gotten back and was eating lunch. But other than that the room was empty. Chase walked over and grabbed some food before he sat down next to Marshall in another beanbag chair.
"Finally awake, sleep well?" Marshall said noticing Chase.
"Heh, no. I fell asleep on the floor." Chase said with a little laugh.
"What? Why?" Marshall asked laughing at the absurdity of what Chase just said.
"Yeah, wasn't the most comfortable place I've ever slept." Chase said.
"I can imagine." Marshall said before the lookout door slid open getting the attention of both pups. In walked a familiar lavender colored husky but next to her was a new face, a light brown colored husky.
"Guys this is my cousin, Tundra." Everest said to the pups in the common room. Chase and Marshall walked up to them as they entered the lookout, but Rubble was to busy eating to even hear Everest's announcement.
"Hello, I'm Chase." He said reaching out his paw for a shake.
"Tundra." She said with a big smile shaking his paw. Marshall walked up and kissed Everest.
"Hi beautiful." He said with a warm smile looking at Everest.
"You must be Marshall then." Tundra said looking at the Dalmatian.
"Yes sorry, hi." He said reaching out his paw.
"No you're family, you get a hug." She said giving Marshall a friendly hug.
"I love hugs, come here Everest" He said pulling her in to the hug as well. After a second they all let go.
"Tundra is going to stay here for the anniversary party." Everest said.
"Yeah I was in the area and thought why not visit my cousin."
"Anyways we don't wanna interrupt, you guys go back to doing whatever you were doing. Me and Tundra are going to catch up a little." Everest said excusing herself and Tundra as they walked and sat down across the room from the boys.
"So how's Marshall then?" Tundra commented referring to Marshall.
"He's the best, always so funny and caring." Everest said in a dreamy voice.
"He better be." Tundra said cracking her neck.
"Calm down Tundra." Everest giggled. "Really, he's amazing."
"Alright, if you say so." Tundra said just before the lookout door slid open again revealing Zuma walking in with the kalimba around his neck. He grabbed some food before sitting down where he and Rocky would usually sit, oblivious to the new face in the room.
"Who's that?" Tundra said watching Zuma intently.
"Oh, that's Zuma." Everest answered.
"And what's his deal?" Tundra asked keeping her gaze on Zuma.
"Well I guess he's a pretty chill guy, very laid back and he loves water and anything related. And recently he hasn't been able to let go of that instrument of his he found a few days ago."
"Hmm, you can go to your Marshall now." Tundra said walking away from Everest.
"Uh okay, bye?" She said receiving no response from Tundra as she walked towards Zuma who was plucking at the metal tabs on his kalimba and eating some lunch. He was sitting in the corner of the room where he and Rocky would usually sit.
"Hello, I'm Tundra." She said slightly startling the focused lab.
"Uh, hi, Zuma." He said to the stranger in front of him.
"I'm Everest's cousin, I'll be staying with her for the anniversary party." She explained.
"Ohh, I thought you looked a little familiaw."
"So what's up with you?" She said sitting down in front of him.
"Nothing weally, I'm just twying to leawn the kalimba a little mowe." Zuma explained.
"What's with your voice?" Tundra asked curiously.
"Oh... I've got w-wrhotacism." Zuma said shyly, really attempting to get the pronunciation right.
"It's cute." Tundra said with a smile.
"T-Thanks?"
"I'm bored, you wanna go do something?" Tundra asked in an excited tone.
"U-Uh, suwe?" Zuma responded confused by the strange interaction.
"Let's go then." She said excitedly before quickly dragging Zuma with her out of the lookout.
"They got along fast." Marshall commented as Zuma was quickly drug out of the door disappearing out of view.
"No kidding." Everest commented.
"Well... I guess we should continue with watching TV." Chase said as he turned back around in his beanbag.
"Yeah..." Marshall said as he faced the TV again.
Hours later
"That was so fun! Let's go again." Tundra said excitedly as she jumped of the surfboard in to the knee high water.
"I would, but I'm getting hungwy." Zuma said as he stepped off the board.
"Are there any nice places to eat nearby?" Tundra asked.
"I mean, Mistew Portew's place is pretty good." Zuma said as he picked up his board and walked out of the water.
"Well let's go there then!" She said as she began walking toward the hovercraft.
"Well uh... I haven't actually got any money left." Zuma said awkwardly.
"It's fine I'll pay." She said as she hopped in to the back of the hovercraft.
"What? Weally?"
"Yeah, 'course. Now come on let's go." She said with a friendly smile.
"Sweet!" Zuma said throwing his board in to the hovercraft before hopping in the driver seat and starting it. He drove the short distance to the café before parking around the corner.
"This place looks nice." She said as they stepped out of the hovercraft.
"Yeah, gweat food too." Zuma said as they were walking towards the entrance. As they were entering the café they saw a chalkboard sign.
"Yumi's fresh pressed apple juice, that sounds delicious." Tundra said reading from the sign.
"Yeah, it weally does." Zuma said as they entered the building and sat down at a table.
"Can I take your drink orders?" Mr. Porter asked as he walked up to the table.
"Yeah, I'll have the fresh apple juice." Tundra answered.
"And I'll just have a watew." Zuma said.
"No, he's also having the apple juice." Tundra said receiving a grateful smile from Zuma.
"Alright two apple juice's, anything else?" Porter asked.
"Yeah, can we just order the food as well?" Tundra asked.
"Of course."
"Okay, then I'll have the house soup." Tundra said looking at the menu on the wall behind the counter to her left.
"I'll have the same."
"Okay I'll be right out." Porter said before disappearing in to the kitchen.
"So... working with the PAW Patrol must be hard work." Tundra asked turning her attention to the Chocolate Labrador.
"Yeah it can be. But I don't get as many deployments as the west, so it's pwetty chill."
"That's a shame."
"Yeah I guess... but sometimes it can be nice to have a little mowe fwee time." Zuma reasoned.
"So what about you? What do you do in life." Zuma asked curiously.
"Me and my parents travel around a lot, we're currently staying in a cabin a few hours north from here."
"Whewe awe youw pawents now?" Zuma asked as he hadn't seen them.
"They are still in the cabin. I'm allowed to do my own thing so I just took the train down here to meet Everest as I heard about the anniversary party." Tundra explained as she was calming down from her usual energetic mood.
"Huh." Zuma acknowledged as he was listening intently.
"Yeah, I wanna travel alone, but since I'm not 18 yet I have to stick with my parents, or close enough at least." Tundra said as she looked off the side with a dreamy look in her eyes thinking about everywhere she would go. Mr. Porter came up to the table carrying their food and drinks.
"Here are your two orders of soup and apple juice." He said as he placed it down in front of the pups.
"Thanks." Zuma smiled.
"Have a nice meal." He said as he walked off.
"This smells amazing." Tundra said looking down at the huge bowl of soup in front of her.
"I don't cawe what it tastes like at this point, I'm stawving." Zuma said before he quickly started eating causing Tundra to giggle.
"Bet I can finish before you." Tundra challenged.
"Game on!" Zuma accepted before he started viciously downing the soup.
After some time they both finished their food with a struggle.
"Told you I was faster." Tundra celebrated weakly trying to keep the food down.
"Just bawely." Zuma retorted.
"I'm not gonna have to eat anything for a week." Tundra groaned sitting back up straight in her chair.
"Yeah." Zuma agreed as he looked out the window and noticed the sky taking on a hint of orange.
"We should pwobably head back, it's getting late." Zuma said looking out the window causing her to look as well.
"Oh man, already getting dark. I guess you're right." Tundra said disappointingly before going up to the counter and paying for the food.
"Alright we're all good. Let's go Zuma." She said motioning for Zuma to come along. They both walked outside and climbed into the hovercraft before Zuma took off down the road toward the lookout
Zuma was enjoying the fresh bay air blowing past him as they drove over the bridge, the evening air comfortably cooling his fur as they made it across the bridge and up the driveway. Upon parking the humming engine died down to reveal the calm ambient sounds of the evening, as a calm silence swept over the occupants of the hovercraft.
"Today was fun." Tundra broke the silence.
"Yeah..." Zuma said as he was staring up at the clouds peacefully moving across the orange sky.
"There is no weason we cant do it tomowwow." Zuma said as he grabbed his board and jumped out of his hovercraft.
"That'd be fun." Tundra smiled getting out of the seat.
"Well I best rinse and put this away." Zuma said referring to his board before he transformed his pup house.
"Uh yeah, and I've gotta check with Everest on bed arrangements." Tundra said.
"Sounds like a good idea." Zuma said as he walked inside his pup house leaving Tundra standing outside.
"Yeah..."
Zuma closed the door and grabbed a small towel and rubbed down his board to remove any seawater that could damage the board. He placed the board upright again the wall next to his bed.
"Ughhhh." He groaned as he finally laid down in his bed hugging his blanket as all the exhaustion from the long day settled in his body, his fur rough from the seawater drying making the bed slightly uncomfortable but he just couldn't be bothered to wash off right now. His eyes falling heavy as any thoughts turned fuzzy, and before he knew it everything went dark.
Later the next day
Chase was out walking around Adventure Bay as he always enjoyed doing but today he was pleasantly surprised as his best friend and Everest decided to come along. The afternoon sun was shining down upon them warming their fur as they walked along a street adjacent to the beach.
"This is really nice. Why don't you join Chase more often?" Everest asked.
"I don't know, I guess I was just never the biggest fan of walking, but I am however the biggest fan of doing anything as long as its with you." Marshall said with a confident smile.
"Yeah well you should walk a little more, I'm going to be doing that a lot more now that my leg is basically fine, it's good exercise." Chase said to Marshall.
"Hey, I exercise." Marshall defended.
"Yeah, but you should still walk more."
"I mean I guess, but it's just so boring to just... you know, walk." Marshall said.
"No it's not, you just have to look around and-" Chase was interrupted.
"Hey guys, look there!" Everest said in a hushed voice as she stopped them both.
"What, where?" Chase responded in a hushed voice as he quickly snapped his head around looking ready as he always was during missions.
"There, in the window." She said pointing towards a window on Porters Café drawing both their eyes to it. There they saw Zuma and Tundra sitting opposite each other eating food inside the building.
"Oh, it's just them. Why'd y-" Chase's mouth was quickly covered.
"Keep your voice down Chase." Everest hushed.
"Alright, alright, I'm quiet. But seriously, what's the big deal, it's just Zuma and Tundra." Chase whispered through Everest's paw.
"Chase, just look at them." She said removing her paw from his face.
"Yeah Chase, they are clearly on a date." Marshall added.
"What? No, they are just eating."
"And you're supposed to be the detective." Everest retorted.
"Yes, and there is simply not enough evidence to support what you are suggesting."
"Chase..." She deadpanned at him. "... just look at them." She said. Chase looked through the window seeing Zuma and Tundra giggling about something.
"Okay, I see what you mean, but we can't just assume that they are dating because of that." Chase said.
"When was the last time you saw Zuma giggle during a normal meal?" Marshall asked trying to prove a point.
"Like every other day, he and Rocky are always laughing about something." Chase said.
"Laughing and giggling are different. Besides those guys have known each other for years."
"Alright fine, if we assume they are dating, then right thing to do would be to give them some privacy and just continue our walk." Chase said as he was completely disinterested in continuing this conversation that was clearly never going to be grounded in any sort of facts.
"Yeah you're right, we never saw this." Everest said looking at Marshall specifically.
"Yep, uh-hu." Marshall said nodding his head.
"Alright then now that that is sorted, anything new going on with either of you guys?" Chase asked steering the conversation away from Zuma and Tundra as they continued walking.
"No, not really I don't think" Everest answered.
"Well actually, I did hear that Ryder was planning on making some small upgrades to our gear soon." Marshall chimed in.
"Oh yeah, I heard that too, he said he was going to start on that after the anniversary party." Chase said.
"Exciting! What's he gonna add?" Everest asked excitedly.
"Nothing too exciting, I heard our vehicles are gonna have their navigation systems upgraded." Marshall said.
"And I'm gonna get a long-range antenna for my drone." Chase added.
"Oh, that wasn't as fun as I thought." Everest said with considerably less excitement.
"Yeah it's not the flashiest but it's really gonna help us during missions." Chase said.
"Yeah I guess... but I still want a snowball cannon on my snowcat."
The group of friends continued their walk around Adventure Bay enjoying the sun and engaging in casual conversation before they eventually ended up back at the lookout to eat some food and rest.
Rocky woke up from the sound of three pups chatting as they passed by his pup house. He sluggishly picked up his head and looked around finding himself on the floor in a corner of his room. He simply sighed and slowly stood up and walked over to the desk on the other side of his room, he grabbed a pencil and placed it on the blank paper as he had found himself doing every morning lately. As he held the pencil there his mind was unable to focus on anything, everything was a fuzz, as everything was lately. He simply put his forehead to the table as he put his paws out to the side where he bumped his guitar causing it to fall over and hit the ground with a sharp resonant sound as the strings vibrated back and forth.
"*extended sigh* Perfect..." Rocky said to himself as he hopped off the chair and picked up the guitar. Staring at the strings he felt like he should bring it back to the chair... why? Nevertheless he listened to the first clear thought in his head in a while and hopped back on the swivel chair with the guitar.
Sitting in the chair he was staring at the guitar in his lap, he placed his paw around the neck of the guitar and the other one by the strings. Then as if his hands were moving on their own a simple melody started playing. A single tear fell from the broken pups eye and hit the guitar as he lost control of his entire body, not in control of anything his mind a mere bystander to the music.
You were there all along. Rocky slowly sang to the surprise of even himself.
Keeping me afloat in this world.
I didn't even realize how you made me feel.
I know you don't feel the same, but I just need you too know. He slowly sang to the horror of his powerless mind, as his body moved on its own.
Those eyes make me crazy, I can't even be around you anymore. He could remember the eyes as if they were staring straight at him.
Your voice so calming feeling like I can tell you anything, makes me want to confess.
I fear I might loose you if you knew how I felt for you.
Yet I need you to know, because now I'm all alone. Rocky finished, finally regaining control of himself. His forelegs went limp over the guitar as he took in what he himself had just sang
"What?" Rocky thought to himself, in disbelief of what left his mouth...
"I didn't know you played the guitar." A voice from behind made Rocky's heart skip a beat as he jumped from the unexpected voice and fell to the floor. Rocky looked up from the floor and saw to his horror, Marshall standing in the now wide-open door.
"Sorry." Marshall giggled as he walked up to and helped Rocky to his paws.
"Sooo... Who's the song for." Marshall asked. Rocky's face immediately turned red as he had prayed that Marshall hadn't heard him singing.
"W-wha- N-no one." The flustered Rocky quickly stuttered out.
"Sure sounded like it was for someone special. Have you been meeting with some girl, is that why I haven't seen you around much?"
"I- uh- w-" Rocky stuttered before being interrupted.
"Calm down bro, I'm not gonna pry. I just came in here to ask if you wanted to grab some food with Everest, and I?" Marshall asked. The words leaving Marshall's mouth were the most calming words Rocky had ever heard. He managed to compose himself a little as he was assured that Marshall would not pry any further.
"B-bro? You know I prefer if you use my name, as there are 3 of us." Rocky initially stuttered but quickly composed himself further.
"We're family and I'll call you brother any time I want. Unless you would prefer 'Pebbles' " Marshall said the last word intentionally loud with a smirk.
"Don't say that so loud, I don't need the other pups hearing that." Rocky said in a hushed tone.
"So brother it is then?" Marshall asked.
"Fine."
"So anyways you wanna join us?" Marshall asked as he had not received and answer to his question.
"Yeah sure, you go ahead I'll be out in a minute." Rocky said as he picked up his guitar and placed it back upright against his desk.
"Okay, don't be too long." Marshall said as he left Rocky's pup house.
Finally being alone Rocky sat down, then it hit him, what he had just realized. His mind no longer fuzzy, it was clear as ever but there was one extra thought lingering in his brain. One of glimmering amber eyes and a perfect smile.
"I-I... love you..." Rocky said quietly to himself. There was no denying it. He closed his eyes and took a deep shaky breath. Just as his subconscious had told him, he needed to tell Zuma how he felt, yet he was scared.
"I guess just talking to him is a good first step. But first I need to get to Marshall like I promised." Rocky thought to himself, one of the first decisions he had made with a rational mind in a long time.
"I missed you brain." Rocky said with a relieved smile as he walked out of his pup house and towards the lookout.
He entered and looked over towards the common area where he saw Everest and Marshall eating their food. Next to them was Rocky's green bowl already filled with food. He had a little smile on his face as he walked over to them.
"There you are, thought you'd bailed." Marshall said upon seeing Rocky sit down in front of his food.
"Hi Rocky." Everest said.
"Hey guys." Rocky said as he took a bite of his food.
"So what have you been up to? Haven't seen you around much." Everest asked as she had barely seen Rocky since they got back.
"Oh uh. I've just been trying to figure something out. But I think I've got it now, just have to do some 'testing' if you will." Rocky's logical mind quickly explained being as vague as possible.
"Oh okay, what are you making?" Everest asked.
"Nothing special, just testing some new solutions to old problems." Rocky said.
"How about you, anything fun going on?" Rocky asked as to avoid follow-up questions.
"No not really. I mean the vacation was nice, a shame you didn't come as well." Everest said.
"Yeah it was really fun! And the food." Marshall exclaimed almost drooling from just the thought alone.
"Yeah, yeah, Marshall. Somehow you're more into food than Rubble when it's Kim's cooking." Rocky said with a slight chuckle.
"I can't lie, the food was amazing." Everest agreed with Marshall.
"Yeah, it is really good." Rocky agreed as well. Rocky heard the door to the lookout open and he turned his head around to see who was entering.
"Zuma!... and another husky?" Rocky thought to himself upon seeing Zuma and a pup he didn't recognize enter the lookout.
"Who's that?" Rocky asked tapping Marshall on the shoulder. Both Marshall and Everest looked behind them and towards Zuma and the husky who were walking toward the opposite side of the big room to where he and Rocky would always sit.
"Oh yeah you haven't met her. That's Tundra my cousin." Everest explained.
"And they are totally dating." Marshall quickly blurted out in a giddy voice. For Rocky time froze as his head quickly snapped back towards Zuma, the world around him shattering.
"What? No. Why now!?" Rocky thought to himself as the world around him went out of focus and the sounds were muffled. His eyes were frozen on the perfect pup sitting across the room, as he felt a pain forming in his stomach.
"Marshall! I told you to be quiet." Everest quickly scolded.
"What?! It's fine it's just Rocky, I'd trust him with anything." Marshall said defensively.
"Besides he and Zuma are like best friends. You wouldn't tell anyone, right?" Marshall asked Rocky but received no answer as Rocky didn't even hear him.
"Right, Rocky?" He tried again a little louder.
"Uh- mhm." Rocky snapped out of the stare and answered unsure what he said yes to.
"See, it's fine Everest." Marshall said.
"Alright fine, but don't you dare tell anyone else. We need to respect their privacy." Everest said.
"Yep." Marshall said nodding his head.
"H-how do you know they are dating?" Rocky suddenly asked
"We-" Marshall tried speaking but got his mouth covered by Everest's paw.
"No Marshall. Just talk to him yourself if you want to know more." Everest said to Rocky before staring daggers straight into Marshall's soul. Rocky needed to know.
"Yeah..." Rocky simply responded in a daze as his head was drawn back to his and Zuma's usual spot, his eyes locked on the perfect smile as he felt his heart racing. As he looked into those oblivious amber eyes Rocky felt like he was going to pass out. Rocky walked away from the table without saying anything.
"Where are you going?" Marshall asked as he saw Rocky quietly slip away.
"Forgot my cap." Rocky said without turning around to face Marshall as he walked out of the lookout.
Upon feeling the fresh air on his face he took a deep breath, his vision filled with shapes as he lost his balance falling into and supporting himself against the wall of the tower. His knees buckled as he fell to the ground still leaning against the tower.
"Fuck! Why me. Everything made so much sense before, but now... I... I just need you... but I can't." Rocky rambled as he lay there against the wall of the lookout tower. He put his head in his paws as he could feel his nose stinging and tears threatening to escape from his eyes.
"No! No! No! Not now, please... please don't." Rocky was begging his own body but the tears paid no regard.
Rocky quickly stumbled to his paws and sprinted back to his pup house so no one would see him in this pathetic state. He ran into his pup house and threw himself on his bed burying his face in his pillow as the tears kept flowing as he let out soft cries muffled by the pillow.
"Give me a fucking break! Please!" He screamed into his pillow as he was unable to stop these, now, unfortunately not so foreign feelings.
Marshall and Everest had just finished their food as they were chatting about something as they would usually do. However Marshall was curious why Rocky was taking so long.
"Hey, I'm gonna go see what's holding Rocky up." Marshall said as he stood up.
"Marshall, he'll be back any minute, I'm sure. Besides the show starts soon and you promised you'd watch it with me today." Everest reminded Marshall.
Marshall couldn't break a promise just like that, especially one to his perfect Everest.
"Oh, right. Of course, let's go then so we don't miss the start of it." Marshall said as he walked over to the TV with Everest.
Meanwhile
Ryder was in his room going over the planning for the anniversary party when he was interrupted by his pup pad ringing. On the screen was a pink emblem with a propeller and wings on. He picked up the call.
"Hello Skye." He greeted with a wave over the video call.
"Hi Ryder." She answered. Looking around what Ryder could see on the video call, the area looked very familiar.
"Are you at the train station?" Ryder asked.
"Yeah, I was going to call you before I got on but my tag was dead and I was late to the train. I managed to find an outlet here though." Skye explained.
"It's getting late Skye, do you have a way home?" Ryder asked.
"No... could you pick me up?" Skye asked slightly embarrassed for the inconvenience.
"I'm busy right now, I'll send Chase." He said and put the call on hold.
Skye got nervous about Chase picking her up as she never had the nerve to apologize for what happened before she left. Which she had been regretting the entire trip. She knew that Chase was mad at her.
"Chase." Ryder said over the call as he finally reached him.
"Ryder sir." He responded.
"I need you to go and pick up Skye from the train station, as I am busy with the planning." Ryder explained.
"Yes sir." Chase said as Ryder hung up.
Chase was nervous about picking Skye up as he never got to apologize for what happened before she left. Which he had been regretting the entire time she was gone. He knew that Skye was mad at him.
"Chase is on his way. I have to get back to work. See you soon." Ryder said resuming the call with Skye.
"Okay, bye." She said as she hung up the call.
She walked out of the train station and onto the sidewalk just outside as she waited for Chase to arrive.
After a few minutes, she spotted the blue police vehicle driving and shortly thereafter it pulled up right in front of her.
Chase kept his eyes forward avoiding eye contact as she got in the passenger seat in the back as he knew how mad she was.
Skye kept her eyes down not even risking looking at the back of his head as she knew how mad he was.
As a tense silence lingered in the vehicle, not a single word uttered.
"I'm sorry!" They both quickly blurted out at the same time.
"You're sorry?" They both said in unison both as confused as the other.
"What for?" They both said in unison once again.
"No, you first." Skye quickly said as to avoid even more confusion.
"I-I'm sorry for being an asshole towards Marshall, it wasn't cool." Chase said.
"I'm sorry for not apologizing to you about forgetting your birthday." Skye said.
"I don't care about that." Chase said as he parked the car and turned around to face Skye.
"And I understand why you reacted like that, it's not your fault." Skye said.
The car fell silent as they both just stared at each other. They both realized how stupid they were for worrying the other one was mad at them. As their eyes were locked, they both began maniacally laughing at the same time. Chase turned around in his seat still laughing as he drove the final distance to the lookout.
This wasn't the reaction either of them expected to be having this car ride but neither was complaining. This was way better than the awkward tension from before. Although still definitely very strange.
"*clears throat* Well uh I wasn't expecting this." Chase said as he calmed himself upon parking by the tower.
"No, but I gotta say it feels great. It's like finally dropping something heavy and letting your legs rest." Skye said as they both jumped out of the car.
"Have you had dinner yet?" Chase asked as it was getting late out.
"Nope, and I'm starving." Skye said as she began walking towards the lookout.
"Yeah me too." Chase lied, he had in fact already eaten dinner, and a quite big one at that.
"Well, let's go eat then." Skye said as Chase caught up to her.
"Good idea." Chase said with a friendly smile as they soon entered the lookout.
"I'll grab the food, one second." Chase said before running off not giving Skye a chance to respond.
"Uh, okay." She said quietly to herself as she didn't feel like yelling after him. She just walked over to a good place in the common area with a padded floor and sat down. She was half paying attention to the TV while we waited, but after just a minute Chase appeared around the counter carrying his bowl by the teeth, whilst precariously balancing the pink bowl on his head.
"Here you go." Chase said after putting down his own bowl as he bent down and let the pink one slowly slide off to the padded floor. It landed without spilling a thing as his pointy ears snapped back to their vertical position.
"Thanks." Skye said in her usual upbeat tone accompanied by a friendly smile before she took a bite of her food.
"I missed that smile so much, you don't even know." Chase thought to himself as he also ate some food.
Not much was said as they ate, Chase was just happy that she wasn't mad at him, and Skye that he wasn't mad at her. It was all just an unspoken misunderstanding that both were glad was in the past now.
After finishing the late dinner Chase decided to go back to his pup house early to attempt to reinstate his old routines now that he knew he could sleep soundly for the first time since they got back from Adventure City.
Skye having nothing better to do also found herself in her bed surprisingly early. She lay down blankly staring at the wall as she thought about her fun vacation at her parents'. She had a lot of fun but the nights were less so, as the nights went on she couldn't distract herself like she could during the day and her mind always wandered back to Chase. However now things were different, she knew Chase wasn't mad, calming her nerves that had been lingering the entire vacation. Finally she felt like she could get a full night's sleep, and as her mind whirred down just about to fall asleep she thought about that night with Chase before everything in Adventure City happened. Everything went dark.
Rocky was lying in his bed blankly staring into the wall up against his bed with puffy red eyes. However much he wanted to cry he just couldn't anymore, as if these emotional couple of days had completely drained his eyes and now he lay there incapable of doing the thing he hated the most.
He rolled his head to face the other direction, his face leaving the cold damp spot on the pillow. He looked around his room, everything was fuzzy but as his eyes landed on the guitar up against his desk, it seemed to be in focus as everything else around it was blurred. It was like his subconscious again forcing him to pick it up.
"Hello friend, I guess you are my guide in this blurry world." Rocky said in a sad low tone as he sat up and grabbed the guitar. This time something was different, his hands weren't forced out of his control into a simple melody, but he could feel what he needed to play.
(Important A/N: Below is a YouTube link of audio I have edited together, if your device allows it please listen to the video as you are reading. If not it's recommended that you read first and the go back to listen.)
The text will tell you when the audio file is over so there won't be any confusion. Inside the music symbols is song , anything outside are thoughts, feelings, or actions.)
y-o-u-t-u-b-e-.-c-o-m-/watch?v=t2S3p_85MfA (Remove dashes)
(Start of audio)
Rocky's paws were moving intentionally instead of being controlled like a puppet. He let his mind go like he would when he was trying to sleep, but this time words were coming out.
"Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same." Rocky began, he knew exactly where this was going now.
"When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down." Rocky felt tears forming in his eyes.
"'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name."
"It all just sounds like. *howling*"
"*hum* Too young, too dumb, to realize." He truly felt stupid.
"That I should have bought you flowers." Zuma loved the smell of nature.
"And held your hand."
"Should have gave you all my hours." Not crying in here, he thought.
"When I had the chance."
"Take you to every party-" Rocky's voice caught as he felt the tears falling and hitting his guitar.
"...Now my baby's dancing."
"But he's dancing with another..."
(Audio over)
"Even if I can't love you *sniffle* I still want my best friend." Rocky said through sobs. He desperately wanted his best friend's laugh and silly jokes back, his laugh and perfect smile.