Telling Carlos about Tracker was probably one of the hardest things I had to do.

He knew it was coming, the moment I showed alone. When I finally told him, to say he was devastated wouldn't do it justice.

If it weren't for him being so sick, I'm pretty sure he would've cried to the heavens for his dog. Carlos and Tracker were the bestest of friends; for years they've gone on so many adventures together, sometimes with me and the others.

Now he was gone and all I had to bring back for Carlos was Tracker's hat.

He scolded me at first for taking the dogs hat away, before he calmed and placed it on the dog's bed, where I guess it will rest forever.

I would've stayed with him, but he wanted to be left alone. Even though I heavily protested, he insisted that he would be fine and wanted to be left alone, so I made my way back home.

This whole thing with Tracker has made me think of the time before, when we were as close as a wolfpack, and the best rescue team the world could ask for.

Those days are far gone now, at least it feels like it. I would give my tail for the Paw Patrol to still be going today. But I guess every great thing had to come to an end at some point. I just wish that it hadn't ended so….sadly, with the team slowly falling apart like a condemned abandoned building.

It all started when Chase, our established team leader, was offered a job as sheriff for Sticksburg's bone district, and he took it. In doing so, he had to leave the Paw Patrol full-time. He did come back every now and then if we really needed him, however it eventually came to a point to where he was way too busy to even visit anymore. Marshall had to step up as his replacement and although he did try his best, the pressure was way too much for him in the end. Marshall as leader wasn't a trash fire per say, it just wasn't as efficient as Chase being leader.

Then one by one, we started losing more members.

First it was Rubble, who ended up reconnecting with his family and started a construction company at Builders Cove, and like Chase, gradually moved away the team to focus on that. Then, Ace Sorensen put on her own airshow with a mixture of dogs and humans and personally requested that the Mighty Wings, a duo consisting of our pilot, Skye and her brother Wings, to be one of the headlining acts of the show. It was a huge success and Ace wanted it to take it further by putting on shows around the world, and of course, she wanted The Mighty Wings to be a big part of every show, which meant that she not only had to give up her spot on the Paw Patrol, but also break away from Ryder. However, Ryder literally cared and loved her for so long that she couldn't imagine her future away from him and not being a rescue pup.

Despite that though, she really wanted to do it. Even though she was an essential member of the team and enjoyed her time in the Paw Patrol, she missed being a stunt dog and traveling with her brother. She was completely torn for weeks until she finally made up her mind and chose to join her brother and perform for her idol, Ace Sorensen.

To the shock of everyone including Skye, Ryder let her go with seemingly no resistance, wanting her to be happy and do what she wanted to do while also being very appreciative of Skye's contribution to the team. Once that was done, Skye was out.

Then…..Zuma….

To this day I think about what led to him leaving and it tears my heart to pieces, especially since I feel partially responsible.

He'd begun getting frustrated by how unutilized he became. Even to the point where he thought Ryder had forgotten he existed. I didn't think much of it at the time, and looking back on it now, I should've been more aware. Though don't think Ryder ever neglected Zuma, at least on purpose, but Zuma did and on that fateful day, he went to Ryder's office to give a piece of his mind. It bassically resulted in Zuma quitting right there in his office. On his way out, he came up to me and tired to get me to go with him.

At this point, we were in love, and promised that we'd be together forever. But….what he was asking…was a tall order for me.

Ryder rescued me. He got me out of a rut and took me in because he saw potential in me. Gave me a home, fed me every day, and loved me like his own child. On top of that, we ended up becoming very close when I started doing things that made him prouder of me. While I did want to go with Zuma, I couldn't bring myself to abandon Ryder and I said that to him and declined.

Unsurprisingly, Zuma didn't take it well at all. At a rate that I'm not sure, It turned into a hurtful argument where Zuma felt that I was betraying him for someone who barely knows he exists. But I stood my ground, told him that he was overreacting and taking what Ryder does for him too much for granted. He then let me have it. Claiming that I didn't care about him anymore and doubted my love for him. I called him a liar for saying that and told him that I was trying to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life.

He asked me one more time if I wanted to go with him and spend the rest of our lives with just us. Again, I said that I was staying put and that if he wanted to be with me, he needed to stay because I was not leaving for anything. I shouldn't have said it like that, but I meant it and because of that, I never saw him again.

By that point, the only ones left were me, Ryder, Marshall, and his sister Ember. A gutted version of our former selves.

Aside from that, Adventure Bay grew over the past years. Before long, it got so vibrant that it was finally able to receive real public services like an actual police station, fire department, and even a serviceable hospital, dwindling our frequency of rescues greatly. But we still carried on as long as we could until Ryder's father suddenly passed away and left his company to Ryder, driving him away to Adventure City. At that point, There was really no reason to keep the Paw Patrol going and it finally folded after twenty years.

Marshall stayed in Adventure Bay and worked for the fire department until the FRDA offered him a job at the Adventure City academy as an instructor, and Ember ended up becoming deputy for Chase in Sticksburg, leaving me to be the only one left of the team at the now abandoned lookout. Working on various projects and becoming a sort of a treasure hunter to fund them while helping out with the Adventure Bay museum.

I know it's sorta sad that I ended up all by myself and everything but it was my choice. Ryder offered me to go with him and use my talent for good like always, but I declined it, mostly because I don't particularly like big cities and Adventure Bay is my home. Plus, somebody had to stay behind to preserve our history and keep our memory alive.

I periodically think what would've happened if I did go with Zuma. How Ryder would feel and how my life would've ended up being. I can't say for sure if I would've been happier or sadden, but I do know one thing, I wish Zuma was still here. I still love him so much and I miss him more than ever.

Chapter 2: Time Stand Still

A luxurious looking car pulls up to the lookout's garage and parks, taking a minute for the driver to even get out of his car, as he was completely paralyzed by the sight that used to be in his eyes forever.

He slowly gets out and stands squarely in front of the garage door as the nostalgic site faced him. Panning around while imagining the memories of how lively the place used to be just five years ago. Although his true destination was the garage, he decided to take a slight detour. Making his way up the hill and in front of the lookout's doors. Eying the empty slots around the tower that used to always be filled by his dog's rescue vehicles of his design.

This was where it all started, where it all happened, and where it ended. Ryder's first inventions and exploitations were all founded here. Along with the closest thing he had to a real family. Sure they were all pups that grew up but it was still real.

The adventures were glorious, the good times were amazing, and they never seemed to have an end at the time. Only getting bigger and bigger as the Paw Patrol expanded extensively, which in hindsight, probably was the biggest factor to the team's demise. With a B team at Adventure City, a wolf team in Wintergreen, and Ryder's ambitions getting bigger and bigger, the resources dried up quickly, especially after the US government decided to royally screw them by establishing public services in Adventure Bay, drying up their missions and rescues until they were nonexistent for them.

Ryder should've at least seen the writing on the wall when Chase left the team full time and Skye and Rubble followed suit, but it wasn't until Zuma left that he finally acknowledged the Paw Patrol's days being numbered.

Zuma

The lab's name circled his mind. His biggest failure, more than the end of the Paw Patrol itself. A dog he unintentionally overlooked due to the craziness of everything. A dog he still loves dearly and wishes Zuma at least knows that even after all that's happened.

Ryder grew a sad smile at the sight, before walking into the lookout's lobby, which brightens his mood to see it untouched from the last time he was here. The bean bags the dogs used to sit on when watching TV still sitting where they always were. The Pup-Pup boogie dance pad in the middle that used to be played on almost every single day. He could still hear the music they would dance to, and the sight of his dogs playing and laughing to their hearts' content. Its many gadgets and electronics still in working order like it's last day of operation.

Rocky really does a great job preserving the lookout, even though he knows that the dog doesn't hang around it as much, spending much of his time in the garage.

Unfortunately, it's nothing but empty space now and although he long accepted the end of the Paw Patrol, it still stung his heart to see the lookout completely bare.

Feeling that his heart couldn't take anymore, he gets into the elevator. Before he could press a button though, another collage of memories play in his head in the form of the many wipeouts his firedog, Marshall had along with the laughs it would erupt in this very elevator. Ryder suddenly steps out of the elevator and went to take the stairs. He promised himself he wouldn't get emotional and being in the elevator made it so hard to resist.

On the way, his eyes catch a picture on the wall that stops him. A picture that was taken of the whole team a few years before they fell apart.

Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma, Everest, Tracker, Tuck, Ella, Rex, Al, Wild, Shade, Leo, Liberty, Coral, Roxy, Claria, Ember and even Robodog.

All of them were there in one of the last pictures taken of the entire team. What all happened after was such a blur to Ryder.

In the blink of an eye, it happened so fast. With Chase leaving, Ryder didn't see it as the beginning of the end at the time. Even when Skye and Rubble left shortly after Chase, he remained optimistic. Thinking that the team was stronger than ever. That changed when Zuma resigned from the team.

It's Ryder's biggest regret in his life. The way Zuma's tenure in the Paw Patrol ended, though to be more broader, The lab's entire tenure was a bigger regret.

The poor dog thought his life felt unappreciated and unimportant in his job. Always being the last to be called if he ever got called at all. His talents shoved aside for others, even if his skills would've played a huge role in a rescue. Unless it mainly involved water, Zuma was almost always on the sidelines, being more of a team cheerleader than a water rescue dog.

Ryder thinks back to that fateful day as he focuses on the dog in question in the picture. He had nothing to say to Zuma when he vented out his frustrations to his owner. Claiming that he wasn't fully recognized and even felt that he wasn't as loved as everyone else. No matter how much Ryder denied it, Zuma had his mind set and laid his pup tag on Ryder's desk and walked out.

The cold truth was that Zuma was right, for the most part. Ryder let himself get too reliant on the others that he did overlook Zuma. It of course wasn't by design, Ryder never put one dog over the other and he loved every one of his dogs very much equally. Sure, he felt closer to certain ones, but he tried his best to not show any favoritism. But unfortunately, Ryder wasn't paying attention, and because of that, The water rescue dog of Paw Patrol will forever go on his life thinking that his owner never appreciated him, and even feel that he wasn't loved.

Ryder would give anything in the world to make things right with Zuma. He has constantly tried to reach out to Zuma himself numerous times, and gotten nothing in return. The only way he's been keeping track of him is following his exploits as a pro surfer, at least knowing that he is somewhere in southern California.

Wherever he is…..whatever he's doing….Ryder wishes that Zuma at least knows that he still loves him as much if not more than he always had, and would always welcome him back with open arms. Nothing could ever erase Zuma away from his mind.

Feeling tears well up inside, Ryder looks away and opens the door to the stairs. Taking a moment to pull himself together after going down the flight of stairs to the garage. Spotting Rocky through the door's window which helps him a little. Right where he thought he'd be. At the workbench, working on whatever has his interest at this time.

Besides the annual Fourth of July gathering and the Christmas get together, Ryder really doesn't see his dogs as often as he wishes. Due Normality running him to exhaustion, Ryder's time with his dogs has dwindled more and more. Even with Marshall being in town, he barley gets to do anything with him. On top of everyone else being spread out from each other and living their own lives, his busy life keeps him from seeing his family. So whenever he does get a chance to see at least one of them, it always ignited his heart and made his day.

Rocky's ears perk when he heard the door open behind him. He turns around to see Ryder make his way in with a sharp smile on his face

"Ryder!" Rocky pops, launching over to him. Jumping up on his chest. Giving about a hundred licks. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming by!?"

Ryder had to put on foot back to keep himself from falling over form Rocky's tongue assault. "Wh-Whoa. Ea-Easy Rocky. This was sorta unplanned."

Rocky finally gets off and asks. "Unplanned? What do you mean by that?"

Ryder starts to answer, but Rocky interrupts. "Ooo. Oo. Oo. Wait! Wait! Before you say anything! I got something to show you!" Rocky shoots back over to the bench and saddles his dog pack. He then rolls a baseball right to Ryder's feet. "Okay Ryder. I need you to pitch me your best fastball."

Ryder was immediately skeptical as Rocky didn't even have his claws out to catch any ball. "Uhhh. Are you sure Rocky? I may be getting up there, but I still have a pretty quick fastball and you don't even have your claws out."

Rocky gives a confident smile. "Trust me Ryder. Just do it. And don't hold back either."

Ryder was still hesitant to act, not wanting to hit Rocky on the nose, but if Rocky was as confident as his smile, there should be nothing to worry about. Right?

He picks up the ball and gets set. "Okay Rocky….here it comes." He reels back and lays into his pitch. Praying that he doesn't hurt Rocky.

Clank!

Ryder cringed at the sound. Not wanting to see the damage he caused. Eventually opening his eyes, expecting to see Rocky laid out but instead saw the ball, caught squarely by Rocky. He twitches his head. "What?"

Rocky then grows his smile and wags his tail. "See? Told ya you could trust me."

"But….But…" Ryder stuttered trying to process what just happened. Rocky caught the ball quickly not with claws, but with hands! His arms from his pup pack weren't claws at all, but metallic looking hands closely resembling his own! To add on to it… "But…I didn't even hear you bark."

Rocky tosses the ball up and down with his hands. The fingers rolling the ball smoothly as a real hand, throwing Ryder more for a loop. "You didn't hear a bark because there wasn't one. They came out just when I needed them."

"How?" Ryder inquired.

"You're not going to believe it. They're telepathic now! All I did was think about it and presto! They caught the ball! Right on my cue no less!" Rocky boasts. "Took me a good while to get it with trial and error."

Ryder was truly amazed. Shaking his head in admiration for the dog. Even in this age of technology, no one has ever come close to telepathy devices. Yet this dog who has very little resources, has done stuff that others would dream of doing, including himself.

"Rocky. You truly are the smartest dog I know. No. Scratch that, the smartest living thing ever. You really should've taken that offer to come with me to work at Normality. You have no idea what your talents will do for others."

Rocky is warmed by this with a flattered smile. "Thanks Ryder, that really means a lot to me. But this is my home, and someone's gotta stay here to look after our history, you know?"

"Yeah….our history." Ryder notes. "What's left of it."

Rocky's smile fades. "I think I know why you're here. I'm you heard about Tracker right?"

A solemn look befalls Ryder. He of course heard the grueling news before he arrived about Tracker losing his life in the Jungle. Still reeling from it as it was the first one of the team to pass on. Something that Ryder has been dreading since the Paw Patrol folded. He knew it was an inevitability that his dogs would meet their end, but he never imagined it would start happening so soon.

"Yeah….Carlos told me earlier. The guy was in shambles when he did."

A moment of silence endured as Ryder and Rocky thought about the fallen Paw Patrol member. The first one to go after the team folded.

"I guess it starts now." Ryder eerily states, his voice dropping lower to despair. "I'm going to start losing all of you."

Rocky perks to him. "Ryder, don't say that. I still got a lot of years left in me. It's not like Tracker died of natural causes…." Rocky then crunches his lip. "You can thank my sister for that."

"I know what you mean Rocky but…..to be honest…I've been scared about this for a while." Ryder disclosed, trying his best to keep his spirt up, but his mind was battling him fiercely. "And the worst part is that I'm so busy with Normality and all, that I don't ever have time for you or anyone anymore. Not even Marshall who lives in Adventure City now. I feel like…..time is running out and…..by the time I finally have a chance to look…all of you will be gone…or at least….one of you will."

Rocky mellows his look at Ryder. His mind drains as he thinks more about what Ryder said. He himself have noticed just how much time he himself spends with his old friends nowadays. He'd always shooed it away, feeling that it was natural and just how things were, but over time, he'd miss the past more and more. Wishing every one could at least live close by so it wouldn't take much to spend time together. But with everyone spread out and how busy everyone was, the gaps start getting longer and longer.

"Geez Ryder, I never really thought about that." Rocky mouths, being caught in a depressing hole. "Da…Dang….It really has gotten to that point hasn't it?"

"Yeah bud….it really has…." Ryder responds before shaking his head and putting the depressing thought aside "A-Anyway, Tracker's passing is not really why I'm here Rocky."

Rocky raises an eyebrow to Ryder. "It's not? Then why are you here?"

Ryder walks over to Rocky while revealing his reason. "It seems your exploits have attracted some eyes recently. Including the FBI."

Rocky perks. "FBI? As in the Federal Bureau Investigation?"

Ryder nods. "Exactly. They've asked for me and you exclusively."

Rocky cocks his head. "What do they want with me for?"

"They wouldn't say." Ryder shakes. "They just requested me to get you and meet them at Normality's headquarters in Adventure City. Said it was of the upmost importance."

Rocky stood in his thoughts for a bit. He couldn't think of any reason why the FBI of all things would be interested in him. Neither of his exploits these past years has ever crossed paths with the federal government before. Mostly its been his sister or whatever had caught his eye at the time.

He hasn't really recovered anything world shattering in the archeology sense. Mostly less known treasures that museums would pay handsomely for. Nothing that the FBI would be eying.

"You've got to be pulling my tail here Ryder." He says. "Are you sure they're not asking for Chase?"

Ryder shakes his head. "Nope. It's you they're looking for."

"Huh…." Rocky exhales. "I can't think of any reason why they want little old me."

"There's only one way to find out Rocky, and that's to go see what they want to discuss with you." Ryder says. "It didn't really sound like they were abrasive or anything, so I don't think it's anything bad."

"You never know Ryder. I just hope I'm not in trouble."

The FBI? The hell? Just what would the FBI want with Ryder and Rocky? Is it what Rocky said? Are they in trouble for stealing a candy bar or something?

There's only one way to find out and that's tuning in next week for Chapter 3: The Lost Ark of the Covenant!

Please review and let me know what your favorite parts are and if you have any questions about the story or anything else, leave it in your review or pm me and l'll get back with you as soon as I can.

This is Sean Thames of DragonsFire Entertainment signing off.