It was a funny feeling, being picked to join the PAW Patrol. Zuma knew this. Everyone before him knew this. It's not odd, per se, that Zuma was given a chance to join. It's odd how his chance came.
The evidence was so clear. It was undeniable that Zuma had indeed brutally injured his brother. Orlando had not died (unbeknownst to him), but Sparrow had told their mother, and she was in utter shock. Zuma had no idea how she would react. But the shame and the guilt he felt was unbearable. The one time he was relevant. And someone had been hurt as a result. So Zuma didn't go home to his mother and brothers as he'd intended to. He ran. He ran until his little legs ached and his paws were sore. And by the junkyard where his brothers would torture him on a weekly basis, he cried. And fate has a funny way of turning out. Because Zuma tripped on a rock while attempting to walk away, and he tumbled down the small hill, into an empty toolbox. The large toolbox conveniently closed the little pup in, and he felt horribly dizzy once the toolbox tumbled all the way down the hill, through the broken part of the fence, and splashed into the bay. This was possibly the most scared Zuma felt in his entire life. He cried out, but no one came. It was a full day and a half before Zuma finally heard something outside his little shelter besides water splashing.
"Arf! Winch!"
Something caught around the toolbox, and after an annoying winding sound, little Zuma no longer felt the water beneath him. All was still. Zuma couldn't help but whimper. He hadn't had a meal in a long time, and the box reeked of oil. He was only alive because of a small gap between the lid and lock, giving him enough air to survive the voyage across the bay.
The toolbox popped open, and the starved water pup looked up to meet the eyes of his new owner.
All this flashed through Zuma's mind as Skye hoisted him through the air on the harness to the castle.
Zuma looked at the castle to see Ryder, Chase and Rubble at the dock. He surely had some explaining to do.
When Ryder unhooked the harness, Zuma didn't get scolded or yelled at as he expected to be. He was hugged. Tightly.
"Zuma," whispered Ryder. "Thank goodness you're all right."
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Zuma.
"Where were you? Did that trickster Sweetie kidnap you? Where'd she go? Did she-"
"Chase, easy," said Ryder.
He set down the chocolate lab, who got onto the dock and sighed as he looked down at his reflection.
"Zuma? What's wrong?" asked Skye.
"Nothing," shrugged Zuma.
"Doesn't look like nothing," said Rubble. "Looks a lot like something. Did someone steal our secret pup treat stash?"
"No," sighed Zuma. He was too ashamed to tell his friends what happened down in the sewage system.
"Come on, buddy," said Skye, putting her paw on Zuma's shoulder to cheer him up. "Tell us what's wrong. We're your friends! You don't have to hide anything!"
Zuma felt odd. His sister figure was always supportive like this, but she never usually had to get close and personal like this to help anyone.
"Fine," grumbled Zuma. "He got away."
"'He?' Who? Zuma, please tell us," said Chase urgently.
"Claw!" shouted Zuma. "Claw got away! He was behind all this with Sweetie! He has the Krystal! He beat me up and got away."
At the last sentence, Zuma started to cry. He didn't want to tell anyone about this. He hated his feelings oozing out like this. That's why he always tried to be calm and collected. But the laid-back Labrador had been replaced by a broken, pitiable pup.
"Claw... beat you up?" asked Ryder, sitting beside Zuma with the others.
"Yeah. Please don't make me say it again, dude."
"It's all right, Zums," said Skye. "We just ne-"
"No! It's not alright!" shouted Zuma angrily, surprising his friends.
"Nothing that happened was alwight! I just wanted to be a hewo! Ugh, I'm nothing, okay? I can't even talk wight!"
Zuma sobbed and sniffled. His friends had never seen this side of him before.
"Zuma, Zuma! Easy. Easy."
Ryder's words made Zuma realize he was hyperventilating.
"Remember what we did when you used to have those night terrors?"
"Bweathe," huffed Zuma.
"That's right. Breathe."
Ryder put his hand in front of Zuma's chest.
"In."
Zuma took a deep breath.
"Out."
Zuma released the air, his chest lowering to Ryder's hand.
"That's it. Easy does it."
When Zuma calmed down, Ryder brought his hand back to his side.
"Now tell us. What happened back there?"
"I..."
Zuma sighed.
"We're your family, Zuma. We're not going to judge a single thing you tell us."
"All wight. Um, well, I sorta snuck out... to find Claw... I just wanted to be a hewo! Like Chase or Skye!"
"But you are a hero, Zuma," said Chase. "What about all those people in the bay you saved?"
"I don't get thanked as much as you guys do. I never have missions any more. When we're dwiving in Adventuwe Bay, they cheer out for you guys, not me!"
They all listened to what Zuma said, and felt terrible. They'd never stopped to consider that Zuma would be heartbroken over their glory and success.
"But... I thought if I could catch Claw or Sweetie, whoever was behind this... I could be the hewo for once. But stupid Sweetie had to catch me, Claw cwacked me like an egg, and I am hewe now."
Rocky and Marshall listened from behind the window near the hidden staircase.
This was the first time the entire gang heard something personal Zuma had to say. Sure, he'd told them once about his life before now, but only Ryder heard the tale in full.
Everyone felt ashamed in this moment.
Marshall, the most supportive pup, was ashamed he couldn't have helped Zuma before.
Chase was ashamed he'd overshadowed the pup who was most like a little brother to him.
Skye was ashamed she didn't check up on one of her best friends after all those missions.
Rocky was ashamed he'd left his best friend alone one time after seeing him sigh and mutter about something before going to his pup house for a nap.
Rubble was ashamed he was missing out on the midnight gourmet he'd planned.
Ryder was most ashamed. He'd been like a father to this pup. And he'd let him down.
"It's not too late to make things right," said Ryder. "I told you that I'd give you something important to do on this mission, and that's exactly what I intend to do!"
Zuma looked at Ryder, almost questioning his words.
"What do you say, Zuma? Wanna catch a Krystal?"
Zuma wiped his tears, and smiled at his owner.
"Let's dive in!"
