Chapter seven: Only Chase Knows
Snowflake stopped licking Chase then walked back to where she had been.
Suddenly, her stomach growled.
"Ummm. Ryder? Can we eat please?" Snowflake asked, blushing.
"But, I'm still making my snowflake with Rocky. Man, he's been gone a long time..." Ned stated before looking unsure.
"Think we should go look for him?" Zuma wondered, then the elevator doors opened.
"Nevermind, here he is." Rubble smiled, turning toward the gray pup returning with a deep blue sheet material, which he was dragging with him backwards out of the elevator.
"Sorry that took so long.." the recycling pup said, finally dropping the parachute. "I forgot where I stashed it, and then I had to get it untangled from the others that were with it."
"No problem. Did you get tangled too? Hopefully not," Melody chimed in.
"Uhhh.." the mixed breed wavered, thinking back to moments earlier..
xxxx
He opened a drawer and..
"Gotcha!"
However, grabbing onto it and pulling opened him up for a never ending string of tangles and brambles and tight snits, which he tried to shimmy out of and escape. Yet the more material he pulled on the more that came out to consume him.. till he popped out the top of the pile wrapped like a present, and wondering how he was gonna put this all back..
xxxx
"Um.. not.. really?" Rocky replied,.. unsure if he was lying or withholding the truth.
"You have a secret stash of parachutes? I'd like to see that sometime. Maybe I can help you organize the parachutes?" Ned commented curiously.
"Uh maybe.. but another time." Rocky supposed. "Now.. to get this stuff folded and ready to trace."
"But Rocky, you said you were gonna need to make a frame to hold it all in place for cutting it." Rubble recalled.
"I do, but.. I need Ryder's help to bring it up from the garage." Rocky replied,
"You sure you didn't get stuck? You seem unsure. We could have helped you if you got trapped," Melody asked suspiciously with a smirk.
"Um.. yes?" The mixed breed confirmed. "Anyway.. Ryder.. Can you help me get the wood up here? I only need a few boards to make the frame and some strong clamps to hold the parachute in place."
"Right behind you.." the boy replied, following him back into the elevator. Then Marshall disappeared for a moment and came back with bowls of food.
"Here,.. we can eat, while Ryder and Rocky are busy." He said, going back for more.
"Good idea.." Chester figured. "Refuel time. Hey, Chase, since you're not resting up, why not come fill up instead."
However Chase never moved.. nor even reacting in any way to anything directed at him.
"Chase?" Chester wondered, slowly heading over to his brother. "Are you.."
A soft snore gave away the answer before he could say it.
"Asleep.." the German Shepherd monotoned dryly. "Of course.. now he decides to fall asleep.. at the most inconvenient time! Ugh!"
"At least he's sleeping like we want him to," Melody reasoned.
"Wait, why wood to hold the parachute? I'm making a snowflake; not a wooden trampoline!" Ned said, confused why wood would be needed for his project.
"Thanks Marshall," Snowflake said as she went to go help him get more food.
"Because we'll be cutting something a lot flimsier and bigger than paper so we need a way to hold it still so we can mark it with the chalk to know where to cut.. and then to cut it.." Rocky mentioned through his pup tag, having caught Ned's comment before the elevator lowered them away.
"Okay, thanks. That makes sense," Ned replied through his pup tag.
"So Boomerang, what job did you have when you were our age?" Melody asked the Australian Shepherd.
"Well I was owned by many people.." Boomerang began slowly. "..Bounced around a handful of homes.. no one could quite decide what to do with me.. even in my prime. I had a nice owner once that had me for a longer time than most, and I had hope of finding another one just like him ever since then.. but the ones that didn't care as much seemed to be much more common and long lived. I was expected to hunt by some.. expected to fight for a couple.. and even to attack someone as a personal guard dog that I just didn't have the heart for. It's probably why my body ain't what it used to be anymore.. all that stress and abuse catches up to you even when the abuse ends."
The four huskies froze, as if in shock.
"Boomerang..." Snowflake said softly.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't know..." Melody apologized, her ears folding back as she whined. She and Snowflake went over to Boomerang and nuzzled him.
Brian had a wide eyed look with a mixture of fear, anger, confusion, and empathy on his face as he took in the old dog's words.
Ned just looked at Boomerang with sad empathy.
"Ah that's life.. my life that is.. but.. I've always believed that a good home is out there for me.. and then Chase dropped into the CorDan mansion.. and I found the home I was hoping for."
"Thank goodness everyone is safe now," Snowflake said as she nuzzled Boomerang.
"Ummm. What's the CorDan mans-"
"We'll tell you later!" Snowflake and Ned exclaimed urgently. Melody blinked.
"Okay... I was just asking," Melody said, baffled.
Brian was still taking in the information Boomerang said, his eyes moving as if in thought. He had a watery eyed look, before taking some deep breaths and calmed down.
"So, new topic. Tiny, what do you do?" Snowflake suggested looking at the chihuahua.
"More like what doesn't he do? He's the definition of cute!... boop!" Melody stated before going to the small dog and poked his nose softly.
"Melody... you really want to do that?" Snowflake asked nervously.
"Why? He's probably used to others cooing over how cute he is. Boop!... Boop!" Melody commented as she kept gently poking Tiny's nose.
"Woah.. hey.. easy on the nose, it's sensitive.." Tiny reacted quickly, stepping back to rub his nose. "And I'm not cute! At least.. most people don't think so.. then again my personality speaks for itself. I had a kid that was totally rad.. but he grew up.. the family rehomed me after he went off to college. And I ended up at the CorDan mansion and met some of the PUP Pals."
"Oh. I'm sorry. At least you have friends again," Melody apologized.
"Eh.. that's just how it goes.. life happens." Tiny shrugged. "Boomerang's had it worse than me.. not that it makes me feel any better."
"Hmmmm," Snowflake hummed before looking out the window. "I wonder how much snow we're going to get?"
"Who knows.." Marshall shrugged, coming to peer out the window with her. "If it keeps snowing this light, but all day long we could get a lot."
"And if we get dumped on in a short time we might still get a lot." Chester deadpanned, somehow with a straight face.
"Are there any therapy dogs here?" Brian asked softly.
And all the PUP Pals glanced at the cocker spaniel among them.
"Kylie? You're a therapy dog?" Brian asked simply. The husky still had a slight unsure look on his face.
"Well,.. not exactly.." Kylie smiled shyly. "More of an emotional support pet than a service dog. I didn't get any fancy training. Just me being me was enough for the lovely old man I was given to."
"Okay," Brian said softly. The dark gray husky then went over to her and pulled her into a hug. "Please help me... I'm scared."
"Um.. of what?" Kylie asked in borderline confusion, looking to anyone around her for insight.
"Uh oh. Brian's having an internal panic attack. He's trying to not get overwhelmed, but his body is still reacting..." Melody said sympathetically.
"Why? What happened?" Snowflake asked with concern.
"I don't know. He must have gotten spooked by Boomerang's life story," Melody said.
"Not... Boomerang's story... what... happened... to me..." Brian stammered. His voice cracking a little.
"Uhh, anybody know how to translate?" Zuma wondered, cocking his head.
"I don't know. He never said what happened!" Melody exclaimed. Upon looking at her brother, Brian was hugging Kylie tighter and starting to shake.
"Brian? Brian, what's wrong? We're your friends," Snowflake said calmly.
"Lost... park... big dog... mad... pinned... hurt... dark... tail... pain... g-g-go away..." Brian stammered as he fought back tears.
"What is happening?!" Marshall gasped.
"Ok.. this is kinda starting to freak me out." Rubble agreed, edging back nervously.
"Could something have happened in the past that's been triggered by our stories?" Rayla wondered.
"We're sorry.." Kylie shrank guiltily.
"Man, this almost looks like Chase.." Tiny commented.
"Wait, what's happening?" Skyler asked, cocking her head way over in pure confusion.
"Personal attack... told to fight... pinned down... my back hurt... pain... attacked... I told him to stop... Just reminders in my head. Not your fault. I forgive you," Brian stammered with tears running down his face.
"Woah.." a couple of pups breathed.
"Just like Chase.." Skyler and Kylie nodded to each other.
"It's ok if you've got a rough past.. or rather a rough moment in the past." Rayla said, coming towards Brian sympathetically. "Looks like you've got a support system ready to help you get through it.."
"Just like Chase!" Marshall and Skye laughed.
"You know.. I guess that makes you a lot alike in that way.." Rayla figured, turning back to the troubled husky.
"How? Our situations are different. I don't even know what happened to him. I had some dog I knew come up and... examine me. Painfully, and no he wasn't a vet dog," Brian replied looking at Rayla.
"Rayla, you want to explain what happened?" Ned asked. "You know more than us."
"What part?" The golden lab wondered. "I can only share what I know.. otherwise there's some things about those days.. only Chase knows."
"True, but I mean what happened to Chase. At least what you know," Ned replied.
"He means you pups could explain the situation better to our siblings than us," Snowflake clarified.
"Well Rex the Rottweiler nearly tearing his limb from limb after Chase's epic near successful escape over the wall of the CorDan Mansion is pretty self-explanatory.." The golden lab began simply. "And can only be explained a few ways.. but what happened after we were rescued was a whole other story. When he got home to the PAW Patrol, and the Prescotts relocated their business to Adventure Bay, he had every reason to feel normal again. However even though Madge and we PUP Pals were relocated to the shelter here in town while they searched out our families.. And the fact that he was needing to recover from his injuries sustained by Rex.. he didn't quite seem.. himself.." Rayla sighed, when turning to face them more directly. "Even while at the mansion I could tell he was not fully giving us the full extent of himself.. meaning the Chase the PAW Patrol have known for years. But that was to be expected given the circumstances.. It was only after his incredible victory over Rex that we PUP Pals finally got to see the full extent of who Chase is.. Once the heaviness of the past had finally been resolved."
"And even though it wasn't his fault, past injuries have reminded him of what he went through. So given what the PAW Patrol has been through recently, he hasn't been feeling like himself. He wanted to deal with his internal wounds by himself, and not open up for help. Especially since that's what he normally does for us," Snowflake added. "Did I miss anything?"
"Well.. Chase.. feels his emotions in different ways than the rest of us.." Marshall mentioned.
"He doesn't exactly like dealing with them," Skye added.
"But he doesn't seem to wanna include us in them either." Zuma agreed.
"That checks out." Rayla nodded.
"He was awfully reserved after we were rescued.." Kylie recalled sadly.
"Even more than before the rescue." Tiny remembered.
"It wasn't till we started getting through to him that he started to revert back in our favor." Boomerang said.
"And yet he still seemed to fight us even after all we'd been through together." Rayla thought aloud.
"Spencer sure knocked him loose though.." Skyler mentioned. "That dog made him blow off soo much steam I'm not surprised he crashed so hard that very night."
"True. And now because of what he's been feeling, we need to help him... again," Snowflake said.
"I'm sorry you all went through such a bad time. Even if we don't know all the details," Brian replied sympathetically.
"It's ok.. It's all behind us now." Kylie smiled sweetly, her eyes full of thankfulness.
"Even thick headed pups need time to be open about what they're going through. Believe me, I know!" Brian stated.
"We'll help however we can. Chase deserves to be happy," Melody agreed before nuzzling Skyler.
"Oh he does.. But.. he has taken the first step by admitting the problem.. Now we just gotta make sure he stays the course to a full and complete recovery.." Boomerang agreed."
"Wait, Spencer? Who's he?" Ned chimed in.
"Chase's Zoom-it rival.." Tiny told him in somewhat of a sinister tone. "'Gave him a run for his money at his first ever Zoom-it competition.. But of course Chase beat him with flying colors."
"Zoom-it? Like a race or something else?" Snowflake asked.
"Something like that.. but not quite.." Rayla replied.
"It's more like.. ultimate frisbee.. but on a time limit." Tiny told them.
"Most events are timed for their longevity and scored on the technique, skill, and difficulty.. and you're ranked based on the average of both." Skyler informed them. "Or something like that I think."
"According to the Prescotts and Chester, he trained as a Zoom-it dog for a little while at the police academy he was enrolled at before he was accidentally shipped to Ryder in a box.." Rayla explained with various nods coming from others among them. "But they never made him official and he never officially competed, even though he really wanted to."
"A competition?! But- But Chase would do great in that! So, Spencer was his rival in the competition, but a friend who tried to help him too?" Snowflake exclaimed, now trying to piece this new information together.
At this.. members of the group exchanged looks.
"Pff!" Chester choked back a snort.
"Chess!" Rayla hissed, nudging him. Then she saw the huskies' confused faces.
"Uhh.. rival yes.." Rayla confirmed, awkwardly searching for the right words. "Friend? Not so much.."
"And as far as help? If you mean, steamed him up for an epic victory on a bad leg then sure.. He was helpful.." Chester deadpanned, though he maintained a rather stoic expression.
"Oh, so more tricked him to ignore the pain, and just do whatever task was needed?" Ned guessed.
"More like forgot he even had it.." Marshall said.
"Let's just say Spencer plays dirty.. and somehow got away with it with very minimal action taken." CiCi clarified. "He probably would have been just fine if Spencer hadn't started anything. And Chase probably would have beat him far worse than he actually did."
"Ooooohhh," the huskies all realized.
"Yeah, Chase was pretty angry when I recorded his... ahem, loopy phase," Ned stated.
"Yup sounds about right." Tiny nodded in understanding.
"It was embarrassing to him, and we took it too far. Still, lesson learned," Snowflake commented.
Hey guys! We're back again! However with the holidays being upon us we are taking a week off from posting. Hopefully we can also catch up on some writing in the meantime between family time! ;D
Anyway, what a great way for bridges to be built! The conversations between the characters regarding their different backgrounds and how they reassured each other when sad moments resurfaced was quite heartwarming. Makes it seem quite perfect that this chapter drops during the most heartfelt holiday of the year!
Hope you enjoyed the banter amongst the characters as much as we did! And we'll see you, not next week, but the following week! And have a Merry Christmas! Thx!
