Chapter twelve: I Don't Snow!

Snowflake and her siblings looked to see some of the pups still sleeping. They started to tiptoe towards the treat dispensers, hoping to not wake up anyone.

They heard a yawn as Rocky stretched and then rolled onto his side, now facing away from them.

Seeing Rocky yawn, the four huskies turned to the treat dispensers, and they thought about what to eat.

"I wonder if Ryder will let us cook Breakfast?" Snowflake wondered quietly to her siblings.

"Maybe. But last I checked, dogs don't cook with the oven," Brian whispered.

"Mmmmm. We could make anything! Bacon.. sausages.. roast beef.. waffles.. pancakes.. French toast.. bacon wrapped sausages? Mmmmmm..." Ned commented before licking his mouth.

"*yawn* What's good?" Rocky yawned rolling back onto his back and then over to the other side so he was facing them as he rubbed an eye.

"Ned's imagining what we'll have for breakfast. Sorry if we woke you," Snowflake replied. "We were trying to be quiet."

"It's ok.." the mixed breed replied, standing up as Zuma and Skyler stirred beside him. "I was probably gonna wake up soon anyway.."

"How'd everyone sleep?" Ryder asked the pup.

"Good I think." Rocky replied. "Though Chase I can't tell, he was flopping around sometime in the night, but I think someone took care of that.." then looking over at the German Shepherd, they found him draped with his older brother and pressed against a snoozing Rayla.

"Any idea why?" The boy asked, looking from Chase in deep thought to the gray recycling pup.

"Beats me?" the pup replied. "All I know is he wasn't sleeping all night.. Or maybe not deeply sleeping anyway."

"Actually that's how Chase was when we stayed at Katie's place. Tossing and turning in his sleep. Maybe the comfort of Chester and Rayla soothed him?" Snowflake said curiously.

"Or Marshall got up and put 'go to sleep and dream while your body heals' medicine in him," Ned suggested sarcastically.

"Either way, what's for breakfast Ryder?" Melody asked, turning to the boy.

"Whatever sounds good to you.." Ryder replied with a shrug. "I'm sure we have a few options you might like. Just pick something out."

"Bacon wrapped sausage wrapped in butter toast, with pickles, fruit, and asparagus stuffed in a pineapple on the side!" Ned exclaimed in a fast, yet excited tone. His siblings looked at the light gray husky as if he had lost his mind.

"Breakfast Ned! Not a crazy feast!" Snowflake responded, not knowing what to think of Ned's bizarre request.

"Bro, you have a crazy imagination. Not even I would ask for that," Brian commented.

"Sounds yummy, but a bit too much food and work for all of that," Melody stated.

"Okay. Hmmm. Just bacon, fruit, and waffles or something," Ned asked as he toned down his request.

Ryder blinked as though stunned by the request, but then he shook himself out of this and smiled.

"Well," he chuckled, "I bet you could ask Mr. Porter if he could make something like that for you sometime. But I think that other request will be much easier to do for today."

"Okay Ryder," Ned thanked the boy before turning back to the other pups.

"So now what should we do?" Melody asked Zuma and Skyler.

"*yawn* What?" Zuma wondered, yawning again.

"Oof!" Skyler grunted, peeking an eye open to look in either direction before closing it with a groan.

"Awh, morning already?" She moaned rolling onto her back and pressing her paws to her eyes.

"Yes it is," Melody replied with a smile. "Did you sleep well, or no?"

Ned walked over to Skyler and started to lick her face.

"I don't know, I-ah! Hey, ok, ok, I'm awake! I'm awake!" The border collie gasped, jumping up to get the husky to stop licking her face. "Ew! Boy dog cooties! Blck blck blck!" The young collie then resorted to rubbing her face off with her paws and then on the floor.

"Shhhh! Relax, Sky, we're sleeping.." CiCi groaned.

"Yeah, Madge won't come for us till ten.." Tiny groaned, snuggling down again. Then after a moment every one of the PUP Pals popped up with a start, like coming out of a nightmare, however Rayla immediately settled down as Chase relaxed into her again.

"Oh right.." Tiny sighed thankfully. "No mansion."

"I'm clean, I promise!" Ned said defensively, as he gave Skyler room.

"Ummm? 'Madge?' What do you mean?" Snowflake asked, confused.

"The only thing coming at ten is bacon, fruit, and waffles with friends. That doesn't sound bad," Melody commented with a smile.

"Yeah, or earlier depending on how much cooking Ryder is doing," Snowflake corrected.

"Sorry," Tiny apologized as the remaining pups began to sit up in various ways. "Uh Pals, anyone else.."

"Yes," four other voices replied.

"Ok, so it wasn't just me." Tiny decided, lowering his gaze.

"Unfortunately not.." Kylie sighed, shrinking down slightly.

"Yeah,.. still a few years in the past and it still comes back to bite us.. Or haunt us.. whichever way you prefer to look at it." Skyler agreed sadly.

"And just think how he feels.." Tiny sighed, turning to Chase.

"Ugh, let's not.." Chester sighed, sheepishly.

"Nothing against you of course." Tiny mentioned, as the German Shepherd looked up. "That situation was rough,.. not gonna dwell on it to make it worse."

"Good." Chester sighed, "Thanks." But by getting up, the rush of cold air exposed the pup below, making him inhale quickly and his eyes smoothly opened, but he groaned and turned onto his side and tried to snuggle down again. But lying on the nearly healed shoulder still felt weird even to the point of possible pain or rather a feeling on the verge of pain at the very least. But refusing to move he lay there a few moments longer, even trying to snuggle down harder hoping the pressure would make the odd feeling go away. But after another moment or two he couldn't take it and was forced off it with a stiff wince, as he shifted to the other side and nestled in again.

"Sorry, bro, but I gotta get up, I feel like I'm crushing you." Chester told him before stepping back over him so he wasn't standing directly over his brother anymore. Chase mumbled something but no one could make it out.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.." Chester remarked mildly.

"Anyways, what would you like to do, Skyler?" Snowflake asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I don't know.. as far as what?" The border collie replied, hopping over a couple pups to approach the husky.

"Whatever you want to do while everyone sleeps," Snowflake replied quietly.

"Um.. most of us are awake.." Tiny mentioned.

"Other than a few of us.." he added glancing down at the sleeping Kylie, Rayla, and Chase.

"Hang on,.." Rocky realized looking around for a moment. "Where's Boomerang?"

"Do we need to go find him? You don't think he wandered outside do you?" Snowflake asked with slight concern.

"Probably wandering around the Lookout grounds.." CiCi figured. "It's an old dog thing. He's probably around here somewhere."

"So, what would you pups like to do?" Melody asked.

"Um, does Ryder need help with breakfast?" Ned commented.

"Don't worry, I'll go check in.." Rocky decided.

"Hey, you think we'll get a chance to play out in the snow?" Chester wondered, putting his paws up onto the window to peer out of it then over his shoulder. "I mean I know it's cold, but.."

Then the door opened and in came the shaggy snow-covered Aussie, who immediately shook off the snow that had stuck to his fur; displacing it successfully in one rough shake.

"Oh it's not that cold out there.. And I should know.." Boomerang said, then proceeded further into the room.

"Welcome back, Boomer." CiCi greeted casually. "Enjoy your morning stroll?"

"Quite, actually," the old dog confirmed. Then scanning the crowd he could immediately pick out the ones who were still asleep and the one who was missing.

"Everyone sleep well?" he asked warmly.

"All except for Chase apparently." CiCi informed him looking down on the German Shepherd. "And whoever stayed up to try and help him."

"Didn't we all fall asleep at about the same time?" Snowflake asked around.

"I think so.." CiCi confirmed thoughtfully. "But as Rocky said he was up last night.. Who knows how long, wasn't exactly counting the minutes."

"How deep is the snow?" Melody asked Boomerang.

"Deep enough you pups won't have many issues clearing it.." the Aussie replied, shrugging. "Though there's still quite a bit on the ground yet."

"Sounds like fun to me!" Skyler smiled happily. "Let's do it!"

"Woah woah woah, hang on. At least wait till after we get breakfast, ok?" Tiny advised.

"Oh right!" Skyler realized. "Good idea."

"I'll go see if Ryder needs help," Ned said before he went to go find Ryder.

"Rocky? Where are you?" Snowflake called out, looking around.

"Hmmm. Maybe Rocky and Chase can rest while we clear the snow?" Brian suggested.

"Me? Why me? I slept fine. And anyway, Ryder and I got it.." Rocky said, stepping aside while Ryder gently pushed a wagon forward for Rocky while holding a couple bowls in each hand.

"Breakfast is ready!" Ned announced, calmly.

"You're not tired?" Snowflake asked curiously. "How late did you stay up?"

"Well we all fell asleep easy enough." Rocky mentioned. "But it was after that that he didn't stay asleep. Not sure how long it was cause I only heard him I think Rayla and Marshall stayed up with him 'cause I fell back asleep."

"I don't think any of us kept track.. We just all wanted him to go back to sleep so we could go back to sleep." Marshall mentioned.

"Makes sense," Snowflake replied while waiting for their food.

"Wait, how cold is it outside Boomerang?" Ned asked, turning to the Aussie.

"It's chilly.. But that might just be because I have a fluffy coat, although the older I get the less effective it seems to be against the elements." Boomer replied simply.

"Chilly as in a cool day, get a coat chilly, Christmas is here chilly, or bone chilling chilly?" Melody wondered.

"Ummm. We already have fur coats sis," Brian corrected his sister before giggling.

"You pups may have to head out there to know for sure.. Since you're much younger and also built for this weather." Boomerang reasoned.

"Okay, but after Breakfast!" Ned agreed as he too waited for their food.

"Here you go." Ryder said, setting a couple bowls in front of some pups before rising to continue.

"Thanks Ryder," Snowflake said before she began eating.

"Thank you, Ryder." Ned, Melody and Brian thanked as they began eating too.

Ryder finished delivering the bowls around to the awake pups when one pup suddenly sat up. However everyone froze when they noticed this and stared, waiting to see what was gonna happen. Chase looked around in a daze, yawning deeply as the other two sleepy pups stirred.

Chase groaned, and lowered his head, then seemed to sense the eyes staring at him and turned to look.

"Uhhh.." He vocalized, his glance cocking every which way at the prying eyes. Then wincing one eye closed, he lowered back down to set his head on his paws.

"What did I miss this time?" he asked lightly.

"We're having breakfast. Also, Boomerang went outside to check out the snow. He said it's not bad. Not sure how cold it is though," Snowflake answered simply.

"*moan* Cold only sounds a little bit good." Chase moaned, rubbing an eye.

"Need some ice?" Ned insisted, looking over at Chase.

"Unh.. for what?" Chase groaned lightly, smoothly twisting himself onto his back.

"You said 'cold only sounds a little bit good'. So, lots of cold would be better. For whatever reason.." Ned replied, slightly confused.

"I don't wanna be a pupsicle.." Chase replied, who by now lay there with his paws pressed to his eyes to block out the light.

"Okay, just wondering. You made the suggestion," Ned commented.

"Ugh, don't remind me.." Chase groaned dryly. Then a sudden chill fell over his head and he immediately looked, squinting in the sudden light to see Ryder standing over him, having placed a gel ice pack over his forehead.

"Now to call around for status reports." Ryder said, standing to leave them behind to pull out his pup pad.

"Anyways, what does everyone want to do?" Snowflake asked, looking around at the group.

"Well we have plenty of snow to play in.. anyone want to go explore?" Rocky asked.

"And with this mini army, clearing the driveway will be as easy as snow pie!" Chester joked.

"HaHA! Snow pie! I get it! Hahahahahahaha!" Rubble's hearty laugh contagiously spread to the rest of the pups and they couldn't help themselves but to laugh anyway.

"Well looks like we've got our work cut out for us.." Rayla figured.

"Nah that's what we're supposed to do.." Skyler giggled.

"Alright, smarty pup." Rayla smirked, nudging the border collie over playfully. "Let's just gear up and get to work."

"Snow problem.." Rubble snickered, making them all laugh some more. And some of them paused a moment to notice Chase restraining himself from giggling, either because of the pain or because he didn't wanna let them in on his amusement; which clearly failed miserably.

"Let's go!" Rocky decided, leading the charge for the door.

"Wait!" Marshall realized, stopping himself and everyone else short. "What about.."

"Don't worry,.." Boomerang interjected, as the pups all glanced back to their German Shepherd. Then the old Aussie came forward to lay near their police pup. "I'll keep an eye on him. You pups go clear the driveway, I got this."

"Thanks Boomer." Rayla smiled thankfully. Then everyone finally felt better about heading out again.

Hellooooo everybody! We got ourselves a new chapter! The banter in this chapter was so fun! I love how the characters interact with each other, especially mine against my Lovely Partner, Bluewolfbat. And forgive me if I've said this before, but.. you never know what you're gonna get with this rag-tag group of pup! XD

A little note from my friend is to pray on behalf of his sister.. who is currently struggling with some mental illness ailments.

Also keep me in your prayers as I have been having some medical issues as well. I don't know how this will affect posting, but hopefully it won't.

But as always thank you so much for keeping up with us and we're glad you're enjoying it! Until next time my friends! Thx!