Zuma presses himself against the wall. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so hungry and exhausted. His stomach ached for food, whining and complaining every chance it got.
He allowed himself to use the wall to lean on. The one bad thing about leaving the PAW Patrol was he had to fend for himself, struggling to find food for days on end.
How long has it been? A month? Two? A month and two years? Either way, Zuma's stomach churned and whined, screaming at him like a rubber chicken being strangled.
Zuma manages to push himself back into the small hole. He pushes, pulling even more fur than the last few times. Scratches lined his body as he squeezed in the hole just big enough to fit Rubble.
Most of the scratches were from trying to squeeze into the hole while running from either Gasket, Katie, or the dog catcher. Some were from the dog catcher, himself, however.
Zuma rubbed his aching neck. That whip he had was crazy.
Zuma collapses as soon as he gets inside the abandoned building, snoring loudly as he attempts to get some sleep. Thankfully, that's the one thing he manages to get out of the necessities.
Zuma didn't dream of anything. Which was good because sometimes dreams can turn into nightmares. The other day he had a nightmare about a blurry pup from the PAW Patrol who ran away because he or she wasn't being used to their full potential.
Zuma feared it was his brother, Rocky because the pup was bigger than Skye or Rubble. But Zuma pushed it to the side assuming it was some sort of dream because he ran away and not because his decision would make someone run away like that. Right?
A week ago, he also had a nightmare about the dog catcher. The dog catcher was abusing his friends, family, and even the villains he knew. No one in Adventure Bay was that cruel, right? The dog catcher was just doing his job.
Zuma opens his eyes to the smell of food. Huh? Zuma pushes himself out of the hole once more, shivering at the cool air that hits his body.
He looks down, noticing a bowl of water and a half-eaten hamburger lying in front of him. Weary, Zuma approaches the food. He reaches out with his snout and takes a small bite, afraid if he ate too fast he would be full before actually enjoying the meal.
"Hello, Zuma!" a friendly voice chirps. Zuma yelps, turning around to dart back into the hole. A dark gray husky was in his way.
"Katie! Gasket! Go away!" he barks, shaking. He didn't want them to see him like this. He was in bad condition.
At this point he was surprised. This was the fifth time he's seen Gasket and Katie together trying to get him. And this time they managed to outsmart me. I'm so hungry...
Zuma prepared himself to run away again, but couldn't find the strength to start running away. He swayed slightly on his paws before collapsing.
No! I don't want to go back! They don't need me!
Zuma blacks out.
When Zuma came to, he felt a hand stroking his head, neck, and body. "It's okay," Katie soothes. "You're okay."
Zuma wearily looked up at her, noticing they were now in her parlor. A few extra guests were there too: Claw, Sweetie, Hubcap, and Dwayne were there.
"Are...you alright?" Sweetie asks, hesitatingly.
Claw sighs with relief. "We've been looking for you everywhere. Don't worry. We won't force you to go back. You should decide that on your own. You've been greatly injured." the Doberman informs him, eyes shifting greatly.
"So this is what you've been doing without my permission?" Hubcaps inquires at Gasket. He sighs. "I'm sorry. I definitely overreacted, friend."
Gasket didn't respond, turning her head away. Did they have a falling out? Might be better this way. Hubcap is a terrible dog.
"I was hoping you'd wake up. It's been a few days. I would be sad if you died," Dwayne whines, putting his muzzle in his paws.
Zuma pushes Katie's hand off of him. "I don't want this," he whispers. "I just want to get away."
You don't need me anymore...
The dogs and human that surround him look at him with pity and concern. I don't need any of that.
Katie sighs, Zuma, feeling her harsh hot breath on his head. "I know," she responds. "But you're injured. Just stay here now."
"Yeah! You can bunk with us if you want afterward! Far away from the PAW Patrol." Dwayne makes a cutting motion with a paw, smiling. "You won't have to lift a paw."
"What?! I never agreed to this!" Hubcap shouts in shock. "Im the leader of this pack, I decide if he can—"
"Wonderful!" Katie clapped her hands together.
"Hu-What?!"
"It's decided then. The Ruff-Ruff Pack will let you stay in their hideou—"
"Why do I even bother?"
Hubcap huffs, rubbing his nose a little.
Zuma frowns. He didn't even agree yet. I know they're trying to help me, but I am the one who needs to make the decisions here.
Gasket speaks up. "Why don't we let this information sit around in his head a little." The husky gives him a concerned look. That's new, Zuma notes, unsure if he likes the concern from her or not. "He still has wounds to recover and needs time to regain his strength, but we can't just spring this on him. This is Zuma's decision, not ours."
Zuma was impressed. Despite constantly being at odds with the Rocky copycat, she still had enough within her to recognize she couldn't control everything. She was surprisingly more mature than he even realized.
Perhaps in another world, we could be friends. However, I cannot respect how you trash Adventure Bay. My friend's concern is also mine.
For now, though, he'll appreciate the support.
"So how about it, Zuma? What do you say?" Katie looks away as Sweetie speaks. "Are you going to say something, or are you going to leave right away?"
Katie suddenly bursts, "I know we were trying to catch you, but please consider staying here. You're really hurt. Ryder would kill me if I was the source of one of his pup's destruction. Please...please just..." Katie coughs slightly. "Please just stay here for now."
"Or perhaps you could just go back? That's always an option," Claw remarks, glancing at a watch within his barked-out claw.
"Well, I have to go," the Doberman continued. "I'm late for my, uh, meeting."
"Who are you meeting?" Sweetie inquires with a slight lift of her face. "Is it your girlfriend?"
Claw glares at her slightly, looking awkward. "Just someone from the PAW Patrol, okay!" he barks as he opens the door to the salon.
"Is it a guy?" Hubcaps intervenes, excited he's not the one under fire this time. "There's plenty of male dogs in the PAW Patrol. You got a friend there?"
Claw rolls his eyes. "Uh, yeah. I do. I'm leaving." Claw darts out before anyone else says a word.
Zuma allowed Gasket and Claw's words to stay in his head. Go back? It was an option, but Zuma didn't want to be a bother to his old team. They clearly didn't need his expertise.
Perhaps staying here with Katie and deciding where to go from there was a good idea? Gasket was full of ideas, but this one was definitely one of her more thought-provoking ones.
Staying here with Katie isn't ideal, but I can always leave once I've recovered. It's like they all said, I'm hurt. I should at least attempt a recovery before running off again.
Plus, maybe I can help Katie? Perhaps she'll let me help around in spite of my injuries? Zuma smiles, making Katie smile as well as Gasket and Dwayne.
"What do you say, orange dog?" Dwayne asks. "It would be sad to see you dead somewhere in Adventure Bay. Plus, I'm sure you could help others around here. We won't tell anyone you are here!"
"Again, it's up to you. Don't pressure yourself."
Hearing Gasket say that only made Zuma feel more pressured. He didn't know what to really think. He was considering recovering, but now the pressure of figuring it out on his own just added more confusion to his already exhausted form.
"Oh! Here!" Katie reaches out with a hand, putting the half-eaten burger as well as some treats out in front of Zuma.
Zuma bent down to sniff it for any medicine or anything suspicious. Nothing. He smiles up at Katie. "Thanks, dude!"
He takes a bite, while his supposed new friends and Katie watch as he does so.
Finally, "So are you coming back, Gasket? I understand I am in the wrong here. We are here for you if you want to come back. You can bring that...wet pup with you if you want." Hubcap sticks out his tongue in disgust.
Gasket did not look amused. "Sorry. I think I'm staying here with Katie. Don't bother coming to visit me. We will be busy." Her eyes locked with Zuma's. She smiles at him and he just tilts his head in confusion.
"Plus, Katie makes me feel appreciated. Zuma isn't the only pup here who doesn't feel appreciated."
"Ditto," Sweetie agrees, waving a paw in the air royally. "I'm surprised Ryder didn't give you more attention. Then again, Chase gets all the attention around. No love for your own royal pooch or for anyone else who works for you."
Sweetie growls lowly. "I hate him so much, but I also don't..." She trails off, shaking her head. "Regardless, I'm just as shocked as you are about Ryder not bringing Zuma out on missions. I can't believe Ryder would do something like that. He told everyone about how little you were being used. Is it...true?" Sweetie asks, her eyes locking with Zuma.
Zuma sighs, "it's true. I just...felt so useless." He hung his head in shame. "Ryder didn't bother to at least have me there for backup. I don't know if I can trust Ryder and his judgment afterward, nor do I want them to come and beg me to come back because they've shown they don't need me."
Katie gasps. "But you—"
Zuma's hackles raised. "No! Shut up, Katie!" He forces himself to relax, mumbling a bit. "Sorry, I just don't want to hear it right now. Chase is a hubris-filled dick who wants all the glory for himself."
Zuma remembers when Chase was asked to rest when they were in Adventure City and how he refused to let Marshall take care of the people for him. He knew what he was saying was a bunch of bullcrap, however, it still felt like Chase was stealing his role on purpose.
He is the last pup who should've ran away that day. He wasn't...sane. His PTSD doesn't defend his actions that day. He allowed himself to fill up his own hubris over—
"Are you jealous?" Katie asked. Zuma snarls a little.
"Im not jealous of him. I'm jealous of—"
"How often Chase steals everyone's thunder?" Gasket inquires. She was closer than before. She put a paw on his shoulder.
"I might not fully understand what you are getting at, but I do understand others stealing whats rightfully yours. Those water missions..." Gasket trails off slightly as tears filled her eyes suddenly. "They were yours. You always had those."
"But when Chase stole even them from you...you cant help but feel like this." Katie finishes, astonished.
Is Katie trying to understand what I'm thinking?
Sweetie snorts. "Of course it's Chase. Chase was always the problem with me. Fuck Chase. I just wish something bad would—"
"Don't finish that, please!" Katie begged, rubbing Sweetie behind her ears. Sweetie huffs and leans in. "I suppose you're right. Chase doesn't deserve that no matter how annoying and in the way of my plans he can be. It can be so annoying. Sometimes all folks around here talk about is how great of a pup Chase is. It can make anyone feel overwhelmed and compare themselves to him."
Sweetie's pup tag then beeps and flashes. "Oh!" She answers.
"SWEETIE!!" the loud voice of the Princess of Barkingburg rings around the parlor.
Katie presses a hand against the closest ear. Zuma, Hubcap, and Dwayne recoil. Gasket rolls her eyes.
"Princess?! What is it? You're yelling." Sweetie doesn't seem surprised.
"Sorry. Emergency. You can hang out with your friends later."
"I was in the middle of talking to Zu—"
"ZUMA?! IS HE ALRIGHT?!!"
"Calm down. He's healing."
"Really?! Can I see him? Where is he?!" the princess shrieks.
Sweetie groans. Her lips move in Zuma's direction: Do you want her to know? I can tell her to fuck off.
Zuma nods. "It's okay," he whispers. "Just tell her she can't tell Ryder."
Sweetie's right eye twitches. "It'll be hard to convince her of that. Your departure has caused quite the commotion."
Sweetie then talks into her tag, informing the Princess to promise her not to tell anyone before she reveals Zuma's location.
A swift, "I promise my sweet little poochie. I get it," later and Sweetie told her, "he's here with me in Katie's parlor. She told us about the situation. I don't think he's considering coming back to the PAW Patrol."
"Oh. Well, he can come to stay with me. Zuma's got plenty to choose from if he likes. He'll be spoiled and pampered here, or he can stay at Katie's. Either way, I want to see him."
"He's in rough shape," Sweetie informs, biting her lip. "He's going to need some rest. What is the emergency?"
"It's a private royal matter. I would like you to come at once."
Sweetie turns to Zuma. "I'll talk to you later. I got a prissy princess that needs dealing with. Bye!" Sweetie cutely winks as she moonwalks a bit, turning around completely and running out of the parlor.
Now if was just Zuma, Katie, and the Ruff-Ruff Pack.
"We should get moving too, Dwayne." Hubcap looks at Gasket. "Are you...not coming back yet?" He shifts, gritting his teeth and growling slightly.
"You and Zuma are always welcome in the Ruff-Ruff Pack," Dwayne informs with a friendly wag of his tail. His eyes soften as he looks at Gasket with adoration. "You just...take your time okay? Hubcap might appear mad, but he also understands he overreacted a little."
Dwayne reaches down to pick up his boss, gently placing him on his back before turning around. "Oh! Yeah!" He angles back toward them. "Take care!"
Dwayne bolts out and leaves the three alone.
"I'll leave you with the food. You need to eat, Zuma. I don't know how long it's been since I wasn't there, but you look really skinny. I'm going to reopen the parlor for now." Katie leaves, opening a door to the main part of the parlor, leaving Zuma and Gasket alone.
"Do you want me to leave, too? I understand you might need some sp—"
"No. You're good, dude. I...think I would appreciate the company."
"Even if it was from little old me?" Gasket inquires with slight shock that the slightly smaller dog wants her to stick around.
Does she not have friends outside the pack? Zuma smiles. Perhaps it's time for a change, huh?
"Especially if it's from you, Gasket. I know we never got along too well, but I appreciate your effort in trying to get me in a better place."
Gasket puffs out her chest. "I just can't help but wonder why you would help me. We have almost nothing in common."
"Well, it's simply because we can both relate to feeling underappreciated. I told you this when the others were here."
A pause occurred. "You should start eating. Sorry to repeat Katie, but I don't want you to starve."
Zuma smiled. "Thanks." Zuma takes a bite out of the burger, feeling relief hit him as his stomach finally begins to fill up.
Zuma felt conscious of Gasket as she sat next to him, watching him with a slight frown on her face. "Not a problem."
Zuma takes another bite, considering all that's happened in the past month. Perhaps...perhaps it was rather rash of me to go back to the life of a stray. I have people here who care about me and are willing to house me.
Was this...was this all a mistake? Or is this the only way to get Ryder to notice his negligence?
Zuma didn't know anymore. But he knew one thing: he was happy Gasket was right here by his side, even if it was only her who understood him.
Yes. Perhaps I will become her friend. She's not nearly as chaotic as the other two and she's caring. That's something for sure!