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Welcome back to the accelerating story, presented by DragonsFire Entertainment!

A dire situation lies at both Chase and Skye's paws!

After being out on a long mission that lead into the late night, Ryder crucially fell asleep on his ATV while on their way back to the lookout, and crashed. Critically injuring him, leaving him laying at his pups' feet who watched everything happen in utter horror!

What will Chase and Skye do to help their fearless leader? Will they keep themselves together enough to save him?

Let's head on down to the Chapter and hold out for Ryder!

Chapter 3: Airlift to Heaven

"RYDER!"

After he let out a loud scream into the sky, Chase instinctively runs over to the downed Ryder, laid out in the middle of the street.

A few seconds later, Skye's copter touches down on the other side of the road, leaping out of her seat to get to Ryder.

"Wha-What happened?!" Skye howls out as she joins Chase, though he doesn't answer as they got up to Ryder.

"Ryder! Ryder!" Chase yells as he turns his head with a paw and is suddenly stricken.

Ryder was gasping for air as if he was suffocating in his helmet. However, Chase didn't recognize this until Skye suddenly says, "Chase! His helmet! Take off his helmet!"

Chase immediately goes for the helmet. It was difficult, but he managed to eventually pull it off. Almost immediately, Ryder starts to scarily catch his breath. His chest rising up and down like a trampoline.

He tries to speak, but couldn't get enough to air to form any words as each breath was little by little.

"Ch-Ch-Chase…" Ryder manages to get out, before gasping for more air.

"Ryder! What can we do?! How can we help you?!" Chase lets out in a single breath.

Each word Ryder tries to say required a huge gasp. "gasp. Chase….gasp. Skye. Gasp I..gasp...I…gasp…I can't…gasp….."

Chase realizes that Ryder was having immense trouble breathing. "Ryder. S-Stop talking! Breathe! Breathe!" He then whips his head at Skye. "Skye! What do we do?!"

Unfortunately, Skye seemed to be completely out of it.

"Skye! Skye!" Chase calls over and over.

"Wha? What?!"

"What do we do?! We need to help him!"

Skye was too much of shock to even think straight. "I…..I…..I don't know!"

"What do you mean?! You're the medic!" Chase points out, eyeing both she and Ryder back and forth.

"I…..I….I-I-I-I!" Skye was having a full-on panic attack. Chase couldn't pick up on that, because he was on the verge of one himself, having no idea what to do.

He turns back to Ryder who was still gasping. "Ryder! Ryder! Ryder! What do I do?! What do I DO?!"

Panic was taking Chase over like a virus. Feeling the urge to scream out for something, anything that can help Ryder.

Before he could, a sudden cry out of their names sounded. Chase and Skye see Katie who'd finally come out of her parlor after hearing the commotion.

"Chase! Skye! Ryder! What happened?!" She yells out.

Chase runs over to her. "Katie!Ryder'shurt! He'shavingproblemsbreathingandwedon'tknowwhattodo!"

Katie runs over to Ryder who as Chase said, was still taking big gasps of air. "Ryder! Tell me what's wrong!"

Ryder tried to speak but all he could get out were voiceless breaths from his exhales.

"Ryder hit a bench and hit his back on the light pole! That's what happened!" Chase described.

Upon hearing that, Katie's eyes went wide. While she may be an up and coming veterinarian, she knows enough about medical injuries to recognize what may have happened to Ryder.

"Ryder! Answer me! Can you feel anything?!" she questions. "Neck, hands, fingers, legs, toes? Anything?!"

Ryder tries to answer again but was unable to. Resorting to shaking his head to say no. Once that was confirmed, Katie knew what needs to be done.

"Ryder needs medical attention, now!" Katie lets out.

"Ca-Can you do anything?!" Skye inquires.

"I'm afraid not pups. I'm only an animal doctor and in training at that. Katie disclosed. "Ryder needs professional help, and the only thing close enough is Foggy Bottom!"

"We can get Marshall's truck! It has an EMT setting to get him there!" Chase points out.

"You can, but Foggy Bottom is still a ways from here!" Katie replies. "Flying him there may be our only option!"

"I-I can!" Skye steps up. "I can use my harness!"

"No Skye. That won't help Ryder much." Katie cuts. "We need a medical transport or something. The only way we can do that is call Foggy Bottom medical, but he's having immense trouble breathing. He could stop at any moment!"

Chase and Skye stood confounded. They may know what needed to be done, but there was no way to save Ryder.

Just then, Ryder bumps Katie's leg with his head to get her attention.

"Katie….gasp…..lookout…..gasp…garage…gasp….Skye….." Ryder gasps one big breath to get out the last word. "….Medcopter…"

"Medical copter?!" Skye gawks, having first heard of such a thing in Ryder's garage.

Ryder tries to say more, but ends up coughing to oblivion, with blood coming out of his mouth. Now Katie felt like panicking, as it seemed that Ryder was now internally bleeding, shortening their time to get him to a doctor to mere hours.

She looks at Skye. "Skye, do you know where this copter is?!"

Skye looked to be pushed over the edge. "N-N-I…No! I-I didn't even know it existed until now!"

"Well, if there is one, you'll have to find it! It's the only chance we have to getting Ryder to the hospital in time!" Katie tells Skye.

Skye just stands there. Rendered completely unmoved by the events happening in front of her. Wanting to just crouch down and cry until everything was okay. Then, her guardian shield, speaks out to her.

"Skye! Listen! You need to keep it together angel! Ryder needs you!" Chase sounds off.

Skye's jaw hangs. Seeing a pup who was just as shocked and scared as she was, suddenly shake everything off to put her head back on.

"Bu-But this med co-copter. I-I don't know where it is! I-I don't know if I can find it in time!"

"Not with Rocky's help!" Chase mentions.

"Rocky?"

"Yes angel! If anyone else should know about it, Rocky should! He'll know where it is!" Chase insists. "Get him to help you find it!"

Seeing Chase this calm along with realizing a set plan pumps adrenaline into the cockapoo's veins. She nods at her shield. "Yes! Your right!" She says as she immediately makes for her copter, brings it to life, and flies to the lookout, keeping Ryder in her mind to motivate her.

As she flies away, Katie runs back to her parlor.

"Katie?! Where are you going?!"

"I might have something that can help Ryder's breathing! Stay with him Chase! I'll be right back!" She answers as she dives into her parlor.

Chase stands there. Completely unsure of what to do. Motivating Skye was all he could do, after that, Ryder was still in critical danger, and all he could do was stand there like a soldier without orders.

Suddenly, Chase feels a hand touch his cheek, nearly scaring him off his paws.

It was Ryder who was now looking intently at him.

"Chase…" Ryder gasps out.

Chase stands ready. "Ryder! I'm here! I'm here! What do you need me to do?!"

Ryder slowly tightens Chase's fur, though it wasn't much. Taking one deep breath. "Chase….I'm….I'm sorry."

"Sorry?! Sorry for what?!" Chase asks, confused.

Tear were now rolling down the boy's face as more blood trickles out of his mouth. "I….gasp….I….gasp…..I love you!"

Electricity shot through Chase's spine. "Ryder?!"

Ryder's breathing slowed as he got one last sentence out. "I…..I love you all."

At the last word, Ryder exhales and his hand fell back on the payment. His chest stopped moving and his eyes closed.

Chase's heart rate skyrocketed. "Ryder?! Ryder?! RYDER!"

Ryder remained unresponsive, prompting Chase to slam an ear over Ryder's chest. A thousand bees then sting his heart when he hears nothing through Ryder's body. Telling him the chilling outcome.

Ryder was dead.

Ryder opens his eyes to a place he's never seen before. Completely confused as the last thing he remembered was lying in the middle of Adventure Bay's street.

But now, he was standing with complete feeling of his arms and legs. Painless amidst….he wasn't very sure.

A completely barren of whiteness was all around. No buildings, streets, people, or trees. Not even the ground was visible as the eleven-year-old couldn't clarify exactly what he was standing on, as the whiteness was also under his feet, as if he was floating in thin air.

The boy looks around, completely clueless as to where he was, seeing nothing that could give him a single hint.

"Hello?!" He finally calls out. "Chase?! Skye?! Katie?! Anyone?!"

Ryder got nothing but the echoes of his voice. Bouncing back to him as he was the only one who could hear him.

"He-Hey! Whe-Where am I? Can someone please, answer me?!"

Ryder was starting to freak in his mind, trying to tell if this was even real or not.

"Ryder?!"

A voice finally response to him. Only, this voice was a voice Ryder felt he hadn't heard in forever.

In a sudden gasp, Ryder spins and is suddenly thunderstruck.

Right in front of him stood Marshall. In fire pup gear and all, displaying the exact look Ryder was showing.

"Ma-Marshall?!" Ryder let out, with a gladdening tone.

"Ryder?" Marshall responds, however, with a complete opposite reaction. Sounding very disheartened.

"Marshall." Ryder felt tears push out his eyes up on saying his name again. Resisting the urge to run up and give the dalmatian the biggest hug in his life.

That word suddenly echoes in Ryder's mind, processing the situation.

Marshall a few months ago, was trapped in the city hall fire and never made it out. After a whole day of searching and cleaning up the debris, no trace was ever found of the dalmatian except for a charred collar. Naturally declaring Marshall dead in the line of duty.

The last thing Ryder remembers was riding home on his ATV extremely tired. He ended up falling asleep on his ATV and crashed. Critically injuring himself to the point where he had a heck of a time breathing and couldn't feel anything past his neck. His last words to Chase were that he loved him and the other pups.

Now he was, standing with Marshall right in front of him in a place that was best described as pure nothing. That could only mean one thing and it hit Ryder like a baseball bat.

He…..died….right in the middle of the street with a petrified Chase beside him not at all how he ever wanted to leave the world. Especially with his pups still very young.

The weight of everything forced him to his knees and his body to hurl forward and plant his arms to the ground. His head dangling as he starts to lose his breath.

He couldn't stand himself. He screwed up again. At a time where he and his pup were trying to move on from one beloved death, he goes and gets himself killed, just like that. Right next to one of them in dramatic fashion no less.

He couldn't believe that he would allow this to happen. He had many dreams and aspirations he wanted to fulfill and wanted to be there with his pups. Who were all too young to live on their own and who looked to him as a caring father, like his father was to him.

Now, he was gone. With no way for them to reach out to him if they were ever scared or hurt. A great responsibility that he can no longer fulfill, all because he decided to fall asleep at the absolute worst time.

At that moment, Marshall's paws appear under his eyes, causing Ryder to slowly raise his head to the dally who was now nose to nose to him.

"What are you doing here?" Marshall questions with a sad whimper.

Ryder freezes up. He knows Marshall isn't exactly enthusiastic to find him here of all places. It was later known that Marshall was petrified of dying prematurely. He spent his entire time on the Paw Patrol scared to what might happen to his friends or family should he pass away. He witnessed Chase completely shutting down and falling into a deep depression because of his father being murdered. Having to hold out and hang on for the shepherd to get Chase back to being Chase again.

God knows how much agony the Dalmatian was in right now; in front of the pearly gates and couldn't go back to make sure his friends were okay. Ryder made it essential that he move on and help his pups through the tragedy as well as never allowing Marshall's fear to come true.

However, Ryder suddenly dying at a time like this has made things harder. If Ryder and the Paw Patrol barley get by Marshall's death, they sure will crumble at Ryder's death. Especially since Marshall's was literally a mere months ago.

Ryder tears up in Marshall's gaze as he sits right on his legs, barely able to look Marshall in the eye. "Marshall….I'm…I'm sorry."

Marshall remained unmoved as Ryder sobs out. "I…..I failed you. I failed you again."

The dalmatian's expression fell as Ryder went on. "The-The pups need me. I'm supposed to be there for them. But….I failed…..them."

Ryder lowers his head back down and lets out an endless about of sobs. Fully accepting his death and failure. Marshall remained still, looking down at the sobbing boy.

Ryder raises his head. He was expecting Marshall to respond, but the dalmatian remained silent. "Marshall?"

The dally finally speaks, shaking his head. "No. You're not supposed to be here."

Ryder could hear the shakiness in the dalmatian's voice. "I know Marshall. I know I'm not supposed to be here." Ryder replies with full acceptance. "I….I screwed up….and I'm ready to accept it."

"No, Ryder, that's not what I mean!" Marshall insists, notably getting a little frustrated. "You are really not supposed to be here yet!"

Ryder was taken aback. "Ma-Marshall, please. You know as well as I do that there's no turning back on this."

"No!" Marshall suddenly yelps. "You still don't get it! It's not your time! I know it isn't because I've seen it myself! You're really not supposed to be here yet!"

"Marshall. You're not making it easy for me." Ryder insists. "I died. Plain and simple."

Marshall turns tail on Ryder with a sudden gruff. Ryder sat in total disbelief on why Marshall was fighting him on this. He could barely hear the dally say "I have to fix this."

"Huh? What?" Ryder asks.

Marshall turns back to Ryder. "This isn't right, I need to fix this!"

Before Ryder could say anything else, Marshall suddenly takes off.

"Marshall?! Where are you going?!"

"I'm going to make things right! Just hang tight!"

Ryder then raises to a knee. "Marshall! What are you talking about?!"

"I'm going to talk to him! He'll straighten everything out! Just stay there!"

Rider rises to his feet as he reaches out to the decreasing form of Marshall. "Wait, Marshall! Marshall! Don't leave me! MARSHALL!"

Skye lands her copter right on her spot and flips out of her seat.

She rushes over to Rocky's pup house, pounding on the door. "Rocky! Rocky! Wake up! Wake up! I need you! Ryder needs you!"

While she pounded the door with all their might, Rocky comes up behind her.

"Skye?" He calls out, causing Skye to suddenly flip with a yelp. "What's wrong? You're acting like someone's trying to hurt you or something."

Skye gets right up to the mixed breed speaking a million words per minute. "Rockywehavenotime! Ineedtogetintothegarageandgetmymedicalcopter!"

Rocky instincly pushes Skye away. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Calm down Skye! The med copter?! But it's not ready yet!"

"I need it Rocky! I need it!" Skye pushes, screaming bloody murder. "Ryder's hurt. Real bad!"

The news shocked Rocky so much, he steps back a foot. "What?! Wha-What happened?!"

"I don't have time to explain Rock! We've got to fly him to Foggy Bottom right now!"

Rocky was itching for details but from the way Skye was acting, it seemed like he'll have to get the story later. He turns towards the garage and waves over a paw. "Cmon then! It shouldn't take much to get it out!"

A nightmare was laying at Chase's paws right now.

He'd had many of them just like this over the years, in many different variations. His owner dying right in front of his eyes like his father did just two years ago.

Because of them, Chase was always scared to death that everyone around him would be forcibly taken from him one by one. Ryder, Marshall, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Rubble. He had countless nightmares about all of them that drove him insane.

But this…..wasn't a nightmare.

Like Marshall's, this was as real as the sky being blue. Ryder lays dead right at his feet, and just like Marshall's, Chase was powerless to stop it.

Everything around him seemed to disappear from his vision as he gawks at Ryder's motionless body. Completely paralyzed from head to tail. Not noticing Katie running back to him.

Katie's sees the shepherd completely frozen in the moment. "Chase! Chase! What's wrong?!"

Chase practically couldn't hear her as all he could hear was his mind static like a television with no signal.

The girl then notices that Ryder wasn't breathing, lifting his arm up and checking his wrist with her two fingers. She really had to feel for it, but she did feel a very faint pulse, easing her worries a little as they still had time.

She then quickly straps the handheld breathing mask she had on his head and proceeds to give him CPR. Giving him chest compressions followed by two breaths by squeezing the bubble on the mask slowly. Causing Ryder's chest to slowly move up and down.

Chase recognized what she's doing and gravely tells her. "K-Katie…the…..there's no need for that…..he's…..he's…."

"Not yet Chase. I'm giving him CPR to keep him from it." Katie explains while continuing to resuscitate Ryder.

A little spark of fire lit in Chase. There was still a chance for Ryder to survive. This was no time to sulk.

It was then that Chase noticed that a sizable crowd was gathered behind them.

It was still very early in the morning, yet just about everyone in Adventure Bay including Mayor Goodway, Mr. Porter with his grandson Alex, Captain Turbot, and many children and pups all stood horrifically stunned. Nearly brought to tears at what was happening before their eyes.

Chase realized what he could do. This was not something that the people of Adventure Bay should see. Their hero in immense danger. He may not be able to help Ryder much right now, but he could do his best to ease Adventure Bay's worries.

He barks out his mega horn and announces to the crowd. "People of Adventure Bay. We have the situation completely under control! Please disperse and go back to your endeavors!"

"Wha-What happened?! What's wrong with Ryder?!" A pup lets out before the others start asking similar questions.

Chase takes one look back. Seeing that Katie was actually successful and was helping Ryder breathe with the mask.

He turns back to the crowd. "I'm afraid he had a bit of an accident, but he will be okay. Please, go back to your homes!"

Upon this, Mayor Goodway nods to Chase before turning around to disperse the crowd herself.

As that was happening, Chase then hears a helicopter arriving at the scene before actually seeing it and was astonished.

It was much bigger than Skye's regular copter, in fact, it was almost the size of a regular one. It was the same color as Skye's but had a big red cross on its body. The cockpit was normal sized while the cab in the back looked big enough to transport one patient and one other person and its tail was long.

Chase wondered how Rocky and Skye ever got it out of the garage, or even how Ryder had it in there in the first place. However, that wasn't important right now, what is was getting Ryder to Foggy Bottom medical center.

Chase runs up to Katie and Ryder, while Skye does the same.

"How is he?!" Skye immediately asks.

"He's a little better now, is there a ventilator on that thing?" Katie questioned.

Skye nods. "Yes mam, there is!"

"Good, that'll make the journey a little easier." Katie says with an optimistic smile. "You two go get the stretcher so we can load him up!"

Chase and Skye immediately make for the copter, open the cab, and pull out the stretcher. Laying it across their backs to affirmingly carry it over to Ryder and Katie.

At that time, a few people including Mayor Goodway, Mr. Porter, and Captain Turbot, joined Katie to help them. Knowing that the pups would have quite a difficult time getting Ryder loaded onto the copter.

As soon as Chase and Skye got up to them, they wasted no time carefully placing Ryder on the stretcher. Katie continued assisting Ryder's breathing as Mayor Goodway, Mr. Porter, Captain Turbot, Chase, and Skye move carefully and quickly to the copter and successfully load Ryder into the cab, with Katie going in with him and hooking him up to the copter's ventilator.

As she does, she says to Skye. "Alright Skye, get in and take us up!"

Skye nods as she runs to the cockpit. Katie then looks to Mayor Goodway. "Mayor, can you get the pups and take them to the hospital?"

"Why yes! I can do that!" Mayor Goodway accepts as she tries to gather Chase.

"Wait! Wait! Katie!" Chase yelps.

"What is it Chase?! We don't have much time!" Katie replied.

Chase lets out his request quickly. "I want to ride with you and Ryder!"

"Chase, I know you mean well, but this cab can barely fit both me and Ryder!"

"Katie! Please! I need to! I need to!" Chase begs as if his life depends on it.

Katie had no time to argue. Ryder needed to go now, and arguing with Chase would just delay them even further.

"Oh alright! Get up in here and squeeze yourself in as best as you can!"

Chase wags as he jumps in the copter, quickly finding out how true Katie's words were as his left back paw wasn't fully in.

He does his best to compress himself and Chase the little space right next to Ryder's torso. Giving a nod to Katie that he was at least a little comfortable.

Katie then tells Skye to take off as the doors closed and Skye lifts the copter off the ground. Shortly making their way to Foggy Bottom with Chase holding on as best as he could, hoping that Ryder was doing the same.

It seems that Chase, Skye, and Katie were able to stabilize Ryder for now, but he's not out of the woods yet.

Now they have to get him to the medical center in time and hope the doctors can save his life!

But was their efforts enough, or will the Paw Patrol suffer yet another tragedy?

Find out next time when Chapter 4: On Your Toes is released on November 8th, 2024!

I sincerely apologize for being super late with this and will do my best to make my deadlines with no issues. As always, thank you for your patience.

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

This is Sean Thames of DragonsFire Entertainment signing off!