*Author's Note: Hi everyone, I am so sorry for not updating stories as of recently. I have been having health problems that I have been dealing with. Both stress and effects from the virus - got it in Nov. 2020, then odd sensations under my skin 3 months later. Also, I intended to finish this story in December, but due to the passing of a family member, I just wasn't in the best mood to write. I am doing better and will try to update more often. My sincere apologies.*

Chapter 3: Building a Tree

Rocky ran outside, and looked around as he looked for his friend in pink. Soon, he saw Skye near her pup house.

"Hey Skye, I was wondering if I could skydive with you?" Rocky asked kindly.

"Sure, let's go!" Skye answered before they ran off.

The two pups got into a hot air balloon with an instructor and went up. It took some time, but they were soon over the drop zone.

"You go first, I'll jump after," Rocky offered. Skye smiled.

"Thanks Rocky" Skye said before jumping off. After thirty seconds, Rocky jumped off the hot air balloon too.

"Yay! Ruff ruff!" Skye cried out as she spread her legs out as she free falled. Good thing she was use to the adrenaline as well as skydiving.

Rocky spread his legs out as he fell towards the ground; the cool air rushing past him gave a relaxing feeling. Ricky loved it!

Soon, Skye released her pink parachute from the backpack before she started to float down.

After several minutes, Rocky released his parachute too. The pup was jolted back as it released.

FWOOSH! Rocky's nylon green parachute popped out of the backpack, before catching air, gently lowering the pup closr and closer to the ground.

Looking over, he saw Skye floating next to him, but slightly lower than he was. Then again, she jumped first.

"Hey Skye, if I had more than one parachute, how would I release it?" Rocky asked curiously.

"It would be released at the same time. If any parachute didn't release right you would be spinning or having difficulty controlling your fall. You would need to pack the parachute so the openings catch the air equally or one after the other," Skye answered.

"Okay, thank you" Rocky replied happily. He hoped his Christmas parachute would work and not cause him trouble when packing it.

The view was calm, and peaceful as Rocky gently floated down to the ground, and within minutes, Skye landed on the landing pad. Rocky landed shortly after her.

"Aroooo! That was fun! Thanks Skye," Rocky cheered, happy with his skydiving.

"You're welcome Rocky. I'm glad - oh!" Skye said before noticing her pink parachute floating down towards her. Soon, the cockapoo pup was engulfed by her pink parachute, trapped under it.

"Ahhhhhhhh! Oh no! Ah! Ohhhh! Help!" Skye exclaimed as she fumbled and flailed about under her pink parachute. She looked like a cute pink parachute ghost. Rocky laughed at the silliness of the moment.

Unfortunately, Rocky's moment of joy was interrupted by the green nylon parachute floating down, and landing on top of the pup.

"Hahaha! You look like a pink ghost! At least now I - Wait! Nooo! Hey! Ahhhhh! Get me outta here! Who turned out the lights?" Rocky exclaimed as he started to fumble and flail about under his big, green parachute. Rocky looked like a green ghost as he struggled to get out of his parachute, but Rocky didn't mind though, since all he wanted was to get out of his green parachute.

After several moments of flailing around under the parachutes, Rocky and Skye got out.

"Well, that was unexpected. We must have haunted by the parachutes of Christmas present!" Rocky jokes. Skye laughed.

"Hahaha! Or rather WE became the ghosts!" Skye replied before they both laughed.

"Okay, let's pack up!" Skye suggested as she started to push her parachute. Rocky did the same, and as they packed their parachutes, he asked how he would pack more than one parachute into a backpack.

"You push them in bit by bit. Both parachutes need to release at the same time, so you pack them with room so the parachutes get released with room to open up and not get tangled while in the backpack," Skye told him. Rocky nodded.

Once they got back from their skydiving, Rocky ran into The Lookout. Ryder was currently pouring food for the pups into bowls.

"Ryder? Do we have any big, spare rooms? I want to start working on my Christmas gift!" Rocky asked.

"Yes, in the back near the food dispensers. But after lunch!" Ryder replied. The boy then gave the pups their food before going to have lunch himself.

Once lunch was over, Rocky went to his truck. He looked around, but surprisingly, no big, colorful fabrics.

"Oh the irony! I want to make a parachute, but I have no fabric big enough! Maybe Ryder has some," Rocky told himself. The mixed breed ran back into The Lookout and looked for Ryder. Luckily, the ten year old boy was finishing his lunch.

"Hi Ryder. Sorry to bother you again, but do we have any big green parachute fabric? I tried looking in my truck, but I couldn't find a fabric big enough for what I need," Rocky said hoping for a positive answer. Ryder smirked and rolled his eyes.

"You're really going with this Christmas parachute idea huh?" I told you Rocky, nothing bad is going to happen to the pine trees in Adventure Bay. We can plant more pine trees this spring and summer," Ryder replied, slightly amused by Rocky's dedication.

"Yes! But what if there was a big forest fire, with only five or so trees standing? Pine trees take years to grow! I HAVE to make sure there's a tree for Christmas! Otherwise what would we be decorating? Pup treats?" Rocky responded with concerned determination. Ryder smiled.

"Okay, fair point. I'm just surprised how much you want to do this. There are spare fabrics in the basement," Ryder replied before he started to clean up.

"Thank you," Rocky said before running to the elevator. He went down to the basement and found the box of parachute fabrics. After looking through, he found some big fabrics that were pine tree green. Exactly what he needed! Rocky carefully pulled the fabric out, and then carried it to the elevator. Once on the ground floor again, the mixed breed washed the fabric, dried it, and then took the dark green fabric to the back room. He quickly got his notes, then went to the back room and closed the door.

"Okay, measurements. Seven feet tall by five feet across! I might have to double that since some branches will need to be open for the air to get through," Rocky said as he looked over his research. The mixed breed measured the tree into four separate seven by five fabric triangles.

"Good. Now the branches ..." Rocky commented. He got some spare fabrics and cut them into two triangles. He soon had a set of many small triangles. He put them on the fabric in different spots so each big triangle had many small 'branches'sticking out on the sides.

"Now I just need to sew them ... Right, my pup pack. Better get it!" Rocky said realizing his mistake. The mixed breed exited the room, locked the door and ran to get his pup pack, along with a green thread and needle. Once get got his tools, Rocky returned, unlocked the door, and went into the room before closing the door again.

"Now to add the branches. At least it's looking like a tree," Rocky said, happy with his progress so far.

If only he knew the trouble that would soon greet him.