Chapter 2
Let's start with the day that my adventures began. It was a hot summer day in Adventure Georgia. Ryder had just called us in for a mission.
"PAW Patrol ready for action Ryder sir," Chase said.
Chase was the police pup and the second in command of the PAW Patrol. He was always ready to help his town.
"Thanks for hurrying pups. Wally the walrus has got himself stuck in some Rocks on Seal Island and we need to get him out. So for this mission I'll need Skye. I'll need you to find Wally from the sky with your helicopter," Ryder said.
Skye was our aviation pup. She was a fearless flyer and often flew into very dangerous situation.
"Let's take to the sky," Skye yipped, doing her signature back flip.
"I'll also need Chase. I'll need your winch to help get Wally out," Ryder said.
"Chase is on the case," Chase said with authority.
"And Zuma," Ryder started.
At the mention of my name my tail went up. I was rarely called on for a mission and I was excited to see what Ryder needed me for.
"I need you to drive Chase to Seal Island on your Hovercraft," Ryder said.
My tail went down. That's not the job I was hoping for.
"Let's dive in," I said without much enthusiasm.
"Alright PAW Patrol is on a roll," Ryder said.
Chase, Skye, and I slide down the slide and into our vehicles. On the way to Seal Island Chase leaned over and whispered in my ear.
"You alright dude? You didn't seem too happy earlier," Chase asked.
"Yeah I'm fine," I said.
"Are you sure?" Chase asked with concern.
"Yeah I haven't been feeling the best these past couple of days. But that's not important. Right now Wally needs our help," I said.
Chase leaned back in his seat, not completely convinced that I was okay. Soon Skye found Wally and I dropped Chase off to help. I then went to the dock to wait for them to finish. While I waited I tried to stay positive about my situation, but I didn't do a very good job at it.
"Water rescue pup, huh. More like a taxi driver the real hero's," I grumbled to myself.
I sighed and put my chin in my paws. I waited for a while contemplating why I wasn't chosen as much as the other pups. Eventually I spotted Chase out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head just in time to see Captain Turbot, a friend of ours, scratch Chase behind the ear.
"Thanks for saving Wally. you're a good pup Chase," Captain Turbot said.
"Aw I was just doing my job captain," Chase said.
I felt tears start to well up inside of me. Was I not part of the team? Was I invisible? Why was chase getting glory and not me? I was the one that brought him here to help.
"Oh hello Zuma," Captain Turbot said with a friendly tone.
"hi captain," I muttered angrily.
"Are you sure you're okay dude," Chase asked with concern.
"I'm fine. Now get in and let's go," I growled.
Chase looked at me with a surprised look. Without saying anything he got in my hovercraft and we went back to the mainland. Once we reached the beach Chase confronted me about my attitude.
"Okay, what is going on with you? What's wrong?" Chase said.
"Oh shut up Mr. Hero. you always take all the glory," I snapped.
"What the, excuse me I just did what I was told to do, and you did your part in the rescue," Chase said with a hurt expression on his face.
"Yeah well next time you can ride with Ryder, because I'm the water rescue pup, not a taxi driver for you popular town hero's," I yelled.
Chase, Skye and Ryder all looked at me with shocked, hurt expressions; my eyes widened as a realized what I just said.
"I'm sorry," I cried.
I then ran away as fast as I could. Chase tried to follow but gave up pretty quickly. I ran until I came to The Crafty Fox Tavern. I often came here when I was sad or upset. Other dogs came here to drink and smoke and other things like that. I refrained from such stuff, except for a few occasions I have taken a shot of Canine whisky, but that was it and I didn't do it very often. I sat down at the bar counter and put my face in my paws.
"Oh hello Zuma, can I get you anything," Came a familiar voice.
I looked up into the face of Ella Labrador.
"Uh yeah a shot of canine whisky please," I said my face returning to my paws.
"Uh oh, what happened this time?" Ella asked pouring me a shot of whisky.
"Uh, Chase and I had a uh, little argument," I said.
"But you two never argue. what caused it?" Ella asked sliding the shot glass into my paws.
"It's my fault, Ryder picked me to drive Chase to Seal Island for a rescue and he got all the glory and I kind of blew up in his face about it," I said sipping the whisky down.
"Did you apologize to him?"
"Eh well," I stuttered.
"Zuma Caspian Labrador, did you apologize to Chase," Ella asked with a raised voice.
"Uh sort of, I said sorry before I ran off," I said, hoping Ella would buy it.
Ella sighed and put her paw on mine.
"Look Zuma, I don't know what's bothering you, but your friends can help. And you need to apologize to Chase," Ella said.
I looked up into her deep blue eyes and smiled.
"ELLA LABRADOR," came a loud, thundering voice.
"Crap, coming Mr. Bull," Ella said with fear.
Mr. Bull was probably the biggest, meanest pit bull in Adventure Bay. He was the owner of the Crafty Fox Tavern as well as a big time drunkard.
"What are you doing, you've got thirsty customers here," Mr. Bull yelled.
"S-sorry sir, I was j-just helping my friend out," Ella said shaking with fear.
"Oh, so you think that's more important then your job, huh."
"Y-yes sir," Ella stuttered.
"WRONG answer dog, your job is more important than anything else," Mr. Bull boomed.
"You leave her alone. she didn't do anything wrong," I shouted in defense.
"Stay out of it pup, she was slacking off on her work," Mr. Bull growled.
"I'm a PAW Patroller and I stand for justice, so I can't let you treat her like that," I said, getting nose to nose with the big pit bull.
"So, what are you going to do about it," Mr. Bull said.
"Ella get me a whisky bottle will you," I said.
"You don't drink pup," Mr. Bull said in a mocking tone.
"Maybe not, but she's doing her job now isn't she," I taunted.
Ella handed me the bottle of canine whisky, a look of concern painted on her face.
"Well, you goanna drink it, or not," Mr. Bull taunted.
Slowly, I twisted the aluminum cap off. I took a deep breath and hoped my body was strong enough to handle what I was about to do. Eventually the cold, glass rim reached my lips. Mr. Bull smiled as every last drop of whisky vanished down my throat.
"There, are you Happy now," I grunted, fighting hard to stay somber.
"Oh yes, now I'm happy," Mr. Bull said with an evil chuckle.
"Good, because I, uh, oh no," I stuttered.
My vision became blurred and I fell down of my stool.
"Nighty, night little pup," Mr. Bull cackled.
I tried to stand up, but my drunken mind only allowed me to stumble about on the floor. Eventually my paw found the empty whisky bottle.
"Why you son of a mutt, take this," I yelled, chucking the empty bottle at the big pit bull.
Either I had amazing luck, or I just wasn't as drunk as I thought I was, because I scored a direct hit to his head. That did it; Mr. Bull came flying over the counter and sank his teeth into the back of my neck. I tried to fight back, my paws flailing around trying to find his face. But with his strength and my drunken mind I was absolutely helpless. One thrash on the concrete floor and I was out cold.
I woke up a few hours later in a soft bed. At first I had no idea where I was. I looked around; it was a small room with a single pup bed and a low table next to it. By the looks of it I was in a house, or an apartment built for canines. The PAW Patrol emblem was painted on the wall and on the table were two pictures. One was of Ella with her Brother Tuck and the other was of the whole PAW Patrol together.
At that moment I realized I was at Tuck and Ella's house. And as if to confirm my theory Ella walked into the room.
"Ella, what happened to me?" I asked.
"Oh Zuma, you're awake," Ella said with relief.
"What happened?" I asked again.
"Well, you picked a fight with a big pit bull and," Ella started.
"No, no, no, what happened after he knocked me out, I remember everything else," I asked.
"Oh, well he thrashed you against the concrete and then he waltzed back up to his "Throne of power". I ran to help you and he threatened that if I dared try and help I was fired. I ignored him and carried you back here," Ella said.
"Oh, that cheat," I hissed.
At that moment Marshal, Chase, and Tuck rushed into the room. I relaxed a little bit with Marshal here to check my wounds. Chase did not look happy though.
"So Zuma, you want to tell me what you were doing, drinking and getting into fights," Chase asked.
"Okay, look Chase, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get drunk; I was trying to defend Ella. He was harassing her and then he pressured me into drinking. I originally wasn't going to drink, but he would have continued his evil acts if I didn't," I said.
Chase's eyes softened, he looked at Ella.
"Ella, is that true, was he really harassing you?" Chase asked.
"Yeah, he sure was, that's one of the reason why I quite!" Ella said.
"Well then it looks like I've got an arrest to make. Nobody harms my friends," Chase said.
"Chase, wait until I can come with you," I asked.
"Why, he beat you up pretty bad?" Chase asked with confusion.
"Dude I wanna sock that cheater in the nose so bad, please wait," I said.
"Okay buddy," Chase said.
"Well Zuma, you are one lucky dog. You managed to get out of that fight with only bruises and a few cuts, but that's it. I'd say rest here for the night and then you'd be free to go, if that's okay with you Ella," Marshal said.
"Its paw-fectly fine with me if Zuma stays here for the night," Ella said.
"Alright, you take care of yourself Zuma," Chase said with a smile.
Chase and Marshal went back to the lookout. I spent the rest of the day resting and hanging out with Tuck and Ella. We had fun talking with each other as well as playing games on their Nintendo switch and watching some of our old rescue videos.
That night Ella let me stay at their place. I talked with her alone for a little bit before bed.
"Hay Ella I'm sorry about your job, I know how much you needed it," I said.
"Oh Zuma its okay. I was done with that guy anyway," Ella said.
"Yeah, he wasn't the best boss. Wait, where's my pup tag, and come to think of it, all of my stuff is missing? Ah that thief, he stole my stuff after he knocked me out. oh that criminal is goanna get it now," I growled.
"Oh yeah he will, once you and Chase get to him, he'll be a dead pup," Ella said.
"Well, anyway thanks for looking after me," I said.
"Anytime Zumey. see you tomorrow," Ella said.
"Yeah, good night, Ella," I said.
Ella switched the light off and I pulled the blankets over myself. This was only the beginning of my adventures. I still had to find my purpose in life, my destiny.