Welcome back to Paw Patrol and the Wolf's Emerald presented by DragonsFire Entertainment!

While things hadn't been going well recently for the team, It could've been substantially worse for the most part.

After Ryder's horrific accident near the Adventure Bay bridge, he nearly broke in half and had to be rushed to Foggy Bottom medical center. Thankfully, Ryder will pull through, but his body has taken significant damage, leaving him in a medical induced coma until it could heal enough for him to wake up.

The pups are of course in shambles, but have now regrouped, and is eagerly waiting for the day when their owner wakes up and recovers quickly, with Chase stepping up to lead in Ryder's absence.

However, a rescue is about to show up at the lookout now out of all times, that may be the first mission they won't be able to do or even try...

Chapter 5: An Unexpected Guest

It's been a few days since Ryder's accident and while it hadn't been a happy camp at the lookout by any means, it's at least been quite peaceful. Thanks to the mayor's efforts.

Right after they returned to Adventure Bay, the mayor held a meeting at town hall, where she briefed the citizens on Ryder's condition and stated against her own feelings, the Paw Patrol will continue to fulfill their duty despite his absence. As it turned out though, even with the pups themselves assuring that they are willing to help regardless of what happened, almost no calls came in the past few days. Possibly out of courtesy.

However, this bothered Chase. The thought of someone in peril but forcing themselves not to call the Paw Patrol made his anxiety bounce off the wall. Even when Chase would be out on his typical patrols, the townsfolk would act very careful around him. The feeling played with his heart, hoping that no one was getting seriously hurt.

Though on the inside, the shepherd was actually very thankful, possibly more than he was worried though he didn't want to admit that. With Ryder down, that meant that Chase has be the one to run the whole team in his stead. While it was easy enough for Chase to manage the Paw Patrol along with Katie handling their meals and bed time rituals, Chase's nerves fluctuated for the inevitable rescue that will test his leadership. Making him question whether or not he could lead without Ryder.

Chase knew this time would come, but he never thought it would've been this soon. Sure Ryder will return but a lot could happen till then, and Chase didn't know if he was prepared for everything.

With shaky eyes, Chase gazes at the unmoved figure of his best friend, staring right through him with his determined blue eyes as if he was expecting something out of the shepherd.

There was not a day that goes by that Chase wished that the statue in front of him was the real thing. The same pup Chase would come to every time he felt insecure about himself, just to have the dalmatian counter his sorrows and talk him up like he always did. But no matter how many times he would talk to it, he always got the silent air, painfully reminding him that it was still just a statue with his likeness and the real Marshall is forever gone. You would think by this time, Chase wouldn't fall for it all the time, but due to just how life like it was, he would be entranced enough to at least to keep trying.

"Hey buddy. I…..I'm sorry to bother you with my problems but, I need your insight right now." Chase gazes up at the statue, almost expecting it to respond, though he continues anyway. "I….I don't know if I can do it buddy. The Paw Patrol is in trouble right now and….everyone is looking to me. They all say that they trust me and that I'm a good leader but, I'm not so sure. I don't think I'll ever be as good as Ryder, and he's….hurt right now, and I'm the one that has to step up but….I…..I."

Chase realized that he was obnoxiously repeating himself and tried to move on. "I know Ryder believes in me. He wouldn't have made me team lease if he didn't but….This…This happened so fast, and….I'm not ready. Not by a long shot. But here we are now. Ryder is down and I'm thrown up to the top just like that. Ca….Can I really do it buddy? Can I really lead this team through a single rescue?"

Chase looks up for a response, but only got the frozen face of his once best friend, still glaring at him like it was expecting something out of him.

Chase curses at himself for falling for it yet again. He knows it's just a statue and Marshall can never hear him. Only another reminder of just how far the dally is.

Due to his eyes being shuttered with tears, and his head down to his paws, he didn't notice his guardian angel, Skye, walking up to him.

"Chase? Are you okay?"

Chase gasps his eyes open, frantically wiping the tears away with his paws. "Ye-Yeah angel. I'm fine. I just…uh…" He desperately, changes the subject. "You-You're back already?"

Skye reluctantly put aside her concerns for the moment. Briefing Chase on her recent trip to Foggy Bottom. "Yeah Chase. I am. Not much has changed though. He's still asleep like how we left him. The doctor did say though that it shouldn't be too long before he finally wakes up."

Chase forces a smile from his lips. "That's good. At least he's not getting any worse."

Skye shakes her head. "Yeah, and thank goodness for that." She then steals a look at the statue and then back at Chase. "Why did you come out here?"

Chase flinches a little at Skye's blatant question. Realizing he couldn't hide it any longer. "I uh…..I guess I still feel like I can talk to him. Even though it's not him at all."

Skye slowly steps over to him and nuzzles his neck. "That's, really not healthy for you but…..I don't really blame you either."

Chase nuzzles back affectionally. Feeling his troubles brushed away by her warming scent.

"You know…I keep wandering how would he react to all of this." The cockapoo comments while rubbing her head on the shepherd's chest. "What will he be doing right now with Ryder in the hospital."

"Are you kidding? He'd be permanently attached to Ryder's bed." Chase expressed. "There would've been nothing, and I mean nothing that could've pulled him out of that room."

Despite the scenario, Skye couldn't help but snicker a little, knowing for sure that Chase was telling the truth. "You're not wrong Chase. Remember when I sprained my paw landing once? He practically lived outside my pup house before it was fully healed. Even a little after it was healed."

"Yeah. No kidding. I had to drag him by the tail to the elevator for a rescue." Chase recalls. "Darn, he was always stubborn at the weirdest times."

The two share a quick laugh before Skye pulls away from the shepherd. Her head hanging low. "I…..I miss him Chase. I miss him so much."

Feeling his heart sting a hundred times over, Chase inches closer and hugs the down ridden cockapoo, allowi8ng her to cry into his furry chest. "I know angel. I miss him too."

The two stand there in complete silence. Feeling each other's love to wash away the grief of their fallen brother.

Chase then cuts the silence with an affectionate lick. "Come on angel. Let's get to the lookout. Katie should be here for lunch any minute now. We shouldn't miss it."

Skye silently agrees as they both let go and pad over to the tower, leaving the still statue of Marshall, overlooking the cliff for eternity.

When Chase and Skye got into the lookout, they were immediately swarmed by both Rubble and Zuma.

"Skye! You're back! How is Ryder?!" Rubble asks at the speed of light. "Is he okay?"

"Has he woken up?!" Zuma joins with hopeful eyes.

"No. Not yet. He still asleep guys."

Both Rubble and Zuma's hopes vent out of them. Lowering their heads with sad whimpers.

Skye instantly felt bad for dashing their hopes. "Hey-Hey guys, if it's worth anything, the doctor said that he'll wake up sooner than he thought. We just have to be a little more patient."

Rubble lets out a small groan. "That's good, I guess."

"Yeah but…..I want him to be awake now." Zuma whimpers. "I don't like being here by ouwselves. It feels wong and…sca-scawy."

"I know bud, trust me, we'll pull through." Chase replies. "Heck I betcha Ryder will be back before you know it. We just have to be strong and remind ourselves that."

Zuma gives Chase as sad smile. "I see. You'we wight dude. Thanks."

Chase then looks around the lookout, noticing someone missing. "Where's Rocky?"

The smile faded. "Like you even need to ask dude. Whewe do you think he is."

As soon as the lab said that, Chase got the hint. The same place Rocky's been for the past couple of weeks. All by himself in Ryder's garage; probably distracting himself from the rest of the pups. That ends now. For far too long the mixed breed has been hiding away from them and if there is anytime for Chase to prove he's fit to lead, Chas has to step up and squash the problem.

Without saying anything, the shepherd pivots away from the group, not answering anyone who was asking where he was going as he struts out of the lookout.

Chase marched with purpose down to the garage door. Pushing his pup tag specifically to open it, and just as usual, Rocky was at the workbench, quickly spinning around to see Chase stomp towards him.

"Oh hey Chase. What's up?" Rocky greets obliviously.

Chase didn't stop, going up to the mixed breed without responding, confusing Rocky greatly. "Huh? Hey..what's wrong with….ACK!"

Before the eco-pup knew it, Chase grabs a hold of him by the ear and swings him toward the door so swiftly, it's a wonder Chase didn't rip his ear off.

"Ow!" Rocky yelps as he rubs his ear. "What the heck is your problem?!"

"Lookout! Now!" Chase orders with an assertive growl.

"Huh? Why?!" Rocky asks, a mix of confusion and anger.

"I said now!" Chase barks with authority, scaring Rocky senseless.

"Okay! Okay! Jeez. I'm going! I'm going!" He reels as he begins his path to the lookout wondering just what was up with The shepherd's attitude.

Chase follows close behind as they get up the hill. Eying Rocky intently in case he tried to escape. The mixed couldn't help himself. "You know, we could've just used the elevator."

The police pup was silent as the air, as they get up to the lookout's doors. The doors slide open, allowing the two to walk in with the still confused pups inside.

"Rocky! You're ear's bleeding!" Skye immediately yelps.

It was now that Rocky felt a trickle of blood seeping down into his skin. "I know, you can think your boyfriend for that." Rocky scuffs as he turns around to the still authoritative shepherd. "Okay, I'm here now. What do you want?"

Chase stands at the doorway, keeping his authoritative manner. "To settle this once and for all Rocky. You been avoiding us and acting weird for nearly three weeks now. You also blow up at Zuma whenever he tries to talk to you. You need to dog up and explain why you've been blowing us off and apologize to Zuma."

"What?! That's what this is about?!" Rocky reels. "My attitude with Zuma?!"

"Your attitude with us in general!" Chase barks back, nearly jumping everyone else behind him.

"I don't have time for this." Rocky starts to walk away past the elevator.

"Where are you going?!" Chase growls.

"Minding my own business!" Rocky growls back. "Something you need to do also!"

As the mixed breed steps towards the elevator, Chase launches to him, effectively making it to the elevator before him, standing right in front of the eco-pup's way.

"You are not going anywhere until you make things right with us and Zuma." Chase reiterates coldly.

"What are you going to do? Shackle me? Hold me against my will?" Rocky challenged.

Chase narrows his eyes on the pup. Conveying that he was willing to do whatever is necessary. Even if it meant restraining his own friend and trapping him.

Rocky noticeably faltered. Realizing that the shepherd was very serious. "I-I do-don't have to ta-take this from you!"

"You said it yourself Rock; I'm team leader, and with Ryder absent, I can put as much pressure as I need to get you to talk to us and knock you out of whatever hole you're in right now."

From behind, Skye tries to reason with Chase. "Chase! Stop! You're not helping!"

"You're just scaring him away!" Rubble agrees.

In this, Rocky looks into Chase's eyes, expecting him to have cold hostile eyes, but he noticed that it wasn't that at all. Instead, he saw eyes that were full of concern and hope for his friend. This caused Rocky's fear to diminish a little, lowering his head at Chase's gaze. "Look, There's nothing going on, okay? I'm just busy all the time, and I just want to be left alone."

Chase sits down, easing up on the hostility he had. "I'm sorry Rock, but that's not good enough for me. Zuma told us about the argument you and he had not long ago. So I know you're lying."

Rocky's head swings up at that. His eyes wide with horror. He then leans around Chase to catch Zuma, who notably stayed silent and ejected himself from the whole situation. The lab's head falls in shame.

"He told you….everything?" The mixed breed gravely asks. Earning nods from all three pups.

Rocky then walks past Chase, out of the elevator and up towards the shameful lab. The pup's head slowly rises to meet Rocky's with the most guilt ridden eyes the mixed breed had ever seen from him.

Rocky felt like he was stabbed in the heart by a cold icicle. Although he really shouldn't be surprised, considering just how long it's been since that blow up in the garage.

The mixed breed slowly turns his tail at the lab. His head dangling and his eyes closed. "You all probably think I'm crazy. Do you?"

"We-We never said you were." Skye responds.

"Don't….lie to me pups." Rocky shoves out. "Because I know for a fact that's what you think of me. I'm willing to accept that."

"Why in the world do you think…" Rubble asks.

"Because I'm the only one that is still holding out for him!" Rocky blatantly claims. "While you all just simply given up!"

No one could say a word about Rocky's claim. They simply couldn't believe that he had his mind set on it.

Rocky's head lowers again. "See? Nothing. Not a response or even a rebuttal. That proves it to me plainly." He then turns back around to the now shaking Zuma. "Zuma, I will in fact apologize to you. You were just trying to help and I clearly overreacted. I at least owe you that."

All Zuma could do was shake in Rocky's gaze. Wishing he never opened his mouth.

At this point, Chase walks up to the two and finally responds. "To be honest with you Rocky, I don't really care what you think."

Rocky spins around to him as the shepherd continues. "Marshall died in that fire. Weather you believe it or not, that is what happened."

Rocky closes his eyes and lets out an annoyed sigh.

"But it doesn't matter right now." Chase went on. "What does is you and us. You've pushed us away and we all think that you're clearly not yourself because of this."

Rocky opens his eyes and sets them on the shepherd. "I don't know if you noticed Chase, but we all haven't been acting ourselves lately."

Chase cocks his head at Rocky's sudden statement.

"Think about it pal. A year ago, we were all happy and close as family, but now, I feel like I don't know anyone of you anymore." Rocky illiterates.

Chase opens his mouth to say something but Rocky speaks first. "Don't stand there and think that I'm not telling the truth because it is. We lost one of us, our leader is now in the hospital asleep for god knows how long, and we are quickly drifting apart faster than we've come together. I mean seriously, I think this is the first time in a while that we've even been in the same room talking to each other. Am I right?" Rocky lets out another long sigh, feeling like a big weight was finally lifting off his back. "Look. I'm not saying that we aren't family. I still consider you guys brothers and sisters, but before you jump on me for my attitude lately, you all need to look at yourselves and realize that you all are pushing each other away. I don't mean to open any old wounds or anything, but I know for sure that Marshall himself is screaming at us to realize just how apart we are right now."

There was a long stretch of silence as the pups all look at each other. Rocky's words swarming in their minds, realizing that Rocky wasn't necessarily lying. Ever since Marshall's passing, it's been like the pups never really seen each other eye to eye. Only when they were on rescues do they even speak to one another, no matter how much time had passed.

Suddenly, before anyone could say anything further, the lookout's doors open. Everyone's eyes shift to the doorway, expecting to see Katie, walk in for lunch time, but was shocked to see something completely unexpected.

There, standing in the entrance way of the lookout, was a jungle-green wolf pup. Heaving his breaths as he looks upon the shocked looks of everyone.

"Are….Ar….Are you the….P-Paw Patrol?" the pup gasps as he looked about ready to drop on the spot.

Chase acted on pure instinct with his response. "Ye-Yes? That's right. We are the Paw Patrol. What's your emergency? Are you hurt?"

Despite the panful look on the pup, he smiles in excitement as much as he could. "I….I made it…..I….I…I"

The pup then collapses to his side, immediately being swarmed by the team, with Skye checking for vital signs. The pup weakly tries to get up, but Skye paws him back down. "Easy. Easy pup. You don't look so good."

The pups heaves more on the ground as he gasps his last words out. "You….you…you have to help us…Pa-Paw Patrol….you….you have to help…my…..my…..my….Pa-Pack…"

He drew in one last breath on the word before immediately losing consciousness.

What in the world is this about?

A pup has suddenly shown up at the lookout without warning and is crying for the team's help. You may have a good idea as to who is this pup and what has happened but the question will be, will the Paw Patrol answer the call despite their leader being down for the count?

find out next time when Chapter 6: Call For Help is released next month!

Please review and let me know what your favorite parts are 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!