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The bright, golden sun was sinking lower under the bay as four members of the PAW patrol,and their leader Ryder, sped to the rescue across the Adventure Bay bridge. Another pup, a German Shepherd known as Chase, sat by himself, toying with a squeaky rubber bone. At the top of the lookout tower, zuma, the team’s water rescue pup, sat on the balcony, leaning over the railing as he watched the others leave without him again. The labrador pushed back from the rail with a muffled whimper.
Of course Ryder hadn’t picked him, he was useless. Even Rocky and Marshall had gone this time. The pained look in the mix breeds eyes lingered in his memory. Zuma wasn’t really alone. But with Chase being the pup he was left with, it definitely felt like it.
“Teatime, Zuma!” he heard from downstairs. With a resigned sigh, he trotted to the lift. “...Coming.”
Chase wagged a tail in greeting. “Ryder just called, the mission will take all night and they’ll be back in the morning.” He didn’t elaborate further, just trotted to his bowl and started munching on his tea.
Being stuck with Chase. Overnight. Just great...
The labrador hid his anxiety as he sat down before his bowl and began munching on the kibble. What kind of mission would lead the pups to stay overnight? Were they in danger? Chase would be more freaked out if they were in danger, he told himself.
Zuma pushed back from their table, hopping down and padding away.
Chase sighed, exasperated. “Zuma.”
“Yeah,dude?”
“Finish the bowl. You need to eat.” He groaned. “We cannot keep doing this.”
Zuma rolled his eyes and trotted off to his pup house.
“Night.”
~ Pup tag/POV swap: Chase ~
Chase reached up and turned off the lights in the lobby with a soft click. The lightbulb flickered and dimmed, leaving the room in darkness. As he neared, the lookout doors slid open smoothly, and with a final sweeping glance of the room, he left.
As Chase padded past Zuma’s puphouse, he decided to check on his brother before bed.
“Zuma?” He called, knocking on the cold grey door. “You good?”
Nobody answered. Chase frowned. “I’m coming in, okay?”
A small whine of protest came from the labrador as the german shepherd creaked open the door. “Oh, Zuma…” whined Chase. The little pup looked exhausted, dishevelled, and very much... not Zuma. He was tucked into the corner, staring pitifully at his brother. Pale green eyes grew wide as the german shepherd padded over and tucked himself against Zuma’s side.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, nuzzling his brother’s head. Zuma lay his head on his paws and sniffled lightly. “Sorry.”
The german shepherd shook his head ruefully.
“You can cry, Zooms. I’ve got you.” He whispered reassuringly. Zuma put his furry brown head on his older brother’s neck fluff.
“Wyder never picks me for missions, sometimes even Watew wescues. I just feel...useless. I’m not needed. Why am I even here?” he sighed. “I-I feel l-like I’m f-failing him-m…”Zuma whispered before his voice broke and he burrowed further into Chase’s side. The police pup licked his brother’s head comfortingly.
“You’re not useless, Zuma. Ryder values all of us. Maybe he just can’t think of anything to use you for...?"
The labrador sighed into his brother's fur. “Or he forgets I'm there.”
The two pups lay in silence while Chase tried to think of something to say, to comfort his brother. He stopped when he heard soft little rumbles coming from the labrador as his chest rose and fell. He was snoring. Chase’s heart practically melted from the cuteness. The water rescue pup was just draped across his back. It was the most peaceful he’d seen Zuma since they met.
As he watched his brother, he realised just how frail the labrador looked. Why is he so worried about being abandoned? Chase just wanted to protect Zuma, from everything that had harmed him, because he deserved it. But his brother didn’t think he did. The pups always forgot Zuma was the youngest of the main team. He was the most chill, content, and almost never showed emotion.
Moments like this reminded them of his vulnerability. Zuma kicked his legs in his sleep before resettling. Chase decided to talk to Rocky.
They had to make this right. For his brother.