The Pack (HIATUS)

Chapter 7 - Small Conversations

Zuma came back to the entrance of the PAW Patroller after his sixth round of going circles. He was frustrated. He was angry. He was desperate. He was worried. But most of all, he was scared he was never going to see his best friend ever again. Why couldn't Ryder just let him join the others? He was perfectly fine, it was perfectly safe. And if his vehicle broke? Then screw it! He would have kept running until he saw Rocky. 

"Zuma, are you alright?" Marshall asked, walking up to him when the Lab climbed out of his vehicle. Zuma stared angrily at the dotted canine, knowing the answer. What nerve he has to ask that? "Oh, yeah. I'm totally fine! I totally am not worrying about Rocky being out there, alone, injured, bloodied, and slash or dead! So, yeah, Marshall, dude! I am as fine as Mr. Porter's Fizzy Pickles!" Zuma exclaimed, stomping away from the poor worried medic pup and into the PAW Patroller. 

Marshall watched as the grumpy Lab sat on the pillows the vehicle had provided. Skye had already gone off flying into the sky and Robo-Dog was powered off so there would be no more accidents that might occur while Ryder and the others were gone. "Zuma, I know you're worried. We all are." Marshall calmly walked towards the other pup, despite Zuma doing his best to ignore him. 

Marshall sighed. He knows what it's like to worry about a friend. He worries about his friends all the time, and being the EMT Pup helps him calm his worries for he knows how they are and if they are going to be alright. That was a reason why he wanted to be the Medic in their team. He doesn't want to see anyone hurt and it calms him to know that he's the one taking care of his teammates and not some random stranger they don't know (no offense to the doctors).

There was this one time where Chase and Ryder had to go in an investigation and they both disappeared for two days. Marshall was pulling out bandages, needles, and antibiotics when he saw both Ryder and Chase severely scratched. He freaked out when Chase had his arm twisted at an odd angle and he could not, wait, no. Understatement. He WILL NOT leave Chase's side for whatever reason; missions were exempt. He had Skye take his place. 

Skye and Chase. Right. Hah, he almost laughed at himself for how stupid he was. It looked like a set-up in the eyes of others, but Marshall just trusts Skye with Chase's care. Now, they probably have mutual feelings for each other and the idea that it was Marshall's fault... It hurts. 

"Dude, are you alright?" Zuma asked. Marshall's face reddened when the confused eyes of the lab were planted on him. Stars, how long did he zoned out? "Y... Yeah... I'm totally... good..." Marshall stuttered, making him blush even more for how stupid he sounded. 

"... Sorry..." Zuma apologized, much to Marshall's surprise. The Lab bowed his head, further confusing the Dally.

"For what? You did nothing wrong," Marshall asked. He was now concerned and wondered what was going on in the youngling's head. 

Zuma started to explain, "you're worried about Rocky too, and I just act like I'm the only one who has the right to worry about him. We are all friends of Rocky and we all are doing our best to find him." Marshall's lips curved into a relaxed smile and hugged the brown pup in an effort to comfort him.

"Yeah..." 

The silence stretched between them. Even though Rocky was comfortable laying on Artemis's back, it didn't stop the questions that ran through his head. 

"Artemis... Can I ask you some... stuff?" Rocky asked. 

"Yes," they replied. 

Rocky racked his brain on what to ask them first. There were so many to choose from. There were also questions that might end up with Rocky having his neck snapped for asking a personal question. Oh, wait. He realized he kept calling Artemis "they."