PAW Patrol: A Dalmatian's Reunion || DA Book Two

(C2) Smooth Sailing

As Marshall ate his breakfast, the rest of the team talked to themselves, concerned about their teammate and friend. Marshall was visibly tired with dark circles under his eyes as he struggled to keep his eyes open, despite just waking up as he yawned.

But Marshall shook how tired he was off, even though it was blatantly visible, he knew the stress of thinking about how his family might think he's a disappointment has been eating away at his sanity, but at the same time, he can't stop thinking about it right now.

Out of all of the pups, Everest was the most concerned about the Dally. She had been thinking about confessing her feelings towards the Dally, but something was holding her back now, with how he was visibly struggling, would now be a good time to confess these feelings towards him? Maybe she could set up a date night for both of them to do it, but right now, her focus wasn't on the butterflies she got in her heart when thinking about Marshall, her focus was on what was troubling him this much.

Deciding to take action and find out what was troubling him, Everest walked back into the living room as Marshall finished eating.

Looking up from his now empty food bowl, Marshall saw Everest behind him. "H-Hey Everest, how are you doing?"

Everest walked up a bit closer and got a good look at Marshall's tired eyes. To her, it was abundantly clear that Marshall is struggling right now, but she made sure to reply to his question. "I'm doing good Marshall, how are you doing?"

"Not too bad Everest, thanks for asking. I've been struggling with some things recently, but I'll be okay." Marshall admitted, running a paw through the fur on his head as he did.

But once he did, Marshall began to walk away, not because he didn't want to speak to Everest, he did. But he didn't feel like he was ready to talk about how he's been struggling with thoughts about his parents to the other pups yet.

"I'm sorry to hear that Marshy. If there's anything I or anyone on the team can do to help, please say so." Everest said, not realizing she accidentally used her nickname for Marshall that he and any of the other pups didn't know about yet immediately.

Once she did realize what she said, a blush filled her face as Marshall turned around, a similar blush underneath his eyes and nose as he spoke in stammers.

"M-Marshy, huh? I.. I like the name Ev."

"I-I'm glad you like the nickname I came up with Marshy." Everest said, beginning to think to herself as Marshall smiled and nodded as he walked out of the lookout, looking back to Everest as he spoke again.

"See you soon Everest, I'm going out for a drive for now."

"Sounds good Marshy, see you later."

But with that, Marshall finally walked out of the lookout as the automatic doors closed behind him and he jumped into his fire truck, intending on getting a moment to breathe as he pup tagged Ryder, wanting to inform the young team leader about what he's doing. "Hey Ryder, I'm going out for a drive for a little while. If you need me, just get in contact with me and I'll make sure to answer." Marshall said, recording it as a message as well just in case Ryder didn't pick up.

But to the Dally's relief as his fire truck started up, Ryder answered Marshall's call as he began driving to the bridge. "Alright Marshall, sounds good. Thank you for letting me know."

Marshall didn't know exactly where he wanted to drive to, but right now, he was in autopilot, just going wherever the familiar roads of Adventure Bay took him.

A few minutes went by as Marshall took a turn he had never taken before and saw an open field, surrounded by trees on the right side of the road. It was far enough away from the main part of Adventure Bay to get a moment to breathe, but he could still hear what was going on lightly.