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

(C9) A Critical Decision

As Ryder sat down on the grass, Chase sat down next to him as the two of them faced Marshall's parents. There was so much tension in the air that you could cut it with a knife, but Ryder's words echoed throughout the outdoor training area as Blaze and Smoke looked towards Ryder and Chase.

The rain began to clear up as Blaze sighed, looking over to Ryder as he spoke. "I have to be honest, Ryder. I stand by what I said about my son." Blaze said as Chase began to growl, hearing that Marshall's father seemingly didn't care about how much he hurt Marshall mentally. "However, I should've kept my thoughts about what he's doing as a member of the Paw Patrol to myself. I don't deny that." Blaze continued, getting Chase to back off slightly and sit back down.

"But why didn't you keep it to yourself then, Blaze? You shattered Marshall's mental health." Chase said as he remembered the look of horror and sadness that had filled Marshall's face back at the lookout.

"I don't know, Chase. For that fact, I'm sorry. But like I said; I stand by what I said. Marshall would be better off being a police pup and following in my footsteps." Blaze said as Chase found himself growling once more, Blaze was Marshall's father, but did that really give him the right to be like this regarding Marshall? From Chase's perspective, it didn't whatsoever.

"Chase, try and relax. I know it's hard right now, but we need to be civil." Ryder said as Chase stopped growling and sat back down.

"O-Okay Ryder, sorry Blaze and Smoke. I don't know what came over me." Chase apologized as he looked back towards the two Dalmatian's.

"It's okay, things happen. Now then, let's keep talking, shall we?" Smoke replied as she glanced over to Ryder.

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Adventure Bay - Katie's Clinic

As Marshall continued driving, he looked behind himself as he made the turn that was right in front of Katie's clinic, seeing Everest and the other pups besides Chase right behind him as he parked his firetruck on the side of the road.

"W-Why are you all following me? I don't deserve to be a member of the Paw Patrol, and I never did. You all should've stayed with Ryder and Chase." Marshall said through tears as he thought about everything that his parents had said about him.

"Because we all care about you, Marshall. You aren't worthless, and you deserve to be here, just like the rest of us. Sure, your parents did say some nasty things about you, but we know who you've always been on this team. And that's a kind Dalmatian who's always a joy to be around." Everest began as she walked over to Marshall, stepping ahead of the rest of the team as she sat down, a smile on her face as she continued speaking. "And I don't know about you, but when we're down, you're always there for each and every one of us, no matter how your day has gone; you're always putting others first and making sure they have a better day. So let us put you first this time, you need help and there's nothing wrong with that. We all do sometimes." Everest took a deep breath as she stopped speaking for a brief moment, standing up as she walked right up to Marshall and kissed him on the cheek, immediately making the Dalmatian flustered as his brain tried to process the kind words Everest had said to him, and then the second time she had kissed him; all at once.

"T-Thank you, Ev. I really appreciate that. But I don't get something, why are my parents treating me like this during a reunion? They're the ones that decided to actually come up here after Ryder called them. Why would they come up here to Adventure Bay just to make my life a living hell?" Marshall cried out as Everest came up to him, rubbing one of her paws down his neck and back as Marshall cried into her lavender fur.

"Marshall, I have a feeling that stressing over why they're doing this won't help right now. I'm sure they have a reason, even if it's not justified or warranted. But right now, I think you need to take some time to rest unless there's a mission." Rocky said as Marshall stopped crying into Everest's fur and jumped into his firetruck, albeit with much less enthusiasm than he usually had as he slowly began driving again while the other pups jumped back into their vehicles and continued driving as well.