Changing Paths-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Twenty-Five

Dom looked back and forth between Chase and the eagle. "You said what?"

"Sweetie needs your help," Chase said. "Time to be her hero."

Dom's head spun. He wanted to save Sweetie. But he also wanted to stop the Duke from putting her in danger. "But . . ."

Chase seemed to understand Dom's thoughts. "We'll handle the Duke," he promised. "Go."

Dom understood what he had to do. "Thanks," he said. Dom turned towards the side. He prepared himself to jump, but before he could, Skye stopped him.

"Dom, wait," she said. Dom turned to look at her. "I'm sorry for doubting you. We shouldn't have accused her of being evil."

"Yeah, we're all sorry," Marshall added. "You were right." Rubble, Rocky, and Zuma nodded in agreement.

"Thanks," Dom said. He looked at Chase, and somehow, Dom knew that both German Shepherds had the same idea.

Dom turned and jumped over the side. He watched as the ground got closer. Before Dom could hit the bridge, a small pad appeared under him. The object expanded until it was the size of a car. Dom landed on the landing pad and jumped onto the ground. He looked up and said, "Thanks, Chase."

Chase nodded. He and the others ran towards the door where the Duke escaped. Dom turned and looked at the bell tower. He wondered how he would find Sweetie. "Hey, Chase," he said through his pup tag. "Where did you see the eagle take Sweetie?"

"On top of the tower," Chase replied.

"Okay," Dom said. "Is there a staircase inside, or . . . ?"

"That reminds me," Ryder said. "I have a little surprise. Wait where you are."

"Um, okay," Dom said. Dom watched as a vehicle drove up, but no one was on it. The cruiser was low to the ground, with the spoiler being the highest point. It was light gray with blue trims, and the tires were black with blue frames. On the side of the vehicle was Dom's logo painted on it. "What's this?"

"It's your new vehicle," Ryder said through the pup tag. "What do you think?"

Dom jumped in and got seated. The seat was the perfect size for the German Shepherd. Even though he's never driven it before, he realized it was similar to driving Chase's cruiser. "I like it," he said. He revved up the engine and took off.

Dom arrived at the bell tower and ran inside. Dom noticed a flight of spiral stairs that led up to his right. Dom knew that he needed to conserve his energy, so he rode the elevator to his left instead.

Dom entered the elevator and looked at the buttons. He clicked the button that would take him to the top. The elevator shook and began to ascend. Dom thought it was moving pretty fast for an elevator inside a bell tower. With a ding, the elevator doors opened, and Dom hopped out. What he saw in front of him shocked him.

A large cage, big enough to hold a bear, dangled twenty feet off the ground. Inside the enclosure was Sweetie, pacing back and forth. The adrenaline from her sudden rise must not have worn off yet.

Jean-Claude flew around the gears of the clock, staring at Dom. He landed on top of the cage and screeched. The sudden movement made the cell shake aggressively.

"Okay," he said to himself. "How do I solve this?"

Dom looked around the floor for anything helpful. He noticed a lever on the other side of the room. Since the cables were not inside the walls, Dom guessed that someone put the lever not long ago. Dom followed the wires onto the roof. The cord to a mechanical box next to the metal chains holding up the cage.

He tried to get closer to the lever, but the golden eagle screeched and flew in his way. That just confirmed Dom's suspicions about what it did. Now all he needed to do was get Jean-Claude away from it. That's when Dom came up with an idea.

Dom walked away from the lever, but the eagle still guarded it. He looked up, and Sweetie locked eyes with him. Dom could tell that she was terrified and nervous. Dom nodded reassuringly.

Dom turned back towards the eagle and got in an offensive position. "Hey," he called out to it. "Bet you can't catch me."

Jean-Claude seemed to like the challenge because he flew toward Dom. Before the eagle could reach Dom, he sidestepped and let the bird pass him. Jean-Claude wasn't looking where he was going, and he flew out an open window. Before he could get back in, Dom closed the window. The eagle crashed into the glass and left.

"That deals with one problem," Dom said loud enough for Sweetie to hear. "I thought it would take longer." Dom looked up at Sweetie. "Now, let's get you down from there."

Dom walked over to the lever. He didn't know if it was the right one, but he had no other choice. "Okay, Sweetie," he said. Dom looked up and noticed Sweetie staring at him. She lay on the base of the cage, probably from motion sickness.

"I'm just going to . . ." Dom pulled the lever. The chains loosened up, and the cage began falling rapidly. Sweetie screamed from inside the enclosure. Dom put the lever back to its original spot. The machine tightened, and the cell stopped a couple of inches off the ground.

Dom looked over the lever. The words STOP, SLOW, NORMAL, and FAST were on the other side. Dom winced when he realized he had it on the fastest speed. Dom looked at Sweetie. The white terrier was shaking as she held onto the cage's bars for support.

"Ssssssorry," Dom said as he shifted his weight. He walked over to the cage and opened the door. Sweetie walked out slowly as if one false move would make her fall again. "Are you okay?"

Sweetie looked at him. "Define okay," she replied.

Dom laughed awkwardly. His pup tag rang, and he answered. "Dom here," he said.

"Hey, it's Chase," Chase said. "We caught the Duke. Is Sweetie safe?"

"Um . . ." Dom looked at Sweetie. She tried to sit down, but her front legs slid to her sides, making her lay down on her stomach. "I think," he replied. "I mean, yeah, she's okay."

"Good," Chase said. "Come back to the castle."

"On our way," Dom said as he hung up. He looked down at Sweetie, who managed to sit. Her purple eyes began to focus more. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," she said as she stood up. "Let's go."