Embrace (Rocky x Chase)

Chapter 1- The Shepherd

"Hey," Chase nudged the mix, "don't zone out on me,"

Rocky suddenly snapped back to reality, blinking multiple times. 

"You invite me up here to share treats, then you go braindead for a full fifteen seconds?" he laughed, "are you alright?"

"Sorry, sorry," the mixed breed shook his head,

It was nightfall, and most of the other dogs were out doing their own things, not that Rocky was complaining. They all hated him, simple as that, and Rocky enjoyed every brief moment they got away from the rest of the team. Skye was toxic, Zuma was hostile, Marshall brushed him off, and Rubble just pushed him out of the way when he could. That was daily life in the Paw Patrol, and Rocky would never have survived if he hadn't found kindness in only one other dog.

"But really though, are you alright?" Chase frowned, "I saw what Rubble did,"

"I was in his way,"

The Shepherd shook his head, "well he should've asked you to move, not shove you into the wall,"

"Hey it's fine," Rocky giggled the pain away, "it was fun laughing with Skye over that,"

"She was laughing at you..."

The mix shrugged and lowered his head to grab a treat, "Chase, I know I'm only kept around for the team's entertainment. That's my job and I'll do it with pride,"

Chase nearly recoiled, "Rocky, you're not some clown, you're our Eco Dog."

"Hey, as long as I can make people laugh it's alright with me,"

"Didn't Zuma attack you yesterday?"

"He needed exercise," 

In the several months Rocky had been aligned with the Paw Patrol, he found heavy backlash at his mutt-related species. At first they didn't even want him around, barely even acknowledging his existence. When Rocky didn't give up, Zuma decided to have fun with him, and that was the day he became the team's punching bag. He took the abuse with tears in his eyes, knowing if he defended himself it would only get worse, but after months of it his mind seemed to break. It was all in and out for him now, and he barely minded getting pushed around anymore.

Ryder never helped. It was pretty clear that even he disliked having a mix within the ranks, really made the mutt wonder what the point of even being alive was.

The police dog sighed, gazing at Rocky with his amber-colored eyes, "you can't just give up your self-worth like that,"

"Who says I can't?"

"I do!" the Shepherd pressed, "you're still a dog like the rest of us, and-"

"Mutt," Rocky corrected,

"A dog nonetheless. I'm sorry how the other see you, I just wish..." Chase shook his head for a moment, trying to find the words, "I just wish things weren't this way,"

The mix gave a long sigh, pawing at a beef-flavored pup treat. He didn't see the use in his own worth anymore, and rarely ever tried to uphold it. In truth, there was only one thing that kept him going, a single factor that pulled him away from jumping to his death.

The German Shepherd before him.

Chase wasn't like the others. He was kind, empathetic, caring, and most importantly: didn't hate every piece of Rocky's existence. It was him who defended the mix when he was brought into the team, it was Chase who stood in front of Rocky when Zuma was in one of his moods. No one dared challenge the German Shepherd, the dogs of strength and speed. Marshall and Skye would instantly back off, and Rubble would usually take a moment before stepping back, but Zuma was tenacious. At some points, it almost seemed like Zuma and Chase would erupt into a vicious dogfight, their feral instincts kicking in.