The Wounds We Heal

Chapter thirty-four: Operation: Trial And Error!

"So Snowflake,.. what's your plan on when you're going to hang out with Chase?" Rocky asked that next morning.

"I plan on having him hang out with me, but we're going to be doing fun, safe, silly activities. I want to be careful though," the husky pup responded.

"Of what?" Skye asked.

"And when are you planning on going?" Rocky reemphasized.

"I'm still thinking through what I'm going to do. I'll probably hang out with him two days from now. But I'll need help," Snowflake answered.

"So what do we do till then?" Rubble wondered.

Stopping suddenly, their gaze all fell upon the blue police pup house at once, with its occupant faced away from them.

"Why am I not surprised?" Marshall sighed dryly, shaking his head after.

"Is he asleep?" Ned asked curiously.

"Good thing Ryder was able to wake him up to eat last night, he's still sleeping!" Marshall noted flatly.

"I wonder why he's still sleeping again?" Rocky thought aloud.

"So his body can heal. I think. Anyways, I'm going to get started. Chester? Zuma? I'm going to need your help," Snowflake replied.

And at this, the two pups in question perked up and met glances from across the group at each other.

"Um.. ok.." Chester said, almost sneaking into a run after the husky.

"Right behind you, dude!" Zuma called, racing after them.

And once they'd left, as if on cue..

"Ah!" Chase shot up, but when he fumbled backwards he crashed back into his pup house flopping the blankets around with a couple thumps and a few 'ouches'.

"Chase?" Marshall addressed his friend, slowly approaching the pup house with slight caution.

Suddenly Chase plopped forward and it made the Dalmatian and his friends jump back. But as he recovered himself, they lowered their guard as well.

Chase sniffled, and rubbed an eye; lifting his head for a very deep yawn where he now sat.

"*yawn* yes Marshall?" Chase yawned.

"Can I help you?" He added rubbing his eyes some more.

"We saw you wake up. Are you doing okay?" Ned remarked.

Then Chase looked up at them, his thoughts gathering.. and remembering a few moments back..

xxxx

Gasp! And all he could do was stand there. A crack one way, a groan another.. the ground beneath him made his paws tingle. Yet he couldn't quite tell why. Something crumbled and he'd look up to see nothing in the pitch black darkness. Each crumble sounded closer than the last. He finally made an attempt to step forward, but nearly fell forward off the drop which seemed to appear in front of him. Even scarier yet, was the feeling of it all around him; as he was now standing on the only ground holding him up from the pit of even darker blackness, if that was even possible.

Suddenly the vibration of cracks started to come at him again.. but this time from below.. and when he dared himself to look he hadn't peered long before the ground beneath him dropped!-

xxxx

Chase blinked as though suddenly receiving a blow to the face, and shook himself out of it.