The Wounds We Heal

Chapter thirty-seven: Making Plans

As soon as Ryder looked beyond Ned, he found the pitiful display with the pile of pups not more than a yard or two away from the elevator entrance. And with a troubled expression already falling across his face, he strode forward toward them, cautiously observing the situation to get an idea of how to respond.

"Pups?" he addressed them curiously. And as he neared them they seemed to unpack themselves, and turned to him almost in a cascading fashion; all bearing deep tearful glances dripping with sorrow. Until he got to Marshall, who had the deepest looking eyes of them all. Ryder knelt down to him quietly, his soft eyes seeming to communicate something that apparently invited the Dalmatian to nuzzle into him for a hug. And he took a moment to hold the pup close, even as he began to sob some more.

"What's going on here, pups?" he finally asked, his tone lower and more serious than they were used to.

"Marshall is sad that Chase keeps pushing us away. Even when we try to help him," Snowflake said softly.

Ned gave a confused look.

"That's what I said!" the husky brother retorted.

"Well, where is Chase now?" Ryder wondered.

"Pup house," Snowflake answered.

"What happened to cause this? Did Chase and Marshall fight again?" Ryder wondered further.

"It's my fault. I tried to get them to be friends again, but it didn't work," Ned answered.

"How?" Ryder asked, still holding Marshall close, as he finally began to calm again.

"I tried to bond with Marshall, and I think I helped a little, but I could tell he was still uneasy. So I trapped him and Chase in the big blue sheet, and tied it up like a bag. I thought putting them in a situation where they would need to work together and cooperate would help them be friends again, but it didn't work as much as I hoped. The wind trapping them a second time didn't help either," Ned admitted honestly.

"Why did you think trapping them would help?" Ryder asked, and his gaze seemed genuinely curious, as did his tone.

"For them to stop fighting and be friends again. If I trapped them, they would have had to work together and make decisions to get out of the sheet bag. Plus their attitudes and decisions would either help or not help them to get out sooner or later," Ned explained.

"*sniffle* except for it didn't help! I ended up doing it all myself!!!" Marshall wailed, beginning to cry again.

"WHAT?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?! I honestly thought that would work!.. I failed to help guys. I'm sorry, Marshall. I'm really, REALLY sorry!" Ned replied, as he whined and his eyes started to tear up.

"Alright everyone, calm down." Ryder announced. "We're gonna fix this and get everyone back on track, including Chase. Snowflake, how's your activity planning going??" and he turned to the husky intently.

"Okay. One of my activities is ready, but another,.. didn't go well. I still have other ideas though, I just need to set them up," the husky pup replied.

"Um,.. set them up how?" Rocky wondered curiously, glancing at Zuma in confusion.

"I need to go talk to some friends so other activities are ready for Chase and I," Snowflake reassured them. "I know what to do."

"Ok, you do that,.. and whatever else you need to do to get things set up.." Ryder said, as Marshall began to dry his tears again and the pups recomposed themselves. "In the meantime, let's give Chase some space.. Clearly he needs it right now, until we can put Snowflake's plan into motion."