The Wounds We Heal

Chapter fifty-four: Pups Ahoy!

"Avast me hearties and batten down the hatches!" Chase declared, standing at the front of the oddly shaped pile of pillows and holding a flag, which he seemed to have gotten from nowhere. "There be dragons in these waters.. and the skyrays aflyin' overhead be diving on down to get us. But ye never know when ye scallywags of the Jebbity mountains be coming aknockin'.."

"Aye aye Captain Chase! I shall tighten the ropes, secure the cannons, batten the hatches and prepare for battle! These creatures of the sea best not mess with us, or they be swimming back to the bottom of the deep blue! Aaarrrg!" Ned cheered as he playfully did his best to make sure he, Chase and the pillow ship stood a fighting chance against whatever was in the pretend waters.

"Uhh, what's wrong with this picture?" Zuma wondered, everyone among him including himself staring with various levels of confusion.

"Aye, matey!" Chase confirmed, turning to him formally. "Battle it shall be! *cough* But keep us on course! We cannot lose our claim to Mount Carmelotta and dishonor the Floppy Dwarfs without bathing ourselves with its rich golden waves! Onwards! To battle! Aaarrrrrrgg!!"

"Aaarrrggg! To battle! And if we can sail back, we be swimming in riches, food, and appreciation! But now to battle! Aaaarrrgg!" Ned agreed, holding a rubber tube as if he were holding a sword in his paws.

"I think Chase's medicine just kicked in. Remember the campfire?" Snowflake said to the other pups.

"Oh man, not again!" Marshall sighed deeply, rolling his head back. "I guess we better go put him back to bed."

"You mean medicine, yes. Talk him into bed, I don't know if that will work. He and Ned are busy being on their adventure," Snowflake replied, before pointing to the goofy situation in front of them.

"Yeah.. he seems to be having fun." Skye said. "Ryder?"

"Hm.. Well.. maybe we can indulge him for a little bit.." the boy supposed. "But we can't wear him out like this.. or he'll wake up in a bit of a huff tomorrow."

"Yeah, but not completely. Otherwise he'll be sore for weeks.. again!" Snowflake emphasized.

"Exactly." Ryder said. "Keep an eye on him, Marshall.. we'll let him have a little fun, but then he needs to go lay back down."

"You got it, Ryder." The Dalmatian confirmed as the boy wandered away.

"Hark! Ye gentlepups land abroad along the coast of Fableton and commandeer mi craft out of home and high water! How dare thee steal mi pirate booty with only a snare to restrain me to port.. or was it starbird which you hung me about! Strap me to the stern and drown me in my own pride!"

"Chase, that's enough you're not getting humiliated.. you're just out of it.." Chester told his brother. "Come back to bed."

"No! Great scotts! How dare you insult me, peasant! I'll not be removed of my command till those rust-bucket rattlers are ejected back into the stone age! Whatever that means.." he thought out loud, while lowering his gaze away from them momentarily.

"Besides!.." he exclaimed, snapping back to attention. "We have to ensure that the package is secured."

"Uh.. package?" Marshall echoed, then rolled eyes dryly.

"Precisely!" Chase confirmed grandly. He muffled a snort like some form of restrained cough and stumbled down into the makeshift deck of the ship and pulled up a box.

"Dare I ask.." Chester sighed flatly. "What is it, Captain Black fur?"

"Black fur!" Chase scoffed. "Bless me to balderdash! You insult me, Colonial!"