The Wounds We Heal

Chapter fifty-five: Arts And Confessions(Or Lack There Of)

Ryder led the pups to a table with paper, brushes, glue and paint.

"So how do we turn our paws into paper turkeys?- No, we are not eating the paw turkeys!" Snowflake asked, before turning to Ned whose mouth was open.

"Well we'll paint the pad of your paw brown for the body and press it firmly on the paper.." Ryder explained. "Since you pups don't have thumbs, we can either paint a head and neck on them or I have these turkey head cut-outs you can glue on.. Then we'll let the paws dry on the rack next to this fan. And get some sponge brushes to paint the feathers on."

"Sounds good, Ryder. So we just wash off our paws when done?" Snowflake asked curiously.

"Or we could literally become Captain Brownpaws!" Ned proclaimed proudly. Snowflake rolled her eyes.

"Hahaha,.. heh-exactly Snowflake." Ryder chuckled. "That's why we have this tub of water over here.." and he waved an arm to the little white tub that lay on the far side of the draped work area.

"So?.. Who's ready?" Ryder asked.

"We are!!" The pups barked, all scattering to their own station.

xxxx

Ryder finished painting the bottom of Rocky's paw and pressed it firmly on the paper. Then set it in the tub of water, making Rocky cringe.

Then Ryder drug himself up off the floor to go help Marshall hold a giggling Zuma's paw still.

"Hold still, Zuma." Ryder laughed.

"Hehehe! Sorry.. haha but that tickles!" The chocolate lab squirmed even though Ryder had a hold of him and Marshall felt a lot better in finishing the painting.

"Ok, all done. Go ahead, Zuma," He said, and Zuma obliged by pressing his own paw onto the paper, smiling up at him gleefully.

"Marshall, it'll be your turn soon.." Ryder said. "Once Snowflake and Chester have finished washing up."

"Then we'll come help you out." Chester confirmed, while swishing his paw around in the water one more time. Then drying it on the towel next to it, he looked carefully one more time before deciding he'd gotten it clean enough to walk on it again.

"Here you go, Snowflake." Ryder said, setting a towel down beside the husky.

"Thanks," Snowflake said before using the towel to dry off her paws. Once all her paws were dry, she stepped away from the tub.

"No problem." Ryder replied, then strode over to the Dalmatian patiently waiting by his own paper.

"Ok, Marshall, I'm here to help." The boy said, keeling down to him.

Marshall watched quietly as Ryder prepared the paint, then taking his right forepaw, he began to paint it brown. Then took it carefully to the paper in front of the pup and pressed each toe of the paw firmly. This yielded the intended reward when he removed the paw, for the perfect paw print to be left behind.

"Perfect!" Ryder smiled. "Ok Marshall you can go wash up. Once the pawprints dry out, we can finish by painting the feathers on."

"So what do we do until then?" Rubble asked, as Rocky and Zuma were studying the other paw prints drying on the homemade rack that Rocky had built with pipes and screens. "Any ideas?"

"Well,.. why don't we exchange stories for a little while.." Ryder suggested, wandering over to a nearby beanbag to sit down. "Did you know how long Chase was missing for, before he was rescued?" All the pups exchanged glances before each started to make their way over as well, taking up spots around the boy.