Marshall wandered aimlessly through the woods, the setting sun casting long shadows that mirrored the lengthening shadows in his heart. Everest's words echoed in his mind, each one a fresh wound. "Clumsy," "childish," "babysitting." They were like poisoned barbs, twisting and festering.
He hadn't meant to smother her with gifts. He just wanted to make her happy, to show her how much he cared. Now, all he felt was a crushing sense of inadequacy. Maybe Everest was right. Maybe he wasn't cut out for this hero stuff. Maybe he was just a goofy pup, destined to trip over his own paws and mess things up.
Anger, a hot, unfamiliar emotion, bubbled up within him. He slammed his fist against a tree, the bark giving way with a satisfying crack. But the anger did little to quell the underlying sadness, a heavy weight settling in his chest.
Back at the Lookout, the familiar sounds of the PAW Patroller returning and the excited chatter of his pups only amplified his isolation. He snuck past his open pup house, the sight of his uneaten chew toy and the untouched blueberries a fresh wave of pain.
He couldn't stay. Not here, not with the constant reminders of Everest and the life they once shared. He needed a fresh start, a place where he wouldn't be constantly judged, a place where maybe, just maybe, he could find himself again.
Packing a small backpack with a few essentials – a pup-sized first-aid kit, a couple of protein bars, and his trusty red pup pack – Marshall moved like a ghost under the cloak of night. He left no goodbye note, no explanation. The thought of facing Ryder, Chase, or even the ever-optimistic Skye was too much to bear. With a final, lingering glance at the brightly lit Lookout, Marshall turned away, his heart a lead weight in his chest, and disappeared into the night.
