Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Fifty-Five

Later that night, Ryder said goodnight to the others and entered his room. He changed into some pajamas and slid into his bed. After a long day of training and exercise, Ryder was ready to go to sleep. He looked at his alarm clock, and the time read 9:45 PM. Ryder turned off the lights, rolled over, and closed his eyes. Immediately, his sense of reality started to fade as he fell asleep.

In his dream, Ryder recalled when he brought each pup into the Paw Patrol and decided to look them over. The first pup was Chase.

Ryder was in the park with his mom and dad. His parents were in an open-aired bandstand in the center of the park. His mom took photos of Ryder and his dad around the bandstand. Ryder was on his dad's shoulders, smiling at the camera when his dad got a call. Ryder's dad looked down at his phone.

"Sorry, kiddo," Ryder's dad apologized as he lowered the young boy. "I gotta take this." His dad raised the phone to his ear and answered. "Chief Justin speaking." He walked out of the bandstand to continue the call.

Ryder sat down on the railing, waiting for his dad to return. He loved spending time with his dad, but since he was a police chief, Ryder didn't play with him as often as he used to. If only I wasn't an only child, he thought. After a minute, Ryder got off the railing and walked over to his mom.

"Hey, Mom," Ryder said. "Is it okay if I go play for a bit?"

"Of course, honey," Ryder's mom replied. "Just don't go too far."

"Thanks, Mom," Ryder said before running off. He was walking to the playground when he saw three dogs running near the park. Ryder wondered why they were running until he saw a young German Shepherd pup ahead of them.

"They don't look friendly," he thought to himself. Ryder ran towards the dogs into the city. He turned the corner and noticed the three bigger dogs.

"Where'd he go?" the biggest one, a Doberman, asked.

"I don't know," the one to its right, a Greyhound, replied. "There's too many people for me to track his scent."

The Doberman grunted. "Come on. Let's get back to the alley." The three dogs took off, running past Ryder.

Ryder sighed in relief, knowing that the young pup was fine. But where was he? Ryder asked himself.

Ryder looked up and noticed the German Shepherd in the middle of the crosswalk. He was trying to stay out of people's way, unaware of the oncoming traffic. Ryder ran over as fast as he could and held out his hand, forcing the van to stop.

Ryder looked down at the pup, and the pup looked up at him. He was too young to be alone on the street. Ryder looked at the pup, his amber eyes resonating with mixed emotions. He stood his ground, but Ryder could tell the pup was tired of running but aware that he might have to. Ryder saw something in the pup's curious eyes that indicated he was the bravest pup he'd ever encountered.

Ryder immediately knew what he had to do. "I'm Ryder," he said. "You can trust me."

The scene wavered and altered to a different moment in Ryder's life. Ryder and his dad were helping the train conductor unload some boxes at the Adventure Bay Train Station.

"Is that it?" Justin asked.

"Just a few more in the other car," the conductor replied. He opened the door and gasped.

"What's wrong?" Justin asked.

"Someone ransacked and ate a box full of pup treats," the conductor said.

Ryder and his dad got closer. The inside of the train car looked like a tornado passed through it. Boxes were tipped over on their sides, with all their items scoured through the floor. Ryder noticed some movement to the right, so he turned and laughed. "I think I found the culprit."