Rocky Shores

Rythm of the Waves

Morning finally dawned and the many windows of the lookout allowed the sun to filter in through the blankets over the pups' fort. Zuma blinked twice, adjusting to the sunlight, and looked around. He tried to stand up, but was startled to find a weight over his back. He relaxed when he remembered he had fallen asleep with Rocky. Rocky must have noticed he was having a nightmare, Zuma realized, and felt bad he had bothered Rocky with his tremors in his sleep. Still, he couldn't help feeling warm and happy inside when he was bundled close under Rocky's arm.

Not wanting to wake his sleeping friend, Zuma wiggled out slowly from underneath Rocky's arm. He used his tail to keep Rocky's paw from hitting the floor abruptly when Zuma had finally wriggled free. He sat for a second, watching Rocky's chest rise and fall with each breath.

"Gosh, I don't know how someone so adorable and perfect can't see how great he really is." Zuma sighed.

He needed to collect his thoughts- there where quite a lot of them buzzing in his head right now. There was only one place to go where he could think clearly: the beach.

~~Rocky's POV~~

When Rocky awoke, Marshal was the only pup left asleep. Chase and Sky where both stretching and yawning in unison- probably just waking up too. Rubble was gone, and Rocky assumed he was either still helping out Rider, or bouncing around somewhere to channel some of his hyper energy.

Rocky hesitated. Something was missing. "Oh, right," he remembered suddenly, "Zuma was sleeping beside me." The side where Zuma had been laying the night before suddenly felt cold.
"Has anyone seen Zuma?" Rocky asked the pups.
"He wasn't here when I woke up," Sky stated simply.
"Oh yeah, we just woke up at the same time," Rocky realized, feeling a bit stupid. "He's probably just gone to take a leak," Rocky decided, "And speaking of which, I probably should too."

Rocky padded outside to the back end of the lookout and relieved himself. His paws where wet from the water droplets still clinging to the grass from the storm, and Rocky shook them with disgust. He went back to the path outside the lookout in search of somewhere drier. The black-top was already warm from the sun, and most of the water seemed to have evaporated.

Rocky took a deep breath, smelling the clean, wet, air. The fresh smell after a storm. Though he hated water, he didn't mind the smell of rejuvenation a good rain left behind. It was almost as if the grass and plants and trees where thanking the skies for their gift. If the plants where happy, Rocky supposed he could be happy too.

Another smell drifted faintly in the breeze. Something familiar. Having nothing better to do, Rocky followed it. The scent led him down the street, past Mr. Porter's, and sloped down and down until Rocky found himself facing the board walk. The scent had led him right to the ocean he feared so much. But, something wasn't so bad about it this time. Zuma was lying there, at the end of the dock, staring peacefully out over the lazy waves.

"Zuma!" Rocky wanted to yell, but stopped himself. Zuma was so relaxed out there. There was no point in startling him. Rocky regained a more mild composure and padded softly and quietly over the sand to join his friend. However, when he laid a paw on the old wooden dock, a faint unpleasant creak sounded. Zuma twitched an ear and turned his head to see what had made the noise. When he saw Rocky, his face lit up.

"Wocky! Good morning!" Zuma greeted him.
"Oh! Uh, Zoom! Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, you just looked so peaceful and I just kind of wanted to join- I mean, do you mind- what am I talking about this is your spot I'll go find somewhere el-" Rocky rambled nervously, but Zuma cut him off.
"Duuude, calm down! It's cool, come chill with me. This is my favowite spot in all of Adventure Bay."
"Oh, uh, thanks, dude," said Rocky.

They settled down side by side and stared out at the water for a silent moment. Then Zuma glanced at Rocky strangely.
"What is it?" Rocky asked, worried.
Zuma turned away quickly. "Oh, uh, it's nothing! I just... well, you're scared of water, aren't you?"
Rocky suddenly realized that despite being on land, he was surrounded by and facing many many miles of ocean. Yet, somehow, he was okay. A little nervous, but instead of chewing him up inside like anxiety usually did, it only waited quietly inside him, restraining itself.

"I am," Rocky said slowly, "I guess it's because I'm on land and the waves are calm?" He tried, but that didn't quite feel right.

Zuma frowned in an almost disappointed sort of way, but quickly erased the expression. Rocky caught it before Zuma could hide it, though. Zuma blushed and met Rocky's confused eyes before looking away again.
"Wha- what is it?" Rocky asked, now blushing slightly himself.
"Nothing!" Zuma blurted, "Well, um, it's just that, well... you've seemed, I don't know, happiew lately? Mowe at peace? Could it be that... that maybe something ow... I don't know, maybe someone in youw life... could have happened? Like, something good that makes you feel mowe at ease?" Zuma said hopefully.
"What do you mean?" Rocky cocked his head.
"Well um, lets see, well, hypothetically, say someone feeling twoubled meets someone who just numbs theiw twoubles. Like being with them might just put them at ease." Zuma sighed, "Hypothetically."

"Hypothetically, yeah, I mean, I think that could happen. I guess that maybe something has changed making me a bit more happy, but what could that be?" Rocky wondered.
Zuma shook his head sadly. "Oh you big sweet clueless pup."