Too Much

Almost Too Far

The next day, Zuma woke up early. He didn't know why, but he just did.

"I hate being up this eawly..." He thought. "I feel like I'm the only pup hewe when I am. Guess I'll go get a dwink and some food." He entered the Lookout and made a b-line for the kitchen. He was just about to take a bite of food, when someone spoke to him.

"Good morning, Zuma."

Zuma began to shake. "Heh... M-mowning W-wyder. H-how awre you?"

"I'm actually really good, Zuma. No dream last night." He said happily.

Zuma was shocked. "W-weally? Well, you seem... um, happier than usual."

"I was thinking, maybe my dreams are coming from my stress. Maybe I should take a break, including from you pups, and have a leader relaxation vacation. But then it hit me, if I did, who would be in charge? A pup? Although, I had a pretty good candidate in mind..."

"It's not like leading us is hawd." Zuma said, and nearly died from the stare he recieved from the boy. Now, Zuma started shaking again.

"It's not that hard!? I just said that I planned on vacationing because of how hard my job is and you just stand there and say that!"

Zuma was beginning to cry, tears fell from his cheeks. "I'm sowry, Wyder. But, I was going to..."

"Now you're questioning me!?"

"N-no, I was j-just..."

"Be quiet, Zuma." Ryder said imperatively.

"Yes sir." Zuma said, returning his attention to his food. He truely hadn't meant to make Ryder angry, and decided he should apologize. Just as he was about to look at Ryder, Zuma felt a sharp pain in his gut and nearly puked.

"*Hurp!* Ow! My tummy!"

Ryder looked concerned. "Zuma, are you hurt?"

The Lab nodded, then Ryder smiled. "Good." He then kicked Zuma in the stomach again, this time sliding him across the floor. Zuma heaved forward a few times, fighting to keep his breakfast inside him. He shakily faced Ryder while holding his middle.

"W-wyder, p-please don't h-huwt m-me. I-I p-pwomise I'll l-leave y-you alone."

The boy reached down and tightened Zuma's collar to the point of beginning to choke him. "Now listen, you will shut your mouth, and you will let me continue punishing you until I say. Understand?"

The petrified Zuma shook his head slowly and strenuously swallowed.

Ryder laughed then kicked Zuma again, flinging him against the wall.

"Oooh! My back! It huwts!" Zuma said, but quickly forgot about it; for a new pain had already replaced it. Ryder was pushing one foot down on Zuma's chest.

"(Winded) W-wyder... I can't bweathe... Please get..."

Snap!

"Ouch!" Zuma screamed as Ryder's wieght broke a few ribs. Just when it seemed like the end for Zuma, a blur shot by and tackled Ryder.

"Paws off my best friend!" Rocky, who turned out to be the blur, said. "I will bite you if you don't."

"Aw, protecting baby Zuma are we? Let me take a photo. Say 'cheese', Rocky." Ryder said, and sucker punched Rocky's eye. The mix flew backwards and landed with a thud on the floor.

"Grr! My eye! I don't care, you're not gonna hurt Zuma."

Ryder grabbed Rocky's collar and synched it tight. Rocky gasped for breath as Ryder spoke. "You stupid mutt. I don't care what you say or do, I'll see to it that you and Zuma are hurting permanently." Ryder set Rocky on the floor, still coughing, and stepped as hard as he could on Rocky's front right leg, forcing it to snap. Suddenly, Ryder looked at the two pups and gasped.

"R-rocky? Z-zuma? What happened to you guys?"

"Stay away from us, you meanie!" Rocky shouted, half choked.

"Please don't huwt us anymowre." Zuma begged.

Ryder had no idea why the pups were so afraid, but clearly he had done something to them. He said nothing, but turned and walked off to his room. Marshall and Chase walked into the kitchen after hearing the rukus that had happened.

"Rocky, Zuma, are you both ok?" Chase asked.

"N-no, Zuma's hurt badly. I'm not as bad. M-marshall, help fix Z-zuma, he has a hurt back, ribs, and insides. (Cough!)"

Marshall began helping Zuma and Chase talked with Rocky after untightening his collar. "Rocky, I know you're worried about Zuma, but what is hurting on you? I can see your eye is." He placed an ice pack on Rocky's black eye.

"Well," He started, "Ryder broke my front leg, I can tell. The only other thing is that he choked me with my collar, but I think it may have cut my neck."

Chase looked closer to Rocky's neck and saw that there was a deep cut in it from the collar. "Rocky, when you and Zuma are healed, we are having a meeting to figure out what to do about this situation. Because it is definitely not getting better."

Ryder sat on the edge of his bed. "Why would I hurt Rocky and Zuma? And for no reason? What's wrong with me?" He stepped into the bathroom and looks in the mirror. As he gazed at his reflection, it's eyes suddenly turned red and he laughed.

"You still don't get it, do you?" His reflection asked. "I'm controlling you whenever you hurt those stupid mutts. I'm the voice that has been in your dreams, and mark my words, I will kill these pups eventually- or should I say, you will? Hahaha!"

Ryder's reflection went back to normal, and the boy just stared at the mirror. "My pups... aren't safe around me. I'll have to stay away from them."