The Silent Leader

Rude Awakening

Rockys P.O.V

I wake to 7 frowning faces looming above me, all of which quickly turn to smiles as they notice I'm awake. "Rocky! Thank goodness you're OK!" I hear Marshall yell, then he falls out of his seat. Some still frozen part of my brain is thinking, why is there only 7 faces? Last time I knew, there were 8 faces, where is he?

I give a smile when I feel a hand touch the top of my head. "Good morning Rocky, glad to see you're all right, you gave us quite a scare." The calming voice of Ryder says, scratching me right behind the ears. "Hehe, um, sorry?" I tell him, but I can't keep my tail from wagging. "Ryder, did they all make it out?" I ask him, a deep sense of worry filling my chest. He gives a smile and laughs, but I can see in his eyes that he's still upset with me.

"Everyone but you got out unharmed. What you did was very brave pup, but also... extremely reckless, if that wound on your back had hit any harder, you'd be paralized. I've got to give you this though, you acted without hesitation. Further proof of the size of your heart, but Rocky, if you ever do something like this again..." I can tell he means the threat, but at the same time. Ryder can't punish us worth anything, so he can't keep the smile tugging at his face away.

Flashes of yesterday's event soar through my head. We had been helping Marshall put out a fire down in town when a group of people had gotten stuck behind a fallen sign. Without thinking about it I was in and was unscrewing the rivets before anyone could tell me not too. Which then got ME stuck after a beam had fallen down and had trapped me. The worst part is? No matter how hard I try, I can't remember who drug me out. I remember hearing someone constantly cursing and just a faint sniff of petrichor before I blacked out.
I give a small laugh, "yeah, yeah it won't happen again, I promise. Who knew getting burnt hurt so much?" I say earning a laugh out of the crowd. "Hey Rocky, how did you get out of there? I mean, the last we saw of you was the wall crashing down. You were in there for nearly 45 minutes! What happened?" Rubble asks, the bulldog's tail wagging in preparation of a story. Wait, they didn't know I was pulled out?

"A pup dragged me out, I was stuck on the second floor by a beam. I... I don't actually remember what he looked like, but I wish I did. I owe him my life. He never even told me his name." I say quietly, eyes moistening at the thought of the brave pup in the smoke. I see disappointment dawn on all their faces, but then again, it was already there in their eyes. "So what's the deal with you guys? I'm sorry I did what I did, but I had to save those people." I tell them gently, putting some smoothed over silk into my words.

I watch them all share a glance, then Marshall steps forward. "Well... We're all kinda frustrated you didn't warn us. We could have helped you! We are supposed to be a team! Not to mention you scared us out of our fur when you just disappeared on us!" He says, his usually friendly voice rising in anger. "Why didn't you let us help? We would be lost without you, who else would I constantly accidentally spray with my water cannons?" He says chuckling, his eyes twinkling with humor.
I can't help but laugh at that, shifting up on my pillow to be more elevated. And that's when I see him.

He sits away from the group, kind of in the shadows. His amber eyes cold, his face expressionless. His long tail completely still, fur sleek as ever, but hackles slightly raised under his uniform. He's drew up to his full height, as if waiting for just the right moment to strike. But the longer I look at him, the stranger he gets. His uniform is without wrinkles, cleanly pressed and stainless, but I can see where his fur is darker as if stained, and just on the edge of his neck, where the collar of his uniform reaches the fur, I see and the faint traces of burn marks.

As if knowing I can see them, he shrugs his shoulders, the burn marks being recovered. Out of all the pups, he's the one I'm the most happy to see. Yes, I like Chase, this does mean I'm gay, get over it. I don't know what it is about him, he's just... intriguing? A question mark? Seeing me staring at him, Ryder gives me a long look. "Pups, maybe we should give Rocky a minute to catch his breath. And give Chase a chance to break his weird silence." He tells the group, giving a pointed look at his second in command. The others tell me to get well soon and slowly walk out until only me, Ryder, and Chase all remain in the room.

I watch Ryder's face carefully, which is at the moment studying Chase's face. And judging by his look, he is wondering what Chase is up too. He has always been a stoic pup, but his lack of emotion is... unsettling. Is he happy, sad, or is he angry? I ask myself, letting my mind work on the details. I hear Ryder give a sigh, slowly making his way towards the door. "I don't know what it is Chase, but if you won't talk to me or the others at least talk to Rocky, I'm sure he would welcome a chance to talk to you again." He says and walks out, leaving us alone.

A span of silence awaits the closing of the door. Chase's expression unchanging, frosty eyes never differing from mine. The only thing that was changing, was my heart rate and my worry. I have NEVER seen Chase like this, and I STILL can't figure out what he's feeling! "I don't know what he means by silence but...Look Chase, I'm sorry I..." I don't get the chance to finish. Within a seconds time he is at my bedside, causing the tables and bed to rattle violently, his face barely an inch away from mine, his breathing heavy.

"Look, "sorry" doesn't cut it this time. You nearly got yourself KILLED Rocky! That is UNACCEPTABLE!" He howls, eyes lighting up with rage. Feeling more than a little intimidated, I scoot myself back. "Chase, I know you were frightened but..." I once again am interrupted by a throaty growl. "I wasn't frightened Rocky, I was terrified. A leader's greatest fear is seeing one of his pack be killed. I never ask anyone for much, but you CAN'T do that to me again! I AM NOT going to let my nightmares come true!" He howls, jumping up onto the bed to tower over me.

I can't help but both feel touched and vulnerable. He has nightmares about losing us... "Chase I get it, I'm sorry. But...it's kind of my job to save people." He slowly turns his head away for a second and I get a good look at the side of his face, and like a gear clicks into my head, I realize it was him, Chase must've pulled me out of the fire! "Why didn't you tell the others you pulled me out? There's no way you went through the fire to get me and came out unscathed. Even a dog with all your amazing skill couldn't do that." I point out quickly, doing so without meaning to be so flattery.

He begins to laugh suddenly, his whole body shaking with the force of it. A suddenly loud beeping noise fills the room as his laugh attack finialy subsides, and it takes me a moment to realize it's my heart monitor, my heartbeat sounding like a freight train over railroad tracks.

"I didn't tell the other because then I'd be right here beside you. Another pup down because of a couple wounds. You needed to be here more than I did, and they've only got so many doctors available. I'll be fine, I am fine." He says quiet, but stubbornly, as if trying to convince himself as well, his bloodshot eyes narrowing as I slowly scoot back to my spot. He's not ok though...

He's not breathing right, favoring his left side. His cool gaze is alight with a crazed pain, looking a little closer I can see a dark red splotch beginning to be noticeable in his uniform. There are bags under his beautiful amber eyes, and his paws look to have burns on the bottom.. "Chase why don't you just sit down? You look about to collapse." I say calmly, rationally.

He laughs again, but it sounded liquidy, like there was something in his throat, or lungs...
"I don't need to be here Rock, YOU do. My only concern is this team and you, not exactly in that order mind you, but (cough)You're not expendable, I.. we need you." He blushes and chuckles as I do the same. It's weird to see him this way, put aside the sickening feeling in my gut at his condition, he doesn't look as intimidating as he towers over me. If anything he almost seemed uncomfortable, swaying from side to side as he keeps his body standing straight as a board... his tail and ears drooping...His whole body starting to lean to one side... utoh