Chase Runs Away

Matters of the Heart

Chase was in deep thought while he sat in the corner of the cabin. Even if it he had just sat, his mind was still racing. He couldn't comprehend what felt off.

"What could I possibly still want?" The Shepherd questioned. "I got back the family I wanted and got back my brother and best friend. What could I possibly still need?" The Shepherd wondered.

Chase was barely able to get in a few thoughts before the silhouette of a small cockapoo came into his vision.

"Oh, hey Skye. What's up?" The Shepherd asks.

Skye smiled.

"Nothing really Chase, but I could ask you the same question. Why did you come over here? Are you sad again?" The cockapoo asked with a frown forming.

Chase smiled at the pup.

"No, Skye i'm completely fine. I just came over here to think. That's all." The Shepherd reassured.

"To think about what?" The Cockapoo questioned.

"Just some things that are on my mind. It's no big deal though" Chase replies.

Skye looks skeptical.

"Are you sure?" She asks.

Chase chuckles.

"Of course. Just head back with the rest of the pups, I'll be there in a second" The Shepherd said with a smile.

Skye's smile returned.

"Ok Chase. Just let me know if you need me. I'm always here for you" The cockapoo says as she nuzzles the Shepherd.

Skye left the Shepherd, but he wasn't alone. She had left him with something he hadn't felt in a while. That's when Chase's heart started rushing. He looked at the couch of pups. He noticed Marshall, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma...and Everest.

"Everest." Chase whispered to himself.

That's when Chase started connecting the feeling he had just felt. He knew it wasn't the same feeling he had gotten from Everest. Everest's had a sort of family-like feeling. This feeling he had just gotten took him back to before any of this had happened, and it was strong.

"That's it" Chase realized with wide eyes. "That's what was off. I-I-I" The Shepherd mentally stuttered.

Chase took another look at the couch of pups and put his paw on his forehead, due to the stress he was overcome with.

"Does this ever end? Will I ever just have a day where my mind is completely set and my emotions are straight?" Chase thought with frustration, realizing that in less than a day, old feelings were returning and they weren't light.

Unlike the situation Chase had to deal with earlier, he knew that this one had to wait until the morning. Too much had already been on his plate and he needed to rest before diving into the next ordeal.

Chase made his way back to the couch, but before he approached it, he noticed the pups had maneuvered themselves into different positions. Skye was all the way to the left. To the right of her was Everest. To the right of Everest was Marshall. Next to Marshall was Rocky, then Zuma, then finally Rubble. Chase figured they moved for conversation purposes which made sense. Chase noticed that the move had displaced his previous spot. There seemed like no opening until he noticed an empty spot to the left of Skye.

"Sure, why not." Chase thought to himself as he made his way to the empty spot.

The pups continued to watch the movie until one by one each pup begin to slowly drift to sleep. Two of the pups happened to wind up in a cuddling position on the couch. No one noticed though, considering they were deep in their sleep.