For Adventure Bay - [PAW Patrol Fanfic]

Late Night Talks

Ryder jolted awake. The sun hadn't risen yet. His mind recalled the nightmare that woke him up.

"It's 2 am...." he whispered as he looked at his pup pad.

He dragged himself out from the bed, restraining himself from falling asleep again. He carefully passed the sleeping pups and went out from his room.

He walked towards a room. It was a garden with ceilings that replicated the night sky. Faint memories of him and Katie playing here when they're little came to his mind.

Flashback

"You can't get me Ryder!" Katie squealed.

"Oh you'll see!" Ryder snickered.

She hid behind a huge tree and exhaled, thinking that she lost him.

"BOO!" Ryder popped up from the tree, hanging upside down.

"AAHHH!" she screamed. Ryder could only chuckle.

"I told you not to hide behind tress." He said as he jumped down.

"I hate you..." Katie pouted.

"Well.... My turn to hide then!" Ryder chuckled before dashing off to hide.

"I'll find you!" Katie smiled and continued their game.

"Katie! Ryder!" a voice called out.

"Coming!" both replied.

"I dare you to race me to Aunt Nat." Ryder challenged.

"You're on!" she replied.

Flashback Ends

He walked around and found the big tree that he used to climb. On it's trunk, a carving was still visible.

"R + K" He read it out. "Forever friends"

"Just friends Ryder... We're just friends... Are we? Even after-" his mind was interrupted.

"What are you doing here this late?" a voice asked.

Ryder spun around to see Nat standing behind him.

"I... I just can't sleep."

"Your face tells me a different story... Mind talking about it?" Nat approached him.

He replied with a shake of his head. They both sat on the bench nearby. The fake stars above them glimmered and illuminated the dimly lit garden.

"So... I saw him..." He started. "He started the explosions and the fire... I was with Mayor Goodway at the time..."

"What did he say to you?"

"He said... He said that he's there to see me again for the last time... He also blamed me for mom's death... That's before he detonated everything and disappeared."

Ryder felt a hand on his shoulder. "You know that her death wasn't your fault."

"I know... But I still feel like it was..." he sighed. "And why are you still awake?" he asked, changing the topic.