Chase, Come Home

After vanishing during a dangerous solo search-and-rescue in the icy Northern Ridges, Chase is presumed lost. The team mourns, and Ryder blames himself-until three weeks later, Chase is found alive.

But something's wrong.

The Chase that returns is not the same pup who left. His once-loyal eyes are now cold and distant. His bark-once brave-is replaced by growls and snapping teeth. He won't let anyone near him... not even Skye. Any attempt to touch him ends in snarls, as if he's afraid, broken-or worse... no longer himself.

As the team tries everything to reach him, secrets from what happened in the mountains begin to surface. Ryder struggles with guilt, while Skye refuses to give up on the pup who once held her paw through every storm. But when Chase lashes out and nearly injures a teammate, the painful question emerges:

Is Chase too far gone... or is he silently begging for someone to fight for him?

This story is a raw exploration of trauma, healing, and what it really means to love someone who's hurting-even when they push you away.