(Running Through Time) ~ A Yearbook of Chase and Marshall ~

Chapter 11: Carry You Home (Autumn-Winter)

The team's failure in finding Marshall led Chase for another search after Zuma told them a brilliant idea. Will he be able to actually carry Marshall home?

"You guys really didn't found him, huh?" Ryder asked. Everyone shook their head and whimpered in disappointment.

"I really hate this. Like, this misunderstanding thing really annoying." Chase still sobbed.

"Sorry, Chase. We've tried our best." Skye tried to calm their leader.

"If I actually waited for him back then! Dang it, I am a stupid dog! This won't happen if I did!" Chase slammed his paw to the floor.

"Enough, Chase!" Ryder lifted Chase and hugged him. "Don't blame yourself for this! We didn't know that he had a problem before that incident..." He patted Chase's back.

"Wyder, is thewe... anything that belongs to Mawshall left? You know, if thewe is any, maybe Chase can sniff his scent." Zuma asked.

"Actually I was about to say, "Why don't Chase sniff himself?", but I know it's too rude at the moment." Rocky whispered to Zuma.

"What the heck, dude." Zuma pinched Rocky's nose. Rocky only yelped in pain.

"There's his bowl, actually." Ryder, still carrying Chase on him, went away and took a red dog bowl. "This should do, I guess?"

"Not washed yet?" Rocky asked.

"It wasn't. I... didn't have the time after knowing that Marshall's gone." Ryder looked inside the bowl.

"P-please... l-let me..." Chase sniffed and tried to release himself from Ryder.

"Wipe your tears first. It may ruin your smelling." Ryder let Chase go.

Chase wiped his tear and took a deep breath. He started sniffing the bowl as best as he can and tried to find out where Marshall was going.

"Th... the scent is too far..." Chase sniffed back.

"Far?" Skye asked.

"I can detect where he is. But it is too far... really really far away..." Chase stopped.

"It's getting too late to search for him, you know..." Rocky looked at the Lookout's entrance. There was no light at all other than the Lookout's light, and it was almost midnight.

"Chase, actually I don't wanna hold you, but Rocky was right. It's getting too late, we better look for him tomorrow." Ryder looked at Chase.

"R-Ryder, this might be a selfish request, but... mind if I look for him myself?" Chase pleaded, and everyone was shocked.

"C-Chase! No, don't do that!" Rubble disallowed his friend. "I-I mean, it was us who make him go, we will return him together because it is our responsibility too!"

"I know! But... I'm just afraid... the old topic... he might've remembered them again... and I need to solve it myself." Chase sighed.

"About that old fight that included you two, huh?" Zuma asked. Chase nodded.

Ryder couldn't say anything. Everyone went silent for a moment.

"Today was a really... rough day. I'm not even sure if "Rough" is enough to describe today. Well, we better take a rest first. It's getting too late, and we have to let Chase do what he wanted. We gotta respect his decision, and maybe that'd be the only way to bring Marshall back to the Paw Patrol." Ryder sighed and rubbed Chase's back.

"Alright, Ryder." Everyone moved from their position to the lounge to sleep. Chase stayed, though.

"Chase, I'll let you go. Try to bring him home, by any means. Tell him that it was just a misunderstanding, and promise me that Marshall will go home with you. Persuade him in any way you can." Ryder stared deeply into Chase's eyes.

Chase nodded slowly. He cried again slowly. "I'm just worried about him... where is he? Has he eaten yet? He must be feeling quite cold and lonely sleeping by himself... and, is his position safe from the wild animals? I'm worried, Ryder..."

"Yeah, me too. I'm also feeling the same, even way much more worried. Because... Marshall, and all of you... are my dependents. If they know something bad happened to Marshall, I'd be marked as an irresponsible owner, and they'd repatriate you guys back to the animal shelter. I don't wanna lose you guys, even just a single pup..." Ryder whispered and also cried.

"R-repatriated!?" Chase panicked, but his mouth was closed immediately by Ryder.

"Don't let the others know! I just want you to be the only pup who knows this." Ryder said. "...just, take him back. Bring him home. That's my only request, Chase."

"Sure, Ryder." Chase nodded. Ryder let the pup away and he wiped his tears, returning to his room.

"Chase, don't worry. Marshall will return, we believe so."

Chase woke up really early the next day. He went outside and prepared things that he should carry at his dog house. After he was ready, Ryder stopped him.

"Chase, bring this with you. If Marshall hadn't eaten yet, feed him with those dog food I prepared for two of you. I trust you in all of this, and carry this bowl of his in case you lost his scent." Ryder put a big bag on Chase's car, the same bag when they were going together.

"Yep, I have to carry him home." Chase, with his spy suit, nodded. "Wait, is that..."

"Yes, it is my eye bags. Yes, I'm worried about your brother for the whole night." Ryder rubbed his teary eyes.

"Aw, I'm sorry, Ryder. Please take a rest later, will you?" Chase lowered his ears.

"Will do. Have you carried everything you need? Zipline? Net? Megaphone?" Ryder checked the whole of Chase's bag.

"Yep, I've prepared the whole thing. Please wish me luck for this." Chase started his engine and went away.

"Bring him home!"

Chase was right, the scent led him to the outer Adventure Bay. He kept on following his brother's scent until he reached a forest. A forest filled with yellow-colored leaves. Chase remembered this location.

"Wait! I remember this place! This was... that autumn forest we visited last month..." Chase looked around.

He felt like hearing Marshall's laughter echoing around the forest. A sweet cute laughter that he made when they were playing together. He remembered everything, his smile, his snoring noise when they were sleeping together, even...