Marshall Goes Missing

Page 6

By the time Marshall finally found a cave up in the frosty mountains that was safe and bear free, he was on his last legs. Exhaustion and pain had finally kicked in when he first touched the snow and the large gash he had gotten earlier didn't help. He had done his best to clean it with his tongue, but without proper first aid he wasn't going to last much longer.

Lying on the cold, icy floor of the cave Marshall did his best to get warm by huddling his body into a fatal position. His whimpers echoed among the cave as he lay there hurt, cold and tired. He had no way of getting out of here especially with the snow storm that was outside. It would take all day to get to Jake's without his truck and he doubt he could survive out there without a way to properly heal himself and stay warm.

And worst of all he had no means to contacting Ryder or the other for help even if they were searching for him, they had no way of finding him. He left no clues of where he was going.

There was no more denying that one thought in Marshall's mind that made him more scared than he ever had in his entire life.

I...I... I'm going to die...

Frozen tears began to stream down his face as he thought of his upcoming demise, he didn't want to die but what other option was there? He was going to either starve, freeze or bleed out. Only a miracle could save him, and with the day Marshall had he doubled any miracles were going to be coming for him. No, it was best to make peace with what time he had left and get ready for his end.

I'm going to miss everyone. I'm so sorry, Mom and Dad. I love you, I love you both so much. Ryder, I wish I could tell you how much you meant to me as an owner and a friend. Rocky, Zuma, Rubble, Skye.  All of you were the best friends I ever had. I'm sorry for all the mistakes I made, including this one. Forgive me. And Chase...

Chase
His mind drifted back to a single day where he showed his dedication to his best friend. He flashed back to two pups in a graveyard. A promise between two young boys who became brothers in that very moment.

I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise Chase. Thought Marshall as he felt his eyelids grow heavier and heavier.

With his vision going darker and darker, he saw a bright figure heading towards him from the edge of the cave. I was tall and look to be stretching out its arms.

An angel? Come to take me away to puppy heaven?

Marshall closed his eyes and accepted his fate as he was lifted from the cold, dark Earth and carried in the air. He felt warmth wrap around him as a smile decorated his face.

His suffering had finally ended.

Flashback
Chase drove his car like hell itself was behind him, he was sure Skye was telling him to slow down, arguing he was going at dangerous speeds. He didn't care to listen to her or focus on anything else. All he cared about was getting to that crash site, and finding Marshall alive or any hint of where he was.

He wasn't dead, he refused to believe he was dead. Marshall promised to him that he wouldn't die and put Chase through that feeling of misery and loss again. He knew how much that promise meant to them both, and all he could think about was the day when that promise was made.

"Aim! Fire!"

Twenty one guns fired into the air as taps were played by the trumpeter. Police squads of over a dozen districts, including the small one in Adventure Bay, saluted as the officers slowly took the American Flag off of the closed casket. Chase looked at his father one last time, even if it was the stiff image of his face that would never again open its eyes. The flag was folded as twenty one other police dogs all howled in mourning for their fallen brother.