Ciara's POV: "Well today sucked. Birthdays are suppose to be fun, filled with laughter, and happiness! Anything but gloomy. Your spending another year with your loved ones and friends that you basically consider your family, it's supposed to be exciting! Unless you live here and in this family...where friends and family members barely visit."

It was around midnight when the female recapped this day while laying towards the end of her bed. If you could call it a bed, it was mostly composed of ripped blankets and newspapers, but as long as someone that needed an actual bed had it, that's all that mattered.

She was laying flat down ready to drift off to dream land, yet, she couldn't. Her eyes were heavy and sleepy, it was her brain that didn't allow it, acting restless.

Her mind was somewhere else, focusing on someone else, she had already tried to shake the image away but it was like a pesky mosquito, it wouldn't quit, it kept coming back.

Ciara: *sighs* "Where were you?" She mouthed.

She had to keep quiet, their was someone else in the room, right next to her in fact. And she knew better than to wake him up, especially when it was this type of topic. He hated it when she would talk about any ex, mainly her first love. It infuriated him, to a point where she learned her lesson. A mark on her wrist reminded her of that.

Ciara's POV: "I could care less about him, I don't love him, not anymore. It's someone I can't have, I always loved him, but I had to move on. He'll never be like him. No one ever is, it was stupid of me to think this relationship would work. I could have been happy, instead I'm stuck with this guy. "

Ashamed, she buried her face in the torn sheets, her eyes got misty as she sniffed into them, feeling lousy. If it wasn't for the huge gust of wind that just swirled around the room, making her look up, she would've continued to pity herself, but she got up and walked to it, quietly.

Besides shutting it when she reached it, she stared at the outside world, feeling another breeze go through her fur. She closed her eyes letting the fresh air fill her lungs, then opening them to something breathtaking behind the clouds.

Ciara: "Woah. A full moon is out tonight." She whispered to herself.

It was her only true companion for the night, it's bright white color exploding and standing out from the dark sky, thus making a thrill sweep over her. She put her head on the windowsill, only gazing at the magnificent thing.

Ciara's POV: "I never seen it this bright. I don't know why but it's so comforting to be around. He would love this, we loved anything as long as we were with each other. But that was years ago."

Then, something occurred to her, that this wasn't the best view of it. The tanish brown dog looked across the hall to see a shut door, her guardian's room. She looked toward her bed, the snoring male still being his lazy, selfish, self. A devilish smile made it's way across her face as she boosted her weight onto the edge of the window, next jumping out.

Once she got out she started running off to a very special spot that she HAD to see one more time. It's been a while, like having the priveldge of going outside for her. Before, she went to the place so much, she could literally be blindfolded while walking backwards and still get there at record time. Now, she can't step one inch outdoors before getting scolded.

Ciara's POV: "I remember the first time I stumbled onto that place. It was better than my other special place in the forest, though, I can't complain. I never would've meet him, but then again, if I didn't meet him my problems would've never happened. Life is so unfair sometimes."

Tired of running the canine slowed down to a walk, there was no need to run, again, there was no threat. Sure, she could have asked someone to go with her but they wouldn't understand. Most people here either don't or just don't care enough.

She tried to think about the perks and good things that this place had to offer, nothing came to mind. Literally, 70% of the streets where filled with trash, the type of people that lived here hated the fact that others did, and nothing special ever happens. Holidays are just another day, like birthdays, the crazy thing was that it wasn't always like this.

It's hard to imagine her island before the 'incident'. However, she lived and grew up in that period of time, so she didn't have to imagine, she just had to remember, still, if only it was reality.

No one walked together, no one worked together, no one would do anything together. Paranoid ones didn't even leave their own homes. For a while family was the only ones you could undeniably trust. It wasn't long after it was proven to be inaccurate.

It was a world without trust. Nobody believed anybody, so when someone seemed too good to be true, they were. These people only didn't want help, they rejected it.

No one received or gave any assistance if it meant to involve more than one person other than themselves.

Ciara's POV: "I'm not saying living here is embarrassing, I like it, it's home. After a while you just get use to it. There was only one person I know who didn't like it here...Chase. It even hurts me to say his name, it's been practically over 5 years and I still can't get pass the fact he's no longer around. Part of me moved on, but the other part of me still loves him for some reason."

Ciara kicked away a pile of dirt as she was still a few minutes away from her designated spot. She had to admit it, she use to love the walk, but now all it did was bring back memories that were only burdens. Rarely, did she talk about it to anyone, now who could she talk to?

However, going through any forest, especially this forest, still held some of the best moments in her life, she loved those times. But as they say, negativity is stronger than positivity, if only you had an overbearing amount of positives would you win. She thought some more until she reach a memorable mark she could never forget.

Under some dead and broken trees was her first place she had all to herself, it wasn't the location she was going to, but she decide to take a quick detour for now.

Ciara's POV: "Anytime I needed a breather, this was here. Well until we met. Heh, he ruins everything. I'll never forget the first words he said to me. We were sooo childish. Makes sense, he was only four and I was three...and a half."

Skimming the area she joked at the time her secret section was blown and was dicovered by another. Brushing her paw over the bark, she sighed, it was all in the past and would remain that way.

Continuing onto her path, she looked back at the spot from afar, and before moving any farther she smiled. Then, as she continued to go further and further her smile disappeared completely.

After a lot and I mean a lot of strolling, Ciara had offcially arrived. The name of the place varied to whoever you asked. She called it 'Heart Break beach', the main reason being obvious, that was her experience there. If you would've asked her when she was young she would've labeled it another name.

The sand instead of soft and clean was rough and messy, she expected it to be that way. Clear evidence that a name like 'Dumpster' fit as the place as well.

Ciara: "It's beautiful." She said full of amazement, not caring about the land she was on, but what was above.

Up close it was the best seat by far, years ago it was shown to her on a night similarly like this. Just her, the moon, and Chase. How could you forget someone from your childhood? Or someone who took up your life since you were like three! (A/N: In human years.)

Have you ever had a person like that in your life? Someone you no longer have? Do you miss the good old days sometimes? If you could travel back in time would you do anything different? What would you say to them? What would you give up? Ciara would give anything just for a meer minute with him.

Ciara's POV: "You didn't even come to your own mother's birthday, how selfish are you? Where are you, Chase? You promised..."

Ciara: "You said you would be here."

Along side the shore was a wooden dock, after walking to it she laid down and as soon as she did, all her feelings were let loose. The Shepherd looked at the water, staring at the horizen as the lit moon gave the sea a mirror like color. Reflecting her dejected and broken hearted face.

Ciara: "It's been years but this place makes it feel like just yesterday. I'm sorry for what I did and if you never want to talk to me that's fine, but I need you here. Your whole family needs you, Chase. Please, please...."

More tears burst out as she silently whimpers, her head resting on the end of the dock, the droplets flowing down both cheeks. But her sadness escalated to anger, she clenched her paw and her eyes narrowed.

Ciara: "You could have stayed. We could've fix it. Half of it, is your fault and you know that!

I cause problems but I do it to make what I want happen."

She said boldly. "I remember hearing my father say that. You should know what it's like to not have a father figure...I had to! You gave me no choice, you changed...so I had to. What else was I suppose to do?!"

No response. It was only her and the moon, but it couldn't talk, all it could do was be there, listening. That's all Ciara needed, that's all anyone needs really. After her vent session was over she knew she'd have to go back, because unlike Chase, she knows she couldn't bring herself to leave this place.

She made her way back, and as she stepped on the grainy, littered, sand. Ciara managed to take control again, trailing off straight to home, before anyone knew where she was.

(With Chase.)

Chase's POV: "I did it, but the worst isn't over. It's just beginning."

Hidden from plain sight in the abaft, the German Shepherd was low in light, it would've been total darkness if it wasn't for some small holes above him and a window. The surface down here, most likely a storage unit, was nearly packed with suitcases and bags, stuffed with items like: blankets, clothes, and snacks. Whatever someone needed for a long trip could be detected and detached. Perfect.

Chase's POV: "I had to do it, I'm so sorry Skye. Maybe you would've understood if I told you everything."

A small rattle then came from the piles of packages, making his ears alerted. He squinted his eyes a little seeing if he could find the cause of the noise. You could imagine how hard it was trying to find someone in a shaded space.

Fearing the worst, Chase scurried behind a bigger pile. It could be one of the captain's servants or another passenger, but he couldn't risk getting caught. He peeked his head out when he could hear the figure moving through the many objects not so far away.

That's when he thought he's mind was playing tricks with him, there was just no way, it was unbelievable. Under the split boards, a ray of moonlight hit below on the lower deck, like a performance was about to take place. Entertaining, but misguiding. Then, the moment the figure walked straight under the light, that's when he could identify exactly who it was.

Who else?

Chase: "Skye?!" He said keeping distance, just in case she was some sort of mirage.

Skye: "Chase!" She exclaimed, sprinting up to him.

Chase: "What are you doing here!?"

That's when her expression fell.

Skye: "I-I don't even know. My legs moved before I could think! I couldn't just stand there like some statue."

Chase: "You-but I-what about-." He bit his lip and let air run out of his nostrils before continuing. "Why am I so surprised? I should've known you would do this..."

Skye: "Huh?" She said her mouth hanging wide.

Chase: "You know this isn't the first time you did something like this, especially when I told you not to."

Skye: "Oh, hehe yeah. So your not mad?"

His right eye twitched, but a small arch of a smile was the only thing you could sense.

Chase's POV: "Ya know, you can always throw her overboard. Shut it."

Chase: "Maybe just a little."

A few seconds went by and that's when it finally sank in, the future that they'll soon follow, almost inevitable.

Chase: "But that's not what I'm concerned about right now. We have an even bigger problem now that your here."

Skye: "And w-what is that?" She said a bit shaky.

Chase: "Your going to Trustem."

Skye: "I get to see your home town! That's not a problem. It's great news!"

She looked his way and only barely saw a miserable frown. Stopping all her joy, she couldn't tell exactly what it was but something was wrong.

Skye: "It can't be that bad."

Chase: "It's not bad, it's terrible."

He got away from his position and moved towards the small circular window, located across the room. Moonlight poured in, the brown male looked throught the invisible screen spotting the bright orb giving him dim light.

Chase: "It's nothing like any island you've probably known. So you can't really expect anything. Except bad things." He said out loud but steady, his voice reaching the Cockapoo, still not being able to analyze fully.

Skye: "Maybe it's different now." She said trotting over to him, slowly.

Chase: "I highly doubt it. If anything, it's worse."

Skye: "Why do you think that? How bad could it be?"

Chase: "You'll know as soon as you step one paw on that island."

Skye: "Rough childhood?"

Chase: "You have no idea."

Skye: "Can you give me an idea?" She suggested.

Chase: "It's a long story."

Skye: "We have the time."

The German Shepherd's gaze was removed from the ocean to her. An offer emerged in his mind.

Chase: "Sure, I'll tell you..."

The female's eyes lit up and her ears shifted, her tail began to wag back and forth, showing her excitement.

Chase: "But you have to agree with me on something. Three things actually."

Skye: "What three things exactly?" She said her hype dissolving.

Chase: "Rules. Without them you wouldn't last a day on Trustem. You would want to know them."

Skye: "Well that's kinda out of the question."

Chase: "What? You want to stay longer?"

Skye: "I really don't have a choice. Everest told me that the next boat to Adventure Bay takes about a week to travel back."

Chase: "Are you serious?!" He looked away then darting his eyes back. "Well then you NEED to know them, if you barely make it through a day I doubt you'll survive a week."

Skye: "Do I look like a child to you? I can manage pretty well by myself. I'm a RC surviver after all." She boasted, earning a genuine smile from the male.

Chase: "Yeah well Everest was also there and their must've been a reason for that. He wanted you alive."

Skye: "Or, maybe I CAN handle myself and your just exaggerating."

Chase: "Oh your funny." He said pulling his signature sarcastic remarks. "And maybe in other places but I told you, Trustem is different, in a bad way. I grew up there so I should tell you what to expect, er at least from when I was there. Come on Skye, I just want to help as much as I can."

Skye: "Then I guess I shouldn't stop you. Fine. What rules?" She asked with one brow raised, giving in.

Chase: "Well for starters..." He cleared his throat. "Rule number three: Never walk alone. It's pretty self explanatory but in the streets anywhere, anyone could take advantage of that inconvenience."

Skye: "R-right." She said uneasy. "It already sounds intimidating." She mumbled.

Chase: "And that brings us to rule two: Show no weaknesses. Even if you chose to ignore rule three, for some reason, or you do find yourself lonely, don't let someone think they could out rank you because of one flaw, make it look like you have nothing to lose."

Skye: "But what if they aren't trying to pull something or challenging me in any way?"

Chase: "Consider yourself lucky, because meeting someone like that on Trustem has the same percentage as someone changing their whole mindset on a topic. Can it happen? Yes. Is it common? No."

Skye: *frowns* "Oh."

Chase: "It's tough, I know. I couldn't wait to leave that wasteland."

Skye: "I thought you loved it? You hated it when I said that it was stupid."

Chase: "Yeah...I guess I just can't stand it when others speak to it like that. It's almost like talking about a little brother or sister."

Skye: "How?"

Chase: "You can pick on them as much as you want, you could hate them, say insults, and heck if you want to fight you could. But as soon as somebody else does those things to them, you hate that person's guts."

Skye: "Then I take it back. Especially since I never even been there. It was just so sudden. I didn't know what to think."

Chase: "Is that also way you decided to join me?"

Skye: "Partially." Her eyes searched the floor boards. "I couldn't believe you chose to leave, after everything that happened...you leaving was the last thing I wanted. So I tried to make it not come true."

Chase: "You could've stayed."

Skye: "And what? Regret me not being able to stop you? Stay and look like a fool for doing everything I could and end up still losing?! What would've I told Everest? Or Ryder? Or the whole paw patrol!?" She paused. "Oh no...the paw patrol."

The expression on her face formed from anger to one of realization, as she just thought about her displacement and the consequences because of it.

Skye: "What have I done? It's supposed to be my job. Our job! Adventure Bay needs us."

Chase: "They only need you." He went into his thoughts and knew it was time for her to know. "I already quit anyways." He softly spoke.

Skye: "You what?!"

Chase: "I can't be a leader or second in command either. I let Ryder and the whole team down, if it wasn't for me Marshall would've stayed like he used to be, Rocky wouldn't have to hate him like he does now, Zuma wouldn't have to be in the background of anything, Rubble could've looked up to someone worthy as a role model, and Ryder...he wouldn't have to look at how much of a disappointment I really am." He hung his head down low, his shoulders slouched with his ears lowered showing little to no confidence.

Skye: "Do you really think that? It's not your fault bad things happen."

Chase: "Yeah...but I'm still part of problem."

Skye: "But that also means your part of the solution."

Her paw lifted his chin, making eye to eye contact. A small smile crept it's way across her face, the window right next to them shining a light in this situation, glowing higher than before.

Chase detached their eyes to see it's rays, it felt like energy flown from it. The smaller dog focus in on it too, about two seconds flew by then the brown color dog spoke up which caught her off guard.

Chase: "Trust carefully."

Skye turned to him, thinking she misheard.

Chase: "That's rule number one. The most important rule I've ever learned."

The ship rocked a little with the waves lightly tipping it from both sides. Setting a mood for a story that was about to unfold.

Chase: "A deal's a deal." He said finality.

Skye's eyes grew as she suddenly became aware and knew what he was talking about.

Skye: "Really?"

Was all she could bring herself to say.

Chase: "You'll find out sooner or later. You may as well know my view on it first though."

Completely hooked in, she got closer. Wanted to know every bit of detail and follow along with every single word. However, one question lingered and had to be explained beforehand.

Skye: "Okay. But before we start, I just want to know, why were you never opened about it? Your past and stuff."

Chase: "I always thought of it as private, like we had to be really close. But even then I would completely blow it off. They wouldn't understand is what I told myself, I thought that way a lot."

Skye: "You grew up in a place that sounds like it might make you think that's how everyone in the world acts. I can't blame you for thinking that way."

Chase: "Yeah. I couldn't find someone different from the crowd. So I went out looking for one." He confessed. "I still have searching to do."

Not wanting to hear this again, she changed the conversation back to it's main gist. His life story.

Skye: "And your home? With your mom and twin brother. How do you feel about them now?"

Chase: "I don't know how they are now, I don't know if they're the same so I'm not sure. I haven't spoken to them in forever. Heck, I don't even think they remember me."

Skye: "Of course your own mother would."

Chase: "Maybe she would've. And man she would never let me forget it." He chuckled shortly.

Skye: "Wow, you took that surprisingly well. Makes me think you don't care if she's dead or not."

Chase: "It's not that, I love my mom. Wherever I go or whatever I do, she'll always be my mother, I can't changed that."

Skye: "She did a good job raising you." She thought aloud.

Chase: "I guess, it depended."

Skye: "Depended? On what?"

His face looked like it got darker, as his eyes looked behind him. A breath was let out before he reopened his mouth.

Chase: "Drugs." He shuddered. "She had two sides of her. Without them, she loved her kids with all her heart and devoted everything to them. But when she took them...she barely recognized us...it's like in that moment...she's not even there."

Skye: "Wow...I'm so sorry."

Chase: "It's not your fault. Even now, I never understood why she started in the first place."

Skye: "At least you have your brother." She said trying to lift the mood.

Chase: "Had."

Skye: "What about..." She hesitated. "...your dad?"

The German Shepherd face went blank, his lips parted so he could say something but nothing came out. His eyes darted from left to right, looking like he got called out in class for a question he had no clue of. Shifting his paws closer to himself, all he could think about was the feeling of falling into a void.

Skye: "You just never talk about him. Is there a reason?"

The light haired dog couldn't see the effects she had caused. Only when he didn't return an answer was when she realized.

Skye: "Is he gone too?"

He replied by nodding slowly.

Skye: "I didn't know...sorry."

Chase: "I-It's fine." He managed out. "It's not your fault. It was mine...if I could've helped out...maybe even just the smallest bit. He would be here, and then mom would never had touched those drugs. Then all Concealed islands wouldn't have questioned everything. He also wouldn't have gotten fired."

Skye: "Your rambling again. And no way you killed your own father!"

Chase: "I didn't, but I still blame myself. A bystander may be just as bad as the attacker."

Skye: "Wait a second! You saw who killed your dad?!"

Chase: "Well kinda, I was still young, I-I wasn't sure what was going on until it was too late. He could have killed me too, I was so scared, I wanted to help so badly. But I could've hurt someone, I couldn't risk not being able to be in control."

What she heard almost brought tears to her eyes, it felt like a dagger just got lodged into her chest. Knocking the wind out of her, surprised would be an understatement. Her heart felt heavy for several reasons, mainly two. Empathy and sympathy. Two different meanings. One of which remained hidden in her past.

Skye: "I-I understand. Not having a father figure...I think that's all for today. Let's just hit the hay you know?"

Chase: "Yeah."

Then instinctly, she closed the gap, what he needed at that moment was something only she felt she could give. She laid her head on his chest trying to provide a way to cope and speaking truthfully she needed it too.

Skye: "You had no one to talk to about this, it sounds kinda unhealthy but I get it."

A yawn soon followed after, her tiredness clearly expressed as she started leaning almost all her weight. He noticed.

Chase: "R-Right." His face heated up from the position she put herself in, but it wasn't arkward. Close friends do it all the time, don't they?

Skye: "You don't mind this do you?" She says removing herself and looks straight at him, a sudden energy coming from her.

Chase: "It's fine. Friends do it." He then mumbles, "I think."

Skye: "Y-yeah? Yeah! Of course. I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable and stuff."

Chase: "Don't worry about it."

The mainly brownish male lies down and gets comfortable, a yawn later escaping. As an invitation, Skye also adjusted herself on the ground next to Chase. Though, she leaves a big enough room just in case he wanted space.

It didn't occur to her before but it was pretty chilly, being at sea and all. She tried her best to keep warm but it was difficult when you had so little against the low temperature environment.

She assumed Chase must have noticed her shivers or chattering jaw because within seconds a warmth engulfed her, pressing itself on top of her skin.

Chase: "Here. I don't want you to die of hypothermia before we even get there." He smiled.

A blanket was around her and when she looked his way she smiled at his gesture but still a bit concern.

Skye: "But doesn't that belong to someone else?"

Chase: "If they really cared about it they should've protected it."

With no other counterclaims she let this type of 'borrowing' slide, not for only her needs, but she agreed that he had a point.

Skye: "Thanks."

Chase: "No problem." He went a few steps away.

And as soon as he got resettled he closed his exhausted eyes and began to fall asleep. Not until his back got covered was when he reopened his eyelids and lifted his head to spot what had happen.

Right next to him was a smiling pink loving Cockapoo and over him the same cloth he had giving her. Too tired to argue Chase just gave the warmest smile he could muster, showing gratitude.

Skye: "You must've been cold too, don't lie. Now get some sleep. We got a long day tomorrow don't we?"

Not waiting for an answer she turned her face away and snuggled up, preparing for a deep sleep.

Chase: "Yeah, we do."

He put his down and also did the same practice she had done. With everything quiet and now cozy, Skye only milliseconds from sleeping completely, could've swore she heard one last thing. Just before drifting off.

I'll protect you.

A/N: Hi everyone! Long time no see! Actually a long long LONG time. But do I have a good enough excuse? No. Not really. Writer's block just a bit maybe. 😅 But I swear I'll try to publish as soon as I can next time! So for all those who are reading this and are still with me well thank you! Lysm!❤ And until next time (which hopefully should be real soon) byeeee! ~Dreamer 😴💭

P.S: That is Ciara at the top.