Charlotte's P.O.V

We race away from Mr.Porter's as fast as we can. We get to the lookout just as the garage opens up and Ryder comes out on his ATV. He hasn't spotted us yet. 

"Chaning get over here!" I changed direction and hid behind one of the walls. Chaning darts over here just as Ryder's headlights hit the spot where we were. We crouch down pressed up against the wall. Luckily, Ryder didn't see us. When he's down the drive way, we go inside quietly. 

"That was fun! We should do this more often." I say.

"What was that now?" My collar.

"Busted." Chaning says.

"Hey Chaning." Ryder says.

"I'm guessing you were the two running around the town earlier?"

"*sighs* Yeah. Sorry Ryder, but we just couldn't sleep. And it was sooo fun!"

"Hahaa, I get it. Just try to get some sleep now. I don't know what it is with you guys, hahaa."

"What'd you mean?"

"Your parents, Chase and Skye snuck  out earlier."

"Haahaaa! They still got it. Haahaha!"

"Next time, just try to be a little quieter."

"You got it Ryder!"

"By the way, I saw you sneak out. Hahah."

"Nothing gets past you Ryder! Charlotte out!"

"We need to be more stealthy next time!" Chaning says laughing. 

"Tell me about it. Hahaaah"

Ryder's P.O.V

Surprisingly, Chase, Skye, Chaning, and Charlotte are the first ones up. I'm not exactly surprised by Chase though. He's always up first, but lately, instead of playing when he gets up, he just kind of walks around. I'm worried about him. Their all getting older, but Chase is the oldest. I've had him for a long long time. When I wake up, Chase is laying beneath a tree. I walk over to him.

"Chase?" He's not waking up! I shake him.

"Chase! Chase!"

"Hmm? *Yawn* What?"

"Thank goodness, you about gave me a heart attack!"

"What's wrong Ryder?"

"I should be the one asking you that."

"Me? No, I'm fine. Just a little achy, and my head hurts a little bit-"

"You're not fine Chase."

"Yes I am!"

"Chase, what if all this little stuff, like headaches and stuff, leads to something major? Like a heart attack. Then what?"

"Then you move on."

"What!? Chase no! What are you saying?"

"Please Ryder, we both know my time'll be here sooner or later, but at my age, it's most likely going to be sooner."

"Chase! Don't even talk like that!"

"Look Ryder, I'm a pretty big dog now right?"

"Yeah."

"Big dogs normally live about 7-8 human years. You got me for your 8th birthday. That means when you're 15, I'll pretty much be gone. And you're almost 14. I've got about a year and a half left. But smaller dogs, like Skye, live about 15-17 years. My guess, I'll be going first, and Skye last." (:A/N All this is true, larger dogs live about 7 years on average, where as smaller dogs live longer.)

"Chase stop!" I say with tears in my eyes.

"It's okay Ryder. I'm going to be just fine. Now can you bring me some water? My stomach is hurting a bit, and I don't think I can walk all the way to the lookout and back."

"Sure, any idea why  your belly's hurting?"

"Not a clue." I pet his head as I stand up. The roots of his fur have turned a dark gray. He really is getting older. When I get back, he's asleep again. I set his water down beside him and pet him.

"Chase I brought you water." No response. he couldn't have fallen asleep that fast!

"Chase." I shake him gently.

"Chase." I rub his belly. As my fingers stroke his fur, I feel a lump on his side. Could it be? I can't! 

"Marshall! Chase needs help! Can you come down here? We're by the big tree in the left side yard."

"On my way Ryder!" The lookout doors open and Marshall comes over. I tell him what Chase said about his belly hurting. Marshall does an X-ray and runs his paws over Chase's side.

"Well?"

"Sorry to tell you Ryder, but you were right. Chase has a tumor. By the looks of it, he's had it for a while, but it's on his side, so it wasn't noticeable. He's okay for right now, just passed out. But we need to get him to a hospital."

"The closest option would be Katie. Does she have all that stuff?"

"You bet! I've been back there before. There's a set of double doors in the back that leads to a whole other wing! There's a couple surgeons. Katie helps with small procedures and things like that."

"I can't believe I never knew about that! That's not important now, we've go to get Chase over there now!"