(The Rescue)

Zuma and Rocky went up onto the sea patroller deck. Zuma looked around to make sure no one else was around before he spoke.

"Rocky... I need to tell you something. I have been wanting to tell you for a while, and I don't want it to ruin our friendship. Either way... I just need you to know."

"Zuma," Rocky said gently, "nothing you say to me will ruin our friendship. We can get through anything."

Zuma took a deep breath. "Rocky... I love you. Like more than a friend. I know it's crazy, but out of all the pups and everyone else... you're the one I think about every day."

Rocky froze for half a second, then his face softened. He leaned forward and licked Zuma, catching him off guard.

"I love you too, Zuma," Rocky whispered. "I have for a while now. Even though you love the water and I hate it... I know I'm safe when you're around. I'm glad you told me."

Zuma's eyes widened, then he smiled so big he couldn't hide it. Rocky nuzzled him, and for the first time since Ryder went missing... it felt like something good existed again.

They sat there for a moment, quiet, letting it sink in.

"Rocky... I think we should tell Ryder first," Zuma said softly. "Before the others."

Rocky nodded. "Yeah. Ryder first."

They headed back inside.

On the bridge Skye was talking to Katie.

"I want to throw him a party for his birthday," Katie said quietly, like saying it out loud made it real. "A surprise party."

Skye yipped, forcing a hopeful smile. "That would be perfect. We can do it at the lookout. One of us keeps him busy and we decorate everything."

Katie nodded fast. "When we bring him home."

When Zuma and Rocky walked in, Skye and Katie stopped talking, but the hope stayed in the air.

On the island...

Ryder hadn't woken up all day. Seraphine worried more and more, because even though she could hear him breathing, it was quiet... too quiet.

She carried Ryder on her back and kept Lulu close, moving quickly through the jungle. They reached the cave shortly after the sun went down.

It was around 8 p.m. when Ryder finally stirred.

Ryder blinked slowly, confused. The cave ceiling swam above him. His chest hurt. Everything hurt. He tried to sit up and winced hard.

He looked down and saw the long claw mark across his chest. His stomach dropped.

Seraphine moved closer immediately. "We were attacked by panthers," she said, voice heavy with guilt. "I am so sorry you were hurt. I had to get you here as fast as I could."

Ryder tried to speak, but his throat was on fire. It felt like swallowing knives. He mouthed, "Thank you," and Seraphine nodded like she understood everything he couldn't say.

"Drink," she urged, pushing the flask toward him.

Ryder took a few sips, then coughed so hard his whole body shook. When it stopped, he noticed his hands—small red bites. He didn't even have the energy to ask.

Seraphine licked his forehead. "You still have a fever," she said. "But you're awake. That gives me hope."

Ryder forced a weak smile, then laid back down. His eyes closed immediately.

The next morning...

Chase woke up early again. He checked Robo-dog.

"Robo-dog... are we close?"

"ARF ARF!" Robo-dog showed the screen.

1 HOUR.

Chase stared out the window. The island sat in the distance like a shadow.

He pressed his pup tag. "PAW Patrol to the bridge."

"Chase needs us," the pups said as they shuffled in sleepily, then snapped awake the second they saw Chase's face.

"PAW Patrol ready for action, Chase sir," Marshall said.

"We're close," Chase said. "Remember the plan."

They ate breakfast fast, nerves making everyone quiet.

On the island, Seraphine heard it first.

A deep, unfamiliar hum.

She crept out of the cave and saw a huge boat near the shore. Her heart raced.

"That must be them..." she whispered.

Skye flew ahead in her helicopter while Chase and Marshall drove onto the sand.

"Skye, fly up ahead and tell us what you see," Chase ordered.

Skye circled, scanning the trees. Then she saw the cave—and footprints near it. Drag marks. Dried blood in the dirt.

Her stomach twisted.

"Oh no... Chase," she whispered into her pup tag. "I see a cave... fruit trees... and a leopard. But... I also see marks in the ground. Like someone was carried."

Chase's ears went sharp. "Stay focused, Skye. Don't engage. Just guide us."

Seraphine stepped out of the cave slowly, making herself visible. She didn't want them to panic and attack.

Chase and Marshall arrived at the cave. The second Chase stepped out of his truck, he froze.

His nose flared.

"I can smell Ryder."

Chase's eyes locked on Seraphine and he growled, stepping forward.

Marshall jumped in front of him. "Chase—stop. Look at her. She isn't attacking."

Marshall stepped forward carefully. "I'm Marshall. We're looking for our owner. He's human. Have you seen him?"

Seraphine nodded once and walked back into the cave.

Marshall followed immediately.

Chase followed too, heart pounding. "Marshall is too stubborn for his own good," he thought. "This better not end badly."

The deeper they went, the stronger Ryder's scent became.

And then they saw him.

Ryder lay on the ground, pale and still, chest rising so lightly it barely looked real.

Marshall rushed to him, checking fast. "Ryder... hey, kid. Stay with me."

Ryder's fingers twitched weakly, like he heard him.

Marshall's voice turned urgent. "Skye—land ASAP."

Skye ran into the cave and froze when she saw Ryder. "Oh no..."

They moved fast—stretcher, careful lifts, Chase hovering like he couldn't breathe.

They strapped Ryder in and Skye lifted him out with her helicopter.

Seraphine and Lulu followed them down to the beach, watching like she couldn't stop.

On the sea patroller, Marshall and Katie worked together immediately.

Chase stayed back for a second with Seraphine.

"I'm sorry I growled," Chase said, lowering his head. "I jumped to conclusions when I smelled Ryder. Thank you... for helping him."

Seraphine nodded, then spoke quietly. "You're welcome. I owed him a great deal. He saved my daughter from a hunter's trap."

Chase blinked. "Wow... you speak."

"Yes," Seraphine said. "And I would rather no one knows. Humans hunt us enough already."

Chase nodded firmly. "Your secret is safe with us. I'm Chase."

"Seraphine," she replied. "And this is Lulu."

Chase hesitated, then ran back onto the sea patroller and returned with an extra pup tag.

"You don't have to wear it," he told her. "But if Ryder gets better... he can contact you. So you'll know he made it."

Seraphine stared at it like it was something precious. "Thank you," she said softly. "You really do have an amazing human, Chase."

Chase's eyes stung. "He is amazing."

He backed away, then turned toward the ship. "Thank you again... for everything."

The sea patroller pulled away from the island.

Seraphine watched until it was gone.

Inside, Ryder's breathing hitched—and Marshall's face went serious as he examined the claw wound, the fever, the bites on Ryder's hands.

Katie's voice trembled. "Marshall... what is it?"

Marshall swallowed hard.

"I don't know yet," he said. "But it isn't just the storm anymore."