(The Recovery)

In the medical room, Katie and Marshall worked together while the rest of the pups waited outside, anxious and quiet. Chase stayed close to the door, ears pinned back, listening for any sign Ryder was getting worse.

Chase managed to get Robo-dog set on course for home. They needed to get back to Adventure Bay fast—Ryder needed real doctors, real medicine, and somewhere safe.

After what felt like forever, Katie finally stepped out.

"Alright, pups..." she said softly. Her eyes were tired. "Ryder is alive. But he's very weak. He has a high fever and he's in and out of consciousness. He's severely dehydrated, he has a large claw mark across his chest, and I'm pretty sure he has an infection in his lungs too."

The pups all let out shaky breaths, relief mixing with fear.

Zuma swallowed hard. "Can we see him?"

"Yes," Katie said firmly, "but only a few minutes. He needs rest."

One by one, the pups padded into the infirmary. Ryder looked small in the bed—pale, sweaty, and bruised. Each pup gently climbed up, nuzzling and licking him, whispering how glad they were he was back. Then, reluctantly, they stepped out again.

They decided right then that Ryder would never be alone. Not for even a minute. They started taking shifts immediately.

Katie stayed first.

Rocky hurried to the sea patroller bridge and checked the GPS. "Two days..." he muttered. He looked at Robo-dog with serious eyes. "If you can make it sooner, Robo-dog, that would be ideal."

"ARF ARF," Robo-dog replied, as if promising he'd do everything he could.

Hours later, Ryder stirred.

His eyes opened slowly. For a second, he looked confused—then he recognized where he was. The sea patroller. Safe.

He noticed Chase curled up near him, asleep on the bed like he'd refused to move.

Ryder tried to sit up but winced immediately. Pain shot through his body, and he coughed loudly.

Chase jolted awake. "Ryder?!"

He scrambled closer, careful not to press on Ryder's chest. "Ryder sir, don't move. Please don't move. We've been so worried."

Ryder reached out weakly and hugged him back. His voice was rough. "I knew you wouldn't give up... I'm sorry, Chase. I'm sorry you had to see me fall."

Chase's eyes watered. "Don't apologize. Just—don't ever do that again."

Ryder tried to breathe through the ache. "Was the girl okay?"

Chase hesitated. "I got her back to the lookout... but she disappeared before morning."

Ryder nodded slowly. "Okay... Chase, can you get Marshall?"

Chase didn't waste a second. He rushed out and shook Marshall awake.

"Marshall! Ryder's awake. He wants you."

Marshall bolted upright instantly and hurried to the infirmary, only to pause when he saw Ryder's eyes fluttering again.

He leaned in, gentle but focused. "Ryder... can you hear me?"

Ryder forced his eyes open. "Marshall... what's wrong with me?"

Marshall's expression turned serious. "You're dehydrated, your fever is still high, and you've got signs of a lung infection. That claw mark worries me too—it could get infected. Honestly? It could be something from the island. Contaminated water... insect bites... the wound... anything you were exposed to."

Ryder swallowed painfully. "Do you know what infection it is?"

"No," Marshall admitted. "Not yet. But we'll know more when we get you to the hospital."

Ryder's eyes drifted to Katie. "You brought Katie?"

Marshall sighed. "Chase tried to tell her no. She didn't listen."

Ryder gave the tiniest, weakest eye-roll... then coughed again.

Marshall lowered his voice. "Rest, Ryder. We're almost home."

Ryder nodded, letting his eyes close again.

When they finally approached Adventure Bay, Katie called Mayor Goodway and told her to have an ambulance waiting at the beach.

By the time they docked, the whole town had gathered. The ambulance was already there.

Ryder was rushed straight to the hospital.

Before she left, Katie told the pups, "Go back to the lookout. Skye has something to tell you."

At the lookout, the pups gathered in the TV room, exhausted and emotionally wrecked.

Skye took a breath. "I know it's been a heck of a week. Ryder is alive and he's safe." Her eyes flicked to Katie. "And... Katie and I want to throw him a surprise party for his birthday next week."

Rocky's ears perked up. Zuma smiled through tired eyes. Rubble yipped softly. Marshall nodded.

Chase hesitated... but then he nodded too. "He deserves something good."

At the hospital, doctors rushed Ryder into a warm room and immediately started working. They put an oxygen mask over his face because his breathing sounded tight and crackly, and they started an IV to get fluids into him fast. Katie stayed close, answering questions while Marshall pointed out everything they'd seen—Ryder throwing up, the bad water, the fever, the claw mark, and the insect bites on his hands.

After a few tests, the doctor came back with a serious expression. "He's got severe dehydration, a high fever, and pneumonia starting in his lungs. That's why he's coughing so much and why he keeps fading in and out." She glanced at the claw mark. "And this wound is infected. Not dangerously, but it will be if we don't treat it."

Katie's stomach dropped. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He will," the doctor said firmly. "But he's going to need antibiotics, rest, and monitoring. He likely picked up bacteria from contaminated water and the open wound, and his body got run down from the storm, the island, and the lack of clean water."

For the next few days, Ryder slept more than he was awake. When he did wake up, it was only for minutes—long enough to squeeze Katie's hand, whisper his pups' names, or croak out a weak "Chase..." before drifting off again. Chase stayed curled at the foot of Ryder's bed whenever the nurses allowed it, watching the machines beep and praying the numbers would stay steady.

By the fourth day, Ryder's fever finally started coming down. His cough still hurt, but he could breathe without the mask. He was sipping water on his own, keeping food down, and the claw mark across his chest looked less angry and red. The doctor gave one final warning before discharge: "He's not fully better. He's stable. Keep him warm, keep him hydrated, and if his fever spikes again, you come back immediately."

That was all Ryder needed to hear. Home.

When he stepped into the lookout, the pups practically launched at him, licking his face and climbing all over him like they were trying to memorize him.

Ryder laughed. "Okay—okay, pups—breathe... let me breathe."

They backed off just enough to sit close, tails wagging like crazy.

"You're all such good pups," Ryder said quietly. "Thank you... all of you."

Rocky spoke first. "Ryder... we would go to hell and back for you. And we wouldn't have found you without your help."

Ryder blinked. "So it worked? My signal?"

Rocky nodded proudly. "Yes sir. What did you do?"

Ryder smiled faintly. "I attached a small device to my pup pad and tried to send a signal. I didn't even know if it worked... I blacked out a lot. My pup pad was waterlogged."

Rocky grinned. "Well it worked. And you basically sent it right to me."

"That's super convenient," Ryder joked, and for a second, the pups felt like they could breathe again.

Then Chase cleared his throat.

"Ryder sir... I want to apologize. First, we didn't mean to steal the sea patroller. We were desperate. Second... I'm sorry we put Katie in danger. She wouldn't take no for an answer." He paused. "And third... your leopard friend is okay."

Ryder stared. "You met Seraphine?"

Chase nodded.

Ryder's shoulders loosened, relief spilling into his chest. "Okay. First, you didn't steal the sea patroller. It's a PAW Patrol vehicle—and if you can activate it, it's yours too. Second... don't apologize for Katie. She's stubborn. I know." He glanced at Katie like he couldn't help smiling. "And... thank you for checking on Seraphine."

That night, Ryder told them everything. The storm. The island. The radio tower. The panthers. Seraphine and Lulu. The SOS.

And the pups told him everything too—how they panicked, how they refused to give up, how they chose Ryder over the town.

By the time they finished, everyone was yawning.

Ryder stood carefully. "Alright pups... time for bed."

No one argued.

Tomorrow, they had big plans for Ryder.

And this time, he was going to be here for them.