Chase dangles precariously, the rushing torrents below roaring like an angry beast. The moonlight glistens off the turbulent waters far beneath the cliff, jagged rocks faintly visible amidst the chaos. Rocky's paw strains to hold Chase's, his body trembling under the weight, but his resolve remains unshaken.

"Chase," Rocky begins, his voice thick with both exhaustion and desperation, "I don't care how far you've gone. You're still part of this family. Let me help you."

Chase looks up at him, his expression unreadable, his face a mask of neutrality. His breathing is steady despite the peril he's in, his emotions hidden behind a veil that unsettles Rocky.

"You think it's that simple, huh?" Chase says softly, almost too calmly. The faintest hint of a bitter smile tugs at his lips. "Fix everything with a few words? Save me like I'm some lost pup?"

Rocky's grip tightens, his own pain burning through him like fire. "It's not about fixing everything. It's about not letting it end like this. You don't have to do this, Chase. Please..."

Chase stares at him for a long moment, his eyes flicking briefly to Skye, who watches from a safe distance, her gaze wide with a mixture of fear and sorrow. His neutral expression doesn't falter, but his voice drops, becoming impossibly quiet.

"C-chase, just hold my paw. I'm calling Ryder", Rocky says using his pup-tag.

"R-Rocky, to Ryder. Ryder, are you there?"

"Rocky, what is it?
"He's not inside. He's, he's with me. We're on a cliff, come quickly!" Rocky says.

"Tell me something, Rocky," Chase says, his tone almost philosophical. "Would you have fought this hard... if it wasn't for her?"

Rocky falters, his heart twisting at the question.

"I'm fighting for you, Chase," he says firmly, though the weight of the accusation lingers in his chest. "Because you're my brother."

Chase tilts his head, as if pondering Rocky's words. His gaze lifts back to Skye, his expression softening for the briefest of moments before his eyes harden again.

"Then let's test that, shall we?" Chase murmurs, his voice taking on an edge of cold finality.

Rocky's heart skips a beat. "Chase, no-"

Before Rocky can finish, Chase speaks one last brutal sentence, his voice calm but cutting like a blade.

"I hope I haunt you both forever."

And with that, Chase lets go.

Rocky's paw swipes at thin air as Chase slips away. The world slows to a crawl as Chase plummets, his body twisting in the wind. His eyes lock onto Skye's one final time, a storm of emotions flickering in his gaze: pain, love, and a strange acceptance.

Skye screams, her voice breaking into the night, as Chase disappears into the roaring waters below. The splash echoes like a final punctuation mark in the silence that follows.

Rocky collapses onto the ground, his paw still outstretched, trembling. His chest heaves as he stares into the darkness, the reality of what just happened hitting him like a freight train.

--------

Hours later, the atmosphere in the Lookout is heavy, the usual warmth replaced by a somber chill. Ryder sits at the table, his head bowed, his voice quiet as he addresses the team.

"We searched the waters for hours," Ryder says, his tone strained. "We found no sign of Chase. Not... not his body, not anything." He pauses, his eyes distant. "Wherever he is now... dead or alive... I just hope he's at peace-"

The pups sit in silence, their faces reflecting the weight of the moment. Rubble wipes at his eyes, Marshall stares blankly at the floor, and Zuma leans against the wall, uncharacteristically quiet.

Skye and Rocky sit next to each other, both still reeling from the events. Skye's paws are gentle as she cleans Rocky's wounds, her movements precise but shaky.

"You didn't have to do that," Rocky says, wincing slightly as she dabs at a particularly deep bite. "You've been through enough tonight."

Skye shakes her head, her eyes red but determined. "You saved me, Rocky. If it wasn't for you..." She trails off, her voice catching.

Rocky looks down at his paws, the memory of Chase's fall replaying in his mind. "I couldn't save him," he whispers.

Skye places a paw over his, her touch light but firm. "You tried. And that's what matters. He... he made his choice. I couldn't recognize him and I had to push him off."

They sit in silence for a moment, the first hints of dawn beginning to creep over the horizon. The soft light bathes the Lookout in a golden glow, casting long shadows that stretch across the room.

"I'm sorry," Rocky says suddenly, his voice thick. "For everything. For not telling you how I felt sooner. For letting all this happen..."

Skye leans closer, her expression gentle but resolute. "Don't apologize, Rocky. None of this was your fault." She pauses, her voice softening. "And as for your feelings... I kind of already knew."

Rocky blinks, his ears perking slightly. "You... did?"

Skye smiles faintly, her cheeks flushing under the warm light of the sunrise. "Everest may have mentioned a thing or two. But I wanted to hear it from you."

Rocky hesitates for a moment, his heart pounding. "I... I love you, Skye. I have for a long time."

Skye doesn't respond with words. Instead, she leans forward, her muzzle brushing against his. Rocky freezes, his breath catching, but then relaxes, leaning into the touch.

As the first rays of the sun break over the horizon, painting the Lookout in brilliant hues of orange and pink, Skye and Rocky share a quiet moment, their hearts finding solace in each other amidst the chaos of the night.