A/N: -peeks in- Hi?

No excuses, but apologies if Tracker isn't quite on par. I've long since lost access to free episodes, and Tracker isn't featured in my purchased episodes. I did my best. -shrugs-

Synopsis: Tracker and Rubble are trapped in a dark, spider-filled temple. They'll need all their bravery to make it out together.

Response to Zuma Lover: Sorry, it looks like all my story slots are filled. I can't remember, but I do believe this chapter was inspired by one of your thoughts (though this features Tracker and Rubble instead of Marshall). Do you have a profile yet? If so, have you written your own ideas yet?

"I think I see them, Carlos!"

The boy in question walked out of the tent he shared with Tracker. He stood beside Tracker and peered down the track.

"You're right, Tracker," Carlos said with a smile. "I'm glad the Paw Patrol could make it for a visit, we haven't seen them for a while."

Tracker nodded seriously. "Not since Chase and Wisp became muy sick."

Carlos nodded as the Paw Patroller rolled in beside them. The Paw Patrol was visible through the glass, all jumping excitedly.

"Looks like everyone's recovered," Carlos said.

The ramp opened up, and the pups hurried outside to greet their friends. Tracker happily hugged each of them. Even Wisp, who shied away from hugs most of the time. Then, he leaped back, tail wagging.

"Follow me, amigos," Tracker said. "I'll show you the temple that Carlos and I found!"

"Be very careful," Carlos warned the pups. "We've just uncovered the entrance. Stay only in the places that we've already checked, okay?"

"Si, Carlos!" Tracker barked. "We'll be muy careful!"

Skye looked down the trail, then up at Ryder. "Ruby's still taking her nap in the Paw Patroller. Can you watch her for me, please?"

"Sure thing, Skye," Ryder said, patting her head. "Go explore."

Tracker led the way down a rough path, checking frequently to make sure that no one was left behind or strayed.

Chase was alert as always, ears and nose going enthusiastically. Zuma was pointing out the plants of which he had learned the names to Wisp, who had never been to the jungle. Rubble was always kind of jumpy in the jungle, but the other pups did their best to keep him distracted.

"Here we are!" Tracker announced after a short trek.

Rocky cocked his head. "This is a temple?"

"It might not look like it," Tracker admitted. "But that is just because the jungle has grown around it."

Indeed, only an arch of stone hinted at something hidden within the thick trees and vines. But when the pups passed under the arch, they emerged into a courtyard that Tracker and Carlos had begun to clear.

Carved stone lined the ground in a hundred-foot radius, with weeds sprouting through the cracks on occasion. Short stone walls surrounded the courtyard. At the opposite end of the courtyard was a tall stone wall. There were faded engravings around the darkened entrance.

"Woah!" the pups said.

Tracker beamed. "We found it last week. We've been working muy hard to get it cleaned."

"You've done a good job cleaning it up," Rocky said, peering closely at the entrance.

"Gracias, Rocky," Tracker said. "Come, I will show you inside."

"There aren't any… spiders in there… are there?" Rubble asked.

"Oh, si," Tracker said. "Muchos, muchos of them."

Rubble paled as he nervously backed up. "Um, I think I'll stay out here."

Tracker cocked his head. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no. It's just, um… I like the vines," Rubble said.

Tracker blinked at the obvious excuse, then had an idea. "Ah, does mi amigo fear the spiders?"

"What? No," Rubble protested. He noticed the other pups looking at him, then lowered his head. "Maybe a little."

Tracker chuckled. "Don't worry, Rubble. Spiders like the dark, which I really do not like. We can stay in the rooms with torches."

Rubble squinted. "You're really sure there won't be any spiders?"

"Si! They like the dark too much to bother us," Tracker assured him.

"Okay," Rubble said slowly.

The pups headed into the temple. The main area was lit by torches, and Tracker stopped when he heard the other pups exclaim in awe.

The ceiling arched high above the pup's heads. The walls were covered with beautiful carvings of the flora and fauna of the jungle. Emeralds were placed in the wall to form a line at a human's shoulder height all across the wall.

"This is so cool!" Rubble said, forgetting his fear to peer up at the emeralds. "They're still all bright and shiny!"

"Yeah, check out these carvings," Rocky said, running a paw down the wall. "They aren't faded at all!"

"Aw, look at the bunny!" Skye cooed.

Wisp chuckled as she pointed to another carving. "That looks like an oversized mole."

"I think it's a bear," Zuma said, squinting.

"It's a sloth bear," Tracker supplied.

"Hm, nope, still looks like a mole to me," Wisp insisted.

Zuma rolled his eyes and walked away. Tracker chuckled at Wisp's triumphant grin.

"If you think this is cool, watch this!" Tracker said.

Tracker ran to the doorway across the room, where there was a switch near the floor. He pushed the lever down.

A low rumbling filled the room. The Paw Patrol pups shifted nervously, but Tracker pointed to the ceiling. Paw-sized sections of the ceiling slid sideways, revealing square holes. Sunlight shone through, creating a checkerboard design of light and shadows on the floor.

"Woah!" Rubble gaped at the ceiling. "How did that happen?"

"That's amazing!" Rocky yelped, leaping and twisting in the rays of sunlight. "I've never seen anything like it!"

Tracker smiled at his friends' enthusiasm, then beckoned with a paw. "Follow me, pups. The temple is mucho bigger!"

With the other pups behind him, Tracker led the way through the doorway. They walked through a long hallway that ended at a staircase.

At the bottom of the stairs was a round room twice the size of the first. There were two more doorways at floor level, but both were dark since Tracker and Carlos hadn't explored them yet. Massive pillars carved to resemble trees held up the sloped roof. Carvings of animals were scattered around the room; the stone inhabitants of a stone jungle.

Rubble squealed and squeezed past the others to rush down the steps. He vanished from sight among the carvings in seconds.

"I think you made Rubble's day," Skye giggled.

The pups dispersed to study the carvings. Tracker paced through the room, enjoying seeing the pups have so much fun. He paused when he saw Wisp studying a pillar and frowning.

"Is everything okay, Wisp?" Tracker asked.

"I'm sure it is," Wisp murmured. She rubbed a paw across the pillar, and her eyes widened when the outside layer crumbled beneath her paw. "None of the other stone did this."

"Carlos says this is one of the oldest temples he's seen," Tracker said. "The pillars will be a little fragile."

Wisp cocked an eyebrow at him. "Are you sure it is safe?"

Chase came around a pillar just then. "What's not safe?"

"Wisp is worried about the temple," Tracker explained. He patted the pillar, causing a cloud of gathered dust to puff out. "But it is muy sturdy, see?"

Chase suddenly sneezed so hard that he fell back on his haunches. He sniffed and rubbed his muzzle with a sheepish grin when Wisp and Tracker looked at him. Rocky peered over the back of a nearby stone leopard

"Ah, sorry, amigo," Tracker apologized. "I forgot that dust made you sneeze."

"It's ok-k-k-ah-choo!"

Chase's sneeze echoed eerily through the temple. The pups instinctively froze at another sound that started up soon after.

"What is that?" Rocky whispered.

Tracker pricked his ears at the rumbling and scraping. He paled as he found the source.

"It's coming from the ceiling!" Tracker hissed. "Rapido, we must get out!"

The pups rushed toward the stairs, then paused for the others. Zuma bolted out of some stone ferns. Marshall tripped over a small statue as he ran toward them, but was helped up by Skye.

"Where's Rubble?" Chase asked as the rumbling grew louder.

Tracker strained his ears. "I hear him. All of you, get out of the temple! Rubble and I will meet you outside!"

Tracker didn't wait, knowing Chase would probably insist that he be the one to go after Rubble. But with too much dust to track and his superior hearing, Tracker knew he was the one for the job. Tracking Rubble by his whimpers, Tracker soon located the pup huddled under a stone orangutan.

"Rubble, it isn't safe here!" Tracker yelped as pebbles began to rain from the ceiling. "We have to go, now!"

Rubble didn't move. After dodging a chunk of stone that nearly crushed his tail, Tracker was forced to grab Rubble's collar and jerk the younger pup to his paws. Rubble yelped, but he recovered enough to focus on Tracker.

"Run!" was all Tracker said before taking off.

The pups ran side-by-side. Sections of ceiling hitting the floor made them jump, and one hit so close at one point that both pups were shaken off their paws and sent skidding into a pillar.

"There's the exit!" Tracker called when he caught sight of the stairs.

"Look out!"

The young bulldog suddenly turned and tackled Tracker. The pups tumbled ears over tail across the rough ground before coming to a stop. Tracker leaped up.

"Rubble, why did you do that?!" Tracker demanded. "We were almost there!"

Rubble sat up, panting. He lifted a paw to point. "The roof was collapsing!"

Tracker turned, and saw that the exit was completely blocked. If it hadn't been for Rubble, both pups could have been crushed.

"Woah. Gracias, Rubble," Tracker said lowly. "You saved me."

A stone crashed to the ground before Rubble could respond, making him yelp and scramble to stand.

"We aren't saved yet," Tracker admitted. "Rapido, we must find cover!"

The pups took off again. Tracker's mind was racing. The staircase was the only way in or out of the temple! Even if he and Rubble could hide until the temple settled, it would take forever for the others to dig them out.

As Tracker and Rubble dodged past a troop of stone monkeys, Tracker spotted one of the other tunnels. He didn't know what was inside, but the entrance looked stable. And, if they were lucky, maybe it would lead outside!

Tracker steered Rubble in the direction of the tunnel. He was nearly there when he remembered something.

"Oy-oy-oy," Tracker groaned as he dove into the dreaded dark.

Both pups stumbled their way through the darkness, spurned by the continuous crashes behind them. When the rumbling finally slowed and the ground didn't shake, they stopped and collapsed on the ground.

"Oh, this was a very bad idea," Tracker moaned.

"Why? We didn't get squashed," Rubble said rather cheerfully.

"No, but we're trapped here. In the dark."

"And that's… oh, right."

Tracker nodded, even though Rubble couldn't see him. "Do you have a light?"

"No," Rubble said, sounding regretful.

Two dim lights appeared as Chase's voice called over the pups' collars. "Rubble, Tracker, can you hear me?"

"Si, we can hear you," Tracker responded.

Tracker heard multiple sighs of relief.

"What happened?" Carlos asked. "We were just coming to join you when the ground started shaking. Where is everyone?"

"Over here!" Chase yelped loudly. He explained in a normal tone, "We were in the lower part of the temple, and the ceiling started to collapse. Tracker went back for Rubble, and the rest of us got out in time. Tracker, where are you?"

"One of the corridors," Tracker said. "I can't tell which one, though. It's too dark!" The last word held a whine, but it went unnoticed.

"Don't worry," Carlos said. "We'll find a way to get you out. As for the dark, see if you can find any torches on the walls. You still have your matches with you, right?"

"Si," Tracker said. "I always keep them with me!"

Slightly embarrassed -he had forgotten the matches in his panic- Tracker felt the pocket on his vest. Inside was a water-proof pack of matches for emergencies like this.

"Help me find a torch," Tracker said to Rubble. "I'll look on the left side, you look on the right."

The pups carefully crept to the wall, then rose on their hind legs to feel the wall with their forepaws.

Tracker's paws ran over carvings, but he couldn't feel anything like a torch. His paws started to shake as he made his way further and further down the hall without coming across a torch.

"A-amigos," Tracker said shakily. "There are no torches."

"There should be something," Carlos said, sounding confused. "Unless whoever built this temple could see in the dark."

"There are other ways to light up dark tunnels," Wisp said.

"Flashlights didn't exist a couple hundred years ago," Rocky said.

"I'm talking about windows and skylights. Maybe they used shiny surfaces to reflect light inside, I don't know," Wisp said.

"We never did find torch brackets," Carlos said. "Wisp might be onto something."

Tracker sat down and closed his eyes. "Carlos?"

"Oh, si, si, we can figure it out later. Okay, Tracker, you and Rubble are going to have to keep going."

"In the dark?" Tracker whimpered.

"I'm sorry, but si," Carlos apologized.

Ryder explained, "The temple entrance was destroyed and we can't dig straight to you because pulling out the stones of the walls is too risky. You need to keep going, and see where that hall leads out."

Tracker nearly pointed out that the hall could lead nowhere, but remembered who was with him. If Rubble knew they might be trapped, he could panic. Realizing he'd have to be brave for the Patrol's youngest member, Tracker drew himself up.

"Si, Ryder," Tracker said.

"Good pups," Ryder said. "Just take it slow and easy. We have your rough location, and will be following from above."

"Keep feeling for torches or levers on the wall," Wisp said. "Remember in the main room, with all the little skylights? There could be something like that in there."

Tracker perked up. "Brilliant, Wisp! Rubble, let's keep looking."

Tracker heard scuffing as Rubble resumed searching. Tracker did the same, focusing on the stone under his paws in an attempt to ignore the darkness.

Unfortunately, it didn't take long for Tracker and Rubble to get tired from standing on their hind paws. They paused to take a break. Tracker strained his ears for some sound, but couldn't hear anything but Rubble and himself.

"Why would they make such a long tunnel underground?" Wisp asked.

"Maybe it leads to other temples," Carlos suggested.

Tracker frowned at the static from his radio. "I think my collar is messing up, Ryder."

There was a brief silence. "You mean the static?"

Tracker's ears went straight up. "You hear it, too?"

"The tunnel has slowly been going down," Wisp said. "We're starting to get interference from the rock between us."

"Wh-what?!"

"Keep calm and keep moving," Wisp said sternly. "If you freeze up, you're stuck."

Tracker's whine echoed.

"Wisp!" Ryder said scoldingly.

"I'm telling him the truth," Wisp said, then went on. "Tracker, you're going to have to be strong and keep moving. Look up."

Confused and shaking a bit, Tracker did as he was told.

"We're right over you. We aren't going anywhere without you, got it? We're here."

Somehow, Wisp's words comforted Tracker. He let out a breath and grinned into the darkness.

"Gracias, Wisp."

"Just get moving your tails," Wisp said, laughter in her voice. "There's got to be an opening soon."

"Yeah!" Rubble said enthusiastically. Tracker heard his paw scuff across the wall. "Come on, Tracker, we can-"

Click.

"Rubble, get-" Tracker started.

Tracker broke off with a howl when the ground suddenly tilted beneath him. He scrabbled for level ground, but to no avail. The ground angled sharply under him, sending Tracker tumbling head-over-paws into open air.

"Carlos!" Tracker howled.

Seconds later, Tracker hit something soft muzzle-first. He sank up to his ears in what felt like cold sand. His paws thumped awkwardly around him, while Rubble gave a series of yelps.

For a moment, Tracker didn't move. He automatically tried to inhale, only to receive a noseful of dirt. He snorted into the confined space, then pushed against the sand.

"Tracker!" Rubble yelped.

Tracker felt paws grab his tail. Planting his paws, Tracker shoved back with all his strength.

Tracker's head popped free of the sand. He rocked back on his haunches, only to realize he was on a steep slope. He slipped backwards into Rubble, knocking both pups over. They rolled off the sand, landing on hard stone again.

Tracker shook his head and opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling in awe.

Glowing, red and green gems lined the ceiling, casting a dim light on Tracker and Rubble.

Tracker turned his head toward Rubble, who laid beside him. "Rubble, are you okay?"

Rubble nodded.

Tracker tapped his collar. "Carlos?"

Tracker only received static in response.

Rubble whimpered. "We're too deep for them to hear us!"

"But they know where we are," Tracker said. With the little bit of light, Tracker's confidence had grown. "Come, Rubble, let's see where this tunnel leads."

Tracker stood and shook the sand from his fur. He glanced at the pile of sand that had broken their fall, then Tracker marched ahead.

"Are you sure?" Rubble asked.

"Si, now that we can see, we'll be fine!"

As if on cue, the pups turned a corner to find darkness. Tracker stopped, clamping his jaws on a yelp.

"There's light that way!" Rubble said, pointing.

Tracker blinked. Sure enough, maybe twenty feet down the tunnel, the light resumed.

"Okay… stay behind me, Rubble," Tracker said. "There could be another trap."

Tracker stepped into the darkened section. As he did, he realized it wasn't pitch black. The light was just very dim. And, unlike the rest of the tunnel, the floor was littered with tiny shards.

Tracker and Rubble made their slow way toward the light, yelping at every other step on the sharp floor. They sighed when they reached the lit, clear tunnel again. They sat down to clean their paws.

"Hey, it's the crystals from the ceiling," Rubble noticed, brushing off his paws.

Tracker studied his crystal-covered paw. "Why aren't they glowing, then?"

The two pups looked at the ceiling for a long time before Rubble spoke up.

"Wisp said whoever made the temple might have reflected light off shiny things to light places up."

Tracker nodded. "Si, that's possible. But, that would mean…"

Rubble started to smile. "That means the light has to come from somewhere!"

Tracker leaped to his paws. "Brillante!"

Tracker and Rubble raced down the tunnel. Tracker was ecstatic when the tunnel gradually started to get brighter. They were nearly out! Tracker howled, then gagged and spit when something thin and disgusting hit his tongue.

Rubble yelped, then he suddenly wasn't at Tracker's side anymore. Tracker ground to a halt and spun, fearing Rubble had fallen into another trap.

But Rubble was still behind him. He was laying on the ground with his paws over his eyes, whimpering.

"Rubble?" Tracker padded back to his friend. "Rubble, are you hurt?"

Rubble shook his head.

"What is wrong, mi amigo?"

Rubble lowered his paws. He stared up at Tracker in embarrassment.

"Remember when I told you that I was a little afraid of spiders?"

Tracker nodded.

Rubble lowered his eyes. "Make that a lot."

Confused, Tracker turned. He stared for a moment, then the odd taste in his mouth made sense. He hurriedly spat and swiped at his tongue with a dusty paw.

The tunnel ahead had been taken over by spiderwebs! Left alone for who knew how long, the spiders had liberally covered the cave in their intricate webs. The webs were beautiful, but nearly filled the tunnel!

"Oy, oy, oy…" Tracker shook his head. "Don't worry, Rubble, I'll figure something out."

Rubble just whined and scooched further back.

Tracker walked to where the webs started. He briefly wondered if they could just run through the webs, but immediately dismissed the idea. The idea of getting covered in spiders horrified Tracker, so he knew Rubble wouldn't agree.

After several minutes, Tracker returned to Rubble.

"I don't know what to do, mi amigo," Tracker said.

"What if we went back the way we came?"

"There's nowhere to go that way." Tracker sighed and laid down. "There has to be something we can do."

Tracker set his chin on the floor. It had been a long day. What he would give to just take a nap…

Tracker blinked slowly, then focused. "Rubble… we can't go through the webs… but how do you feel about going under?"

Rubble cocked his head. "You mean dig?"

"No, look."

Tracker stared straight ahead. The spiders had taken over the top of the tunnel, where the light was brightest. But down low, close to the floor, there weren't any spiderwebs!

"I-I don't know," Rubble whimpered.

Tracker put his paw on Rubble's. "It's okay, Rubble. I can go alone, and I'll bring the rest of the Paw Patrol back, okay?"

Rubble hesitated. "No… no, I'll go with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Rubble's voice became firm. "Yeah, I'm sure. You walked through all those dark tunnels with me, I can crawl under a few spiders!"

There were a lot more than a few spiders, but Tracker was proud of his young friend.

"Okay, then here we go. Stay behind me, and I'll find the best path."

With a plan in mind, Tracker crawled forward. By pressing his ears flat and his belly scraping the floor, Tracker was able to pass under the webs.

Tracker glanced back. Rubble was wide-eyed and occasionally whimpered, but he was staying on Tracker's tail.

The webs became more dense and closer to the floor. Tracker held his breath and raised his ears a few inches, mindful that Rubble couldn't get as low as himself. He shuddered as the sticky threads caught his ears, but Tracker reminded himself of Rubble.

Thankfully, the spiderwebs thinned out soon after. Tracker crawled a bit further, then rose in a crouch.

The tunnel was brighter now, and Tracker felt a breeze from around a bend in the tunnel.

"Are you okay?" Tracker asked Rubble as the younger pup rose beside him.

"Yeah." Rubble smiled shakily. "But I don't want to do that ever again!"

"Entendido," Tracker said, flicking his ears.

"Huh?"

Tracker laughed. "I fully agree with you!"

Rubble's smile grew a bit stronger. He chuckled with Tracker.

"Now, let's see where this tunnel leads, si?"

Rubble nodded. "Si!"

The pups rounded the bend. They stopped, this time in awe.

The tunnel opened into a massive room. The walls were covered in carvings, with crystals accenting the carvings and covering the ceiling. A massive crystal rose from the floor, filling the room with brilliant green light.

Tracker was so awed by the crystal, that he didn't notice the light source at first. A single hole in the wall across from the tunnel shone on the massive crystal, which reflected the light in hundreds of directions.

"The way out!" Rubble howled, running for the opening.

"How?" Tracker mused aloud. "We're so far underground. Did the tunnel go up without us noticing? And how has nobody found this before?"

Rubble suddenly yelped and skidded to a halt. He backed away from the exit, then turned to Tracker, panting.

"Well, I know why nobody's ever found it."

Tracker went to Rubble's side. The hole was big enough for Carlos, and opened into… nothing. Tracker crept to the hole's edge, and stared out in shock.

The hole opened up in the middle of a cliff! The ground was impossibly far above them. Below, a sliver of blue was surely a rushing river.

"Tracker!"

Tracker jumped at Carlos' voice. He yelped, and felt Rubble grab his tail and pull. The pups stumbled back into the cave and sat hard, panting. It took Tracker a moment to remember the call.

Tracker tapped his collar. "Carlos! We're here!"

There wasn't a response. Tracker whimpered, realizing he'd have to stick his head back into the open so his signal wouldn't be blocked.

"What if you took off your collar and held it in your mouth?" Rubble suggested. "Then you wouldn't have to go so far out?"

"Actually, I have an even better idea," Tracker said.

Moments later, Tracker had his collar looped over his tail. He carefully backed to the exit. Tracker's paws gripped the stones and Rubble had a firm hold of his forepaws.

"I hope this works," Tracker groaned, then leaned his rump outside.

"Carlos!" Tracker howled.

"Tracker!" came everyone's voice.

"I'm so glad to hear your voice!" Carlos said.

"Hold on, we're nearly-" Ryder broke off with a sputter. "Where are you?!"

Tracker hurriedly explained his and Rubble's situation. There was some relief when the others learned that he and Rubble weren't stuck on the edge of a cliff, then they started to plan.

"Skye and I will go back to the Paw Patroller," Ryder said. "Skye will fly her copter down to you, alright?"

"Si, that sounds very good." Tracker gasped, his paws starting to shake from his awkward position. "Please hurry, si?"

"We will," Ryder said.

"This pup's gotta fly!" Skye yipped. "I'll be there in two shakes!"

"I can't stay like this much longer!" Tracker warned.

"We have your location," Ryder said. "Take a break, pups. You've earned it."

"Okay…" Tracker hesitated, not wanting to be cut off from the others. "We'll be waiting."

Tracker straightened. His legs, sore from staying in such an odd pose, gave out and sent him sprawling into Rubble.

"Woah, are you okay?" Rubble yelped.

"Si, si."

Tracker rolled off Rubble and stared at the ceiling. He was surprisingly exhausted, as though he'd spent an entire day clearing the ancient temple, not just walking.

"You were so brave," Rubble said after a few minutes.

Tracker turned his head toward Rubble. "I was?"

"We walked so far in the dark, but you didn't panic once," Rubble said in admiration.

Tracker chuckled. "Actually, mi amigo, I was panicking the whole time."

"Really?" Rubble shook his head. "But you didn't say a thing! That's pretty brave."

Tracker rubbed his muzzle awkwardly, then thought of something to say. "And you were brave with the spiders."

"I didn't feel brave," Rubble said, studying his paws.

Tracker flipped onto his stomach. "And I didn't feel brave in the dark tunnels, but you know what, mi amigo?"

"What?"

"We were both brave, because we faced our fears!" Tracker declared.

Rubble cocked his head. "Chase has said that 'bravery isn't not being afraid, but being afraid and doing it anyway.'"

"Chase is a wise pup," Tracker said.

Rubble nodded.

Tracker returned his gaze to the ceiling. He smiled to himself, partially glad to be out of the darkness and partially in pride. He had a long way to go to conquer his fears, but he sure had faced his fears that day.

A/N: Just two more chapters to go! I would love to get the next chapter done quicker, but my unimaginative self needs help. The next chapter is going to feature Sweetie (and Wisp's Super Spy gear!) recreating some famous heist in her attempt to get the crown. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what heist she can mimic?

Also, I decided that Skye had enough background done in earlier stories. (I totally didn't forget what other plans I had for her.)