Chapter 33: A Gray Wolf

"Firebender?" Rusty gasped.
"Yes, I can smell one!" Ash nodded.
There were pawsteps coming from somewhere. But, with all the mist, it was hard to detect any animal.
Stone stepped forward. Ash was shocked to find that he could scent fear coming from her. "Alright, Firebender, show yourself!" She growled.
A flurry of pawsteps was heard. The animal was panicking. Ash sniffed the air again. It was a Firebender, for sure.
As the animal came closer, Ash pounced on instinct. He was scared, but he had to attack first to keep the Firebender off.
The Firebender yowled and squirmed under Ash. It wailed. Ash could tell it was a wolf.
"Let go! Let go!" It wailed.
That's some wimpy Firebender, Ash thought, rolling his eyes. He let go of the Firebender, and it started to run.
"Oh no you don't!" Light shouted. She lunged, and jumped on the Firebender. It shrieked. With all its yowling, Ash could tell it was young.
"It's probably a Firebender apprentice," Airia snorted. "Sounds like a pup."
"Because I am!" Came the voice. "Please let go of me."
"Light, let go," Willow ordered.
The pup got up and walked out of the mist. It was a gray she-wolf. Her back right paw was ginger.
"You're a pup," Stone rolled her eyes. "Like we expected."
"What's your name?" Charlotte asked.
The gray wolf hesitated. "Sh-Should I tell you? Are you going to...hurt me?"
"We hurt only certain Firebenders," Stone growled, with a slight smirk.
"Don't make her scared, Stone," Willow snapped.
"My name is...Slice," the gray she-wolf nodded.
"Hello, Slice," Charlotte smiled.
Slice smiled back.
"You're a Firebender?" Stone narrowed her eyes.
Slice's eyes widened. "Wait, you're the one who-!"
Stone tackled Slice before the gray she-wolf could continue her scentence.
"Stone!" Creature glared at her. "Don't tackle her, we'll lose her trust!"
"Just a minute," Stone growled. She turned back to Slice and started whispering. Then, the two got up.
"We could take Slice with us," Stone suggested.
Airia's eyes widened. "Since when are you the one to suggest taking a Firebender in, Stone?"
"Tell us about your past, and maybe we'll let you join," Fan insisted.
"I...I can't!" Slice took a few steps back. "I don't like to speak about it..."
There was a long silence.
"We should respect that," Creature nodded.
"Alright. But, can you throw some fire onto me and Rusty?" Dust pleaded. "It's freezing here!"
"Er, no," Slice held back a laugh. Ash snickered.
"Why not?" Rusty stepped forward.
"Because you could get killed," Slice rolled her eyes.
"Do you want to end up like Galmega?" Ash questioned the two pup twins.
"No..." Rusty sighed.

Author's Note:
Hehe, I thought it'd be funny if Dust asked Slice to throw fire onto them. Thanks to Jenny7 for Slice! I planned this idea a while ago, and I got more ideas ahead for other characters. :3