Chapter 49: Into The Tribe

"Go with you?" Stone growled.
Treebranch looked at the raccoon. "Why not? We can provide food and shelter for you."
"We don't care," Stone snapped, "we're perfectly capable of looking after ourselves, thanks."
"Don't you want some help?" Crow glared.
"Not at all," Airia narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah, we're able to go to the Water Tribe ourselves," Rusty growled.
"Come on," Treebranch begged, "you'll be able to rest for a few days."
"She's right," Fan shrugged.
"It'd be good to have a rest," Eclipse agreed.
"Okay," Flyingbird nodded, "now follow us."
Why do they so badly want us to go with them? Ash thought curiously.
The patrol walked through the woods. There was a small creek, which everyone just stepped over. It wasn't too big, so they didn't have to leap.
Crow walked alongside Flyingbird, every once and a while murmuring something to him. They were having their own conversation.
Treebranch seemed like she was recently out of some kind of apprenticeship. Maybe apprentice have only the first part of their name, Ash guessed.
"Excuse me, Treebranch," Ash turned to her.
"Yes?" She nodded.
"Do you have apprentices in your Tribe?" Ash asked.
"Yes," Treebranch answered. "We have pups, which become apprentices. An apprentice becomes a warrior. Then we have deputies, which are second-in-command. And finally, we have our leader."
"Why does Flyingbird have the same name as the Tribe?" Ash questioned.
"It's prophesied he has some sort of destiny," Treebranch shrugged.
The patrol finally made it to the camp. It was full of wolves - they were, walking along, putting prey in a pile, some eating, others sleeping.
The camp was like a square. The entrance was on the right side of the camp, where Ash and the patrol were entering. In the top left corner was a den made of brambles. The smallest wolves Ash had ever seen were playing around in it, giggling and roughhousing.
In the middle of the left wall was another bramble den. In it were some more small pups, some were big however.
In the bottom left corner was an old log, laying on its side. In it were some old wolves.
On the top of a small hill was a huge bramble den. Ash couldn't see in it, so he didn't know what was in it.
At the top right corner was a bigger bramble den, filled with wolves. Must be the 'warriors'' den, Ash told himself.
"Strange place," Dust commented.
"Agreed," Rusty nodded, "they live out in the open?"
The den on top of the hill rustled. Out came a strong wolf, he looked like a great fighter. Right away, Ash felt respect for him.
"Treebranch, Flyingbird," he called, "who are these animals?"

Author's Note:
If you're confused with how I described the camp, just imagine you're a bird looking down on it from the sky, it's a lot easier that way.