Chapter 21: Protesting

Everyone lay panting on the ground as they finished their fifteen laps. Ash was among the last to finish. Raoul, Max and Miguel were tired too but they looked like they had been having a lot of fun.  Rusty lay fainted on the ground, Dust next to him, both twins knocked out. Ash felt like he may faint himself. When a swift breeze blew by, everyone sighed in relief.

Twister looked tired herself; she was talking to Akumu, who looked much more tired than anyone else. Ash knew that Akumu was pretty small, so it must have been very hard for her. Ash still couldn't quite figure out why the senior Benders had him working so hard... Rusty and Dust had said that this wasn't usual, so why something new all of the sudden?

"Alright, now!" Kabu yowled.

Please be done. Please be done, Ash prayed silently.

"Next, we'll be doing-"

Kabu was interrupted by sighs, moans, groans and whimpers.

"What's with the protesting?" Kabu growled.

"We're tired!" Windows moaned.

Everyone murmured agreement. Ash didn't dare to protest; he knew Kabu'd probably get angrier and make them work harder.

As Kabu revealed his sharp teeth, everyone looked at him in fear. Ash could tell they were now regretting their complaints. Everyone, including Ash himself, backed up slowly. Even the senior Benders looked a tiny bit frightened, but not as much as the young Benders and apprentices.

"You dare protest? Wimps! This makes you STRONGER, you'd better LOVE IT!" Kabu snarled.

"B-But... But why do we need t-to do this?" Akumu dared to ask. Ash grew wide-eyed, waiting to see Kabu's response.

"NO QUESTIONS!" Kabu snarled. Ash saw Mistletoe jump in alarm at Kabu's snapping. 

"Hello?"
Ash turned around, followed by everyone else. Eclipse was standing there.

"Ah, Eclipse. Is there anything you need?" Kabu asked, now acting noble again.

"Um... Feather sent me out here to join you?" Eclipse shrugged.

"No! Eclipse! Run... Away, it's horrible!" Rusty gasped. Eclipse was glued to the spot, however, as she examined all of the tired faces of everyone. 

"Eclipse, you may join us. I'm sure Feather decided wisely."

Author's Note:
Welcome, Eclipse, to the exercises of torture.