Chapter 28: The Stranger

Ash set his paws down by the bush. A breeze ruffled his fur into his eyes. He shook his head quickly to move it so he could see where Twig was. She was standing away from him, Diamond explaining something to her. Twig nodded, then got into a hunting-like stance, which Ash had seen cats do before. Ash looked away.
He couldn't hear anything coming. Ash relaxed his shoulders. Twig was apparently taking a while to get going. Maybe she was asking Diamond for suggestions. "Come on, Twig, hurry up..." Ash mumbled.
There was a blow to his side. Ash collapsed onto the ground. Claws dug into his shoulders. Ash's first instinct was to kick it away. Ash did so and there was a yelp, and the attacker fell into the bushes. Ash got to his paws and yowled, jumping after it. He found himself pinning a stunned Twig.
"Ash! Take it easy on her, she's a beginner!" Diamond shouted.
"I'm not that young!" Twig grunted, trying to slip out of Ash's grip. Ash got off of her, and she gave him a quick scratched in the face. "Next time think before attacking me!" she dashed out of the bushes.
Ash sighed. He got to his paws. Then, he was hit to the side again.
"Twig! I surrender, okay?! I won't attack you again!" Ash shouted. He looked up, shocked to see that it wasn't Twig who attacked him, but a white male wolf. When Ash looked into his attacker's eyes, he saw himself. The wolf seemed strangely like Ash himself.
"No... Keep him alive... Don't let him be killed..." the wolf was whispering.
Ash was creeped out by this wolf. He tried to get out of his grip, but was stuck, the wolf was very strong-built, but seemed to be the same age as Ash. "P-Please, let me go."
"Don't... Let him get away. Let him live." the wolf let go.
Ash turned and dashed, but hit something. He fell down, and Charlotte was standing over him. "Um... Ash... Diamond wants-" she stopped as her eyes laid on the white wolf. "Who... Who's that?" she seemed a bit spooked by him too.
"His friend... His friend... Death..." the wolf panted.
Charlotte turned tail and ran, frightened. Ash went to follow her, when Diamond came through. "What's going on?" she demanded, and looked at the white wolf. She was mystified by him. "You... What do you want?"
The wolf didn't reply. He just stared at Diamond. Diamond stared back. For a while, their eyes locked together, and for the longest time they just stared at each other.
"Let's get this wolf to The Bending Tower," Diamond nodded. She turned around and flicked her tail, signaling for Ash and the wolf to follow. Ash took up the rear as the white wolf followed Diamond, and as he stared at the white wolf, a shiver ran down his spine.

Leaves crunched as Goldwing walked through the forest. He sniffed the air, and then followed a scent trail, apparently looking for something, or someone. Full of confidence, Goldwing ran through some bushes and skidded to a halt as he found Airwing.
"Airwing, what are you up to?" Goldwing asked.
The old elder stared up at the sky. He kept looking as clouds slowly moved across the gray sky. Goldwing just looked at his grandfather curiously, and then sat down. After what seemed like moons, Airwing spoke.
"Harsh times are coming..." Airwing whispered. He got to his paws and walked for The Bending Tower.
"What?" Goldwing perked his ears, and walked after Airwing.

Author's Note:
Very creepy, huh? Who do you think this white wolf is, and what does Airwing mean? :O