Chapter 39: Two Heroes

Something tumbled out of the bushes. It got to its feet, revealed to be Dust. He perked his ears and looked around. "Hmm... What is--" he was cut off as someone bowled into him, this one orange. It got to its paws.
"Dust! Don't get in my way like that!" exclaimed the orange wolf.
"Shush!" Dust snapped. "We're not gonna find that animal with you shouting."
"Sorry."
"Now, where did the thing go?"
"We don't know what it is," Rusty pointed out.
"Which will make this a perfect challenge," smiled Dust, and he began walking. "Look for any signs of the vermin."
Rusty nodded. "Right!" he sniffed the ground. "Don't smell anything."
Dust looked around. "Where could it have gone...?"
Rusty jumped on top of a large rock. "Don't see anything. It could be waiting to sneak attack us!"
"If it dares to even think of doing that, I'll break his bones," growled Dust.
"What if it's Ironfang?" gulped Rusty.
"Then... Th-Then I won't break his bones," Dust said, shivering with fear. He began walking, and looked up at the sky. "Nothin' here. Keep your eyes peeled."
"I can't peel my eyes. It's impossible," Rusty responded.
"It's an expression, genius. How're you going to expect to impress anyone like that?" Dust snorted.
"How are you gonna impress anyone with being so up-tight?" Rusty retorted.
"I'm not up-tight!" Dust exclaimed.
"Well you aren't exactly fun," Rusty replied.
Dust growled, "I'll show you 'fun', dimwit!" Dust yowled and lunged for Rusty, pinning his brother. They began rolling over each other, clawing each other and biting each other. Dust stopped rolling and bit down onto Rusty's scruff.
"Get off!" snarled Rusty, and he kicked Dust in the stomach. Dust let go and perked his ears. "I win!" Rusty yowled, and he jumped onto Dust's back.
"Shut up!" Dust growled.
"Don't be mad because I beat you," Rusty smirked.
"No, really, shut up, I hear something!" Dust exclaimed. He began listening. "The patrol's nearby."
Rusty and Dust walked over to the bushes and ducked down. Dust could see Ash's legs walking, and Twister's white legs walking near him.
"He's as annoying as Rusty and Dust," said a voice, definitely belonging to Akumu.
"Well!" Dust whispered.
"They'd better be talking about Miguel, because if so it's true!" Rusty growled. He looked at Dust, who had a confused look on his face. "What?"
Dust shook his head. "Listen, if they think we're annoying, let's go find Tiggerkat ourselves and prove we're useful!"
Rusty smiled, "Sounds great!" The twins began running off, the leaves crunching beneath them. They crashed through some bushes and jumped over the river, then slowed down. "Let's catch out breath," Rusty gasped, breathing heavy.
"Agreed," Dust nodded, breathing as heavy was his brother. He sniffed the air. "Hey... I smell something!"
Rusty sniffed the air as well. "That annoying scent... It's recognizable!"
"Tiggerkat!" Dust gasped, "She's near here! I know she is!"
"Well, we got everyone into the mess, let's find Tiggerkat to make it up!" Rusty smiled. "We'll split up."
Dust nodded, "If you see her, come find me!" he jumped away. Rusty turned around and ran, following the scent trail. He sniffed the ground and then the air, and perked his ears. Tiggerkat was near. He ran through the bushes and past the trees, and crashed through the bushes. He stopped, laying down behind a log.
Sure enough, Tiggerkat was there. She wasn't being tortured by Firebenders. In fact, she was laying in a pool with lily pads, asleep, looking quite relaxed. Heat blew up from the pool, showing it was hot water she was laying in.
"For the love of... We thought she was in danger?" Rusty muttered to himself. "I need to go get Dust." He ran  away, over the bushes and crawled along the floor under some bushes, then almost crashed into his brother.
"Did you find her?" Dust asked.
"Yep! Right over here," Rusty said, walking off. Dust followed.
"Is she being tortured?" Dust asked.
"No." Rusty growled.
"Why are you mad?"
"Take a look."
Dust peeked out from behind the log, then gasped, wide-eyed. He slowly sunk behind the log, and looked at Dust, eyes still big.
"Stupid, isn't it?" Rusty snorted.
"That's not Tiggerkat!" Dust exclaimed in a whisper.
"What? I remember--" Rusty peeked out, and grew wide-eyed as well as he saw a small squirrel-like creature who looked similar to Tiggerkat; orange with black stripes. "That's... Not Tiggerkat! What happened to her?!"

Author's Note:
Tiggerpaka, by chance?