Chapter 54: The Battle Continued

Ash looked as more of the Tribe wolves came poring into the yard. He noticed, however, it was only about half the Tribe, not all of the Tribe. Where are the other wolves? Ash wondered, why would only half the Tribe show up? Once all the Tribe wolves arrived, Ash watched as they leapt into battle. They don't know the Firebenders, Ash assured himself, so they should be on our side! Suddenly, Ash jolted as he saw Mousetail, a small warrior from the Tribe of Flying Birds, leap onto Akumu, biting into her. Oh great, Ash growled, they're against us! 
Ash leaped onto one of the Tribe wolves, who was leaping for Nightgale. Ash bowled into the wolf and pinned her to the ground. She snarled up at Ash and scratched at his legs. "Why would you help the Firebenders?" Ash demanded, wanting answers to the questions burning in his mind.
The she-wolf spat at Ash. "Like I would tell you!" Ash then pushed down on her chest, and the Tribe wolf coughed. "Alright, alright!" She snarled. "You Benders act like you're so great. We're treated like we're nothing. The Firebenders want to destroy you and rule. So we're helping them!" she then bit down into Ash's leg, and he yowled out.
"Idiot!"
Someone bowled into Ash and he gasped as he saw that his attacker was Flyigbird, a Tribe wolf Ash had met on the way to The Bending Tower. He looked at the she-wolf. "Lionclaw! Why would you give in so easily to this sorry excuse--" he then examined Ash. "Ash! So we meet again," Flyingbird growled, "You broke Nightgale out and left us. Coward!" Flyingbird hissed.
"You held me against my will!" Ash exclaimed, "Why shouldn't I have broken free?"
"You were supposed to help us," Flyingbird spat, "fallen fire was supposed to bring peace to the land." Flyingbird bared his teeth at Ash. "It doesn't matter now, though. The Tribe should have joined the Tribe of Fire moons ago. Because we're stronger now!"
Ash now realized that the Tribe of Fire was the Firebenders; back when Ash and the patrol went to the Water Tribe, the Tribe of Flying Birds' leader mentioned they were fighting a Tribe of Fire. So the Tribe was under the threat of the Firebenders too! Ash thought. He snapped back to reality when he saw Flyingbird baring his teeth, about to bite. Ash put all his strength into his legs so he could kick Flyingbird away...
Suddenly, a yowl came and Flyingbird was pushed off Ash. He got up and grew wide-eyed as he saw Treebranch had pinned Flyingbird to the ground, snarling at him. Flyingbird had hope on his face. "Treebranch, you're here! Quick, fight alongside me. Ash is on the side against the Tribe of Fire!"
Ash flinched, expecting Treebranch to jump on him, but Treebranch only growled at Flyingbird. "No. Flyingbird, I thought you were loyal to our Tribe. Turns out you're not." A look of sadness came onto her face. "You betrayed the Tribe, you and the others! And...you betrayed me..." Treebranch looked in pain.
Flyingbird spat at Treebranch, "So what. I betrayed you. And my Tribe. But it's better in the Tribe of Fire. We're stronger!" Flyingbird then bared his teeth, and Treebranch flinched. "You don't deserve to be deputy! I used to love you, but it is me who should be deputy of the Tribe of Flying Birds. Not you!"
Ash grew wide-eyed as he looked from Flyingbird to Treebranch. They were mates, and Flyingbird turned against her? Treebranch had a look of horror on her face. She then closed her eyes tight, looking hurt. "Traitor!" she yowled, and let go of Flyingbird, and he got to his paws. "I can't believe you'd do this to me, Flyingbird!"
Ash thought he hated Treebranch since she had been one of the Tribe wolves who helped to trap him so he could be held captive at the Tribe, but Ash realized that he had to take Treebranch's side on this. She wasn't evil, but her mate was; and it probably wasn't even her fault that she helped hold Ash as prisoner.
Flyigbird snarled and ran into the crowd of battle. Treebranch just stared after him, looking
heartbroken. "Treebranch..." Ash began, "I'm really sorry. Flyingbird is not a good wolf." Ash looked at her. "Are you the only good wolf left in the Tribe?"
Treebranch sighed and shook her hanging head. "No... But most of the Tribe joined the Tribe of Fire, believing they'd be more powerful that way, and able to get revenge on you Benders." Treebranch turned to look at Ash, and Ash was confused to see what seemed like a look of longing on her face. "But I heard they betrayed us and were going to attack The Bending Tower. I told the Tribe we've been betrayed by our own warriors and apprentices, but they didn't believe me. I didn't know Flyingbird was in on it too, though..."
"Look out!" yowled a voice, unmistakably belonging to Akumu. Ash looked towards the entrance to see more Tribe wolves pouring in. Treebranch looked wide-eyed, but Ash was growling. "Oh great! More Tribe wolves to help the Fire Nation?" he knew that The Bending Towe would be outnumbered at this rate.
But then, Ash saw Leafclaw, the Tribe wolf leader, yowl and leap into Lionclaw, biting down onto her. Yes! Ash thought happily, some of the Tribe is on our side! He turned to Treebranch. "Come on, we need to win against the Fire Nation!" he leaped into battle. Ash was searching for Hazen, and found Hazen biting down on Airia, who was growling at him, struggling. Snarling, Ash leaped into Hazen's side and bit down on Hazen, making him yowl out in pain.  Ash pinned Hazen, snarling. "Get off her!"
"Aww, so cute. You want to protect Airia," Hazen sneered. Ash felt anger in him, and Hazen kicked Ash into Akumu, who yowled out in surprise. She jumped away and HZdn pinned Ash to the ground. "My brother," Hazen growled at Ash, "you're so weak. I can't believe I'm related to you!"
Ash grew wide-eyed. "What?!" Ash demanded. He prayed that Hazen was lying only to distract him. But if that was true, it would explain why Ash always got a strange déjà vu feeling around Hazen. "How can you be my brother?"
"Curious?" Hazen sneered, "well, you're getting no answers from--" Suddenly, Hazen was picked up
off Ash and thrown across the area. Ash was happy to see Kabu standing there, roaring at Hazen, making Hazen run away in fear. Kabu then turned to Ash. Ash noticed Kabu has a few cuts on his face. "Ash, I know you want to play with Hazen," despite Kabu sounded serious, amusement glittered in his eyes, "but I need your help. Tiggerkat needs to be taken to a place where she won't be harmed. You're a good fighter. Escort her!" Kabu nodded. He then ran off, and Ash dodged a fireball hissing at him and ran for Tiggerkat, who was in the middle of the battle, looking a bit overwhelmed. He passed Ember, who was fighting another fox, and Moonlight, who was fighting Fang, and got to Tiggerkat. "Tiggerkat!" Ash yowled over the battle, "come with me! You need to hide!"
To Ash's surprise, Tiggerkat smiled. "Hide? Ooh! Hide and seek? Okay, I'll count, you hide!"
"No, no!" Ash yowled, "follow me!" This should be a challenge, Ash thought, and lead Tiggerkat through the battle. She looked happy, not stressed at all.
Ash grew wide-eyed as he saw Mousetail in a pouncing position behind Tiggerkat, looking like she was about to tackle Tiggerkat. "Tiggerkat!" Ash exclaimed, "look--"
"Oops! I dropped this pebble!" Tiggerkat exclaimed, bending down to pick up a tiny little rock. Ash was about to yell at Tiggerkat for being an idiot, but Mousetail leaped and missed Tiggerkat, bowling into Lionclaw by accident. Tiggerkat then stood up. "Okay, let's keep going!"
Ash shook his head and ran towards The Bending Tower entrance, Tiggerkat following. He went inside and so did Tiggerkat. "Okay," Ash whispered, "stay in here. Do not go ANYWHERE else!"
Tiggerkat nodded, and Ash ran back outside. He heard a yowl and looked to see Leafclaw standing over Fang, who was coughing, blood coming out of his side.
"Fang!" yowled Darkclaw, and she snarled and leaped into Leafclaw, pinning him. Ash grew wide-eyed as Darkclaw quickly bit into Leafclaw's neck, and he yowled in pain. Just when Ash was about to leap into Darkclaw, Leafclaw went limp, dead.
"Leafclaw!" yowled Ash, running over to the Tribe leader. He stirred a bit and looked up at Ash.
"Ash?" Leafclaw whispered. "Ash... I'm sorry we held you as a prisoner." He looked up at the sky.
"I forgive you," Ash breathed, "stay tight, I'll fetch our healer--"
"No Ash," Leafclaw looked at him, "I'm dying." He had a slight smile on his face. "I remember you when you were a young pup. So playful, innocent..." Leafclaw died.
Ash grew wide-eyed. How did Leafclaw know about him as a pup? He didn't even knew at he was like as a pup, or where he grew up. Ash stiffened. Hazen was his brother, and he had been a loner as far back as he could remember; could Ash possibly have been born in the Fire Nation? I gotta find out my history! Ash decided.
Suddenly, Ash heard a yowl. Whipping around, Ash saw Goldwing struggling under a red snake. His fangs were bared, threatening to bite Goldwing if he made any sudden movements. Ash knew that snakes were fast and could easily react if Goldwing tried to escape. Ash felt an urge to go and attack the snake, but he knew he couldn't, not without getting killed.
"Goldwing!" Ash yowled. Instinct took over and Ash tried running over to Goldwing; the Peacebenders would be on his side since he had to live to kill Ironfang, right? So if I can do this, the Peacebenders will make sure I get out alive, Ash figured.
Suddenly, FireBlade jumped in front of Ash. "Stay away from Goldwing, he's as good as dead with Wildfire on top of him! Just watch your leader die," FireBlade sneered, pinning Ash to the ground, forcing Ash to watch Goldwing struggle under the snake. Ash noticed Goldwing had many scars. Everyone had been silent, all staring at Goldwing. Ash knew that if Goldwing was killed, it would mean that the Firebenders would win.
Then, Poisonfang slithered forward. "Wildfire, I think you made your point," Poisonfang smiled. Wildfire hissed delight and slithered off Goldwing, and Goldwing got to his paws, growling. Poisonfang observed the area knowingly, and Ash did with him. All of The Bending Tower animals were bleeding and had many scars, some looked really weak, like they would die any minute. It made Ash's heart pound as he saw how much less scars the Firebenders had.
"Do you surrender, Goldwing?" Poisonfang sneered.
Goldwing glared at her. "We... We..." He suddenly almost fell to the ground, and Ash flinched: Goldwing was losing too much blood. "We... Surrender."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note:

The Bending Tower lost. 8c The next book is coming out soon! I might make this a two-chapter day to make up for my long absence. But I'm going to be preparing TFEOB for the third book coming out soon! What was your favorite part of this book? Ideas? Opinions? Comment below! To see spoilers about the third book, click here!