Chapter 18: An Announcement

When Ash went to sleep that night, he was having nightmares about blood, screaming, and a huge deer with big antlers and glowing red eyes, the cause of the deaths. Ash could hear his own voice begging the deer for mercy, but it was mad, out of control.
Ash woke, startled, bolting right to his paws. He began breathing heavy, with relief, as he realized he had only been dreaming. Sighing, Ash shook his pelt, and trotted through the sleeping heap of animals and trotted out into the yard. It was empty, and the moon was already high in the sky. Ash wasn't quite ready to go back to sleep. Especially because he was worried of having yet another nightmare.
"Trust me," came a voice, making Ash jump. He whipped around to see Miguel and a fox coming out of The Bending Tower. Quickly, Ash dove into the shadows so he wouldn't be spotted. He stayed frozen to the spot as Miguel and the fox came out into the open, making them more visible. "With this new plan we have, it should show Goldwing's Benders that we're more powerful than they think."
"You sure, Miguel?" the fox said, "because some of those Benders have been pulling some pretty witty stunts. Ash spying on the meeting, Mistletoe acting all in love with Hazen to try and get him onto their side, that stupid meerkat taunting Fireblade, Airia tricking Firebenders into giving them extra prey, and a lot more than we can count."
"I talked with Poisonfang, Vitaly," Miguel responded, "she believes this plan is fullproof. And if I think our deputy is sure the plan is going to go well, we should believe that." Miguel looked up at the moon. "By morning, the whole Bending Tower will be freaked out because of our plan."
Vitaly smiled. "Miguel, I don't know why you even considered joining The Bending Tower. You're great as a Firebender. Why'd you leave the Fire Nation anyway?"
"I was foolish," Miguel said, "I thought the Fire Nation was a horrible place. I had fled in search of a new home and ended up here. But when you took over, I saw how powerful you were. I realized why you were so ambitious; you wanted the island to be a better place for all the Benders under your control. So I joined to help the cause."
To help the cause?! Ash thought angrily. Why would Miguel figure the Firebenders would be better rulers for the land? Ash could recall Miguel explaining to his best friends Raoul and Max how horrible the Fire Nation was and how glad he was that he fled. Why had he suddenly turned to believe the Firebenders were noble?
"I'm glad you came to your senses, Miguel," Vitaly smiled, "if only the rest of The Bending Tower would realize that..."
Feeling like he had seen enough to give him new nightmares, Ash trotted through the shadows and snuck into The Bending Tower, taking in everything he had learned. A bit nervous about tomorrow morning, Ash went into the Waterbenders' den and drifted off to sleep.

"Hey, you! Bug-brain!"
Ash slowly woke up and realized the voice was addressing him. I swear I am going to-- he began to growl, but stopped as he saw it was Miguel who was waking him up. "Yeah, you! You slept in, there's a meeting happening, and everyone needs to be to it!"
Stifling a groan of annoyance, Ash got to his paws quickly. Oh yeah. The Firebenders are trying to scare us today, Ash thought. He began walking down the hall, Miguel behind him, trying his best to ignore him, but failing because his instincts told him someone was behind him. Ash went out into the yard and Miguel walked over to the Firebender-audience side, and Ash took his spot among the Bending Tower-audience side, sitting down in between Nightgale and Snakeseye.
Ash looked to see that, up front, Poisonfang, Hachiko, and a dark orange male wolf. By them was Goldwing, Airwing and Kabu. "Ah, so glad you all could join us today," Poisonfang said in her sweet voice. The Firebenders all had evil looks upon their faces, but the animals from The Bending Tower all had expressions that said, "whatever it is you want, get it over with so we can get back with our lives".
"Something has to be done today," Poisonfang smiled, "and in the end you all will be grateful for it."
"Yeah we will, because in the end the Firebenders will have hopefully died of old age," muttered Rusty, who was in front of Ash. Ash heard Crystal and Flare snickering at Rusty's joke.
"So," Poisonfang continued, "you all know your deputy, Kabu...?"
Everyone turned to look at Kabu, who looked a bit confused. Oh great, I hope Poisonfang isn't gonna kill him! Ash thought nervously. It was highly possible, because Miguel had told Vitaly the whole Bending Tower would be in fear by the next day.
"Get on with it," Goldwing grumbled.
"Yes. Hasn't anyone noticed he's a bit too old for his position? A deputy should be young, ready to fight and noble. Kabu, however, looks like all he could fight is a mouse," Poisonfang smirked.
The Firebenders burst into laughter, but The Bending Tower animals all glared at them angrily. Oh, they'll pay someday, Ash thought, growling.
"I have a feeling most of us agree with that statement," Poisonfang nodded, "so, as the leaders of the land, and the conquerors of this Tower, we are hereby making Kabu retire to the elders."
Growls and hisses of outrage came from The Bending Tower side. From the Firebenders, however, came no sounds.
"Idiots!" snarled Nightgale, low so they wouldn't hear her, "who do they think they are, telling us what ranks we can have? I swear, when--"
"Shh!" Snakeseye hissed, nodding at Ash then looking back to Nightgale. Wide-eyed, Nightgale nodded back and turned to look back at Goldwing. What? Ash thought, wondering why Snakeseye hushed her an acted like she shouldn't be saying something in front of him. Ash fought back to strong desire to ask Nightgale what she was about to say.
"You can't do that," Goldwing said, getting to his paws, "I am the leader of The Bending Tower, and it is me who decides the ranks. You, however, do not decide when someone is to retire and who my deputy shall be."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Poisonfang said with a fake, wide-eyed shocked expression, "I thought we had defeated The Bending Tower a couple of moons ago! That's why we're here now, aren't we? Besides, you should be grateful that I'm not sending that good-for-nothing lion into exile!"
"Excuse me," Kabu snarled, "but I have had the nerve to actually fetch you prey. Call me 'good-for-nothing'? With all of you Firebenders just lousing around watching us do the dirty work for you, I find that really ironic!"
"Ooooooh," Rusty giggled.
"I can always kill you right here and right now," Poisonfang said simply.
"And we can always just squash you with a boulder. After all, you're the size of a squirrel!" Kabu growled.
"I don't think this is going to end well," Nightgale muttered.
"Alright, you two, cut it out," Airwing said.
"Goldwing," Poisonfang turned to look at the leader, "you have until tomorrow morning until you choose a new deputy. And if you don't, I will. And it won't be one of your Benders..." she smirked.

Author's Note:
Stunning, much?