Chapter 25: Ash's Plan

"Get that deer!" Ash yowled, "it's heading straight for The Bending Tower!"
Ash watched as Stone and Darner began taking after the deer. Nyx and Twister quickly followed, and so did the rest of the patrol. Ash got to his paws, ignoring Eclipse's protests, and took off after them, calling back over his shoulder, "I'll be extra careful!"
Suddenly, a voice yelled from above and Ash got startled as he saw Tiggerpaka swinging by him on a vine, landing on Ash's head. "Good day, friend!" Tiggerpaka shouted while Ash kept running. "I understand you're in a bit of a tangle, and I'm here to help."
"Help?!" Ash exclaimed, "Tiggerpaka, you're gonna get yourself killed!"
"Nonsense!" Tiggerpaka smiled, "the deer will bow at feet once this is over!"
And rabbits will fly! Ash thought bitterly. However, Tiggerpaka simply grabbed onto a vine and swung ahead, jumping from tree to tree to try and catch up with the deer. Well, I suppose it's his funeral. Ash looked to see that the animals who were guarding The Bending Tower met up with them and began to battle the deer. The deer was shaking his head wildly as Crash was digging his jaws into the deer's head. He got flung into the ground, and quickly scampered away before the deer could trample him with its hooves.
Skye and Nyx were both working together. They zoomed in at the deer. Nyx scored a scratch on the deer's forehead, and Ash gasped to see blood trickle from the deer. It was the first blow that counted! However, Skye wasn't so lucky. Ash watched helplessly as the deer rammed Skye with its horns, making Skye fall to the ground, blood spilling quickly.
"Skye!" exclaimed Maisoon, scampering over to Skye. Ash watched them from the bushes, and Maisoon looked at Skye. "Skye, don't die on me, please! You'll make it! Come on! Get up and fight!" Maisoon scanned the area frantically. She made eye contact with Ash. "You got her into this! Save her, please!"
Ash ran forward, stopping at Skye's dying body. He looked at her wound. Even he knew that Skye had a wound that couldn't possibly heal. "Maisoon, that's a fatal wound, she can't recover."
"She's got to!" Maisoon exclaimed.
Skye looked up at Maisoon. "Y-you'll be joining me...soon...v-very soon..." with that, Skye closed her eyes, dead.
"Soon?!" Maisoon exclaimed, "I'm gonna die...?"
Ash looked up. "Maisoon, look out!" he exclaimed, seeing the deer charging at the three. Ash quickly bowled to the side, but Maisoon was not lucky. She got hit in the head by the deer's hoof, and the head injury killed her.
Two deaths! Ash thought worriedly. He dodged the deer's blow to him. We need a plan to kill the deer!
Suddenly, Ash had a flashback of Spots's death: Spots yowling out, being swept away by the river, down the waterfall, everyone calling out after him, grief-stricken when they realized he was lost to them forever. Ash yowled out at the memory.
When the flashback went away, Ash had to quickly jump to avoid the deer, which was throwing its hooves at his head. Luckily, Ash was missed. At first, he wasn't sure why he suddenly had the flashback of his Dalmatian friend plunging over the waterfall, but then an idea struck him.
Of course.
"Everyone!" Ash yowled, "we need to lead the deer to the waterfall!"
Although no animal acknowledged Ash's suggestion, they began running in the direction of the waterfall, and the deer followed. Ash jumped onto the deer's back to urge it to keep fighting. He bit down, and as the deer ran, it bucked Ash off and he slammed into River, who easily picked Ash off of him and put Ash down. "Keep it up!" River encouraged him, then went to help Rusty, who had fallen and was in danger of being trampled. Luckily, River got him out of the way, both uninjured.
Eventually the group made it to the river. That was when Tiggerpaka swung in, yelling, "Bow to me, deer!" he then landed on the deer, and almost slipped. Ash was about to swoop in and save him when Tiggerpaka got his grip by biting hard onto the deer's ear.
The deer snorted angrily and began bucking, heading for the ledge. Ash was about to yowl to Tiggerpaka to get off, but the deer slipped and fell off the ledge. Luckily, Tiggerpaka jumped off and landed quickly on the ground. He stumbled a bit but caught his balance.
Everyone stood in silence for a few moments. Ash realized the deer was dead and that they won.
"I meant to do that," Tiggerpaka smirked.

Author's Note:
Death, and victory...ymustbadthingsandgoodthingshappeninonechapter.