Chapter 43: Hearing Voices

The Bending Tower all got a drink from the water Tiggerkat found (except for Tiggerkat herself, who kept ranting about how no reese cups were around). In the end everyone was hydrated, and felt well. Ash was smiling; they had survived so far, and if there was water underground, there could possibly be water elsewhere, too. We'll survive this, Ash thought, feeling pleased, with the Peacebenders on our side, we'll reach the Earth Kingdom in no time!
Once everyone had a drink, Ash stood up. "Okay, let's keep moving," he said.
"Aw! Can't we rest for a bit?" asked Aimee.
"Scaredy cat!" snickered Leafy.
"Hey!" exclaimed Streak, Nzuri and Patch all at once.
"No, I just want to rest, I'm tired," Aimee replied.
"We'll be in the Earth Kingdom before you know it," Crash assured.
They kept walking along. Ash looked up at the sky. Still not a single cloud. He looked beyond in the desert. It was empty. Although surrounded by animals of The Bending Tower, Ash felt lonely out here due to the lack of animals living in the desert.. It almost seemed impossible life existed at the end of this desert. Was there truly an Earth Kingdom out here?
Still, Ash could remember something - that some animals would be lost out in the desert. He shivered at the thought. Who was he going to lose? He shot a nervous glance at Airia. Please not anyone I'm close to, Ash  begged. But then again...he was close to the whole Bending Tower, because he was leader. Well, I mean...like, Rusty and Dust. My close friends. I don't want to lose them. Ugh...I don't know how Goldwing handled being leader so calmly!
Suddenly, there was a shriek. Ash whipped around. A snake was in the crowd, baring its fangs. It lunged at its prey, and in horror, Ash saw that the animal the snake was jumping at was...
Patch.
"Patch!" yelled out Rainbow.
Before the snake could reach Patch, who was frozen to the spot in fear, Cora pulled Patch back and, growling, faced the snake. "Sorry, snake," she hissed, "but this kit still has much more to do with her life!" Cora then lunged at the snake.
"Cora! No!" Rusty howled, "you'll lose!"
But it was too late. The snake jumped and bit Cora, sinking its fangs in. Cora froze and flopped onto the ground. Her mouth was open in a silent yowl of pain, but no sound came out. The snake jumped at Cora again to deliver a killing bite, but some stones flew at the snake, and one clocked it in the head, knocking it out. Crystal was in a certain stance. She then walked up to the snake. "We'll always avenge those we lose," she hissed.
Everyone then gathered around Cora, all looking horrified. Cora looked at everyone, and said in a croaking, dying-like voice, "...Help...please..." Ash recoiled. The sound of her voice made his stomach flip. He was suddenly light on his legs. He realized that Wildfire and Poisonfang, the two Firebender snakes, were both venomous just like the snake that struck Cora. We can't let anyone else die like that, Ash told himself. He looked at Cora.
Eclipse and Nightgale then approached.
"Sorry, Cora...there's nothing we can do. We have no herbs," Eclipse whispered.
Nightgale looked upset. "We're supposed to be Healers!" she exclaimed, turning to Eclipse. "We have to save lives, don't we? Isn't there any way...?"
"No, Nightgale. Sometimes a Healer has to let things fall into the paws of the Peacebenders..." Eclipse shook her hanging head.
Cora then sighed. "Good luck, everyone." Then she closed her eyes.
Cora was dead.
"My mentor...!" Rusty breathed. "Come on, Cora...wake up..." he nudged her with his muzzle, but Cora remained still. In Rusty's eyes, he seemed to know it was hopeless, she was dead, but looked so desperate it seemed as though he believed there was a tiny bit of hope she was alive.
Dust then walked up to him. "Um...I'm sorry, Rusty...uh...she'll be fine with the Peacebenders."
"It's your fault, you know."
"Huh?" Ash perked his ears. He looked around. "Who said that?"
"Said what?" Lily cocked her head, confused.
"...Didn't anyone else hear that?" Ash asked.
"Uh-oh. Now Ash has gone loony," Leafy rolled her eyes.
"No, I..." He sighed. "You all can mourn Cora...I need to be alone for a bit." He walked away from everyone, who looked at him, concerned, but quickly turned their attention back to the limp body of Cora, and Ash could hear them all beginning to murmur.
Ash knew he heard a voice. But how come no one else heard it? Maybe he was going crazy from the heat...but it sounded so real. It had to be real, right? And what had it said..."It's your fault"...What did the voice mean? Who did it possibly belong to.
"Under your rule, Ash, all of these worthless Benders will die."
Ash jumped in alarm. "Wh-Who's there?"
"Aw. The strong Ash is scared," sneered the voice.
Suddenly, darkness engulfed Ash, and he was trapped in a nightmare.

Author's Note:
Bet you can guess who the voice is.
I'm considering making an Ironfang Super Edition...thoughts?
Also, be sure to enter the TFEOB cover contest! :D