Chapter 58: Breaking Out

Nighttime came quickly. The patrol had huddled around Windows's limp body in silence, paying their respects to him. But the warriors ignored them. Instead they spent their time pacing around and talking, sharing mixed feelings about Quake's plan to help free the Earth Kingdom.
"Finally, we'll be free!"
"The idiot! This will never work."
"Maybe I can kill Nuewfoow before slipping off."
Raoul, however, felt his brain was too crammed with taking everything in: so Quake was good. He wanted to set the Earth Kingdom free...for whatever reason he didn't tell Dusk about the plan...Windows was dead, he'd never see what the land would look like free from the Firebenders...
Pretty soon, the atmosphere of the crippled prison become high with tension. Now the patrol seemed to have forgotten Windows as well and were all pacing around worriedly along with the other warriors. Raoul stayed put on the floor, however, looking around. When exactly was this going to start, anyway? He was beginning to get impatient--
Suddenly, the earth began shaking again. Raoul covered his paws and ducked down. Quake was causing the next earthquake now...pretty soon the Earth Kingdom would be free, the job would be done, and Raoul and the others could return to  The Bending Tower, and they could set off again on their journey...Soon, Raoul kept telling himself, trying to calm the anxious feeling coming to the pit of his stomach.
Then, the earth stopped again, and Raoul could hear yelling and shouting from above, although Raoul didn't quite know what was going on above, whether it was Firebenders yelling or the Earthbenders moving.
Raoul then noticed that a black wolf ran down the steps into the prison. "Come on, let's move!" he exclaimed, "the Firebenders might come out soon, I'm sure even though they're partying they're suspicious of two earthquakes in one day!"
The patrol were the first ones to get to their feet and run towards the entrance. Nyla quickly followed, and then the warriors, more slowly, got up to come along as well.
"Quake's gonna do another earthquake soon!" said the black wolf. "So if the Firebenders come out they'll be trapped."
"Hello, Raven," grunted a darker black wolf, walking up to him.
"...Hello, father," returned the black wolf, apparently named Raven, narrowing his eyes.
However, the two did no more interactions as Raven lead the group of prisoners out of the room. At the top, was the Ash-look-alike Raoul had spotted at the court days ago. "Good! You're safe!" she exclaimed, running up to Raven. "Let's go, then."
Raoul then fell back to trot alongside Firefly. "Hey...what's gonna happen to the Earth Kingdom when they find that The Bending Tower is outside sitting there? Should we tell them our plan and ask to join now?"
Firefly shook his head. "We'll wait until we leave the Earth Kingdom."
Animals all around the group of prisoners were also darting around; they were running up to other animals and all running in different directions. They must be assembling others and getting their families together, Raoul guessed. Perhaps they're all meeting at the gates later.
And, just as Raven told them, another earthquake started, making the ground shake.
"To the entrance! Let's go!" exclaimed Raven, darting off faster. The Ash-look-alike darted after him, and the rest of the prisoners followed. A lot of the warriors were fast, but some were stiff with age, making them slower; Raoul and Firefly fell back beside Nota to help her.
"No, no, no," Caput came up to them. "I got her."
Nota nodded. "Thank you," she said, climbing onto Caput's back. He ran to catch up with the others.
"Caput must be strong," commented Firefly.
"Well...Nota's kind of scrawny," Raoul shrugged, running to catch up with the others, Firefly by his side.
The prisoners made it to the gates, and all stood there, waiting for the rest of the animals to show up. The earthquake stopped pretty soon, and this made the animals show up even more quickly. Seeing all of the animals together let Raoul see how populated the Earth Kingdom was. It's definitely the biggest home to Benders, Raoul thought.
Quake showed up last by himself. "Alright!" he bellowed, "let's g--"
"There they are!"
Indeed, the Firebenders had gotten suspicious - they had come as a group in the middle of their party to investigate, and came right to the gates. Raoul's mouth dropped. Oh no.
"Well, can't we fight them? The Earth Kingdom is the biggest--" Streak began.
"Second biggest!" growled Blade, standing next to Streak. "The Fire Nation is bigger!"
"Oh," Streak squeaked.
"What do we do?" Nyla asked Quake.
Quake glared at the Firebenders, then turned to the Earth Kingdom. "Everyone, run!" he yelled, smashing his fists to the ground, causing yet another earthquake.
The animals did as they were told; the gates opened and everyone ran inside. However, this earthquake seemed to be bigger than the last two Quake did. Raoul almost fell down from the shaking, struggling to get a grip and to keep running.
"Where's my sister?!" demanded Nota. "I'm not leaving her behind!"
"Nota! You know Dusk is growing loyal to the Firebenders!" Caput exclaimed.
Nota jumped off Caput's back. "I'll convince her," Nota insisted.
"Nota, it's too dangerous!" Caput growled. "Let Dusk choose her own fate."
"I don't even see Dusk anywhere!" Akumu yelled; her voice was muffled from Windows' body in her jaws.
"I'm right here!" said a voice.
Raoul felt something pin him to the ground.
"So!" hissed a voice into his ear. "I hear you all are from The Bending Tower?"
It was, indeed, Dusk.
"How--?" Raoul began.
"Dusk!" growled Nota. "Snap out of it! Your Kingdom is being torn down by the Firebenders! They tricked you into acting among them!"
Dusk released Raoul, and he scampered away from her. "My dear sister, the Firebenders are in control of this land. If we join them, who knows what we can accomplish?" Animals around the three of them were all still running, but Raoul stopped, trying to get in to convince Nota to keep running, but couldn't get a word in edgewise while the two sisters argued.
"Killing and torturing is not the way to lead the land!" Nota snarled
Dusk narrowed her eyes. "You were always jealous, Nota! You being my older sibling, you must think you deserve to be leader, do you? Well I earned it, and I deserve better!"
"HEY!" Raoul yelled, "Nota, are you coming or not?!"
"Not without Dusk I'm not!" Nota insisted.
"I told you, I've made up my mind!" Dusk growled. "Join me, Nota! Then you'll see what's good for you."
"I've fought Firebenders all my life, why should I stop now?" Nota snarled, baring her teeth.
Dusk then lunged at Nota. Raoul gasped, expecting Nota would be too old to run away, but Nota got away so quickly it appeared like she disappeared. Nota then stopped at Raoul's side. She narrowed her eyes. "You wanna fight, Dusk?" She got into a position. "Ready."
"Nota, she'll kill you!" Raoul gasped.
"I'm too old, Raoul, I would never live much longer anyway." She nuzzled Raoul. "You're a good one, Raoul. I hope you grow to be known as a great warrior as well. Now go," she turned to face Dusk. "I'll handle her."
Raoul's instinct told him to stay, but didn't want to be left behind; he could see the Firebenders running after the Earth Kingdom with determination. Raoul turned tail and ran to catch up with the everyone else. He turned to look back at Nota and Dusk; they were both fighting, and Dusk had Nota pinned to the ground, biting at her, Nota snarling at her sister.
"Raoul!" came a voice. Raoul looked ahead to see Cinder running up to him, dodging some falling rocks. "Where were you?! We thought you--"
"I'm okay," Raoul said reassuringly, "c'mon, we need to catch up to the patrol..."
They kept running alongside the Earth Kingdom animals, trying to find the patrol again. The Firebenders were beginning to catch up. Raoul had to jump over a rather big rock, trying not to slow himself down by stopping to go around it ("This is no time to be showing off!" Cinder had exclaimed).
Finally, the rest of the Earthbenders had approached the exit gate and began pouring through it. Finally, we're leaving! Raoul thought triumphantly.
"Where do you think you're going?!" spat a voice.
Raoul whipped around to see Dusk pinning Cinder's tail to the ground, preventing her from escaping. "Help!" she yelled out.
"Cinder!" exclaimed Streak's voice, and Raoul turned to see Streak had turned around and began running for her.
"I thought you were busy fighting Nota!" Raoul growled.
"I killed her," Dusk growled. "It was easy, she's terribly old. Now," she did a grin, "let's say I turn this little apprentice," she picked Cinder up with her paw, and Cinder yelped out, "into the Firebenders. This should help them detect where The Bending Tower is..."
"Paws off her!" snarled Streak, and he lunged forward, jumping onto Dusk's face. Dusk yelled out and let Cinder go, who tumbled back into the hall; the walls were beginning to cave in.
"Cinder!" Raoul exclaimed, running to go get her; but someone grabbed him by his scruff and pulled him back.
"She's done for, Raoul, let's go!" growled Caput's voice.
"But..." Raoul began, seeing Cinder yell out helplessly before being crushed by rocks.
Streak didn't seem to notice, though; he was busy running around Dusk, trying to land blows on her but failing; Dusk merely had to move back to avoid him. "Who do you think you are, messing with the Earth Kingdom leader?" Dusk growled, pinning Streak down.
"No!" Raoul yelled. He moved his paws forward, and Dusk got thrown back by a spot of earth and into the collapsing gate, and was covered by rocks.
Raoul darted forward and grabbed Streak, and then ran to where the rest of the Earth Kingdom was; they were all huddled together, standing far away from the entrance so nothing would hit them.
The Earthbenders all stood there, panting; Raoul took this moment to take in all that just happened. Windows was dead, Cinder died, Nota died, Dusk died...four deaths, just to release the Earthbenders from the Firebenders...Wait...where are the Firebenders? Raoul wondered.
"The Firebenders are trapped on the other side!" cheered Florence.
"Not for long, they will," Quake nodded.
"What do we do now?" Nyla cocked her head.
Raoul smiled. "We know what to do," he nodded at Firefly.
Firefly smiled back. "Raoul, why don't you go get The Bending Tower?"

Author's Note:
Fweeeeee.
They're free. .3.