The leaves crunched under Ash's paws as he walked through the nearby woods, the sounds of the training animals dying down as he got further away. He sniffed the air, hoping to hunt for a bit and have time for himself. It was the next day, and everyone had been training well; Ash had been watching stations frequently. He noticed Comet wasn't very enthusiastic about fighting and Bending; Streak and Twig were getting along very well; Nzuri and Patch, who were in the same group, kept getting scolded by their mentors for goofing off; Miguel kept insisting on helping Slice with her apprentice and Slice kept insisting to him that she was fine. It's been busy, Ash commented to himself, shaking his hanging head.
Ash tasted the air again, picking up the scent of a beaver. He twitched his ears. Is there a stream nearby? Ash wondered; he knew beavers seemed to like building by the water. Ash stealthily and slowly padded through the woods, careful not to make any noise. If I hunt enough, perhaps I can have a quick lunch with Quake, Rusty, Raven, Bluefall and Swiftwing and we can make some plans.
The sound of trickling water made Ash crouch down behind the bushes; he peeked through to see there was indeed a beaver sitting by the stream, chewing on a stick. Ash eyed the beaver and began crawling around the bushes, trying to get close enough to pounce.
Suddenly, the beaver perked its head and jumped into the stream, swimming away. Ash got to his paws and looked around. What had scared the beaver off? He smelled the air; Ash smelled an unfamiliar scent, he couldn't detect what it was. He then heard a squeal. Ash crouched down, keeping himself hidden.
Just then, a very small light brown wolf pup darted into the clearing, panting. Her head was quickly turning from side to side, looking paranoid. Ash looked at the pup with interest, trying to decide who she could be. The pup then looked at the stream and approached it with caution, then began to lap from it.
Then there was the sound of a stick snapping. The pup jumped in alarm and turned around. "F-Fire?" she squeaked.
Fire? Ash thought. What did she mean?
Suddenly, a dark gray wolf pup jumped out from behind a nearby tree, pinning the pup down. "Haha! Bird, you're such a wimp!" he laughed. "I won!"
"Hey!" the pup - apparently named Bird - protested. "Fire, that's not fair!"
"How is it not fair? You're just upset that I won," Fire snorted.
"B-But I never win!" Bird cried.
"Yeah, because you use no means of strategy!" Fire exclaimed.
"Actually," said a light gray female pup, coming into the clearing, "strength isn't everything, Fire."
"Really, Squirrel? I heard that our father was one of the greatest wolves in the forest! He was really strong, and mom told me about all these battles he won!" Fire said, "and I'm gonna be just like him!"
Who are these pups? Ash asked. He then swished his tail, making leaves scatter.
Fire stiffened. "Did you hear that?" he whispered.
"Hear what?" Squirrel asked, perking her ears.
"Those leaves swishing!" Fire hissed. He then sniffed the air. "We're not alone."
Bird whimpered. "Wh-Where's mom?"
"Mom told us not to stray away. Now we're in trouble!" Squirrel exclaimed.
"No we're not! Just remember the fighting moves our mentors told us," Fire said. He then shouted, "Show yourself, coward!"
Well, I guess I could ask them who they are, Ash thought. He stepped out from the bushes, and the pups all stared at him - Bird and Squirrel looked scared, whereas Fire was beginning to growl. "Um, can I ask who you pups belong to? This place is kind of occupied." If they belong to the Firebenders, we're in trouble, Ash told himself silently.
"We're from--" Bird began.
"Shush! We can't tell him!" Fire whispered.
"Why not?" Bird asked.
"Because, he could be from the Tribe of Fire! Same place dad went to," Fire replied.
"But I thought you wanted to be like dad," Squirrel said coldly.
"Except for the Tribe of Fire part!" Fire protested.
"Your dad is with the Firebenders?" Ash asked. There's only one place I know who calls the Firebenders the Tribe of Fire...The Tribe of Flying Birds! "Where's your mother?" Ash demanded, "I know her. Isn't her name Treebranch?"
"Stay away from my mom," Fire spat, "you're not laying a claw on her."
"I'm not going to hurt your mother. I only want to talk to her," Ash insisted.
"Are-Are you from the Tribe of Fire?" Bird squeaked.
Ash shook his head. "No, I'm not here to hurt you."
"Are you lying?" Fire demanded.
"Bird! Fire! Squirrel!" came a voice.
Ash's stomach lurched when a light brown female wolf came out from the bushes. She gasped. "Ash!"
"So he wasn't lying," Fire muttered. "Mom! I was about to send this guy crying. You should have seen me fighting!"
"You didn't fight at all!" Bird exclaimed.
Treebranch gave a weak smile. "These are my pups," she said to Ash.
"Really?" Ash studied them. "They're beautiful, Treebranch."
"Thanks," Treebranch nodded. She was studying Ash; Ash couldn't tell what kind of expression was on her face. However, Treebranch quickly turned to her pups. "Ash and I are going to talk for a bit. Why don't you three go off and play?"
With that, the pups began to trot away. "Let's play fight!" Fire suggested.
"No fair! You'd win!" Bird protested.
Once they were gone, Treebranch turned to Ash. "They're a pawful, you know..."
"What ever happened to Flyingbird?" Ash asked. "He should be helping you raise them!"
"Why should he be?" Treebranch demanded. "He's part of the Tribe of--er, I mean, Firebenders now."
"What about the rest of the Tribe?" said Ash; during the fight when the Firebenders took over The Bending Tower, the Tribe of Flying Birds had helped. Most of them assisted the Firebenders during that battle, but some of the Tribe had decided to help The Bending Tower. Ash was told by a Tribe of Flying Birds member themself that they were crossing over to the Firebender side because they wanted to be able to bend too, and that they felt like the Benders all thought they were better than the Tribe.
"They came back," Treebranch said, still looking heartbroken, "with many excuses...some said they were brainwashed. Others claimed Flyingbird forced them to do it. And a few others said they just weren't thinking straight. They have worked hard to prove themselves, and I said if that happened again they'd be exiled. It's like our Tribe is falling, Ash. We're being betrayed and...I'm leader and the pressure is all on me."
"Well, I'm leader of The Bending Tower, I know how you feel," Ash nodded.
"Congratulations, and thank you," Treebranch whispered.
Um, Ash, hello? said Susan's voice.
Susan, what are you doing? Ash thought.
A tree holds the answers! You haven't figured it out yet? Susan demanded.
Um--
Look, what is this wolf's name you're talking to? Susan said.
Treebranch knows my past?! Ash grew wide-eyed.
"Ash, what's up?" Treebranch asked, seeing his expression.
The Peacebenders told me to finally give you a bigger hint. And yes, she does, Susan replied.
Treebranch was looking at Ash. "You know, Ash...it's something about you that's calming...yet I don't really know..." Treebranch cocked her head. "Like...familiar."
Ash opened his mouth to speak, but Treebranch almost jumped in alarm.
"You're Stormpup?" Treebranch whispered.
"Wh-Who?" Ash said.
"Stormpup!" Treebranch exclaimed.
"Who is--?" Ash began; but he was cut off as a strong breeze blew by.
"Ah, so Ash, you finally figured it out."
Ash and Treebranch both turned to see a light blue, transparent figure standing there.
"Midnightshine?" Treebranch gasped.
"Wha-? Her name's Midnight," Ash said, confused. "And she's my mother..."
"Yes! You were Stormpup!" Treebranch said, turning to Ash.
Midnight chuckled. "Perhaps I can take you two...oh, and Hazen and Widow while I'm at it...into a flashback. It'll explain your past, Ash."
Wait... Ash thought. "Widow's my sibling?"
"Yes," Midnight nodded. "Now, come on..."
With that, the world dissolved around them.
Author's Note:
So sorry for not posting! ;3; I've had writers' block... D: I know what to do with the story but I don't quite know how I'm supposed to get it there. I'm also having trouble with ideas of how to get another character to like the other (ex. How should I get Nyla to like Raoul back?). Any and all ideas are appreciated. c:
Cliffhanger~
Hope this makes up for my absence. :D Can't wait to write the next chapter!
Ash tasted the air again, picking up the scent of a beaver. He twitched his ears. Is there a stream nearby? Ash wondered; he knew beavers seemed to like building by the water. Ash stealthily and slowly padded through the woods, careful not to make any noise. If I hunt enough, perhaps I can have a quick lunch with Quake, Rusty, Raven, Bluefall and Swiftwing and we can make some plans.
The sound of trickling water made Ash crouch down behind the bushes; he peeked through to see there was indeed a beaver sitting by the stream, chewing on a stick. Ash eyed the beaver and began crawling around the bushes, trying to get close enough to pounce.
Suddenly, the beaver perked its head and jumped into the stream, swimming away. Ash got to his paws and looked around. What had scared the beaver off? He smelled the air; Ash smelled an unfamiliar scent, he couldn't detect what it was. He then heard a squeal. Ash crouched down, keeping himself hidden.
Just then, a very small light brown wolf pup darted into the clearing, panting. Her head was quickly turning from side to side, looking paranoid. Ash looked at the pup with interest, trying to decide who she could be. The pup then looked at the stream and approached it with caution, then began to lap from it.
Then there was the sound of a stick snapping. The pup jumped in alarm and turned around. "F-Fire?" she squeaked.
Fire? Ash thought. What did she mean?
Suddenly, a dark gray wolf pup jumped out from behind a nearby tree, pinning the pup down. "Haha! Bird, you're such a wimp!" he laughed. "I won!"
"Hey!" the pup - apparently named Bird - protested. "Fire, that's not fair!"
"How is it not fair? You're just upset that I won," Fire snorted.
"B-But I never win!" Bird cried.
"Yeah, because you use no means of strategy!" Fire exclaimed.
"Actually," said a light gray female pup, coming into the clearing, "strength isn't everything, Fire."
"Really, Squirrel? I heard that our father was one of the greatest wolves in the forest! He was really strong, and mom told me about all these battles he won!" Fire said, "and I'm gonna be just like him!"
Who are these pups? Ash asked. He then swished his tail, making leaves scatter.
Fire stiffened. "Did you hear that?" he whispered.
"Hear what?" Squirrel asked, perking her ears.
"Those leaves swishing!" Fire hissed. He then sniffed the air. "We're not alone."
Bird whimpered. "Wh-Where's mom?"
"Mom told us not to stray away. Now we're in trouble!" Squirrel exclaimed.
"No we're not! Just remember the fighting moves our mentors told us," Fire said. He then shouted, "Show yourself, coward!"
Well, I guess I could ask them who they are, Ash thought. He stepped out from the bushes, and the pups all stared at him - Bird and Squirrel looked scared, whereas Fire was beginning to growl. "Um, can I ask who you pups belong to? This place is kind of occupied." If they belong to the Firebenders, we're in trouble, Ash told himself silently.
"We're from--" Bird began.
"Shush! We can't tell him!" Fire whispered.
"Why not?" Bird asked.
"Because, he could be from the Tribe of Fire! Same place dad went to," Fire replied.
"But I thought you wanted to be like dad," Squirrel said coldly.
"Except for the Tribe of Fire part!" Fire protested.
"Your dad is with the Firebenders?" Ash asked. There's only one place I know who calls the Firebenders the Tribe of Fire...The Tribe of Flying Birds! "Where's your mother?" Ash demanded, "I know her. Isn't her name Treebranch?"
"Stay away from my mom," Fire spat, "you're not laying a claw on her."
"I'm not going to hurt your mother. I only want to talk to her," Ash insisted.
"Are-Are you from the Tribe of Fire?" Bird squeaked.
Ash shook his head. "No, I'm not here to hurt you."
"Are you lying?" Fire demanded.
"Bird! Fire! Squirrel!" came a voice.
Ash's stomach lurched when a light brown female wolf came out from the bushes. She gasped. "Ash!"
"So he wasn't lying," Fire muttered. "Mom! I was about to send this guy crying. You should have seen me fighting!"
"You didn't fight at all!" Bird exclaimed.
Treebranch gave a weak smile. "These are my pups," she said to Ash.
"Really?" Ash studied them. "They're beautiful, Treebranch."
"Thanks," Treebranch nodded. She was studying Ash; Ash couldn't tell what kind of expression was on her face. However, Treebranch quickly turned to her pups. "Ash and I are going to talk for a bit. Why don't you three go off and play?"
With that, the pups began to trot away. "Let's play fight!" Fire suggested.
"No fair! You'd win!" Bird protested.
Once they were gone, Treebranch turned to Ash. "They're a pawful, you know..."
"What ever happened to Flyingbird?" Ash asked. "He should be helping you raise them!"
"Why should he be?" Treebranch demanded. "He's part of the Tribe of--er, I mean, Firebenders now."
"What about the rest of the Tribe?" said Ash; during the fight when the Firebenders took over The Bending Tower, the Tribe of Flying Birds had helped. Most of them assisted the Firebenders during that battle, but some of the Tribe had decided to help The Bending Tower. Ash was told by a Tribe of Flying Birds member themself that they were crossing over to the Firebender side because they wanted to be able to bend too, and that they felt like the Benders all thought they were better than the Tribe.
"They came back," Treebranch said, still looking heartbroken, "with many excuses...some said they were brainwashed. Others claimed Flyingbird forced them to do it. And a few others said they just weren't thinking straight. They have worked hard to prove themselves, and I said if that happened again they'd be exiled. It's like our Tribe is falling, Ash. We're being betrayed and...I'm leader and the pressure is all on me."
"Well, I'm leader of The Bending Tower, I know how you feel," Ash nodded.
"Congratulations, and thank you," Treebranch whispered.
Um, Ash, hello? said Susan's voice.
Susan, what are you doing? Ash thought.
A tree holds the answers! You haven't figured it out yet? Susan demanded.
Um--
Look, what is this wolf's name you're talking to? Susan said.
Treebranch knows my past?! Ash grew wide-eyed.
"Ash, what's up?" Treebranch asked, seeing his expression.
The Peacebenders told me to finally give you a bigger hint. And yes, she does, Susan replied.
Treebranch was looking at Ash. "You know, Ash...it's something about you that's calming...yet I don't really know..." Treebranch cocked her head. "Like...familiar."
Ash opened his mouth to speak, but Treebranch almost jumped in alarm.
"You're Stormpup?" Treebranch whispered.
"Wh-Who?" Ash said.
"Stormpup!" Treebranch exclaimed.
"Who is--?" Ash began; but he was cut off as a strong breeze blew by.
"Ah, so Ash, you finally figured it out."
Ash and Treebranch both turned to see a light blue, transparent figure standing there.
"Midnightshine?" Treebranch gasped.
"Wha-? Her name's Midnight," Ash said, confused. "And she's my mother..."
"Yes! You were Stormpup!" Treebranch said, turning to Ash.
Midnight chuckled. "Perhaps I can take you two...oh, and Hazen and Widow while I'm at it...into a flashback. It'll explain your past, Ash."
Wait... Ash thought. "Widow's my sibling?"
"Yes," Midnight nodded. "Now, come on..."
With that, the world dissolved around them.
Author's Note:
So sorry for not posting! ;3; I've had writers' block... D: I know what to do with the story but I don't quite know how I'm supposed to get it there. I'm also having trouble with ideas of how to get another character to like the other (ex. How should I get Nyla to like Raoul back?). Any and all ideas are appreciated. c:
Cliffhanger~
Hope this makes up for my absence. :D Can't wait to write the next chapter!
Widow?
ReplyDeleteNo. way.
ReplyDeleteSo that's Midnight's last part of her name x3
-perry4464