Chapter 71: Face-to-Face

"This is it...the Fire Nation is nearby..."
Ash breathed in slowly. Today was the day that they took back what was theirs...the day that the Firebenders surrendered...the day the land would be free. He looked at the group of animals. All of them had a mixture of determination and nervousness. Rusty and Dust, both standing side-by-side, looking ready...Spots, supporting Sylvia, a determined gleam in the eye...Streak, Nzuri and Patch, looking eager...Light and Kodi, standing close together; Light seemed nervous but Kodi had his usual laid-back look...Slice and Miguel, Miguel whispering things to Slice, most likely strategies...Zapada and Nyx, both smiling at each other...Akumu and Twister, both growling...and finally, Airia, who was narrowing her eyes at the Fire Nation in the distance.
They had left Nightgale and Comet in the caves nearby, Sylvia with them due to expecting pups, and they seemed ready. Eclipse stayed with the group, insisting she'd support any animals who needed to get to the caves, but she would actually sneak off with Ash when he needed to get to Ironfang.
Thunder boomed overhead; the whole land seemed to be preparing for the fight. Ash shivered. "What a day."
"Well, it's only morning...are you ready for this, Ash?" Treebranch asked, a mischevious gleam in her eyes.
"Of course," Ash nodded. "This is the day we win."
"Well? What's this strategy of yours?" Raven snorted. "If you think we can just barge in there--"
"We fight and never give up," Ash replied, giving Raven a look.
"Oh yeah? Ironfang will just come and murder us all," Raven rolled his eyes. "This is hopeless..."
Ash turned to face the animals. "Is everyone ready?" he asked, as lightning lit up the sky.
"No, I feel like I'm gonna throw up!" whimpered Patch.
"Remember, if any animal feels like they can't fight, hide in the caves," Ash said.
"My kits will be killed!" Rainbow cried.
"Mom, we'll be fine!" Streak insisted.
"No you won't. You only just became apprentices!" Rainbow insisted.
"Don't worry Rainbow. Your kits can stay near the senior Benders. They'll protect them," Ash nodded.
"Thank you!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Let's go down there, then," Quake said. "Any questions?"
Thunder crackled overhead, but no one said anything.
"Good. Let's go, then," Ash nodded, turning to look at the Fire Nation. Here goes nothing... He then began walking down the hill, all the animals behind him following.
"I hope I get to see Tiredblade. I'll send him running!" Tiggerpaka cheered.
"Or you'll get killed," Moonlight snorted in reply.
"What are we all so worried about? This will be fun!" came Tiggerkat's voice.
"Yeah, about as fun as checking ourselves for ticks," Rusty mumbled.
Eclipse leaned in towards Ash, "So what do we do?"
"Fight ourselves into Ironfang's den," Ash replied.
Airia then walked up to Ash. "You're facing Ironfang?"
"Yes," Ash nodded.
"Be careful, okay? I don't want you killed," Airia said.
"Look, girl, if he's not going to be careful I'm a mouse," Rusty said sarcastically.
Airia gave Rusty a look. "This is no time for your jokes, Rusty," she insisted.
"We need jokes. We're all too up-tight," Rusty replied.
They then reached the bottom of the hill as thunder crashed louder than ever overhead, making Rusty jump, yelling out. "Whoa! Out of all the days, why do we need to get a big thunderstorm today?" Rusty demanded, growling to himself.
The animals then approached the gate, guarded by three small wolves, looking to be like newbie-apprentice age. All three of them were black, but one had a silver tail-tip and the other had white paws. They all grew round-eyed as the animals appeared.
"Who are you?" snarled the biggest one - a pure-black wolf.
"We're here to challenge the Fire Nation!" Raven declared, baring his teeth.
The white-pawed pup jumped in alarm at Raven's teeth, but the pup with the silver tail-tip pushed her back forward. "And you insist on winning?" growled the pure black one, "the Fire Nation is the strongest group of animals in the land. If you seriously think you're going to win against us, good luck."
"If I had a mouse for every time I heard that..." growled Rusty.
"Look, shrimps," Raven narrowed his eyes, "go get your Fire Nation. Bring it on!"
The black one snarled. "Fine." He turned to his siblings. "Now we sound the danger alarm."
The three wolves then did three sharp howls and then one big one. Tension prickled at Ash's pelt. We're about to meet our match, he realized. Oh great Lifebreeze...
The gates then slammed open and the whole Fire Nation appeared behind them.
"Oh, if it isn't the pathetic rebellion," sneered Poisonfang. "We've been expecting you guys."
Growls, hisses and roars erupted from the Firebenders, making Ash shiver.
"You have the chance to solve this peacefully," Ash declared. "Stand down and go away, and we'll not fight."
First there was silence, and then howls of laughter came from the Firebenders.
"We surrender to you?" Wildfire exclaimed, trying to stop himself from laughing. "Look kid, I'll bet seeing the number of us, you may come to your senses." He slithered forward. "You guys surrender and go back home, and we'll give you a few moons before coming to resume our positions at the places."
For a while, the animals Ash was leading were silent. Well, if we do surrender no one dies, no one gets harmed and we can go back to the way things were... but then, a growl rose in Ash's throat. Yes, the way things were when he lived in fear!
"No," Ash said. "We will never surrender. I'd rather die than let you and Ironfang win!"
The Firebenders all exchanged looks, then Poisonfang narrowed her eyes at Ash. Thunder raged overhead, and lightning lit up all the animals.
"Come on in," she hissed. "This battle will be legendary!"

Author's Note:
Yes, a cliffhanger.