Chapter 60: Ye Old Rickety Bridge

As the patrol began travelling north still, a sudden chill came upon them. It began to get cold - not as cold as Mt. Ice, but still, pretty cold.
"You guys all feel that chill?" Fan asked.
"Of course we do," Dust nodded, shivering.
"That means we're getting-"
"What, nearing another mountain?" Rusty asked, shivering.
"Er, no, we're getting closer to the Water Tribe," Fan explained.
"Good, I can't wait!" exclaimed Charlotte.
"Is the Tribe underwater?" Dust asked.
Stone shook her head. "That's got to be one of the stupidest questions I've ever heard. What's your IQ, anyway?"
"Um... I think mine is... 4.5?" Rusty screwed up his face in concentration.
"No, no," Dust turned to Rusty, "that's what our mother said she thinks our IQ is if we put both of ours together."
Ash couldn't hold back a laugh. Nightgale chuckled too, and Slice gave a little snicker of laughter. It seemed the rest of the patrol was trying not to laugh.
Finally, the patrol exited the forest, and a strong wind hit Ash. He closed his eyes tight, and then opened them once the wind was gone.
Ash gasped as he saw a rickety bridge was in front of them. There was a cold canyon below, and it seemed bottomless.
"Wow, that's a big canyon," Rusty remarked. "Anyone here scared of heights?"
Flare grabbed a rock and pushed it over the edge. It fell down, and the patrol never heard the sound of it making contact with any floor. Ash shivered; partly because he was cold, and partly because he was spooked by the bottomless canyon.
"Er, let's get moving..." Stone suggested. She put a paw on the rickety bridge, and it made a creaking noise. Stone flinched and put her paw back on the ground.
Ash tried to look into the distance, but he saw that the bridge led into mist. It was so cloudy, it almost seemed as if the bridge never ended.
"Well, the Water Tribe isn't going to help themselves," Crystal shrugged. She put two paws on the bridge, and it creaked again. Cautiously, Crystal kept walking across the bridge.
Rusty quickly followed Crystal. "We got to be careful, the bridge could break," Rusty warned.
"Er, yeah, I'll be careful," sighed Crystal, and she kept advancing across the bridge.
Slowly, the rest of the patrol followed. Eclipse flinched a few times when the bridge creaked, but kept moving. Ash had to admit that he was pretty scared of the bridge breaking, too, and flinched a lot of times. He kept moving.
"Hey, Airia," Fan turned to the winged wolf, "stay under the bridge and hover there. If anyone falls, catch them, okay?"
"But what if the whole patrol falls?" Airia asked, jumping off the bridge and flying in the sky.
"Um, we'll handle that one when we come across it," Stone shrugged.
Great. If we all fall, we'll probably be too much for Airia to carry. Ash told himself, scared.
They advanced towards the fog. It was now very hard for Ash to see; he could only see the shadows of others in front of him.
"Ouch! That was my tail, Flare!" came Crystal's voice.
"Sorr-EE, I can barely see in this mist!" Flare protested.
"It's okay, Crystal," Rusty's voice said calmly.
Finally, after what seemed like a moon of walking, they finally made it to what looked like an icy yard. It was surrounded by pillars and halls with open windows in it. Everything was ice blue.
"Welcome to the Water Tribe," Willow nodded.

Author's Note:
BOOYAH. Like the chapter title? XD

Chapter 59: Continuing

"What the-?"
"How'd he get here?"
"And who is that other black wolf? No, not you, Crystal, that one, o'er there!"
Ash woke up reluctantly. Someone was poking him in the side. He looked up and saw Rusty standing over him, a smile on his face.
"Oh... Hi everyone," Ash yawned, trying to blink sleep from his eyes.
"How did you get back?" Stone demanded.
"Chill ya prey, let Ash explain," Rusty rolled his eyes.
Ash stared at him. "What did you just say?"
"I said, 'chill ya prey', it means... Er, never mind. Ash, just tell us what happened."
Ash told everyone the story of how the Tribe wanted Ash's help in defeating an enemy. He told them there was a prophecy, and that Spirittiger ("Spirit who?" Slice had said, who was shushed by Crystal) didn't want Ash to defeat the enemy yet, so he escaped and took Nightgale with him.
"So... This is Nightgale," Airia confirmed, pointing with her tail and the black wolf, who was sitting up to listen.
"Yes, I'm Nightgale," Nightgale said coolly. "You are?"
"Airia," mumbled Airia. "We can save the introductions for later, you'll find out who's who sometime or another." Ash could tell that Airia didn't quite trust Nightgale, but that was nothing new, of course.
"So, we should get moving," Fan interrupted Nightgale and Airia's staredown.
"Yeah, the Water Tribe isn't going to help themselves," Flare shrugged, getting to his paws.
"We should arrive there soon," Stone announced.
"Good, my paws have been aching pretty bad since the start of the journey," Eclipse sighed with relief.
"Once we get there, I want a good rest," Charlotte agreed.
"With that said, let's get moving," Creature added.
The patrol exited the cave, and began to walk north. Dust was walking next to Rusty, murmuring something to him. Ash noticed that Dust hadn't said hello to him at all, not like Ash would expect him to.
Charlotte was walking alongside Eclipse, both girls in conversation, and Ash couldn't hear them speaking at all.
"So, Ash, how was the Tribe?" asked a voice next to him. "I mean like, after we left."
Turning to his right, Ash saw that Slice was the one talking to him.
"Annoying," Ash confirmed, "they kept me in a cave to wait to defeat something, but Spirittiger told me to escape, like I told you."
"Who were you supposed to defeat?" Slice cocked her head.
"I don't know," Ash admitted. And, Slice was right. Who did the Tribe want him to vanquish?

Author's Note:
I'm not telling.

Chapter 58: Following The Scent

"Alright now," Ash sniffed the air, "it appears that the patrol has already been through here..."
Nightgale sniffed the air too. "And a peahen! Hmm, prey..."
"She's not prey!" Ash snapped, "that's Fan, she's part of the patrol!"
"Oh... Sorry," Nightgale apologized.
Ash shook his head and trekked through the forest. It was still night, and the forest was very dangerous during nighttime.
Ash started off at a run, and Nightgale followed. Sniffing the air, Ash could still smell that the patrol had been through here. The scent was fresher, and Ash got more excited. He kept on moving through the dark forest.
"Scared?" Nightgale joked as she watched Ash running.
"No, I'm not," Ash snapped, still running, "I just want to get to the patrol faster.
Nightgale sighed and picked up the pace.
Ash could smell a strong scent of Rusty. He followed the scent to the top of a boulder. He followed it, and could smell at the scent dropped to the bottom of the rock.
Heh, Rusty fell off the boulder, Ash laughed to himself. He jumped off the boulder and kept following the scent trail through the dark.
Finally, the trail lead into a cave. Ash ran into it and saw the patrol, all of them asleep.
"Found them," Ash whispered to Nightgale.
"You have an odd team," Nightgale shook her head.
Ash settled by a rock near Airia and Dust. He curled up and fell asleep.

Author's Note:
That was quick. XD

Chapter 57: Walking Free

The undergrowth rustled as Ash trotted through it, nearing the Tribe camp. He could smell a strong stench of wolves as he approached. It appeared that everyone was asleep.
How am I gonna do this? Ash asked himself, shaking his head. He poked his head in camp, seeing that no one was out and about.
Ash crawled into camp, hoping no one would wake up to the smell of his pelt.  He crawled towards the den Nightgale and him were in before. He headed for it, and slipped on the dirt.
Ash tumbled inside, and found that he had pinned Treebranch during the fall. Treebranch was wide-eyed with shock.
Growling, Ash got off Treebranch, and walked over to Nightgale, prodding her awake.
Nightgale woke up, and rose to her paws without making a sound.
Ash went for the entrance, but Treebranch stopped him.
"I'm sorry I pounced on you, Ash, but I was ordered to do so," Treebranch apologized.
Ash sighed in frustration and left the den. He walked towards the camp entrance, Nightgale following cluelessly.
"What do you want?" Nightgale whispered.
"We're going away from the Tribe," Ash answered.
"Really?" Nightgale sounded exciting.
"Yup," Ash confimred, "let's go."

Author's Note:
Now they only have to find the patrol. XD

Chapter 56: A Cave

The next day, Ash woke up to see that Nightgale was still asleep.
Eh, better let her catch up on her rest, Ash told himself. He stood up and walked toward the entrance, studying it.
Ash poked his head out. He saw that the Tribe was already busy with wolves out and about. Some where talking, others were leaving camp, some where giving food to elders, mothers and pups, and some apprentice repaired a tear in the nursery.
As Ash saw Treebranch and Flyingbird coming his way, he went back into the den and pretended he was still asleep.
"Ash, get up," Flyingbird growled, prodding Ash in the side.
Geez, thanks for the nice morning greeting, Ash bit back the insult.
"Hurry up now!" Flyingbird snapped, and Ash quickly jumped up to his paws. Nightgale's head rose due to the noise.
"What do you want?" Ash groaned.
"J-Just follow us," Treebranch mumbled.
"I'll follow you," Ash glared, "of course I will. I'll just be knocked out again, right?"
Treebranch looked hurt. Ash felt like saying sorry, but then decided not to.
Flyingbird and Treebranch led Ash towards Leafclaw, who was sitting outside his den.
"We're ready, Leafclaw," Flyingbird nodded.
"Good, good," Leafclaw smiled. He turned to the Tribe. "Tribe! We are departing, follow me. Elders, pups and mothers, stay here."
"Aww!" A pup complained, but everyone ignored the pup.
Ash walked at the back of the tribe. On his left side was Crow, and on Ash's right side was Star. The Tribe exited the camp.
After a short period of walking, they arrived at a cave. Crow guided Ash to the front of the Tribe, by Leafclaw.
"What's happening?" Ash asked.
"Just stay calm and do what I tell you," Leafclaw ordered.
Ash sighed in frustration. The Tribe waited outside, and Leafclaw went in the cave. He waved with his tail to tell Ash to follow. Not having much choice, Ash did so.
There was a portal-like object in front of Leafclaw. Ash sat down next to Leafclaw. On top of the portal was a blue-like glow.
"He has arrived," Leafclaw said to the portal.
"Good," said a voice. Above the portal, appeared a white tiger's head. Ash marveled at how huge the head was.
"So, Spirittiger, what next?" Leafclaw asked the tiger.
The white tiger spoke, "he will come soon. And the enemy will vanish."
"Excellent," Leafclaw nodded. The Tribe leader exited the cave, and Ash could scent that the rest of the Tribe went away too.
"Um...So your name is Spirittiger?" Ash asked.
"Indeed, yes," the tiger replied.
"So, what's this 'prophecy' I hear 'bout?"
Spirittiger closed his eyes calmly. Then, he opened them. A light blue fire danced in his dark blue eyes, and Ash grew wide-eyed.
"The moon is full. An animal lurks. The animal, pure evil himself, is out to strike. The fallen fire will rise and defeat the evil," Spirittiger said calmly.
"Say what?" Ash raised an eyebrow. "I don't get it at all. What's 'fallen fire', anyways?"
"Fallen fire," Spirittiger began, "is ash."
"I'm fallen fire?" Ash gasped.
"In the prophecy, yes, you are destinied to defeat an evil animal," Spirittiger explained.
"But I don't want to!" Ash protested.
"And I don't want you to, either."
"Say what?"
Spirittiger sighed. "It is indeed not your time to defeat this animal. If you do, you will die. You must do it when the time is right, and the time is not now. You must escape. Now."
"That'll be easy," Ash snorted. "Why did they leave me here unguarded?"
"Leafclaw told me to keep an eye on you. But I support the fact that you should leave," Spirittiger announced.
"So all I got to do is leave," Ash confirmed.
"No. You need to take Nightgale with you," Spirittiger shook his head.
"How am I gonna sneak into camp?" Ash questioned. "Shouldn't I just leave?"
"Nightgale has a destiny to complete, too. Would you want her to not complete her destiny? It is bad if you don't complete it," Spirittiger warned.
Ash thought for a while. Then, he sighed. "I guess I'll go get Nightgale."

Author's Note:
WOOHOO! Hasta la viesta (or however you spell it), Tribe wolves! >:D

Chapter 55: Discussion

"Well, should we go back for Ash?" Stone suggested.
"Are you kidding? Those Tribe animals could be dangerous," Creature warned.
"I know. Have you seen Flyingbird? And Leafclaw? They're as grumpy as Stone when she fails at hunting!" Rusty pointed out.
Stone growled at Rusty.
"S-Sorry," Rusty recoiled.
Stone gave the young wolf "the look".
"Creature's right, though," Airia agreed, "it could be dangerous."
"We need to do it for Ash, though," Charlotte put in, "how would you guys like it if you got captured, and your friends didn't come back for you?"
"The Water Tribe needs us, and something tells me that they desperately need our help now," Fan said.
"How about this," Dust suggested, "we go to the Water Tribe, complete our mission, and on the way back we get Ash."
After a while, the patrol started nodding.
"That's actually a good idea," Creature agreed.
"Yes," Slice nodded, "Ash is pretty strong, he'll probably last until we come back to get him."
"And besides, the Water Tribe probably needs our help more," Flare added.
"Then it's settled," Fan announced, "we get Ash on the way back."

"How long do I have to stay here?" Ash complained.
"Until the Tribe sets you free I guess," Nightgale shrugged.
"Why would they want to keep you here, anyways? I mean, you're not too useful to them..." Ash tried saying nicely.
"I don't know," Nightgale admitted, "maybe it's part of my punishment. Or, they just...um...I don't know..."
"I want to get out of here," Ash grumbled.
"So do I, but I don't know how I can," Nightgale sighed in frustration. "Maybe you should wait until you find out what this 'prophecy' is about, and then you can somehow escape."
"It's worth a try," Ash shrugged, "once I find out some information, I'll leave the Tribe..."

Author's Note:
I have no idea how Ash is going to escape, actually. XD I need ideas. :S

Chapter 54: The Denmate

Ash woke up in a hole. He remembered Treebranch tackling him in the forest. Crazy dream, he thought. He blinked the sleep from his eyes, to find the den was deserted.
"Airia? Charlotte? Rusty...?" Ash called into the den.
No response.
So it wasn't a dream, Ash told himself, growling. When I find Treebranch, I am gonna-
Something hit him in the side. Ash stumbled, but didn't fall. He turned on his attacker. A black she-wolf was standing there.
"Who ar-are you?" She stuttered. She seemed brave, but a bit nervous at the same time.
"I'm a normal Waterbending apprentice, who was trying to get to the Water Tribe, but I got hit by some Tribe wolf for no reason, and now I'm stuck here," Ash growled.
The black female wolf rolled her eyes. "What's your name?"
"Ash," mumbled Ash.
"My name is Nightgale. Pleasure to meet you," nodded the she-wolf.
"Not so pleased," Ash mumbled. He wasn't trying to be mean to Nightgale; he was just angry at Treebranch.
"What?" Nightgale sounded worried.
"Sorry, I'm just in a bad mood," Ash sighed, "I only knew the Tribe for two days and they already wolf-napped me."
"Hmm," Nightgale said. "What'd you do?"
"Nothing," Ash snapped, "maybe they want me to join the Tribe or something. Why'd they take you?"
"I was 'on their territory' and wouldn't leave," Nightgale explained, "so they put me in here."
"That's all?" Ash tilted his head.
"Yeah," Nightgale shrugged.
"Well, I was in a group of animals," Ash began, "I tried hunting, but Flyingbird got to me and scolded me. They put us in an underground den, then released us the next day, because Leafclaw and Treebranch both offered us shelter. So we went out today, and then Treebranch wanted to see me. She said sorry, then jumped on me." Ash growled. "I hate this Tribe."
"Well, they provide food," Nightgale commented.
"How long have you been in here?" Ash asked.
"At least 5 moons," Nightgale nodded.
"And they never released you?" Ash grew wide-eyed.
"Nope," Nightgale sighed.
Just then, a white wolf with black streaks on his back came in. He was followed by a smaller black she-wolf - she had yellow flecks all over her.
"Why did you take me?" Ash growled.
"Prophecy reasons," the white wolf glared.
"Say what now?" Ash pricked his ears.
"There was a prophecy saying-" the black wolf began. The white wolf put his tail up, telling her to stop.
"Quiet, Star, he'll find out later," he snapped.
"Since he doesn't know why, he deserves to know, Warriormoon!" Star growled.
"Don't talk to your mentor that way," Warriormoon said coldly. He turned to Ash and Nightgale. "Anyways, we brought some prey." He turned his back and grabbed two magpies. He slid one to Ash, and the other he slid to Nightgale.
"Bye," Star sighed, "good luck, it's horrible being in here." With that, she followed Warriormoon out of the den.
How does she know it's horrible to be in here? Ash thought.
Nightgale seemed to read his mind. "Star was taken in when she was a pup - one of our mothers was out for a stroll and found her. The mother felt so sorry that she had to take Star in."
"At least the mother was nice enough to take the poor pup in," Ash commented, like Goldwing took me in.

Author's Note:
So due to a prophecy, Ash has to stay in a hole with Nightgale. Curse you, prophecy, for making Ash stay with the Tribe. XD Nightgale belongs with Athenscami, thanks for the character Athen!