Chapter 5: The Shadow Figure

Misty looked wildly around. "Wh-What's going on?" she demanded, the ground shaking beneath her paws.
"It's an earthquake!" Bracken gasped.
Everyone looked around, scared. Misty gripped onto the ground, hoping to remain steady, but as quickly as it came, the earthquake stopped.
All the animals exchanged looks, confused.
"What was that?" Slice frowned.
"Maybe an animal Earthbending took things a bit too far?" Miguel suggested.
Max snorted. "No animal has that kind of power."
"Quake did," Miguel pointed out.
"Yeah, well, that was Quake," Max replied.
"Is everyone alright?" called Ash's voice.
"No one's hurt," Dust nodded.
Misty noticed Raoul approach Ash's side, talking to Ash. Misty couldn't hear what it was, but she saw her father reply with a shrug. "Alright then," Ash said, turning back to the crowd. "I suppose it was no threat to us, so all of you may continue."
Slowly, the crowd of animals broke apart, each animal wearing a confused look on their face.
"I'm gonna go find Firefly. Catch ya later," Bracken nodded, darting off.
Misty watched Bracken go, then trotted off to find Campbell. As she did, she passed by Lephos, Sidew and Nyla, and perked her ears, listening to their conversation.
"What was that?" Lephos was asking his mother.
"A tremor. But thank goodness we're okay," Nyla was saying. Misty then saw Nyla's eyes grow wide. "Oh, poor Audrey, she must be worried--! I'm going to find her. You boys, behave yourselves," Nyla said, turning to Lephos and Sidew. Nyla then darted off.
Misty then felt some wind blow towards her, and turned to see Airia had flown over, landing with a woosh as her wings quickly folded. "Misty, are you alright?" Airia fretted. "The tremor shook..."
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Misty insisted. "What was that anyway?"
"Slight tremor, nothing bad," Airia said quickly, checking Misty over. "No cuts or injuries--"
"Mom, I'm okay," Misty replied. "Honestly. Is Adele fine?"
"Yes," Airia nodded.
Then, Campbell wondered over. "Hi Misty. Do you know what that was?"
"No clue," Misty shrugged.
"Well, me neither," Campbell agreed. "Wanna go for a walk? I'm bored."
"Sure!" Misty smiled. "I'm bored too."
Campbell nodded and headed for the exit. Misty followed her friend through, and they both entered into the forest.
Sunlight sparkled through the leaves and treetops and birds sang and fluttered around. It was almost like the tremor never happened - the birds all seemed to be flying around as if nothing was bothering them. Wonder what that tremor was like to the birds, Misty wondered.
"Where're we walking to?" Campbell asked Misty.
"I dunno. Anywhere I guess," Misty replied.
"Let's head for the fallen trees, we could practice for becoming an apprentice. Then maybe your dad'll make us apprentices if he sees we practice," Campbell suggested.
"Good idea," Misty agreed.
The two of them trotted in the direction of the fallen trees - Misty recalled being told by Charlotte that the trees all fell in a huge earthquake that made the ground feel like the storming ocean. I hope we don't get an earthquake like that, Misty thought with worry.
They finally made it to the fallen tree area. Misty looked at all the fallen trees - they were huge, and many claw marks on there from animals who had climbed over them through the seasons. "Must be a good place for training," Misty remarked.
"Agreed," Campbell said. "C'mon, let's check it out."
They both wandered closer to the trees. The closer Misty got to them, the smaller she felt. "I could never climb these," she admitted.
"Give 'em a try!" Campbell said with a daring look on her face.
Misty took some steps back and jumped up, digging her claws into the bark of a tree. Struggling, she heaved herself up, pulling onto the top of the tree with a grunt. She then turned to Campbell. "You try," she dared her friend with a grin.
Campbell smirked. "I got this, watch." Campbell then jumped onto the bark and heaved herself up, clawing her way up the bark. She then got to the top. "See?"
"Let's go higher," Misty suggested. She then leaped onto another tree, this one smaller than the other, so Misty got onto the top easily. Misty then lunged at the one stacked above that one, and dug all her claws in and pulled herself up. No wonder the apprentices are so tough, they climb these all the time! Misty thought.
Standing on the topmost tree, Misty looked at the ground below that seemed so far away. "It's awesome up here!" Misty exclaimed, as Campbell heaved herself up to Misty's tree.
"I can't believe we made it up here," Misty said.
"Misty," said Campbell.
"I mean, we're still a part of the young, and--"
"Misty!" Campbell hissed, sounding - to Misty's surprise - scared. "Look...where...I'm...looking."
Frowning, wondering what Campbell meant, Misty followed Campbell's gaze, and her jaw dropped at the sight - at the base of the trees was a shadowy-like black wolf, with bits of shadow-like fire coming off its back. It had white eyes, and was looking around.
"Wh-What is that?" Campbell whimpered, turning to look at Misty. Misty looked at Campbell, a look of fear on her face.
Misty turned back to the place the shadow-fire wolf was, but then gasped. "It's gone!"
Suddenly, Misty stiffened. She and Campbell slowly turned around at the same time to see the shadow-fire wolf right behind them, staring intently at them. It opened its mouth, as if about to speak, but all that came out was a hissing-spitting-choking sound.
Misty and Campbell both screamed and jumped down from the tree, scampering to get to the ground and to run for dear life.

Author's Note:
Creepy-ish chapter, I know. x3 I had to keep looking behind me as I wrote this because I felt like I was being watched. ouo