Chapter 6: Hunting for Shadows

When Misty and Campbell were darting straight through the bushes, they ran smack into Tiggerpaka. However, this didn't stop them, as they quickly got up to keep running, but Tiggerpaka stopped them. "Hey!" Tiggerpaka yelled. "What's the hurry for?!"

"Th-There was a-a shadow animal in the woods!" Misty exclaimed.

"Shadow animal?" Tiggerpaka hissed, a hint of worry on his face. However, it quickly went away. "Not to fear, Mistake and Crabbell! I can get this figure for you."

"First off, it's Misty and Campbell. Second, that was no ordinary shadow. We have to get help!" Campbell cried.

Misty and Campbell then turned around and darted for The Bending Tower.

"T-Tiredblade?" Tiggerpaka whispered worriedly.

"There's a shadow in the forest!" howled Misty as she and Campbell ran into the yard.

Dozens of heads turned their way. "What?" said Mistletoe, trotting up to them.

"A-a shadow!" cried Misty.

"Shadow...?" frowned Miguel, trotting up to Misty and Campell. "You need to explain further."

"We saw a shadow-wolf thing in the f-forest," Misty gasped. "It had like, fire coming off of it..."

"And white eyes!" Campbell added. "It was on the ground, but then it just appeared next to us and like, made this hissing sound! Misty and I got scared and ran for The Bending Tower. We need to catch this thing!"

Everyone exchanged looks.

"Are you sure?" asked Miguel.

"If we're not telling the truth, then Lephos and Sidew are innocent of all their pranks," Campbell said sarcastically.

"We're right here!" yelled Lephos and Sidew simultaneously.

Ash then came forward. "A shadow animal?" he frowned.

"Yes, dad! We aren't lying!" Misty exclaimed. 

Ash studied Misty, then nodded. "I suppose a group of animals could find it. Misty, Campbell, I want you to go on it to show where it was. Let's see...Hazen, how about you lead the group? Take Koro, Rhett, Liberty and Twister along," Ash ordered.

"Sure," Hazen said. "C'mon, let's go."

"We need to hurry! We'll lose it!" Campbell said desperately.

The group all gathered together. "Lead the way, Misty and Campbell," Hazen nodded.

"We get to help an actual patrol!" Campbell said to Misty as they ran out the exit. "Maybe Ash'll make us apprentices soon!"

"Now we gotta focus on this shadow though!" Misty said, jumping over a bush.

"Right," Campbell agreed.

"Slow down!" Koro called.

"We're trying to catch an intruder Koro, you need to hurry up!" Campbell yelled over her shoulder.

"You shouldn't disrespect a full Bender like that," insisted Liberty, catching up to Campbell's side.

"Eat mouse tails, Liberty," Campbell growled in reply.

Liberty gave Campbell a cold glare but did nothing more:

"We're here!" Misty said, trying to stop the tension between the two sisters.

Hazen scanned the area. "Okay, where is it?"

"It was somewhere around the fallen trees," Misty nodded towards the heap of trees.

Koro sniffed the air. "Don't smell anything."

"It probably doesn't have a scent," Campbell insisted. "I don't even think it's really a true animal!"

Liberty gave Campbell a look. "You're not making this up?"

"Of course not!" Campbell spat.

"Hey, break it up," Rhett insisted.

Misty glanced at Twister. Why isn't she saying anything about this? Misty wondered. It was her own apprentice fighting with their sister. Then again, Twister was just quiet in general. Misty couldn't help thinking about what training sessions between her and Liberty would be like.

"Well, let's get searching," Hazen said. "We'll split up. Misty, Campbell, sit here. If you see anything just howl."
Koro, Rhett, Twister, Liberty and Hazen all split up and headed for the fallen trees.
"What's Liberty's deal?" Campbell grumbled.
"She only asked some questions and was being calm," Misty insisted. Quit overreacting, Misty thought.
Misty then scanned the area, now focused on finding the shadow animal. It's gotta be here. I know we saw it! she told herself.
"Why hello, my friends!"
Just then, Tiggerpaka scurried into the area. "I am here to save the day," he smirked.
"Uh...I think we're fine," Misty said.
"No you're not," Tiggerpaka replied. "Now, where's Tiredblade?" he said. Misty just now noticed he had a vine in his hands, with a small rock tied to it.
"What's that?" Misty frowned.
"My whacker," Tiggerpaka puffed out his chest. "It whacks my enemies to death."
"Uh, that's nice..." Misty murmured. "Um, I think we've got it, thanks anyway."
"Nonsense, nonsense," Tiggerpaka smiled. "I'm on your trail, Tiredblade!" He yelled.
"Hold it," Campbell stopped Tiggerpaka has his one foot was up, ready to head for the fallen trees. "Who's this 'Tiredblade'...?"
"Oh, he's my number one enemy! Quite dangerous too. But rest assured, he's no match for m!" Tiggerpaka insisted. "He was one of those Firebenders."
"But...they disappeared..." Misty frowned.
"That's what they want you to believe," Tiggerpaka whispered. He then swung his rock around. "C'mon Tiredblade, let's go!"
Hazen poked his head out from the fallen trees. "Tiggerpaka, get back to The Bending Tower!"
"Hazy, I'm helping you," Tiggerpaka snorted. He then ran for the fallen trees. Misty saw Hazen roll his eyes and duck back under the fallen trees. Tiggerpaka easily scampered up the fallen trees and dove under them, disappearing into the heap of them.
Misty and Campbell exchanged confused looks.
Then, Twister ran back through the clearing and by the fallen trees. "I don't think it's around," she said.
Hazen pulled himself out from the fallen tree, carrying Tiggerpaka in his mouth. He dropped the meerkat. "In case you couldn't help noticing, I am not a shadow figure!" Hazen snarled.
"Excuse me, it was dark in there. I couldn't tell," Tiggerpaka examined the rod connected to the rock that was broken. "But you didn't have to break my whacker!"
"If you hit animals that are your acquaintances you don't deserve to have it," Hazen huffed. "Anyways, I believe the 'shadow' is gone."
Liberty, Koro and Rhett all came back together. "None of us found it," Koro announced.
"Guess we're going back," Hazen nodded.
"But I swear, we saw a shadow!" Misty exclaimed.
"Whatever you saw, it's gone now," Liberty replied, trotting off after the rest of the group.
"I hope the shadow doesn't come back," Campbell said. "The last thing we need is a shadow haunting us."

Author's Note:
Check out some of my new blogs and such. ouo