Chapter 15: Returning to The Bending Tower

"Just knock her out!" Liberty snarled as she struggled to keep Starlight down. They had been guiding her back to The Bending Tower but she had began resisting and screeching even louder, filling Liberty's ears to the point when she wanted to hit her own head against a rock and knock herself out.

After trying practically everything to get Starlight to stop resisting, Liberty decided knocking her out would be the best thing.

"I...I can't," Malroy insisted. "I don't wanna hurt her."

"You idiot, she looks to be in pain enough!" Ekaj grunted, attempting to help Liberty keep Starlight down.

"But--"

"Would you stop making lovey-dovey eyes?! You're gonna get her killed if you don't stop acting so lovesick!" Liberty snarled.

Malroy flinched, and everything was silent except for Starlight's screeching. He hesitated, then shifted his jaw in annoyance before heading over to the nearest rock and slamming it into Starlight's skull, immediately knocking her out.

"Finally," growled Liberty, picking Starlight up with the help of Ekaj.

They then started guiding Starlight back towards The Bending Tower, Malroy padding along but at a distance, as if not wanting to get close to Starlight. What a coward, growled Liberty to herself. Anger was bubbling up in her already after seeing her best friend get attacked. Malroy's hesitation to be useful was making Liberty madder.

They finally approached the shortcut to the yard. "You go first," ordered Liberty to Ekaj. "Take her with you."

Ekaj gave a curt nod before taking Starlight with him through the tunnel.

Liberty then rounded on Malroy. "Why are you so useless?" she growled.

"What?" Malroy murmured.

"You're reluctance to help out is what's going to be the death of her," Liberty snarled, allowing her teeth to show. "And although Starlight seems oblivious, it's the most obvious thing in the world; you like her. Why let her die?"

Malroy hesitated before sighing. "I care for her, let's just leave it at that. And I can't stand to see her like that. It scares me. And I want her to stay alive as much as you do."

"Then help," Liberty growled before walking through the entrance to the yard.

As soon as she came in, there was a crowd gathered around, and it didn't take Liberty too long to guess what for. She could hear yells and some sobs, mainly shouts of confusion.

Liberty walked up to the closest animal, who just so happened to be Streak. "Where's Shell?" she demanded.

"What time is there for that? Starlight a got black gunk on her shoulder!" Streak exclaimed.

"I am well aware," hissed Liberty in annoyance. "And I want to know where Shell is."

"Around this time of day, by her stream," explained Streak. "You know she has a schedule."
"Thank you," Liberty said. She then turned around to head back out, only to find Fake-Ash standing there.
"Hello Liberty," he acknowledged in his usual cold tone.
Annoyance pricked at Liberty's chest. "Hello," she returned reluctantly, forcing kindness into her voice. If her plan was going to work, she'd have to be respectful.
"I see your friend has gotten an injury. It's quite strange," he commented.
Don't you think I noticed? Liberty thought frustratedly. "Yes. I helped to bring her back."
Fake-Ash smiled, but once again, his smile wasn't full of happiness. "Ah. It's good I gave you the full Bender rank then. I knew it'd benefit you - and the Tower as well."
"Thank you," Liberty replied.
"Starlight's injury is rather...strange, however. I wonder what it is," Fake-Ash pondered.
He's lying, Liberty told herself. Fake-Ash came from Yin, same place as the creature who had bitten Starlight; Liberty had concluded the creature was a Shadow Tracker, just as Shell had talked about. So Fake-Ash would know what the injury was from, and maybe how to cure it. I can't let him know that I know about this, Liberty decided. So I can't ask him about a cure...
"May I go find Shell?" Liberty asked.
"Why?" Fake-Ash asked curiously.
"I want to speak to her," Liberty insisted.
Fake-Ash seemed to consider this, and then he spoke. "Very well. Go ahead."
Relief washed over Liberty and she headed back out. Shell better know the cure, she thought, or Starlight is dead already...

Author's Note:
My family is getting on my nerves
someone please come take me away to go live in Camp Half-Blood or Hogwarts instead
and sorry for the short chapter but it seemed like an appropriate place to stop