The war was over they had won, spyro was next to the dragon he loved even though he couldnt feel his legs he laid there glancing at her when he'd stop looking out for possible dangers as the night progressed. He kept awake to protect her, besides she needed the sleep and she deserved it after all she'd been through...her past is what defined her people would never see her in the same light that he did, her criminal past was all people can think of when they see her, but he and the guardians know she's was only a puppet when she committed those deeds it angered him to think that the actions of someone he was so similar to could hurt and scar the one he loves so much and make her a lowly criminal, he shuddered at the thought of being the same 'special' dragon as the dark master, but he knew he would never do anything like Malefor had, he had a heart stronger than anything and he wouldnt let himself do it regardless of the circumstance. He couldnt keep his gaze away from her her blackish blue scales glistening in the moonlight, her ivory horns were slightly dirtied from the fight against the dark master the night prior, she was also slightly injures a jagged wound along her left side the only serious physical scar along her body visibly that is he knew all the scars that seemed to follow her endlessly. But even through her jagged past and prior rivalry he couldnt help but feel attracted to her she understood him she was there for him even as the world was at its end she supported him, he heard the three words she said but he couldnt make himself believe them, the memory was shrouded in doubt and it almost feels like a dream remembering it back but he tries to believe it was true and smile about it but the doubt seemed too much he needed to find out if it was true. He pondered telling her his feeling but decided against it as if he was incorrect he wouldnt be able to look her in the face again, sure he'd be happy as her friend but he needed the form of companionship that has been unknown to him that is called decided the coast seemed clear so he moved a respectable distance from her and layed down. He seemed to have woken back in battle with malefor he was laying in a crater chained by malefors magic once again this time to the cold ground, outside the volcano the destroyer just travelled into he looked up to see malefor gripping cynder's bloodied broken body and flew upwards with her spun threw her into the air and whacked her on a course towards the volcano she spiraled and caught herself and managed to land directly on the edge, Malefor flew down grabbed her neck "your little dreams are over no-one can overtake me" he said laughing with a dark tone "Spyro..help...me" she cried weakly. Malefor let her go she tried to stand up " You have outlived your usefulness!"he said as the spun around and knocked her ofc the edge with his tail. She fell as Spyro watched helplessly "No!" he screamed the entire image shattered like glass he saw her in pure blackness " why didnt you save me spyro, dont you care about me?"she said crying slightly "Cynder he had me..." he was cut off "why?" She disappeared into a black pool. Spyro jumped in after her he looked up and saw mirrors "this is your fault you let her die" the mirrors of himself all said simotaniously "No NO NO! as he began to fall into oblivion. He woke up in a pool in his own sweat. He looked over to her anxiously to see if she was okay, surely enough she was in the same spot she fell asleep originally, her ribs were inhaling and exhaling rhythmically as she lay and for the first time spyro can remember she was smiling as she was was happy she seemed to be having a good dream since the battle of yesterday seemed to have shooken her up a little. He came to the conclusion of getting some rest and trying to get back to sleep or staying up and being exausted as they'd try to get to WarFang, after about two minutes he chose to move closer to Cynder no less than a foot was between the duo he layed down and right as ge was about to fall asleep he heard those three words that he was unsure of when he first heard layed there thinking about that for what felt like a millenium but eventually due to exaustion he lulled peacefully to sleep,this time no nightmares just sleep. He woke as the sun was about halfway through the sky he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with one of his talons. He stood up and stretched letting his wings come unclinged from his body and letting his wingspan hit its edge, he looked over cynder seemingly made a fire,he wished she would've just woken him up so he could've lit it with his flame breathe instead of her having to go through the trouble of rubbing stones together to attain a spark. He walked over to her "how's it going sleeping beauty?" She said with a playful tone "excuse me? Im not the beautiful one here" he replied not exactly thinking as he turned and did the same from what Spyro could see he knew she wasnt used to getting compliments on her physical appearance, but he didnt think his praise on her looks would mean that much to her. She broke the silence "well thank you" she said with a smile "no problem Cyn" she blushed again with the mention of this nickname yet another thing she was all too unfamiliar with. "Oh fine Spy"she replied giggling "he just looked down and let the blood rush back out of his head, why was he acting so nervous right now he wondered, he had just hoped it wouldnt always be this akward between the two. "Here i caught this while you were asleep" handing him a fish that looked grilled almost. He took a bite "Cyn when'd you learn how to cook?" he said jawdropped at the somewhat spicy taste of the bass he'd just bitten "i picked up alot of skills when we travelled with hunter to get to warfang the first time" she said with a smile on her face as they continued their meal. They finished and Cynder licked a little piece of meat off Spyro's maw "you left a little on your face purple boy" she said deviously. The sudden advance startled the dragon but enthused him none the he went to speak Cynder covered her mouth it seemed she was in looked at what she seemed to be staring at and he saw a mangled beaten red dragon almost the size of himself. Both looked back at eachother before running to the aid of the fallen dragon,the first thing that Cynder did was check him for a pulse "he's alive but in critical condition..." She paused as he looked up at her "it was them..." before his neck fell numb and his head hit the ground. "He needs help" spyro said urgently "but where are we? we dont know where to go" Cynder replied with a loss of hope in her voice "ill scout it" spyro announced as he took to the Sky he looked around and saw something it seemed to be on of the poles him and cynder were strapped to in the cheetah village. He quickly relocated where she was and flew down "I think i see the cheetah village off not too far away" Spyro said gasping slightly as he just took a nose dive to get there as quickly as he can. " Are you sure we couldve slept there then" she said with a hint of annoyance in her voice but overshadowed by worry for this unknown dragon. "Yes i am, ill carry him" as he picked the dragon up, he was alot lighter than spyro'd imagine not nearly as light as Cynder but not even close to heavy. The took off, spyro held the dragon by his underarms he tried to be as gentle as possible but he needed to rush for if he didnt their efforts would be a lost landed in the center of the village immediately attracting attention " what brings you here... Someone get meadow now!" Hunter yelled "Im here what's going on... Oh my" as he looked at the mangled dragon "We found him like this, can you do anything for him?" Spyro asked anxiously "Ill see help me move him into my tent" meadow said running to his tent to gather medicines. Spyro and Cynder layed him down on a table made of what looked like bamboo "So what do yoy think happened to him?" Cynder asked curiously "I cant say for sure but it seems like he was attacked"Meadow said keeping his eyes on the injured dragon "You guys go ill take care of him and inform you of his condition as soon as i can okay?" Meadow finished the two dragons nodded and walked out of the tent "So what should we do while we wait Spyro?" Cynder asked as she turned to him "I dont know but I am kind of hungry" he said trying to get his mind off the fallen dragon,He couldnt put his talon on it but something seemed familiar about him. They headed over to hunter "Hey hunter not trying to impose but would you maybe be able to provide us a meal" spyro said akwardly for asking so properly "Of course young dragons" as he motioned them to follow him. They walked into a large wigwam looking building, with tables with what seemed like a feast of venacine,pork and vegetables such as carrots, beans, potatoes,' and a few others. Spyro licked his lips and grabbed a wooden dish and filled it beyond what it was intended for with mainly venacine but had a few carrots and potatoes near the top, Cynder merely grabbed a 16oz pork chop and some potatoes. The pair walked to an empty table to enjoy their meal as Chief Prowlus made his prescence known by jamming his battle knife into the table they were at "why are you here who has invited you" he spat the words as though he was talking to the dirt "Well prowlus sir we came with..." He was cut off "I dont care this is my village i dont want you here to eat our rations we helped you have your precsious city the least you can do is leave us alone!" He finished "Sir their with me" Hunter said, as Spyro looked up thankful his friend had said that "you understand as much as anyone they saved us we owe them gratitude, the least you can provide them is a quarters to stay in and a meal" Hunter said challenging his chiefs decisions. After this the building fell silent amongst the muttering of chief prowlus to himself "fine they may stay in your tent hunter" Prowlus said smugly "that is fine with me ill just stay the night elsewhere" Hunter said strongly back "Hunter you dont have to do..." Hunter put his paw over Cynders mouth " Think of it as my small thanks for saving us...all of us" Hunter moved his paw away and smiled. They finished their meal and were anxious of how the dragon was doing but decided to wait till Meadow sent for after talking to some of the villagers and cheetahs to pass the time Meadow sent for greeted them with a hopeful smile as the dragon lay breathing heavily and the would on his foreleg was heavily bandaged along with the back of his neck and chest. "This guy was lucky who or whatever did this to him had missed all of his vital organs and arteries"Meadow said with a hearty grin on his face. "So how long until he could maybe fly?" Cynder asked curiously "well his wings arent too beat up it seems he should be able to fly in a day or two perhaps." Meadow finished inspecting the membrane of the dragons wing, like he said there was nothing wrong with it other than a few tiny cuts and small bruises on the tips. "Alright i think we should head out and get some shuteye we have a long flught to the dragon temple tommorow" Spyro said as cynder groaned thinking about flying back to the place when her and spyro could go off together, but she knew they had to tell the guardians they were okay atleast. Hunter directed the two to where hus tent was and led them inside giving them free passage to anything they needed/wanted although they still felt guilty for taking the cheetahs sleeping quarters for the night cynder decided it was an opportunity to read for a little as she took most scrolls hunter had most likely gotten on his travels and began to read them Spyro on the other hand decided just to get to sleep,and after about and hour of studying Cynder did the same.