Life of a Skurvywing

Chapter One: Another Mother?

Cynder walked out on the balcony of the temple and looked up at the night sky. I still remember when I wanted to destroy all this. She thought as she gazed at the bright full moon looming over the swamp. She, of course, didn't get over the terrible moments when she killed innocent lives and there was nothing she could do to stop herself. She sighed and turned around, she was about to take a step forward but froze when she saw a nearby mushroom move. She shook her head thinking it was just her imagination when it shook once more.

"Show yourself!" she yelled as she crept towards the bush. The mushroom stopped shaking and Cynder let down her guard and started to turn around, but from the bush came a loud Squawk! Cynder finally leapt at the mushroom and tried to fight her way through large roots until she found the source of the noise. She raised her claw ready to cut through a large root until she noticed a baby Skurvywing right in front of her. Awww! It's so cute. She thought as she lowered her claw. She looked at it for a moment and realised that no other Skurvywing was near it. Aww poor guy must have gotten separated from his parents. Maybe I could keep him! But what would Spyro say? Maybe I can keep him a secret from the others. She picked up the Skurvywing by its mane and put it on her back. She took off into the swamp, trying to find the hidden entrance to the temple from there.

After fighting her way through roots, dead animal bones and overgrown plants, she managed to get to the temple's front door. She was about to say the phrase to open it but the door suddenly flew open and Cynder quickly hid the Skurvywing behind one side of the open door. Ignitus came through the door and looked down at Cynder.

"What are you doing at this time of night?" Ignitus asked.

"Oh! I went to get some... fresh air! Yeah that's it! Good old fresh air!" Cynder replied nervously.

"These are dangerous times to be wondering about. But if anything is a problem tell me and I'll deal with it."

"Yeah! Okay!"

Ignitus looked at Cynder suspiciously and walked into the swamp. Cynder sighed and grabbed the sleeping Skurvywing in her mouth and hurried into the temple. She eventually came to a spare room full of bookshelves. She put the Skurvywing in the centre of the room then walked up to the door of the room and chanted:

"Protect us from the dark night,

From all shadows of fright,

When morning breaks and we all yawn,

Unlock yourself only at dawn."

The light in the centre of the door flashed twice to show that it had been locked. Cynder relaxed all of her tension and walked back to the Skurvywing and curled herself around it and covered it with her left wing. She looked at the once more at the door and slowly fell into a deep sleep.

*****

"Is that the last of them?" Scratch asked with his posh accent.

"Yes General!" replied Commander Warmaker.

Scratch noticed some commotion coming over from his right. He flew over and landed on a Skavenger Commander and looked at the tied-up, screeching Skurvywing in front of him.

"YOU'LL NEVER MAKE ME YOUR HORSE TO RIDE ON!" the Skurvywing screamed "OVER YOUR DEAD BODY!"

Scratch rolled his eyes and said, "Now, be reasonable. We will treat you well enough and-"

"TREAT ME WELL? I'VE SEEN WHAT YOU DEMONS HAVE DONE TO US!"

"We are merely angels compared to your vulgar behaviour you are displaying right now."

"You can call me uncouth for all I care. Don't treat me like your defenceless Dreadwings. I can gut right here you microscopic bat."

"This female is more impolite than all the other abominations we have captured."

"Like I said, don't treat me like your defenceless dogs."

Scratch sighed and whispered a few words to the ape he was sitting on. He hovered off the shoulder of the Commander and flew onto the mane of the Skurvywing. A few minutes later a giant ape came into the room and in front of the Skurvywing. He was wearing read armour framed with gold curves; his left foot was replaced with a machine gun, his left arm was replaced with a gold hook and upon his hunched back was a treasure chest where a purple parrot sat.

"What's all this about?" the purple parrot said.

"This Skurvywing," Scratch said as he tapped the Skurvywing with his wing "Was denying to join our crew. What do you suggest we should do this abomination Sniff?"

"I say we should slice the fool until she can't be cut any smaller," Sniff replied as he saw the Skurvywing scowl at him.

"A nice way to dispose of her. But no. We may get some information out of-"

The Skurvywing reared her head to make Scratch fall on the floor and almost snapped him up. But the apes holding the ropes that bounded her restricted her from biting him. But she managed to give him a long cut stretching from his left wing to the right side of his body.

"You just messed with the wrong people, fool," Sniff commented as the giant ape he sat on raised his sword and with one massive slash, knocked out the Skurvywing.

"A little help....here..." Scratch gasped as he bled lightly from his scar.

"You heard him you idiots! Seal that wound and bring him back in ship shape tomorrow at dawn. Leave the chump to us."

The apes nodded in unison and dropped the ropes, grabbed Scratch off the floor and hurried out of the room.

Sniff glared at the Skurvywing and said "What we're going to do is going to hurt you so it will rock the sky, earth and sea."