For a week's time, the Dragon Temple and surrounding areas were plagued with constant rainfall and occasional lightning strikes. Unfortunately, these few days were the period which Ignitus, the Master of Fire, has promised his protégé, Spyro, to teach him an advanced fighting technique of Fire called Inferno. However, Ignitus refused to unleash such a power indoors because of the ferocity and danger of the element; especially in the control of a mere beginner. This "advanced element", as Ignitus referred to it as, would finally complete the young dragon's mastery of fire. Past dragons who have mastered Inferno were able to not only to be in complete control of any fire present, but also become one with the fire – transforming the body into a blazing inferno. As only elders were able to learn this technique, Ignitus decided to allow the young dragon to take a chance. In his heart, no matter what Spyro felt, Ignitus knew his protégé would be the youngest dragon to ever master the attack.
Spyro dreamed about himself with the Inferno element at his beck and call for days. As much as he wanted to master it now, he had to follow Ignitus' orders and wait. As the huge rain drops relentlessly pounded the ground and foliage outside, he and his closest friends, Cynder and Sparx, looked boringly out of the window of Spyros' room and into the darkness of the night; the moon their light source.
After a few disheartened sighs, Spyro pushed himself away from the window-ledge, paced to the other side of the room, and sat down "I can't believe it! It's been raining for days! Is this storm ever going to end...?"
"Hey, you don't see me complaining, pal." Sparx wittily responded hovering over the window sill, "Staying inside this castle for so long and doing absolutely nothing... What else can you ask for? I love it!"
"Cheer up, Spyro," Cynder answered reassuringly while looking at him, "This storm has been around for a long time, but it'll pass sooner or later. Then you can meet up with Ignitus." She looked back out the window, "You'll get your chance," she said while continuing to look out into the night. Spyro looked back up to Cynder and threw a smile back. "Yeah, I guess so..." He responded. "I have been waiting for this moment for days already...it's been the only thing on my mind!" Spyro then paused to walk over to the foot of his bed and sat down. "And it's amazing how this much planning could be ruined by only a few days of stupid rain!" He then heavily blew out two black rings of smoke from his nostrils in frustration.
Sparx turned back from the window to look at Spyro. Noticing his apparent impatience, he tried to calm him down. Flying over to Spyro, he said, "Whoa, chill out, big boy. You'll have plenty of time to master this "amazing element" Ignitus have been talking about..." waving his arms sarcastically at the words "amazing element". In retaliation, Spyro raised his eyebrow at Sparx and blew air at him in a playful gust to blow him away from him.
Just then, a knock was heard coming from the other side of the door. "Is everyone alright in there? May I come in?" a voice said from the hallway. Her concentration of looking outside broke, Cynder looked at the door. "Yes, Ignitus, you can come in." Spyro replied as he hooked his horns around the door handle to open the door. "Hello, Ignitus. How's everything?" Cynder asked. Ignitus greeted them all as he walked into the room and sat down, noticing the down-trodden spirits of the young dragons and dragonfly along with the unbearable rain from the bedroom window.
"My word," Ignitus started, "This rainstorm has been a long one, hasn't it? All this rain is hindering your mastering of the fire element...I can just imagine what you're thinking, Spyro." He said encouragingly. Spyro looked up at Ignitus, visibly annoyed, but still showed his respect, "I hope so, Ignitus. I don't think I can wait any longer!" Cynder then walked up to Spyro and Ignitus rolling her eyes at Spyro. "You can say that again! It's been the only thing he has been talking about for the entire time! I thought I was going to go crazy!"
Ignitus gave a light chuckle to her sarcasm. "I have an idea," he started, "You've all have been in this room for most of the day, don't you think it's about time to stretch your legs?" He looked at Sparx, who raised an eyebrow at the dragon, and answered back, "What do you expect us to do? Play tag outside or something? I'm perfectly happy in here where I'm warm and cozy. Not out there where I'll be miserable and cold." Looking at Sparx, Ignitus continued what he was going to say, "Along my way here, I noticed Hunter practicing his archery on the patio outside of the temple. You should go pay him a visit." Ignitus then paused again; a look of concern covered his face, "Something has been preoccupying him for some time now; he doesn't seem like his regular self."
"I don't know know, he seemed fine to me..." Sparx stated, completely dismissing what Ignitus said, "But whatever, let's go see what the fur-ball is doing." He then flew off past Ignitus, and into the hallway, waiting for Spyro and Cynder to follow.
"Thanks, Ignitus. We'll go see if anything is wrong." Spyro responded as he and Cynder walked past Ignitus and out the door. Spyro then stopped and looked back at Ignitus, "But after the rainstorm passes, you will be able to teach me the elemental Inferno, right?"
"Absolutely, Spyro." Ignitus replied, "As soon as this storm subsides, my time will belong to you." Comforted by his promise, Spyro nodded his head at him and turned around to walk with Cynder down the hallway towards the patio. "I'll see you all tomorrow. Hopefully the weather won't be so gloomy." Ignitus said as he closed their door for them and walked in the opposite direction of the corridor back to his own room.
While walking down the corridor themselves, the two dragons started talking. "You know what?" Cynder asked, "Now that Ignitus mentioned it, Hunter has been acting strangely lately. It was just yesterday I saw him in the main hall. I walked past and greeted him hello...but he barely even looked at me. It was as if his mind was somewhere else." Agreeing, Spyro responded, "You call that weird? I haven't seen him for the past two days! Something has to be wrong. He sounds so secluded."
After a little while, the two dragons finally caught up with Sparx, who was waiting at the door that led to the covered patio outside. "Man, you two are slow!" Cynder then moved forward to open the door. She went outside, followed by Sparx and Spyro.
Outside, the water was still falling in an endless sheet of rain. The ground was fully saturated and a few puddles were forming on the patio closest to the edge of its roof. Through the darkness, the light of the moon silhouetted the trees as it was partially covered by dark, grey clouds. The patio had lighting of its own, though a bit dim, in the form of small candle lamps protruding from its eight support pillar along the sides of the patio. The three spotted Hunter standing at the far side of the patio tediously aiming at the bulls-eye hanging from a string by a nail sticking out from a support pillar opposite from him. Unknowing of the visitors, he released the loaded arrow from his bow and sent it flying with a deadly silence. The arrow hit the outer edge of the target; a seldom hit for him, which accompanied five other arrows stuck into the board, none of which hit the center circle. As the oldest out of Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx, he was in a way looked upon as a role model by the Guardians and his friends. Giving up, Hunter dropped his arms, sighed, and scratched his head in disappointment. The three saw their opportunity and made their way outside.
"Hey, Hunter." Cynder said, "What are you doing out here all by yourself so late?" Not even noticing them until the last minute, Hunter replied. "Oh, hello everybody. I didn't even see you all there. Man, I am so out of it today!" Hunter replied hopelessly. "Can you believe out of thirty shots, I only hit two bulls-eyes? I have no idea what's wrong with me..."
"Seems like you just need some rest, dude." Sparx suggested. "How long have you been out here, two...three hours? Call a time out once in a while." Hunter looked at Sparx. He didn't like his sarcasm, but he knew he was right. "What's wrong, Hunter? Is there anything on your mind?" Spyro asked thoughtfully. Hunter looked at him uneasily; he was known to keep his emotions to himself, and it was like pulling teeth to get him to do so. "What's bugging you, Hunter? You can tell us..." Spyro asked.
Finally, Hunter gave into the group and expressed what he felt. Leaning against the balcony railing, he started. "Have...have you ever felt something that made you uneasy, but didn't understand what it was?" he started, "Like something that you know is there, but you can't actually see?" The three thought about his explanation for a while, but couldn't find a medium, "What are you talking about?" Cynder finally asked. Hunter took a deep breath and further really explained himself. "Well, lately I have been feeling that exact same thing. It's like a premonition of sorts; I know something bad is going to happen, but don't actually know what or where. It's as if something or someone is following me."
"Perhaps you're just tired, Hunter." Spyro suggested. "It's late at night, and it looks like you can use a good night's sleep. Come on inside and rest." Spyro walked over to Hunter, put a wing over his shoulder, and led him to the door, "You'll feel better in the morning." Hunter looked down at the ground and then back at Spyro. "Maybe you're right. Okay, let's go." With that, Hunter grabbed his bow and quiver of arrows off the ground and headed for the door. The three of them walked back inside as Hunter stopped at the foot of the door. He searched his eyes across the woods surrounding the patio and into the sky, expecting to see something where he knew he wouldn't. "I wish I knew what was going on. I wish it would just...leave me alone..." He then shut the door and walked to his bedroom for the night.