It took much longer than it should have for me to clue in that something was wrong. I should have been able to notice that something was off about him right away. He's always been so focused and clear-headed in the time that I've known him. This...It should have been stupidly obvious.
Maybe I didn't want there to be anything wrong, and that's why I didn't realize it sooner. I mean, hasn't he been through enough already? He saved the entire world, for the Ancestors' sakes! You'd think that they would have it in them to give him a break after that, but noooo. I guess they just have a habit of being cruel. I mean, I should know. But this?
This is just so unfair...
-~.~-*-~.~-
The first thought that went through my head was, Oh, great. I'm dead...
I eventually realized that I was mistaken, though, and my bitterness slackened a bit. If I was dead, I wouldn't have expected to feel like some monster had me trapped in its teeth and was ripping me apart. Everything hurt!
It took a lot of fighting, but finally I got my eyes to open. Big mistake; light stabbed into them and I ended up swearing from the shot of pain that it sent through my eye sockets. It hurt to move my wing, but I eventually pulled it around so that I could shield my eyes with it. I opened them slowly this time, gritting my teeth against the pain I figured would follow.
It was manageable this time at least, but still it surprised me how bright it was around me. I was underground last I could remember, but apparently not anymore. The sky was completely clear too, which was a bit weird. It was all blocked up with ash before. The air did feel a lot cleaner, though, and I couldn't really complain. It felt amazing to take in a full breath and not end up choking on dust and smoke.
Granted, every inch of me still felt like it was on fire. I looked down and saw that my scales were coloured just as much red as black. I was covered in cuts, and there were patches of mostly-dried blood that had formed around them. There were also bigger patches that were raw and stung like all hell—probably burns. Where was a red gem when you needed one, anyway?
My mind flashed back to the battle that had caused my current state, and I let out a growl. The hatred I felt for Malefor, my old 'master', was more than I could ever describe. I only wished that I could have dealt even half as many scars to him as he had left on me after that fight. He was just too tough, though. We did get a couple of good hits in on him, but honestly I was just surprised that we had even survived against him. At least he got what was coming to him in the end. I felt a flash of grim satisfaction when I remembered the shocked, panicked look on his face while he was dragged into that giant crystal, me and Spyro watchi—
Spyro! I almost slapped myself. How could I have forgotten?!
I jumped to my paws, but I almost collapsed again when a wave of pain hit me. I snarled to myself, refusing to give in to my own weakness, and eventually I won my struggle. Pushing my pain away while I focused on more important matters, I started looking around frantically. Where was he? Oh, please let him be alright. Please don't let him be...
As if in answer to my prayers, I heard a weak groan a ways away to my left. I spun toward the source and rushed over without a second thought. My injuries tripped me up and I cursed again, but I pushed on. No chance I was letting them stop me now.
And there he was. I almost passed out from sheer relief at the sight of him. He was just as badly battered as I was—maybe even more so, his normally vibrant purple scales covered in cuts, bruises, blood, burns and grime—but in that moment he was the most amazing sight I could have laid eyes on. He was stirring, too, trying to roll himself onto his stomach but looking too weak to manage it. I didn't even register this. I threw myself at him without shame, laughing and crying all at once.
"Spyro!" I exclaimed, latching onto him and barely noticing his startled grunt. "Thank the Ancestors! I was so afraid!"
"Cynder?" he gasped, and I looked to see him staring back at me with wide eyes. It looked like my enthusiasm had caught him off guard, but I couldn't have cared less in that moment and I kept holding on to him like my life depended on it. "What...what's going on?"
"You did it, Spyro!" I laughed. "You did it! We won! We're alive!"
He blinked, his eyes still wide, and with an obvious struggle he turned his head to look around at our surroundings. I looked too. It appeared we were on the summit of the volcano we had fallen into while fighting Malefor, and all around us was scorched rock and dust. In the distance I could see greenery, though. The Belt of Fire was gone, and rolling plains and forests stretched as far as I could see, except for the grey speck far to the south that must have been Warfang. It looked like it was several hours' flight away, at least. Well, could be worse.
My mind flashed back to the blinding flare of power that Spyro had released after our battle against the Dark Master while the world was breaking apart around us. It must have carried us out of that cavern, and it looked like it had done the trick to reverse the Destroyer's damage too. Everything was whole and pristine. It looked perfect!
He really fixed the whole world all on his own? Ancestors. This really was one amazing dragon!
My cheeks flushed, and it only got worse when I looked down to see that Spyro was staring back at me with a blush on his cheeks too. I released him quickly, clearing my throat. He averted his eyes, and I did the same as my earlier confession to him suddenly rang in my head. I found myself wondering if he heard me. Honestly, I was a bit afraid to find out.
"Um...How are you feeling?" I asked, looking for anything to break the silence.
"Tired," he groaned in response. I looked up to see him trying to push himself off the ground, only for his forelegs to give out. He sagged on the rough stone, scowling. "And sore."
I could feel worry coming back to me, clawing at my stomach. He really was in rough shape, and I didn't just mean his injuries. His breathing was shallow, and his scales—and even his eyes—were lustreless. He looked like he was hovering on the edge of death, and that thought terrified me. He needed a healer, badly, but we were the only ones out here.
I rose to my paws, grim determination filling me. If we couldn't count on outside help then it was up to me to get Spyro the care he needed.
"You sit tight," I told him. "I'll be back soon."
"Where are you going?" he asked quickly, and I couldn't help the smile that rose to my lips. I could tell from his voice that his fear wasn't of being left alone—well, mostly. It was worry for me. Whether or not he heard what I had said before we both blacked out, it was still obvious that he cared.
"I'm going to see if I can find any spirit gems to treat our wounds and get our strength back," I told him. "Hopefully there are some growing close by."
"Oh," he said, relaxing slightly. He still looked concerned, though. "Well...just be careful, alright?"
I was about to make some kind of sarcastic retort, but the look in his eyes stopped me. Instead I just smiled, and just then a small urge popped into my head. I acted on it before my courage deserted me, stepping up and nuzzling him quickly on the brow. I felt him stiffen, obviously surprised, but I didn't stick around to hear his reaction. While my cheeks started burning again, I hurried down the rocky slope.
I wasn't very effective for the first part of my search. My head was spinning with too many distracted thoughts, mostly to do with the purple dragon I had just left behind me. I was utterly amazed by what he had accomplished. It just seemed impossible when I really thought about it, but we were still here and I had him to thank for it. The whole world did.
My own actions gave me pause, though. Normally I wouldn't be caught dead being so open with my feelings, but over the past couple of days I had begun to realize that things were different with Spyro. He didn't look down on me with judgement the way I knew most people did. He was genuine, and he made me feel safe enough to be genuine with him in return. I could drop my armour. I could show him my true fears, and he wouldn't scoff or turn his nose up at me. He didn't have that kind of callousness in him. He truly was an amazing dragon.
I hoped he had heard me. I hoped he didn't mind my actions before leaving him back there, either. He probably wouldn't hold it against me even if he did, but still. Maybe he liked it?
Just at that moment I paused when I thought I heard something. I tensed, kicking myself when I remembered that I was in hostile territory. Malefor might be dead and gone, but that didn't mean his grublins weren't crawling all over this mountain trying to hunt down Spyro and I. I had to stay alert. A second later the sound came again, and I strained my ears to hear it.
"Cynder? Cynder!? Can you hear me?"
Spyro? What was he calling me for? He wasn't calling for help, so it didn't sound like he was in danger, but he still sounded panicked. Frantic, even. What had him so worked up?
I rushed back up the rugged mountain slope as quickly as I could, wincing from my injuries. I could still hear him calling me as I drew closer, and fear grew in my chest. By the time I was closing in on the spot where I left him he sounded absolutely desperate.
"Cynder!" I could hear him crying. "Please, answer me!"
"Spyro?" I called as I rounded a bend and he came into sight ahead. "What is it?"
His head snapped around toward my voice, and I faltered at the state he was in. He was trembling all over from agitation and from what looked like strain, and his breathing was ragged. Had he been trying to stand when he was this weak? And what had him so scared? I could see it plain as day in his wide eyes, deep and soul-crushing.
"Cynder," he gasped at the sight of me.
"Spyro, what's wrong?" I asked anxiously, moving up to him. "Did something ha—"
I was cut short when he suddenly grabbed on to me with his forepaws and dragged me into a fierce embrace, and I barely stopped myself from lashing out to fight him off out of pure instinct. I didn't know what to think as he buried his head against my shoulder, taking in a long, shuddering breath. He was still shaking all over. I had never seen him this distraught before!
What was going on?
"I thought you didn't make it," he said, his voice almost a whimper. "I thought you were gone. Oh, thank the Ancestors you're alright..."
"Spyro, what are you talking about?" I asked, trying to pull back far enough to look down at him but immediately finding myself dragged back against his chest. "An explanation would be nice!"
The sharp tone of my voice seemed to bring him back to his senses, and his heavy trembling stilled for a moment. He let go of me soon afterward, and when I took a step back I could see a fierce blush covering his face. I raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry," he said sheepishly, his voice still shaking slightly. "I...I just got so scared when I opened my eyes and saw I was all alone up here. I thought you had died when the world was breaking apart. I thought I couldn't save you..."
He trailed off, and I could only stare in bewilderment. What was that tone in his voice? Grief? Wait, forget that. He thought I had died? But he was just talking to me! What would make him think that?
"Spyro...what are you talking about?" I repeated. "I can't have been gone for more than ten minutes. Remember? I said I was going to get some spirit gems."
He faltered, giving me a blank look, and for some reason something about that look really unnerved me. There was something very wrong with the shock that I could see in his eyes, in that look of utter confusion, but I had no clue what it meant.
"You did?" he said finally. "What...When?"
"You honestly don't remember?" I asked, tilting my head. "We woke up. The world was fixed. I hugged you..."
He blinked, and I realized that what I was saying meant nothing to him. He genuinely couldn't remember the conversation we'd just had minutes ago. It seemed impossible, but somehow it was just gone. I was more confused than I could ever remember being in my life.
I obviously wasn't the only one, either. Spyro's eyes drifted away, and his expression reminded me of someone who was lost. He squinted like he was trying to piece together a difficult puzzle, but through it all that look of complete bewilderment stayed with him.
"Why can't I remember that?" he asked faintly.
I picked up on a note of fear in his voice, and I sighed sympathetically. After a second of hesitation I awkwardly pulled a wing around his shoulder and squeezed it, drawing his eyes up to me.
"Maybe you're just tired from using all of that power," I told him. "Once we get some spirit gems into you you'll be good as new."
I mean, that made sense, didn't it?
Regardless, it seemed to help calm Spyro down. I gave a small smile when I felt him relaxing under my wing.
"Yeah," he nodded slowly. "You're probably right." He looked down at the wing I was holding him with, and he seemed a bit embarrassed by it. At least, that was what I could make of the way his cheeks flushed slightly. "Um...sorry about freaking out like that..."
I smiled again. He was surprisingly cute with that sheepish look on his face. He looked more like an innocent kid than the world's most powerful dragon, and there was something endearing about it all.
...Really, Cynder? There were kind of more important things to think about at the moment!
I shook my head, snapping myself back to the situation at hand. We were both still injured, and any more time our wounds spent untreated was time for them to become infected, or for some other creature to find us in this weakened state. Those spirit gems weren't going to find themselves. I was reluctant to leave, though, Spyro's panicked shouting still ringing in my mind.
"Are you okay now?" I asked him gently. "I need to keep looking for some gems."
"Yeah, sure," he said, nodding again. "I'm alright now. You're probably right. I'm just tired." He frowned, shifting. "And sore."
I hesitated, looking at Spyro closely. The repeated wording nagged at me for some reason. Even if this was a momentary lapse caused by his weakened state, it still seemed a bit strange. I shook my head a second later, though. He still needed my help, and I wasn't doing a very good job of it so far.
"Okay. Well, just try and relax here," I told him. "I promise I'll be back soon."
He nodded one more time. "Thanks, Cynder."
I returned the nod, then headed down the rocks again. I took a long breath, trying to shake off the worries and questions that this encounter had left me with. He would be fine. He was just tired. It was a one-time thing and I really shouldn't worry about it.
And yet, a few minutes later I was searching a narrow trench in the mountainside when I heard another call. Just like before, when I made it back to the summit of the volcano I found Spyro in a state of panic. He came into view just in time for me to see him rising halfway to his paws, his legs shaking furiously. His strength gave out a second later, and he fell to the ground with a sharp cry.
"Spyro!" I shouted, jumping forward in alarm. "What are you doing?"
His head snapped around at my call, and I slid to a stop. That look of terror in his eyes was far too familiar. It was exactly the same as the last time, and so was the rush of relief that followed it.
"Cynder," he gasped. "Oh, thank the Ancestors..."
"Spyro, what are you thinking?" I admonished, trying to hide how unnerved I was by the situation. "You shouldn't be trying to move in your—"
I cut myself short when, as I stepped closer, he lurched forward to grab me in another embrace. I caught him before he could, holding him by the shoulders far enough back so I could look into his eyes. He looked confused and a little hurt by my action, but his other emotions seemed to overwhelm it.
"I was afraid you didn't make it," he told me, a weak smile forming on his muzzle. "I'm so glad you're okay."
Though a part of me was still touched by his concern, this repeated scenario was starting to get to me. When I spoke there was a bit more of an edge in my voice than I had intended.
"Seriously, Spyro, is this some kind of joke? Because if it is it really isn't funny."
"What?" Spyro exclaimed, rearing back. "A joke? Why would I joke about this? I really was worried about you, Cynder! You mean a lot to me!"
He looked genuinely affronted by my question, even if he had misunderstood what I meant by it. My face softened, and my irritation was replaced by concern. He was serious. He had never been this good at acting in the time I'd known him, and even if he had been his sense of humour was an innocent one. This kind of joke would have been too edgy for him.
"Why would you ask me that?" he continued, and I winced at the look of hurt hidden in his eyes. I sighed.
"Look, Spyro. This is the second time you've done this."
His face went blank. "...What? What are you talking about?"
"You did the same thing before. About fifteen minutes ago we both woke up here and I left you to go find some spirit gems, but then I heard you in a panic because you didn't know where I was, and you couldn't remember me telling you what I was doing. Now it's the same thing all over again."
He stared at me for a long moment in silence, utter confusion filling his expression. I cringed. This was already just as awkward and difficult as last time.
"You're serious?" he said finally. "I really forgot?"
I could only nod.
"But what would make me do that?"
I shrugged helplessly. "I really don't know."
He looked away, his brow creasing, and I could see a look of fear in his eyes. Without really thinking about it I scooted closer and rested a paw on his shoulder.
"I'm sure it will pass," I said, trying my best to console him—wow, I really hated seeing him upset! "For now, just promise me you'll try and relax and keep calm while I'm gone. We need to get back to the Guardians, and we can't do that until I find those gems."
He nodded once, but his voice was hesitant when he spoke. "I'll try."
I winced, his tone of apprehension clawing at my heart. "Okay...Now, I'll only be gone for a little while, alright? Nothing's going to happen to me, so you don't have to worry."
I could tell he was still scared, but even so a small smile appeared on his muzzle. I smiled in return, squeezing his shoulder one more time before leaving him once again. My smile faded quickly, though. Was this going to happen again? It seemed more and more likely, and I groaned. What was really causing this if it wasn't fatigue? Did Malefor do something to him during our fight? Curse him, somehow? If so, I really did need to get him to the Guardians as quickly as possible. Maybe there was something they could do to help.
The first several minutes of my search were silent, thankfully, but I still didn't spot any signs of spirit gems. I probably wasn't going to see anything from the ground, though. I needed to cover a bigger area. Gritting my teeth, I opened my wings and growled at the flare of pain that shot through me. There were a couple of tears in the membranes from the battle, and besides that the rest of my injuries stung at the new movement. This wasn't going to be fun.
I jumped off the ground and flapped, and right away my wounds blazed like they were on fire. The tears in my wings especially felt like someone was slowly ripping the membranes apart and pouring molten metal into the gaps. Damn, this really hurt! I couldn't stop, though. I had to find those gems.
Then I heard it, and I froze. Spyro was calling me again, with that same fearful note in his voice. It sounded like he must have forgotten what I had told him again. Seriously, what was going on with him?!
I hovered for a long time, undecided. Everything inside of me urged me to rush back to him, to comfort him. I mean, just listen to how he sounded! I couldn't leave him like that! But...if I just kept rushing back and forth, we would never get out of this place. I wouldn't have any time to search for spirit gems that way, and my strength wasn't going to last forever.
I felt absolutely rotten for it, but I turned away from Spyro's voice. It was like someone had driven a spear right through my heart, and with every flap of my wings I took further away from him I despised myself for it, feeling like I was betraying him. But I had no choice. I kept telling myself that. I had to.
Over the next few minutes I didn't spot anything, and I was becoming more and more frustrated, but then...there! I saw a flash of colour against the blackened mountainside, and without a second thought I dove toward it. My wings felt like they were going to rip to shreds when I reared back to slow my descent, but the warm glow of two healthy growths of red gems brought immediate relief when I touched down. There was a cluster of green behind them, too. Perfect!
I slashed at the first red gem cluster like an animal, absorbing the energy released from the pieces that broke off, and as my wounds closed over and my burns faded away I let out an enormous sigh. It felt amazing to have the stinging pain lifted off my mind, and the warm energy flowing through me was almost intoxicating. I felt like a new dragoness!
After restoring my elemental energy from the green crystal, I started breaking off more pieces of the red gems with my claws. I couldn't carry much with me, but hopefully I could bring enough back to heal the wounds preventing Spyro from flying. Then we could return and he could restore the rest of his strength here.
Spyro...I wondered what kind of state he was in by this point. In all likelihood when I got back he would be furious at me for making him think something had happened to me. I sure would be if someone scared me that badly.
Bracing myself for the tirade I knew was coming, I gathered up as many pieces of red gem as I could and took to the air. This was going to be rough...
I found it a bit weird how quiet it was as I reached the top of the mountain. Both times before Spyro had been yelling and calling out in a frantic state around now, but the only sound I could hear was my own beating wings. I caught sight of him a second later, curled up in a ball on the rocks, not moving. This was...different.
When I came in to land with the gems held tightly against my chest I was almost afraid to disturb the quiet, but that was when I heard the muffled whimpering coming from Spyro's direction. I finally noticed that he wasn't as still as he had looked before, either; his back was shaking strangely.
Wait. Was he...crying?
I carefully set the gems down on the rocks and padded closer. No words came to me, and I could only stare down at him in confusion. He really was crying; there was no mistaking that now, and I just didn't know how to react. I had never seen this from him before! Even when Ignitus sacrificed himself he hadn't cried. He had been very upset and distraught, of course, with every emotion from rage to heartbreak rushing through him, but there hadn't been tears. Everything was happening so fast at that point, I guess there just wasn't time for them. Now, obviously, it was a different case.
Was he crying over Ignitus now, or...
Could it...Could it be over me?
Was that even possible?
I cautiously reached out and touched his trembling shoulder with my paw. He must not have heard me land, because he flinched badly as soon as I made contact, his head whipping around. When he saw me his eyes went wider than I had ever seen before. It only lasted a second, though, and then an impossible mix of pain and unimaginable relief came over his face. He let out a rattling gasp, and I was frozen in shock when he rocked forward and grabbed on to me so tightly it felt like he was trying to crush the air out of my lungs. I could soon feel my chest scales becoming slick with his tears.
"You're alive," he choked, his words almost inaudible past his broken sobbing. "You're alive..."
I stared down at him for a long time, completely at a loss. What was I even supposed to do here? This was all totally foreign to me. Eventually I just couldn't bear the sound of his grief any longer, though, and I wrapped my forelegs and wings around him tightly, holding his head against my chest and resting my chin on top of his brow. To my surprise I felt a sting in my own eyes and blinked quickly to fight back the wetness building in them. Not now, Cynder. Get a hold of yourself. You don't cry. Spyro needed me to be strong here.
"I'm here," I whispered to him. "It's okay, Spyro. I'm right here."
He shook violently, another hoarse sob breaking out of his mouth, and I instinctively tightened my hold on him.
"I thought..." he gasped, but he couldn't seem to finish. "I thought you were..."
"I know. Just relax. I'm here."
He sagged in my wings like all of his strength had deserted him, still sobbing, and inside I was absolutely floored by what was happening. Beneath my sympathy and concern a part of me felt amazed by this turn of events. The thought of me dying was enough to bring him to this kind of reaction? Really? Never in my life would I have even dreamed that something like this could be true. I was just a puppet, Malefor's monster. Nobody would ever care for me, I had always told myself. If I died, the only emotion anyone would ever feel was relief.
Obviously I couldn't have been more wrong.
I looked down at Spyro again, and my heart twisted painfully when I saw that he hadn't even begun to calm down yet. I did everything I could think of to comfort him, wrapping him up so completely in my wings that he almost disappeared from view and rubbing his back with my forepaws, but I couldn't tell if it was helping. All the while, I kept asking myself one thing: If Spyro could be brought to tears by the thought of my death, then did that mean...?
It was a ridiculous thing to be thinking about in those circumstances, but inside I couldn't really help it. I just wanted to know so badly, and this seemed like proof enough that he did care about me a lot, but I still couldn't help wondering if these thoughts of mine weren't just some dumb fantasy.
It must have been several minutes before I felt Spyro calming down, his shaking getting fainter and his sobs turning into a quiet hiccupping sort of sound. He was almost completely still for another minute after that, and I was just starting to wonder if he had cried himself to sleep out of exhaustion. Just then he sniffed loudly, answering my question, and he sluggishly began straightening up and pulling away from me. He reached up to wipe at his eyes, and I offered as comforting a smile as I could. It wavered quickly, though.
He had that look again: that expression of disorientation from both times I told him about leaving to find the spirit gems.
"Sorry..." he muttered a second later, disengaging from my hold in a quick movement. He cleared his throat roughly and wiped his eyes with a paw. "I'm...not sure what came over me."
I didn't want to believe it, but his tone didn't seem to leave any room for doubt. I decided on a test, and I mentally braced myself.
"You were upset because you thought I had died?"
And there it was: that blank, surprised look. I winced. As hard as it was to believe, it had happened again right in front of me. Somehow he had forgotten what had literally just happened minutes ago without any explanation at all.
"I did?" he said, giving final confirmation to my fears. "But...why would I think that? You're right here."
"Yeah, but—"
I stopped myself. What was the use in even explaining it to him? It might just upset him again, but on top of that it seemed like he would just forget whatever I told him soon enough anyway.
"Never mind," I said, shaking my head quickly. My chest felt like it was caught in a vice, but I strove to keep my voice neutral. "Here. I brought these."
I stood up and walked back to the small pile of red gems I had gathered, and Spyro's eyes brightened a tiny bit at the sight of them, though he still looked very confused about what was going on. I picked up as many shards as I could, and when I dropped them beside Spyro the energy was absorbed into his body right away. He sighed as the worst of the gashes and burns on his body were healed, easing his pain.
"Thanks," he said, smiling genuinely, and despite the situation I couldn't help but give a small smile back. There was just something about that warm look in his eyes that always made me feel better, no matter what was going on.
"No problem," I answered. "Come on. There's more where I found those, and some green ones too."
"That does sound good," he nodded, pushing himself up to his paws. "When did you find spirit gems, anyway?"
I flinched again, but I didn't think he saw it. I tried to shake it off.
"Don't worry about it," I told him instead. "Just follow me."
He tilted his head questioningly, but I pretended not to notice. Instead I just focused on my wings, beating them down hard and taking to the sky, angling down the volcano. I heard Spyro follow me a second later, and there was no more conversation until we reached the gem clusters. Once there, Spyro eagerly descended ahead of me and broke off several pieces of red gem as soon as he landed. The rest of his wounds sealed over immediately, and he sighed again.
"That feels a lot better," he declared.
"Good," I said, smiling. "Now, hurry up and recharge your energy and we can get out of here."
He glanced quickly between me and the mana gem, hesitating strangely for a second. Then he complied, stepping over to the gem and breaking several pieces off of it.
We both frowned when nothing happened. There was no transfer of energy into Spyro's body, not even when he picked up one of the pieces in his paw. His eyes found mine, and for once I mirrored his look of confusion. I moved forward, grabbing one of the gem shards for myself. My confusion only grew when a small amount of power flowed into me, the gem's glow dimming. Why wasn't it working for him?
"Is your mana already full?" I asked him.
"It doesn't feel like it," he replied.
"Try using an element," I suggested.
He nodded, turning to face down the mountain slope. His lungs swelled, and he breathed out sharply like I had seen him do many times to conjure flames. To both of our surprise, nothing came out. No fire. No smoke. Not even hot air.
Well, this was definitely strange.
"I don't get it," Spyro muttered, looking down at the gem still in his paw.
"Maybe it's like when you lost your powers after our fight in Convexity," I offered.
It was the only explanation I could think of, and he seemed to consider it for a short while. Finally he nodded.
"I guess that makes sense."
He reluctantly put the gem shard down, looking disheartened. I could understand where this was coming from. From the times that I had run out of elemental energy I knew how it could make someone feel faint and weak—and not just physically. Still, this was probably just temporary, like his memory lapses.
I hoped.
On that subject, I noticed that Spyro was looking around with a lost expression on his face. Oh no...Again? I hesitated, but finally I cleared my throat softly to get his attention.
"You okay?"
He frowned, looking away. He seemed almost embarrassed to answer me.
"I'm just...not sure how we got here," he admitted slowly, and now I could definitely pick up on his embarrassed tone. "Was I unconscious, or...something?"
And again. I groaned quietly, running a forepaw across my face. Seriously, what was going on with him? Why was this happening?! This was honestly starting to go past concerning me and was moving right into scary. Whatever was wrong with him, I just wanted it to stop. There was another part of me that was getting irritated, though. This was going to become a constant cycle, wasn't it? I wasn't sure how long my patience was going to last if it was.
It wasn't his fault, though. I had to remember that. If I got frustrated with him it would just make things worse. He was probably even more scared than I was, and I didn't want to add on to that.
I sighed heavily, trying to collect myself.
"Okay, Spyro. I need you to listen very carefully, alright?"
I could tell my tone was worrying him. He drew back uneasily. "What is it?"
"Look, I don't really know what's happening, but for some reason every time I tell you something, you forget it. No matter what I say, after a couple of minutes it's like it's just...gone. This has been happening since we both woke up over a half hour ago. You're probably even going to forget this conversation soon."
He balked, his eyes widening. "What? I'm forgetting things?"
I nodded, feeling my heart twisting at his look of alarm. "Yes. This is why I really need you to focus here, okay? We're going to head for Warfang to try and find the Guardians. Maybe they'll know what's going on and have some way of fixing it."
He wasn't handling this well. His breathing was picking up, getting faster and more erratic. He was clearly fighting to keep from panicking.
"You're really serious?" he stammered. "In a couple of minutes I'm just going to forget all of this? Everything? Are you sure?"
I nodded once, though it pained me to do so. The look in his eyes was tearing me apart inside. I couldn't bear seeing him so upset, but I had no idea how to help him.
"It's happened quite a few times already, so again, I really need you to focus on this. We're going to Warfang, and you're going to forget I told you that. I need you to try and just...hold on to that, somehow. Keep telling yourself that I said that or something. It's probably going to take us most of the day to get back to the city, and if I need to keep stopping and explaining things to you then it'll take us ages. Do you understand?"
He gulped, shifting anxiously, but a moment later he nodded. His voice was faint when he spoke.
"Okay. I'll...I'll try."
My face softened. Everything about him was so different than I was used to. Not that long ago he was focused, determined, strong. Now he looked like a lost hatchling, scared and confused. His confidence was completely gone. It was almost pathetic, but I couldn't feel any contempt for it. It only made me wish that much more that this wasn't happening to him.
I did the only thing I could think of. I padded up to him and pulled him into a hug with my wings, resting my forehead against his.
"It'll be okay," I told him softly. "We'll figure this out."
I felt him nod again, and when I pulled back I could see that he was trying his best to be strong. I couldn't even begin to imagine the fear he must have been feeling then, but just the thought of it chilled me to my core.
"Come on. We should get going."
He didn't answer me. He just followed silently when I took off, and as we flew I could see a look of tense focus on his face, his eyes distant and turned downward. I could picture him repeating what I had told him over and over in his mind, and I sighed quietly. How much of our conversation was already gone? How long would it be before he didn't know why he was telling himself the things he was? Internally, I braced myself for the inevitable questions.
I just hoped that when we did reach the city, the Guardians would know what to do...
(A/N): A new upload at last! I've been really looking forward to this!
So, this was fun for me to do, and a nice change of pace. It might be apparent by this point, but I'm trying out a few different things in this story and trying to explore some slightly different writing styles. First obvious difference is the use of first person over my usual third, and I'm trying to focus a bit more on internal narration instead of exclusively on external descriptions. For this story I'm going to be using a slice-of-life style of format as well that will have far less in terms of action scenes compared to my Broken Line trilogy and be more relationship-focused instead. It's obviously not going to be perfect, but I'm eager to see what people think of it.
Anyway, thank you very, very much to anyone who read this chapter, and if you feel inclined to leave a review I would be absolutely delighted if you did. :) Until next time...