A/N: Omg guys, I am so, so, so sorry for the huge delay in uploading this chapter! I actually wrote chapter two and some of chapter three before my expensive Lexar flash drive I've had only since Christmas crashed, and I lost most of my files on it! So, not only did I lose much of my valued pictures and stories, I had to completely rewrite this chapter. I would've written it sooner, but I got lazy and some other stuff got in the way...

Again, I'm so sorry for this. For now, enjoy this little tidbit I whipped up for you as I try to fix the third chapter and do what I've been waiting to do.

Disclaimer: I (sadly) do not own the Legend of Spyro or anything associated with it


The small black dragoness took a deep breath before stepping into the weak winter light streaming delicately into the clearing. A large blue-green dragoness lifted her head sleepily as the smaller one approached. Her jaws parted in a yawn, showing a mouthful of razor-sharp white teeth. "Hello there, dear one," she murmured, unfurling her enormous leathery wings in a stretch. "How are you?"

Caligo shivered. "Grublins are here. They'll be at the grove any minute."

The dragoness's indigo eyes flashed with anger. However, it was replaced with calm as her mind worked out a plan. "Have you informed the elders?"

Caligo responded with a short nod. "Ardor is going to round up the rest of the village, as soon as I told you and returned to help."

"Good." She glanced closely at Caligo with concern. "Are you alright, Cal?" she asked gently.

She didn't reply. Her eyes wandered to the grass where frost formed around the larger dragoness's feet. She must have been more agitated than she let on.

Before she could utter a sound, a voice filled with venom drawled behind Caligo, startling her. "Well, commander Nix, are you going to stand there blathering to this pathetic dragonling or are you going to begin an attack on the intruders like a real leader should?"

Nix cringed slightly as she looked calmly at the speaker. "We should not be so hasty as to attack these creatures immediately, Vitis," she said.

Caligo turned to see a slender green dragoness with hard brown eyes glaring down at her. Vitis held so much hot contempt in her eyes she wondered why she hadn't burst into flames yet—or why the earth hadn't swallowed her, considering the dragoness's powers.

Vitis sniffed. "I don't see why not. They come and torture us all for the sake of harboring her. We should punish them."

Caligo could tell that it took a lot of self-control for Nix not to chastise Vitis in front of her. An icy cloud puffed from her nose in her effort to seem unruffled. "I'm sorry, Vitis, but that is not the best way to handle this. I appreciate your suggestions, though I make the final decision." She closed her eyes. "Now, search for Calx and Aesta, please, and gather them here so we can confront the Grublins."

Vitis bowed her head mockingly. "Of course. As you wish, commander Nix," she growled. Then, with a final scorching glare at Caligo, she turned and launched herself into the sky, wings beating furiously.

Nix sighed, then turned to the clearing and barked, "Chrysos, Aurem!"

Two sleepy yellow heads rose to attention. Caligo always liked the twin lightning dragons. She especially liked how Chrysos's scales glittered gold and his eyes were an electric blue, and the way Aurem tried to get everyone around him to laugh. They were a perfect pair to complement each other.

"The enemy is fast approaching, and we must confront them immediately," she began brusquely. "Find Vitis, Aesta, and Calx and meet me at the cliff face."

The twins nodded in unison and chanted, "Yes, commander Nix," before flying off in the direction the earth dragoness traveled.

As soon as they were out of sight, Nix relaxed. "That one is trouble," she muttered to herself.

"Why does she hate us?" Caligo asked. She was pretty sure why, but she needed to know for sure what Nix thought.

Nix looked at her sadly. "Oh, Caligo… She is just filled with resentment and doesn't know how to control it. Vitis was jealous that I achieved the position of commander and appointed Aesta as my lieutenant, even though she was older, more experienced, and showed more ambition for the title. The elders feared she had too much ambition, however, and that she showed little forethought and empathy."

"So why does she hate me so much?"

"Vitis thought you put the village in danger long before the attacks began. Once they started, she felt that it proved her point and hoped it would gain her a higher rank in the warriors. But it didn't." Nix's dark eyes softened. "She is also a barren dragoness, cursed to never bear a child of her own. When I adopted you, she saw the life she wanted stolen from her and given to me."

Caligo dropped her gaze. "Oh," she said quietly. "I had no idea."

"It's okay, Caligo." Nix nuzzled her head. The smaller dragoness shuddered as Nix's icy breath caressed the back of her neck. It was strangely comforting. "It's not your responsibility. She was hit hard by bad luck. Nobody blames you."

No one but Vitis and myself, she thought with frustration. Why did she have to show up here, in this peaceful forest with a nice village? Her existence here brought nothing but trouble. Vitis was probably right to hate her.

"I'm sure that she'll warm up to you in time. She's just as stubborn as her element.," Nix said. Frowning at Caligo's scowl, she added softly, "Your mother gave you to us for a reason."

Caligo immediately shut her eyes, savoring the few memories she had of her mother and that night: a dark, moonless sky lit only by a few dozen stars; thick mist shrouding the black figure looming before her; a monstrous roar punctuated with rage far off into the distance; a palpable feeling of panic emanating from a pair of pale yellow eyes staring down at her; two young blue dragons gasping and rushing to her side, wonder and slight fear in their visages. Caligo wasn't sure what any of it meant. She thought her mother might have given her up in order to save her from something, according to her memories. But what?

She was interrupted by another voice yelling at her. "Hey, Caligo! I've been looking everywhere for you! Most of the village is already gathered at the cave," Fel said breathlessly. His dark splotchy scales glistened with sweat.

"You'd better go," Nix chuckled quietly. "Don't worry, Caligo. We'll take care of the army."

Caligo sighed. "Be safe, mother," she said, nuzzling the larger dragoness.

"I will," Nix promised. Though as she turned, Caligo swore she saw a pinprick of doubt shadow Nix's eyes. The thought quickly disappeared, however, while she followed her best friend back to the Elders' cave. Her mother would never leave her.