6
Chapter 2: A Chilling Encounter
They landed just inside the forest and began walking upstream, careful to avoid touching the poisonous water. They made sure to steer clear of any and all wildlife so as to save themselves the trouble of having to fight anything. After a short period of time passed, Spyro began to grow impatient and annoyed.
He stamped a foot down in irritation. "What are we doing here? I don't even know what we're supposed to be looking for." He sat down on his haunches and looked at Cynder with dismay. "I think we're lost."
Cynder sat down next to him and rubbed her head against his neck. "I'm sure we'll find it soon Spyro. Don't worry." She kissed his chin.
He smiled, then suddenly his head shot up. "What's that?"
Voices reached their ears. "Don't bother snaring anything smaller than a scurvy twig. And remember, double the bounty to the one who captures Arborick!" Footsteps sounded through the trees and they came closer to the two dragons' hiding place. As they approached, Spyro suddenly fainted onto Cynder's shoulder.
Cynder panicked. "Sparx, you have to distract them. Spyro's in trouble! Please!"
Sparx crossed his arms. "Fine, but you owe me." He flew away from her and began waving his arms wildly. "Hey drool-face!" he yelled.
"What did he say?!"
He continued, "That's right, I'm talking about you, mangy-fur! Geez, I tell ya. Dumb as a stump."
"Get him!"
Sparx started flying away again. "Yipe! Run Away!"
The voices faded into the distance and Cynder dragged Spyro underneath the roots of a nearby tree. She sat down next to his prone form and stared into his peaceful face. She leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek then lay down against him, waiting for her lover to awake. She closed her eyes and placed her head on his chest, listening to his breathing.
It quickened slightly, signifying his return to consciousness. She lifted her head and asked, "Are you okay Spyro?"
He wrapped his tail around hers. "I'm; The Chronicler just helped me get my ice powers back. Watch." He drew in a breath and released it, sending a fine mist of ice onto the roots around them and freezing them instantly.
She smiled warmly at him. "That's wonderful!"
He brushed a paw across her cheek and kissed her. "Not as wonderful as waking up to you, Cyn."
She paused, letting his new name for her sink in. "Cyn…I like that." She whispered as she rubbed his nose with her own. "You're such a sweet dragon, Spyro. I love you"
He kissed her again. "I love you too, Cyn." They gazed into each other's eyes, losing themselves in the moment. "Have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are? They're always shining like gems."
She giggled. "Yours are pretty too you know. They're the most dashing shade of purple." She placed her head back on his chest and sighed as she looked out from their shelter. "It's so peaceful here."
He laid a paw across her back. "It does seem that way doesn't it?"
Just as those words left his mouth, Sparx came screaming back with two pirates stumbling along behind him. "Spyro, Doomgirl, a little help would be appreciated!"
Cynder stood up and Spyro leapt to his feet, eager to further test his recently regained powers. He spat an ice shard at one pirate, hitting him square between the eyes and killing him instantly. Cynder also summoned her elemental might, spewing a torrent of black fire from her maw to engulf the second pirate in a fatal embrace.
Spyro nuzzled her neck. "Nice shot, Cyn."
She put a wing around him. "You weren't half bad yourself, love. C'mon, we should keep looking for that tree.
They continued through the forest, not running into anymore pirates until they came across a large clearing next to a larger part of the river. They saw a small ship anchored by the shore and pirates were streaming from the deck, heading straight towards the two.
Spyro took a few steps forward and crouched low to the ground. Cynder mirrored his stance and smiled devilishly. "You ready for this Spyro?"
He grinned back. "As long as you're beside me."
"Then try and keep up!" She ran forward and leapt onto the head of the first pirate, stabbing him in the neck with the blade on her tail as she landed and drawing first blood. Spyro wasn't far behind, ramming into another creature and sending him flailing over the edge of the cliff. He launched another one into straight up into the air and Cynder jumped towards him and cracked her tail once, slicing through his torso. Opening her wings, she floated to the ground and spun around quickly, cutting down three more attackers in a brutal slash. Another group of seven rushed her and she called upon her shadow element to envelop them, walking towards another small party of pirates while listening to her victims scream in agony as their life was drained. Her next targets stood their ground as she approached, her eyes gleaming with bloodlust. She released a river of black flame from her mouth, snuffing out the lives of those who opposed her. She strolled through the carnage she had created and spotted a survivor lying amongst the corpses. She changed her path to pass him and as she did, she lifted her blade and plunged it through his heart, ending his life with a sickening crunch.
Cynder allowed her blade to drag through the grass to clean the blood off of it as she crossed the decimation to Spyro, who was staring at her in awe. "Remind me to never get on your bad side!"
She placed the blunt edge of her tail against her nose and blushed. "You were once and you were fine, remember? That was when you saved me." A tear came to her eye as she recalled the countless innocents she had destroyed at the command of the Dark Master.
Spyro wiped the tear away and kissed her. "And I'd face more than that to keep you by my side. Whenever those thoughts come to you remember this: you're my girl, and I'd do anything to make it stay that way. Because you are the only one I love and that will never change." She smiled at his words. "Come on, we're close now. I can feel it."
They left the corpse filled clearing for a hollowed out tree that led into a small swampy glade. In the center stood a small tree radiating golden light. Sparx flew up beside Spyro. "Great, we found your stupid tree. Can we go now?"
Spyro looked around, confused. "This is definitely the right place. I just don't know what to do now."
Sparx threw his hands up in despair. "Just perfect. Maybe there's a lily pad you forgot to sing on, or a rainbow you can talk to. If you need me, I'll be over there." He floated over and slumped against a tree.
Cynder sat down on her haunches behind the purple dragon as he called out. "Chronicler! I've done what you've asked. Now give me a sign or something."
As if in response to his words, the ground began to shake and a giant wooden creature rose from the bog. Spyro took a step back and Cynder heard him mutter, "Oh shit."
She came beside him and said, "We can take this thing. Together." He nodded, seeing the bloodlust shine in her eyes again. The gleam gave him confidence.
The creature raised a foot and brought it crashing down next to the two of them, making them take flight to avoid similar attacks.
Cynder's trained eyes roved over the creature's body as she circled it, looking for a weakness. She saw the thin vines connecting its different parts and whispered, "Jackpot!" She then yelled to Spyro, "Spyro, follow me and freeze what I flame!" She dove in and shot two dark fireballs at the vines connecting to its feet, scoring a direct hit on both. As she banked back around for a second pass, she could see Spyro's ice breath taking effect. It could no longer move its feet. They repeated the process with the arms and finally the neck, completely immobilizing the creature.
It gave one final roar of agony as it toppled, breaking the ice and ending its existence.
As it fell, a voice came from behind the two of them. "Alas, the two dragons who have been wandering lost in the Ancient Grove." They turned to see a pirate who looked to be the captain with two parrot-like animals on its back. One was purple and the other was orange. The orange one spoke again. "You've been quite a nuisance." The captain garbled out an agreement.
Sparx chuckled. "What's with the gurgling nitwit?"
The purple one replied, "If I were you I would shut my mouth, fool. I ain't gonna say it again."
Spyro nodded. "Sparx, maybe you should stay out of this one."
Orange agreed. "Yes mind yourself. I want to personally congratulate you for killing the very reason we came here. Arborick was going to be the main attraction at our tournament and now it's ruined. But you two will make fine replacements. Take them."
They were immediately swarmed and overwhelmed, being thrown into the black void of unconsciousness.
