A/N: Well well how long has it been now? To all the loyal supporters out there we both extend our extreme thanks, and to any others who might have took he time to read our works. I am proud to say that my partner Given-Inside is now making his return to FanFiction, after many hard months spent preparing his life for the next level. I highly suggest that you thank his wife (yes he managed to get himself married somehow) for encouraging his return to writing; as the threat is she shall divorce him if he ever stops.
So without any further pleasantries, It is my honor to present to you the next installment for In Heart and Spirit. Enjoy the read, and let it be known that the story shall be continuing for the pleasure of the section and all Spyro fans out there. Enjoy!
Velkin slowly limped back through the forest where the Coyotes last robbed him. His eyes scanned the trunks of each tree, searching for any hint of another ambush. So far, there was nothing.
I don't like this, Velkin muttered to himself in thought. Too quiet. Suddenly, his golden eyes came across something rather peculiar. Behind one large tree trunk, was the tip of a grey furry tail. He gulped and pressed forward, hoping that the Dark Temptress was at least somewhere close by in case he needed rescue. They took his sword on the last attack, and now he feared his life was next to lose. I hope Spyro and the Guardians are close too. With a sigh, he inched closer.
"Well, well," a deep voice suddenly echoed through the woods. "Seems like the little doggie came back for more."
"What do you have for us this time, mate?" Another voice mocked. Velkin tensed up, his wounds still aching.
"I just wish for a safe passage back, nothing more."
"And why should we let a wolf like you go through without paying a toll?" Behind the tree emerged a short grey coyote. He stood naked with only fur covering his body. There were no markings on his fur as he was solidly colored in the dullest of grey. The only thing that really stood out were his yellow eyes.
"Toll?" Velkin asked. "Last I remember these woods were free access."
"For you, they aren't," the other Coyote mocked, revealing his nude self from behind another tree trunk. He was marked slightly darker than the first, with green eyes instead of yellow. "By the way, I love the sword you gave me." Velkin gulped again as the Coyote unsheathed a sharp metal blade from its hilt, twirling it around in his right paw. "It's truly remarkable, and quite sharp too." The Coyote grinned as he pointed the tip at Velkin's chest. "It would be very ironic for you to die by your own sword, wouldn't it?"
"I want no trouble." Both the canines began to creep forward towards the Wolf, backing him into a tree. "I just want to go home." The thieves laughed at his cowardly response; they were getting exactly what they wanted, complete and total fear.
"Then pay us!"
"I have another idea," A female voice suddenly said from behind them. The two Coyotes froze and slowly turned around. No one was there.
"Who said that?" The thief with the sword barked, raising it to the woods. The only response was a menacing laugh.
"Are you sure you want to know?" Both the Coyotes began to tremble slightly, their eyes shifting back and forth through the forest in search of the voice. "Now I suggest you put that thing away before you hurt yourself." Their jaws dropped. Whatever this thing was, it sure saw them. They appeared so tough before, why stop now?
"Make us!"
"Suit yourself." Suddenly, the ground beneath them opened up in a void of black. The coyotes stepped back, their furry faces paling at the sight. A dark dragoness leapt from the blackened earth, spinning like a corkscrew as the blackened mist surrounded her and the thieves. They suddenly found themselves airborne with the mist, paralyzed from the attack and laying in the air with their backs facing the ground. Time was frozen for them as they watched Cynder land, looking up at them with a sly smirk. "Boo." The paralysis wore off quickly, dropping the two to the ground just like stones from a cliff. They hit the ground with a painful thud, and the armed Coyote was disarmed immediately from the impact. Cynder looked at Velkin and nodded. "Does this belong to you?" She used her paw to slide the blade over to him before locking eyes with the crooks. Realization hit them instantly.
"The...the....AHH!" The thieves leapt to their feet, rushing as fast as they could through the forest and to the meadow on the far end of it. Cynder giggled to herself. Although her powers came from such a dark past, they were still so much fun to play with. She looked up to see the Guardians swoop down from the clouds. So far, Spyro's plan was going perfectly.
"Come on," Cynder said to Velkin. "We have a show to watch."
"Tell me that wasn't who I think that was?" The second thief panted out as they continued to run. "Cynder?"
"Just keep running!" The other huffed out. "It's too cramped inside here. She'll never catch us. We just need to get to the meadow. We'll be safe for sure there." He paused to leap over a fallen log. "I thought Malefor and her were killed or something!"
"So did I...and wait!" He exhaled a large breath before starting again. "Did she just defend an innocent? I figured that would have been the last thing she would do."
"Who cares? We got the gold from him, and that's all I need. We will come by at nightfall to pick it up."
"You're the boss, Royal."
"Damn right Quill. Remember, I am the Alpha male!" The meadow was almost in sight as they continued to run. "Come on!"
They ran faster, trying to reach the meadow. It became closer, the smell of fresh grass entering in their nostrils. "We made it."
"No you didn't." Wham! Right as the two Coyotes' feet touched the meadow grass, their backs hit the floor a second time, sprawling them out with their legs open. They gazed up to see the strict face of the Earth Guardian Terrador glaring down at them. Spyro was at his side. The purple dragon stepped forward, keeping an amethyst eye trained on them both. "So, your some of the troublemakers inside our forest?" On cue, Cynder appeared right beside him, along with the injured Wolf.
"I caught them in the act, Spyro," she professed with a smirk. She looked at the two thieves and suddenly covered her eyes with her right wing, turning her head away. "Wow..." she whispered to Spyro. "Well...you're bigger." Spyro stifled a laugh at his wife's comment and leaned down, craning his neck towards the cowering thieves.
"Where are the others that do this?" Spyro snorted, shooting electric bolts from his nostrils to show he meant business. They remained silent to his question. "Well, if you don't tell me, then I guess I can let the other Guardians get a little fun. You haven't met Volteer yet, have you? Or maybe Cyril?" The two other Guardians touched down at the sound of their names. "I see you two are not castrated...Cyril can fix that problem. Now talk!" Cynder looked at Spyro and smiled. He was smart and looked up the history of the Coyote race before the setup. He learned that those who were castrated were deemed the shamed of the tribe, forced to never reproduce more of their own kind.
Cyril inched forward, blowing ice from his mouth, which was a great scare tactic.
"Ah...on the other side of the river," Quill snapped out, curling up in fear. "Just inside the valley. We live there!"
"You idiot!" Royal growled back in response. "You'll be castrated for sure for this." Spyro smirked and looked to the Guardians.
"Okay. Terrador and Volteer, take a flight around there and survey the place. I need to know everything around that village including waterfalls, paths, and things of that nature. It can help us out with a good attack strategy. Cyril, take these two to the moles and see to it that they get their comeuppance for what they've done to Velkin. All they have taken needs to be returned before you go. Cynder and I will journey up the river on the other side and see if we can find some more that way. Velkin, you may return to the Temple. We can provide you with an escort to your village." The wolf nodded approvingly at the purple dragon's strategy before receiving his belongings and heading back to the Temple. "Everyone else, meet back at the temple after you are through with your assignment. We'll see you there." Spyro shifted his eyes to the two Coyotes. "As for you two crooks, I hope this is a lesson you will remember. Cynder and I do not take criminals like you lightly. Get them out of here."
"Wow," Cynder whispered to Spyro as the dragons and thieves scattered. "I'm impressed. You did some research."
"Had to," replied the young dragon. "Ignitus taught me never to go into places unprepared. So when you left, I went to the Elder's Library to see what good I could find on them."
"What else came up?" Spyro shook his head.
"They are all just petty thieves and robbers really. It's all they are known for. I want to know why, myself."
"So then why are we the ones walking on the river instead of going to the village itself?" Spyro glanced towards the other side of the water, about a mile away.
"When the Coyotes here were caught, I thought I saw somebody watching over there. I want to find him." Cynder tucked her wings in to her sides and nodded in response.
"Lead the way, Master," she giggled at her ending comment, which made Spyro blush slightly. He did as his mate asked and stepped forward through the meadow. Once he reached the water's edge, he leapt up and used his wings to glide across. Cynder followed suit and landed right beside her mate.
It was midday and the sun was high above the dragons with its rays beating hard against the water's surface.
"It's pretty warm today, isn't it?" Cynder asked Spyro. He nodded and turned his attention to the forest.
"Yes it is," he replied calmly. "Where you getting at?"
"On a hot day, who would be dumb enough with fur to stay in the sun?" Spyro twitched his tail as he remained quiet. "Any other thieves would have to remain inside the forest to stay cool, don't you think? That Coyote you saw wouldn't stay out here."
"Yet again, Cyn, you are a genius."
"I just learn from the best." She nuzzled Spyro's snout with her own. "Come on, Spyro. I think there is an opening inside that we can work our way into. We just have to keep our wings close. Those branches look vicious."
"It's not the branches I am worried about," Spyro replied. "If we go in here, we lose mobility. It could be a trap." Cynder sighed and found a large path into the woods, just big enough for them to fit in.
"Honey, we have each other. They are the ones in for it, not us." Spyro nodded as they worked their way into the woods. It was a tight fit compared to their other forest adventures; these woods here were far dense than the others they had been in before. Regardless, they had a job to do. The two dragons trudged deeper into the woods, their eyes peeled for any movement.
"So," Cynder said, breaking the silence between them. "I kind of like this."
"It does feel good to do good, doesn't it?" Spyro asked back with a slight smile. "This is much better than what everyone else predicted of us." Cynder lowered her head, watching her paws dig into the earth with each step.
"I doubt I could be evil now that I have something so great inside me."
"That makes two of us...sort of." They both laughed. Suddenly, a loud snap echoed throughout the forest, bouncing off of the tree trunks like a rubber ball and straight into the dragons' ears. "Someone's trying to escape." Both dragons twisted their heads around to see a brownish grey Coyote dressed in a large black tunic dashing through the woods.
"That's him!" Spyro shouted before giving chase. It was hard running while keeping his wings closed, but he managed. Cynder dove straight into the soil, pursuing him as well with her Shadow effect. She was faster this way; no trees hindered her from following as it did to Spyro.
The purple dragon grunted and roared as his body took a pounding from the trees as he continued to chase the Coyote. The creature was fast and very agile, dodging about every way possible to lose his pursuer.
"Get back here!" Spyro roared. Having had enough, the dragon leapt up into the air, forming an Earth ball before crashing to the ground. His speed from the run gave him incredible momentum, causing the ball to roll through the woods and topple every tree that stood in his way.
The running Coyote looked behind him to notice the green ball rolling directly towards him; no tree or rock would stop that thing. But to his surprise, Spyro morphed back to his original self, leaping up through the clearing he had just made.
"Now, Cynder!" Suddenly, the Dark Temptress appeared through the soil right in front of the fleeing Coyote, with her body twisting upward like a winding corkscrew. The creature lifted up with the dragoness, finding himself in the same situation as the thieves before him. He was paralyzed and airborne just like the others, but something far worse was to happen to him. Just as Cynder preformed her attack, Spyro smashed into him, clasping the Coyote in his claws. With a shift of weight and a twitch of his wings, Spyro dove towards the ground with the suspect in front of him, slamming him back down to earth with a muffled thud. Spyro held him there, roaring fiercely into his face. "Try and run now!" Cynder came to her husband's side as he continued to pin the Coyote down. He squirmed under the dragon's weight while Spyro took a better look at him. He was young and slender, surprisingly clothed as well.
"Get off me!" he shouted. His voice had just matured from the sound of it. Spyro and Cynder looked at each other in surprise.
"A child?" Cynder asked. Spyro slowly backed off of the boy, but remained close so he wouldn't get away again.
"I am not!" the Coyote protested. "My father says I am good enough to steal like anyone else." The boy's fists clinched. "And you took him."
"You rob too?" Spyro asked in obvious shock. Cynder's eyes remained wide as she listened to the boy. It scared her and Spyro both to see just how easily parents could influence a child.
"I get by with my village," he responded. "It puts food on our table and clothes on our backs."
"Then why was your father naked?"
"Because," he replied back, "the clothes I am wearing are his. He gave me his because I outgrew my own. Now I have done nothing wrong..."
"Yet," Cynder finished for him. Since this was just a youngling, the two could not bring themselves to do anything more than harsh words.
"If you insist on that, then yes. Not yet." The two dragons shook their heads in disapproval.
"You have learned from bad people," Spyro said sternly. "Your father must suffer for his choice, and if you don't straighten up, then you may get the same."
"If it's how I can eat," the boy replied, "then you may as well take me now."
"Brave," Cynder whispered to Spyro, "but oh so stupid. Well, he admits to stealing, but we have no proof, Spyro. We can't take him to the Moles just by running into him."
"I know." Spyro sighed as he eyed the boy. "I may not be able to change your mind, but I want to make an attempt. There is work that can be done around the Temple and a boy of your size could do wonders. If you take the job, we can provide some valuables that may help you and your family, but you have to work for them." The boy climbed to his feet and dusted himself off with his paws.
"And if I do this?" The boy asked.
"First, we may be able to work out something regarding your father's punishment. Second, you get to learn how to earn what you get rather than taking it from others."
"Not many get second chances," Cynder said, adding to Spyro's offer. "If I were you, I'd take this."
"What will I do?" Spyro tilted his head upward in thought for a few seconds and then smirked.
"Well, the place could use a little...straightening up. If you want this job, meet me at the door of the Temple tomorrow at mid morning. Cynder and I can find things to keep you occupied. And just to warn you, don't go home."
"Where else can I go?" Cynder looked at Spyro, her large eyes gazing at him pitifully.
"With us." She nudged Spyro who choked at her reply. "Spyro, this child needs help and guidance. He certainly won't see it at his village, will he?"
"Well, my wife rules me out. We'll put you to work as soon as we get to the Temple. Now head there first and tell the guard at the door that Spyro sent you. Ask for Sparx. He'll place you in the guest room until we get there."
"And for Ancestor's sake, child," spoke Cynder, "behave yourself and don't take what isn't yours!" The boy nodded as an answer. "And your name is?"
"Keith."
"Okay Keith," Spyro said. "We'll be there in an hour, maybe less. We have some things to discuss before we go back." The young Coyote began to walk, only to stop and turn to face them. He gulped, unsure of why he was going to say this.
"T...thank you." Cynder gracefully bowed her head in response.
"You're welcome. Now don't take this chance and throw it away. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Cynder's right," Spyro replied. "No one else at your village can get what you just got."
"I won't let you down for this." Cynder raised an eyebrow at Spyro as the coyote walked towards the Temple.
"Did we just invite a thief into our home?" She asked. Spyro nodded his head.
"We? You were the one that did." He smiled and draped his wing over her. "Well, maybe we can show him better than his father did. That's so sad to see a boy following in his father's footsteps like that, isn't it?"
"You're telling me," replied the dragoness. "I couldn't let him go back to the village. We are going to be attacking it soon, aren't we?"
"Not quite," shot back Spyro. "I just want to give them a little scare."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Any questions or feedback feel free to get in contact with us :)
In traditional fashion.....I mean come on...would you expect any different from us ;)
PEACE!
CYA