Part 4

Outside of the Artisan Temple, Daisy happened to be outside alone in the meadows, still upset and angry about Flame not wanting fairies around. She sat down on a small rock, watching a ladybug scurrying around on a white flower. The blue fairy muttered angrily to herself about what Flame said about fairies, "Who needs fairies, he says. 'I don't like fairies.' Everybody needs fairies!"

Suddenly, a faint growl emitted from behind Daisy, as the blue fairy stiffened with fright. She quietly crept through the tall grass and peeked out from behind the rock she was sitting on only to gasp in fear when she saw something fearful.

A pair of dark paws stepped into Daisy's sights as the Death Hound stopped in front of the blue fairy while focusing on sniffing the air for the scent of nearby prey. He was unaware of the blue fairy's presence and it wasn't long before he caught a familiar scent.

"Mmm..." The Death Hound muttered hungrily, "Dragon..." He then started walking away from Daisy towards the source of the scent, knowing that there's a dragon alone in the hills.

Once the Death Hound was out of hearing range, Daisy cautiously emerged out of the tall grass and quickly flew back to the temple as fast as she could to warn the dragons about the predator, "Spyro!"

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Meanwhile, Rikki was also alone outside in the Artisan realm. However, she was far in the open and was unaware of the Death Hound lurking about. The little Magic Crafter was frolicking in an endless field of flowers to enjoy herself, ignoring the fact that the Dragon Temple might be destroyed. She giggled happily as she stood and stared at a butterfly that landed on a flower in front of her.

"Flame..." a weary voice called out from around Rikki, as the little Magic Crafter perked up with fright, "Where are you..."

Frightened and startled, Rikki sat up to her feet and slowly looked around for the source of where the voice came from. She then stiffened and widened her eyes in terror, unaware of the Death Hound emerging from the grass right behind her, rearing up on his back legs to tower over the little Magic Crafter and poised his front paws to seize her.

"Welcome back to hunting ground, dragon." The Death Hound said with a toothy grin, as saliva was already dripping from his jaws at the thought of sinking his teeth into Rikki.

Rikki looked back and saw the Death Hound towering over her.

As the little Magic Crafter braced herself for the incoming pain, and before the Death Hound could seize her, the Hound was suddenly tackled to the side as Flame brutally rammed directly into the hound's gut, sending them both flying a few feet away from Rikki and towards the other side of the hill.

The little Magic Crafter slowly looked to her right to see both Flame and the Death Hound sprawled motionless on the ground as a result of the red dragon's brutal tackle.

Fortunately, Flame shook his head and quickly stood back on his feet only to see the Death Hound rising to his feet at the same moment, glaring at Flame as the red dragon bravely stood his ground with a venomous glare. As the Hound took a threatening step towards Flame, he was suddenly and painfully struck to the side as Grayson appeared and did a swift head-butt into the Death Hound's left flank.

The Death Hound was lying on his side after being struck, but quickly picked himself up to his feet again as he glared at Grayson, averting his attention away from Flame with the look of murder still gleaming in his eyes. As the hound advanced towards the young Peace Keeper, Flame took the opportunity to charge and head-butt directly into right flank of the Death Hound with all of his might followed immediately with a hot blast of fire on the hound's body.

The singed and smoking Death Hound yelped sharply in pain and was sent flying painfully into the air in a low arc over the edge of the hill only to come tumbling down and crashing at the very bottom where he desperately rolled in the grass until his sizzling body came to a stop.

Shortly after that, Flame and Grayson stood at the edge of the hill and looked down at the injured Death Hound at the bottom. Rikki slowly stood beside them, shakened by the sudden attack.

Flame panted for a moment from the fight before he turned to Rikki and asked softly, "You alright, Rikki?"

Rikki slowly nodded through her shakened state, as she, Flame, and Grayson watched the glimpsing form of the Death Hound bounding across the plains away from the dragons; small trails of smoke still lingered behind him until he disappeared into the distance...