For the most part, this chapter is to relax, catch up with Spyro.

Disclaimer: I dont own anybody who's not mine.

Chapter 7: The next morning

Flame woke the next morning, his wings still sore and his heart heavy that Ember was still unable to remember him. She was on the other side of the bed, dozing lightly, so he padded out to where the balcony was, looking out to the skies as if they held the answers.

Ignitus had been dozing on the balcony, only to be awoken by Flame. The Fire guardian had been looking forward to this day, as the other elders had been on a vacation as soon as Spyro and Cynder had returned.

"Is everything all right, young one?" Ignitus said, addressing Flame the same way he did Spyro occasionally. "You don't look like you got any rest."

"That's because I didn't. The only reason I'm up is for food. And... Ember still doesn't know anybody. Seeing Cynder only made her get bad memories... and I think Malefor did something horrible to her old home. I'll have to ask her," Flame said, feeling better after admitting his worries.

Ignitus looked behind Flame, noticing the approach of three dragons, one blue, one yellow (who couldn't be quiet), and one green, both first and last fed up with the second.

***back to Cynder's room***

Cynder had woken up the next morning to find herself wrapped around Spyro, with his wings embracing her and vice versa.

A blush unknowingly crept onto her face, even if nobody could tell. Even though they were partners, she and Spyro hadn't been physical, so the tangle-up was ahead of her schedule. She did have plans... but maybe when she was ready.

Trying to move away was unsuccessful. The moment she moved away, Spyro gripped her more tightly, then he yawned, opening his eyes.

The moment he realized what he was holding, Spyro let her go. His face had gone red as well, redder than Flame's was normally. Then he simply said, "Should we get some breakfast?"

Looking the other way awkwardly, Cynder replied, "I guess so. And Spyro?"

"Yeah?"

"You're not in trouble. 'That' was just fine," she said shyly. "It felt right, you know?"

"Oh... okay. Just wake me if it's too much for you." said Spyro, relieved she felt the same way he did.

The two walked to the doorway, then Spyro stopped Cynder from stepping into two platters of berries, one with a side of flamebreath roasted waterfowl and the other with a slightly frosted nectar like substance in it.

"Wha..." Spyro started to say before Cyrus chimed in from the adjacent room, "Eat up, lovebirds."

Spyro turned to him, then gaped in astonishment as Cyrus picked up an entire bird (were they ducks?) and ate it in one bite, raw, feathered, and all. Then he smirked.

While Cynder looked for somewhere to be sick, Spyro said, "It's not that, I've eaten whole ducks too, it's just... where did you get the ducks? And how did you know what we wanted?"

"Cyril, Volteer, and Terrador arrived this morning, brought back waterfowl, and seeing as you two were so comfortable" he smirked again "I took the liberty to get you your breakfast. I asked Volteer what you wanted." His smirk turned into a grimace. "Big mistake. Unless you want to hear just about the entire history of not only ducks, but also berries and sugary drink-type items, never, I repeat, NEVER ask Volteer what to get for breakfast."

Cynder returned from their room to find Spyro waiting for her just inside, adding a few spices to the duck and setting bowls of water by their foods.

Cynder was amazed. Where had he gotten water? Well, it turned out that he had accidentally shot icebreath into a bowl, filling it with snow. He had planned to fly to the nearby river when- voila- instant water, with minimal power drain.

"Just don't accidentally shoot icebreath a me," Cynder warned him after hearing his story. Then she fell silent, as both dug into their food.

Spyro choked on a bone in the bird, having only had duck a few times in his still relatively short life. Cynder snorted in amusement, but doing so shot her water up her nose. Then both were rolling aroumd, laughing both at each other and at themselves. After about twenty minutes, they had calmed down to finish their food. Cynder looked across the empty plates and said "Thanks, Spyro" very softly.

"Cyrus brought the food," he whispered back. "Shouldn't we thank him imstead?"

The white wyrm in question was walking down the hall, feeling slightly depressed. Seeing Spyro and Cynder so close had brought up buried had someone to fall for before Malefor had happened. But her fate had been of a different path. She to another life, him to continue on. Life was cruel that way.

His sadness was interrupted be a panic-stricken Flame dashing up to him, asking, "Where's Ember? I can't find her anywhere."

Abstractedly he replied, "Saw her head to the balcony... she was getting food. I think."

"Well I hope she gets back safe. The last thing she needs is another injury," he joked, trying to cheer himself up more than anything.

***three hours later***

Ember returned from her expedition beaten, bruised, and exhausted. She had stumbled upon a large group of deer, and after catching and eating part of one (a bear had come along, and she gave it the rest), tried to remember where the Temple was.

She had to walk home. On the exit from the forest, she had tried to fly through the canopy, jarring both wings to uselessness. She then wandered for miles, found the edge of the forest, and proceeded to meander her way up the several mile long passage to the main gates. It was tiring.

There was no rest in sight, however, as a group of dreadwing riding apes appeared over the horizon, chasing what appeared to be- a griffin? No, those had gone extinct millennia ago. Still, as the shape came closer, it was the only explanation.

A dreadwing launched a sonic attack at its prey, and, with the hit a success, sent it spiraling towards the roof.

As if it were safe, the griffin dove toward the window nearby. A crash was heard inside. Then silence.

*author's notes*

So, if griffins died out, what was crashed through the wall?

Additionally, this chapter included a slow-down, just to keep the future chapters better-flowing.

Last but not least, I thank those that have reviewed chapters, allowing for improvement.

Drakonseye, signing off.