Chapter 7: Travels

Wind filled Cynder's hearing as she shot through the air. She was flying at supersonic speeds, faster than she had ever flown before. It was quite the thrill and with every minor movement to her body, her flight would be changed in one way or another. When she first took off from the Guardian Temple in the swamp, she had been pretty wobbly in flight and couldn't seem to fly straight. However, after a few minutes she had figured out that, unlike her regular flight speed, she only needed to make minor adjustments to get the results she wanted. If she wanted to descend, tipping her wings down like she normally did would put her into an outside loop. However, if she just tipped her wings slightly she would descend at a slow pace. The more she tipped her wings, the faster she shifted, but she only needed to adjust them at a few degrees or the result would be greater than what she intended.

Cynder surveyed the land that was shooting past her below. It looked like she had just shot over the Valley of Avalar. From the quick glance she got, it looked as though the cheetahs had fully repaired their village from the grublin attack during the war. It had looked like they had even added more housing. Cynder decided to slow down and turn back to get a better look.

She had been right. The cheetah village was now fully rebuilt with more and better housing than before. It looked as though their houses no longer had just one room, but a few. Cynder couldn't be for sure though, as she circled above the houses. She couldn't see inside them. They could simply have just been bigger and now closed in houses instead of open huts.

The dragoness spotted a familiar face. It was Meadow, the cheetah her and Spyro had saved from the grublins. He was looking up and waved to Cynder in recognition. Cynder returned the wave and scanned the village for two other faces.

She spotted one of them. Chief Prowlus. The leader of the village stood with a group of three other cheetahs. It appeared they were discussing something of importance. The other cheetahs listened intently to what Prowlus was saying, shaking their heads and either asking questions or making comments of their own occasionally. Cynder wondered what it could be that they were talking about. She couldn't hear their words from where she was. It didn't matter anyway. It was none of her business. She had her own little mission to attend to.

The black dragoness circled a few more times, scanning the village for Hunter, the cheetah who had, after being sent by Ignitus, the Fire Guardian, found her and Spyro during the time of Malefor, but with no luck. It appeared that he either wasn't there, or was inside one of the houses. Cynder circled around one more time, then continued on to Warfang, keeping at her fastest flight without her wind element. Although it had been fun, using her element to move at those speeds was tiring. She needed to conserve some of her energy because she still needed to get back to Gavin, Spyro, and Sparx, and on her way back she would have one other dragon to speed along.

Cynder began to wonder if she and the Guardian would make it back before nightfall. It was already midday and she didn't know how much longer she could use her element to fly at those speeds, especially with another dragon. She decided that they would probably make it back to the other three sometime by evening tomorrow.


A light rain fell as Gavin, Spyro, and Sparx moved through the swamp. It wasn't much, just enough to wet the already soppy ground. Human and dragon didn't mind it. However, Sparx was using Spyro's wing as an umbrella. If the dragonfly's wings got too wet, they would grow heavy and impair his ability to fly.

"So, to break the silence, do you mind if I ask another question?" Gavin asked his purple companion.

"Go ahead," Spyro answered.

"Why'd the Guardians decide to stay in Warfang instead of move back to the Temple?"

Spyro answered, "About three years ago, Cynder snuck out of the temple in the middle of the night. She felt as though she didn't belong with us and had decided to leave and find a place where she did. I followed her to try and convince her to come back. Ultimately, we ended up at the Well of Souls, a dark place that I wish to never return to."

Gavin knew this story. It was the one that "Eternal Night" told. The boy decided to stay silent and let the purple dragon continue uninterrupted.

"There I defeated Gaul, the Ape King, freeing Cynder from Malefor's control for the second time. Although Gaul was defeated, we weren't out of it yet. The Well began collapsing around us. Sparx, Cynder, and I were frozen in amber crystal to stay protected from the boulders falling in around us. I did that because I saw no other way of escape."

Gavin nodded his head, "It wouldn't have been fair if you three had been crushed by a bunch of rocks after defeating that evil baboon."

Spyro continued, "We stayed like that for three years. During those years, Ignitus hired Hunter of Avalar to search for us. After he was hired, the Guardians moved to Warfang to help protect the city from Malefor's rising forces. When we were awakened, Cynder and I defeated Malefor and…..well."

"Saved the world," Gavin caught Spyro's modesty and finished the sentence for him.

"Yeah," said Spyro, "Anyways, after the war was over, the moles offered to build the Guardians a Temple in Warfang. As you saw, the Temple here isn't in very good living condition."

Gavin nodded his head as Spyro continued.

"The Guardians didn't accept right away because they found it a bigger priority to rebuild the city. The moles, however, insisted by saying that it was the least they could do in return for their help. Eventually, they convinced the Guardians and construction began. The Guardians, in return, have done everything in their ability to help rebuild the city. I think they would have helped either way, but with the moles building them a new Temple, I think they've tried to do even more."

"So they're just going to leave this Temple to nature?" Gavin asked at the end of Spyro's tale.

"I'm not entirely for sure," the dragon answered honestly, "Before we left for our vacation I overheard Terrador talking with some of the lead architects in Warfang about renovating the Temple here in the swamp. So far, no construction has taken place."

Gavin thought a moment, "Maybe they've scheduled it for a later time," he said.

"Maybe," Spyro said with a shrug.

The three continued on their way to the beach where they were to rendezvous with Cynder and the Guardian. Gavin wondered who would come. Terrador maybe? Gavin always thought of Terrador as the muscle of the group. He didn't mean any offense to the other Guardians or even Terrador himself if it were to be taken the wrong way. That was just his opinion. Then again, it probably wouldn't take much for any of the Guardians to fly him to Warfang. He was sure that the other two could easily carry him too. Gavin figured the question would be answered when they met at the beach.


Author's Notes: Wow, Cynder can fly fast, no? She's already arrived at the Valley of Avalar, and it's only mid-day! Gavin, Spyro, and Sparx seem to be getting along fairly well. I understand that this chapter was kind of slow, it explained a little, but it was kind of slow. There are going to be chapters like that. They help to keep the story flowing while still making sense. Stick with me. :)