A week later…
"I think I've recovered enough to attempt escape. I'll distract them while you take off," I whisper.
"One issue," comments Cynder.
"What's that?"
"We are sorta chained together."
"Oh, I'll defend then."
"How will we get past the guards?"
"I will create a black mist using my Shadow element."
"That will help us how?"
"You know that sort of strange messaging you got from kissing me?"
"Yes?"
"Well that was my shadow mist at work."
"So you plan on massaging them from all sides at once with it?"
"Yes, I'll fill the room and that portion of the hall and while the hall is blacked out and the guards relaxed we simply walk out. However once we emerge from the cloud we will be in plain sight of any other guards. That means as soon as we get outside we must run until we are about to pass out from exhaustion."
"Well let us go!"
A day and a half later…
"There's a good sleeping area," I comment pointing to a few rocks in the vast plain.
"I don't know about you but I'm about ready to pass out."
"Same."
When I am woken up at the break of dawn by a sudden piercing cold I feel a strange warmness on all sides, minus the back where the freezing cold is.
"Cynder?" I ask in disbelief at the dragoness snuggling me in her sleep, "It's alright, I love you to. Now I just have to not freeze," I comment before picking up an uncontrollable shiver.
"Yrahcaz?" asks Cynder, woken by my shivering, "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah I-I'm f-f-fine."
"No you're not, you're shivering."
"D-don't w-worry."
"Don't worry! Your freezing! Light a fire for crying out loud!"
"No, t-too much attention."
"You arrogant guys," she mumbles as she gathers tender assembling it outside, "Now light it."
"No,"
"Damn it! I said light it!" she grabs my snout and seems to look into the depths of my soul, "Now."
"Okay, chill. No need to go ape shit crazy on me. Pun intended," I say lighting it.
Less then five minutes later a gruff voice speaks up, "Who are you and why are you here, dragons?"
Looking up at the black-furred cheetah owner of the voice, "No need to say 'dragon' like it was a Cockroach that snuck into your Whataburger when you weren't looking."
"I will ask again, Who. Are. You."
"What's the magic word?"
"Now."
"Nope not it. Come on it's not that hard."
"Please," he says through clenched teeth.
"See? It wasn't that hard," I turn to Cynder, "Look at me, teaching grown-ups manners."
She glares at me as we are shackled, "Your taunting is going to get you killed someday, heck it almost did a little more than a week ago."
"Oh, no, I wasn't taunting Malefor, I was straight up insulting him."
"Follow to the city," the cheetah orders.
"What's the magic word?"
"Please," he says once again through clenched teeth.
"Okay. Lead the way."
"The guardians will love to see my haul," he mumbles.