Spyro is reliving Griffin Shara's past, in a way that puts him literally in her experience. Shara hopes to reduce suspicion by doing so.
I think I forgot a disclaimer recently... but I only own Cyrus and Shara.
Also: chapter 10 hooray! A lot of good stories go away from no reviews. I'd like to thank those who do review.
Chapter 10: strange recollections
****midday (in memory)****
Spyro was unsure how he had arrived at the burnt ground he had been on. After choosing a direction and starting off, he realized he had no recent memory... just saving the world, then... now.
Walking beside him was a Griffin, Shara by name. He had found her, walking the same direction as him... and she was unable to acknowledge his existence. He tried to push her, only to fall through her as though she... no, he were a ghost.
Burn turned to grasslands, and Spyro was amazed at the beauty of the unknown landscape. It was much the same as the valley of Avalar, with green foliage sprouting from horizon to horizon. Then he saw her destination, a village in the middle of the area.
The front gate opened, admitting Shara through to the area. A young male greeted her as she strode forward.
"Shara, where were you? The elders had us looking all over for you. Our first visitor in a while and you are away hunting?" The male asked.
"Niko, you know very well that we need supplies. The animals are restless, and it's almost winter, and having our land burnt doesn't help..."
Niko snarled. "Whoever did that should be killed. Everything depends on the earth. And they go to burn it."
"So, who visits us this time? We're out in the middle of nowhere - only dragons know where we are, and nobody has visited us in centuries." Shara queried, having been surprised about a visitor.
"Says his name is Malefor... I don't know, he seems strange, but it must be me. He's a purple dragon, so he must be here to help us, right?" Niko said hopefully. "I mean, what's the worst that can happen?"
****nighttime****
Shara was exhausted. The village had thrown a party for Malefor, celebrating the purple dragon's unexpected visit. It had seemed to her that nobody besides herself and Niko had noticed that Malefor had only drunk the samples of ale or wine given to him, and all others had become increasingly inebriated. She too had the least possible amount, but she suspected she would have a hangover the next morning. As she made her way to her house, swaying with every step, she realized she was locked out- again. Groaning at her misfortune, she made her way to Niko's house, walking in the broken door and across the shattered glass and not acknowledging the damage was there...
Shara stumbled into the main room, lights off, unsteady from her partying." Niko! I'm using the spare keys, and I'll be right back." Shara called, receiving no response. Grabbing her keys, she turned to leave.
As she struggled her way down the few steps (they're troublesome when drunk) she heard a rustle of a large animal to her left. She snapped her head to the side, instantly wary, alcohol burned away by the startle. Suddenly, Shara was snatched into the bush by... Niko.
Shara punched him in the chest for spite. "Damn it Niko, why do you have to do that? You know I hate it."
"Ouch." He said, being nice. He had a very solid chest.
Shara glared at him."Why.. did.. you.. pull me.. into the bush." She said through gritted teeth.
"Oh! Right. Look, everyone is wary of Malefor. But we've just got to keep on watch, and he can't do anything." was the cheerful response Shara recieved. It seemed like Niko was trying to convince himself, too.
Shara snorted. "Even we couldn't stop him, Niko. Our race depends on our survival, since the rest warred with themselves, remember?"
"We're also able to wield our opponent's elements, or did you forget THAT?" Niko countered. "Look, just accept that Malefor isn't getting the jump on us."
"I hope so," Shara muttered under her breath.
Niko's gaze softened. "Just go. Act normal when you get home. And don't worry if I'm not here tomorrow. I'm going hunting."
"Alright then, see you tomorrow evening. " Shara called over her shoulder as she left.
Niko turned to his broken entrance. Partying could do hell to one's house...
****morning *** (Griffin council chambers)
Malefor could admit that the Griffins had power... but he knew he had so much more. The fools had cut themselves off from the world to try healing the last remnants of their race, and given Malefor the chance to completely immobilise their group. He had tried to keep his armies back away from them until he was sure the Griffins wouldn't help them. He had a miscommunication once, and a field was burned. Now that he was sure they were not controllable, his armies had free rein... but back to the present.
"Dragon Malefor, despite your supposedly great need to access the libraries of our histories and learn our powers, you have not shown us proof that Dragonkind is in great danger. If this were true, would not you still be a combatant on the front line? Furthermore, even if you were to access our knowledge, it would be near impossible for you to understand and completely impossible for you to harness its power. Your request for our council for this reason has been denied.
Sincerely,
High council to Griffin village of Denwood"
Malefor snarled as he turned away from the magical receptacle which floated to block his entry to the door. In a fit of rage most unlike the guise he had come in, he spun around to smash the poor orb into the wall. The orb let out a sad shriek before vanishing into a puff of smoke. He had hoped to preserve their knowledge before they were completely destroyed. But since they denied him at every chance, they would be utterly gone.
****With Shara ****
Shara started in horror as Malefor flung the receptacle into the wall. This certainly wasn't the dragon they had let into their village! This was a maniac! The village had to be warned!
As these thoughts raced through her head, Malefor's gaze snapped to her hovering form, turning from anger to rage to a mask of calm. Then he walked away, acting as though she didn't exist. Shara hovered in place a slight longer, then flew down to the citadel-size doors behind which the elders resided.
The doors, enchanted to sense urgent need, opened to admit Shara in much the same fashion as she had been welcomed at the front gate. She winged her way through the corridor, flying at breakneck speed through the structure. She saw her destination ahead- a door carved with ornate symbols, each a ward to keep out dangers.
Shara burst through the doors as fast as they would allow, then was forced to take gasping breaths to regain the lost air to her lungs. The elder's council, obviously roused by her arrival, stood and took their places on council, then awaited her announcement.
After Shara regained her breath, she delivered a bold announcement.
"The purple dragon Malefor will destroy us all!"
The elders frowned. Surely the individual standing before them was playing a joke? It couldn't be true. But the doors had admitted her, so she must be convinced it was.
One of the elders stepped forward- the elder responsible for the interpretation of their visitors. "Shara, what makes you believe he will destroy us? He has shown no indication of violence, why should he start to now?"
Shara's heart sank. "You don't believe me," she muttered. "None of you do. But if you want proof, observe the orb you set to send denial messages to those who want your council- or rather, what's left of it."
The elders debated for a moment before the Speaker announced their answer. "Shara, we've told many people- including you- that those cannot be broken or even scratched by anything except the strongest of individuals that exist on this plane of existence."
"All it will take is for you to look outside. You literally can't miss it! It's a smoking wreck!"
"Shara! This council has already announced its answer to this point. Unless you have more evidence against Malefor, your case is to be remo-" the speaker was interrupted by a whelp, barely able to talk, shuffling toward the discussion.
The whelp stammered when inquired, "T-the orb you put outside broke. My daddy told me to come in and tell you." Then, with his message conveyed, he ran back out the room with haste.
Shara turned back to the council, a faint smirk glimmering through her guise. "So, should I show you where it is?"
****Malefor's flat****
Malefor had been sleeping quite soundly when he was rudely awakened by another messenger orb falling onto him. It dropped a paper on his bed, then backtracked out of its window.
It read:
To the dragon Malefor
You have been given this notice
for the destruction of our village's
property. You must now leave our
territory within the next day or you
will be treated as an enemy of our
village. If a guide is needed, we will
point you in the correct direction.
Signed,
High Griffin council of
Denwood
Malefor had expected the notice by the next day- it must have been the female hovering over his back. Since it was clear that their information could not be saved, his armies would attack the next morning...
****back to Shara****
Shara awoke the next morning to the smell of fire and to the shriek of a female Griffin. Shaking her head to clear the morning fog out of her head, she began to sit up when a heavy weight fell from the sky onto her. It was a Griffin- dead. Its wings and neck broken, feathers seared and chest scored by massive claws- those of a dragon.
Shara let out a scream, working frantically to move the dead body off of her own. Freeing herself, she began to set the body to a respectable pose. Having that grisly work finished, she spoke a few words of her race's ancient language, causing the body to dissolve, its essence preserved and the soul given a chance to return to part with its family at a later time. Then, gazing above to the hole in her roof, she saw what she had feared was happening.
Malefor was slaughtering her kind with ease, absorbing the elements projected at him by her kin. His hide pulsed with a sickly shadowy overcoat, eyes pure white, Convexity pouring from his maw to eat at flesh. He let out another wave of power. Four more of her kind fell.
Preparing to join the battle, Shara saw the nightmare she had dreamt recently... Niko fell from the sky, a gaping hole torn in his right lung and the left wing stripped of all skin and muscle. Shara felt for the element she needed from Malefor... yes! Time was hers! Activating the power, everything she chose to freeze froze, those things being Niko and Malefor himself. Her kinsmen she left unfrozen, so as to allow them to flay the murderous wyrm. Placing herself under Niko, Shara cast a spell to freeze his vitals, then cast the same spell for the dead Griffin on him as well (he was alive, so the counterspell would return him to normal).
Burden safely pocketed, Shara let Time slip from her grasp, then observed what was left of Malefor.
His shadow layer was shredded, real cuts showing and pain soon to register on his face. Time slowly unfroze for him, and agony awaited him.
Malefor screamed in shock as he suddenly found himself nearly dead. Winging himself away from his enemies, Malefor cursed his opponent for her cleverness.
He met up with his forces on his path, leaving them to destroy the village. They were surprised to find their leader flayed open like a choice cut of meat, but what skill could not do, surely force could, right?
****midday****
Shara had healed many a broken limb, punctured lung, and cut flesh that day. But all who were left assured her that even her magical prowess would not save Niko.
Niko... what would she do without him? He had been her only friend for the longest time, and recently much more... she owed him her life. She had to save him. With that course in mind, Shara set off to find a fix to help her friend.
She was stopped at the front gate by the council. Judging by the looks on their faces, they weren't about to let their best healer leave them.
"Shara, we don't approve of your action. Because of this, we have placed new wards- if anyone leaves without permission, they will never find their was back. Our village will be rendered invisible, its location will shift away from searchers... you won't come back. Does this mean so much to you to leave your life behind?"
Body and mind set, Shara replied, "If I don't go, I will never forgive myself... to leave someone as an ball of essence would be torture and I can't bring myself to kill Niko. I have to go."
The council members regarded her sadly as she swiftly winged her way out of sight. She would be missed...
***Ten years later***
"Hmm... yes, this will do," Shara murmured to herself. She had found a cave in which she would rest overnight.
The flock of dreadwimgs stirred. Food? Had a meal wandered into their home? Not normal food. New food they would eat without hesitation. Food!
***Twenty years later***
Shara was desperate. She had found no success in her travels as of yet and was still pursued by a flock of wild dreadwings. There was a temple ahead, and she would have to find shelter soon. Ten years of running from dreadwings had provided little rest. Shara felt certain she would go insane without rest. Yes. She would enter, sleep the day off, eat, then run again... wait, there was movement... civilization, and all of its glory!
Turning to a steep descent, she dove toward an open window.
A dreadwing launched an attack.
Shara felt muscles freeze, wings curve, and saw the window to her left. She managed to look at the wall before smashed straight through.
Staggering from the rubble, Shara saw one spot to hide- a closet-type space. Limping toward her goal, she felt relieved she didn't die but wondered what would come of her arrival.
****Author's Notes****
Made this chapter long for two reasons: one is because the last chapters were so short. The other is because I didn't get a chance to update sooner. Thanks for reviews.
Drakonseye, signing off.