Disclaimer: I don't own the Legend of Spyro, or its assorted characters, just a few of my own creation.

Chapter 10

A Broken Friendship

Kadie fluttered down outside the door to a broken down hut. The windows were lit with the light of the fireplace from within. She glanced around nervously and then hovered over to the door.

The door was pushed open and Kadie found herself staring into the green eyes of a pitch black ape. "So you couldn't lure her here?" it growled in a low voice.

Before Kadie could say anything, the ape had reached out and grabbed her. She yelped in pain as he began to squeeze.

The ape chuckled in glee at her pain, until something black, red, and white slammed into his face and sent him flying back into the hut, causing him to let go of Kadie at the same time.

Kadie looked up at Cynder, who was standing on the edge of the roof. She had just swung her tail right into the ape's face.

Meanwhile, the apes were surprised to find their commander come falling back into the room. He groaned and pushed himself up, finding that Kadie had disappeared. He reached up and touched the shallow cut that sharp tip of Cynder's tail had left on his face.

He turned to see his underlings staring dumbly and snarled at them. "Get out there and get them, you idiots!"

They leapt up and ran toward the door only to have it slam closed on them, all three hitting the solid wood and landing in a heap on the floor.

The ape was now rather infuriated. He stood up and stalked over to the door, throwing it open. Kadie was hovering a couple of feet outside the door.

"Stupid bug, you should have run while you had the chance," the ape laughed and started towards her. He stopped as he noticed that the bug was smirking calmly and appeared to be looking up.

The ape looked up, only to have four scaly feet plow into his face, knocking him to the ground and stunning him. Cynder leapt away and turned to face the now unconscious ape.

"Yes!" Kadie said, pumping a fist in the air. "Thank you for helping me."

Cynder looked over at her. "I'm only doing this to get Jirin's help," she said coldly.

Kadie stared at Cynder for a moment, realizing that it would be a while before she would regain the black dragoness' trust.

Cynder glanced over at the hut as the three remaining, smaller apes filed out of it. She trotted toward them, waving her tail from side to side. The first ape jumped straight at her and was meant with a head butt to the chin. It stumbled backwards and then fell unto its back. Cynder didn't even give the next one a chance to attack and lit it ablaze with her flame breath.

The third ape now realized that its situation was hopeless and turned to run. However, Cynder bit into its shoulder and flung him into the air. He hit the ground with a groan and tried to get up, but Cynder leapt over and slammed her front feet down on his chest, pinning him.

"Where are you keeping the witch doctor?" Cynder asked.

"You know what they would do to me if I told," the ape snarled back.

"Do you know what I will do to you if you don't tell me?" Cynder asked with a venomous tone.

The ape's sneer of anger disappeared, now fearful. He was quite familiar with some of the punishments Cynder had advocated while under the Dark Master's control. "You wouldn't do anything like that," he said, his sneer returning.

"Actually, I would," Cynder said, pressing a paw against the ape's throat and cutting off his supply of oxygen. "You see right now, I'm quite desperate."

Cynder was pleased to see fear again flood the face of the ape. "Where is he?" she asked, lifting her paw off his throat.

"In a cave, not far from here," the ape said.

"I know where," Kadie said. "He stores a lot of his ingredients that need darkness and moisture there."

"Fine, then we won't need him," Cynder said, ramming her head against the ape's and knocking him unconscious.

"Cynder, are you okay?" Kadie asked as she flew in front of her.

"I'm fine," Cynder growled. "I feel just like my old self. Now, lead the way."

Kadie turned and led her away from the hut, casting a nervous glance back at Cynder every now and then. The way she had interrogated that ape worried Kadie a lot.

Cynder glared at Kadie's back. Why should she distrust her? It was Kadie that had strung Cynder along this whole time. She considered just leaving right now, or maybe getting rid of Kadie as soon as they reached the cave. These thoughts didn't strike her as bad, she was too far gone into the darkness, and Kadie's betrayal had been the last straw.

The cave came into sight a few minutes later. The stone was covered with moss and a waterfall fell down in front of it.

"Well, here we are," Kadie said, turning to Cynder. She only barely managed to avoid the jet of flame that the dragoness breathed at her. "What are you doing?!"

"Something I should have done long ago," Cynder snarled.