Author's Note: Hello all, I realize that this update took a while but it's been a busy few weeks and there are more yet to come. As a result, chapters will take a bit longer than usual to publish. Anyways, thanks B1ackbird for your help in beta reading and the new followers for deciding this story was worth a read. I appreciate it greatly. Also, please consider quickly peaking at the poll I have up, it's related to this story and really helps me get a better understanding of you, the readers. Thanks!
The Starlight Eclipse
Act 2 - Homebound
Chapter 11 – Beneath a Sunken Sea
When daybreak's sanguineous sun slowly ascended above the asperous mountains to tickle her sleeping eyes awake, Cynder's first reaction was to groan out a drowsy, but nevertheless futile complaint against the hostile radiance. Her second was to vigorously impel her pointed snout into the snug scales of her purple companion, eliciting a startled yelp from the slumbering dragon as he was torn from the pleasant pastures of now evanescing dreams.
With closed eyes, the black dragoness expelled a bout of muffled giggles as Spyro's own disorientated orbs shot wide open before his head recoiled back in unpleasant revolt as he stared deep into the infernal gaze of the distant sun shining through a slit-shaped window in the stone.
Blinking away psychedelic shapes imprinted against the back of his eyelids from the sudden exposure, the purple dragon leaned down and tenderly nuzzled her forehead with his nose. "Mhm… good morning to you too…" he groaned and yawned, cracking his jaws open, displaying his knife-like incisors.
"Sorry." Cynder sheepishly smiled, her voice stifled by his scales before she arched her neck up and stretched her jaws in her own groggy yawn before rubbing her nose against his cheek apologetically. She pulled back with a lighthearted smile before beckoning him to lift the wing he had draped over her during the night. His arms however, still remained loosely wrapped around her waist.
"We should get up while it's still early," she sighed while eying the ashes and charcoals of their fire before scanning the rest of their dozing companions. "I doubt the Draker Elders will be too pleased to learn about your disappearance." She gently reminded the purple dragon.
"Ugh… you're right… but you're so comfy." Spyro complained, closing his eyes against the harsh glare before unhappily freeing himself from their pleasant embrace.
While they slept, they had lain on their bellies with their bodies tightly and cozily coiled together for both the sake of keeping warm and maintaining a comfortable proximity that scared away any foolhardy nightmares that dared to encroach on the innumerable realms ephemerally occupied by their wandering consciousnesses.
Said whimsical and wild worlds assembled within the depths of their adrift minds were deconstructed by their awakening and now that they were roused, the pressures from which their dreams offered blissful, nocturnal reverie overshadowed their thoughts once more.
"Come on…" two violet eyes unhappily opened once more before the dragon they belonged to grunted and rolled onto his feet. "Let's wake the others." He grumbled.
"That's the spirit, you can sleep all you want when you're dead." Cynder chided with a cheeky smile.
"Which we may well be rather soon…" Syrina's voice replied as she blinked open one eye.
"Sorry for the rude awakening, but we need to get going." Spyro said to her apologetically as the shadow dragoness stretched, groaning with each pop of her spine.
"I think you woke everyone, it wasn't like the two of you were keeping quiet." The three turned as Corin stood and blearily shook his head before snorting irritably. "You two could be the center of some abysmally written romance story."
"Is that meant to be an insult?" Cynder asked, raising an amused eyebrow.
"I'm sure it's a meta-insult to someone." Corin replied before looking left and right, a visage of confusion befalling his face. "Where the ancestors is Laindon?"
Cynder glanced towards the spot in between Corin and Syrina where said grey dragon had last been seen. Currently, it was a vacant spot with an imprint smeared into the thin, tan colored dust that caked every surface of the ruins yet his pack was still there.
"I'm… unsure, but I suspect he's nearby, perhaps he wanted to have some time by himself?" The dragoness muttered quizzically. Strange, I should've been roused by his movements. Both she and Spyro were light sleepers, a side effect of having to keep themselves constantly prepared for any ambushes by the elusive apes. She glanced over at the purple dragon but judging from his raised brow, he hadn't any idea either. Oh well, we're probably still worn out. The past few days certainly haven't worked any wonders to unwound frayed nerves.
"Laindon?" She called out and the four dragons looked around, hearing her voice echo across empty, decaying passages and corridors. "Laindon, you there?" She called again, the slightest feather of worry tickling her gut.
Her worry however, soon proved to be unfounded when a familiar voice called back. "Coming!" Laindon's voice echoed with hers and a few seconds later, the grey dragon bounded around the corner and back into the room that had housed them for the night, skidding to a halt before her before throwing her a sloppy salute.
"Captain Laindon, reporting for duty, sir… er… madam, whichever you prefer, I don't judge." He puffed out his chest as the other dragons rolled their eyes.
"That's… great Laindon." Cynder massaged her temples. "Where were you though?"
"Oh, I've always been an early riser," the dragon replied with a flick of his tail. "It's how us Ingrata have to be. As they say, the early bird gets the worm, savvy? So, while you lot were dozing, I decided to take a look around."
"Alright, that's fine." Spyro affirmed before addressing all of them. "Now that we're all here, let's head towards the first destination of their journey."
"Corin, can you recite for us the last stanza of the poem again?" Cynder beckoned the Celtac.
"Right, it goes But, between behemoth bones,
Rose a valley of plenty that glowed like alluring rhinestone.
So, tired travelers built their homes."
"Well the valley part's pretty obvious, but what about the behemoth bones? Is that a landmark or what?" Spyro asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Actually, the only place that would make sense is the Warrens." Corin scratched his chin in thought. "It's a twisting cave system at the edge of the valley, not far from the Crucible. The Celtacs arrived through there."
"Oh… so why between behemoth bones? Couldn't they have just told us?" Cynder moaned in exasperation.
"Because it's also called the Grave of the Behemoth. According to legends, the cave used to be the lair of a monster." Syrina replied lowly, her claws tapping against the stone beneath.
"That's just a story made to scare hatchlings." Corin responded. "Only idiots actually believe that story."
Syrina stopped her tapping and glowered at Celtac through narrowed eyes. "Call me an idiot one more time…" she dared him, voice dripping with venom. "Or are you too cowardly? I heard you ran away from battle, leaving these two," she motioned towards Spyro and Cynder, "to fend for themselves. It certainly made our jobs easier."
At this, Corin's level face twisted into a snarl. He merely fixed his dilated eyes on her, like a predator ready to pounce, before he replied back with blatant contemptuousness. "It was some sight to see…" he hissed. "A dozen of your kind dropping like flies before us on that street."
"Both of you, like each other… again!" Laindon leapt between them just as the two dragons poised to go for the other's throats once more.
"Listen to Laindon," Spyro groaned and rubbed his temple with a claw as he wearily looked between the two mortal enemies. "Cynder and I don't need to watch over hatchlings."
Laindon turned back to say something when abruptly, he stopped, jaws still wide open before the corners curled upwards into an impish grin. "With what you two've been up to at night, I'd reckon ya both be eating them words come a few months."
"What are you- no! W-we haven't done anything of the sort!" Spyro blinked and looked away, flustered. Suddenly, his cheeks felt unnaturally warm.
Beside him, Cynder gasped and bared her teeth at the grey dragon. "You're so dead!" She growled and pounced towards him only for Spyro to tug her back with his tail.
"Let him live… let him live…" He sighed, shooting the Ingrata a vexed look that only made the dragon's grin widen.
Both Corin and Syrina seemed to have forgotten about each other as they watched incredulously as Laindon burst out laughing while the couple simply continued to glare at him, the faintest trace of pink beneath their cheeks.
"Corin… please show us the way there." Spyro groaned, wishing that he could sink into his own shadow. Well, that's one way to defuse the situation...
"Yeah… right…" the young Warrior reached for his satchel and pulled out the compass again.
"Back into the jungle." Cynder muttered unhappily, dreading the overbearing miasma of decaying wood that seemed to cling to her nostrils with each inhale of the humid air.
Fortunately for her, with the storm long gone, they were able to relish in the liberating feelings of flight, high in the air, they no longer had to worry about prowling fellbeasts. The looming, rocky walls of the valley quickly shadowed over them and for the first time, she was able to view the sheer scale of its walls.
The sheer cliffs isolating Elvina Valley from the rest of the island stretched high into the clouds, which flooded down like misty waterfalls to enshroud the basin. "Those must be at least two kilometers high." The black dragoness turned as Spyro let out an impressed whistle.
"Yes, I wonder what could've carved such a valley through the rocks. Maybe it's where two tectonic plates meet?" She replied.
"One and a half kilometers, and so sheer that nothing gets in but the birds and insects." Corin corrected.
"No wonder the Celtacs chose this place, it's practically a fortress..." Spyro twisted his lips, still staring at the distant edge, craning his head almost perpendicular to his body. as ahead, Corin pointed towards the ground and began to descend. Through the trees, the river that flowed through the valley flooded into the gaping mouth of a cave, disappearing into the darkness. Multiple Celtac banners, aged and torn by the elements, were driven into the ground just a few meters within the cave mouth, honoring the intrepid travelers who first emerged from the bellowing cavern centuries ago, tired, bloodied, and with but the faintest of hope in their hearts.
"We're here, the Warrens..." Syrina muttered before turning to Spyro with a smirk. "You ready for another round of spelunking?"
"I feel a bit safer now that Cynder and I have enough mana to find a way out." The purple dragon replied, peering uneasily into the ominous, bellowing cave.
Hearing him, said dragoness turned to him, smiling. "Hey, if you could pull the entire Earth together, what's a little cave going to do?"
"Still not buying the whole saving the world story..." Syrina took a step inside. "But... if the Celtacs could get through it, I'm sure we'll be just peachy. Let's get moving." Without waiting for the others, the shadow dragoness began to pad deeper, her black scales turning her all but invisible as shadows engulfed her.
Spyro and Cynder followed behind while Laindon and Corin trailed them. Ahead, Syrina progressed slowly as the light started to disappear behind them the deeper they descended. She was constantly inspecting their surroundings as if not entirely convinced that some beast lurking within the endless black was preparing itself to ambush them. As they walked along the path created by the footsteps of hundreds of dragons, the river slowly drifted away before vanishing completely beneath a massive rock face.
Bored with the monotony of treading through the dark, Spyro found himself mulling over whether or not they had to worry about any dangers that could be lurking here. Beside him, Cynder too seemed to be playing with the same idea as she abruptly asked loudly, "Hey, when you guys mentioned 'newfound feast' in that poem, that was rhetorical right? Like, feast for the cave and not anything... living inside."
"It's rhetorical," Laindon responded. "Ain't nothing living down here, at least that's what I've seen."
"You've been here?" Spyro turned around, raising a brow. It seemed unlikely that the Ingrata, who spent his entire life beneath Clarity's gaze, would know much about a faraway cavern.
"I...er... heard a few stories here or there..." The grey dragon trailed off sheepishly before padding forward past Spyro and Cynder to walk by Syrina, joining her in scouting out the trail ahead.
"Heard a few stories... how reassuring." The Draker mumbled.
Laindon simply just shrugged as they reached a drop off, a deep ravine that lead deeper underground. The other side wasn't very far away, perhaps ten meters and there was plenty of room to take flight. Syrina flared her wings to take off when the Ingrata stopped her with a raised foreleg.
"Wait..." He leaned forward and crouched, peering downwards.
"Why wait? I doubt the ravine's the right way to go." Syrina grumbled.
"Well you never know." Laindon replied defensively. "It's not like anyone's tried to retrace the way back like we are."
Syrina opened her mouth to argue but Cynder trotted forward, grabbing their attentions. "I'm doubtful that down is the way we'd want to go. but Laindon's got a point. I can use my wind to see if there's anything down there."
"Go ahead," Spyro agreed. "But don't use too much magic, we may need it later."
"Don't worry, I know." Cynder reassured him before closing her eyes and not a second later, a gentle breeze stirred around the five dragons, brushing gently against their scales before plunging in an invisible stream down into darkness. Beneath her eyelids, Cynder's eyes shifted back and forth, picturing what her mind was telling her before they opened again.
The wind died down as she slowly turned to Laindon before speaking. "Wow, you were right. There's dragon footprints down there, leading into another cave."
"Hah!" The grey dragon cheered before triumphantly pointing a claw at the others. "I told you, people around here don't dub me Lucky Laindon for nothing!"
"Do they really?" Cynder snorted with amusement.
"Nope, I lied."
"Well congratulations, you really got us good there." Spyro rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"You're welcome!" Laindon replied back giddily before nose diving over the edge, calling out, "Follow me..." as he did so.
"Wait, can he even see?" Corin asked before quickly rushing to the edge. "Laindon!" He yelled worriedly.
"Don't worry, I've got him!" Cynder grunted, already controlling the wind once more, forming a cushion of air beneath the grey dragon. She groaned in pain as she forced more magic into her element, safely stopping the dragon from his deadly plummet. When she opened her eyes again, the black dragoness wobbled slightly on her feet before leaning against Spyro. "Sorry, looks like I need more rest than I thought." She whispered.
The purple dragon nuzzled her before calling out downwards, "Laindon, are you alright?"
"I was alright to begin with! I knew what I was doing." An indignant voice replied back.
Spyro was about to speak again when Corin cut him off, face twisted in ire as he yelled back, "I sincerely doubt that, are you actually crazy? You could've killed yourself! Ancestors, it hasn't even been twenty-four hours yet!"
"Yeah, numbskull, what were you thinking?!" Syrina chastised him as well before freezing. Slowly, the color drained from her face as her head felt like it had been pumped full of helium. Beside her, Corin fell silent as well with the same sense of shock before shooting her a raised eyebrow.
Dear. Ancestors. Syrina could already see the smugness stretching over his stupid face. "Damn it..." She fumed and gritted her teeth before deciding to take flight and diving over the edge as well. I actually just agreed with the Celtac... stupid, stupid, stupid!
"Oof! Watch it!" The dragoness fumbled when instead of landing upon soft sand, she landed upon soft Laindon instead, who unwillingly cushioned her decent. The satchel containing her provisions clattered loudly as she fumbled for balance.
"S-sorry!" Syrina coughed before shaking her head. No matter, I can still make his life absolutely miserable... She assured herself, stepping away and letting her companion stand back up before shaking dust from her scales.
"Great, now I need a bath..." Laindon groaned as the other three dragons landed as well.
"Corin, do you have any more of those lanterns?" Cynder asked, casting Laindon an annoyed glance as she folded her wings.
"Do you still have yours?"
She shook her head. "Dropped it yesterday when I tried to help you."
"Then no, so that means I'll probably have to act as our light source for the time being. Hopefully we can get out soon, I haven't enough magic to keep this up for more than a few hours." Corin breathed in and focused on the light that flowed through him. Gradually, his scales began to glow a white as pure as the first fallen snow and the glow soon became enough to create a bubble of visibility around the five dragons.
"Alright, let's go." He opened his eyes, which emitted light like the rest of him.
"Huh, he reminds me of Sparx." Cynder noted, earning a chuckle from the purple dragon next to her.
"Doesn't talk nearly as much though." Spyro replied.
"I'm not complaining."
"Guys..." They looked up to see Syrina flicking her tail impatiently. "Walk and talk, let's go."
The shadow dragoness turned and strode to the very front of the group, squinting and scrutinizing the footprints in the dust. She furrowed her brow as she began tracking them before looking up at the walls and inspecting a series of scratch marks that scarred grey stone chalky white every few meters. "Something's off..." She muttered as they continued through the ravine's floor. Above them, the gap gradually closed off and folded into a tunnel.
"What's wrong?" Spyro inquired.
"These marks... they seem centuries old." She gestured towards the etchings no doubt left as a marker in case the Celtac settlers found themselves lost. "But, these footprints, they can't be more than a few years."
"Looks old enough to me." Corin snorted from behind her.
"That's because you're an idiot." Syrina replied. "I meanwhile, learned how to track prey... be it a creature of the jungle, or a fleeing Celtac."
"Knock it off." Spyro commanded them once more before addressing Syrina. "What does this mean?"
"Nothing at the moment," she shrugged. "Just an observation that someone was here before us."
"Hey, ya never know. Could be some curious dragons who decided to go exploring." Laindon offered.
"No, too many tracks here, going back and forth. Nothing recent though."
"Well if there's nothing recent, that means whoever made them aren't here anymore, let's just keep going." Cynder murmured, mulling over the development as she stared a second longer at the old footprints smothered with each step.
The rest of the walk was painfully quiet for Spyro, his ears subjected only to the noise of twenty shuffling feet and the constant, barely audible groan from the Earth itself. He looked around, remarking to himself how much this place reminded him of the Well of Souls. Except that time, the tunnels were well-lit with torches and each bend posted the threat of encountering a simian patrol. I suppose this is an improvement...
At least Cynder was here this time. He glanced at her, meeting her eyes a second later as she caught his action out of the corner of her eye. He blew her a kiss, which she playfully snapped out of the air. As she leaned in, he smirked and in one motion, extended his left wing and draped it over her back before pulling her close, almost accidentally making her lose her balance in the process.
She yelped out in surprise, legs scrambling to regain her balance, a feat made easier with the added support from the purple dragon, whom she promptly shot a well-meaning, yet nonetheless piercing glare. "Spyro, you bumbling halfwit. If you weren't so cute, I'd be painting my claws with your lovely face right now." She whispered, placing her jaws right up against his ear and speaking with the bottom of her throat, making certain that her voice came out as a low rumble.
For Spyro, walking suddenly became a strangely difficult chore as the dragoness's voice wavered and brushed over his ear, eliciting from him a warm shiver despite the balmy, humid air they swam through. Yet, when he turned to her, his jaws were cracked open by a crooked grin. "But then you won't have anyone to kiss." He donned a suave tone of voice, or at least as close to one as he could, and leaned close, grazing the tip of his muzzle over the length of her cheek affectionately.
"Hmm, true…" Cynder vented an exaggerated sigh before casually draping her wing over his back as well, pulling them both closer together to where their flanks brushed with each step. "I suppose that won't do at all." She chuckled and leaned her head against his, staring forwards at the glowing dragon guiding them like a fluorescent lantern in a dark, midsummer night.
Though neither of them spoke afterwards, nor did they break stride, as they leaned against each other, the silence flowing between them brimmed with a wordless affection more puissant than that any love-song could convey. Painful quietude was no more. and the passage of time flowed by unnoticed by the two dragons. Perhaps only ten minutes had passed, or was it an hour? All they noticed was that the tunnel was gradually widening and that somewhere up ahead, the sonorous burbling of flowing water greeted their ears once more.
"Hey, not to intrude, but are you two always like this?"
Spyro started with surprise as his mind, previously lost in sublime reverie, ended his body's autonomy to take control once more. Cynder jolted as well and their horns loudly clinked against each other as they re-centered their focus upon Laindon, who was looking back at them over his shoulder, a look of smugness interlaced with strange excitement spilling over his face while his tail flicked back and forth eagerly.
Spyro rolled his eyes. "No Laindon, if you'd like we'll-"
"Yes!" Cynder interrupted him matter-of-factly. "Yes we are, want to do something about it?" She taunted. Beside her, Spyro's face blanked and his jaw fell open as he cast a surprised glance over at the dragoness.
"No madam!" Laindon quickly replied, shooting her another sloppy salute.
"That's what I thought." The black dragoness snorted victoriously.
Spyro shifted his gaze beyond Laindon to see Corin watching the exchange with slight amusement. Wait a second… He tilted his head in confusion upon realizing that they were one party member short.
"Where's Syrina?" He asked, scanning over the shadows quickly to make sure he hadn't accidentally missed her inky scales.
"She used a shadow cloak and said she'd be scouting ahead right now... and that she needed some time to herself." Corin told him, the Celtac wearing a pleased, slightly smug expression and the purple dragon quickly understood with little amusement exactly why the Draker needed a bit of space.
"How long has she been gone?" He asked, mulling over whether or not he should go and try to find her. Who knows how many side tunnels there were to get lost in?
"No longer than a quarter hour I reckon. Don't worry though, she said she'd follow the claw marks along the walls." Laindon shrugged.
"Right," Spyro muttered, still not completely reassured. Yet not a minute later, the sharp noise of clicking claws echoed from in front of them and soon, Syrina bounded into view, slightly breathless and still cloaked with a veil of squirming shadows that seemingly writhed with minds of their own.
"You guys…" she gasped for breath and let her magic fall away. "Won't believe what I've found." Her eyes were brimmed with a mix of mystification but also zeal, as if she'd laid eyes upon lost treasure.
Who knows, maybe she did… Spyro twisted his lips in thought as he came to a halt along with the other dragons, each of them casting expectant eyes upon the Draker, who finally shook off her element, which silently cascaded to the ground before dissipating in an inky mist.
"Is it gold?!" Laindon gasped, smacking his lips in anticipation.
"Er... no, I found-"
"Some dignity?" Corin muttered under his breath, just barely audible.
Syrina evidently heard him just fine as she snapped to him, bristling angrily. "Please, actually get lost and rot." She growled.
"Corin, stop." Cynder shoved him lightly with a wing.
"Yes, mom."
The dragoness narrowed her eyes as the Celtac tried to hide his grin. "Corin… I will actually hurt you."
At her words, the dragon let out a resentful huff. "You don't complain when Laindon jokes around."
She opened her mouth to reply before a contemplative look washed over her face. He's not wrong…
Thankfully, Laindon cut them off with another attempt at guessing Syrina's discovery. "Is it a hidden subterranean ecosystem never before seen by the likes of dragonkind?"
"No!" All traces of zeal had already been lost in Syrina's attitude as she snorted back a response before freezing and casting Laindon a curious look. "Wait... actually, that's pretty close... how did you know?"
"Wow, I'm right? That's lucky Laindon for ya." The grey dragon whistled with satisfaction as the other dragons caged him with befuddled eyes.
Finally, Syrina shook her head before addressing the others, grabbing their attentions once more. "Right... you know what? Let me just show you what I'm talking about," the shadow dragoness merely snapped her head back the way she came. "Come on!" Before they could utter any complaints, the dragoness was already retracing her steps, leaving the other four with no option than to quickly scurry behind her.
Ahead, the tunnel turned and dipped into a steady slope, but at the bottom… Is that… sunlight? Spyro narrowed his eyes in confusion as he ran downwards.
"Are we finally out?" Cynder questioned from beside him, yet her voice was uncertain; after all, if they were only descending lower and lower into the earth, how could they be emerging into-
The moment the tunnel leveled again, the black dragoness shielded her eyes against the harsh glare of sunlight pouring through an opening. In her moment of disorientation, she stumbled against Spyro, pushing him sideways with a startled yelp. As he felt himself steer towards the wall, the purple dragon instinctively compensated by swerving towards the right, which would've worked had there not been four more galloping legs in the way.
"Mother of ances-" Both dragons shared a simultaneous shriek of panic before their legs tripped over one another, sending both careening forwards in an entanglement of purple and black limbs.
A series of oofs, ows, and choked hrks interlaced with unintelligible squeaks of pain ensued as they skidded forwards and debouched into unanticipated brightness, tumbling to a maladroit halt with two dizzy groans before the forelegs of the three other dragons. All of whom seemingly forgetting the tension pervading the atmosphere now that they found themselves pouring a tremendous amount of effort not to break out into stupefied laughter.
But when Laindon burst into chortles interlaced with the occasional snort, laughter disseminated like an infectious contagion until all three were sharing wholehearted guffaws at the expense of the two saviors of the world, spread out in an unbecoming heap before them.
"Okay…" Spyro let out a shaky breath and blinked away the whirls discombobulating his vision before turning to Cynder, who staggered onto her forelegs first before pushing her way back onto all fours. "I know I'm usually the clumsy one… but this time, it was all you." He snickered along with the others as said dragoness shot him an abashed glare of before shaking her head and leaning forwards, punching him lightly on the shoulder.
"Shut up…" She grumbled, sitting back and casting her eyes away as her face flushed with blood.
She let her thoughts wander to the amicable and tonic outdoor air flowing so pleasantly incongruous with the stifling and stale subterranean atmosphere from which she had just tumbled out of. Caught relishing its unadulterated flavor, the dragoness instinctively tensed in alarm when the shade of a blanket folded over her shoulders before Spyro's extended wing furled again, pulling her sideways towards him before mirthfully pressing their cheeks together. Enwrapping her into his warmth, he shared with her a brazen smile and whispered, "Have I ever told you how adorable you look when you blush?"
Her eyes slightly widened before one of her own wings hastily unfurled to form a canopy over the two, covering them from the sight of the others in an effort to shield her interim scarlet hue from their amused stares. Yet, their laughter only seemed to revivify as she spilt out a suppressed whine. "Spyro… stop that…"
The purple dragon only chuckled along and pulled her into a tighter, sidelong embrace as her own breezy grin slowly curled over her lips. For once there was no murderous hostility to regard, all of it supplanted by bona fide hysterics. Even if it may be at their expense, she decided that she enjoyed such a moment.
But when the twittering finally dwindled, Syrina brought them back on track with a sharp clearing of the throat. "Ahem…" Hearing her, Cynder tucked her wings back. Re-emerging into view while also releasing a loud huff and crinkled her nose with mock indignation. The other dragoness gaily stuck her tongue out at her before continuing. "As funny as that was, you're missing out on what's around us."
What's around us? Spyro raised an eyebrow. All there was before him was a light jungle around a circular lake fed by a waterfall…
Jungle? "Wait, what?" His gaze shot up and this time, he squinted until his eyes adjusted to the vibrancy of the sky. For a moment, he felt as if he was but a tiny frog at the bottom of a towering well before the realization hit him that they were currently situated upon the bed of a cavernous sinkhole at least a couple hundred meters in diameter gauging from his best estimate.
The floor, an amalgam of sand and soil, was relatively flat save for numerous boulders jutting out of the ground along one side of the river flowing from the lake back underground. The surrounding greenery was mostly comprised of colossal bamboo stalks stretching high into the sky and light green trees much shorter than the other ones of the cloud forest above. But even here, the undergrowth was still an entanglement of low-hanging branches, snaking vines, and tropical bushes. However, shades of green were often opposed with prismatic hues flaunted by exotic flora, giving an extra helping of life to this isolated place. High above, small, shimmering flocks of flashy birds of paradise circled, roosting amongst the thousands of cracks or crevices climbing up the walls.
He couldn't help but let his jaw drop, astound, as he found himself looking nearly two kilometers upwards at the towering walls encircling him as he stood on this remote island.
"Woah…" The astonished voice came from Corin as he arched his neck until his head was perpendicular with the ground.
"Where… are we?" Cynder whispered, drawing her eyes away from the colossal rock face and towards the foliage. The plants here looked slightly different from the rest of the jungle, most likely a result of the isolation.
"I'm unsure, but we are definitely outside of the valley, but this isn't even the most unbelievable thing." Syrina answered her before flaring her wings and taking off, hovering just above the treetops. "Look from up here!"
The other dragons followed her up into the air and immediately noticed the swirling currents that pushed them upwards, making hovering just slightly easier. As Cynder rose, her eyes fell upon the circular lake composing the center of this ecosystem. It was shallow and clear but at the edge, built upon the rocky shore…
"Is that a house?" She gasped, gazing upon a fairly large construction of wood and stone. A meticulously debarked row of straight tree trunks formed four walls held up by a rock and mortar base. It appeared to be a two-story dwelling crafted with surprising skill. Seeing that it had a chimney, glass windows, and even an organized garden in front overgrown with endemic species of plant life. Yet… the windows were dirty and the path leading away from the front door was completely overgrow. Whoever had lived here was long gone.
"I know, right?" Syrina yelled giddily, brandishing her adventurous side. "Someone's been here before. I ran back to get you guys immediately after stumbling upon this place."
"Should we… take a look?" Spyro inquired, unsure of how he felt breaking into someone's dwelling, even if it looked abandoned.
"Um, let's see…" Laindon said with a lippy tone whilst rubbing his chin in thought. "Middle of nowhere, random house, once in a lifetime opportunity… I'd say yes." He grinned and made a dash towards the building.
"Ugh…" Spyro stuttered and watch with conflicted eyes before Cynder flew up to him and pulled his arm with her tail. "Come on Spyro, you don't have to always follow the rules. Besides, if no one owns this place, then we're not really trespassing now, are we?"
"I… I suppose…" He wriggled his snout before sighing as he realized that the other three dragons were already waiting for them before the front door.
"Great, come on! Where's that adventurous bone that I know you have?" Cynder smiled at him.
Realizing that the vote was already cast at four against one, he shrugged and admitted defeat. "Alright… fine. Let's go." He returned his lover's buoyant expression and aligned his wings with the correct vector. Admittedly, his curiosity was dying to unravel the mystery of this place and it would be such a shame to let mysteries be left to… well, mystify.
"That's the spirit." Cynder snickered playfully before suddenly twisting in the air, her motion tugging Spyro forward while the dragoness simultaneously curled around to plant a tender kiss upon the tip of his nose before she released her grasp and twirled away gracefully in a show of agility that would put even the ennobled birds of prey to shame… and put just the softest brush from a figmental butterfly's wings over the purple dragon's heart. Spyro couldn't help but let a euphoric smile sew itself over his face before he followed, hot on her tail.
Creeeeek…
Slam!
Five simultaneous jumps landed the gathered dragons on their toes as the door's hinges ripped away from the frame when Laindon gently pushed the wooden door open.
Despite their insistence that someone with actual fighting prowess take lead, the Ingrata had been particularly insistent that he should be the first one into the building and in the end, Spyro relented but kept his muscles tensed, ready to jump into action if need be. Perhaps the grey dragon wished to prove himself valuable; after all, he had been eager for any roles to take aside from babysitting the Celtac and Draker. Despite his reassurance that this was not the case, Spyro suspected that his answer wasn't quite taken to heart.
Fortunately, when the vibrations form the thunderous collapse finished reverberating through the homestead, nothing rushed forth to greet them save for a few fat rodents with stripes along their backs and bushy tails. They scampered away, squeaking angrily at the intruders before vanishing into holes burrowed into the walls.
"Okay…" Laindon took an experimental sniff before sticking his head inside, scanning left and right as natural light illuminated the white-painted walls. The door opened into some sort of social room, with a table and kitchen along the wall and a few old cushions dyed black and white tossed about here or there. Multiple large, wooden chests rested against the walls and there were multiple doors leading to the rest of the house as well as a wide staircase built for dragonic use. "Coast looks clear as polished rhinestone!" He announced before rushing inside and leaping onto a pile of aforementioned cushions.
"Oh, mother of ancestors…" Spyro muttered as a cloud of ashy dust immediately filled the air, stinging his vision and seizing his esophagus before a gust of wind from Cynder blew it out of the shattered window.
"Cough Oops…" Laindon meekly stood up again as the fabric fell apart beneath his weight, spilling out chunks of dried sea sponge onto the floor.
"I-it's cough fine," Spyro wheezed for air before a sudden pain flared from his chest, a sharp, stabbing sensation as if his lung had imploded. He swayed on his feet before succumbing to another violent bout of coughs.
Almost instantly, Cynder shot forth to support him as his chest seized with each painful expulsion of air, her eyes more fretful than the dilapidated building they were in. She flinched as splatters of blood sprinkled the ground with each spasm before slowly, the purple dragon recovered and shakily stood back onto his own feet. As he did so, Cynder frowned and wiped away a loose strand of blood that flowed from the corner of his mouth.
"Thanks…" he groaned hoarsely to the black dragoness, nodding in gratitude but her unease was barely mollified.
"Your cough, it's still here." She murmured, face stricken with renewed anxiety as Spyro replied with an offhand shrug.
"Nothing that can't be fixed once we reach Warfang, don't worry." He took another deep inhale before focusing on Laindon, who hung his head apologetically.
"Sorry…" The grey dragon mumbled.
"Don't be, it's just a minor nuisance. Anyways, let's see what this place has to offer. It isn't every day you discover a hidden house in the middle of nowhere." Spyro replied gently, the corners of his lips twitching into a reassuring smile as Laindon's expression brightened.
"No, I suppose it isn't. I'll be careful with the dust." The grey dragon's eyes scanned back and forth at the large interior before beaming and striding further inside, calling out over his back, "Hello y'all, welcome to Laindon Ranch, where the Laindons be ranching and the ranches be Laindons." Before anyone could comprehend his words, the grey dragon was already scampering across the many rooms, inhaling the sights of any object latched onto by his curiosity.
Cynder raised a brow at his sudden fervor while Corin and Syrina wordlessly embarked on their separate investigations, still giving each other a wide berth and shooting the other sharp glares whenever one deemed the other to be too close to their personal space… which was more or less half of the room. She rolled of her eyes again, making a mental note that such action was becoming more and more instinctive day by day. Dear ancestors, if they keep this up those two are going to get us all killed… She shot a weary glance at the purple dragon beside her, who looked back and forth between the three dragons with amusement as they gingerly sifted through old chests and rooms, pulling out anything that could be of use. Old, tattered garments, little statues, eating irons… all sorts of random items cluttered around, turning the already untidy interior even messier.
Laindon blew by, wearing a metal pot over his head as a makeshift helmet. Seeing them synchronously lift quizzical brows at him, the frolicsome dragon puffed his chest out and flashed them another salute before dashing off once more.
Cynder shook her head, chuckling under her breath before swaying her tail back and forth behind her until she found that of her companion, whereupon she coiled them together, grabbing his attention once more in the meantime. When two purple irises glowed at her once more, she nodded towards an unopened room. "Let's help them, then we can be on our way."
"About time…" Corin muttered from nearby, having already gone through two chests and was approaching his third.
"What was that?" Cynder swung her head around, eyes narrowed.
"I said lovely weather we're having, right?" The Celtac slapped on a goofy smile, something that the dragoness didn't expect to see and she couldn't help but expel a few snickers.
"Indeed… lovely." Cynder pretend to cough whilst rolling her eyes before tugging the purple dragon along. Really? Were they being obnoxious to everyone else? First Laindon and then Corin… She shook her head and smirked cheekily. You know what? I actually like snarky Corin over sad and sullen Corin, maybe I won't cut it out…
The white dragon meanwhile turned back to another chest which, like the others, was almost fused shut by the layer of rust jamming the hinges. Why can't things just open up when I want them to? He sighed before rearing up on his hind legs and latching his claws onto grooves in the wood.
Taking a deep breath, he grunted and pulled upwards with all his might. Below, the chest squealed with agony as its joints were forcibly pulled open before the sound died as its organs were exposed.
Seriously? Organs of more textiles? He dug a forearm into the old fabrics and threw a bundle across the room, where it hit the wall a meter away from Syrina, making her jump and yelp in surprise, before the bundle hit the wooden floorboards and shattered.
"What?" The young warrior blinked in surprise and turned towards the pile of clothing he had haphazardly tossed away.
"Hey! Watch it!" Syrina growled at him but he brushed past, eyes locked curiously at the bundle.
"Hey, I'm talking to you! Hey!"
He ignored the dragoness as he stopped and gently unraveled the first layer, then the second, and the third before one of his claws tapped against something hard, a thin piece of glass…
Then more glass spilled out before he dug out an old picture frame with a painting displayed within. Sheltered within all the fabric, it was in the same condition as it had been when the owners of this place had vacated.
Driven by her own curiosity, Syrina gave up on harassing her nemesis to also peer down upon the painting that Corin gingerly pulled out and laid down on the ground. "No way…" She muttered, eyes growing wide as she digested what the painting offered her.
Corin swallowed uneasily, unable to tear his gaze away. This… doesn't make any sense… Who? When? H-
"Ahoy lads!" Both he and Syrina jerked and spun around as Laindon suddenly appeared behind them, an eyepatch hanging over his left eye and a… pot over his head?
"What… are you even supposed to be?" Syrina asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm a pirate!"
"A… pirate?" Corin echoed the strange word.
"Yeah, a pirate. Like the ones from the books! Yarg! The plank to all sneaks… It be I, Laindon! Scourge of the stormy seas… no?"
"Never heard of such a thing." Syrina shook her head before tapping the pot atop the grey dragon's head, causing him to wince at the clanging noise.
"Ditto." Corin nevertheless snickered at his boyish companion's attempt to don on an expression of ferocity and grit. Within his mind, he attempted to envision what one of these 'pirates' were, painting an image of a grizzled sailor with an eyepatch and… pot for a helmet? He shook his head as the image was replaced with Laindon wearing a silly outfit. "How… old are you again?" He finally asked, poking fun at the Ingrata.
"Old enough to know how to live a little, unlike you two it appears." Laindon stuck his tongue out at him.
"Huh…" Corin mugged his features. "Touché, but you still look ridiculous."
Laindon scoffed, faking a look of askance. "I prefer the term fashionable... but enough about that, now tell me, what've the two of you been up to?"
"Just looking around." Corin replied before shifted aside to give him a view of the painting. "But check this out."
Laindon wormed into the space between the two and stared down at the painting as well, displaying the same puzzled and incredulous face. "What the sh-"
"I know, right? I've never even heard of such a thing before." Corin pointed to the two draconic figures painted against a backdrop of blue sky with the forest far below. In the distance, sitting upon the tallest hill, was Clarity and even further still, just hazy shapes almost completely obscured by clouds, were the mountains where the Drakers made their homes.
Yet it was the two figures which captivated their attentions. One of them, a slender yet well-built female, was painted with a mix of snowy white and silver for the main scales, and dark, ocean blue for her belly. The other, this time a male, was painted with icy blue paint for the eyes and belly, while his main scales were painted a shade of black with the barest of blue tints.
"Huh, a Draker and a Celtac…" Laindon whistled. "No wonder they had to run off all the way out here, both sides would've been out for their blood."
"This is..." Coring smacked his lips, mulling over the correct word. "…bizarre."
"More like gross." Syrina snorted. "I mean this is plain sacrilege… ugh, what kind of stupid and cliched fairy tale were these two in? I can't believe they would betray their own people. Abandoning their bloodlines for their own selfish romances…" She caught herself mid-rant and fell quiet, as if a thought had suddenly flashed through her brain. Letting out a snort, she continued casting a disbelieving and unhappy stare at the portrait.
"For once, I concur, I wonder if we'll ever find out what happened to them?" He smacked his lips again before freezing, narrowing his eyes as Syrina shot him a dirty glare.
"Sunblight, please actually never agree with me again." She wriggled her face, as if speaking to him had left a bad taste in her mouth.
"Please kindly choke to death on a treefish… Demon." He hissed back before Laindon pounced forwards and wrapped his arms over both dragons' shoulders.
"You know, the irony of your words aside, ain't it great here? Just me, and you, and you… and most importantly me, on a great adventure to save literally everyone you've ever know?" The grey dragon whistled again, this time in admiration, mulling over their current predicament.
"Laindon… let go before you only have three legs to stand on." Syrina waved her curved talons in front of his face.
"Do it, I dare you." He replied cheekily before sticking his tongue out at her. "Scratch that, I doubly dare you!"
Both dragons went silent for a moment and Corin was almost certain the Draker was going to execute her threat before Syrina's lips curled upwards and she broke out into giggles. "Damn, you're nervy, I like you. Though, I'm surprised you haven't been beaten to death yet with that tongue of yours."
"I wonder myself sometimes." Laindon grinned back, chuckling as well.
"What going on here?" Cynder asked, emerging back out from the room she was previously inspecting, eyes staring quizzically at the strange scene before her.
"Oh, nothing!" Corin faux laughed. "We're just talking about how great of friends we are."
"And how Laindon should let us up… really soon." Syrina followed up.
Spyro stifled a giggle before replying. "Laindon, you're doing an admirable job so far… but we need them to arrive at Warfang alive, but also sane."
"Say no more, great purple one." Laindon let go and sat back on his haunches, casting one last look over the painting. He lightly shook his head before searing his claws down the canvas, tearing it into shreds. "Damn, life must've been a breeze here. Secluded from the scrutiny of the ever-watchful city." For a moment, the seemingly perpetual atmosphere of optimism and wit floating around him like a bubble popped to reveal a serious, tense visage. Spyro almost thought he saw a flicker of jealously and sadness pass over his face, but when he blinked, it was gone. The purple dragon sighed, realizing that as silly and jocular this dragon was, he still had gone through hardships no one should ever experience.
"Hey, you didn't have to do that, what if they ever come back for it?" Corin shot him a dirty look.
"Something tells me they aren't going to be back… ever. You see how run down this place is?" Laindon shrugged and tossed the desecrated artwork haphazardly away.
"He's got a point, no dragon's been here for almost a decade from the looks of it." Syrina agreed. "But you didn't have to do that." She admitted, though she spared the fractured painting no second glance.
"Still… such a waste of a good painting." Corin frowned before swiping his hand over the brittle pieces of glass littering the ground, sweeping them aside.
He winced as one particularly offended shard sliced into his pad and he picked it up, glowering at it. A tiny droplet of red painted the edge of the crystalline piece.
"Stupid glass…" He muttered, squeezing his eyes shut as unwanted images flooded his mind. For a moment, he wasn't an Ingrata with the fate of his people on his shoulders, but a proud Warrior, slinking through the entire city to meet with Alaesya in her garden of glass figurines that trapped the moonlight so beautifully. Her delicate features and equally elegant grace… beneath those twin moons, she belonged so perfectly in that garden of a hundred fallen stars and yet, in his eyes, she glowed brighter than them all. The soft touch, each moment their eyes met, each blissful conversation and moment alone where his heart found its home…
Stop! Stop it!
To think! That crisp, hope-filled night would give way to despairing day! That that night was where his eyes would be graced by the last dance of those figurines, each with the heart of a fallen star… and the next day they would all shatter and leave him in the dark.
Damn it, stop thinking about her… He growled and violently swept away any of the remaining shards, grimacing as more than a few bit painfully into his paw. But the pain felt so relishing! How wonderful it was that physical pain could pull his mind away from the agony of memory? If only he could bleed away them all, if only the tears he watered the cobble were the crimson ones of physical agony… if only he hadn't been a coward. He relaxed, feeling the sting in his paw grow numb.
A second chance… He had a second chance. He couldn't waste it. He had to succeed.
"Umm… are you… okay?" His head twirled to face Laindon, who, along with everyone else, was staring at him with strange expressions.
"Yeah…" He breathed out, sniffling before catching himself and blinking away the wetness that threatened to fall from his eyes. "I'm fine." The Celtac turned to Spyro and Cynder, intent on changing the subject. "So, what did you two find?"
"Not much," Spyro shrugged and held up a wooden carving of a dragon, its legs replaced with wheels that no longer rolled. "A crib, some toys, looks like a kid's room."
"Right… well, anyone find anything helpful?" Corin asked.
"I've got this!" Laindon beamed and held up the pot, banging it against Syrina's horn before she snarled hotly and swiped it out of his claws before hurling against the wall, where it impacted with a reverberating clang.
"Okay… rude." The grey dragon muttered.
"We found some matches and rusted canteens… neither of which I'd think are still usable." Spyro held up a rusty metal water flask. "I mean, sure, if you want we can keep the matches but I can just breathe fire."
"Yeah… no… so I suppose we start moving again?" Laindon shrugged.
"We should. After all, I think we'd best be out of this valley by sundown." Cynder agreed and lead the way back out before stopping and tapping her claws against the dirt. "If anybody has any suggestions where to go now…"
They paused for a moment before Laindon perked up and waved his wing towards the outlet of the lake, from which the river continued into another tunnel. "The river! If I were a Celtac trying to traverse the bowels of the Earth, I'd follow the river."
"Couldn't they have just came from the top of the sinkhole?" Syrina asked.
"They wouldn't have a reason to come down from the sinkhole, and look at how deep down we are. There's no way any elders or hatchling could make such an immense, vertical climb. I doubt I could even do that." Laindon answered back.
"The Celtacs wouldn't have left their own behind." Corin muttered slowly, staring upwards in thought. "They would've arrived here and saw the sky beckoning them but by then, they were much too weak to make such a flight. There's nowhere to rest on these walls."
"He's got a point." Spyro nodded in agreement. "So, if they didn't come down into the sinkhole, then they must've passed by as they traversed the caves. Given that the river cuts through here, I'm inclined to agree with Laindon's idea. Any other suggestions?" The others looked at each other before shaking their heads. Nodding, the purple dragon took off and flew in the direction of the river's drainage, landing once more upon realizing that the cave ceiling was far too low for any flying. Upon touching down, he noted that the river widened substantially but also grew shallower, flowing no more than a half meter deep. The surface lapped at the bottom of his chest and he shivered as the cold seeped through his scales.
The water was crisp and clear when he touched down, sending out a splash that was soon followed by his four companions. Looking down, he could see the pebbly bottom as well as a few four-finned fish swish by, fleeing from his wake.
Corin waded forward and took the first, slow steps into the cave, illuminating himself once more, the light shimmering wildly as it bounced off the water's surface to cast the walls and ceiling in worms of wriggling shine.
"How's your mana doing?" Spyro asked him as he followed the Celtac, feeling the rest of the party huddle closer as they ventured back into the dark, staying well within the bounds of Corin's radiance.
"Still plenty left, as long as I don't have to go any brighter." He replied back, his voice joining the sound of rushing water to echo within the cramped interior.
A school of fish, dozens of species of varying colors and sizes, circled the draconic lantern, seemingly also seeking refuge from the encroaching shadows. "This fauna here…" Spyro turned as Cynder waded up beside him. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Neither have I, Volteer would be ecstatic if he can take closer look. Knowing him, we'd be stuck here for another year." He chuckled back.
"At the very least. But for once, I can share his curiosity. If only we had time to just enjoy the scenery, you know?"
"I'd love to." Spyro admitted. "I think we need to take a long vacation after this whole thing blows over."
"Yeah, maybe explore Avalar a bit, or the other places of the realms now that there's no war to weigh us down." Cynder smiled at the thought before forcing Spyro's wing open and sliding herself underneath before draping her own wing over his back, both of them sharing a few snickers as she did so.
"You know, I never did take you for the cuddling sort. In fact, If I'd been asked just a few weeks ago, the mere though would've seemed outlandish."
"Hmm, maybe it's because you spoiled me back at the temple." Cynder mused, recalling old memories of a time long passed. Back when they were just past the hatchling stage… back when they made friends with the other dragons of the temple before the majority of them left for the safety of Warfang. "But honestly, I never took myself as the type either… but then again, I'm still in the self-discovery phase I suppose."
"I understand, and honestly, I'm liking this change." Spyro admitted with a chuckle.
"I'm not the only one changing." Cynder nudged him.
"Am I?" Spyro raised a bemused brow. "I don't feel as if I'm doing anything different."
"No, silly dragon." Cynder laughed, slightly shaking her head. "Most people don't notice themselves change, be it for better or worse. It just kind of happens. In your case per say, you're much less serious… and a lot more fun to snuggle with." She finished with her tone drifting into a more playful one.
The dragon sucked his teeth, pondering her words for a moment before shrugging and shooting her a crooked smile. "That's fair. I am going through self-discovery. I guess it had to happen sometime given how our lives have been thus far." He abruptly leaned in and licked her cheek. "But at least I got you here so I don't feel out of place." He bumped against her, his voice sparkling with mirth.
"I know, you're welcome." His companion responded loftily, tilting her head up and huffing. Spyro snickered before a more mischievous grin replaced the previous one and he quickly leaned in again to nip at her neck. Caught off guard, the black dragoness squeaked and fumbled at the unexpected touch before glaring at him. The purple dragon merely shrugged with faux innocence.
"See? This is what I'm talking about!" Cynder accused him with piercing eyes though her voice had trouble not breaking into giggles.
"I haven't a clue what you mean." At this, the dragoness rolled her eyes before arching her head down beneath the water. Spyro tilted his head in confusion, leaning down with his eyebrows arched.
"What are-" The dragoness swiftly hauled her head up, facing him, and his eyes widened upon seeing her cheeks puffed before he shriveled back, face drenched in the cold water.
"You know why I did that?" Cynder laughed and nuzzled him.
"Because you love me?"
"No, guess again wise guy."
"Because you're so pretty?"
Cynder looked at him and rolled her eyes once more. "Shut up, you're so corny, has anyone told you that?"
Cough, "Hypocrite." Syrina snorted from behind them and Cynder turned and narrowed her eyes at the other dragoness, who smirked back.
"Come on, I thought you'd of all people would have my back." The black dragoness huffed.
"Oh, I do." Syrina laughed. "But I think this time, I'm speaking for all of us." Cynder twisted her head around in time to see Corin and Laindon look away, both seemingly paying attention to something else whilst wiping smirks off their faces. Cynder's snorted as Corin's light briefly flickered as he hid a giggle with a dry cough.
Suddenly, the Celtac yelled and jolted backwards, splashing them with water and earning him multiple miffed grunts.
"Hey, what's the idea…" Syrina grumbled and sloshed forwards until she saw a meter-long shape swimming towards them.
"Um… what is that?" She hissed as the shape, now identifiable as some sort of strange… salamander? Or at least that's the only thing she could compare it to; however, this particular specimen sported six webbed feet along its smooth, pale body and strangely, it had two pairs of large, bulbous eyes, one pair on each side of its broad skull. Its spade shaped snout had a single, glowing antenna on the front and it used its tail – which was akin to a fish's – to swim against the current.
With a quick splash, it darted its head forward and snatched one of the fish swimming nearby in its jaws before paddling quickly back into the darkness, only its glowing appendage visible before that too vanished.
"Woah! You see that?" Laindon tilted his head.
"Er… I don't feel too safe anymore…" Corin let out a nervous laugh. "I mean, who knows what else could be lurking here… in the caves."
"Huh, is the Celtac scared of a little amphibian?" Syrina grinned at him smugly before advancing in front of Spyro and Cynder so she was closer to Corin though still leaving multiple meters between them. "Don't worry, I won't run away like you do."
"Syrina…" Spyro groaned.
"What? I wasn't hurting him." The shadow dragoness defended herself. "Come on, let's hurry up."
Corin looked at her and narrowed his eyes, realizing that she was putting forth an unspoken challenge. "Yes… let's." He knit his brows and continued the pace, steeling his nerves as each swish of running water, drip of something breaking the surface, and movement flitting by the corner of his vision raised the scales on the back of his neck.
The constant call of the earth didn't help either…
"Hey, if it rains and floods down here, how long will it take for anyone to find us?" Laindon trotted up to them and asked, forcing away the fish swimming in his path. The multicolored shoals flashed back and forth, snatching away pieces of food floating in the current, following the Celtac's light just as the dragons towering over them did as well.
"Perhaps never, assuming once we get back to find this valley dead and desolate. There won't be anyone here to look for our rotting carcasses except scavengers." Syrina laughed dryly.
"…Killjoy…" Laindon muttered back.
As they continued deeper and deeper, the water began to steadily rise until going from the height of their forelegs to tickle at their chests, before incrementing so that it sloshed over their backs, forcing them to keep their wings raised to keep them dry.
They were still heading downwards and downwards, hoping to find any sign that they were still retracing the path of the first Celtacs but in the dark and with the constant erosion from the water, any traces that could've potentially reassured them had long since been washed away.
In the dark, it became difficult to accurately discern the passage of time. Had it been hours since they had left the sinkhole? For Cynder, it certainly felt like it. This was a new experience, wading through a nearly submerged cave. The ceiling high above was filled with stalactites, some of them sharp enough to potentially cause serious harm should they fall. Hopefully they wouldn't though; after all, none of those above had yet to fall after thousands of years spent forming, why would they do so now?
And the creatures inhabiting the waters! Never before had she seen such strange specimens of fish and amphibians. The school of fish that followed them down had gradually disappeared, most likely lost while searching for morsels of food or maybe having been picked off by bigger specimens.
The ones that she saw now were all pale in color and most were lacking eyes. She had heard about this before, in one of the books she read at the temple, how prolonged habitation in specific environments caused species to evolve… odd traits. Seeing such cases firsthand still felt weird and to be perfectly honest, they looked grotesque.
A glimmer of blue light ahead drew her attention upward and she blinked, wondering if she was confusing herself with the Celtac's elemental glow. Ahead, she could see the barest silhouette of an exit… and ahead… sunlight? Were they finally finished?
"Hey, Corin, turn off your light momentarily."
"Why?" The light dragon turned his head questioningly.
"I thought I saw something."
The dragon raised a brow and shrugged but a moment later, the white light receded, leaving them blinking in the dark, adjusting again to the change in luminosity.
She blinked rapidly until she saw it again, in the distance, the cavern narrowed and a strange, blue glow, just barely visible on the other side. The noise of the water was now significantly louder, as if the current was breaking and falling…
"There's a waterfall…" She noted.
"What's the light?" Spyro murmured.
"Don't know, but…" Syrina turned to Corin and bore him a toothy smile. "Looks like the little lantern has outlived his usefulness." She quipped snidely before moving forwards again.
She made a dozen steps before yelping as her front legs suddenly were met with nothing beneath her and for a second, her body dipped underwater before she burst above the surface again, sputtering and flailing as the current carried her onwards. It rapidly sped up, throwing sprays of whitewater into the air as it flowed towards the exit.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you over the sound of you looking like a total dunce!" Corin yelled after her, feeling the stony riverbed abruptly drop off. He let himself float and rapidly accelerated. Syrina screamed something angrily in response before sinking again, appearing a few meters downriver.
"What? I can't hear you!" Corin laughed at her expense as he drifted closer to the tumbling mess of limbs that was the Draker.
However, unlike the Draker, he kept himself parallel to the current, carefully keeping his wings in the air so as to not let them catch the force of the river and spin him out uncontrollably as well. Unable to turn, he felt the slightest trickle of dread drip down his throat but for now, he had a Demon to torment.
Already far behind, Laindon frowned and squinted before slowly saying, "Hey… uh, I don't think she knows how to swim." He paused at the edge where there was a noticeable drop off, careful not to repeat the same mistake as the previous two.
Spyro scrutinized Syrina as she was carried further and further away. Unlike Corin, who was maintaining some level of control over his movements, she was fighting against the water, her wings dragging her back and forth, her head dipping beneath the surface multiple times. "Uh oh…" He started to rush forward to help but quickly realized that with the current's speed, he hadn't much hope of actually reaching her.
"Corin! Help her!" He yelled, causing the Celtac to crane his head back, confused. Spyro yelled towards him again and this time, he realization seemed to dawn over his face as he peered over the vicious waves to glimpse at Syrina ahead. He paddled towards her, reaching out to help her until another thought crossed his mind, making him hesitate. Okay… but what if I don't help the Demon? Actually, here was his chance to get rid of the problem... he could remove this obstacle right now… as long as he could pretend that he was going to help…
It would be so easy… Just pretend to help.
He was almost within arm's reach now, coming closer and closer to her as she floundered wildly.
Okay, pretend to help, then I can let go. Like she said, nothing but future prey for rot and scavengers!
She emerged back onto the surface, no more a silhouette against the pale blue light, her draconic form for the first time flashing an air of panic rather than her normal, callous aura. A choked gasp escaped her maw as she tried to pull herself towards the faraway walls but the moment she turned her body, the water caught her wings and plunged her back beneath its blanket.
An uneasy, new feeling filled his gut as he watched. Here, where he couldn't make out the details of his nemesis she actually didn't look all that threatening... Stop… don't you dare think about actually helping that dragoness… The Demons killed hundreds of his people, people he knew, people like Ethryael's father. They ruined his life for ancestor's sake! If it weren't for them he'd still be back in Clarity...
He grit his teeth as a stab of pain shot through his body. Underwater, a set of flailing talons clawed over his shoulder, ripping scratches in his scales that let in the biting chill of the water. The pain shook him out of his thoughts and he realized that he was right over Syrina's position. What an unpleasant way to die. He thought. Feeling your lungs burst as your body starved itself of oxygen... He shivered at the idea... or was it the cold. I wouldn't want to die like that. He blinked as he pictured himself drowning, futilely inhaling nothing but water. What a way it would be for a dragon to go. And he was about to just let it happen.
I can't believe I'm actually doing this. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a muffled roar through his teeth before diving beneath the surface. Dark waters fled the light as he let out a brilliant flash, illuminating for a split second his surroundings. Below, he saw a shape, vigorously trying to free herself from her heavy satchel.
He lunged downwards, careful to keep his own wings as dry as possible, wildly swinging his claws at the last position he saw the dragoness. Sharp talons latched securely against canvas-like wings as a muffled shriek bubbled past his ear. Oops... A bit more carefully this time, he reached forth and grabbed the wing base before pulling with all his might upwards, using his own wings to push against the water.
Syrina emerged coughing and gasping, instinctively pushing upwards against Corin in an effort to elevate herself from the waves, though inadvertently, the move nearly forced the Celtac's own head underwater.
"Hey! Careful!" He yelled at her over the roar of the river. Was it always this loud? He hadn't noticed this much noise earlier. He let go with one paw to grip the other wing base, trying to stop the Draker from struggling and pulling them both down again before flaring his wings so that they were far above the surface. He tried to shake as much water out of them as possible as Syrina somewhat regained her senses. She murmured something inaudible.
"Wha..." Corin looked forward to see the river abruptly disappear into open air. He blinked in confusion before the realization hit him that they were going to be in for an unpleasant plummet. He tightened his grip and hoped that his wings would be enough to carry both of them and their packs as well before he felt himself free fall.
Far behind, Laindon had his arms over both Cynder and Spyro's shoulders, the two of them helping him keep above water as they carefully treaded forward.
They watched as the two figures in front of them went over the edge before they followed a half minute later, though with Cynder's wind element, a strong current of air lifted them airborne as they erupted into a dim blue emptiness.
Laindon separated as they took flight, sparing the other two from having to carry his weight any longer and together, the three of them circled downwards, fretting over the fate of their other two companions.
The waterfall must've been at least thirty meters high and below, a massive lake stretched out for as far as the eyes could see. Massive boulders sporadically rose out of the water, from which dozens of giant blue crystals glowed with surprising brightness, basking the entire area in the strange light they saw earlier. High above, even more of the strange crystals clung to a distant ceiling and while nowhere close to the irradiance of day, it still momentarily burned their eyes as they stared downwards, searching for…
"There!" Spyro called out, pointing to one of the boulders sticking out of the water. As they watched, a white figure slowly reached upwards, digging his claws into the stone before heaving another, darker figure upwards as well, both of them sprawling limply onto their backs against the safety of land, breathing heavily.
"Corin, Syrina!" Cynder called to them as she dove and landed beside the two, her claws clicking against the hard surface.
For a singular hushed moment, neither of them replied, instead opting to labor for breath and rivet their eyes with candid enthrallment upon the vast array of surreal chandeliers comprised of gigantic gemstone monoliths, each a perpetual celestial soul glowing an ethereal azure, each a defiant specter of light at eternal war with the circumambient void, each just one of a legion forged by scattered hundreds to fashion a veil of haunting sentinels perched in apodictic vigil over these subterranean shores.
The hushed moment ended when Syrina final groaned and rolled back onto her belly, shaking her head.
"For someone with the last name Marinus¸ I find it peculiarly ironic that you can't swim." Laindon chided.
She turned to him, still panting, yet her eyes regaining some of their previously lost heat. "I can… but only in the shallow river or crater lakes. I haven't exactly thought it'd be a good idea to throw myself into a raging torrent before."
"Heh, still ironic."
The Draker ground her teeth together, shivering slightly at the chill as she glared daggers at the Ingrata. "Laindon… please. Actually just shut up for once."
The grey dragon smiled meekly and mouth okay before taking a few steps back.
Corin stood up, shaking and groaning in pain before looking upwards, from the point where they had begun their plummet. "That was a lot higher than I expected." He grumbled before turning to Syrina, a begrudging and slightly sour expression dawning over his face. "Try to do a better job at staying alive. As Spyro said, both of us need to get to Warfang in one piece." He hissed.
Syrina looked at him and Cynder swore that for a moment, the midnight black dragoness flushed a shade of red. Be it from embarrassment or rage, she couldn't tell. Finally, however, the Draker nodded, saying, "Don't think this changes anything… but thanks." Her voice was dry and while obviously irked, an undertone of relief was still audible. A glimmer of smugness darted over the Celtac's face but he didn't reply.
Seeing the exchange, Cynder twisted her lips in thought. Perhaps those two would be a bit hesitant to bicker with this development.
"Are any of you two hurt"? Spyro asked, looking them over. Aside from the shivering, be it from chill or adrenaline, both seemed fine. Both bore newly opened claw scratches and no doubt a few bruises beneath their scales from the fall but overall, nothing serious.
"No, just taking a breather." Corin responded.
"Ditto." Syrina groaned.
The purple dragon nodded before turning and walking to the edge of the rock island, squinting and staring out into the distance. With the glow of the crystals, he could see the shore nearly three kilometers away, a neat, straight shoreline that lead into another jungle. Yet this was no place he's ever seen or heard of before. First of all, it was housed within a hollow pocket of the Earth… second, there was no way there could be any plants living down here, never to see the sun and feed off its rays. Where in the world are we?
Pop
He looked down in surprise as a bubble burst a meter in front of him. He titled his head in confusion before a stream of them roiled the surface. Is that a rock? Spyro peered at a dark shape far below the surface.
"Hey! Spyro!" He turned to see Laindon gesture towards something nearby. "Look, fish!"
The purple dragon blinked in amazement as a shoal of bioluminescent fish darted by. There's an entire world down here…
"Spyro! Watch out!" His head snapped to Cynder, confusion momentarily clouding his eyes before he almost instinctively lunged sideways after seeing the panic shadowing her features.
Splash
The massive torrent of water cascaded over them was followed by a resounding roar that made their heads throb. Spyro spun to face his attacker, shielding his eyes from the spray of water before sharply stealing a breath as a massive shape slammed into him, throwing him into the air and leaving him just a split second to fill his lungs before he landed back first into the water, his ears ringing and head spinning from the impact. His wings bent awkwardly as they punched through the surface, leaving him unable to propel himself back upwards. The extra weight of his satchel didn't help him either as it dragged him deeper underwater.
Out of the corner of his eye, a blurry, large shape approached him and another headache inducing rumble made him wince before he squirmed to face it, forcing himself to keep his eyes open despite the bite of the chilly water. He charged his electricity as the creature loomed over him before abruptly cutting off the deadly attack. If anyone else had been knocked underwater, his element would run the risk of frying them as well.
Rather, just moments before the beast could clamp two toothy jaws over the purple dragon, a flash of sapphire light blasted forth from his maw and the water erupted in a frenzy as in an instant, a wide cone of liquid was flash frozen. The sudden discharge of magic dizzied him momentarily as bubbles swirled around his vision and he clumsily pushed himself away from the newly created iceberg, unsure exactly which way to swim.
Mph… his lungs began to burn within his chest as he forced himself to calm down and blearily, he realized that he could see the surface far overhead but with the weight of his pack, he was slowly sinking deeper and deeper.
He forced himself to paddle upwards, unwilling to relinquish the belongings he carried. The toiling waves didn't look that far, just a few meters or so. His eyes widened as a new pain erupted in his chest, a sharp, stabbing pain that briefly made him freeze. No, no, no!
Yet this time, the pain began to exponentially increase and the urge to cough pushed at the base of his throat though his lungs were already vacant. The purple dragon jolted as he realized that he was sinking again and in a panic, flailed his limbs wildly, trying to push against the water.
Gasp! His jaws were forced opened as the cough struggled out of his chest and a trickle of tiny bubbles escaped his maw before cold water rushed down his throat as he unconsciously sought for more air. His lungs being filled with liquid sent a massive wave of pain and nausea through his body and suddenly, his limbs were no longer his to control. Weakly, he saw the surface slowly disappear into the encroaching abyss.
And then he was falling… falling into the realm of a hundred thousand dancing stars that zipped by across their cosmic stage. They giggled and brushed against his cheeks as they gracefully pranced around him before a dust cloud drifted over him like a warm, glowing blanket.
All he could hear was the constant and frenzied thumps of a war drum that set the tempo of his surreal ballet but after a few beats, it began to slow and fade away, at last giving him warm, comfortable silence. He sighed and smiled contently before closing his eyes, letting the warmth diffuse through his veins
"Spyro…"
He flinched and peeked one purple iris open but again, only silent stars hailed for his attention.
"Spyro…" He winced as something cold brushed over his scales, not anything physical, but the voice itself.
Gravity bound him and dragged him down.
His eyes flew open, as the stars came down with him, streaks of silver, emerald, gold, and rubies. He gasped as they blinked out, one by one, and with their death went the soothing warmth. He craned his neck and looked down and saw a inky marble rising up to catch his fall. Waving columns of fire spewed violently over its surface and the ephemeral light they casted burned his eyes with their strange purity.
But the fires we're dying too, and soon, only the corpse of a star remained, a dense hull of iron amidst empty space. He swiveled his body and flared his wings open, catching air that didn't exist.
This was a dream, but why was it so clear? He scanned the dark, desolate plane as it landed and noticed that around him, a thick fog of shadows parted around him, but the smoky wisps seems almost alive as they jerked back and forth.
Spash! He sunk elbow deep within a viscous liquid and his nose was assaulted by a terrible stench. Blood?
He shivered as he realized that the entire surface seemed to be a shallow sea of it and as he watched, movement - more deliberate than the dancing smoke - caught his eye.
The sillouette of another dragon waded towards him and he grit his teeth as a pair of glowing white eyes locked onto his. A mirror image of himself stopped in front of him, his corrupt led half, the one he tried to keep subdued. The two dragons held a silent stare until his counterpart turned to scan the bloody star and empty sky.
"You shouldn't be here." It murmured to him.
"This is my dream. I'm sure you're the one staying in my mind without permission." He growled in response.
The dragon cocked his head at him and merely replied. "I must be here, or else we both suffer."
Spyro blinked in confusion. " What do you mean?" He demanded.
He narrowed his eyes as his counterpart laughed loudly, a grating, sinister noise that made him dig his claws into the ground. After the laughter ceased, the dragon turned and beckoned for him to follow. "Come, let me show you something, before the world requests it's hero once more."
Spyro watched him grow more and more obscure against the mist and finally growled, padding after him before he could disappear entirety, his curiosity driving him forward even as his conciousness screamed ever so quietly for him to take flight and leave this vile place.
