It didn't take long to find the supply cave. We just followed the path the cheetahs had made, and there we were.
The supply cave was full of—well, supplies. Food, weapons, tools, and other things were neatly stacked in there. But what caught my eye were two pretty sparkly blue lights!
"Another one! I guess they're some kind of key. I wonder what they're made of," I said, picking up a light by the handle resting on top of it.
Spyro grabbed the other light and we took off into the air. The weights made it really hard to fly, but we managed to get to the small dock in the river. The boat was held above the water on poles so it wouldn't float away. Spyro and I dropped the weights onto the pressure plates that apparently worked the docks and the boat fell into the water.
"Alright. Now how are we supposed to get this thing to Meadow?" I asked, hopping down onto the boat.
Spyro and Cynder hopped down with me, exchanging amused glances.
"What?" I asked suspiciously. They both grinned. "What?"
~~...~~
"I hate them. I hate them so much," I grumbled. They made me pull the boat while they just sat on it and held on.
"Having fun down there?" I spat over my shoulder.
"Yup!" was Spyro's highly amused reply. I grumbled to myself and gave a halfhearted flap.
I spied a chance to get my revenge while we rounded a bend in the river. As the boat came near the edge, I jerked towards it, causing the boat slam into it. Cynder lost her balance and Spyro fell into the water.
"Are you still having fun down there?" I sang.
Spyro shot up out of the water after me. I laughed and flew away. With two of us pulling the boat, we were easily fighting the current.
"What? Why did they put those there? !" I screamed, noticing two poles sticking out in the middle of the river. The lever that would raise the poles out of the water was on land, and surrounded by a group of gremlins.
"Oh, I am not dealing with this! Hang on, Cynder!" I called. I flew forward full speed. The boat collided with the poles, breaking them, and the boat continued on unscathed.
"Crystal!" Spyro yelled.
"What?"
"You just broke something!"
"Yes, and I enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for understanding." I grinned. Spyro sighed and shook his head.
It didn't take very long to make it to the waterfall cave. Meadow had managed to crawl to the mouth of it and was waiting for us. Cynder and Spyro went to meet him, while I stayed on the boat so it wouldn't get pulled away.
"You've come back. Thank you," Meadow said.
"Oh, yeah, it was really no problem at all. I did all the work..." Sparx said. I shot a glare at him. "Just kidding. I really did..." he whispered to Meadow.
"Hey! You three mind hurrying up? This thing is floating away!" I yelled, clinging onto the wood. The electricity In our collars began to crackle.
"Let's get you home," Spyro said to Meadow.
~~...~~
Meadow, using a thick stick we found for him, managed to climb off the raft and get back into the cheetah's town.
"Meadow!" a blue cheetah exclaimed. "You're wounded! How—"
"I will be fine, thanks to these three dragons," Meadow said. Sparx humphed and crossed his arms. Cynder smiled in amusement.
"Meadow, please forgive me," Red interjected, walking forward. "These dragons willingly sought to help you when I chose not to." He turned to Hunter, now untied. "I do not share your faith in these dragons, Hunter. But by putting you in chains, I committed an error."
"No kidding," I said under my breath.
"We all make mistakes," Hunter replied.
"Yes," said—fine, Chief Prowlus. "And I shall try to atone for mine if you will permit me." He took out a strange slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Hunter. "Use the forbidden tunnel. It will lead directly into the Dragon City. If these dragons are indeed our last hope, then I bid you safe passage... and good luck."
"We could use your help," Hunter said.
I glanced at Chief Prowlus. He had a strange gleam in his eye.
"Very well. The invitation shall be left open," Hunter turned and led us away.
I didn't know this Chief Prowlus very well, but I know he has something in mind.
~~...~~
Hunter turned a strange stone on a door situated into the mountain. The door opened with a screech of stone on stone.
"Uh... Hunter, do we have to go this way?" Sparx asked, gazing into the dark cave that opened up before us.
"If we march quickly, we shall reach the Dragon City by daybreak," Hunter said, ignoring Sparx. I wanted to groan. A whole night of walking.
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for answering."
~~...~~
"I feel vibrations in the earth. We must be getting close," Hunter said.
"FINALLY!" I exclaimed. I was sick. Of. Walking!
"Finally," was Sparx's less enthusiastic response.
"I've never seen the Dragon City before," Spyro said. We had come to a tunnel made out of stone, with windows peeking out over the city. Spyro and I were gazing out of one.
"It was built long ago by the moles in honor of their friendship with the dragons. Before Malefor, dragons were quite revered," Hunter explained.
Cynder looked around quickly. "Shh!"
"I heard it too. Quickly!" Hunter said, running off.
"Oh, no," I said. Obviously, this meant something bad was going on in the city. But more importantly, I wouldn't get to sleep. We ran out of the tunnel and into the open air.
"It has begun," I glanced at Hunter quizzically, then turned to look out over the city. My breath caught in my throat.
Moles were running over the walls, carrying weapons. A fireball flew over them and slammed into a building. I could hear shouts drifting up from the other side of the city.
Almost half of Warfang was on fire. I could see many moles and some dragons scurrying about below us, stopping only to fight off gremlins. In addition, many dragons spanned the skies outside the walls. That was all I could observe before Hunter spoke.
"Stay close!" he yelled. I ran after him. And then it stopped me.
I fell over backwards, Spyro just barely managed not to fall backwards, and Cynder skidded to a stop as the building that had been hit by the fireball slammed down in front of us. If we hadn't stopped a moment earlier... I hopped to my feet.
"I'm alright! But you won't be able to get through this way! Go, find Ignitus!" Hunter yelled over the toppled building.
I was about to argue, but I realized it was better if we parted ways for now. Ignitus was likely to be in the air, anyhow, and Hunter couldn't follow us there.
"Okay. Good luck!" Spyro called.