How Wide, How Deep

This was a fun chapter to write. I hope it's just as fun to read.

All reviews appreciated. All non-reviews also appreciated.

Cynder dropped her jaw and lay in silence. She knew, without a doubt, what he'd said to her. It had been quiet, but resounded in her mind with sincerity. She licked her lips and brought them tightly together.

"I love you, too, Spyro," she sighed, "And I'm so, so glad to hear you say that."

Spyro smiled to himself, keeping his eyes closed. "Anything less would be a lie," he quietly replied.

Gradually, he slid his paw from beneath her chin. Placing it on the tops of her paws, Spyro gently rubbed, and Cynder purred in comforted delight.

"You've always been good to me," she groaned, "But I don't know that I've deserved it."

Spyro opened one eye and directed it toward Cynder. He shook his head and gripped onto her paw.

"You must be joking, Cynder. I think you're well deserving."

"Did you forget my eight year-long rampage?" she scoffed, "Or are you-"

"Cynder!" Spyro snapped, opening both eyes and glaring at her, "Circumstances caused that, not you."

"Maybe, but I...I was rude toward you in the beginning with no...no reason," she replied.

"We were both irritable back then. What would you expect after being 'asleep' for three years?"

Cynder nodded slightly. "Spyro...let's save this for the morning, please."

"Okay," he whispered, "I love you."

"I-I love you, Spyro."

No matter how hard she had combated it with negatives, Cynder's mental elation remained staid, and it grew, too. Here she lay in silence, wrapped tightly in Spyro's arms. The scent of him was about, and thoroughly permeated. To her, it was a perfect blend of the musk ever-present near him, his bloody, trophies of battle that lurked under the purples and yellows of his scales, and sweat.

She frowned, knowing she was no cleaner. Maybe...they'd have to bathe before heading back to the temple.

[][][]

"Ignitus!"

Ignitus snapped his eyes open. He groaned, turning onto his side in the bed.

"What is it, Canicus? I was sleeping," he mumbled.

"You have missed your best chance!" Canicus growled.

"Oh?"

"Spyro chose without your consent! You must do it soon; his choices could take him away all too soon."

"Do you mean a, uh, mate?" Ignitus yawned.

"Soon to be, yes," Canicus rumbled.

"Lucky girl, then."

"It's not so lucky for us. She can easily ruin us; he infatuated!"

"How do you know this?"

Canicus scoffed arrogantly, "I've told you before that all four of us have a sway in his decisions. I can see everything, but really only make a difference when he is angry. However, once my voice is more prominent we can begin a change in our race. And my brother and sisters' dissent will mean nothing."

"But we need to wait. I need him to trust me; I want him to."

"Once it's done it won't matter, Ignitus!"

"I- okay." Ignitus nodded solemnly. "It will be done today."

"Find him, break him, and you will profit eternally."

[][][]

Cynder woke to a warm, moist tongue trailing it's way up her neck. It was drawn along the bottom of her chin, and receded when it touched upon her lips.

"Spyro?" Cynder softly moaned.

"Who else?" he replied, "Did you sleep well?"

She giggled, and said, "How could I not with you here?"

"Mhm, good point, but what about your...muscle?"

"I, um, it feels better, thanks."

Spyro slipped slowly back. He untangled carefully from her and stood. Craning her neck, Cynder turned with him as he came in three strides to her front. He stretched out and down, looking face-to-face with Cynder.

"Yes?"

"Oh, just lookin'"

Cynder diverted her eyes. "Uhm..." She stared quickly forward again when Spyro's snout met hers.

"You don't mind if I touch, too, right, if only a little?" Spyro said, grinning happily.

"N-not at all."

"Good," he hummed. Rocking his mouth forward, Spyro kissed her and stood to his feet. "Let's, ah, move on?"

[][][]

Ignitus silently closed the door. To his good fortune, no one had seen him enter. He hoped it would be the same when Spyro was along with him.

The torches ahead lit up as he approached, but yet he shivered with every step. He hated this place.

"I didn't even know this place existed before you told me, Canicus."

"There are more things about this temple that you don't know than you do, Ignitus. This particular area was constructed to retrieve information from prisoners. It will suit our need well."

Ignitus stepped down into the wide, round room. The only things in the room were two stone tables. One was very large, large enough to lay a full grown dragon upon and more, and it was set at a steep angle toward the ceiling, with a thick lip at the bottom. Two straps hung from either side, placed at the tops and bottoms. They were stretched, and the fibers torn from each other, but the thick metal rings at their ends made them strong. They showed no hint of rust.

The other table is what frightened Ignitus. It was laden with viscous implements that Ignitus could only imagine in use. Surely they had been used numerous times. He wondered as to how many had been put to death, purposely or otherwise, in this room while it was in operation.

Nowadays, torture was generally frowned upon, even it times of war. Then again, what had Malefor cared? There had been several reports of Malefor taking prisoners to slowly kill for enjoyment.

"It's your need," Ignitus muttered, "I should prepare...Spyro's sleeping drug."

"Why, Ignitus? The pain will do him good."

"No. I will do what I feel is right. I don't want him to feel or see this."

Canicus scoffed at him. "You're too soft! It's to your benefit; it would let Spyro know that you are in control, in control of his pain."

Ignitus turned around, and started up the sloping path in silence.

[][][]

"Spyro, come on!" Cynder yelled.

Running, she weaved between the forest's trees. Slowly they began to thin out, until she ran on a rocky surface up to the edge of a small river. She came to a sudden halt and leaned out over the bank. Spyro trotted right up beside her, gazing in.

"Wow," he gasped, "this water is clearer than I expected."

"Guess I picked a good spot then," Cynder chortled, "Interested in getting clean?"

"Hmm?" Spyro tilted his head, then sniffed his chest and forearms. "Do I smell bad?"

"Well, no, but neither of us have bathed in over three years."

Spyro gave a nod of concession and took a step forward. Not only was the water in this spot clear, it was wide, and deep enough to cover both of them almost to their heads.

"Coming in, Cyn-der?"

She sprang over him and landed with a smack in the middle of the river. A flow of water rose and fell down onto her. Spyro slid slowly down into the water and exhaled audibly.

"This is nice," he sighed. Looking over, he saw Cynder swimming toward him, shivering feverishly.

"B-brrr...it's c-cold," she whimpered.

Spyro frowned and glanced about thoughtfully. "I can't warm up the water, it would flow right on down...maybe..." He kissed her cheek. "Close your eyes. I need only a minute."

Still shivering, she did so. A loud cracking noise startled her, and she cringed as it sounded again and again. It became quiet. The water around her warmed rapidly until Spyro licked the side of her neck.

"Open up."

She blinked her eyes open and immediately chuckled, amazed.

"You...diverted the river?"

"Yep, all for you. It wasn't too hard."

"Not too hard? You practically...thank you." Cynder leaned over against him.

"Mhm, You're very welcome."

"Spyro, can you promise you'll never leave me?"

"Wouldn't think of it."

[][][]

Ignitus waited patiently at the door for them. He wanted to get this over with, and quickly. Despite having seen them quite a ways off, Canicus still informed him every few minutes as to how close they were.

"About a mile off, Ignitus. Do you have a plan for getting him away from that wench?"

"Not specifically, no," Ignitus replied, "But it should be no trouble with-"

"Excuse me, um, Ignitus?"

He spun around, and did his best to smile. "Yes, miss Agalia?"

"Have you, ah, seen Cynder at all today?" Agalia mumbled.

"No, but she is coming up the road with Spyro." He turned and gestured to the path leading away from the temple.

"Oh! Really? Then maybe all my work today was for nothing." She chuckled and shrugged. "Eh, I can always change it for her."

Ignitus stared for a while, having no idea what she was speaking of. "Well...if you want to wait here for her, feel free."

Yawning with her mouth wide, Agalia sat back on her haunches. "Yeah, I will."

"See, Canicus? Now Cynder is no hindrance."

"So you think...you'd better hope she hasn't drawn him in too much."

[][][]

Ignitus fixed his eyes on the one dragon that was approaching them. He couldn't take Spyro in while they were around; he'd have to hope that he wouldn't be when they came back around.

"Ahem, Spyro, what happened to your wing?" Ignitus asked.

"We were flying in the dark and...and I caught it on a tree branch."

"That's all? I thought maybe Cynder was too rough with you."

"Wha?"

Ignitus grinned and shook his head, mumbling, "Never you mind..."

"Ok-ay. Um, is it alright if I just use your name? I can't really- I can't get used to calling you 'dad' or 'father.'"

"I don't see why not."

"Good. Thank you, Ignitus. Also, though, how do you feel about Cynder and me?"

"It doesn't matter what I feel." He stopped just ahead of a door and lifted a paw up onto Spyro's chest. "Only what you feel. But you're still young. You have years to truly find yours."

Spyro stared down at the thick, clawed hand on his chest. "But I know that that is Cynder. I'm not even sure what it is about her."

"And what if you find that she isn't all you hoped for?"

I will stay with her." He stepped back slowly and watched Ignitus retract his paw before looking up at his eyes. Ignitus grinned and stepped forward, pushing the door open with one claw.

"After you."

"Sure..." Spyro walked through the doorway and into a familiar dark passage. "Didn't you say that no one should be in here?"

"Not exactly, young dragon. We don't want- I just need to be with you." Stepping forward, Ignitus pulled the door shut with his tail. "On we go."

Spyro turned his head forward in the dark, and was surprised to see the torches ahead light up as Ignitus spoke.

"Did you do that, Ignitus?"

"Mhm, mostly, yes."

Walking down to the bottom of the passage, Spyro found the room at the bottom to be almost empty. There were two stone tables. One was empty, while the other held several books and a small loaf of bread. Under the books there were clearly other things, but he could not identify them at this point.

"Why are we here, again?"

"Privacy, Spyro. No one can hear or see us. That way we can talk without worry of those who may...interrupt" Ignitus walked past him and lifted the loaf of bread from the table. "I also thought you may be hungry after having probably not eaten much today."

"I am a little hungry. I mean, I, uh, we found a little something this morning. Wasn't much, but."

"Good, good! Eat!" He beamed and tossed the bread to Spyro. He continued, "It should hold you over until later. For now..." he beckoned Spyro closer," how are the books I gave you to read?"

Spyro sat, placing the loaf of bread beside him. "Oh, they are great! I've only gotten through one so far, but being able to know about all the other purple dragons is, uh, it's taught me a lot."

Ignitus smiled and nodded vigorously. "I've always enjoyed that one . Of course, many normal dragons have done great things, too."

"Is that what the other books are about? Their titles don't really sound like it, but I haven't opened them yet."

"No, no...who would take the time to write of the lives of 'average' dragons?"

"Maybe they should, then. Or...I should."

"Spyro, that would just be a, a waste of your time."

Spyro shrugged and looked down at his bread. "Doesn't mean I won't. First...I'd write about you." He lifted the bread to his mouth. "I will."

[][][]

"Slow down, Agalia! I can't-"

"Calm down, Cynder. We're here." Agalia looked up and down the door. "I think this is my room."

"Yes, it is. What about it?"

Agalia smiled and pushed the door harshly open. Cynder waited, but Agalia ushered her in. Cynder stopped short in the doorway, and let her jaw drop. Sitting in the middle of the room was an ice sculpture. And it was of Spyro. Its details didn't looked to be done yet, but it must be Spyro. It was just his size, the end of his tail shaped nearly perfectly, and his face was rounded into the wonderful, boxy snout she loved, curled into his typical, inviting smile.

"Y-you did this?" Cynder gasped.

"I thought it might have cheered you up, but, if I understand correctly, Spyro has already done that," Agalia replied.

"But...you did this?"

"Yeah. I had a lot of time on my hands when- well, quite a while ago," Agalia sighed. She shook her head and smiled. "So, I got pretty good at this. If you want, I can change it to one of you and him together. It might suit you more than just him."

"I can't waste your time like that. Especially when it's just going to melt anyway."

"Ah, but you're wrong about that."

[][][]

"Damn! Spyro is heavier than I though he would be," Ignitus huffed. He had one forearm around Spyro's middle, and slowly dragged him toward the table.

"Hurry up, Ignitus! At this rate he'll wake up before you even get started...and that would ruin it all."

With a great heave, Ignitus flung Spyro's upper half onto the table and shoved the rest of him after it. He stepped up and lifted onto the table, propping himself on his chest. He shifted Spyro about until he was lined up with the straps. He pulled them up, having to stretch each of them to fit and lock around Spyro. If he was any larger, Ignitus wondered how he'd ever have gotten him in place alone.

He turned around, stepping his front legs off of the table, and shoved the books onto the floor. He scooted one over in front of him and turned its pages until he found a diagram showing the bottom side of a male dragon.

Ignitus sighed harshly and looked back to the table. "Do I...have to do this, Canicus? Is there any other way?"

"Why would you ask when you are so close! Get it done!"

Ignitus shuddered and grasped onto two brown, glass bottles. He placed one directly under the edge of the table's lip, and checked to be sure the bottle's wide rim was in the right place before going around to place the other. He had to waste no time; this didn't need to take longer than it should.

He walked back around, his eyes fixed on Spyro. He'd looked over this diagram so many times it was embedded in his memory, and yet he felt it should be present in the event things went wrong.

He grasped a thin, narrow-pointed clamp and lifted it in front of his eyes. With a nod, he stepped forward on three feet and lifted it shakily to the area under Spyro's arm.

"C-calm down, Ignitus..." he whispered to himself, "It's...it's all going to work out well. You trust Canicus. You under stand his need. His desire."

He pushed forward and carefully worked the tool beneath a single, central scale. He pried it up slightly on one end, then moved to a different side, bringing it up as well. With the clamp wrapped tight at its top, Ignitus pulled down until he could see the scale's root.

Setting the small clamp aside, he hefted another, larger one up and onto the scale. He winced and yanked the scale out with as much force and as quickly as he could. The root came with it, but no blood.

"Great..."

He looked at the last tool he had set aside. He lifted it carefully and stared at it. This knife would start it all. He brought the blade to Spyro's exposed flesh and quickly cut three short, deep marks into it. He dropped the knife and took a step back from Spyro.

His breathing heavy, Ignitus turned away from it.

"Now I guess we wait, Canicus?"

"Yes."