Author's Note:
Hey Everyone! Welcome back to another chapter. It seems most of you enjoyed the brutal events of the last chapter, and I agree, poor Spyro. I just want to say thank you for over nine thousand views. That is just insane and I cannot believe that this story has received such good praise and amazing reviews. I am just lost for words. Thank you so much to all of you who have favorited, read and reviewed and most especially to my consistent reviewers:
- IllusionMaster
- TARDIS
- Dragon of Mystery
- Just Shooter
Thank you all so much and keep that support coming! Let's hit ten thousand views eh? Hope you guys enjoy the chapter and without further ado…
Let the story continue…
Chapter 16: Trusting Instincts
Cynder groaned as she felt the warm sun shine against her eyelids, waking her from the peaceful slumber that she relished in. Her muscles were aching from the amount of training that Hunter had put her through, but she could tell that it was working and the effort had paid off. Opening her eyes, she realised that it was already mid-morning, the cheetahs outside the shelter already tending to their daily duties. With a grunt, Cynder pushed herself up onto her paws, stretching each muscle and tendon, before sighing in satisfaction upon hearing a few clicks around her body.
Smacking her lips, she began to feel a little thirsty, not to mention hungry. She made her way out of the shelter and towards a small stream that was just a few steps away. Cynder gasped at how beautiful of a day it was. It was times like this where Cynder loved the world she lived in, the birds chirping around her, the grass swaying and a lush smell of leaves entering her nostrils. Feeling the sun on her face, the beautiful sight of the water shimmering like jewels and radiating with the sun's light was all an addition to her feeling of bliss.
As she reached the stream, she peered at her reflection in the water. A few cuts from her recent battle during training were still present, leaving a few thin scars, but her features were no less harmed than when she stepped foot out of the Warfang gates. Bending down, she took a few mouthfuls of water, feeling the coolness of the water slither down her throat and into her stomach, her dry mouth now hydrated. Straightening herself back up, she glared at the landscape in front of her, birds soaring across the clear, blue sky. There was no hope in hiding it; she was missing Spyro. Her Spyro. She missed his touch, his warmth, his eyes, and his undying devotion to her.
"I hope you're safe Spyro," Cynder said to the sky, holding back a tear that wanted to emerge.
Out of Cynder's view, Sparx was flying by behind her and mumbling to himself, soon spotting the black dragoness out of the corner of his eye. Having been resting for the previous two days, he wanted to get out and breathe some fresh air for a change. Upon seeing Cynder, he made his way over to her, a sly smirk on his face.
"Boo!" Sparx shouted behind her, making her jump out of her scales and fall into the stream.
Sparx couldn't help himself but laugh and Cynder clambered out of the water, her scales dripping and an angry expression on her face.
"What the hell Sparx?!" Cynder gasped, recovering from drinking more water than she'd wanted. "Don't do that!"
"Jeez sorry. You have to admit though, that was pretty funny," Sparx laughed, putting a hand over his mouth to stifle his chuckles.
"Yeah ha ha very funny," Cynder replied sarcastically, shaking a little to remove some of the water from her scales, spraying some of it on Sparx and causing him to recoil away from it. "Where have you been for the last couple of days anyway?"
"Oh, I've been sleeping most of the time and spending some time with Aerith," Sparx explained. "It's been very relaxing."
Cynder merely rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief, annoyed at the fact that Sparx had been sleeping the entire time that she had been training.
"I cannot believe that you have been sleeping for that long," Cynder mumbled, slightly agitated. "So you've been sitting on your ass for the entirety of the time while I've been training mine off, have you?"
"Yep."
"Urh… you're unbelievable. Anyway, I've got to do one more session with Hunter today and then we've got to start heading towards our next destination. We've wasted enough time as it is."
"Fine by me," Sparx shrugged. "At least I can get a couple more hours in before we leave."
"Seriously?! More sleep?"
"A dragonfly has gotta get his beauty sleep otherwise they can be very annoying," Sparx smirked.
"Seems like you need to sleep all the time then," Cynder replied smugly.
Sparx rolled his eyes and began to fly back to the hut that he was staying in. Cynder shook her head and chuckled to herself, rolling her eyes and groaning as she heard her stomach rumble.
"Guess I better grab something to eat before I start training," Cynder said to herself as she began her search for food.
On the way back to the shelter to retrieve her satchel, Cynder spotted a cheetah with golden brown fur and forest green eyes, rather reminding her of Prowlus. She was carrying a small palette of meat and berries, making Cynder's mouth water at the mere scent that the food was giving off.
"Good morning, Mrs Cynder," the young cheetah said with a proud smile. "My dad and Hunter wanted me to give you your breakfast this morning."
"Your dad? Wait… you're Prowlus' daughter?" Cynder asked with surprise.
"Yep, and that can be a real pain sometimes," she chuckled. "Call me Shira."
"Nice to meet you."
Shira gave Cynder the food palette and turned back towards the path, stopping in her tracks as she suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! I almost forgot. Hunter would like you in the training ground as soon as you have finished your food. Apparently he has something special planned for you," Shira explained before waving.
Cynder thought about the 'special something' that Hunter had planned for her while eating. It was either a specific type of training, or a new way to find another part of herself that had since been lost. Cynder finished her meal in quick haste and made her way over to the training ground, getting a few waves and greetings from cheetahs that passed by. Getting closer, she realised that Hunter was alone in the middle of the training field, perched on his knees and his eyes firmly closed. His paws were relaxed onto his legs, and his breathing was rhythmic and quiet.
Cynder approached quietly in an attempt to not disturb him, but was soon stopped as Hunter suddenly lunged from his position and produced a bokken from behind him, putting it just inches from Cynder's face. Cynder gasped at Hunter's speed and precision as he opened his eyes, he chuckled softly and smirked.
"Good morning Cynder," Hunter said cheerfully. "I trust you slept well?"
"Y-Y-Yeah… I guess…" Cynder stammered, dumbfounded at the events that had just taken place. "Hunter, how in the ancestors did you do that?"
"Do what?" Hunter asked as if nothing had happened.
"That! Y'know, that meditation reflex move that you just did," Cynder pointed, making Hunter giggle slightly.
"Ah, you mean… using my senses to feel the vibrations in the earth?"
"You can do that?" the black dragoness asked him, her eyes widening, believing it was only an earth dragon thing.
"Yes of course," Hunter nodded as he folded his arms. "My father taught me when I was just a cub. It requires a lot of concentration and a connection to the earth that you were born from. Now, because we are of a different spiritual make-up to dragons, we have a different connection to the earth than a dragon would, but it also means that because of the elements they all wield, dragons unfortunately cannot learn this technique unless they are of a specific element. Earth for example is the only element that allows this sort of technique, but… since you're a shadow dragon, I guess we can try and experiment with it to achieve something similar. I think I know of something we can try."
Cynder sat on her haunches and thought for a moment. A lot of her training had been interpreting and measuring her opponent's moves. But now, she had to focus on controlling her mind, and feeling the world around her. She knew that Spyro was always exceptional at clearing his mind and focusing, but he possessed the earth element, something that Cynder knew she didn't have.
"How will my shadow element help? It only helps me phase in and out of existence to dodge attacks," Cynder asked him, forming a shadow ball in her paw.
"That's what this training is for, tapping into the full potential of your elements," Hunter added. "Now… close your eyes and empty your mind."
Cynder did what she was asked and closed her eyes, unsure what good this would do. She'd been using her shadow element her whole life, experimenting and using it in battle to strengthen her fighting capability. She knew what it did. She had her fair share of experience, but she didn't want to seem all stuck up trying to prove Hunter wrong. After all, she knew what she was doing.
Complying with Hunter's orders, Cynder emptied her mind as best as she could, trying to rid it of all thoughts and distractions. This wasn't her strong suit; Spyro was always better at meditating, but she still tried nonetheless. To begin with, the thought of Spyro would simply not leave her mind. The sweet memories that she had shared with him would just not leave her thought process, causing her to get frustrated a little.
For a good few minutes, she felt nothing. Then, a strange sensation from her right registered in her brain. It wasn't connected to her body at all. It was weird, like she could feel a presence beside her. It was faint and dwindling, but it was there. A shapeless, moving sphere, crawling across the ground, slowly moving towards her, creeping ominously in the dark shroud that her eyelids created in front of her. It unsettled her, the sense foreign to her.
A long point emerged from the sphere. It was sharp and it suggested danger. One thing that she noticed however, was that it was pointed directly at her, getting closer and closer, before she could almost feel it on her scales.
Feeling the need for self-defense, Cynder whirled around with a yelp and swung her tail around towards the object in front of her with the long point sticking out of it. She felt something solid connect with her tail as a loud thud registered in her ears. She stepped back, breathing heavily to gain her breath back from the slight scare. Opening her eyes and bringing her sight out of shadow, Hunter was lying on the ground beside her, winded with a spear lying in front of him, having fallen out of his grasp.
He was on her right, exactly where the sphere she had sensed was. She surveyed the scene in front of her, realising that the objects that she felt were Hunter and the spear he wielded. She didn't know whether to be upset at him, or worried for him as he lay on his side, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain. Cynder made her way over to his side, a worried expression on her face.
"Hunter, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed nervously. "A-a-are you alright?"
"I'm… I'm fine, Cynder…" Hunter groaned, rolling over slowly and wincing before lying flat on his back. "Just… a little… w-w-winded… gah..."
"Just a little?! You're on the floor, writhing in pain!"
"I'm fine, Cynder. The important thing is… what did you feel? When you meditated?" Hunter questioned.
"I, uh… I don't know. I felt this… presence. It was like a sphere of something… sitting to my right. I felt a long point coming out of the sphere, coming closer towards me. I didn't know what it was so I attacked. Ancestors, I'm so sorry. I attacked you in front of Aerith and now I've gone and winded you."
"That doesn't matter. All that matters is that it worked! You used your shadow element to sense movement around you!" Hunter celebrated, before being interrupted by a heavy fit of coughs, pain still burning through his chest and stomach from being winded.
"Come on, let's get you back to the village."
Cynder placed Hunter onto her back and began to head back towards the village, slightly proud of herself that she managed to complete Hunter's training. It had certainly been a while since she had to focus on her senses instead of her eyes, fighting with her instincts and knowing her opponents' moves before she attacks. It was obvious that the training had paid off. She felt lighter, more agile and aware. Her body felt more functional while fighting, easily able to dodge and weave rather than her reactions being slow and sluggish.
"Your training has certainly paid off Cynder," Hunter chuckled, still trying to catch his breath, lying with his chest to Cynder's back as the pain inside it continued to burn.
"Yeah I guess it has," Cynder replied, chuckling a little herself. "My body feels a lot lighter now, I feel like I could move a mountain! All thanks to you of course. As short as that exercise ended up being, I learned a lot and feel a lot better. I didn't even know I could do that with the shadow element!"
Cynder and Hunter made their way through the streets of the village, Hunter beginning to get more of his breath back with each passing second. Cynder knew that her time in the village would be short, but she didn't expect to have this much of an improvement from her training. Her mind tracked back to Spyro and what he would think of her recent improvement, how proud he would be of her.
"I can imagine what Spyro would say right now," Cynder said to Hunter.
"What would that be?" Hunter asked her in intrigue.
"Wings and paws can only take you so far, it's your heart that truly makes you take flight," Cynder smiled, remembering one of Spyro's greatest teachings.
"Spyro is a very wise dragon," Hunter added. "I'm sure, when the time is right, he will prevail from the parasite inside of him."
"I have every faith in him," Cynder replied.
After a while, Hunter lowered himself from Cynder's back and began walking on his own, his stomach less knotted and his breathing clear. They made their way past the armoury and nearing Hunter's house where Clover was hanging clothes out to dry. Hunter made her way over to her and put his arms around her, kissing her gently on the cheek.
"So? How did it go?" Clover asked him as Cynder made her way over.
"It went rather well, I believe she is ready," Hunter smiled.
"Ready for what?" said a young voice that protruded from behind Clover, revealing itself to be Aerith's.
"Ready for Cynder to continue on her journey, moonshine," Clover explained.
"Do you mean Cynder has to leave?" Aerith questioned, her tone of voice portraying her disappointment.
"Unfortunately, I do, Aerith," Cynder replied. "I've got a very big job to do; my mate is in trouble and I have to do everything I can to save him. It also means I have to be as quick as possible so he doesn't suffer, hence why I can't stay."
"Your mate?"
"Yes, you remember how I mentioned Spyro to you? The purple dragon? He's my mate."
Aerith nodded slowly, remembering where she heard that word before.
"Mummy and Daddy say they are mates, and mates are meant to love each other very much."
"They do," Cynder said, choking on her words slightly. "When two dragons or cheetahs become mates, it means they love each other to a point where they want to spend the rest of their lives together. And oh, ancestors we do. I would do anything for Spyro. And that's why I have to go. I wish I could stay but I can't."
"Oh. I understand," Aerith mumbled, looking down at the ground and shuffling her feet on the ground as Clover put a comforting paw on the little cub's shoulder.
"I'll be back to visit, Aerith. We'll see each other again."
"Good, because when you come back I wanna go on another flight with you and Daddy!" Aerith exclaimed, a determined smile pulling at her lips as she looked back up at Cynder.
"We'll be sure to arrange that when Cynder returns," Hunter chuckled. "And next time, I'll remind myself not to eat before flying."
Cynder chuckled at Hunter's words, smiling widely as Aerith's face radiated with excitement. Although Cynder was leaving, Aerith focused on the future and what fun she would have, making Cynder's smile grow ever wider at her kind and exciting mind.
"And it should be for longer too. Hopefully when Spyro's feeling better he can come along too," Cynder suggested, making Aerith buzz with jubilation.
"Yes please! I wanna meet him!" Aerith shouted enthusiastically, jumping up and down in her mother's hold as she tried to keep her still.
"I agree, it'd be great to catch up with him again," Hunter added.
"I'm sure he'd love it," Cynder said.
"Anyway, I think we've kept you long enough, Cynder. Sparx should be awake by now so you should be fine to get on your way. Good luck with the rest of your journey and farewell," Clover farewelled.
"Thank you for everything. I'll see you soon," Cynder replied.
"Bye!" Aerith yelled, running out of Clover's grasp to embrace Cynder's leg in a hug.
Cynder chuckled, lowering her head to nuzzle the little cheetah cub. Aerith giggled in delight, turning to reach up to Cynder's snout.
"Be a good little girl for your parents now, Aerith," Cynder chuckled. "Especially to your father."
"Yes, Cynder! I will! Bye, and I hope Spyro gets well!"
"So do I," Cynder said as Aerith made her way back to Clover before turning to Hunter.
Hunter bowed his head with a smile on his face, his golden fur shining in the sunlight. It had been a while since he had seen Cynder, and the last few days had reawoken the warrior spirit that he had lost since the end of the war.
"Good to see you again Cynder. Take care, old friend."
"You too," Cynder responded, bowing her head in reply before she turned and made her way back to her temporary home where Sparx had been staying for the past few days.
Upon reaching it, Cynder heard a constant hum of loud snoring emitting from the hut. She peered inside, noticing that Sparx was still asleep. The little dragonfly was lying on his back, lifting into the air a little as he snored, before sinking back down with each exhale. A spot of drool had made an appearance next to his mouth which was agape and wide. Cynder shook her head and made her way inside, stamping on the floor as to wake him. Even though the objects in the hut shook at the force of her paws meeting the floor, Sparx still slept soundly, his snoring pounding against her eardrums.
Getting slightly annoyed, Cynder sat on her haunches, cleared her throat and pulled her claws back, her knuckles clicking as she stretched them. Moving closer to Sparx and positioning her head directly over him, she parted her lips, making sure that her razor sharp teeth were visible to ensure that Sparx would wake up with a fright. Cynder raised a claw and gently prodded Sparx with it, causing him to stir in his sleep and emit an especially violent snore. She poked him again, and he finally opened his eyes, groaning groggily. As his vision began to become clear, Sparx realised that he was staring directly at a full set of gleaming teeth. Within an instant, he flew up into the air and screamed, bashing into the wall behind him.
"GAH! DON'T EAT ME! I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE EATEN!" Sparx shouted in protest as he awaited his fate, soon hearing familiar giggles to his left. "CYNDER?!"
"Morning Sparx, or should I say afternoon?" Cynder chuckled as Sparx began to have a little tantrum.
"WHAT THE FUCK CYNDER?!" Sparx shouted, boiling with anger. "THAT WAS NOT FUNNY!"
"It was for me, now hurry up and get ready, we're gonna be leaving soon," Cynder said sternly, making her way out of the door.
"Where are we going this time?" Sparx asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Tall Plains."
Sparx's mood suddenly changed to one of excitement at the thought of being worshipped again. He flew from the bed, zooming past Cynder and out into the sunshine. Cynder merely rolled her eyes and shook her head, stepping out of the doorway and tightening her satchel.
"I'm fairly sure that the atlawans remember me; I was their god and leader after all," Sparx said proudly, puffing out his chest.
"That's if they remember you Sparx," Cynder replied. "It has been quite a while since you and Spyro first arrived there so, I wouldn't get your hopes up."
"You may think that Cynder, but when they see their god again, they'll be sure to bow to me! The almighty Sparx! Back on the throne!" Sparx announced triumphantly.
"Well, when you're done inflating your ego, hurry the hell up," Cynder said impatiently, getting slightly annoyed.
Cynder flapped her wings and took to the air, Sparx following closely behind and mumbling to himself in excitement. It was early afternoon, a warm and graceful sun radiating down upon the earth as the two siblings-in-law flew. Cynder looked down upon her surroundings, breathing in the fresh air contently. The lush fields of grass swayed gently in the wind, creating a sea of green. Trees stood firm as they flew over them, their leaves being battered by the wind and the hardened bark clamped into the soil below. Yet again, Cynder noticed how free everything was, how free the world was. But more importantly, how beautiful the world she lived in was.
"How long is it gonna take us to get there?" Sparx asked.
"A few days," Cynder replied. "So yes, a long journey which means plenty of flying."
"Urh…" Sparx groaned, putting a small hand onto his face. "Why have journeys got to be so long?"
"Because then it wouldn't be a journey would it? It would just be a… quick stroll around the corner," Cynder answered, getting slightly impatient with Sparx's laziness. "Now, shut up and keep up. We're gonna get as far as we can before we make camp. We wasted a lot of time at the village and… I'm not sure how long Spyro can keep this up for."
"Cynder, he's gonna be okay. Remember, he is strong and can handle most things. Including my jokes," Sparx said, making Cynder smile a little. "You cannot do this journey if all you're gonna focus on is the negative side, you've got to focus on the fact that Spyro is still alive and fighting. Plus, I'm pretty sure he's fighting… erm… what's his name?"
"Mortem."
"Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure he's fighting Mortem for you, because I know him and I know that when he fights for something, nothing gets in his way. Especially when it comes to you."
Sparx's words seem to spark a reassuring motive inside of Cynder, causing her to think of Spyro fighting for her and of course her responsibility to save him. During the Night of Eternal Darkness, Spyro was hell-bent on finding Cynder and making sure she was okay, as well as finding the Chronicler and stopping Gaul.
"Even during the Night of Eternal Darkness, I knew Spyro was always thinking about you. Although he didn't want to show it, I knew he saw you as... not just an ally, but as a friend. You were the only friend he had that was his age and his species. Someone who understood him better than I ever could Cynder. He loves you, and when Spyro loves something, ancestors help anyone that tries to take that love away from him."
Tears came to Cynder's eyes as she heard Sparx's words. She missed Spyro. She missed him so much that it broke her heart in two knowing that she could not hold him in her paws, or kiss him and tell him it's going to be okay. She quickly wiped her eyes with a paw, trying to hide her emotion. Sparx knew that she was trying to be strong. Not only for herself so that she could finish this journey, but for her husband. He just sighed sadly, not knowing what else to say, but knowing that he would feel the same if he had to go on a long, exhausting journey to save his own mate.
After a few hours, the sun began to grow low, barely peeking over the horizon in the distance. The sky was painted a crimson-stained orange, almost as if the sky was bleeding. Cynder's eyes shone with the last light of day, realising that they would need to make camp for the night. The two siblings-in-law, after landing in a small clearing, lit a fire and began to search for food. Within minutes, Cynder returned with a large deer and began eating, whereas Sparx was, as usual, gobbling down butterflies at quite a fast rate.
After finishing, Cynder gazed at the fire, its bright, burning haze reflecting in her emerald eyes. Her thoughts about Spyro and their future wouldn't leave her mind. There was one subject that stood out among many, and that was parenthood. She looked over towards Sparx as he snatched another butterfly out of the air, many questions forming inside her head. Her thoughts suddenly went to the dreams she'd been having as of recently. Time and time again she had the same dream as she slept, the dream that kept her hopes alive and her will to fight strong.
"Sparx? Can I ask you something?" Cynder asked, twiddling her claws.
"You just did," Sparx replied smugly, chewing on a mouthful of butterflies.
"Were you and Livvy ever affected by having a child? As in, relationship wise?" Cynder enquired tentatively, ignoring his previous statement.
Sparx swallowed hard, thinking hard about an answer to Cynder's question. It was a shock for him when Livvy announced that she was gravid, but it did not change their marriage, or their love between one another.
"No, not in the slightest," Sparx answered confidently. "In fact, it made our marriage the best that it could be. Of course, I was scared at first but… when Petal and Lilly were actually born, it just came to me and… well… turns out I was a natural according to Livvy."
"But, when they've just been born, how do you understand what they want?"
"That's fairly easy Cynder, you trust your instincts. I know that sounds like a long shot, and trust me, I got enough of that instinct talk when the guardians were teaching Spyro how to be a dragon or whatever. That being said, you will know what your child wants when it comes to it. I have seen how caring you are Cynder, and I know that when the time comes, you'll be a great mother to your child."
Cynder smiled at Sparx's words, giving a thankful smile in his direction. Another thing that loitered on her mind however, was how much it was going to hurt to actually lay her egg, or eggs. It sent chills down her spine everytime she thought of it. Other dragonesses have spoken about laying an egg, putting into very precise detail about what they felt. Some even described it as being shot by an arrow in the pelvis, or feeling your entire body being burned alive.
"Sparx… did Livvy tell you how much it hurt to lay eggs?" Cynder asked him again, Sparx spitting out remnants of a butterfly onto the lit fire.
"Oh yeah, countless times," he replied, chuckling. "When she was laying them, she ended up punching me in the face and squeezing my hand until it nearly broke. From what I've seen however, it does hurt. But a mother has to go through many ordeals to make sure her child is safe and secure in this world. Livvy said it challenged her, not only physically, but mentally too. At some points, she wanted it to stop, but she wouldn't give up. If having a child is what you truly want Cynder, then you must be prepared."
"Thanks Sparx... I mean that," Cynder said thankfully.
"No problem. Right, I'm gonna get some sleep cause I woke up early this morning," Sparx yawned.
"You've been sleeping for two days straight! How are you tired?!" Cynder asked, finding it hard to figure out how the little dragonfly could still be tired.
"Flying takes a lot out of me, my wings are smaller than yours," Sparx replied.
"Urh, just go to sleep."
Within a few minutes, Sparx fell asleep, his normal rhythmic snoring interrupting the normal sounds of nighttime. Cynder however, stayed awake and went over Sparx's words. She knew that it was going to hurt, she had always known that. It was one of her sweetest dreams to hold a child of her own in her paws, snuggling into her chest for warmth. More importantly, Spyro was by her side, nuzzling her cheek. How she longed for him to do that just one more time.
Cynder laid herself down and closed her eyes, beginning to drift off into a peaceful slumber, and dreaming of Spyro flying by her side…
Chapter 16 done! Whoo! Sorry this took so long to come out guys. School and work has just been ridiculous recently and I have been suffering from writer's block for quite a while so that doesn't help either. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter nonetheless. The next one will be out quite soon I reckon as it's one that I personally cannot wait to write. Thank you for all of your support so far! I cannot believe that we are only a few hundred views from TEN THOUSAND! That is just insane. Thank you so much, you guys are awesome!
Hope you have an amazing morning, afternoon or evening…
And this is Mystic, SKda and Cheetah… Signing off ^_^