The creatures had gotten close enough to see them better: they had long, thin bodies, long arms with webs that looked like wings, spider legs on the underside of their bodies and a hideous face.
"Watch out!" Drago yelled, seeing the unknown creatures pouncing on them.
The group quickly lowered to the ground to avoid them. Once on dry land, they prepared to attack. There was precisely one creature for each dragon. When they were face to face, Aurora noticed the appearance of the creatures again.
"Wyverns," she said.
"Wy… what?" Ash asked as he dodged one attack.
"Wyverns" Aurora repeated as she launched a freezing missile at one of her to stop her, "They are creatures of the dark master's army, don't you remember the class?"
"I think I remember something," Rayla said, firing an electric beam immobilizing another.
"Sorry to interrupt you girls" Drago demanded as he fought and threw one of them towards a rock, "Sounds like a good time to remember a class?"
The two arrested Wyverns rejoined the others. Soon, they were cornering the group of young people.
"Very good" said Flint looking at the situation, "If anyone has an idea, I would like to hear it"
Instinctively, Aurora back into the air. The Wyverns, noticing this, approached to attack her again. However, they were not prepared for the surprise that they took: Aurora, began to spin in an icy whirlpool that launched ice missiles around her. The Wyverns didn't have time to react and froze. Then, as they were all in the air, they fell to the ground, shattering.
Everyone's jaw dropped. However, they did not have time to congratulate her, for at that moment, the ground below them began to shake. By reaction, they all had to fly again. It was then, when his situation worsened:
A huge bulge had just emerged from the ground, but it didn't stay that way: it seemed to swell every second, threatening to explode. Then a huge leg came out of the ground, followed by a somewhat misshapen, monstrous green body that looked like a very old tree. The creature had rock legs, a face equal to or uglier than Wyverns, and stone fangs.
"Now… expert," Ash said sarcastically, "Can you explain, what is that thing?"
"I think ..." Aurora started to say, but she didn't have time.
Immediately, the creature jumped up and stepped in front of them. With no reaction time, the six of them were hit by their massive legs and thrown back to the ground. Barely conscious the young men tried to get up to continue fighting. Nina could clearly see the monster about to crush her.
With a blast of fire, the monster recoiled. Nina turned to see what was happening and watched Drago exhale a large amount of fire, damaging the monster and pulling it away a bit. However, Drago was also tired, so he gave up in a few seconds. The monster had now turned his attention to Drago, who was struggling to get back on his feet.
"I must do something" Nina thought, trying to get up.
As Drago was crushed, an arrow whizzed through the air and struck the monster's eye. Upon impact, the creature's wound emanated black energy. Then the young dragons turned to see their savior: a cheetah from Avalar Valley wearing a red robe, a quiver, and a bow with another arrow ready to fire.
The rescuer shot and hit the other eye. The creature screamed or howled in pain; it was now blinded. And he swayed as more dark energy emanated from the wounds.
Before the creature did anything else, a huge blast of fire struck it. They all looked up to see the fire guardian unleashing a new blast of fire at the creature. Staggering in pain, the monster backed blindly to the river's edge. The dragon took advantage and lunged at the creature with its horns, pushing it and drowning it in the river.
Nina and the others got to their feet a bit wobbly. The guardian dragon approached them.
"Thanks dad" said Drago, "You saved us in time"
"I was afraid I had not arrived on time" explained Jhonny, "They were not the only ones attacked: the other participants and the inhabitants of the Avalar valley were attacked by a group of grublins and Wyverns"
"He also helped us ..." said Aurora looking at the robed cheetah, "Thar cheetah"
Jhonny saw and approached the cheetah.
"Hunter, we haven't seen each other directly for a long time" said Jhonny.
"I'm sorry, but it is my duty to ensure the safety of this new era" said Hunter, "That is why I have not been able to visit, but we remain in contact"
"This ... do they know each other?" Drago asked approaching with Nina and the rest of young dragons.
"Kids, this is Hunter" said his father, "The best cheetah tracker in Avalar valley, a war's hero and an old friend of Spyro, Cynder and myself"
Hunter looked curiously at Drago, Nina, and Aurora.
"So, you are Cynder's daughter, your parents have written me letters about you" Hunter said looking at Nina. Then he saw Drago and Aurora, "And these are your children, right Jhonny?"
"Yes, they are. But I fear there is no time to get to know each other better: Thorr and Ray are leading the rest of the young dragons back to the city. And surely your return is of the utmost importance, am I right? "
"You are absolutely right: we have serious problems. We have to discuss it "
"I'll call another meeting when we get there"
They all returned to the city. Looking around her, Nina and her friends could see the other competitors meeting with their parents and relatives, saying things like: "Thanks to the ancestors, you're fine" or "We were quite worried."
"We'll see you later, I have to talk to my parents" said Rayla, moving away to another part where a yellow dragon was waiting for him.
"Me too," Flint said, heading off in another direction.
Looking ahead again, Nina and Ash could see Spyro, Cynder, Flame, Ember, and Edel.
"Ash!" Ember said and began to hug him madly, "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Mom," Ash said, trying to breathe, "It's not that bad ..."
"Drago! Aurora!" Edel said hugging them both at the same time, "You worried me a lot this time"
"Don't worry mom" said Aurora, "Dad saved us"
"My little girl!" Cynder said, hugging Nina a lot "I'm glad you're well, you had us very worried"
"Too much" Spyro said, "What happened? The last thing I heard that they were visualized ... "
"Wyverns" Nina completed, "Yes, we saw them and we fought, but ... that other monster appeared ..."
"It was a forest troll" Jhonny clarified.
"Trolls?" Cynder asked in amazement, "Hadn't they disappeared?"
"We thought so" Hunter said appearing behind Spyro.
"Hunter!" Spyro said happy to meet his old friend, "How long!"
"I'm also glad to see you, but now we don't have time: there are serious situations"
"Yes, that's why we will have another meeting in the temple," explained Jhonny.
"Don't worry, we are with you" said Flame.
"Thank you Flame. But we need you and Ember this time to stay in town, and take command: we can't leave Warfang vulnerable even for a few minutes, not after what happened. "
"I get it. I'll do that "Flame said somewhat disappointed
"Spyro, Cynder" proceeded the guardian, looking at them "You must come, we will need your support"