Okay, here is the next chapter! I apologize for the delay. I was very busy this for almost two weeks. I would like to thank all who reviewed/favorite/followed! And remember, the voting poll is still open so feel free to vote! :)
"By the Ancestors! What is going on?" Ember cried in worry to the sound of high pitched screams filling the air.
"I hope the babies are okay." Ember spoke swiftly in worry, Spyro pushing past her toward the entrance of the cave.
"Spyro, wait! Don't hurt Silas!" Ember cried, struggling to keep up with the larger male as he roared.
Ember rounded the corner heading to the mouth of the cave, pausing in her steps as she looked in confusion at the sight before her.
"Oh, my..." Ember gasped upon seeing the spectacle of two grown men struggling to fight off the chicks, who playfully snapped and latched onto their limbs.
"Let...go, draconis!" Rorek growled, small trickles of crimson running down his leg as the chick tore at his trousers.
Grunting, Rorek managed to rip the drakeling from his calf, holding it from the scruff of it's neck as the chick pawed and made high pitched squeaks.
"You are a troublesome little wyrm." Rorek muttered, looking at his companion to see the younger man running around in terror from the other hatchling. He wasn't screaming, no, but he was definitely terrified of it.
"Leave me be, sky-plague! Stop hounding me!" Silas cried, easily outrunning the small drakeling as the mini Cynder chased after the knight on shaken legs.
Retreating out of the cave, Silas barely noticed that the sun had come up before he struggled to find his balance, the young man nearly slipping on the rocks.
"Gah!" Silas gasped, quickly finding his balance as he turned around to see the chick stumbling towards him, pausing as it wobbled on it's feet.
Silas shifted, breath ragged as he stared at the drakeling. He couldn't help it. Just looking at the chick made his feel terror and anger. Terror for his guilt, for his flaws, and rage for stealing what had belonged to him, what had belonged to his Duchess. It was Cynder incarnate.
A loud roar erupted from the cave, Rorek running out in full speed to avoid Spyro's wrath.
"Get away from the wyrm! Leave the wyrm!" Rorek cried, Silas' eyes widening in terror and realization. Terror upon seeing Spyro emerge from the cave in full sprint, actively chasing Rorek, and realization at the fact that the wyrm Rorek was warning him about was the hatchling.
Without thinking, Silas turned and jumped down the small slope, grunting as he hit the ground and started rolling down the hill.
"Damn, damn, damn!" Rorek cursed, running down the hill and skidding to a halt once he reached the bottom.
"Is he still chasing us?" Silas asked, now up and ready to run. Both were back in their little clearing.
"No. He stopped." Rorek replied, catching his breath.
"He is like a sow with her cubs." Silas commented, hearing Spyro roar in rage from his small perch, Ember beside him, no doubt lecturing the male on his unnecessary hostility.
"As long as we stay away from the wyrms we should be fine." Rorek muttered, Silas nodding in agreement.
"That...sounds like a good plan. Shall we go back up?"
"I do not feel like getting mauled. I myself have grown rather attached to my legs, and need them for support." Rorek responded, sarcasm dripping from his voice like venom as he glanced down at his bleeding leg, the black cloth stained.
"You are a very sarcastic person."
"Ahhh, to tear the flesh."
Silas remained quiet, both men tensing as the adult dragons approached them.
"You look thrilled." Rorek commented dryly, Spyro snarling as Ember nudged him.
"Be nice." Ember whispered harshly, Spyro covering his fangs.
"You have us quite a start, Spyro." Silas stated, uneasy with the stiff atmosphere.
"If he attacks I will trip you." Rorek whispered, leaning toward Silas as the knight frowned.
"That is not honorable at all."
"AHEM!" Both looked at the pink dragoness, her blue eyes baring into the purple male.
"Isn't there something you would like to say?" Ember asked, Spyro averting his gaze from all present.
"Spyro." Ember growled darkly, teeth baring slightly as the male released a large, deep sigh.
"I'm...sorry."
"What was that? I don't think they heard you."
"Ancestors, I said I was sorry! I just got...a little overprotective." Spyro muttered, head bowed.
"A little? That is an understatement." Rorek spoke.
"I would hate to see him if he were extremely overprotective." Silas muttered, a awkward silence falling upon them.
"And?" Ember asked again, Spyro sighing as he muttered quietly to himself. Spyro looked at Ember, and upon seeing the look she had, knew there was no way out of this.
"Fine...you can...be around my kids..." Spyro broke off, beyond miserable as Ember smiled.
"Only if we are around to watch you, that is."
"You do not trust us?" Silas asked, hurt in his voice as Ember shook her head.
"I trust you. It's Spyro that doesn't." Ember stated, chest puffing in pride at her victory. Spyro lowered his head in defeat, wings at his side.
"I'm heading back to the chicks. They will need to eat their first meal soon." Spyro spoke softly, moseying up the hill as his offspring began to roll around in the dirt, playfully nipping at each other.
"Are you boys coming up?" Ember asked, to which Rorek answered by slumping against a tree, the man slowly sitting on the ground.
"I will stay here. I would like to take a walk to...clear my head." Silas answered, turning to slowly walk down a nature made path. The man paused in his steps as the dragoness called to him.
"Yes?"
"Can I come with you? I need to get some exercise, but if you don't want me to then I won't." Ember asked, Silas looking at the pink dragon briefly before motioning towards her.
Ember smiled and strolled up to Silas' side as the man looked over her wounds briefly. They seemed a lot better from when he last saw them.
"You need not ask to join me." Silas murmured softly, Ember's eyes suddenly becoming sullen.
"I was worried. I didn't know where you went."
"I was lost. That is all I know." Silas answered, picking up his pace.
"But you came back." Ember countered, pushing herself to keep up.
"That I did." Silas stated swiftly, his tone hinting that he was in no mood to speak.
"Why? What happened last night?" Ember asked, before adding, "What scared you so much that you fled?"
"Nothing, Ember. It was a dream, nothing more."
"Dreams aren't to be taken lightly. Dreams are special in our culture."
"But not all dreams come true. They cannot make actions that have never occurred become reality."
"If this dream you speak of can't become reality then why does it scare you?" Ember asked, Silas pausing as he sighed deeply, Ember awaiting his response.
"Because things in the physical word...you can understand them, you can even control them if you have enough knowledge. Otherworldly things...you have no control of. Mere Men will never be able to understand them. That is why I fear. I fear for my eternal soul. That is why I ran. To you I may seem like a coward, and perhaps I am, but that is the truth." Silas answered, sighing as he continued to walk once more.
"You were afraid for you soul? Why?" Ember asked, looking at the human with confusion.
"Because if we do good things in our lives we will go to Heaven when we die. It is like...a paradise. If we do too many bad things in our lives...we go to Hell...and burn in an eternal fire. I fear I have done too many horrible things." Silas confessed, shamed.
"What happened in your dream?" Ember asked softly, Silas giving up.
"I...had a dream about my darkest desires. I saw...a dead dragonling...I saw...people...bleeding from their eyes, but it was not blood. I do not know what it was. Jesu was crying with the blood as well. Then darkness. And within that darkness, I saw two eyes. Serpent like and...full of devilry."
"Do...you think it means anything? That sounds scary." Ember asked, obviously disturbed as her tail and wings twitched in unease.
"I thought it meant that God had abandoned me, that I was doomed to burn in the fires of Hell. I think that is possible, for that is why I ran. I thought the Devil was after my soul. But...I thought the dead drakeling would mean a dead dragon-maybe you are Spyro. Now I am uncertain."
"Ancestors, do you think something will happen to the babies?" Ember asked, worry in her voice as Silas shrugged.
"I know not. I cannot see any threat coming to them unless it is illness."
"Or you are the threat." Ember commented, eyes widening upon realizing what she had said out loud.
"I beg your pardon? You just said you trusted me!" Silas asked, feeling the blood drain from his body.
"I do, Silas! I...I want to trust you, I really do, but...Spyro...he told me what you did to Cynder. How he found her body." Ember paused, Silas remaining silent.
"You know what I did? I cried. I cried for Cynder's horrible fate. I cried for the pain you put Spyro through. I cried for the fact that you robbed two babies of their mother. But mostly...I cried because I didn't want to believe that...this human, my friend...did such a cruel and horrible thing." Ember spoke, voice beginning to break as warm tears ran down her snout.
"You have treated me with nothing but kindness, and even though you lied to me I forgave you when maybe a more hardened or experienced dragon wouldn't. Oh, I care for you, Silas, and I want to believe that you are safe, but...but deep down...you scare me. You scare me because I don't know if this...darker side will come out again." Ember whispered, wings outstretched as if to make her appear larger.
"It hurts me, Silas. I want to trust my friend, but...I do not want my friend to be a murderer." Ember spoke weakly, Silas obviously hurt as he hesitantly raised his hand to comfort the dragoness, Ember pulling back, shaking her head.
"I am sorry for causing you distress. I do not like to lie, but I was fearful of how you would think of me, knowing that you lost your kin to a once trusted friend. I did not want to ruin our friendship. I understand if you view these hands as blood stained. I do as well. No matter how much I clean them they will always be tainted with...blood." Silas paused to look at his hands, Ember looking at the human in sadness.
"I implore you, Ember, please, listen to me. I did not kill Cynder out of cold blood. I would never kill anything unless my life depended upon it. Cynder-God rest her soul-attacked us first! It was only by chance or fate that I killed her! One fell stroke that caused my blade to be embedded in her skull!" Silas cried, breathing ragged as he covered his eyes briefly.
"Then...what of her talons? Spyro said...said they..." Ember broke off, heart pounding in her chest at the man's confession.
"Aye. I did. I did, oh Lord! Those claws, those vile claws destroyed the last link to m'lady!" Silas cried, taking a sudden deep breath to calm himself and collect his thoughts.
"What was your last link?" Ember asked, curious, yet fearing an answer.
"You may laugh at me, but Cynder had gutted Anaya's beloved horse, Brago. I was...furious that I had lost something that had belonged to her, furious that I had lost a friend...so I cut off her talons in my wrath." Silas sighed a deep sigh of relief.
"It feels as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders." Silas commented, smiling sullenly at Ember. The dragoness looked at the human, eyes showing sorrow.
"I'm sorry for what Cynder did to you and your friends, though it was horrible she had to die." Ember spoke softly, Silas nodding in agreement.
"It was horrible. Until I met you, Ember, I only saw dragons as beasts. Phhff! I did not even believe in them until Cynder tried to kill me. But now, I see them as equals to man. Either way, I hope you see that I am no longer a threat to the chicks."
"I've seen the way you look at the black one. You have fear in your eyes and you get very pale. Does she...bring back the memories?" Ember asked softly, Silas nodding.
"Yes. Everytime I see that little hatchling I see her, and I cannot help but feel rage build inside of me. Anger and terror." Silas admitted, hanging his head.
"Do you trust yourself around her?" Ember asked, Silas blowing out air as he thought.
"I truly do not know. While I do not think I would ever do anything to Spyro's children, I still do not like these horrible feelings I get. I would never try to hurt them on purpose, and even if one did attack me I would not strike to kill, but to wound. I...believe I just need to distance myself. For their sake."
"She seemed to like you. Maybe if you spend time with them?" Ember asked, Silas fidgeting, as if nervous.
"I would rather not. Their teeth hurt." Silas responded, Ember rolling her eyes.
"Oh, please! You are such a big baby! And you took more pain than little bite marks. You will never get over your fear if you don't face them."
"Silas Adler...terrified of drakelings...yes. My pride in wounded." Silas muttered, tone suddenly becoming more serious, grave, as he added, "My true terrors are the memories of the attack. I have not seen that much death at once, lives taken so fast. I saw Cynder as a monster, for how could anything with a conscience claim lives without of second thought? Little did I know, I had become that very monster the moment my blade drew her blood."
"Ember...I want to help these chicks. I know that now I may do more harm than good at the moment, but maybe when I become a better, stronger man I can truly help. It is the least I can do for Spyro and Cynder, and I pray that she forgives me." Silas spoke, Ember's eyes widening in shock before a large smile broke out on her face.
"So you will try?" Ember asked, excitement in her voice as Silas smiled softly.
"Of course. So long as someone is around to supervise." Silas answered, Ember pounding her front legs onto the ground in some sort of pattern in joy.
"Excellent!" Ember squealed, Silas flinching slightly as her voice reached a higher pitch.
"Oh, sorry." Ember apologized, grinning sheepishly as the man chuckled slightly.
"Apology accepted, my friend." Silas replied, the pair now walking at a more comfortable pace.
Spyro watched silently as his offspring played in the clearing, eyes sharp and focused as he kept staring at the human dozing underneath the shade. He just didn't trust them. And this one gave off a bad vibe. He could swear he could smell the scent of death just hovering around him.
However, Rorek seemed completely unphased by the purple dragon, breath calm and steady. If he was even aware the male dragon was constantly eyeing him for any signs of danger, he cared not.
Spyro then turned his attention to his stumbling offspring. They may have been a bit shaky on their four legs, but they were much better than when they hatched only a few hours ago. Watching them, Spyro couldn't help but feel his chest puff up in pride. These were his children after all. He only wished that Cynder was here to share this wonderful moment with him.
Spyro's amethyst eyes scanned over the chicks, their stubby legs failing to fully lift their pudgy bellies off the ground, the small, underdeveloped wings tightly tucked against their stout bodies. The chicks continued to play and stumble as they walked, one falling over on its back and calling for help, its short legs flailing as its sibling began to chew on its hind leg.
Chuckling, Spyro gently nuzzled the downed chick on its legs, the drake plopping to the ground, as if suddenly too tired to even try and get used to its legs.
"Be nice to your sister." Spyro spoke softly, nuzzling each chick as the male snapped at his father, once again drawing blood.
"Hey! Be nice." Spyro scolded, the male continueing to snap as he nipped at his father's talons.
"Ancestors, you bite hard..." Spyro muttered, wondering where his child had gotten such a strong bite from. Looking at the chick, Spyro was also wondering where the chick hot it's coloration from. The male was almost pure white with black talons, a pair of lightning green eyes showing playfulness and determination.
Looking at the female chick that was now sleeping, Spyro couldn't help but smile as he saw the familiar coloration of his deceased mate. The only difference was the chick had a much darker shade of red, as if it was dried blood.
"Well, look at you. Daddy's little princess." Spyro cooed, Rorek shifting in discomfort at the mention of a daughter.
Spyro's head snapped towards the human at the sudden movement, the male growling as he bared his fangs.
"You would be a fool to see me as a threat, draconis." Rorek muttered softly, his sharp eyes locking onto Spyros' amethyst.
Spyro released a guttural growl, his scales straightening and expanding as his muscles tensed. He could see it in the human's eyes. He wasn't normal.
"Take care of your children. Succeed in where I have failed. Your offspring will grow to cherish you, while my child will grow to hate and fear her sire." Rorek advised, settling back down again.
"Why are you advising me?" Spyro asked, Rorek scoffing as his shoulders slumped.
"Because you are troubled. I do not need eyes to see that. You and I are on the same path, friend. However, you shall take the greater path." Rorek replied, the slightest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"How can you tell?" Spyro asked, position becoming more relaxed as his son stumbling toward the man, looking for someone to play with.
"How? These eyes see many things that no mortal should. However, even a man without my eyes could see your pain. You have lost your mate, and so have I. We are the same, yet we are not." Rorek answered, holding out his bony hand to allow the drakeling to examine.
"See things? Can you tell the future? How do you know my path?" Spyro asked, curious, yet skeptical as he stood alert, on edge.
"I do not see all things. A blind man can see more than I, yet I can see more than a man with woman born eyes. I do not have eyes of one that is woman born, and in doing so had killed my mother with my bloody birth. I believe that is the reason I see things that no normal man can see." Rorek answered, the male chick latching onto his fingers, blood dripping onto the moss laden floor.
"You're insane." Spyro stated, Rorek breathing, as if to produce of dry, soundless laugh.
"What you call insanity is what you do not understand." Rorek spoke, watching the chick clamp down harder onto his finger, allowing the drakeling to suckle.
"This one will grow and become the bane of your enemies. This one has the same eyes as I." Rorek observed, Spyro shivering as he growled, the chick breaking his grip and hurrying back to his father, tripping over himself. At least they listened.
"Interesting. Did you know that those with green eyes are considered to be into witchcraft?" Rorek asked, Spyro baring his fangs.
"I get the feeling they are right." Spyro grunted, turning his head to see his kin approaching from the woods, the fire haired human by her side.
"Oh! It appears you two are becoming friends! Great!" Ember cheered, smiling as Spyro looking at the female with doubt.
"Yes. Things are going so well. In fact, Spyro and I were about to march down to Regensburg and do a jig in an attempt to get the King's men to die from laughter." Rorek blurted out sarcastically, smoke emerging from Spyro's nostrils in annoyance.
"Oh, hush, you two! Are you ready, Silas?" Ember asked, Silas paling upon seeing the black chick waking from her slumber, the white male looking at the knight with curiosity.
"No." Silas whimpered pathetically, hesitantly getting on his knees as the chicks approached.
"Face your fear, Silas!" Ember cheered, Spyro raising an eye ridge as Ember smiled sheepishly.
"He's scared of your babies." Ember replied, Spyro looking at the human in disbelief.
Rorek watched intently, musing to himself as Silas visibly shook as the chicks approached him.
"Not Cynder...you are not Cynder...you are not your mother..." Silas whimpered to himself, feeling the rage and terror beginning to build inside him. Why was he feeling these emotions toward a creature that had never wronged him?
Silas flinched and shrunk into himself, raising his arms to defend himself as the chicks began to sniff and nibble on his hands. It was mainly the white drakeling that was bothering him, the black chick was staying back, as if afraid.
Silas shielded himself until the white chick got bored of him, noting that the human wasn't going to play with him anytime soon. Looking at the black chick, Silas noticed that she wasn't moving at all. She seemed terrified.
"Oh, you poor creature..." Silas whispered, whatever rage and terror he felt for the hatchling disappearing. She was more terrified of him.
Slowly, hesitantly, Silas stretched his hand towards the drakeling, the female stumbling and looking at the hand, eyes wide.
"It is okay. I will not hurt you, little one." Silas cooed softly, Spyro watching intently as the black chick slowly approached the human's hand, sniffing it.
"See? You have no reason to be afraid." Silas smiled gently, slowly retracting his hand, keeping his movements slow as to not startle the baby drake.
Silas froze as the chick slowly stepped up to him, her small, stubby paws gently smacking his leg in play. The chick squeaked as she almost lost her balance, but was steadied by Silas.
"I feel like I will hurt her if I am not careful with her." Silas admitted, his hand gently hovering over the chick's body.
"She likes yooooou!" Ember teased, nudging Silas as she smiled warmly.
"It appears she does." Silas agreed, stiffening as the chick licked his chin. He couldn't help but shiver as the display of affection. It reminded him of his dog he had as a child. But the chick's breath didn't smell like dog breath.
"Oh, my. Do you want her? Why do you not go to your father, little one?" Silas asked, slowly getting up and frowned as the chick followed.
"Oh, dear..."
"Awwww! That's so adorable!" Ember cried, Spyro looking less than thrilled that his daughter had chosen a human over her own father.
"It appears that you have a little friend." Rorek commented, chuckling slightly as Silas sighed.
"It appears I do." Silas muttered, watching as the black chick pounced on his foot, chewing on the metal.
Yay! Finally done! If any of you were confused with Rorek's woman born thing, he is saying that he is not woman born in the sense that he was not born vaginally. Instead, he was speaking of how he was cut out of her womb, hence his bloody birth and his mother's death. Also, I'm horrible with names and for the life of me cannot think of names for the chicks. The only female name I can think of is Seraphina, which was the name of Silas' mother(and means 'burning one'). Also I am not sure on their elements yet, but I will think of them one way or another. If you have any opinions please feel free to tell me. And poor Spyro, his daughter kinda ditched him. Oh, well. That's enough ranting on my part. I hope you all enjoyed and please review and vote if you want to. :)