Stepping out from behind the rough and tall trunk of a thin-needled tree, trying to push every ounce of his willpower into moving faster than a walk, Spyro grimaced from his incomprehensibly sedated pace. Neck craning higher as he labored through several fumbling bounds up a steep and overgrown slope of broken rock, forming the beginnings of an ancient and imposing stone wall, his eyes widened from the reappearance of a tall silhouette, their onward motions shifting through a muted cloud-strewn glare of sunshine.
Elora!
With only his mind producing his unheard shout, the reptile drug the claws of his front paws across the coarse platform beneath with an also-unheard growl of frustration, straining to shorten his distance from the often-glimpsed and ever-moving figure.
I hate that I'm the only one that can hear myself talk...!
Staring at her distant movements along the staggered battlements of the gently curving wall, gracefully prancing across each square-cut block with bobs of her head, her outward arms flicked and folded in undulations of liquidity, whirling around the leisurely revolutions of her slender body that left the dragon's mouth agape.
Is she... That's dancing, right? The two-leggers do that, but not, uh, on an edge like that. She hasn't made a single mis-
Suddenly alarmed by her abrupt descent between the grey brick, Spyro lurched forward in a startling return of his speed, only to halt in an immediate closure of throttle. Toes spread, his tail stuck out straight behind in a suspenseful stare toward the target, brimming with pursuant vigor. Waiting for her to move again, only for the distant hints of her color to remain in place, he rocketed into motion, ducked low to the ground in primordial pursuit.
Stay put... Just stay... You're staying, staying... Sitting, just, stay, put! Please!
Storming closer, disbelief compounding as the outer edges of his vision blurred out of focus, the breeze-lifted rises and landings of her brunette hair and chestnut fur burst into view as he screeched to a stop behind her, a veritable cloud of dust drifting from his feet. Remaining frozen in place, his brow furrowed with perplexion as she seemed oblivious to his hurried arrival, looking on to the groves of trees dotting the hilly landscape beyond.
Do you not hear me? I'm right here!
Head tilting as he wound around her backside, peeking up beside her in the shadow of the cut stone, Spyro noiselessly grunted as Elora looked aside, and with a momentary dash of contemplation visiting her facial features, his feet felt welded to the surface below as her teal-green eyes occupied the entirety of his focus, looking directly at him. Maintaining the silence, she simply reached over, and he strained forward to meet her outstretched limb, finding her index finger prodding the rounded tip of his snout between his nostrils.
Uh, ah, my, hah, that tickles and I'm, ah, AH-CHOO!
Vision slamming shut just before an uncontrolled blast of flame shot from his mouth in a sneeze, Spyro recoiled in horror-stricken realization, but upon opening his eyes, the scene had all but bleached into bright light. Snout twitching in a tingling itch, he blinked several times, and with a darkening cascade of contrast in his purple-ringed pupils, the sight of a broad brown ridge was discerned directly ahead. Gaining detail, with a layer of fine velvet fur decorating the visible edge, Spyro then noticed a small nip missing from its lower fold. With several groggy blinks of slowly-returning familiarity, properly discerning the scar of an undisclosed scuffle in detail, his head lifted in a turn, discovering leaf-strewn grass, and then the very real presence of Elora, melded against his front and beneath his forelimb.
Oh, huh, wow. That went from dream, to not, I think, and...
Flopping his head back down, horn crushing an errant dry leaf, he looked on lazily to the wisps of clouds stretched across the morning sky.
"...I'm awake?"
Relieved by the audible return of his voice, his mouth then tightened shut as Elora stirred.
"Mm?"
Heart beating from her mumble, sourced from the unintended rousing, he gently met her hair with his chin, intaking her scent as he nudged her scalp in several gentle brushings. Holding still as she twisted, groaning and snuggling closer, Spyro remained diligently firm, awaiting her return to a doze once more. Finally allowing a controlled exhale, laying flat onto the thin foliage beneath, his eyelids settled shut in resignation.
You rest. I'll be right here... And nothing will happen. Not that anything ever really happens in this realm besides the trees and the sheep. Who knows. She might... And she chose for us to sleep here. She says she's around here all the time, so she'd know best... Once she wakes up on her terms... Without me thinking I sneeze-flamed her. That really scared me.
Eyelids peeling open one by one, flooded by a blur of speckled purple and matte gold, several blinks sharpened the division between the distinct colors, revealing the segments of belly armor. Peeping down along her figure, rediscovering the shapes of a toned reptilian limb draped over the side of her stomach, Elora moved her legs in an outward push of a stretch. With a turn, the broad cover of a wing moved away, introducing the deep blues of the sky beyond, and she rolled her head back. Hair spreading and ears flattening into the grass, she was then met with the big-eyed and upside-down curiosity of Spyro, and an exhale of pleasant surprise pried her lips apart.
"Morning."
Immediately grinning from his greeting and expression, she revolved onto her stomach with a burst of energy, hooves slipping on leaves as she lurched closer, clamoring arms wrapping around the circumference of his neck.
"Mmmmorning, you."
Squishing her face into his cheekbone, shaking with a laugh of delight as he attempted to mumble something, she turned his head with an upward nudge of her shoulder, sinking a kiss onto the very tip of his nose. Vision slowly wandering along the rounded bridge of his snout, meeting his awaiting eyes above it, her own nose settled between his nostrils, hiding both of their crooked late-morning smiles.
"How did you sleep?"
Eyelids drooping in a languorous flutter, she remained against him in their facial perch.
"Wonder... Fully. What about you?"
"I think I got enough."
"Did you dream about me?"
Staring at her from the innocent question, he waited until she peeked at him again.
"I did, but... It was different."
"Good different?"
"Maybe."
"Were you still wandering after me?"
"For a while, but then you stopped, and I caught up finally. You looked right at me, touched my nose, and I, um..."
Entranced as she brought her legs closer into a fold beneath her rump, rising into a prop upright with her retreating arms, her index finger straightened outward from her hand, coming to rest between his nostrils.
"Like this?"
Jaw tightening as the dextral tip of her digit drug down in a path of bisection, lightly tapping against his lower lip beneath, Spyro's forelegs trembled from the gentle touches of her fingertips as they began a repeating scratching motion beneath his chin.
Ah, hah, whoa-kay. That's... Nice.
Eyes rolling up from the sensual destruction of several itches, his head strained upward, granting her more room to scratch his hide.
"Oh my gosh, you goof. You like that?"
"Unnfff. Yesh."
Increasing the vigor of her scratching, he stretched rearward, a guttural grunt of pleasure seeping from his throat.
For being one without much hair... You're quick to melt from being pet.
Gazing with enamorment at the fire-breathing beast, reduced to a flop onto the leafy grass, Elora studied Spyro's prone posture with tinted cheeks, sharing in the morning daydream.
I'll have to remember this.
Pulling and adjusting one of the tough upper leaves comprising her only garment, Elora knelt before the nearly still water of a rectangular pool, decorated with soggy leaves and the orange colors of the nearby portal. Dipping her hand in, introducing a shockwave of motion to the surface, the gathering of dark shapes danced along the ripples as she cupped a handful of water. Bringing her dripping fingers to her brow and swiping the captured liquid across her eyes, she blinked from the cool rush of dampening, water dripping from her broad-and-soaked nose. Attention towed over by the lazy padding of Spyro's delayed arrival, the plum reptile ambled up to the edge of the pool, and after what appeared to be an inspection of his reflection, he dunked his entire head into the water, leaving the tips of his horns poking above the surface.
Wha...
Bursting into a giggle from the sight, increasing into stifled laughter as he lifted free from the water, several leaves remained adhered to his head in varying places. Watching with delight as he shook back and forth, flinging most of the waterlogged debris free, her hands sank to her lap.
"I can't believe, actually..."
Pausing as he turned to her voice, she leaned closer.
"...I can."
Arm supporting her shoulder above the grassy earth as she peeled one of the offending objects free, dropping it aside, she watched several dribbles of water dry up and vanish among his scales.
"You can... What?"
"I can... Say, that, you are hilarious."
Tapping his horn amid her choppy remark, his big eyes blinking, the gathering of butterflies within her chest continued to flap about.
And by hilarious... I mean... Well, you still are, but you make me want to keep touching you, with all the stuff you do... You big goof!
Climbing up a series of tarnished iron rungs, comprising one of several wide ladders on the external face of the castle, both faun and dragon steadily labored in repeating motions of ascension, with Elora yet again in a marginal lead.
"About those stairs."
Face cracking with mirth from Spyro's quip just below, she reached aside, diagonally crossing onto the next set of thick piping.
"There's more than one access to the upper levels."
"Lemme guess, they're all bricked up."
"Besides that one to the roof you smashed, yes."
"So you've gone up and down these ladders every time you come here?"
Peeping down at the purple reptile, his wings teased by the swirl of wind rushing up along the structure, Elora stuck her tongue out ever-so-slightly.
"I do. Can't seem to fly around like someone else."
Producing a fleeting smirk, Spyro's head rolled back, lazily stopping behind his shoulder.
"Ah yes, hard to beat that easy float down to the ground."
Looping her arm around one of the rungs in a pause, she waited as he climbed near, reaching her knees.
"Maybe I'll hold onto you as you glide somewhere."
"Mm, as fun as that sounds, I feel like we'd go straight down."
"Think so?"
"These wings have gotten better, but only better enough to keep me in the air."
"Aww."
Claws curling around the piping, pulling up alongside her, Spyro ceased his movement.
"One day... We'll try a flight together, and see how far we go."
Eying the fibrous folds of his golden-orange wings with interest, she hummed sweetly.
"Alright."
Hoisting herself further up with a surge of movement, grunting with determination, she grasped the top edge of the narrow ledge lining the castle's vertical walls. Attentively following the display of her leg strength, her fluffy tail swaying left and right, Spyro distractedly reached aside, wanting instead to reach up and swat the enticing pointed tuft dancing above his horns.
Pulling herself up and over the ledge, Elora turned and backed against the wall behind, bosom heaving in respiration. With a suspenseful moment of listening to the clatter of claws hooking around the ladder, Spyro's horns appeared, and his forelegs slapped onto the flat stones, paw points dragging back with scrapes until they halted in the mortar channels between. With a sudden introduction of his big furrowed eyes above a clenched jaw, heaving his reptilian body onto the ledge with several pushes of his rear legs, Elora discreetly gripped her thighs, imagining him continuing to climb up and over herself.
Oooh.
Turning away in avoidance to the ivy growing among the stone blocks just beside, Spyro's ambling profile appeared in the same view anyway, and he sank rearward, tail straightening along the wall. Glancing across his shoulder to her, their eyes met amid their reclamation of breath.
"So... Elora."
"So, Spyro."
Tickling him into a chuckle, she waited as he regathered his thoughts.
"Obviously we're heading to the upper hall."
"We are. Is that not what you want?"
Allowing her response to echo in his mind, he shot back a look of interest.
"What I want, is whatever you want... To do."
Ear perking, she straightened her posture.
"...That is, I want to do whatever, and go wherever, anywhere, with you. Today."
Lips parting further from his bumpy-yet-coherent words, his refusal to look away confirmed his honesty.
"Anywhere?"
"I'll follow you there."
Head sinking, locks of auburn hiding away her face, she listened to the hefty throb within her chest, no longer caused by the climbing effort.
You really are... Finding your feelings, aren't you?
Fingers intersecting, palms resting on the green layers of her garment above her stomach, she eyed the slow spin of her thumbs in a bashful fidget.
Its nice... Hearing them.
Looking out over the sunken courtyard to a set of long supporting arches, spanning and bracing rounded turrets protruding from the wall, the breeze-blown tops of the distant fall-painted trees swayed just above the angled lengths.
To think you came and found me... Because you couldn't stop dreaming of me. And now...
Alighting up to the shadowed peak of an upper-story passage, a hefty inhale filling her heart and lungs, her fingers sprung apart and flattened onto the stone, shoving herself upward onto her feet.
"Think you can handle a trade run?"
"Between the worlds around here?"
Nodding, she hummed with delight as Spyro eagerly hopped to his feet.
"Better believe I can handle it! I've been to every one of the worlds around here."
"And I valiantly kicked everyone's butts doing so."
"Yeah!"
Head twisting, realizing she had playfully stolen his thunder, he followed her strut past him, fingers grazing his ridge of pointy bristles above his quirked eyebrow.
"Hey, you."
"Sorry, had to try out my inner Spyro for a moment."
Following her tail's teasing tosses, with both of them quickening their pace in tandem, she stormed up the ladder with a squeal of laughter as he bounded over, launching onto the hollow pipes with a clatter.
"I'm gonna get you!"
Rounding the open corner of an indoor junction, with pillars of light seeping in between rounded columns, the hum and crystal-powered glow of a portal brought both Spyro and Elora's attentions to it in duality, inspecting the emblazoned name floating before it.
Scorch...
Continuing in a sweeping turn, halting beside the wall mere steps from the top of a large curved stairwell, her hand reached up, bracing herself into a lean. Looking behind, peering down the steps ahead, and then looking at the block her fingers were spread onto in consecutive glances, Elora's search for an unseen witness opened Spyro's mouth with mild confusion.
"Ah, hey."
"Hold on."
Turning and placing her other hand onto the large square brick, her arms folded, and with a strong heave, the block slid inward, revealing a hollow that gobbled up her arms, much to the dragon's surprise.
"Whoa."
Reaching into its depths and retrieving a stitched bag, with a leather strap affixed to both sides, she draped it onto the bend of her elbow, and gripped the broken edge of the stone, pulling it back outward until it was nearly flush with the time-worn wall.
"I assume that's your satchel?"
"Sure is."
Padding closer and sniffing the gently swaying bag, it rose higher and swung around her shoulder, lifting and ducking beneath the diagonal strap.
"That was kinda cool with the wall."
"That's the hiding place. A while ago something shifted, and this block was squeezed out somehow. I put it back once I figured out there's a space behind it... Makes a great place to hide stuff."
Piquing Spyro's curiosity as she opened the top flap, he craned higher.
"What kind of stuff?"
Producing a devious smirk, only for it to vanish as quick as it appeared, she lifted a harmless roll of parchment free from the bag's innards.
"An itinerary."
"For trading?"
"You got it."
"What's the next job?"
Spreading the aged paper with both hands, poring over written runes of names and notations, she hummed with interest.
"Confirming a supply of iron slag... From Magma Cone."
"Slag?"
"Deposits. They pull them out from the lava flows and forge it into ingots."
"Oh, for tools, right?"
Peeping up toward Spyro from his correct guess, the parchment rolled back together in her palms.
"Uh huh."
"Several dragons do metal forging back home, so... I might know a thing or two about it."
Tickled with interest from his casual revelation, Elora turned on her hoof toward the stairwell.
"Once we find out if there is any, we'll be heading to Idol Springs, to meet with the temple foreman."
Trotting over beside her, matching her pace down the steps, Spyro's tail wiggled with excitement.
"Sounds like a plan!"
Emerging from beneath the darkened blocks of a brass-trimmed portal frame, a stifling curtain of heat rippled past in an immediate sensory envelopment, and Elora's hesitant hoofsteps into nutrient-rich grass sent small clouds of ash into the air, carried away on the current of a hot breeze. Nose lifting in a cautious sampling of the air, the acrid waft of smoke and brimstone entered her lungs in a sigh of uncertainty.
This place...
Seconds later her shoulder illuminated with light, and Spyro whooshed past in a glide, narrowly avoiding her with an abrupt evasion.
"Almost hit you, sorry!"
Waving away his statement, her vision rose into the burnt orange sky in a turn as he landed.
"My fault... Standing here."
Following the direction of her stare up to the iron-plated peak of the nearby volcano, ripples of ember-laden smoke seeped from beneath its hinged cap in a smoldering grumble, and Spyro looked back to the faun girl, eyebrow perking.
Are you... Does that bother you? Because, wait until you climb that thing when its actively spewing fire bombs...
"Oi, look mate, its Spyro!"
"Missus Elora to boot!"
Attentions whirling from the outspoken greeting, two light blue fauns skipped towards them in an energetic approach, waving in eager greeting.
"What brings the both of ye here to the cone?"
Meeting the new arrivals with vigorous hand-and-pawshakes, propping their hands to their sides in a matching motion, the fauns stood in patient waiting as Elora slid her satchel around her side.
"I... Am looking for the fellow that collects slag fragments."
"Aedy, yes?"
"Got a request from a smith, do ye?"
"Yes, and yes."
"Well don't just stand about there girly! You too Spyro! We're moments from a midday meal when Bippo noticed the portal activated."
"Oh, um, sure!"
"We'll get to talkin' about the iron bits later, don't ye worry."
Pacing just behind the bounding prances of the white-horned bipedal creatures, both Spyro and Elora traded a glance of surprise as they wound among the circular homes scattered among knolls and ledges.
"Guess we're having lunch!"
Seated before a bounty of gathered food, legs crossed and hooves nudged against Spyro's stomach, Elora's cheeks remained busy, processing the wedges of a fat artichoke in her fingers. Tearing a new partition free with a clamp and tug of her teeth, she took in the pleasantly moist flavor, tongue flicking across her lower lip to keep the mashed fibers within.
"Idol Springs ye say?"
"Those round green ones with the viney temples."
"They've got little in the way of working metal, yeh?"
"I wouldn't mind a scrap of their jade stones."
"Hmmm... Miss Elora."
Attention alighting upon one of the fauns directly addressing her, she swallowed.
"Can you reach the fellows in the Springs, and lend a message?"
"I can do that."
"We'll exchange a few ingot's worth of raw iron, for an equivalent lot of their Jade."
Placing the artichoke onto the singed patterns of the blanket beneath all of them, she fumbled for the parchment in her satchel, unfurling it with a swipe of her hand and grasping a thin rod of graphite.
"No, mm, gems to exchange?"
"Nay, lately we've had an eye for prettier rocks than the likes we have here."
Head perking in a turn from the remark floating in the smoky air, pulling his focus entirely away from the partly consumed leg of beef beneath his paws, Spyro looked on across the woven baskets of food. Discreetly noticing that nearly all of the pale males were feasting upon his taller companion above their own meals, with wandering quirks of eyes and smiles ensuing amid indiscernible mumbles and chuckles of interest, a puff of contempt ejected from his nostrils.
Uh, huh. Don't think so.
Chomping vigorously into the thick flesh below, baring his pointed teeth with a snarl, Spyro began jerking his head left and right, violently tearing free a chunk of the smoked beef from its host bone. Chomping on it with an open showing of fang and swallowing the mashed mouthful with a strong gulp, Spyro's display then faded into harmlessness as he turned and plopped his head onto Elora's knee, realizing then that her attention was still somewhere beyond the gathering of fauns anyway.
"How's that, ahm, vegetable?"
"Artichoke."
"Please don't."
"Hm?"
Finally yanking her distracted attention down, Spyro blinked, offering a toothy smile.
"Hi."
Laughing into the plant pressed against her lip, from the eager batting of his eyelids and his tiny greeting alike, Elora's free hand floated from her thigh to his cheekbone, thumb drifting along his bumpy complexion.
"Hey." Cutie.
"What's that thing you're having?"
Pulling free another fold between her lips, she lowered the artichoke to his nose.
"Try it."
Sniffing the vegetable and nipping its nearest fold, pulling it free with a small jerk, his tongue retracted the green flesh into his mouth, producing an amusing sequence of expressions from the sampling, witnessed by all present.
"Methinks the dragon's not one for the garden variety."
"He's looking rather confused, yea?"
"All that beef and the girly's got him trying salad bits."
Swallowing amid the friendly hoots of laughter, Spyro eyed the local population in a sweep, eyebrow cocked.
"I liked it, so there."
Met with an increasing riot of laughter from the cerulean creatures, his heart beat from the teasing response, only for Elora's hand to settle onto the back of his head, fingers dragging through his golden bristles in a comforting slow motion. Furrowed brow drooping, he turned back to the leg of meat, dragging it closer with his teeth and resigning into taking a normal-sized bite.
Whatever. Veggies, or apples... She shares, and she's mine.
Autumn Plains, Avalar
Circling in a long-winded spiral, dipping and rising to keep level with Elora as she migrated down the castle's ladders, Spyro tilted in tightening banks, keeping within the tall walls of the courtyard space. Fur billowing from each of his swift passes, she remained in a tickle of mirth, cheeks aglow as she maintained focus on the weathered iron bends beneath her hooves.
"Elora!"
"Spyro!"
"We need to get you some wings!"
"But I just want yours!"
"These are mine!"
"That's why I want them!"
Glimpsing his purple blur across her shoulder, she listened to the flapping of his aerial folds, echoing after their shouting banter.
I want your wings... And your horns... Those big eyes and that silly smile you keep making...
Reaching the lowest rungs of the vertical path, her hoof floated free in the air, and with a pivot on the other, she leaned out, releasing her handholds and jumping to the stone pavers below. Landing with a very audible clack of hard toes, keeping balance with a single assisting step forward, her hands propped onto her hips, looking up to the rapidly descending dragon.
"Did I seriously beat you down here?"
"Nuh uh! I was just trying not to leave you behind."
Grinning cheekily from his protesting answer, she awaited his landing, plopping onto all fours in a skitter of immediate deceleration.
"So busy gliding and talking."
"Hey, talking to you is distracting."
Cheek curling, her arms crossed behind her back, knuckles resting against her leafy dress.
"Why's that?"
"Pft, are you serious?"
"I am."
"Well, first of all, your legs are crazy."
Tucking one of her sun-browned shanks behind her other knee, she twisted tenderly in an adjustment of balance.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, and every time the wind blows around here, your hair moves in this way around your ears and across your eyes, and... Just like that, right now."
Watching the undulating sweeps of her brunette bangs, dancing beneath breeze-flicked tosses of smaller locks and tufts, his focused inspection of described phenomenon suddenly computed the doting gaze cast into her features, shaded teal irides firmly set onto him. Jaw parting in an attempt to produce further words, his tongue unfurled onto his lower teeth, only to zip back inside. Clamping his mouth shut, cheeks pooling with magma-like heat, he looked aside to the uphill slope of earth just beyond.
"T-That's part of why you're distracting... To talk to."
Ambling closer, with precise placements of her hooves onto the flat stones, she zeroed in on the bashful creature, crouching lower and immediately luring his face back around in a whirl. Trying vainly to keep his burning cheekbones from outright melting, he froze in place as she leaned closer, only to boop the tip of his snout with her own flat, soft nose.
"If you say so. Dork."
Stretching skyward, pulling the spent air in his lungs free as well, she stood to full height, beginning forward into the overgrown grasses with a confident stride. Grinning from his audible bounds through the foliage behind, she looked up to the crest of the hillside with a hum.
I think you spilled some more honesty... Spyro.
Idol Springs, Avalar
Glimpsing the jumping flight of a deep blue fish alongside his glide, feet churning into motion with his forelegs ripping through a tangle of thick ground cover, Spyro's rear arched up from his own momentum. Tail unfurling into the air and then flopping onto the ground behind as his rump sank into the damp grass, he inspected the soggy bank of the deep pond to his left.
Whoa, kay. Almost went for a roll there!
Turning in all directions in an orbital intake of the rest of his surroundings, a flare of magical light announced Elora's subsequent arrival, and he pulled his tangled digits free from the plant matter, springing aside from the pond and meeting her walking pace in a turn.
"Been a while since I've been here."
"I like this place... Everything is so green and full of life. The trees are different from the home worlds too."
"I'll say."
"Spyro!"
Discovering the shout, stumble, recovery, and hurried approach of one of the world's green-tinted denizens, Spyro's paw lifted, one single claw extending into a point with a squint to match.
"Heeyyy, Bob, right? How's things here in the temples? Haven't seen any possessed idols running around."
"Oh, we haven't had issue with evil spirits for many calendars now. I think once you incinerated all the wood they inhabited, they fled elsewhere."
"That's good. Can't have them wrecking any more cookouts."
Adjusting the strap on her shoulder, Elora's expression quirked with great curiosity from the described-and-unseen situation.
"You're telling me. We had to get more marshmallows after that debacle... Thanks again for helping."
"You bet."
Glancing up to the taller stature of the female faun, Foreman Bob leaned back.
"Honestly Spyro, I wasn't expecting you along with Elora here. She's almost a regular visitor these days."
"Ah, well, I'm keeping her company on her travels. Gotta chase away any bad mojo or sneaky thieves... Stuff like that."
"Thieves? Sounds serious. In that case, you're wise to keep company with this dragon, young lady. Spyro here deals some real punishment when we need him to."
Rolling aside with an amused smile, she peered over her shoulder, seeing the very same dragon lift his leg to avoid a huge beetle wandering near.
"Oh I know. He's been nice to have around."
"Ah, right, did you happen to hear from the volcano smiths?"
"We just came from Magma Cone."
"Very good. Did they have any slag?"
"They do, and the fauns there have presented a non-gem trade."
"That so?"
"They wish to trade their iron fragments, for an equal amount... Of your jungle Jade stones."
"Jadeite, hmm... Cut or raw?"
Pausing from the unexpected choice, she glanced at the parchment.
"They, uhm, didn't specify, actually."
"Is it for decoration?"
"Sounded like it. At least one of them said that."
Stroking the stubble on his thick green chin, the Foreman looked aside to Spyro's idle motions.
"They're iron workers, yeah? They should have tools to cut and shape our Jade however they wish."
"I would assume so."
"Right, raw rock it is. I'll have my workers count the stockpile here in a bit. Whenever you get back to the cone, tell them we accept their trade and are ready to arrange a meeting."
Beaming in an instant bloom, Elora found her graphite stick and scribbled several runes onto the rough paper, circling something afterward. Rolling it up and shoving both back inside her bag, the faun looked to Spyro happily, and his tail wiggled from her visibly boosted pride.
The way you're smiling... Must mean these trade travels are worth doing. Pretty cool, honestly. Pretty, and cool. Heh. That's you, alright.
"Erm, I don't know how long you two planned on staying, but please feel free to visit any of the temples or caves in the meantime... If you wish."
Immediately stretching all four of his limbs, chest nearly squishing into the damp grass, Spyro shot upright.
"Sounds fun. I'm game to explore if you are, Elora."
"Oh, absolutely."
"First one to climb the tallest idol?"
"You're on."
"I might beat you."
"Better keep up then, mister wings."
Meandering among a thickly overgrown ledge, with ropes and webs of vines restraining the crumbling of giant rock slabs, both Spyro and Elora navigated over and around fallen rocks and broad-leafed bushes, on approach to one of the massive rock idols perched on the low cliff.
"Do you think the ones with open mouths, like this guy... Are they saying something?"
Eying the facial profile chiseled into the giant rock, Elora touched her finger to her chin from the good question.
"Hopefully he's not stuck screaming."
"That would be pretty tiring, huh?"
"Why don't you go to his mouth, and see what he's saying."
Trading a glance, she gestured forward, smile cracking wider and wider as Spyro casually heeded her suggestion. Tip-toeing closer to the idol, just out of his line of sight, she hoisted herself up onto the exterior, finding a circular lichen-lined hole for the idol's ear. Sidling her head through, peeking down into the dim hollow and seeing Spyro's pointed horns turn left and right with uncertainty, her chest filled with glee from his unsuspecting demeanor.
"Yeah, um, Elora, I don't think a stone statue is go-"
"Spyyyyyyrrrrrrroooooooooooo..."
Whipping back from the seeping whisper echoing into the chamber, his nose darted left and right with paranoia.
"Uh, wha..."
Looking up from the idol's open mouth, spotting Elora's head peeking in higher from the side, he slumped flat onto his belly with a grimace.
"Dang you, that scared me."
Giggling with rollicking delight, the sound of her laughter then faded into an echo as a distant rumble reverberated across the open air, and he peeped back up to her with one eye closed.
"That wasn't me."
Retreating from the dark hollow of the idol's orifices, both creatures looked toward the heavens, and a rolling growth of dark and foreboding clouds indicated the direct approach of inbound weather.
"That's rain, big time rain."
"Sure looks like it."
Climbing down, fur standing on end as a clap of thunder rolled across the muggy air, Elora looked to Spyro with a hint of excitement as he hustled over to her side.
"Last one to a cave...?"
"Will be soaked!"
Entranced by the sheer volume of rain cascading onto the jungle, seen through the jagged points and edges of an open rock cave, a dry and relaxed Elora lay on a spread of moss, her head nestled into Spyro's side behind his folded wing. Reaching forward to his cheek and dragging her fingers along his scales, curving up and over his shoulder, she pet his flank in a series of soothing passes of her fingers.
Docile, dragon... So warm, and sooo handsome.
Endearment bubbling in her mind, she nudged closer, ear shifting just above from the distant crackle of ongoing thunder fighting through the moisture.
You've done so much in just a few years of your life. Anywhere we go, everybody knows you by name, even after a year or more of being away, and... Its kind of amazing.
An ache seeped from her bosom, escaping unheard among the rain.
Everything, and everyone here in Avalar is at your beckoning, and yet...
Reaching up to his cheek once more, her thumb swept in a caress toward the shapes of his nose.
...You came back, to find me.
Hand pushing outward from the turn of his head, sliding along the side of his snout, his purple iride calmly found her. Then, in a much quicker motion, his tongue shot out and drug along the entire length of her forearm in a twist and retreat.
Blinking with abject surprise, initially abashed by the slobbery swipe along her fur, Elora's mouth pried open as his teeth showed in a knowing grin.
"Did you just..."
"I did. Whatcha gonna do?"
Rising from his belly with a shove of her reclined shoulder, in direct response to his teasing goad, she shuffled forward, knees and elbows squishing into the bed of moss. Grasping his right horn and heaving him up and around with her arm, surprising the dragon from her strength, she brought him up to his dangling front feet, perching between her own collapsed legs. Fingers sliding down to the base of his segmented horn, with her opposite digits winding around his chin and spreading, she stared amorously at the wide-eyed creature, completely within her mercy.
"I'm, going, to..."
Tilting, and then tilting further, her eyelids fluttered lower, and the soft fuzz of her broad upper lip molded into the patterns of his scales in a silent, supple meeting.
"Kiss me?"
"Kiss you."
Closing the distance, her lips mashed into the leading edges of his. Pulling back and swiping her folds with her tongue, she squished now-moistened lips obliquely into the front of his mouth in several presses, and a hum buzzed in her throat.
"Huh?"
"Where's that tongue now?"
Easily lured into answering her breathy whisper against his nose, Spyro's intended words were silenced instead as her mammalian tongue slithered inside, pressing against and wriggling around his own broad muscle and deflecting against the interior of his teeth. Managing to seal off a majority of the openings between their differently shaped muzzles, her pale and fur-lined folds sucked back along his tongue, and then pulled at each of his lips in a series of recapturing tugs.
Sooo... That's what this feels like.
Eyes opening with caution, seeing her peaked brow above gleaming irides, her flat nose between flushed cheekbones, she nudged his snout.
So you, taste like smoke... "Your turn."
Not entirely sure of the whisper from below, he pushed back in response, and her ear rose slightly.
"My mouth, silly."
"Oh."
"Just don't... Chew on mmmm..."
Accepting the cautious entry of his reptilian muscle with a murmur, moist and teeming with heat, one of his fangs hooked her lower lip in a fleeting pull. Manually turning his head, still holding onto his horn, she freed the snag, and passionate drafts of breath blew from her nostrils, playfully batting his tongue with nudges of her own.
Smoky, slobber... Makes sense. Fire-breather.
Heart racing from the very real thought of his instant summoning of flame, from the mouth she was actively kissing, her knuckles squeezed tight around his solid horn, and her tail stood on end.
That's a little scary... And kinda, actually, pretty hot. Hehe. Hot, fiery... Dragon mouth.
Squeezing his retreating tongue between her lips, lamenting the absence of the bumpy, slick, inexperienced member as it hid behind his teeth, a quiet giggle shook her bosom as her nose squished into his once more, feeling his breath puff against her bangs.
"How was that?"
"Honest opinion?"
"Go for it."
"It was new, um, interesting, and..."
And... "Yeah?"
"Yes."
Vision blurring to the purple in front of her, she turned her leg in elimination of an ache.
"Did... You like it?"
"I mean, seeing how you started behaving kinda got me going, and..."
Eyes flitting up, salivating tongue tucked behind her lower teeth, her eyebrows perked with interest.
"Oh yeah?" Maybe you should d-
"I, um, I'm thinking, maybe it'll go better if I tried it again."
Yes! "I think you should try again."
"Alright."
This time, tilting his own head in opposition, Spyro squinted, glimpsing the facial collision that he felt before shutting out the sight. Taking an easily gained lead, doing his best to keep his teeth at bay, the tip of his tongue swiped the roof of her mouth, chased and playfully trapped, and his forelimbs hesitantly reached forward one by one, toes spreading and landing harmlessly on her folded thighs.
You're holding... Onto me, so...
Tail coiling tightly as the female faun nipped and tugged his upper lip, hair sweeping and draping onto him, she shuffled closer, releasing hold of his horn. Palm sliding in exploration down the muscle of his neck, finding the concave curve of his shoulder, her soft digits settled to rest, and saliva-laden members melt halfway between their course and soft muzzles, dripping and cooling amid the roar of steady rainfall.
...I won't let go, either.
Laying back on the bed of flattened moss in a doze, beneath dank rocks of a narrow and dim cave, Elora listened to the swirls of cool air winding through the weather-deadened rain forest just beyond. Beside her, tucked against her length in his entirety, the radiant heat of a young reptile fought away the cool temperature with ease, motionless besides the rise and fall of the ridge along his back. Stroking his neck, with the tips of her pale fingers gracing his bristles in each pass, his head remained seated across her collar, relaxed in a heft that she hardly minded.
I wondered... Kissing a big lizard... That's a new one, isn't it. There's a little bit of mix and mingle of creatures around Avalar but... There hasn't been dragons around for ages.
Lips pursing, imagining the distinct texture of his warm scales against her pale muzzle, she tingled with quiet delight.
Here I am, making out with the first one I've ever met... Couldn't keep my eyes off you. Now you're here again, and I can't keep my hands off you either.
Palm spreading, knuckles flattening, she felt the throb of his heartbeat just beneath.
Smoky, slobber, Spyro... Silly, sweet... Kinda sexy when you fly... Cutie pie.
Burying her knuckles in among his golden mane, she scratched his scales on the other side.
Be my wings... And I'll be yours.
Trudging through an inescapably damp environment of dripping leaves and wet slabs of rock, with weeds and grass stalks sticking to and peeling away from their feet in passing, Elora kept a gentle hold of the furthest bony tip of Spyro's wing. Thumb rubbing along the smooth orange flesh of the wing's surface, with the plum dragon just beside her in a matching meander, she looked on towards one of the world's numerous open temples, distant and unseen avians chirping and calling into drifting tendrils of fog higher above.
Haven't said much since that nap earlier... But its alright. New things happened, and he's still wearing that smile... And we have nothing but time.
Rising in tandem onto cracked and weathered steps, entering the mouth of a tunnel-like passage, both creatures looked left and right at the mysterious rows of glyphs decorating the smooth-cut interior. Up above, light from hanging bowl lanterns danced along the relief of chiseled and painted imagery, giving them life with errant gleams of ancient dye reaching out from the shadows.
Everywhere we wander seems so old... And here we are, so young. How long ago was all of this built? We're passing through places that could have been around longer than our portal network... And those arches are already dated as it is.
Reaching out and dragging her fur over one of the glyphs in passing, bumping across the channels, a waft of musty dust lingered in a swirl behind her hand, and she looked to Spyro, having since garnered his curiosity from her motion.
Hey, you.
Meeting his passivity with soft-eyed admiration, she stepped a little closer, nudging his shoulder with her knee in a grazing bump. Seeming knocking his head into a tilt, only for him to pivot over and nudge her back, her hoof shot out to brace herself from his returning collision, only for the dragon to remain against her thigh, halting their travel. Nuzzling her fine fur, and then angling up and pressing his chin against the broad leaves of her attire, he waited for her hand to free itself from his wing, landing on his ear and molding around his cheekbone.
You sure say a bunch of things... Without speaking.
Summer Forest, Avalar
"Elora."
Startled by her firmly spoken name entering the sun-bathed air, the faun's vision rose from the motionless dragon, up to the shadowed portal frame he was bodily pointed towards.
"Yes?"
Her response lingering just the same, she managed a step closer, only for him to look back and eye her pointedly, revealing the distinct absence of his prior smile.
"I... Need to head back. To the dragon world."
Swallowing from the abruptly arriving inevitability, a sharp ache crept up through her throat, fueled by the acceleration in her heartbeat.
"You do?"
Wincing from the strain in her voice, Spyro turned physically, sitting into the dry grass.
"I do. There's things I need to check on... And I want to speak to my elders about having you visit."
Brow peaking, she produced a single nod, and his toes curled from the unfamiliar despondence cast into her expression.
"Is that alright?"
Lips parting, misty eyes hiding behind her broad locks, she then sank down into a kneel, immediately prompting Spyro to hurry closer.
"Of course its alright, just..."
Burning within as his visible concern was amplified in detail, face to face, she lurched forward, shoving her brow into his forehead, arms squeezing him tight.
"...Don't take too long to come back." Not like last time... Not again.
"I won't. Should only be a day or so."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure of it."
Breath seeping in deflation, she drug her flat nose across his bristles, bumping against his horn.
"Promise?"
"I Promise."
Remaining together, rapid heartbeats hidden by the gushing water of the fountains, thoughts and emotions churned inside their chests. Then, with extreme reluctance, Elora's arms peeled away from his hide, and her head rose, facing the scenario she had avoided thinking about since his arrival.
"Hey."
Seeing Spyro's nose rise into a direct point at hers, she couldn't resist meeting it to match.
"I really liked all the traveling and exploring today, and... I want to do more, and see more, with you."
A smile forced through the storm clouds onto her cheeks.
"I'm glad... You want to." We can do all of that... As long as you come back.
"If everything works out, I'd like to show you where I come from. Wouldn't that be great?"
An emotion-laden laugh issued from her throat.
"Yes, it would."
"Give me a little bit, and I'll make it happen."
Nearly speaking another word, she then found his snout twisting, and her muzzle was met with the gentle push of his mouth. Recognizing his effort, she planted her lips against his purple folds, sharing a simple kiss that lifted her heart a little higher again.
Do whatever you need to... Just come back to me.
Pulling away, with the wandering breeze cooling their faces in passing, her hands curled as he finally turned away. Rising together and aligning into a solemn heading toward the arch, seated against the castle's retaining wall beneath the shadow of a ledge, Elora realized once again that the portal was not actually active despite their approach. Chest throbbing, watching Spyro's unyielding march with apprehension, the plum reptile walked directly up to the left pillar, and with a lift of his paw, spreading it flat onto the segmented surface, a startling whoosh of energy preceded a liquid-like spread of shimmering color. Glancing back to Elora, fully expecting the surprise tempering her mournful expression, Spyro remained in his position.
"I'm sure you're wondering... How I just did this."
"A little bit."
"To go through our portals... Between the Dragon realms... Our magic has to sense the presence of a dragon, for it to activate."
"That would explain why I've never seen this one active, in all the times I've walked past it."
"Its a safeguard... Keeps anybody unwanted out."
"You mean it keeps anybody that isn't a dragon, out."
Slowly turning away, Spyro produced a confirming nod.
"Yes."
"How... Would I even be able to visit the dragon world then?"
Flitting back, with a hint of a smile returning to his cheek, Spyro cocked his head.
"There's ways. Don't worry."
"I hope so."
Doing his best to maintain composure from her weakening voice, his tail turned around behind himself, pointing the tip towards her.
"Think you can meet me here in two days?"
"I will."
Padding closer, nudging against her leg after her quick answer, his lungs filled with resolve and untapped energy.
"I'll see you then, okay?"
Turning about face mere seconds later, his wings unfurled with a strong outward flick, and before Elora could even utter a response, Spyro leapt forward into the active portal. Standing back amid the flash of dematerialization, suddenly bereft of companionship, she stared at the churning energy of the passage, only for the blurred colors to vanish tracelessly into the inner perimeter of the arch. Heart pounding, finally willing her limbs into functionality, her hand rose to the inactive structure, palm and knuckles flattening onto the nearest segmented block. Met with naught but the nearby croak of a toad behind, her head sank in a downward turn, eyelids closing as her chin buried itself into her shoulder.
Spyro... In case you're wondering... No matter what, I'm glad you're tending to things that you need to. You've already taken time out of whatever it is you're doing... Spending a whole day with me... Because you couldn't stop dreaming about me. That alone was amazing to hear... And everything that's happened since has been amazing. You're trying to understand your dreams, but you should know... You are my dream. You've been on my mind since we got rid of Ripto, and every time you've come by after all of that... You just keep getting deeper and deeper in here.
Fingertips landing on her collarbone, unable to massage away the heartache just beneath, she turned further from the inactive portal.
You're the most adorable dork I've ever laid my eyes on... And I don't want to stop looking at you. Seeing you... Being with you.
Swallowing, forcing herself into a heavy-hooved walk, her vision rose to the light blue depths of the sky. Imagining his prior soars through the open air, weaving among the spires and fountains of the castle, her bosom expanded with weighted breath.
I'm sure you understand my feelings by now... And I know you've been figuring out your own, so... Once you're sure of everything, fly your way back here and be mine... For more than just a day. Alright?
Autumn Plains, Avalar
Sitting with crossed legs, hands coupled together in her lap, Elora looked on in an unfocused glaze toward the spiraled tower of Zephyr. Seated among the ceaseless wanders of turning and dying leaves, with several recent releases settling onto various perches in her lap and hair, she remained nearly motionless on the dulling hillside.
Everything is so much louder... When you're not focused on your hero and heartthrob.
Tingling from the descriptive titles, her lashes settled to rest above her cheekbones.
You are a heartthrob. Running around and saving the day with that smirk... I don't know how I'm the one in your life that taught you how to kiss, but it happened, and it needs to happen again.
Wetting her lips in a tiny swipe, her shoulders tightened.
I loved every moment in that cave. All the rain falling, and my heart falling... It was all so magnificent. Hiding away with you, letting time go by for a little while... Hm?
Ears perking, discerning the slow approach of four-legged footfall in an odd direction behind, she twisted around, only to startle an errant grazing sheep, sending it into a bouncing departure away. Heart sinking, pulling her chin down with it, she then planted both of her hands onto the grass, forcing herself into an upward shove.
Can't just sit around here feeling bummed... Two days will turn into an eternity of waiting.
Swinging her satchel around into a better diagonal position, she tromped forth toward the curved face of the castle, heading for the ladders a stone's throw downhill.
...Not that it won't already take forever, anyway.
Overseeing the hand-to-hand exchange of raw goods, forming opposing piles of rough-shaped metal and rock, Elora's attention was far from focused on the transaction at hand. Staring in a blur of thought towards the glints of sunset reflecting on brass-plated spires, parchment held near to her waist from a drooping arm, she imagined the winged silhouette of an absent dragon soaring across the sky, fading from the day's deep blue into a fuzzy magenta.
Keep working those wings... So we can fly together someday.
Imagining air rippling across her fur, up high among the clouds and astride Spyro's back, she took in the passing breeze, exchanging it for a heavy sigh.
Not that I mind walking around with you... I'll walk every last path in every one of our worlds, if you'll be there beside me.
Seeing creatures of differing stature and color come together and shake hands, producing nods to match, both of the species' leader figures looked to Elora, and after a patient pause, the short blue faun waved his arm at her, finally breaking her attention from the horizon.
"Missus Elora?"
"Ahm, yes?"
"I do believe we've counted to equal amounts."
"Alright, since there's no gems... Skipping payment."
Scribbling runes onto the parchment, only for the tip of the rough graphite pencil to snap, she brushed away the broken debris with a crooked brow, sighing from the brief interruption.
"Any additional remarks or requests?"
"Ooh, now that ye mention it... How easily does this here Jade-ite cleave?"
"With enough patience, quite well."
Rolling the parchment around the writing utensil and dropping both into her bag, Elora's hands swung together in front of herself.
Now that the lot of you are packing up your trades... I liked holding your wing back among the idols, Spyro. That was cute that you let me do that. You'll let me do it again... Right?
Eyes closing under the darkening sky, her heart beat in an ache-addled bloom of hope.
If you do... I might just hold onto you until we wander to the end of the universe.
Standing still on a leaf-strewn slope, near to the end of a tree-lined pool of water, the shadow profile of a seated and horned creature faded in and out of imagination, and Elora's hands remained curled into fists, fur rippling from the leaf-stealing airflow.
Curious, how much more you miss someone, after you've been kissing them.
Teeth dragging across her lower lip, pressing together amid her wanderings of imagination, warmth filtered into her cheeks despite the cool breeze.
Only been a day... Last time I saw you, it had been a year. More, I think. A year and a couple moons. But we were still just friends then, and... Now things have happened, and I guess we're both kind of together.
Imagining herself in various leans against the plum-colored reptile, and then curled up beneath his arms and wings, her hooves twisted individually on the grass.
Nobody's really outright said so, but I don't think we have to. Actions tend to explain their own motives... Acting on impulses. He arrived, we met, and... The heck if I'm going to let him slip away for another year or two.
Summer Forest, Avalar
Sitting with legs crossed, hands resting in the hollow between them, Elora listened to the gushing of spilling water, and the various croaks and hops of toads among the fountain-soaked grass. Heart racing, continuing to do so even after her hurried sprint a short time earlier, her eyes remained closed, jack-hammering reverberations of her chest echoing inside her head.
You said two days, and its the middle of the second one, so...
Ear perking, she remained still among the abundance of life and motion of the home world.
...Hopefully you've taken care of whatever, and spoken to whoever. Not that I'm rushing you... Or that I want to rush you. You do your dragon things in the dragon world. I'll just meditate here and, you know, daydream about stuff. The same stuff that I've been day-dreaming and night-dreaming about. You stuff.
Twisting her back in a bidirectional stretch, a groan escaped her nose.
At some point this afternoon, you'll just pop through that mystical abandoned arch over there, and we'll be happy and together again.
Eyes flitting open from the distinct whoosh of magical energy in her memory, her mouth curled into a smile from the distant appearance of a golden-horned Spyro, only to realize that the specter was swiftly increasing in detail and velocity. Blinking from the eager gallop of the wide-eyed and grinning creature, her hands uncoupled, but before she could fully process any further reactionary movements, Spyro's front legs checked his speed with several skids among the grass, forcing him into a series of bounces that inevitably landed his paws onto her stomach. Jerking his head up to keep his horns away, collapsing with her backwards flop onto the earth behind, his bodily weight suddenly descended onto the entirety of her frontal figure, winding up in a flattened sprawl. Finding herself out of breath and looking straight up at the glare of the sun, the female faun finally lifted her head forward, taking in the marvelous sight of a very real Spyro, his tail wagging eagerly behind his shoulders.
"Elora! Hi! I'm back now!"
Filling her lungs beneath his hefty presence, the exchange of respiration brought blood to her rising cheekbones, and to her whirling mind that began flinging happy endorphins around, filling her being with glee.
"H-Hey, hero." My hero! You came back again, and, ohh...
"Everything's up to snuff back home, and I have developments." But first, since I'm pretty sure you're wanting to...
Brow quirking with interest from her ever-blooming enamorment, he lowered his snout and planted the very tip of his mouth onto her parted muzzle, only to lower his incisors into her lower lip, teasingly pulling the fold back and slipping free. Returning with a lick of her chin, lips settling together with a cautious descent, her ears drooped flat among her locks, reveling in the quiet romantic collision.
Mmmm...
Reaching to her sides, gingerly finding both of his front paws after unseen fumbles for them, she lifted them free from the wild greenery, pushing her fingers in among his toes in an intersecting of broad digits.
...You just knew, didn't you.
Licking his scaly patterns in a returning motion and suckling his bottom lip, she remained flushed and tingling as he managed to escape to higher altitude, keeping her partly beneath his shadow.
Come back... "What, emm, kind of developments?"
"Really just one. My elders have approved your visiting."
"Yay!"
"...BUT, they request that you stay within my supervision for whatever duration."
Humming with mirth, eyes glassy and heart giddy, a silly smile crept onto her pale complexion.
"Ooh, jeez, being with you the whole time? That sounds like a tough deal."
"That was my thought."
Touching her lips in a returning peck, and then retreating vertically once more, Spyro awaited the words building up behind the hint of her teeth.
"You, ah, checked on something, right?"
"Sparx, mainly. Wanted to make sure he knew I was still alive."
"Was going to say... Haven't seen that one the whole time you've been here."
"I left him behind in the dragon world... Had an important person to find on my own."
Turning her legs into a fold together, his tail settled to rest across them seconds later.
"Is Sparx doing alright without you?"
"That little guy slept half the time, and was snacking on a fermented Wumpa fruit the rest."
"Feeling no pain, huh?"
"None at all."
Touching noses, her fuzzy digits tightened around his toes, mirroring her pupils.
"Spyro."
"When would you like to visit?"
"Tomorrow. I love you."
"I'm good with tom-."
Speech halting, the plum dragon recoiled back from the easily spoken utterance tacked onto her response.
"...You, yeah?"
Teeth disappearing behind the upward sweep of a coy smile, a single nod squeezed a hum from her throat.
"Mmhm."
"Cool, uh... Are you sure?"
Her eyes softened amid a subtle tilt, brunette hair shifting.
"Pretty sure... Dork."
Blinking in repeated flaps, Spyro settled to rest on her leaf-layered bosom, insides bursting into flames beneath his bashful expression.
"So, tomorrow... You aren't busy?"
"Even if I was... I'd find time."
"For visiting, alright."
"And for you."
Meeting her patiently awaiting gaze, Spyro pressed his snout further down into her chest, vainly attempting to hide the wisps of smoke leaving his nostrils.
"Tomorrow... Morning?"
"Sounds good to me."
Sunny Beach, Avalar
Seated together on a thick woven blanket, having previously convinced a scattered herd of large grazing turtles to open several doors, both Spyro and Elora looked on to the distant horizon of the world's ocean from their rocky shelf. Arms encircling his neck and shoulders from behind, with his wings settled onto her limbs in a lazy draping, her chin sat on top of his head bristles, seated between his horns that framed her broad ears.
A long time ago, all you spoke and thought of was getting to Dragon Shores, and the beach there. Now we're on turtle shores, and all I can think of... Is how nice this view of a snuggly dragon is.
Glancing aside with ease, his head orbiting beneath her to match, she squinted towards the burst of rich orange colors tinting the twilight sky, partly obscured by the coastal geography.
This world's sun is setting after two long days without you... And I don't quite know what the future will hold, but no matter what happens... I don't know if I can stray far from you anymore.
Tightening against his bumpy back, her tail drifted side to side in slow sweeps, happily captive within his longer coiled appendage and moving with it.
Just like you said that first night... Let's wander together for a while. To the dragon world, and anywhere else that comes to mind.
Met with the flick and toss of wind-blown tufts of her own hair, Elora closed her eyes, taking in the warmth and scent of Spyro within her embrace.
I'll wander anywhere with you... And we'll make more of our dreams come true.
To be continued...!
