Uh... is FF alright? I posted this chapter before work and came home, to find out the website was bugged and new stories and chapters weren't showing up... I dont' know what's going on honestly. Ugh... sorry it baited you guys...

anyway.

Hey guys, another chapter for ya. Bit of a shorter one.

Some old faces returning, they were fun to write haha. Won't be the last we see of them.

Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites. I'm glad you like the story Sky Hooves, lol, makes my day when I get that reaction from people.

Anyway!

-Fiygon out.

Chapter 7

"Unease/Debate"

The slow, quiet trip back to Rena's house was tiring. Not because I had been walking, but because I had a blanket on top of me, while I layed on Kenra's back. It was like a giant fluffy bed for me. Nobody spoke, and the evening air grew colder and colder, the sun was very nearly gone. Occasionally Kenra would glance back at me, offering a smile each time. Rena looked down to her left at me, "Gale, stay awake for a bit longer, alright?"

I groaned slightly, "Okay okay…"

As we continued Kenra spoke, though he didn't take his eyes away from his path, "Gale rest if needed, hatchlings rest, help grow."

I almost wanted to groan again, that they shouldn't get in an argument, but Rena silently nodded her head. "Yes, but I need to check his wounds before he sleeps."

Now I actually did groan quite loudly, to have those bandages removed would quite easily ruin my night. Which considering I was hospitalized, that was impressive. Kenra glanced at her, unmoving still. "Help him?" He stayed silent for a minute, I think Rena expected an insult, yet, "I trust you." I thought I caught a smile on Kenra's face, but he returned to his regular stoicness. Rena, however, seemed wholeheartedly thankful for his compliment.

Upon reaching the house, Kenra entered, and seemed very surprised. He gently dropped me off on the couch, and studied the interior, "Very… home. It's nice."

Rena nodded, "Make yourself at home, I have plenty of places to sleep, food, everything a young dragon needs!" She said, trying to sound happy.

Kenra raised an eyebrow, "Almost everything." Her smile was replaced with a disconcerting nod of her head. "Thank you." Kenra said afterward.

Choosing a spot on the window frame with a pillow, he curled up, back turned to the rest of the house. Rena looked disheartened, but I could tell she didn't blame Kenra for being harsh, she blamed herself. Rena grabbed her usual basket, and sat it down on the table next to the sofa. "Let me see the bandages." She asked quietly.

Mildly whimpering, I offered my leg out first, she went to grab the bandages and cleaning tools, and as she did I saw her pause, she was looking at the formula. I sighed, "Rena I really don't blame you…"

She seemed taken out of her thoughts as she grabbed the bandages finally, "I know… that doesn't mean I don't…" she sighed, and I noticed Kenra slowly approaching.

He looked confused, "You still hurt much? Or she just bad healer?"

Rena laughed lightly, but still seemed rather sad, "I'm not the worst healer! I'm just terrible at everything else…" she said a bit quieter.

I whine once again, mostly at her, for being so harsh on herself. She smiled at me, "Can I see your tail please?"

I nodded begrudgingly and turned to offer it, she gently took it and began unwrapping. I couldn't help but make some pained noises, that sounded somewhat like squeaks. Kenra shifted uncomfortably, and I could see his feather like hair stand up slightly, "Very bad…" he said under his breath.

She had completely unwrapped it, I was glad I couldn't ever see it. Because I knew it was horrible. It had nearly been skinned clean before I "revived", and the weird healing process didn't do much, other than provide it something to actually heal…

Rena tried to smile reassuringly, "It is getting better Gale…"

I saw Kenra lean over, and with a look of disgust and shake of his head, turn to me, "Healing slow. Will recover, Kunmai."

I nodded, and Rena set to begin cleaning it. She poured the cleaning stuff into a rag, and very gently began to clean it. As I do every time, I bit a towel that was offered and tried as hard as possible not to yell. With tears running down my eye, Kenra looked between me and Rena in shock. I let out a yelp of pain when she pressed down to hard.

"Sorry…" She said.

Kenra looked at her again, "What is this?" He asked more aggressively than usual.

"Cleaning the wound so it won't infect." She replied.

I yelped louder as she had gotten distracted by Kenra, which snowballed even more into Kenra aggressively growling at Rena and taking a few steps forward. She looked back at him surprised, "Kenra I'm not trying to hurt him! I promise!" She said quickly.

He looked unconvinced though, "Why no crystal? No magic? Dragon sensitive, dislike material healing. No feed, now this?"

He took another step forward and I stopped him, "Kenra it's okay! I'm magicless anyway!"

He turned to me confused, and I continued. "Crystals don't work on me, and I assume magic doesn't either. I'm pretty useless, this is the only way it can heal…"

He looked back and forth, and Rena nodded, "I'm finished now anyway. I'll… try not to hurt him anymore."

Something about what she said was super sad to me. I felt like she was talking about more than just my wounds… she re-wrapped my tail, and without another word stood up, and made her way to her bedroom. My ears flattened against my head, "G-Goodnight! Rena…" I said sadly.

She turned, and smiled, but without much else, shut the door behind herself. I turned to Kenra, who was standing there silently. I didn't blame him for getting angry, he was from a tribe of indigenous dragons after all. And we had forgotten to tell him about my situation. He looked down towards me and whimpered slightly, "Kunmai… sorry. Made your friend upset."

I turned and smiled up at him, "I know you didn't mean to do it…" I yawned, and rubbed my eye with a paw. "I think we all just need some sleep."

He nodded, and stretched kind of like a cat, than he looked back towards the window. And hopped over towards it, making himself comfortable. I did the same, and nestled myself against the couch on a cushion. Unfortunately, I was not strong enough to lift the blanket up to help me, and Rena hadn't stoked the fire tonight. So it was quite tricky getting comfy.

Nearly drifting off to sleep, it had been a while, yet I hadn't been able to succumb to my tiredness. There were too many thoughts raging through my brain, and the darkness seemed to bite at me, not with a gentle feeling that brought me to sleep. But the air was cold, and the darkness felt hostile, it nipped at my body. Minutes passed, and I heard a loud, yet also distant alarm. My ears perked up, and just in time to hear what sounded like a large pack of wolves howling into the night.

My body instantly seized up on me, and my eyes shot wide open. I was completely terrified. My instincts screamed out at me, and the area where I was previously torn into began to ache, as if to remind me why I should fear that sound. I begged my body to move, but I couldn't. I started panicking, my breaths thinned and became shaky, uneven. 'I can revive again. I can revive again.' I told myself repeatedly. The howl came again, much closer, yet still very distant.

I began crying, and moments later, I felt a gentle paw on the back of my head. "Rena?" I said, still terrified.

I turned slightly, and Kenra was staring back. His features expressed only calmess, confidence, and empathy. "Sorry." He said quietly.

I shook my head, and leaned into his outstretched paw. Yet I was still shaking, and whimpering. He smiled, "They very far, Kunmai."

I nodded embarrassingly, "I-I K-Know… Sorry I… woke you up…"

He scrunched his nose, and gently leaned in for a nuzzle. I didn't know quite what he was doing, so I only sat there in confusion for a second. But after feeling how warm his fur was I nuzzled back. "Dragon hug." He said.

Assuming he was trying to explain what it was, I began laughing. He looked at me curiously, and rolled his eyes. "Affection, love, whatever it is Kunmai."

I barely noticed, he had begun using more words. But other than that the word I got caught on was love. "It's for love?" I said outwardly confused. I wasn't sure how serious a gesture it was, but he answered quickly.

He looked even more confused, "Yes, love others… Was what I learn."

I smiled, and shivered again, he shook his head. Then bent over to pick me up by the skin on the back of my neck. At first it surprised me quite a bit, but a few moments of realizing what he was doing calmed me. He brought a blanket over, and after a few seconds of turning, he laid down, placing me up against his side. "You sure?"

He growled, which I took as an answer. Minutes later we were drifting to sleep, yet I had one question on my mind. "Kenra?"

He groaned, "Mmm?" He made a questioning sound.

"Why do you call me Kunmai. What does it mean?"

His eyes opened, and he looked down at me, though he looked in thought. And after a minute he answered, "One of mine."

He continued, "It's what most my tribe call hatchling."

I nodded, and took a minute to absorb more of his body heat, as I admittedly snuggled against his side. "I'm not from the same race… or village, though…"

He did a shrugging gesture, "I have no home, you have no home… seem similar to me." After he said that I felt much better.

"Than…" I started again, causing a bit of a confused groan from Kenra. "Is that why you…are staying with me? Because we're both lost?"

"Confusing questions…" He said more to himself.

A few seconds later, he nudged my head with his snout, in a bit of a play fighting way, "You sleep now. Healing important."

The conversation died out as we were both getting much more tired, and my shivers, as well as the wolf howls, had stopped.

Spyro and Cynder flew miles above a great city, the city below was very active. Thousands of dragons, all different colors, continued their city life. "Remind me why we returned home?" Cynder asked loudly over the wind.

Spyro looked at her curiously, "We need the Guardians to approve a diplomatic venture into that region. They've had closed borders ever since the war."

She nodded, and Spyro smirked, "I thought you couldn't wait to return home?"

She shrugged, "I just thought it was weird, nothing else." She said, whilst turning her head away to hide a blush.

She cleared her throat, "Won't getting approval take too long?"

He shook his head, "Their people trust the Guardians a fair bit, if we have permission from them we can enter."

"This is so stupid…" Cynder said, too which Spyro chuckled at

Swooping down gracefully, they landed in a housing district. Ringing the doorbell of one, Ferra opened it, and raised her eyebrow, "Only a day huh?"

Spyro and Cynder both looked sheepish, as Cynder pulled out a payment, "Triple, since we were gone so long…"

She looked surprised, "I thought you guys were joking… you don't have to-"

Spyro interrupted her, "We insist. Now what is the situation with Kaali?"

She bowed her head, "I watched her for 2 days, but I got told by my professors, that if I couldn't return soon I'd be too far behind… so I brought Kaali with me to the Guardians and explained to them."

Spyro and Cynder nodded thankfully, and Cynder laughed a bit, "I'm sure Kaali didn't mind, her and. Volteer get along like no other."

Spyro bowed, "Thank you so much Ferra, we best be off now."

She blushed, "You don't have to bow… geez, I had fun taking care of her anyway."

After saying goodbyes, they once again took flight. Minutes later the sight of the newly built temple was in sight. Off to the side you could see multiple different groups of adolescent dragons, some were training their elements, some were doing flying courses. The two swooped up and landed at the foot of the temple, a nearby earth element class stopping in shock. When the two looked over at the disrupted class they bowed rather ungracefully. Spyro shook his head, "No need to bow, please, it makes me feel weird."

After that they all raised themselves again, and Spyro laughed, "Especially since I'll be your combat teacher in year four." The rather young year one's almost seemed to pale at that.

Pushing past the door, and into the busy hallway, they gently excused themselves until they came upon the door to the Guardians. Much bigger than either of them, with a symbol for each element arranged in a circle. Spyro did a special sequence of knocks that he only did for fun, and pushed passed with Cynder in tow.

The sight they saw was one they never really thought they would. In the center of the room the Guardians sat in a circle, at a table, and were acting quite odd. The voice of their daughter brought them to ease, "More sugar with your tea Volteer?"

"Why yes that would be delightful, darling." He answered happily.

The other three Guardians groaned, the younger fire guardian 'Solaran' choosing to drop his head into the table in annoyance. Cyril was first to notice the two, and he shot up in eagerness, "Ah! Thank the heavens you're back! I've been going crazy."

Volteer almost seemed sad, but joined the other three guardians in returning to their usual seats on their pedestals. Kaali ran up to them, "Mommy, daddy!" And latched onto Cynder's leg.

"Did you bring the alien? Where is he?" She asked excitedly.

Cynder laughed and sat on her haunches, and brought her daughter up to her face to nuzzle. As well as Spyro. "Not quite yet," Spyro said while chuckling.

"So… Spyro, Cynder." Terrador began. "I don't quite understand this mission you two have been on. Would you mind elaborating?"

Spyro sighed, then nodded. Cynder excused herself to bring Kaali out of the room, and she groaned in protest. As Spyro gave a run down on what had been happening. Terrador put a paw to his muzzle, "So… a different dimension visitor…"

Cyril scoffed, "That is absolutely ridiculous! No amount of power could possibly bring someone from a different dimension. Neither do they exist either! Preposterous."

The younger fire guardian Solaran, cleared his throat. "While it may seem quite hard to believe. We are talking to the two dragons who have made the impossible a reality time and time again."

Volteer and Terrador nodded in agreement, and Volteer spoke, "Of course! I would be willing to believe that without a second thought! Personally I was waiting for this to happen, I would like to ask them many questions like-"

"Slow down, Volteer." Terrador said.

Volteer cleared his throat and laughed sheepishly, "if this is the case, anyhow. Then what brings you here?"

Spyro and Cynder looked at eachother and Spyro stepped forward, "We need permission to enter into the northern continent."

The Guardians all grew wide eyed, and seemed to become slightly nervous, excluding Terrador. Cyril was the first to speak, "The… northern continent? Are you being serious?"

Spyro and Cynder both nodded, and Cynder bowed her head, "I know it's odd, but yes the out of world visitor is on the northern continent."

Three of the Guardians started asking many things, mostly at the same time, which made them all Incomprehensible. Until Terrador stood from his spot, "Silence! Can we discuss this like Guardians please?" They bowed their heads in respect as Terrador sat back down.

Terrador looked towards the two, "You know… that the continent is dangerous. They have spent far too long developing technology that nullifies magic across the continent. If you went there, you'd be as useful as a regular dragon. No breath, no magic."

Cynder scoffed, "Excuse me Terrador, but just because we've had time to settle, does not mean we cannot fight better than most."

Terrador nodded, "I understand, but you also don't have their technology. They have… powerful, weapons."

Spyro cleared his throat, "We just need a day at most in there, and we can be out, with him."

Cyril leaned more over his desk, "And what… exactly, are we supposed to do with this 'out of world visitor' exactly? Throw him a parade? Sing him songs of his heroic deeds to come?"

Spyro and Cynder became agitated at that, Spyro sighed, but before he could speak, Terrador did, "Cyril has a point. How do we know that this thing isn't just waiting for the perfect time to strike? He has knowledge we never will, coming from some alternate dimension."

Spyro could feel his mate tense up, and slightly are her teeth. She spoke with a hint of warning, "He is not a thing. He is a hatchling, what could he possibly do to threaten us?"

Volteer pondered to himself, "If you said he may have used time magic… that could be wildly dangerous to us if he controls it! But I would love to have him on our side so I can study-"

Spyro growled, "Stop! Stop this. We've met him before, and you want to try and tell me that he's evil now? That little guy couldn't hurt a fly! He's lost, terrified, and literally just a child! Wake up all of you!" The Guardians all seemed to retract at his shouting.

Cynder nuzzled him and leaned into him gently, he sighed, "I'm sorry for that… But still, me and Cynder can handle it, we know he won't cause trouble."

The Guardians looked to each other, looking for a definitive answer to come upon. Solaran cleared his throat, and they all looked towards him, "I remember you saying, Spyro. That you spent multiple days tracking him down, even doing so with no sleep, correct?" Spyro nodded, "I haven't ever taken Spyro to be someone to act brash, or naive. Usually when Spyro feels strongly, he handles it exactly as he tells us he will. So I ask, you three, are you doubting Spyro, for the first time?" The three Guardians shook their heads.

"Then what is the problem here? We give them permission, they save a child. We don't do anything, and let the northern continent have access to time magic? We don't do anything, and force Spyro and Cynder to do it illegally? Because all three of us know, they will ignore us if we say no. So I ask again, what is the problem here?" The three Guardians had nothing to say, they all bowed their heads silently in thought.

Spyro and Cynder looked towards Solaran with respect, and the grey and orange dragon gave a nod. Finally, Cyril began to speak, "Than… shouldn't we dispose of this thing? It would solve all of those problems!" This time, the other Guardians looked at him with surprise and disagreement. Cynder's eyes narrowed.

Within a second Cynder had appeared, standing next to Cyril's desk, "And exactly… what, makes you think I'll let you do that?"

Cyril jumped in surprise, and stammered a response, "Cynder th-this is ridiculous! You know we must put our own continent at priority!"

Cynder got dangerously close, beginning to brandish her tail blade dangerously in between the two, "You want me to use this thing on a hatchling hmm Cyril?" He lowered himself further, "What's next? Our Kaali too? The entire hatchling population? What about… a Guardian?" Cyril swallowed heavily in fear.

Terrador hit his desk with a fist, for nothing more than to draw attention. "Enough! Cynder, calm." She opened her mouth to say something, and Terrador put a paw up. "You two have permission, you may leave at dawn tomorrow."

Cynder sighed in relief, choosing to back off of Cyril and leave without a second thought out the massive door. Spyro's expression of nervousness the whole time, being relieved. Terrador chuckled slightly, "I know she dislikes Cyril to an extent… but that was more than I expected."

They nodded and Spyro bowed apologetically, "She meant no actual harm… She was just making her point very clear. I wouldn't worry much, I'm almost positive her instincts are causing a lot of it."

Volteer tilted his head, "She's already feeling instincts for a hatchling she's barely met? Dragonesses are quite terrifying!" Spyro chuckled in agreement.

With a final bow, and some farewells, Spyro left the room, returning to Cynder who was standing outside, with a slight bit of anger showing in her features. With a very tired Kaali resting on her back. Yet she softened and leaned in for a nuzzle on Spyro. "Then we go home for tonight. And we find him tomorrow, finally." Cynder said.

Spyro hummed a positive response, "Maybe Kaali will finally meet this 'Alien'" they both laughed. Returning home for a good night rest.

"You're leaving again!?" Kaali said as began to pout.

Spyro and Cynder looked to each other and sighed, Cynder leaned down, "Yes… we are dear. We'll be back soon enough."

She looked out the window at the sun which had begun to rise. And started crying, "You just got back…"

They both leaned down to nuzzle her, Spyro nudged her as she began calming down, "When we get back you'll be meeting the alien. He's in trouble right now, we have to help him."

As if she hadn't been upset at all, she jumped up in excitement. "Really? I bet he's super cool!" She ran a circle around her parents, "Hurry up! Leave so you can go help him!" The two looked at their daughter incredulously, but began laughing along with her. "Our pleasure." Spyro replied.

As they left the house with Kaali, and traveled back to Ferra's, knocking on the door she answered. She looked up and down, and the sheepish smiles on their faces and raised an eyebrow, "Really?" She turned around and called, "Mom! Come here please."

A larger dragoness the size of Spyro and Cynder appeared, and smiled, "Hey! What brings you two here?"

The two smiled at their friend, Spyro started, "Hello Serria. We're going to be gone again, we were returning just to talk to the Guardians yesterday. And we're going to be gone a few more days."

Cynder nodded, "Would you mind… watching Kaali again? Maybe letting her stay with you, instead of your daughter throwing her academics behind to help again?"

The two dragonesses laughed at that, and Serria smiled, "Of course! I love your daughter, she's such a joy." Serria leaned down, "I'm about to bake some cookies, would you like to help?"

Kaali nodded vigorously, "Yes! What kind? Can I do the cutting?"

"Of course!" She smiled widely.

Spyro bowed, "Thank you, and of course we'll pay you when we return."

She nearly scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous. I don't need money to watch an adorable hatchling."

Cynder laughed, then sighed. "Well we need to be off. Thanks so much." They all said their farewells, and with a bit of preparation, the two took off from Warfang once again, towards the northern continent.