This is kind of a big one, I'm still not sure whether shorter chapters or longer is the choice, I usually just end a chapter once it feels right to end it. And the more I write ahead the more planning I can do.

Anyways, welcome to chapter 9. Thank you everyone for the reviews/follows/favorites, I'm loving the reviews and the predictions haha.

Enjoy!

Chapter 8

"Silent/Savior"

The two dragons soared above the freezing Northern Ocean at a high altitude. The sun was lower in the evening, and the wind was nearly nonexistent. The purple dragon's speed became much slower than the other, and he dipped slightly in the sky. "Spyro we're almost there!" She yelled back to him.

He took a long breath and with a single swoop of his wings he caught back up, "I know… You're not the one that's exhausted himself this entire hunt."

She nodded, "And you are the one that insisted we do this."

Spyro raised a questioning eyebrow at her, and she rolled her eyes. "It doesn't matter anymore. We're both committed now."

He smiled at her, and flew up a bit closer, "I didn't say it before, but uh, Cynder." She looked at him questioningly, "Thank you." He said simply. She blushed, then lightly bumped into him, causing them both to laugh.

Minutes later the sight of land caught their eyes. A large continent stretching to the horizon. The docks out front looking way more barbarian, the port city or Oransa was a grey, dark, nearly depressing city. The houses were made of clay and stone, with thatch roofs. The inhabitants were nearly unnoticeable, blending in with the dreary and shady colors.

The farther they looked past the port city the higher the altitude became, turning into a deep snow, with a dense pine forest, stretching up the mountainsides. The mountains themselves being some of the biggest in the lands, they towered far above the altitude the two flew at. They could nearly make out little specks of light dancing on the mountains, amongst the blizzard like snow.

As they crossed into the skyways of this snowy land, they both felt a large jolt in the back of their minds, as if all their energy had been sapped. Though they could fly perfectly fine. They looked to each other, "Must be… that… elementless barrier…" Cynder said.

Slowly recovering from the shock, Spyro nodded, "Yes… I've felt it before last I was here. It feels horrible."

She growled, "It feels wrong. I don't like it here."

After an agreed moment of silence, Cynder shook her head, "I definitely don't like him being here either. Even if he has friends."

Spyro guides them downwards, they slowly descended into the dreary little port town. Landing on a main road, though nobody seemed to notice or care. They talked quieter amongst each other as they looked around. "These are the kind of people he's around right now?" She said in disgust.

Spyro and Cynder shook off the chills they were getting, "Well that's why we're here. Let's just find a place to sleep… A whole day of flying has got me exhausted."

Finding some easy food, and a cheap place for them to sleep was no issue. The beggars and such were what made the little town real colors come out. The people, whilst being not the most interesting bunch, at the very least seemed to have good hospitality for visitors. And the two turned in for the night.

…

…

"Spyro!" Cynder whispered loudly.

Cynder looked up to his mate's head out the window of their room, "What?" He asked annoyed.

"Do you hear that? Wolves."

He blinked, "What about it?"

After a moment of both listening, and a very long distant series of howls. Cynder sighed, "I feel uneasy…"

Spyro nuzzled her, "It's alright. Come sleep. I'm sure my snores will drown out their noise."

She giggled, and glanced one last time out the window as she shut it, "Stay safe, little one."

I hadn't noticed the sun had risen until long into the midday sun. My energy was thoroughly sapped from my terrible time yesterday, and I wasn't exactly feeling ecstatic. Next to me, Kenra sat completely still, it was hard to tell if he had still been sleeping. But my answer was made when he turned over and gave me a glance with one eye. "Hello." He said.

I nodded, "Hey Kenra… Sorry I slept so long"

He shrugged and gently moved away to stand up and stretch, "No apologize. You heal." I yawned and closed my eyes again.

After a few minutes of me hitting the mental snooze button, Kenra began poking at my side, until I had gotten slightly annoyed. "Stop… what do you need?"

I blinked my eyes open and he stared at me with an eyebrow raised, "You eat? Need it." He told me.

I rolled over on to my stomach, gently lifting myself into a stretch, then sat on my haunches. "You're right… Where's Rena?" I asked.

He sighed then shrugged, "She still in room. Maybe she lazy, probably where you got it from."

I wanted to look annoyed and offended, but nothing but a giggle came out. "You start talking more fluently, and you use it to burn me. Ouch." I started laughing again.

He tilted his head, "Burn you?"

I nodded, "Just a phrase. I meant you insulted me in a joking way." He nodded in understanding, and started laughing. It was the first time I had heard his laugh, and it caught me back into the laughter as well. His laugh was rather reserved, all things considered, but his smile made me feel happy.

Rena came out of her room, and she clearly wasn't in the best mood, but she still smiled at us. "You two are having fun. Hungry?"

Kenra nodded, "Yes. What you make? I can help."

She smiled lightly, "If you'd like. I was just going to make some eggs and bacon."

Me and Kenra jumped up, him to start getting in position to help, and me in excitement. But she smiled sympathetically at me. "You, are going to have your milk."

My groan was audible, and somewhat whiny. I had nearly forgotten the accursed things this body was going to make me go through. "But…"

"No… no excuses Gale. Just give me one minute to make it." She said as she grabbed the basket and carefully began to mix it up.

I sat somewhat grumpily in my spot, brooding over the thought of missing out on bacon. Bacon of all things! That should be a crime! She finished making the bottle and turned towards me, she started giggling at my face. "Gale, you can still eat bacon and eggs, just after your milk."

My mood switched back instantly, and the relief in my face was noticeable. In the kitchen Kenra had mostly gathered all the ingredients, "Can I start?" He asked impatiently.

She nodded at him as she leaned down to pick me up, I relaxed at her touch, and she helped me with the bottle. I would make a fuss about being annoyed, but if it was for bacon, I would go through anything that's embarrassing to have it. Also, more logically, neither of them knew that I was actually quite a bit older than I seemed to be. I had to admit, it was super relaxing, I'm pretty sure I fell back to sleep. But eventually I was done and I waited patiently for breakfast to be made.

Later that day, Rena had left the house, as she forgot a couple of things while we were out the previous day. I was in the corner of the house, at the bookshelves, with my face… muzzle? Buried deep in one that was about the northern continent, the continent I was on. I was reading more about Kenra's race, unintentionally gaining a lot of insight.

'Northern Subspecies, when they have hatchlings, will often all help raise them together. Dragonesses take care of and feed all the younglings indiscriminately, the males will hunt and gather for the whole tribe. Northern dragons are all about community, living so far up in the mountainous regions, it keeps most predators at bay.'

Huh that's interesting. Sounds a lot like indigenous people from the human world too.

'When the right of passage at adolescence for any young Northern Dragon comes around, they will hike to the highest point of their mountain range, gather around for a ritual, and after which will leap from the peaks.'

What? Is this for training of some kind? Do they have some special ability to reduce damage from falling? Are they able to grow wings eventually? I looked up toward Kenra, he was reading a book of his own, laying on his back on the couch, he would occasionally glance my way. He had no wings whatsoever so how does that make any sense at all!

'Completely instinctual on it's own. The dragons do survive this fall, though they prefer to keep their secrets very hidden.'

"Whatcha reading?" Kenra said, as he gently lowered the book from in front of me to give me a smile.

I nearly jumped but shook it off, "Nothing really… why?"

He shook his head, "You look at me. Very often. Very obvious."

He poked the front of my book, "Also book about me." He said pointing to himself.

I looked around at the title, "Northern Continent & Species Study" I smiled then laughed sheepishly, looking back up at him in excitement. "How do you fly?"

He looked down at me in confusion and laughed a bit, "You too young… And can't teach with no wing." He said looking towards his barren back.

I tilted my head, "I was asking you how your species fly! Didn't you go through the rite of passage or whatever?"

I could see his body tense up slightly, and I recoiled and cowered in regret. He stared blankly for a few moments, than turned his head down to me, and he looked worried, "Not angry, Kunmai." He said leaning down to nuzzle me.

I relaxed a bit, then he sighed, "No… I left… at rite of passage."

I looked at him surprised, "During the rite of passage?"

He nodded solemnly, "I left seconds before. Didn't return."

He looked ashamed of himself, and I felt very worried and upset at myself for asking. "It's okay Kenra… I would have run too, jumping like that sounds scar-"

"I didn't run!" He burst outwards in a yell, with a sharp growl, causing me to back off and cower again.

He started tearing up, he looked at me, and his eyes were full of pain, "Gale… I'm sorry…." He sat down, and his tears got worse. He turned away from me.

He called me by name this time, but it felt wrong, as if he said it to be more sincere of an apology. I slowly stood back up and approached him, though he didn't see me. I put a paw against his furred back, "Kenra I didn't mean to upset you… I'm sorry."

He froze a little bit, "You're apologizing?" He slightly chuckled to himself, "Way too nice."

I growled a bit, annoyed, "What's wrong?

"I didn't run…" he said, sadder this time. "They call me names… I-I…" he growled, "Untai perr…" He said angrily, rolling his R's back into a growl.

"They told me, 'leave'. They say, 'useless'. I didn't run, I took the advice. Now I really am useless."

I nearly cried myself, seeing him berate himself like this. I hadn't known him for more than a day, but he showed more empathy than most would ever. But what could I do? Being so tiny… I did all I could, and tried wrapping my tiny paws around his leg, which barely reached around it. "I feel that way too a lot. But you didn't deserve that! They treated you unfairly, you're so cool Kenra."

He groaned at that slightly, "I'm unwanted by my race. That's cool?"

"And I'm on the entirely wrong continent for mine! Heck, I don't even know how magic works, and I can't even use crystals like regular dragons. I need your help Kenra, I don't know how else I can get to the continent. I want to be cool like you. But only help if you want to! I mean I guess I could try asking some random perso-" I may have started rambling a bit, but amidst that, Kenra laughed. Then he smiled.

He turned around and nuzzled me again, causing me to quit talking, then he brought his paws around me and pulled me into a deep hug. "Alright alright… Kunmai needs me."

I leaned into his hug, "You'll help me?"

He nodded, "I don't have home. Follow you instead."

That made me feel much better. I was terrified of the prospect at being completely alone on a new continent. Now I knew that wouldn't be the case, at least I hoped.

"Spyro…"

"Spyro."

"Spyro!"

A confusing jolt, and tired Spyro yawned, "5 more m-..."

"Now! Wake up!" Cynder said forcefully as she rolled him off the bed unceremoniously.

Completely awake, for better or worse, Spyro rubbed his muzzle he had landed on. "Why'd you have to push me off…" he said in a pouty way.

She sighed, "Because it's already later than I'd like it to be. Come on, let's stop wasting time."

"Can we at least get some to eat?" He said hopefully.

She nodded begrudgingly and sighed, and after a while they had gotten themselves fed, and ready.

They knocked on the door of a rundown, nearly abandoned looking building. They were pointed in this direction by the one that owned the Inn they had stayed at. Telling them that it was the library, and probably their best bet at finding where exactly they needed to go. But they were starting to have doubts based on the look of the building.

The door slowly creaked open, and a rather old looking dragon looked at them questioningly. He was a grey colored dragon with a green underbelly. He groaned, "The two saviors themselves, and they don't even know that libraries are open entry." He said, turning around to head back to his desk in the corner.

The two looked at eachother before Cynder cleared her throat, "Ah, sorry we didn't quite know if you were open."

He waved his paw, "Nobody does, because barely anybody comes in. I'm usually my only customer." He leaned down, and struggled a bit to sit, than coughed. "Which makes me wonder why you two are here."

Spyro stepped forward, "We were pointed here, we had a bit of a geography question for this region."

He nodded, than leaned back in expectation, Cynder smiled, "The Ridgefrost mountains."

He looked slightly surprised, then pointed towards a shelf. "Third shelf far left, would you mind?"

Spyro obliged and pulled out a rather dusty old map, and spread it across the desk in front of him. "So first of all, it's a bit of controlled zone."

"The inhabitants of the mountain are extremely adamant they stay secluded from the outside world, well, most of them."

"Would you happen to know any snow leopard villages on the mountain?" Spyro asked, recalling what he had said in the dream realm.

He nodded, "Yes, actually. I was worried for a second you were going to disturb the Northern Dragon's." He said nearly shuddering, then he pointed at a section of the map around the opposite side of the mountain. "That is the only snow leopard village within a couple hundred miles, and the only one on the Ridgefrost."

Spyro and Cynder both looked quite relieved, Cynder smiled, "Thank you so much! We could easily be there within the hour!" She said excitedly to Spyro, to which he nodded.

The older dragon cleared his throat, "Actually." He said grabbing their attention. "There are extremely high winds up on that mountain, and almost a permanent blizzard. And the altitude of that village is nothing to scoff at. Your best bet would be to make your way all the way around the mountains, and fly up from directly below." He said tracing with his claw a rather large path that would take them a couple hundred miles a different direction, then come back around the back side.

"How long would that take?" Spyro questioned.

He thought for a minute, "If you leave now? You might make it within a few days or so."

Cynder put her paw on the desk in slight desperation, "There has to be a faster way! Even if it's only half that time."

Choosing not to question their insistence on getting there quickly, he pondered to himself, "Well," he said, beginning to point at the map again. "There is a path around a hundred miles down the ridge, you would be able to pass over to the other side, but you'd be going up to around half of the altitude before passing through. And I can't promise the weather will be kind."

"How long for that?" Spyro said.

He chuckled, "Just after night fall."

Spyro and Cynder smiled to each other, and nodded. "Thank you! You've helped so much." Cynder said.

Before they could walk away he called them, "Wait!" He marked the map with a pen, then handed it to them. "This might help."

Nodding in appreciation, they both left, packing their bags with some food, and other essentials. "Grab an extra blanket, and a carrier." Cynder said.

Spyro raised his eyebrow, and she growled, "If we try to bring him off that mountain he'll be freezing, we need a safe way to bring him down." He nodded in agreement, they had bought a small pouch-like basket that was strapped around a dragon's neck, and would use natural body heat off the dragon's crest, and was made for hatchlings.

Spyro sighed before they took off, "Though he may not want to leave." Choosing to stay silent, Cynder grimaced.

I had gone to sleep not long ago, Rena hadn't come back yet, and me and Kenra decided to turn in slightly early after he fed me. But I noticed he was gone, we had laid down together but I no longer felt his presence. I blinked my eyes open and it was nearly pure darkness. My eyes adjusted and I looked around, "Kenra?"

Nothing could be heard except my own voice ring out into the darkness. I stood up, and jumped off of the couch, wandering around, "Kenra… Kenra!" I began shouting.

I opened Rena's door, and scanned the room, "Kenra… I'm scared… this isn't funny."

I walked over to her bed, jumping up on top. And looked around again from up high. "Are you both playing a prank? This is so dumb."

The flashed with shadow, the window had been obstructed while projecting the full moon. I tilted my head, and put my face up to the window, "Kenra?"

I nearly felt my heart leave my body as I was grabbed rather forcefully by the skin on the back of my neck, and my face was covered. Which kept me from screaming. "Me! It's me! Quiet!" Kenra whispered.

"Kenra what's going on?" I said quietly, terrified.

He shushed me once again with his paw, and as we sat there in the dark, against the corner out of view of the window. All I began hearing was pure chaos erupting outside. Screams rang out from farther away in the village, and people shouting aggressively. "Kenra?" I started crying.

He was beginning to say something, but a loud knock rang out on the door, it sounded more like somebody was banging against it, "Let me in! Please! They're coming!" She kept pleading, I heard her begin screaming but Kenra blocked out my ears with his paws. He leaned down in front of me and smiled, nuzzling me gently. I appreciated the gesture, but sadly I already had a rather dreadful feeling building in my chest.

He uncovered my ears as the noise outside became louder, lots of men shouting, and noises of fighting. "What if that… was Rena?" I said quietly.

He shook his head, "No. Wrong voice."

I don't know what came over me. But hearing that scene that had played out outside filled me with misplaced courage. I can die and come back from it right? That means I can help people. "Kenra, we can help them!" I said raising my voice again.

He shook his head vigorously, "We hide and wait for day."

"But people are… we have to Kenra!" He began shushing me, a window shattered from inside the living room, and he pulled me towards him aggressively.

He led me to a closet and put me behind himself, standing in a super still position. We could hear something rummaging around the house, and sniffing. I was shaking profusely, though I wanted to be the one protecting Kenra, after all, I can't die… right?

The room was suddenly lit up slightly, with a light from outside. The light flickering ominously, a howl rang out, and that was when a flood of emotion flowed through me. Wolves again? Either they're a bigger threat than I first thought, or i'm extremely unlucky! The wolf inside the house who was getting dangerously close, howled back. And left afterwards. We both breathed a sigh of relief, and he looked back at me with a scolding face. "You want to die?" He asked.

I didn't respond, I only began crying again. "Kunmai, you are weak. Let me protect." He said, wiping away a few tears.

I shook my head, "I'd rather die than you, I can c-"

He shushed me, "No." He said firmly.

He picked me up and placed me on his back, "Quiet now." He told me, and I listened.

The cold wind was beginning to get to them a bit, they had stopped a few times for brakes, but as night had begun a while ago they started getting restless. Spyro sighed, "I know it's terrible timing. But should we sleep? At the base of the mountain?"

Cynder sighed as well, "I really want to as well, but I have a bad feeling. Let's go as long as we can."

Minutes later Spyro's eyes drooped, and he nearly fell from the sky due to his tiredness. Cynder spoke, "Spyro, what is that? The village?"

A single, bright light emitted through the snow at the higher end of the peaks. But it was flickering. Spyro jolted back to focus, "Huh? Oh… Maybe?"

"Spyro… that's fire!" Cynder shouted from slightly farther ahead.

The snow slightly cleared for Spyro and he could see a rather large wooden cabin completely ablaze against the snowy peaks. "Hurry! Let's go!" Cynder said shooting up as far into the sky as possible.

They both hovered there in the air, and surveyed. The situation brought horror to their faces. Charred and still burning wolf bodies, multiple snow leopards in gruesome positions strewn across the snow with makeshift weapons. Many more wolves with lacerations and clearly deceased. On one side of the town the people were streaming into a large cement building. Women and children crying and screaming, the men still holding a line against a large pack of wolves.

"What if he's down there?" Cynder panicked.

"Either way we kill those mutts." Spyro said in anger that she had not seen in years. Swooping in sneakily.

"No powers remember!" She shouted, "I'm going to go look around." He gave a nod.

Soon enough he had crashed on top of two wolves with his front paws, crushing them instantly. Before the confusion from the other wolves could set in, he took two more out with his claws. Kicking another one into a wall with his back claws. He ripped another wolf that was gnawing on a leopard's shield off and slammed it into another one. Slowly sinking back into his old habits of fighting style, soon enough the wolf pack harassing the survivors was either dead, or retreating injured.

Spyro huffed and stopped to catch his breath, as the town's people looked at him in shock. Before erupting into a crowd of thankful cheers, and relieved cries. "Who's in charge here?" Spyro asked.

A couple of them pointed sadly at a leopard face down in the snow, pooling blood. Clearly gone, and he grimaced. Scanning over the people, "Who's keeping head count."

A hand raised, and Teran stepped forward. "I'm the doctor. I've kept count."

"Good. Who's missing?" Spyro scanned around at the people. "Everyone, get inside."

They followed his order, and as soon as they were all inside Teran continued, "So far only four are dead. Including our mayor. Six are missing."

"Who's missing?" Spyro questioned.

"There are three that most likely hid in their cellar over there." He said, pointing to a small tavern-like house. "The other three however… Two are dragons, then… Rena…"

"Rena ran out of the building once she got here. She was hoping the two dragons had made it already, she seemed panicked, I... I haven't seen her since..."

The name Rena instantly struck Spyro, and he stepped forward, "What are the dragon's names?"

He stammered, "It's Kenra, and Gale, Sir."

Spyro growled, and Teran sighed, "I assume you're looking for the poor lad Gale?"

Spyro nodded, "He shouldn't be here…"

Teran tried to reassure him, "He's most likely with Kenra, he's quite the little sneaky guy. The chances of them being found by the wolves is low. Rena however…"

Spyro turned away, "I will look for The dragons, Rena, and the cellar people. Just keep the whole town in there for now would you?" Teran nodded, then bowed. Returning inside to where a few uncertain people stood close to the door with weapons still drawn.

Kenra led us to a back door, and we sneakily made are way out of it. As we were leaving we heard fighting break out like none other, roars and slashing. Whimpering from the wolves as they began running away. We had no clue what had transpired, but only that the wolves were now retreating in our direction. They howled as they ran away, but some weren't so easy on giving up and merely stayed back in waiting for any stragglers on our part. Unfortunately, that happened to be me and Kenra.

We had tried being sneaky and quiet, but a large crash from the window the wolf had bursted through falling in even more, brought direct attention over towards our direction. Too which the wolves with superior eyesight could easily make us out against the house behind us. We froze in place, as they yipped and snarled. Most had still been scared off and kept running, but three had decided they were still hungry.

Kenra set me down, and whilst keeping eye contact, whispered, "Run."

I looked up in shock, and than tried pleading, "Kenra if we both go we can make I-"

"Run!" He said turning down to look at me.

The wolves seeing him take his eyesight off them, decided to rush forward. And Kenra used one last second to shove me forward. I started tearing up, but I followed his orders, I ran. I was terrified, I had been killed once already.

I could see the burning house, and on the edge of my tear stained vision I began seeing a purple dragon curiously. Though he was much too far away. I tripped in the snow, becoming freezing cold by the second. I was not equipped for this weather at all. I should've stayed behind! If I had died Kenra could've ran, and we'd both be safe! Stupid, stupid… now you're going to die anyway, because you can't get anywhere with your dumb feet!

"Gale?"

…

…

...

I looked up as a black dragoness landed over me gently, she stared as if she was seeing a ghost, and she gasped, "Gale!" She said as she looked straight down at me.

I was panicking now. "Who are you? Are you controlling them?"

She looked at me oddly then seemed to remember something. "No no! Me and my mate came here to help!"

I looked at her as tears stained my face, and she brought me up with a paw to her chest. "Are you injured?!" She inspected me, "Are you alone? You're freezing!"

I shivered, but looked up in sorrow. "Kenra… he's… help Kenra! Put me down, help him!" I started yelling.

"Spyro!" She shouted, looking over at a purple dragon slowly escorting three leopards into the hospital.

Within a few seconds he had approached, instantly noticing me in her paw. "Oh thank the gods-"

"Kenra…" I started sobbing, jumping down into the snow from her paws.

"Wait!" She shouted as I started running back to the place he left me.

I collapsed again, and She whisked me into her forearms as Spyro rushed past us. "N-No… Stop!" I pleaded.

She shushed me, grabbing a blanket from her bags and wrapping me with it gently. "Spyro is going to help him. Okay?"

I cried, "I should've saved him… I should be dead. What if he's-"

She nuzzled me, "It's alright little one. It's not your fault."

"But it is! I brought them to us I-I… I shouldn't even be alive again in the first place! He wouldn't be in trouble if I had died!" I started breathing very quickly, and She merely continued to rub her muzzle against my face, she began crying as well.

"Shhh, shhh, little one." She said calmly.

In her arms I felt safe, but it didn't help my dreaded feelings, that my friend was mauled in my place. I refused to let that thought go, and it haunts me even as I slipped into unconsciousness.

Cynder watched as he fell unconscious in her arms. Her heart ached at how traumatized the young hatchling clearly was, and how it was unnecessary and unfair. She looked at his bandages, and growled. He had no luck in this new life of his it would seem.

She heard fighting, and then silence as whatever had been happening was done in an instant. She heard the crunch of snow as she looked up. Spyro was walking back sorrowfully, with a snow leopard in tow, holding a lacerated and injured Kenra.

"Is he…" Cynder asked fearfully.

"Alive. Bad shape." The snow leopard said.

Spyro nodded, "This is Rena. The one that was taking care of these two."

Rena looked downward and started tearing up, "I wasn't quick enough… I protected him in the end, at the least."

Cynder's eyes widened and she bowed. "Thank you so much for doing your best…"

Rena grimaced as they walked to the hospital. The inside was very loud, so many crying or terrified still. Rena quickly handed Kenra off to Teran, and they both quickly went to work on helping him recover. Spyro stood in front of the crowd, and cleared his throat. "The wolves are gone. Four have passed away this night, but let it be known they died defending their families, and their people." He awkwardly shuffled back as the crowd was silent.

Then a few clapped, and most followed, "Thank you saviors!" Some said.

Choosing to ignore the attention, Spyro returned to Cynder. "How is he?"

She looked down at the hatchling who had slowly begun warming up due to her body heat and the blanket. His face was stuck in complete terrified sadness. And it brought a chill to her heart. "He's going to be traumatized for a while, Spyro."

He nodded, "He's seen plenty of death for a lifetime. Let alone being so young…" he said solemnly.

Rena approached them, seeming to have gotten Kenra stable. "Thank you for saving all of us." She said with a bow.

They nodded, "Thank you for saving him." Cynder said, nuzzling him subconsciously.

"Are you his parents?" Rena asked curiously, "He told me he was orphaned."

Spyro and Cynder looked at each other, then Spyro shook his head, "No uh… he's an important… figure in our-"

"Yes." Cynder said simply.

Too which Spyro stared wide eyed at her for. And she gave a forceful look. Rena smiled thankfully, "Good! Thank the gods you were here on time. Anyways, I don't want to waste your time, thank you again." She began walking away. Then stopped, "I don't know how important he is, or how much you're hiding… but, please, treat him well, and tell him I'm sorry." Spyro and Cynder both sheepishly nodded as she left.

"Was that?" Spyro started.

She shushed him, "Makes things easier to lie for now."

Spyro looked at the way she cradled the hatchling and chuckled, "Very convincing lie." He said as she gave him a glare.

My eyes slowly opened again, and a flood of memory rushed back in. I jolted awake and breathed heavily, "Kenra!"

"Shh…" A feeling of warmth washed over me as the mysterious dragoness laid a wing across my back.

I scanned around, I was in a hospital bed, so many other were as well. The dragoness stared worriedly at me from my right side. "Who… who are you?"

She retracted her wing, I shivered, and she quickly placed it back over me. "My name is Cynder." She said softly, "Me and my mate, Spyro, we're here to help you."

"How are you feel-"

"Where is Kenra?" I asked abruptly. She stopped, and drew in a heavy breath.

She sighed and moved out of vision. Behind her was Kenra, though his body was wrapped with bandages, more than even I had. I began tearing up, "Kenra…"

Suddenly Rena came into view, she looked at me apologetically. "He's recovering, Gale. He'll be okay."

"Rena?" I breathed out in disbelief, and relief.

She came closer to the bed, "I'm so sorry I wasn't there Gale… I got caught up in one thing, than another, and-"

I jumped at her, and she embraced me with a laugh, "Rena! You're okay!" I said happily.

She nodded, "Yes, both of us are okay." She said setting me back down.

Cynder cleared her throat, "But how are you, Gale. Are you feeling okay?" She asked.

I looked over at Kenra, "No. Kenra is injured because of me, I feel horrible."

"It wasn't your fault they attacked Gale." Rena said.

Cynder smiled, "The fact that he put your life before his, means that he was prepared for anything to happen Gale. And you're both alive, that's wonderful!" She said trying to raise my spirits.

I looked away, "I… I just want to stop causing trouble. And hurting people."

A cough, and confused mumbling from further down the hospital alerted Rena, and she bowed to take her leave to help the patients. Cynder looked between me and Kenra, and seemed to make a personal decision. Though she said nothing to me.

I looked at her in confusion, "Why are you here?"

That purple dragon Spyro walked in at that moment, smiling at seeing me awake, "Glad to see you okay, Gale." He told me.

My anger flared, "But why?" They slightly recoiled at my voice, "Why are you here? What do you want from me?" I started tearing up again, "I don't need help, I need to get lost and never be found again! Do me a favor and kill me, if you can find a way-"

The black dragoness, 'Cynder' had brought me into a hug, where she cried, "It's not fair. I know, I know." She said sweetly, rubbing my back with her paws gently. "It's all going to be okay now…" she said in a motherly way.

I tried to move away, but gave up a second later. "Gale we-... We know where you came from. We know how you died, you've even met us before in a dream. We're only here to help you." Spyro said.

I looked at them quizzically, and though I don't recall the dream, the two did have a familiarity to them I couldn't quite place in my mind. I shrugged, "Why do I matter?"

Cynder sighed, "To tell the truth Gale. You're very important, but also not at the same time. You came back from death, which is not normal in the slightest."

I laughed, "So you want to experiment on me? And test me?-"

"No!" She said firmly, "Under all of that, you're still just a hatchling."

"If you came to see me revive in person, you should not have saved me." I said sourly as I turned away.

Spyro shook his head, "Unfortunately Gale. I don't think you would have been able to anyway."

I looked at him curiously, did he know how it worked? "Huh?"

"There is a anti-magic field across this entire country. If you had died, you wouldn't have come back." He growled. "You still want to die, knowing that?"

My eyes widened in shock, I must've looked like I was losing it. And frankly, it felt like I was. Cynder swatted him with his tail and growled quite terrifyingly, I looked up at him, "I could've died for real?" I laughed a bit, and looked back down at my sheets, "Die? Like, actually die…" I started mumbling to myself in complete mental turmoil. All my dangerous situations felt suddenly much more grim. And I started laughing, I probably sounded a bit like a maniac but man... I was so over this all by now.

Spyro began to say something, but as Cynder looked down at me in helplessness she cut him off, "Leave. Spyro."

"We can't hide everything from him Cynder-" he started.

"LEAVE Spyro!" She shouted. "You're so unbelievable!" A surprised gulp, and Spyro bowed his head as he backed out of the room.

My body shivered vigorously, and she sighed, "You're burning up… You probably have a fever." She said, laying me back down. "Get some rest, little one."

I looked at her oddly. She was clearly worried about me, but she was a complete stranger. She brought me comfort, like Rena. And I knew she didn't mean harm. I didn't blame Spyro for telling me, I blamed myself for being foolish enough to think I'd be safe.

Cynder watched, and watched, for what seemed like forever. The rise and fall of the two dragon's breath, and she couldn't help the sorrow that filled her. It was like a miasma hanging in the air. Deciding she needed fresh air, she quietly left the building.

The burning house was nothing more than a smoldering mess of ashes, the snow had stopped, and the few of the fallen had already been buried. She scanned around her, noticing Spyro was nowhere to be found. Sighing in annoyance and mild anger, she thought of what had led to this situation. Did the wolves attack out of hunger? Was it territorial? Was there somebody controlling them? Remembering what Gale has asked her in fear earlier, if she had been controlling them. She wondered, was it because of Gale instead?

She glanced downward worriedly, "But why?" She wondered hopelessly. Then with a shake of the head, and a look of steel, growled, "Doesn't matter he will not be tormented any longer." She decided.

"Now if only I would stop being a source of torment…" Spyro's voice rang out.

She didn't turn to look at him, she merely smirked, "You're trying your best. You just need to learn when to quit talking with your heart, and use your brain a little more."

A chuckle, and she felt a warm wing wrap around her, as Spyro nuzzled the top of her head, "I never was great with hatchlings, that's why I brought you along in the first place."

She sighed, "You have to remember Spyro. He's not just a hatchling. He's about ten years older than that, and he's been through a lot. Too much. Nonetheless he's still essentially a newborn."

Spyro sighed, "Sometimes I forget these things. By the age of ten for me I was already set on a warpath… I realize how bad it is now, but that's what we wanted to save him from right?"

"By the age of ten, you weren't given an entirely new body, and turned into a hatchling." she laughed, as he sheepishly smiled.

She smiled up at him, "I'm sorry for yelling at you…"

He shook his head in a humorous way, "Pfft… I would've slapped myself too. I was…" he sighed, "I got worried. He was talking about death so much, I wanted him to realize how serious it was…"

Cynder scoffed, "I'm sure he's well aware of how serious it is."

"You can say that again." He replied.

Cynder shivered, and he nuzzled her head, "Hey, it's cold. Maybe we should head in."

She nodded angeringly and they entered once again. Making their way back to the two young ones room, they were met with a rather sad sight. Both were having horrible nightmares.

Cynder sighed, and went to comfort Gale, but she stopped as she heard him speak in his sleep, "Kenra… don't go…"

Smiling to herself, she had a plan. And as she gently picked up Gale and set him into Kenra's bed, without hesitation Kenra grabbed hold of him with a paw, and curled around him. Both seemingly instantly relaxed. Their nightmares gone, they slowly smiled. It melted her heart. Spyro smiled at her, then laughed quietly.

"What's so funny?" She asked.

He shook his head, "I wasn't prepared for a two for one deal…"

She rolled her eyes, and made a makeshift bed on the floor, where they could keep an eye on them. Cynder smiled while drifting to sleep, 'Sleep well little ones.'

Thank you for reading!

Much darker one then I'm used to writing, but I really liked it!

If you have anything you'd like to say, leave a review!

-Fiygon out!