Strange Encounters
Author's note: So… Chapter 4, here it is. I was reading your reviews from last chapter and I must say, you all have a very keen eye and creative imagination. I love seeing what you guys think and predict for the future of this story. I noticed one thing that was recurring in both the reviews and PM's: no ones really figured out where the strange emerald-eyed dragoness falls in this story. Don't feel bad, I intended for that to happen. I've purposefully been withholding information from you and I'm not ashamed one bit; it's fun. So… Let's take a little time to divulge some of that; Just enough to tell you where she falls. ;)
Strong and heated wings sliced through crisp whimsical air, small, colorful, intricately cut pieces of paper rushing past her face and across her scales. She watched a few consumed themselves in flame as they touched her; confetti. Cheers resonated through the air, her scales practically vibrating in frequency. Her head rang, screams and shrieks echoing in her mind; she shook herself, steeling her nerves. Snarling, she swung herself left, easily gliding past a sandstone-colored tower, hatchlings laughing and screaming as they launched colorful explosions into the sky from a balcony.
She landed, feet stumbling from the harsh impact and sending a wave of pain to her head, ears ringing.
Her head swam, terror gripping her mind as horrifying projections clambered at her paws. The grabbed and groped, threatening to pull her down into the abyss of madness. The warmth in her breast flickered, sending the visions away; she needed to hurry. Her scales vibrated, veins of what looked like heated rock coursed between her scales.
Her paw raised to gently massage her breast plates, cringing slightly. Light pierced through the darkness of the alley as wandering creatures moved past the opening, the distant sound of partying citizens echoing off the stone walls of the enclosing buildings. Her paw fell from her chest, returning to balance herself as she swayed slightly; the flight had been much too long for her ancient wings. She moved out of the darkness, making her way into the open semi-busy streets; dragons stared.
She scowled, the confused looks of others making her stand out. Why was it uncomfortable? What age was it? What was everyone celebrating? She needed answers. She calmly strode over to a young yearling dragon, no older than a hundred-twelve. A few others surrounded him but she paid no mind to them.
"Drake, which city is this?"
Startled, the young dragon visibly shrank before placing a forepaw over his eyes, a nervous laugh escaping him.
"By my scales… Don't sneak up on a dragon like that. I thought you were my mother from the sound of your voice." The drake finally stared up at her, his paw falling back beneath him.
"I urge you to answer me, your city's in danger." She was intimidating to say the least, especially to that of a young dragon.
"...Warfang, you're in Warfang…" He fumbled his words, mentally tripping.
The dragoness looked around, the entire street staring at her; she rolled her eyes.
"Where can I find those in charge?" She barked.
He along with a few other handful of dragons, pointed to the massive lit building in the night sky, each one of them a smile on their face, happy to help.
"The guardians," another added, a dragoness from the group.
She deftly bowed her head, a gesture the dragons returned before she began to make her way down the street to the large temple. The roads were slick with moist dirt; a storm must have recently passed through here, either that or a few ice dragons had decided to play a game of freeze tag. She couldn't stop the smirk that formed on her lips; if only for a moment, she let her stoic mask slip.
It quickly faded.
Streamers hung low above her head, so low that several had gotten snagged, now decorating her horns. She grumbled, picking the festive bands of paper from her crown. A small group of hatchlings giggled, finding her struggles humorous. She shook her head in false amusement, already sick of this city and its ignorance. She came from a time of honor and war, whereas everyone in this city reeked of idiocy; Surely there was someone here that hadn't grown 'fat' from luxury.
She hoped, desperately hoped that the dragons this city considered their leaders were capable of more than parties. What good could come of celebrating? She felt as if she could grow sick.
The emerald eyed dragon passed a few wandering monks, deep harmonic bellows reaching her ears. She felt herself shudder, the choir tunes dark and unsettling. They were an odd sight on a night of festivities and considering how much more festive the city was, they seemed out of place.
A wandering wolf slowly approached, stopping just ahead of her. He wore a simple brown cloak, the fabric ragged and dirty like the sack a farmer would use to hold his crop; it most certainly didn't look comfortable to wear. The hood was worn down so that it revealed his face, his muzzle old and scarred. However, his eyes spoke stories, old ones, like those a wise monk would share with children on a spring afternoon. She collected her confidence, putting herself on guard, her senses raising numerous flags. She slowly approached the stranger, not sure what he wanted or why she felt he wanted anything at all, only that it felt like the right thing to do.
He spoke with an aged voice, a smile on his muzzle.
"I know why you're here."
The dragoness raised an eyebrow, her talons unsheathed and digging into the cobbled street.
"We share the same intent, to ensure the safety of the flame. I warn you, they have forgotten the old ways, forgotten you. They won't believe you, trust you, not until it counts." He shook his pelt, dew and confetti falling to the street.
The dragoness gazed into the sky, the massive lit tower shrouding the entire city with its size. Her mind drifted, eyes growing distant as memories flooded her mind. She was reminiscing, thinking back to her own times.
"I shan't need their trust. If they doom themselves so be it; I'll carry out my oath alone if I must."
The wolf chuckled, slowly turning into a cough then to a wheeze; silence.
The dragoness glanced down to see him gone; all that remained was the loose confetti where he once stood. She snorted, clouds of steam drifting up from her nostrils; her stride quickened as she made her way to the temple of Warfang. She would much rather fly seeing as how it was quicker than walking but her wings ached. They had grown out of practice when it came to traveling long distances; walking was all she was left with. Dragons smiled and waved at her, something she ignored as she passed them. It may have seemed rude but it wasn't imoral. Smiles and waves were for friends, none of which spoke true for her; they were strangers. Hatchlings scampered across the street at the foot of a long trail of stairs, chasing each other and sparring playfully.
"Keep your paws firm on the ground. Don't let your guard down, not even to your friends." Her voice was crisp, speaking from experience and wisdom she had learned the hard way long ago.
The hatchlings didn't seem to understand, too young to appreciate her words; they would learn soon enough. They would have to. A teal dragoness quickly rushed out and herded the small dragons away from her, sending a scowl in her direction. She returned the sentiment. Journeying on, she made her way towards the set of stairs that were only few paces away.
Looking up, she steadily raised her paws, one ahead of the other as she made her way up the stairs that led to the prodigious construct in the center of the city: the dragon temple. Once at the top, she turned to face the city, eyes squinting in an attempt to see outside the city walls. Nothing looked wrong; this city had no idea what was coming. It was fortunate that she got here early, allowing the city time to prepare.
She turned back. Facing the temple and steadying herself, she practically burst through the doors as she entered. Her eyes scanned the room, quickly assessing it for anyone of importance she could talk to. Her thoughts were interrupted as a small trio of dragons strode down a set of stairs to her left.
"Good evening, what can we do to help you?" A petite silver and blue streamlined dragon spoke. "I'm Fendrir, the lightning guardian. Its fortuitous that we meet on a special night like this."
She rolled her eyes, his motives more obvious than the horns on his head. The others must have noticed as well; a dullgrey-scaled drake nudged him off to the side. From the looks of him he looked to be an earth dragon, stalagmites projecting themselves from his joints and spine; he reminded her of someone.
"What can we do for you?" The drake bowed politely.
"It's not a matter of how you can help me, as I'm very capable. You, however are not." The dragoness confidently strode up to the group.
"I've news of an oncoming attack on this city. I've flown far to tell you this and I demand your attention."
The four dragons turned to each other, their demeanor switching from that of relaxed to concerned.
"We can discuss this in private. It's obvious you're serious," A saturated orange dragon spoke calmly, gesturing to a small entryway that resides just behind her.
She nodded, swiftly making her way into the room and sitting down, waiting for the guardians to follow. The room was simple, a large wooden table with a map of the city as well as the surrounding lands. However, this map seemed much too small to represent the dragon lands.
"You're a foreigner," The orange-scaled dragon spoke, his words more of a statement than a question. His voice was thick with a strange resonating accent that slurred a few of his words. 'Ur ah forunner,' is more what it sounded like.
"Of sorts. Where's the rest of the map? I won't be able to place where the attack will be coming from unless I have a complete map."
"You really are a foreigner," The silver blue drake from earlier snickered before once again being silenced by the dark grey earth dragon.
"That's all there is," The earth dragon spoke deeply, his eye ridges raised in a studious manner.
The quick-witted drake was testing her nerves enough to make her realize she would be talking to the remaining leaders. If he was the best 'Warfang' had to offer then the city would fall. Her eyes scanned the map, looking for the mountains she had flown across so that she could get her bearings. They hung at the very edge of the map, which according to the direction dial was North, It was enough.
"I can't be certain but the attack will be coming from the North West, a large force sent to infiltrate your walls and bring your city down from within."
The others accepted that, nodding in unison. The strange-tongued fire drake spoke again.
"And who can we expect to attack us? There hasn't been a threat of this scale for… 364 years."
The emerald-eyed dragoness reared her head, eyebrow raised. Peace was an obvious luxury these dragons exploited as much as possible. Processing the question, she answered.
"An undead legion set to consume and overrun all in their path."
The dragons burst into laughter. She fumed, heat pulsing through her body.
"You bloody idiots! Can't you tell how serious this is?! I've flown miles to warn you!"
They laughed more.
"Miles?! That's not very far, now is it? Who put you up to this, was it Hadlor? That Dracolith dragon's humor knows no bounds!" The Fire drake was getting on her nerves.
She raised an eyeridge, pondering his words for a moment.
"Dracolith? As in the great city of dark dragons?"
They laughed once again.
"Dark dragons?! We haven't seen so much as a black scale in these lands for centuries. You really are a funny one! Great Malsmite prank, absolutely magnificent!" Fendrir wheezed, nearly falling over if not for the steadying hand of the Earth drake.
The dragoness tempered, eyes glaring holes into the drakes. She cast one of her forepaws to the side, kicking up loose dirt that had culminated on the floor. A faint growl bubbled in her throat, the taunting voices putting her on edge.
"Don't you understand what I'm telling you?! Your city is in danger, and you mean to laugh at me while the enemy looms over us?! Not one of you doubt your own judgment? Would you truly risk the safety of all that live in this city for humor?" She berated, some of the laughs dying before starting up again.
"What's the other option, believing the words of a foreign dragoness who claims that an army of undead dragons is marching towards us?" The earth dragon was the only one who seemed to have a stable mind; she could respect that but that didn't stop her from boiling his words.
"I would expect you to take your job as protectors seriously," She fumed, her words sharp. A distant thud reached here ears, the sound of the foyer doors opening.
"Oh we do, just not pranking dragons like you." His accent seemed to worsen, laughter making it thicker. 'O weh du, jus naut pronkin dragn's lak yooo.'
She growled, mouth turning up in a snarl. Her talons flexed against stone, holes and scrapes raking the floor under her paws. She cast her gaze aside, back to the entrance of the room, the sounds of dragons talking having caught her attention. Perhaps they could be of use.
She froze, eyes locked on the form of two dragons wandering through the foyer, a third slowly approaching them.
She shifted around the table so that she couldn't be seen through entryway, her breath coming out in shudders as she steadied herself. Her head swam, nauseated as she waited patiently for her chance.
She would end this war before it began.
The flame would be saved.
Spyro and Cynder walked the streets of Warfang, laughing and sharing stories. It had been much too long since they had been around one another and it felt good to exchange adventurous tales.
"You never shared where you went, other than saying you flew west." Spyro's voice felt genuine, not as antagonistic as before.
"I flew south, first, until I reached the Great Mushroom Forest. I saw your home. I'm really sorry that so much of it was destroyed."
Spyro deftly nodded his head, eyes haunted for just a brief second. He shook himself; it was gone.
"I didn't lose what counted that day, that's what matters." He gave a smile, a hurt smile, like one she would make.
He continued,
"They lived happy lives, my family."
Cynder nuzzled his shoulder reassuringly.
"You wouldn't have it any other way." She giggled slightly, lightening the mood and putting a smile on Spyro's face.
"What's that supposed to mean, I'm demanding?" Spyro playfully flicked her horns with his.
Cynder laughed a little more heartily.
"No, you're just… always helping in the best way you can." Cynder hummed, smirking up at the purple dragon beside her. Was he even full grown? Was she? Would he grow to be the size of Malefor? Her mind drifted to these thoughts for just a second before she shuddered and cast them aside.
"What happened after you went to the Forest?"
Cynder pursed her lips, confidence in their conversation waning. She wasn't quite sure if she was ready to share very much.
"I… Flew to the Jade Isles, and that's when I flew west. There I decided to take things slow, found myself a warm bed and house. It was rough, being alone; I wasn't always sure what to do, you always knew what to do."
Cynder gushed, words spilling from her mouth. Why was this happening, because of Spyro?
"I didn't think… I would see you again for a long time. I would try to convince myself to come back every year. Eventually I came across this young pink dragoness." Cynder laughed, shaking her head at the memory of her.
"She was… unique, wouldn't stop talking about you to save her life; she brags for you. I'm sure she has a thing for Spyro the Purple Dragon." Both of them laughed, comedic relief praised.
"We studied… I'm not much of a reader, but when you're alone with a stranger, you pick up a few things to strengthen your mind."
Spyro nodded.
"I'm a vagabond myself. After the war, not much was left for me. After I found Ignitus, I flew from town to town searching for any work I could find, something that could keep me distracted."
Cynder gave a semi nod, semi shake of her head, pondering that a moment.
"I wouldn't exactly call myself a vagabond; unlike you, I didn't move around very much."
Spyro nodded and shrugged.
The pair passed by a large group of celebrating hatchlings. They flew around their heads, singing a childish song, 'K.I.S.S.I.N.G.' Cynder rolled her eyes and Spyro playfully berated them for being up past their bedtime. She laughed when he got a face full of confetti; the duo kept walking.
"Sparx has great great great grandchildren if you'd ever like to meet them." Spyro shook his head, knocking confetti off to the ground.
"I'd love that!" Cynder warmed at the thought of Spyro's brother settling down. It meant maybe, just maybe…
"We'll see the guardians first though, they'll want to hear about our return," Spyro interrupter her thoughts.
"Oh, of course. Have you met them?" Cynder ducked her head as a firework shot up just beside her, launching into the sky and exploding into a magnificent magenta star.
The purple dragon admired it for a moment, his mind drifting. He steadied himself, turning back to face her.
"A while back. They take their work pretty seriously. Of course, they do have their quirks."
Cynder giggled. Giggled? By the ancients she's grown soft. She quickly pursed her face, making herself seem stern.
"Yeah, just like that," Spyro teased.
Cynder guffawed, playfully batting the back of Spyro's head.
He laughed harder.
The dark scaled-dragons looked up, making their way up the long series of stairs that would bring them to the temple. The pair looked back at the city, taking in its glory; words were just too small for the dragon city now.
"I've looked at this city so many times tonight and I still…" Spyro cut himself off.
"Can't stop seeing it for the first time," Cynder finished.
The two dragons smiled at each other, turning to face the doors, strode through. They wandered into a massive dome circular shaped room, the ceiling rising hundreds of feet and converging into a dome. A massive chandelier dangled above the room, light reflecting off the walls and ceiling so that no corner went unlit. Just to the left of them was a large archway that lead to a hall, connecting the foyer to the rest of the temple, same with the right of them. There was a large alcove in front of them, banners of all the previous guardians hanging on the walls surrounding a vision pool.
"This place is much bigger than I remember," Cynder gasped. Her voice echoed around the room. He entire plaza was eerily quiet, aside from a few distant hints of a conversation ahead of them.
"It's usually not so empty. It's the celebration, everyone too busy enjoying themselves outside," A new voice interrupted.
The two dragons turned around, greeted by the sight of a large frost-scaled dragoness, her horns bent back like they were melting. Her breast plates boasted an elegant white, designs etched into them and around her neck; they looked like waves.
The dragoness bowed. Spyro and Cynder did the same.
"Where are the other guardians?" Spyro moved ahead of Cynder, his voice slightly concerned. Why was he worried?
The Ice dragon swung her head to an arch way that sat just beyond the pool of visions, the sound of conversing dragons confirming it. A loud laugh echoed through the dim quiet.
"Sharing stories most likely. I see you brought a friend. I'm Aquaria." She gave another formal bow. She seemed incredibly calm and collected, a trait she could respect deeply. She hoped she came across in the same light.
"I'm-" Aquaria cut her off before she could finish.
"Cynder. I realized from your scales. Not many other dark-scaled dragonesses fit your description. It's lovely to meet you." She gave a small giggle.
Cynder opened and closed her mouth, trying to decide what she would say next, not expecting such a greeting. After all, she had been gone, missing for centuries. Or did they know where she was the whole time?
A booming voice rang through the archway.
"Aquaria, is that you!? Get in here and meet this bluffing scaled dragon!" The voice seemed slightly slurred, not intoxicated but foreign; an accent.
Looking at each other, Cynder stared, her eyes confused and curious. Her tail lashed from side to side, the tip of her blade sharpening itself against the stone, a nasty habit she picked up while away.
"The things Fendrir will say…" Aquaria said more to herself than to the pair of dragons in front of her. "They shouldn't antagonize him."
Cynder turned back to Spyro, almost glaring at the purple drake for answers; he laughed.
"The Lightning guardian, he loves to share his… stories." Spyro proceeded to follow the frost dragon, making their way to archway; Cynder trailed behind them.
The purple dragon was the second to walk into the room. However, upon passing the threshold, he was thrown to his back, the tailblade of a magma-scaled dragon inches from his throat.
"Filthy purple dragon, we were warned about you, that you would raise hell! Is it you?! Are you the one leading death to us all?!" The dragoness spat, the heat radiating off of her practically suffocating, even for dragons.
Spyro's eyes met hers; she looked terrified.
The room went silent.
Author's Note: I barely succeeded in getting this chapter up before it rolled into the new month and for that I have several friends to thank for beta reading. I will be the first to admit that this chapter had a small hiccup, completely my fault. I got way ahead of myself and wrote a few things that I quickly realized were a bit premature, not only that but even I had trouble chewing everything that I originally planned on presenting to you, so I know you would have as well; No offense. I love you guys. After a few major rewrite, I came to this. I hope you all enjoyed.