Chapter 18: A shift

It was quiet within the chambers of the infirmary. An odd, eerie silence filled the minds of the visitors who would regularly come for their health. Only the occasional trotting of steps from the healer dragon and moles sometimes stamping from one rushing from one end of the halls to the other and the occasional speaking but within the Chamber he visited the purple dragon devoid of distraction to let his mind focus without distraction.

Spyro sat himself against a ledge, his paws laid across the edge, pushing his body against it overlooking the makeshift bed of hay for any creatures being attended to. His back turned towards the entrance to the chamber as he looked upon a mound of hay with Sparx laid upon it yet to awaken.

Spyro watched over him, studying his features and any movement, noting the steady breathing from the dragonfly chest raising and dropping. It was a relief for the purple dragon, knowing his foster brother was out of danger. But an itch lingered in the back of his mind, casting concern towards the dragonfly.

The healers assured him Sparx would be fine, but he has yet to awaken. His eyes focused on the puffing of the dragonfly's chest, giving him hope yet why wouldn't he wake up yet. It ached in his chest witnessing the usual hyperactive dragonfly in this state.

"Sparx… I hope you can hear me… but," Spyro lamented, hoping his words would reach the dragonfly. His voice rumbled in a resonance of anxiety, "I hope you're okay in there. It hurts seeing you like this, laying on that bed like that when you should be out there organising the granary today as you always do… Or even just to come and make the day more interesting for me and Cynder."

Spyro chuckled to himself at that last sentence, knowing all too well the dragonfly found enjoyment in trying to wind him and the black dragoness up. He stopped laughing as his expression dropped again and leaned towards Sparx "Cynder's worried about you too. I know Sparx, that's something I'm sure you wouldn't expect to hear, but that's the truth. She hopes you'll be back with us soon."

Spyro observed the dragonfly, hoping the words he spoke would spark a reaction out of him. But there was nothing for him to cling onto hope and his head dropped feeling a wave of depression strike him letting his emotions get the better of him as his wings opened up a bit.

He looked back on the dragonfly and tapped a claw against his chest and breathed out a quiet sigh, "Be with us soon Sparx, We will need you… I will need you."

He retracted his claw placing his paw down, taking in the dragonfly one last time knowing the rest of the day will probably not be so straightforward and spoke reassuringly "I'll see you again soon. Hopefully, you'll be awake by then…"

"Hey Spyro," called a voice from behind jumping a few nerves in the purple dragon's body turning to notice Krytus walking into the chamber.

"Krytus?" the purple dragon questioned.

The green dragon nodded coming alongside Spyro revelling in his usual emotionless exterior and acknowledged the purple dragon, "I see you recovered well."

"Yes… much quicker then I expected even with the healing crystals," answered Spyro, looking upon the apprentice with intrigue.

Krytus sat on his hinds, looking upon the dragonfly with a burn of interest in his eyes before directing his narrowing eyes towards the purple dragon, "How is he doing?"

"Better! His body has recovered well, but he still hasn't woken yet." answered Spyro. His face turned blank at the unusual interest the earth-dragon was showing him.

"From the moments I've got to know about him, he's even more stubborn than my master. So he should pull through," Krytus nodded lightly.

Spyro appreciated the sentiment of the green dragon's words. If anyone wanted to meet the most stubborn creature in the realm it would definitely be Sparx. Sometimes the purple dragon would wonder how he turned out so stubborn, all the headaches he made on their journeys years back but kept him on his wits too.

"I find it strange! For the purple dragon considered the most powerful creature ever for his closest companion to be a dragonfly it's a weird mixup," Krytus insinuated narrowing an eye between Spyro and Sparx almost sounded like he was mocking the idea which got noticed by the purple dragon curling his lips.

He watched the earth-dragon giving him a deviant glare ultimately deciding to drop it and instead looked back at Sparx forming a smile "I've known him since I was born!"

Krytus's eyes widened at the unexpected answer turning his attention onto the purple dragon keeping his gaze on the sleeping form of Sparx, his lips tightened together experiencing a sense of pride in the dragonfly as he cast himself towards his thoughts. "Sparx… We've stuck together ever since we were born, we grew up together playing around and growing up together in the swamp for many years. But it was when I first discovered my power of fire I left the swamp… the only home I ever knew."

"Wow, so you two went everywhere together?" asked Krytus, curious to learn more of the tale.

"Hah… yes. We stuck together through everything. Found the temple and met Ignitus and went on so many adventures facing so many enemies and evil creatures as I learnt more of my powers. Even after saving Cynder, he stuck with me on another adventure going across the realm and was fearless when we went to the well of souls. He didn't hesitate to stick by me and watch out for me," Spyro declared with a sense of pride. He shot a deep smile towards the sleeping dragonfly.

Krytus rolled his eyes between Spyro and Sparx, finding it difficult to grasp the truth of what the purple dragon told him. His jaw dropped open as if it flabbergasted him, "THE well of souls? The place of unending darkness with the lost spirits of any turned to evil? He went with you to that place?"

Spyro chuckled to the questions. Even he had to admit, the way the future guardian described the well of souls it didn't sound right the purple dragon would stand with him at such a dark place. Just remembering the aura and pressure he felt by standing in that place sent shivers down his spine. He wondered how he weathered the darkness of that place, which only landed more pride towards Sparx.

"Yes, he did. And he didn't hesitate to stick with me," praised Spyro as he turned towards Krytus "No one should underestimate him. He may be smaller than us, but there aren't many as brave as my brother."

How Spyro addressed the dragonfly caught Krytus by surprise. It was near impossible for him to believe such words. He tilted his head and curled his lips processing the idea but he realised with how stubborn he has observed the dragonfly it didn't sound so far-fetched. He stumbled before a smirk lit up across his cheek, closing his eyes.

"If that is true, then the little bug has more guts than I thought of him…" admitted Krytus holding a newfound respect for the small creature before crunching his lips "But I'll never tell him that, I'll never hear the end."

"A wise choice," agreed Spyro as the two dragons erupted into chuckles.

The earth-dragon paused running through his mind one fact Spyro had disclosed about his past he took a peculiar interest towards "So dragonfly's raised you?"

"Yes, Sparx's parents… my parents… the only parents I ever had," Spyro flinched between his words as a picture of Flash and Nina breathed into his head recognising the proud smiles they gave him when he left and his eyes dropped "I haven't seen them for six years now… neither of us."

Krytus heard the clear pain in Spyro's voice watching his snout drop and puffed a quiet sigh. The earth-dragon folded in his wings viewing the situation with more cause of seriousness "Did you look for them?"

"Yes!" answered Spyro, clearing his throat and very sharp in his response "A few months after the war ended Sparx and I went to search for them, tracking our way back to the swamp. We realised it wasn't far as it was near the dragon temple used to be… until all we came upon was a wasteland…"

Spyro's eyes drew into an emotionless pit as he fixated on the floor in front of his paws as Krytus listened in with his lips loosening up and drew his wings against his flanks unsure what to feel "We realised Malefor had destroyed the swamp and the surrounding land when he erected the old temple into the sky and created the badlands… We found traces of our old swamp but most of it gone as was everything that lived there either corrupted or destroyed along with the badlands."

"Wow… I would never have thought. Did you find any clues about them?" Asked Krytus continuously, pausing between his words as the tale filled him with empathy towards the purple dragon who shook his head.

"No. We found nothing… We found the wrecked site of the dragonfly colony, but nothing," lamented Spyro. His wings dropped across his flanks as the discussion drew an aching pain of regret burrowing into his chest, "I'm sure their alive. My dad is one of the smartest creatures out there. He would have moved to safety."

Krytus listened to the pain in the purple dragon's voice, not something he had seen from him before. It affected him to the point his wings dropped from his flanks and curled his lips, gazing his eyes away from the purple dragon. For a dragon who hides his emotions well usually giving a blank to most creatures found himself in an unusual state.

"We've been looking but we've found nothing and we listen for news from the passing traders… but nothing." Spyro continued, he remained unaware of Krytus's emotional state "But we are not giving up. We believe they're out there somewhere, having made it to safety."

Spyro noticed the silence and directed his eyes towards the pickle-green dragon. His upper eyelids narrowed with a hint of surprise as he angled his head witnessing the future guardian in what looked like pain on his expression and he questioned the random shift in the posture and questioned "Are… you okay?"

Krytus hesitated for a moment letting his thoughts spill through his mind crunching his lips together before weakly nodding his response "Yes…" He hesitated with his silence, something Spyro took notice towards and swung his body around facing more towards the earth-dragon "It's nothing, I'm fine… just thinking!"

Spyro hesitated, wishing to enquire further on Krytus's reaction but hearing the stern tone at the end convinced him it was better to leave it "Okay… sorry, I carried on too long. Didn't you come to tell me something?"

"Yes! My master and captain Pyrus have requested you and half of the guard to assemble at the northern wall atrium at once… I'm assuming its regarding yesterday." answered the future guardian, shaking his head and himself out of his moment. He repeatedly blinked with a heavy breath, allowing his body to settle.

He turned his gaze towards Spyro, noting the stunned expression with eyes widened and tightened his features and brushed off his concern before snapping at him, "You can stop looking at me like that. I'm fine!"

Spyro quirked his eyes away, deciding it was better not to push the conversation, and looked over at Sparx, tapping a claw gently against his hand, "Keep strong Sparx. Hopefully, you will be awaken when I return."

Krytus loosened his lips and half closed his eyes, watching the purple dragon issue his emotional goodbye to his foster brother. He gazed on, experiencing the moment before turning his head away. He displayed a hint of sadness in his features. Shrugging it to one side he spoke out suggesting, "We better go Spyro, we don't want to be late."

The purple dragon nodded his understanding and stepped away looking on the sleeping form of Sparx one last time letting his lips crunch together in an expression of sorrow before forcing himself away turning to the exit with his eyes narrowing slightly and hardened his voice "Let's go then!"

Spyro walked away from the bed towards the entrance to the chamber followed by Krytus filling with a desire to learn of what was to come today from the events of yesterday. Krytus noticed the quick shift in the purple dragon's posture becoming so reserved, surprising the future guardian. Only a moment ago was he upset for his foster brother and now suddenly had a glaring image of focus.

He stopped in his tracks, standing still, his claws settled against the cobble floor as Spyro walked off exiting the chamber. He looked back towards Sparx asleep on the cover, taking into his thoughts everything Spyro told him. His breathing heaved letting the emotions run free for a moment before he looked above him towards the wall and mumbled "I hope…" He stopped hesitating with his words "I..."

He turned away looking to the entrance and shook his head vibrating a low growl through his throat loosening these feelings of sadness. He allowed no more distractions to cloud his vision any longer and rushed to catch up to the purple dragon, not intending to miss this gathering.


#


Terrador eyed the outer territory of the city towards the line of thick trees outlying the Tranquil forest in the distance, focusing his gaze as he stood towards the edge of the temple balcony. His eyes narrowed into slits, observing the forest and all around it. Tegrol stood beside him as they felt the winds blow across them, pushing against their wings, tilting them slightly.

"Do you feel that Tegrol?" asked the earth guardian looking to the clouds having covered the entire sky which ended any hope of a beautiful sunny morning. "Something doesn't feel right…"

"I do master Terrador… a shift?" answered Tegrol. The black-cloudy coloured dragon fumed a surprised gasp. This pressure he felt in his heart observing the land outside of the city, his mana reacting in his body like something was wrong "But what is it?"

"I'm not sure… Something is going on. I haven't sensed a pressure like this in a long time," wondered Terrador eying the landscape surrounding the forest in the distance. His eyes peering between the pieces in front of him but found staring towards the woods where he felt the presence radiate at him. He questioned in a low voice, "What is going on out there?"

Beside him Flame stood near the edge looking between the guardian and over the edge towards the forest perplexed. He failed to understand what was happening with the older dragons. Whenever he looked towards the forest he felt nothing, no pressure or sinister feeling, just the wind brushing against his scales. He curled his lips and his brows crunched against his eyelids in a state of confusion.

"Um…. I don't… feel anything, Terrador?" Announced Flame turning to look up to the guardian.

Terrador produced a hint of a smirk at the naivety of the young fire dragon, "That's natural young flame. Some dragons including myself, Tegrol and the other guardians have this gift of having a high attunement with the surrounding nature and their senses." He tapped a paw forward and narrowed his eyes into slits occasionally looking to flame and back to the landscape "The energy flowing around us and all living things can connect and flow from great distances and these certain dragons can experience them as they spread. Most aren't noticeable to pull the attention whatever happens or is looming is very significant."

Flame focused on the guardian, his eyes gleaming with intrigue towards what the guardian was experiencing "So you can sense something that happens faraway and see it?"

"No Flame! It's not as simple as that," corrected the earth guardian, shaking his head and bringing his focus completely towards the young fire dragon "It is merely a feeling we experience, it can be this boom of majestic power and we feel the weight of it. Sometimes it can be this presence of something extraordinary that one cannot explain. Or maybe…"

Terrador paused, turning his gaze towards the Tranquil forest as that pressure surfaced again. His body ached internally, forcing him to heave a heavy sigh, "A heavy pressure of something sinister, of darkness or evil… None of it we can explain but it affects us differently… some thrive of such feelings having given into darkness or a wave of uneasiness. Of uncertainty."

Flames eyed the guardian with shock. His jaw dropped open in awe of the special ability described to him "Wow, that sounds amazing! Can dragons learn to do it?"

"No!" Terrador answered, shaking his head, "We can't explain how such a gift manifests into dragons. It just does in some dragons holding this close attunement to nature. If you possess such a gift, it will come to you. Or not!"

Flame dropped his head, becoming uncertain towards the strange gift. The way Terrador conveyed those last words stung him, almost as if the guardian was toying with him. The guardian reverted his eyes back to the landscape, focusing his mind towards the pressure he and Tegrol felt.

"Something is taking shape out there!" cautioned Terrador. A deep focus of tension through his body built up.

"Indeed! And I dare surmise no coincidence the remnant infiltrate and attack the city and now suddenly this… pressure… this cold feeling," concurred Tegrol sharing the same narrowing stare as the guardian.

"I agree," Terrador stammered, "It is far from a coincidence. Even more that it's trailing from the forest."

"So what does it mean, Terrador?" asked Flame, frantic with concern as he turned to viewing the landscape.

"I don't know…" hesitated Terrador sticking to his gruff exterior so not to alarm "But it cannot be good."

Terrador huffed his snout, glancing right off the forest towards the far distance. A black and blotchy mountainous ruined landscape. A dead land unable to support natural life any longer. The razor sharp build up of rubble and hills blackened and rather unpleasant to lay his eyes upon. The lava dried up and many of the taller mountains had crumbled to pieces, including the enormous volcano had dropped, breaking down into the earth.

The emptiness of the former badlands sent chills down the earth guardian. It literally fell into a deadzone of nothing even as the remnant abandoned the land to its fate of lifelessness, only sending a frill of pity from the green dragon. A beautiful land razed into a hell-scape by the former dark master, a place all goes to die and now just nothing. But looking upon the landscape Terrador felt nothing when he gazed upon the horizon of the wasteland far in the distance it was that lifeless even darkness didn't emanate from it. He prayed nothing more would succumb to such a fate.

"I wonder if the other guardians have felt this!" questioned Tegrol.

Terrador glanced towards the shadow dragon and his jaw opened ready to speak but he stopped just before he finished turning his head, catching something on the edge of his sight. He looked up into the sky, spotting two figures approaching them, one significantly bigger than the second one.

They easily recognised the two creatures as dragons and made even easier for Terrador upon recognising the yellow scales of the large one "Speaking of the other guardians. Volteer!"

The electric guardian held out his wings, gliding across down to the plateau followed closely by Phalera. As they reached over the edge extended his paws out to land, he exclaimed, "We rushed back as soon as we could once I got your message Terrador!"

Touching down, the two electric dragons folded in their wings and Phalera skipped forward. Her eyes widened in worry as she frantically wailed, "Is everyone okay? Is Spyro okay?"

"Yes! Your message wracked us with grief, fear, anguish, distress," Volteer jabbered, a glance of concern projected from his features quickly overshadowed by his usual excitable chatter "Even now I worry about young Spyro's condition. But to know those wretched, disgusting, evil Remnant have invaded our city and hurting our citizens. They must pay for these atrocities they have committed!"

Terrador slouched to his left as Flame shared the same indifferent glance as the electric guardian rambled on. Phalera cheeks lit up in red brightening up her orange scales embarrassed by her mentor's act despite her concern for her friends as Volteer looked around aimlessly "It is flabbergasting! All this time the dark remnant was the ones sowing this chaos, destroying our precious crystals, hurting our youngsters. Our searches in the city will expedite at once now that I have returned. What of Cyril? Has he returned with the success of our task?"

"Volteer?" yelled Terrador, immediately capturing the guardians' attention.

"Wha… oh, yes, old friend?" Volteer asked so innocently, acting unaware of his usual antics.

"Spyro is fine! He made a quick recovery. Much quickly I might add," added Terrador, expressing his surprise at the end.

Phalera released a sigh of relief hearing those words, placing a paw against his chest for comfort as Volteer beamed up, "That is marvellous. For a dragon of his age to recover from the injuries you described so quickly is remarkable. That young dragon never fails at amazing me."

"Thank goodness! I was so worried about him," Phalera sighed, expressing her reassurance to Spyros' condition as she folded in her wings.

"I'm fine too, Phalera. Just in case you were worried," Flame jumped in. Puffing his cheeks, telling off the orange female for not noticing him.

"I know your fine Flame! Your standing in front of me you drake!" Phalera yelled springing her wings out in a frenzy jumping the fire dragon out of his scales. He held a paw up near his chest from that little scare before he wrapped his tail around his hinds and rubbed the scales on the back of his head.

"He he… good point. Sorry," Flame blurted, feeling sheepish in front of the guardians.

Phalera rolled her eyes, finding amusement in the red dragons antic with a smile growing on her. She walked up and nuzzled the side of his face and consoled, "Flame, I'm glad your okay. I worried about all of you, I didn't know how bad it was."

Flame draped a smile over his faced and returned the friendly gesture for a tad reassured by his fellow guardian apprentice wrapping a wing around her before his expression dropped to worry growing across his face "It was bad… They came out of nowhere surrounding us."

Phalera eyes widened, noticing the fear in his voice and pulled away from the fire dragon to look him in the eye. Volteer stood behind the smaller dragons curious to hear "They hurt Spyro bad and split us up trying to pick us off when we couldn't help each other. Cynder held her own pretty well, a tough dragoness she is, but… I was useless! Never have I faced anything like them before."

Phalera watched the fire dragon eye's wander down at the floor as if he was ashamed of himself. "And Spyro, he couldn't protect himself. His injuries were too much, and they eventually overwhelmed him… I couldn't get to him. As the orc and grublins I faced smacked me down a few times and I struggled against them… I faced nothing like that before in my life, I heard… Spyro's scream when they stabbed him and Cynder yelled at me to help Spyro but I couldn't get to him… I."

He hesitated at his words, tilting his snout slightly in every direction. He heaved heavily on his breath stifling the muscles in his body and his eyes trailed pulling himself through the memories of yesterday. Phalera's concerns grew watching the red dragon act the way he did as the guardians watched on before he blurted, "It scared me."

Flame's face dropped, deflated upon his admission. Phalera's maw opened in a silent gasp, shocked to hear him confess such a truth. She gently placed a paw on the fire dragon's front right quad near the shoulder, "Flame, I'd be scared too, I haven't faced a situation like that either. But you did what you had to do and thanks to you and Cynder. Spyro is safe."

The encouraging words caught Flame by surprise, shifting his head up and emitting a quiet puff of air as he came to look upon the deep smile from the female. Terrador leaned his head down near to their level with a proud look upon his digits "Phalera is right Flame! Even when you experienced fear, you didn't hesitate. You met the threat head on and overcame it. All warriors feel fear and there is no shame in that young dragon. In fact, you should be proud of yourself for facing that fear. And most of all… from what Spyro and Cynder told me; You fought bravely."

Flame's heart skipped a beat listening to the words of the elder dragon. He brought his eyes looking upon the proud smile plastered across Terrador's maw. He produced a silent gasp at first before he felt warm inside, overwhelmed yet inspired by the praise from the elderly dragon. His teeth clamped together gently, his cheeks brightened but thankfully for the young dragon his red scales covered the blushing and a smile painted across him as he gratefully answered, "Wow… thanks Terrador."

"I'm serious young dragon. You are very brave for your age and you hide your fear well," Terrador added as he stood straight.

"Hah! That's only because he's a stubborn little drake!" Phalera teased as she landed a playful punch on his quad, spawning a shriek from the future fire guardian tilting himself away.

"Hey!" Flame shouted as he caught himself on his paws glaring at the electric female giggling at his expense. He became dismayed witnessing the elder dragons around him chuckle, producing a frantic glare as he jerked his body round and folded his wings against his flanks in a display of protection, "Just had to ruin the moment for me! Thanks sparkles!"

Phalera puffed an amused sigh, half glaring at Flame from the sass he conveyed to her. Tilting her head in disapproval, she threatened, "Do you want another punch, Flame?"

Flame sharply shook his head, apologising to the dragoness while the guardians and Tegrol watched on, amused by the antics of the young dragons. The sight of such behaviour brought a feeling of positivity to the guardians. Aside from Spyro and Cynder, they never saw these acts of innocence often in the first year after the war. Goofing and joking around friendly was something they almost forgot passing through their centuries of war.

Terrador snapped his thoughts away, looking over towards the horizon of the Tranquil forest in the distance. Focusing his mind on that burning sensation, filling the winds with dread, reminding the guardian of what's coming. He curled his lips, displeased such a pleasant moment would come to its end.

"It's time! I need to join Pyrus at the gathering. Flame, you come with me. Volteer! Tegrol will take you to the crystal to examine. Being your area of expertise," Terrador commanded, barking his orders to the dragons surrounding him as he turned to the edge of the plateau.

"I'm curious about its design," confessed Volteer. He whipped his body around facing Tegrol "If it's description in Terrador's message is accurate, there are not any I have seen in nature related to it. This will be a fascinating examination. Phalera! You come too. This will be an exquisite opportunity for you."

"Yes, Master!" Phalera acknowledged bowing her head complying with her mentor and stepped over beside him.

"We stored the mysterious crystal in the temple vault, Volteer sir. we believed it best stored away from the reach of anyone until we know more about its purpose," explained Tegrol twisting a paw forward offering the way for the electric dragon to accompany him as the three dragons walked off the plateau towards the corridor passing under the archway.

"Good. Until we know what we are dealing with, better it kept that way. And if we discover anymore, we treat them the same," Volteer concurred before expressing his order to the smoky shadow dragon as Phalera followed by.

Terrador and Flame watched the trio leave with a certain interest. Flame tugged his upper lips and scowled, bobbing his tongue in disgust, "I can't think of anything more boring than wasting your day looking at crystals."

"Hmm… some dragons are like that Flame. They see the bigger picture of curiosity than some of us like to concern ourselves with. So we leave the mysteries for the curious to solve, "Chuckled Terrador, agreeing with the red dragon slightly."

He turned away, looking off the plateau's edge and instructed, "Come! The gathering will start soon."

Flame complied with a nod and spurred himself around, facing the edge as Terrador spread his wings and launched into the air. Flame leaped across to the edge landing his four paws together and made a giant jump into the air throwing his wings out following the guardian.


#


What little light came through the clouds did little to light up the cave for Seraph or the other dragons, but just enough to see what they doing. Seraph stood over fixing his gaze over Xavir as the young ice dragon worked himself bending down on his legs, having placed all four on the stone ground.

"Okay Xavir, try it." Suggested Seraph for Xavir to nod and then face the ground at his paws. Slowly he pushed, trying to straighten his legs and stand himself up. He puffed heavily as jolts of pain screamed into his legs and his joints. Seraph raised an eyelid as he witnessed his legs shaking uncontrollably.

Xavir growled in pain as he pushed himself, barely able to tolerate the pain he was experiencing. He managed another couple of inches before the young blue dragon couldn't take it anymore and he bent his legs, laying back down and heaved through his breaths to relieve himself.

Seraph closed his eyes and forced a silent sigh through his snout, feeling remorse for the young dragon. He stepped over and placed a paw against Xavir's shoulder, "It's okay, Xavir. Your body just hasn't recovered enough yet."

Xavir looked up at Seraph with a pleading glance. He felt upset at the reality of how helpless he felt. He couldn't walk, not even stand, and the reality depressed the ice adolescent. His head dropped closing his eyes "I'm sorry Seraph. I'm too weak."

Seraph's eyes widened in horror at the young dragon, "It's okay, Xavir. You haven't been able to heal yet. Even for us dragons without the access of red gems our natural healing is slow. Don't be ashamed of yourself."

Xavir glanced at Seraph with an ache at his trembling heart. The thought of not being able to move hurt the blue dragon more than the pain did. It crushed him inside as his eyes trailed down in front of him, tugging his lips together. He felt helpless as he laid, useless. But also he quivered in fear of what was happening. Slowly the ice dragon crawled into his thoughts and his breathing quickened.

"Will we make it, sir?" asked Xavir, hinting at the fear in his eyes.

"Yes we will, I'm not resting until we make it back to warfang," maintained Seraph, buffing himself up and displayed an unwavering confidence to the young dragon, "We have made our move and hopefully it will work out. We have too many injuries to force our way through them. I'm still surprised they haven't tried to test us yet. We will get out of this. I promise."

Xavir watched the pickle-green dragon, taking in the strength of words he project, which worked on settling his nerves a tad. He quietly sighed and conceded, "Okay."

Seraph nodded in relief as the young dragon accepted his words as he laid back down on his left flank to relieve what pain he could. Seraph watched content before moving away towards the cavern mouth for an update.

But the blue dragon remained unconvinced as he looked around the cave, seeing the five other dragons laying on the ground or against the cavern wall with heavy injuries. Many being scratches and tears in the scales, some even more with lacerations having bled thankfully sealed up thanks to their natural healing although doing little to subside the damage.

Peering his eyes over to Aresh, observing the huge burning bruise across his flank. The scales black and blotchy from their natural red after being hit by the bolder thrown at him by the troll. Although Aresh had at least three broken ribs after being checked over, he was fortunate it wasn't worse.

The atmosphere felt cold for Seraph. But not in a natural freezing way, but felt wrong. Something was off as he walked over to the cavern mouth. As he would come to find there was no movement painting the fake picture that nothing was out there in the tree line. He stood over near Retrax, the electric yellow dragon maintaining a glaring fixation with the outside as the first to alert of any trouble should he spot anything.

"Still nothing?" questioned Seraph. The poison dragon leaned over near the wall to hide his figure as best he could from the outside.

"No!" Retrax answered, keeping his gaze focused outside the cave, watching for a flicker of movement. "Not since Gnabry made this move. As usual aside from the random ruffle of leaves, not a sound."

"Hopefully it can stay like that a while longer," Seraph admitted.

"Here's hoping," Retrax said. "I'm taking a nice hot bath when we get back to the city. My legs are aching for it."

"Ha… sounds like a good plan there." Seraph chuckled at the yellow dragon's suggestion, "Just gotta wait for now. If were lucky not lo…"

A horror scream suddenly boomed from behind them, cutting off the poison dragon from finishing and jolted in surprise as the cavern shook as they heard a bang straight behind them. Seraph threw his head around, his body tensing up into alert "What the…"

They looked spotting a dark figure emerge out the shadow holding one of the earth dragons in the group by the neck hoisting him in the air. He peered out, revealing to be a powerful, bulky hero orc grasping a spike club in its free hand. Seraph, Retrax and Dargus gasped before taking aggressive stances spreading their wings to threaten the large hero orc cried a roar shaking the entire cavern again.

"How did it get in behind us?! We checked those caves!" Dargus shouted. The green earth-dragon slowly sidestepped away from the cavern mouth towards the right of the enormous dark creature. It tightened its grip on the hurt earth-dragon's neck, screeching a painful howl in reaction as he grasped the orc's hand.

Seraph growled as he took a few steps closer as the hero orc peered between him and Dargus to his right, waiting to see who makes a move first. It led to a standoff as Xavir crawled away, frantic with fear as the creature had its back to him and the other injured dragons and moles panicked at the sight before them.

The hero orc blinked first after watching Dargus continue to take steps to his side and lunged the earth-dragon at him. Dargus gasped as the green dragon slammed into him, throwing them both onto the ground. Seraph hissed baring his teeth, a vein popped out of his neck taking the bait and lunged at the hero orc teeth and claws bared lightening up in energy leaking a messy green glowing power dripping from his claws.

The hero orc ignited its spiky club in a violet power trembling in darkness and roared sharply, striking the ears of the surrounding dragons bursting through the cavern and swung its club in circles around its arm, building up momentum and threw it towards Seraph sliding across upwards from its feet. Seraph swung his claws forwards meeting the club smashing together. Explosive power erupted from the impact in every direction riveting the cave crashing into everyone and everything.


Hey readers, sorry for the delay. This month has been terrible for me, moving things around, changing rooms, spending a week ill, finding myself busy, it has been a hectic time we have been in but I appreciate everyone's patience as always. I know I can't be the easiest of authors sometimes.

We are approaching the end of the beginning of this new saga. Finally, I might add, considering how long it has taken to get this far. But now that I'm properly set up, I can get it dealt with now.

Anyway mister Cliff-hanger has returned. Enjoy Hehehe.

Also I'm sure many have noticed but I have put up a poll regarding my future in the saga of Spyro I'm putting together. Please If you haven't already cast a vote as it's an important one and if you want to discuss it or suggest something. Don't hesitate to PM and we can go through it more.

Reaction time:

TARDIS1039: Hey haven't seen you in a while. Glad your sticking around and enjoying this story. Appreciate it. Will Cynder find out about that very embarrassing convo on poor Spyro. Well we shall see hehe. I hope to not keep you waiting too long for the next update. Thanks a lot.

Void Reader: Well it seems to be going in that direction doesn't. Everyone will find out soon.

Az0tAc: Yes it all seems building up. But yeah glad you enjoyed the SxC moment, it was difficult to put into words without repeating so glad your enjoyed it and to more in the future.

RioLoverBardenBellaForLife: Wow you didn't hold back on your love for Spyro and Cynder haha. Love to see my Spyro fanboy at his best enjoying some Spyro. I had a feeling this would be your favourite chapter when you read it and you didn't disappoint once haha. Hope you enjoyed this one too.

Kraft58: I get that, sometimes long chapters can be difficult but I literally couldn't find the endpoint to perfectly end the chapter and went on and on and then I found it at last haha. It's only happened twice so far lol. As for the bold text well. As I mentioned before for foreign language but in future I'm gonna highlight that so to leave no confusion. 8/10 still happy with but hopefully this chapter will better meet your expectations mentor.

Deathman9999: Glad you enjoyed this chapter and this story and I hope you enjoy this one. Thanks.