I slept well even though I was on a cold hard floor. I woke up a little stiff though. I scrunch my eyes tighter together and stretch out my legs while I'm laying on my side and let out a good yawn. I groggily stand up with my eyes still close while I try and wet my mouth.

Then I bumped into something.

I bring a paw to my face and try to wipe the sleep out of my eyes. Then I tried to figure out what I ran into, but when my eyes got into focus I found two very angry faces looking at me.

"Ahhh!" I jump back and stumble on my own tail and land on my back.

They both walk up to me and reach a paw, they grab a horn each and pull my face up to theirs, then they both yell, "What the HELL were you thinking!!!"

Downcast, I reply,"I wasn't, I'm sorry"

Cynder pulls me more toward her, "Damn straight you weren't thinking!"

Spyro yanked me toward him, "you could have been killed pulling something reckless like that!"

"I...I know…" I whimpered.

They both looked at me flabbergasted, then they let go of my horns and hugged me.

Cynder dug in her claws a bit, "don't do that to us… not to me. I'm tired of losing people"

"So am I…"

I sigh and wrap them both up in a hug, "don't worry guys, I don't plan on letting myself die anytime soon."

"Good. And since that's settled. Let's go home."

"I can't yet Spyro."

Cynder dug her claws in again, "and why not!?"

"You sure do like talking with your claws, but to answer your question. I wanted to pick up a new addition to my garden since I'm all the way out here."

They pulled back from me and Spyro cocked his head, "oh? What are you trying to find then? I might know where it is."

"I'm trying to find some moon ivy, do you know where I might find some?"

"I do know one grotto that had them, but they were dying out the last time I was there."

"Well let's stop moping around, i don't want to keep the trend going"

I run to the balcony and take off into the air and wait for Spyro and Cynder to follow.

They both just give each other a concerned look and follow me into the air.

It doesn't take long to get to the grotto that Spyro was talking about. It was actually quite close. The grotto itself was well hidden though, we had to go through a wall of vines to get into it.

When we got in however, I was speechless. I expected a dark cave with a hole in the ceiling for a light source, but what we saw was a ceiling of crystal that reflected the little bit of light that got in, into much more. There were veins of glowing crystal in the walls and several different rock formations that made it look like a garden of sculptures. The same could be said for the variety of different plants present too. It seemed like all of the best things that the swamp had to offer was there.

I couldn't help but be mesmerized by it, "This place is amazing Spyro, how did you find a place like this?"

"Me and Sparks found it when we were really young, it was our secret little hideaway." He cracked a small smile at the memory.

"Those," He pointed over to the rock formations, "I had actually made them while I was here."

I did a double take, "Wait! You made those!?"

"I know, it's nothing special, but I was young and I thought if I could use my claws that I could contribute."

"Oh, I meant that it was impressive. The amount of time and energy you put into these is amazing and the talent is apparent. I mean, you didn't have your elements at the time. That means these were way harder to make then the ones you can make now by just tapping on a hunk of rock and using your earth magic."

Spyro had a proud grin from the praise, but Cynder on the other paw, was still quiet upset and didn't like the lollygagging. At the moment I don't care if I'm in the dog house, I deserve it. I just want to get this plant and go home without this trip being an entire waste.

"So where is it Spyro?"

"I'm looking, give me a minute."

He goes to several spots along the wall looking for the vines I wanted and was looking more and more disappointed each time he moved to a new spot. Until finally he got to what I'm assuming is the last place he had in mind. He gets a little excited but it dies pretty quickly.

"Sam, I found a piece, but it's practically dead at this point."

I trot over to Spyro and take a look. He's right, it's barely a snippet and it looks like it's getting ready to die, but it's still green.

"I think I can save it."

"I don't know Sam, you're going to have to uproot it and take it all the way back to Warfang. I don't think it'll survive the trip, let alone a transplant."

I just roll my eyes a bit. "Did you forget that I can use nature magic?"

Then Cynder snaps, "did you forget that you drained yourself of magic!?"

"I just need to find a gem cluster before we leave, that's all"

Spyro shakes his head, "the apes made sure to remove all of the gem clusters from around the temple. We won't find any until we get back on the mainland"

Cynder rolled her eyes, "did you fly or zap across the ocean?"

"I zapped, why?"

Spyro's eyes lit up, "where!?"

"Uhh, it was just a little ways from the coast, why?"

"Then let's go! Grab the plant, hurry!"

I pluck the vine from the wall and follow Spyro and Cynder out of the grotto. We take off as soon as we get in the air, Spyro and Cynder take off as fast as they can toward the coast. I can't use my element to speed myself up like normal, but I'm still fast enough to at least keep up with them.

We make it to the spot I zapped to and land. Spyro and Cynder begin to frantically look around the area for something.

"Uh… what are you guys looking for?"

Cynder rears her head, "a gem cluster you twat. Now help us look!"

A gem cluster, but I thought there wasn't any more here…

Then Spyro grabs me from the side and starts pulling toward a set of bushes that lead into a line of trees. When we pushed past the bushes and the tree I noticed the gem cluster, but it was in the middle of a clearing. We were standing in a fairy ring. It was a small clearing but it was a gap in the forest that's for sure.

"What are you waiting for! Get some energy and save that plant before this becomes a waste."

He was right, I quickly went over to the gem cluster and snapped off a sizable chunk. It was a pleasant feeling getting my energy back, but I didn't relish in it, I need to get this plant stable. I immediately redirected the energy I just got into keeping this plant alive. It didn't take much, but I did find out what was actually killing it.

"Heh, looks like this little guy had some little competition."

Spyro gave me a funny look, "what do you mean?"

"There was a bacteria on it that was leaching its energy, but guess what kills the bacteria?"

"Dragons."

"Exactly, that's why the species was on the decline when all the dragons left."

"I kinda figured as much myself, the forest has changed since the last time I was here. It seems drained."

"Maybe dragons are more connected to the world than we think."

We left relatively soon after that, but the flight back was tense. Neither of them really wanted to talk to me. Both knew what I was feeling, but they were both still mad. They were glad I was ok and coming home, but that didn't change the fact that I left in the first place. I knew this. I'll have to mend my mistakes now. I'm ok with that though. What I wasn't ready for was Lumus' reaction.

"I'm glad you're back!" Now that reaction can be normal, what wasn't normal was the fact that she was squeezing me as tight as she could in a hug.

She pulled back and glared at me, "ever pull a stunt like that again and I'll personally kick your ass."

I gulp and vigorously nod my head in compliance. She quite literally has me in her grip. Her claws seam especially sharp today

"Good, now that that is out of the way, I'm moving in."

(Literally everyone) "What!?"

"There's no way the Guardians will let you move in with me."

"But I already have permission from them so deal with it. Actually, they wanted Spyro and Cynder to move in as well, but they said that was up to you."

"I mean I don't mind, but what brought all this on?"

All of a sudden Treevus clears his throat in the background, "that actually has to deal with your little excursion. You see, I've been releasing your class early in order for Spyro and Cynder to avoid being ambushed on their way back to their rooms. I thought they told you about it, but judging from your actions the other day I would guess not."

"And I'm sorry about that, are the dragons I injured doing ok?"

"They're fine, they avoided punishment due to the upheavaled state we found them in, I'm assuming the fear instilled in them was your work?"

I hang my head down in shame, "yea..."

"That's also why Lumus will be moving in, she was able to start a connection with Susan and will be able to keep an eye on you anywhere you are. Consider it a probation."

"Yes sir…"

Treevus leans in close to me and whispers in my ear, "now, you are aware that the only reason she got a connection with Susan is because you two have a strong connection, right?"

I blush furiously.

Lumus gets a suspicious look on her face, "Treevus, what did you just tell him?"

"Why don't you tell her Sam?"

I blushed even harder and just kinda stood there awkwardly

"Sam? What did he say?"

I couldn't stand there any more. I just bolted for my room. On my way I could hear both Spyro and Cynder laughing their butts off.

I get into my room and close the door behind me. But that's when everything got really weird. Someone was in my room… and I could smell… it. She had been in my room. And my pillows were moved.

She moved my pillows…..

Sorry about the chapter delay, I just put it on hold for the holidays and forgot where I saved the chapter to.