Chapter 2:A Long Awaited Offer
"We don't have such a Mercenary around here, Hunter. It's just us here…!"Felious insisted that there was only him and his fellow mercenaries of the same race.
"Felious… We know about the black dragon you hold…! She made us aware of his presence,"Hunter argued with the leader of the Alpha's as his crew stood up from their seats,"And after hearing so much about a mysterious large mercenary of black scales in Cheetah town. It was all too obvious."
"He doesn't want anything to do with you or those dragons…! Just leave your gift on the table and leave…!"Felious warned as daggers and curved swords slowly began to get pulled out from their sheaths.
"I can't do that…! Cynder herself wanted this gift to be delivered directly to him,"Hunter explained his reason for being at the guild without so much as a hint of fear,"She returned on her own ten years ago and gave this gift to us for the twin she was at long last able to remember. Though she feared that he had perished within Gaul's lair…!"
Asher sat up and became more serious as he watched the lone warrior and servant of Ignitus. Standing up to Felious all for the simple delivery of an important item from Cynder herself. His interest was piqued, and against the very wishes of Felious, he needed to meet with this, Hunter.
"I'm not defiling her wishes just because you're so protective of your money maker,"The mere mention of that word made Felious head tremble, if not for all the fur, veins could easily be seen,"The guardians figured this would be an issue. Always about money, right?"
"Gentlemen! I think we're about to end the life of a second blabber mouth in one day,"Felious announced before Hunter was gripped at the shoulders by Swifter and the ax wielding large green cat,"Lay him out and let's see how much pelt we can skin from our friend here while he's still kicking!"
Hunter surprised Asher with his sudden reaction timing, he gripped the wrist of Swifter. Twisting up till it broke before high kicking him so hard, Swifter's swords flew out of their sheathes. He then back flipped over the towering green cat and kicked him in the back right into Felious. They crashed through a table as Hunter took out his bow and quickly shot two arrows. Pinning another merc against a wood pillar with arrows stuck in his wrists, he was quick to side roll over the back of another.
Before he then threw a rising knee straight into the gut of his roll platform. Watching him drop to his own knees before his lights got put out by a swift kick to the side of the head. He jumped to dodge an incoming dagger, before taking an arrow out and simply using it like a dagger to ram it through an attacker's paw. Pinning him to the table so he could take a knock out jab to the head. Finally one Alpha was able to pull out his pair of iron studded Caestus, punching Hunter against the bar.
Hunter ignored the numbing pain in the center of his back and kicked a chair towards the iron fisted fighter. He manage to punch the chair into wooden piece, but Hunter was ready for him. As he manage to set up two arrows, and shoot them into the wrists of his close combat combatant. Before running to screaming foe, and drop kicking him clean through a pillar. Leaving him to yell with pain and look at the arrows in his wrists that slowly took feeling out of his paws.
He could barely catch his breath before back stepping to avoid an incoming great sword. It just barely sliced op the chest of his garment, leaving a slam cut in his chest before pulling out a bladed arrow. There he was able to face Felious, as he wielded a might claymore sword. He slowly began to point it at Hunter with a chuckle, though it was mixed in with outrage. For Hunter dared to enter his guild, and make a mess of their celebration, such things never went unpunished.
"You come in here, spoil our party, and make all sorts of messes of our guild,"Felious spat with anger while approaching Hunter with his sword at the ready,"I'm going to skewer you like a fire roasted fish, you wretched vermin!"
"I'll leave once I've given Cynder's gift to her brother, Felious…!"Hunter responded cut and cleanly before stepping out of the path of a thrusting great sword.
Felious got his sword stuck, but quickly yanked it out of the pillar it pierced into. Once he turned to face Hunter, the lone cat already had his arrow aimed straight for Felious. It appeared that they met each other in a stalemate, but there local hawk eyed comrade Leo said otherwise. As Hunter just barely realized a razor sharp arrow touching the back of his head, compliments of Leo. The stalemate turned into an advantage for Felious, as Leo readied to execute Hunter right on the spot.
"You forget… You're not the only top archer around the valley of Avalar, Hunter…!"Leo reminded his pinched in target as Felious approached the both of them.
"That's it, Leo…! Hold him still so I can claim that head of his!"Felious ordered before reeling his sword back to lop off the head of Hunter, while Hunter noticed a flashing in Felious's eyes, and a green glow in his front chest pocket.
As common as these things tended to be, this one felt different to Asher. Hunter had something from his sister, and he was willing to just give it to him without so much as a task. As much as he normally just look the other way for situations like this, a higher calling came out of him. As he he quickly stood up and stopped Felious from taking Hunter's head.
"Felious, WAIT!"Asher roared and shot his tail forth to wrap it around both of Felious's paws, causing him to drop his sword and the green glow to fade.
Hunter looked away at first, only to see the claymore drop to the wooden floor. He let out a deep breath, and looked back up to see Felious with his paws bounded up in a scaly tail. The black scaly tail with an end to it that looked much like the blade of a sword, an all too familiar look. Felious and all the others looked to Asher as he stood taller than all the others. Hunter was more than surprised to actually be seeing the dragon in flesh, even when he was heavily covered up.
Leo lowered his bow while Felious was given his paws back from the tail's grip. Hunter shouldered his bow while Felious looked begrudgingly to the merciful dragon. But he then slowly stepped away from Hunter, gripping whatever was in his pocket and allowing him safe passage in silence.
"The guy went out of his way to come from Warfang all the way to the valley just to deliver something to me,"Asher explained the means of showing common courtesy for a brave messenger,"We can at least respect him by leaving the guy to his mission, regardless of our need for secrecy…!"
"Very well…! You got five minutes, Hunter. Then we want you out!"Felious growled and slowly walked away to retrieve his great sword.
"Of course, Felious."Hunter bowed respectfully, while the crew around him began to lower their weapons and their butts into their seats.
With a sigh of relief, Hunter began to approach the dragon as Asher sat back in his seat. Letting his tail curl up and take up most of the room, but Hunter proved to have stunning patience. As he slowly sat down in the little space he had at Asher's table, he took what he could get. While Asher rested his claws at the side of his seat, sighing as he looked back to his merc family. Knowing that they were looking for one chance to tear Hunter limb from limb.
But Asher was thankfully the one in control, and they knew better than to mistrust Asher. The dragon slowly took his black mask off to reveal his face to the brave loner. Before leaning forward to let his green eyes study Hunter, hoping to figure him out as they spoke together.
"The Alpha's don't like it when others go looking for one of their own, especially me,"Asher warned the lone server of the four guardians,"The only reason you haven't been made into a rug is because of whatever gift you have from my sister… So this better be good…!"
"Let start off by saying that… It's beyond a miracle that you are alive and well. All the dragon's would be pleased to know that you're alive,"Hunter decided to start with some respectful talk of great relief that Asher was among them,"Your sister feared the worse before she disappeared with Spyro once more ten years ago…"
"I am aware…! I've been searching for her ever since I started to learn about her as a young dragon,"Asher solemnly admitted his own knowledge, but kept the more personal knowledge to himself,"You yourself aided her and Spyro in defeating Malefor, am I correct?"
"Yes. And they have been the most treasured of friends for all the self sacrificed they gave to my people and this world,"Hunter agreed and put his paws together tightly, showing respect for his friends,"Now it's time I returned the favor for my friends… That is why I was sent out to find you…!"
"Returned the favor… Returned the favor… Is that a fact,"Asher remembered such words that were once spoken by Cynder herself so long ago,"Look… I'll warn you… I'm not meant to step foot anywhere near Warfang. Felious's orders…! And he's not the kind of guy you go and just disobey."
"The three guardians offer you all the information on Cynder, training, and a strong lead to follow in your search for her,"Hunter quickly threw out a sudden bit of glorious information onto the table,"Please… They're eager to meet with you. The mercenaries here can't tell you what you or what you're meant to do…! It's your destiny, not theirs!"
Hunter slapped his paws down on the table, but Asher barely moved from it. He understood Hunter's conviction to the dragons and the respect that they deserved. But Asher was in quite the testy pinch when it came to being in a gang of lethal mercenaries, then again. How could he pass up such an opportunity to finally get a lead on Cynder and maybe even find her after so long. The temptation was so strong, it made his scaly skin crawl and the words of his sister sound off in his head.
"Look…! I would honestly give anything to see my sister alive and well after everything she's been through,"Asher sighed while holding his head that ached from the memory of her screams and cries,"I remember… How she suffered… And slowly fell to darkness…! The screams she uttered…! Egg or no egg, I should have done something regardless of the state I was in!"
"That is in the past now! You can still live for the future, and finally be there for her…!"Hunter insisted upon this offer from Warfang city.
"Why exactly do YOU and these guardians want to know where they are? What could you gain from it?"Asher questioned and tapped his claws on the table.
"We want to help you because Ignitus died hoping to atone for the mistakes he made with Spyro and Cynder. Now that we've learned of you, we wish to honor Ignitus's memory by fixing his final mistake, so that his spirit can rest in peace,"Hunter explained their intentions that was oddly big hearted for such war torn and old dragons,"And we'd hate to disappoint your sister after she worried so much about you. It was Cynder who told us that you were among us in the first place."
As flattering as it was that these guardians were actually doing a heart followed mission to reunite the the siblings. That still offered little leverage to what Asher truly wanted, and what he was willing to give up in hopes of at last, meeting his lost twin. It all went back to his worries about how the rest of the mercenaries would react if he were to disobey Felious, and leave their group.
"Look… What you're asking of me involves throwing away EVERYTHING I grew up and lived for,"Asher gestured to his fellow mercenaries that were willing to care for him when no one else would,"I need to sleep on this… Leave an open invitation or something, and I'll get back to you…!"
"I understand, and we're willing to wait on your decision. But remember… She wanted to find you as well,"Hunter informed before finally standing up and remembering a little something,"Almost forgot…! Can't leave without giving you a gift from Cynder herself…!"
Asher lowered his head and cupped his claws together to think on what they talked about. It all seemed both far fetched and possible, the offer seemed too good to pass up. But he was not one for turning his back on the Alpha's, the decision was already growing heavy on him. And it only got harder once he felt something hard, metallic and shiny get placed into his claws. He looked up a bit, and was hit by a sudden scent, much like his own, but more effeminate.
The source of that scent was a round silver dragon bracelet that looked quite refined. It felt sturdy in his grip, as he pulled it towards him to sniff at it with deep curiosity. He tilted his head and rubbed at the smooth metal bracelet, before he could not help but to nuzzle against it.
"She wore two of that very same bracelet ever since she became Malefor's slave for so long, and even sometime after she was freed,"Hunter explained the bracelet's origins and revealed who's scent he was smelling,"She left one behind for you. She deemed that wearing both meant that she was still shackled to Malefor's will. But with the both of you wearing one, it meant that your shackles were broken, and you both are free…!"
"This was hers… She truly once wore these… What's this?"Asher spotted what looked to be a piece of paper inside the bracelet, and slowly pulled it out.
He unfolded the piece of paper, and he got the best picture he could have hopes for. The photo showed what looked to be two dragon's perched upon a cliff looking out to a new dawn. The purple dragon with the gold goat like horns and the gold rattle snake looking tail was easy to make out. It was the legendary destroyer of Malefor himself, Spyro the purple dragon. But Spyro was a commoner compared to the black dragon that stood next the Spyro, the dragoness he searched for.
The white crown of spikes around her head, just like his own, the same colored scales too. He could even spot her wearing both of the bracelets, just like Hunter said. She had green eyes just like him, but they looked softer, more gentle, more comforting to the innocent. She was beautiful, everything he expected her to be, gentle enough to approach, but still appeared to be strong. He held the photo and the bracelet tighter and shook his head as he took deep breaths to handle his hard beating heart.
"I can't believe this…! It's truly her, I can't believe tha-"Asher started out before looking up to see that Hunter was gone.
"He took off while you marveled over your sister's momentum. That's quite a gift,"Felious called to Asher as he slowly sipped some of his ale and sighed,"He offered me a thousand to let you go. But I turned it down… You don't need them…! You can find your sister without them."
"How would you know that? Do you forget how long I've tried searching for her,"Asher questioned Felious's awareness of his own wishes while Felious downed his ale,"Now I have a solid chance to finally find her, and you're really going to stand in the way?"
"That's right, I am…! I'm just looking out for you. For the family you got here."Felious stood up and slowly approached Asher a bit tipsy while gripping what was in his pocket tight.
"What about the family I also have out there? The family I was desperate to search for?"Asher questioned as he stood up strong as Felious grumbled and shook his head.
"That dragon didn't diaper your skinny hide…! She didn't make you into one of the greatest mercs in the realm,"Felious began raising his voice and ranting about what the Alpha's did for him as his eyes faintly glimmered with green again,"What did she give you?! Nothing! That's right, NOTHING! Just an obsession that gives you headaches!"
"We agreed that I could search for her!"Asher argued right back as him and Felious surprised the crew by actually fighting.
"So long as you never go near Warfang! I don't care how old you are, and I don't care that they know of you,"Felious did his best to stand tall against the dragon regardless of the size difference,"So long as I draw breath, you are not to go near Warfang!"
"And what are you going to do, if I choose to go any way?"Asher decided to challenge Felious, as a young dragon he never had the guts to do so, but now he was different.
"Don't you even go there, Asher. You know what happens when you try to defy me-"Felious slurred and raised a fist, only for his fist to get lost in the large left claws of Asher.
Quickly, half of the Alphas burst out of their chairs and tried to intervene with words. Simple please and exclaims of concern along with a whole mother load of whoas. While Felious struggled to free himself from Asher's grip, but thanks to the muscles that suddenly bulked immensely in Asher's left arm. The abnormal strength he possessed was in use, and it created a vice grip. There was no escaping from it once Asher had him, he shook his head and tried to resist the dragon.
"That stuff may have worked in the past, but you can never hope to control a thing like me,"Asher warned as he lifted Felious up to the point that his feet barely dangled off the ground,"We made a deal, I can search for her at any cost, and do whatever it takes. No matter what I must do, and that involves breaking the rules…!"
"Asher, let him go! Come on now, we don't need to turn this night sour!"Swifter tried to be the voice of reason between the two as others tried to pry Asher off Felious.
"So I'm gonna do whatever it takes…! Whatever the cost…! You can kick and moan all you want,"Asher continued on as Alphas dangled off his bulked up arm,"But I will find her! With or without your help or your permission!"
"Please…! Just…think about this…! Don't…turn your back on the family that raised you…!"Felious growled as he finally got lowered back onto his feet, while he finally took his paw out of his pocket.
"Asher…! Let him go."Leo stepped in to reason with the dragon, and the dragon finally relented the moment he deemed Felious calm and collected.
With a small huff, Asher released Felious and and quickly downed his hot tea. Before he then took out a key from his red long coat and twirled it around his index claw. He decided that he had enough for the day, and the time had come to hit the hay and juggle around his thoughts. Leaving a half drunk Felious to come to terms with what just went down between him and the dragon. His authority was just challenged, and the black dragon proved to be more than he could handle.
Asher slowly put the bracelet and the picture in his front pocket for safe keeping. As he turned in for that night, it was spent in a room with the biggest bed they could find for a dragon. He laid there, looking deep into the photo as moonlight reflect off it, giving him a good look at her eyes. The things they may have seen, the dark things she experienced from within. What were those eyes going to have within them once he got to see them personally?
Slowly, he put the photo into the bracelet and brushed his cheek against it. Taking in the scent of his lost twin, wishing he could see her and embrace her after their dark past. He needed to know and see that she was safe, that she was truly under the watch of Spyro the legend. His claws graced ever so gently against the metal of the bracelet, its idea of symbolizing freedom. It did give him a bit of trust in it, and he decided to take this bracelet up for what it was worth.
He put it over his right wrist and hooked it in to respect what Cynder wanted it to stand for. He let it gleam off the moonlight as he then turned to the window and watch the stars twinkle. As he began to slowly close his eyes to the night, and slowly let himself slumber in peace. Allowing the dreams to settle in, the dreams that reminded him of what he witnessed as an egg. The screams, the apes howling, the dark words whispered through the cave, and the gentle words she spoke to him.
"I'll always love you…!"Her voice echoed in his head as he slept through the dreams and into a new day.
That new day began early for him, for he was greeted with toast and a small job. One that he would only need one comrade for, and he would merely need that comrade as a look out. For this was a peculiar pathetic but warm blooded task, it meant a bit of gold and teaching an unfaithful wife about cheating. As Asher casually walked through the town in full gear and concealment. While his big green cat with the ax was at his side, Thoranos was his name, and axing people questions was his game.
Tallest of all the other mercs, and just made it to Asher's chest length, that was impressive. He was more of an action guy rather than a clean up artist after a simple but messy mission. But he was more than willing to do anything that kept tensions low after what happened last night. Thankfully, Felious turned out to barely remember a thing from last night. He tended to go heavy on the ale after late hours, and he never handled it well, memory failed him all the time during hang overs.
None of the others bothered to remind Felious of what happened that night. Fighting among themselves was not to be condoned or allowed, even if it's their own leader with a problem. That brought some mild relief to the dragon, and he was able to enjoy some toast with Thoranos. As they walked casually through Avalar town, searching for the unfaithful spouse. This gave Asher a chance to think over the offer Hunter gave him, but whether he could trust Thoranos or not remained to be seen.
"So! You go from hunting down some magical nature loving hermit to punishing a shrew,"Thoranos decided to go on a rant on the simple and menial task they were on,"Why the heck am I here?! I could be off with the Guild's servers or smashing in some would be tough guy's head!"
"Maybe this is a good lesson to you about the women you get with."Asher replied and nudged two kids out of the way before unwrapping a sash full of the target's scent from his shoulder.
"Right… Because any one of these tiny pussycats could teach me a lesson about being a lover of many!"Thoranos laughed at the notion out loud to intimidate any one who dared to be brave.
"Really? And what if it was me they hired? Then what?"Asher asked as Thoranos quickly went from laughing to playfully chuckling.
"That's funny right there, boy…! I just want this to be over with…!"The big green cat chuckled it off to not picture the idea of duking it out with the dragon for his misdeeds.
"I know…! I'm…surprised that none of you snitched about what happened last night to Felious,"Asher admitted as he sniffed the sash and got the scent he needed,"I expected him to be slamming on my door and hollering for an explanation last night."
"It wasn't worth ruining the mood and a bright and shining day for all of us,"Thoranos explained their reason for not telling the boss last night about the quarrel,"You need to be careful when talking about going to Warfang and denying everything Felious has taught you. Never forget who your REAL family is…!"
"I haven't… Her screams of pain never left my mind. So how could I?"Asher informed before stopping Thoranos, for he spotted the target.
"I was talking about us you-"Thoranos was shushed by Asher before he could rant about Asher only thinking about his biological family.
"There she is…! Lorenia, dirty little shrew. Touching up on Prowlus's guards,"Asher pointed out the female cat in the white gown talking and getting touchy with a guard outside Prowlus's home,"Funny thing. She hired me to teach her husband about cheating on her. I Bashed his skull in only to find out that he was just seeing his sister at the doctor's place after she lost her eye sight. Left a couple gold pieces on his step as an apology."
"Let me guess… He's the one who hired you for the job?"Thoranos asked with a snicker while Asher simply nodded.
"Poor guy is caring for his sister at home and his wife is screwing around after she accused him of being unfaithful,"Asher explained before slowly walking out into the center of town and began to make his approach,"This is what one would call irony, sweet and succulent irony!"
Thoranos stepped out and kept an eye out for any signs of white knightish type guys. Ones that regardless of another's sins or wrong doings would aid them because of a petite principle or because of the offender's gender. But that was not going to be the case here, almost no body dared to challenge the Alpha's. So Asher seemed to be in the clear as he stomped towards the woman. The guard she was just then starting to kiss all over each other, he never even noticed the approaching mercenary in time.
"I thank you for giving me this break from my lousy husband...! Private...!"The lady admitted while kissing at his cheeks while his paws got to explore her a bit.
"Dang... Your husband doesn't know what he has...! What got you two so distant?"The guard pretended to care so he could continue receiving a lady's touch.
"He finds his needy sister more important than me. ME! The woman he's meant to love and care for in this new world...!"The frisky cat spat insults about her husband's compassion for family rather than just her.
"Guess you just gotta sacrifice some things for the women you love, huh? I might be able to help you there...!"The guard offered with a chuckle before they were practically using the wall for their hanky panky.
"Oh I know you can...! You already are...!"She purred while trying to remove the armor on the guard, only for the private to finally notice the approaching mercenary storming over.
"Heads up…! We got company, ma'am!"The guard warned and pushed her aside to draw out his spear.
Asher read his next movements like a book before the thrust of a spear came for him. He simply let it go between the side of his body and his right arm, before clamping it between them. Allowing the dragon to spin a whole three sixty degrees to snap the spear in two, and back fist the guard across the cheek. This got him slammed up against the wall, where Asher then kicked him in the chest. Forcing him through the wall and into a family's home, guards were all too easy.
Slowly the dragon looked to Asher, as he slowly turned to show off his infamous black mask. She dared to make a run for it, but Asher's tail was always useful for such kind of runners. She tripped over it instantly, and once she face planted to the dirt, his foot was immediately on her back. Grinding her body into the dirt as he bent down to the side of her head.
"Whatever it was, I didn't do it! I swear, I had nothing to do with whatever it was tha-"She felt a claw dig into her back before she could go on a cowards tale of circumstance.
"So…! I recall skull stomping your husband's head in a couple months back because you thought he was being unfaithful,"Asher explained as his toe claw dug into her back and got her screaming for mercy,"Now we know who the real unfaithful one was…! The one who cried wolf turned out to BE the wolf…!"
"My husband put you up to this didn't he?! Look, I'll pay you whatever my dues are, just don't hurt me!"She begged him not to go through with what needed to be done to cheating spouses.
"Sorry, but I work for the client, not the target…! I told you that the moment you once hired me..."Asher whispered to her and did he deed in the form of several punches.
One punch nailed her in the hip so she could not run or make a quick escape. The second cracked her in the nose and broke, a signature blow of punishment to rattle up the offenders. A third went to the side of her head to knock her out cold, this at least allowed her to be out cold. And not feel the punch that put a crack in the back of her skull, Asher then appeared to be done as he slowly stood up. But then he decided to give her a good kick to the stomach, just to leave her a stinging surprise once she awoke.
He gripped his claws tightly and looked at them after they had done their jobs. He began to walk away, but a quick glimpse of his claws allowed him to see the bracelet on his wrist. He then gently brushed the other set of claws against it, and his obsession came pouring back in. He stayed nice and quiet as he rubbed at the bracelet, before he then returned to Thoranos. Who just looked at the lady he punished, and shook his head at what Asher seemed more distracted on.
"She gets the message. So at the very least, they'll squash their issues or they'll move on,"Asher made the end of the issue short and clean for Thoranos to understand,"I certainly would move on for my sister. Especially if she's blind."
"Right… So…that's that, right?"Thoranos was unfortunately not the most fast minded fella in the world, but he tries his best.
"Yeah… Now let's move on before I start thinking of Warfang again."Asher griped and lightly punched Thoranos in the shoulder as he began walking away.
"Whatever you say, Asher…! Whatever you say."Thoranos agreed, but was now growing a bit more uncomfortable about Asher's thoughts.
For it was starting to look like these ideas of leaving the group for Warfang were not going to leave. And Asher may very well choose to leave them after all that they had done together. If this were to happen, Felious would not be pleased, for he was merc that did not like to lose things, or feel abandoned or betrayed.
And currently, Felious was dealing with his own struggles, and it wasn't just the hang over that turned his head into a drum. But he was getting some comfort from the very gem he was given that night during the celebration, it whispered encouraging somethings into his ears. It glittered with green magic as he sighed and marveled in it, rubbing his right temple with his free paw to endure the headache. And it became the ultimate distraction from the light rays of green magic that flowed from the gem and all around his head.
"He will abandon you...! He will turn his back on all of you! And you will end up with nothing...!"Suddenly the voice murmured strange and darker things to Felious as he twiddled the gem in his furry fingers.
"No...! Asher will not...! He's our boy...! No one will have him. He's mine...!"Felious growled at the gem as his eyes glimmered with green light of unsettling enchantments.
"We will see...! Once he decides to leave...! What will you do then?"The voice instigated the weakened mind of the leader.
This lead Felious to feel some dark thoughts he never thought possible, but they had a strange merit to him. Thoughts that warned him and made him defensive against the thought of betrayal and abandonment, something he was already paranoid about. And it would only get worse the moment Asher and Thoranos finally returned from their minor job.
So, what would you guys choose to do given the circumstance? Stick to the family that raised you or find the one piece of real family that once saved your life? Decisions, decisions, they can be difficult to make, but adventures and stories begin with choice. And next time, Asher has to make one. Stay awesome every one.