A change in Path
Had the changing winds been in their favour, they would've been at or at least within view of what little remained of Warfang by now. But an hour had passed and they were still flying. The four dragons struggled through what even water dragons, had they existed, would've called a heavy downpour. The wicked gale also whipped them around like leaves in a breeze. Both these factors also only emphasised how cold they were getting while being thrown around in this insane weather. But regardless they continued on through the ravaging storm; they didn't have a choice. They had wasted enough precious time on the beach hoping for the raging storm to die down, even a little bit would've been fine; it was to no avail. Lastly, they were lost, the relentless winds had blown them north when they should've gone north-east. Pillars of the clouds started creeping around them from cracks in the charred earth below.
"How long until we're there? My wings have gone bloody rigid from how cold it is," Earthena muttered, closing her eyes to the point she could barely see to halt any speeding rain racing into her face and obscuring her view even further than the wind was already enforcing. She was hoping by some miracle the clouds that so tightly sealed the light away would just fade out of existence and embrace her with the gentle touch of sunlight.
"Just hold on in there, Earthena, Warfang cannot be too much further ahead," Charditus reassured, trying to keep the dim spirits of his team up with empty speculations.
Charditus also gave a quick glance at Blizarus. He was shivering like a tremor was forcing it's way through his body. He had always been of the odd type, having a very unusual aversion to the cold. He couldn't have had it when he was born, because he never would've made it through the program, so he must've picked it up somewhere down the line.
Lastly, he gave Volterra a look, and although she wasn't complaining, it was more than obvious she was suffering. They were flying a lot higher than usual; the air wasn't as thick, allowing them to move faster through the blistering storm, but it was at the expense of the little embracive warmth they had before.
Charditus knew they couldn't keep going for much longer. However, not even the simple solution of flying lower would help for the damage had already been done. He turned his attention to the distant ground below, trying to find anything that could provide a source of heat or even just some sheltering trees to get out of the rain. Faint red glowing lines scarred the realm's surface like veins and the thick columns of what he thought were clouds was instead black and ashy smoke rising from the cracks below.
"This must mean we have somehow passed Warfang and instead ended up in the Burnt Lands…It poses a large risk landing here, but we have no other choice. We need to get warm," Charditus thought to himself, concluding this was their only option. They had been so focused on flying through the storm they had completely neglected watching the ground for signs of home. He then got the attention of his friends. "I suggest we land here; below us are pockets of lava that will warm us up. It will also allow us to gain our bearings. Any objections?"
"Let's just blooming land before we fall out of the sky!" Blizarus yelled.
Charditus looked back at the two females. Volterra gazed back in painful silence, wishing inside she could huddle up next to Charditus's warming body, but at the same time ready to continue on through this agony for her team. Earthena, on other hand, returned his gaze with an anticipative stare, indicating for him to hurry up and issue the order already.
"Right, Let's land on the island below. We'll spend a few minutes but that's it. After that we need to get going... Be careful of crosswinds as you drop, they can and will throw your wings inside out."
The squad quickly reduced their height. When they were only a couple of hundred feet in they were greeted by the relieving and blissful warmth of the rising heat.
"Ancestors, thank you for heat vents!" Earthena sighed contently, practically throwing herself over one of the billowing smoke pillars and letting the heavenly heat penetrate the cold and flush it out of her.
"Any longer and you guys would've had to carry me back," Blizarus joked, forgetting his earlier complaints and overall being really glad to feel the wonderful temperature wafting on his underbelly.
A few moments later the group found themselves with their talons planted on the ground. The heat instantly thawing them dry and evaporating any rain foolish enough to fall into the Burnt Lands. The torrential rain and gloomy darkness made it almost impossible to see the ground until they were practically right on top of it. It was only then they realised how sinister this place really was as they shifted their attention to the surrounding world. They were on a tall, charred island that was no wider than forty-feet in diameter and surrounded by a large pool of bubbling lava. It was lined with uneven ridges and overhangs on all sides. From a distance, it looked like a rugged, black cork plugged into a lake of lava to stop it from draining back down to where it once came.
Large blackened trees, burnt to nothing but black spires, stuck out of the ground on the surrounding lands, with scorched branches in the shape of antlers belonging to some hellish looking deer. In the back, in the direction they originally were headed, was the lava leaking volcano that dominated the landscape, looming like a dormant beast over the burnt lands.
"How the hell did we end up at Mount Boyzitbig?" Blizarus was the first to comment, throwing a face of disapproval.
"I don't know, but I don't think we're there. The air here is thicker with ash," Earthena answered.
Volterra unknowingly moved closer to Charditus, tense from the grim surroundings; however, simply being close to one of her friends provided her some comfort, and she hoped in a way her presence did the same for them.
"Charditus, any idea where we are? Charditus...?" Earthena asked, realising he wasn't listening.
He had stepped his way to one end of the platform, gazing intently upon the horizon. Three red, snake-like figures were dancing and gradually getting closer, appearing from the depths of the Burnt Lands.
Earthena noticed Charditus was tensed up, as if ready to strike or flee. She easily recognised this posture as a sign of something suspicious approaching. Earthena walked up behind him, trying to spot what he was eyeing.
"What is it?" Earthena asked
"Please tell me it's something good…" Volterra whispered. She hoped to the Ancestors for once today things would be in their favour. The events of Spyro had scared her badly enough, and these dark, treacherous, unexplored lands creeped her out beyond what she usually had to put up with. The last thing she really wanted now was to fight.
They were approaching fast, and soon enough it became apparent what they were; their bright red colourings and fluid, snake-like movement gave it away. Wyverns! Three to be exact. Upon realizing, Charditus let out a low growl. Tt was too early for them to leave. He twisted and darted back to Volterra and Blizarus. "Earthena, I need you to provide us with cover; we need to be out of sight of those wyverns now."
Earthena nodded, "Got it!" she looked down and dug her talons into the crumbling, burnt soil, and started focusing energy into it.
"A few wyverns. Really?" Blizarus scoffed, unable to believe they were hiding from an enemy they both outnumbered and outclassed in practically every category.
"It won't be a few if we fight them, their calls will attract the attention of more creatures, ones more dangerous than them," Charditus strongly warned, speaking quickly to not waste time. "Volterra, can you use your light vision and estimate how long we have until they arrive?"
"I'll try," she said. She focused her own energy into her eyes until they glowed a yellow hue and a small flash was released. She kept her eyes fixated on the wyverns and waited for the ultraviolet light to reflect back, counting in her head the seconds it took for the light to reach back to her. The strange thing about this light was how slowly it traveled, going even slower than the speed of sound. This made it easier for Volterra to keep track of time. Soon after she felt a tingle touch her scales, the signal she was waiting for. She then did the exact same thing again. This time, the delay between the ultraviolet light waves shorter and from this she could gauge their distance and speed. From those two numbers she could work out how long they had before the wyverns arrived.
"…Erm...two minutes, maybe two and a bit?"
"That gives us about eighty seconds to prepare until we're in spotting distance. Keep me updated. How is it coming along Earthena?" Charditus ordered.
"Not good, the earth here is dead. I'm struggling to connect with it," Earthena grunted, not turning her attention away from the cooled earth.
Charditus scanned his options. He needed to buy Earthena some time.
"Blizarus, are you ready for action?" Charditus asked, looking at his comrade expectantly.
"As always," he eagerly replied, hoping this meant what it usually did. He puffed out his chest to make himself appear bigger and stronger.
"Good, I need you to go and distract them, and buy us some time. But do not engage in a fight. When we signal use your frost mist and get back here."
"Not fight? You're kidding me..." His ego flatlined and his posture slumped, having his hopes raised and then flattened in the space of a few seconds.
"Just do it!" Charditus howled, getting more agitated by the second.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but we have about a minute…" Volterra mentioned.
"Fine. I'm going," Blizarus said grudgingly. The white dragon sprinted forward before taking off and directly aiming for the wyverns. He was admittedly going to completely ignore Charditus's warning and slay the wyverns, but Earthena's talk rung through his mind. "Maybe I should prove him I can be trusted...plus, he usually isn't this rattled about some stupid wyverns unless there's something worse out here…" He decided this once to do as told and not tear those poor wyverns apart. Instead, just distract them long enough for Charditus to give a signal and for him to release his surprise. Secretly though he was eagerly awaiting the moment when he could see the dumbfounded expressions of the wyverns when he realises his elusive weapon…
Upon spotting the white male flying towards them, the wyverns eagerly shrieked, hastening their disgusting squirming movements through the skies towards him.
"Come and get me you ugly sons-of-bitches!" He yelled at the top of his lungs and streaked right through them and continued. The taunting worked; the wyverns too twisted their flat bodies around and continued their crazed pursuit after the aggravating dragon.
Meanwhile, Charditus watched from the distance. "Okay, you're doing good Blizarus. We just need Earthena to hurry up," he thought, turning his gaze back at her for a few vital, quick seconds. What would usually take seconds was taking forever.
"I don't mean to add to our woes, but they are gaining on him," Volterra mentioned.
"Can you please hurry up, Earthena?" Charditus asked impatiently.
"I'm trying, but as I said, the earth is dead!" she snapped back. She had only managed to raise a few small lumps in the ground in front of her.
"Just hurry, I'm going to help Blizarus. Volterra, I need you to keep an eye out in case of any more arrive," he said, panic inching into his voice with each passing second.
"I'll try, but I'm not sure how many more times I can use my ability," Volterra said back.
"Why are you so worked up though Charditus? It's only a few wyverns, even if they call more of their buddies, we can handle it," Earthena argued, finally giving up her efforts.
"It isn't the wyverns I'm worried about. It's what they will alert if they find us. There's something else-" Charditus didn't get a chance to finish as an ear-splitting screech vibrated the air and pierced the minds of the three young dragons. Even the wyverns and Blizarus came to a stop to listen. They all sharply turned their heads towards the new disturbance - a 'big' disturbance.
An awkward silence followed, as everyone waited for the monstrosity to make its presence known…
A dark-brown hand with two long fingers, a thumb and dark blue veins breached the lava and clasped firmly onto the edge of the island that the three dragons were standing on, followed by another. The thin overhang broke off, crumbling into the sizzling orange lava but the hands held firm. The head of the creature rose, like a monster of nightmares, cold, blue eyes and a diamond tongue glowing as the creature towered over them.
The wyverns squealed in delight as their master has arrived, and in their frenzied state took off after the white drake once more.
"Oh crap!" Blizarus thought to himself as he zoomed off.
"Crap... Volterra! Earthena! Fly! Go!" Charditus screamed, running in the opposite direction as fast as his panicking legs would carry him. However, the golem had other plans for them, it raised its huge arm and slammed it in front of them, causing them to come an alarmed halt.
"There's no way we can get out of this like this together," Charditus thought desperately. "Volterra! Earthena! Keep going!" Charditus yelled, charging at the creature. The golem focused it's cold eyes on him and raised its hulking arm back up.
Both dragonesses stared at their leader in madness. "What are you doing, Char?!" Volterra screamed back, fearing for her friend.
"Distracting it. Now get moving!" he yelled back, pushing his wings to the side to evade the snapping maw of the beast.
Volterra was about to turn back and aid him, but Earthena grabbed Volterra's paw and stared into her anguished eyes. "He knows what he is doing. Let's just do what he says," she said firmly.
Volterra paused for a second to look into her truthful eyes and nodded. Both dragons began running again, taking to the sweltering air when they reached the edge of the singed plateau.
Charditus leapt onto the golem's hand that slammed down into the ground beside him. The huge beast threw its hand up to shake the annoying flea off, but the red drake immediately leapt for its face. His irrational efforts though were crushed when the Golem's other stony hand grasped him in a squeezing, suffocating grip.
"Charditus!" Volterra screamed upon seeing him caught.. She felt helplessly lost being unable to do anything.
Charditus though predicted this; in fact, he'd hoped for it. He was waiting for the golem to lull itself into a false sense of security. "Right, come on, don't fail me now..." he thought hard to himself. He calmly closed off his mind from all sounds and distractions as a fiery rage begun building up within him, and just as the Golem was about to pound him with its other huge fist, Charditus unleashed his fury. It enveloped himself and the golem's hand and face in a blazing inferno, burning brighter than any destructive lava. The creature wailed in pain as it pulled its face away, still caught alight like a bonfire. The shear intense brightness scorched its eye into temporary blindness. It threw Charditus away as it clutched both hands over its seared eye. It left itself dangerously off balance as its needle-like legs slipped from their imbedded ledges, causing the creature to tumble down in a cascade of cindered rocks, back down to the sweltering magma below.
Charditus was panting heavily, but still had the energy to fly away, back to his astonished friends. Earthena looked on in awe and wonder while Volterra whooped in the air with joy before giving her leader a rather substantial hug.
"That was awesome, Chard! Was that a fury?!" Earthena asked amazed.
"It was, but now is not the time to celebrate. Blizarus still needs us," Charditus ordered, still aware he was getting wolfed down by the harrowing wyverns.
"On it! Can't let you have all the glory," Earthena called out, chasing after the now distant Blizarus and wyverns. The sight of such pure power had fuelled the dragons with energy and the courage to fight.
Blizarus paid no heed or mind to the battle that had just occurred. He was having enough problems avoiding the damnable beasts now snapping at his heels and firing off the occasional random echo blast. He decided he couldn't prolong it any longer; he had to use his ability.
His body glowed a light blue, and moments later geysers of frost expelled from his body, completely covering him and the wyverns in this thick layer of cold particles and hiding them from view. Blizarus bolted from the frost cloud as the wyverns struggled to find make sense of this strange manoeuvre. However, one of the wyverns was quick to figure out and escape the snowy cage, and was hot on his cold tail once more.
"Grr, these guys are hard to shake,"he muttered.
The wyvern in pursuit had just lined itself up, a wicked grin formed on its ugly features. It was about expel some more echo blasts. But just as it opened its hideous mouth, it was interrupted as an earth-encrusted armoured Earthena smashed into its side. She broke its small rib bones with ease and knocked it dead; it fell back to the earth like a leaf.
"Dammit, why is your ability so much better than mine?" Blizarus mentioned as he came to a halt.
"Because I'm more awesome. Now move it," Earthena shot back, losing her grip on her power as the chunks of rocky armor slipped off her body and fell downwards.
Blizarus didn't even reply, instead he went alongside Earthena, joining the tired but still patient Charditus and Volterra.
"Now that that's sorted, we can we get going. It's not fun when you aren't given a chance to fight back," Blizarus muttered.
"I agree, Blizarus. It's best we don't stick around in case any more come to investigate...or worse…" Charditus replied.
They headed on with plans of leaving the Burnt Lands behind them. The other two wyverns just hovered in the air, hesitant in chasing now after witnessing the pathetic downfall of their friend.
When they rose out of the reach of the wyverns, they found the storm had ceased, as the familiar sight of purple lightning returned along with its unmistakable crackle. But just as the Burnt Lands are, the weather too is unpredictable and hides many surprises. For now, however, they were safe.
They were flying swiftly away from that horrid place.
"What the hell was that thing, Charditus? And how did you know it was there?" Earthena narrowed her eyes, and pointed an accusing talon at him.
"That thing you saw was a golem. Another of Malefor's creations, and perhaps the most dangerous kind. I had heard about that particular blue one from some of the locals in Warfang. They told me how since the fire barrier had dropped, they had been on an expedition to the Burnt Lands to discover what riches hid in its depths, but ultimately found that creature," Charditus explained.
"Hold on, the Burnt Lands!? You mean we had just touched down in the Burnt lands, and faced off against a golem?! You know Master Umbrafor specifically said for us not to go there of all places and that's probably why!" Earthena said. Normally, something like this wouldn't have bothered her, they had their fair share of surprises in the past. But one thing she did take seriously was Umbrafor's threats; it was possibly scarier than the methods they had been subjected to achieve the level of combat they were known for.
"I know that, but we didn't have a choice. We weren't going to make it in that cold unless we touched down," Charditus tried to counter.
"But you know he's going to chew us up for going there, and that will only give the other two teams another reason to mock us! This whole bloody trip has been nothing but a disaster."
"Let me deal with Umbrafor, it is my fault for putting us in that peril. So, it's only fair I bear the consequences," Charditus admitted. He sighed to himself; it was hard trying to balance what was necessary to remain safe with trying to keep your team happy, sometimes even impossible and arguments would always happen. However, it was burden always thrown upon him as leader, and there was nothing he could do to change that fact...
"Well at least you're taking responsibility for your actions. Now, excuse me, I need time to mentally prepare myself for the punishment to come," Earthena grumbled. She tipped her wings slightly to one side to put some distance between herself and the group. Charditus also separated himself from them, feeling at that moment that his presence would be better far away.
Volterra took this as a sign to try and soothe the unsettled leader.
"You know this isn't all your fault, you took my advice and gave everyone time to object before making a decision. So, it's my fault really..."
"Nothing here is your fault, Volterra. Though, I do appreciate your attempts." Charditus exhaled.
"Just remember that we're a team, and teams sticks together. You taught me that a long time ago." She gave an affectionate, reassuring smile.
Despite all that had happened, this thoughtful gesture brought relief to him.
At that time though, Earthena was watching. Seeing the tiredness and regret on his face made her feel slightly bad for snapping at him. Though, the sight of them together did remind her she needed to ask Charditus something.
She let out a sigh. "I can't be angry at him, not when he constantly puts himself ahead of others. Which reminds me, I need to ask him…" she thought to herself. She closed the distance between them.
"Hey, Charditus, I need to speak to you again, a different topic though."
"Of course, Earthena. I'm listening."
"Sorry, Volterra, this concerns just the two of us. Why not go talk to Blizarus?" Earthena tried saying without offence.
"Okay, talk to you later, Chard?" Volterra asked.
"Definitely."
Volterra nodded, and gently glided downwards to where Blizarus was still casually flying, oblivious to the world.
"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Charditus asked. Despite his bluntness, he didn't hold anything against her from their prior discussion.
Earthena gave one more glance downwards to make sure the other two weren't listening. "Okay, is there something going on between you two?" she asked suspiciously.
Charditus immediately knew what she was referring to, but would not be dissuaded from that path.
"Depends on what you mean? As teammates, we were strengthening our trust and helping her overcome her nervousness," Charditus said.
"Don't play stupid with me, Chard. Now, straight answer please: yes or no. Is there something going on between you two?"
"It depends on what you will say afterwards." Charditus turned his head, and looked at her in a disapproving way.
"Oh no, no, no…!" Earthena groaned; she expected this but prayed to ancestors she was wrong. "You know what Umbrafor said about relationships; he won't approve one bit! Ancestors...it's literally one thing after another today…"
"He won't approve if you mention anything!" he suddenly snapped back, forcing Earthena to shut up. However his rant was only beginning. "Earthena, I am going to be honest with you. I'm tired of all this, tired of having my life being dictated for me. Every time you and Blizarus complain about Umbrafor and our lives in general, it only reminds me of the misery I'm constantly put through as well…" Charditus said in anguish. He shook his head, a look of anger in his eye.
"Are you saying you've had enough of us?" Earthena asked, slightly surprised and offended by his reaction.
"Of course not, you three are not just my team - you're my best friends, and I would trade the world to have you by my side. But I look at other dragons, and all I see is a childhood we should've had. A childhood of freedom and joy, not twelve years of pain. I've just had enough of constantly fighting each day just to stay alive. I just want to be a free dragon, to be able to travel the world with my friends, and live my life the way I want to, with you three..." Charditus finally let all his bottled up emotions go, for him it was more than just tiring to have to carry that weight, along with all his other many responsibilities. But to let it be heard by another friend, it felt necessary and almost relieving.
Earthena was about to argue back, but found her mind had drawn a blank; every argument she could've made, would've only ended up with her lying to herself. She only sighed in sadness, realising how Charditus practically summed up all she wanted in a few sentences and how much she truly desired it.
"I know how you feel, I truly do. But what can we do? I'm not sure Blizarus will even agree. I mean, Volterra, sure, but you know how much Blizarus likes the fighting and being recognised... And let's not forget what Umbrafor would say on top of everything else we have to report..." Earthena said Melancholy. She fell into silence, only looking forward. She was expecting this to be the end of the conversation, but Charditus sprang back with his own plan.
"Just leave Umbrafor to me. I don't want to give up fighting entirely either. It's the one thing we're good at, and is necessary in today's world. All I ask of you is that you're on board."
"I don't know...I personally think we're walking into a stone wall here, but well...alright..." she replied. She had mix of doubt and sadness on her mind. However, she still trusted her friend enough, if he says they can do it, then perhaps they might be able to.
"Thank you. Let's talk to the others, we will need to convince them if we are to continue this plan together."
"Fine. Just...just make sure you really are thinking this through, okay? The last thing we need is more grief...or worse," Earthena warned.
"I'll do my best."
Both descended towards Blizarus and Volterra.
"Hey, Blizarus, Volterra, we got something we need to share.
"What, now? Haven't we had enough for today?"
"Me and Charditus have been talking."
"So? You do that all the time…" Blizarus was about to continue his pointless arguing. But Earthena's disapproving glare got to him. "Fine, about what?"
"We were thinking about asking Umbrafor, about being able to go on with our own lives," Charditus added.
"And that means?" Blizarus asked, not any less edgy.
"No more bounty hunting, living our own lives. That's putting it bluntly," Earthena answered.
It was slow at first, but a bubbling energy was building up within him. He secluded himself to his thoughts, thinking this situation over...
Volterra though had a different reaction.
"Really? You mean actually leave?" Volterra asked, it was like the dream that comes after an endless series of nightmares. However, there was a level of skepticism and disbelief in her tone that could only be answered by more of Charditus's trusting words.
"Yes, but only if you and Blizarus are also on board," Charditus said.
"I would love to, but what would we do instead? The only thing we are kinda good at is fighting. I..I mean…I would happily stop fighting, if it's what you want," Volterra quickly added, stumbling over her own words in an attempt to hide her excitement.
"This isn't just about what I want though. it's a huge decision for the team, and as I said I will only do it if the rest of you want to. As for what we'll do-" He was about to finish his sentence when the familiar voice of a bellowing Blizarus roared over him.
"Charditus!"
"…Why did I even bother hoping it didn't come to this…" Charditus thought to himself defeatedly. The four of them came to stop mid-flight.
"How long did you plan on keeping it a secret for?"
"It was not meant to be a secret, I assure you. I had only told Earthena minutes before," Charditus sensibly spoke.
It was then, Blizarus come out with a response none of them were expecting.
"Why didn't you come up with this idea sooner? We could've been free ages ago!" Blizarus laughed cheerfully, thoroughly confusing everyone in the process. He was happier than a hungry, drunken mole at a free buffet.
"Hold on. You agree? Earthena asked, her face screwed up into a perplexed look.
"Hell yeah! I hate Umbrafor and practically the whole damn regime. The only reason I never spoke up about it because you lot would've complained at me about it. Glad to be wrong for once though," Blizarus practically hollered out. He had a big grin about his face, beaming nearly from one cheek to the other.
"I thought you enjoyed the combat though, Bliz?" Charditus asked, still also trying to get his head around it.
"You know I do! But I hate having to do it for Umbrafor."
Volterra couldn't help but chirp in, "Wait, doesn't that mean we all agree?... It does!"
"Glad we can still come to a decision," Earthena smiled as she said. She crossed two paws in satisfaction. Her earlier suspicions were now buried underneath a fresh layer of hope, hope that they might have a chance to be free.
Charditus nodded and smiled. "Since we're all in agreement, the decision has been made. When we arrive back I shall talk to Umbrafor about this."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go slap those grins off Ruby and Sapphire squad and wave their sorry asses goodbye," Earthena evilly voiced, something you would have expected more from the likes of Blizarus.
Charditus gave Volterra a quick smile, causing her normally yellow scales to give off a little rosy colouring of their own without the other two noticing. They were busy plotting together how they could say their 'farewells'. Blizarus suggested he could cover their entire room in ice, giving them an 'ice' present when they when they entered. Earthena then thought of leaving a present of her own for Ruby Squad. A great big rock to be exact; which would be 'fun' for them to move, considering their squad consisted of nothing but fire dragons.
Regardless of what they did, it was going to be their make or break day.
I would say this was a small filler chapter buts is hardly small. Hopefully you all have enjoyed the chapter, and that is wasn't too random... Next chapter will be about Spyro and co as will the one after. But how do you think Umbrafor will react? And what about the relationship between Charditus and Volterra?
Until then adios : )