Chapter 2

The vanguards met in the courtyard and prepared to leave. The council approached them and the vanguards bowed. "We hope for your safe return." Boltor said.

"May the ancestors watch over you." Gaia said.

"Thank you." Spyro said, "We'll be back."

"We'll keep our defenses up." Nitro stated, "No use coming back to a city that's not there anymore."

The vanguards laughed half-heartedly at the ice dragon's attempt at humor, "Well…we're ready." Spyro said.

"Good luck, young dragons." Terrador said. The vanguards bowed again before Spyro and Cynder swept Leon up into the air, and Twitch and Zephyr did the same to Athena. As the vanguards headed southeast, Leon noticed the smile on Athena's face as the dragons carried her through the air, and it made him realize that, because of his previous feelings about the dragons, he had seen the flights with the dragons as more of a torture than an enjoyment. The vanguards flew for several hours until they found a place to set up camp.

When they landed Athena couldn't help but let out a childish giggle, "That was fun."

"I take it you don't fly often?" Flare asked, jokingly.

"Most cheetah's prefer keeping their paws on the ground, but I think it's exciting."

"I'm glad you feel that way." Spyro said, "We'll be in the air most of the time."

"We're more exposed traveling that way," Zephyr began, "but time isn't exactly on our side."

"I'm not complaining, it's better that walking." Athena said.

"Yeah…for you and Leon maybe," Twitch said as he stretched his wings, "but carrying someone around is a pain in the wings."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's calling us fat." Leon said, jokingly.

"I would never say something like that…to Athena." Twitch said with a smug grin.

"Like you have a right to call anyone fat anyway." Zephyr interjected.

"Just more of me to love." Twitch stated, causing Zephyr to roll her eyes.

"Alright, let's try and find some food," Spyro said, "Leon, since you and Athena move the quickest on foot, see if you can find any meat."

"As you wish." Leon said before he and Athena headed into the woods.

"Flare…you, Crystal, and Charlotte go find some firewood."

"Got it." Flare said before his group headed into the darkening trees.

"Zephyr…take Twitch and Fang to find some berries."

"Right." Zephyr said before heading off with her group.

"Alright, Sparx-"

"I know, I know, stay here and mark the spot." Sparx interrupted.

"Right." Spyro said.

"What about us, Spyro?" Cynder asked.

"This way." Spyro said, indicating with his head towards the east. Spyro led Cynder away from the campground until he was sure that Sparx would not hear them.

"Spyro, where are we going?" Cynder asked.

"I want to scout ahead," Spyro said, "I'm not sure what it is, but I feel…something."

"Shouldn't we tell the other's then?" Cynder asked.

"No…if I'm wrong, then they'll be worried for nothing." Spyro said.

"True…but you're hunches are normally right." Cynder said, worriedly.

"We're just going to take a look."

Cynder sighed, "If you're sure." The two of the then crouched down and headed through the brush.

"How are we doing?" Crystal asked as she searched the icy ground for firewood.

Flare looked down at the twigs in the makeshift saddlebag strapped to his side, "We almost have enough. A few more sticks should do it."

"I hope Fang's alright." Charlotte said, worriedly.

"What are you worried about?" Flare asked, "He's strong enough to take care of himself, plus he has Twitch and Zephyr with him."

"I know, I meant I hope he's doing alright after what had happened in the past couple of months."

"Oh…" Flare said when he realized what she was talking about.

"He puts on a happy face…but there's no way he's over Sting."

"How can he be…he was his twin." Crystal said, sadly.

"And above all that…his family is being split apart because his father wants Leon dead."

"But what can we do?" Flare asked, "Anima is part of the council."

"Yeah, I know…it's just so…frustrating…Leon had better appreciate everything that Fang has done for him." Charlotte said, turning slightly hostile.

"I'm sure he appreciates the things that we all have done for him." Crystal said, "He doesn't seem like the type of person to just forget about the help we've given him."

"He doesn't seem like the type of person to forget anything for that matter." Flare added.

"I know…I'm just frustrated by the situation." Charlotte said.

"Well…don't blame it on him…he hasn't exactly had it easy either." Flare said before emitting a violent cough.

"That cold sounds like it's getting worse." Crystal observed as she put another stick into the satchel, "We should probably let Elektra examine you when we get back to Warfang."

"No!" Flare snapped, causing Crystal to jump, "I mean…I'm fine."

"What's your problem…you've been acting weird lately." Charlotte said.

"I know…I just don't really want someone…invading my privacy." Flare said.

"You've been to see healers before and you were fine…what changed?"

"Look, it's just a cold, alright!" Flare yelled, becoming agitated.

"Okay, Jeez." Charlotte said.

"Good, now let's get back to camp." Flare said, turning around and heading back the way they had came. Charlotte and Crystal exchanged worried looks before following the young fire dragon.

Athena was crouched on all fours with the gold dagger that Leon had let her use for the hunt clenched tightly in her maw. Leon seemed hesitant to let her use it and he made her promise at least three times that she would not lose it. She made a mental note to pry him for the reason he was partial to it after they had found some food. Athena was always the curious type and when she was younger her parents had always said it would get her into trouble.

A small shadow caught her eye and she carefully moved forward, barely making a sound, as she avoided the small patches of ice that threatened to give away her position. Through the brush and growing darkness she could spot several deer grazing in a small clearing that the snow had not yet obscured. As she slowly inched her way closer, she saw a lone figure crouched in a tree, overlooking the clearing. Leon studied the prey on the ground before him and then looked at the prowling cheetah. He gave her a nod, signaling her to make the first move, before removing a few throwing knives from his belt. Athena eyed the closest prey before slowly removing Leon's dagger from her mouth and gripping it tightly in her hand. She let out a snarl as she leapt forward and tackled the deer to the ground and plunged the blade deep into its side. The deer thrashed wildly on the ground before lying still. The rest of the deer scattered and leapt towards the trees. Athena, being much faster than the deer, jumped from the body of one buck, onto the back of another. She stabbed the deer in the neck, bringing it down without incident. Leon lined up his throws, and managed to take another two deer out with his throwing knives. He then dismounted from the tree as the rest of the deer fled into the darkness. "I'd say that this should suffice." Leon observed.

"I told you that your dagger was safe with me." Athena stated as she sat next to one of the slain deer and began cleaning her paws of the blood of her kills.

"Yeah…I know…sorry for not trusting you more." Leon stated as he took a seat beside her.

"What's so special about this blade anyway?" Athena asked as she handed over Leon's dagger, "I could have easily gotten you a replacement for it."

The human looked at the dagger that gleamed in the moonlight, "It was my father's."

"Oh…" Athena said. It was no wonder that Leon had held the blade so dearly. Such sentimental value was worth more than any monetary amount that could have been gathered, "I didn't know."

"This blade has been with me everywhere...and for the longest time…I had believed it to be the only friendship I had…" Leon then paused for a moment, "but then Cynder was brought to me…then I met the vanguards…and then finally you." Leon brought his eyes to meet hers, "It's funny how the winding path of existence can bring you to a destination in which you had never intended to travel."

Athena giggled, "Umm…what?"

"How about 'life is full of surprises'?"

"Oh…yeah it is." Athena stated.

Leon smiled before staring up into the night sky, "Why don't you have a bow…I thought that all cheetahs hunted with bows."

"They do…but…" Athena paused for a moment.

"But?"

"My parents never had the chance to teach me." She finished sadly.

"I see…" Leon said, "I'm sorry."

"What's past is past…and the ape that had murdered them got what was coming to him." Athena said. Leon noticed a slight malice to her voice, "The dragons chased him and his troops down and killed them all."

"...but that's not enough for you, is it?" Leon asked.

Athena turned her head towards the ground, "I wanted to watch him burn."

Leon knew the feeling all too well; the feeling of wanting to see justice brought to the ones who had wronged him, but he also knew that that feeling can lead one to perform horrible deeds, "He'll get what he deserves…we all will."

Athena looked at him and realized what he meant, "You deserve to be with the one you love."

Leon shivered slightly when he heard a cold familiar voice in his head, "But who would that be, Leon?" Sin asked, "Sierra…or this harlot?"

Leon ignored the voice and turned to meet Athena's eyes, "They will cast me into the well of souls for what I've done…nothing I can do will change that."

"Then they will have to take me too." Athena said.

She barely had time to blink before Leon had clamped his hand over her maw, "Don't ever say that!" The human snapped. Athena was so shocked by his actions that she could not do anything but to stare at him with wide eyes. Leon sighed and released her grip on her mouth, "Your parents are waiting for you...would you really throw them away for me?"

The cheetah was silent, and for a few moments, the only the sound of crickets could be heard. It was then that Athena rested her hand on top of his, "If I must."

Leon was slightly surprised by the answer, "You don't mean that."

"Yes I do…I'd give up everything for you." Athena said, "I can't imagine a worse hell than knowing I would never feel your touch again."

"My touch…" Leon repeated her words in his head, "These hands have done cruel things…everything I touch is poisoned."

"Then I guess I must be very sick." Athena said.

Leon half smiled at her attempt at making a joke, "We should get back before the meat spoils."

Athena nodded before rising to her feet, "Hey…" She said, grabbing Leon's attention, "I love you."

Leon smiled, "And I love you." He said as he rose to his feet as well.

"How sickening." Sin said in Leon's mind.

Spyro continued to move forward through the underbrush with Cynder in tow. The two dragons had been quietly moving through the bushes for quite some time, and Spyro was starting to second-guess his instincts, until he caught the scent of a faint odor, "Hey, do you smell that?" He asked his life-mate.

Cynder flicked out her long tongue and tasted the air, "Smoke." She concluded. The two of them continued towards the source of the smoke, and it wasn't long before they could see several flickering lights through the leaves.

The two dragons came to a halt at the edge of the bushes, "It's coming from here." Spyro said. He pushed a few of the remaining brambles out of their way so they could see. Cynder gasped when they saw the large bonfires and massive number of orcs and apes. The sound of stone against steel and bone could be heard as the dark master's forces sharpened their weapons. Spyro's attention was drawn to an orc, whose horns were bigger than the other orcs, having a conversation with a black-furred ape.

"I'm starting to think you don't trust me, Gwar." The black ape said.

"That's because I don't." Gwar said, "We can hunt down these dragons without the apes' help."

"It looks like you're doing a great job by the looks of it."

"Silence your tongue before I remove it, Gorrak."

"You think you can scare me with idle threats?" Gorrak asked. Gwar just growled in response, "Hmph, at least I can put our differences aside for the good of our master."

"You think you're more loyal than me?" Gwar asked in a threatening tone.

"This isn't some competition about who can earn master's favor." Gorrak stated, "Now stop acting like a newborn and help put out the fires." The ape then headed towards the other end of the encampment.

"Who the hell does he think he is, giving me orders." Gwar mumbled under his breath. No one noticed As Spyro and Cynder slowly made their way back to their camp.

"What do we do?" Cynder asked when they were out of earshot of the battalion.

"We have to warn the others, and get as far away from here as possible." Spyro replied. Cynder nodded and the two of them rushed through the woods.