The Fallen

Cyril walked out the tent with a heavy head. He new that it would only be a matter of time until Verena left to bring back whomever she was talking about. The ice dragon had a good idea as well as Hunter who it was and if he were to return, He would most likely target the two dragons that defeated him in the first place. Cyril let out a sigh before spotting four dragons in a tent just of his own. Spyro, Cynder, Flame and Ornis were inside it discussing what's to happen next. Cyril shook his head and chuckled a little.

" Young dragons. That is a matter that only the guardians should worry about. You should just worry about staying safe for the time being."

" Pffft. When have we ever tried to stay out of trouble Cyril." Flame said with a devilish grin. Ornis elbowed him in the side and snorted.

" We will try our best. But what is to happen to Earn?" Ornis asked glancing to the farthest tent from their own. He could plainly see the outline of the earth dragon inside. " He's not taking it well. I mean I would be sad but he, He's just destroyed."

" We have to understand that different dragons take the death of a loved one differently. Earn is one of the dragons that apparently don't take it well." Cyril said. A hint of regret in his tone.

" Well we can try and help him out a little can't we. I mean like Ornis said not to long ago, he can't stay like that forever." Spyro said cutting in the conversation. Cyril shook his head.

" If we try to move him it will most likely make him worse. The most we can do is give him space until later on tonight which reminds me. The reason I came here is at ask you a favour."

" And that would be." Cynder said speaking for the first time.

" I need you to all stay with Earn when the time comes to cremate our fallen. He will need help when that comes around-"

" And when is that going to be." Asked Flame.

" Well later on tonight there's going to be a memorial plaque that is going to be put up in the middle of the square and all of us are going to be there. Tomorrow is when we will give the deceased a proper send off."

" And that's when Earn will be the worst, in other words." Cynder said monosyllabically. Cyril nodded his head.

" I'll expect to see you in one hour." The ice guardian said before turning and leaving for the main tent, letting his tail drag against the ground every now and again. Cynder sighed and dug hear head into Spyro's shoulder.

" I just want to stay here." She said softly. " And not worry about anything. Let alone the psychotic dragons within Warfang."

" Here, Here." Flame said loudly making Ornis and Spyro grin. Cynder frowned at him but it was replaced with a smile quickly. All four of the dragons laid there talking about what to do and what's to come. All of them were thinking the same thing when it came to Earn however. Will he be alright. Earn himself sat on his haunches inside the tent that contained Star. Her small softly smiling face lay motionless and still as a statue. There were no tears coming down Earns face. Instead he stood watching her hopefully. Like she would wake up at any moment. Like she would awake and he would be able to take her away from the dawning war and live happily with her. But sadly that isn't possible. Earns eyes were still bloodshot from the tears that had flown so freely only hours ago.

" Why you." He whispered. His voice still hoarse. " Why you all of all people." He sniffed and tucked in the cover that was on from her neck to tail and brushed of some leaves blown in from outside.

" I swear it on my life. If magic can bring back the dark one or others then it can bring back you. And I promise. I will bring you back." He wiped a tear from his cheek and bent down softly kissing her on the cheek. He smiled for the first time in two days but didn't move. Again he staid his place gazing at the yellow dragoness.

" You can't be serious." Cynder said to Ornis fifteen minutes later in the large square making the centre of the cheetah village. The bitingly cold wind dying down but being replaced with a light drizzle of rain. Ornis was asking Cynder to join them in giving a surprise party for Earn. Only wanting to help him of coarse.

" Oh, I'm dead serious. A few drinks down the hatch and he'll be bright a ra-"

" Yea sure he will." Said Cynder sarcastically. " And I'll be my older self again… of coarse that wont help him. That'll make him more depressed you idiot."

" Fair play. I'm only trying to think of ways to cheer him up." Flame who was on the other side of Cynder chuckled a little. Cynder shot him a warning glance and he snapped up into a straight walking position.

" And what's so funny in a time like this." The black dragoness asked a little disgruntled. Flame shook his head while looking forward.

" Its nothing. Just you both talking about drink and that again reminded me of another time whe-"

" You mean the time when I had to carry Spyro back from you're house and you and Winfil were completely out of it." Said Cynder in a matter-of-fact voice.

" Yeah that time. So it was you who took Spyro away then. Leaving us to clean up the mess."

" Well no skin of my nose." retorted Cynder. Flame growled a little and Ornis laughed gaining both the dragons attention.

" I have no idea what you're both talking about but it sounds like it was one hell of a night for Cynder to have to carry Spyro back." He said.

" You know that's no way to be acting on a night like this." Came a voice. Three of them spun there heads round to see Spyro and Winfil walking up to them. Winfil shaking his head. " This is a night of remembrance. Can I ask what you think the other dragons would think of you three laughing. If it were me looking at you then I would think something like…Well I don't know what I would think but not something nice anyway." Said Winfil Making every word count. Ornis hung his head a little and quickly glanced about making sure nobody was watching them as did Flame. Spyro huffed and walked up to Cynder Eyeing her.

" You do remember we have to be with Earn don't you." The purple dragon asked.

" Yeah not until tomorrow when the cremations happen."

" Well I was thinking that we should start today. The plaques going up today so he might be a little down-"

" He's always sad just now. I don't think a little sign will do much to how bad he already is either." Said Cynder shaking her head. Spyro nodded at her and turned to look at the square. The leaves all over from the towering trees around making it look like it hadn't been cleaned for eons. It was now only five minutes until the plaque would be put up and dragons were starting to come into the square. All of them had solemn and hurt faces. Spyro noticed that the dragons that were alone were the worst. He didn't have to think long to come to the conclusion why. He turned to Cynder smiling a little. He had her safe at his side.

" Should we go then. See the new monument plaque there talking about." Said Flame while heading for the square.

" Right behind you." Ornis huffed getting up. Winfil and the others followed suit and they all stood in front of a large object draped in a blanket to conceal its identity.

" What do you think it is." Ornis asked Winfil. The green dragon shook his head.

" I have just as much of a guess as you do Ornis. Can't wait to see though." He rushed. Spyro looked at the draped object. It looked slightly familiar. Before another thought could run through his mind the three guardians take position in-front of it. Cyril stood up front and raised his head. He was easily seen as upset.

" Tonight, We remember those ones who gave there lives to give us a chance to live. The dragons who done everything they could to save the city. Most of you here have suffered a great loss. But bare this in mind, we will avenge them and we will not let there deaths go in vain. We can have a minutes silence for our loved ones please …" Everybody hung there heads and there were a couple of sniffs and cries somewhere in the crowd. Nothing else could be heard apart from the wind and the trees. The minute seemed to go on for the longest of times.

" I here by give this monument plaque in memory of those who have fallen." Cyril announced signalling the end of the minute. Spyro hugged Cynder and Put and arm round Flame who was next to him. Cynder laid her head on Spyro's shoulder while patting Winfil on the shoulder. Ornis was on Flames right side and had Flames arm draped over his shoulder. They were all thanking that each other were here just now. Cyril walked up to the drapes as did Volteer and Terrador. All three used one paw each and dragged it off revealing the monument. Everyone gasped at its beauty. It was five dragons stationed on top of a pedestal. Each dragon was carved by a different rare stone. The first two dragons were at the bottom and crouched into a battle stance. One was carved in emerald while the other was in sapphire. In between them was another dragon mid-takeoff. It was carved out in gold. The fourth dragon was looking at the sky on the other side of the fifth dragon. Its face was filled with sorrow and regret and it was carved in platinum. The final dragon was the tallest and it was on its hind legs roaring and letting a ball of fire into the air. This one was carved in diamond. At the bottom of the sculptor on the flat forward facing side of the pedestal was the names of all the dragons that had perished. Cynder sighed sadly at how long and wide it was. There must have been over a hundred names.

" Poor souls." Ornis whispered. Spyro could only nod and Flame shook Ornis a little. Winfil hung his head letting a few tears hit the floor.

" We will avenge them." The green dragon said quietly. His voice sounding fierce. The night was young but everyone was tired. The past two nights all of them have been getting next to no sleep due to the feeling of loss being punched through most of their chests. Ornis sniffed a little and wiped his eyes and turned to the others with a half hearted smile.

" I'm going to go to bed then. Want to get a good nights sleep." Said the wind dragon.

" Sweat dreams then." cynder said and gave him a quick hug followed by Flame giving him a mock punch in the arm and then a Quick hug from Winfil. Spyro smiled and touched knuckles with him before he left. Flame watched Ornis leave before turning to the monument. The fire and candles that were used glinted of the reflective surface that was each dragon. Flame couldn't help but let his jaw drop a little again when really looking at the magnificent carving work.

" Its amazing." He said automatically.

" Yes it is. Must have taken a while to carve." Winfil said rubbing his chin. Upon closer inspection they all realized that the dragons were all looking in the same direction.

" What D'you think their staring at." The black dragoness asked. Winfil gave a sad sigh before replying.

" Death." Was all he said. They all turned to Winfil and then back to the monument. It gave such meaning in the phrase yet it gave the eye such beauty to look at. Spyro sighed looking at the top dragon which was roaring fire.

" It would make sense wouldn't it. All of our fallen had stared death in the face before it struc-"

" I think its been enough for one night." Cynder cut in putting the flat side of her tail over the purple dragons mouth. They didn't notice but the guardians had walked up to them.

" I trust you still know you're duties for tomorrow. It will be worse than tonight." Terrador asked. Spyro nodded followed by the rest of the dragons. " Good, perhaps one of you could check in on Earn. Ask him if he needs anything. Food, water. Just try and make conversation with him at least." The earth guardian continued.

" I'll go." Winfil said talking a position in-front of them. " After all I'm also an earth dragon. Maybe since I'm that little bit similar he might open up to me. And iv experienced the loss of my mother - my her soul rest in piece - and that's another link."

" I see you're point. Well make sure and be soft when you see him. Basic conversation first. don't push him." Cyril said looking over to the tent that was just visible between others.

" Well Cyril, Terrador. I suggest we get some rest as well. We have a long day tomorrow and there will be allot more tears to come." Said Volteer while glancing at the large amount of wooden boats that would be used to cremate the fallen dragons.

" Agreed. We shall see you all tomorrow then. And Winfil," He paused giving a Considerate look. " Try you're best with Earn."

" I will." Replied Winfil With a sympathetic face. With that The guardians left and the four dragons were on there own again.

" I can't imagine what He'll be like tomorrow when we cremate them all." Said Cynder while shaking head.

" I'm sure Earn will be alright tomorrow. Fair enough more degraded than today but he wont do anything bad I suspect." Said Spyro in a matter-of-fact tone. Winfil then started to look in the direction of the green dragons tent.

" I best be off then shall I."

" Yeah. I guess so. But be careful. As Terrador said, don't push hi-" Cynder started but was cut of by Winfil holding up a paw.

" I know, don't push him to far." Cynder nodded at the earth dragon before giving him a quick hug before leaving.

" see you tomorrow then." Spyro said patting him on the shoulder then following Cynder to their tent. Only Flame and Winfil were left in the square. The candles were starting to falter under the strengthening wind and leaves were being blown up like the flightless gliders they are.

" Guess I'll get you to half way to Earn's tent, mines is just over their." Said Flame pointing to a red tinted tent that was on the way to Earn's. They both walked in silence not mentioning anything. It wasn't until moments later when Flame reached his tent he spoke.

" Listen man. If there's anything you need or if you need help with him." He pointed to Earn's tent. " Just give me a shout." Flame smiled a and held up his paw with his knuckled on the outside. Winfil smiled and tapped his knuckled with his own.

" Wish me luck then. Good night."

" Good night." Said Flame. Flame then entered the tent and closed the draped doors and slumped onto the bed. Winfil stood for a moment rooted to the ground. How would he even start the conversation with Earn. He new he couldn't just go up and talk about general things, Earn was still to far gone for that. The earth dragon took a deep breath and started for the tent.

" What to say." Winfil Whispered to Himself. It was true. Even if he started a conversation and it was a long shot, he didn't know how to get the point across that him and the others will be with Earn tomorrow. Winfil came to the door of the tent and took a final breath before taking a step into the tent.

" Earn." He asked softly. His head entered through the draped doors and he scanned the tent for any sign of the dragon. Star was still were she had been for the past two nights now. That eerie soft smile still on her snout.

" Earn." Said Winfil stronger now but he got no reply. He took a gulp and walked fully into the tent. Upon seeing no sign of the green dragon he started to panic. Winfil's head shot around as he looked for the dragon. Still no sign.

" Damn he coul-" But Winfil was cut of by the quiet grumble of a snore. He moved to the right side of the bed upon which Star was and felt relief wash over him. The dragon he had been looking for was behind it and concealed from the frontal view of the tent asleep. Winfil watched Earn sleep for a moment. Even in his sleep his face was still alienated and deep in depression. Winfil sighed sadly.

" You seem to be only an echo of what you once were." He said remorsefully.

"Good night." The earth dragon said to Earn and left. He travelled back to his own tent and fell onto his own bed and not a minute more sleep overcame him. Not five tents away, Spyro and Cynder were still up laying next to each other. Cynder was looking out the tent to were Winfil had just gone into his own. Fear suddenly gripped her as she thought of what could have happened.

" Spyro. Winfil just came back but, its only been five minutes." She said in a whispered of fear.

" It is early. But he didn't seem to be hurt anymore than he was with us. I'm sure if Earn had said anything against him then he would have walked back in looking belittled or something like that. I'm sure he's fine."

" but what if-" Cynder started but Spyro held up a talon.

" There are millions of what if's. but it only takes one to make another react in the wrong way." Said Spyro. In truth Cynder did calm down a little. " Gees I sounded like Cyril or the Chronicler there." the purple dragon said producing a small laugh from both himself and Cynder.

" it's a cold one tonight." the black dragoness stated looking up at the clear sky which housed a bitingly cold wind.

" it is." Said Spyro draping a wing over Cynder. She breathed happily and snugged closer to Spyro putting her head under his neck.

" Sweet dreams my love." Whispered Spyro. Cynder chuckled a little under his head.

" You said we wouldn't call each other by those terms until were at least married and life-mates." She whispered back.

" Well its not bad if it's the truth." Spyro whispered back. Cynder chuckled again and let herself drift. Spyro did the same and soon they were both asleep. The wind outside starting to moan as it blew through the trees and small gaps causing the wind in some places to whistle as well.

The next day the wind had made the morning painfully cold. Cold enough that the rain started to fall as snow and there was a light dusting of ice all around the village. The sun however had other plans and was bursting through the clods giving a beam of warmth into the land. Earn lay awake staring at the sky outside his tent. He had been awake for nearly an hour now thinking of the things to come. He looked at Star knowing that his times looking at her were numbered. He new it was for the best to give her a safe send of and that she could be happy. Across and up two tents Flame was just coming out.

" damn its cold." He said shaking his a little. He walked over to Spyro's and Cynder's tent with the intent of getting them up. The cremation was after all in the next two hours. Getting to the draped doors of the tapped.

" Guys are you awake yet." Asked Flame feeling a little weird speaking through a tent. He heard some ruffling and a groan as someone got up.

" Yes I'm up now." Spyro's said coming out the tent shivering at the cold air. Flame could see Cynder still sound asleep inside.

" Shouldn't you wake Cynder as well." Flame asked. Spyro turned and gave a quick look at Cynder's sleeping form and turned back to Flame.

" No. She's fine just now. Besides we need to go get Winfil. Breakfast wont wait." Said Spyro as his stomach rumbled causing them both to laugh a little.

" Well then…To the Winfil tent." Flame said in a fast, acknowledging tone while saluting at Spyro. Flame could always make anybody smile.

" You wake him." Spyro said two minutes later while pointing into a tent which housed the sleeping Winfil. Flame frowned at the purple dragon then smiled.

" Is big mister unstoppable purple dragon boy to scared to wake someone up." Said Flame in a smug voice. Spyro paused then narrowed his eyes at the red dragon.

" Yeah I'm scared to wake someone up, I'm also scared of sheep." Spyro said sarcastically. " Of course not, its just that well. He'll be a little moody with however wakes him up-"

" Ah, but what if we both wake him up." Flame said raising an inquisitive paw pointing a talon back and fourth between the two of them.

" Fine." Said Spyro rolling his eyes.

" Winfil." They both whispered entering the tent. They expected to see the green dragon deep in sleep but he was gone. Just an empty hamper of blankets and a blown out candle of a rickety table.

" Must have gone out." Flame said shrugging his shoulders. Spyro looked round the tent then huffed while turning out.

" He needs to be with us as well if we want to look after Earn well enough."

" Who needs to be with you." Came a voice. The two dragons turned to see Ornis standing next to Winfil. Ornis had some redness round his mouth. Flame burst out laughing at Spyro's side.

" Take it you had a nice breakfast then Orny." he said after a few minutes laughing. Ornis turned to Winfil who then smiled as well pointing to his own mouth. Ornis's eyes widened at the dawning of what they had meant.

" You don't mean to say I stood there and talked to not one, but two dragoness's with this maw." Said Ornis becoming red.

" Hah, Yup." Winfil said before laughing as well. Ornis growled and turned to Spyro.

" Hey could you rustle up some water or something. Need to wash this out Y'know."

" Sure thing." Spyro said before he pulled the water from all the iced over puddles and controlled it so it hovered just above Ornis's jaw. " On you go." The purple dragon said smiling. Ornis thrust his paws into the cold water then started to rub his lower jaw hard.

" The dragon likes his cleanliness doesn't he." Flame chuckled after Ornis finished with the water and signalled Spyro to drop it. Winfil however narrowed his eyes at Ornis before a smile spread across his face.

" You may have got the blood and sauce of but in the process you've made you're jaw red." Said Winfil now chuckling along with the others. Ornis let his face fall into a frown and he pressed his lips together.

" I'm glad I make you laugh on a day like this. The same thing happened yesterday. Remember, we shouldn't be acting like this yet. What with all that's happened. Flame gave a low whimper as he remembered Winfil's words from the night before.

" You're right. Guys how about you tag along with us back to the breakfast tents and by the time my and Spyro have finished we can go and wake cynder up." the red dragon proposed. Winfil and Ornis both nodding at Flame.

" Great. Of we go then, my stomach can't handle another second of this torture.

Spyro walked back after having lamb with wheat and some milk on the side in a mug which the cheetahs used. Flame had the exact same except he had freshly squeezed mango juice as-a-pose to the milk. The four dragons were in a row and were headed to Spyro's tent to retrieve Cynder. Spyro, having been fully replenished and wide awake now was thinking of the day ahead of him. He had the cremation at twelve and it was now half ten. He had to stay with Earn through the whole thing. He sighed but his face lifted knowing that his friends would be there with him.

" So Cynder will take the left side with Winfil while me and spy take the right." Flame started to tell the others referring to the sides they would be on when they got Earn.

" And me?" Ornis asked, Flame having not mentioned him. The red dragon turned his head to the wind dragon and smiled.

" You'll be behind him in-case he makes a brake for it." Said Flame. Ornis nodded thinking it through before giving Flame an agreeing smile. By now they were at Spyro's tent which was lager than Flames, Winfil's and Ornis's due to there being both him and Cynder in it. Spyro stopped before the door.

" Be back in a sec." He said disappearing between the drifting, thin doors. Spyro stopped seeing Cynder still deep in sleep. He always had to remind himself that she was his and he was hers whenever he could. He thought of himself as being the luckiest dragon in the world but for now, he was the living alarm clock. He bent down and nudged the her back slowly.

" Cynder. Hey Cynder time to get up, we got things to do." He said. Cynder stirred sheepishly before getting up and stretching her arms.

" What time is it." she asked before yawning.

" eleven." Spyro said simply. Cynder's drowsy eyes shot open fully as if she had heard a gunshot.

" Are you serious. You let me sleep this late when the cremation starts at twelve." She said thrusting the blankets back into their square original position. Spyro shrugged but quickly backtracked when seeing Cynder's low frown. He raised his paws in defense.

" Hey now, I only thought you deserve a good-"

" Don't give me that nonsense." She snapped cutting Spyro of. She was about to speak again when she heard the faint sniggering of the other three dragons who were outside. " Who's outside." She asked. After this the three dragons started to cry in laughter and cynder stepped out the tent to see her friends in a fit of laughter. She stood watching and her face fell lower and lower as time went on. Finally Ornis composed himself and looked at the dragoness.

" It was something else we were laughing at. But the fact that you both sound like an old married couple only added."

" Well that and Winfil fell on his face over some melting ice." Flame said pointing to a snout reddening Winfil.

" Ha, ha, ha." Winfil sarcastically and shook his head. Spyro then came out from the tent and started to hold back some laughter himself at Winfil's snout. The sun had now made a good job of thawing out the ice and making the day quite warm. The melted ice however was evaporating so fast that it was causing a fine mist to appear over the ground.

" Well I suspect we should perhaps go to the shore where the boats are. I'm sure the guardians will be there as well." Spyro said as he started for the shore. Just outside the villages limits was a large lake that bent around a high peaking mountain before hitting the sea. Lined across the shore which was just off the wall were a good amount of boats. They were not built very well but they wouldn't be if they're sole purpose was to be burned. Upon arrival there the five dragons seen a small crowd starting to already mount on the shore line. In the head of the mass were the guardians. Terrador, once seeing the dragons made his way through to them. His face was low which intern made the five dragons start to become a little more depressed.

" We're getting the…the fallen ready now." Terrador said stammering over the words fallen. Spyro nodded looking over at the boats which now had dozens of dragons in them. What was funny is that they were all in such good condition that they could have been sleeping for all he new. " You should get Earn now. We need Star and I don't want him there when we come for her."

" We'll go now." Flame said instantly turning and walking away. Terrador stared after him and sighed.

" He'll need all the help he can get to move Earn. Go with him." He said to the other dragons. Winfil, Ornis and Cynder all started to leave without a word. Knowing what was coming and the sight they had just seen, who would.

" we'll try our best Terrador. But I think this is the calm before the storm. I just don't want to hear him when we send the boats out."

" I know." Said Terrador nodding at the purple dragon. Spyro turned and raced away catching up to the others who were only minutes away from Earn's tent. They had all stopped and were now conferring over how to get him out.

" We should say we have a surprise for him and take him to the cheetahs archery range. Make him spend a half hour there while the guardians get Star." Flame said with a hint of sadness.

" Its an idea but I think its to obvious." Winfil replied. " Perhaps we should just ask him simply to come for a walk with us." He continued. Ornis nodded at this and turned to Cynder.

" Maybe you should ask him though. Since you're good with feelings and all-"

" What. I barely know him and the tension will be insane."

" But you were the one that first comforted him when Star died. We'll have more chance if you do it." Ornis said. Cynder pressed her lips and thought for a moment before nodding. She didn't say a word as she passed Winfil and Flame headed for Earns tent. Upon arrival the green dragon was in his usual stance. Sitting with his head hung next to star. Cynder took a breath before entering.

" Earn." She asked softly. The green dragon twitched a little.

" What." He said in a broken whisper. Cynder sighed and walked up to him.

" We want you to, well…come for a walk with us-"

" let me guess. I know there cremating everyone on boats. I'm going to further guess and say that you are all going to take me away from here while they take Star." Said Earn with some ferocity behind his voice. He lifted his head letting his eyes fall onto the black dragoness. Cynder could only nod at Earn. The green dragon looked at Star again. " Its what she probably would have wanted." He sighed and got up to Cynder's astonishment. " We should leave now." He continued

Just up from the tent, Spyro and Winfil were listening hard while Ornis and Flame figured out what to do when they got him but when they saw Earn walk out the tent not five minutes after Cynder entered, the purple dragons jaw hit the floor.

" How did you do that." Spyro asked Cynder when she stopped in-front of him. She shrugged her shoulders and leant in closer.

" I didn't do anything. He just said that its what Star would have wanted. Spyro was a little taken aback from this but new it was a good start having him out with them. The purple dragon leaned in closer to Cynder.

" Well lets just hope he stays with us then hmm." Said Spyro with slight sound of uncertainty. Cynder nodded and looked back at Earn. He just stood there while Flame and Winfil tried to make conversation. They were failing dramatically at it. The air was a lot hotter now than it was before so the dragons didn't feel to uncomfortable now. The dragons all walked to the outer wall on the far side of the village. No-one talked which made the suspense like a thick layer on each of them. Ornis, who was in the beside Earn found the courage however to start one. He glanced quickly at Earn who was looking at the floor not paying attention to his surroundings.

" Hey sport. Did you hear about Flame. Apparently he got a fail in his guardian training back in Warfang." The wind dragon said hopping for a response.

" hmm." was all Earn said. Ornis nodded to himself though for getting a response out of the green dragon. Spyro, who was up leading the group was looking up at the sun which was now in mid point.

" We should head for the shore now." He whispered to Flame and Cynder who were on either side while. he hung his head. Cynder nodded at him while looking up at the sun.

" Yeah its about time." Flame replied with a sigh. Spyro turned to the gates that were not far from him and started for them. Earn took a quick look at where they were headed and seen the big black gates. He new were they led and he braced himself. Not a minute more and they were through them. Upon leaving the village gates, just on the other side were all the dragons sitting much like they did the night before. This time however they were all crying tears of pain. The boats were lined up against the shore and had sails on them ready to go with dragon stationed at each of them. Earn felt himself buckle under the sudden weight of his heart.

" Earn!" Ornis said in shock and held him up. The tears had started in the green dragons eyes already. At the front were the guardians. All of them with pain in there eyes. Terrador took the lead this time as he stood a little in front of them. He took a deep breath and composed himself before speaking.

" Our ancestors tell us of a magical place beyond that of our own world. Were there is no fear, pain or sadness. Were dragons and other creatures can live in peace and happiness. I stand here today with a heavy heart. Our loses are great and theres no hiding it, painful as well. But we must look to the future if we are to strive towards getting our city back. These dragons died saving their loved ones and their city. They in battle. But believe me when I say this as Cyril said not twelve hours ago…we will not let their deaths go in vain." Cyril lifted a paw and closed his eyes letting some tears float down before brining it down. The dragons all pushed each boat out into the water releasing the sails before sending a small spark to each of them causing them to burn. The fire started slow at first but it increased in strength on each boat until they were completely consumed.

" May the ancestors look over you as you pass thought to the great beyond." Terrador concluded as the boats started to shrink of into the distance. Cynder, who was silently crying against Spyro's shoulder was looking over at Earn who had a stream of tears coming from his eyes. Cynder and the others could still stand but Earn, Earn had to be held up or he would fall to the ground. They all listened to the fire cracking on the boats until they were a mere line on the horizon. Ornis and Winfil, who were holding Earn up bent in closer to him.

" C'mon Earn. Time to go." Ornis said quietly. The green dragon nodded and started to leave with Ornis and Winfil close behind. Flame went along with them as well. Cynder watched as they began to leave and turned to Spyro, calming down now.

" Should we go with them." She asked. Spyro shook his head slowly.

" Those three will most definitely take care of him even without us." Cynder couldn't answer but just hugged the purple dragon before they left back for the village. Up in front Earn, Winfil, Ornis and Flame were talking the long way around on the outside of the wall which hugged the woods. Not a single word had been spoken since they left the shore. Earn was still letting tears fall from his face while the other three silently felt pain for their friend. Flame was walking when he suddenly saw something in the woods. A cloaked figure drifting in between the trees. Not wanting to cause a stir after the recent events Flame slowed down a little.

" Hey guys, I'm meant to see Cyril for some reason I just remembered. I'll catch you up." He said simply. Winfil and Ornis nodded while Earn kept his eyes at front and said nothing. Flame backed away until the rounded the lazy bend and were out of sight before turning to the forest.

" Who's out there." He asked. No one replied but just before he was about to turn, he saw it. The cloaked figure danced past two trees in direct sight of Flame. The fire dragon growled slightly and took of into the forest after the figure.

" Stop whoever you are." He yelled once clear of the village. The trees raced past him as he nearly flew past them. Upon reaching where he saw the figure Flame stopped and surveyed the area but seen no one.

" what the." He began as he turned but suddenly, right in-front of him was the figure. " Gahh." Flame yelped and jumped back blinking his eyes but when he opened them the figure was gone. The fire dragon, now scared shot his eyes and head in very direction looking for the figure.

" Where are you." He asked again a little more timidly than last time. He heaved himself back onto his paws and kept his eyes everywhere. But he couldn't see the figure anywhere. He took one step forward before he felt a sudden pain of his back before he was swiped of his paws and landed on his back staring up at the figure in front of him.

" Who…Who are you." Said Flame stammering over his words. The figure stood motionless before bringing a claw up to its hood and bringing it down. Flame stood with wide eyes as he stared at the dragon before him.

" Ember."