Disclaimer: I don't own Spyro!

Chapter 4

Two Journeys Begin

I'm free! Spyro thought gleefully as he walked to his room. He had been polite to Tara, but not very encouraging. If she tried to ask him out again, he would just say no.

Spyro entered his room and jumped back as a bright yellow light blinded him.

"So how did it go?" Sparx asked, hovering a few inches from Spyro's face.

"Horrible," Spyro replied, glancing away and wondering if Sparx had always been that bright. "Could you leave? I'd kind of like to get some sleep."

"Fine," Sparx frowned and then swooped out over Spyro's head.

Spyro walked into the dark room and flopped down on his bed. He curled up and was asleep in a few moments.

A few minutes later, a knock sounded at the door. Spyro groaned as his sleep was interrupted. He rolled onto his feet and stumbled over to the door, vowing that if it was Sparx, he would put the annoying insect inside of a jar for the rest of the night.

Instead, he found Pyris, Cynder's sister. She pushed her way inside and closed the door behind her, glancing around the room. Spyro immediately realized that something was going on. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing…," Pyris glanced around. "Well, actually… I'mgoingtorunawayandgolookforCynderbymyself…thatisifyoudon'twanttocomewithme."

Spyro blinked as it took his mind several seconds to translate the other youngster's rapid speech. "Why?"

"Because there is no way that anyone else can find her," Pyris replied. "I know that Ignitus has everyone keeping an eye out for her, but I don't think Cynder will be anywhere near another dragon. She doesn't want to be around anyone and if anyone found her… Well, I'm not sure that they'll listen to Ignitus and bring her back…"

"So you're saying…"

"That we're the only two people that Cynder will let get near her," Pyris replied. "So we have to go find her and convince her to come back."

"I don't know. I mean, it's really dangerous out there…" Spyro said. "She could be anywhere."

Pyris frowned stubbornly. "I don't care. I'm going tomorrow evening. Let me know if you decide to come with."

She turned and walked out the door. Spyro turned and walked over to the window, glancing out at the forest. He would never be able to sleep now.

"Cynder, where are you?"

--

"I'm right here," Cynder sighed, pushing her way out of the bushes. A makeshift pack sat on her back, filled with several different herbs.

"You shouldn't go too far," Kadie said. "Even with the skellies gone, this place is still dangerous."

"Oh, please," Cynder scoffed. "I can take care of myself."

She stepped forward and slipped on the mud, sliding head first down the muddy hill, stopping beneath Kadie. She raised her head and shook it, sending some of the mud flying.

"Yeah, I can see that," Kadie chuckled. "Let's head back. It looks like we have enough veggies to satisfy Jirin."

They headed back toward the hut, Cynder brushing the mud off on whatever plant life she could. There were still bits of mud covering her by the time they got back to the hut. Cynder slipped the pack off of her back, while Kadie tossed down the small leak that she had carried back.

Cynder looked up as she heard a voice from inside the hut. "Jirin has a visitor?"

"He's never had any visitors in all the time that I've been here," Kadie said, exchanging a curious glance with Cynder. The two flapped their wings and landed outside of the entrance to the hut, Cynder pushed the door open.

"Hey-," Cynder stopped as she saw who Jirin's guest was.

It was a rather small creature, covered with black fur. He stood on his hind legs, hunched over on a large wooden cane. He wore a strange hat with a candle on top of it, rather odd since he didn't have any visible eyes and Cynder knew for a fact that his species relied more on smell then any other sense.

He turned and sniffed the air. Cynder knew that if he had eyes, he would be staring right at her. She hoped that the mud would disguise her scent from him.

Mole-Yair turned back to Jirin. "So you will look into it?"

"Of course, my friend," Jirin replied.

"Thank you," the manwersmall turned and shuffled toward the door. Cynder leapt to the side and pressed herself against the wall.

"Do you know him?" Jirin asked, raising an eyebrow at Cynder.

"I-, I mean, the old me, imprisoned him and his people…" Cynder replied, recalling how she had been ready to let all of the manwersmalls perish in Boyzitbig's eruption.

"Perhaps you can make it up to him," Jirin said gently. "He just told me that several of the manwersmalls were captured by the apes. He's found their general location and wants me to try and locate them."

"I'll do whatever I can," Cynder said instantly.

--

"Spyro!"

The purple dragon glanced up tiredly at Crystalis. He had failed to catch much sleep last night.

"You're in big trouble," Crystalis explained, sliding to a stop next to him. "Tara's told everyone that the two of you are a couple and that you're going on another date tonight."

Spyro stared blankly at his friend for a few moments. "What? I didn't agree to any of that! Who does she think she is to say that?!"

"What are you going to do?" Crystalis asked. "I mean, this is kind of embarrassing."

Spyro glanced around the training room. Several of the boys were glaring at him jealously, while the others were looking at him with envy, a few of them gave him a thumbs up.

"Do you know where Pyris is at?" Spyro asked.