Disclaimer: I don't own the Legend of Spyro series.
Chapter 5
Into the Unknown
"The only village near where the manwersmalls were taken is a few days journey from here on foot," Jirin said as he packed several different herbs into a backpack. "The apes most likely stopped there on the way to their final destination."
"There's a village near here?" Cynder asked. The elders had never said anything about a village in the swamp.
Jirin nodded. "It's well-hidden."
"And the people there have no problem with the apes?"
"The people there aren't concerned with the problems of the outside world," Jirin said. "They're mostly traders… though they're not very honest."
"Oh," Cynder said. "So…"
"The place is full of scum," Kadie scowled, trying to hoist a jar of something that looked like eyeballs into the air.
"That's okay, Kadie," Jirin said. "I don't think we'll need any of those."
"What if I get hungry?" Kadie asked, as Cynder stuck her tongue out in disgust.
--
"Why can't I come with you?" Crystalis asked as Spyro shoved a piece of meat into his backpack. They wouldn't be taking much food with them and would be relying on their ability to hunt once they ran out.
"Because Pyris and I don't have any immediate family that will miss us," Spyro said. "And right now, you're all that your mom has."
Crystalis sighed. "You know, Ignitus is going to miss you."
"Yeah, I know," Spyro replied.
Crystalis glanced around the room. "Where's Sparx?"
"I don't know," Spyro replied. "He hasn't been here though, thank the ancestors."
"Are the two of you fighting?" Crystalis asked.
"I don't know," Spyro said before biting hold of a blanket and dragging it over to his backpack and stuffing it inside, wishing that he knew how to properly fold it. "He's just been unusually annoying the last couple of days."
"He's not going with you?"
"He doesn't know that I'm leaving," Spyro said.
"After you've left, do you want me to give him a message?" Crystalis asked.
"Yeah, tell him to grow up," Spyro said, sliding his favorite cloak over his head.
"Will do," Crystalis said.
Spyro pushed the door to his room open and peered out, before pushing it all the way open. Crystalis slid past him and stalked down the hall, glancing around the corner at the end of it. He flicked his tail, signaling that it was all clear. The purple dragon trotted over as Crystalis turned around the corner.
Pressing against the wall, Spyro peered around the corner. Crystalis flicked his tail back. Spyro quickly ducked into the empty room across from him and closed the door. He heard Terrador greet Crystalis, followed by the guardian's footsteps, passing by his hiding place.
He waited a few moments and then opened the door to peer out, finding that the hall was empty, he pushed the door all the way open and stepped out into the hall.
"Come on, it's clear," Crystalis said, stepping around the corner.
The two headed to the end of the hall and glided out of the window, landing in a group of bushes, several dragon lengths from the temple.
"I'll go see if I can find Pyris," Crystalis said, jogging back to the temple.
Spyro settled down in the bushes. He leaned his head down and sniffed one of the white flowers growing on the bush. The flower had a strong, yet sweet scent. It reminded him of how Cynder smelled.
The purple dragon jumped up as he heard something rustling in the bushes behind him. He glanced back to see Ignitus pushing his way into the bushes. Spyro raised his wings, ready to leap into the air.
"Don't worry, I won't try and stop you," Ignitus said, frowning.
"Really?" Spyro exclaimed in surprise. "Why not?"
"I saw you leaving in the pool of visions," Ignitus replied. "I saw some other things… But the point is, this is your path at the moment and I can't interfere."
"Why? What did you see?" Spyro asked.
Ignitus frowned, glancing at the setting sun. "It doesn't matter now. May the ancestors look after you."
The red dragon turned and walked out of the bushes. Spyro stared after him, a chill running up his spine. He glanced back as Pyris and Crystalis landed inside the bush.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with?" Crystalis asked Pyris.
"Yes, we're sure," Pyris said.
"I know I can't fight very well, but there are…"
Pyris placed the tip of her tail over top of Crystalis' mouth. "It doesn't have anything to do with that. It's just that this is very personal for Spyro and I and we don't want you to get hurt, because of us."
Crystalis looked down at the ground. "Okay, be careful,"
"We will," Spyro said. "Try and keep Sparx out of trouble."
The two dragons turned and started into the bushes as Crystalis turned and walked back to the temple.