Chapter 6

Familiar Faces, Beautiful Places

"Wake up Spyro."

Spyro creaked his eyes open and slowly looked around.

"Yea Ember?",he responded but then noticed Ember was still asleep on the grass beside him.

Spyro quickly looked around for the source becoming ever so worried at who woke him.

"Don't be alarmed it is only I."

Spyro looked behind him to see a cheetah standing there with a brownish colored cloak on with a bow and a bronze decorated quiver of arrows on his back. It took Spyro a few seconds in thought to remember who he was then smiled at the friendly face.

"Hunter! Oh man it's great to see you! How have things been for you?"

Hunter seemed to be very still on his spot, "It has been good here I thank you for asking. Who is your friend?"

Spyro looked over at Ember then back at Hunter, "Her name is Ember, don't worry she's harmless."

"Was I supposed to be worried?",Hunter remarked.

Spyro shrugged as he yawned and stood up and stretched his limbs, "I should wake her up. Do you happen to have the time?"

Hunter looked up into the sky and examined the position of the sun, "Almost 2pm. Did you forget how to tell time by looking at the sun's position of do I have to tell you again?"

"It's alright I still know how just seeing if you knew."

"Yea, right. So are you and Ember . . . mates or something?"

"No we . . . what the . . . ? What the heck kind of question is that?!",Spyro snapped.

Hunter couldn't help but to chuckle at his joke, "Relax I was only kidding."

Ember slowly stirred for the conversation was making her wake up. Hunter looked at Spyro and slowly nodded in approval. Spyro walked over to Ember and began lightly shaking her shoulder.

"Hey Ember, wake up."

Ember slowly opened her eyes and spotted Spyro. She yawned, stood up and stretched, "Hello Spyro." Then she took notice of the cheetah.

"Ember, this is Hunter",Spyro introduced.

Ember didn't say anything for the moment but neither did Hunter so Spyro continued, "He helped me out a while back while on my adventures."

Hunter interrupted, "For you did help me first so I returned the favor."

"How did Spyro help you?",Ember asked.

Hunter began to start the story but Spyro cut him off, "Not at the moment Hunter. I meant to ask you what you were doing here earlier."

"I spotted you while searching for herbs so I decided to come over to see you and see if you were alright. The forest you were sleeping in front of is infested with spiders so I was a little worried when I saw the two of you. Turns out you were just sleeping here."

"Oh we know about the spiders, we fought against one earlier",Ember interrupted.

Hunter seemed alarmed by the news, "Were you hurt?"

Spyro answered, "No we're alright."

Relieved, Hunter said, "Alright, while I'm here anyone hungry?"

Spyro rubbed his stomach, "Now that I think of it I'm starved."

"Yea me too",Ember added.

"Well I'm still looking for some herbs but your welcome to come along if you want. I'll be heading back to the village once I have found some and we have plenty of food there."

Spyro nodded, "Sounds great Hunter, thanks."

Hunter just simply nodded and began walking beside the river against the flow in search of herbs. Ember walked beside Spyro with questions roaming through her mind which of course, Spyro noticed.

After about a minute or so Ember finally asked, "So Hunter helped you out in your travels. When and how if you don't mind me asking?"

A small grin showed on Spyro's face, "I'll be skipping ahead in my story a good ways if I do so I'll tell you about that later. However I will start back to where me and Ignitus were traveling to the village on the other side of the forest."

"You mean Barkwood?",Hunter interrupted.

"Barkwood?",Ember added.

Spyro sighed slightly, "Yea Barkwood."

"Sad really",Ember said. "Our village doesn't even have a name, my dad is too stubborn."

Spyro thought about what he heard for a second then replied, "Sounds as if your dad isn't really too great of a leader."

"I don't want to believe that",Ember responded. "It's too much. Just go ahead with your story, I would rather here that instead."

Hunter added in while he sat down on a nearby stump, "I would like to hear of this story also."

"Alright but could I tell it as we go? I am getting kinda hungry."

Hunter grinned and stood back up, "Always on the move as usual."

"Was you expecting less from me?",Spyro joked. "Well me and Ignitus traveled through the forest as we stayed on the trail for two more days getting under any shelter for rest or any little opening where he could build a fire without worrying on walking up to a burned up forest. We always ended up eating berries and the occasional fruit like an apple. As for dangers we really never encountered any other dangers unless you count snakes. You ran across a few of those but Ignitus scared them away with ease. When we finally arrived at Barkwood it was almost dusk."

xXxXxXxXxXx

Barkwood Six Years Ago

"Are we there yet?",Spyro asked from the back of Ignitus. Ignitus finally let him ride on his back after he asked nicely for so many times. It was seemingly enjoyable for Spyro especially since he didn't have to walk.

However Ignitus didn't answer. He stayed on the path walking at a steady pace. After a few minutes Ignitus began hearing some noises coming from ahead. Ignitus looked the best he could and spotted a clearing.

"We are almost there Spyro. It's just ahead, do you see the clearing?"

Spyro did what he was told, "Yes, I see it."

"That is where the village is. Barkwood as some call it. It is there where we are going." Ignitus walked a few more steps then suddenly remembered something important he was supposed to tell Spyro. "I forgot to tell you about my son."

Spyro grew surprised at the sudden news, "You? Have a son? But your like a hundred years old?"

Ignitus chuckled, "Age doesn't matter Spyro as long as we are happy."

Spyro stayed mostly quiet the rest of the way. When they finally reached the clearing the forest opened up into a small prosperous village. The village of Barkwood. It seemed like the village was built in an opening of the forest because from what Spyro could see there were trees in the distance on the other side of Barkwood. A few dragons were roaming the streets, going back to their homes to enjoy the rest of their day together with their families before it got totally dark.

A road was cut straight through the village with huts on the left side of the road and what seemed like shops and places where you could get food at were on the other side. It was hard to tell what Barkwood contained from his point of view and to top it off it was beginning to get dark.

"We will go to my home for now Spyro. Tomorrow I can show you around the village so you can get to know it better.

"Are there any schools here?",Spyro asked with anticipation.

Ignitus smiled, "There is a small one on the other side of the village. My son goes there. However its only a kindergarten school."

"What does that mean?",Spyro asked trying to get the best look at Barkwood from Ignitus's back.

"It means the school only holds a nursery, 4k and 5k only."

"Oh ok."

Ignitus began his walk toward the village of Barkwood with Spyro still on his back. Ignitus walked down the middle road where Spyro was watching some dragons close up their shops or hurry to their homes. A few minutes passed. The scenery changed a little bit from instead of huts being on the left side they were on both sides now. Spyro saw a couple of forks in the roads but Ignitus stayed on the same middle road as before. Then Ignitus walked up to a particular large hut, two stories high. Ignitus knocked on the door then heard some footsteps coming toward the door.

"Remember, best behavior",Ignitus simply said just before the door opened.

"Yea, yea",Spyro replied as he looked at the dragon that opened it. It was a silver dragon almost the same size as Ignitus.

"Ignitus?",the dragon simply said.

"Hello Maia, miss me?",Ignitus began.

That was all Ignitus had to say before Maia leaned over and gave Ignitus a welcome back kiss. Spyro looked disgusted at the sight. A few seconds later Ignitus interrupted, "Sorry but I have company",he said regarding toward his back.

Maia looked up in surprise, "Oh hello there, I didn't see you up there. Hurry up and come in."

Maia stepped aside letting the Ignitus carry the lazy Spyro inside. Spyro quickly scanned the room. He was evidently in the living room for there were two blue soft couches side by side against the wall along with what looked like a bedside table at the end of it with a decorated lamp atop of it. A fireplace was in the corner in front of the two couches and a few paintings were hung on the wall, one of which looked like the village Spyro lived in. Another looked like a mountain with a river flowing down it. There was a door to his left which was open but almost pitch black inside and past all the couches to his right were stairs leading up to the second floor. A little further up on his left was the kitchen with a counter in the middle and shelves surrounding it.

"I forgot to tell you Spyro about Maia Spyro. She is my wife as you may have already figured out bu now. My son is probably upstairs."

"So your Spyro?",Maia asked. "Firedrake told us about you. Pleasure to finally meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too Maia",Spyro said whilst getting off Ignitus's back.

"Dad!",someone suddenly interrupted. Spyro looked over toward the stairs to see a small red dragon running straight toward Ignitus. He rushed past Spyro and gave Ignitus the biggest hug he could.

"This is our son Spyro",Maia interrupted then turned toward the red dragon. "Do you want to introduce yourself?"

Realizing the Maia was talking to him the red dragon smiled at the purple dragon sitting beside his father. "Hey, your Spyro! I heard about you! Nice to meet you, my name is Flame."

"Hello Flame",Spyro waved.

"Flame is about your age Spyro so if you want to be going to school you two will be in the same class",Ignitus interrupted.

"So Spyro wants to go to school here?",Maia asked.

"I don't think he's entirely sure about it yet",Ignitus answered.

Maia slightly nodded, "Alright but if you decide you do want to go to school here then just tell me, ok?"

Spyro nodded back, "Ok Maia, I will."

Maia smiled in response, "I'm gonna go finish cooking, seeing that your here Ignitus I could use some help in the kitchen."

Ignitus sighed, "Alright. Make yourself at home Spyro. Just don't leave the hut unless you either tell me or Maia."

"Ok Ignitus",Spyro replied as Maia and Ignitus walked into the kitchen leaving him and Flame in the living room.

"Wanna go see my room?",Flame asked.

Spyro sat for a second in thought then said, "Ok, sounds great."

Flame grinned and led Spyro up the stairs and by a bathroom on the left and a closed door on the right. After the closed door there was another door which Flame opened and walked inside. Spyro walked in behind Flame to see Flame's room to be more of a type of an indoor playground. A toybox was on the left on the wall with a basketball goal further to the right. A playmat was on the ground in front of the toybox and a few scattered balls were here and there. On the right was a door which led to Flame's closet and in the corner was Flame's bed. Beside his bed was a small table with some papers strode out on top of it and a slightly opened compartment. Straight ahead of Spyro was a window which he walked up to to take a look outdoors. It was almost dark now but he still managed to see the streets. He didn't see anyone roaming the streets though so he turned around to take another look around Flame's room.

"Pretty neat huh?",Flame asked.

Spyro just made a small grin as a response.

xXxXxXxXxXx

Back to Spyro and Ember

Hunter found the herbs he needed while Spyro told his story so the trio were now headed back toward the cheetahs village. Their search made them wander a little away from the river but Hunter knew the valley like no other.

"So that's how you and Flame met? Flame, Ignitus's son. Well both of them are red so I could see a resemblance",Ember said.

"Yea Flame's a good friend",Spyro responded. "You should meet him sometime."

Ember smiled, "Yea I would like that. What about this dragonfly?"

Spyro thought for a second then said, "You mean Sparx? I'm not rushing this story no matter how bad you want me to",Spyro chuckled.

"I know",Ember replied. "Just anxious to know."

"Right, so about how much longer Hunter? I'm starving."

Hunter looked in the distance then followed his ears to the sound of running water. "When we get to the river we'll follow it for about a mile or so. We should see the village by then."

"We could always",Ember started then flapped her wings a few times. "Fly there."

Spyro shook his head, "I would feel more comfortable with Hunter. I don't want to show up uninvited."

"I know what you mean",Ember said. "Well you could pass the time by telling your story",Ember smiled.

"I would but I need brain fuel",Spyro joked.