Cynder watched as the wolves charged her friends. Her instincts told her to help them but discipline restrained her.
"Looks like your friends have their hands full." She looked back at Spyro with worry in her eyes.
"They can handle themselves." Spyro nodded. "Right now it's just you and me!" He spread his wings wide, blazing with convexity.
"Very well then. If you insist!" Cynder followed his lead and the two charged each other. Cynder swung with her talons thinking that Spyro would dodge her again. Much to her surprise the purple dragon met her head on with his own claws. There was a loud crash and a bolt of convexity sparked between them. In that instant, Cynder caught a glimpse of Spyro. He was smiling at her. It was then she realized what he was up to. He lips curled into a mischievous grin and struck again. Spyro countered with his claws again and another bolt flashed between them. Spyro whirled around and Cynder jerked her head back as his tail spade just missed her. She spun and Spyro cartwheeled over her massive tail as it brushed beneath him. Cynder slashed with her talons again and Spyro rolled over the top of her arm. He opened his mouth wide and Cynder saw what was coming. She ducked under the bolt of lightning into a somersault and whipped her tail. Her blade whistled past Spyro and he felt a chill run down his spine. The only time he heard that sound was when she was being serious.
Spyro opened his jaws again and fired several chains of lighting. Cynder squalled in surprised and banked hard to avoid getting struck. Spyro's aim was getting more precise. He reared his head back and unleashed a spray of lightning bolts. The black dragoness shrouded herself in convexity and the bolts spattered off the barrier, striking the ground below.
Down on the ground the guardians ignored the shower of lighting as they squared off with the mutant wolves. Flame was the first to charge in. He lunged for the wolf's throat and slashed with his claws. The wolf side-stepped and brought down his bladed weapon. Flame jumped to the side as the blade smashed into the ground where he had been standing a split second before. The wolf barked and a jagged pillar of ice burst from underneath him. Flame rolled away as one of the sharp edges cut his side open.
Ember stepped in and smashed the pillar with her paws and swung her tail. The wolf jumped back as flames filled the air. Ember roared and breathed another wave of fire at the wolf's feet. The canine staggered back trying to avoid burning its pads on the hot ground. Flame leaped over Ember's head and spat a fireball. The ground beneath the wolf erupted in a pillar of fire and he fell to the ground. He looked at the two fire breathers in surprise as they approached him, with wings and tails twitching in anger.
The wolf inhaled and breathed a cloud of ice. Flame and Ember dodged and landed on either side of the wolf. Their jaws opened wide as fire belted from the back of their throats. The wolf watched as the flames spread until he was completely surrounded. With an evil grin he breathed another cloud of ice. The ring of fire disappeared and was replaced with a ring of ice.
"What the hell?" Ember gasped. The wolf swung his blade, shattering the ice and sending out a spray of shards. The fire breathers took to the air to avoid the attack. Several yards away the other combatants jumped out of the way of the spikes.
Ember's cheeks puffed out and she spit a shower of flaming darts. The tiny fireballs peppered the wolf, causing him to growl in irritation. Flame took the chance and pounced onto he wolf's back. The beast snarled angrily as the fire guardian bit into his frozen mane, shattering the protective layer of ice that covered his fur. Ember watched as the canine struggled to throw Flame off and breathed fire across the ground again. The wolf let out a startled yelp and started to falter. Flame beat his wings hard, pulling the beast back and slamming him into the ground. The wolf's head rocked from the impact, briefly stunning him. Ember sprang into the air and spewed a wave of fire. The wolf's eyes grew wide and he unleashed a beam of ice energy back up at the dragoness. Ember struggled against the powerful beam and beat her wings harder. The wolf was far stronger than she had expected. There was a loud roar beside her as Flame added his own fire breath to the attack. The flames burned until they were white-hot. The fire breathers let loose a mighty roar and pressed harder. The wolf let out an agonized howl as the flames engulfed his body. The inferno spread across the field, incinerating anything in its path. The other guardians barely had enough time to get out of the way.
Flame and Ember landed on the scorched ground, the ashes crunching beneath their feet. They both gasped for breath as they watched the fire burn into the ground.
"That was intense." Ember whistled.
"I know." Flame muttered and turned to give her a loving nuzzle. "Are you okay?"
Before Ember could answer a shower of ice blades shot from the fire. Flame cursed and tackled Ember to the ground.
"Flame!" Ember cried when she saw the spikes sticking out of his back.
"I'm alright..." He winced, giving her his goofy smile to try and calm her down. Just then a hand reached down and grabbed the fire guardian by the throat. Flame coughed and struggled against the wolf's grip as he was lifted off his dragoness. Ember was on her feet in an instant. She lunged for the wolf and slammed her tail across his face. The burned monster staggered back and Ember unleashed another wave of fire. The wolf held his hand up to deflect the blast . Ember roared furiously as she forced more power into her flames. The wolf stepped back once then reached forward through the dragoness's fire. Ember screamed as the mutant grabbed her face in his burned, bloody hand.
"Ember!" Flame wheezed as he watched her get lifted off the ground. Ember struggled to free herself but the wolf was slowly crushing her face, suffocating her. The canine smiled as he looked at the two fire breathers. His fur had been burned away completely, leaving nothing but bloody, blackened, peeling flesh. He released Flame and jammed his knee hard into his gut. Flame's eyes widened as he felt the wind rush out of his body. His body sailed through the air and hit the ground hard.
With the male fire breather out of the way the wolf was free to do as he pleased to the dragoness. He struck Ember in the stomach with a massive fist. The dragoness tried to cry out but her screams were muffled by the fist that was closed around her head. The wolf struck her again and again, each time getting the same muffled cry.
"E-Ember..." Flame groaned as he struggled to lift his head from the ground. He could see tears running down her neck, mixing in with the wolf's blood that tainted her once beautiful pink-scaled body.
At last the wolf tossed her away. Ember coughed hard when she hit the ground. When she opened her eyes, everything was a blur. Her stomach was badly bruised and she could feel the damage spreading throughout her insides. She coughed hard and tasted blood at the back of her throat. Slowly she got to her feet and faced the mutant monster before her.
The wolf only sneered at her. He dropped his weapon and curled his claws into ah half-closed fist. Ember watched as the wolf's icy energy formed inside his palm. The energy solidified into a massive jagged spear and Ember saw what was coming. She struggled to lift her head but her vision was still blurry. She spread her wings wide, but the wolf wasn't buying her bluff. He could see from the way her head was swaying slightly that she hadn't fully recovered.
The canine raised the spear and took aim for Ember. The dragoness ground her teeth, waiting for the release. The wolf's smile turned into a snarl of defiance and hate as he hurled the spear with killing intent. Ember gasped and closed her eyes awaiting the end. The wolf's cry was drowned out by another. There was a hot rush of wind and the sound of something screeching. When Ember dared to open her eyes they instantly grew wide as saucers.
Standing before her was Flame. His head was reared back towards her and in his jaws was the spear. He had caught, the tip only inches away from her face. But that wasn't what shocked the dragoness the most. It was the glowing red, fire-like markings that covered his body.