Forgetting Who You Are
Chapter 3
Outside the sun shone just as hot as it ever had. The three walked along a path that winded up a rocky spire, just south of Ash's home. The top was littered with domes that acted as homes for the inhabitants.
The trio walked forward slowly. The emptiness of the villages was unsettling. They stopped when a deep voice that shook the ground with it's ferocity and volume spoke. "Who are you to bring dragons into my territory? Do you think you I won't kill you merely because you are a writer"?
"You forget that I am both a writer and seer".
From the stone dome in front of them stepped a gryphon so large he might have been bigger than any of the guardians. The feathers he bore were black as night, and his fur was a pale grey. "You think I care? I only care about the safety of my people. And you have endangered them by bringing these overgrown lizards into my domain! Not to mention who they are. The 'hero' of which your prophecies foretold". He looked down at Cynder and scoffed. "And of course the Dark Master's Whore".
The words cut through the dragoness like a headsman's ax. Spyro didn't know whether he should speak up or remain silent. Without any recollection of either his or her past, he doubted he could make any protests worth saying. So he stayed quiet, and instead move next to Cynder.
Ash stepped forward and stood tall, imposing himself upon the huge gryphon. "You have no right to speak ill of the past, Dromis the Defiler".
The gryphon screeched and pinned Ash to the ground with a mighty talon. "You little insect! How dare you come into my home and insult me like that! What gives you"...
"The right to bring up the past? I don't know. Why don't you ask that yourself"? Begrudgingly, the gryphon stepped off of Ash, who dusted himself off and walked back to the dragons. "Now that that's out of the way, I have something to ask of you".
No thought was needed, and the hybrid spoke out, "No".
Ash paused, confused. "But you don't even know what I was going to ask".
"You want me to grant these two passage through the Valley of Talons". He turned around. "And the answer is no". He flicked his tail at them and three sizable gryphons approached.
"I can you offer something in return! A favor"!
The clan leader's ears twitched at that word , and he stopped. "A favor you say? From the tellers of prophecy? Well now I am intrigued. But you see, I'm in need of a few duties done around here, cleaning, bathing the newborns and elders. Nothing a leader such as myself should be bothered with".
"What do you want, Desmios"?
He pointed a large, razor sharp talon towards Cynder. "I want to watch her die slowly. But I doubt you'd allow that. So I'll settle for a new servant. Give me that and the favor previously mentioned, and I will guarantee them safe passage. So long as they tread within my domain". He outstretched his arm with an open palm.
Ash looked toward Cynder, who knew there was no other option, and nodded. He walked towards Desmios and gave forwards an open palm.
"Wait"! Shouted Spyro. "If Cynder's going to work, so will I".
Desmios rolled his eyes. "So be it. I'll take the 'hero' as well. He might do well entertaining me. He already looks the part of a fool after all".
"Are you sure about this, Spyro"? Asked Cynder.
"I'm sure. I already owe one favor. One more isn't going to kill me".
Ash sighed. "Alright, but you volunteered".
The gryphon flicked up a talon, and pierced a hole in Ash's hand, then his own. They pressed the wounds together, and simultaneously spoke the words of binding. "Bound by blood is your word. Should you break it, it will break you".
He pulled away and flicked his arm. "Now that that bit of discomfort is over, you may leave. I have servants who are in dire need of something to do".
Ash looked at them as he began walking away. "They have a week. And you are bound, Desmios! Don't forget"!
He grunted. Staring at the two dragons he smiled and gave the orders. Cynder was to stay nearby and deal with anything that came to his mind. And Spyro was to tend to everything he didn't have time for. More accurately what he couldn't be bothered with.
After only two days, the dragons were already regretting their decision. Cynder was organizing Desmios' trophy collection, when a small, white feathered, leopard print gryphon peeked their head inside.
They snuck their way behind Cynder. "What are you doing"?
Cynder jumped, spun and squealed loudly. "Don't sneak up on me like that! You nearly scared me half to death"!
The little gryphon looked sad. "I'm sorry". Their face perked up and they began laughing. "But it was pretty funny, wasn't it"?
Cynder let out a chuckle. "I suppose so". She eyed the gryphon over. "Say, I haven't seen you around here before. Who are you"?
"I'm Desmios' daughter. Vesh. It's nice to meet you Cynder. I've never seen a dragon before. You aren't as scary as the elders say you are".
Cynder was a little worried of how bad of a reputation the dragons had here. "What do the elders say about dragons"?
"Well", she started, "they say dragon's have teeth like this", She exaggerated with her arms, "and claws like this", she exaggerated again, "and breath fire like this", she exhaled and made crude, fire noises mixed with a few explosions. "Fsssshhhhhh PKCHOEWWWOOOoooooo...".
Cynder smiled at the young, energetic gryphon. "I can promise you I won't do that".
Vesh began rolling around on the floor. "I know you won't hurt us, you're too pretty. Pretty things don't hurt anyone".
"That's so sweet. Thank you very much".
"Do you wanna see a trick"? She asked loudly.
The dragoness nodded. "I would love to".
"Okay", Vesh lowered her head to the ground. "I've only practiced a few times but I think I've got it". She spread her wings and leapt into the air flipping backwards. The gryphon landed on her feet and spread her wings as she bowed. "Ta daaa"!
Cynder clapped. "Very impressive! How long did that take you"?
Vesh smiled widely with big eyes. "Not that long. Takkye says he does it better, but he can't even fly yet".
"Who's Takkye"? Asked Cynder as she sat on her haunches.
"My little brother. Don't listen to him though, he's just a feather head".
From the other side of the doorway, another small voice perked up. "I am not"!
Vesh huffed as she turned to the doorway. "Takkye, were you listening this whole time"?
In walked a smaller gryphon, with grey feathers and white leopard print fur. "Only because I don't want you lying about me"!
He pounced for his sister who jumped out of the way and dashed outside the hut. "Bye Cynder! Talk to you later"!
"Have fun". She looked to the trophy hoard. "I wonder what Spyro's doing. I hope his job isn't as bullshit as mine". She went back to organizing the heads and other body parts of various animals.
After maybe five minutes Spyro poked his head in. "Hey, Cynder"?
She turned to him. "Yes, Spyro"?
"Have you seen two young gryphons. One female, white feathers, leopard print fur. The other"..
"Grey feathers and grey leopard print"?
"Um.. yeah. So you have seen them"?
She smiled. "They went that way". She pointed out the door and farther into the village.
"Oh I was JUST there. Thanks Cynder". He ran out toward where Vesh and Tekkye had went. Turning a corner, he ran head first into Desmios, who glared at him menacingly.
"Where are my children"?
Spyro felt a bead of sweat run down the side of his face. "Oh, we.. uh... we're playing hide and seek, and I'm it".
The gryphon lowered his head so he was eye level with the purple dragon. "If they get hurt, it will be you who regrets it. Do I make myself clear"? Spyro nodded profusely. "Good. Now go".
The purple dragon ran down the alley towards the screams of laughter. After turning a corner, he saw them, wrestling with one another. They snapped their heads toward Spyro as he walked up to them.
"There you are. I've been chasing you for over an hour. You can't just run off like that. You might get hurt". Vesh and Takkye said nothing, instead they just stared at Spyro. Looking scared. "Don't give me that look, I'm not gonna hurt you and you aren't in trouble. Just don't run aw... What are you looking at"?
Takkye and Vesh were breathing heavily, together they managed to choke out one word. "Corrupted". Spyro was confused. He turned around and his body froze. Standing not five feet from him was one of the creatures that had inhabited the deserted city where Ash had first met and saved him.
It was a sickly grey, with boils littering it's body leaking puss and other solid black liquid. It stood on two legs and had a tail with a bladed tip. Three long claws formed from it's hands that hung low to the ground, and crooked, razor sharp teeth lined the inside of it's mouth. It wheezed heavily, and twitched in unnatural ways.
Spyro's leg twitched and the creature wailed. The scream was so loud and high pitched, it left a ringing in the ears of all who heard the shriek.
The purple dragon turned to the children and screamed at them. "Go! Get out of here now"! They followed the instructions and ran into a connecting alley. Spyro lowered himself into a fighting stance, ready to defend himself and kill whatever was in front of him.
The only problem was, Spyro never saw the creature move, But still a searing pain shot up his chest. When he looked, three gashes had cut clean through his scales and his blood stained the creatures claws.
"How did it?! I didn't even see the thing move"! His vision began to blur. "Is this from the pain? Or is it... poison"! He managed to stay upright, but it took all of his concentration to do so. The creature shrieked once more and dashed past the purple dragon into the connecting alley. "Takkye! Vesh"! He screamed as he forced his body to chase the creature.
He could hear the screams of terror coming from the two young gryphons. They weren't fast enough to get away. "Where is everyone? Why aren't they helping"? It was a sound thought, and a good question. But an answer would have to come later.
He saw the tail of the creature turn a corner, and he forced himself to go faster. Around the corner was a dead end. And the creature stood over the young gryphons, who huddled together in fear. Spyro slammed into the creature and bit into its flesh. It howled in pain and threw him off next to Vesh and Takkye. It leapt into the air with a screech, and raised both clawed harms, ready for the kill. Spyro wrapped himself around the children, a shield between this thing, and them.
He awaited the sting of it's claws, but it never came. Slowly he peeked out from behind his wing. The creature was frozen, suspended in the air with it's razor sharp claws stopped in a downward swing, mere feet from the three.
"What happened? Is it frozen? No, there's no ice. Or anything for that matter. What's going on"?! He screamed in his head as the creature began to twitch. When it moved, it seemed to shatter a glass casing around it's body. Leaving a hole in mid air.
It spoke in a distorted, demonic voice. The voice sounded painful. As though it was a struggle to talk. "You... are not... permitted"! When it broke free of it's invisible prison, Spyro knew he had made himself the main target.
But the creature moved much slower. Slow enough that Spyro managed to dodge the three combo swipe it had made, and even managed to slash it with his own claws. It seemed confused, and angry. Mostly angry. But now that Spyro could keep up, he got back into a fighting position.
The thing screamed again, and lunged towards the purple dragon, who side stepped the attack and ducked under the tail swipe aimed at his throat. Spyro lunged at the things back and stabbed it with one of his horns. It tried to swing at him, but he was able to dislodge his horn and jump back. The creature lashed out with it's tail in a flurry of swings. When it came close enough, Spyro bit down onto it below the blade.
He kept biting harder, until he felt it sever. The beast howled in pain as it flailed the blood hose around, spraying the purple dragon and painting his scales in a thick, dark green, sticky liquid. Spyro wiped it from his eyes, but was struck by the stump that was once bladed. His vision was blurry, but he saw just enough to know to dash to the left. He then jumped forward and bit down on the things throat.
It howled yet again. This time, it thrust one of it's claws into Spyro's stomach. Even so, the purple dragon didn't let go. He began feeling something, from deep within. It felt hot. It was working it's way into his throat. He let it out with a roar. When he did, it sent him flying back. What he did manage to see was a column of fire erupt from his muzzle. It seared the flesh of the creature, and left a glowing white mark along the side of it's face, neck and shoulder.
When he looked up, the thing was gone. The piece of tail was writhing on the ground, spurting small amounts of blood occasionally.
Spyro crawled his way to the young gryphons, wrapped his wings around them, and the world went black.