Brian's POV

I didn't know how long I've been asleep but I was awake now. As I got up I looked around, Everyone but Hunter and myself was sleeping, Hunter and I quietly nodded at each other as I made my way to the deer. They must of been hungry because all they left for me was one leg. I carried the leg outside to eat it.

After I ate the leg I looked into the sky. Using the constellations as a clock, I figured it was about a hour before sunrise. My stomach growled telling me I needed more food, as a response I walked over to the river and caught a couple trout. That topped me off.

"You up already Brian?" I turned around to watch Spyro come out of the cave.

"Yeah," I replied, "Just thinking about something."

"Really? Like what?" Spyro asked as he came along side me.

"Those mercs, how did they get here? and why?" Spyro nodded as he sat to my left.

"I know, but I want to ask you something: Who are they?" Spyro asked me. I was the only one besides them who knew what they were.

"They're basically pirates, raiders, people who believe that just because they have guns and we don't, They are the ones who are supposed to make the laws and enforce them." I explained, "And because of that they believe themselves immune to justice.I've heard of cases where they will come and ransack whole villages of their food and anything important to the villagers at gunpoint, But before they leave they announce something like: "We appreciate your donations for continuing the protections of your village." Before driving off."

"That's horrible! doesn't anyone try to stop them?" Spyro asked,.

"Generally no, most mercs operate in areas too isolated for law enforcement, the good guys, to reach. However not all mercs are bad, there is one exception: We called ourselves the Rangers."

"We? are you saying that. . .?" Spyro pointed out. Guilty as charged.

"Yes, I was one of them, but instead of abusing our power like other mercs. The Rangers were basically an army without a country wageing our own war on terrorism and mercs." I explained. Spyro silently nodded, he took it better than most humans did.

"Spyro, I-I need to get something off of my chest, Can I tell you something I've never told anyone before?" I asked, I felt like my heart turned to lead and dropped at the memory. Spyro slowly nodded his head. "Anything for a friend" He spoke I took a deep breath.

"My mother was an artist and my father a pilot. When I was four years old we were flying over a jungle to a waterfall for my mom so she could paint it, disaster struck. the engine caught fire and we crashed into the jungle, Both of my parents were killed and I was trapped in the wreckage. The only reason I'm alive is because a team of the Rangers found the crash and saved my life. They took me back to their camp and raised me as their own, I remember how much I hated my tutor for making me write all sorts of reports. a few years later I learned that he never knew how to read." Spyro laughed a little at that. "But thanks to him, I learned everything I needed to at three times the speed an average schoolboy would. The rest of my time I learned how to survive in the wilderness and how to fight. I naturally was gifted at stealth and accuracy with a gun so I became their sniper. When I was seven, I finally met another boy my age, His name was Jacob. His father was a fisherman who made a deal with us for food. Jacob and I were best of friends, he had something that he called a Playstation. A video game console that we would play together if we ever got the chance." I didn't tell Spyro that he was my favorite game to play. "A few years later, Jacob left to go to college and I was sent to stop a drug deal. I never heard from him since."

"That must of been a hard way to live." Spyro commented.

"It was, It didn't have cash rewards like you can in the cities, But it had it's own rewards." I replied, "Nothing is more rewarding than the look on someone's face when you save them somehow."

Spyro nodded in agreement.

"Ah! There you two are. I was looking for you." Terrador's rich voice caught me and Spyro off guard. Cynder and Amber stepped out along side him.

"Morning to you too sir." I replied, seeing Amber reminded me of something.

"Would you three like to see a little something I did to the humans?" I asked. Spyro and Cynder responded yes right away, Amber hesitated, She didn't want to go back there. I don't blame her. Surprisingly, she responded yes under one condition: She remains by us the whole time.

"Alright, Just let me get something from Hunter and we'll be off " I walked into the cave to talk to Hunter.

Twenty minutes later. . .

Spyro's POV

Brian had us land a short distance away and walk to a ridge overlooking the merc's city. Brian set something made of metal on the ground before he looked at the city. "The mercs think that as long as their tower stands we will fear them. So I rigged up a little surprise for them, but I think you'll enjoy it a lot more then they will." Brian said as he fiddled with the device. Suddenly he stopped. "Amber, If you'll please. You should be the one to do this." Amber walked over eyeing the device closely. "Just press this here and count to ten." Brian instructed, Amber took a step forward but stepped back scared.

"Don't worry I won't let them get you, Stay by me, and you'll be safe." Brian comforted her as he came alongside her. Slowly Amber walked up to the item with Brian at her side. She pressed the button expecting pain, but nothing happend. Brian started counting:

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

"Four"

Cynder and I joined in.

"Five"

"Six"

"Seven"

"Eight"

"Nine"

"Ten." Amber finished.

Explosions blasted away at the base of the tower. Humans panicked at the chaos.

"And . . ." Brian paused as the tower leaned to one side. A final blast made the wall give way as the tower crashed down on the city.

"Timber" Brian finished as Amber let out a sigh. By doing that, Brian helped her break through her fear of the humans. The four of us took off for Warfang. Something troubled me though, If Brian and the mercs made it here, what stopped more humans from coming through?