Author's note
Volia's name is pronounced (vol-i-ah) for those of you who were wondering.
Also 400 is not the max lifespan dragons can surpass it with magic or other methods (such as genetics or other natural or unnatural things)
Chapter 8: Pompous nitwits and lovely couples
Sawdust walked along the Market pushing through anyone who got in his way. He was the son of the eastern dragon's ambassador why should he care about these lowly peasants. He was unique as were all dragons from the eastern deserts as they were all earth dragons but their time in the desert made them evolve over the years to have beige or sandy coloured scales. His father had much darker scales than him but the scale colour did not matter his father saw to it that his son got what he wanted. He shoved passed two armored guards.
"What's his problem?" One muttered.
"Spoiled rich pompous twit." The other growled.
Sawdust continued through the market. Looking around to see if these people had anything that would be worthy of him. Then he saw a dragoness. Her black scales put that guardian he liked to shame. He could see her emerald eyes from over here. He walked over with a confident smile on his face. No matter what that dragoness was as good as his.
Cynder had been searching for Spyro in the marketplace for about an hour. Again they had gotten split up. She sighed and walked out of the crowds. She spread her wings to take off.
"What is a lovely dragoness doing out here all by herself." Said the beige dragon that approached her. "Looking for company I bet."
Cynder rolled her eyes.
"Why don't you and I take a walk and get to know each other better." The beige dragon continued then decided to try and mooch up to her with compliments.
Cynder was looking for a way out then she noticed her escape was coming her way.
Spyro stepped out of the crowd clad in his golden armor to disguise him as a Warfang guard he looked around. He then spotted Cynder she was looking straight at him while some dragon was busy hitting on her. She mouthed the words help me to him and Spyro nodded and strode up.
"Is this dragon bothering you milady." Spyro asked masking his voice as best as he could.
The beige dragon looked at him and snorted.
"Mind your own business guard and get back to your post." He growled.
"My job is to patrol Warfang and stop citizens from being harassed." Spyro retorted. "And here I see some pompous creep harassing a fair dragoness."
Sawdust just stood there stupefied. This dragon had just insulted him. Nobody does that.
"I can take you on!" Sawdust exclaimed.
Spyro just stepped forward slightly and a pillar of earth shot from the ground in front of sawdust's face almost hitting his nose.
"I will not damage Warfangs relationship with your people by fighting you and ticking off your father." Spyro replied. "Get out of my sight, or next time I will fight."
Sawdust turned and left with a snort. Spyro then turned to Cynder. He tapped the crystal on his collar and the armor disappeared.
"Sorry about that my love now shall we get back to our walk?" Spyro asked.
Cynder giggled.
"Yes why don't we." She replied.
Flame awoke. He felt warmth on his chest and noticed Ember sprawled on top of him preventing him from moving or leaving. He smiled they had just enjoyed a night together and now they might have a child to look forward too. Ember's eye opened and she lifted her head up.
"Last night was the best night of my life." Ember said.
"I agree you were great." Flame replied. "I'm glad we finally got to bond like that."
They both heard a barely audible knocking on their door. Ember got up and opened the door slightly to see Sparx floating there.
"The Council wants a meeting in about an hour." Sparx said.
Ember nodded then turned to Flame.
"Well why don't we go get some food." Ember suggested.
"Good plan." Flame replied as they left their room and set off down the hall.
Along the way they passed Volia who was trotting down the hallways toward Venik's room. With a quick nod they head on their way.
Volia kept a steady pace into the guest area she walked through until she found Venik's room. She knocked but received no answer; she waited a moment then knocked again. Venik opened the door.
"h-h-hello." He stuttered embarrassed about yesterday.
Volia giggled.
"I came to see if you have any plans today." Volia said.
"Well luckily I don't." Venik said with a smile.
"I have a meeting to go to in an hour, after that I have the day to myself." Volia said.
Venik thought about that for a second before realizing what she was doing.
"are you asking to spend time with me?" Venik asked.
"Yes I am cutie." She answered as she gave him a wink.
"T-t-that's nice." Venik said. "What did you have in mind?"
"The temple gardens." Volia responded. "Peaceful, quiet and not crowded."
Venik nodded.
"Well come get me when you are done the meeting and we will go." Venik said.
"Why don't we go get some food first, we have an hour and it would be better than staying in your room alone." Volia suggested.
"alright." Venik replied.
The left Venik's room and took off down the hall towards the Temples Mess hall.
Every one of the guardians was in the mess hall the only ones of higher status not there were Spyro and Cynder. Breakfast was not very active or interesting most were dreading what the council would have to say due to what happened yesterday so most of them ate in silence only talking to their mate or closest friends. When the hour was almost over and they had finished up they all left towards the meeting room and slowly enter all except for Ember who had to wait outside. They entered and took their seats around the center table which was in the shape of an oval. They waited patiently and the councillors entered. Volteer and Lute looked particularly cheerful. Incineric had his usual smile on while both Terrador and Cyril seemed conflicted. Volteer stood at one end of the table and cleared his throat.
"There are a few things we need to discuss." He began. "First off yesterday there was a…heated argument over the pair bonding protocol."
The guardians nodded.
"And for a few of you the news came as quite a shock."
Flame nodded.
"I myself know a few of you have affairs that you mean to keep quiet and I won't discuss them."
Fade and Faintheart looked at each other nervously.
"I know some of you have followed the guardian code to the letter so this protocol is something you follow."
Quake and Frostbite nodded.
"But due to recent events, such as the discoveries of multiple couples formed and being formed by members and of how long this protocol has been ignored, we have seen fit to remove the pair bonding protocol."
Many of the guardians cheered. Fade and Faintheart embraced. Flame got up and left the room to tell Ember. Volia and Vinda danced around each other. Quake and Frostbite smiled.
"However!" Terrador boomed stopping everyone mid celebration. "Just because you are allowed to have a mate or form attachments does not give you the right to skip your duties."
All the guardians nodded.
"Dismissed." Volteer chimed.
The Guardians all left the meeting room and head off in their own directions. Flame and Ember set off for the temple gardens while Volia head for Venik's room. She knocked on his door and he came out of his room with a cheerful smile.
"Shall we head to the gardens?" Volia asked.
"If that is what you want oh mighty electricity guardian." Venik said with a bow and a smile.
Volia giggled.
"And I thought you were shy." Volia stated.
"I am I just feel confident when I am around you." Venik admitted.
They trotted off and unconsciously entwined their tails as they did. Vinda who had snuck after Volia and kept out of sight snickered. She turned to see Frostbite approaching her, he had a smile on and bowed when he got closer.
"Hello Vinda perhaps you would be interested in joining me for a walk." Frostbite suggested.
"Why Frostbite I did not know you had feelings for me." Vinda prodded.
"Well with protocol now out of the way I can make my advance, as long as you welcome it." Frostbite said.
"Then let's walk." Vinda said and they walked down the hall to leave the temple.
Chi walked down a street near Warfangs barracks. She could see that there were quite a few soldiers there all in armor that covered most of their body but left many portions visible such as paws the tail and wings the helmet also only covered the top and sides of the face. They all looked tough, durable and battle hardened, most likely survivors from the war with Malefor. The recruits did not look like pushovers however. The recruits all wore armor as well it was a bronze colour unlike the shiny steel colour standard of Warfang.
"Hurry and get him to the Medical barracks!" Yelled a poison dragoness.
Chi saw two fire dragons carrying an ice dragon, they were both in a hurry and she could see why the ice dragon was covered in severe burns which revealed raw flesh. The dragoness who was yelling sighed and began to walk away. Chi walked up to her.
"New recruits?" Chi asked.
"I've been short staffed ever since I had to send most to Thunder cliffs to aid them after the storm they had." The dragoness replied not even turning to address her. "I don't have many decent medics or doctors and training incidents keep getting more severe, these recruits are very eager to prove themselves but they are almost killing each other."
"Perhaps I could help." Chi suggested.
The dragoness finally turned around.
"I'm Eilin head of Warfangs medical brigade." The dragoness said.
"I'm Chi, I'm an apothecary." Chi replied.
"If you know how to make herbal salves then you have your work cut out for you." Eilin said.
"I have been tending a small village it get quite so I have time to experiment with new healing methods, you get me the materials and I will show you what I know." Chi stated.
Eilin nodded.
"You have a deal." She chimed.
They took off as fast as they could toward the hospital.
Volia and Venik entered the Temple gardens. Unlike the gardens accessible to the rest of Warfang this was smaller but lusher with fewer paths and more plants. In the center was a large tree. Nearby the tree were a Red Dragon and a Pink dragoness lying side by side. Venik and Volia approached them.
"Flame, Ember." Volia said as she approached.
Both turned and looked at them.
"Hello Volia, found someone to court I see." Ember chimed.
"He's cute and has a very lovely personality." Volia replied.
Flame looked at Venik.
"Looks like he is not used to being around others." Flame said.
"T-t-that is true." Venik stuttered. "I was a-a-abused by primary element dragons as a child because of my element."
"We tolerate all elements here if you are being harassed go to a guard or one of us guardians." Flame stated. "We will stand by you."
"T-t-thank you." Venik stuttered.
Volia nuzzled him and it seemed to give him a boost of confidence.
"Mind if we sit with you, I would like to make some friends here?" Venik asked.
Flame and Ember smiled sweetly.
"Sure." Ember said.
Venik and Volia sat beside Flame and Ember. Volia was quick to shift herself under Venik's wing causing him to blush.
"Don't you think you're taking it too fast Volia?" Flame asked.
"If Venik wants me to take it slow he just has to ask." Volia said sincerely.
"I'm fine with it." Venik said.
"Are you sure?" Volia asked.
"Yes." Venik answered.
Venik nuzzled Volia.
"It is helping me build confidence and trust other." Venik said with a smile.
"Well quite a bit of the group is here." A female voice said.
They turned to see Spyro and Cynder sitting by the tree. Cynder was staring at them and Spyro was yawning and picked his head of the ground.
"When did you get here?" Ember asked.
"We were here since the meeting started." Cynder said. "We walked around the market at first then came back here after a short walk and fell asleep under this tree."
Flame and Ember snickered.
"Masters of stealth." Ember said.
"Why don't you all join us over here it would be nicer with friends." Cynder said Spyro nodded in agreement.
"I would like to get to know Venik more." Spyro said.
"And I would like to learn about all of you." Cynder said.
The group got up and joined Cynder and Spyro under the tree. They began introducing themselves then set off into their origins. It was night by the end and the group of dragons set off for their rooms. Volia walked Venik back to his room and before they separated she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Meanwhile with Flame, Ember, Cynder and Spyro.
"Good night you two." Spyro said as she entered his room which neighboured Flame's.
"And please keep it down this time if you decide last night wasn't enough, you woke us up last night." Cynder said.
"Ancestors, you heard us!" Ember shrieked.
"I was joking." Cynder started with a laugh then stopped. "Wait you two did."
Ember and Flame just looked away then rushed into their room. Cynder snickered then closed his door and cuddled with Spyro.
"Could you really hear them last night?" Spyro asked.
"No but it was sort of obvious they would sooner or later." Cynder chuckled. "They were told they could not be together that is grounds for having a final special night with your loved one."
"Agreed and we will have our special night soon." Spyro said.
Cynder frowned then pounced Spyro.
"How about now?" She asked with a grin.
"If that is what you wish my dearest Cynder." Spyro said with a chuckle welcoming Cynders advances.