Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story, except Aureole and Sirorrialth. Spyro and co have their rights owned by Toys For Bob, while the rights for the Amphibia people belong to Disney and Matt Braly.

Old Wounds

James Byrd was no stranger to pain. As a Sergeant, getting injured was practically an everyday occurrence. Yet, the injuries he had suffered at Cynder's hand during their encounter at Cloud Spires was quite unlike any damage he'd ever suffered before. In fact, had it not been for the timely treatment of the Wind Dragons, Byrd likely would have died within minutes of being attacked.

The experienced Penguin winced as the Dragon medic applied fresh bandaging to his torso. "Oh, blast it all!"

"Sorry about that, Sergeant," apologised the medic, a Wind Dragon named Sokara.

"No, no," the Penguin sighed, "it's alright. It's not really the injury itself; it's more the fact that I let that vile witch get me."

"I get that, but it seems that she's no longer a threat from what I heard," Sokara noted.

Byrd frowned. He'd heard about Cynder being 'freed from Malefor's control' shortly after he'd woken up.

"That's as maybe, but the damage she did to Avalar won't go away just like that," he asserted. "And is she really not a threat to us?"

As a soldier, Byrd knew never to let your guard down. After all, it was the key to surviving, both on the battlefield and in general.

At that moment, Terrador entered the ward to check on his old friend. "Hello James, how are you doing?"

"Well enough, all things considered," Byrd sighed as Sokara finished applying the bandages. "Thank you, Sokara."

"My pleasure, Sergeant," the Wind Dragon replied, smiling. "I must go and help see to other patients. I'll leave you to chat. Good day to you." And she departed.

"So, Terrador, first things first, what's the status of the Dark Armies?" Byrd asked.

Terrador smiled. Byrd was always straight to the point with military matters.

"Well, after their defeat and the loss of Cynder at Concurrent Skies, the Dark Armies seem to have retreated into hiding," the Earth Guardian surmised. "It seems like things have really swung in our favour."

Byrd grinned. "Excellent." He thought for a moment. "With Cynder in our custody, we have the opportunity to press our advantage. I suggest we interrogate that monster and make her spill the chow on her allies! And perhaps on the Dark Master too!"

Terrador frowned. "You know that 'monster' is my daughter, right? And she wasn't herself; she was being controlled."

"Ah, yes, I heard about that," Byrd acknowledged. "How do you know that?"

"Well, long story short," Terrador explained, "given Cynder was born the same year as Spyro, we deduced that she was being controlled by the Dark Master all this time, artificially aged her and made into his puppet."

Byrd raised an eyebrow. "With respect, old friend, you sure about that? How do we know it isn't a trick? A facade orchestrated by her and the Dark Master? Besides, need I remind you that she almost killed me? Not to mention Spyro, Elora and Sparx; and you, as well."

"I'm not denying all that happened," the Earth Guardian conceded, "but Spyro says he sensed her despair and desperation for freedom during their fights. And I trust Spyro's judgement. Besides, she is still very shaken from the experience. And Aureole won't let anyone even remotely hostile near her."

Byrd sighed. "I know you want to see good in her, but we have a great opportunity on our flippers, I mean paws. I mean, given the Dark Master could return..."

"I think it's more apt to say he will return," Terrador replied grimly. "With his essence released from Convexity, Gaul and his forces will be primed to try and restore him when the Night of Eternal Darkness comes."

"All the more reason to ask Cynder if there's a way of stopping it."

"No," Terrador declared firmly. "We are not pressing my daughter for that information. She's suffered enough."

"Terrador," Byrd said gently, "you know she's not actually yours..."

Terrador growled, his hackles raised, and his fist tightening over the hilt of his sword. "Don't. Ever. Remind me. Of that night!"

Byrd flinched slightly, but realised there was no arguing with Terrador. Then again, once Terrador made a decision, he rarely changed it. Befitting the Earth Guardian, they said his resolve was 'strong as a boulder'.

"I'm sorry, Terrador," Byrd mumbled. "That was uncalled for of me. I just don't want to pass up the chance to learn the enemy's secrets. I mean, this could be a chance for you to make them pay for they did to you, your mate and Cynder."

Terrador bowed his head, breathing slowly as his anger cooled. "I get it, James. I want them all to pay; especially Sirorrialth!" He closed his eyes. "But I also have a commitment to my mate and the daughter she's missed for 13 years. Cynder will talk if and when she's ready. Otherwise, we give her space."

Byrd nodded in acknowledgement. "I'd at least suggest we keep watch over her, in case she shows signs of darkness. I mean, years of being controlled; who's to say it may not influence her behaviour? I hear she had an outburst when a TV Dragon spoke to her."

Terrador nodded. "That is true. But only because he pestered her with sensitive questions. Since then, I've forbidden any TV crews from ever coming here again."

"Isn't that potentially harmful to your public image?"

'He sounds like Cyril' Terrador thought, before saying aloud, "Perhaps, but it can't be helped. Cynder needs our support right now. And James, I politely insist that you don't give her any grief over what happened to you."

"Affirmative!" Byrd saluted.

"Good," Terrador rumbled. "But you do make a point about needing to press our advantage. I'll talk with Aureole about it. You get some rest, James."

"Very well," Byrd acknowledged. But as Terrador left, and Byrd lay back down, he couldn't shake the yearning to coax information out of Cynder. Perhaps he could approach her kindly; show her sympathy for what she'd gone through. Maybe then, she'd be more inclined to spill the chow.

Byrd's inside squirmed at the thought of going behind Terrador's back. But he had to do his duty as a Sergeant. And anyway, he had no intention of being hostile.

Anne or Ape?

Wartwood was a small town situated near the swamp where Spyro, Elora and Sparx had grown up. Primarily inhabited by Frogs and Toads, it was a humble little town with houses built out of tree stumps and large toadstools. The population were mostly farmers, bakers and fishermen.

Wartwood had often been where Flash, Nina, Cleem and Shabae had gone to get food for their children. But they had never brought Spyro, Elora or Sparx with them.

Until now.

"Just when you think you've seen everything..." mused Sparx, as he and his brother and sister stood with Flash and Nina on the outskirts of the town. "Um, you sure they're not gonna eat us?" he added apprehensively.

"Don't worry, Sparx," Nina assured. "These people don't eat bugs that talk." She paused. "Although they did try first time we came here..." Nina shuddered.

"How come you never brought us here before?" Spyro asked his adopted parents. "And why am I wearing this cloak?"

The Purple Dragon was indeed wearing a cloak that covered most of his body. A hood was pulled up over his head, and he'd had to tuck his tail in

"These Frogs and Toads here are nice people, but they love to gossip," replied Flash. "We... didn't wanna risk word of you getting around. Most of them are not too fond of Dragons."

"Oh... I see." Spyro looked back at the Frogs milling around the square. This distrust of Dragons was really starting to wear him down. "I guess, with the Dark Armies in retreat, things hopefully will calm down."

"I'm sure they will. Let's go see how things are at the moment," Nina offered. With that, the family made their way towards the town.

"And try to keep a low profile, buddy," Sparx whispered to Spyro. "Given how it's been with pretty much anyone who isn't a Dragon or Faun, they'll either see you as super awesome or be weirded out by you."

"Gee, thanks for the encouragement…" Spyro grumbled. Still, he hoped very much the Frogs and Toads were as friendly as his surrogate parents said they were.

As they entered the town, a few young Frogs bounced past, apparently playing chase. Some of the older Frogs spotted them and waved to Flash and Nina. When their eyes found Spyro, Elora and Sparx, however, their cheeriness faded a little. They squinted rather suspiciously at the three children, especially Spyro. The young Dragon thought he saw a few put their heads together and whisper.

'Maybe wearing a hood wasn't such a neat idea' Spyro thought. It ironically just drew more attention to him than not.

At that moment, a large purple Snail pulled up in front of them, pulling a cart behind it.

"Whoa there, Bessie! Flash? Nina?"

The owner of that voice was the driver of the cart, a red-orange, elderly Frog with thin, white hair, red eyes and wearing a grey-green waistcoat atop a yellow shirt and blue ascot. Sitting behind him were two children - a pink Frog boy with blue eyes and wearing a dark green hat with goggles, a sleeveless jacket and black shorts; and a Polliwog girl with purple eyes, a yellow polka-dot bow and sitting in a bucket of water.

"Hey, Hopediah!" Flash greeted, flying up to greet the old Frog. "It's been a long time! How have you been? Sprig still giving you trouble?"

"Hey!" cried the boy.

The girl chuckled a bit, as Hopediah said, with a touch of sarcasm, "Nope, no trouble at all. Can't believe Polly is less trouble than he is."

"I don't always cause trouble!" the Frog boy, Sprig, exclaimed.

"He, he, sure you don't!" the Polliwog girl, Polly, teased.

"Anyways, we'd like to introduce you to our children," said Nina. She gestured to the trio behind her. "The Faun is Elora; the Dragonfly is Sparx; and the one in the hood - he's a bit shy - is Spyro. Kids, this is Hopediah Plantar and his grandchildren, Sprig and Polly."

"Hi there, pleased to meet you," Elora greeted.

Sprig hopped down to Elora to shake her hand. "Nice to meet you too, Miss."

Spyro and Sparx regarded Polly with small smiles. "Well you sure are a cute one," Spyro complimented.

"Thanks; I get that a lot," Polly giggled. "But bear in mind: looks can be deceiving."

"You travel in a bucket? That seems a bit awkward," Sparx observed.

"Eh, as long as it keeps me moist and it's not too heavy, I'm fine with it." Polly squinted at Spyro. "So what's with the hood, purple guy?"

Spyro paused, wondering how he was going to approach this.

"Well... let's just say I don't wanna draw unnecessary attention to myself," he muttered. He then glanced around the square. "Although I think I may have done so already. But at least they don't know this about me..." Moving a little closer so no passers-by could see, Spyro folded his hood back so the Plantars could see his face properly.

"A DRAG-!" Elora slapped a hand over Sprig's mouth. Thankfully, no one overheard.

"Well, Frog bless me, a Dragon!" Hopediah exclaimed quietly. "And what's one of your scaly kind doin' in this 'ere town?"

"I grew up here in the Swamplands," Spyro replied. "Dad Flash and Mom Nina found me when I was an egg and took me in. I now have a home at the Dragon Temple as well though."

"He's quite a special case there," Sparx added.

"Oooh! How special can he be?" Polly wondered.

"Well nothing much, given my powers have been drained after my battle with... someone," Spyro told them.

"Really? Fancy tellin' us?" inquired Hopediah. "Ah do love me a good story."

Before Spyro could answer, a blue Frog carrying a concertina came tearing into town, screaming with fright.

"HELP! HELP! APE! APE IN THE SWAMP!"

The townsfolk gathered round the blue Frog, whose name, BTW, is Wally, to ask him questions. The Plantars and Spyro's family exchanged concerned looks at what they'd heard.

"An Ape, here?" Spyro exclaimed.

"I thought they were gone," Sprig wondered, excitedly.

"Maybe not; sounds like one of them is still around," Sparx suggested.

"Ah don't like this. If those monkey men are here, they ain't gettin' nothin' from me!" Hopediah declared.

"Heh, I like your style, old man!" Sparx said.

"Sparx, be respectful to your elders!" Flash reprimanded.

"How about we go out and look for that Ape?" Elora proposed.

"Erm, ain't y'all a bit young to be dealing with them Apes?" Hopediah noted.

"Dude, you have no deal what Spy, Lora and I have dealt with," Sparx grinned.

"We've dealt with hordes with Apes before," Spyro added. "One will be a cinch!"

"Very well," Hopediah conceded. He turned to his grandchildren. "You two stay here, and-" He stopped. Sprig was gone. There was just Polly, eating sweets. "Polly, where's yer brother?"

Polly stopped eating and grinned guiltily. "He, he, Sprig bribed me with candy, and left to get that Ape! But I don't have a candy problem; you do!"

"Say what?! Why?!" her grandfather demanded.

"To prove he's responsible, Hop-Pop."

"Oh no!" cried Spyro, running a paw across his face. "We have to find Sprig, before that Ape does. Polly, where did he go?"

"That way," Polly answered, pointing in the direction from Wally had come.

Nodding in thanks, the Purple Dragon, throwing caution to the winds, cast off his cloak and charged into the trees in the direction Polly had indicated. Flash, Nina, Elora and Sparx hurried after him, just as the townsfolk noticed Spyro before he disappeared into the brush.

"A Dragon, here?"

"We don't welcome that sort here in Wartwood."

"Yeah, we don't need them bringin' their war to us!"

Sprig Plantar hopped along a fallen tree trunk. He looked left and right, pausing briefly to snatch up a centipede with his tongue.

"Hmm, not bad," he commented. Then, he spotted footprints in the moss.

"Looks I'm on the right track," Sprig noted. But there was something odd about the footprints. Sprig had seen the Apes during the few times they'd passed through Wartwood, and he knew that Ape footprints looked a lot like hand-prints, albeit with longer palms. These prints were rounded, with no indication of their prehensile toes.

"Huh, maybe they're wearing some kind of armour..."

Just then, Sprig heard a rustling nearby. He quickly pulled out a slingshot, which he always carried with him, and held it ready.

"O-O-Okay Ape, if you're here, you're gonna get a good slingshot in the..."

He was cut off when something tightened around his ankle and hoisted him into the air. Sprig had walked right into a trap!

The Frog boy dangled helplessly upside-down by one leg. "Oh great... Polly will never let me live this down..."

"Sprig! Sprig, where are you?" called a voice.

"Spyro?" Sprig wondered.

A moment later, the Purple Dragon hurried into view. He and his family had split up to look for Sprig and the Ape. Elora and Sparx had gone one way; Flash and Nina the other, accompanied by Hopediah and Polly.

"Sprig, what happened?" Spyro asked. He looked at the rope holding Spyro up. It should be easily to cut with a slash or tail whip.

"Spyro, I think it's close; the Ape."

As if on cue, a patch of very tall reed grass rustled nearby. Spyro immediately darted in front of Sprig and crouched in a battle-ready position.

"Alright, you darn, dirty Ape," he snarled, "come out, or I'll burn you out!"

Of course, Spyro couldn't actually use his Fire Breath, or any Elemental Breath, for that moment. But the Ape didn't need to know that.

"Hey, I am NOT an Ape!" cried a female voice, sounding insulted.

"Well, what else could you be?" wondered Sprig.

The figure emerged slowly from the grass. Spyro and Sprig stared. She certainly had a body structure similar to that of an Ape: a bipedal mammal with four fingers and a thumb on each hand, and plantigrade feet. But she was lean with lanky arms and legs, whereas most Apes - even the females - were big and burly. The female's muzzle was a lot shorter, to the point where her nose was just a bump on her face. Most notably of all, her light brown skin was completely devoid of fur, save for a head of poofy brown hair, in which a few leaves and twigs were trapped. She had dark brown eyes, and was wearing a shirt with a shield on it and a purple skirt. Her feet were covered in grey wool garments, with the left also sporting a yellow piece of attire that Spyro had never seen. She and her clothes were very grubby; she'd clearly been living rough.

The girl was brandishing a long, pointed stick at them. "I'm a Human!" she declared boldly.

Spyro and Sprig stared in bewilderment at this 'Human'.

"I've... never heard of a 'Human,'" noted Spyro. "You, Sprig?"

"Uh-uh," Sprig replied. "Well, in any case, back off, 'Human!' Or this Dragon will roast you alive!"

It was that statement that made the Human realise with what she was dealing. She quickly backed away, pointing her stick threateningly at Spyro.

"Please, don't eat me, Mr Dragon! I'm too cool to die!"

Spyro frowned. It seemed this 'Human' was no threat. "Hey, hey! Easy! I'm not doing to hurt you, if you're not gonna hurt me."

"But she tried to hurt Wally," Sprig pointed out.

"I was trying to ask 'Wally' where I was," the Human replied, "but he ran off the moment he saw me. Could you two tell me where I am?"

"There is Wartwood Swamp," replied Spyro, "in the land of Avalar. What are you doing out here, miss?"

"Well I don't know," cried the Human. "I've been stuck here for days, trying to figure out where I am and how exactly I got here!"

"You're all alone?" Sprig asked.

"Well, yeah," the Human affirmed, a tinge of sadness passing over her face.

Spyro and Sprig looked at each other. This girl seemed harmless enough. Perhaps she was only brandishing a stick out of self-defense, like any other creature would when threatened.

"Perhaps... we can help you," Spyro offered.

The girl looked up. "You'd help me?"

"Sure," Spyro confirmed. "But before anything else, what's your name?"

The girl hesitated for a few moments, lowering her stick as she did so.

"My name's Anne," she answered finally. "Anne Boonchuy. And you two are?"

"I'm Spyro."

"And I'm Sprig Plantar."

"Well then, nice to meet you two dudes."

"Nice to meet you too," Sprig replied. "So, umm... could you please help me down?"

"I think I can-" Spyro began, but Anne threw her stick at the rope holding Sprig up, which broke instantly. The Frog boy landed safely on his feet.

"Thanks," he said to Anne. "Put 'er there!"

He held out a webbed hand to Anne. She shook it tentatively and shook. But when they let go, her hand was suddenly sticky.

"Eww, your hand just barfed on my hand," she complained.

"That's mucus," Spyro pointed out. "All Frogs secrete it."

Anne frowned. "I know it. Still a tad unpleasant. You guys don't, um, 'secrete' anything, do you?"

Spyro scowled. "Do you know nothing about Dragons?"

"How can I? I've never met one. In fact, where I come from, you guys are meant to have mostly died out." Anne chuckled. "Marcy and Luz would go crazy if they saw you now. Thomas would be awed into silence."

"Who are you talking about?"

Before Anne could answer Spyro, there was a soft rumble.

"What was that?" asked Sprig apprehensively.

"That was my stomach," Anne sighed. "You guys got anything to eat?"

"Sure, right here." Sprig lifted a stone to reveal a small horde of bugs. Anne cringed.

"Things that aren't bugs?" she grimaced.

"Well I'm sure we have some mushrooms around here." Sprig looked around.

"How do you know you won't poison me?" Anne asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I know some mushrooms can kill."

"What?" Sprig asked. "Does this look like the face of someone who would poison you?" He squeezed his cheeks and diluted his pupils, creating quite a cute face. Spyro couldn't hold back a chuckle. Anne's inner little girl was tickled.

"Fair point," she conceded, giggling.

Suddenly, they heard a distant roar echo through the swamp.

"Whoa, what was that?" Anne asked, surprised.

Spyro's eyes widened. He knew that sound all too well.

"Apes! Looks like they are here after all! You two find cover, quickly!"

"What about you?" Anne inquired.

"I've dealt with Apes before," Spyro assured her. Admittedly, he'd always had his Elemental powers when dealing with Apes. He just hoped that these Apes weren't too tough.

"Spyro? Where are you, Spyro?"

"Sprig Plantar, you come out this instant, or you are grounded!"

Next moment, Flash, Nina, Elora, Sparx, Hopediah, Polly, and a few of the Wartwood townspeople, armed with pitchforks and torches emerged from the brush around them.

"There's the Ape!" Sparx cried, pointing at Anne. "Get it!"

The Wartwood folk charged at Anne, grabbed her and pinned her down, before starting to tie her up.

"What? W-w-wait, stop!" cried Spyro.

"She's not an enemy!" added Sprig, but no one took any notice as they pulled the ropes around Anne tight.

"What?! Hey, let me go! Sprig! Spyro! You two set me up!" Anne shouted accusingly.

"Huh? Oh no! No! Guys! You got the wrong one!" Spyro yelled to the crowd, trying to pull them away from Anne.

"Whoa, what are you talking about, bro?" asked Sparx. "I don't see any other Apes around here. Man, she's a weird one."

"Good job, Sprig," congratulated Hopediah. "You and Spyro caught the Ape!"

"FOR THE LAST TIME, I'M NOT AN APE!" shrieked Anne. "I'M A HUMAN!"

"Hu-what?" Elora wondered. She had neither helped in subduing Anne nor defended her. She was just staring curiously at the girl, her eyebrows creased.

"Ah, it's probably a trick," Wally declared. "Let's kill her before she can call her fellow Apes!"

"I think they're already here." Sprig pointed behind them. A few Apes had appeared from the vegetation.

"Well, well, well, the Purple Dragon!" declared the leader, looking at Spyro.

"Let's pummel that dragon. Maybe the boss will reward us!" said a second Ape, drawing a mace.

The Frogs backed up slightly, frightened. Their Mayor, Toadstool, quickly grabbed Anne and held her up.

"Now, now," he declared, "we have one of your own in our custody. Kindly put the weapons away. I'm sure we can reach an agreement that benefits everyone; mainly me."

The leader Ape merely laughed harshly. "She's not one of ours, you big-mouthed nitwit. I dunno what she is, nor do I care. We just want the Dragon. Now hand him over! Unless you'd rather our agreement came to an end!"

"Sure, sure," Toadstool agreed quickly, dropping Anne. "Take him. We don't want him around here anyways. He's yours!"

"Hey, what are you playing at, selling out our brother?!" Elora demanded.

"Wait, he's your brother?" the mayor asked, surprised.

"Yes!" Elora and Sparx shouted.

"And our son!" added Nina.

"Alright, enough of this! Get 'em all!" the leader ordered. And the others charged.

Spyro was first to react, horn-butting the nearest Ape back into his fellows, before tail-whipping a second. Elora kicked one Ape hard in the chest and tackled another to the ground. The townsfolk, meanwhile, stood on each other's shoulders.

"What's that supposed to be?" demanded an Ape.

"Mantis formation!" Toadstool replied. "Back off, Baboon-face! We have enough to deal from the Toads! We don't want you round here anymore!"

The Frog on top made a few karate moves.

The Apes were unimpressed. The Ape nearest to them simply punched one of the Frogs at the bottom of the formation, and the rest collapsed in a heap.

"Hey! You guys are playing dirty!" Sprig complained. He wanted to help his fellow Frogs, but first things first...

"Hey, what are you doing?" Anne demanded, as Sprig began to untie her. "Is this another ploy?"

"I'll deal with these bozos! You get outta here!" Sprig urged. And he hopped off. Anne quickly pulled the ropes off her. She watched as Sprig ran towards the Apes. She looked away, considering whether or not to run. Should she help these people? She'd only just met them, and she wasn't much of a fighter. Plus, some of them had been willing to sell her out.

Then again, if she were to find her friends, she was sure that they - Thomas, Luz, Beatrice and Marcy, in particular - would not approve of her abandoning these people to die.

'Guess it's time to see if that Muay Adabat training will come in handy' she reasoned with herself.

"Hey, you ugly monkeys! Leave those frogs alone!" Anne shouted to the Apes.

The Apes looked at her for a moment, and then laughed mockingly.

"Ha, ha, ha! You? You have no chance, kid!" the ape leader taunted.

"I'm not afraid to try, so bring it!" Anne raised his fists, her feet widely spaced in a balanced ready position.

"You two, take care of the brat and bring her if she survives!" the leader ordered. The two corresponding Apes nodded, and advanced on Anne, weapons drawn.

"Anne!" Spyro cried. He made to run over to help the girl, but he'd barely taken a few steps, when Anne ducked beneath a swipe delivered by one of the Apes. She caught it with her elbow, before her knee lashed out and caught the Ape hard in the chest. The Ape doubled over in pain. His comrade bought his mace down in an overhand strike, but Anne intercepted it and angled it safely away, so that the mace hit the ground instead. The Human then kicked the Ape hard in the side of the face with a roundhouse, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Ow! My face!" the ape shouted.

Sprig, meanwhile, was trying to take down another Ape. But the latter had managed to pin the Frog boy to the ground with his foot, and was now raising his sword for a strike. Sprig covered his face, his life flashing before him.

But the sword never struck him. Sprig opened his eyes. Anne had darted in and intercepted the Ape's attack with both her forearms. Though surprised that Anne had saved him, Sprig didn't hesitate. He sprung to his feet, drew his slingshot and hit the Ape square between the eyes with a stone. The Ape collapsed, knocked cold.

"Who's next?" Anne asked.

The commander was surprised by Anne's moves. This ultimately allowed Spyro and Elora to get the drop on him, slamming into his back and sending him skidding along on his front. He scrambled to his feet, eyeing the Dragon, Faun and Human worriedly.

"This isn't over! We'll be back!" he warned. "And the Toads won't be able to protect you! Apes, retreat!"

The Apes scampered off, gathering up their downed comrades as they went.

"And stay away!" Hopediah yelled after them.

"Huh, nice moves back there," Spyro complimented Anne.

"Thanks," the Human grinned.

"I've never seen moves like that before," noted Elora. "What was that? Where are you from, anyway?"

"That was Muay Adabat," Anne replied, "and I come from ANOTHER WORLD!" She shouted the last two words dramatically.

"Well, whatever 'WORLD' you're from," Toadstool interjected, "we don't welcome strange creatures into our town. So kindly leave, and be someone else's problem."

Spyro, Sparx and Elora all frowned. They were starting to see why their parents had never brought them to Wartwood before.

"Hey!" Sprig cried. "This isn't just some strange creature; this is a lost girl who needs our help. Besides, she just helped Spyro and Elora in getting rid of the Apes. Surely, we should return the favour."

"Good, she can go with them," Toadstool decided. "We don't want a Dragon in our town either!"

"What is your beef with Spyro?" Sparx demanded. "Is it that whole 'war' thing or something?"

"It is exactly that 'war thing,'" Toadstool confirmed. "You're not bringing your war to our town!"

"It's going to come to it eventually," Spyro retorted. "As for taking Anne... well..."

"We just met!" Anne told Toadstool. "No offence, Spyro."

"None taken."

"Well, surely we should find a way to locate your family," Elora said.

"I don't think they even know that we're here."

"We?"

"Hey, maybe she could stay with me, Hop Pop and Polly," Sprig suggested.

Anne stared. "With you?"

"Sure," Sprig confirmed. "I mean, I'm the one who went looking for her first, so I call dibs."

"Hey, I'm not a prize!" Anne exclaimed. "But I appreciate the gesture. Still, maybe I should just get a map and be on my way."

"I wouldn't recommend that!" Elora advised. "You go off on your own, and those Apes will get you. You were lucky it was just a few today. Next time, it could be dozens, or hundreds."

"Maybe we should take her back to the Temple with us," suggested Spyro. "She'll be safer there."

"Whoa, a temple? You serious?" Anne asked.

"Yeah, the Dragon Temple where me and my brother and sister are currently staying," Spyro replied. "Maybe the Guardians will help you return home."

Anne seemed intrigued by the offer, but then, she turned her gaze towards the Wartwood townsfolk, lost in thought for a moment.

"No," she said finally.

"'No?' What do you mean 'no?'" Elora wondered.

"I... I can't leave these Frog people," Anne replied. "Especially not this little guy." She gestured at Sprig. "He was willing to help me find food and let me escape. Besides, I think these people could use a few lessons in how to defend themselves from any more harm from those Apes. I could show them a thing or two."

Spyro and the Dragonflies were surprised, but Elora was impressed.

"That sounds like a good idea," the Faun said to Anne.

"Thanks," Anne smiled.

"Well, we'll still try to help you," Spyro offered. "We'll tell the Dragons back at the Temple to look out for your friends. What do they look like?"

"I assume they're like you, oddly out-of-place humans?" Sparx asked.

"Heh, more or less," Anne replied. She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. On it was a picture Anne, surrounded by three other girls who looked like her and two Cats.

"Tell your people to look out for these three," Anne explained, pointing to the three Humans around her. "Their names are Luz Noceda, Sasha Waybright and Marcy Wu."

"Got it," Elora acknowledged.

"We'll stop by occasionally to check up on you," Spyro assured. "In the meanwhile, we'll see what we can go about getting you home. We'll keep you posted."

"Cheers," Anne smiled.

Spyro nodded. "No problem."

"Oh great! So Hop-Pop, looks like we'll have a Human friend with us," Sprig exclaimed eagerly.

"Ah guess but we should be careful; the townsfolk ain't used to weird people around here," Hop-Pop cautioned.

"You bet we aren't," confirmed Toadstool. "But she's your burden now, Hopediah! Whatever trouble she causes, it's on you." He turned to the townsfolk. "Pack it in, people. Let's go home."

As the Frogs moved wearily away, Spyro said, "Well, I guess we'd best be on our way too. Take care, guys; you especially, Anne. See you again soon."

"See y'all later," replied Hopediah, as Spyro and his family walked away.

"There's something… something strange about that girl…" Elora pondered, glancing back at Anne as they left the clearing.

"How strange?" Spyro asked.

"Not sure, but I got an odd sensation from her for a moment," Elora replied. "Plus, I thought I saw her eyes glow blue for a moment."

Sparx laughed. "You must have been seeing things! Eyes don't change colour!"

"Didn't my eyes glow whenever I went into the Fury Surge?" Spyro recalled.

"Yeah, but, well, that's you," Sparx scoffed. "That girl doesn't look special or anything."

"That's mean, Sparx," Nina reprimanded. "Pardon the old-fashioned saying, but everyone is special."

"Besides, we know nothing about Humans," Flash added. "Who knows what they're capable of?"

Neither Spyro nor Elora made no comment. Something had seemed familiar about Anne, but they couldn't possibly think why.

'I just hope she'll be alright' Spyro thought. 'And her friends too... whenever they are...'

Anne Boonchuy settled down in the basement of the Plantar homestead. Sprig had offered her some stuffed toys, only to prove reluctant to part with any of them.

"Sleep tight, Anne," he said as he left. "Don't let the bed bugs bite." He then poked his head back in. "Seriously, don't. It's very painful." And he closed the door behind him.

As soon as she was alone, Anne opened her bag and took out a musical box that was covered in odd markings and had some grey gems set into it. Odd... Anne could've sworn they were coloured earlier.

Taking a breath, Anne opened the box.

Nothing happened.

With a sigh, Anne set the box down. She took out the photograph of her with her five friends. As mentioned, three of them were Human, like her; the other two were Cats.

"Guess I'm stuck here a while," she lamented. "Don't worry, guys... I'll find you." And soon, she fell into an uneasy sleep.