Sorry, it took ages. Had a family emergency that forced me to move. Just got access to a laptop back and such. So. Here we go. Chapter 9! Let's get back into this story! AM I RIGHT?! The next few chapters will be shorter in this story, because I gotta add story, relationship stuff, etc. Anyhow!
Chapter 9: Discovery at The Volcano
The group of Spyro, Cynder, Hunter, and Sparx traveled toward the Volcano. As they walked, they heard a noise around them. Sparx flew behind Spyro for protection. Spyro dropped to a defensive position to protect Sparx. Cynder leaped to his side to protect her now Brother-in-Law basically, and Hunter drew his bow and nocked an arrow. A figure emerged from the bushes around them. Hunter's jaw dropped as a beautiful female cheetah walked out.
The cheetah said, "I'm not hostile, please put your weapons away. I'm friendly! I promise!" Hunter hung his bow on his shoulder. Spyro and Cynder stood up, and Sparx flew out from behind Spyro and said, "I wasn't scared. I was just getting ready for a sneak attack." Spyro and Cynder shook their heads, not at all convinced of what Sparx said. Hunter asked in cheetah, "Mind if I ask your name?" The female cheetah replied in their native tongue, "My name is Gloria. I can not remember the rest of the name given to me by my parents. All I remember is Gloria." Hunter replied in cheetah, "I see. Would you like to join us? I see that you have no weapons on you." Gloria replied in cheetah, "That's right. No weapons. I would prefer to have weapons with the things I've bared witness to in these woods."
Hunter began to speak English as he asked Spyro and Cynder, "As the two purples, you two are the leaders. Can she join us?" Cynder looked at Spyro and said, "You've always been a better judge of character than me. And you've led us through many dangerous situations. I say you should be the Leader of the group. All in favor?" Everyone in the group except Spyro raised their hands. Spyro sighed. Cynder giggled and said, "That's Democracy for you; Spy." Spyro sighed and said, "Alright. She can join us. Does she have a name?" Hunter answered, "Her name is Gloria." Spyro asked, "Any weapons on her?" Hunter shook his head no. Afterward, Spyro and the rest of the group introduced themselves.
Spyro sighed and said, "We need to get her weapons. Hunter. Can you make a bow if we get the right supplies?" Gloria replied, "I'd prefer to make the weapons myself. If that's okay." Hunter's eyebrows raised in curiosity. Spyro said, "That's okay. What do you need?" Gloria made a list of supplies that she needed, and Spyro replied, "We can get you the stuff to make a bow, but to get the stuff for your knife; we need to go to the volcano for the metal and obsidian for the blade of your knife and your arrow tips." Gloria said, "So. I am weaponless until we get to the volcano." Cynder answered, "Sadly, yeah. But we will keep you safe. And even when you get your weapons, we will still keep you safe. We look out for our own." Gloria purred quietly and said, "Appreciate that." Cynder giggled and said, "Of course. You're one of us now. Part of the group that has saved the world multiple times now." Gloria said, "It is my honor to be part of such an important group. Especially a group with two Purples. Such a rare occurrence, if something like this has ever happened before, it was not recorded in the books of history."
Spyro chuckled and said, "Apparently Cynder was a purple all along. I knew something was different about her. And then she and I became full-fledged mates. And her true color was revealed. Malefor's black magic corrupted her scales, and finding her mate, purified them." Gloria said, "Ah. Makes sense." Sparx coughed and said, "This is cool and all, but we gotta get moving." Spyro replied, "You're right Sparx. We can get Gloria all of her supplies to make her weapons with when we make a camp at the volcano." Gloria sighed and said, "Do we have to wait until then?" Spyro replied, "Sadly, yes. Because during our most recent fight, I heard the Wyverns say that the Dark Master sent them to fight one purple, not two. I believe…. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think we killed Malefor for good."
Cynder gasped in disbelief and said, "Spyro. You literally vaporized him with your last attack." Spyro said, "I know Cyn. I know. I just want to be certain! That's all." Cynder sighed and said, "I understand Spy." Spyro beamed and said, "Thank you Cyn. Now. Let's move out!" The group said loudly, "Sir yes sir!" Spyro shook his head and chuckled as he led the group towards the volcano.
Spyro thought to Cynder, 'The reason I want to do this is because of what the Wyverns said about the Dark Lord. I fear they have found a way to resurrect Malefor somehow.' Cynder replied mentally, 'That is very unsettling. I understand why you'd want to check now. Sorry for my little outburst.' Spyro chuckled quietly and replied, 'It's fine. This is just a precaution.' Cynder nodded her understanding.
Spyro led his group towards the volcano. As the group got closer to the volcano, everyone felt as if something wasn't right. Spyro and Cynder dropped to defensive positions in front of the group. Hunter drew his bow and nocked an arrow, ready to fire when given the word. Spyro asked Hunter quietly, "Any way you can lob an arrow into the top of the volcano from here and potentially hit something that isn't rock if there is something in there?" Hunter whispered, "Maybe. I've never lobbed an arrow though. It would be damn near impossible I think. The volcano is huge and we are still far from the base of it." Spyro quietly hissed, "Shit. Fuck it." Spyro looked at Hunter and nodded. Hunter understood the command and aimed his bow high into the air. Hunter took a deep breath and released the arrow.
The group watched the arrow fly high into the air, thankfully the sky was clear, so they were able to follow the arrow easily. Spyro launched into the air while motioning to Cynder to stay on the ground as he followed the arrow's trajectory. Spyro flew high into the sky. He heard wind approaching and he dodged just in time out of the way of the arrow that flew straight down. He gasped as he realized where the arrow was gonna land. Spyro dove straight down, his wings on his side to increase speed.
Cynder lost sight of the arrow and Spyro. She caught a glimpse of purple. She gasped as she realized Spyro was diving straight down.
Spyro activated Dragon Time to give him more time to get the target out of the way. Time slowed and the arrow slowed as well, but not much as it was moving swiftly as a fast-flowing river. Spyro landed harshly on the ground. Cynder asked him hastily, "What's going on?!" Spyro did not reply as he ran towards Sparx and covered Sparx with his body and wings. Time resumed at its normal pace.
Sparx saw nothing but purple and orange surrounding him. He heard a Fwoomp and then a grunt of pain. Sparx flinched as red blood splattered his face. Sparx gasped as he saw the metal tip of an arrow, mere inches from his face. He then realized that the arrow tip was protruding from Spyro's shoulder, blood flowing down the arrow slowly. Sparx also saw a small puddle of blood at Spyro's feet. He gasped as he realized what Spyro did.
Cynder ran over to Spyro and Sparx and asked Spyro, "Are you okay?!" Sparx exasperated, "You idiot! What if you hadn't calculated the arrow's trajectory perfectly?! You could've fucking died man! And think about the pain you caused Cynder! You got to think man!" Spyro replied calmly, "I'd rather take an arrow and survive than let an arrow take my brother out. Because no offense man, but you taking an arrow would almost certainly kill you." Sparx replied, "You aren't wrong, but still man! Be careful!" Spyro chuckled and uncovered Sparx. Hunter bolted over.
Hunter said hastily, "I am so sorry! I told you I have never lobbed an arrow!" Spyro said calmly, "Calm down. It's alright." Cynder sighed and broke the arrow in half. Gloria grabbed the front of the arrow and pulled it out of Spyro's shoulder. Blood spurted and hit her face. Gloria wiped the blood off her face. Sparx looked at Spyro's wings and realized that the arrow went through both of his wings and his shoulder. Sparx immediately realized that Spyro purposely wrapped his wings so they were together so that the arrow going through them would slow it just enough to not hit Sparx after it went through Spyro's shoulder.
Sparx looked at his brother and said, "Thank you." Spyro smiled and said, "Anytime bro." Cynder glowed purple as she placed her paws on Spyro. He grunted in pain as his injuries healed. He said, "Thanks love. Now I will be able to fly normally again." Cynder replied, "Anytime love." Spyro looked at Hunter and said, "Shall we try again?" Hunter said, exasperated, "Are you out of your fucking mind?! I almost shot Sparx by doing that!" Spyro said calmly, "We believe in you, Hunter!"
Hunter opened his mouth to argue, but thought better of it and said, "Alright. One more time!" Spyro laughed and said, "That's the spirit!" Hunter shook his head and nocked another arrow. Spyro said calmly, "Not so high this time. Maybe a one hundred and sixty-five-degree angle this time. The last one you shot had a one hundred and eighty-five-degree angle." Hunter nodded his understanding and took a breath as he aimed his bow at what he thought was a one hundred and sixty-five-degree angle. Spyro nodded his approval and Hunter released the arrow.
Spyro watched the arrow fly and flew up once more, signaling for Cynder to stay on the ground. Spyro followed the arrow's trajectory and smirked. He let loose a very small blast of fire towards the arrow and chuckled as he made a flaming arrow. Spyro flew above the top of the volcano and watched the arrow fly into the top. He was able to see a little thanks to the light of the flaming arrow and gasped in disbelief at what he saw. Spyro muttered, "N-No. T-That's impossible! That's fucking impossible!"
Spyro flew back to the group swiftly and landed harshly, as he said as he paced around angrily, "I fucking knew it! I knew something was wrong! I knew it! I knew it! I FUCKING KNEW IT!" Cynder said calmly, "Calm down. You're becoming hysterical. What did you see, Love?" Spyro looked her dead in the eye and said, "There is an army of all manner of creatures! They managed to find a way to bring back the Dark Lord! Malefor is being reformed as we speak! And I feel like we won't be able to take him on without learning all of the elements we can learn!" Everyone's jaw dropped in disbelief.
Spyro took a deep breath to calm himself and said, "Alright. Alright! Cynder. We need to learn our elements as soon as possible." Gloria said, "I thought purples could only control Fire, Earth, Ice, Electricity, and Aether." Cynder answered, "According to the Guardians, Purples can control all elements, including the dark elements such as Fear, Poison, Shadow, Wind, etc. Spyro here has recently learned how to use Wind. And soon, Spyro will be teaching me how to use Fire. But, based on what Spyro has learned, we need to hurry up." The group nodded in understanding.
So. It is short, I know. But I need to get back into the writing grind. I got a full-time job, and I damn near stream full-time as well. So. Chapters for any of my stories will take longer to post. Anyhow! I am not dead! Sorry for the wait! May the Ancestors watch over you all! Until next time, HappytheExceed16, signing out!