FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 4

The weird cacophony of clicks, hums and bumps accompanying every jump in time never before felt so wonderful. It was an irritating feeling, mostly because whenever they jump, or at least whenever he jumps, he loses orientation as if his memory would be wiped out by alcohol while he was still able to record where he is heading.

Now this loss was a welcoming change, leaving that world with all the Pits, Wretched and other horrors behind was an impossible to measure relief. It was a clear sign that it was time to forget, the Veil severing the connection between the present and the past.

Snow crunched under his paws, yet this time he could feel solid, warm ground underneath the meager layer. The world didn't appear yet, but he already knew that there will be no hungry tentacle shooting from the ice to devour his purple paws.

Hello Dragon Realms.

Spyro exhaled a long, deep breath, letting all that pressure of recent events go, they were home, that thought was for this brief moment the only thought worthy of being welcomed in his soul.

The rest of his team appeared.

Blood, gore and grime filled his senses, a clear reminder of what they have been through.

Of all those things however there was only one that caught his attention, it was the heat and the clearly dancing colors of fire on his scales. He shifted his gaze right at the source of the warmth, before his eyes settled on the target though he noticed that he wasn't the only one paying attention to the source of the warmth.

Cloudas was the only one who paid no attention, his head was lowered, paw tiredly fiddling with the goggles that kept slipping from his head, for some reason he just couldn't hook them around his horns.

Him, Hunter and Cynder radiated nothing but utter shock, Danox despite his usual arrogance also seemed to be surprised by Flare's state, cocked, black head observing their companion with an interest of a scientist who just noticed curious, early not discovered, properties of an ingredient he already made many experiments on.

Their expressions however still fit in the range people expected them to use at some point.

Iris though was a completely different story.

When it comes to the blue dragoness the only body language she mostly depicts, a language that most people see as the only one available, is that of utter contempt and will of shoving up your butt everything that she could grab. This time though her shape surprised even Spyro, and he was the only one among the group of people that stood up to her that got to see a different shade of her personality.

Iris was standing on bent paws, tail locked in the air, the tip making gentle jiggles as if it was a tail of a cobra. If she had any fur, it would be bristled by now, in her case the anxiousness could be really visible due to the veins that appeared on the toes of her legs and side of neck. She looked like a cornered, stiff animal ready to snap at any moment, all that was needed was a single thud.

She was scared.

Her eyes were wide, locked onto Flare, it wasn't however the look of a warrior who just realized that the opponent he is about to face is more powerful than him which could only mean one thing -

Death.

It was the look of someone who realized his mistake and is aware that this fault cost him everything.

For some reason Flare seemed to be her demon.

Flare who seemed to be happy, judging by the line that stretched across his fire muzzle, first scales began to show on his body, several already dotted the top of his nose. The scale young and full of color as if it would just hatch on top of the fiery nose.

"You can stop the magic Flare" Cynder suggested, her voice was hollow though, like she wouldn't believe her own words "We're safe"

The, quite literally fire dragon shook his head, sparks of flames jumped from his body like tears of water from a recently washed flesh.

"It's not normal magic like a breath" he replied cheerfully "I can't stop it, it will pass soon though!"

"Do you feel all right at least?" a gulp stretched the magenta throat "I can barely see your eyes..."

"I'm fine!" the burning head nodded this time, a fiery line stretched down the shaking chin as if it would be magma oozing from the neck of a burping volcano

He wiped off the special saliva before it reached the ground.

"The world looks funny though, like you guys! Everything is red and yellow, mostly, I don't really see your colors, only the heat of your bodies"

The burning head turned towards Danox, the barely visible eyes of Flare examined the black dragon from top to bottom.

"You should warm yourself up, you look really cold"

Danox recoiled back, paw shooting towards the chest, claws curling and scratching down the length of the gold chest, repeating the same move a couple more times, paw acting as if it tried to catch a corner of invisible clothing that it wanted to drag over the body since its owner was caught naked.

Only after a few seconds, when the confused looks seemed to drill holes in his body Danox glared at his leg and composed himself, slamming it against the ground so forcefully that they thought he would make a hole right through the whole floating island.

The black drake laughed.

"Guess even the temperature seems to stay away from big, scary, black dragons. Reputation is reputation I suppose" he waved his paw dismissively "The heart can get really cold if all you've known is winter"

"What happened Flare? Why are you like this?" Spyro continued the interrogation

"Because of Iris" Flare replied unhesitatingly

Every eye turned towards the dragoness, no one truly guessed the events that led to Flare's condition, but Iris could see suspicion in every colorful eye. They didn't know what she did, but that didn't mean they won't find out, she could see thoughts and ideas flashing across their orbs, coming up with more and more probable scenarios.

She worked hard to make people think about the worst when she was involved after all.

Iris bent on her legs, body trembling, not because of fear, but blame, she hated that feeling of failure. The failed attempt to get rid of that motherfucker ruined everything, it wasn't the first time she made a bad call, it won't be the last, yet no recent failure she had to deal with felt like this one.

It was all because of Spyro.

The merciful bastard doesn't have endless patience, there was a limit for his toleration and if he finds out that she crossed it, everything will be lost.

And he was the only one who can make it all go away.

After so many fucking years.

She glared at Flare, white orbs full of hate, hints of surprise and outrage, her shocked brain unable to comprehend why he is doing this after being a drooling bur all this time, why he betrays her, why? What did she do to deserve this?

"I promised that I won't let them harm her. She's safe, I won" Flare smiled and in this moment scales began to form at the corners of his fiery mouth, giving also shape to lips

Iris' mouth dropped open, she tried to say something, but was unable to come out with a response, she felt as if she was slapped across the snout, the strike waking her up sharply as if someone would pull her away right when she was about to make a step over a ledge leading into a great, dark abyss below.

Cynder exchanged dazzled looks with the boys, just like her they thought that the answer Flare gave them wasn't really an ideal response for the question.

Something wasn't adding up here.

"You appeared out of nowhere my friend" Hunter noted "I have never seen anything like it before, Cynder and Danox are the only two dragons capable of a similar feat, but both can be read if enough attention is paid, not you though"

"It's the muses, like you guys, I always keep coming to them when I shed scales"

One of the yellow eyes took on shape, scales around the socket forming the ground for the eyeball.

Danox smiled at the sight.

The rest of the group winced, all in all it was good that Flare was recovering from whatever he went through, but that didn't change the fact that the way this process was progressing wasn't creepy.

Flare grinned.

"What?" with a fiery pop his lips took their solid, soft shape

Iris noticed that the moment of repelling shock was over, all three again started to think, she could see the cogs turning in their heads and despite how she disliked the idea, she had to admit that they all are bright. It was only a matter of time before they ask the right questions, or Dynamite starts blabbering the truth, which he tries to hide the damn fool, probably hoping that he will have her ass for keeping the leverage he has over her a secret.

Dynamite can wait though, there are other issues right now to deal with, like curiosity. She has to distract the rest of the team, she always had two aces tucked for such situations under her scales. In this particular moment the stronger card, her body that is, was out of the game, a useless play when Tat is around.

The other card was disgrace, how she hated to play that card.

Iris sighed deeply, dirty, ruined wings dropping onto the ground in defeat.

"I appreciate that you kept your promise" she grumbled, feeling as daggers of shame stab her soul

It worked though, disgrace always works, especially when it strikes royalty, common, ugly rabble always reacts to the trips of their betters.

Every eye turned to her, every eye widening, even Danox was surprised by the clear, yet hard to swallow appreciation in the dragoness voice. Flare was shocked to such a level that his second eye popped into shape as he gasped.

Hunter scratched his ears, suggesting that they focus more since they are hearing improbable things.

Cynder had her head thrown back, snout cringed in an expression of someone who was a witness to a defecating monster.

"Did you just say thank you?" she mumbled, her voice in the tone of a squeak

"Don't shit yourself" Iris snarled "I know when I'm getting pulled out of the fire" she clenched the medallion on her neck, fueling herself on its purpose and meaning during this time of shameful agony "This is all you get though, I don't want to hear any comments"

Spyro smiled, he didn't believe her that she was doing it out of the goodness of her heart, but it was enough to tell that the ice barrier she wrapped herself was cracking and despite what she put him through, it was good to see her coming around, one way or the other.

Seeing people happy, especially those that he is close with to bigger or smaller degree was always a nice feeling.

"It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious" Danox recited, tail making a prideful swish

"Whoa Iris" Flare reached towards his head, running a paw along the mane there, a paw that burst into scales the moment it touched his blazing hair "You're welcome"

The sight of Flare wiped the sour expression from her black snout, it was stupid to say this, especially when he was burning like a torch, but even despite that she could tell that he was beaming. The compliment, the show of gratitude meant the world to him, it wasn't however the gesture that made him look so young all of a sudden, after all she thanked and showed support towards him many times already and he never was so happy like now.

It was something else.

Something familiar.

She was going through the same thing once she believed.

It was infatuation.

In this moment she didn't care that the target of Flare's affection is a girl who's heart is as welcoming as sharp swords of the Dark Army. All that mattered was the feeling, back then when she was drooling over Spyro she could only dream about someone who she could tell all about her emotions, someone to share her thoughts with.

Now when she had it, the thirst for conversation faded, yet for some unexplained reason the hunger to taste this feeling again remained, the thirst to tell people about it, if not with her own mouth, than at least with someone else's.

It was a childish desire, but one she couldn't control, personal happiness was so addictive.

"How do you feel Flare?" she fluttered her eyelashes at him, cooing

Iris snorted, blue mist wafting from her nose.

"Suck his dick if you want to know and stop wasting our time idiot" she smacked her tail against the ground, kicking the remnants of the white tuff of snow in the air

Images of a balloon being pierced with a needle filled her head.

The dreamy bliss evaporated with a rumbling echo, pleasure not only pushed away from her, but also strangled and stomped into the ground.

Iris knew how to kill smiles.

"My lady" Hunter tugged at the black corner of his pointy ear, ears aimed at the ground "You always knew how to paint the world in the most blunt colors"

"G-G-Guys?" before anyone else could say anything more Cloudas' raspy mutter joined the fray of voices

The young dragon was swaying on his legs, a tiny bit of drool hung from the corner of his lips, he seemed to be greener than usual.

"I don't f-f-feel so good" voice a whisper, not stronger than a flutter of a leaf

Spyro momentarily dashed towards the wind dragon driven by blame mostly instead of heroic determination. They were so into this conversation that they completely forgot that they had a new companion with them, one that knew nothing of Time and especially time travel, it didn't even occur to him that such magic could be toxic to somebody.

"I've got you" he ducked under the dragon, pressing his back against his neck, neck that immediately pushed against his back as the dragon's whole weight pushed against his spine

Cloudas fell onto him, wrapping his legs weakly around his underbelly, wings and tail toppled onto the earth, as numb as half of his body on top of the purple back. The rest hung from the rump as if there was no bone in the flesh, hind paws flatly pressed against the earth, dragging lines across it as Spyro slowly moved, carrying the dragon away from the portal.

The group followed the two drakes, everyone moved besides Iris who remained behind and waited for the burning dragon to start walking. When he finally did she thrust her paw out and snatched him by the tail, just before her draconic palm wrapped itself around the fiery surface, red and yellow scales grew on the tail as of offering themselves to her touch.

She yanked the tail, dragging Flare backwards.

"If your plan is to use me, then know that I'll bite your dick off" she snarled, despite the threat her lips brushed against the burning side of his snout, the whisper almost romantic, even if it carried the tone of intimidation in it

"What? Of course not Iris!" Flare shook his head, purposely maintaining the move for a few seconds, just to feel the lips grazing against his draconic snout for a little while longer

"You aren't a prize, but a friend"

The dragoness snorted, shoving Flare away from her.

"Bullshit, this doesn't make me owe you"

"Alright"

"Don't count on anything, you're dirt to me as always"

"Alright"

"If you think that not telling on me makes you higher on my list of thrash, you're wrong. You're still on the ground, licking my paws"

"I understand" Flare giggled "I really do, you're still you and I'm still me"

Idiot.

Still though he was probably the only male right now she could believe, he really didn't want anything from her. She had no idea why she was so certain of this, maybe because of the way he shed his scales, the burning silhouette he is now somehow made him more transparent than ever. It was like he would rip all of his clothes and stand before her naked and vulnerable, with nothing to hide and completely open.

It was that unchanging, burning soul of his that made her see it, those flames were like inexperienced tails if they had anything to hide they would already betray hints that showed their true intentions.

Every male did and she was prepared and knew what to look for.

Flare however didn't change at all.

It was impossible.

"How are you still alive?" she blurted out in irritation, paw slamming against the forehead to rub it intensely, head started to sting with pain

"I breathe" Flare nodded, empowering his point

"No you fucking fool. I'm asking how are you still alive when those wretches tore you to shreds. I've seen you bleed"

The fire drake cocked his head, scales popped on his neck as he gave her a confused, lost look.

"I don't know what you mean Iris. They attacked me, I bled, got tired and was with my friends again. Like always and forever" he shrugged indifferently "Not the first time, not the last"

She narrowed her eyes on him, pupils turning to icicles.

"I'm not a fan of riddles"

"Me too! They always give me a headache!" he tapped the side of his head, while the temple was still nothing but fire, the claw that knocked at the flames was already a metallic blade "I'm not good when it comes to long thinking"

Iris rolled her eyes.

"If only"

Flare grinned, leaning over to her, playfully blowing tiny sparks in her direction from his shoulder.

She recoiled back with a growl, swiping with her paw from side to side as if she would be chasing away flies. She did nothing besides that, even the glare that she gave him wasn't as indignant as always.

Eyebrow of one of the freshly born eyes rose in surprise.

"You are awfully talkative today and not as murderous. Are you ill?"

"Yes"

"Really? Do dragons even get sick? What you caught?"

"Hope"

He winced, jerking his head back, bewilderment painting the freshly appearing scales.

"I...think I preferred when you were mean and tried to hit me all the time. I don't understand you now"

"We're even then"

"Even?" his eyes widened "Oh! You're confused just like me! I know it's not normal" he looked himself over, tapping at his forming body "But it's not so scary, everything is cool, when I'm confused I always ask que- I know!" he stomped with his paw, joyful sparks exploded from underneath his paw

"I've played a game with Volteer once, question and an answer for a question and an answer, whatever I wanted to know about him, or anything else, I just had to ask, he did the same. It was cool and helped us get rid of the confusion!"

Iris stepped back, cold eyes narrowed on the drake, immortal pain in the ass or not, he is still a worm that is below her, he just can't reach for divinity with some stupid game.

"I'm not going to tell you my life stories. Fuck off"

"Okay, fine, we don't have to talk all the time. How about one for one only? I promise I will try to focus and answer as best as I can so you understand everything. I'm not really good with details, but for you I'll try. Ask!"

Her claws drummed against the ground, she wasn't in the mood for stupid games or anything else for that matter, she would like to crack that dumb skull open if she knew it would work, but the fucker came back once, he can do so again.

She hated this fucking feeling of defenseless, this damn fool can yap at any moment, tell about everything and whether people would believe him or not, she still would be on the losing side. More distrust will scare even Spyro away and the damn fool with his fucking heart has a line she cannot cross, after that not even her charm and body will bring him back.

Patience.

For Mother.

Just a little while longer.

"Fine" she grumbled, squeezing the medallion tightly, accidently cracking a part of its icy chain "One for one and that's it"

Oh the shame she has to indulge into just to keep the fool from complicating things even further.

"Ask!" Flare repeated eagerly, tail making wide swings from side to side, taking scaly shape under the gusts of wind it created

She didn't want to ask him if he was immortal or any other such question regarding that situation, she doubted he knew the answer himself, he's too stupid for that. If she wants to figure this out, she has to do the thinking and for that she needs clues.

"Are you a purebred dragon?"

Flare bit his lip, looking at the ground as if the puzzles that make his answer were scattered there.

"I don't think so. There were many weird dragons from the place I come from, none looked like me tho. All those guys, you could see that they were changed when I was a natural. There are also nicknames, most prisoners got something characteristic, a flaw, scar, or far more weirder stuff. I was mostly called hen, cock, chicken, shitrainer, skyrat, pussyeyes, everything bird related mostly"

He looked himself over, studying his legs the most, elbows and hocks started to stretch out, forming the burning elements he was known for.

"I've got some feathers, but they are not as pretty as yours" he shrugged "Dunno why they called me like that, but that got me thinking that I'm not completely normal. I have no idea who my parents were so can't say for sure" he smiled at his blue listener "There you go, my turn now"

She snorted, at the edge of saying that he can screw himself since she got what she wanted, it wasn't much, but it at least pointed her in a direction. It was time to look for information about an immortal bird who fucked with dragons.

Especially useful could be the information just how one can get rid of one, life taught her one lesson. Everything has weakness, even the most powerful and respected.

Isn't that right Mother?

"Spit it out finally" she exhaled a deep, irritated breath

"What do you want Iris?"

She looked up at him, the cold flare that housed itself in her eyes was gone, replaced by fear and bewilderment. One of her wings pushed forward, she ungracefully began plucking at the feathers, it wasn't a good effort since she was standing, but it still made Flare gasp as if he would be drowning.

And he was in some regard.

Iris' eyes changed shape, not only she was doing that cute thing of hers again, she also let out the prism into her orbs, making them shine with life, innocence, loss, defeat and confusion. The eyes despite their visible torment as beautiful as their owner.

What did she want?

Everyday it felt like she wanted something else, but was it truly desire or just a whim of the moment? She couldn't say, for a long time purpose wasn't really her point of focus, nothing was for that matter.

Was there really point for all of this?

Probably not, she wasn't stupid, she knew that something was going on with her and there was no stopping it, damage was already done and it was just the time to live with it until the final whim will call for its price and she knew that sooner or later it will.

Horrors won't just leave her alone, she leaves an impact on memory wherever she goes.

Too bad that she cannot free herself from them.

"I'm trying to fly with broken wings"

Flare glanced at her feathery membranes, paying close attention to them, looking for any kind of disfiguration, but finding none. The fight left the wings in shambles, they lost their pretty allure, true, but they were whole, all can be saved with some water.

She tricked him. It was Iris after all, who would expect that she would honor a bargain.

"Don't tell me if you don't want to then" he snorted, throwing his chin up, offended

"I did tell you, you damn idiot"

"Oh come on! I answer your question as best as I can and you mumble something about wings"

She strode forward, snatching the drake by the horn and pulling him closer to her, their noses nearly touched as she glared at him, the freezing eyes would disintegrate him if they could.

Flare gulped.

"First of all, you will change your tone or I will forget about the things you know and make another hole in you through which you're going to puke your guts out which I will later feed into you again" she shoved him away with a grunt, stepping backwards "Secondly, I've told you what you wanted, if you don't understand what I wanted to say it's not my problem"

"What's there to understand? You don't have broken wings Iris"

"I'm tired of this" she turned around, kicking dust in the air, following after the group "Start thinking and stop wasting my time, I'm out of patience"

"Think and think" Flare grumbled "What's there to think about? Broken wings are broken wings, there is no other mean..." his eyes widened when sudden enlightenment struck him, momentarily thinking about Sparx who also toyed with him in the same manner "A metaphor! You used a metaphor!"

The victory disappeared from his snout as quickly as it appeared when he realized what that meant, the fire surrounding him dimming, adjusting themselves to the gloom his heart felt.

"A riddle, it's a riddle, I hate riddles and you knew that" he pointed an accusing claw at the blue dragoness "That's not fair! I said everything I could and you gave me a riddle! You cheated!"

She stopped, eyes glaring back at him from behind the blue shoulder.

"I don't remember you telling me about any rules besides one. Your privilege has ended, satisfy yourself with my answer or wither and die, I don't care. Leave me alone, I've wasted enough breath on you already"

He wanted to shout another protest, but decided against it, he didn't really know what made Iris so talkative all of a sudden but he liked her this way more.

The Beast ate already, there was no point of waking it up again.

Iris is still Iris though, talkative or not, she isn't the most friendly of creatures and there was no other way around than accepting her as she is. He knew that change cannot be forced, they tried to change him in the prison, make him a purple dragon's puppet and yet he disobeyed, disobeyed when everything signaled that they had completed their job with success.

Looking back at this situation though made him realize that Iris honored their trade, no matter the troubles he has with her answer. She still teased and mocked him, true, but she also showed a bit of teamwork spirt, a new, fresh sensation that made you forget about everything that happened.

And you didn't have to shed your scales in a fountain of your own blood to feel alive again, at least for a little while.

"Do you need to lie down friend?" Hunter grunted as he walked at right side of the dragged, white dragon, supporting his flank with his body and keeping a slice of his big wing on top of himself

"We are nearing the edge of the island, soon we will have to fly down"

"Let's stop here" Cloudas followed his own advice, sliding from the purple body, letting himself be guided to the ground by Hunter and Cynder on the opposite side

He rubbed his forehead when the belly touched the ground, everything spinned, but generally speaking he felt a little bit better than a few minutes ago.

"Not a big fan of time travel, huh?" Cynder winked at the drake, placing the goggles he tried to put on right in front of him

"Kept them safe"

"Thanks" he cradled the item in his paws, pulling it closer until eventually something clicked loudly

It wasn't the goggles.

With risen eyebrows Cloudas reached down his stretched body, running his paw along the chest until something suddenly clicked in a place where it shouldn't click.

It was glass?

Right where his scales are?

He quickly pulled himself up to a siting position, shock distracting weariness. Chin smashed against the green scales, eyes shooting wide.

"What the hell is this?"

He opened his paw, spreading his legs far, revealing a tiny bit of a gleaming scale to his companions.

It was the same crystal that every other draconic guest from another world had, as always different only in colors. This one was white, tiny flies of silver and green danced around inside the transparent surface.

Everyone leaned closer, only Danox didn't bother, thoughtfully running his claw up and down the surface of his gem, scratching it like it would be a cat resting on the lap of a evil mastermind.

"Guys have the same thing! It's just like the other gems" Spyro announced, eyeing the crystal curiously

Cloudas frowned, giving the companions who looked him over an incredulous stare.

"You don't have any crystals in you"

"Not we" purple head swung from side to side "Danox, Iris and Flare"

The wind dragon squinted his eyes on the massive chest of their black companion, the crystal was small, but visible, quite well in fact under one condition, if you pay attention. It was just so perfectly camouflaged with the rest of the scales that you could easily take it for a stain.

"Heavens lift my wings!" Cloudas exclaimed, startled "I'm blind! If you didn't tell me I don't know if I would ever see them!"

Brilliant smile stretched the black mouth.

"I'll take that as a compliment"

"This sheds light on the Veils, a very crucial aspect I believe was revealed to us" Hunter scratched his chin, claws scratching out dirt from the matted fur "You my friend, like every other dragon with the crystal, are connected with the portal that you traveled through"

"Guess Volteer was right, like always" Cynder nodded "You guys are banks for the batteries"

"Not everyone" forefinger stretching out into the air "Ignus came through the same portal our royal companion did and yet Iris is the only one who wields the essence of the portal in her. Why is it so?"

"And what does it mean?" Spyro continued the train of thought, gazing at the crystal in Cloudas' chest as if it would be a magical mirror ready to tell the future

"You found the lock my friend"

"That reminds me that we still have another part of our mission to finish" Danox noted, tapping at the gem in his chest, head nodding towards the magical slit hovering in the air "You need to close the Veil Sire"

"You want to close the portals?" Cloudas' startled eyes looked Spyro over "Why?"

"They will bring destruction to this world"

"And how do you know this? You're guessing?"

"Danox comes from the future" Spyro explained "He knows what consequences the Veils will bring"

"From the future?" white neck turned towards the big, black dragon

Danox grinned.

"Precisely"

"So you came back to prevent all of this terrible things from happening and warn the present generation about the danger"

"Just so. It is like you would be sitting in my head friend"

"So you pushed the people here into the fight with the portals far more earlier than the people from your world probably recognized the danger. Before they could react, they were already overwhelmed"

Black eyes narrowed on the young, wind dragon, the claws that tapped against the crystal curled around it, piercing scale and drawing drops of blood.

"Opinions are like nails, the more often you hit them the deeper they penetrate" he recited, the deep, dark voice echoing like a growl of a bear

"Here you are already altering the future" green eyes gleamed with excitement "I mean, look, back then the portals surprised you, now you surprised them. The bad stuff didn't get the time to act while you already scanned it around. Just think! You got the element of surprise, take advantage of it" he nodded with his head backwards, the Veil back there pulsed in the same time, as if in happiness

"There aren't only monsters and Wretched back there, but also wind dragons, black dragons and purple dragons. You get the latter on your side at least and there is nothing to worry about ever again, locking that portal is such a waste, you don't throw away found spirit gems do you?"

Spyro looked up at the magical slit, he had no idea how to close such a thing, probably there was a chance to use Cloudas' gem somehow like he did once with a part of Flare's and work around the possible troubles. If he would focus and search for the song he would probably hear it and Time would demand to be listened to.

But the thing was that he didn't really want to.

Boven showed that perhaps the things that hide behind the Veils can be dangerous and most likely most of them are, but there were also those good things out there, like hope and probable allies. It was something that they, following Volteer's ideas, thought about already and as promising as it might sound, the prospect of genocide outweighed the possibility to create civilization connected by magical portals.

However during all this race he didn't consider one thing, a thing that Cloudas put into perspective.

What if there is no race?

What if thanks to Danox they are far ahead of the moment when all the bad and ugly happened. With this idea in mind the prospect of acquiring additional allies wasn't so grim any more, he already could travel between worlds, no one of the bad guys seemed to know it just yet.

By the Ancestors.

What if it works?

"This is quite the bargain" Hunter admitted, rubbing the symbol of hope with this thumb

Cynder scratched her choker thoughtfully, smile playing on the corner of her lips.

"You sure know how to haggle, any merchants in the family?"

Cloudas blushed, pulling at his fins as if trying to drag them over himself.

"Yes" Danox licked his toe, savoring the taste of his own drop of blood "Our new companion surely knows how to strike a deal, as if he would already have experience in the matter"

"Oh no" the wind drake waved his paw shyly, being complimented and regarded with attention by the friends and actual Shapers was just too much for his confidence to handle "It was just a small thought, you don't have to listen to me" he examined the ground and despite his words he wished that they did

"Bold proposal, playing at the edge of risk, or being simply ignorant" he examined his recently sucked claws, the saliva on them slowly pushing through the dirt and giving space to silver, that one could use to see his own reflection "A talented deal broker or a fool?"

"You don't have to be so mean" Cynder snapped at the black dragon "Cloudas gave a proposal and it's not a stupid trade if you think about it. We didn't include all variables in our previous calculations"

"A bargain on maybe?" red tongue ran over the glistening fangs, the first swing painting the teeth with a gentle hint of red "Does our friend have any arguments to back up such bold claim in the face of a tremendous danger that you all seem to ignore for some reason?"

"I don't want to brag" Cloudas scratched the puff of feathers on his cheek, eyes looking down on his paws "But I had some success in risky banters before, it was always worth it"

"Is that so?" Danox presented a charming smile "The probable treasure is far more enticing than the danger, this is the sort of deals you seem to like the most?"

"I know it sounds scary and you have no reason to trust me, but I think that the goal justifies the cost. Living next to the Wretched thought us that it is always worth pursing security, it worked so far"

"An expert I see, with specialization as well" the black dragon scratched one of his eyes, it was either the claw reflecting the light or his black eyeball flashed white as he played with the socket, as if the blackness of his eyes was just a curtain

"You seem to know how to strike a deal" the claw stopped moving in such an awkward position that the tip of it was entirely directed at the black eye which Danox kept opened, freely and with no issue, not bothered by the fact that that one, even gentle, push was enough to make his claw sink into the eye and turn it into paste

"Especially that with a devil"

Cloudas balked, straightening up in his position as if someone would dip him in freezing water.

Head creaked as it turned around to glance at the black dragon, who didn't seem to pay any attention to him and yet he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being observed. Danox was focused on the tip of the claw in front of him, which wouldn't be so creepy if not for the fact that he could swear that he could see a tiny shape of a heart instead of the pupil in the black eye at which the claw was pointing.

He scratched his chest instinctively, having a strange, uncomfortable feeling that the air became thinner in his ribcage as if there would be something right next to his heart brushing the space around it.

Like a tip of a finger ready to touch you.

This one however sharp.

Like a claw dipped in saliva.

By the Wind, if he sticks that claw in his eye I will die!

Good.

They say the guilt eats you alive and it was only fitting that a Shaper from the future came to collect what is due. Sins always stain your soul and they will remain as scars for the rest of your life no matter how much cloth you put on to hide them.

Innocence, naivety and stupidity of youth are no excuse.

"I know it's going to be tough" Cynder rolled her eyes "But you don't have to be creepy to get your point across, not everyone is used to you"

"But my Lady" Danox smiled charmingly, dropping his paw onto the ground, in the distance Cloudas released a deep breath of relief "Creepy suggests that I'm being playfully mean on purpose and creating manipulation, while I'm just wrapping my honest opinion in an interesting layer. You don't have to be scary, most of the times honesty works just fine"

The smiling, black snout turned at the startled wind dragon, who looked like as if he swallowed a huge stick.

"What do you think my friend? Am I honest or creepy?"

Cloudas swallowed, the bulge running through his throat dropped down in shakes as if there would be really a stick it had to force its way through.

"Leave him alone Danox" Spyro interfered "I think we follow Cloudas' idea and leave the portal open for now, we can always return to it later"

The black dragon shrugged.

Purple brow raised in surprise.

"That's it? No comment or snide remark about the decision I made? You aren't mad?"

"Why should I be? My Sire, I came here as a nail you're the hammer, I only suggest that it is better to strike, but if you don't want to I cannot force you. I'm a good guy, I dislike pressure and value free will, if you don't want to stop the incoming disaster, very well, I accept that you deny my help"

"For a guy that was supposed to prevent the world from being bathed in blood you seem awfully calm about it"

"Sire, I have seen much, getting to see your own race getting slowly wiped out of the face of the earth strips from emotion. It doesn't bother me because I know the future, I know how genocide feels, I've been there and I expected that there was a possibility that the future cannot be changed so I treat this trip as vacation of sorts. Bathing in the sun before it starts raining so to speak"

He examined his claws casually, like a queen does her nails when bored.

"It is you who will shed tears and dry out your throat from pain. I could spare you the ache by telling who of your friends will die" he winked at the purple drake "But I hate to spoil the surprise"

Spyro gulped, he could hear his friends doing the same, Cloudas lowered his head so low that his nose nearly touched the earth, he covered the embarrassment he felt behind his massive wings.

The wind dragon's proposal was a rational one and honestly one that fit better with his personality, past or no past that portal led to people, closing it would mean killing all those inhabitants in some way.

Yet the way Danox presented his side couldn't simply be ignored, he was known for his carefree and perhaps callous approach, but now when he explained the reasons behind his behavior in more detail, fear crept inside his soul. The indifferent way he spoke about death, especially of those he cared about sent shivers down his spine.

His friends will die.

There was always a risk that it will happen before the Veils will play their part in their lives, but it was always nothing more than grim possibility, now, with Danox around, their deaths felt like certainty. Something that can be only conquered by death a life for a life.

Thousands of souls for a single special one.

What a trade.

They should be telling horror stories about him to children instead of praising someone they don't understand.

What a damn disaster.

"Why the fuck are we stopping again?!" Iris angered whine came from behind the group

Flare healed completely by now as he walked side to side with the blue dragoness.

Cynder gazed at the pair, all the disgust she felt for Iris boiled with new strength within her bowels. She couldn't interfere in free will, she has no right to tell Flare who he should or shouldn't like or care about, but seeing such a vulgar creature with someone so innocent twisted her heart around. This girl was a walking corruption, a weed that can only be rooted out and Flare's attention only made it harder to root her out.

The days always become more gloom whenever that chick shows her blue mug.

"We're just taking a small break to catch our breath my lady" Hunter bowed respectfully

"Whoa man, you look tired" Flare commented as he noticed the contorted wind dragon

"Tired?" the blue dragoness snorted "From what? Breathing? Didn't see you out there moving your ass to help us. If breathing is your problem I have a perfect cure at my disposal" she snarled, brandishing her sharp as tips of spears fangs

"My energy..." Cloudas muttered, voice abruptly being cut off by the hack of guilt squeezing his throat

"Our friend has some elemental energy issues, he cannot rely on his magic during battle"

"And I bet he can't fight claw against claw either"

The wind drake didn't respond, he merely shook his head, the feeling of uselessness threatening to strangle him.

How he hated this feeling, it was like a bully he can't do nothing about since the blows he lands don't even scratch him.

"This is the guy we were supposed to save Goldie?" Iris growled, glaring towards the purple drake

Spyro could feel the strength of her piercing gaze wrapping its hands around his throat to choke him. Iris had a way of projecting frustration.

"One can offer more than magic and mental prowess beautiful" Danox poked his head several times "There hides the difference between being useful and a burden. If you jump to such quick conclusions you don't know what dead weight is"

"True" Iris rumbled, furious, offensive glare shifting at the black drake "I forgot to ask the expert. You know a lot about dead weight Shitscale, after all you're carrying one in your genital slit"

Spyro snickered, slapping a paw against his paw to muffle the chuckle. Hunter also gave to amusement, as much as he tried to fight it, he couldn't win completely with the smile pushing against his lips. He had to pull at his ears and drop his head to cover himself.

Cynder quickly turned her head, pretending to cough as she struggled to quench the giggle. She had to admit that it was quite the accurate tease from Iris' side, especially the blunt way she presented it, but she just couldn't give her the satisfaction of triumph.

Hunter scratched his chin, glancing overt the sky above as if spotting a shooting star, didn't matter that it was broad daylight.

Cloudas' eyes though had no amusement in them, widening only in terror.

Flare didn't understand nothing, observing the duo as if nothing happened, as if they would be having a normal, rude, conversation.

Danox stared at the dragoness for a while, almost looking as if he was considering to stomp her, but then he threw his head back and exploded with sincere laugher.

"That was very good! Well placed strike princess!" another laughter rumbled from the black throat

Iris snorted with a roll of her eyes, striding towards Spyro, the smile from his snout was disappearing with each step she made towards him, until from the banana smile remained nothing but a thin, straight line.

He could feel her cold breath when she stopped at a paw's reach in front of him, piercing eyes drilling holes in his soul.

"Bath. Now"

A shiver ran down his spine when at first he took the commanding tone for an invitation he cannot reject, yet luckily Iris' firm stare remained the same and he realized in time that it was not a request, but an order.

Order given in a rude way as always, but there was no denying that they all needed a bath, they can't show in Warfang with all this gore on them. In this one place of safety it was better to keep the blood away, Amela has enough to worry about as it is.

He couldn't wait when they will finally get back to Warfang,

Grunts of displeasure followed Iris' rude suggestion, the loudest whines naturally coming out of Cynder, but even she had to admit in the end that their blue companion was right, they couldn't show in the city like that. It wouldn't be nice from the respectful way and well, there was no reason to incite people against her, something that would surely happen if they would see her and especially Spyro covered in blood.

No, bath first.

She drank enough blood already.

They all did.

*

Their way back was practically the same as the road to get here, peaceful and quiet, perhaps even more so due to Iris' surprising silence and Cloudas' shocked consciousness. His green eyes were exploring the world around with great focus on detail. For a time traveler he didn't seem to be too bewildered by the experience itself.

He was like a child left with a babysitter that he liked, trusting her and believing in everything she had to say. Spyro, Cynder and Danox were his protectors, the dragon acting loyally, the experience of time travel not so shocking since it was one of the Shapers that did it. Shapers are capable of everything after all.

You don't gawk, you follow, whenever they tell you to follow, you follow, when they say jump, you jump. Shapers were always right.

And this city they talked about. This...Warfang.

It must be a wonder above all.

"What's wrong Danox?"

Every eye was drawn to Spyro at first, just to jump later on the big, black dragon that had fallen back from the group, shuffling his paws as if he would be forcing his way through thick mud.

Head lowered and wrinkled by deep frown.

"I was wrong?" the black drake rasped, immediately lifting himself up into the air, stopping his big body there, flapping his massive wings and gazing far ahead

"He who starts singing too high will never finish his song" Danox mumbled, his voice strangely filled with regret

Spyro jumped after the drake, turning his sight at the horizon, eyes widened immediately, body freezing.

Warfang was in the distance and it looked at first as if it was burning, but the tendril rising above the walls was too thick and flexible to be a mere smoke. It looked like a black whip or a tentacle, like vengeful pipe of a bully victim who sees the world only in dark colors.

"I haven't thought about one thing Sire, the fragility of mortality I'm sad to admit sometimes touches even me. You did well when you listened to Cloudas, it seems I have altered time the moment I set my paw into this world"

"What is happening? What you want to say? You knew it was going to happen?" Spyro bombarded the dragon with questions

"I did, the issue however occurred way before its original time. The value of free will is unmatched, however when it is poisoned it leads to disaster"

He pointed forward, at the stretching city, claw trembling.

"There began our first step into damnation"