FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 7

A loud hum drummed around loudly as if an engine would start somewhere nearby.

Cynder's eyes snapped open, she was motionlessly staring at a nightstand, a bottle of water and a modest brazier giving away a faint light were standing on top of it. Everything felt so distant as if her spirit would leave her body.

The eerie sensation was short lived though.

Her eyelids started to burn painfully just like she would rip off a bandage that was still pressed against a freshly healed wound. The irritating pain was getting stronger and stronger to the point that she winced, feeling a fire scorching her feminine eyelashes.

Out of instinct she slapped her paw against the sore spot, the impact shook her entire frame, she felt as if she nearly broke her own neck. She silenced the eyes but the numbing explosion filling her skull was nauseating, it was pain mixed with a strong dose of shocking numbness, very confusing, but it really felt as if she would take her head clean right off.

Vibrations followed soon after, strong, wagon upon wagon making circles around her skull, filled to the brim with quivering gems with sharp, rough edges that due to the tremors fell down from the speeding carts, cutting and bruising her head.

She whimpered, the painful, sharp, strange feeling becoming too irritating to power through, she whined, turning uneasily on her other flank, body instinctively put into motion to somehow disperse the nagging ache.

Something ruffled.

Bed sheets.

She was in bed, covered by them.

Momentarily the head ceased its agonistic taunting, replaced suddenly by another sensation, no more pleasing than the last. It was another sort of burn, this one far more sharper than that attacking her eyes previously. It was agonizing as if her own scales would crack just to cauterized at the same moment, as if the bed sheets wouldn't be filled with feathers but blazing, honed iron that peeled and scorched her scales.

Unbearable.

Cynder began to sob.

She kicked wildly, using paws and wings to free herself from the confines of the treacherous sheets, as the torturous mattress slid down the feeling of being skinned alive spread throughout her entire body, didn't matter if top or bottom, even the one pressed to the bed started to burn painfully.

She wasn't thinking, whimpering and groaning she reached for the bottle of water, without even realizing when she popped out the cork. She immediately splashed the contents on her, drowning her scaly flesh in its current.

An overwhelming sense of relief washed over her.

The sensation was so powerful that cut off her breath, turning her paws numb, the bottle slid from her grasp, dropping on the bed where it bounced and got flung past the edge, cracking as it hit the floor just to finally roll under the nightstand.

Once more her entire body was affected, becoming totally paralyzed.

The relief after the razor sharp burn was addictive, at the beginning she wished that it would last forever.

The idea quickly dropped when she started to shiver uncontrollably, teeth rattling against each other, she was freezing.

What kind of water was in that bottle?

She was shaking so hard that she curled into a ball, the legs of the bed squeaked under the pressure of the tremors, her wings folded so tightly against her back that they practically disappeared, shrinking her frame by one size.

Her back paws stretched out, draconic feet clenching against the bed sheets, a spasm made her legs kick up as she pulled them back so instead of dragging the covers along her quaking figure the sheets were thrown into the air, spreading like a kite, until they finally landed on her smoothly, dropping like the softest of clouds.

The freezing sensation was gone with the first touch of warmth, her body ceasing its wild shaking like by a magic touch.

She kept her aching teeth pressed together however, expecting the blades to push out soon and cut at her again.

To her surprise nothing like that happened, she lied there motionless, expecting the worse to come soon, but the longer she waited the more she realized that for some reason nothing like that seemed to be coming.

She wanted to look under the covers, but was too afraid to tempt Fate, deep down feeling the sight of the monster hidden inside, watching her Intently, ready to sink its hot blades again into her flesh the moment she glances in its direction.

What in the Ancestors name is going on?

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, she winced as it slid down her cheek, too shocked to react in any way, struck by bewilderment caused by the fact that she could feel the tear making its way across her draconic snout. She could feel her cheek bending under its weight, the sensation hurtful and greatly irritating as if someone would press a finger against her scales roughly.

Despite the ugly feeling she didn't budge, waited out the discomfort, it took the tear like forever to reach the end of her snout but when it finally dropped onto the bed the uncomfortable sensation was gone like the rest, by a flick of a magical touch.

It was like each physical sensation had increased potency by tenfold. Did she wake up in a body of an ant that a single drop of a tear felt like a wave of an ocean crushing against the rocks? Ancestors only knew, but she feared if the tear would move towards her mouth she would drown the moment she swallowed it.

She continued lying on the bed motionless, realizing quite quickly that the growing warmth surrounding her was becoming warmer and warmer yet despite the increased strength of the sensation it was still bearable.

Not like when she moved.

Or when something moved across her.

Friction.

Friction made her unhealthily sensitive for some reason.

She inhaled deeply, eyes widening immediately, the breathing motion instantly stopped. Her whole throat turned unimaginably cold, for a second it made her wonder from where the inhaled air came from, was it her own lungs creating it or did Cloudas blew a small gust right into her nose?

Whatever it was it at least cleared one thing out.

It was not only friction that made her vulnerable.

She simply woke up over sensitive, to the point that even a deep breath is problematic.

She had no evidence, but her feminine instinct told her that this situation for sure has something to do with her out of body experience.

Ancestors grace!

She has to get used to feeling again.

Okay, she had seen some crazy shit in her life, in fact she doubted that there would be anything even close coming to the weirdness of being Corrupted and having part of your life basically wiped from memory. This though, this surely could compete for first place.

It was like being hatched all over again and if babies in their first days experience the world like she does, well, it is understandable why they cry so much then.

Heat was slowly starting to become problematic, she could feel her scales warming up, ready to produce sweat.

She grabbed onto the sheet, taking a shallow, filling breath just to prevent her lungs from stretching too much, she started to slid the covers down, carefully, steadily.

The moment she moved it another wave of intense relief washed over her when the freshly exposed scale freed itself from the touch of the material. She pushed it a little farther down, the sheets slid down softly.

Very softly.

The tip of her tail started to tap as the covers grazed over her body, the meticulous slide kicked the previous pain out of the window, replacing it with a wonderful, sensual touch like that of a feather.

Pleasure.

She felt unimaginable pleasure.

Hacking a wavering breath she dropped the covers even lower, tail began to tap wilder, toes on her hind paws clenching, entire body began to shiver under the powerful surge of bliss, muscles of her thighs reacting automatically to the situation, squeezing against each other tightly under the force of the sensation.

"Holy fuck" she squealed, letting out a wavering moan through clenched teeth, just now realizing that her free foreleg clenched the bed so strongly that her claws made holes in the mattress.

The feeling was nauseatingly desirable, making her feel dirty and insatiable at the same time, her body screaming at her to carry on with the slide, just a little more. Despite the rabid urge to continue she somehow managed to stop the descent, clenching tightly the sheet in her already sweaty palm.

This was not normal, she couldn't carry on with it.

This argument wasn't the one that stopped her though, as logical as it may be. She stopped because besides pleasure there was that unimaginable pressure of shame stabbing her, deep, strong embarrassment was also an ingredient that was warming her body.

She wouldn't be able to look into people's eyes if someone found her here, in blissful spasms caused by fucking cloth.

She would never be able to wash away the label of a pervert.

Screw the people.

She wouldn't be able to look herself in the mirror when she would soil this bed.

But then again finally calling her a whore would have some merit.

She smiled, letting out a delicate chuckle, the nice sensation intensified again. Brief surge was enough to make her shut her mouth once more.

She had to wait it up, hoping that this shameful drug would pass just as quickly like the rest of the sensations. To speed the process up she took a deeper breath, receiving a strenuous sting from the lungs.

Her active tail tip dropped flat.

Chill filled her insides.

Pleasure was gone.

Thank the Ancestors.

With the bed sheets reaching her waist the warmth wasn't spreading so strongly anymore yet she could feel it building up steadily. The switches between emotions seem to somehow trick the process and let it build up from the beginning again. The problem with this was that she didn't know for how long such changes will work, even if they did she doubted that she would be able to keep doing it all the time, bigger chances were that the constant stress will turn her crazy first before she would ever get used to the new regime.

Her only hope for some relative normality lied in Amela, mother should have something in her pocket to help her. Her condition was magical in nature so she didn't expect to find a remedy, but there was definitely something out there that could numb her senses even by a little margin.

She just had to wait, Amela was bound to show up soon.

The handle of the door clicked.

Her eyes widened.

Mother must read her mind.

She lifted her head up, looking gratefully at the slowly opening door. They were creaking softly, clearly the one entering cared for her well-being, thinking that she is still asleep and doing everything that was possible to not wake her up.

The thought about someone worrying for her turned up the heat once more, she really was learning how it felt to be visible again.

A purple draconic head shyly peeked inside the room, the amethyst eyes grew so wide the moment they noticed her looking in their direction that they completely shifted the perspective of the head, making it small in comparison to the huge like fireballs eyes.

It was Spyro who entered the room.

Her tail began its dance anew, this time beating at the bed practically with its entire length, the steady jerks lifting her butt up slightly with each swing.

Her mouth parted at the sight, a prolonged, soft gasp left her throat, making her lungs shrink to dots as they were forced to exhale everything they had stored. The heat reached its limit, she was burning from the inside, each bone began drumming to the point she could feel them poking her veins, making the blood inside slosh from side to side.

The quakes reached her stomach, twisting it uncomfortably and releasing from somewhere a horde of butterflies to make them flop blindly within her belly.

Her chest ached, heart raced, each beat threatening to brake her ribs, the pounds were so strong that she could barely breathe.

All these bad sensations should kill her considering her sensitive state, yet as uncomfortable as they were, they weren't shunned upon, in fact they were welcomed. The feeling of indescribable tranquility and certain sense of completion was just too strong for the pain to break through with its negative touch.

The dragon that entered the room was her entire world.

She learnt to love him all over again, she stared at him with a deep, fully submissive gaze like he would be the perfect picture ever to be found in the Realms.

Her unexpected display of affection made Spyro stop in his tracks, tossing away the first shock of seeing his mate fully awoke. Replacing it with a different sense of dizziness, one that made him feel worthy, that pair of glistening with fervent adoration green eyes was breathtaking and so, so hypnotizing.

He never realized when his tail started to make happy swings, neither he realized when he craned his neck, giving the pair of his favorite emeralds a closer look.

He was drowning in that sea of green, the familiar feeling making him choke on his own tongue, he couldn't tear his sight away, the image was simply too beautiful.

Even more so when he could practically swear that he saw two tiny hearts pulsing within those glimmering, green gems.

The thudding of her tail, as cute as it was, created constant noise that echoed throughout the corridor and began growing louder and louder to his senses. He pulled his head back, checking the surroundings, spotting not a soul nearby.

He bit his lip, he shouldn't be doing it, not after Amela caught them last time, yet he couldn't resist being near his mate, she was simply too special to ignore. All he could promise to his conscience is that he won't cross the boundaries of good taste this time.

He slipped inside with a tender squeak, he pushed the door shut delicately, making sure they produce as little sound as possible. They clicked in place almost silently.

The growing in tone noise of the beating tail made him smile.

He turned around, taking another good look at her, his heart almost exploding at the sight of her terribly, big eyes, a wonderful blush painted her snout, all this gleam that surrounded made her look younger. All of this fascination reminding him of a small girl meeting the idol from her dreams.

To see such devotion painted on his mate's snout, all this devotion aimed towards him, it was impossible to describe, it was otherworldly. He was sure this is how walking on clouds would feel like.

"H-How are you feeling?" he mumbled shyly, nose turning red in embarrassment, he never believed that he would speak to his lover as if she would be the first pretty girl in his life he wanted to charm during a party

World was so unfair, guys have to flex and grunt to be intimidating, all a girl needs to do is to look at you.

Cynder noticed his sweet uneasiness, a perfect opportunity for a little taunt to spice things up, yet the throbbing force ravaging her heart was simply too strong to fight against. Spyro's complete nervousness silenced every other sensation, she could not focus on anything but the immense affection she felt for him, not even the bouncing constantly tail could distract her from it.

This strong sense of love was choking her, making each bone of her ribcage burn fiercely, still, despite all this she wouldn't trade the heat warming her right now for anything.

"Amazing" she commented with a single gasp

It was enough to make Spyro chuckle nervously, purple paw rubbing against the other foreleg so Intently that it almost wiped off the color from the scales.

"R-really nothing bothers you?"

"Not with you here" she coughed, the love stricken aura shaking as the lack of breath reminded her of breathing, especially when she decides to waste all that precious breath to speak out loudly

Slowly gathering her bearings she waved her mate over.

"Come closer"

He immediately made several steps forward, but then he heard his conscience yelling at him about a made promise. Yet that reminder wasn't the thing that tied his paws in place, there was another tone ringing in that scream, a tone of guilt.

After everything that he had done, after adopting the blackness, does he really deserve such a prize of loving comfort?

Cynder's tail calmed itself down, the undeniable shift in his expression didn't escape her notice, in literal and metaphorical meaning. With the calming tail the magical touch of charm also faded, replaced by worry that only made her shiver, she could feel the tips of Dread's fingers drumming against her spine.

"Spyro? Did you forget that I'm the one here who should look miserable?

His eyes lost their spark, becoming sad.

"It's that obvious?"

"Maybe not that much, you hid well behind the smile, but let's just say that today I know what to look for. What's the matter?"

He shook his head.

"Not right now, it can wait. You're more important"

"Too bad for you then" she winced, the growing worry stinging her heart, by now killing all the spectacular joy "Because my well-being right now is very much connected with yours and I'm not messing around"

Spyro's eyebrow rose in surprise.

"I don't understand"

"Neither do I" hissing she began massaging her chest, trying to fool the sensations once more, yet this time the distraction didn't work, her connection with Spyro was simply too strong to be tricked.

"After waking up I'm very sensitive to all sorts of sensations, seeing you depressed makes me sad and this sadness kinda hurts, so sorry love, but you need to speak up"

He observed her quietly, trying to decide if she was being serious or merely teasing him. It didn't take him long to realize that it was not about teasing at all, the grimace of pain was as honest as the palpable affection from earlier. He still did not understand it, but seeing the love of his life in pain that was pinpointed to him as an origin was enough for him to take matters seriously.

Who knows, maybe voicing his troubles will make him feel a little better, carrying all that weight can be very strenuous on the soul.

"I suck Cynder" he exhaled deeply, looking at the ground in shame "I suck as a leader, I don't know how to follow Terrador's rules and no matter what I do people still die because of me. I want to help, but whenever I try someone else gets hit, I'm such a failure, I even allowed Darkness to trick me and now I can feel it festering inside me. I'm a terrible role model, people expect me to be their hero and whenever I try I always end up ruining things. I just...I just think that I'm overrated" the words were bitter, their taste foul on the tongue, but despite it all it felt good to vent it out, to feel true and real, show things how they are and not pretend to be someone else

She clenched her paw on her chest, wincing, she could feel her heart bleed, she could feel Spyro's depression rotting away her soul. She waved him over, rolling on the bed to land on her back, the sharp move and burn she caused not enough to distract her from the main source of pain.

"Come closer" her paw made another shake

Spyro bit his lip.

"I don't know if this is a good idea Cynder, last time Amela caught us, I don't want to repeat the same mistake. She might prevent me from seeing you, nobody knows that I'm here"

"Spyro, I know you're a guy and it doesn't take much to get you ready, but are you really in the mood right now? Even if yes just remember that I don't know for how long I slept, but I definitely didn't bathe for some time now" she grinned "So as long as your nose still scrunches at the image of smelling rotten fish you're fine"

"Cynder! By the Ancestors!" he chuckled in embarrassed shock "You don't have to be so blunt about it"

"Relationship is all about honesty" she waved him over again with a giggle "Now come over here"

Who he was kidding?

No matter what she said and how badly he would fight with his own stubbornness, there was no way that he wouldn't at least nuzzle his mate, sooner or later his determination would collapse so it was better to just get over with it.

He approached the bed, exchanging loving smiles with the girl he loved, he leaned in without hesitation to nuzzle her and prove his affection.

Cynder leaned in too, but instead of a boop he received a sharp smack across the head.

"Hey!" he pulled back, rubbing at the struck spot "What was that for?"

She hissed, slamming her other paw against the leg that did the hit, stabilizing it through the shakes that ravaged her nerves. It was a weak strike, but despite it all her entire foreleg burned, to the point that she could feel every bone sending aching pulses as if she would punch a concrete wall.

"I made a promise remember?" she grunted through clenched teeth "I'm your walking notebook, you doubt yourself again so I smack you across the head"

He watched her rubbing her leg with a worried frown.

"I remember the promise, I don't recall anything though about making you suffer for keeping it"

She let out a wavering chuckle.

"Part of being in a relationship with a black dragon" she groaned, arching her body, wincing fiercely, the grunts lowering her voice as if her throat was sore "Pain and blame, we're going to be such a happy dysfunctional family"

"This is no time for jokes Cynder, I don't like any of these, you thrash around as if your paw got cut off. I'm calling a healer"

"You're my healer Spyro" her glistening eyes turned at him, they were stern, but also full of plea, eyes of a castaway holding the board with last ounces of her strength seeing a boat approaching from a distance

Hoping that it will turn and see her.

"Not only mine but the entire world. You can beat pain and bad stuff, you just need to focus, something you've been missing for some time now and I saw it all when I was a black smoke of a fart"

"It's not that simple"

"It is, my leg will stop hurting when you start to smile. I swear, so just ignore my winces okay?"

Her wrinkled snout was contracted by agony, the sight of it made his heart sting, he fought with himself desperately, part of him wanted to stop Time, drag some healers here and be done with it, they would treat her before Cynder would realize what happened. The only thing holding him back was her wish, he respected her too much to trick her in such a way but he promised to himself that if it won't work soon even she won't stop him from calling help.

"I'll try Cyn" he responded sadly

"See?" she smiled, taking several quick breaths "You can do it"

"I really don't get the game you're trying to play here by the way"

"What I'm trying to say is that both of us got on a new path in our lives, it's all a little bumpy, but the difference between the two of us is that my shakes are nothing compared to yours. When you hiccup you throw the whole world in a fit, your step makes a dent so big that everything shifts around you, nothing you can do about it, you're a purple dragon, gotta power through it"

"This new path however led you to make mistakes because you are too focused, you break rules for instance, you do anything to not lose that focus. You want things to work out again? You gotta learn to let go, let your focus fend for itself, it is not the brightest star in the universe but I have a feeling that it can hold its own"

Spyro's frown deepened.

"I still don't get what you mean, what focus and what new path?"

She smiled warmly at him, looking him straight into the eyes.

"How many mates do you have Spyro? Want to tell me something perhaps?" she winked at him

She was pulling his tongue, for whatever reason, asking strange questions and speaking in a cryptic manner, wanting him personally to find out the meaning behind the words. Mates? Focus? He couldn't really understand what that has to do with anything, it's not like he ever had a mate before.

His eyes widened, a loud click of thinking gears echoed inside his skull.

He never had a mate before.

Cynder breathed a sigh of relief at the sudden shift of Spyro's expression, the pain from the leg was gone, her body became relaxed, making her sink with a pleased groan and closed eyes into the pillow. He was great, and smart and luckily a dork for choosing a black dragoness out of all the girls in this world.

She was so lucky.

"You" he huffed, almost with a tone of blame

She opened one of her eyes at him, gratefulness radiated from it.

"You think that I suck as a leader because I do everything in my power to protect you"

"Guilty" she smirked

"We had this talk already Cynder, I can't just give up on you"

"I'm not asking you to, truth be told Spyro I don't want you to do that, delusions of independence aside I simply cannot live without your care" she knocked at her chest gently "I feel that very clearly now, all I'm asking you to do is not to treat me like glass"

"I love you, I can't stomach the idea of losing you"

Her tail renewed its drumming song at the sound of the confirmation of his affection, unimaginably blissful wave of satisfaction and safety washed over her, making her entirely numb.

Butterflies woke up in her belly again.

A dreamy smile spread her lips.

Spyro chuckled.

"You look like you fazed out on sweets"

"It's not funny, everything is so intense"

"It's kinda funny"

"Dork" she poked out her tongue at him, tongue that immediately dropped flat and glued itself to the chin

Whatever is happening to Cynder was far beyond normal, however it was not as alarming as it thought it might be. Seeing her melting from satisfaction was so relaxing, she was happy despite her unusual condition, he could basically smell it and simply had no heart to change it. Seeing your loved one in joy was probably the best thing in the world, especially if you are the one responsible for it.

Cynder gazed upon her mate, his fulfilled expression was so precious that she forgot about the whole world and started to become grateful for his unshakeable loyalty.

She shook her head, trying to cauterize some sense of clarity into her damn, sensitive skull.

"We're going off topic here" she grunted, of course the distraction did not help, her tail kept beating in joy like crazy

"I don't mind"

"You better start, Spyro listen, this is serious" she lifted herself up, forcing her way through the pleasure of the welcoming pillow "You must realize that you won't lose me, I can hold my own, there are other lives that are not so lucky and need your protection"

"I know what you are trying to say, but it's not that easy, seeing you getting hurt or in danger..." he sighed "It's hard to ignore"

"I know that and unfortunately I'm not the only one. Think, when was the last time you had some bad guy fighting you directly? Magical or otherwise?"

"Well..." Spyro scratched his fin thoughtfully "I don't remember anything in particular after Malefor"

She snapped her toes.

"Exactly. After you put the world together there is nothing out there coming for you, at least not directly, because whoever or whatever wants to get to you knows that challenging you is pointless. And when honest fight is out of the question, trickery begins its show"

She sighed, lifting her annoyed gaze onto the ceiling.

"And I'm one of its props"

She was right.

He hated to admit it and felt disgusted by just thinking about it, but she was right. Whenever Dark Spyro got to him it was always because of Cynder, she was in trouble and he was speeding to her rescue, with either no regard or a tiny bit of it to his surroundings.

It wasn't a big secret, but hearing Cynder saying it made everything so much more visible, he knew it also, deep down, yet he lacked the strength, or the will, to peel the blindfold from his eyes.

"Three things are certain. One" a single black tone rose in the air "Black dragons will always be scapegoats" Two "As Creep said, Darkness won't get to you if you won't allow it" another toe joined its comrades "Three. Your golden heart will always win, you just need to remind yourself to share it"

"So basically you're asking me to let you get hurt"

"I'm asking you to get your head back in the game. Tell me, wasn't it easier to focus when you went after evil me or when we were chained together?"

"Maybe it was but we both know that it's no longer possible to get back to that phase, but...I get you're point" he looked her over, as logical as it all sounded just imagining that this perfect, loving soul could disappear forever because he didn't intervene filled him a strangling dread, so strong that it made him ill and about to throw up

"But I can try at least, I prefer not to make such choices though"

"Thanks Spyro" she smiled at him "I swear that I will hold to my end of the bargain and not drop like a fly. You need to keep Sparx close, he always knew how to put you in the right place. Anything else you want to vent? Bring it on, with you smiling I'm indestructible"

He smiled, shaking his head.

"I need to tell you something about Flare but it can wait" he bit his lip "Can I nuzzle my mate first?"

She giggled, nodding him over.

He leaned in without hesitation, purring the moment his cheek touched hers, it felt like eons passed since the last time he felt her body.

"I missed you so much"

Cynder did not replay, her eyes widened the moment their snouts met, all of her strength left her, she again felt as if her soul would leave the body, but this time it was not locked inside an emotionless cage,

She was melting.

She threw her forepaws on his back and neck, clenching her numb paws over the purple scales for support, it was not enough to hold her in place though, her weight was pushing the masculine head down.

She didn't have to say anything for him to know that she felt the same way.

He giggled.

"Cynder, you need to let go before someone catches us"

"But it feels sooooooo goooooood" she purred into his earhole, descending lower and lower into the bed

He backed away, stretching out and allowing his mate to drag his chin onto the mattress, the graze of the soft material stole a happy giggle from his throat.

Cynder kept hugging him, rubbing her chin into his from a very uncomfortable angle she didn't seem to mind, purring all the way as if she would be a cheetah.

The cute noise made him smile, heart pounding from the amount of sweet affection.

"I love you" he gave his mate a tender lick across the nose.

Cynder left out a stifled, long whine, the previously numb paws finding their strength again, one set of claws digging into the neck, scratching it in bliss while the other gripped one of the gold fins tightly. Her legs stretched out automatically, toes curling, even the wings tried to flutter open with chaotic shakes.

She trembled all over, the surge of peculiar completion and pleasure left her breathless, if love ever would have a physical sensation, it would feel exactly like this tremor.

It was addicting.

She missed it so much.

She didn't want to let go.

Craving for a bit more of this wonderful safety, craving more of the bliss.

She pulled her head back sharply, drawing her mate into a passionate kiss before his shocked eyes could realize what was happening.

A strong, rumbling moan of ecstasy shook their struggling lips. She winced under the unimaginable pressure of pleasure, feeling as if she was about to explode, her hind paws pumping uneasily, the burn filling her back legs only intensifying the sensation.

Despite his better judgment Spyro sunk into the kiss, charmed by the noises she made, despite it all wanting to hear more of them, wanting more of her closeness.

He didn't feel it for too long.

The handle of the door clicked.

Heart jumped to his throat, eyes basically popped from the eyeballs.

He shoved himself backwards with unimaginable strength, slowing time accidently, through the shift seeing droplets of his blood spilled in the air when his rough move made Cynder's teeth puncture his lips and the claws of the black paw on his neck draw cuts upon his purple scales.

The panicked time dilatation was a brief one, covering his escape from Cynder's loving embrace, yet not enough to cushion the push, flow returning to normal just before he crashed into wall on the opposite side of the bed, the strong impact sending a tremor so strong that a delicate crack appeared in the corner of the nearby window.

Cynder's head hung in the air, lips still puckered, ready to kiss, even her paws remained where they were just a moment ago, her dizzied mind unmoved by the sight of small trails of blood on her claw tips.

A mole healer entered the room, he stopped in the doorstep, sending the light from the corridor into the sterile environment. His enlarged by goggles eyes scanned the two dragons stoically.

Spyro gulped.

"I'm sorry, I just had to see-"

"Blood?" the mole cut the purple dragon off, his voice without emotion, or perhaps even irritated, long claw pointing at the hanging in the air colored with crimson draconic blades

Cynder recovered from her initial shock, she glanced at her paw, tilting her head as if confused to even see her leg up there, let alone having her claws dipped in blood.

"It's mine!" Spyro chuckled nervously, rubbing his aching neck and presenting his bloodied toes to the mole, smiling innocently "Small accident, nothing else! I'm just clumsy!"

"Wait for Amela" the healer backed away into the the corridor

"Wait! Cynder is rea-"

The door shut.

Both dragons blinked several times, confused.

"Whoa" Spyro gasped, licking away the droplet of blood his mate's fangs left on his lips "That was cold"

"He was really happy to see me breathing" Cynder commented sarcastically "Wonder what other privileges await me when people finally start screaming that everything that happened is my fault"

"You don't know that"

"Nope but I started to trust Creep's instinct, he's got a hunch for smelling trouble and let's be honest here. People cursed me for just talking to you, what are the chances they won't blame me for that Darkness horror?"

He sighed, ready to protest, but decided in the end that it was not worth it. People will blame her, it was unavoidable, this mole was probably a hint of what is to come, as a healer he merely followed orders, more afraid of Amela than Cynder in this case.

But the cheetah healer doesn't have a respected grip over everyone and the tendency of the masses is that it needs a scapegoat to blame all their disasters on. Unfortunately history taught them that black dragons are mostly on the receiving end of it, especially when death was involved.

And in this case Death was their close companion.

In situation like those he really wanted to yell at the blind flock of screamers, demanding that they open their eyes and truly see who was doing the killing.

Your hero and legend hides under those dark scales.

He never said it openly though, he wasn't afraid of taking blame or spoiling his reputation, he felt that it was simply pointless. People would find weird excuses to make him innocent, or, what was more probable, they would twist reality so much that his admission of guilt would only bring more abuse towards Cynder.

He might have risk those consequences, yet deep down he knew that it wasn't the perspective of vaporizing his reputation that held him back. If he would ever try taking the blame Cynder would kill him, not only that, but he was afraid that he would kill her in a way.

She so much adored his so called gold heart, to tarnish it meant running a sword through her soul. If there was hate incoming his way, it has to come without nudges and assistance, this was the only way Cynder would accept it.

Even that perspective was scary however, he simply knew that if things would go sour and people started to see him as a symbol of false trust Cynder would do everything in her power to draw attention back to herself.

Relationships can be so complicated.

"I can't read your mind" Cynder's voice caught his attention, he shook his head, with focus observing her working paw that scratched the spot on the magenta chest where the heart hid "But I sure can feel it now and you better not dare to think what I think you're thinking"

Amethyst eyeballs leveled with the green ones, they were gleaming with sadness.

The sensation of decay was enough for her to know what he tried to say, no words were needed from his mouth.

"It wasn't you Spyro, the Spyro I know was with me in the canals, holding his paws from cracking Iris' skull and before you start comparing yourself to me I want to remind you that I'm the freak who wields Dark. Your Corruption doesn't equal mine, I could not wake from it, we are not counting the cheap move Malefor pulled on me. Your only trouble is that you try too hard, don't believe me? Ask Sparx, I'm sure he tells you the same thing if he didn't already"

He might beat himself over it how much he wants but that won't change the fact that Cynder had a point, he couldn't put a sign of equality between his problems and hers. The fact that Dark Spyro strikes from the shadows, after all nobody knows who is truly hiding under the scales, should be evidence enough that all of this is trickery and the depression falling onto his shoulders comes from nowhere else but his own decisions.

This train of thought didn't erase the guilt, but it did leave a dent in the blaming and judging from Cynder's sigh of relief it was enough for now.

"Good boy" she smiled, enjoying the sweet wave washing over her

He poked his tongue at her.

"You get a pass because I'm happy to see you alright, but remember that I'm really skeptical about listening to Creep's advices"

Her eyes widened.

"Speaking of skepticism" she jumped out of the bed

"Hey! What are you doing!?" he sprang forward, stabilizing her as she landed

"Ha!" Cynder grinned triumphantly "Check out those moves!" she wiggled her eyebrows at him

He had to admit that she was perfectly still, not needing his assistance at all, quite surprising considering the fact that not so long ago she screamed her lungs out into unconsciousness in a stinky canal.

"You sure that you're fine?" he examined her carefully "Your special sensitivity not causing any troubles?"

"With your loving touch on me? Not a chance" the joy she felt forced her tongue out, ready to lick the caring purple cheek

The moment she felt his body heat however she bit stopped her tongue, turning her head to the side.

It was simply too risky for her dignity to share any intimacy with Spyro.

"Let's go to Amela, I need to check out something"

"In Amela's office?" he tilted his head in confusion

"Yeah, that experience with Creep was... special. For my own piece of mind I need to follow his direction, come on, I will tell you all about what it felt like on the way"

"I'll also stop by Iris' room, we repaired her necklace with Flare and I told him to wait for me before we give it back, I...ummm" he looked away in shame "I want to say sorry that way"

His eyes kept glancing nervously her way.

She chuckled.

"I feel too great to beat you up, besides this is what makes you different than me. You even worry about chicks that are bad and tried to kill your mate. You hold no grudge and see the good in all sorts of souls"

"There is also a chance that I'm just stupid"

She grinned, her lips itching just to kiss him.

"Believe me, if more people would be as stupid as you this world would be a better place"

He delicately booped her shoulder.

Cynder giggled, shaking in his grasp because of the intensity warm intensity the playful touch created.

"If it wouldn't come from your mouth I would have a hard time deciding if it was a compliment or an insult"

She nodded towards the door, for the past few minutes the smile just didn't want to leave her snout, all of these strange intense sensations aside, she really enjoyed the happiness of life since she woke up.

Not even Iris could change that.

If what Creep said about protecting her from grim secrets is true, this reserve of joy might be exactly what she needed when she finally finds that mysterious casket.

Ancestors only knew that both of them needed some reserve, tricks or not, Darkness wasn't aware of the fact that despite all the trips and bumps in the end they still have each other. The bad and the ugly might try seeping from their well of saved strength, but their connection is recharging it quickly.

It might not be a pretty fight, definitely not an easy fight.

For both sides of this struggle.

Just like Darkness was destined to haunt the Realms from day one, their bond was also sharpened from the very start, as obscured as it might have been at the beginning. Seeing Spyro smile through his moral struggles, feeling his warmth filling each shard of her soul, it made her realize one little thing.

If each world is sooner or later destined to end, to fulfill whatever evil plan, then the force behind it better know that first they will bleed it dry.

They had tricks of their own.

One such trick was passion.

If they have to fall their enemy better realize that they won't do so quietly.