FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 6

The door of the hospital opened, letting sunlight illuminate the main hall of the building with all its power, some of the healers who due to the nature of their , that only was prolonged by recent events, spend countless hours running through corridors and rooms illuminated by torchlight only had to shield their eyes from the reaching out yellow, bright rays.

The opened door not only carried natural light with it, but also extremely pleasant gusts of morning wind that nicely dispersed the thick, bitter atmosphere of suspicion that settled in the hospital after the earlier confrontation.

Two old dragons were the first ones who left the hospital, Guardians, one green the other blue, walking next to each other, muttering something between themselves.

A bit later another two drakes appeared on the lively streets of Warfang behind the Guardians, following the old dragons slowly. They were young, much younger than the two dragons ahead, a purple male and a black female, with the latter slightly limping. They were also walking next to each other, but with practically no space left between them, their scales and tails occasionally grazed against each other as their bodies swayed with every step they made.

Some would consider that an invasion on personal space.

Not these two however, lovers know no such bounds.

Cynder lowered her head as to level it with Spyro's, she looked around, checking if nobody is watching. When she was certain that she is safe from niggling stares she quickly turned in his direction and offered his cheek a loving lick before returning her snout to its normal position.

With a smile observing his surprised reaction with the corner of her eyes.

"What was that for?" Spyro asked, his mouth automatically stretching into a smile the moment he noticed her cheery expression

"A reward for coming back to me and a thank you for fulfilling my request"

"I'll always be here for you. You don't have to reward or thank me"

"Careful. You might regret those words one day" she winked

His amethyst orbs shifted from one side of his eyeballs to the other, scanning the surrounding area.

Nobody paid them any attention.

He pressed his body to hers, gently, as to not put any pressure on her injured leg. Their walk immediately became slower, her muscles responding to the tender caress exactly as both their souls expected, knowing that the time for innocent intimacy is very limited. Every part of their beings wanted to prolong it to the best of their ability.

Spyro nuzzled his partner affectionately, with great care rubbing her cheek with his own, every now and then adding the gentle touch of his nose.

Cynder giggled, slightly intimidated, her eyes squinting both in pleasure and unconscious awareness, carefully observing the pair of old dragons ahead.

"Oh no, you won't defeat me that easily sharpie. The threat remains"

He chuckled softly with his nose delicately pressed against her cheek, despite the warmth emanating from his breath he could still feel a shiver running through her body when it touched her tender scales.

He pushed back slightly, enough to free his nose from her beautiful snout, but not far enough to not feel small, warm gusts of his breath bouncing off her scales.

Only then, by using his tongue he returned the affectionate touch she blessed him with earlier.

"I yield" she purred

Both of them chuckled, returning to their normal pace as if nothing ever happened.

"That was quick" Spyro commented with a kind smirk

She looked at him with a fake pose of an offended princess.

"Are you questioning my resolve?" she asked haughtily

His wings cringed in a display of false intimidation.

"I wouldn't dare my lady"

Cynder snickered "My lady? For that I need looks and respect"

Spyro shrugged "I don't see a problem"

She smiled at the compliment "No?" she nodded towards the busy street "Then ask that cheetah over there if he thinks the same. Or anyone else for that matter"

Impulsively his eyes shifted to the side, eyeing the passersby without much interest.

"I'm not an expert, the only female before you that managed to hug me without me basically fainting from the experience was my mother"

The dragoness giggled.

"But shouldn't this...umm...what is between us...make the opinion of others unimportant? Let them talk, what we think and feel matters"

"The thing between us is called love. The words you just spoke only prove how crazy you are about me" she bumped her rump into his playfully "I've wrapped you around my claw"

"Not true" he protested dishonestly "Who ran after me constantly and couldn't utter a word? Not me, I was just blind and stupid"

"That little detail? Please, I was giving you a chance to man up. Be glad that I didn't get bored, I could have anyone I wanted"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Better yet, people wouldn't have anything against such a deep relationship"

"Interesting. Where would you find such lucky males?"

"At the cemetery"

Spyro's eyebrow raised in reaction to her words.

She nodded.

"I'm telling you, people wouldn't have anything against if I would share a grave with one of them. Hey, they would even bless our union today"

He laughed sincerely.

"Dear Ancestors Cynder..."

A smile crept over her mouth at hearing his explosion of joy.

"I'm not kidding. Your girl is popular, watch out or some cold paws might steal me from you"

"Lucky me that I got to you first"

"You bet. If you waited longer you would stand no chance, I heard that dead people make for lousy talkers, but shhhh. That's a secret"

Spyro giggled, shaking his head.

"How can we joke about things like that? What happened to us?"

Cynder shrugged, smile never disappearing from her snout.

"We're both crazy. It only got worse now when we're together. I for once don't mind at all, who knows how deep we will have to dive in this mud we are right now. I rather laugh than cry"

"Sounds good to me too. Some distance from this crap won't hurt"

"We've never did anything crazy..."

He threw her a meaningful, amused glance.

She poked out her tongue at him before playfully shoving her rump into his.

"Shush. You know what I mean. That sort of crazy normal dragons in our age do. Walking their own way, dye their scales or run out of the window of their home, escaping from nagging parents"

Spyro smirked "I don't know that dragons in our age still have to run from their parents. Too old for a curfew"

"Hey, don't blame me. How can I know things like that, I was a Corruption addict since I was born"

Spyro winced, despite the cheerful tone in her voice he felt like he crossed the line.

"Sorry"

She sighed longingly.

"And there goes the mood. I should really think before I opened my mouth. I swear it sounded funnier in my head"

"Forget about what I said. We all have a dark side, not my fault that mine is stupid"

Cynder leaned closer, nuzzling him gently.

"Want to know what my dark side is saying?"

He nodded eagerly.

"Let's bail"

He threw his head back in surprise.

"Let's run away, right now, escape from our depressing lives. We did enough, the world no longer need us. Maybe we still have time to catch up with all the years we lost"

Spyro's eyes immediately focused on the Guardians ahead, part of him, he couldn't tell if the bigger or the smaller one, dreamed and desired to follow his partner's advice. They deserve it.

An image of Boven flashed before his eyes together with it came visions of the atrocity he committed. The burn that awoke through the scar on his heart was not a warning, but an even stronger pull to do the unforgivable, to ditch all these people leave them to deal with the problem on their own.

Life is not all sunshine and rainbows.

He smiled at her apologetically.

"I would love to run away with you, spend every minute with you, but I can't. People need our help, I can't just leave them to their fate"

Her eyes shimmered with indescribable pride.

"I know" she whispered "That is why I love you" she snickered "And I would really kiss you right now to show how much you mean to me if I wouldn't feel the gaze of the dragon behind me burning through my skull"

Spyro impulsively looked behind her, spotting the mentioned drake who averted his gaze the moment he noticed his amethyst, scolding stare.

"It just reminded me of the temple and what a bad idea is to take you there. Some of these people can't simply see how beautiful you are. Outside and inside"

He turned his attention towards his partner, looking straight into her emerald eyes as if taking a peek at her soul.

"Their loss"

"You're such a charmer"

"Charm has nothing to with it, I'm not saying this because we're together. I'm telling the truth, despite your black scales you make this world a brighter place"

She looked down with a delicate blush.

"Watch out or I might throw myself at you"

"Maybe that's what I'm hoping for?" he whispered enticingly

She threw her head up, not caring if somebody is watching she blessed him with a loving kiss on the lips, before quickly pulling away.

"Did you find Creep?" she rasped, holding back the squeaky, emotional tone of her voice

Spyro briefly, but at the same time very affectionately ran his tail across hers, gently clamping it in his purple embrace for a moment. Without words showing that he will respect her unspoken wish.

"Nope" he finally responded

She nodded, smiling at him in her own special way, maybe it is an ordinary smile for many, but Spyro didn't see it that way. It was the most charming display of gratitude and surprise put together in a single smile he ever saw in life.

"No?" the leg on which she was limping found its way to her choker that she scratched thoughtfully. The action didn't slow her ungraceful walk even for a bit.

"I don't understand. He seemed really nervous about that. Oh well, maybe I misunderstood him, he's not really what you call an erudite. At least we tried, so maybe I avoid the crying about that knot the next time we see each other"

"Remember that just because I didn't see him doesn't mean he wasn't there"

"I guess. Still I find it a bit curious that you would follow a pair of moles to Iris' room of all places"

Spyro shrugged innocently "I find it odd myself. I had a hunch and I followed it"

"They really reminded you of that hermit a while back?"

He nodded confidently.

"Yeah"

Cynder snorted "Guess there's no limit on crazy when it comes to both of us" she bumped into him playfully once more "We're wild you and I"

"And here you complained that we aren't capable of crazy"

"You think that's crazy? Then check this out. How's Iris doing?"

Spyro's eyes widened slightly "I didn't expect you to ask about her to be honest. Once yeah, but twice?"

"And I'm completely serious"

"Well, she's still herself, if you hoped that you beat some good manners in her then you're for a huge disappointment"

"So that means she'll still try to go after me?"

Whatever joy was present on his snout disappeared instantly, replaced by such rough seriousness that Cynder doubted a joke, no matter how good, would be able to shatter this expression in this very moment.

"I won't let her"

She couldn't decide if the confident tone of his voice was heartwarming or scary.

"She killed those moles without even trying to reason with them" Spyro continued "I know that they may have been beyond helping and there was no other way it could end. But still, it showed me that she has no regrets, when she sets her mind onto something there's no convincing her otherwise"

He growled quietly "Could we stop talking about her?"

"I see how angry it makes you to just think about her, don't be mad at me but there has to be a reason that you saved her life twice. I doubt that scar you carry from Boven had anything to do with it, if that would be the case you would leave her"

He let out a deep breath, even if he wanted to he couldn't be angry at her for pursuing the matter further.

"What do you want to hear Cynder? I don't understand what are you getting at"

She leaned closer, her emerald eyes emitting their green glow straight at his snout.

"What if she's like me?"

His head reared back in what seemed to be abhorrence.

"What? She's nothing like you"

"Why? Just because she attacked me we can't be alike? I also attacked many people"

Spyro shook his head, barely understanding what she is talking about.

"What's your point?"

Cynder poked him with her tail tip.

"You see good in people. You didn't have to save me but you still did"

"Even if I do, so what? What does that change?"

She looked at the ground.

"I don't want any more enemies Spyro"

The irritated expression that adorned his snout smoothed itself after hearing her sad voice.

"We're going to a temple, a sacred place and you were still against the idea, correctly assuming that I'm not safe there. In a temple! I don't want temples to be some kind of proving grounds, same goes for the streets. I live in Warfang and every day I feel more and more daggers piercing my skull from the hateful stares. I don't want any of it, but I know I deserve it, I have lots of redemption to do, I'm not delusional, I know it's going to be hard. That is why I ask you about Iris, to make sure I have a chance to make at least a tiny step forward"

"I can't see what role Iris plays here, you acted in self-defense"

"The recent dream I had, it was from my childhood, whether it was true or not doesn't matter. Only after that I realized what loss means. How important memories are, might seem silly for you, but when you have nothing, memories are like a treasure"

Cynder licked her lips, inwardly scolding herself for taking too much time on walking around the point of this matter.

"Iris has this ugly, old medallion hanging around the neck. Amela said it is most likely a memento, considering the gold, shiny bracelets Iris' wears Amela might be right about that"

"You see, during our fight I got my paws on that medallion. Iris started to scream at me, only when I thought about that battle while in bed I realized just how much fear and pain was in her shout. I didn't hear it back then, or simply didn't care, I destroyed the necklace"

"You should have heard her roar after that. Soooo much agony, I would feel the same if I knew what I was losing"

She looked straight at him.

"That is why I'm going to apologize to her"

Spyro's eyebrows rose in reaction to her revelation.

"Excuse me?"

"I will apologize for what I did, I feel bad about it. If luck is on my side I will have one less dragoness to worry about"

"Saying sorry won't make your problems with her magically go away. Not with Iris"

"I don't expect us to become besties. I hate that bitch and she most likely feels the same way about me. My apology won't make me not to want shove that ice tail of hers up her ass for her attitude and especially for manipulating poor Flare. All of this doesn't change the fact that she didn't deserve the pain I caused her"

Cynder shook her head in discouragement.

"I know it sounds stupid, but I need to do this. I've took enough from people already, thanks to you I know I won't waste my time. Good people, they have something they love and I'm not going to take any more of it from them"

"You give me too much credit. Ominous simply is attractive to me"

She jerked her head back, eying him with a mischievous smirk.

"Aren't we kinky"

Spyro blushed, averting his gaze.

"It's true, you were always attractive to me I guess, even in your adult form. You have absolutely no idea what pictures my imagination created"

Cynder laughed "I can't believe it. You had dirty thoughts about me!"

"No!" he protested, blushing fiercer "It's not....like...that! Bad word...combination! It has...nothing to...do...with attractiveness!"

"Oh don't tell me you kept imagining how it would be if I turned out to be your friend, or how would you convince me to ditch Malefor. I won't believe it!"

"Alright!" he snapped and gulped "I thought also...about...other different things"

She burst out laughing again.

"I knew it!"

"But only rarely!" he blurt out, cheeks practically melting from heat

"Yeah, yeah! Keep telling yourself that!"

"I swear!"

"You're dirty! And nothing you say will change that!"

"That was a long time ago, I was a stupid, curious kid! After we managed to push the Corruption out of you I stopped thinking about having sex with you"

"If you would fantasize about mating with all the time that would be sick"

Spyro nodded hectically "I swear that I grew out of it! We're together now and sex is the last thing I think about"

Cynder cocked her head with a sardonic smile "Now THAT'S what every girl wants to hear"

He frowned, looking at her surprised "You really mean that or was it sarcasm?"

She shrugged with a bashful grin "You tell me"

"Forget it" he hissed annoyed "I've opened up here and you're making fun of me. How about you?"

"What about me?"

"Did you fantasize about me sometimes?"

She snorted in amusement "I'm not answering that question"

"Tell me!" he begged

Cynder shook her head confidently.

"Not gonna happen"

"That ain't fair! I've told you about me!"

She grinned, throwing her head arrogantly up as she turned her gaze away.

"So what?"

"Hey! That's mean!"

She winked mischievously at him.

"We girls have our secrets Spyro, and there's no way I'm going to spill them out to a boy"

He narrowed his eyes on her, evaluating every stretch on her snout.

"I think you did" he announced proudly, much more bluntly than he wanted to

Cynder eyed him from top to bottom with great scrutiny.

"Careful. Your chest is puffing out, take care it won't burst"

He snorted "You absolutely did, you've been stalking me for quite a while, there's no chance it didn't cross your mind"

She put up a kind smile "I wasn't stalking you. I was giving you time to come around"

"You did. I can see it"

Her head cocked itself playfully to one side "Maybe I did" her head tilted in the opposite direction "Maybe I didn't" with a shrug her snout returned to its normal position "Without me actually confessing anything all you can do is guess when I know for certain"

She looked at him with the corner of her eyes, smirking, and bumping her flank into his.

"Now isn't that a bummer"

Spyro narrowed his eyes on his friend and partner who for a brief moment he considered the most vile being in the whole universe. An annoyed, gentle growl rumbled within his throat.

"I'm not telling you anything about me ever again"

"Come on, don't be like that. I'm just messing with you"

His eyes widened hopefully "So you're gonna tell me?"

She grinned "Nope"

He snorted in irritation and to show just how annoyed he is, his purple legs that carried his body around stopped moving, with him ending on intent observation of his walking partner.

Cynder eventually looked behind her shoulder, surprise painting her expression.

"Whatcha doin'?"

He remained silent, his intense gaze never wavering from her features.

"Deciding if I still love you" he replied bluntly after a while

She laughed, turning around, continuing her walk. Tails and hips waving tauntingly.

"I know you do" she squeaked in between laughs

"CYNDER!" a loud shout rumbled from top of the nearby staircase, coming from their right

All four dragons turned their heads, Spyro being the one that halted his advance founds himself staring into a building.

Cyril rolled his eyes "We'll wait for you by the temple. Do hurry, will you?"

Cynder acknowledged the Guardian's subtle order with a nod of her head. Her whole concentration was drawn to the fiery figure at top of the stairs. Smile stretched her mouth impulsively.

Flare stood at the top, eyeing her with his fiery eyes for a moment before he sprang from the staircase and spread his burning wings wide. People that were just some steps below him had to drop to the ground, cursing the drake for his reckless and uncaring move.

Even those that weren't afflicted by his impudent action turned around, in amazement following his gliding body and the fiery sparks his wings left behind, children mostly were the ones that voiced their thrill loudly. When the peculiar dragon landed at the bottom of the stairs and folded his inspiring wings all the eyes focused on the one thing that had the power to interest such quaint creature.

Whether really impulsive or not, angry frowns dotted practically every stare that landed on the black dragoness below. A pulse of memory and loss traveled through every interested head, messaging only one single thought.

One more special thing was stolen from them by Shadow.

It didn't matter currently that no one considered the peculiar fire dragon to be anyone's property or a true inhabitant of Warfang.

Until now.

"Cynder!" Flare shouted again while dashing in her direction

"Hey you" she responded warmly

"I've just heard!" he gave her a quick once over and gasped, the shock jerked his body back and pulled one of his paws into the air

"You're hurt! Badly! You're limping!"

She looked herself over, the bandages that covered her body were mostly gone, only one remained on one of her flanks. There was also one tightly attached to her hurt leg, which she probably injured during the fall. It was just here to stabilize the bone, the healing process already begun so it might seem like an unnecessary precaution. However Amela insisted on putting it on, her protests weren't efficient enough to change the cheetah's mind.

"It's worse than it looks really. It just stings a little"

"I've heard you got into a fight!" he darted again in her direction, stopping right in front of her "It took me a while to get this information out of people, the ones I asked were mostly laughing all the time telling this story, they were many versions of it that I didn't know if they were joking or not!"

Cynder giggled despite hearing the ugly news, she was in such a mood that she paid more attention to Flare's funny, breathless way of speaking, much resembling Volteer's, than the fact that people enjoyed hearing about her suffering.

"Relax Flare, take a breath"

He did as he was told, dragging air into his lungs with a shrieking whizz and a smack of his lips/

She giggled again "Where did you hear about that?"

"At the City Hall I heard guards cheering about what they called a catfight or something like that, a fight between bitchy and bitcher as they said. I asked them about the bitchy cats and they gave me some really weird looks. They only said that one is black and the other blue, both will be soon worms chew"

"Nice rhyme" Cynder gruffly

"I said the same thing!" Flare replied excitedly, clearly not recognizing the meaningful tone in her voice

"When I did that they looked at me even more weird than before, they said its surprising that a pet retarded hellhound would be happy for its mistress downfall"

Whatever ounces of sarcasm and joy decorated Cynder's features vanished in a blink of an eye. Her expression turned cold and wrinkled itself beyond the point of pretty. Like cracking stones of a dam that hold the water behind with last ounces of durability.

"What?" her voice was as audible as a whisper

Flare nodded hectically.

"I didn't understand it either. They said that it, I mean that hellhound whatever that is, wouldn't be able to tell without her which of its fiery holes would be used for shitting. And then they really looked me over and I mean it, just like the healers in the hospital, as if suddenly I was like VERY interesting, but the healers weren't smiling like they did. I don't know if they thought if I was that hellhound or something. I know it sounds silly, I'm a dragon after all!"

"Anyway..." he whizzed, gathering just enough air in his lungs for another paragraph of his excited tirade

"...eventually I learned from them that the catfight happened in the training grounds and I was like Hey! That's where I practiced with Cynder! Then they looked at each other, they were staring into each other's eyes like for an eternity before they finally asked me if I had anything to do with the cats and the fight between them. I was really surprised by that question, I don't even know what a catfight or cat is!"

Cynder shook her, every notion was full of pity and anger.

"You should have stopped talking with them"

"And I did! Soon!" Flare exclaimed triumphantly

"Eventually I asked them about the best place where I can find more about this cats, I remember them saying something about finding them in the place where I lost my brain cells. I don't know what they meant by that, I didn't lose anything. They weren't much of a help after that, they kept saying things I didn't understand so I stopped talking with them as you said!"

"Oh, Flare..."

"Don't be sad!" he uttered between swallowing whatever saliva he had on his tongue while at the same time taking another whizz of air, sounding as if he would be breathing through a gas mask.

"I've been reading a book with Volteer about some heroes gathering information in taverns across the world. I did the same thing! I've looked for a place where people drink and eat until they burst"

"I don't think there's a place like that in Warfang"

"There is!" he exclaimed triumphantly "I've found an inn near one of the construction sites. There were no dragons there, that place was full of moles, but I knew I found the right place by the stench of sweat, dirt and alcohol. And the noise! It was exactly like in the books!"

Cynder smiled, the disgusting news of mockery still burning brightly in her mind, but even despite that she couldn't help herself but to give to joy. There was something absolutely adorable about Flare's obliviousness and cheerful, excited approach to life that it was difficult to keep your lips from curling into a smile.

"You learn something every day"

"Yeah! Like there's no point in talking to drunk people that barely sit straight! They understand even less than me!"

She giggled, imagining his joyful fascination.

"People had lots to tell me about cats, or as they said pussies and catfights. Some even wished that their mates should get into one and die, simultaneously was the best result"

She rubbed her forehead, snickering in disbelief.

"Ancestors..."

"Exactly what they said! Usually it went with Ancestors watch over us, pussies be crazy" he let out a breath of relief "I'm glad I never met those cats"

Cynder just shook her head.

"Anyway at some point it got really nasty, I swear I never heard some of the curse words that the people there started shouting. I don't even know if it was on topic, I had troubles understanding what they were saying. It was the guy selling the drinks that eventually told me that it was you who got injured. Since then I've kept running, searching for you, with two questions on my mind, one I already asked, the second-"

His voice trailed off as he examined her from claw to horn another time, he seemed even more pleased with the result than before.

"Who did this to you?"

Tiny kindles of flames sparkled within his eyes for a brief moment.

There was a click and another set of draconic claws approached the two of them. Flare's eyes impulsively went down, noticing the silvery blades on the marble floor, blades attached to a purple paw.

He raised his gaze, the temperature around him got slightly higher, every burning part on his body flashed with brighter flames. Legs crossed themselves in opposite directions, two remained in place, while the other two made a step backwards, as if hitting an impasse, not able to decide if to stand ground or run away.

Spyro wasn't amused by the drake's awkward pose, his whole concentration was aimed at the yellow eyes, black slits of which were staring at him intently. Judging by that look and the silence that encircled them Spyro realized who Flare deemed guilty of the deed.

He pretended that he didn't notice the verdict.

"Spyro had nothing to do with this" Cynder said sternly, she has also seen through the meaningful stare of the fire dragon

Flare's eyes widened momentarily, the flames that burned brightly died down back to their natural, almost meek self. Eyes that were filled with sparkling wrath became completely terrified.

"I-I-I did-d-d-dn't m-m-m-ean-n-n-"

"It was Iris" she continued, taking pity on his nervousness

The black slits of his yellow eyes seemed to pulse.

"I-Iris?"

"Yes. She came right after our fight with intention to kill me, take advantage of my exhaustion"

He stared at her with blank eyes, just like his soul was in a complete different place than his body was.

"Did you speak with her before our fight?"

Flare opened his mouth, yet no words came out, his eyes momentarily landed on the ground, both young dragons could picture gears turning inside his head just by looking at him.

"I...I did. It was her idea for us to train together"

Cynder nodded sullenly "You see where this is going? She showed up RIGHT AFTER our fight, I didn't even get the chance to rest after you suggested it. This is not a coincidence, she manipulated you Flare"

He threw his gaze up, his eyes wide and shaking, like that of a child learning that Santa Claus isn't real even despite the fact that there are presents under the Christmas Tree,

"But she was so nice! So much different than usually. She even called you by your real name!"

"It was a game for her!" Cynder protested sternly "She was playing you. You know I'm right Flare, she took advantage of your kind heart. That is despicable"

"But why?" he whined "Why do such things?"

"I don't know Flare"

"But if you fought..." he gulped, terror sending shakes through his muscles "...and you are here. Does that mean..."

"She's alive" Cynder interjected

"Oh! Thank you!" he threw himself at her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

Cynder gasped in shock, giving Spyro a dumbfounded glance, only to be rewarded with the same one.

"You're the best!" he squeezed her harder

"Actually..." she coughed through joyful giggle "...you should be thanking Spyro"

He pulled back, looking at her with a meaningful look that only seemed to ask.

Are you crazy?

"Our fight was quite serious, I...managed to injure Iris quite badly, if Spyro wouldn't show up when he did she would be dead by now"

"You really did that?" Flare muttered, his voice shaking and lacking any ounce of confidence

Spyro nodded.

"Umm..." the fire drake looked down, rubbing his foreleg shyly.

"T-t-thanks" he uttered, even from this positon Spyro noticed the wince wrinkling the drake's expression. Obviously saying something like that wasn't easy for him.

"Usually I would say something like no problem or you're welcome, but not in this case. I'm all about saving people, but back then I really fought with myself, it was the first time I hesitated. If she tries something again I won't raise a claw, I won't let people hurt my friends"

"I know Iris can be...difficult. T-thanks for your honesty. I'll make sure she won't do anything like that again"

Spyro frowned "She's not the type to follow someone else's advice. She might do something completely opposite just to make you angry. She's...how to say this..."

"A freak" Flare finished for him

Both Spyro and Cynder exchanged surprised glances.

"That's...rather...harsh...I" Spyro muttered

"She is, a somewhat different type of freak than me but still a freak"

Flare looked at his wings, unfolding the fiery membranes to examine them in their full glory.

"And I know something about that"

"You are not a freak Flare" Cynder comforted him

He offered her a warm smile.

"Can you say the same thing after our training session?" he turned his attention towards the purple drake

Spyro gulped, surprised by the abundance of attention.

"You...are not a freak. You are just troubled I think...Volteer will figure it out...if you would only allow to help yourself"

"Ok"

His purple eyebrows rose in reaction to the fire dragon's answer.

"Ok?" he exchanged glances with Cynder, who seemed just as surprised as he was, with the difference that a huge smile was growing on her snout

Flare nodded.

"You earned at least a benefit of the doubt"

Spyro licked his lips, not even realizing that his lips became dry.

"T-thanks I guess"

"That's so cool Flare!" Cynder exclaimed, throwing herself at the fiery dragon, returning the hug he bestowed her with earlier

He grunted in surprise, legs wavered underneath the sudden, additional weight. A smile crept over his lips soon later.

"I never was hugged like this"

"What about this?"

She turned her head and pressed her lips to his cheek, putting a warm kiss there with an audible Mwah!

A fierce flush gathered on his cheeks, the moist spot burning hotter than his fiery body parts, which cracked warm flames of joy.

"N-n-n-no" he stammered, looking at the ground and his bashfully shuffling paw there.

Cynder squeezed him once more before pulling finally away.

"Thank you"

He smiled, his body bent like that of a happy dog, pleasantly warm flames cracked from his fiery parts like from an unending firecracker show.

"I-I-I'm g-going to c-check on I-Iris" he slowly slithered away

Both young drakes observed the moving, overjoyed fire dragon with genuine smiles.

"And Spyro" Flare looked behind his shoulder "I was wrong. You're really different" and with that he continued on his way, putting his paws on the ground as if he was drunk

"Wow" Spyro exhaled astounded

"Yeah" Cynder sighed "Look how he walks!" she giggled "Boys...one innocent kiss is enough to turn your world upside down" she grinned "I'm so hot"

"Ehhh" he grunted

"Oh you mean bastard!" she punched him with a laugh

He chuckled, looking in the direction where Flare went, reliving every recent moment once more.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around what just happened"

She looked in the same direction, scratching her choker thoughtfully.

"Yeah, was there ever a part of our lives that was normal? Spent on common bullshit talking?"

Spyro shrugged "I guess not. What's wrong with this chapter?"

Her tail wagged happily "I have no idea, but I like it"

His own purple one didn't remain far behind.

"Who in the right mind would worry about having a bit of peace? Sometimes I feel like someone on purpose tries to make our lives miserable, just to excite some invisible crowd, or himself"

"Yep. I don't care if this is boring or not entertaining enough. People live like that their whole lives. We also deserve a moment where everything is just right"

"Despite your constant poking me with a stick I really enjoyed our talk"

She poked her tongue out at him.

He chuckled, nodding in the direction the Guardians went "Come on, Cyril will kick our asses if we won't show up soon"

"So eager to return to hell?"

He took the lead. Eyeing the sky with a contemplating sigh.

"I feel like we have no choice"

"Yeah" she jumped next to him using her healthy three legs "But I swear if something happens on our way to the temple I will be the one that starts kicking asses"

As it turned out nobody's ass got kicked.

Whew.