FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 6

What a fucked up night.

Using such foul words, be it in thought or otherwise, is inappropriate and condemning for one of his stature. Giving to emotion causes chaos and chaos is dangerous, it puts the strands he holds into uncontrollable motion, letting them slip from his paws way too often.

Chaos is sickness and a monster with unquenchable appetite, having a similar taste for flesh as for mind. When it starts feeding, no amount of thrashing will push the gluttonous maw away. It won't stop until the victim is entirely consumed.

He didn't have to look far to see the monster feast and the remains it leaves behind.

All he had to do was to look at the wreck that was his niece and he heard the chewing sound of meat being crushed by rotten teeth. Smacking noises of disgusting, pouted lips as they slapped against each other, pulling back whatever strand that tried to slip from the filled to the brim maw.

Nothing has changed.

This thought was enough to remind him of the strands in his paws.

It was nice.

This thought was enough to remind him of the hooks attached to the threads of Fate that etched into his pawscales.

They jerked sometimes, pulled by a will that was not his own, threatening to tear his paws off.

After last night he no longer liked the feeling of the threads slipping from his grasp. Excitement was still there, but now it was broken, cracked in places that creaked like rusted metal. A collapse that you don't want to admit happened, but the wound is there and you can't heal it.

It was like Iris that lost half of her senses, accepting the tune of the loudest emotion that actually starts its concert to which she dances.

It was like stirring a pot with a rotten soup inside, that you have to eat because there is no other food around.

It was like finding a straight line in the gold scales that wrapped his legs like a spiral.

Wondering, unconsciously or not, if the decision will butcher you.

Chance.

There was no single course of action, the risk that everything goes to shit, this time he didn't scold himself for bad language, that every thread that he waved will break split into thousand more. Creating more chances for Fate to take control.

Nothing has changed.

This thought, this is what he has to cling to, when thinking about it he felt power in his paws that no matter how many black hooks were thrust into his scales, he still has a strong grip on the threads. He didn't come so far to allow all of this to be ruined.

Nothing has changed.

This is the thought that he will hold on to and this time, he won't allow doubt inside. He is the dictator and no one else. If it will require more control, he will, with pained heart that should be gathering spoils of conquest and not work harder, provide that control.

Oh the horrors royalty has to bare through.

"We will begin the search immediately"

He rose his head sharply, he pulled his head so quickly at the sound of the voice that something snapped in his neck.

With a growl of annoyance he massaged the back of his neck, impulsively scratching the winglike, bony extensions on the back of his head.

With another growl he dropped his paw fiercely on the ground, remembering involuntarily, with great disgust, that he learned that tick from that canine race when he was still very young. Something that he quenched, but always seemed to wake up whenever something surprised him.

Shocked him.

And that always meant things didn't go as planned.

He didn't like surprises, as well as he didn't like falling asleep, waiting for some lesser race to finish complaining, or whatever other crying they had to do, to their betters.

He had his nose nearly in his crotch! It was hanging so low! That he had to wait! Unthinkable!

Such a disgrace!

Nothing has changed.

He sighed.

Nothing has changed.

"Thank you Guardians" a voice rasped, fluidity of speech interrupted by sobbing

Soon the owner of the wavering voice revealed herself. It was an old cheetah, putting all strength into the staff that kept her standing. One hand kept rubbing moist eyes with a tissue.

Terrador and Cyril walked at both sides of the feline. Their heads were hanging low that when put together with their slow walk formed an image of complete depression.

He wiggled his shoulders anxiously. That was an image he was very familiar with.

The cheetah stopped, grabbing Cyril's foreleg, as much as her small hand allowed to and looked him pleadingly in the eyes.

"Please just don't believe the neighbors, they don't know what they're saying. She and her mate had some problems, but they loved each other and especially they loved their son. My Tersa would never run away and especially not with a small baby!"

"I understand" Cyril said

The Guardian's voice surprised him that he impulsively cocked his head to the side, bony ear grating against the wall. The voice was soft, not cold as always, sincere emotions could be heard in it.

Ice dragon with a heart.

He pressed his paw to his head, he suddenly had a piercing headache. He rubbed his scales fervently, with an annoyed snarl trying to get rid himself of this irritating pain. His angry determination slowed only by a fast, sweet longing, for a time, where perhaps everything was perfect.

Where ice had a heart.

He shook his head, pain started to be thrown away like droplets of sweat from a tired body. Just before Ache was shoved out of the door of his skull it yelled, asked only one question.

What did you do?

"Loss is a tragic thing to bare" Cyril continued in the same caring manner "We will make certain that such fate won't touch you or your family. There will be no shortcuts here"

The cheetah sobbed again, throat wrecked by another wave of crying.

"Thank you Guardians, thank you"

"Please" Terrador gently led their small group to the door "Go home, rest and try not to think about it. Leave it to us, we will find the answers, that much I can promise"

He looked away, leaving the struggle of the caring and hurt in their own circle. He started to look around, losing interest, not caring what they were talking about no longer.

The headache was gone.

He cleared his head, like many times before and like many times he will have to do in the future. Concentrating too much on such details leads to insanity, tendrils of which pull at the remnants of his lineage as it is.

Or perhaps it was sanity that knocks at the door. A crazy mind is in no position to say if it's insane or not after all.

Muffled sobs and voices. Barely audible clicks of claws. Nothing consistent, nothing important. Goals and priorities in their right places.

Like it supposed to be.

A brief gust of wind.

Sound of closing door.

He stirred.

"Another disappearance" Terrador stated sadly, head hanging low, paw still pressed to the door that recently were closed

Cyril stood near his friend in silence, observing his companion, completely cold and stoic. Whatever turmoil was going in his head, if any, might probably be reflected by the beating tip of his tail, spiky petals on which pulsed alternately with brighter and dimmer icy light.

"First the explosion, then those two young people that vanished one day, supposedly due to youthful rebellion, rumor in which I have a hard time believing in after today. Now this, there was a baby involved for Ancestor's sake" the Earth Guardian shook his head "What is going on with this city?"

"One word friend, you don't have to look far. Brill"

Terrador pushed his paw from the door, the surface rattled a little, glad to be relieved of the pressure.

He scolded his friend with a short glance.

"Will you stop with this bias already Cyril? It leads nowhere"

"It leads exactly where it should. Why you don't want to accept the truth eludes me. Are you so close with the stinky rat that you don't want to acknowledge his guilt?"

"Stop with this nonsense this instant!" Terrador pointed a claw at the ice dragon's snout with a growl "You keep yapping about his guilt while there is still no evidence saying that he was responsible for the deeds"

Cyril leaned forward, unmoved by the sharp tip in front of him. he leaned so close that the claw dangled just in front of his left eye, eye that never stopped looking at his friend.

"Troubles started when he showed up. Is it really so difficult to add two to two?"

With a dose of fear the green dragon pulled his claw away, putting his paw on the floor with a smack.

"Spyro and Cynder showed almost at the same time. According to your logic they might be guilty as well"

Cyril snorted "Don't be ridiculous"

"Ridiculous? Why? They came here too, troubles might have arrived with them. Why, people come and go from and back to this city on a daily basis. Let's put blame on whole Warfang just to be safe!"

"You better take a rest Terrador, your age starts to mess with your head"

"My mind works exactly as it should, thank you very much"

"I can see that"

A growl rumbled within the green throat, growl that was quenched down by a quick flex of muscles.

"It's sad that you don't approach yourself with the same dose of sarcasm" with that he moved past the ice drake

Cyril turned around, following his childhood friend.

"I only deride those that deserve it"

"Then you better expand your circle of adoration, because the thing that you're doing is called antagonizing. Something that you pursue blindly, a very dangerous path to be considered. Take a word of advice from a war veteran"

"Calculation and arduous planning might be excellent for a battlefield where you know who you are fighting with and on what ground. Here, where your enemy has many faces but one crown you need to act fast, you need to take out that crown before others will start wearing masks"

Terrador shook his head, defeated "You're a lost cause Cyril"

"Not yet my friend, but I will be. Like many others if we won't act. I'm sure that rat already stretches his withered claws while we waste time arguing"

The Guardian sighed, forcing a smile as he looked at the fire dragon sitting near one of the pillars.

"I'm very sorry that you had to listen to this Ignus"

The fire drake waved his paw dismissively.

"It wasn't a bother. I know how strenuous leadership can be sometimes"

Terrador pointed at the table with his opened paw.

"Please sit, I'm really glad to see you so quickly in the morning. Please tell us how the last night went and I hope you have some good news"

Cyril breezily dropped on the floor near the table, his tail spitefully smacked at the ground, as well as his rump. Obviously not caring for standards of mutual respect and good behavior when among guests.

"Oh Terrador you sad, sad fool" he grabbed a full pitcher of wine, brushing away the glasses that stood near it with clicking sounds

He took a considerable sip. A line of reddish wine flew down his chin, sparkling like fresh blood on the small icicles protruding from below his jaw.

"When you finally learn that good things don't happen just because you wish for them to happen. They happen, because you make sure they happen"

The Earth Guardian narrowed his eyes on the ice dragon, that as years go by, has a harder and harder time calling his friend.

He snorted, a mist of green smoke wafted from his nostrils.

"Don't you have anything else to do Cyril? Some other people you can infect with your enchanting personality?"

"Luckily I don't need to go far to find those worthy of my attention. Ignus here comes from a time where ice dragons were symbols of authority that only the kind wielding Ice can brighten. Essence of royalty and power was where it always belonged, Ignus experienced it first paw. I'm sure he sees my point and thanks to our combined effort we will open your eyes. After all, when you become acquainted with creatures of my dignity, your mind becomes opened to the perspectives of true leadership. Majestic influence grows on you"

Terrador turned towards the fire dragon with a sad smile.

"What do you think Ignus? Do you feel motivated?"

The fire drake chuckled.

"Egocentricity and narcissism are like siblings to me. If I would allow them to bother me, my parents would have to go through a trial of surviving the death of their daughter. I'm sure you can relate in some way to this Terrador"

The Guardian looked at his ice companion, eyeing him from claw to horn meaningfully.

"You can't even suspect just how much"

Cyril took another sip of the wine with a roll of his eyes.

"It is not my problem that you are unable to keep up and feel downtrodden among your betters. Levels of superiority that I and those similar to me can achieve is beyond your understanding and ambition. Learn instead of whine, you will only grow stronger that way"

"You are naïve to believe that ice dragons escalate in roles that are beyond the reach of other dragons"

"Cyril is right" Ignus stated and the eyes of the two Guardians turned to look at him "When it comes to politics the ice dragon's ruthlessness and brash actions are unmatched. I was far older than my ice sister, high in the political and military rank when she could still be considered a hatchling. Years passed and she too began to share my career"

His gaze became distant, red eyes sparkled briefly as a smile stretched his lips, paw went scratching the bony, artificial ears.

"She was brilliant, deadly accuracy and grace in one, every decision resulted always in her gaining more power and advantage. As an older brother it was my role to chastise her, but no matter how hard I've tried to make her reconsider her actions, put more planning into it, I always failed. She always dropped on the ground in that adorable way, wings slumping down and pretending as if she would be plucking feathers"

A soft laugh escaped his throat.

"Now when I think about it, I believe I argued with her all this time just to see her do that when I beaten her with my arguments. She never listened to me anyway and I knew that, I just wanted to see her do that, I don't know why. Maybe because I somehow felt that I will need something to remember her by"

He fell silent, smile dreamily stretching his lips, thoughts of lost family life circled in his head. Stopped only when silence ironically started to become too loud, he looked up and with a blink realized that the two Guardians were staring at him with kind and understanding expressions on their snouts.

He cleared his throat, looking to the side. Paw that scratched the winglike extensions dropped on the floor with a loud smack as if pretending that it was always there.

"My apologizes" Ignus mumbled shyly "I'm sure you didn't want to listen to me reliving old memories"

Terrador smiled kindly.

"It's perfectly normal Ignus, even we sometimes think of those that we lost. That's the only way to convince ourselves that they are still among us. Sometimes we just need their presence, want to feel them in any possible way we can"

The dragon nodded slowly, as if his head would be moving without the consent of the mind. Red paw raised in the air and directed itself at his head where it touched the lump that was once a proud horn.

He hissed through clenched teeth and momentarily jerked his paw away as if the painful memento would be searingly hot.

"What I wanted to say..." he squawked and then got rid of the hoarseness with a quick cough "...is that I gave Athron her freedom and she made the best of it. While I was struggling to advance my position she climbed through the ranks with the speed of an electric bolt, eventually surpassing me and gaining the seat of leadership"

"No matter how jealous I could be of her success and how mad I was for myself for failing in the race in which I had a huge head start, I understood that my sister was exactly where she was supposed to be. She grew into a beautiful, feared, loved and respected leader, advancing us as a society beyond my wildest dreams, ending the bloodbath that weakened our race for countless years. Sealing the truce by taking for a mate a dragon from the opposite faction, our most deadliest foe in those days"

"We prospered just as her relationship prospered. A new civilization was born, carrying all the traits and beauty radiating from the child that Athron brought in that world. Iris hatched and she was the beacon of our race. We thrived together with her"

"This is what I was talking about Terrador!" Cyril roared triumphantly, slamming the pitcher against the wooden surface of the table

It cracked and lost some pieces, the only thing that prevented the contents from spilling out was the void within the pitcher. All the contents were now calmly swirling in the Ice Guardian's belly.

"Royalty and responsibility is in our veins! Listen to me and we will get far! Beyond your wildest dreams! I knew Ignus would open your eyes!"

The fire dragon looked seriously at the laughing ice dragon.

"Ice dragons might be born leaders, but unfortunately they aren't infallible"

There was so much raw, true, honest strength in that voice that it made Cyril silence himself instantly.

"I won't bore you with history lessons, this is a tale for another story. Athron made mistakes, many of them and for one she paid with her own life. She orphaned and ruined her only daughter. Literally and metaphorically. She didn't listen to advice and her reign, prosperous, but short considering our lifespans, ended in tragedy. Horrible spoils that me and Iris inherited, a weigh that unfortunately I carry on my own shoulders. Burden that already pinned my niece, my will the only thing that prevents it from crushing her completely. Destruction, this is the consequence of ice dragons belief that the world is worthy only of their own, cold paws"

Terrador took place by the table, offering a seat for the fire drake with a nod of his head.

"With that in mind let's end this discussion, as much as interesting it is we have more pressing matters to attend to. As we will talk I propose that we carry this motto in our minds...Nothing is eternal, only by joining forces we can create such illusion"

Cyril snorted in abhorrence "Save your speeches of morality and wisdom for a class of hatchlings. Speak Ignus, tell us what happened last night, this is the only way to show on which side the truth lie"

"I hope I'll live long enough to see you accepting someone's other point of view friend" the Earth Guardian commented sadly

"Don't worry, your wish might come true one day. Ancestors have a tendency to watch over naïve fools"

With a sigh Terrador shook his head, meaningfully ending this pointless debate.

"Danox promised to remain in the cave while you give your report?" he gratefully directed his attention to the fire dragon

Ignus poured himself a glass of wine.

"Not at all. He didn't have to promise anything, I took him with me"

Terrador's eyes widened in shock.

"He's in the city?"

"Of course not, I would never do such a reckless thing knowing your history with black dragons. There was a crevice at the bottom of the hills that surround Warfang from one side. We sneaked behind the walls and Danox agreed to wait for me in that crevice. The cave isn't big, hardly fits a grown dragon, but he didn't seem to mind. A cheetah spotted us as we descended, he proposed to watch over Danox while I'll be gone, Hunter I believe his name is. He seemed reliable so I agreed"

Cyril frowned, snout twisted by loathing for no one in particular.

"You told him to crawl into a hole and he obeyed? Hid like a mouse?"

The fire dragon shrugged.

"Actually I didn't force him to do anything. That was his idea"

Cyril stared at the fire drake for a while and then burst with mocking laughter.

"A rat-dragon! There is nothing to worry about! A crude trap and a piece of cheese is enough to solve all our problems!" another wave of laughter burst from the ice throat

The other two dragons looked at each other, nodded, before turning their attention to their laughing colleague. Neither of the two shared the ice drake's enthusiasm.

"This will be easier than I thought!" Cyril laughed once more

"You weren't here Cyril when Danox arrived in this very hall" Terrador interjected

The laughter of the ice drake slightly tuned down.

"You haven't spent a whole night in his company" Ignus added

Icy mouth clamped itself shut.

"You didn't feel the aura radiating from him" the Earth Guardian added

"You didn't see your own reflection in his empty, dark eyes" the fire dragon concluded

Cyril let out a lengthy, filled with fake admiration whistle.

"By the Ancestors, you speak about that guy like he would be your idol. Why don't you start worshipping him, or better yet! Take him as your mate! Play some domination/submission games!" another laughter wrecked his throat

"To think that you had the nerve to call me a fool" Terrador scolded his friend

"He is dangerous Cyril, you make a grave mistake by underestimating him" Ignus added

"Ok" Cyril raised his paw in the air, with a deep breath calming himself before looking at the two dragons at the table

"In all your doom praising you are forgetting about one thing. I understand that Ignus misses the obvious since he had never seen a black dragon before, but you Terrador, you disappoint me, you already had experience with a black dragon"

"My world crumbled to dust" the Earth Guardian replied sarcastically, this peculiar type of irony as stern as a rock "How will I live the rest of my life without your support I wonder?"

"Mock all you want, but it is you who should be the target. Do I really have to remind you of Cynder's reign? Don't you remember how people trembled at the sight of her? Magic or power had nothing to do with it. It's just the way black dragons carry themselves. Being ominous is their natural trait, as is being crazy is natural for electric dragons"

"Cynder is young and still rouses fear, not to say that she practically gives children nightmares. Danox is simply the male counterpart of the femme fatale that ruled over our lands all that time ago. Black is the color of despair and death, something that is far more empowered when black dragons reach adult age and become big. It scares you because you have that understanding of colors and their meanings deeply rooted in your brain. You start making connections"

Cyril tapped his temple.

"This is only a mind game, something that all of the black dragons take advantage of. We live in a predatory world, you need something to keep your potential attackers at bay. I don't deny that Danox has power, perhaps even a sort of power that we never encountered before, but that doesn't make him indestructible. He becomes immortal, or the Reaper, only because we create that image ourselves"

"Call me a hypocrite, or whatever you wish. When Lightbane ruled the skies I was as blind as you, that is what made me lose my battle without that much of a struggle. That experience however opened my eyes, and I had a lot of time to test my theory by poking Cynder. Let me tell you that there is nothing to be afraid of. She breaks like everyone else, Danox does the same"

He pointed at the fire dragon.

"Now Ignus, with my words in mind, didn't you fell victim to that exact mind game during the night? Night where black scales disappear and seem to melt in the shadows? If you desire something too strongly it becomes real"

Ignus lowered his head, frowning in deep thought as he sipped wine from his glass. There was a moment of silence as he accumulated a mouthful of wine in his maw and hesitated with the swallow. Only after a short while a bulge went down his throat and a tongue popped from the mouth to lick the chin.

"There is much wisdom in your words Cyril" he said and in his words ringed unexplained relief

"I must agree" Terrador added "But still I think like all of this seems a bit too easy"

Cyril smiled proudly "This is your warrior's instinct talking again Terrador, its seeks to complicate things when in truth everything is black and white. You just have to want to see it. Now with doom theories out of the way, tell us Ignus what you really think of Danox, what impression he made on you?"

"He's...odd" the fire drake frowned, obviously mad at himself for not being able to explain things better and especially because he couldn't find any other way to explain his feelings

"I can't find any other words to describe him. He's simply...odd. Perhaps this is a common trait among black dragons? I'm afraid I can't really expand my point of view here, I didn't have much interaction with the young girl...Cynder to form an opinion"

"We all have our quirks, Cynder is no different" Earth Guardian explained "Nothing however that would break the boundaries of normality"

"Then Danox is far away from the boundary I must say. He doesn't seem to care about anything, especially himself. He has no pride or respect, mental and physical. He seems to purposely injure himself and act like it is nothing. Not to mention that he speaks in riddles, using proverbs to verbalize his thoughts that more than often are hard to understand. He also seems to feed on fear, or at least enjoy scaring his companions. For lack of any better comparison I would say he's like one of those mental people from my time, people that when outside act normal and friendly, but when alone and in private open the door to their secret closet where all the necessary gadgets for devil worship can be found"

"So he's basically a creep" Cyril commented wryly

Ignus nodded grudgingly.

"I suppose you can say that"

The Ice Guardian clapped his paws with a triumphant blare escaping his throat.

"Then there is nothing to worry about!"

"You had a valid point Cyril, but I think you're too optimistic about all of this. We need more care put into this matter" Terrador answered the laugh

"Optimistic?" the ice guardian snorted in disdain "please stop offending me, especially in the face of proof. It is exactly how I described it, taking advantage of fear to hide own weaknesses. SIMPLE. AS. THAT"

"I would take Terrador's safe approach under consideration" Ignus added "Especially when I tell you that we weren't alone on that mountain"

"Excuse me?"

"What?"

Both Guardians spat surprised Guardians spat questions at the same time.

"Later in the evening a dragon approached us, actually he stalked us all the way from the city. It was one of the mole's followers"

"I knew it!" Cyrill slammed his fist into the table, glasses and pitchers bounced in the air, spilling droplets of red wine across the wood

"Do you still want to approach matters with care and safety?" clawed tapped at the wooden top "We sit here, arguing and debating while Brill spreads his influence in our moments of hesitation!"

"I highly doubt that Brill would send someone of his own to contact the black dragon" Terrador added his inquiry

"Ooohhh" the Ice Guardian whistled, looking in the direction of his friend with an expression that radiated scoffing louder than any words possible

"Highly doubt you say? What, you became best pals with the rat when I wasn't looking that you know what he would do and what not?"

The Earth Guardian narrowed his eyes on his icy friend, constant lashes of mockery started to make cracks on his usual solid as a rock features.

"I would really advise you Cyril to take a glance into a dictionary or ask Volteer to explain you the definition behind the benefit of doubt"

"Aren't we getting defensive" cold voice rang with suspicion and palpable snide "One might think that the stinking rodent might have wrapped his withered claws around a certain, green neck"

"I repeat myself. You are a lost cause Cyril"

"I'm in no position to correct someone of your stature Cyril" Ignus interjected, cutting off the argument "But it would be best for your own insight to listen to the opinion of others or at least let me finish my tale. There isn't much left"

The Ice Guardian waved his paw dismissively with a snort "Whatever, do as you want. Besides me you're the only one who I'm willing to listen to anyway. For now"

Terrador shook his head, mumbling something under his breath. The unspoken words would make everyone talented in reading words from moving lips blush and turn away in shame. At the same time expanding their stock of slurs.

"I'm positive that the dragon was the member of the temple, I've heard things and I know it's true. However I would also take Terrador's opinion under consideration, our guest showed no will to turn our eyes into the light or threaten Danox with a crusade. He didn't try to convert us, nor smite us"

"Then what the hell did he want?" Cyril growled irritated

"That's the thing, he didn't want anything"

"What nonsense is this?"

"It's the truth. He came to us, exchanged some words with me and Danox, all layered in the same crust of creepy as the black dragon himself and left. Nothing more, nothing less"

"Did he seem dangerous?" Terrador inquired

Ignus shook his head.

"Not really, more like confused or drugged"

"That's odd"

"Who cares if it's odd" Cyril snarled "That's just some delusional lunatic with messed up head, whether he was sent or simply lost his way is unimportant. He didn't want anything and seemed drugged, probably was on the influence of some toxic substance and confused the two dragons he stalked for Ancestors themselves. Who knows what stuff they eat or sniff in that temple to reach another level of enlightenment. As long as one of those fanatics seemed crazy it's all right for me, let them kill of each other I say. Saves us the trouble"

"You really worry my Cyril" Terrador commented sadly

Before the three dragons could continue their debate the door to the City Hall suddenly opened, letting whizzing gusts of morning wind inside. All three impulsively flicked their wings, opening them slightly just to feel the breeze on the membranes just to fold them back again.

A draconic guard appeared in the doorstep.

"Guardians" he bowed respectfully "Forgive me for my intrusion, but we have a situation that you need to know about"

Terrador stood up respectfully.

"Tell us everything"

"Blood was spilled in the hospital. Lots of it, as if someone would set loose a feral hatchling in a chicken farm. A young boy and a girl were involved"

Ignus shook involuntary.

"What boy and girl?" the Earth Guardian inquired

"I'm not familiar with the names Sir. The boy is a rather curious fire dragon, with burning wings, the girl has feathery wings"

"Iris" the fire drake muttered under his breath, shaking his head slowly

"The boy was the victim, he was practically torn to shreds, how he managed to keep standing after such abuse is beyond me. The healers took care of him, he didn't want to tell us what happened, nor put blame on anyone. He seemed pretty confused to tell the truth, shocked most likely"

"We didn't need his testimony to find the culprit however, hospital staff also confirmed our suspicions. The girl was guilty, being a big trouble from the very first day of her stay in the hospital. She was covered in blood and torn flesh, none of it was her own, the sight was pretty...drastic. When we wanted to take her away she froze and nearly shattered the leg of one of our own, only thanks to the healers being so close the paw was saved. Not to mention that she hurt many more. The odd thing however was that she fought with us not because she wanted to run away, but to climb on the bed for unknown reason, after that, she simply collapsed. We locked her up, deciding that she is too dangerous to stay in the hospital"

"You did well"

"Could you Sir...ummm..." the guard rubbed the back of his head nervously

Terrador smiled kindly.

"Speak freely"

"Could you Sir pass those words to Miss Amela? She...she wasn't very pleased with my decision to take the girl away. I still hear her angry screams in my head"

The Guardian chuckled.

"Of course. Thank you for the information, we will take it from here. Wait outside if you would be so kind, there is a matter we need to discuss and then I have a task for the Guard"

"Certainly" the guard bowed and left the hall

"I'm sorry" Ignus stated the moment the last breeze of outside air wafted across the hall

"I really must say that I admire your niece's pride and arrogance"

"Cyril!" Terrador scolded his friend

The Ice Guardian shrugged.

"What? That was a compliment. How many ice dragons you see that carry the traits of our proud race?"

"I wish that pride and arrogance would be the only problems" the fire drake sighed, rubbing his forehead "It's not that simple I'm afraid"

With another sigh he took a swig from his glass, emptying it completely.

"I didn't want to say anything, I was afraid that you would never accept us if you knew of our problems and we really needed a refuge. Finding a place where we could feel safe after years of running was like a dream come true. Now that you offered us your hospitality I believe it's only fair that I tell you of our luggage. If you will cast us out after hearing it I won't blame you"

"No one is throwing anyone out. Of that I can assure you" Terrador said and the commanding, stern tone of his voice left no room for argument

"The burden I spoke of earlier, that's the memory of Athron's death, she was Iris' mother. With our race nearly decimated by countless years of warfare we became a tightly knitted group during the peace stage. We all desired love, protection and care that sometimes, I think, we overstepped our bounds, pushed too hard"

"When Iris hatched, my sister took her under her wings immediately, embracing her only daughter with a powerful love cocoon. Now when I look back I know she spoiled her, but back then I couldn't blame her, nobody could. Hatchlings were so rare that we cherished each of them like our own, didn't matter who sired them. My sister had the blessing to be the mother"

"Only after many years I realized that this was also a curse. Athron loved Iris dearly, she did everything to make her life perfect and beautiful, a life that neither me and my sister had the chance to fully taste. She succeeded, Iris was a happy child, but as it turned out also an unfortunate one"

"As years passed by, Iris became more and more spoiled, the love cocoon tightened around her harder and harder, protecting her from all the horrors a child can imagine and also from real hardships of life, while Iris' admiration and love for her mother thrived like a blossoming flower"

"And I'm sure that you are aware that life has the habit of testing one's resolve in the most cruelest of ways"

Both Terrador and Cyril instinctively nodded.

"Tragedy struck, Athron was slain, the cocoon broke and every disgusting fly that was stuck to its web poured down on Iris, a young, unprepared and spoiled mind. The death of her mother opened a gaping wound, all that love she accumulated during all those years for my sister burst like a bubble, creating in her soul and mind a crack the size of a crater where all that metaphorical dead carcass poured into. Infection spread instantly"

He poured himself two glasses of wine which he emptied with two swigs.

"The result we see today. The disease had rotten part of my niece away, there is hardly anything left of the young, friendly and happy girl I knew. Iris is sick and every forced touch, poke at the infected bulge only makes things worse. Shit, I think I've lost all hope of ever see her smiling again"

"I can only guess what happened in the hospital, what I know for certain is that Iris can't be left alone with her thoughts. Not now"

Ignus looked up and both Guardians automatically recoiled back at the pain and plea sparkling in his eyes.

"This is why I have a request for you, don't keep my niece in a cell, not after what happened. She won't be able to cope with it by herself, she needs her mind set on something. She will undoubtedly twist it in her own way, but at least she will have a point of focus, different point of focus, away from the infection. I rather have her acting on the sick part of her mind instead of the rotten one, even I don't know what she is capable of if the latter will direct her"

"What..." Terrador rasped, licking his dry lips "What would you want us to do?"

"Release her"

Both Guardians were left speechless.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but this is the only way that I can help my niece. Let me talk to her, I'll set her mind, I know which buttons to press"

"We can't simply release someone with an attempted murder charge" Cyril explained coldly

"I understand that, but instead of making her pay for her crimes in an empty cell I propose to make her simply pay off her bad deeds. You are seeking a talented ice wielder for Spyro that can teach him some new abilities. Iris even if sick has her mother's potential and most likely escalates beyond her level of elemental control that Athron had in her age. Given time she would probably outgrow everyone's expectations"

"What you are proposing sounds very dangerous" Terrador commented

Ignus nodded.

"For those interested it certainly is. If legends and rumors circling around this world and mine are true then Spyro should be capable of taking care of everything that Iris throws his way"

"We can't make such decision on our own, you must understand this Ignus. We need to consult it with Spyro first, pitting him against a girl who attacked his best friend without his consent would be a bad idea"

"Yes, of course, this is just a solution I proposed that in my opinion, with all modesty of course, would suit everyone's agenda"

"I personally think that this is a great idea" Cyril commented "This is a win situation for everyone included, whether Spyro will like it or not is of no importance. We need him at his best, he knows it too. We will arrange everything from our side"

Ignus nodded gratefully, pressing a paw to his heart.

"This is enough for me. I will make sure you won't regret it, I will work twice as hard to earn my and my niece's keep"

"This won't be necessary" Terrador smiled friendly "I'm sure we can come to an agreement of sorts that would prevent everyone from overtaxing"

"I am grateful" the fire drake stood up "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to talk with my niece"

"I must say Ignus" Cyril stated with a dose of awe in his voice "that competing with spectacular ice dragons served you really well. I like your style"

"Cyril, please" The Earth Guardian whined with a roll of his eyes

"What? That was a compliment. I'm just saying that he learned much"

Ignus smiled modestly.

"That I did Guardian. That I did"