Scars of Shadow Ch 9: Siege

Terrador sat scrutinizing the young black and silver dragon before him with a narrowed stoic gaze, unlike his fellow Guardians who looked on with open confusion at the dragon in the training ring. However underneath the mask of calm, Terrador was also extremely confused. This dragon in front of him right now had, with no use of elements from what he had gathered from Spyro and Cynder who sat off to his right, defeated three of the strongest dragons he had tested.

Not only had he done this, but Seathius had incapacitated them with such brutal efficiency, such chilling confidence that he had intimidated his final opponent into fleeing in fear by simply looking at him. The accounts from other students who were witness to the fight made Seathius out to be a terrifying, untameable warrior. And the injuries Terrador had seen left upon the other dragons certainly backed this claim.

But he simply couldn't match that character up with the passive, albeit slightly guilty looking, face of the young dragon sat in front of him. It simply didn't make any sense to him. Finally deciding to say something rather than just sit and glare forever, Terrador broke the oppressive silence.

"Well Seathius, this certainly seems familiar," The green Guardian began, Terrador's frustrated voice seeming more intimidating now that it directed at the young dragon "Except I can help but think I warned you before that this could not happen again. Was I not clear enough last time?"

Seathius could not come up with a response other than to look even further away from the Guardian's disapproving glare. Pausing for a few moments to let his words sink in, Terrador began to speak again, this time his words giving slight hope to Seathius.

"However, I have been told that you committed these actions not only in defence of yourself but also Cynder. This has led my peers and I to make a few decisions about what action shall now be taken with you and the dragons that attacked you. The first is that you shall not be punished for this fight, as it was not directly your fault." Seathius face appeared to light up as he heard he was being pardoned, but waited for Terrador to finish before speaking.

"Also I would like to test your combat capabilities now rather than with others. It seems that everywhere you go you attract aggression, for some unknown reason. The final thing however is not specifically about you though, Seathius. Cynder, from this point onwards I don't want you travelling around the Academy or the rest of the city on your own." Terrador revealed, much to Cynder's abhorrence as her jaw fell taking a few seconds to compose herself, Cynder finally managed to form a sentence as a response.

"W-What? You want me to have an escort wherever I go? You have to be joking, right?"Cynder blurted out, "I can't just have someone following me around all the time!"

"Cynder please, it's for your-"Terrador tried to reason with her but was cut off when Cynder continued her rant.

"Having a guard follow me around all day is practically like making me a prisoner! And how is a single guard going to help if someone in the city wants to attack me? I'm fairly sure I could defend myself better than most any guard you would have shadowing me, anyway!" Cynder commented, forcing the older dragon into a silence for a few moments to consider what she had said. Soon, Cyril attempted to come to a compromise.

"Well it wouldn't have to be a guard, just someone who could help you defend yourself if worse came to worse." The Ice Guardian declared, clearly choosing his words carefully as to avoid aggravating or upsetting the already irritated dragoness. At this point Spyro decided to join the conversation.

"So it would be possible for me to go with Cynder around Warfang then? We've fought together a lot before so we're used to defending each other." Spyro pointed out only to have Terrador dismiss the possibility with a shake of his scarred head.

"I'm afraid not Spyro. Although I did consider this originally, the Guardians need you for some more confidential matters that will mean you won't be able to be with Cynder a good chunk of the time she may be in the city." Terrador informed him with a sympathetic expression. Spyro deflated at the news, the corners of his muzzle turning to the ground in dismay.

"Is it that important, then?" Spyro asked. Terrador just nodded his head. After that the room went silent while everyone tried to come up with a solution. Finally, Seathius broke the oppressive silence with the only valid idea he could come up with.

"I would do it." Seathius offered and then began to look slightly sheepish "If that's ok with all of you that is..."

For a moment the Guardians simply seemed confused as to why the young dragon before him would offer to do such a thing and then remembered how infuriated he had been reported to be when he had seen how others were treating Cynder. Just as he was about to tell Seathius he would allow him to do so, his train of thought ran into a slight problem.

"As generous as that offer is, I'm afraid I don't know whether or not you are able to do so. Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't believe that you would be able to help in the face of an enraged crowd of dragons."

For a moment Seathius seemed hurt at the dismissal of his offer based on what little Terrador actually knew about his combat abilities, but soon recovered as he thought of a way to show the Guardian before him he was very much capable of helping Cynder in a bad situation.

"Well I'll show you then," Seathius stated with confidence "In the test I mean. You could put me up against whatever you feel necessary to prove myself and if I pass then you could consider letting me help." For a small time Terrador thought it over with a thoughtful expression until finally opting to allow Seathius an attempt at his suggestion. Clearing his throat, Terrador addressed the other two dragons in the arena.

"Spyro, Cynder please clear the arena. Once you have I shall begin the test." Terrador rumbled and turned to Seathius "Seathius you shall be facing five rounds of increasingly difficult training dummies. Are you sure you want to try this?"

"I just want to do whatever I can to help and if that means taking a harder combat entrance exam, then so be it." Seathius replied with a relaxed smile and a shrug, showing great dedication to trying to help. Either that or he simply had no idea what he's in for... Terrador mused privately. Clearing his throat, he began to countdown.

"Three, two, one... Fight!" He announced, summoning four small ape dummies with a medium sized one to lead them. He looked over to Seathius for his reaction and was surprised to see him grinning, looking totally relaxed in the face of the training dummies. Terrador was beginning to think Seathius had phased out as one of the smaller dummies began to charge him, hoping to bring its short, jagged claws to the young dragon's scales. But Spyro knew better.

This is exactly what he did in the mess hall the purple dragon thought He's waiting for the dummy to get close enough and as soon as it does... He could still hear the sound of the fire dragon's foreleg snapping, bent and broken like a twig by Seathius.

But, ignorant of the black dragon's tactic, Terrador was confused by Seathius lack of movement, even as the dummy drew within dangerously close range. Closing his eyes, Seathius felt the hard earth around him, powerful, unmovable and with a mind of its own. He felt the dummy running towards him at full speed. Then he gave the earth a command.

Less than a moment later, a spike the size of his body burst from the earth, tearing a cavity in the training dummy like a claw through parchment before falling back into the earth from where in came. Terrador stared at the young dragon, almost slack jawed at his immediate and potent command of his birth element. I hadn't even felt that coming before it happened. The speed and accuracy of his attack was incredible and he didn't even open his eyes Terrador thought, utterly shocked.

Finally opening his eyes, Seathius sliced his tail across the ground sending up a line of sharp earth fragments towards another dummy, practically tearing it apart before it had time to even realise the attack coming its way. The remaining dummies all went with the most complicated tactic their simple minds could comprehend. They all charged Seathius at once.

Looking over his shoulder at the three charging dummies, Seathius smashed a paw into the ground, forming a dome of rock around himself. Undeterred by the new obstacle, the dummies carried on charging the larger one bringing his club over his head to strike the dome surrounding their enemy. The wooden weapon quickly began to arc down towards the dome of earth, mere moments from crashing into it. Then the dome exploded.

Sharp, long spikes of rock flew in all directions, peppering all three training dummies with holes causing straw to pour out like a fountain. When the dust and debris finally cleared they revealed an almost bored-looking Seathius, who was sat still brushing dust from his shoulder. Determined not to show his true shock, Terrador forced himself to keep a level voice as he addressed Seathius.

"Very impressive. So far. Are you ready for the second round, young dragon?" Terrador asked, while clearing the remains of Seathius previous opponents, his mental link to the training arena allowing him to command the remains to dissipate into the magic that they were formed from.

"Second round?" Seathius questioned, seemingly puzzled by the Guardian's statement "And here I was thinking we were just warming up."

Terrador simply grunted. "As able as you have proven yourself to be so far, overconfidence can be a deadly, insidious enemy Seathius. Remember that."

Believe me I know that Seathius thought but responded with a bow and a slightly meek "Yes master."

After three and a half more rounds of tearing dummies apart, Seathius observed Terrador quietly talking to Spyro and the other two Guardians as he himself finished dealing with a large club wielding ape replica that marked the end of the fourth round. Choosing to simply sweep its legs from beneath it with his tail, Seathius ended the final dummy with a quick blow to the head. Turning to the earth Guardian, Seathius waited to be addressed and to begin the final round of his testing. Turning from his peers to the younger dragon, Terrador began speaking.

"So far, you have performed beyond any expectations we had of you, even after hearing what you did in the eating hall. Therefore, after some conversing with my fellow Guardians and the young dragon himself, we have decided that the last round of your test will be against Spyro."

Seathius was genuinely surprised by this revelation. While he was confident that he could defend himself against the lesser trained dragon in a melee combat situation, what shocked him was the way that the Guardians expected him to be able to hold his own against a dragon of legend that had saved the world. Although Seathius wondered maybe they don't expect me to be able to hold my own and simple want to see how long I'm able to defend myself against him. Well, better not disappoint them then.

As the other young dragon entered the ring opposite him, Cynder seemed even more shocked than Seathius did, having not been part of the conversation that had decided it. Whirling to face the three Guardians she seemed more worried than anything else.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? What if they end up hurting each other? That won't help anybody!" Cynder said, concerned. Her reply came in the form of a rapid response from the Electric Guardian.

" Oh, don't worry yourself with what might happen to those young dragons! I'm sure they wi-" Volteer began only to be cut off by his blue scaled counter-part.

"What I believe Volteer here is trying to say is that we won't let either of them be seriously injured. It is, after all, only a test of our young friend over there." Cyril said, attempting to explain the lightning fast speech that he himself only understood through years of conversing with the Lightning Guardian. Reluctantly, Cynder stopped her pleading looks at the elders and turned her attention to the fight which was about to begin

"Well Spyro this is quite the surprise." Seathius began, slowing crouching in to a ready position "I didn't expect to have to fight the dragon of legend as a test."

"I was just as surprised as you are, Seathius. But please, do me a favour and don't try and do to me what you did to Ash." Spyro urged with a small nervous smile. Seathius gave a sly grin in return.

"What do you mean the humiliation or the leg snapping?" He asked in an innocent voice. The purple dragon's reply came out in a quiet mumble.

"Both..."

The sound of Terrador clearing his throat drew their attention from their conversation to the Earth Guardian. Satisfied that they were both ready and listening, he began detailing the rules.

"The fight will only be one round will use of all four elements permitted for you, Spyro. The fight will end after one of you is submitted to a death-lock for five seconds or when we believe that one of you has sustained too many injuries. Are you both ready?" Terrador asked, receiving a nod from both dragons "Very well, on my call... Begin!"

Instantly, Spyro swept back his wings and launched himself towards the collected black dragon in front of him, in hopes of catching him off guard. To his credit, Seathius façade feigned surprise quite well. Just managing to duck underneath the quick attack, Seathius rolled to his right in order to create space between him and his adversary. Whirling to face his opponent, Spyro began channelling his ice element to his maw and released a stream of ice that missed Seathius, instead coating the nearby floor in a thin layer of ice.

Backing away from the uncertain footing, Seathius decided to go on the offensive. Quickly closing the distance between them with a single leap, he sent three rapid paw strikes towards Spyro who quickly threw up his own paws and forelegs in defence. Pushing the advantage, Seathius swept his tail towards his opponent's back legs but was disappointed to connect with nothing but air as Spyro leapt backwards with surprising agility.

Calling upon his earth element, Spyro fired two earth missiles in quick succession and launched himself after them in an attempt to counter-attack his adversary. But just as the first earth projectile reached Seathius, Spyro realised his mistake. Only able to watch in minor horror as the black dragon guided the rock ,with the use of his wing and his own earth powers, in a full one-hundred and eighty degree spin, and launched it straight back at the second missile. Time seemed to slow in the arena as Seathius grinned at Spyro's wide eyes. Then the missiles collided.

Cynder was tense as she tried to stare through the dust cloud the attack had produced, growing increasingly worried for both of the dragon's safety. Turning to face the Guardians, she could see that Terrador was ready to end the battle on a moments notice based upon what he saw when the dust and debris cleared. But as the cloud began to dissipate, the result left every spectator surprised. Sat in the middle of the arena were two spheres of rock, slowly shaking back and forth as the pushed against one another in a struggle for dominance.

Just as the duel seemed to be bordering a draw, one of the rock shields erupted as a black dragon launched himself from the top of it. Sensing the lack of resistance, Spyro released his control of the rock sphere and turned to the dragon above him. Specifically on the orb of dark green energy the black dragon was powering in front of his maw. Suddenly understanding the reason behind Seathius change of tactic, Spyro began charging his own earth attack to counter. With gravity finally taking on the airborne dragon, both combatants released their attack. The result was a shock wave powerful enough to shake the entire duel arena, with twice the debris to match.

When the dust finally cleared, Cynder frantically searched the room for any sign of the dragons that were fighting before. Finally setting eyes upon them at the edge of the ring, she rushed over with the Guardians only one step behind. Spyro and Seathius lay still on the floor a few feet from each other, trying to catch their breath after the final clash that had left them both exhausted.

"Spyro! Seathius! Are you two alright?!" She cried out as crouched beside them.

"Don't worry...We're...We're fine. Mostly" Seathius replied breathlessly "Well I'm... I'm fine at least. And if... And if I'm fine... I'm sure he is too. Right Spyro?"

"Yeah," the purple dragon groaned back "I'm good. Mostly."

"See? We're fine. Don't worry." Seathius said with a wave of his paw, as Cynder sighed in relief. Slowly he pushed himself to his paws and stumbled over to the purple dragon. Spyro tilted his head slightly to look at him with a small, cheeky grin.

"So, do we call that a draw? Because while I'm positive you didn't win," Spyro winced slightly, though still grinning "It really doesn't feel like I won right now to be honest."

All three young dragons looked to Terrador for confirmation of the result, to which he gave a slight nod of his head. Letting his own grin show, Seathius turned back to Spyro.

"Well that's good enough for me. Need a paw there, Spyro?" He asked as he reached to help the purple dragon up. Replying with a nod, Spyro took the offered paw and staggered to his feet,looking a lot less beat up than he had on the floor. Volteer was the first to break the silence.

"Well now that that exiting, exhilarating, enchanting duel has come to a marvellous, stupendou..." Volteer's sentence trailed off in to muffled hums as Cyril clamped a paw over his muzzle, scowling irritably. Turning to Terrador, Cyril's expression became one of curiosity and interest.

"So what do you think then Terrador? Do you believe that Seathius would be capable of..." Cyril seemed to halt as he considered his next words "...'Watching over' Cynder. That is of course for lack of a better term." Cyril quickly added upon seeing Cynder's disapproving frown. Making a sound between a low hum and a grunt, Terrador considered his friend's words and the display of skill he had witnessed. He has shown he is skilled enough to duel even a purple dragon to a standstill and potential assailants would be wary of someone who was shown twice over they won't tolerate any kind of abuse. Yet he is still only an adolescent... Turning to look in to Seathius' eyes, however, Terrador saw something other than a young dragon. He saw a warrior.

"Very well. Cynder, if you yourself find this arrangement acceptable then I believe that we would allow this. " The earth Guardian conceded. Cynder let herself smile knowing that, though she wouldn't be able to travel completely alone, at least it would be with someone who she was already starting to see as a close friend.

"Well, it's a lot better than having a guard follow me around. I'm ok with it." She replied with a shrug. With a nod, Terrador dismissed them. But Volteer seemed intent on saying something.

"Oh also Cynder, we have decided to void your basic combat exam exam, as we feel it would be a tremendous, atrocious, useless waste of time."

"By the blood of my ancestors, Volteer can you not simply stay silent for more than a minute!?" Cyril cried. Terrador simply sighed before speaking to the young trio.

"Classes don't start till tomorrow so you three have the rest of the day to spend as you wish." He informed a rare ghost of a smile he added "Try to stay out of trouble."

A round of nods came from the young dragons and they left the training arena eager to explore their local area of the dragon city. When the Guardians were sure they were out of hearing range, Cyril addressed Terrador.

"Do you really think that she will be accepted, safe even, around the public of this city?"

"I think that with that mysterious dragon and Spyro with her, she is as safe as she is going to be. As for acceptance, I can only hope for the public's...Understanding." Terrador said slowly. Cyril nodded back solemnly and Volteer looked on with downcast eyes. They all knew how the citizens were likely to receive the former 'Terror of the Skies', whether she was a hero or not.

In one of Warfang's smaller streets, two raised voices could be heard over the quiet ambience of the nearby market.

"I still say that you got lucky with that early dodge. I would have had you had it not been for that."

"I'm sorry, all I can hear is someone that sounds very bitter that they drew a duel."

"...I don't know what you're talking about."

Cynder let out a sigh as the two dragons beside her continued their 'argument' over who had deserved to win the duel. Finally deciding to put a stop to it, Cynder spoke up.

"Look you two." Both Spyro and Seathius did, immediately becoming silent. "You drew with each other. Get over it. Or at least have the decency to continue this some other ?"

Both dragons mumbled an incoherent apology and a quiet 'Ok' before Cynder continued.

"Finally," She sighed in relief. "Now then, it's early afternoon and we have no responsibilities for the rest of the day. Do either of you have any ideas?"

The two dragons slowly turned to look at each other, slowing grinning in unison. Spyro was the first to speak.

"I have an idea, how about a –"

"Spyro, please note that if your next word is rematch, or any word of the same meaning, there will be consequences." Cynder spoke in a voice a little too calm and sweet. Spyro swallowed hard and quickly shut his mouth. Seathius looked on with a grin at the nervous purple dragon.

"Well once you're done shaking there Spyro, I have an idea." Seathius commented, drawing Spyro and Cynder's attention. He jerked his head to his right slightly.

"There should be a tournament nearby for a sport called 'Siegeball'. It was advertised on notice boards all around the Academy, and it sounded pretty interesting. How about we go watch that?" He suggested. After a brief moment of consideration, the other dragons shrugged and nodded.

"Okay, lead the way Seathius." Cynder replied.

"It's not too far from here but it should be starting soon. Let's hurry!" The black dragon exclaimed before taking flight, Spyro and Cynder in tow.

The trio arrived at the tournament arena to the sound of a loud crowd and a louder announcer, who was only just introducing the competing teams. Landing in an area that was shielded from the crowd, Seathius led Spyro and Cynder down and turned his attention to the loud, lightning dragon that was the announcer.

"Today, dragons and dragoness' we have the very first match of this tournament of SIEEEGEBALLLLLL!" The dragon yelled as the crowd ever increased their cheers from the stands.

"This is a standard Siegeball match so we will just skip straight to the teams." Another, even louder, cheer erupted from the crowd. Cynder frowned slightly, as the announcer introduced the first team.

"Well they certainly are loud, but what are they cheering for? How does this game even work?" She asked, raising an eye ridge. Spyro seemed just as confused and they both turned to Seathius for an explanation. He turned to face them with a sheepish grin.

"Ahhhh, I probably should have explained that shouldn't I?" He muttered "Well the way the game works is like this. Do you see the three stone targets at each end of the arena?" He received a nod from both of them "The aim of the game is for one team to destroy all three targets before the other team. Simple enough, yes? The harder part of the game is that if you are hit you are taken out of the game for two minutes. If you are hit out of the marked arena, you are out for the rest of the round. Best two out of three win. Understand?"

"I think so," Cynder replied slowly "All you have to do is destroy the targets and not get hit correct?"

"Pretty much, but there are some more complicated tactics. Watch and you will see." Cynder nodded and turned her attention back to the announcer, just as the second team entered the arena.

"And wearing the blue armour is Team Crackle!" The announcer howled. Three dragons and one dragoness walked in to the arena. The dragoness was a vibrant red in colour, a complete opposite from the dark green of one of the other dragons. The last two seemed identical however, almost like twins, both with bright yellow scales that seemed to glow with energy.

"Led by their captain, Chaulk, Team Crackle is out of favour in this match up, but I doubt that will stop them from providing an entertaining match! Team Crackle, please step to the centre ring!"

As they stepped towards the centre, the crowd slowly went in to a hushed silence, the thick anticipation building every second. The two teams faced each of and waited to announcer's call to begin.

"On my call, ready...BEGIN!"

The captain of the blue armoured team, Chaulk, leapt back firing two small earth projectiles at the opponents targets, hoping to get off to an early lead. He was disappointed when the shots were intercepted by fireballs from below, sending the attack off target. Regrouping with his team, the match truly began.

"It's the third round and the teams are tied a one round a piece. Team Crackle are on the back paw, with only one of their targets remaining, to the opponents three. This could be the end of their very short run!" The announcer bellowed from the sidelines. Spyro and the others were staring intently at the match, having long ago decided they all wanted Chaulk and his team to win. But things were not looking good.

Chaulk and his team were desperately trying to defend their final target from demolition, but were slowly being overcome by the continuous hail of missiles from their competition. Frantically trying to come up with a way out, Chaulk decided to risk everything. He yelled to his teammates.

"Statikus, you and your brother launch everything you have at their left target! I have a plan!"

"But Chaulk-"

"Just do as I say and trust me!"

Hesitating for a moment, Statikus nodded and flew to his brother. They then began launching lightning bolts at the target, surprising the other team momentarily. Putting his plan quickly in to action, Chaulk called out to his other teammate.

"Scarla, give me some cover!" Receiving a nod of understanding, fireballs began to rain down on the other team, giving Chaulk one small window of opportunity. Resolving to simply hope for the best, he fired three shots in quick succession, and watched as they flew towards their targets. The other team, distracted by the constant fire they were under noticed a moment too late as two of their targets crumbled upon impact with the attacks. As the third shot seemed sure to hit its target, a rock missile collided with it from beneath.

Chaulk felt his spirits drop and the crowd waited in a tense silence, for the dust to settle. Just as the could began to clear, a loud crashing noise reverberated around the arena as the top half of the target fell to the ground. The crowd exploded in cheers, Chaulk's team all ran to one another with cries of congratulations and their opponents hung their heads in defeat. The announcer was completely drowned out by noise chants of the crowd and resigned to simply cheering himself.

Higher up in the stands, Spyro, Cynder and Seathius all cheered the winning team, albeit quieter than most others. Turning to each other with smiles on their faces, they began talking about the game.

"Well that was surprisingly interesting! I didn't know if it would be but that was enthralling." Cynder exclaimed happily. Seathius snorted with a grin.

"Enthralling? Careful there Cynder, or you'll run the risk of turning in to Volteer." Seathius joked, earning a laugh from Spyro and a flat glare from Cynder, before her grin soon betrayed her.

"It was really engaging though," Spyro commented "I think I'd like to try it at some point."

"Well good luck," Seathius teased "Because if your aim is anything like it was in our duel, you'll really need it."

Just as the duel argument seemed destined to start again, the trio saw Suraxis walking towards them from the top of the stands. As she came closer, she greeted them all with a smile.

"Hey everyone, how are you all?" The bronze dragoness asked. Spyro replied first.

"I'm ok, but Seathius here is very bitter that I-"

"Spyro, Seathius I swear, one more word about the duel and neither of you will ever speak again." Cynder threatened. Suraxis raised an eye ridge at this, seemingly curious about the matter.

"Duel? Wait, Cynder what are they talking about?" Suraxis enquired, receiving a sigh from Cynder in return in return.

"I'll tell you some time, but... Just not now." Suraxis seemed disappointed by this answer but decided to let it drop, changing the subject to the game.

" What did you all think of Siegeball?"

"It looked like great fun. I want to try it, honestly." Spyro replied. Suraxis grinned.

"Maybe us four should form a team, huh? That would certainly be interesting."

" I get the distinct feeling it would somehow turn in to a complete disaster." Seathius mumbled. Suraxis gave a short laugh.

"Oh stop being such a pessimist. I'm sure sure with the two hero's of the world and ourselves, it wouldn't go too badly."

"I'm actually with Seathius on this one, something would end up going wrong." Spyro admitted. Cynder swatted him on the shoulder with her tail blade, scolding him with mock severity.

"Don't you start complaining as well Spyro. I thought you said you wanted to try, didn't you?" Spyro shuffled from paw to paw while replying.

"Just because I said I wanted to try it doesn't mean I think it would go well..." He mumbled. The group finally settled in to a silence, interrupted only by the slowing dying noise of the crowd near them.

"Well," Seathius stared "It's starting to get to late afternoon and I didn't eat at lunch. Who's coming to the mess hall with me?"

Receiving replies ranging from 'Alright...' to 'Let's go', Seathius turned towards the Academy, before looking over his shoulder with a smirk.

"Race ya'!"

The blackened caves beneath the volcano of the Burned Lands were filled with the sounds of monsters, beasts and the preparation for war. Smoke crawled through abandoned tunnels and the very air was saturated with heat. Ogres smashed at walls of iron ore with tools made for giants, orcs forged the weapons, the blades and the bows that would arm their dark force beneath the earth. And the grublins swarmed over towers larger than the walls of Warfang itself, infusing it structures with dark crystals.

One being, draped in shadow, sat above the activity that surged on below him, with a look of passive frustration. An orc adorned in a set of armour carved from dark, black crystals approached the figure in the shadow and dropped to one knee, not daring to even look upon him.

"What is the current report on the progress of the siege engines, Tuz-Ack?" The being growled, to the kneeling orc. Croaking a set of unintelligible noises, the orc lowered itself ever closer to the heated rock beneath itself. The dark presence allowed himself a small, twisted grin.

"Within the month? Well that is good news for you. I was beginning to question your usefulness, in regards to the building process."

The orc seemed to tremble slightly at its master's words, as if fearing every word like death itself. The shadowy being took a small step to enter the eerie glow cast by the dark crystal armour, the light reflected by the tarnished, scarred, silver scales.

"If all goes according to plan, as you will make sure it will, how long will the march to Warfang be?" The orc rushed out another set of mutters.

"Under two weeks?" The silver scaled being chuckled deeply, before fixing the orc with a threatening glare "And of course, the troops will be ready to march by then, yes?"

The orc broke completely under the venomous, black eyes of the dragon that towered above it, attempting to splutter out sounds to appease it's master. The orc slowly raised itself from the ground as it's master turned from it, seemingly placated by the orc's words. All the dark beast had changed, in actuality, was the place where the dragon's serrated tail blade erupted from it's deformed skull. The dark silver dragon grunted in disapproval.

"Evidently, you lacked the mental strength to lead this force. Pathetic." He wiped the blood like residue on to the corpse of the orc, and turned to face the activity below him yet again. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he imagined the Dragon City in flames, with only those strong enough to survive remaining.

"I will test them."

"And I will reveal whom is worthy of their life."

A/N THE STORY LIVES...I hope. I've been gone for a while haven't I? And I don't even have a good excuse.

Well, aside from that, story is back and should not have a massive gap like that again (hopefully...).

Who do you think is bitter? Seathius or Spyro? I think they should both get over it and stop crying like...P-please remove your tail blade from my throat... Thank you.

Also, *Gasp* Bad guy has entered the fic! Oh noes! Buuuuut he seems unlikely to do anything for at least a month so I'm sure everything will be fine. He couldn't possibly ruin anything. Yep. Definitely not.

Well all in all I'm glad the story is back and can only apologize to those who were wanting to read it. So until the next time, I hope you enjoyed this chapter of 'Scars of Shadow' and I'll CYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAaAaA!

P.S Anyone have a good name for a lightning dragon... 'Cause I sure don't. Suggestions welcome!