Spyro ran through the woods towards the Avalar portal on the edge of the Artisan Home World. “I can’t wait to see Hunter and Elora,” he said cheerfully, his paws crunching through the woods. He hadn’t been to Avalar in weeks and was eager to catch up with his friends.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared over the dragon’s head. “What the?” Spyro says. A second later a net enveloped him, pulling him to the ground. Two large hyena-like creatures were gripping the net, trying to keep him down.
“Get off of me!” Spyro yells. “You’ve all made your last mistake.” Flame erupted from his mouth, incinerating the net. The two Hyenas jump back startled. More of the creatures emerge from the brush, surrounding Spyro.
“What do you creeps want?” Spyro yells, digging his claws into the ground.
The largest of the Hyenas, their leader steps forward, holding a whip in his hand. He snaps it toward Spyro’s forepaws causing the young dragon to jump back.
“You, purple creature, Hyenas want you,” he bellows, taking a step forward. “Need slaves to dig for ore. Look strong, you make fine work horse.”
Spyro looks at him in disgust. “Slavers” he spats, “name a more depraved occupation.”
The leader speaks again, “Now little purple, come quietly, promise no pain”, he smirks, licking his lips.
“Take your best shot, mutts!” Spyro said. He charged towards the leader, ready to flame the grinning Hyena. Suddenly there was a whoosh from behind, and Spyro felt something wrap around his hindlegs. “Huh?” Was all he was able to get out before he crashed head first into the forest floor. He turns to find his hind legs tangled in bolas. He prepares to take a deep breath to burn the cords away only to be dog piled by the Hyenas, grabbing onto his forelegs and tail with their claws, scratching at his scales, causing the dragon to wince.
One of the Hyenas grabbed at Spyro’s muzzle, forcing the dragon’s jaws shut.
“Let go!” Spyro said through gritted teeth. He breathed in through his nostrils, forcing a flame up into his mouth heating it up.
The Hyena holding Spyro’s muzzle shut whined as the heat seared his hands. “Hot, hot, hot!” he yelled.
Spyro continued to struggle, just a matter of time, he thought. The Hyena couldn’t hold his mouth shut much longer, once his jaw was free he’d turn his head and flame the rest. But then, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye, the leader was rushing toward him holding something in his hand. At first Spyro couldn’t tell what it was but as the Hyena got closer the object came into view. It was a metal collar, and it glowed with a strange green energy.
Spyro immediately knew what he was seeing: dampening magic, the collar had been infused with dampening magic. If that got around his neck, his fire would be snuffed out. Spyro’s heart pounded in his chest at the sight of the collar. The hyena grasping his snout was barely holding on now, smoke drifted out of his nostrils. Any second now, Spyro thought.
The leader quickly closed the gap and snapped the collar around Spyro’s neck and a coldness swept over his chest, his snout quickly cooled and the smoke dissipated from his nostrils.
The world seemed to stand still for a second as Spyro processed the loss of his flame. There was no pain but it felt like a piece of his soul had been ripped out. He felt like crying but he held it in, he wouldn’t let these dogs see his pain.
The Hyenas leapt off Spyro and fanned back out, returning to a circle of fur and muscle surrounding the dragon. The leader stood in front of Spyro triumphant. “Fight well, little purple, but no more,” he sneered. He pulled a chain out of a pouch on his side, letting it hang in his hand.
Spyro slowly got up on all fours, the bolas having come undone during the struggle. He shook it aside with a flick of his paw and steadied himself, the weight of the collar pulling his head down. He stared at the Hyena, hatred in his eyes. He’d been collared, had his flame smothered, but he was not out of this fight, no way.
“If you dogs think I’ll ever quit, you’re insane! I’ve beaten worse than a bunch of filthy slavers and I don’t need my flame to deal with you!” He lowered his head and aimed his horns at the large hyena and charged. The collar was throwing off his balance but he kept it together, he’d make these mutts learn they messed with the wrong dragon.
The leader however was not impressed. He dropped the chain and held his ground, digging in his claws, bracing himself. Seconds from impact he grabbed Spyro’s horns, stopping the dragon in his tracks.
“What?” Spyro said. He couldn’t believe it.
The leader shifted his whole body and sent Spyro flying. He landed in a heap on his side, sharp pain radiating through his ribs. Breathing heavily, he slowly rose up, ignoring the ache in his chest. But the second he was on all four paws, he heard a click. He looked down to find the chain had been attached to the collar, the other end of the lead in the Hyena’s hand.
“Now.” The hyena said. “You come with us.”
