“Spyro!” Hunter screamed,
The little dragon was lying on the ground, hooked up to the cart, struggling and failing to stand up.
Suddenly there was a loud sound, then the thump of feet as the slave driver appeared, silently approaching Spyro.
“Hold on Spyro, I’m coming!” Hunter yelled, but the second he tried to run, something pulled against his legs. He looked down to find his ankles bound in shackles.
“No, no, no,” he muttered .
The slave driver was getting closer, and Spyro was still trying to get up, “I can work, please don’t!” he pleaded. The hyena said nothing, instead raising the whip over his head slowly.
“No!” Hunter bellowed as the whip came down over and over, blood hitting the dust of the quarry. He lowered head, listening to the soft, blunt sound of the rope striking scales. Hunter heard the slave driver walk away, but refused to raise his head. “I failed you,” he said sorrowfully.
Hunter shot up from his bed in a cold sweat, heart racing. His eyes immediately looked toward Spyro who was curled up, sleeping peacefully on his own bed.
The cheetah watched the rise and fall of Spyro’s breathing. How can I protect you if I’m only hurting you by doing so?
Hunter thought back to the night he and Spyro were rescued from the quarry, as he watched from the balloon while the hyenas ran into the desert, the whole place burning in dragon fire. They’re still out there, he thought, and as long as they are, Spyro is still in danger.
He got out of bed, put his coat on, and grabbed his bow and quiver. He walked to the door before turning around, looking at Spyro on the bed. Sorry buddy, I don’t know when I’m coming to be back, but I promise, I’m doing this for you.
He took one last look around, then walked out the door.
---
Spyro awoke to the sound of the door closing. “What’s going on?” He asked, looking around the room. His eyes landed on Hunter’s empty bed.
The cheetah’s coat, bow and quiver were missing. Now what?
He hopped from his bed and walked toward the balcony looking out over the castle grounds. “What are you up to now Hunter?” he grumbled, Spyro was becoming increasingly annoyed with Hunter’s bizarre behavior.
He reared up on his hindlegs and placed his forepaws on the balcony railing looking out at the courtyard and the field beyond.
Soon he spotted Hunter heading toward the field, loaded up with his gear. Enough of this he thought. He climbed up onto the railing, balancing himself and leaped off. He stretched his wings, the wind catching them, and he glided down towards Hunter.
He hadn’t been this high up in a long time, not since before the quarry, but he was more than confident in his abilities. He hadn’t spent the last month just lying around. As much as he wanted to enjoy the moment, his mind was solely focused on catching Hunter.
He overshot Hunter and landed in front of him, startling the cheetah.
“Spyro!” Hunter said loudly, “what are you doing?” He looked around as if trying to find an escape.
“What am I doing!?” Spyro growled."What are you doing?” He paced back and forth, anger in his eyes. “Now you're sneaking off in the middle of the night? To do what? More bow practice?”
Hunter scratched the back of his head.“Yeah, you got me dude,” he said, trying to sound casual but clearly failing. “I couldn’t sleep, so I figured what better way to tire me out than a bit of archery.”
Spyro narrowed his eyes. “So why are you so nervous?” he said, not buying it for a second.
Hunter gave him an annoyed look “Because you scared me half to death, dropping in on me like that!” he said, crossing his arms.
“Hunter…” Spyro said , his initial anger having subsided. “You’re not that good of a liar, now please tell me, what are you doing?”
“Just go back to bed Spyro” Hunter growled and dropped his arms and began to walk past the dragon, he was clearly shaking, his hands balled in fists.
Spyro didn’t hesitate for a second, he moved to block Hunter’s path. “Hunter…” he pleaded, “just tell me what’s going on, I’m really worried about you.”
Hunter looked down at Spyro, his eyes drooping, “I…I want to protect you,” he said, lowering his head. “But you were right earlier, I was smothering you, and I’d forgotten you are strong enough to take care of yourself.”
Hunter looked up toward Spyro, now with a serious look in his eyes. “But those Hyenas are still a threat,” he said with anger. “I can’t take the chance that they won’t come after you again, so I’m going to finish the job, I’m going to find them and make sure they never hurt anyone ever again.”
Spyro looked at him in disbelief. “You’re not serious are you?” he said quietly.
Hunter spoke urgently now, “I have to keep you safe Spyro, it’s the only way for me to…to.”
“To what?” Spyro said, genuinely unsure where this was going.
Hunter’s eyes glistened with tears as he spoke, “To make up for you nearly dying for me!” He said through sobs.
“What?” Spyro said confused, “we both know neither of us would have gotten out of there without the other.” He walked over to Hunter and looked up at him. “I did what I had to do to keep you alive, and I’d do it again, and you know this, so what is this really about?”
Hunter kneeled down next to Spyro, covering his face, the dragon put his paw on Hunter’s knee. “Hunter,” Spyro pleaded, “talk to me.”
Hunter began unfastening his coat, letting it drop off his body, exposing his back. “They hurt me, Spyro,” he said slowly, “and I want them to pay for it.” He looked the dragon in the eyes, “I always told myself, my pain didn’t matter because you suffered worse, you nearly died for me, what’s a few lashings compared to that?”
Spyro looked up at his friend, and without hesitation wrapped his forelegs around Hunter’s waist in a hug, pressing his head against the cheetah’s stomach. The dragon then spoke, “I still get the nightmares too, and I still wonder if we are truly safe, but going after them isn’t the answer.”
Hunter wrapped his hands around Spyro gently, “I just…need to do something” he said quietly.“Something to make this…pain go away.”
Spyro raised his head and looked Hunter in the eyes “Then talk to Lateef, really talk to him,” he said with absolute seriousness.
“That old wizard…” Hunter said with irritation. “He can’t possibly understand what I’m feeling.”
“Do you trust me?” Spyro said, getting annoyed with Hunter’s stubbornness.
“Of course I trust you.” Hunter said, “what kind of question is that?”
“Then trust that I know what I’m talking about when I say Lateef can help you,” Spyro said a little playfully. “Just give it a shot, and don’t go running off every time he asks you a question, he knows how to listen.” Spyro pushed off Hunter sitting down. “You can even do it alone if you have to. I’m not your keeper any more than you are mine,” he said with a smile.
Hunter looked at Spyro wiping away his tears, “so…you don’t hate me for earlier? He said, standing up, “You know? With the forest?”
The dragon gave Hunter a small laugh. “You were being a real jerk back there, but no, I don’t hate you,” he said, with a smirk. “You’re my best friend Hunter, I could never do that.” Spyro could tell Hunter clearly felt better after all that, at least I kept him from doing anything stupid. “Now can we get back to bed?” He said, giving a yawn and stretch.
Hunter rolled his eyes. “Alright fine,” he said, turning toward the castle. He stopped for a second and looked back at the coat on the ground, Spyro stopping and looking back as well.
The cheetah exhaled and spoke. “Burn it,” he said sternly.
Spyro looked up at him confused, “are you sure? He said hesitantly, “Marcelle probably put a lot of work into that.”
Hunter looked down at him, “I don’t like what it was turning me into,” Hunter said, shame in his voice.
Spyro nodded and blew a flame at the coat, igniting it. The two watched it burn for a few seconds then turned back and walked toward the castle.
“I never asked,” Hunter said, stretching, clearly glad to be out of the coat. “How did it go with Elora?”
“I think we’re still friends” Spyro said unsure, “I don’t think she’s going to ever see me the same way though.” He looked up at the stars, “but I guess I am different now so…that’s ok,”
Hunter also followed Spyro’s gaze to the stars. We’re definitely different now.
---
Hunter walked up to Lateef’s room, once again feeling exposed without the coat. It’s just a talk, all we’re doing is talking.
“So why am I so nervous?” he asked himself.
He poked his head inside to find Lateef in his usual spot on the pillow, a book in his claws. “Uh…hi,” he said awkwardly, “Lateef? Can we talk?”
Lateef looked up from his book, surprised at the sight of the cheetah. “Hunter? What can I do for you?” He asked curiously.
Hunter struggled to get the words out, “I’ve…I’ve decided I want to talk to you, about what happened in the quarry.” He forced the words out. “Uh…just you and me? Is now a bad time or…?”
Lateef smiled and silently waved Hunter in, gesturing to a nearby pillow before setting the book down.
Hunter moved to the pillow and sat down across from the dragon, “so…how does this work?” He asked nervously. “I honestly wasn’t paying much attention the last time I was here.”
“We could start with what I asked you the other day before you…left?” Lateef said carefully.
Hunter thought for a moment before speaking. “Right,” he said. “Last time. You asked what I was forced to do in the quarry.” He considered his next words. “I broke down the ore and loaded them into carts, there’s not much else to say.’
“Carts that Spyro was forced to haul? Lateef asked calmly.
“Among others, yes,” Hunter said, “but Spyro always came to my station, we felt safer together, even when forced to work.”
“Did that hurt?” Lateef asked, “to help contribute to Spyro’s suffering?”
“Of course it did,” Hunter said sharply, “every rock I loaded into that cart was one more weight on his shoulders, one step closer to his death.” He took a deep breath, “but I never blamed myself for that, I blamed them.”
“So you don’t blame yourself for Spyro almost dying?” Lateef asked.
“Never!” Hunter said loudly, “I saved him! What are you getting at?” He was starting to get annoyed.
“What about the second time when he nearly sacrificed himself for you?” Lateef asked.
“That was…different,” Hunter said defiantly, “that was my failure, I should have been stronger!”
“Hunter you suffered in ways no being ever should.” Lateef said passionately. “It’s not a failure being unable to endure the unendurable alone.
Hunter crossed his arms and turned his head away from Lateef. “I made so many mistakes during that month, I feel I owe him…more than I can ever repay.”.
Lateef gave a small smirk, “do you think he owes you a debt for everything you did for him? The whipping? The extra food?” He asked.
“I….” Hunter was at a loss for words.
Lateef looked at Hunter intently, “Well…” he stretched the word out.
Hunter looked up at Lateef, “I see your point,” he said softly.
“I want you to think on this for the next time we talk, " Lateef gave Hunter a serious look. “Just remember, your pain matters just as much as his, not less, not more,” he gestured for the cheetah to rise.
Hunter stood up, feeling strangely lighter. “My pain matters,” he said under his breath. He nodded to Lateef and departed.
