Hunter walked through the black, endless void, “Spyro!” He yelled desperately.
There was no answer.
“Spyro where are you!” He yelled again.
Suddenly a punch came from nowhere, hitting him across the face, causing the cheetah to stumble. “What?” he said dazed, then he felt a kick in the back, knocking him to his knees.
Hunter breathed heavily, looking around for the attacker. He could see nothing in the void. Then the laughter started, it was all around him, behind him, in his ears. He turned in every direction trying to pinpoint the source.
Another kick, this time to the side, sent him tumbling, footsteps now approached, and a Hyena appeared out of the void, holding a club. “Please…no” Hunter cried, “I don’t want to die.”
The hyena silently raised the club and brought it down on Hunter’s head.
“Don’t kill me!” Hunter screamed, waking up with a start, his heart pounding in his head. He wrapped his arms around himself. His breathing refused to slow.
Across the room, he saw Spyro with his eyes wide staring at him, Hunter turned his head away ashamed. Soon though, he heard something hit the floor and dragon paws walking across the room, then a weight on the bed.
Hunter turned his head to find Spyro standing next to him, a concerned look on his face. “You’ve…never said that before,” the dragon said under his breath.
“Huh?,” Hunter said confused, briefly looking up at Spyro. “What do you mean?”
Spyro looked at him intently, “you’ve always said my name when you wake up from a nightmare.” Spyro sat down on the bed and tilted his head toward Hunter’s face, “I know we don’t really talk about what happens in the nightmares but… do you want to try?”
Hunter nodded and raised his head looking up. “I’m… being beaten, over and over again,” he said, wiping away tears. “Can’t see who it’s until the end, it was that stupid mutt who used to hit you all the time.”
Spyro shuddered at the mention of the hyena and laid down next to Hunter, putting his head on Hunter’s leg.“The same one that whipped you,” he said quietly.
“Yeah…him” Hunter said with disgust, putting his hand on Spyro's back. “That night, when you caught me sneaking off…” He looked down at the dragon. “He was the one I wanted to find the most.”
Spyro looked up at Hunter sympathetically. “He hurt us both,” the dragon said calmly, “That whole place did, but we can’t keep dwelling on it or we’re never going to heal.”
Hunter spoke hesitantly. “It’s…hard, I can’t help but think about how we both nearly died in that place,” he thought for a moment. “if help hadn’t arrived when it did I would have had to…”
Spyro looked at him puzzled. “You would’ve had to do what?” He said with concern.
Hunter closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he has a right to know. “That last morning when you were unconscious,” he said, looking away from Spyro. “I had to make a terrible choice.” He closed his eyes, “I was going to attack the guard and get you out of there, one way or another, it was either that or you were as good as dead.”
Spyro looked at Hunter in disbelief. “Oh Hunter,” he said softly, he climbed up and wrapped his forelegs around the cheetah’s neck. “I am so sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Hunter said questioning whether Spyro heard him right. “I nearly got us both killed.”
Spyro tightened his grip on Hunter. “You were willing to do whatever it took to save us both, to save me, what more could I ask for in a brother?” he said through tears.
“Brother…” Hunter said, unsure what else to say.
Spyro continued to hold Hunter tight and whispered. “We’ve been brothers ever since we ended up in that place together.”
Hunter wrapped his arms around Spyro and the two held each other in the dark.
---
Spyro and Hunter approached Nestor who was standing in the castle courtyard, waiting for them. Present as well were the other leaders of the 5 dragon families including Titan and Lateef.
“You wanted to speak with all of us?” Nestor said with his usual fatherly tone when he spoke to Spyro. “...said it was important?”
Spyro stepped forward while Hunter stood back, he looked up at Nestor with a serious expression. “I want Hunter to stay here,” he said with a strong voice. “...both as my brother and as a member of the Dragon Realms.”
Nestor gave Spyro a surprised look, then turned his head to Hunter. “Is this really what you want Hunter?”
“Yes it is,” Hunter said bowing with respect. “You said it yourself, the quarry made us brothers and now we want it to be official. He raised his head, looking at all the leaders, “over the past few months the Dragon Realms have become my home and the rest of you have become like family,“he said, his voice cracking, trying not to become too emotional. “I’m asking you to allow me to stay permanently.”
The Nestor brought his claw to his chin.“What you ask has never been done before,” he said thoughtfully. “As you know, non-dragons are generally not allowed to live here permanently.”
Hunter lowered his head.
Nestor smiled and then spoke. “However, you are right,” he said warmly. “You have become part of the Dragons realms and your bond with Spyro has grown ever stronger.” Nestor then gave Hunter a serious look. “However, for us to even consider the request, I need to know this isn’t just a desire to remain together, but a true brotherly bond.”
Spyro spoke, “Nestor,” he said carefully, “you know I’ve been making great progress over the past few months.” He looked back at Hunter, “I know this is what I want.”
Nestor turned back to Hunter, speaking, “And what about you?, he said with concern, “are you doing better since the last time we spoke?”
Hunter lowered his head, “that was a mistake”, he said shamefully, “one I need to apologize to both of you for.” He stepped forward next to Spyro and knelt down, looking the young dragon in the eyes.
“Hunter,” Spyro said confused, “what is this about?” he was getting kind of embarrassed.
The cheetah took a deep breath and spoke, “after our…argument about the forest” he said delicately, “I went to Nestor to try to convince him not to let you go.”
Spyro's eyes widened for a moment before relaxing, “is that all?” he said with a smirk, almost laughing.
Hunter looked at him in shock, “so…you’re not mad at me” he sputtered out.
Spyro laughed, “I figured you’d try something like that, “his laugh getting louder, “I’m more surprised you didn’t try to drag me out of there by my tail.”
Hunter grinned, “I’d honestly considered it, but I knew that would go poorly for me.” He said laughing.
Nestor cleared his throat and Hunter immediately stood back up, having completely forgotten about the elder dragons who were staring at them, some annoyed, others with amusement.
“As I was saying,” Hunter said, addressing Nestor, embarrassed himself. “I want to apologize for what happened earlier with you,” he bowed his head deeply, “I was completely out of line.”
Nestor nodded “apology accepted Hunter, but there is another matter to discuss”, he said in a serious tone. “I’m aware you nearly ran off on some scheme to get revenge on the slavers, yes?”
Hunter looked down at Spyro with concern who raised his paw and whispered “wasn’t me” shaking his head, the cheetah turned back to Nestor. “Yeah… about that” he said before Nestor cut him off.
“You are aware our species prefers a peaceful existence are you not?” Nestor said sternly, like he was talking to a child--and considering the vast age difference, he might as well have been.
Hunter stumbled over his words, “I…am aware of dragon pacifism yes.” Nestor’s gaze was starting to unnerve him.
“And you are aware,” Nestor said, his voice getting louder, “that by me allowing you to say here, you are representing this realm?”
Spyro spoke up, “Nestor, if you know about this.” He was trying to speak with a commanding tone, but it came off meek in the face of the older dragon’s anger. “Then you know I stopped him.”
Nestor softened his gaze, “I understand you want to protect your friend Spyro, but it was his mistake, not yours.” His voice was not harsh, but stern in its absoluteness. Nestor turned back to Hunter. “Defend yourself cheetah. ”
Hunter took a deep breath, “You were right when we spoke earlier Nestor, I was ignoring my own pain.” He lowered his head respectfully, “And my first instinct when I finally acknowledged that was to go after the ones who hurt me.”
Hunter looked up at Nestor now, a certainty in his eyes. “But I know that was wrong now, going after them will not fix anything.” He took a breath, “At Spyro’s request, I have been speaking to Lateef, working to resolve my pain, and I’ve given up on the idea of seeking revenge.“
Nestor turned to Lateef. “What say you? ” he said flatly.
Lateef brought a clawed hand to his chin scratching it. “He has certainly been making the effort, and has become gradually less angry over our meetings,” the elder dragon said thoughtfully.
“I see,” Nestor said, looking back at Hunter. “But how can we be certain you won’t have another change of heart and try to convince one of our young dragons to join you?”
Hunter considered his next words carefully. “You can’t,” he said bluntly, “you can only go off the progress I’ve made,” he looked Nestor in the eyes. “Ever since that night, I’ve made no attempt to sneak off and I’ve been seeing Lateef regularly, there’s nothing else I can do.”
Nestor looked to the other dragon elders who all nodded. “Very well, with that out of the way, we'll discuss things and take it to a vote.” The five dragons convened in a circle and began talking amongst themselves.
Spyro gestured with his head to Hunter to a bench nearby, the two walked over to it. The dragon hopping up and Hunter sitting down. “I’ve never seen anyone talk to Nestor like that, " Spyro said, sitting down on the bench.
“Is that good?" Hunter asked, he watched the five dragons intently.
“I think he respects you,” Spyro said confidently, “you’ve got more courage than most, that's for sure.”
“I really didn’t feel brave, I felt foolish, like he’d seen right through me” Hunter said, his voice breaking. “I’m scared, Spyro,” he said with tears in his eyes, "I don't know what I’ll do if they don’t let me stay.”
Spyro looked up at Hunter, “I’ll go with you, if they won’t allow it, then I’ll come to Avalar with you.” His voice never wavered.
“No,” Hunter said. “This is your home, your people, your family.” He said mournfully, “you’re not gonna give all that up for my mistake."He grabbed Spyro’s forepaw in his hands.“As your brother, promise me, no matter what happens you won’t do anything foolish.”
Spyro looked up at Hunter, tears forming in his own eyes, “I promise,” he said softly, “doesn’t mean I won’t visit a lot though.” He gave Hunter a smile.
Hunter nodded and pulled Spyro into a hug, they held each other there for what seemed like eternity until a voice spoke up.
Spyro and Hunter broke their embrace and turned to find Nestor standing there with a sympathetic look in his eyes. “We’ve made your decision,” he said, the other dragons soon lining up behind him.
The dragon and cheetah both got down off the bench, Spyro pressing against Hunter’s leg.
“Hunter of Avalar,” Nestor began in an authoritative tone, “it’s our determination that you be allowed to stay in the Dragon Realms permanently.”
Spyro and Hunter, stood there for a moment processing Nestor’s words before looking at each other smiling,
Nestor reached forward with a clawed hand, Hunter took it without hesitation. “You have a lot to prove Hunter, but I know you’ll live up to our expectations.”
Hunter nodded and released his grip. “Thank you Nestor,” he said, grateful. Nestor nodded and walked back toward the other elders.
Hunter turned back to Spyro and kneeled down and the two embraced once again, this time not with tears of sorrow, but tears of joy.
Epilogue
It was one year since Spyro had been taken. One year since the nightmare began. The dragon and cheetah now stood together side by side before what remained of the quarry that had been their prison for over a month.
The place had been reduced to slag, the dragons making sure it would never be used again.
Spyro spoke first. “It feels weird to be back here,” he looked over the vast hole, just barely able to make the remains of what had been their cell at the bottom. “I’m not scared like I thought I’d be.” He looked up at Hunter who wasn’t even looking at the Quarry, just staring off in the distance.
“Hunter, are you ok?” Spyro said with concern.
“Yeah,” Hunter said, “I’m fine, I just still have lingering regrets over…well, you know.”
Spyro nodded, “I still have nightmares sometimes, I don’t know if they’ll ever go away,” he said quietly. “Do you want to go down there and look around?” he asked, looking up at Hunter.
Hunter shook his head, “I think I’ve seen enough, I’m just glad this place is the same as I last saw it, a destroyed husk.”
Spyro nodded and the two turned and walked back toward home.
