Hey, guess what I've done! Yup, posted the next installment! Rejoice all! Here it is for your enjoyment. If this is your first look at Shur'tugal abr Voetta, I recommend starting with Clear Skies and Changing Winds before reading this (cos it'll probably make more sense that way... but hey, whatever floats your boat).

Shur'tugal abr Voetta: Dark Horizons

By: C. Doiteain

Disclaimer: Two books later and I still don't own the Inheritance Cycle. They don't even pay me... Geeze.

And one last thing... most of this I'm making up. I want to stay true to cannon, but that cannon isn't available for yet. I hope I'm right, but as book 4 isn't out yet I may be way off. Oh well. That's the fiction part, right? Right. So if the werecats are completely off... oh well!

"We're going to what?" An exclamation.

I think it sounds fun. A mental shrug to go along with the nonchalant statement.

Yes but, but… Floundering.

Miranda Iceblade, sixteen years old and stuck in a world that practically lived in the middle ages. Thaw, her… dragon. Well, Miranda thought to herself, it wasn't really that strange. But still.

I don't see what your problem with it is, Miranda, Thaw replied, tail flicking like a cats and narrowly missing flipping over a tent.

Eragon's gone, someone should stay to watch the Varden, Miranda protested, but the excuse sounded weak even to her own ears. Or, or, or… something, she trailed off. This wasn't in the books.

We're not in the books, Miranda. Thaw reminded gently. We're actually here and participating in events. It's like Cassidy said. We can't sit out any more. We're going.

Yeah, yeah, I know, she grumbled. Alright.

Nasuada was watching them looking faintly amused, which was nice. Miranda and the young woman hadn't always gotten along well, but apparently with Eragon gone chasing his cousin's bride-to-be with said cousin (actually by now Saphira would probably be on her way back to the Varden with the couple in tow while Eragon made his way back on foot or something; it didn't really matter. The point was they weren't there.) and the leader of the Varden was ready to look on the Rider more favorably.

"You're going to talk to the werecats," Nasuada repeated once she was sure Miranda had returned her attention. "Get them to ally with us against the King."

"I- I- Why?" Miranda asked as Thaw snickered in the back of her head. Nasuada and the dragon shared a look and Miranda had the feeling they were ganging up on her.

"Because we need allies. While you and Eragon were up training with the elves we managed to make it to the Spine, we're going to move out of Surda and into the mountains. It's the safest place for us considering, but the dwarves work best inside the mountains and the elves are in the forests. We need more allies who can slip through the Spine easily and quickly. Who better than a werecat?"

"So then you want me to go act as a dignitary (although the only knowledge about any of that I have is from a year with an old elf) to a (kinda powerful and important) race (that I know very little about) in order to get them to fight with us in a war (that really doesn't mean much to them because they're out of Galbatorix's reach and would only be inviting his wrath by fighting him)? Have I got it all?"

"I think so," a new voice cut in. Miranda turned to see Cassidy walking up. "Hey, Miranda, Thaw, Nasuada."

Hello, Cassidy.

"Um, hi. Does everyone think this is a good idea except me?"

"Hello, Cassidy," Nasuada replied, ignoring Miranda. "Did you need something?"

"Elva says Saphira, Katrina, and Roran will be here soon, but Eragon's not with them," Miranda's fellow Earth-native replied. "And I came to see Miranda off."

"I'm leaving now? What about packing? Saying bye to people? Talking to Angela and interrogating Solembum?" And why in the name of Sylivia had no one told her this until now?

Because they knew you might freak? Thaw inserted sounding strangely chipper.

I can be calm, really! I can, I promise, I'm not freaking I wont- she cut herself off and closed her eyes momentarily. Okay. Better now.

Good girl.

Quiet, you.

"I had Cassidy pack for you," Nasuada responded to her previous question. "You don't have anyone to say goodbye to, and Solembum's going with you."

Miranda descended into shocked silence for a few seconds before regaining the ability to speak. "Really?"

"You have a point when you say you don't know the culture. It would be rather pointless to leave you to your own devices." Translation: that would be stupid to have untaught sixteen-year-old talk to powerful race about a necessary alliance.

"I'd have to agree."

"So would I. Although I really do like you, Miranda," Angela broke into the conversation, appearing out of nowhere, but not surprising the Rider for once. After the first dozen or so times Angela had done that since the battle that had taken place a little over a week ago, she'd gotten used to it.

"No offense taken, Angela," Miranda replied.

Are you coming too? Thaw asked the eccentric herbalist.

"No, I don't think I will. Wouldn't want to get in the way of Solembum's family reunion."

You mean you don't want to get chased back to Surda by angry werecats, Solembum corrected amusedly, hopping down from Thaw's head where he had perched himself at some point. He was a cat for the moment, with shaggy black hair and violet eyes.

"Yes, that too," Angela replied cheerily, not put out at all by the threat of being chased across the mountains by angry werecats. Miranda's uncertainty returned.

"You're sure this is safe, Nasuada?" she asked, just to be sure. Nasuada shared an amused glace with Cassidy.

"Completely. You're the best person we have for this."

Wonder what that says about the rest of the Varden, Miranda grumbled to Thaw. The dragon laughed in response, rumbling deep in her throat. Miranda sighed.

I'm going to regret this, I'm sure of it. "I suppose there's no point in waiting. Shall we, Solembum?"

Yes, we shall, the werecat replied, stretching and leaping up onto Thaw's back. Miranda followed him, though she wasn't quite as graceful.

"Straight through the Beors," Nasuada reminded them. "They live on the gentler slopes to the southeast." Miranda nodded, strapping herself in.

"Wish me luck," she called down to everyone. "See you later!"

"Bye Miranda, Solembum," Cassidy said, moving back as Thaw stood fully, towering over them. Giving one last glance to the trio, she murmured something to Nasuada and ran off, probably to find Elva.

"Watch out for those shapeshifting hairballs, they're tricky," Angela called up to them, only half joking. "Listen to Solembum, you'll do fine. Have a nice trip, come back in one piece." Miranda fought the urge to face desk. The fight against the reaction was helped along by the knowledge that there was only a scaly, spiky dragon neck to bounce her head off of.

"Good luck," Nasuada called up last, breaking Miranda's train of thought. As Thaw began beating her wings she backed up. "We're trusting you, don't let us down!"

"I'll do my best!" Miranda yelled over the wind while the leader of the Varden shielded her eyes, moving back more.

Thaw gave one last powerful sweep of her wings, leaping up into the sky where she hung suspended for a moment before gaining altitude. Solebum screeched quietly, not expecting the sudden loss of his stomach, but relaxed again quickly.

Bye, Nasuada. I'll keep an eye on them, don't worry; the dragon comforted the woman below before turning and surging off towards the southeast and (hopefully) their new allies.

Feedback wanted, please! I love to know what ya'll think! -C. Doiteain