Chapter I: Hunter and Pray
This is a story of a girl and her dragon and how she stumbled upon an egg long forgotten in the mountains near Kuasta where she lived. Her name is Nevaeh and the adventure she is about to embarked on is one of great importance. She alone can help tip the balance of power in Alagaesia. Our story begins with our small hero finding her life long partner and the struggle she goes through to keep herself hidden from the empire which sits so ominously close. Eragon and Saphira are busy studying under Oromis and Glaedr. So our hero will start her adventure alone. With no mentor, with no guidance she wonders alone trying to find the right path.
Nevaeh was crouched along side some thick bramble bushes keeping herself hidden from the doe that lay ahead of her. She was far in the mountains behind Kuasta a loud snap was heard and the doe's ears swiveled on its narrow head and it bounded off. Sighing Nevaeh stood hands on her hips. Something or someone had scared away her pray. The morning still early Nevaeh continued onwards silently slipping threw the forest. She was high in the mountains where she would find more pray sense it was late summer. Breathing deeply she could tell that the air was indeed thinner up here. Sitting down for a small snack of cheese and bread Nevaeh continued a few moments later. She hunted for hours stalking another doe but finding it getting late Nevaeh knew that she would soon need to turn back and head home. The mountains were dangerous and many unknown creatures wondered at the late hours. Almost ready to turn and call it a day Nevaeh caught site of blood. She froze a chill ran down her spine as she spotted a set of animal prints. Wolves, she could see them just past the brush picking away at what was left of a small doe the one she had been fallowing.
"Nevaeh you dolt you should have notice their prints before..." She scolded herself mentally as she took a small step back, 'snap' her foot landed right on a twig. The wolves ears turned in her direction. The closest one to her turned licking blood from its lips. They were all thin and hungry still glazed their eyes. On sight the wolf's teeth pulled back into a snarl and he dropped down into sprinting position. The hunter had become pray. Eyes wide she slowly drew her bow at that point the pack was aware of her presence. The first one lunged she shot striking it in the shoulder it yelped loudly and fell crashing into another one. Navaeh took that as her distraction and ran. Her stomach lurched as she realized they had taken chase. The pounding of their paws was evident in her ears. She stumbled and one was able to nip her hand. She gasped and fell over a ledge and down a steep hill. She lost her since of direction and came to a slow stop at the bottom she had made it to the bottom unharmed. She struggled to her hands and knees gasping for breath. A yowl brought her back to reality eyes wide she realized the wolves still hadn't gave up the hunt.
She got to her feet and started to run again but slower. Her body ached and her hand was still bleeding. She burst threw a wall of bushes and came to a harsh halt. It was a dead end a vertical climb looking around she spotted the a large tree along the side of the incline. She jumped and climbed to the top branch just as the first of the wolves crashed into the clearing. She dragged herself up further as they tried to climb to her position. They yelped and snapped at her smelling the fresh blood, yearning to taste it. She climbed higher the tree wasn't steep enough to detour the wolves as one by one they climbed after her. She struggled a branch snapped under her weight and she almost fell she held long enough to swing one of her legs onto a thick branch across from her. She climbed to her feet the branch was close to the stone wall and the wolves here close. She lifted herself up onto another thick branch coming to stand she realized she had no where else to go. The wind whipped around her almost carrying her off her feet. She clung to the branch and looked around frantically. She spotted a ledge, a large one only feet away from her. The wolves closed in so close she could hear their yelps of excitement. She looked down the drop would kill her but so would the wolves. Her only salvation was to jump and hopefully get a grip on the ledge. She took one deep breath no time for hesitation the wolves were so close now she could almost feel them. She jumped just as a wolf snapped at her leg. She almost landed short but her fingers dug into the ledge and she held as her feet scrapped the side for support. The wolves were growling in disappointment as she hauled herself onto the ledge. As she took a moment to breath the last ray's of the sun were finally eclipsed by the mountain range. She turned her gaze from the ground and looked up she was kneeling at the foot of a large cave. Struggling to stand she went deeper into the cave pulling out a small crystal called a firelight. It was a small enchanted crystal that glowed brightly in the dark. She ventured into the cave and away from the hungry call of the wolves.
She fallowed it for awhile shivering from the cold as she came upon a small spring. The rock dipped down into a small pool where a small stream ran from it and disappeared into the cave wall. In the center of the pool was a pile of rocks and in the center of that was an unusually colored stone. It was a baby blue color with ivory white lightning marks. She took a step forward and fell into the pool. It was deeper then she'd thought. She burst out of the surface gasping, "just my rotten luck." She muttered as she pulled herself onto a large rock next to the pile of stones. She plucked the blue one from its place. A surprise look crossed her face as she realized how light the stone was. She studied it then slipped it into a cloth and slowly swum back across the water. She sat against the cave wall and pulled out a flint half of it was wet. She scowled and set it out to dry in the mean time she set to work cleaning her bitten hand and wrapping it. An hour later a loud 'clack' echoed in the cave as Nevaeh struck the flint against the wall onto some dried leaves it sparked but didn't catch. She tried it over and over but finally she sunk back letting her head rest on the cold stone wall body to tired to continue. She would just have to sleep cold tonight. She slowly curled up gripping her pack and the stone to her stomach the girl soundlessly fell asleep. The firelight around her neck glowed brightly illuminating her frame and keeping the shadows away from the young girl.
Eragon was strolling threw Ellsemera heading towards his tree house the place where the elves were letting him and Saphira stay through the duration of their training. The sun was just sinking from the skies and the big trees of Ellsemera would soon block out the sun. Finding his way to his place he fallowed the path he had learned well. It lead from Oromis's house almost straight to where his destination lay. A loud squawk startled him as he quickly pulled his sword and instantly his wound from Durza shot immense amounts of pain threw his body. He scowled at queen Islanzadi weird bird who had been the source of his disturbance. It squawked once more before coherent things that defiantly caught Eragon's attention came pouring out.
"One so young and yet so bold will awaken a power long forgotten to all souls. With no guidance the power will not be tamed. Leaving her for good or evil which ever side may clam. From fire and ash a rider may rise." The bird paused and leaned forward almost as if glaring in his eyes and then just as loudly as it came it went. With one loud squawk the creature took flight leavening Eragon alone once more. Eragon shook his head and walked the rest of the way up the spiral staircase that lead to his sleeping quarters off set by the birds words.
Saphira was awaiting him and Eragon explained his meeting with the strange bird of Islanzadi. Saphira folded her for legs across one another and rested her head giving Eragon an even look.
"It has been said that the bird does have fits of foresight. Maybe it is foretelling the rise of another dragon rider." Saphira answered Eragon nodded, "I was thinking that also but." Eragon trailed off, "What if the rider isn't on our side. What happens then?"
"The rider might as well come to our side like it said, 'leaving her for good or evil which ever side may clam.' We must claim her Eragon." She gave him a strong look of confidence. Eragon looked up, "Her, so we know its a girl." Eragon concluded and gave his dragon soft look, "what would I do without you Saphira?" He questioned but neither wanted to answer or find out so the question was left unanswered.
"But lets not dwell on it to much Eragon we have so many other things to worry about." Eragon nodded and curled up next to Saphira but those words kept Eragon awake most the night. "From fire and ash a rider may raise." He whispered eyes slowly closing.
