The Path Less Taken

Chapter One

Dragon

Pain tore through me like never before as I lay on the cold floor struggling for breath. He had found me somehow, the dark lord that called himself the king. I needed to get away quickly before the Ra'zac that were sent to get me, found me in my weakened state. I would be taken no doubt. I crawled through the forest and bit my lip to stop the cry of pain from being released as a thorn that was lying on the floor dug into my palm. The warm pulsating rock, that was no rock glowed beneath my touch.

"Don't hatch now, please," I whispered to it. Yet again it obeyed me and stopped rocking. Blood oozed from my palm and I knew the scent would attract the Ra'zac. I grit my teeth in desperation longing for some sort of sign. What should I do? Let them take me before the king so that I could be his rider and destroy the rebel groups? The Varden? I think not. I swallowed my pain and crawled forward. I gazed at the wound on my palm and promptly licked it clean of blood. It wouldn't keep all of my scent away, but it would help. My eyes roamed the trees til I spotted a hiding place. It was a den furrowed by some animal. I gasped and crawled into it, going deep into the hole. The closing walls around me made me gag and want to face the Ra'zac instead, but I hid away my claustrophobia and plunged into the darkness. I tried to convince myself that this was better than the Ra'zac. Mud caked the walls of the hole and I took a heaping of it and smeared it over my body hoping to further kill my scent.

I sat as far as I was willing to go and waited. Waiting was almost as bad as running away. Before long I heard them hissing and speaking in broken language somewhere right above my hiding place. My breaths came out in ragged puffs as I hugged myself desperate for warmth. The dragon egg shook and rocked. Something told me that I could not delay its hatching any longer. Veins appeared and the deep green of the egg began to crack. Despite my current dilemma I found it fascinating and all my troubles seemed to dissipate. A small smile had found its way to my cracked lips feeling like the soothing water I longed for for days. A claw emerged, followed by another and then all four limbs of the baby dragon were outside.

I stifled a laugh at the scene. Only the limbs of the dragon were apparent and it hobbled to and fro. A growl like sound emitted from the shell and the dragon fell on its back. A little cry of defeat sounded and its tiny legs kicked trying to right its position. Never had I imagined I would witness a dragon hatching, much less in a furrowed hole!

"Hey there, need some help?" I whispered in soothing voice. The dragon seemed to respond to my voice and promptly turned itself as if embarrassed. It huffed and struggled with the egg until its tail emerged, then its head and soon the shell was falling away. I gasped. He or she was beautiful! Dark, majestic green was the colour of its scales and an emerald sheen flashed every time it turned in the little moon light that was present.

I was enthralled, until I heard shuffling from above. I had completely forgotten about the Ra'zac. I grabbed my dragon to go deeper into the hole, but a searing pain shot from the length of my arm and travelled throughout my body. I was paralyzed as the blinding white of it seemed not to pass. I breathed heavily and sat up. The pain stopped and on my hand was a tattoo, if one were to call it that. I looked at it quizzically but my previous thoughts rushed back to me. I was hesitant to touch the dragon agian for what if that happened every time I touched it? My hand was in midair when the dragon raised on its hind legs to my touch. I jumped a bit but touched it, then lifted it and began crawling deeper into the hole.

The deeper we went, the darker it got.

The hole was not overly tiny, nor was it overly large but I decided to wait it out here, away from the Ra'zac.

When my eyes opened and the first thing I noted was that one, the hole was brighter, and two a dragon was tugging on my sleeve, well what was left of my sleeve. "Ey, dragon, stop 'at." It stared at me with deep eyes of green and sighed. It was comical. "You're ah funny one, no?" I deduced that the amount of time that had elapsed from night to morning that the Ra'zac must have left. I sighed in relief. I scooped up the hatchling in my arms and began my ascent to the forest. I crawled back to the forest floor and gasped. The air below was hardly fresh. I breathed deeply and coughed. "Oh gods," I breathed never happier to be back in the thickets of the forest.

It had been days I was travelling, on the run from the king. But I couldn't think of what had happened in the past, I needed to get to civilization, to the Varden. My parched throat seemed to protest, longing for me to look for a stream instead. But that was time wasted. I needed to find a village and maybe there water. I didn't even know where I was. How was I supposed to reach the Varden? Me? Alone? Just then the dragon bit my hand and narrowed its eyes at me as if reading my thoughts.

What about me? A voice sounded in my mind. My face twisted into confusion. Was all of this really getting to me? Then I looked to my dragon and gasped in surprise.

"Dragon?" I asked in surprise.

I am in your head little one, communicate with me here.

Okay. Hello?

The dragon sighed and trotted forward. "Wha-Hey! Hey come back here!" Just then the dragon, which I thought sounded, no felt, distinctly female, leapt into a tree and after some ruckus emerged with a bird in its mouth. "Oh-my."

I am hungry.

Well there is no time, we need to get to civilization before the king finds us!

Moonling, I need to eat, I have been in there for however long.

Moon- Listen, I-I don't know what is going on dragon.

The dragon walked forward to me, its mouth bloody from the bird it had already swallowed, and touched its head to my right palm, exactly where my new tattoo was. An overwhelmingly warm sensation rippled through me.

We are connected Rider, you and I. For I have chosen you to sit atop me and fight for what is right. We are emotionally and mentally bound together, forever.

F-forever?

Riders are immortal.

Of course. This...I just never imagined it to be happening to me.

Indeed dark times have fallen upon mortals. Well, let's get going shall we. You will name me when the time is enough. Dragon leapt into the air and stumbled a bit and fell back to the ground. I giggled before she watched me hard. Feisty she was.

Maybe you should walk-with me.

Dragon made a sound that sounded like a 'humph.' I laughed. Was it me or did I feel light-hearted and ever so full of hope since she hatched for me?

Glad to know what a presence I have, the dragon said smugly.

Don't let it get to your head dragon.

I will not. Tell me, are there other dragons up and about?

Yes, two in fact. One called Saphira who along with her rider is hunted by the king and another, one that recently hatched for the son of Morzan, Thorn. What should I call you?

When the time is enough.

So, Dragon for the time being? I could tell the dragon bristled but she held her graceful gait and looked sideways at me. You are awfully mature for one who has recently hatched.

Me? I have been waiting for you for years, I am no hatchling.

Yet you are, I smiled at getting her riled up. Were dragons not supposed to be wise and majestic?

I am wise and majestic! I laughed at her indignant tone.

We walked for about a day, resting in between, when we came upon tents at the edge of the Forest. Tears almost rushed to my eyes. Dragon look!

I see.

I rushed forward when I spotted an old woman. "Hello," I called to her. Her face looked stricken and her eyes wide with fear and unshed tears. I gasped at her person. She looked to be in worse condition than I was. And then she looked to my dragon and promptly fainted. "Oh," I frowned and trudged along to find someone else.

Aren't you going to help her?

I raised my eyebrows and turned around going to lift the woman when a man blocked my way. He was tall and of medium build and held a head of brown hair and a sparse beard. He wielded a hammer. "Who are you?" he growled.

"Whoa! I-I am a traveller and I have been attacked by Ra'zac, all I seek is some water and perhaps lodging for a night or two."

But his mouth had fallen open, for he had seen Dragon. "You have a dragon! You must leave!"

"No! Please, we need to get to the Varden! If we do not the king will capture us." I could see him thinking. "All I ask for is some water at least."

"The Varden? My village and I are heading there," he mused.

"Really? I-"

"You wish to join us?" He asked.

"Unless you do not want me too, wait, where is the leader of your people?"

"There is none, however you are talking to me," he said with authority and sadness alike.

"I wish to join you, I have no one, and it is terrible travelling alone."

"You said the king is looking for you, you could bring danger to my people."

"I'll hide my dragon and even shave my head if you want me too, I just want help, I am a Rider, you have seen my dragon." I couldn't believe I was being resisted in staying with these people. But then again they looked as if they had endured more than was painful. Even the eyes of this man held sadness that made him seem much older than he probably was.

"You will need to hide your dragon, and not let the people of here know. We have endured a lot. Besides that, it is an honour to be in your presence Rider, welcome to Carvahall, or the people of it I should say."

"Thank you, I will hide my dragon," I whispered grateful to the man.

"Can I...Can I see it?" he asked timidly. I smiled at him and grasped his hand leading him to Dragon. The dragon held the ever so present holier than thou attitude but its eyes widened at the sight of the man.

Who is this?

This is the man who permitted us to travel with these people. He wants to see you. The man was leaning down to dragon and looked astonished.

"Never in my life, never in my life did I imagine seeing a dragon. Yet here I am face to face with one," he whispered in wonder. I smiled and knelt next to him.

"She recently hatched, you could touch her," I whispered to him.

He tentatively stretched his hand out. Dragon, seeming to be having enough of human stupidity, leapt up and rubbed her head against his hand, like she did to me before. He gasped. "I am sorry you must hide him from the villagers."

"...Well, they would drive me away if they know of her."

"Her.Yes, most of the villagers have been faced with death and destruction, they blame it on the king and his his search for the Dragonrider-"

"They would not want me there in fear of him sending the Ra'zac to wreak havoc on them again, I understand." He nodded and stood.

Where will I stay?

I will sleep beneath the tree you reside in.

And how pray tell will I travel moonling?

You're small enough to fit in my pack. The dragon huffed. I laughed softly.

Sorry Dragon, but we have no choice, it is either that or going it alone.

We can face it alone.

You maybe, not me. I do not even know where the Varden are, these people, they would help us.

Fine, tell the man though that if he does not put down that hammer I will bite him. I stared at her quizzically.

"She's afraid of your hammer," I smiled. Dragon huffed and spread her wings in indignation.

I am not!

"She is a funny little dragon," The man laughed, though not with his eyes.

"I keep telling her that."

"Well, let us go." I stopped looking at Dragon and thinking quickly. What if she was right? Maybe we should travel alone... I couldn't leave her here by herself!

I am not a little human, Moonling, she sighed.

I rubbed my arm and swallowed. Okay. Then to the man, "Let us."

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