I Who Should Not Be
I own nothing! Only Onika and her Dragon! If I actually owned the Inheritance Trilogy, I would be filthy frikin' rich!!
Chapter 1
Eragon sighed and looked over at Murtagh, wondering what the older boy saw as he dreamed. The dark haired rider was leaning against his red dragon's side, his eyes darting back and forth under his eyelids. The younger Rider groaned and thumped his head against Saphira's scaled knee, drawing a soft "ow" after every strike.
"Ow…w… ow… ow."
Saphira opened one eye and watched as her Rider continued to beat his brown haired head against her hard scales.
Eragon. What in the world are you doing?
The Rider looked apologetic when she spoke, apparently he had not known that his head would wake her from her deep slumber.
I'm sorry Saphira. I just feel like we're being watched and-ah!
Saphira and Thorn raised their heads in unison as both Eragon and Murtagh snapped to their feet.
"What was that?!"
Murtagh looked to his dragon as the red giant reared up onto his hind legs and arched his neck trying to see further.
"Thorn says that he thinks it is another Rider being born. Like when you and I were. We're all connected by the magic that binds us to our dragons. We need to find him, and fast. Galbatorix will have felt it too."
Eragon nodded and yelped when he saw a pair of gleaming yellow eyes staring back at him from a bush not three feet from him. A moment later a second pair of eyes joined the first. Murtagh was heading toward the bush, sword drawn, when Saphira blocked his path with her massive tail.
Wait. I think that's her…
Eragon tipped his head and looked at Murtagh again as he relayed the message. The older Rider looked to his dragon and sheathed his blade only when the red dragon nodded his great head. As soon as the blade was out of sight, the bush shook and out stepped a girl who was almost as tall as Murtagh with a slender form and wild tawny hair that fell to her waist. She wore a dark green short wrapped skirt to free her long tanned legs that bore scars from what looked to be mostly claws and teeth and a simple sleeveless grey shirt. Her arms bore similar scars to her legs. On her hips rested two short knives that were wickedly curved.
Then a tiny dragon came out from behind her that was the color of polished gold. The creature looked up, stretching out it's little neck as far as it would go, and gave a tiny roar. Saphira responded with a low hum and lowered her head to the tawny haired girl's level and looked her in the eye.
She doesn't seem to be a threat, Eragon. And she-oh!
Eragon raised his eyebrows as the new girl reached up and touched the blue dragon's scaly nose with her left hand. Eragon asked Saphira why she had cut off her conversation when the dragon shushed him.
"Eragon?"
"What?"
Murtagh looked at the girl and tipped his head as he sent out mental probes and tried to look into the newcomer's mind.
"I…I think she's talking to Saphira."
"So? Brom could do it."
Murtagh nodded and rubbed his chin absently. Eragon walked to the girl, who edged away slightly at his approach. Saphira looked at Eragon as he held out his hand to the girl.
"My name is Eragon. He's Murtagh. What's your name?"
The girl blinked her yellow eyes and smiled slightly, looking for a moment to Saphira.
She can't talk, Eragon. At least, not in a language you or Murtagh would understand…
Huh?
Then, to both men's surprise, the girl smiled wider, revealing pointed fangs. She seemed to think for a moment, then let out a soft purring growl.
She wanted me to tell you that her name, in your language, is Onika.
"You're Onika? Good to meet you Onika."
She wants to travel with the one who slew the Shade who killed her tribe and the betrayer's son, as he once escaped the evil of Galbatorix.
Murtagh looked Onika up and down, shrugging his shoulders before kneeling down to look at the little gold dragon.
"Does your dragon have a name yet?"
Onika didn't make a sound, just shook her head. Murtagh tipped his head and asked Thorn if he would ask her if she would try to teach him some of her language. Then he could teach Eragon, fearing the language barrier would hinder their battles.
She thinks that she could try, but very few Tame ever learn to speak her language.
Tame?
She is a Wolfborn. Anything but other Wolfborn are considered Tame.
Murtagh thought for a moment and nodded.
Tell her that I'm willing to try.
Why so eager?
No reason other than the fact that it takes too long for us to communicate this way. Now tell her!
Fine, fine.
He was silent for a time, then Onika nodded and curled up around her dragon and closed her eyes. Eragon and Murtagh looked to their dragons, then to each other.
"I'll take over your watch. You get some sleep."
Eragon nodded and rested his back on Saphira as the dragon drifted to sleep, wondering how Onika would add to their strength.