Binky
Freedom Day celebration, Zero Years after the Varden War (AVW):
"…and to Shruikan, for his help in the final battle, I give free travel throughout my kingdom, and also one thing of his request, whatever it may be."
High Queen Nasuada's voice carried. The enormous black dragon walked up and bowed to her. His mental voice was stunted and childish, but understandable.
[I thank you, High Queen. I would like a cat.]
Nasuada shifted uneasily, but Shruikan had already turned away and carefully walked over to Eragon and Saphira.
"How do we get him a cat that's not the size of a fly compared to him?" Eragon asked Arya a few hours later.
"We could use that growth spell Galbatorix devised… We could make it big enough."
"Yes, but how big is 'big enough'?"
"Probably the size a a small castle. Any smaller and you risk him stepping on it by mistake; any larger, and the constraints of its body begin to fail."
"A cat the size of a castle…" Eragon burst out laughing.
"What?"
"I was just thinking that it would need mice the size of houses. Can you imagine some poor maid's expression when she finds her kitchen being raided by one of those?"
Arya laughed. "That is funny. Now, let's go find a kitten. He said he wanted a white one."
Two weeks later, the poor, unsuspecting longhaired kitten chosen as a test subject was curled up next to Shruikan. It was almost as large as he was.
"You did find a way to make it immortal, didn't you?" Arya asked.
"Not exactly, but it will live for at least a thousand years. That should be more than long enough. I hope." Eragon's voice was worried. He had been forced to make a self-rewinding ball of yarn the size of a draft horse for the kitten, which Shruikan had named Binky. What was next—a mouse? Eragon was secretly afraid of mice. Having ones the size of his old home running around would be a nightmare.