I do not own Eragon

Chapter 2- Home Sweet Home

The walk home was 5 miles away. A long distance for some but for her it was a daily routine for the most part. It didn't hurt that she didn't have shoes. Her family wasn't poor but they didn't have the money for her to have shoes for the whole year but only for winter. She didn't mind besides her feet were tough from 15 years of walking barefoot (almost 16). Winter was a exception because even her tough feet couldn't withstand the cold. It was currently fall at this time here in Yazuac. Here the signs of fall were in the grass not in the trees like in the north and west. They did have trees near the river in some places but not commonly. Shani thought about her own secret spot in a area that has trees all around that she never told anyone about. That's where Shani sometimes practices archery in her spare time and gets away to think.

Her thoughts wondered back to the stone. " I wonder where it came from. No stone could be naturally that smooth". Then it donned to her "magic, the stone has to be something magic!". She knew that magic was something to be wary of from what she heard; but she had heard very little of it. "My mum always said learn more about before making a conclusion". Deep down she knew that the rules probably wouldn't apply here but she didn't care, it was one of the first things she really owned of value, "at least I think it's of value" she thought. Just then she entered the village of Yazuac... her home. She made her way into the busy streets making her way down towards her house.

She knew that the town wasn't exactly beautiful but it was home. Her friend Bri Poaly caught up to her and took his place by her side. "Catch any fish?" he said in a slightly babyish voice not mocking but teasing her. "If I had any fish why don't I have anyone my line?" Shani said in a slightly irritated voice. Just then a small group of 3 girls came up to her but not in a nice way they had their hands on their hips their pretty faces having looks of cruel disgust staring at her. "Well well well look who we have here" said their ring leader Nolly Simonas. "Miss Shani... opps you don't like me calling you that with a lady name and all". The 2 other girls giggled at this remark. Shani's cheeks turned a bright red. It wouldn't have hurt her so much if those girls hadn't once been her friends.

In the past when she started to be a tomboy they started to spread apart, when they were playing with dollies she had been playing pretend dragon riders. When they were talking about cute boys she was out fishing or practicing with her bow and arrow. When they sat stitching embroidery she was out swimming in the river. She knew that they were jealous of her for her good looks and the boys that fallowed her around even if she wasn't that "feminine" as they say. "I'm not interested in boys anyway Nolly can have them if she wants" she thought. She broke away from the prissy girls with Bri in tow. "Just ignore them" he said "its kinda hard to when they are close to stalking you to tell you how much of a tomboy you are" remarked Shani. Just before he could respond Shani was at her house.

She said a small good bye not giving him time to respond to it and went inside. Her house was small but homey. It had a one room downstairs that was a dinning room, living room and kitchen in one. There was a small table for her family of four with only 3 seats and a wooden highchair for baby Rilay. There was a wooden couch with a home made quilt on it facing the fire. The walls were made of a clean oak and the floors were wood and worn from 17 years of feet from people walking all around on it. It wasn't much but she was proud of it. "Oh hello Shani did you catch anything?" asked Willma Shani's mother. "Sadly no I didn't mum". "Oh that's too bad because I was hoping to have fish for dinner but oh well" said a slightly disappointed Willma. Shani felt guilty after this remark. "Oh I see pops not home from the carpentry shop yet" trying to change the subject. "No but I do hope he is home for dinner, he has been there all day I just hope he was in the shop working not out at the tavern". At this statement Baby Rilay not yet even 6 months old started squealing of hunger. "Shani dear can you please go clam him down and bring him to dinner its Walmen's own fault that he has a empty stomach". (Walmen is here dad)