Ch. 2 Hatchlings

AN: Sorry, no Gregor the Overlander in this chapter. They come back soon, though!

When they returned to camp, obviously everyone was irritated at them for bringing eggs and not firewood. But all were curious about the eggs, nonetheless.

"Just touch the egg that calls to you, I think," Nathan sighed, "I don't know why…"

Everyone laughed at that. Melissa chose the purple egg, Jackson the aqua egg, Taylor the pink egg, Eric the orange egg, and Lex chose the white egg.

"Well, these three eggs can be set aside, I guess," Nathan shrugged and moved them over to a small pit that he had dug.

Daley continued to stare at her egg, running her fingers along its white lines. These lines, almost like veins, were hardly visible against the bright yellow that made up the bulk of the egg. Daley felt chills roll up her spine as she touched the egg.

It's almost like destiny. But what kind of egg would be destined to be with me? Or, more likely, the creature inside of it? Daley continued to ponder this, even later that night when she went to sleep, the egg beside her.

F29DWNEEEGTO

In the middle of the night, Daley woke up to a loud, annoying chirping. All the girls in the tent besides her were still asleep. Daley sighed and opened her eyes, just to be staring into another pair of eyes. Except these eyes were big and yellow.

"HOLY CRAP!!!!" Daley screamed, jumping back. The little creature was small, yellow, and strange looking. It had wings, four limbs, and a tail. Its hide was scaly. The little beast let out a chirp, staring up at Daley innocently.

"Uhh, Daley, what's wrong?" asked Melissa.

"Um… Nothing! Go back to sleep!" Daley called. Melissa sighed and Taylor began to snore again.

"What are you?" Daley whispered, staring at the little creature. Suddenly, she saw the remains of the egg lying around the creature.

"Oh, you're one of the things in the eggs! That makes sense," Daley nodded. Her heart was melted as the little creature walked up to her, its wide eyes staring into hers intently.

"Well, you are kind of cute," Daley smiled at the hatchling, and reached out to pet the creature. The second her right hand touched the animal's head, a sharp, searing pain shot up her arm. Daley gasped and clutched her arm as the little animal curled up into her arms.

What is this???? Daley thought as the pain subsided. She looked at her palm, and observed a silvery mark that resembled the creature a little.

"What are you?" Daley asked. The creature coughed, releasing a puff of smoke into the air.

"Oh my God!" Daley gasped, realizing what the creature was, "You're… you're… you're a dragon, aren't you?"

The little dragon chirped and fell asleep in Daley's arms. However, Daley did not sleep for the rest of the night.

F29DWNEEEGTO

Daley had done a good job of hiding the chick from the others AND pretending to be asleep, until finally everyone was outside. Daley got up then, and saw the chick was awake as well.

"Well, little dragon, I suppose you're staying with me then?" Daley smirked. The dragon peeped loudly and jumped onto Daley's shoulder. For a second, Daley was in pain due to the dragon's tiny claws digging into her shoulder, but the animal eased its grip soon enough.

"You probably need a name," Daley sighed, "Even though… it's probably not a good idea to keep you…" but Daley had already fallen in love with the strange creature.

"I'll name you after everyone has seen you, and knows that you're here," Daley decided, "and after I find out what your gender is."

The dragon peeped as the tent flap moved slightly. Daley looked up, as did the dragon.

"Hey Daley, I know you're awake, it's time for breakfa-AAHH!" Nathan pointed in surprise at the dragon.

"I know, I know- it hatched last night from the yellow egg," Daley sighed.

"But… b-but… what is that thing?" Nathan asked.

"A dragon," Daley nodded.

"A dragon?" Nathan shook his head in disbelief, but stopped shaking and stared as the dragon released a puff of smoke.

"Okay, so it is a dragon. But that means…" Nathan gaped at Daley.

"The rest of them are dragons, too," Daley stared at Nathan.

"Oh my God…" Nathan sighed.

F29DWNEEEGTO

In Alagaësia, Galbatorix was awoken from his slumber by a strange knowledge entering his mind. As was Eragon, Murtagh, Arya the elf, Saphira, Thorn, Shruikan (Galbatorix's dragon), and even the green dragon stirred within its egg.

Eragon ran down the corridors in Farthen Dûr to where the leader of the Varden, Lady Nasuada, was.

"Lady Nasuada!" he gasped, panting against her door frame.

"What is it, Eragon?" Nasuada looked up.

"There has been… a rift… something has happened," Eragon gasped, "I think… I think a dragon has hatched somewhere!"

"You don't think the green dragon has hatched? Oh no, that means we don't stand a chance!" Nasuada gasped.

"No, no, not the green dragon. The presence is to far away, practically in another world," Eragon shook his head.

"Well then… where do you think…?" Nasuada asked.

"No clue," Eragon sighed as Saphira breached her large, sapphire-blue head into the room through a hole in the wall made for that purpose.

The dragon indeed comes from another world. Just as Galbatorix was about to kill off all the dragons, thirteen dragon eggs were saved. Ten of them had to be magically sent to another world, because Galbatorix was only going to keep three dragon eggs. These ten eggs were sent to this other world, and the dragon-rider spell traveled with them. Their riders must have found them, Saphira sighed, communicating with the two through her mind, and we must wait for these new riders until each one of the ten eggs have hatched. Then, and only then, will they return to Alagaësia.

Nasuada and Eragon gaped at each other, but were new to this information.

"Well then," Nasuada regained her composure, "We must await these dragons' return."

And with that, Eragon nodded and left the chambers.

F29DWNEEEGTO

Daley stared at her yellow dragon. The chick was curled up in her arms, sleeping. Everyone was staring at the pair, as well as the silvery mark on Daley's palm.

"Well, I have an idea of what this is," Melissa said after a while. Everyone stared at her.

"But… I mean… it's probably not…" Melissa shook her head sadly, "The only thing I can think of is the Eragon book series, but… that's not real."

Nathan jumped up in shock, "But you're right, Mel! That's the Gedwëy Ignasia! Of course!" then Nathan slapped his hand to his forehead, "Daley's a dragon rider!"

Daley held the yellow dragon closer to her, "But… how can we be…"

"I don't know," Nathan sighed, "but that's the only explanation that I can come up with," then Nathan looked at Daley intently, "if you really are a dragon rider, then let's put it to the test," Nathan nodded at Melissa, "Put out the fire."

Melissa sighed and put out the fire with her feet. Daley gaped at Nathan.

"Now, say brisingr at the fire pit," Nathan held Daley's hand.

Daley sighed, "Brisingr," and just like that, fire appeared in the pit. Daley was gasping for breath.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy!" Nathan sighed, catching Daley just as she was about to fall. Daley calmed, staring at the fire.

"You're a dragon rider. This is so…" Nathan sighed.

"Weird?" Daley stared up at him.

"That sums it up," Nathan nodded.

"Does that mean that we're all going to be dragon riders?" Taylor asked.

"Maybe," Nathan sighed, "Depends on if the rest of the eggs hatch for us."

And at that moment, from the shelter and the tent a bunch of loud chirps were clearly heard. Everyone stared at each other in shock as Daley pet her dragon, smirking.

(1, 316 Words) Dun dun dun!