Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm not Christopher Paolini, so I don't own anyone! Lol!
A/N: Yay! You guys like it! Okay, now I guess it's time for my thank-yous. Okay, I would like to thank the academy… Ha, ha! Wrong interest. But, I do love acting to! Okay, anyway, here are the REAL thank-yous!
alsdssg: Thanks! I'm glad you like it! Yeah, I love doing cliffhangers, so there will probably be a lot of them! I'm glad you like Anastasia. I tried not to make her a typical OC, or even worse, a Mary Sue. Thanks a bunch! Hope you like this chapter.
Dragon-Rider-Murtagh: Thank you! Yeah, isn't she? I'm trying to make her have a cute and innocent side, but also a more powerful side. You know what I mean? I don't mean like physically strong, but yeah. I think you get it! I hope you like this chapter!
4supernaturalgirl: Thanks for your review! I hope you like it so far!
LoNni: Thank you so much for all of your reviews for everything, LoNni! I really appreciate every one! I'm glad you love my writing so much! Sure! You can be Mrs. Morzansson! I'll continue to be Mrs. Hedlund! Lol! Wow. I have my own cheerleading group now! Awesome!
Dragon Rider of Alagaesia: Thanks! Yeah, Murtagh is kind of an outcast, isn't he? It's kinda sad really… I'm glad you like it! Here's the next chapter!
Lady Shana: Thank you! It feels great to hear that you love them! It makes me want to keep on writing! Here's the next chapter! I hope it wasn't too long of a wait!
given-inside: Oh, wow! I'm stunned that you like it so much! Yeah, I kind of know what you mean. My mom is a grammar-fanatic too. That's probably where I get it from! Lol! I'm glad I put in enough detail. I was kind of afraid that I put too much in, but I guess not. Thanks again, and I hope you like this chapter!
swim freak 9000: Mrs. Paolini was just a nickname that was started on here for my story Morzan's Curse. You really think that? Thank you! That's great to hear! I know what you mean about nobody updating. It gets annoying when people don't. I hope I updated this chapter soon enough!
Kalisona: What can I say, mellon-nin? You're my first reviewer! Yay!!!! I'm glad you like this one too, and I'll be working on my other ones. Good luck on yours! Thanks for everything!
There, I think that's all for now. Thanks to everyone, and here's the next chapter!
Ch. 2: The Rage of the Sea
Thorn stood on the edge of the forest, covering the horses with one of his wings while he used the other to cover his own head. His large eyes scanned the town of Aroughs, his concern increasingly growing when he saw that many people had gathered in front of the old lighthouse. What was going on? Where were the soldiers? What about Murtagh?
The red dragon's worry edged away a little when he saw the soldiers that they had brought with them were hurriedly coming toward him with all kinds of objects for Galbatorix, but it came back stronger when he saw that his Rider was not among them. Where is Murtagh? Thorn asked, trying to hide his anxiousness as he projected his thoughts to the men.
"We thought that he was here with you already." one of the soldiers, Halden, answered while the rest took shelter under the dragon's wing. "We checked the armory, but the man said that he had left. It was our assumption that he was here, but he still must be in town somewhere…"
Thorn felt as if a sword had pierced his heart. Murtagh was missing? He desperately looked over the entire town, not missing a thing. Murtagh! he shouted anxiously. Murtagh!
But he got no reply. Very anxious now, Thorn tried to find Murtagh through his mind, but all he saw was pitch-blackness. That only happened when the Rider was unconscious… or worse…
Trying to drive the dark thought from his mind, Thorn closed his eyes and tried even harder to locate his Rider. Still, he saw nothing. Beginning to fell disheartened, the dragon sadly hung his head. But, if Murtagh was dead, shouldn't he be too?
Suddenly, he had the feeling that water that wasn't the pelting rain was pressing forcefully in around him, and he had the feeling that he couldn't breathe…
Thorn's eyes suddenly snapped open when he heard the people from below scream, and he watched in horror as the old lighthouse, which was burning, collapsed and was claimed by the waves. Then, he suddenly knew what his feeling had meant. Murtagh must have been in the lighthouse when it collapsed… Roaring loudly, Thorn took off from the ground and flew toward the rough water through the driving rain, hoping that he could reach his Rider in time.
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Anastasia gasped and coughed as her head appeared above the water's surface, clinging tightly to the Rider's arm. She desperately felt around to see if Murtagh's head was also above the water, but she was horrified to feel that it wasn't.
Summoning up her strength, Anastasia pulled up on his arm to try to pull him above the surface. After a few moments, she finally felt his head rest limply on her shoulder, but his added weight made her sink back beneath the water. She barely had enough air as she went under again, but she forced herself to swim upward. She gasped as she raised her head out of the water, the harsh wind stinging her unseeing eyes. Relieved to feel that Murtagh was right with her, Anastasia tried to swim a little in the direction that she hoped land was.
Tears fell from her eyes as she began to cry, mixing with the rain and seawater. Anastasia had never been more terrified in her life. She had always had a fear of drowning, and now she knew that she was in one of the worst situations that she could ever be in. Since she was blind and Murtagh was unconscious, if not worse, she didn't know how they could get out of the sea alive. How could she save them if she didn't even know where the shore was?
Suddenly, Anastasia gasped when she felt a piece of wood that must have been from the lighthouse forcefully float into her back. She quickly grabbed onto it with her free hand and turned around as fast as she could to feel how big it was. She was disheartened to feel that it was big enough for only one person, either her or Murtagh…
Making up her mind, Anastasia summoned up her strength again and tried to lift Murtagh onto the wood, making sure that at least his upper body was lying on it. Then, she rested her arms and head on the large board, beginning to cry freely as they continued to be pushed along on the waves. She was so scared, not to mention exhausted. Next time she went underwater, she might not have the strength to resurface.
Suddenly, a large wave came and crashed down on them. Anastasia screamed as she was forcefully pulled away from both the board and Murtagh, being pushed underwater. She felt anxiously around for the Rider, but she didn't feel anything but the water pressing in around her. The young girl began to feel lightheaded, and she lost her strength to resist the water's pressure…
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Dera watched the scene in horror, his bony fingers turning white as they tightened around his wooden cane. He turned to the crowd of people that were still gathered behind him. "We need to help them!" he shouted anxiously, his voice loud over the howling wind. "They'll drown if we don't act now!"
The people turned and spoke with each other in hushed tones. Then, a man broke through the crowd and stood in front. "Why should we help them?" he asked furiously, his dark eyes blazing as people muttered their agreement behind him. "The girl is an outcast in this town. She means nothing to us! And the boy is a Rider working for the Empire! What has Galbatorix ever done for us other than cause us misery and grief? All I know is that I'm not risking my life for people like them. Let the rage of the sea claim them!" The townspeople threw in cheers of agreement at this statement.
Dera looked back at the man in disbelief, not being able to believe that someone could be so cold and heartless. He knew that he would do something himself if he had to…
Suddenly, Anastasia's scream reached his ears. Dera turned back to the sea and saw that a large wave had crashed down on the girl and Murtagh, causing them to go under the water again. But his heart nearly stopped when he saw that they didn't surface again.
Then, a bright flash of lightning split the sky, and on the crash of thunder came a loud roar. Dera looked up at the dark sky and watched in awe as the large, red form of a dragon sped through the pelting rain and dove toward the thrashing waves. It stuck its front legs into the wild water for a moment before flying up toward the cliff, and the old man saw that he was holding Murtagh and Anastasia delicately in its dagger-like claws. The young girl was coughing as air rushed back into her lungs, but the Rider was unmoving.
The people behind him screamed and ran farther down the hill as the dragon landed behind Dera and set the two people down gently on the drenched grass. Dera moved closer, seeing that the dragon almost looked back through the heavy rain.
Thorn looked down on his unmoving Rider with worry, remembering the feeling that he had had earlier. How is he? he asked, projecting his thoughts to the young girl.
Anastasia quickly moved over to Murtagh's side and laid her head on his chest for a moment. Then, she anxiously looked up at the dragon. "He's not breathing!" she shouted up at him.
Dera gasped as Thorn growled softly with worry and sadness. He lowered his neck and nudged Murtagh gently with his snout, but the Rider's head merely lolled limply to the side. Tears formed in Anastasia's eyes as she placed her small hand lightly on Murtagh's cold cheek. She couldn't believe that she hadn't been able to save him after he tried to warn her about the dangerous storm.
Suddenly, Thorn let out another short growl. Wait… he muttered, raising his tail. There may yet be something that I can do.
The dragon moved his tail down and placed it gently on the Rider's chest. I'm sorry about this, Murtagh. Thorn thought to himself. You'll thank me for this later. Then, he pushed down heavily with his tail.
The sudden pressure caused Murtagh to forcefully cough out the water that had been resting in his lungs. He began to gasp for air, his breathing heavy as his dark eyes fluttered open for a moment before he lost consciousness again.
Thorn sighed with relief and closed his eyes, relieved that Murtagh was actually breathing now. Anastasia ran her thin fingers through the Rider's dark hair, unable to believe that he was alive. Then, she turned her head up toward Thorn. "He still needs medical attention." she told him.
The red dragon met her gaze steadily, then looked to the right as Dera stopped by them. "Come, lass." he muttered, gently grabbing one of Murtagh's arms and putting it around his neck. "I know a lot about the art of healing. We can bring him to my home."
Anastasia quickly got to her feet and put the Rider's other arm around her shoulders to help Dera support him. The two walked down the hill, the crowd of people that still remained parting to make a path as they headed toward town. Thorn gave an angry look to the crowd then took off, following them from the air.
A/N: Thank you again for your many reviews! I hope you liked this chapter as well. I can't tell you how hard it was to write the near-drowning scene with the only one conscious being blind. It really restricted what I could do, so I hope that I did at least an okay job on it! Oh! I'm also going to be writing a Four Brothers story, so if anyone has seen the movie, drop me a line if you want to know more. It's called A Secret to Kill For. Thanks! I hope you enjoyed it!
