Disclaimer: I don't own the owned! All rights belong to CP and even this plot has most likely been used before already.

Author's Note: Whoa! You guys are freaking awesome! Your reviews really inspire me and I hope this chapter lives up to your expectation. Many thanks to each and everyone who reviewed and added this story to your favourites. It means a lot to me and I'll try to check out your own works whenever I get the chance.

The only problem is that I have a big change coming up in a couple months and things are getting slightly stressful on my side of the island. It's finally the holidays though so expect faster updates as I got quite a few good ideas for this story. No promises though since I don't know what the future holds and run into Writer's Block often enough. Well, enough said and I hope you like this chapter. Feel free to critique/review it as I really appreciate them.

Let the tale begin!

CHAPTER 3: Change

The old wolf was right about one thing: Transforming into his werewolf form was tough. Hells, it was downright torture! And if Eragon hadn't transformed in the Void, he would have believed it to be nigh impossible.

Nonetheless, he took the aged werewolf's words to heart and persisted in his training. It was extremely difficult and taxing since the mortal plain of existence just didn't have enough magic to propel the transformation forward, and it was frustrating.

As time wore on, Eragon struggled to keep his anger under control; anger at his lack of success, anger at being weak and disappointing his Void-dwelling mentor, and anger at the Empire.

The reason for the latter one was plain and simple. Eragon didn't know when it happened but a group of Empiric soldiers had tromped into the village one day led by a fat and sneering nobleman. The man had greasy blond hair, sickly-looking eyes, a hooked nose and a fat double chin. He was decked out in expensive clothing, clearly to boast his wealth, and a gaudy ceremonial dagger was attached to his hip.

But as a weapon it was useless. In addition, the man was so fat and feeble that Eragon doubted he could even unsheathe the dagger let alone use it so he was no threat there. But he was a threat due to the power and authority he wielded on behalf of the Empire.

He had marched into the village square one day and proclaimed with a loud voice that the Empire had grown tired of letting the mountain villages of Carvahal grow "lax and complacent." He droned on and on about how the Empire had sat idly by and let them live out their lowly lives out of the kindness and goodness of King Galbatorix's heart.

Sadly, the man said, although his voice was dripping with sarcasm, the time had come for change. The Empire simply couldn't afford to be as complacent as it had been and people had to show they were loyal to their king. And that meant tax. Overnight, the world changed. Soldiers flying the crest of the Empire was common place now although it had been a foreign, almost alien, sight in times past.

Eragon realised now that what the old wolf said was true, now more than ever. The werewolves had kept the Empire at bay and now that the last one was dead and the heir un-awakened as of yet, the Empire was seizing control of the golden opportunity. They wanted to take root in Carvahal and the lands beyond in case the werewolves returned.

But Eragon knew there was no "in case." There was no "if" to the return of the shadow-walkers, the skin-changers, the shape-shifters. He might be the last one but he was determined to change things. At first, it was difficult and extremely hard. Eragon passed half the time after training causing much worry and concern among Roran, Uncle Garrow, and Brom.

Speaking of which, the old story-teller had been coming to the farm more and more often after he was found unconscious in the Spine. It was after Eragon's first trip to the Void. While the young shape-shifter didn't know why, Brom had increased his trips to the farm so much so that now he was almost a common member of the household.

Uncle Garrow certainly didn't mind since Brom would sometimes help him with the farm-work and it allowed for someone to keep an eye on Eragon. Uncle Garrow couldn't afford to watch him nor could Roran since now the new tax that was being shipped back to the capitol via the soldiers forced Eragon's cousin and uncle to work double time at the farm.

They even had to hire hands from the village and Roran was forced to buy meat from that nasty shop-keeper Sloan. Things got even more complex since it turned out that Katrina's father was Sloan and the meat-seller had taken an instant dislike to Roran especially when he found out he was hunting in the Spine.

Sloan even went as far as to forbid Roran from being around his daughter if he went anywhere near five leagues of the Spine. Roran was outraged at first for how else was he to feed his family? But Brom talked some reason into Roran who finally gave in. Since now that they were working twice as much and producing more food, their income also doubled allowing them to buy more supplies and, thus, meat from the village.

This also meant Katrina was seen around their home-stead more since Roran was at home more often. Eragon didn't mind at all since Katrina started acting like an older sister/motherly figure towards him and the female attention was nice for a change. It wasn't in a romantic way so things weren't at all awkward especially since Eragon hadn't hit puberty yet but the woman's touch was a welcome change to the farm.

It even softened old Uncle Garrow who treated Katrina like a daughter, or more, rather, like a daughter-in-law since he half-expected Katrina and Roran to get married soon.

Eragon was having some pretty big changes himself though, most of which were due to his transformation. He quickly discovered that his senses and abilities were greatly enhanced due to being a werewolf. Despite being rather scrawny due to the previously strict food regime on the farm, Eragon was incredibly strong now that he was a werewolf.

He could lift virtually everything and his strength was growing larger day by day. His speed was enhanced as well so much so that he could cover great distances previously impossible in a mere few hours. Trips to the Spine and back, even before dinner, were the usual affair now and this gave Eragon some time to practice Turning, as he had come to call it.

Also because of the new tax and Roran's increased work effort, the Spine was virtually empty aside from his older cousin's rare trip or two to hunt some extra meat. Eragon also found that his hearing, sight, and sense of smell were also enhanced as well as his taste which was one of the most powerful changes.

He could smell things, fresh blood in particular, from miles away and could usually determine who it was if he had seen the person before. With his enhanced hearing, he could hear conversations in the next room as clear as a bell even though the doors were locked and the windows shuttered.

He could even hear things if people were whispering which was very annoying after a while although it proved useful when gossip was to be had, especially about his cousin's romantic affair with Eraogn's "new sister" and the boy loved to tease his older 'brother' about that.

This also proved useful since Eragon could hear heart-beats much louder as clear as speech if not more so. He could also determine whether the hear-beat belonged to a human or animal which proved useful when the smell was unfamiliar. Of course, all of these changes weren't as easy as they sounded and it was incredibly difficult to adjust.

Some of the nastier side-effects were due to his enhanced hearing, for with it he was able to hear what the soldiers were talking about even if he was pretty far away, but not as far as the farm. Some of the things they laughed and jeered about made his blood boil. This only enhanced his rage at the Empire and propelled him into more and more training.

This made Eragon seek out the Void more and more often. He needed a place where he could get away from it all: Away from all the noise and ruckus, away from the awful smells that hurt his now-fragile nose, and away from the anger and rage at the new tax and Galbatorix's cruelty. He would visit the Void almost every night journeying far and wide.

He discovered many new Spirit-Paths as the old wolf called them and discovered that some of them were types of shadows, shadows linked to the Void enabling Eragon to hop through certain Shadows on his mortal plain via the Void even though he was awake. These shadows he named Spirit Shadows due to their connection to the Void.

During his trips, he encountered the old wolf who gave him much council and many words of wisdom. He helped him temper his anger and rage and hone his skills. He would hunt with him and introduced him to several new wolves. There were males and females and cubs.

Eragon made many friends and impressed the other wolves with his skills. Of course, they all wanted to hear how his first hunt went and he received many howls of pride as the Void-wolves congratulated him on his victory. Eragon also received many wolf-chuckles when they learned of his initial remorse at his deed.

He blushed many times over especially when the story earned him the title of Stag Slayer, although it was actually meant to be a compliment and not a taunt since cubs usually didn't fell a fully-fledged stag on their first hunt ever. They would also be accompanied by an adult, usually a parent or relative and Eragon had neither.

This made him something of a celebrity. But back on Alagaësia he was a nobody, a weakling. He kept fainting because of his training and had a hard time containing his growing hatred for the Empire due to all the werewolves they slaughtered mercilessly, even young ones. To counter the anger, the old wolf (Eragon learned his name was Shadow-Mane) suggested Eragon learn several new skills.

Eragon obeyed his mentor's advice and listened carefully whenever Roran talked nostalgically about his previous hunts, even asking tips and pointers about how to be a better hunter. Roran was surprised at first but pleased that Eragon listened to him and began to tutor him in hunting and stalking prey. After a rather loud argument with Uncle Garrow, Roran finally got permission to teach Eragon how to use a bow and arrow.

Eragon also requested Brom to teach him how to wield a sword, spear, and axe. The old story-teller was equally shocked as Roran, if not more so, and took a little more convincing. But Eragon simply used his now-trademark crooked smile and begged the old-timer saying that he wanted to become a hero like in the old stories. He confided in Brom that he dreamed of becoming a Dragon Rider and wanted to be ready in case those times returned.

Brom caved and soon Eragon was forced into a strict regime of training and exercise as he had to build up his body and his strength in order to be fit enough to be a warrior. Actually, Eragon didn't really want to be a warrior but Shadow-Mane had insisted, stating that it might help build his body and with the added strengths it would counter his werewolf abilities. The constant training would also help him contain his rage and make him into a finer warrior since there might come a time when Eragon's lycanthropy would not save him.

Eragon refused to believe that because he felt there was no stronger power than being a werewolf but Shadow-Mane's advice helped and he soon found it easier to Turn. As his body grew stronger and his mind sharper, his second-skin was easier to change into. It still took a while but Eragon was now able to sprout fur on small parts of his body and his nails would transform into claws.

Time passed swiftly for the young shape-shifter and things were looking up for him. Life was good and he had family and friends, now that some boys were being hired from the village for farm-work. But even as the years sped by, a shadow grew in the horizon as dark storm-clouds gathered. This storm could not be seen by any eyes, whether mortal or immortal.

Not yet.

For the time had not come for the storm to break, but when it would the storm will utterly shatter the peace that Carvahal Valley had thrived on and the entire world would be turned upside-down.

Shadow-Mane knew this and could only hope that his young apprentice could grow strong enough in his skills, powers, and abilities and hone them expertly for when the dam broke. For when it did, there would be no turning back, and Eragon would be needed.

When it did, Shadow-Mane prayed desperately that his charge would be ready for if not, the dark clouds would cover the entire world and they would never see the Light of day again, and the Darkness that would follow would be worse than death and no one would know a greater terror than in that prophesied era.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N:Like it? Love it? Hate it? Leave a review and let me know so that I can make it even better yet!

A/N 2: By the way, I am stuck. I am torn whether to do a time skip to when Eragon's fifteen and finds the egg or whether to write a couple chapters prior about his training and maybe something with the guards and the fat nobleman. Also, I didn't mean him to look like Snape from Harry Potter what with the greasy hair and hooked nose, but that's just how I picture your typical cliché nobleman.

Basically, I just want to know what you guys think. Should I write a couple more chapters about the time in between his training and when the book starts? I don't really want to but I don't mind. Also, I know it's slightly unrealistic for a nine-year-old to learn all that stuff but Eragon's different since he's a werewolf. He's also a lot smarter since he has a werewolf mentor and talks with people, ahem, werewolf who are older than him in the Void.

He also lives with people who are basically adults and hasn't had too many friends his age until now. So what should I do? Should I write one or two more chapters about the limbo time? Or should I skip ahead to when the book starts? Any thoughts, people?

Many thanks in advance!