For those who are wondering…this is no longer a short story, but a full blown fanfiction epic. I plan to keep it going, though not as long as the A World Apart books, which could be never-ending if I wanted them to be. Please review each chapter as you finish them, as this helps my writing much more than you think, even if its just empty praise. I have to earn some sort of profit, right?
Jared ripped through the rubble, breathing heavily. NO! NONONONOOO! He screamed with his mind, all the wild creatures fleeing or falling unconscious from the sheer force of his cries. The house had been blown apart by some sort of explosive, and he could smell the fumes in the air. He pulled up another large slab of wood to find his sister, covered in soot and dirt.
"Jared?" She said weakly. Jared picked her up and carried her from the rubble, going back and digging some more. Try as he might he could find no sign of his mother or father. He helped Kathryn to his back and she held onto his neck while he searched.
What happened? He asked as he lifted bits of rubble and debris. Who did this?
"Two…two men." She coughed slightly, the fumes making her sick. "They wore black robes…silver marks on them." Jared snarled, cutting down a tree with his tail.
I won't let them get away with this! He yelled, slashing at the fallen pine. They have forced me into action, and no creature can stand against a dragon and live! He took off, circling overhead with Kat on his back. Do you see any sign of them?
Nothing. She was weeping bitterly against his hot scales. They took them…Jared, I'm scared.
I will protect you, Kathryn. He said, landing beside the ruined house. The debris was blackened and smoking, and the stone foundation that the house had stood on was broken to bits.
Jared roared as another being approached, and he was surprised to see Saphira and Eragon. Eragon leapt from her back, cursing. "This look familiar to you, Saphira?" The blue dragon nodded, growling. "I knew we should have killed those beasts in Uru'baen when we had the chance!" Jared grabbed the elf by the front of his shirt and put his snout in his face.
You tell me everything about the foul beasts that did this or I'll gut you like a fish! He snarled. Saphira tried knocking him over but he was much stronger than her, if only a third of her size. NOW!
"They are the Ra'zac," Eragon said. "They worked for the king, but now it seems they are working for someone else. They have a new lair somewhere." Jared snarled and dropped him, preparing to take flight. "You won't be able to kill them, and if your rider dies so do you." Jared turned to look at him in confusion.
Rider? Well, if Kathryn is slain then the creatures have only made me angrier.
You don't understand, Saphira said calmly. If she dies, you will die as well, at the same time.
I don't see how that could happen. Jared was becoming impatient. Just because my sister dies doesn't mean I will.
Sister? Saphira jerked back in alarm. She is not your rider?
I have no rider. We were brought up to believe that I am human, and that we are blood siblings.
A wild dragon…Saphira breathed. You are the first dragon I have met that isn't bonded. Jared snarled and took off.
I don't care! I will speak to you after the Ra'zac's innards are steaming on the ground! The two became specks on the ground as Jared flew higher, scanning the ground for any sign of the Ra'zac.
They could have helped us, Jared! Kat said.
I don't care! He yelled, stunning her with the sheer force of his voice. I want those things dead, and nothing is going to stop me! He flew south; past the village and farther than he had ever been in his sixteen years of life. Soon the air began to heat up, and the snow vanished from below. They were entering a place where it never snowed.
Jared, please, come to your senses! Kat said forcefully, trying to get him to land. Jared snarled and descended, landing in a stream. The icy water swirled around his feet, but his body heat was too much for him to become numb. Jared, I know you want to kill them, but you have to think.
I am thinking. Jared said harshly. I am thinking about how good it will feel when their blood stains my claws and teeth!
"Jared!" Kat yelled in fear. "This isn't you! Think for one moment! They blew the house into bits, and you think they won't do the same to you?" Jared snarled, but he had to admit that she was right.
I'm sorry, sister. I let my anger control me. He lay down in the frigid water, letting it rush by his scales. I just don't know what else to do…first I find out that I'm not human, but a dragon, and then this!
"I know." Kathryn hugged him around the neck from where she was sitting. "I want them to pay, too, but we can't run blindly into danger." Jared nodded and stood, wading upstream in the direction he had been flying. The water swirled around him, and he moved to the deepest part of the stream. It didn't even reach Kathryn's feet, but it made him feel a little better.
Kat, I need to know something. Just because I'm a dragon…
"You are still my brother. As far as I am concerned you are related to me by blood, and still human to me. Even if you are a winged, clawed, and fanged horror." Kat said, hugging him. Jared smiled.
Thank you, Kathryn; that means the world to me. He spat sparks into the water where they sizzled and hissed. You know, I think it is appropriate for me to consider you my rider, even if I don't really know what it means. My guess is that we are partners or something, like the story of the two thieves.
"Then I'm your rider." Kat said proudly, punching him on the side of the neck. He smiled and laid down, getting her legs wet. "Hey! That's not funny!" He stood up and began wading upstream again.
It's very funny, Kat, He said, swinging his tail in the water and splashing her. It's so funny I think I might throw up. They laughed at this, and were then silent for a time as Jared maneuvered around a fallen tree.
"So, I'm like some kind of knight, and you're supposed to be my valiant steed?"
I don't think a fire-breathing monster that eats meat and has a bloodlust really counts as valiant, but whatever floats your boat, Lady Knight. They chuckled at this. You know, I don't think I really mind being considered a monster. I mean, I could just eat whoever says it…
"You wouldn't!" Kat cried in disgust. She sighed when he chuckled. "Jared, sometimes you scare me."
I think that's the entire point of me being a monster. Don't worry, Knight, when you get your fake sword stuck in a tree I'll come to your rescue. He snapped up a fish that was swimming by. You know, I think I actually prefer raw fish, now that I try it. I am basically some kind of predator, after all, so I should like raw meat.
"I still think it's weird." Kat looked around his neck at his face in concern. "Are you sure you're all right? You just found out you aren't the person you thought you were, and you seem fine."
I think it makes a lot of sense. Besides, it's exciting, at least more so than being just a boring old human, with your soft hide that can be cut by anything. She punched him. But then again, I will be too big to fit in a house in a few years if I keep growing like I am.
"It really is exciting. My brother is a dragon…I wonder what people would say if I told them?"
You would be burned at the stake. Jared chuckled, catching another fish. I still can't get it out of my head; I, a sixteen year old farmboy, am really a dragon. It's nearly unbelievable, even with my appearance.
"Really. You look like something a horse spat up." Jared growled and released a cloud of smoke from his nose, choking her and forcing her into the water so she could breathe.
Why are you playing in that icy water, Kat? Jared asked in mock distress. You human are just so stupid sometimes…He dropped the act, now concerned because she was shivering violently. Are you alright? Here come to shore and get dry. They waded to the bank and found and Kat leaned against him. Now you know why having a dragon for a brother is a good thing. Jared covered her with a wing, shivering to heat the air under it. I can keep you warm. You need to get out of those wet clothes though…
What?! Not when you're watching me! Kat yelled mentally. And touching me! Jared snorted.
If you remember, not only are you my sister, but you are also a completely different species. I don't care for human females. Kathryn thought for a moment before stripping down, huddling behind his left foreleg to keep warm. Sorry about getting you wet, sis. I forgot you don't have the body heat I do.
I'm alright. I'm just glad I have you to keep me warm. She shivered violently, huddling closer to his hot scales. If I catch a cold, it will be you who pays for it!
I will stay by you and keep you warm. I would light a fire under my wing, except it would poison the air and you couldn't breathe. My hide is invulnerable to fire, it seems. Jared wrapped himself around the little pocket formed by his wing, blowing hot breath into it to heat the air further. Just sleep while you have the chance; we will be traveling far tomorrow, and the Ra'zac had better run while they have the chance.
And them we can rip them apart.
And then we can rip them apart… Jared echoed, growling softly.
