Chapter Three: The Werecat

The next morning, rumors of a werecat in the city were wandering between dragons. The dragons were always alert even when they slept, so it was easier to contact them than the riders.

"Caleb wake up! There's a werecat in the city!" Balvir yelled to wake his Rider up. "Balvir, we have to train for the tournament, not on a whim. We will search it out later. I'm sure it's not going to leave the city for a while." Caleb told Balvir. The two friends then left to train in the woods, and they found Jeriah.

"Hello Jeriah, how are you on this fine day?" Caleb asked coming out of the bushes. "I'm very well today. I'm about to start meditating, would you like to join me?" she asked but before Caleb could answer, he felt her mind brush his and ignored it.

"Balvir, I think I will train with magic over here and wait on Jeriah to finish. I would love to train with her."

"Caleb, be careful with your actions, you don't need to push her away." Balvir said, but before Caleb could ask what he meant, Balvir took to the skies flying far and fast.

Caleb went and found a quite spot to practice magic but remained close to Jeriah. "Reisa" "Thrysta" "Letta" he commanded. He opened his mind and felt Jeriah was practicing her magic. He decided to move closer and ask if she would help him train. Caleb found Jeriah just getting up and concentrated on her mind, not to get into it, just to see what she was going to do.

"Oranthor, what are you doing?" she asked. "I'm flying, what else would I be doing?" he replied. "Good point. I'm going to practice my magic some more, I'll contact you later." and she cut the connection.

Jeriah began to sing to a tree and Caleb just sat there and watched. When she finished, she had the most beautiful bow and ornate arrows that Caleb had ever seen. He moved the bush to get a better look, but it made to much of a sound and Jeriah whirled around pointing her first arrow at him. "Who's there?" she cried.

"Whoa Jeriah, it's me, Caleb. Don't shoot!" Caleb yelled hastily. "I don't like people sneaking up on me Caleb, you know that.". "Sorry, but I was just admiring your ability with Magic. Would you mind if I asked you to show me some secrets, and I'll pass along some knowledge with the blade for a trade?".

"Caleb, remember what I said, don't push it." "It's alright Balvir, Jeriah knows that I'm just trying to help a friend. I hope she feels the same.". Jeriah hesitated but finally agreed to do it. "First off, let's begin with singing a simple lute.". As Jeriah said that, she started singing her lute. It was finely crafted with many ornate designs, and sounded very good. "Now you try Caleb.". Caleb started singing to the tree, but to his disappointment his lute looked very rough, but when he played it, it sounded very beautiful. "Why did my lute come out so bad looking?" "You know Caleb, when you sing something like that, it tells about you. Rough on the outside and beautiful on the inside. Everyone has a different perspective about things, so your magic isn't going to be just like mine." As she said this, Caleb blushed.

"Lets get to the swordsmanship. It's time I taught you a few things." he said, dropping into a stance he knew Jeriah would recognize. She quickly followed suit and he taught her increasingly complex moves until she knew more than most other students, and could hold her own in the tournament. "For a finishing move all you have to do is swing the blade up in an arc then bring it down close to the hilt to sting your opponents hands, then disarm them with magic, or just flip the blade up." Caleb said, finishing his lesson.

"Caleb! , I've just spoken with the werecat, you need to come now!" "Balvir, what are you talking about? Why do I need to come?"? Balvir never answered, just flew into the clearing where Caleb and Jeriah were and grabbed Caleb. "Jeriah, I'll be back soon to teach you a few more things." he yelled as he was being carried off.

"Now Balvir, what is so important that you had to drag me away from training?" Caleb asked, dismounting Balvir. Before the dragon could answer, a rustle came from above and a strange animal dropped before him. Caleb jumped back, drawing Ba'Linger from it's sheath. pointing the point at the odd creature. "Peace Rider, I mean you no harm." the werecat said. "My name is Sabat. I have some advice for you Rider." Sabat said.

Before Caleb could reply Sabat continued, "There is one thing that you can not do. Do not throw yourself completely into this tournament and lose sight of things around you." then before Caleb could answer Sabat jumped back into the trees. "Balvir, what did he mean by that?" Caleb asked. "I don't know Caleb, but it can't be good." was all that Caleb could get out of his friend. Caleb decided to stop training for the day, it was getting late he told himself. He took to his home and had a restless sleep that night.

The next day, FeeFee woke at 5:30 as usual for her morning exercises. "Rose wake up! Who knows what has happened during the night?" she exclaimed to her dragon. "What happened? Nothing has happened during the night, but there is a rumor of a werecat in the city going around." she replied. "How do you know that Rose?" FeeFee asked, wondering if her dragon had made a night run. "I have my contacts, now I suggest we get to training if we want to win this contest." she said. "Yes, I don't doubt that you have you contacts, and as far as the tournament goes, we do need to practice." she replied.

FeeFee leaped onto the top of Rose and sailed over the trees to the training field, eager to get started. "Rose, why don't we go hunt the werecat down and see if it'll speak to us?" FeeFee asked as they sailed over the treetops. "I don't know FeeFee, what about the tournament?"

"That's easy, we use magic to track it, your flying to keep up with it and if it comes to a fight, we have swordsmanship." she said. "If you think it's a good idea, then lets do it." Rose said.

At the other end of the forest, Eli was just waking up. Driken's hot breath went onto her bed and she jumped with fright. He wrapped his tail around her as she went to move, "Where are you going little one?" he asked. "Please oh master." she said laughing. "If you must." he said, releasing her. She went into the washroom to wash her face and wake herself up. "What are we doing today Eli?" Driken asked. "Train" she said simply.

Driken growled from the next room, "That's all we do, can't we take the day off and just go fly around the island?" he asked. Eli sent him an image of her frowning, "Do you want to win the tournament or not?" she asked. There was a grating noise as he stuck his head through the door, "Your nosy." Eli said. "Thank you, your Majesty." he said. Eli started laughing, "Your funny Drike." Driken pulled his head out of the door as Eli made her way back downstairs. She pulled her clothes on and made her barely slept in bed before she did anything else.

"You ready Eli?" Driken asked. Eli climbed into the saddle as Driken took off. "Well, where do we go first? The training fields or to find the werecat that's roaming the city?" he asked. As she looked down at the training fields she saw all of her friends standing around talking. "Werecat? Where'd you hear about that from? No matter, let's train first, then we'll go hunt the werecat down." she decided.

Driken swung his head around, his blue eyes showing his disappointment. "That's fine Eli, just promise me that you won't get to caught up in this tournament, I don't want anything bad to happen to you,." he said. Eli stopped patting his neck, astonished by the need in his voice, "Ok Drike, if it'll make you feel better." she said. "Thank you little one." he said. Eli jumped down and started making her way to her friends. "Hey guys, what's up?" she called.

About the time that Eli arrived to the field, Taran was jumping off of Adurthril's back. He looked around the field and saw people going about with a purpose, mostly training for the tournament, and others just walking around talking with friends. Taran looked up and saw his friends standing around in their circle. He took a step then paused, and looked back at Adurthril.

Adurthril looked at Taran, his deep knowing eyes penetrating his thoughts without having to prod his mind. "Go ahead and have fun, you need to practice anyway, I think that a human could actually beat you with a sword." he said laughing. Taran gave him an annoyed look saying, "Well don't get intimidated by some little youngling in the sky. I'll meet you in the Glade later." he said, rushing off to meet his friends. As Taran ran off, Adurthril took to the air in a flurry of wings to practice his takeoffs and went straight to his favorite hunting spot to find some lunch.

FeeFee and Rose landed with a soft thud on the training fields. "I'll go ask the others dragons about what they know about the werecat." Rose said. "All right Rose." FeeFee replied. "FeeFee, don't mention to much, I don't want our intentions to be misinterpreted." she said as she took to the skies.

FeeFee came up along with Taran and Eli. "Well since all of us are here now, I guess I'll go ahead and say it. Have you all heard about the werecat?" FeeFee asked. Everyone started murmuring as Balvir screamed at Caleb. "CALEB! You must speak with Sabat again, right away!" he screamed. "Balvir, stop screaming. Ok, can't it wait until I finish talking to everyone about the tournament?" he asked.

As Caleb said this he took a step forward and froze as Sabat dropped from a tree branch above his head. "I really wish that you wouldn't do that Sabat." Caleb said.. "What's the fun if I can't scare you?" he replied. "What do you want now, haven't you scared me enough already?" he asked. "I've come to speak with you of your friends destinies." he said as he dashed into the woods. Caleb looked around and dashed into the woods after it.

"Why can't you tell them their own destinies?" Caleb demanded. "Because I meet with none but true leaders and dragons. Your friends are going to experience many losses and much grief before you all become masters. SHE will get to you all, no matter the cost. None are safe from HER." he said as he disappeared into the woods, leaving Caleb and Balvir behind in a speechless daze. "Balvir, what did he mean by that?" Caleb asked. "I have no clue, but nothing can good can come from this omen." Balvir replied. "Should I mention this to everyone else?" Caleb called into the woods where Sabat had ran. "Do as you like Dragon Rider, but beware of instilling fear into everyone else when courage is needed." he said to Caleb.