CHAPTER 4: Hidden Thing

Both Eragon and Nasuada raised their guards in a blink of an eye, and looked towards me suspiciously. Nasuada squinted her eyes a bit and looked at me closely, from my head to toe. Then turned to Arya. "What do you mean 'she's not a human'? She looks like one." Arya just replied in a flat voice. "It's not my job to tell you," She nodded towards me. "It's hers... But just if she wants to." Then she walked towards one of the corners of the tent and just stood there, signaling she would not talk any further.

Nasuada turned her stern eyes towards me. "Explain." She ordered and I couldn't help but let a small growl escape my lips. I was an Alpha after all, and my wolf Nix didn't like someone ordering her. Both Eragon and Nasuada looked at me, shock clearly evident on their face.

"Sorry..." I mumbled, then sighed and looked towards Nasuada. "I am not fully human, nor an elf. Actually, my kind don't known in my world very well too, because we are a new species, me being first of my kind... Anyway, I am a Shifter." This time Eragon spoke, his chocolate brown eyes full of curiosity boring into my grayish blue eyes. "What is a Shifter?" I exhaled deeply. "Aren't werecats shape-shifters?"

Nasuada's eyes widened in realization after she heard my question. "You can shift into an animal..." she whispered. Eragon's eyes widened in shock too. "Yes, I am. However, I don't shift into a cat. I am a wolf shifter. You can call me a werewolf too, but there are already werewolves in my world and they can't change into a wolf completely. So, I would be prefer to be called a shape-shifter." I said, starting to think I could trust them. "Why did you growled when Nasuada ordered you to explain?" Eragon asked. He really is full of questions, I thought. "Because, I'm an Alpha. The leader or the highest member in a pack, so my wolf doesn't like to be ordered."

Then I turned to Nasuada and bowed a little. "Please accept my apologies, Lady Nasuada. I growled unconsciously, I didn't mean to." Nasuada looked puzzled for a moment because of my sudden formality, but recovered quickly and replied the same way. "You didn't need to apologize but still, your apology is accepted." We stood in silence for a minute. "Are you going to help us at the war?" asked Nasuada finally.

I frowned. They could help me to found a way to go back home, and there must be a reason for me to be here; probably to help them in their war like the voices in my dream had said: "You would be taking a important part in it...".

But could I trust them? If I had came here two years ago I would not, however after meeting with Scott and his friends I started to trust people again and it looked like I didn't have another choice.

A smirk formed on my face as I made my decision; I was going to trust them and help in the war. "Of course!"

Nasuada smiled along with Eragon, and Arya just had an expression on her face that showed she was pleased with my answer. "So, can you shift?" Eragon asked hopefully. Nasuada nodded and looked to me. "I would like to see your... wolf form too. Can you shift, so we can see?"

"Yes, I can but not here. This tent is too small. We have to go to the woods." I said and shrugged, showing it's not a problem for me. "Let's go then." said Arya suddenly and exited the tent. We just looked at each other and exited the tent to catch up with Arya who was already walking towards the woods near the camp, two of Nasuada's guards following us.

Eragon walked behind the group, watching Alearya who was at the front of the group, leading the way. Her movements were more graceful than the other humans, almost like elves. She was like a panther; moving silently and swiftly like a predator stalking his prey, but also gracefully. Her light golden brown hair was shining like a real gold because of the sun rays, and her grayish blue eyes were just adding beauty into her prettiness. Eragon got cut out of his thoughts by an amused Saphira.

'Stop staring Little One', she said chuckling. Eragon blushed in embarrassment.

'I was not staring', he snapped defensively.

"Eragon?"

Eragon jumped a little when he heard Arya and his heart started to beat faster, but he succeeded to calm down enough so she didn't hear his heartbeat. "Yes Arya?" he asked politely. He was still uncomfortable being around her after his confession and her rejection. "I want to show you the memories of Alearya, just the ones I saw." she said not making eye contact with him. "What?" Eragon turned his head fast and stared at her, shocked. "Why?" Arya stared right back at him, her intense gaze making Eragon flinch a little. "Because, I have a feeling that you must know." Then she stretched her mind towards Eragon's -who let her in after making sure she will not see his thoughts and feelings about her-, and showed him the memories, only breaking contact after showing him all of them.

"She's a princess?" whispered Eragon to Arya, astonished. "Yes, but she doesn't know, or doesn't want to believe it." "So, which folk's noble family is she from?" Arya didn't respond and stare at Alearya. "I'm not sure." Eragon looked at Arya, then shook his head. "You know." he stated. Arya looked to him once again, her eyes blank from any emotion. "I don't know, I just have a guess... I think she is from the noble family of Grey Folk. Did you remember that dragon necklace? It's the symbol of the noble family of Grey Folk." Eragon stared at her, completely confused. "But, I thought Grey Folk disappeared centuries ago, and there is no knowledge about them." Arya just shrugged a little. "It's the only think we elves know about them, along with that they are very powerful at magic and have natural talent at it like elves." Then she fastened her pace and leaved Eragon alone with his thoughts.

After walking for a while Nasuada stopped, with everyone following her action. Eragon was at right side of Nasuada, while Arya was at left side, along with Alearya. The two guards who followed were behind them. Nasuada turned towards Alearya who was smiling. "Well, here we are. No-" Alearya cut her of by laughing with happiness, like she met with an old friend after not seeing him for years. Her laugh was like tingling of bells and melodic, beautiful. Before anyone could say anything she sprinted forward and jumped into air, her hands in front of her like she was planning to drop on them. A bright silver light surrounded her and instead of a human, a wolf same size as a hut dropped to the ground. Eragon heard gasps around him, especially from the guards. Their eyes were wide with shock.

However, Eragon couldn't take his eyes from the wolf in front of him who was facing them now, sitting. Her fur was pure white while her eyes were a glowing, bright grayish blue. Eragon heard Nasuada murmured "Beautiful" in awe. Then she stretched out her hand. "Can I?" she asked towards Alearya. She stared for a moment, then nodded her big wolf head and approached, so Nasuada could pet her. "It's so soft." said Nasuada while brushing her fingers through Alearya's fur, causing Arya and Eragon to join her. I've never felt anything this soft before, thought Eragon and he felt Saphira, who was watching everything through his eyes, agree with him.

After a while, Alearya stepped back. "You can call me Nix in this form." she demanded in a soft, deep and gravely, but definitely feminine voice. Nasuada shivered a little because of the gravely tone and power in her voice, and nodded. "Thank you for showing us Ale- Nix your wolf form." she said, then added. "Unfortunately I have to go now, I have things to do. Your tent is ready. It is near Arya's, so when you want to rest she can show you the way."

"Can I stay in the woods for a little longer? It has been a while since the last time I shift and I have to stretch my legs." Nix asked and stretched her front legs. "Of course!" said Nasuada and started to walk back toward the camp with her dumbfounded guards following closely behind her.

I waited for Arya and Eragon to leave too, but they didn't. "Can we accompany you at your run?" asked Arya finally. I just looked at them blankly thinking if I really could trust them, but then grinned which was an odd and scary sight. "If you can keep up!" I said and started running through the trees, they following me.

I ran for a while without a care in the world, feeling the wind among my fur and the soil under my paws, racing with Arya and Eragon who kept their minds touching with mine and tried to got to know me better. It was an uncomfortable feeling at first -being able to talk with your mind- , but I got used to it quickly and learned how to stretch out my mind towards other creatures. Suddenly, after an hour of running with Arya and Eragon, I froze hearing a deep, but young voice that somehow make me feel calm and safe.

'Alearya...'

I felt Arya and Eragon came to a halt and looked at me worriedly.

'Alearya...'

"Are you okay Nix?" asked Arya worriedly. I just looked at her and Eragon blankly. "He's calling me." I said mechanically. "Whose calling?" asked Eragon anxiously and gazed at the trees surrounding us. "I don't know... It's just calling me." The moment I finished, I felt a pull and started to run toward the direction it forced me to go. I heard Eragon and Arya yelling at me to stop, but I didn't listen. It was like an invisible rope was pulling me towards the voice that was still whispering my name in my head.

'Alearya...' 'Alearya...'

I stopped at the front of a tree that was covered with moss, with bushes and branches surrounding it and phased back to human, fully clothed. However, before I could take a step towards the tree, someone grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.

"Alearya! Stop! Who i-" before Eragon could continue, I pulled my arm back and growled a little, my eyes flashing red for a second. "I don't know! I just hear a voice calling my name in my head and the voice is coming from there!" I shouted, pointing towards the tree. "And I have to help him! There's something inside of me, forcing me to go towards the tree!"

Eragon nodded, a little bit fear and worry evident in his eyes. I couldn't blame him thought, I was a new specie that he didn't know very well after all, but I didn't understand why he was worried because we just met a few hours ago. Then I looked at Arya, she had a worried look in her eyes too which was a shock thing, because she didn't show emotions often as I learned from the books and by talking to her.

I turned towards the tree and started walking towards it. When I approached thoroughly, I pushed away the branches of the tree to only came face to face with a hole in the trunk of the tree. I felt Eragon and Arya near my side, looking at the hole curiously. We leaned down at the same time to look what was inside the hole, and our eyes landed on the thing laying on the bed of leaves. Simultaneously, we gasped out in shock and scrambled backward, clutching our hearts meanwhile a loud thud was heard and ground shook. I looked towards the sound to see a magnificent sapphire blue colored dragoness. "Saphira!" I gasped. Then bowed my head a little. "It's an honor to meet you." She reduced her head until it was at the same level with mine.

'It's an honor to meet with you too, Alearya. Sorry that I couldn't greet you earlier', she said in my head. And I replied the same way by stretching out my mind towards hers, which was filled with much intelligent and wisdom of her kind that made me feel a little uncomfortable.

'You don't have to apologize.'

She blinked one of her eyes, acknowledging my reply. Then continued, displaying her thoughts so all of us can hear.

'What happened?', she asked, worry clearly evident in her voice.

Before anyone could say anything I ran towards the tree and pulled out the 'thing' from the hole in a fast movement and turned towards Saphira, so she could see the midnight blue and silver colored Dragon Egg nestled in my arms.