Look at me, updating just over a week from the last chapter! I'm proud of myself. xD

I wrote some of this at school, then finished it up during the weekend. So uh, hope you enjoy!

Eragon can see the town coming into view. He sighs audibly, satisfied with the time he and Saphira had made. He looks over at said girl now, watching her for a moment. Before he can stop himself, he asks:

"What happened?"

The question doesn't need an explanation, the Rider knows that. The scowl that mars Saphira's face at his inquiry lets him know that even more. She breathes hard through her nose as her eyebrows furrow, and he waits patiently. He doesn't mind.

He had put the question off for as long as he did for fear of what Saphira might do. But as he thinks about it, there isn't much she can do; her ability to spew fire from her mouth and swipe down trees with her talons are now non-existent. So… why did he wait?

Emotions, Eragon concludes. Saphira hasn't been human long enough for me to figure out how she might react. He glances at her and cringes at the anger swirling in her sapphire orbs. No, this… doesn't look very good.

She's looking straight ahead as, with a huff, she says, I don't know.

Eragon has to do a double take. "You don't know?" His own eyebrows furrow.

She glowers at him, and he can catch the subtle movement of her jaw tensing from gritting her teeth. No, Eragon, I haven't the slightest idea how this occurred. One moment I was in the sky, the next I was on the ground, my wings having failed.

"You were hit then…?" Eragon says this more to himself as he tries to make sense of it all. However, Saphira's explanation is vague. He can't say he blames her though. Whatever hit her must've been quick. "But by what?"

That's what I wish to know as well.

"Perhaps there will be books in town we can purchase to aid us in our search."

And if there isn't?

"Well, we wait it out… travel from town to town, city to city, until we find the book we need."

How long will that take us? Saphira sighs and shakes her head. Weeks, surely, but months?

"These things take time, Saphira," Eragon replies, "and since we don't know what you were attacked by, it sets us back even more."

I can't stay like this, Eragon! I was not made to be a human, and I will not stay a human!

"I understand that," he says firmly. "I don't want you to stay a human, either. But we can't speed this process up."

Doesn't the thought of you being weaker without my support, without the altitude that I could achieve just one week previous, give you the urge to find a solution quicker?

"I can fight well on foot, and I have my magic." Eragon's feeling impatient now.

Saphira's blue irises glimpse at him, eerily calm. What will you do, Eragon, if the time comes when you need my own magic to assist yours, and I haven't the ability to give it to you? She turns back to watching the trail in front of her. You are strong, I know, but in the same sense, you are now weak.

The Rider frowns and his impatience dissipates like a vapor. Yes, there had been malice laced in her voice not even a few minutes ago, but now it's composed, quiet – almost emotionless. His heart wrenches painfully in the confines of his chest because he knows that she's worrying for him, and that she's worrying for him greatly. Truth be told, he doesn't feel like the Dragon Rider he is anymore. Even taking a quick look at the gedwёy ignasia upon his palm does nothing to amend it.

He looks up at Saphira and gives her a small smile. "We'll fix this. I promise."

She nods and tries to return his smile. Eragon feels like his heart is being yanked right out of his chest because she doesn't look very convinced. Sadly, he isn't very convinced either.

That night, by the time they're settled into the inn they had chosen to stay at, Eragon leaves their shared room to sit outside the back of the inn, leaning against a rock and looking up once more at the numerous stars in the sky. Saphira follows after him a few minutes later, ignoring the glances from people at seeing her attire. She and Eragon had decided to put away the errands for tomorrow, too exhausted to do them when they arrived.

There you are, she says as she sits next to him.

Eragon smiles a bit, but stays looking at the stars. It's silent between them as they both do so, but in a few minutes, the stress of the situation catches up to the Rider, and he turns to Saphira, setting his head on her shoulder. She leans her head against his and closes her eyes.

Up above, the stars twinkle in moonlight and mystery.

Reviews are love. :D