Chapter 6: Underground World

Pain was my first instinct, lots of pain. I shifted and rose on my hands and knees, feeling blood on one side and rocks under me.

Azura stirred to my right and swung her head towards me, her bright green-blue eyes the only light.

Feeling for a wall, I managed to stand and pull in my bruised wings before trying to make out our surroundings.

Walls of earth and rock rose on either side and stretched upward as far as I could see. Behind Azura and over to the side a crack split the ground and released a faint reddish light.

I tested my body before moving, wincing at the pain that lanced up my arms and legs, then limped over to the crack and peered down.

Azura joined me as I made out a river of lava far below and several strange creatures along the edge of the river.

Should we say hi? I glanced at Azura then back down to the strange creatures. We don't have anywhere else to go…

Azura shrugged and tested the edge of the crack to make sure she would fit. Satisfied she dropped down towards the river and spread her wings to glide towards the creatures.

I followed her, enjoying the warm air, and scanned the creatures again as we got closer. They looked like large wolves with jewels embedded in their foreheads and dull black chains around their necks.

Azura landed first, getting several growls as the wolf-things backed away, and I dropped down beside her. Once on the ground again I reached out to the creatures with my thoughts, soothing them with several lines in the ancient language before they would respond.

It was the largest that spoke, his voice like nothing I had ever heard before. It was rough and sometimes impossible to translate much like the dragons' original language. Be gone winged demons. The Flame River pack does not dwell with over-worlders.

I merely need to know the way back to the surface, then we will leave you in peace. I responded, keeping a hand on Azura's neck to steady both of us.

The wolf-thing growled and stepped towards us, the strange green gem above his eyes glowing. Go then, the way to the upper-world lies past the broken stump.

Without warning the wolf-things were gone, all but one pup that looked confused. She was smaller than the others with coal black fur and soft blue eyes. Her gem was red and it glowed for a moment before she padded over to me.

"You want to come with me and see the world?" I murmured reaching down to pick her up.

She nodded, twisting in my arms to look at me. They say the world is bad, no going to the surface.

What do you call yourself? I asked after a moment, turning to scan the area for a way out.

They called me Raja The wolf respond and settled deeper into my arms.

Azura glanced at me and snorted before padding over to a tunnel that looked to go up. I thought you said no picking up strays?

She's not a stray and we could use the help. I responded and followed her into the tunnel.


Terron circled over the ground in frustration, occasionally loosing a thin jet of flame. They have disappeared, the trail ends here. His tail slapped against the ground beside the abandoned hovel as he finished, still glaring at the ground.

We'll find them Terron, they can't have gone far… Walkron paused and scanned the area again, before sighing and turning back to the brown dragon. Perhaps we should wait for her to come to us, she wants to go to the haven for something.

Terron snorted and scanned the area again, I hate things we can't trace. Why should she smell like a werecat yet look like an elf?

Walkron shook his head and climbed back into the saddle. More questions and only she can answer…


A/N: To answer a few questions:

Why do they hate her/are afraid of her?-Simple, because she is different and they don't understand what she is.

How does her half-blood work?-Well she has more the physical appearance of an elf but the werecat dominates her power.

Did she create the storm in the beginning?-No, she's not that powerful and the elves were just speculating.

Why can't they feel her mind?-It's not that they can't feel it. As Arya described in the beginning it feels more like a void than a mind and most people pass right over it if they aren't looking for it. That will be explained more later when she crosses with Eragon.