Chapter 9:

Ballad of the Moon

The echoes of moonlight dance playfully among the grass. Imprints are scarred into the blades as a swift movement passes by quickly. Ahead bloodshed and battle rage on, both by human and wolf. The entity slowed silently in the night of the forest, disguised by it's gentle shadows, and watched the battle from afar.

Ahead the odds were unfair, skewered against the humans in a pitiful show of power. Wolves seemed to enjoy the pure fear in the eyes of men and women as they helplessly tried to fight them off. They teased them, playing with them, testing the humans limits and ending it when they became bored. At times it would seem there be only one wolf left, and the humans won. But little did they know that a few dozen awaited them among the deciduous trunks of the forest, behind the shrubs and Chokecherries.

It was pathetic, really. The wolves were cruel to the humans, that was a definite. The way they went about it though, boasting and showing off their powers and skills, they almost treated it as a game. They expected so little of a fight from their prey that they've completely taken down their guard. It was an unfortunate compromise for their amusement. For them.

"Heh, Myrtia, come over here and check this one out. I've got her all pinned down for you." A dark grey wolf bared his teeth in a gruesome smile as another one walked towards him. This one was grey as well, but its fur was much more definitive, streaks of silver outlining its muscles and body shape. It's belly was a lighter fur, as it gradually darkened towards it's back, and this white fur pattern continued to the underside of it's muzzle.

"Ah, this one is being brave, is she?" the female Myrtia asked in a menacing tease. Beneath the males large paws was a girl, possibly in her teens, staring deep into the wolves eyes. She seemed to try her best to remain composed, yet her eyes and face screamed in terror and demise. "I am not afraid of you!" She spat, though her voice trembling.

"Please, spare me your worthless pleading and banter. Just shut up and let us kill you."

"What?" the male asked. "You don't want to play with her first? I had so many games in mind..." His voice dropped, almost saddening. The female closed her eyes, sitting down and pondering for a moment.

"Hm... I was hoping to have an early sleep tonight... But I suppose there's no harm in a little fun before hand." A twisted smile formed on her lips.

"Ever the sadistic, hmm Myrtia? It seems some things never change."

A new wolf walked out from her hiding behind the shadows, although a different determination on her face. Her night-black coat shone sleek in the moonlight as the two others stared in awe. Even among the watching wolves in the forest, confusion and astonishment spread like wildfire. This effect did not last long in the female's eyes though, and she soon looked and spoke to the wolf with the same distaste she thought of her.

"Ah, Luna. It is swell to see you again. What brings you out here from your exile in the mountains?"

Luna grunted, and launched herself at the male. In a flash of a moment she'd pinned him down, pushing his shoulders so far down that she easily popped both out of their sockets. As he roared in pain, Luna casually lifted herself off of her, looking at the frail human girl on the ground. "Are you hurt?" she asked gently. The girl stared at her in awe and slight terror, but nodded her head regardless.

"Hmph. I see you still retain your remarkable speed, mutt." Luna stared at Myrtia angrily, a deep hate for her reawakening within. "I forgot how much of a bitch you could be." Luna jumped away from the girl, around a tree, and stopped herself twenty feet away from her. "How dare you torture these innocent people. Since when has this been our way of living?"

"Nobody is innocent, Luna," she replied coolly. "You most of all should know this."

"Do you still honestly believe in Kain, Myrtia? He's mad; can't you see? He's leading you through a senseless slaughtering, and what will you achieve? The entire extermination of a single sentient species? To what purpose is your plight?" Luna kept her voice calm and controlled, something which came easily to her. Many of her brethren wolves found rage and the instinct of the hunt overtook them easily, yet this had never burdened her.

"Save your words, Kerl. You know nothing of your brother anymore." The female turned to leave, but Luna jolted at her with amazing speed. She aimed for her neck, but missed completely, seemingly passing right through her, and crashed hard into the ground. Myrtia walked up to Luna chuckling.

"Ah, my dear Luna. It seems your speed is still yet not enough to catch my phantom dodging. Perhaps another time?" Luna quickly got on her feet, but by that time the wolves had already scattered. Even the male she injured had been taken by the watching wolves.

Luna sighed, walking over to the girl they'd left behind. They must not want me to follow them for her, she thought to herself. The girl, badly shaken, slowly rose to her feet, looking around slowly yet not noticing the black wolf's piercing yellow eyes behind her.

"You're lucky," the wolf said, sitting down to lick her paws. "If I'd not intervened, there's no telling what they would have done to you."

The girl turned around quickly, startled by the wolves presence, and quickly began to run. Unfortunately for her she managed to trip on her own feet and fall face first on the ground. Instead, she cowered in fear, holding her hands over her head and shaking terribly. After a few moments though, she looked back at the wolf, still licking her paws, confused.

"You know, I think I finally get why you humans always trip when running away in fear. You're always too scared to actually focus enough on using your feet that you just topple over." Luna rose to her feet, sending another wave of fear into the girl. "S-s-stay back!" she stammered, beginning to crawl away.

"Hush now, I've no intention to harm you. Did I not just save you just now?" Luna asked, becoming frustrated but hiding this well.

"You're not..." The girl started, regaining control of her thoughts and body. She slowly rose to her feet, more confident this time. "Thank you, kind wolf." she said, her voice returning to it's full composure.

"Those wolves are committing terrible deeds. I couldn't just pass by and let the continue." The girl looked at the wolf, taking in her beautiful coat and body shape. For a wolf, this one was quite remarkable. Luna watched the girl with interest as she looked into her bright yellow eyes. Eyes that seemed to glow in the light of the moon.

"Why did you save me?" she finally asked, having had held the question on her tongue for quite a while. "Why not join in with them? Why attack your own kind?" Her questions held valid and reasonable, yet Luna couldn't help feel a little insulted by her.

"Not all of us believe in the barbarianismic war held by the other wolves," she simply said, her voice gentle and caring. "Now, why don't you get back home. There's a town just east of here, I assume that's where you came from?" The girl became silent now, and didn't answer Luna, worrying her. "What's wrong...? Did they attack your town?" she asked sadly.

The girl shook her head. "No, I'm not from there. I was travelling from the south-west." Luna couldn't help but hear the slight sadness in her voice.

"All alone..?" she asked gently. The girl nodded her head slowly. "I was separated from my family after the attack on Ritafalls occurred and the city was burned down. We travelled together a large distance, but eventually we were separated. I've been alone ever since... I have no where to go..."

Images of the battle of Ritafalls returned to Luna's mind, the blazing fire and the hunt for her brother throughout the bloodshed within her eyes. Through out the chaos, even though Luna had saved a number of humans, she hadn't really taken notice to any of them. Her search for her brother had distracted her of all others. Even so, it is very possible she'd seen the girl during the battle, albeit apparently Luna hadn't left an impression on the girl herself. She also remembered how long ago that was.

"Well, it's a wonder you were not attacked sooner. You really are lucky..." Luna sat down, deep in thought, pondering. A breeze passed by, brushing and rustling the leaves as much as the girls hair and Luna's midnight black coat. With the breeze it carried the clouds above, and in their amassment the moon was covered, only slits and patches of light scattering throughout the face of the earth. The cold of night began to bite at the girls skin, and she walked over to a fallen tattered cloak on the ground, ripped from her encounter. Along with this was a small pack of supplies she'd been carrying. Ignoring the scars in the cloak, she wrapped it around herself, fighting back shivering.

"It's a cold night..." Luna's eyes had dimmed in the lack of light, and she looked back at the frail girl who'd walked beside her. "You may be best to travel with me until you can find a safe place." The girls eyes lit up slightly at this, her reaction again confusing Luna. This girl, who'd just before been so terrified of her, now was happy to be travelling with the black wolf. She assumed she was just happy to have a companion now, possibly.

"We will travel north-west," Luna said. "Far enough away from here that you'll be safe from the wolves roaming around here. But for now we should rest." The girl nodded silently. She walked over and settled herself down beside Luna, using her cloak as a blanket and pack as a pillow, quickly falling into sleep.

Such a young girl, the wolf thought to herself, before letting sleep overcome her as well.

Streaks of rising golden sunlight broke through the leaves and trees, prying Luna's eyes awake and out of her blank dream. She yawned lazily, tired still of just waking up. Beside her, the girl seemed to stir as well, and memory of last night's encounter returned to Luna.

The young girl rose to a sitting position wearily. She rubber her eyes before looking around her. Upon seeing Luna looking back at her she felt startled, but quickly remembered the kindness of the wolf and returned to observing the trees around her.

"You know, I never asked you of your name," Luna asked softly. It was obvious in her voice that she'd just woken up; such an effect was present in wolves as much as they were in humans.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Teresa. I'm sixteen years old." She gave Luna a slight smile and the wolf bowed her head respectfully.

"It is good to meet you, Teresa. I am Luna." The girl went into her pack and brought out a small piece of dried meat, as well as a bag of water. She tried to offer some to Luna, but she insisted she would hunt for food later in the day. After maybe thirty minutes, both began to prepare for travel, although the girl knew not of where they were going. Teresa began to look around her as she began to pack her bag back up. Looking around as though she'd lost something, she began to look within the depths of nearby shrubs. After minutes of searching, she finally pulled out her lost items; two silver daggers, beautifully crafted. Their hilts and blade shapes were very different, yet seemed to match in a sort of way. Before Luna could get a closer look at them however, Teresa put them away in her bag.

"So where are we going then?" Teresa asked curiously. She almost amused Luna. Her eyes were bright with excitement and anticipation.

"Well, we have to find somewhere safe for you, but other than that I'm looking for some people.." Luna trailed off, her memory flashing images of her companions she'd just met a few months ago. Although it were a short time, the friendship felt special to her. The wolf, being a Kerl of her kind, had spent a lot of time alone in the mountains, nobody to talk to or be with.

"Old friends?" Teresa asked. Luna chuckled to herself as Teresa had almost read her own thoughts. "Yes, you could say that." She'd never really expected to become so closely tied to the two travellers from the south, but she did seem to miss them a lot.

"I have reason to believe they might have gone to the Akuran mountains, so that's where I am heading." Again, images of the battle at Ritafalls entered her minds eye. Luna could recall Eragon stating their destination being the Akuran mountains. He was so determined to find and end that blasted king they'd fought in the volcano when her and the two had just recently met. That dangerous madman. A bloodthirsty wolf leading an army against the humans. Two evils in their lands emerging almost suddenly and simultaneously; was this really just a coincidence?

The girl nodded in understanding recognition to Luna's want to track her friends. "Alright," she said. "Let us be off, then!" she said excitedly.

Luna again chuckled to herself again, though this time not in memory. Why is it I can never distance myself from humans?

This one's a bit shorter. Sorry about that.

And to PetersGirl101, very good call on Luna. I'm impressed :D This is just a slight divergence on the story. Were you wondering what happened to Luna before? Why she disappeared? Well, now we'll find out! 8D Don't worry, you won't miss anything with Galbatorix and Eragon and Saphira.

Just for clarifications sake, this will take place a little before where we got up to with Eragon and Saphira. How far I will not say yet, but hopefully this will give you more perspective :D Oh, and that dragon story I said I was working on is still going. I've planned it all out. I'm just really REALLY procrastinating. Thats why this took so long.

That's also why you havent had me actually review anything of yours PetersGirl101 :P A promise is a promise though. I'll do it tomorrow =D But buhbye for now.

~with love, Dragnerz