A/N: yeah, I know, sorry for the cliffie again. Really, I am. I just think that was where it needed to end last time.

I'm not even going to do disclaimers 'cause I'm pretty sure you guys get the point. If, for some marvelous reason, Christopher Paolini is reading this, however, please note that I have no intention of stealing anyone. Promise. All credit for your characters go to you. Credit for my own characters go to me.

Secrets of Life

Chapter Twelve

Du Edoc'sil Ristvarden abr du Shur'tugal

They were flying again. Saphira and Eragon lead, Shadefire and Thorn behind and to either side with their Riders. The six trainee Riders and their dragons flew behind them in formation. Before they had taken off, the newcomers had learned new names: Saduki and Fren, the eldest pair; Takhen and Jünla, the second eldest; the twin dragons Kazora and Gezelda, the twin Riders Jazuk and Kandlah; the silver pair Rezina and Morik; and the last were Jan and Nin.

Shadefire had taken to talking and joking with all of them, but fiery red Jan especially. Zera and Raven got along as well, like old friends almost.

Ahead, two enormous twin peaks rose up like sentries. Beyond them, two humongous mountain ranges stretched out for miles, like castle walls, with the twin peaks as the gates. In the center was a great depression, the huge slopes dipping down, steep at the top, but leveling quickly, such that it reminded Shadefire and Raven of the great valley where Bid'daum rested, just without the great tree or the great white dragon.

In the valley itself, great trees twisted into buildings in elven fashion, huts of varying sizes scattered around in a more Urgal design, tall stone towers and walls felt like a combination of elf and man, and great bridges and arches and walkways defied physics and screamed of dwarf-make. Dragons of a thousand different colors and a hundred different sizes swooped around, training, fighting, and living. In multiple visible clearings throughout the forest, Riders trained, meditated, and laughed with each other, all the different races mingling as old friends: here two Urgals laughed with an elf and a human, there a two dwarves and an elf studied together.

And the smells! Pinesmoke from the various forges, fresh-baked goods from multiple huts, thousands of different flowering trees and bushes, and the scent of magic in the air. Raven could feel the energy from the land, even within the mountain, where she could feel enormous veins of thousand of gems: emeralds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts, onyxes, topaz, jade, turquoise, aquamarine, diamond, jasper, amber, and hundreds more. She doubted anyone had actually found them yet, seeing as there were no tunnels and they were all quite deep in the earth. But all of those energy-filled stones called to her, and she wondered if there were enough for her to make special saddles for the all dragons and their Riders.

They passed between the two peaks (each hiding enough energy-filled sapphires to make five life-sized statues of Saphira) and started to descend into the larger-than-huge valley. In the very center of the great city, there was what looked like a square, already holding two Urgals, an elf, a dwarf and their dragons: one bronze, another pale yellow, a darker-than-dark green, and the last was pure, gleaming white.

They landed, and the four Riders and four Dragons stood to attention. The dragons were all the same size: that is, only slightly larger than a haycart. As they dismounted, Eragon introduced them with a flourish.

"If you would meet Grenzoch, Yuakak, Glidden, Marique, and their dragons, Korach, Sûram, Jenaly, and Mikrös. Gentlemen, lady, if you would welcome our guests, Shadefire, Thorn, Raven and Murtagh."

The trainees said their hellos, Grenzoch gruff, his sister Yuakak equally so, Glidden gentle, and Marique wary of the red pair, but welcoming all the same. Raven sighed in relief. Murtagh looked just the same.

(linebreak)

Shadefire looked around. The sky-crossing-giant-fireball was close to disappearing completely, half of it still gleamed over the edge of the horizon. Jan, Nin, and the rest of the hatchlings had already gone to their separate caves or houses. She herself stretched long, yawning wide. Beside her, Raven snickered slightly. You look like a cat, she said. The black dragon huffed mock-indignantly, then yawned again.

Saphira noticed, and muttered something to her Rider. He looked briefly surprised, and then seemed to notice where the sky-crossing-giant-fireball was. He laughed and said something, but Shadefire didn't notice. The wolves had caught up to them: Maelstrom was lounging beside her tail and Storm was sitting alertly beside Murtagh.

Finally, Saphira got to her feet, and motioned for the other two dragons to follow her. Shadefire popped up, Thorn as well, though, admittedly, a little slower. Saphira led them, on foot, to a large building, easily able to hold five of the great pines that had towered over even Shadefire. Thorn nosed open the large pinewood door and held it open with his snout. The black dragoness smiled and nuzzled him before striding in, and then plopping down on a large cushioned spot with a grunt of satisfaction.

Thorn entered, and lowered himself beside her, resting his snout on the back of her neck. Shadefire smiled again, and fell asleep dreaming of what their little hatchlings would look like.

Fluffy. I know. But I think Thorn deserves some fluff. Anyone agree?

Oh, and also, I found this really great dragon video, called Reversal of the Heart. It's where this Knight (an evil, treacherous Knight!) kills a little BABY DRAGON (I nearly cried, but it gets better) for it's heartstone (like an Eldunarí I think) so that he could make a pretty necklace for his princess. Now, the momma dragon is upset, so she makes the pretty necklace with her son's heartstone turn the PRINCESS into a dragon, and the Knight thinks that the dragon killed the princess, so he hunts down the dragon/princess/thing. The dragon/princess/thing meets an aspiring wizard, and they go to find this Dragon Mountain thingy. It's amazing! A must see! And for once, my favorite character is a princess! Well, second favorite. There's a cute little demon thing that is my top favorite. :D

Anyways, it's Reversal of the Heart. WHATCHWHATCHWHATCH if you love dragons.

Falcon