Disclaimer: I do not own any of CP's characters. I only own mine.

When we landed, we saw Brom. He was waving his arms in the middle of a large clearing. He wasn't the happiest with either of us. What we found out from him, when we asked, was that he had gone further downstream when he lost the Ra'zac's footprints. He had backtracked and eventually found this spot. He told us to look around and see what we thought.

While looking around, we found several deep gashes in the ground. They looked like they were made by dragons. Eragon figured this out right as he started to speak. "I don't have any idea what …" Then he looked at Saphira. " This doesn't make any sense, but the only thing that I can think of is that the Ra'zac flew off on dragons. Or else they got onto giant birds and disappeared into the heavens. Tell me you have a better explanation."

Brom explained to us that he had heard of the Ra'zac traveling great distances with incredible speed, but that this was his first piece of evidence of it. He also told us that they were not dragons. Dragons refused to bear a Ra'zac.

Eventually, we ate lunch, trying to think of something that would help us.

Is there anything that we could do to help?

There is nothing that I know of that would help to get us out of this predicament. If there is no way that we can continue to track and pursue the Ra'zac, what do you plan to do?

I have not thought about that. What would you want to do?

I would follow you to the ends of the earth. The only thing that I would not like to see you do is to join with Galbatorix.

I wouldn't want to serve Galbatorix. He is an evil man. One thing that I would like to learn, though, is why Eragon hates the Ra'zac so much. I have heard Brom and Eragon speaking of this Garrow, but who is he?

Ask him at another time. He seems to hold feelings for something that we do not. He has his reasons for pursuing the Ra'zac, and we will help him until we feel otherwise. Until then, we will go with them. We may learn of his reasons at some point in time, but that time is not now.

Agreed.

Brom had just finished eating when he flipped back his hood and started speaking.

"I have considered every trick I know, every word of power within my grasp, and all the skills we have, but I still don't see how we can find the Ra'zac. Saphira could show herself at some town. That would draw the Ra'zac like flies to honey. But it would be an extremely risky thing to attempt. The Ra'zac would bring soldiers with them, and the king might be interested enough to come himself, which would spell certain death for you and me."

Eragon was dissatisfied with this answer and the next couple of moments of conversation. He eventually got up and stalked away from the fire. I got up at this time and decided to take a walk.

"Do you have any ideas about what we could do?"

I stopped, turned around, looked at Brom and told him no. I then turned back around and kept walking. By the time I got into the woods, Eragon was heading back to the camp.

I walked into the woods, just thinking to myself.

It doesn't even seem like I am needed in this quest of theirs. Why do I stay with them? Isn't there something that I could do instead of slow them down? I could be helping other people. People who need it more than Eragon and Brom. If I left though, where would I go? I could go home and see what happened to my family after I left. I could try to find the elves. They could help to train me. I could leave the empire, try to start new. There are many things that I could do.

By the time I had gotten all this off of my chest, I was a good ways from the camp. I sat down on a rock and thought more. Red-Eye showed up before too long. He sat down next to me and watched me. When he sat next to me, a new thought popped in my mind. I was extremely homesick.

You have something on your mind.

Yes, though it is not something that I wish to discuss at the present moment.

Many times, it is better to tell someone of your thoughts and get them out in the open than to hold them inside. If you hold them inside for too long, they might become too much for you. I do not want to see you in that condition.

I know, but it is hard to talk about.

The longer you wait, the harder it will become to talk about.

By this time, I was almost crying. Red-Eye came up to me and curled around me. He wrapped his body around me, comforting me with his thoughts and with his company. After a few moments, I settled down enough to start talking again.

I'm homesick. I haven't been home in … how long. I don't know how any of my family is doing. I don't know how any of my friends are doing. I don't know anything about what is going on there. I miss the fun times that I had there. I miss the relaxation that I always felt. I miss it.

It is normal to miss something that you have grown up with when it is taken away from you. Do not focus on the past though. You have been given a chance that many would and probably have died for. You must now focus on the present and the future. That is the only way that you will survive in this new world.

Thank you. I know that it is normal to be homesick, but it just hit me all of a sudden. You're right. It does feel better to get something off your chest rather than hold it inside. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I do everything that I can to help.

We should probably be heading back now. Eragon and Brom may have thought of something. Hopefully they have decided on something to do to continue this journey.

So, what do you think? Please R&R.