AN: This chapter is on what Saphira was doing the whole time Elva and Eragon were mating. Short chapter in comparison to the others.

Friendship and Rivalry

Janfask green form slipped out of the cave with a twitch of her tongue, the equivalent of a human winking. Saphira took a deep sigh as Thorn

and herself were left alone from the green dragon, who was barely a fourth of her own age. A ray of sunlight went into the cave from the dying

sunlight and hit her neck scales, causing a multitude of lights to sparkle across the cave. She laid her head down beside Thorn's. I missed you.

Thorn hummed and licked her on the cheek. I missed you too. I'm sorry about Janfask. She just won't leave me alone. Saphira thought that, if he

wanted to, Thorn would be completely capable of making Janfask stop. It's alright. It isn't your fault that she's love crazy. Thorn continued to lick

her cheek. You have a bit of dirt there. Saphira looked down at her cheek and saw that there was a small patch of dirt left from where Janfask had
kicked dirt in her face. Janfask has been admittedly rude to me. But I've gone through enough hardships to know that here will always be someone out
there that will distrust and dislike me. In return for her actions I'm making her do triple work every day. Thorn made a sound like rocks grating

against rocks, laughter, and said. I wonder how that will turn out. Do you want me to talk to her? Saphira snaked her head under his chin and

rested it there, breathing in his scent. No. Do not worry yourself. I will handle Janfask. Thorn looked at the rapidly lowering sun and said, "We'd

better get back before it's so dark they'll mistake you or me for Shruikan. As they flew back she thought about the unhappy fate of Shruikan. I feel

bad for him. His rider was killed and he was been forced to serve Gailbatorix for the past some hundred years. Thorn said nothing but sped up the

pace of his flying. I'm sorry. You must have bad memories of that black dragon, from when he was teaching you. Thorn made a snort that made it

sound like he was close to tears.

It really wasn't what I would call teaching. Glaedr taught me. Even you taught me more then he did. All he did was torture me until I taught myself. I

remember once he would breathe fire on me for an hour daily until I could lift a boulder thirty feet in the air. I was a mere hatchling, no more then a few
weeks old and yet he trained me like I was already an ancient dragon, deprived of education. He was cruel in everything he did. Saphira's heart felt

heavy when she heard her friend, and would-be-mate, talk about his early life. He had endured so much pain and suffering yet that did not stop

him. When they reached there landing place they saw Janfask sitting in a dark corner of the camp some hundred feet away. Saphira pushed her

head under Thorn's chin and looked at him with the same love she looked at Eragon with. Good night Thorn. I'll talk to you tomorrow? Thorn

pushed back down on her head, which meant that he was returning the gesture, and hummed. That would be nice. Good night Saphira

Brightscales. He left to Murtagh's tent, which was on the other side of camp. He could have landed there but that would mean he would have to

leave without saying goodbye to her. Saphira sat down and then lay down. Janfask watched her for a moment then came over to her. Hello

Saphira. Her voice, to Saphira, was like a bee busing in her ear.

What do you want Janfask? Without asking for permission she sat down beside her. Oh nothing significant really. I just thought I'd come and talk to

you. You seemed bored. Saphira snorted to herself. Why didn't she just come out and say it? I'm not bored, I'm tired. And you're loud voice is not

helping. Janfask nodded and made a toothy grin. Of course Saphira. I just wanted you to know something. Saphira took a deep inward sigh. Here it
comes. I wanted you to know that it's plainly obvious that Thorn wants me. For one thing I'm much more bright and cheerful, and I'm a lot prettier.

Your blue scales are okay but my green ones are stunning. Yours are kind of dull, whereas mine catch the light. I just thought I'd say, no hard feelings,

right? Saphira sat up and growled. She was not about to let this green dragon take Thorn away from her, not even let her think that she could.

What makes you say that? Janfask looked at her as if she had said something stupid. Isn't it obvious? I'm the one he always looks at. I can even

show you a memory of when he showed e his true affections for me. Saphira's growl tightened and hardened. If she did have a memory like that it

was most likely forged. Very well then. Let me see this memory. She said that last word with a slight hint of mockery. Janfask snarled slightly and

closed her eyes. A scene played out in Saphira's mind from Janfask. Janfask lying on her side making what humans would call a moan. Thorn's

strong shape came into view. He was licking her leg, and moving up. Thorn rapped his scaly tail around her and flipped her up so that she was standing.
He jumped onto her back and his haunches started wag a little and then…

Enough! Saphira snarled. She shook her head trying to get rid of the vision. She glared at Janfask. How do I know that that really happened?

Janfask glanced at her as if she was so inconsequently that she didn't need to reply. Still she looked at her and said. I can't really prove that. Go

into Thorn's mind and you'll find the same thing, I guarantee it. Saphira fought back the urge to snap at the green dragon with her teeth. Fine! I'll

go and talk to him. Saphira jumped into the air and became airborne. As she flew she repeated the same thing to herself over and over. He would

never do that. He would never do that. He would never do that. He would never do that. Soon she landed outside Murtagh's tent. Thorn was lying

outside, asleep. She slipped over to him and tapped the tip of one of her claws on his snout. His eyes slowly fluttered open. When he saw her

he hummed. Hello Saphira. To what do I owe the pleasant surprise of you dropping by? Saphira hummed too. Well Janfask just told me something very
interesting. She claims that mated with her and showed me this memory. She played it back to him and he stared at her. She what do you want to

know? Saphira looked at him angrily. Wasn't that clear? Well what I want to know is did you? Thorn took a deep sigh. Saphira what would I need to

do that for? Saphira thought about it and really couldn't think of anything. I'm not sure. I just thought that maybe what she showed me might have

happened. Thorn stood up and started to lick her face. Saphira hummed. Why would I do that with her, when I could do it with you? You are far

prettier and much more intelligent. Janfask drew that memory from my dreams and replaced you with her. Saphira stopped and looked at him. You

dream about that? Thorn stopped licking her and shot a glance in the direction of her eyes. Yes, I do. Saphira felt have pleased and half afraid

when his tail started to move down her right leg and to her underbelly. She used her tail to knock away his. Not yet. I'm not ready to be a mother.
Thorn looked disappointed. Well then when?

Saphira almost laughed at his pleading expression. Soon enough. Do you really want to be that father of my eggs? Saphira's voice was deadly

serious. Thorn had never been so sure of anything else in his life. When he was in his egg, it had happened once. When he first felt Murtagh.

Yes. I do want to father you're children. Hesitantly he added. Saphira. I love you. Saphira hummed and pushed her head under his chin. I love you

too. She licked his face and then went back to Eragon's tent and went to sleep, content in the knowledge that Thorn loved her and that they

would have many children together.

Really short cahpter. I can't decide who to do the next chapter on. Not trying to get you to review, although that would be awasome, one of
you want to help?