some of you might like this chapter, some of you will hate it, not going to say anything more right now... :D
claimer: yeah, i own most of this...whatever :D
37.-Root of remembrance
I turned and dashed into the forest, thanking the Gods that I had grown up as a healer's assistant and knew exactly what plants to use to heal, I just hoped that it was able to mend injuries to magical creatures as well. I cursed; it had to be a full moon tonight didn't it? At least I wasn't as wild as I had been last time and I was actually able to think straight. But I wasn't able to morph, and healing people without the use of hands was not going to be easy.
I knew what I was looking for, a simple plant that was exceedingly common in woods like these, but the fact that it was winter could present a bit of a problem, more to the fact that almost everything was dead than anything else. At least being a wolf had some advantages, I put my nose to the ground and searched for the scent that was terribly familiar to me, after all, it had been the very first herb I had been taught under my grandmother's instructions.
What troubled me most though was the fact that it was a spring plant, and because it was the dead of winter it would be pretty much impossible to find one. But I continued to look anyway; it was their only hope after all. I searched in weed patches, hoping that because the earth was still marshy from recent rainfall that it would be more likely to find some.
I had obviously done something right to please the forces of this world because the soft, lemony scent suddenly drifted up my nostrils, causing excitement to stir in the pit of my stomach. My eyes found the spiky-leaved plant, and I gnawed at the root with my fangs, and then I raced back to the fallen dragon and rider, hoping that I wasn't too late. Now only one problem remained, how was I going to boil the plant without the use of my hands, and then apply it?
Where was Faolan when I needed him?!
Faolan! I need your help, Eragon and Saphira are hurt and I can't do anything without hands! Where are you?!
I projected my mind throughout the forest, not knowing where he was, and just hoping that he heard me. But no reply came, worrying me further, there was no way I could manage this on my own.
I dropped the herb by Eragon, whispering words of comfort to him, and then dashed into the forest, gathering dry twigs in my mouth, the rough bark scraped the insides of my jaws, but I carried on anyway.
I placed the wood into a pile, cursing the heavens for creating the werewolf's curse, when I sensed something in the clearing other than myself or the dying rider and dragon. I immediately tensed, my senses raging and my stance ready to attack or defend.
I spun round and fixed my eyes on the looming shadows that danced behind the grasping trees in the moonlight. Something was there, I could sense it.
Then a dark shape loomed out of the darkness and I felt a strange sense of thrill engulf me. I recognized the shape, even if it had been a month the last time I saw it.
Dorran.
But then another emotion swept through me, rage. Why had he left and then just suddenly decided to return after causing me so much pain? Couldn't he imagine what I have been through this past month? Did he care?
As relieved as I was to see him, I couldn't help but growl warningly. I saw his menacing shape stiffen slightly against the lighter-than-dark background, his night-colored pelt darker than darkness.
"Dorran, what a surprise, I wasn't expecting to see you ever again. Why have you suddenly decided to return?" my voice was unemotional, hiding the joy I felt towards seeing him again, and the anger he had caused when he had left.
The shadow form advanced slowly, hesitantly, as if making sure I didn't attack him on the spot.
"I saw the fight between dragons and riders from the sky and decided to investigate; it is merely a coincidence that we have encountered each other. But to be honest I am glad we did." His voice was slightly different than the one from my memories, deeper, more guarded. The wolf advanced until he was only a few feet away, and in the moonlight I was able to see his eyes for the first time in so long, somehow my memory had not been able to recall the exact gleam to the orbs, the color, or the depth of his stare.
"Exactly why are you glad? Does causing people pain please you?" I could not think of anything to say, I was only aware of the fading souls that were clutching at the edges between life and death, and they were slipping away fast.
His face was unemotional, but his eyes betrayed him, I could see hurt and apology deep within the depths, but then it could have just been a trick of the moonlight.
"Of course not." his voice whispered, barely audible, as if those three words held a deeper meaning. There was silence after that as we stared at each other, but it was interrupted by coughing coming from Eragon.
Ignoring Dorran I flitted over to his hunched body, terrified that because I had been talking, I had run out of time.
His breathing was fainter, slowing; it was only a matter of time before it stopped altogether.
I sighed; there was really no other way to go about doing this. "Dorran, I need your help, I can't morph because of the moon, but could you please help me save them from death, I am useless without my hands." As much as I hated to admit it, I needed his help.
I jumped as his pelt brushed mine suddenly, but remained impassive, as if nothing had happened.
"For you." He whispered into my ear, causing me to shiver involuntarily.
His form shifted beside me so that it was now skin against my fur. "What do I need to do?" he asked, his onyx eyes regarding mine closely, looking as if he would commit murder if I asked him to.
I indicated to the herb and the pile of wood with my snout. "Light a fire, and then boil the leaves. I will search for water and something to stew the plant in." He got to work straight away, placing the twigs neatly in a pile and then morphing into a dragon to create a fire inferno that almost incinerated the wood completely. I brainstormed, thinking of something I could use for a bowl, and then I got an idea.
"Dorran, I have a better plan, would you strongly object to having herbs stewed in your mouth?" I grinned at the strangeness of the sentence, it was almost like it had been a month ago, but the invisible barrier still remained in place, if only slightly.
The giant dragon gave a predatory smile and opened his jaws wide, his ivory fangs deathly sharp in the crackling firelight. I pricked my ears, taking advantage of the extra-sensitive senses to listen for the tell-tale sounds of liquid against rocks, but I couldn't hear any, and time was running out.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dorran morph into his human form, and then crouch on the ground, his hands placed on the swamp-like soil.
"What are you doing?" I asked, approaching him curiously and hesitantly.
He said nothing but instead muttered a word that I did not understand, but I could tell that there was some strange power that surrounded it.
And then before my eyes water rose from the earth, a small sphere suspended in mid-air, revolving and glowing silver in the moonlight.
I was speechless, the sight was amazing, and yet at the same time I knew he was doing something out of the ordinary, something that required great skill and training.
Dorran raised the water to eye-level, then leant forward and opened his mouth, keeping the liquid in his cheeks, careful not to swallow it. I didn't ask him how he had done that, for now was not exactly the time for a full explanation with lives on the line, but I would ask him later for sure.
He morphed and the huge dragon opened his mouth wide to show that the water was already steaming with his fiery breath. I reached down and scooped up the weed and placed it in his mouth, the awkwardness of the moment- with me having my mouth inside his and everything-was intensified by the on-edge atmosphere.
I dropped the plant and drew back quickly, his onyx eyes never leaving my face as I did so, and made my way to Saphira who had accumulated the worst of the injuries.
Dorran trailed behind, a strange rumbling sound emitting from his mouth as the water boiled and the herb stewed, his face frozen in a grimace at the acrid taste of the weed. Steam drifted from his nostrils and a scent of lemon-grass filled the clearing.
"I think it is done, carefully squirt a tiny bit of the mixture onto the wounds." The dragon nodded his large scaled head and obliged, the clear liquid dribbling from his mouth and onto the claw marks running the length on the dragonesses hide.
To rub it in I did the only thing I could do, and licked the gashes, the unpleasant taste of blood and plant mingled together in my mouth leaving a repugnant taste on my tongue.
When Saphira was done I made my way to Eragon and inspected him. He didn't seem to have suffered much damage, but there were a few gouges along his back that looked lethal. The shape of the marks were strange though, almost like an 'S' shape. It reminded me of a snake, instantly making me think back to the numerous serpent-wrought silver objects I had come across. Perhaps they were related in some way.
I licked the potion into his back, feeling slightly strange and uncomfortable as I did so.
"That is all we can do for now, we will just have to sit back and wait to see what happens, and just pray that they recover, they will be a great loss to the rebellion if they do not."
Dorran spat the rest of the concoction out and settled to the ground in his wolf from. After hesitating slightly I fell to the ground next to him, preparing to wait out the night, never taking my eyes off him, afraid that if I did, for whatever short a time, he might disappear and this whole reunion would just be a dream.
yay, Dorran is back, after what..a chapter? lol, sorry i just like him too much to leave him out for too long :D
PPPPPLLLLEEEAAASSSEEE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!-emphasis on the review part.. :D
-Firesilk:D