Hey, this is the last update. It's been a long journey, but the end is finally in sight. Not a particularly long chapter, but a cliffy. The number of dragons will no longer be even. As described in the last chapter, the sway of the war is tipping already in favor of our hero and heroine. That, however, can all be changed.
A New Hope
The next morning, Niera went inside Uru'baen to get supplies that she needed. While buying items like food and clothing, she overheard a merchant.
"Yes, I saw the shimmering coming from the sands of the Hadarac. Far out. Something caught the light of the sun." Niera edged closer to the two conversing.
"Where was it?" The other merchant asked.
"Straight east from here. Impossible to miss with the rising sun. I plan on taking…" Niera listened no more. She stayed barely long enough to purchase a knife before leaving the crowded city. She mounted Cadoc and set off. She'd find whatever was there long before that merchant. She might not be a treasure hunter, but she definitely needed the money, and her father had taught her a way to survive in the harsh land of the Hadarac even without taking water. It was one less thing she needed to carry with her.
They looped around the Ramr River, going straight towards the Hadarac. They stopped for the night near the end of it, seeing as it would be the last non-magical source of water they'd see for a while. Niera was awake bright and early the next morning. Sure enough, she saw the glint with the rising sun. With renewed strength, she and Cadoc set out once more.
They stopped only at midday, and had ridden until night fall without finding anything. Niera grudgingly stopped. Like she had at their first stop, she brought forth water from deep within the ground. The practice was hardly taxing on her strength, at the water was always clear and cool from deep within the earth. This time, however, three circular objects came up with the water as the sand fell away.
All three were large jewels, in a strange egg shape. The first was mostly a dark forest green with a mottled amount of black and brown speckles. The second was a bright neon green and glistened like an emerald. The last, however, was the one that caught the most of Niera's attention. It was a bright yellow, brighter than gold or topaz. So bright, it rivaled the sun. She picked up the glistening golden orb carefully, almost like a baby. Cadoc nudged forward to drink from the tiny pool of liquid around the others, snuffling as it sniffed them before drinking. Niera gazed upon her chosen gem with loving care she didn't know she had. Finally tearing her eyes from it, she put the others in a pack she had purchased, but was soon once again with her own. It seemed to be slightly brighter, and she was sure she heard noises from within, but Niera still held it. She grasped it all through the night, setting it aside only when it began a shrill tapping noise. Puzzled, she watched as the hard shell broke away, revealing beautiful scales beneath.
The creature that finally broke free was the same beautiful yellow as the egg, it was lizard-like and cat-like all at once. Its head had a long, narrow snout, with ridges running all the way from its forehead to tail. It had a total of six limbs, not counting the tail. Four were strong and sturdy legs, tipped with golden claws. The last two were leathery wings that stretched out at its side. The dragon, for that was what Niera knew it was, was truly beautiful. Her breath held in her throat as she carefully stretched out her hand.
The dragon jumped forward and nipped her hand playfully, without drawing blood, but Niera still gasped in pain. Searing, hot pain ran like electricity up her arm and throughout her body. For a brief moment, she thought her brain might explode. Gradually, it subsided, and she found herself sprawled in the thrown sand. She blinked.
What of the sky she could see was orange, but two heads were blocking the way. It was the tiny dragon and Cadoc. She felt a foreign mind brush against hers, and at first she threw up a wall. Then, the dragon nipped her fingers again, breaking her concentration. The mind came into contact again, but it seemed… Different, than others she had encountered. Not human, but intelligent. She looked at the dragon, its amber eyes examining her. She delved into the mind a little deeper. Communication was immediately possible, if not in words, than pictures. Niera was speaking to a dragon. Her dragon.
I hope you enjoyed The Thin Line, for this is indeed the last chapter. There will be no more until I begin the sequel. Expect Roran in the next story, as well as the reemergence of Murtagh, more new Riders, and more drama and mayhem. I may use ideas from Eldest, but it will be the last Eragon fic from me. Look for the next one around the summer vacation. That may seem like a long time, but just look at how long Mr. Paolini is making us wait. You'll have to enjoy my stories in the mean time. Oh, there will be a chapter for all my thank-yous to my reviewers. You! Yeah, you, sitting in the swivel chair, reading this.
Light Dragon SunsSong, a.k.a Dragon-Grrrrl