There'll be a title for this once I think of one...
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"Bagh, how can one human be so heavy…" complained the urgal, carrying Alex toward his hordes campsite.
"Only 23 metres to go. Lord Durza had better appreciate this. He already isn't too happy about the incident in the northern forest."
Arriving at the camp, the urgal made his way to the shade, who stared at him with icy eyes.
"Lord Durza" said the urgal, bowing respectfully and placing Alex at the shades feet.
"I captured this human in Yazuac. He seems to possess a similar power to yours."
"Interesting. He flows with the gift of magic. I wonder…"
The shade looked up at the urgal, then said "Double rations for you. If anyone complains, send them to me."
"Thank you" said the urgal, running off and smiling maliciously.
Durza inspected Alex's hands, and upon finding no silver mark, thought "If he isn't a rider, where did he learn magic…"
The shade placed his palm on Alex's head, sifting through his memories. He found nothing but a strange white light, which seemed to evade his grasp no matter what he tried.
Breathing angrily, Durza withdrew, and then stiffened as he was contacted by a far mental call. He summoned 3 heavily armed urgal guards, and instructed them to watch over Alex.
"I've restricted his power, so he won't be using it anytime soon. If he wakes, tie him up, and don't kill him. Heads will roll if you even think of that. I should be back soon" said Durza, glaring at each urgal, and then ran off with inhuman speed in the direction of Uru'Baen. The urgals kicked Alex, then resumed their posts guarding him.
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Alex, please be all right. I will come get you thought Thanatos, thinking of the best way to rescue his rider. He was hiding on the other side of the urgal camp, concentrating on not being detected by the shade.
Good, he's leaving. Time to fry some urgals!
An urgal heard a loud rustling in the woods behind the camp, and went to inspect. A look of surprise crossed the beasts face as he noticed the black dragon. With one swipe of his mighty claws, Thanatos sent the urgal back in multiple pieces.
Now alerted, the entire horde readied their weapons and looked around warily. A small group headed in Thanatos' direction, and were met by a torrent of flame. Before continuing on, Thanatos mentally sought out his rider, and enchanted him to be immune to fire.
He then charged into the camp, setting ablaze anything in his path. The urgals dropped like flies due to the unexpected attack by Thanatos. Scanning the camp to make sure no urgal was left alive, Thanatos turned his attention toward his unconscious rider.
Good, you're all right he thought relieved, nudging Alex.
A bit bruised, and… some curse within his mind, but I'll take care of that later.
The black dragon turned, looking around the camp and thinking of how to disguise his actions. He quickly dug graves, and buried the charred corpses of the urgals. Then he proceeded to make the camp look like no one has been there in a while.
Not the best I could do in a short time, but It'll have to work.
Thanatos walked over and carefully picked up his rider, checking him over again for any injuries. Breathing a sigh of relief, Thanatos went out of the camp, erasing his tracks behind him. Far away from the encampment, the black dragon took off into the sky from some hard ground on which his deep tracks wouldn't show.
Flying southwest in the direction of Yazuac, with Alex's backpack strapped to his neck and his rider carefully held in his claws, Thanatos hoped to catch up with Saphira and Eragon. Sensing no trace of the sapphire dragon or her rider, he landed in a hidden clearing to rest and care for his rider.
He laid Alex on a bed of soft grass, then lightly placed his snout on Alex's forehead. Thanatos' rider smiled in his sleep, instinctively rubbing his dragons cheek. Thanatos then started working on removing the curse set by Durza. A minor look of pain crossed Alex's face, but he quickly settled. Laying a wing protectively over his rider, Thanatos laid down and lightly slept.
We'll look for our friends tomorrow. Meanwhile, let's get some well-needed rest.
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Alex awakened on the grass bed, sitting up and looking around. A crude campfire burned on the other side of the clearing, with a small pile of dirty roots next to it. He noticed his backpack nearby, and let of a sigh of relief while sifting through it, thankful his possessions were still there.
Suddenly a large deer fell into the clearing. Alex looked up, and laughed as he saw his dragon flying around.
"You drop that?" he asked, carving off a steak and impaling it over the fire on Balmung. Washing the roots off in a nearby puddle, Alex roasted them over the fire on Ascalon.
…Yes said Thanatos, landing next to his rider and voraciously eating the deer.
Laughing heartily, Alex slapped his dragon's side playfully. "I love you, Thanatos"
Thanatos merely rolled his eyes, and resumed eating, but Alex could sense thoughts of affection from his dear dragon.
"So, how are we gonna catch up to Eragon and Saphira?" he asked, carefully tending the half-cooked food.
Don't know replied Thanatos, now done with the deer. It definitely wouldn't be a good idea to mentally broadcast our presence, hoping she'll hear us. That for sure will attract Galbatorix like flies to manure.
"That's true"
Alex looked up as he heard a loud rumble in the direction of his dragon's belly.
"Still hungry, I see" said Alex, munching on a cooked root.
Yeah, I'm gonna go hunt and look for any tracks Saphira may have left behind. replied Thanatos, flying away.
"Good luck" called out Alex, finishing up the roots. Making sure the meat wasn't burning, Alex started exercising until he heard Thanatos' excited call.
Alex! I found Saphiras tracks, and some from another beast. I'm done hunting now, so I'll come back and show you.
"Excellent" exclaimed Alex, rapidly eating the now cooked meat. The sun show brightly upon Alex as Thanatos landed in the clearing.
The tracks were pointing southwest. They may not have gone in that direction, but it's the only lead we have. Now before you strap that on said the black dragon as Alex was about to tie his backpack on Thanatos.
I was thinking we could sleep till night. A black hide is a lot harder to spot in darkness.
"Good idea" replied Alex, dropping the backpack and sitting down.
"And to help with that, I've been meaning to try out that power I've acquired in Yazuac. We'll have to be careful, for as I recall, it made me a bit tired after using it."
Thanatos nodded his head, and replied Perhaps exercising one's mind is the same as exercising one's body. Try expanding your mind, slowly at first then if you feel you're able to, use the power. See how many things you can do, whether it be that lightning, or something else
Alex let his mind flow, and gasped in awe as he sensed the powerful presence of his mighty dragon. He was amazed at seeing the sparks of life from the myriads of insects belowground with his minds eye. Grinning, he shot a bolt at a branch, felling it.
"Didn't make me feel too dizzy that time" he commented.
Good, you're starting to exercise control said Thanatos. Now try moving something, like that rock over there.
Alex concentrated on the rock, which was not much larger than his fist. Though he struggles, the rock only moved not more than an inch above the ground. Gasping, Alex opened his eyes and rubbed his head.
"Wow, if I managed that light bolt, you'd think I could lift a simple rock" said Alex, walking over to his dragon.
I think that light comes naturally to you. Don't know why, though. We'll definitely have to work with this power later. For now, let us sleep. We'll resume traveling tonight. replied Thanatos, laying a wing over his rider.
The noon sun shone brightly over dragon and rider as the slept, oblivious to the passing traveler staring in surprise at the black dragon. The traveler quickly left the hidden clearing, remembering what he say, and joined his companions on their way to Teirm.
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A cookie to the first person who finds the Homestar Runner reference