Alex woke up as the sun set behind the horizon, yawning mightily. He looked at his sleeping dragon, and poked his side, trying to wake him up.

Let me sleep… complained Thanatos loudly.

"Hey, this was your bright idea" replied Alex, strapping his backpack on his tired dragon. Thanatos groaned, then after his rider seated himself on his neck, took off into the rapidly darkening sky.

We'll keep flying in this direction. Maybe we'll find some trace of them in a town or clearing said Thanatos while Alex nodded in agreement.

They flew like this for a few days, only stopping to eat, sleep, and train, and then traveling again at night. Alex's mental skill increased, though he still tended to use too much at a time. Thanatos cautioned him to use his power in extreme emergencies, for the black dragon felt that too much use could lead to death.

Three nights after they left, they came upon a sprawling cite in which the housed increased in size toward the middle, where a massive castle laid. Thanatos landed on a cliff not too far from the town, and took a deep breath. He sniffed the air, sensing an almost familiar presence.

She was definitely here said Thanatos as Alex dismounted.

"Yeah, I see marks where she clawed the rocks. Too bad we don't know where they went from here. I think I'll look around in that city tomorrow morning" said Alex, sitting against his dragon.

If you do that, you had better be careful. I don't want you getting caught. A lone traveler isn't exactly the most inconspicuous thing. cautioned Thanatos, settling on the cliff. And try not to get into any fights.

"Don't worry, dear dragon of mine, I will be careful" promised Alex falling asleep nest to Thanatos.

-------------

Alex, you'd better wake up. The town gates are open, and I think it would be best for you to take care of business as soon as possible said Thanatos, nudging his rider awake.

Alex put on his traveling cloak, and then climbed on his dragon who took him to the base of the cliff.

Be cautious said Thanatos, heading back up to the platform.

"I will" replied Alex, bidding his dragon goodbye and entering the city.

Noticing a couple of people looking at him suspiciously, he remained calm, and browsed the city, chatting with merchants and listening for talk about Eragon. Noontime rolled by, and Alex heard nothing about his friends.

"Perhaps it is a good thing that they have managed to conceal themselves. But there must be some clue, somewhere in this city" he thought, determined. Relaxing in a bar, Alex overheard a couple merchants mention the town's name.

"Teirm…So that's the name. Well, now to go look around some more."

He exited the tavern, and wandered down an empty street. Looking around, Alex paused, sensing something amiss. He saw a strange cat sitting on the steps of what looked to be an herbalists shop.

Another one…but different echoed an unfamiliar voice in Alex's mind.

"Thanatos? No…It's you" thought Alex, looking at the cat surprised.

Quite right. I am a werecat, and in case you didn't know, we are quite unique and well-respected. said the cat.

"Interesting" replied Alex, walking toward the werecat.

"Do you have a name? And how did you know I am a rider?" he asked.

You may call me Solembum. And I can sense a great many things about those around me. You are quite different than any rider I've seen in my time said Solembum, purring.

"Yeah, I don't even have a mark on my hand, unlike…" Alex paused, unsure of whether to continue.

Unlike your friend Eragon? And you can trust me, I won't reveal your secrets to anyone, except the owner of this shop, who I'm sure will be quite interested in meeting you. You'll like what she'll show you. Now come. A lone traveler staring at a cat will be sure to attract unwanted attention.

Alex walked up and opened the door, asking Solembum if the werecat knew where Eragon went. Hearing no answer, Alex entered the herbalist's shop where a fair-aged woman sat behind a counter, scribbling on a piece of parchment. She looked up at Alex, and said "What can I do for…"

Pausing, she looked at the werecat. Alex assumed they were mentally speaking, and he looked at the herbalist as she turned toward him.

"Another rider…My name is Angela, and I'm wondering how you got your dragon. Was another egg stolen from Uru-baen?"

"Not that I know of" replied Alex. "All I remember is that I awoke on an island far north of here. I found his egg in a forest east of that island, along with someone who I believe passed by this area. I wish to catch up with him, if possible."

"Would that be Eragon and Brom, by any chance?" asked Angela, as Alex nodded. "I do not know where he went from here, but there is a way to tell. It may not work, but it is worth a shot."

"What is it?" queried Alex.

Angela got up, went into the back room, and came out with a small pouch. She opened it on the counter, revealing a pile of bones etched with various runes.

"These are the knucklebones of a dragon. They do not lie about a person's future. Now, are you ready to see what fate has in store for you?" asked Angela.

Alex regarded her for a moment, then closed his eyes and thought hard. He looked up, then said "Yes, I am prepared to accept my fate, no matter what it is."

Angela closed her eyes, said a few unfamiliar words, and then cast the bones on the counter. Staring at them intently, she said "Your future is clouded in darkness even more than Eragons. From what I can tell, and I'm sorry to say this, it will end in sacrificing yourself to save those you care about."

Alex as shocked upon hearing this, and Thanatos was as well.

"As I said before" he replied. "We will accept our fate, and prepare every day for that moment."

Angela nodded solemnly, then continued with the fortune.

"There is more to your future. I am unsure of what it means, but the light will disappear from this realm, and darkness will live on, though weakened. It will be confronted again, but by who or what I do not know."

"My sacrifice seems almost futile, but if my death weakens that darkness, then I guess all is not lost…" said Alex dejectedly.

Angela smiled, laid a hand on Alex's shoulder and comforted him.

"Fear not, young rider. Live each day to its fullest, spend time with those you love, and all will be well" said the herbalist cheerfully, looking down at the bones once more.

"Hold on, there's something else here" she muttered.

"Oh joy, what now…" said Alex, looking at the bones as well.

"They say the path to your friends will be revealed very shortly…"

Angela looked up as the door suddenly opened, with a middle-aged man standing in its arch.

"Oh, I'm sorry Angela. I didn't know you were with anyone" said the man, starting to turn around.

"That's quite all right, Longshanks. I was just finishing up with this young man. So, what can I do for you?" she asked pleasantly.

"I overheard the guards talking about a lone traveler, and a merchant mention another black dragon."

He stopped, noticing the dragon bones on the counter.

"Those…"

"Are a true fortune-telling" finished Angela, wrapping up the bones.

"Wow, you must have one tough future." said Longshanks, noticing Alex's grim expression. A look of surprise crossed his face as he recognized the young man before him.

"So you're the rider of the black dragon…" he said, breathing heavily.

Noticing the worried looks on Alex and Angela's faces, he laughed and said "Oh, don't worry. I'm no friend of Galbatorix. The name's Jeod and I'll keep you a secret. Now I should tell you that guards are looking for you. A lone traveler, especially one as young as you is quite suspicious in these times."

"Hmmm, I should probably leave soon, but I don't know where Brom and Eragon went from this town" said Alex, still shocked at the revelation of his fate.

"But I do" replied Jeod, taking a scroll out of his jacket and unrolling it on the counter.

"This is a map of Alagaesia. Brom and Eragon went southeast of here, to a town called Dras-Leona. They're after the Ra'Zac, who destroyed Eragon's home" he explained, pointing to a town next to a large lake."

"I know all about that event" recalled Alex. "I was there when it happened. I tried to stop them, but got knocked unconscious."

"Excuse me for cutting you short Alex, but you'd better leave now. I hear guards walking down this street" said Angela. "Take the back door, and keep to the shadows till you reach the exit."

"Good idea" replied Alex, getting up. "Thank you Angela for the fortune telling, and thank you Jeod for telling me where my friends went. Goodbye."

"Your welcome, Alex" said Angela while Jeod nodded. "Who knows, maybe we'll meet again on the road of life."

"Yeah, anything's possible" said Alex, waving goodbye and heading out the back door.

"Another rider" said Angela, leaning back.

"Yes, this could bode well for the resistance against the King, but could be a curse upon us if he gets captured" said Jeod.

"Too true, too true" replied Angela.

-----------------

As Thanatos flew away from Teirm, Alex was thankful no one noticed him sneaking through Teirm. They flew in silence, pondering their inevitable fate.

"So, what do you think of our destiny, dear friend?" asked Alex, breaking the silence. Thanatos didn't reply for a while, so Alex assumed he must be thinking about their decision.

I think started the black dragon. That we should be as prepared as possible for when that occurs. I admit I've been feeling an attraction for Saphira…Kind of a loving-friendly relationship.

"That's quite understandable" said Alex. "You two seem to be the only sane dragons on this world. Though, about those dragons in our dreams…"

Thanatos rumbled, then replied If they do play an important role in our lives, if they're mates or family, then I see no problem in being friendly with Saphira, just as long as it doesn't go too far. I think we're a bit too young for that anyway, and besides, now is definitely not the time for such things.

"Good point" said Alex. They had been flying all afternoon, heading southeast as Jeod told them to. Eventually they settled upon a cliff overlooking a large, beautiful lake. Alex continued training with blade and mind, growing increasingly stronger and learning new techniques. Dragon and rider finally fell asleep together, a full moon watching over them.