Yay! I'm back! Gods, I love writing. I am not Chrissy P., I only own Tania and little Ophelia (:D). I love that little dragon...
Chapter Five
Tania decided to stay in their little clearing until Ophelia was large enough to fly and hunt on her own. The little hatchling was going through her meat very quickly, and when Tania found her munching on a self-caught vole, she let Ophelia hunt for herself. The hatchling grew quickly, and they soon were able to set off south again.
Around a month later, they finally left the cover of the trees. Ophelia was much larger now, large enough to hunt for both of them, and was able to speak in mentally Tania's language.
They left the shade and appeared on a huge open space, a plain. Tania took a deep breath. In the tales of Alagaësia her mother had told her when she was little, she had described a huge open plain much like this one. "Well, Ophelia," she said. "Looks like we'll have quite a journey."
The young dragoness snorted nervously. I don't like this. I prefer the cover of trees.
I know. I do too. But we'll have to cross.
If you insist, little one.
Tania chuckled. Though Ophelia was younger, she was bigger than Tania in length if not in hight, and insisted on calling her little one. It cheered Tania too much actually having a companion to mind it.
They started across the plains, Ophelia often launching herself into the air to test herself against the heavy winds. Most of the time she camouflaged her scales to match the sky.
That afternoon, Tania saw enormous, angry-looking, steel-gray clouds rushing towards them. She warned Ophelia, who responded by sticking closer to her Rider. The clouds were less than a kilometer away when Tania suddenly cried, "Keep your wings tight to your sides!"
A minute later, the storm hit them. Freezing rain pelted Tania and Ophelia, and Ophelia's wings, though pinned tight to her body, were buffeted by the wind, which tried to lift her into the air and carry her off. The dragon's scales were turning a gray-brown-green, as if to match the wildy waving grass below them.
Suddenly, they heard a dragon's roar. Tania's head shot up, looking around wildly. In the distance, to the east, there was a huge blue shape being tossed about by the wind. It struggled to land on a nearby rise, and Tania saw a figure run up to it, struggling to close it's wings.
She felt a feeling of great excitement that wasn't all her own bubble up in her chest. Tania! It's another one of my kind!
I see it!
Shall we introduce ourselves?
Tania thought a moment. Alright, but I suggest that you blend into the landscape. We don't know if they're hostile or not yet.
Alright. This didn't stop the bubbles of brilliant gold blooming along Ophelia's scales, but after she concentrated a moment, the brilliant golds and yellows turned into grays and browns, matching the plains. Tania then struggled her way towards the rise where the azure dragon now sat, another figure on horseback and leading another horse cantering up the hill.
The wind and rain whipped at Tania's face, making her nearly blind, and she stumbled slightly off course, heading for the side of the hill instead of straight towards it. Her woolen shirt was soaked through and slightly ripped, and her leggings had a huge tear in one knee.
Suddenly, she heard someone calling out. "Are you alright?" She looked up.
In front of her was a young man—barely more than a boy, and certainly not much older than herself—with touseled browm hair and kind brown eyes. The boy was frowning, looking concerned.
She nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. If you don't mind me asking, who are you? And why are you on the plains in such a storm?"
He chuckled. "My name is Eragon. And I could certainly be asking those questions myself, as well as what a young lady like you would be doing out in the wilderness on her own."
Tania drew herself up, ignoring the wind and rain, frowning in mock-indignation. "Young! You are hardly older than sixteen yourself!"
Eragon laughed, but Tania noticed he seemed a little nervous, and she realized he was gradually turning her sightline from the rise, where she could see the tips of blue wings disappearing behind the hill. Then, she sneaked a glance at his palms. One, the right, glowing faintly silver.
She cocked her head. "What is that mark on your palm?"
He started, clenching his right hand. "It is nothing," he assured her.
Tania frowned. "How strange, seeing as I have one just like that."
Eragon's eyes flew wide open. Then, they narrowed. "What do you mean?" he demanded. Tania removed the fingerless glove she usually had from her right hand. The silver mark shone brightly in the rainy darkness. He stared, openmouthed. "If you have the gedwëy ignasia, then where is your dragon?" he asked.
"Where is yours?" she countered.
He snorted. "I'm sure you saw Saphira already."
She nodded. "Admittedly, that's why we turned towards the hill."
He nodded. "But where is your companion?"
Right here, said Ophelia. Her scales morphed into a much brighter green, with splashes of dark blue across it. Eragon blinked, openmouthed.
"She can... change color?"
"Yes," said Tania.
"What is her name? And, also, what is yours?"
"I am Tania, and this is Ophelia. Who is the companion you were with?"
"That was Brom. Come, he wishes to meet you both."
They all three turned up the hill. Once at the top, an old man—Brom, Tania assumed—turned at their approach. "Eragon! What did I tell you about..." He trailed off, staring in wonder at Ophelia who had just crested the rise.
Eragon grinned at the older fellow, then introduced the pair. "Brom, this is Tania and her dragon, Ophelia. Tania, Ophelia," he said, turning. "This is my friend and mentor, Brom. He is one of the main reasons I'm still alive today."
Tania smiled. "It is a pleasure, Brom."
You forgot me, said the blue dragoness, who was sitting just below the top of the rise.
"Sorry. This is Saphira, my dragon."
Ophelia's head snapped up, and her scales rippled luminous gold and magenta. Brom blinked. "She can change color?"
Ophelia looked at him. Yes, actually, I can. Why?
"A dragon that can change color has never been recorded down in history. I believe you are the first."
The young dragoness cocked her head, thinking. Well, she said eventually, it is certainly useful.
And a very good way to stick to your Rider, added Saphira, with a subtle hint of jealousy.
Phew! They finally meet the troupe. For those who may wonder, Tania is fifteen years and eight months. However, all she knows is fifteen autumns. She doesn't know her exact birthday.
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Falcon