Woohoo! I'm back, guys! I am not Christopher P., so I only own Tania and Ophelia. Onwards!
Chapter Six
Brom was pleased that she had saved the hides and pelts of any animal she caught, and quickly made a saddle for Ophelia. When she saw her dragon with the saddle on, Tania grinned widely and asked when they would start flying. Eragon just looked at her strangly. Brom's eyes were twinkling.
"Well," he said, "You may ride her now, if you wish. Perhaps Eragon and Saphira will join you." Eragon looked up at that, alarmed. Saphira tossed her head and growled at him.
Tania frowned. "Is there something I'm missing, Eragon? You look as if you're afraid to even touch the saddle."
Saphira looked at her. He is.
Why? Tania asked. Saphira then sent her a series of images, of flying above mountains—with Eragon on her back—but there was no saddle, and in the process, Eragon's legs were chafed horribly on Saphira's scales.
Tania sighed. "Eragon." she said. He looked at her. "What's the point of the title 'Dragon Rider' if you won't even touch the saddle?"
She could see Saphira adding her own words to that, but it was obviously private. Eragon sighed.
"Alright," he said.
Tania broke into a wide grin, then turned and vaulted onto Ophelia. The dragon had streaks of gold running down her body, and her wings were tinting amber. Hold on, little one. She leaned back and, with a whooosh of powerful air, launched herself into the sky. Tania was leaning forward, holding the spike in front of her as the air whipped past, grinning in the exhileration.
Then, Ophelia asked, Would you like to see it from my perspective?
You don't even need to ask.
Tania merged her mind with Ophelia's, and they became one, like water and air as it forms mist. They surged upwards, past the clouds, then vaulted over backwards and went into a steep dive. They changed the colors of their scales to become a shooting star of brilliant violets, azure blues, glowing gold and blinding white. The ground below them was a myriad of colors, and everything stood out. The distant Isenstar Lake shimmered in iredescent colors. Every little droplet of water in the clouds, reflecting the sun and it's golden rays. The grass below them shifted from gray to a vibrant, dark green and rich, warm brown.
They could see Saphira and Eragon gliding above them, and they levelled out, then quickly rocketed skywards with their momentum. Rising until they were level with the blue pair, they glided alongside, sharing the peacefulness. They stayed in the air for the rest of the day, Brom riding below them with the horses.
That night, they camped on the moor. After eating, Tania curled up next to Ophelia, who folded an iredescent wing over her Rider.
The next morning, they set out again, Ophelia and Tania taking to the skies while Eragon and Brom rode below. They would be reaching Yazuac today, and they didn't want Brom to be seen with a riderless horse. Saphira flew beside them, and they exchanged riddles and conversation.
It was late afternoon when they reached Yazuac. There wasn't much cloud cover, so Saphira, after telling Tania and Ophelia to watch Eragon carefully, landed in a copse of trees. Tania and Ophelia circled above, the latter shifting her scales to match the sky.
When they caught sight of Yazuac, Tania imediately knew something was wrong. There was no noise, no hustle and bustle a village like this should have. It was deserted, and deathly silent.
She suddenly realized how true the statement was when she saw the pyramid of dead bodies.
Oh gods...
I know, little one. Tania could only bury her face in Ophelia's scales, which were pulsing with a grevious blue before the dragon could get her scales under control.
They descended, slowly. Soon they could see their companions, trotting through the streets. When they reached the square, they halted.
Suddenly, Tania saw a flash of movement in an alley behind them. Brom! There are still two Urgals here!
The old man reared his horse around, but the Urgals had already leapt. They descended upon their companions, and Ophelia immediately locked her wings into a steep dive.
The Urgals knocked Brom out cold, then turned on Eragon and backed him into an alley. Ophelia flew straight for the old man, picking him up in her talons and letting Tania pull him up behind her. Then, they ascended, but before they could get to Eragon, there was a flash of blinding blue.
Ophelia ducked back into the streets, landing behind a building that looked as if it may have been a tavern. When the azure blue light faded, they cautiously crept into the square. Eragon was stumbling out of the alley, looking as if he could barely keep himself upright.
Tania heard the rush of wings, and looked up to see Saphira descending upon the village. The larger blue dragon landed in the square, looking around her. Monsters, she said. Are they alright? she asked, indicating Eragon and Brom.
"They'll be fine. If you carry Eragon and Ophelia carries Brom, I'll be able to lead the horses."
I am fine with that. Ophelia?
Me as well.
Tania nodded, then went to Cadoc and Snowfire. Mounting the former and leading the latter, she trotted out of Yazuac, the two dragons—Ophelia turning a worried black—gliding above her.
She found a glen surrounded by trees that seemed alright to spend the night. She built a fire and roasted a pair of rabbits that Saphira had caught, then waited for her companions to wake.
Done. For today. I will be back, though, don't worry.
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Falcon