Yay! I'm so glad I can be writing this. Because, A) nothing but the OCs belong to moi, and B) everything recognizable and amazing ((Hint hint: Thorn and his Rider)) belongs to the insanely talented but also the most infuriating author in the WORLD, Christopher James Paolini. ((Yes, that is his real middle name. I looked it up.))
They headed through the hills, avoiding the tops for fear of being spotted by sentries. Saphira stayed on the ground for the same reason—though Ophelia, with her color-shifting scales, flew above them as lookout, unseen. Despite her bulk, she was stealthy; only her tail could be heard scraping over the ground, like a thick blue snake.
Eventually the sky brightened in the east. The morning star Aiedail appeared as they reached the edge of a steep bank covered with mounds of brush. Water roared below as it tore over boulders and sluiced through branches.
"The Ramr!" shouted Eragon over the noise.
Murtagh nodded. "Yes! We have to find a place where we can ford safely."
That isn't necessary, Saphira told Tania and Eragon. I can carry you across, no matter how wide the river is.
What about the horses? Eragon asked her.
If they don't struggle too much, Ophelia can give her extra strength while she does, supplied Tania.
And as long as you're not on them, I'm sure I can carry them. If I can dodge arrows with three people on my back, I can certainly fly a horse in a straight line over a river.
Hmm. Eragon frowned at that. I believe you, but I'd rather not attempt it if we have no need.
Well, we cannot afford to squander our time here, said Ophelia, and Tania felt her swoop low, unseen against the clear blue sky—though she did notice a rippling shadow over the trees around them. Saphira snorted in agreement, clambering down the bank. Tania followed, leading Cadoc, as Eragon did the same with Snowfire. The bank came to an abrupt halt at the Ramr, where the river ran dark and swift. Like a black horse, Tania commented to Ophelia. White mist wafted up from the river, like blood steaming in winter, making it impossible to see to the other side. Murtagh tossed a branch into the torrent and watched it race away, bobbing on the rough water.
"How deep do you think it is?" asked Eragon.
"I can't tell," replied Murtagh, worry coloring his voice. "Can you see how far across it is with magic?"
"I don't think so, not without lighting this place like a beacon."
"And look how dark it is," said Tania. "If it were very shallow, it'd be lighter."
With a gust of air, Saphira took off and soared over the Ramr. After a short time, Eragon suddenly exclaimed, "A half-mile!" Tania sighed as he told Murtagh of Saphira's offer to fly them.
"I'd rather not try it, for the horses' sake. Tornac isn't as accustomed to Saphira as Snowfire or Cadoc. He might panic and injure them both. Ask Saphira to look for shallows where we can swim over safely. If there aren't any within a mile either direction, then I suppose she can ferry us."
Eragon nodded and transmitted the message before they hunkered down by the horses and ate a quick meal of dry bread. It wasn't long before Saphira returned, her velvet wings whispering in the early dawn sky. The water is both deep and strong, upstream as well as downstream. Ophelia flew a little farther each direction as well, and it's the same for two more miles either direction.
And it grows only wider in the south after a while, grumbled the camouflaged dragon from above them.
Once he was told, Murtagh said, "I think I'd better go over first, so I can watch the horses." He scrambled into Saphira's saddle. "Be careful with Tornac. I've had him for many years; I don't want anything to happen to him." Then Saphira took off.
When she returned, the unconscious she-elf had been untied from her belly. Tania helped Eragon lead Tornac over to Saphira, resting a relaxed, soothing hand on his muscled neck, ignoring his low, distressed whinnies. Saphira reared back on her haunches to grasp the horse around the belly with her forelegs. "Wait!" said Eragon. He quickly repositioned Tornac's saddle blanket so that it protected his soft underside, then gestured to Saphira to continue.
Tornac snorted in fright and tried to bolt when Saphira's talons clamped around his sides, but she held him tightly. The horse rolled his eyes wildly, whites rimming his dilated pupils. Tania immediately stroked his face soothingly, cooing softly, which calmed him slightly. Before Tornac could try to escape again, Saphira jumped skyward, her hind legs thrusting with such force that her claws gouged the rocks beneath. Her wings strained furiously, struggling to lift the enormous load, and Tania quickly poured a portion of her own strength into the blue dragon's, feeling Ophelia do the same. Tornac screamed in terror, kicking and tossing. It was a terrible sound, like screeching metal.
Eragon swore.
I tried to block the sound from the hill, Ophelia told Tania, but I see the men may have heard it. They are uncertain, though; many think it was simply the screeching of an owl. Sighing in relief, Tania relayed the information to Eragon, who relaxed only slightly. As Saphira landed, Eragon led Snowfire to her. Murtagh's silly animal is in hysterics. He had to tie the beast down to prevent him from running away. She gripped Snowfire and carried him off, ingoring his trumpeting protestations, returning a moment later for Cadoc and repeating the process.
Finally Saphira came for the Riders, and they were soon on firm ground once more, with the Ramr to their backs. Once the horses were calmed and the saddles readjusted, they resumed their flight toward the Beor Mountains. The air filled with the calls and cries of birds waking to a new day, a sound so familiar to Tania that she hummed quietly.
Tania dozed slightly even as they walked, distantly aware of her companions doing the same. There were times when none of them guided the horses, Saphira and Ophelia's vigilance the only things keeping them on course.
Eventually the ground became soft and gave way underneath them, forcing them to halt. The sun was high overhead, the Ramr River no more than a fuzzy line behind them.
They had reached the Hadarac Desert.
Whew! This was tiring. You try copying the book onto the screen, adding your own little details occasionally. *faints* Ugh.
Please please PLEASE review!
Fate