Woo! I am sorry for the cliffhanger back there, but… it was necessary. I also apologize for taking so long. CP owns everything recognizable, yada yada, I hate repeating myself, SO THERE.

Something nudged her.

Tania grumbled, muttering curses under her breath, pushing the offending shover away. It came back, nudging her even more insistently. Tania! Tania, please wake up, Murtagh and Eragon are fighting again!

Saphira? Tania mumbled, blearily opening one eye, before shutting it—the unclouded sun was not helping her headache, especially glinting off of the blue dragoness's scales.

Yes! Awaken!

I get it, I get it, Tania grumbled sourly. Using Saphira's nose to sit up, she blinked her eyes open, looking around. They were still by the pond, and dead or unconscious men were scattered around herself and Saphira. A ways away, Murtagh and Eragon were practically yelling at each other. Oh, wonderful.

I don't get why you're so grouchy, Ophelia's voice rang in her mind.

Take a guess. Maybe yell at me, but take a guess.

I'm not going to yell at you—yet. Take care of them first, and then I will yell at you.

Hm. Tania stood, using Saphira's snout to support herself, and made her way to where her companions were arguing. Murtagh was shouting, obviously upset, and Eragon was glaring at him. Tania looked around as she walked over, glancing at the scattered pools of blood. Hm. A reasonable lack of messiness, for once.

Then she noticed the headless torso. Ah. That's what they're fighting about? she asked Saphira.

Yes.

Rolling her eyes, she stopped a couple feet away, hands on her hips, judging the argument with narrowed eyes.

"I'm only trying to stay alive," Murtagh was stating. "No stranger's life is worth more than my own."

"But you can't indulge in wanton violence. Where is your empathy?" Eragon growled.

"Excuse me, wolves, if you would be so kind as to let me step in," Tania drawled. She glared the two of them down. "First, Eragon, I wish to explain something. Have you ever lived on your own, with nothing and nowhere to call your own? No friends, family, or even enemies? No, you haven't. I have. And if there's one thing I've learned since being chased out of my home when I was a child, it's that you can't depend on justice. It's a fantasy in this world. This is the reality. I would suggest realizing that." Then she turned to Murtagh. "However, despite the senseless 'empathy' comment, he has a point."

Murtagh ducked his head in acknowledgment. "I know. I hardly enjoy things like this; that's a job for tyrants like Galbatorix."

Tania crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow at Eragon, who frowned at her. "I still don't like it," he said stubbornly.

"You don't have to. You just have to stop picking fights," she told him, glaring pointedly. "It's childish and beneath you—and that goes to you, too, Murtagh, for getting dragged into them."

He raised his own eyebrow. "And I'm supposed to stop… how? He is the one bringing up the subjects."

"True," Tania admitted. "But you shouldn't continue the shouting matches. They give me a headache, and I'm sure Saphira doesn't enjoy them either."

I don't, confirmed the dragoness.

Eragon opened his mouth to protest further, but stopped as Tania suddenly swayed on the spot. "Tania!" He rushed forward, but Murtagh beat him to it, steadying her and gently helping her sit down.

I would yell at you, but it looks like you would ignore me anyway, Ophelia told her.

And you wouldn't be helping my headache, either, Tania replied, wincing.

"What's wrong?" Murtagh inquired worriedly.

"Too much magic," Tania replied. "Raising water is not a beginner's exercise."

Eragon blanched. "Tania, you could have died! And you did it anyway knowing that!"

Tania gave the Rider a bored look. "Says the boy who nearly died casting his first spell."

The boy in question bristled. "That was different," he insisted. "Until then, I didn't even know that Riders did magic."

Murtagh frowned. "You nearly died doing magic for the first time?"

"Yazuac, Urgals, blue fireball," Tania said. "Long story short, Yazuac had been ransacked by Urgals before we got there, a couple stragglers attacked, Eragon used magic. Brisingr, if you're interested."

"At the time, I had no idea what brisingr really meant, or what I could do with it," Eragon said pointedly. "You, however, have no such alibi."

Tania threw her hands in the air. "Alright, fine! I won't try to save your sorry hide again. You can save yourself next time." She would have stomped away, but she didn't trust herself not to fall back in the dirt if she did. "Let's just get out of here before the Urgals catch up," she suggested.

"Are you sure you should be riding?" Murtagh asked concernedly.

"No," Tania admitted, "but we have to anyway."

Okay, wow, I am so sorry I took so long. I bet you thought I was abandoning you again! o

And I'm sorry it's short, but please leave a nice review!

FF