I think this is a pretty funny chapter, so I hope you all think the same.
Chapter 7: Learning to fly.
Eragon remained in his dragon form and walked around Saphira once more, examining every curve in her new form.
"What do you think?" she asked out loud. Eragon hummed loudly and shot out a plume of smoke, once again not sure how he did it. He sniffed her long blonde hair and snorted pleasingly.
You are very beautiful, 'little one,' he mocked gently. Saphira turned around to face him and placed her left hand on his black muzzle.
"How does it feel to change roles?" she asked jokingly. Eragon snorted again and turned his attention to Angela.
"Do you like it?" she asked out loud. Eragon nodded his large head and turned to see a smile creep across Saphira's face. "I think there is much for you to teach each other. I will leave now. Good bye Brightscales and Shadeslayer. Until fate brings us together again."
"It will eventually," Saphira said. Eragon sniffed the air and turned to face Saphira.
I guess I should change back now? He asked, cocking his head. Saphira let out a kind laugh and stepped away so he could morph back. He said the magic spell and began to shrink down into his original form, but there was a problem. The clothes that he wore were ripped off of him during his transformation, so Eragon was standing naked in front of Saphira with nothing to cover his private areas.
"Oh bugger!" he exclaimed, quickly diving behind a nearby shrub. Saphira giggled slightly and placed a hand over her mouth. "How come you changed with clothes on your backside?"
"Well," she said, hiding a smile of amusement. "I believe that the women in your species must cover up more areas than a male, yes?"
"Either way," Eragon grunted. "My clothes are nothing more than mere rags and I can't walk into Ellesmera with my flesh showing like this!" He moved his hands at a distance down his body to emphasize his point.
"I have an idea," Saphira said, walking closer to him. "Why don't we both change? I'll turn to my true form and you can change into a dragon with me. That way no one will see you like this." Eragon wiped sweat off of his brow with his right hand.
"You are still the wisest," he said, breaking a branch of the shrub off with his left hand.
"What are you doing?" Saphira chuckled out. Eragon looked down at the branch and placed it to where it would cover himself.
"I don't want you to…?" he trailed off. "See me naked like this. It is rather embarrassing."
"Well," Saphira stated, furrowing her brow. "You can't hold it in place why you change can you?"
"Well no," he replied sheepishly. Saphira smiled.
"I will turn away if you wish," she said innocently. Saphira turned around quickly, whipping her blonde hair against her left cheek.
"You better not peek," Eragon muttered, stepping from his cover. "Honia!" After a few brief moments, he changed into the same black dragon he was earlier.
It is safe now, he told her. Thank you. Saphira turned around to see his face, which was dangerously close to hers. She reached up and pet his forehead.
"Anything to make my rider happy," she replied. "I suppose I should do it now?" Eragon snorted and stepped away from her as she uttered the magical spell. Her transformation was no different than Eragon's when she changed. In moments, she was back to normal.
Am I missing anything? Saphira asked, inspecting herself. Eragon padded slowly around her to check for any damage, but she was whole. He snorted again and made his way to her front.
I see nothing different, he explained. Do you feel well?
It feels strange, she said. I am just happy that I am myself again. She straightened out her wings and tucked them in smugly to her sides. Are you ready?
For what? Eragon asked. Saphira snaked her head around her body to look at her wings. Oh no! he exclaimed, shaking his giant head in protest. I would rather fly on your back then fly by my own.
You could fly on my back, Saphira said, but my saddle is not with me and you are stark naked. Would that be a comfortable ride? Eragon shuddered, shaking his black scales violently.
Okay, he sighed. I suppose I am ready. Saphira moved over beside him and lifted one of his wings with her nose.
Flap it, she ordered gently. Eragon did as he was told and beat the air with the one wing.
Now what? He asked. Saphira padded over to his other side and pulled out his other wing.
Now do the next one. Eragon obeyed again and flapped, sending a small dust cloud into the air. Saphira stepped back and looked him over.
Now you need to flap both of them, she said, fighting back a chuckle. Eragon tried, but he couldn't manage to flap both wings in unison. One was always a slight bit faster than the other.
Even it out, Saphira explained. If you are off balance, you will fall like a stone.
Really encouraging, Eragon growled, still flapping away. After countless tries, he had succeeded.
Okay, Saphira said, flapping her own wings. Watch what I do. She suddenly leapt into the air and tucked in her feet. Before gravity could pull her down to Earth, she beat her wings and began to lift upwards. Eragon jumped after her and beat his wings frantically, trying to gain the lift needed to climb, but gravity won the battle and sent Eragon straight back down to Earth. Saphira quickly turned and flew towards him, but stopped midway to laugh hysterically. Thankfully, he wasn't high enough to hurt anything…except his pride.
What happened? She laughed out. Her laugh was strange, yet heavenly as it rebounded off of the trees and stones in the forest around them. Eragon struggled to his paws and looked at his wings.
They are broken, he muttered, flapping them again. I did just as you said, but they did not work.
Nonsense, Saphira said, swooping down beside him to nudge his side. Keep trying. I have all day to help you. Eragon sighed and looked to the sky. I will watch on the ground and correct any of your mistakes.
Lovely, Eragon groaned. He crouched and leapt into the air again, beating his wings for dear life. Once again, he fell back down to the forest, crashing on a fallen tree and breaking it in two with his weight.
Oh dear, Saphira said, padding over to him. Are you okay? Eragon stood to his paws and shook the broken woodchips from his hide.
What am I doing wrong? He asked. Saphira shook her head.
You are falling a lot, She replied gently.
Obviously, he snapped, licking a small cut on his shoulder. Any other observations?
You do not give your wings time to catch the air, Saphira advised. You need to flap them gently and slowly. If you move to quickly, you will not gain the lift you need to rise. Care to try it again?
One more time, Eragon barked. If I fail again, I am riding back on you…naked or not! Saphira laughed slightly and stood back to watch him again. Eragon inhaled and crouched for the final time before leaping into the air. In mid jump he spread out his wings and brought them down in unison, pushing him upward.
You did it! Saphira exclaimed joyously. Now, how to fly straight…? She looked up to see that Eragon had already figured out how to control his movements in the air, and took off after him, catching up in mere seconds.
It is easy after taking off, Eragon explained while she flew beside him. He could sense a faint smile across her face as she banked slowly to the left. Eragon lowered his left wing and raised his right one to follow her.
Is this like your dream, Eragon? Saphira asked. Eragon looked around at his surroundings which were in the colors of blue, red, and green thanks to his new eyesight.
No, he replied softly, catching up to her. I think that this is better. Saphira suddenly rolled over to the right and flipped upside down above Eragon.
Shall we? Saphira asked. Eragon looked up at her and his dark red eyes met her sapphire ones.
Shall we what? He asked. Saphira chuckled and rolled around to where she was below him.
Let's play! She exclaimed. At once she climbed upward, gently crashing into Eragon. This action threw him off balance and caused him to roll to the right. He quickly regained control over himself and climbed up into the sun.
Where are you, little one? Saphira taunted far below him. Eragon smiled to himself as he saw his perfect opportunity. He silently tucked his wings to his side and dove down towards her with his claws outstretched. Complements of Saphira, he thought to himself as he remembered her flying and hunting tactics. She was getting closer and appeared to not even take notice of him. He prepared to strike, but Saphira suddenly flapped her wings with enough force to allow her to hover. Eragon hadn't learned that trick and was forced to fly right in front of her.
Never underestimate your opponent, Saphira mocked, as she began to chase him again. Eragon pulled up hard and flapped frantically to loop himself down towards her. They were now facing head-on, and he nor Saphira wanted to back down from this game. Suddenly, Saphira rolled over to her side and stuck out her claws to where he would fly straight into them. Without hesitation, he pulled out of the dive and watched as Saphira got behind him again.
This is a great exercise, Eragon panted. Saphira used her speed and strength to fly above Eragon. She tucked in her wings and dove straight down. Eragon saw what she was doing and pushed himself to get away, but he was just too slow. Saphira suddenly changed her course and snapped at Eragon's tail, just missing the tip of it.
I can't inflect any injury on you, Saphira said. You know I wouldn't do that.
You had me thinking you would, Eragon puffed, looking back to make sure that his tail was still intact. He banked slowly to the right to head deeper into the forest. That was a great flying lesson, Saphira. Now, I guess it is only fair to teach you a few human skills.
Like?
We'll figure that one out after I get some new clothes!
PEACE!