Major Dragon Fluff here…and also a lot of humor involving Royan and his father. Any teen who has gone on a road trip with his or her old man will know the feeling they are about to encounter lol! Also, by reading this you will see the answers to the polls that I have taken. Thank you all. Let's keep it running, shall we? Also, to let those readers know (especially those without email addresses or those who "forget" to sign them in), I have a few things to answer.

1). In my opinion at least, I feel that dragons only go as far in the bloodline as brother, sister, father, and mother. Cousins don't exist. It avoids the nasty issue.

2). I do plan on a human child in the later chapters, and HONIA only works on Eragon and his wife...because they were the ones that drank the potion. For Annie, that was a good question.

3). Equinox may be waiting for a while for her mate...she is not quite old enough, but Covin'thra and she will be proud mothers in time.

Hope all is answered. If any other questions zip over a review and LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!! How can I get back to you otherwise? lol

Chapter 62: An Unexpected Visitation

"Are you sure that you know where we are?" Ebath asked his son. Equinox was padding cautiously behind them.

"It should have been a straight shot," Royan replied harshly. "I never veered off course."

"Well you did something," Ebath hissed. "It is getting late and we are miles from home. Now let us see here: We crossed the Ninor River around thirty minutes ago correct?"

"Yes," Royan replied.

"Well," Ebath stated, "at this point we should see Lake Isentar, yes?"

"What is your point, Father?" Royan asked, as he turned back to check on the young dragonet behind him. Ebath looked around and suddenly tossed his sword down on the hard packed dirt.
"WHERE IS THE LAKE?" he roared. "I swear, I have a sheep for a son! You have no sense in direction!" Equinox couldn't help but chuckle at Ebath's comment, but quickly stifled it. Suddenly, a large body of water came into view.

"There it is," Royan pointed out. "I told you…?"

"That is the Anora River!" Ebath shouted. "We have completely spun around!"

"Parden me," Equinox asked. "May we stop for a drink? It is not far." Ebath groaned and comically slapped his son on the back of his head before heading of towards the water with the dragonet leading the way this time.

- - - - - - - -

"I am worried," Eragon told Draken. "They are elves. Do elves ever arrive late?"

"I know not," Draken replied worriedly. "Do you wish for me to search for them?"

"Give them a little more time," Eragon stated. "Saphira is trying to cook supper…perhaps if all does not go well, our home will be lit bright enough to lead them back."

"Should you be in there to help?" Draken asked. "I really do not want to sleep in the cold tonight while our home crumbles in ashes."

- - - - - -

"Water!" Equinox chirped cheerfully, as she dove into the cool stream. Ebath and Royan followed her in to refresh themselves before beginning the journey. They watched Equinox dive down into the river to further clean off her dirty scales.

"Come on," Ebath called to her. "Time to go!" Suddenly, a strange voice broke through their minds.

A youngling? The voice asked intently with a heavenly feminine voice. Ebath and Royan looked at each other in disbelief but then focused their attention back on the magenta dragonet.

"Let us go!" Ebath called to Equinox, who was slurping up some more water. Royan waded closer to her and picked her up by her neck, startling her. She squealed and kicked in the water, making it appear as if she was in danger.

Let her go, the voice came back.

Who are you? Ebath cautiously asked, scanning the mountainous terrain for any hostility. There came no answer.

"I smell something," Equinox whispered to Royan. "It seems familiar."

"What is it?" Royan asked. Suddenly, there was a large splash in front of him that knocked him down into the water and caused him to release Equinox in the process. Ebath stood in shock while his son stammered up to his feet.

"What in the name of…?" Royan attempted to swear but stopped talking at the sight in front of him.

I warned you.

- - - - - -

"That is it," Draken sighed. "Father, keep dinner warm. I will go and fetch our friends."

"It is getting dark son," Eragon told him. "Be careful."

"I always do," Draken snickered, as he lifted off into the darkening sky. Eragon shook his head and walked back inside his home to see Saphira holding up a large tray with perfectly cooked deer lying on it.

"I did it," she said proudly, as she gently set the tray onto the wooden table in the kitchen. Eragon walked up to her and pressed his lips lovingly against her own.

"I never doubted you," he whispered to her. "Save a few pieces for our son. He has gone off to find our wandering friends…and our daughter."

- - - - - -

"Another dragon?" Equinox gasped, as she kicked her paws to float above the water. Ebath and Royan were still stunned. In front of them was a large dragon, just a month younger than Draken. Her scales were bright yellow and her eyes were ruby red. The dragon was young, but her eyes showed a great amount of wisdom.

Is there a problem? She asked the elves. Both shook their heads.

"Forgive our staring," Ebath replied. "We thought that the last dragons were Thorn and Saphira."

Who? The dragon asked, cocking her head. This is not the point I am trying to make. Why must you try to take this hatchling away?

"She has been placed under our care," Royan stuttered. "Her father is the rider Eragon."

I am familiar with riders, the dragon muttered, but how can this be the offspring of a…human?

It is a difficult manner to discuss, Ebath explained mentally. If you join us, we shall have him explain it…?

No, the yellow dragon snapped. I have remained hidden from humans ever since I broke free of my shell. I have witnessed many things and humans cannot be trusted.

"How can you stay hidden?" Royan asked, obviously confused. "Furthermore, how did you hatch in the first place? Galbatorix destroyed all of those, did he not?"

If he did, the dragon responded, would I standing here now? Both elves stammered and fell over their own tongues at the dragon's sly comment. Equinox cautiously swam forward at her and sniffed at her forearm.

"Who are you?" Equinox asked nervously. The yellow dragon brought her head down low and inspected Equinox with one large eye fixed on her.

You speak…human? The dragon asked in an amused tone. Well, I suppose that I have not seen everything. I will tell you everything you wish to know, but first, I would like to know what a child like yourself is doing away from your parents? You barely look old enough to fly, let alone walk beside two ridiculous elves that cannot walk a straight line. My, they are almost as bad as Dwarves, are they not?

"Excuse me," Ebath stepped in. "For being so young, how do you know of us…and the dwarves?" The dragon sighed and lifted her head up towards the Spine Mountains.

I, she began, have been hiding in those mountains since the beginning of my existence. Because of the recent wars, I have never traveled farther than the river. When I visit the water, I listen in on conversations between the villagers in the nearby towns. How else am I expected to gain knowledge when I am forced to be cooped up in these blasted hills? The elves looked at each other and shook their heads.

"It still puzzles me," Royan muttered. "Galbatorix has been dead for quite some time. Why did you still choose to remain in hiding?"

A dragoness like myself has her reasons, she replied.

"If you are trying to remain concealed, you have failed," Ebath pointed out. "Why did you get involved in our affairs?"

To be honest, she replied with her head raised in thought. I had thought for quite a while that I was the only wild dragon. I saw a sapphire one fly by a few months back and there was a black male riding alongside her. It was strange, but I could feel that their bond was stronger than just mates. I suppose that I made the error of believing that this little one was in danger and decided to come to her rescue.

"It was noble of you," Royan replied. The yellow dragoness bowed her head at the kind compliment.

Thank you, she replied. You should take her home. It is getting dark and hatchlings should be in their nests long before this time.

"You sound as if you are a mother yourself," Ebath muttered.

I wanted to be one, she replied. I suppose that fate had different plans for me.

"Not quite, friend," Royan said with a smile. "There is a fine young male dragon who is just older than you. Perhaps not all hope is lost?"

Perhaps, she sighed. Oh where are my manners! I am Lunalese and I also apologize for my actions against you.

"No need for apologies," Ebath replied, watching Equinox look up at the beautiful scaled dragon in front of her. "I am Ebath and the elf next to me is my son, Royan. The little one in front of you is Equinox, daughter of Saphira and Eragon."

Equinox? Lunalese asked with wonder bright in her ruby eyes. What a lovely name, little one. Equinox let out a soft chirp and turned to face Ebath.

"Can we get out of the water now?"

- - - - -- - - -

"Where are they?" Draken asked, as he flew out of the forest towards the Spine. "I hope that they are alright." It was dark and Draken could only see by the light of the stars above him. Suddenly, he caught a strange, yet familiar scent. It was odd, but Draken found himself bound to it. He followed the strange odor until he stopped just at the Anon River.

"What is that?" he whispered, sniffing about to find the scent's source. It was not long before he discovered a small campfire just at the bank of the river.

"Brother!" Equinox suddenly called. He watched as she climbed up to her paws and rushed to greet him. "There is someone that you must meet!"

"What is this about?" Draken asked, following his sister, who was padding joyfully back to the campsite. "Where have you been?"

"I have been safe," she replied. "Ebath and Royan are next to the fire." He caught another strong scent, but he just could not figure from where. Still, he trusted his sister and padded towards the fire.

"Hello Draken," Royan said. "Welcome!"

"My father sends you to deliver her home and you go off on a camping trip?" Draken asked harshly. "My family is worried sick."

"Stone head here got us lost," Ebath muttered, pointing to his son. "Come! Take a seat next to us."

"I would rather get my sister home," Draken replied. Suddenly, Equinox took off into the brush shouting something that sounding like "He's here!" Draken shook his head and cautiously padded over to his Elvin friends.

"How did you two get lost?" Draken asked, as he sat on his haunches beside them.

"It actually is quite a coincidence that we did," Royan replied. "We found someone that you may want to meet."

"What are you talking about?" Draken asked, growling. Ebath stood to his feet and placed his hand to cup his mouth.

"It is okay, Lunalese," he called. "He is a friend."

"Luna…?" Draken asked, but was cut off as the beautiful dragoness emerged shyly from the underbrush. She was just a few inches shorter than him, but her yellow colored hide seemed to glimmer brightly in the moonlight, along with her gorgeous ruby red eyes. He followed the shape of her slender form from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. On her end was Equinox, who had chomped down on her tip to catch a lift back.

He…hello, Lunalese said shyly. She lifted up her tail towards him and looked briefly at Equinox, who was dangling comically on the end of it. I believe that this one belongs to you?

"Yes," Draken said, stepping in closer to have a better look at the dragoness. "My sister is quite a surprising dragon. You should see her other sibling, Covin'thra." He looked up into her eyes and showed his teeth. "Where did you come from?"

An egg…much like yourself, Lunalese said with a hint of nervous laughter. Perhaps you should re-word your questions? Equinox let go of Lunalese's tail and plopped down on the ground with a muffled thump, causing the yellow dragon to turn her gaze away from Draken and to the younger dragonet.

"Thank you," Equinox said, bowing her body humbly. Lunalese looked back over to Draken and cocked her head.

"I…er…taught her that," Draken stumbled on his words. "Respect is highly honored in our household."

As I can see, Lunalese replied smugly. Well, it does make her rather cute. You must have very good parents…eh…?

"Draken," he replied quickly. Lunalese padded closer to where they were almost snout-to-snout.

It is my pleasure to meet you, Draken, she replied nervously. Your friends told little of you, but I have learned bits and pieces.

"I hope of good things," Draken laughed out shyly. "I was a rather 'eventful' hatchling."

They have not told me that, Lunalese chuckled.

"Draken," Ebath called to him. "It is time for us to head back. Your mother will not be happy if we stay here the entire night." Draken turned to Lunalese and growled softly.

"Would you care to join us?" he asked, darting his eyes away from hers to avoid her piecing gaze.

I really should not, she replied, deep in thought. If I am discovered, trouble may follow me.

"I will protect you," Draken shot out cunningly. "If you do not want to go, it is fine…?"

I want to, Lunalese replied, but I am rather frightened. I have suffered for several months away from human contact.

"How did they discover you?" Draken asked, tossing his head back towards Ebath. She snorted and shook her head.

I had a misunderstanding, she sighed.

"You two go on," Royan said, waving them off. "We will take Equinox back…now that we finally know the correct way there."

Care for a little walk? Draken asked mentally, tucking his wings in tighter to his sides. She mimicked his move.

Sounds lovely, she replied. A nice talk will do well for a dragoness like me. Draken sighed and padded away with Lunalese following at his right side.

So what have you done while you were alone? Draken asked, obviously concerned. She let out a soft choppy growl.

Well, she said, as she padded beside them. I quickly learned that rocks do not talk back to you. They both chuckled at the odd joke, but Lunalese went on. Over the months, I made friends with other predators. We had pacts to where I would hunt for them and they could have what I left over. They are simple creatures, unlike us dragons, but a partner who talks back is better than a silent stone if you ask me.

How did you come about? Draken continued to ask. Is that re-worded enough?

I suppose so, she chuckled. I do not know much of my past, but I do know how difficult it is to take care of yourself without a mother or father. I do remember being dropped when I was in my egg, and there were also the sounds of galloping horses as well.

You are wise for someone so…?

Primitive? Lunalese asked, as if it hurt her. I know. I only learned what those odd creatures were called just a month ago.

Well I was not going to call you primitive, Draken said with a sly grin.

Well then, she sighed. I am waiting to hear what you were expecting to call me.

Blast! Draken suddenly shouted. You made me forget. Lunalese gently brushed her muzzle against his cheek and leaned back to shake her head at him.

What was that for? Draken asked intently. What did I do?

It is just a formal greeting, Draken, Lunalese replied. Do not worry about forgetting it.

Then I shall forget about my forgetfulness, Draken said jokingly. She let out a choppy growl and padded forward again. Ever since birth, I thought that I was the only wild dragon, Draken said. Now, you have just turned everything around on me.

My apologies, she said, walking slower to enjoy the talks between them. I did not mean to…?

"It is not your fault," he said out loud. "I will get over it." Lunalese laughed again and stopped in her tracks, making Draken stop alongside her. "What is it?"

Nothing, she sighed. I just have been forced to be so quiet over the months. It is good to have someone else to converse with.

It is, Draken admitted. It still puzzles me on how you could stay hidden so long and not be discovered.

The Spine is a large mountain, Lunalese replied kindly. I could have remained there for years.

I am glad that you chose a different path, Draken murmured. I apologize, what is your name?

Did they not tell you earlier? Lunalese asked humorously, or were you focused on other things?

What do you mean? Draken snapped. Lunalese shook her head again and let out another choppy growl.

I suppose that will come in time, she mentioned, spreading her wings. Come my friend. Take me to your nest.

Nest? Draken asked. I have no nest, but I do have a home.

I can tell that you have been raised by humans, Lunalese laughed. No matter, it makes you more interesting. She sighed and looked to the East. I feel that we should first make sure that your friends are not five thousand leagues in the wrong direction.

Sounds like a good idea, Draken admitted. So…what is a nest?

- - - - - - - - - -

"Dear," Eragon said to Saphira. "Where is my hairbrush?" He had just hopped out of the bathtub and was searching frantically for something to straighten out his wild locks.

It should be on our dresser, she replied to him. Saphira was down in the bowls in dragon form keeping Covin'thra company. Did you find it?

No, he called back. No matter. He slipped on a fresh tunic and headed down the stairs to lie next to his wife and child. He crawled into the last bowl and placed a soft kiss on Saphira's scaly forehead.

It is odd that our daughter be missing and we not worry as much, Saphira sighed. I suppose it must deal with the fact that our enemy is finally gone.

"I suppose," Eragon agreed, as he gently pushed Covin'thra away to lay against Saphira's warm stomach. "I have a feeling that they should be home soon." As if on cue, the familiar sounds of wings beating against the air filled the night sky outside. "Told you." Eragon stretched against Saphira and stood up to head out the door. He stopped and saw two dragons flying towards his home, one of whom had Equinox in its mouth. Both dragons also had riders on them, but they looked familiar and could be heard squabbling from almost a mile away.

Thorn should be with Murtagh right now, Eragon thought to himself. He contacted Saphira soon afterwards. Can you come out here, darling?

On my way, she replied. I was just getting comfortable too. She padded outside, followed closely by Covin'thra, but both stopped in their tracks as they saw Draken touch down with a bright yellow dragon landing beside him. Both dragons had riders on their backs and they still refused to stop fighting.

"How could you get us lost…again?" one rider shouted to the other. Upon a further glimpse, Eragon realized that the two riders were the elves that he trusted to watch over Equinox. Draken padded forward with Equinox resting in his mouth, while the other dragon timidly approached behind her.

Draken, Saphira asked, dumbfounded. Who is this?

"It is a friend, Mother," Draken replied, dropping Equinox down so she could rush to her sister. The yellow dragon moved over beside Draken and humbly bowed her head.

Greetings, she told Saphira. I am Lunalese, guardian of the Spine Mountains.

I am Saphira, Saphira replied in kind. I am the protector of Alageasia, and the wife of Eragon Shadeslayer...him." She slowly tossed her head over towards Eragon and let out a choppy growl, while Lunalese snorted and shot her head back at the odd mix of species.

Pardon my asking, Lunalese asked, but how can a human and a dragon mate?

It is a very long story, Eragon butted in. All that can wait. Come in, we have much to converse about! Draken turned to face Lunalese and motioned for her to head into the home, in which she obeyed.

As she entered the home, her jaw fell open in sheer wonder.

This is how humans live? She asked.

Not quite, Saphira replied. This is how dragons would live when they are in human form.

Come again? Lunalese asked, sniffing the three bowls in the middle of the floor. For some odd reason, she was able to tell which one was Draken's because of the scent that he had left behind. It did not smell wretched or foul, but rather pleasant.

"You can lay in there if you wish," Draken told her kindly. "It is padded unlike the beds that you have slept on that were made of rocks and dirt." Lunalese sniffed at his bed once again and cautiously crawled inside of it. She spun around inside of the bowl for a few moments and then slowly sunk down into it.

Oh my, she sighed. This is heavenly. I am surprised that you can even wake up after sleeping in this.

"I have my moments," Draken replied cunningly. He padded over to the bowl next to hers and crawled inside it. Saphira took to hers and allowed Equinox and Covin'thra to crawl in as well as her husband.

"So I suppose I should explain ourselves," Eragon laughed out. "If I do this, you must explain how you came to existence."

From an egg, Lunalese replied, showing her teeth. Eragon and Saphira chuckled softly.

"Very well," Eragon said. "The reason we were able to start a family was because of a wonderful spell caster. She discovered a way to make Saphira and me change beings from human to dragon. The only bad side…if you want to call it that…is the fact that our younglings can converse openly."

I do recognize your colors, Lunalese said to Saphira. Eragon, you would not happen to be a black dragon would you?

"I am," Eragon replied.

I have seen you two a few times, Lunalese exclaimed. Is it not interesting how fate brings us together? I suppose that it is my turn.

"Story time," Equinox whispered to Covin'thra, who snickered at her comment.

I do not know who my mother and father are, Lunalese explained, but I do remember being dropped and horses…I remember their loud hooves clicking by. I am about six months old, and all six months have been spent in the Spine Mountains.

"Draken is seven months old," Eragon pointed out. "You must have hatched just after he did."

Yes, Lunalese replied. For the longest time I feared that I would never find a member of the opposite sex to converse with, or anyone from my species for that matter, but your son came along and is very kind.

That is how we raised him, Saphira said with a faint smirk across her scaled face.

You also have a very sweet hatchling, Lunalese pointed out. I must know. How did you create such lovely names for them?

Actually, Eragon said mentally. Draken picked them out. Lunalese suddenly turned her gaze over to him.

Really? She asked with her ruby eyes shinning. Draken shyly nodded his head. That is going to come in handy.

YEAH CHAPTER 62! Well, did I bring the new character in well? Let me know what you think, ok?

PEACE!