This one is interesting! A little more ThornxCovy stuff, but just in little bits now (she is still not quite of that age…but it is coming quickly). Soon, Lunalese and Draken may become parents, but I do not know what chapter to toss it in. Read it and review! PS. This is a repost because of some pathetic errors that I have made (by the way I feel shameful for doing it too). There is a new creature that has emerged, and it is a 'she' not a 'he'. Thank you to Poet Bucky for pointing them out. And to Shadowrider, all is forgiven for your brother's 'stupidity.' Young brothers never learn, do they? Lol.

Chapter 68: Claws and Wings

"Oh no," Murtagh gasped as he dismounted off of Thorn. Covin'thra touched down beside him and also had the look of shock on her face. The village that they had stopped at was in ruins and bodies lined the dirt roads between it.

What happened? Thorn asked, as he padded up to inspect the gruesome scene. Covin'thra followed him while Murtagh unsheathed Zar'oc.

"The quake did not do this," Murtagh replied. He stepped up cautiously to a dismembered body and ran his hand across the disgusting bite marks that riddled its torso. "This was done by something else; something…with teeth." Thorn snorted and examined another fallen victim.

No argument against it, he growled. Something did this to them. Covin'thra looked up to Thorn and hissed before turning away to face the woods.

"I believe that the attackers came from there," Covin'thra suggested. "I shall find them…?"

No, Thorn stopped her. It is too dangerous and I do not want to lose you to the same fate as these villagers. He looked over to Murtagh. Lunalese knows something that we do not. I feel as if this is her doing.

"It is not," Murtagh sighed. "Eragon told me about what she knows. By what she has told him, the creatures here are planning to revolt against us humans."

Impossible, Thorn growled. How can that be done?

"Look around, friend," Murtagh told him. "Is it not obvious?" Suddenly, there was a loud rustle in a nearby shrub. Covin'thra crouched down and hissed while Thorn stood beside her.

"Show yourself!" Murtagh yelled at the noise. A small child suddenly appeared, covered in blood that was not his own. He was only fourteen years old, but he was holding a spear that was soaked in the blood of some hapless creature.

"Who are you?" the child asked. Murtagh lowered his blade and nodded his head to Thorn and Covin'thra.

"Tell us first," Murtagh said. "What happened here?"

"We were attacked," the child explained. "Many were struck down while helping those who needed to be rescued, but others attempted to fight them off."

"Who?" Covin'thra asked.

"What is more likely," the teenager replied, not phased by her awkward style of speech. "They came from the hillside with their teeth snapping against their jaws with so much force that it made the toughest warrior here cringe. It was only obvious on what they were expecting to do."

What was it? Thorn said irritably. The teen looked the dragon in the eye and set his spear on the bloodstained soil.

"It was the creatures," the teen explained, gritting his teeth as he spoke. "They attacked us with twenty-five of their best predators. I know because I counted every one. There were twenty wolves and five mountain lions. I managed to kill one, but he was injured before I struck."

"Where are the other ones going?" Covin'thra asked with a deep growl behind her voice.

"I know not."

- - - - - - - - -

Draken, Lunalese sighed to her mate, I feel something is amiss in the Spine. We should take Jesiah to a safe place and return to the mountains before more lose their lives. Draken looked down to Equinox, who was lying on her paws beside him. Jesiah was sitting cross-legged on the soil beside her.

"I am ready when you are, Brother," Equinox told him. "It is quite obvious that no one else lives here." Suddenly, Equinox turned her head to the west and hissed. "Do you smell that?"

I know I do, Lunalese growled. Blood approaches. Draken suddenly padded over to Jesiah and lifted him up by his raggedy tunic. With one quick motion, he tossed the servant onto Equinox's scaly backside. Equinox shuddered briefly under the servant's weight, but quickly regained her composure.

"Hold on, Jesiah," Draken told him. "She can find a safe place for you…?"

"Put me down," Jesiah spoke out. "Find me a weapon and I shall fight alongside my rescuers."

"We do not even know who we face," Draken replied. "It would be safer to hide for this battle than face it blindly." He turned to Equinox and Lunalese, growling uncertainly as he faced them.

Sister, Draken told her mentally. Take him to our home in Ellesmera. That is the safest place for the moment.

"What about you?" Equinox asked worriedly. Suddenly, Jesiah slid off of Equinox's hide and dashed back inside of the home that he hid inside. The dragons watched as he emerged again holding his master's bronze sword.

"I will not run," Jesiah said confidently. "I would rather die with courage than fear."

They grow closer, Lunalese said worriedly. There is little time, mate. We must prepare.

What should we expect? Draken asked her. She lowered her head and sneered.

We should expect the toughest battle yet.

- - - - - - - - -

"We must find them," Covin'thra shouted to Murtagh. "If we do not do something, more will suffer like this."

I agree with her, Thorn said to his rider. We should take the offensive here and search for them. Murtagh looked at the young teenager and offered out his hand for a shake.

"Would you care to join us?" Murtagh asked politely. The teen accepted his hand and inclined his head.

"Of course," he replied. "My name is Eral and my father was the blacksmith and sword maker here in this town. This spear was all I could find amidst the wreckage."

"Every little bit helps," Covin'thra replied, as she scanned the woods for any movement. Suddenly, some dark shadows caught her eye.

"Murtagh!" Covin'thra shouted. "Look!" As if on cue, two large mountain loins leapt from the forest and landed a mere five feet from the silver dragon. Murtagh lifted his blade up and Eral spun his spear around in preparation to throw it.

"There were more than two," Eral whispered to Murtagh. "Be on guard." The two dragons circled the flanks of the two humans in order to protect them from the monstrous beasts as they circled around them. Thorn hissed loudly and swished his tail menacingly at one of the vicious creatures, while Covin'thra roared and lashed out at the other one with her talons. Both lions were extremely agile and were able to leap back and avoid certain death.

Enough! A female voice boomed inside of their heads. Suddenly, the two mountain lions slid down to their paws and growled at the humans and dragons.

"Who said that?" Murtagh called out. All they could hear was sickening laughter.

I did, the voice claimed. They watched as a wyvern stepped out of the forest. He was a smoky grey color except for his golden beak and eyes. My brother will be pleased with this. Dragons to join in the revolt, what news!

"We are not joining in anything," Covin'thra roared. Thorn turned to face the creature and huffed deeply, sending plumes of black smoke into the air.

But you must, the grey wyvern spoke out. If you refuse, then it would be quite a shame to see you all ripped to shreds. Step aside and let us devour the foul two legged creatures behind you.

I cannot do that, Thorn yelled to the creature in front of him. If you kill my rider then I die as well.

A dragon rider? The wyvern asked with curiosity showing in her golden eyes. Oh, this may be enjoyable.

"Try to get satisfaction out of this!" Covin'thra roared. At once, she rushed towards the grey wyvern's leg and chomped down with so much force that blood spurted up from the wound and splashed on the top of her muzzle. The birdlike creature squealed in pain and lifted up her other leg in a quick attempt to get her off, but she only fell over.

That is the beauty of having four legs, Thorn mocked, as he stepped over to her. He heard the mountain lions roar in anger before lunging at the humans, but he knew that they were more than capable of handling themselves. Covin'thra let go of her leg and leapt back in the fighting pose that Draken taught her when she was younger. The wyvern limped up to her feet and eyed the silver dragon.

You have a lot of fight in you, she said painfully. It is a shame that I must kill you myself. Take note that I will not be merciful.

No! Thorn snapped. Leave her and fight me! I will not see her hurt.

Do I sense a little lust in your voice, lizard? The wyvern mocked. No matter, I shall destroy both of you. Suddenly, the wyvern launched herself into the sky as Thorn followed close behind.

Why did he do that for me? Covin'thra asked herself. She quickly turned around to see that the two mountain lions were dead at Murtagh and Eral's feet. Kill her Thorn, for me.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Here they come!" Draken shouted to the two dragons beside him. They all watched as a fleet of over fourty five wolves rushed towards them. They all had different colors, and many were drenched in human blood.

Draken, Lunalese told him. They have combined! I only knew of twenty from the Spine.

"No matter," Draken said confidently. "They all will die the same." Lunalese stepped close to Draken and rubbed snouts with him.

If I do not make it, she told him, know that I wanted to start a family with you as the father of my clutch. I love you…?

"Save that for after the battle," Draken said proudly. "We will survive to have hundreds of children, Luna, but you must remain confident."

"Brother," Equinox whispered to him. "I am scared."

"Remember what I told you when Stave had you captured?" Draken reminded her.

"It is better to fall with pride and courage than shame and fear," she replied. "I know."

"Make me proud today sister," Draken said. "Let us show them the difference between humankind and beasts." All three dragons hunched down as the wolves drew closer while Jesiah held his sword proudly at the attacking horde. Seconds passed by slowly as the army of wolves stampeded closer. Draken and Lunalese both waited until the wolves were close enough before they tossed out massive amounts of fire from their maws. The flames splashed up against the front line of wolves and incinerated many of them on impact. The others were not so lucky because their fur had caught fire from the heat. They broke formation, hollering and yipping while their bodies burned them alive. Still, more were approaching. They collided against the dragons with a large crash as their gnashing teeth chomped down viciously on the dragons' hard scales. Draken used his tail to beat some wolves off of Lunalese as Equinox ripped at the others by using her forearms and the claws attached to them. The blood from the wolves splattered against her rough skin as she continued her bloody onslaught. She looked behind her to see Jesiah slicing away at those trying to maul him. Blood splashed against the murky water on the ground, changing the brown color to crimson red. No matter how bloody and horrific, the three dragons pressed on, using their forearms to bat the wolves almost fifty feet away, completely shattering their backs and necks as they hit the ground. The number of predators quickly diminished from forty-five to twenty-two. With more than half of their troops destroyed, the wolves used more caution and incircled their targets. This tactic proved helpful in their favor because Draken, Lunalese, Equinox, and Jesiah could not protect all points of their body. Equinox had a deep bite mark just below her thigh, Draken had a cut lip from one of the wolves that latched on to it, and Lunalese had a large tear in he right wing. The only one without injury was Jesiah, but all four fighters were losing their strength. Suddenly, one wolf jumped up and latched himself onto Equinox's neck. She hollered in pain and shook violently to get the wolf off of her, but it was no use.

"Equinox!" Draken roared. Those encircling him stood no chance as he rushed to his sister's aid, squishing many that stayed in his way. Draken used all the speed he could muster to slam his head into the wolf's midsection, causing it to die instantly from the harsh blow.

"Are you okay?" Drakan asked. Equinox looked up at him with pain filled eyes and nodded. Blood was trickling down from the wound on her neck, but it was not life threatening.

"THAT IS IT!" Draken hissed. He suddenly lifted his forearm up and swiped his large hand across the large pack of wolves. He roared as the sickening thumps of his claws impaling skin could be heard, tossing all of them away with a trail of blood following them. "You hurt my sister, then you all will suffer!" Lunalese looked at him with amusement as Draken swung his spiked tail around to clobber the last three wolves against their heads with it, killing them all instantly. Draken was panting heavily with rage and exhaustion as he watched two mortally wounded wolves hobble off in retreat. Lunalese slowly padded over to Draken, licking at his several cuts and scrapes.

You were outstanding, Lunalese said admirably. I am glad that you are mine, Draken.

As am I, Draken replied tiredly. I sure hope that my father and mother are not suffering the same as we have.

They should be safe, Lunalese said. Let us return home, my love. I grow tired and sore.

- - - - - - -

I have always wanted to defeat a dragon, the grey wyvern taunted Thorn, as the two climbed higher in the sky.

Today will not be your time to fill that want, Thorn replied harshly. You will be the one to fall today…not me! Suddenly, the wyvern dove down and smashed against Thorn. The two were tangled together as they dropped, biting and scratching as they fell closer to the ground.

Did you only sacrifice your life for that young lizard down there? The wyvern mocked. If so, then it was quite a poor decision.

You know nothing, Thorn replied in anger. He suddenly broke free from the wyvern and blasted it with a hail of dark red fire. The creature rolled in time to only singe the top of her feathers, but the overall shock was enough for Thorn to gain the advantage. He pushed forward and smashed into her belly with so much force that many of her feathers were knocked loose from her hide.

You are finished! Thorn yelled. He quickly used his forearms to hold the wyvern's two legs away from his body, as he lowered his head to give her the final, lethal bite. He sunk down deep against the vein that ran through her neck and ripped it away with one hard jerk. Blood splattered against his muzzle as the wyvern attempted to squeal in agony, but only blood would escape from her beak. Your brother shall see you soon. Thorn watched with a satisfied snort as the body of his enemy hit the ground in a blast of feathers and dirt before returning to his rider and Covin'thra.

"That was incredible!" Covin'thra commented him as he touched down in front of her.

Thank you, Thorn replied. Next time, you should plan the attack before leaping into danger like that. You do not know how to fight in the air yet like I do.

"Will you teach me then?" Covin'thra asked in her polite voice. Thorn chuckled and wiped the blood off of his muzzle with his barbed tongue.

It would be my pleasure, dear, Thorn replied. He turned to face Murtagh. We must return home. Eragon must know of this.

PEACE!