Chapter XI
Finding the Dragon's Fire

When we got to the desert Ellestygia turned and faced the oncoming Thorn. I saw Zar'roc's blood red blade shinning preternaturally in the sun's rays.
Gosh I hope this ends well, I thought.
Me too, replied Ellestygia. Thorn dove at Ellestygia, but she spiraled upward evading him.
Amber! she snapped.
Oh, right, sorry, I said drawing my sword. I commanded the water, and once more it froze midway down.
"Bring it on, Murtagh!" I yelled.
Thorn, looking outraged, pulled up and barely missed Ellestygia, but he turned around quickly, slashing Ellestygia's hip with his tail. She let out an agonizing scream as Thorn gashed her hip, again, with his claws. She lashed out at Thorn, but missed him on purpose so she could pull up and over him, she did exactly so.

Ellestygia, are you all right! I said with my mind.
I'm fine, and I have a plan, she replied.

She flew up even more, and I saw her look at Thorn's hips. She dove down toward Thorn, and grabbed Thorn's hips with her claws, pulling him down painfully. Thorn was roaring in agony as Ellestygia's claws were digging into his hips.
We're winning, we are actually winning, I thought to myself, but in seconds I saw what changed my optimistic thoughts.

A condensed orb of air was flying straight at Ellestygia.

Ellestygia! I yelled.

She ducked and the orb of air went right over her head. The orb of air kept going and hit me in the chest extremely hard, my breath caught and I was now barely conscious.

Amber! Ellestygia yelled and she roared to confirm her feelings.

She pushed off Thorn, letting go of his hips. I could feel her giving me her strength, something dragons can do to heal their Riders and will weaken the dragon.
Stop it! I snapped at her, If you give me your strength you'll crash, killing me and resulting in both of our ends!
Fine! she snapped back.
Thorn eventually caught up to us and was soon face to face with Ellestygia.

"So look who it is!" Murtagh shouted sarcastically, "little miss I don't need any help!"

I scowled at his remarks.

"Well let's see how this ends!" he yelled enjoying that he was beating me.
Oh, great so this is how it's going to end! I thought as Thorn jetted fire at Ellestygia.

My mouth nearly fell open as Ellestygia drew back her neck, and as she opened her mouth a thick stream of fire burst from her mouth. Thorn's flame was blocked, and I could tell Ellestygia was surprised at all of this. Murtagh's mouth was all the way opened as he beheld the sight. Thorn was smarter than us and took advantage of the shocked moment, and when he found his plan he drew back his neck to breathe fire again. Just as he was about to release the fire, something that could kill us, but a black and red flash tackled him out of the air and to the ground.

Chapter XII
The Struggle for Life

When they landed I noticed the red and black flash was Friciey with Christal atop him. Christal soon jumped off Friciey, and even then I knew it was a bad thing to do. Murtagh jumped off Thorn and drew Zar'roc looking like he was laughing his head off because of the easy match. I then realized my back was throbbing and felt like cold water was running down it. I put my hand over my back, when I saw my hand it was covered in blood.
How did he do that! I said with my mind because of the pain.
When I spiraled up he gashed you with his dagger, but you didn't notice because you were too worried about me.
I was just about to reply to that when a racking scream cut me off. I could see that Murtagh had stabbed Christal with Zar'roc, but I didn't see where so I assumed something bad. Not three seconds later Friciey tackled Thorn, Friciey then bit Thorn's leg so hard I even heard it snap in the air. Thorn roared unbearably and Thorn grabbed Friciey's neck with his teeth. Friciey let out an extremely loud roar. Ellestygia landed on the ground to help Friciey and I got off of her, and I saw that Friciey looked furious and hurt at the same time. Friciey then drew back his wing closest to Thorn, and still being held by his neck, knocked Thorn to the ground with his wing. Friciey walked over to Thorn, who was now laying on the ground. Thorn looked beaten, but in two seconds he was on his feet. As fast as lightning Thorn drove his horns into Friciey's chest. Friciey let out an indescribable scream that was most likely heard in Ellesméra, and I saw Friciey's eyes widen at the sight of Thorn's horns in his chest. His eyes widened even more as Thorn pulled his horns out with painful force. Friciey collapsed because of blood loss.

"NO!" I yelled as loud as my voice would go.

"Consider this a warning if you will, but I only consider this only a pinch to what Galbatorix can do!" said Murtagh getting on Thorn. They flew away to Urû'baen leaving me dizzy and confused. I realized that I was going to pass out because of the injury on my back. All of a sudden I collapsed.
I was quickly woken by a roar.

Get up, quick! said Ellestygia.

I got up, my back still sore.
Hurry, Amber, look! she said.

I looked over to where Christal had collapsed, like her dragon, from blood loss.

"Christal!

I yelled running to her.
Amber, don't you dare heal her arm!
"I wasn't because I didn't know where to heal her, but now I do, thanks," I said putting my hand over her bleeding arm.
Amber, Ellestygia growled, her eyes narrowing.
"Too late," I said in a taunting tone, "Waíse heill!"

The blue mist-like magic came from my hand and highlighted the gash on Christal's arm, and I held the magic until Christal's arm was fully healed. After I was done I staggered over to Ellestygia and fell against her leg.
Young one, she said softly, you did the right thing.

It took Christal five minutes to wake, "Amber," she said.
"Yes."

"Where's- where's Friciey?"

I smiled.
"What?"
"It's just that…never mind, he's over there," I said hoping he wasn't already dead.
I followed her over to her dragon now gasping for air. She ran to him and fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around his bleeding neck. She started to cry at the sight of her dying dragon. I assumed she couldn't take it, for she unwrapped her arms from his neck and put her hand over his chest.
"Christal, no," I said going to her and pulling her arm away shaking my head.

She got the message and backed away.
I knelt down in front of her dragon.

Please, Friciey, don't leave your Rider, she can't live without you.
He touched my mind, Amber, don't do this you're too weak, you'll die.
I'm not going to let you die! Waíse heill! I said aloud.
Immediately I felt all of my energy go from my body, but I held the flow of magic that could easily kill me. My heart was racing faster than I ever thought possible, and my body was shaking like I was in the middle of an earthquake that could destroy the world. The only thing keeping me from letting the magic go was the thought of how young Friciey was, and how Christal would handle seeing me give up on her dragon. All of a sudden my vision went, along with my breath, and I fell back hitting the ground under me.
"AMBER!" yelled Christal and Ellestygia as I hit the ground.