Hi, the first four chapters of this story was written by Foxfires Fighter. But I will be continuing on from chapter 5. Sorry, I forgot there are five chapter including the preface. So please enjoy.

Sorry about the wait guys lifes been hectic. For all those who have reviewed and read this story thus far thank you. :P you guys are awsome you words always leave me with warm fuzzys. I wish i could write longer chapters but its not happening yet so short chapters it is. I'd like to thank my beta for reviewing this for me, your a doll. So without further rambaling on to the chapter.

Disclamer: I own nothing.

It seemed as if Eragon's eyes had just fallen shut when he woke to being dragged by the shield, meaning the females were on the move. Cracking his eyes open, he watched the moss turning up beneath him. Stumbling up so he was on his feet, he turned towards the direction they seemed to be heading, his gaze sweeping between the two. He realized which one was his bonded partner with one glance seeing as how she was the one somewhat dragging her feet. Blasted female kept him up most of the night.

Stumbling along after them Eragon grumbled about being hungry, the older female turned around and glared at him. "Well, if you hadn't slept in so long, you would have been able to have breakfast."

Green eyes looked back at him, seeming to somewhat take pity on him. With a quick, agile movement that her mother did not seem to catch she tossed him a bit of bread and cheese that she had been keeping with her. Deftly Eragon reach towards the food in midair and snapped it up in his jaw, chewing only a couple of times before swallowing. Now that there was a little food in his belly, he could concentrate on where they were going. Looking around he saw trees of various sizes and kinds, there were great oaks, tall birch trees, shrubs, and various others he didn't know the name of. Trotting along behind them he was more concerned than ever about where they were going. It wasn't long before his curiosity got the better of him and he wanted an explanation. "Where exactly are these forbidden woods of yours? And exactly how long will it take us to get there?"

Heaving a great sigh, the older woman looked to her daughter and nodded. Then Green Eyes spoke, "Our home is about a four day run from here given the speed of a human. We are well protected so you needn't worry about that."

Irritated, Eragon shook his head, scowling at that the ground. "I didn't ask you whether you are protected or not, danger does not concern me. What concerns me is how long I'm going to be tied by the shield. And four bloody days is too long to be on the road in my opinion. If you elves are faster than humans then why aren't you running? There's no need for us to walk and take more time. If we can get there in half the time why don't we start to move? By running at 'Elvin' speed how long would it take us to get there?"

Laughing, the older female spoke, "If we were to run and you were to follow at our pace we would be there by nightfall, but you would not be able to keep our pace for very long."

Growling Eragon paced the length of the shield frustrated at the lack of the woman's understanding. "You have very little understanding of what I am, don't you. I am made for hard labor. Running at your speed would tire me as much as walking there would. Besides, I have spent so much time cooped up in a little cell that I am itching for a run. If you don't believe that I can keep up then test me, but I do request you use that little manual that was given to you and release me from the shield. I am bound to the younger one by blood. I cannot go far and I will not hurt the both of you, it is impossible for me to do so anyway. Besides, as I have said before, I'm a lover not a fighter." Eragon's last words were said with puppy dog eyes staring at them. Even in his human form, his eyes were large and expressive, making them wonder all the more what kind of animal he could be that he needed so many bands to control him. Frowning, Arya took the manual out of her coat pocket. Flipping through its pages, she finally found the spell to release him from the shield. Muttering out the incantation, she released him.

Grinning, Eragon reached out to where the barrier had just been. Finding it was no longer in place, he decided to stretch himself out to his full-length. Izlanzadi and Arya paused to watch him stretch, marveling at his lean back and slim frame. When Eragon was at his full length in the stretch the woman estimated his height to be around 6'5. Popping up, Eragon gave them a boyish grin. "Well, let's get started," he said and they did.

Arya and Izlanzadi started to run. Stretching his legs, Eragon fell into a steady step behind them, loving the feel of the forest floor beneath his toes as he did. Exhilarated, Eragon tossed his head and gave a yip of excitement. He could feel the mild amusement dripping off of Green Eyes. For some inexplicable reason that made him the tiniest bit happy. Snorting, Eragon turned his head to the side, watching the greens of the leaves whip by him. Looking ahead, he could see the light shining through the trees signaling that they were now coming to an open space.

I haven't seen the light for so long, not from an open space. The tiny windows they had in my cell didn't do it justice. Just the feeling of the earth beneath my toes gives me a great joy. I cannot wait until I feel the sun upon my face for the first time in almost eighteen years. I can hardly remember. Surging forward Eragon sprinted into the clearing, only feeling slight agitation from the two women as he passed them. The beauty of this clearing sent tears to his eyes. The grass was green and swaying in the wind, taller than his knees, and it stretched for what seemed like miles. Grinning like a fool, he dove into the grass headfirst, rolling down a hill he hadn't seen when he leapt, disappearing into the tall grass below.

Arya and Izlanzadi raced into the clearing after him, fearing that he was running off. As they skidded to a halt to survey the clearing they didn't see Eragon anywhere.

Izlanzadi started to curse. "Blast that ungrateful bastard. How dare he fool you into releasing him and then take off like that. For twice the price of the other ones he sure is a hand full."

Shaking her head from her mother's irritated rambling, Arya listened. From a little ways off she could hear soft breathy laughter. Leaving her mother to rant at the side of the clearing, Arya went to investigate. As she crested over the top of a little hill hidden by the grass she could see Eragon at the bottom rolling around in delight. Slowly so as not to startle him, she made her way down the hill. When she finally reached him, his behavior startled her for he was rubbing himself all over on the ground and over the grass. Curious, she asked him when he was doing. As his eyes rose up to meet hers she saw them sparkling with unshed tears.

Before she had a chance to speak, he choked out words that struck her to her very core. "Eighteen years. Eighteen years I've been locked away in that dirty, damp cell. The sun was a myth and the feel of grass was a long forgotten past time. I never thought I'd live to see the day that I would be free from that hell hole."

Lips twitching Arya made her way back to her mother still fussing at the edge of the meadow. "He's down in a little gully, there's no need to worry." Arya sighed being secretly happy that he hadn't run off. Glaring over in Eragon's direction, Izlanzadi grumbled and snapped for Arya to go and fetch him. Irritated at her mother but understanding her desire to keep moving, she went back to get him. Coming atop the hill she looked down. What she expected to see was Eragon still rolling around in delight but that was not what was in front of her. Cursing slightly she made her way down to where Eragon had been not moments before. She glanced around to see where he might have gone to but, instead, her gaze found the fluffy brown tail of a rabbit.

Crouching down she caught the rabbit's attention. It was a cute little thing, she thought, with big expressive brown eyes and a thick dark brown coat. "Now, you wouldn't happen to know where that scoundrel ran off to, would you."

A rhetorical question, she knew, but it seemed appropriate. She sighed and slowly reached out to scratch the rabbit under the chin. Just as she was about to stop the little thing reached out toward her seeming to want to be held so she did the only plausible thing and picked it up to snuggle it. "Why, aren't you a friendly little guy?"

Snuggling in closer, the rabbit's whiskers tickled her neck. Then, out of nowhere, she heard Eragon's voice inside her head: "You know, if you held me like this more often I might be a little more civil, Green Eyes. You give amazing snuggles." Gasping, Arya held the little bunny at arm's length and looked it over. Brown hair, big expressive eyes…just like Eragon. "Well, don't hold me out here forever, Green Eyes. Give me a little more snuggle time."

Arya was so surprised that Eragon's rabbit lips had moved, she did something she wasn't at all proud of. She dropped Eragon and, with a flick of her leg, kicked his little bunny form across the clearing. Horrified at what she had done, she watched the place he had landed and, sure enough, Eragon sat up in human form, rubbing his head and casting a glare in her direction. Shaking her head in disbelief, Arya took off back towards her mother. Seeing Izlanzadi still fuming from earlier, she decided to wait to tell her that Eragon was a rabbit and not some ferocious beast. Clearing her head, she called for Eragon to hurry up and Izlanzadi and she took back up their path. As Eragon approached she could hear him grumbling behind her about crazy ass females, although when she glanced back, she couldn't help but notice that he looked slightly amused rather than annoyed at her which was just as confusing as her own emotions. Why wasn't she offended that he basically used his rabbit form to cuddle with her? And why in the world did she care if she had hurt him or not? Gah! Everything was just so confusing.