Disclaimer: See the first chapter

Chapter 5

The next morning, Eve was woken by the baby dragon, who would nuzzle her cheek and look at her plaintively. When he saw her open eyes, he gave an excited cheep and Eve felt it as he touched her mind, expressing hunger. She took a moment to stare at her dragonet, seeing him for the first time in the light. He was a dark granite color almost black, with silver talons, spikes, and a silver hue to the parchment-like film that were (was) his wings. In places he was so dark a gray that it reminded her of hematite. Looking at the nest, she realized that this was the dragonet from the black egg.

(Here, I brought you rabbits for him.) Eve stared up at Gabbosh in shock.

The hatchling didn't wait for her to ask her question, but dove for the meat and began to devour it.

"I can hear you?" Eve looked amazed

(Yes, you have a bond with a dragon now so we can all talk to you with out fear of your betrayal, though you shouldn't expect others dragons to talk to you they would feel particular to their Rider.) The blue dragon explained.

Eve nodded. "Thank you, for bringing me food for the little guy."

Gabbosh nodded. (We'll be helping for the next three weeks, then he should be big enough for you to take out to hunt.)

Eve nodded and chuckled as the gray dragonet ripped hungrily at the rabbit. He was starting to look round in the middle with all that he ate, but he still seemed hungry so she said nothing. A minute later the hatchling was done, he looked up at Eve curiously and touched her mind. She the got the impression he was bored.

"And yet you just got done eating," Eve sighed. She had a feeling that she was going to be catering to her dragon for a while.

(Take him to the pound, he can fly over the water without worrying about him crashing), the blue dragon suggested then stood, (I will show you.)

The pond was a short walk, but well worth it . Along one bank were a stand of soap weed that beckoned Eve to the idea of a bath. Stripping down, she eased out into the water, holding the dragonet in her arms. The hatchling looked at the water suspiciously as it got deeper, but when he was level with it he took off, paddling in it like he was hatched to do so. Eve watched the hatchling closely till she was sure he wouldn't drown, then grabbed some soap weed and started to wash her hair and body.

She was ready to leave the pond by high noon, but the dragonet had to be coaxed to leave his watery delight. Eve promised the little dragon that, weather permitting, they would come back the next day.

As she sat feeding the little granite dragon strips of grilled rabbit meat she talked to the older dragons.

(We will be instructing you in magic while you are here, I remember what my rider had to go through so I'm pretty sure I can teach you the basics. Normally riders aren't taught till there ready but you already know how to gaurd your mind. I can't help you with sword fighting, but I thinking if you practiced your aim with that bow you would have a good start.) Valandera commented.

"Thank you, you've done so much for me already." Eve gave a respectful bow.

(You have a kind yet intelligent soul, Eve. That's why I let you come here, you were just what I was looking for, but let us concentrate your studies.) Valandera smiled.

The next month was rigorous. When Verenov heard they would be training the human, he took up taking her and the hatchling dragon for long runs in the morning. She came back exhausted every time. Then there was Valandera who was teaching her how to use magic. They started with a rather 'hard' to accomplish floating spell on a tiny rock. Gabbosh accompanied her and the hatchling to the pond every day during the hottest part to help keep cool. During the evening Eve went hunting taking the dragonet with her in hopes that he would get the idea. She was veru surprised when the hatchling caught a small bird with no aid of her own. After that there hunting trips were just for bonding.

By the end of three weeks the dragonet was tall as Eve's hip and hunting for himself while Eve hunted her own dinner. By the end of three weeks the early morning runs with Verenov were starting become easier (so he made them longer), and she had learned not only the floating spell but a small vocabulary of ancient words.

Eve found her self spending more of her time with her dragonet and Gabbosh then any of the dragons. The great blue took it upon himself to follow her when she took the dragonet hunting, for walks, and to the pound.

Eve was laying on her back in a small meadow with in yelling distance of the cave with the dragonet, Gabbosh, and Easmerelda. She was watching out of the corner of her eye as the granite dragon rubbed his shoulder on a young tree, causing the tree to bow dangerously.

"How do I name him?" Eve asked suddenly.

(Well, he's the right age. You should suggest some names occasionally, he'll tell you if he likes one,) Gabbosh shrugged.

Esmerelda just rolled onto her side and looked at the dragonet curiously. (Name him something special.)

Eve sighed and reached out and touched the dragonet's mind.

(Eve?) was the only reply she got. By the end of the month the baby dragon had learned to say her name, but not really anything else.

Eve touched his mind lovingly. (Come over here, Love. I have some names for you I think you might like to hear.)

The dragonet perked up and trotted on over. (Eve.)

Eve nodded then smiled. "What do you think Fuerin?"

She felt the dragons disinterest, so she went on.

"How about Leon? Darius? Or maybe Asher?"

To all of them the dragon remained uninterested, showing more interest in speaking his Rider's name. Sighing, she tried some more. She went through quiet a few names before telling her dragon that she needed to sleep on it and in the morning maybe she would have something.

Sleeping on the idea did help, by the next morning she had an idea. She wanted to name the dragonet something to with his color, like Esmerelda was so closed to Emerald.

The dragonet was already awake and looking at her. (Eve wakes.)

Eve grinned brilliantly. (I see you have a new word, I'm proud of you, love.)

"Okay I have a few more names to try. What do you think of Granite?" she asked.

The little dragonet blanched. (Bad.)

She giggled. "I know, how about Darkuv?"

The dragonet showed interest, but it was only a little.

"Absinnan? Ebony? Pitch? Darkness? Storm?"

She felt the dragons pleasure as she said Storm.

"Storm? Well, then Storm you are." She grinned as the little dragon preened himself.

(Storm.) he growled seeming pleased with his new name

(Yes, you are Storm, Love.) Eve grinned and hugged the dragonet tightly.

AN: Yes Storm is a bit unorignal but so is Murtagh's Thorn. Besides I like it. Anyways I know that I'm probably doing a lot of things out of the ordinary with the wild dragons and now that Eldest is out we know that wild dragons were a tad violent. So all I have to say is that this part of my fic was written before Eldest came out. So I'm sticking with this dragon temperment. Anyways hope you like reading this as much as I like writing this.
Kheira Thank you for saying some nice things about my fic even though you were hoping for something a little different. Yes, I know that new dragon rider fics have been used so much they're dead, but I thought I'd make sure it was truly mutilated. Besides I've read all the new rider fics and I can assure you that this is going to go a bit different. I'm also one of those people who enjoys reading the same type of story over a few times. So thank you for your kind words and sorry for the disappointment.

maddie Hello agian! I'm glad you've decided to read more :-). No I'd didn't name the dragonet onyx mainly because he isn't really black. Thank you for the idea though. I have the next 17 chapters written but I'm always open for suggestions.