I Who Should Not Be
I still don't own Eragon or any of the trilogy. sigh
Chapter 2
Murtagh groaned and stirred a little as he felt something touch his hair. The touch came again and he opened his eyes and saw Onika leaning over him with the end of her nose touching his hair. He jumped and the girl skittered back, her yellow eyes fixed on him. Glancing around, he noticed that Eragon was gone, and Saphira sat with the little golden dragon between her forelegs.
"Where did Eragon go?"
Onika made a soft barking noise, followed by a chuffing exhale.
Thorn snorted.
The Wolfborn says that he went to get wood. She isn't sure why you need it.
Uhm… For cooking?
She wouldn't understand that. Her people, though great in intelligence, still live in a very feral manner. That is to say, their food is always eaten raw.
Murtagh nodded.
So, how does she understand Eragon and I?
Thorn took a slow breath, but it was Saphira who answered the dark haired rider.
According to her, all Wolfborn are born with the ability to understand all languages. It does not mean, however, that they can read in said languages. Onika can't read a word, but she could understand anything that was said to her. However, most people are afraid of the Wolfborn.
"Why? It doesn't make any sense…"
You didn't see what she did to Eragon this morning. If you will permit me to, I will show you.
"Alright."
…………….
Eragon woke and rose to his feet with a long yawn. He stopped when he heard a low growl from his right. Just as he turned to see the source of the growl, there was a blur of grey and tawny hair streaking toward him.
"Eh?!"
With a muted crunch, Eragon was slammed to the ground on his back, a snarling and snapping Onika over him. She held his shoulders with hands that ended in claw-like fingernails flat to the ground in an iron grip.
"Okina?!"
His first instinct was to use magic, but he tipped his head in an attempt to see Saphira as the dragon growled quietly.
As soon as the boy had moved his head, the tawny haired Rider's head snapped down and Eragon felt her teeth on the skin of her throat. Acting on instinct, he went very still, holding his breath. Finally Onika eased up and got up off him, nodding before she held a hand out to help him up. Eragon rubbed his neck and reached out for Saphira's mind with his own.
What…was…THAT?!
She was seeing if you were the dominant member of the 'pack'. She told me of what she was going to do while you slept. Murtagh will be getting the same test sometime later. She warned Thorn about it too.
So, what does it mean?
Well, because you 'submitted' she is considering herself to be higher in the chain of command than you. If she establishes dominance over Murtagh, she will be the 'Alpha' of the group… Unless you can challenge her and win.
Eragon shook his head as he watched Onika walk over to sniff at the dark haired Rider's hair.
I'm going for firewood. I'll be back soon.
Alright. Be back soon.
……………………
Murtagh listened to the story (the part about his own impending test was omitted by both dragons) and chuckled. His mental image of Eragon being slammed to the ground and being forced to submit was a humorous one.
"Good morning Onika."
The Wolfborn smiled and nodded while she picked at a long fingernail. Murtagh stood and rolled his shoulders with a groan. He had slept at a strange angle last night trying to keep the new Rider in his vision, and now he was cramping.
Suddenly, he heard a low rumbling. He turned to see the source of the sound and saw Onika crouched down with her eyes locked on the dark haired man. Murtagh reached for his sword, but realized that it was laying under one of Thorn's huge claws. The Rider watched as the girl walked around him, keeping low. Murtagh revolved slowly on the spot, knowing that she was trying to slip out of his field of vision. A moment of worry overtook him.
Was Onika unstable? Would she be turning on them?
You can't wait for her. She will wait for you to make a mistake. You would do best to attack her.
Her? What is this about?
Dominance.
So it's like a game? A play fight?
Not at all. She is very serious. Oops, here she comes!
Murtagh gasped when Onika caught his arms and struck at his knees. He went down and gasped as the air was knocked out of his lungs. Suddenly, Thorn's voice broke into his thoughts.
Flip her! Pin her to the ground and growl. When she lifts her chin and stops fighting, act like you are going to bite out her throat, but do not bite down.
Murtagh rocked and bucked his hips suddenly, sending the lighter Rider sailing through the air. She twisted and landed on her knees and came running back at him, teeth snapping and a low growl rumbling out of her chest. This time, Murtagh slung her over his shoulder and pitched her into the dirt. At the sound of her body hitting the ground and the sudden woosh of air out of her lungs, Murtagh went in to end the battle.
Onika yelped and squirmed and thrashed when Murtagh growled and held her down, one clawed hand caught his cheek, leaving three long bloody scratches. Finally she made one last tremendous push, then went limp and lifted her chin, exposing her throat to him. As Thorn instructed, he put his teeth to her throat and held her there for a moment until she gave a tiny whine. When he let her up, she gave him a long look and sat up, making a small huffing noise.
Murtagh looked up to see Eragon coming with wood, the brown haired boy smiling at the pair.
"Hey Murtagh. Did you make anything for – eh?"
Onika crawled over to the seated Murtagh and licked his chin once, then gave a happy bark in greeting to Eragon before going over to Saphira and scooping up her dragon.
"What was that about, Murtagh?"
"I beat her."
"You did?"
That was the huffing noise you heard her make Murtagh. Thorn said, pushing his Rider's sword toward the dark haired man. She called you Leader Male. That is your name to her in her language. Eragon's is Pack Male. If you ever can figure out how to speak her language, you would call her Pack Female.
She's odd, but it's interesting…
Murtagh left Eragon to make the cookfire and tapped Onika on the shoulder. When she turned and saw him, she made the huffing sound again.
"How do I say your name in your language, Pack Female?"
Onika smiled and yipped. Murtagh imitated the sound as best he could. She smiled.
:Leader Male.:
:Pack Female.:
Murtagh smiled at Saphira's gentle chuckle and Thorn's snort.
Maybe you will be able to learn…
A/N
Thank you to all who have reviewed!! I love to read them!! To answer one question, yes, the Wolfborn are werewolves of sorts. Onika's unique abilities will be shown soon. Also, for future reference, anything written :like this: means it is in Onika's language. The next chapter will be the first where Onika will speak in a way that the dragon's don't have to translate. Also, more about the Wolfborn will be coming in the next chapter!!
Please keep reading and reviewing! Se onr sverdar sitja hvass!! (May your swords stay sharp!!)