I Who Should Not Be
Chapter 8
Eragon smiled and put his hands in his pockets, looking around the small cell. He had knew that Onika was fascinated with Murtagh, but only just began to see that Murtagh was starting to see more in Onika than just another Rider. Eragon was a little worried about his brother and his pack sister. What would happen if something were to happen between them and it went horribly wrong? They would still have to be together, even if they ended badly…
When he cleared his throat quietly and Onika jumped, looking around Murtagh to her pack brother and blushed slightly. Eragon smiled and silently cast a healing spell on his arm, watching as Murtagh turned slightly red and turned away from the Wolfborn, scratching his head.
"So, I'll tell them to let her out, and erm…"
Eragon nodded as Murtagh slipped out of the room, cursing as his sleeve caught on a corner and tore. Onika chuckled and Eragon smirked and put a hand on Onika's shoulder and followed his brother out of the cell with the Wolfborn close behind.
"She can be let out. Lady Nasuada will want to talk to her later anyway. Until then, we are going to the training fields. Eragon, you go get Arya and some training equipment. We'll meet you there."
Eragon nodded and jogged away as Murtagh took Onika's hand and led her down another corridor. Onika's dragon was still nervous and was talking nonstop to the two older dragons, as Thorn told Murtagh in feux-irritation. Murtagh chuckled and told Onika of Thorn's complaint and the two laughed as they came out into a huge grassy plane.
:This is the training ground?:
Murtagh nodded, but Onika wasn't looking at him at all, but her eyes were trained several feet to their right. He looked the same direction and saw that Arya and Eragon had brought a few bows and practice arrows, swords, staves and spears. Onika barked a greeting and ran to them. Arya smiled and called out to Murtagh.
"We brought all this because we don't know what Onika is proficient with. Would you like to start against me, Wolf Sister?"
Onika nodded and looked to the other two Riders, smiling.
:Tell her please that I will use my knives first. She can use any of the weapons for herself. We can start when she is ready.:
With that, she stretched her arms and legs out, while Arya did the same as Murtagh told her what Onika had said. The elf woman nodded and looked the different weapons over, finally settling on a long sword. Onika bowed to Arya after the elf bowed to her.
At first, Murtagh was a little confused. Onika had not drawn her weapons even though she dashed toward the elf, her eyes locked on the elf's chest, looking for a sign of what move she was going to make next. Finally, Arya dashed forward, blade flashing and spinning. Onika's knives hissed from their sheaths and crossed under Arya's sword, sending sparks into the air.
Slashing and dancing back and forth, the two women circled and attacked, feinted and parried. Eragon and Murtagh watched in amazement as the women moved faster and faster. Then, without warning, Onika brought one of her knives up under Arya's weapon and jerked it toward her and spun out of the way as the elf was tossed through the air. When the elf hit her knees, Onika jumped on her back and positioned both of her knives so one was to the downed elf's throat and the other's point near her belly. Arya froze and Onika got up, her face shining with sweat.
:That…was the hardest I have had to fight in a long time… She's tired me out… I'll need to catch my breath before we continue…:
Arya listened as Murtagh repeated Onika's message and smiled, sitting down in the grass beside the Wolfborn. She looked at the tawny haired woman and chewed her lip for a moment before tapping her arm. When Onika opened her eyes and looked over at her, Arya found it hard to look into her amber eyes.
"I have heard that the wild form of the Wolfborn are more beautiful than even the most glorious wolves of the wild. May I… Will you show me your wild form?"
Onika tipped her head, looking thoughtful. After a long moment that Eragon and Murtagh knew was only there to tease them, she nodded. Arya sat up straighter and watched as the Wolfborn stood and walked away a few feet. She smiled one last time and waved, then shut her eyes.
Arya gasped as Onika's skin sprouted long tawny fur and the woman's bones reformed and realigned, her knees twisting backwards and her face elongating. It was the sudden growth that threw Arya off. Once Onika was fully transformed to a tawny wolf the size of Mishee, the Wolfborn sat on her haunches and stared at her fellow Riders and the elf woman.
In their minds, a low growling female voice chuckled.
Well, and what do you think, lady elf?
Arya stood and walked over to the giant wolf and reverently placed a hand on Onika's side, smiling at the feel of the thick fur under her fingers. Then Onika laid down on her belly and gave a wolf's smile to the elf, glancing over at her fellow Riders before speaking.
Get on my back, elf sister. I will show you the speed and power of the Wolfborn.
"Are you sure?"
Onika gave a coughing bark, a laugh in her current form, and nodded her great head.
Arya climbed up hesitantly, holding thick handfuls of fur and digging in with her knees. She was about to ask what to do when Onika got to her feet and began to run, occasionally leaping into the air and gaining speed. With a mental whoop, Onika leapt over the high wall and Eragon and Murtagh heard Arya let out a high pitched shriek as they sailed through the air.
The brothers laughed and ran toward the wall and went through the door to see Onika, still in her wild form, standing over a prone Arya. Eragon ran over and touched Arya's face, worried. When Murtagh got there, she opened her eyes and grinned up at the three.
"Again… Can we do it again?!"
Murtagh snorted and Eragon started to laugh, Onika's wolf laugh sounding above them. Eragon spoke first.
"We thought she was killing you, from all that screaming."
Arya laughed and sat up, her eyes on Onika.
"The stories were right. The Wolfborn are the most beautiful of the wild people…"
Onika laughed again and her form melted back to the elfin looking woman that most people knew. She smiled and held out a hand to the elf as she tried to stand.
:My people and elves usually got along in the past. We will see that that tradition of friendship continues.: