I Who Should Not Be
Chapter 18
Onika rode in silence, watching as Eragon talked to his brother, who in turn was trying to keep the Wolfborn in his line of sight. Arya dozed against Eragon's shoulder. When they weren't looking, she would make small cuts in her skin, usually slicing into an infected area, but other time she did it to make sure that she could still feel anything. She felt so cold and numb inside, how could she know that the rest of her hadn't followed?
How could I have made such a stupid mistake? He was always seeking to protect me, the one that loved him as deeply as he loved me… What could have made him think that the Dark King could help us? I wonder… what of the other tribes and packs? I never hear Packsong or Huntsong anymore… Maybe they're all-
She shook her head violently. No. She refused to believe that Wolfborn were no more. After all, she was one, and so was Cain. A few others had to be somewhere.
Murtagh raised a hand to silence his younger brother. Eragon's long story about something that the dark haired Rider hadn't even really bothered to pay attention to halted as the younger man followed his brother's eyes to the golden dragon and to Onika.
The Wolfborn was sitting as straight as a post, her unfocused eyes pointed straight ahead, unblinking. Her face was still pale and her remaining hand held tightly to the end of her other arm. Both men noticed that the woman had made more cuts in the newly healed skin and the blood had dried to her skin and her scarred legs. Murtagh smiled when her yellow eyes met his and he did something that, in hindsight, could have been very painful.
With a cry, he leapt up and stood in the saddle, crossing his arms. Onika tipped her head. Murtagh's smile widened a little and he barked out a challenge.
:Follow me.:
Onika nodded and stood, then crossed her arms as best she could. She wobbled slightly, trying to find her balance. Mishee held her wings still to help steady her Rider until she was sure that she could stand on her own.
Murtagh walked up until he stood on the crown of Thorn's head, drawing an irritated snort from the dragon. To his pleasure, Onika was already halfway to Mishee's head. As soon as she reached that point, Murtagh ran to the end of Thorn's tail and sat. Onika charged to the same point on the golden dragon.
On and on they went, each maneuver growing more and more complicated and dangerous. As things got more difficult, Murtagh found himself feeling like a little boy that was showing off to a little girl. Rrrgh! What was it about the Wolfborn that made him act in such a… Un-Murtagh way? Nasuada never had gotten him to sing before, nor had she made him feel like… well, like he was feeling right now. All for a sharp toothed smile on a wildly beautiful face.
Murtagh grinned and laughed when Onika did not only run; jump and spin about her dragon in combat with an invisible foe, but executed a series of flips that put her on Mishee's nose. He was about to congratulate her when she flung herself off the dragon and plummeted down toward the jagged rocks that stuck out of the ground below.
"ONIKA!"
She continued to fall.