I Who Should Not Be
Chapter 20
When night fell, they were only about an hour from Farthen Dur. Eragon and Arya led the way while Murtagh rode behind them with Onika seated behind him. Mishee wound her way this way and that, enjoying the fact that she could fly without the added weight of her Rider. The Wolfborn rested her forehead against Murtagh's back and let out a long sigh.
"What's the matter, Onika? You feeling alright?"
He twisted to try to see the woman's face, but when he did, she leaned away and turned her face toward Mishee. Her hair fell over her face, whipped by the wind. She sighed again and turned to her back was to him, pulling her legs up to her chest and resting her chin on her knees. Murtagh turned further to try to talk, but when he touched her shoulder, she tensed and a low growl rumbled out of her chest.
"What's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?"
Maybe she is angry at you all for how Arya slapped her and you practically crushed her lungs.
No snide remarks please, Thorn.
She smells different now. Still like her but…different. Intriguing .
Murtagh thought on Thorn's words, then raised his eyebrows. Would he be able to smell some kind of change? He knew what he thought that she smelled like, had it changed somehow?
He leaned close and put his nose right behind one of her long ears and inhaled. No, she still smelled like she always did. Like earth and a faintly smoky scent that reminded him of a cookfire. What on earth was Thorn talking about? He started to try to smell a change again when Onika gave a high pitched squeal and scooted away, putting her hand over the place his nose had been.
She twisted and gave him a glare that he didn't quite believe because she was smiling. She rubbed behind her ear again and came a little closer, but stayed far enough away that he could not try to do the same thing twice. Murtagh pursed his lips as a thought came to him. Most girls were ticklish, right?
Maybe Onika was too…
Without warning, Murtagh lunged at the Wolfborn and held on to her as tightly as he could with one arm while he tickled her side with his free hand.
Onika shrieked and squirmed, playfully nipping at his arms and finally managing to twist herself so she was facing him completely. She growled again, but this one had no venom behind it. He growled back and she suddenly snapped forward and caught his earlobe between her teeth, still half growling. Murtagh froze and shivered once.
Thorn jounced once and slammed his voice into his Rider's thoughts.
She needs to ride alone now.
Without warning Mishee swooped in and snatched up her Rider and tossed her up into the saddle, then flew like an arrow up to Eragon and Arya.
What did you do that for?!
Because I figured it out.
Figured what out?
Your little friend there. Why her scent has changed. She's gone into heat.