"Ouchhh..." Shayy mumbled pathetically. Eragon eyed her curiously. She was starting to get annoying. I mean, when Eragon trained, he didnt think that he would have to use his skills carrying a startled girl.

"Whats wrong?" It didnt seem like a question, but a request to say 'whatevers wrong, I dont care...'

She looked down at her ankle. The area around the leather was red and swelling so fast that she could feel the tightness of the bind much more than before. She wiggled it side to side, wincing with each movement.

"I know youre mad about having to always look... out for me, but, Im sorry... and..." She talked as if she were a little child, head hung low, hair in her face, looking up ever so slightly with big sad eyes. She spoke so low that Eragon only caught parts of what she was saying.

He wondered inside his head.

She took a deep breath.

"I think I broke my ankle..." She glared at her leg like it were to jump up and fix itself any moment.

"I think I can heal it, but not tonight, after all that youve put me through, Im way too tired." Everytime Shayy looked into his eyes he would look up at the sky.

"Okay."

. & .

When they got back to the camp, Murtagh had a fire going and was looking as proud as ever. Shayy smiled until she heard a colassal boom and out came a giant red dragon. Then the surprise came in. Murtagh sense the change in emotion and looked behind him. Looking back he wave the interruption away.

Eragon felt her tense and he knew why but did not say. He set her down on a resting rock and went around to sit beside Murtagh.

"Nice and clean, good to see, although Shayy I think you got a bit of," He leaned in with percision and she glared making him retract his fingers. "Nevermind. I think it suits you very well. Yes it does..." He turned jittery. "I made you some dinner." He clasped his hands. Shayy peered around him expecting some sort of three course meal to make up for the food she didnt have. She saw nothing. "But guess where it is?" He rubbed his stomache. "I ate it since you younguns decided to take so long." Shayy whipped around as she heard a growl and saw that it was Saphira.

Give them the food. Do not deprive them of what they need. Those words rang through her head. Murtagh gave a hesitant look but then complied. He lifted a pouche and pulled out three objects that looked like small pebbles. Another growl from Saphira and Murtagh gave another jolt.

"I guess...Ill just...go warm these up." He walked away and went to the fire, setting the mysterious food on the skewers. He let them cook until they were crispy and came back to the two littles ones.

"here..." He passed them. Shayy surveyed the food. She felt something gooey on her palm and she turned the food over. She winced as she saw something that looked like yellow cheese sticking to her hand.

"What is this exactly?"

"Its cheese. Back where I come from, they call this escargot." Shayy narrowed her eyes at him, still holding the meal.

"If youre trying to trick me..at least use something that doesnt come where I came from." She racked her brain, remembering that Escargot was snail.

"Im kidding, its cheese filled mushrooms. Where is that?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You said 'where' you came from..'"

"Not here, thats for sure." She looked down at her hand. Eragon and Murtagh shared a look that Shayy hadnt caught. She took a bit and swallowed hard, wanting to get over with it fast and not wanting to throw up.

"Shayy, I wanted to try something..may I?" She looked up, wiping the crumbs from her mouth.

"Try what?" She crossed her hands in her lap.

"Well, if you want us to start trusting us, we have to know a little about you."

"Sure, what do you want me to tell you?"

"No, not tell you, I want to find out. I want to check your mind."

"Okay...wait, this is going to hurt isnt it? Its going to hurt- OUCH! OW OW! Oh my god stop!" She swatted at the air. Eragon paused from shoving another bit of Murtaghs cooking into his mouth.

"I didnt do anything."

"oh." She regained her dignity.

"Now, just close youre eyes and relax...relax...relax..." The words echoed in her head as she did just that. Then she felt something that felt like something applying pressure to the inside of her mind. Something pushing and wating in...and then it got it. She felt exposed in a way no one could be. As Eragons mind touched Shayys she caught a glimpse of his, seeing as he was vulnerable. She saw a woman, older looking but had a beauty like no other. Eragon had a strange connection with her. It wasnt love, but there was some trace of it there. Eragons voice rang out calling the word, "Arya,". Only when the woman turned repeatedly each time the word was called did Shayy notice that it was a name.

"Arya." She let the word roll of her tongue. And she hadnt even noticed that she was no longer peeking into Eragons mind. She shook herself and only when Eragon looked down in embarassement, the light from the fire eluminating his features even more and making it clear that he was blushing.

Shayy yawned once, twice, thrice. She didnt want to interrupt the heated conversation between Murtagh and Eragon.

"I saw this girl and I was like damn." He paused for effect. "But then I looked at her legs and I was like Dayummm. She had a forest wide enough for Thorn and Saphira to fly freely." Both men laughed. Hey, I didnt say it was an interesting conversation...

Shayy groaned and stretched emitting a yawn so loud that Eragon had to stop chuckling just to see if she was infact in trouble.

"No nothing is attacking me!" She exclaimed.

"Oh, I get it, youre tired." He looked at Murtagh and he shook his head. "You cant expect to leave her injured, outside when its cold." Murtagh looked like he was about to seal his word but then his shake of the head turned into a nod. "Well I guess her groaning would awaken the dragons and tempt wolves. Youre setting up the tent Eragon." With that he walked away to tend to something else.

"Okay..I wasnt asking for a tent..just a blanket but alright." Eragon shocked Shayy by saying. Testing his limits, but feeling lazy, he use magic to put up the tent, simple and flexible. It wouldnt have stand a chance against the wind but it would have to do. He felt silly when Shayy had to steady him from almost exhaustion. He didnt think putting up a stupid tent would make him that tired.

"Thanks.." He mumbled when she let go. You were expecting her to be holding onto his arm right? Infact, she was sitting on the ground where he had placed her, foot raised with a cushion and instead grabbed onto his leg. Silly yes. Could you blame him?

He then snuck into Murtaghs tent and grabbed a lamp with a holder. He placed it in the middle of him and Shayy. Considering the tiny space they had, Eragon was working efficiently. He went outside, almost forgetting the injured and brought Shayy inside. He set he down a little too roughly in eagerness to get his healing supplies Nasuada had given him as a gift.

When Eragon returned, Shayy was now rubbing her back and looking up at him, bitterness in her eyes.

"Can you take this leather thing off now, its starting to get uncomfortably tight."

"No sorry. Murtagh put that on with...umm an enchantement and only he knows the words to undo the binds." Shayy didnt understand this but didnt question.

"Just pull it up a bit." She rolled up her pants slowly wincing at the slight pain that she felt when the coldness nipped at her skin and did as Eragon asked.

"Should you be putting ice on this?"

"We dont have ice right now. Heres an alternative."

She watching him curiously as he dug into the pouche he had and pulled out something that looked like ice cubes in a jar. She held out her hand thinking that he would place them in her hand but he caught he eye and gave a slight confused look. He took the heavily padded pouche and poured two or three of the cubes into it. Then he jiggled them around and handed it to Shayy, careful to touch the neck.

"You cant possible think that that much of whatever that is will slow the swelling of this. Its such a tiny amount!"

She did the same and held it to her skin. She yelped and pulled it off her. Eragon quickly caught the bad.

"Dont let it fall! It could be explosive." He lectured. She tisked and took the bag once more.

"Its freezing. How could so much cold be trapped in three cubes?!" She asked in awe as she held it down on her skin. She didnt get an answer but when she looked up Eragon was looking from her leg back to her and smiling.

"What?"

"Nothing-" He shook his head, wiping the smile from his face. "Nothing."

"Okay.." She rolled her eyes.

"Look, theres so many other things I have to do if you dont want the skin around it to become inflammed or infected. Im going to have to.."

"Sleep beside me?" She said with ease.

"Yeah- If its awkward, I can leave-"

"No no, its okay. I mean, were friends right? Just think of it as a sleepover." He smiled and got up, leaving out the tent flap. That period when he left gave a moment to think.

"If Murtagh comes in here asking for a sleeping bag, pretend youre asleep." This was very mean, but somehow Shayy found herself giggling.

Shayy was angry because she couldnt sleep fully under the covers because of the amount of herbs that were going to be applied to her leg. Every hour on the hour. How frustrating. And only Eragon knew how to do it. Apprently he could teach it to Shayy because it took experience. But Shayy caught his bluff and took this as his way of just being kind.

He started the first dose by smearing on the paste that looked like thick noodle sauce with an amount of herbs thrown carelessly into it.

"Are you sure you know what youre doing."

"As sure as I am a boy."

"Im not too sure about that either-OUCH!" Eragon grinned to himself.

When got tired, he told Shayy to wake him up each hour so he could reapply it so atleast he could get some sleep. He lay looking up at the tent ceiling. She thought he would fall asleep.

"Whats wrong?" Shayy peered at him. Stroking the rocks smooth surface.

"I cant sleep knowing that youre not." It wasnt meant to be kind but a bother.

"But you have to sleep. You cant just stay awake all night..."

"How are you not tired..?!" He leaned on his elbow towards her. She cringed as she heard the covers shift and face her. With a click the lamp came back on and she was staring at Eragon.

"Uh, Ive had alot of sleepovers in my time.."

"What exactly is a sleepover?"

"Well, where I come from, it usually means that you dont sleep."

"What do you do that you dont sleep?"

"People usually are too excited or we talk so much." Eragon didnt seem shocked at this. "Youve never stayed up late?" She wondered.

"I almost always need to get my rest."

"Oh, well, want to try it today?"

"No work tomorrow so...sure."

"Okay," She gulped. "So.. umm first thing first. You ever done anything stupid...or silly?" He inhaled sharply and whipped his head to the side like She had struck a soft spot. "You dont have to tell me if you dont want to."

"Thanks." He seemed to hesitate for a moment but then contradicted himself by saying, "No-Ive already started thinking about it, if I dont say something Im going to be thinking about it all night. Id rather get it off my conscience."

"Sure." She nodded, resting on her belly and propping herself up with her elbows.

"I was...stupid...There was this girl-rather woman-"

"Arya." Shayy cut it, covering her mouth, realizing that she had blurted that outloud.

"Yes...how did you know?"

"I...got a peak into your mind when you tried to read mine." She said sheepishly.

"Ahh-well, I thought she was coming on a little strong, you know just the little things she would do. I feel so silly saying this. But," He scratched his head, "I confessed my affection to her."

"Its not so silly when you put it like that..."

"Why not?" He stopped.

"Well because where I come from, girls would die for someone to do that." He tisked.

"You should have been there when she reacted, I think she did die...inside." He chuckled. Shayy paused a bit before continuing.

"So...decribe her to me!" He looked her straight in the eye.

"How?"

"How pretty?"

"Very-in all my time, I have never seen a woman as beautiful." Shayy smiled.

"Okay..but what about...me?" She amused herself, shifting positions, bringing her head to rest on the palm of her hand so she could face him.

"You..youre on fire."

"Aww, thanks...you think Im hot?" She cooed.

"No," He pointed, "Youre really on fire!" He threw his covers off. Shayy looked down and the confusion was quickly wiped off her face to be replaced by fear. She schrieked and threw the flaming covers off of her. The quick Eragon took his foot and stomped it, quick and in fast motions.

"hu...hu...oh...my...god!" She stood up, holding onto him. "Why didnt you tell me!" She hit him thrice inbetween words.

"I did!" He pleaded, blocking her blows with his arm. She rolled her eyes. She struggled to set herself down but Eragon ended up having to let her down slowly, holding onto her arm for support.

"Now Im deffinately not going to go to sleep." Both adolescents said at the same time. They both looked in eachothers eyes.

"That was freaky.." She said.

"Youre telling me."

"Im surprised youre friend didnt come running..."

"Murtagh can sleep like a log." He stated. She chuckled.

Sorry for the delay in this story, but I have also been working on my other stories. Id like to ask all my readers to check out my Humour When A Tlae Comes A Knockin' Which as I said before, it poked fun other character such as Eragon, and such. It has people from all over. So its a Crossover Fiction. Everyone who had read it so far, loves it. I hope you will too! Also, make sure you read the author notes because there is a contest for both stories DARREN SHAN & WHEN A TALES.. SO sign up for those people! It shows great support ;) SOOO, thanks to all my REVIEWERS, I know Im soo annoying just like reading peoples stories, but still, its nice of people to R & R. I might be ending this story soon. And then if I get more time, Ill make a sort of Number 2. Like a continuation. But dont worry, no time soon. I love the characters in this story :)

& Shayy ;