Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle

Mellary sighed and leaned back against a log. She felt content. Her stomach was full after a rich stew made from game she had brought down earlier. Judging by the bulge of the dragon's stomach and the satisfied look in its eyes, it was happy too. She was also cozy. Nights up north this time of year were cold, but Mellary had a roaring fire and a very warm dragon pressed up the length of her side.

In the three weeks since Mellary had escaped Dras-Leona the dragon and grown explosively, bigger almost every day. It had gone from the size of a house cat to the size a large mountain lion and twice the length.

After a couple of days it had gotten too big to wrap itself around her shoulders, which seemed to be its favorite spot. The dragon bound along beside her as Mellary rode Tanyian. They had crossed rivers and forest, always keeping an eye out for Imperial patrols. They had had to duck out of sight to avoid being seen on more than one occasion. Mellary suspected hiding five feet away from a passing patrol had aged her a few years. She had lain in that damp ditch for almost three hours. Another time Mellary had been asleep when an urgent sense drifted across her mind. She snapped awake in time to see torches rapidly nearing their campsite. The dragon had been staring at her with big fearful eyes. She was lucky the night had been warm enough to go without a fire.

They also stumbled into the middle of a group of Urgals traveling south at a run. The dragon had let out a screeching cry just before the group came into view. The Urgals had seen them, so there was no choice but to stand and fight. The dragon had proved itself to be a fighter even at that young an age, slashing with its razor claws and using its wings to make controlled leaps.

The dragon could fly now. It liked to take short hops, fanning out its wings and gliding to the ground as they were traveling. Today it had chased a songbird across the meadow, flapping after it and snapping at the bird's tail. The dragon managed to stay in the air the entire time. Mellary didn't see the end of the chase as the dragon vanished into the trees. But it soon came flying back across the field with a feather sticking out of its mouth and a self satisfied look in its eyes. She could easily guess how the chase had ended.

Mellary felt something touch her palm and realized she was running her fingers over the silver mark on her palm. The gedwëy insignia still amazed her every time she looked at it. It was slightly distracting, to see a flash of silver out of the corner of her eye when she was busy.

Mellary's magic had gotten stronger also. She could feel new depths she hadn't felt before when she started their fire or hunted. She had been stronger than most of the elves her age years ago when she had lived in Ellesméra. Mellary suspected it was because of her mixed heritage that she was stronger. Being a Rider had just increased it.

A wolf howled in the distance. Another voice soared to join it.

The dragon raised its head and looked in the direction of the wolves. Its tail twitched.

"They're singing." Mellary murmured. "To each other." She tilted her head back and stared at the stars. After years of looking at them over a campfire she knew every pattern, every constellation.

The wolves voices rose. More joined in with the duet. Mellary smiled sadly.

"Trust a wolf never to be alone." She said. "Pack creatures."

Lonely. A deep voice intruded the quiet Mellary had made her mind.

"Yeah, but I've learned to cope." She responded. Then it hit her. Mellary turned her head to see the dragon's green eyes boring into hers. "You spoke."

We do that. The dragon responded. It looked amused.

I noticed. Mellary said in return. "But they don't want me. I figured that out years ago. So I left."

Half elf.

Mellary sighed. "And they hated me for it. For something I had no control over."

Life isn't fair.

It talks and delivers philosophy. Mellary snorted and closed her eyes to sleep.

They left at dawn. Mellary banked the embers of their fire, hiding the ashes under dirt and leaves as the dragon hunted a small animal that had been slinking through their camp in the morning. It amazed Mellary that such a big animal could move so silently through the forest.

Mellary dug her map of the land out of her pack. She stroked the worn parchment as she laid it out on a blanket. Mellary liked maps. She had a nice collection from all over, all wonderfully illustrated. This particular map had been drawn by the resident expert of the elven city, given to her shortly before she left. Mellary placed a finger on where she estimated they were. Her eyes measured the distance between her finger and the edge of Du Weldenvarden. Even though it was a huge distance, Mellary still felt uneasy. She had to remind herself that there was a lake between the forest and her.

The elves won't find us. The dragon assured her.

"I hope so. I really hope so." Mellary whispered as she braided her hair.

You could cut it. The dragon suggested. Your hair.

"I could. But I'm not going to." Mellary twisted some of the red locks with her fingers.

Why?

"Sentimental value. And it makes a good disguise." Mellary swung up onto Tanyian's back. "We should be moving."

Mellary was watching the dragon take big soaring leaps as she rode. She could feel its joy as it hung in the air above her head. Suddenly it took a big leap and shot into the sky. Its wings flapped and carried it higher than Mellary had seen it go before. The dragon wheeled around. Mallory's heart felt lighter as she watched it fly. Finally it landed next to her, triumph in its eyes.

"You need a name." Mellary said suddenly.

Yes. The dragon said.

Mellary thought back. Like all of the young elves, she had been taught the history of the Dragon Riders at a young age. She had grown up hearing the names of the most famous dragons of a rainbow of colors. But as she looked at her dragons deep emerald scales and intelligent eyes, none of them seemed to fit.

Mellary quickly discovered her dragon was male. She suggested some of the names pounded into her memory, but the dragon agreed with her that none of them seemed to fit. Mellary lapsed into silence as she ran out of ideas. They walked in quiet, listening to the birdsong.

"Embrald." She said.

The dragon cocked its head to the side. Yes. It said, thrumming happily. It took off, circling around her and twisting in a kind of air dance.

"Embrald." Mellary said to herself. "Emerald ember." It fit.

Embrald passed over her head in a rush of air that made Tanyian rear in surprise. A wash of joy in his wake made her smile, a rare moment of happiness.