Gathering

Eragon stood over what looked like a bowl in the earth. It was a sort of canyon, but it was made into a circle form. At the bottom there were

four shapes, three being the brothers. The fourth was a silver long and slender werecat. Hyro, Fifrie, and Kecra were all in there cat forms.

Eragon had learned from the three of them that every werecat was born with an unnatural ability over something, and that no one were cat's

power was the same as another. He looked up at the full moon. Kecra had sent out a howl the previous night that had summoned their

brethren. Kecra warned that not all of them would come, as some were stubborn. Eragon looked back down as he saw Hyro and the slender

silver werecat walk to a small cave. They sat down and Hyro began licking the others face, looking, as he did so, like a completely ordinary cat.

The silver one began to purr and pushed her head under his chin. Eragon heard paws patting on rock and Kecra jumped onto the ledge Eragon

stood on. He wavered and stood as a human again. He looked up at Eragon with blind eyes. "What are you thinking?" Eragon shock his head

and nodded to Hyro. "Who's the female?" Kecra sat down so his legs fell off into the side of the bowl-like canyon. "Her name is Luron. She and

Hyro met when I was around twenty. I'm almost a century old now. She traveled with us for some months and as is the nature of this, they fell

in love. But when we were caught by Gailbatorix and I used my shadow to move us out of his grip, they were separated. I assume that she

was thrown into some random city. She was the first to arrive tonight." The boy raised a leg and then froze. Eragon tilted his head to the side

and saw a jet black werecat walking to them. "No way-" The black cat shot forward snarling, "Hey shrimp. Miss me?" The cat obviously had no

clue of the training Eragon had put him through. Kecra fell onto his back and used his arms to shot himself into the air. Mid-jump he spun so his

legs were pointing to the ground and landed. He raised his hands to both sides and shadows moved around them, and were flung at the black

werecat. Something like a snort of contempt came from the cat and with so much speed that it ripped sand out from four feet below he was

gone. Eragon's eyes flew up in surprise. He gripped Brisingr's pummel, ready. He had not trained Kecra for this. A burst of light came from Hyro's

palm. Eragon looked down to see that he had changed to human form. "Gagro, stop torturing my brother." Gagro spun to a stop and jumped

down into the canyon. Kecra lowered his hands. "Gagro. Most aggressive one that will show up here." He sniffed and looked over to see two

cats slip out from the shade of a bush. The left one was a dark gray, while the other was a brown, with small splashes of white. The dark gray

looked young. As they approached Kecra stood and walked over to them. "Eragon this is L'ura. She has the abilities to absorb someone's

knowledge, and as such she is incredibly smart." The young cat looked rather shy around Kecra. "And this is her sister, Lynay. She has the

power to control ones thoughts. The two have a similar power." Kecra leaned forward and gave them each a lick on their face. L'ura flinched

back for a moment and then purred. Kecra smiled with some emotion and licked her again. L'ura hesitated for a moment and then walked

forward so that her chest touched Kecra's. Lynay spoke up then. Her voice sounded old, even though she didn't look it. "That's enough of that!"

She batted L'ura's pointed ears and pushed Kecra away. L'ura glared venomously at her sister. Kecra staggered back from to force of her

shove.

He looked up and hissed. Lynay hit him over the ear. "Don't you hiss at me!" L'ura walked up to the two cats. "Why did you push him away? I

liked it when he was lick-" She cast an embarrassed look at Kecra, then lowered her gaze. Lynay looked Kecra up and down. "If you have a

mate, it will at least be someone that can at least see." With that she trotted off to the direction of the canyon. Kecra glared at her. He stood up

and ran off in the direction of a low hill. L'ura raised a paw, stopped, then went after him saying, "Kecra, wait." Eragon sighed. He walked back

to the bowl canyon and say Fifrie greeting a pale white male. He jumped the fifteen or so feet to the bottom and walked over to them. Fifrie

looked up at him and said, "This is Deka. He was my best friend." The cat's eyes widened and he jumped, in some amusement, saying, "'Was?'

I'm not anymore? You couldn't have possibly have found a mate!" With that the two went into play fight. A burst of light so powerful it hurt

Eragon's eyes erupted from his side. Hyro stood with a shinning palm on a low slab of rock that allowed him to stand over the other werecat's.

He wavered and went into his cat form. Luron stood with adoring eyes looking at Hyro. The others slowly assembled below the ledge. More had

arrived, and Kecra and L'ura and returned. In total there were thirteen of them. All of them were a different color, and it looked to Eragon

almost like a cluster of Dragons. "Werecat's! Gailbatorix, the ever-cursed King, has destroyed our kind since the fall of the riders. Through the

ability of our special powers, we hide and evaded him. But how long will that last? It will last as long as the Varden fight him, and as long as the

elves can resist him. It is but a temporary defensive measure, for that evil tyrant grows more and more strong and soon not even our Powers

will save us. I and my brothers were caught by him and would have been his slaves today had my brother, Kecra, not used his Power to

transport us away. If the Varden lose, and the Elves lose, no more will there be a place to run and hide. No longer will there be a place of

safety. Our race will go extinct and there will be no end to Gailbatorix. But-" Here he stopped and his palm shimmered. "-we have the power to

stop him. We are werecat's! We are stronger then that evil misbegotten vermin! Without us the Varden will fail and all will be lost. So I ask you

will you fight for the slain people of the world?" He looked over the cats that had begun to mutter to each other. Gagro rose. His fur made him

hard to see in the bad light. "If we fight for the Varden, and we should lose, how would killing us in fighting solve the problem of our

eradication?" Hyro looked down on him. "If we fight then we will win. But if we hide it is impossible to live." Gagro sat back down and put his

head on his paws. "Well Hyro, it seems to me that we're living and hiding at the same time." An almost orange werecat stood and objected to

his words. Arguments quickly began among them and at that instant they all froze. Not one of them moved a single strand of hair. Kecra walked

through them, eleven shadows coming from his paws. The had attached themselves to the cats and rendered them motionless. The ones that

were left out where himself and L'ura, who walked close behind him. "I for one will fight for the Varden. I have no wish to let that King win

through my inaction." Hyro smiled at his younger brother and Fifrie stood. "Well, while I dislike work, I suppose it will mean my death if I don't. I

will fight." He sat back down and went into a roll as Deka tackled him saying, "Show off! I'll fight too!" In Eragon's mind he counted how many

would help. Four. Luron stood and cast a loving glance at Hyro. "I would not dream of staying behind, and causing the deaths of hundreds if not

thousands on beings. I will fight." L'ura walked forward and shyly said, "If I don't fight then, as Hyro said, we will lose."

Gagro stood and rolled his shoulders. "Well I have no interest in fighting for the hopeless. I've done well enough on my own, and I can continue

to do so." He turned and jumped the whole ledge to the surface above. He ran off at an incredible speed. Back in the hole Hyro shook his head,

sighing. Luron laid her head on his shoulder, whispering, "Some times you can't save everyone. If he doesn't want to be saved, who are we to

tell him otherwise?" He nodded and said, "I know. I just wish he could see the value of fighting back." He straightened himself and said louder,

"Who else?" Lynay stood up. "I have seen more then you could possible imagine. Having the power to control another's thinking has aged me. I

am still as young as I was before I found my power, but in my experience I can tell that the Varden shall win. I will fight." Seven. So far it was

looking good. A brown cat stood. From beside him Kecra whispered, "Olam The Wise. Oldest werecat in existence. Has the power to transform

into any living thing." The cat lifted his gaze to Hyro. "I am old. I have seen nine Blood Oath Celebrations. I have lived with every one of the

races. I was old before Gailbatorix's great grand father was born." He turned his gaze to Eragon and Eragon felt like the cat knew something

about him that he was hiding. "I know things about everyone of you that you would not believe. Secrets about your life that the life forms know

but you do not. I hold all life precious. As a result, I will fight." A tremor ran down Eragon's back. The cat knew something about Eragon, but

what? More and more cats said that they would fight, until they were on the last, a golden male that looked like a lion. "Matric. He has the

power of both ice and fire. Strongest of us all." From a few feet beside him he heard Lynay mutter, "And the best looking one." L'ura swatted

her ear. "How can you tell me to stay away from Kecra and go and say something like that?" The cat sneered. She cast a mocking glance at

Kecra. "Because Matric isn't blind." Like swords being drawn before a battle, Kecra's claws shot out from his paws. He raised one at her and his

shadow began to move, when L'ura moved and put a paw on it. She leaned forward and gently licked his face. "Don't. She isn't worth it." Kecra

lowered his paw and his claws retracted into his paw. The shadow gradually moved back to his body. Matric was talking again. "I am the

strongest one here. Foolish it would be not to fight, since I can contribute the most. I will fight." Deka, who was apparently the youngest there,

said, "He's a major self praiser." Hyro spoke. "Those who choose to fight will survive. Fight whole heartedly. As the elven poet said, 'He who

seeks to save his life will lose it, but he who seeks to give his life for a greater cause has saved his life already.' Now, follow me back to the

camp." He jumped down from the rock and ran off in the direction of the Varden's camp. As the old cat, Olam, passed Eragon he looked up at

him. "I know. The things that your father hide from everyone, are not hidden from me. I see with more then my eyes." Eragon looked down at

him, confused. "Please, explain." The cat raised a paw and licked it. "There is someone you already know who will tell you. She will explain. But

know this, your hated enemy is not all to you then you think. You have powers that you are unaware of. Go and talk to him and he will tell you."

Eragon walked back to his tent. "Him must refer to someone I know, who happens to be male. Blindingly obvious but true. The fact that him

would know my powers must mean that it is someone who shares in my powers." He smiled to himself. "And who else is that but my

namesake?" He walked into the tent and went straight to his bed. There he lay himself down and slept.

Eragon awoke to find himself in the same star filled clearing as his first meeting with the Rizdar. Eragon 1 was sleeping against a tree beside him.

Eragon patted him saying, "Hey, wake up!" Eragon 1 jolted. He looked at him and coughed. "Oh, hey. Sorry I am really tired. What is it?" Eragon stood

and looked around. None of the other Rizdar was there. "A werecat just told me that you could explain powers of mine that I'm unaware of." The elf

shrugged. "Little is impossible with the magic word. In fact, there really are no limits, unless you overwhelm its strength." Eragon sat back down. He

hadn't mentioned that when he first told him about it. "So wait......could I......bring someone back from the dead?" The elf looked into the sky and

thought. Then he shrugged. "Heck, why not. I guess you could, so long as the life form wasn't to big." Eragon looked at him with an open mouth.

"Then......then I could bring Brom back to life?" The elf again looked into the sky. "Ummmmm.......yeah it should work." Eragon jumped up and said.

"Alright, that's enough for now."

Eragon awoke in his room. He got out of bed and quickly started to pack his belongings. He could bring Brom back! He would have a living

parent! Perhaps Brom knew of what Fifrie's prophecy meant. Eragon walked to the entrance to the tent and then stopped. He turned and saw

a dark form. It moved and materialized into a young boy. "Can I help you?" The boy looked up at him and smiled. "My mother is hiding who my

father is." Eragon looked down at the ground for a moment and then back at him. "Is that my concern?" He was ruder then he meant to be, but

he know he had to get going as soon as possible. The boy shrugged. "Well considering that the father is you, I would assume so." Eragon spun

around saying, "What?" The boy shook his head. He walked to him and pushed him out the door. "No questions. You must go. If it'll help, the

mother is Trianna." Eragon nodded and took off running, despite the baggage he carried. He could not afford to be gone for more then a few

days. As a result, he had to fly. He reached the base of Saphira's home cliff and said, "Rise." He rose to the entrance and say Saphira lying on

her side, with Thorn licking the scales on her back. "Saphira." She raised her head and joy leapt across their connection, Eragon. Why are you

packed? He explained quickly. I can not take you. I have an egg to take care of, not to mention another one inside me. Eragon groaned. He looked

at Thorn. "Can you take me?" Thorn thought about it then lay his head on Saphira's flank. What do you think? Saphira gently licked his check, a

dragon's sign of affection, and said back, "You know you don't have to ask me about everything." Thorn chuckled deep in his throat, a sound like a

land slide. He turned his gaze to Eragon. I guess. Where are we going? Eragon sighed with relief. That was his transportation complete. "Dras-

Leona. To Brom's tomb." Thorn rose and gave Saphira a lick of good bye. Farewell, Love of My Life. Saphira hummed. Eragon jumped onto Thorn

and quickly realized that the spikes on his back were longer then Saphira's. I'll have to be more careful then usual. Thorn cast one last glance at

Saphira, hummed, and then jumped off the cliff. As the neared the ground Thorn snapped open his wings and caught them out of mid air and

flapped twice, gaining altitude and speed. They landed in front of Murtagh's tent. He came out, Faola beside him. "Eragon, what the blast are

you-" He was cut off as the wind from Thorn's speed hit him in the face. He ducked down until it settled. "What are you doing? Is one dragon

not enough for you?" Eragon jumped down and explained. "I have a chance to bring him back to life, which would help the Varden immensely."

Murtagh looked up at Thorn. A thought passed from him to Thorn, and back to him. He sighed. "Alright. But trust me on my word as a Rider, and

your half-brother, if he gets hurt you'll be the one responsible." Eragon jumped back onto the Thorn. "Understood. Please inform Nasuada of

were I'm going and why." Murtagh nodded, and Thorn took off again. Their last landing was at Arya's tent. He jumped off again; his legs were

getting sore by now, and went to front door. She opened and laughed. She went forward and hugged him.

"Eragon, please come in." He shook his head. "I can't." The story was told to Arya and she went back inside, and came back out with a pack.

Following her was the Mecch Dragon, Gridor. Arya through her pack onto Thorn. "I'm going with you." Eragon opened his mouth and then shook

his head. "Suppose it'll do no good telling you no." Arya nodded, smiling. "Quite." Gridor snarled in a good fashioned way. "I'm not missing out

on a chance like this. I have wings, I can fly. So Thorn won't have an extra weight." K'eray walked out from her tent and ran over to Arya. Her

tent was set twenty feet from Arya's, to both satisfy her need for privacy and eliminate the worry of her and Brom doing things they shouldn't.

"Where are you going?" Arya looked down at her apprentice, because she was slightly taller, and said, "I and Eragon are going to the city of

Dras-Leona, where his father is buried. There we plan on resurrecting him." K'eray gapped. "But how?" Arya nodded to Eragon. "He was the

ability." K'eray looked , in astonishment, from Eragon to Arya, back to Eragon and finally landed on Arya with a slight smile. "Does this mean

that Brom and I can be alone together?" Arya tilted her head back and laughed. "Do you understand why we won't let you?" K'eray shrugged.

"Mentors are mean, they don't need a reason." Arya looked fondly at her apprentice. "No. It's because if you become pregnant, which is an all

to likely chance, you won't be able to fight, and as a result we will lose some support." K'eray's shoulders sagged and she said miserably, "But,

you and Eragon can do it whenever you want. Why can't I and Brom have the same pleasure from each other?" Arya laid a hand on K'eray's

shoulder. "Because Eragon and I are stronger then you and Brom. Tell you what; you and Brom can do whatever you want, so long as what

you do does not lead to your pregnantence. Some day these rules will be lifted, but not now." K'eray brightened at that. "Okay. Have a save

trip." She spun around and ran off, looking for Brom. Arya jumped from Thorn's leg, to his shoulder, and landed behind Eragon. "How long do

you think it will last?" Arya giggled for a moment. "That rule is a trap. I want to test her skill in magic. Letting her do that with Brom is a test to

see if she can push the boundary farther and get away with it." With a sound like cloth ripping, Gridor's wings shot out from his back. He fanned

them. They were over sixteen feet long, unusually for a dragon of his size. He flapped twice, and flew above Thorn, who despite his size

seemed to greatly respect the other dragon. "Well my disciple, shall we fly?" Thorn growled and coiled his muscles and then leapt into the air,

and with that they started their way to the far off city of Dras Leona.