Authors Note: I apologize for Anyone that had to read the embarrassment of the original chapter 2. I was in such hurry to get it edited and posted up that I completely did not get everything corrected and missed errors. Dreamwriter89 helped edit this new version and I added a few more words to make it better. Thank you all for your support.

Chapter 2

The Brunt of the Storm

As his mind began to flow down the river of dreams, Eragon found himself … flying. He was soaring over an endless, lush, green forest on his left side and pure, bone white sand that tried to escape the constant push and pull of the stunningly bright, blue ocean on his right. But there was something else. He could feel something deep inside of him that made him just want to shout with joy, as he flew through the air. He was … happy, beyond anything that he had ever experienced. This happiness was so much stronger than even the joy he felt when Arya had confessed to him, Eragon had to admit to himself. But there was something else as well. A feeling of love that was ... stronger than any bond he could think of. He loved and felt being loved by someone.

Suddenly his altitude began to lower and Eragon quickly slowed his pace and came to a running stop on the white, sandy beach that seemed to stretch for miles. Like a flash of light he was hit with a wave of a tender love that almost caught his breath. It was exciting and joyful.

What is this feeling ... it feels ... good. Eragon wondered. The wave of love began ease, but it never seemed to end. There was just so much love flowing into him that he could hardly think straight. This love gave him a happiness that he could never imagine beyond his wildest of dreams.

Eragon began to sense the beings presence. The person with so much love for him was coming from the same way Eragon just had. As the being drew closer, Eragon could feel that the love that he was feeling was coming from the approaching entity. He turned, trying to look down the coast and through the trees, trying to catch a glimpse of who is was, but he could not see anyone coming. As he made one last glance, the sound of wing beats were heard. From the echoes, Eragon looked over the tree lines and he finally caught sight of the one that loved him, but the sun blinded his sight, all he could truly see was the length of a sapphire wing before he had to shut his eyes.

Just as he was ready to greet whoever it was, Eragon was suddenly knocked over. He hit the sand with a thud. As he tried to stand, he was pushed violently over again. This caused Eragon to begin to awaken from his dream and the vision started to fade away as Eragon was thrust back into reality.

Eragon was abruptly awoken from his slumber by the rough shaking of the Talíta. He opened his eyes only to see that he was on the ground next to his bed. All of his possessions were throng across the ground. Salt water was beginning to soak the floor; a thin line of foam was floating on the water's surface as the craft leaned from side to side. Eragon's possessions slid from left and right as the craft rocked back and forth. With Eragon still in complete daze from his sleep, all it took to shake him to full attention was the booms and pows of lightning that cracked outside. The only word that Eragon could think of was,

A storm!

Just like the storm and raged outside, a storm of dread awoken in Eragon. Then as fast as a snake bite, he was hit with a magnified fear that coursed through his dragoness, through their bond. Saphira, like all dragons, was terrified of storms and especially the elements that storms released such rain, but what made her really fill with terror was lightning. Not wasting another minute knowing that she needed him now set a fire in Eragon. He forgot about everything as he and ran out of his room and began scouring the corridors wobbling along using the wooden walls for support as the Talíta swung back and forth and side to side. When he finally made it to the deck, what he saw outside shocked him.

It was horrifying for any sailor to be out in the open sea while a storm raged through, but for Eragon it was something far worse. The Talíta was constantly pounded with heavy bashes from twenty to thirty foot waves. Thick rain droplets fell hard on the surface. The main deck was covered in foam from the receding water and ripples as the rain pelted down.

There right in the middle of deck was Saphira, balled up in a fetal position with her head curled in towards her left flank; her wings slightly strewn and covering her head and some of her body from the rain. There was a slight shaking to her body, she was stuck and was not leaving her spot. Saphira could only be seen once a lightning bolt flashed across the sky long enough to the light the deck for Eragon.

With vigor and adrenaline running through him, Eragon rushed forth and was smashed by a wave that jumped on the craft. As he was knocked over, he could taste the heavily salted water that slipped past and stung his nose and slid down his throat. Eragon pushed his way back up, but was knocked right back down being completely soaked in salt water and foam. The strong waves came with such a force that could keep even the strongest elf down if they did not respond quickly enough with magic. The Talíta continued to sway with such a furry that made even the most experienced sailor lose his time when he had the chance to make it, Eragon leaped forward and caught the wooden deck at a running start and without much thought, slammed right into Saphira's massive right shoulder. The noise from the wind, lightning, rain and constant crashes of waves made it extremely difficult for Eragon to concentrate on trying to reach Saphira's mind. A powerful burst of wind caused Eragon to grab any part of Saphira he could just so he would not be blown away. When the gust passed, Eragon grabbed onto Saphira's shoulder and shut his eyes to try and cancel out the extremities of the outside world and threw his mind out to Saphir's.

Saphira ... Saphira can you hear me? He frantically asked. A minute passed and then finally Eragon felt her conscience link with his. It wrapped his in fear and torment.

I ... I am, little one. Saphira said.

Saphira we have to get you out of here! Eragon yelled.

I can't, I am not moving from my spot! Just one step and I could be blown into the skies and struck with lightning, or I could slip off of the deck and into endless waves of the abyss!

Saphira please, the storm is only getting worse by the second. You could still be thrown from the Talíta by staying here! Please. I won't let anything happen you ... trust me. Eragon said softly.

Saphira grew silent; she weighed all the options and found that he was right; somehow in this situation Eragon was right for once.

Alright, fine. Where can I go? Saphira asked him.

We need to get you inside. I will make the opening large enough for you to enter. Eragon answered, he slowly released his mind, Saphira reluctantly began to let go as well, although not wanting to.

Eragon opened his eyes and was struck with the constant flow of rain, his soaked face and body had begun to get cold as his body was shaking. Both of them needed to get inside quickly. Saphira also came out of her hiding and brought her head around to face Eragon, she tightly folded her wings into her sides, so as not to let them get caught in the deadly clutches of the wind. As Eragon turned to make his way back towards the opening to the corridors, he was suddenly contacted by an elf, Blödgarm.

Master Eragon! Are you alright? He asked.

Aye, I am bringing Saphira inside with us, it too dangerous for her outside. Are the elves and dragon eggs safe? Eragon asked.

Aye we are all safe and the eggs have been secured to their chambers with a spell. Blödgarm answered.

With that Eragon cut off the link and proceeded to try and make it to the door. Taking it slow, yet trying to go at a pace that would get him and Saphira to the door before an enormous wave could flood the deck and sweep them away. As the waves continued to crash, Eragon finally saw the moment he needed. Giving only a few seconds for the salted, foamed liquid to reced from the floor, Eragon burst forward trying to make it. The opening seemed to be in his reach, but something caught his eye from the left side; something bright in the sky.

But before he could think or see what it was, the Talíta, the impervious, warded craft was shattered into pieces of wood and splinters. The explosion was so sudden and powerful that it through Eragon through the air. With momentum of the blast Eragon's Body was twisted around in time to see Saphira being hurtled as well and she was coming his way, because the shock was so fast, without any reaction time, Eragon was smashed by her massive body as they both slammed into the cold, bone chilling ocean waters causing a massive splash.

As the pain flashed through his very frame, he could feel many of his bones crack in half. His lungs were punctured and his brain felt a pain like no other before. The scar that the shade, Durza, had left on his back did not come close to how his head was feeling as it filled up with blood or how all of his bones felt being broken in an instance. He tried to cry out in pain, but the salted ocean entered his mouth taking away his oxygen and breath. With his body still being buoyant, Eragon rolled off of Saphira and rose to the surface. With each second that he rose, he was also losing consciousness. When he finally reached the surface, Eragon lied face up with his back floating in the water just enough that with his broken neck, he was able to look at the remains of the Talíta.

The craft was completely demolished, only a few lengths of the mast remain and thousands of planks were strewn everywhere and was engrossed in flames. His mind began to darken, but with what was left, Eragon could have sworn that a large, black, draconic figure rose from the white, flamed filled remains of the Talíta. But this was not Eragon's last thought. Instead it was...

Hmm ... I thought that this was ... just ... the begi ... ning.

Just as he was seconds from fading away, Eragon could hear the rush of water that flew up revealing that Saphira had finally come to surface.

I … guess ... not ... With that Eragon lost consciousness.

With Eragon on the brink of death, Saphira floating unconscious, the Talíta in rubble, the elves survival questionable, and the dragon eggs lost into the abyss, it seemed like the nightmare was over.

But really, there was something within that nightmare, a light that began shine bright and started a new path for the rider and dragoness. It came in the form of a snow-white paw that gently pulled Eragon onto the soft pads of it's under foot. Saphira was grabbed by her torso with the other fore paw. The white, snake like figure rose into the night sky with both Eragon and Saphira in its clutches, the storm was gone, the stars where out, the moon was full. The white figure turned and headed towards an island that lay only a few miles away. It was going home.