Mmkay. I'm back. And now, we have... DISCLAIMERS: I am not CP. Thorn, Murtagh and our special guests belong to him. Raven, the wolves and Shadfire belong to me. Said special guests only half-belong to me, as they are not formally introduced in the Inheritance Cycle. If you are wondering who the special guests are, read on...
Secrets of Life
Chapter Four
Frost and Flame
Murtagh stretched and yawned, enjoying the warm sunlight. Behind him, Thorn stretched as well, then padded over to his Rider, saying as he did so, Shadefire says that we are to meet them in a half-hour. Apparently they have a few things to show us.
Wonder what they'll be. Raven already finished the saddle, which I have to say is a work of genius.
Thorn turned his head to admire it. It really is, isn't it? In essence, the saddle was the same as Shadefire's but with a few key differences: the leather was of a lighter, honey-like color, the gems were rubies instead of onyx, and they were bound in bronze instead of silver. It was smaller as well, but Raven had said it was a special design that would grow with the dragon for a few years. When Murtagh had questioned this, she had laughed and pointed out that the long end of the straps slid under the seat, and would gradually feed out while Thorn grew.
Murtagh smiled at the memory, then shook himself and went to break his fast. Storm, who had on-and-off been his guide the past six months, loped ahead of him, and stopped at one of the great oaks the valley was full of. This was one of the few that were hollowed out, to create a small meeting hall, and was large enough to hold two dragons the size of Shadefire up within the branches.
Inside, there were the seven alpha wolves sitting around a low table, with Pyra, the Alpha of alphas, sitting at the head. He wondered briefly what they were discussing, but was distracted by the smell of fresh bread and smoked salmon.
A while later, after he had had his fill of fresh fish and bread, he came back outside, where Thorn was just finishing off a large deer. The red dragon licked the last remnants of blood from his fangs, then got up and started walking towards the tree where Raven and Shadefire rested.
The huge oak was as large as a small mountain, with huge branches able to hold ten dragons the size of Glaedr, and a trunk so massive, Shadefire was unable to completely curl around it and touch her tail with her snout. The black dragon was currently hanging by her tail from one of the thicker branches, like an overgrown bat crossed with a possum.
When she noticed Thorn, she stretched out her neck and called a greeting. Thorn answered, and Murtagh wondered if there was something between them he didn't know about.
Oh, don't think nonsense, Murtagh, Thorn admonished, though it was more teasing than serious. Murtagh just grinned and shook his head.
Meanwhile, Shadefire had dropped to the ground and padded over to meet them, black scales shimmering, as if she had stars caught in her night-colored armor. Her green eyes had a laughing light within them, and she seemed a little better groomed than usual.
Her Rider, when she clambered down from the root she sat on, also seemed much more preened. Her blades were polished, her hair was combed back, and her boots were clean.
She smiled and mounted Shadefire, who took off, faster than Murtagh had thought possible. He quickly mounted Thorn, and they followed, using the air currents to an advantage, and avoiding those that would force them back, as Shadefire had taught them to do. The black dragon was turning west, where Thorn hadn't yet flown.
Ahead, there was a tall, wide mountain, as big as any in the Beors, which he assumed was their destination. As the other pair quickly flew up and around the top of the tree line, he wondered what could be beyond it. He saw Shadefire land a mile above the trees, on rocks and boulders, and he guided Thorn to land beside her. The black dragon then proceeded to walk on, tail flicking from side to side, and Thorn followed, unsure as to why they were walking.
When they rounded a large boulder and a huge valley came into view though, he stopped, wings and tail falling limply.
At the bottom of the huge slope, was a tree bigger than the one Raven and Shadefire lived in. The only thing that even came close to it's size, in Murtagh's mind, was Shruikan, and even he would have trouble touching the lower branches from the ground. But the thing that caught his attention, and indeed seemed to demand attention, was the huge pile of blinding white scales wrapped around the roots.
He could see claws and the shape of a head, but at first it was a shapeless white mass, until it opened one violet eye and looked at them. Shruikan would have been trembling in the shadow of this- this- Elder, a true Ebrithil. He now knew how Shadefire was able to train this far north.
When the great white dragon spoke to him, it was as if the voice of Time itself had lodged in his brain.
Welcome, Murtagh, Red Rider of the south. Welcome, Thorn Firescales. I, am Bid'daum, the first Dragon of our Order.
A/N: Yes, I do have to end it here. It's short, I know, but I like to hang you from cliffs. It's the way to write something you want to read, because- you know what, I'll stop there. Anyways, yes! Biddy! The tree he's wrapped around is the- no, no spoilers! Ahem. Yah, anyways, Bid'daum, first Dragon of the Dragon Riders. Can you guess what the tree is?
Cookies to whoever guesses correctly! PM me though, don't put in the much-appreciated revvies! And, of course, review, con-crit appreciated, flames will be turned around and launched back to senders. Bye!
Falcon