This chapter is a tad gory, just a precausion for those with very very weak stomachs, but other than that, enjoy!!!

claimer: i own everything that's not in eragon or eldest :D

15. –Scales of blood

As the silvery wolves crept forward, their ghostly paws never leaving marks in the soft forest ground, the air around the clearing got considerably colder as they got closer to the pack.

Their sightless eyes staring unblinkingly at me, as if expecting something.

The pack continued to howl to the sky as if they hadn't noticed anything wrong, like the sudden temperature drop, or the fact that there was another tribe besides their own that had entered the clearing, apparently unnoticed.

Dorran, look! I thought franticly into his head.

Noticing my urgency his dark eyes shot open and stared at me, the black orbs questioning.

What's wrong? He thought back, confused.

Look around you! I screeched, startling him, panic clouding my mind as I regarded the spirit figures.

His onyx eyes widened as his gaze traveled to the silvery wolves, but it was not fear, but excitement that made the night colored orbs brighten.

They are the ancestors of the pack, do not be afraid, for they protect us from harm, which is how we are able to hunt during the day without having to worry about being seen or hunted ourselves, he explained.

Sensing my uncertainty he added with a sigh, they will not hurt you, as if that would stem my worries.

His words did give me slightly more confidence though, and I was able to gaze at the misty figures without shivers of fear wracking my body.

The strange wolves halted a few feet away, each directly behind a member of the living pack.

Then as I watched, they too tilted their heads back and howled to the clear blue sky above, an eerie, ghostly wail emitting from their jaws.

They all howled as one for a few minutes, then the spirits sprang forward and leapt into the huge hairy bodies in front of them.

The solid wolves gave a shudder as their ancestors entered their forms.

I turned my eyes to Dorran and noticed him having the same reaction. One of the spirits had gone inside him.

I flicked my head behind me, and gasped at the ghostly figure standing behind me. The form resembled a wolf, but with slight differences.

The magnificent silver wolf supported a dragon's tail and wings to match.

Its unseeing eyes looked deep into mine; the creatures' orbs the same silver color as my own.

A whispering voice entered my mind and seemed to rebound within my skull, causing my vision to blur and black spots to swim in my line of sight.

You, daughter of the moon, have many disaster-filled years ahead of you, but no matter how dangerous the path may become, trust your heart and you cannot go wrong.

The voice died down and my vision returned to normal, only leaving a slight headache behind.

Then suddenly the creature rushed forward and dove into my body.

An icy chill shot throughout my limbs sending intense shivers that made me feel as if I were in the middle of an earth quake.

Then the sensation evaporated and I felt as if nothing had happened.

I noticed that the clearing had become silent and I looked around, only to notice that every single wolfs eyes bore into mine, concern and eagerness on many of their faces.

What happened? Dorrans voice resounded around my head.

I looked up to his face, concern deep within his beautiful eyes. I'll tell you later. I replied, and then turned to the pack. Isn't it time to go hunt now? I projected into everyone's heads, attempting to turn their attention from me.

Thankfully it worked and they all gave yelps of excitement and started bounding off into the forest, disappearing quickly into the trees shadows.

Dorran gave me one last questioning look, then charged off after the others, his dark eyes bright with exhilaration.

I smiled the darted after him, not wanting to loose sight of the pack and risk becoming lost in the woods. Luckily Dorran was waiting for me near the edge of the clearing.

I flicked my ear in acknowledgment and followed him into the seemingly endless trees.

Around me pack members were creeping stealthily, their paws hardly making a sound with each tread. All my senses were on high alert, searching franticly for prey.

I felt as if something possessed me, and years of hunting knowledge came to my head instantly, but I had never learnt any of it.

My paws traveled on their own accord, needing no noticeable prompting from my brain.

I crept deep into the heart of Grimshaw, my nose having caught the fresh scent of deer in the air.

I hadn't eaten since breakfast the day before, and I was suddenly ravenous, my tongue swiping my lips as the savory smell grew stronger with every step.

I snuck into a small clearing that, by the looks of the tree roots sticking out from the crumbling earth, had been torn up recently.

But it was the creatures around the fallen trees that I was more interested in.

There was a whole herd of deer, grazing off the luscious grass that had sprouted from the upturned soil.

My heart raced as I crouched down and spotted my target, a young buck, his juicy hide rippling as he stepped to another place and started feeding.

My mouth bore in a snarl and my claws itched to rake against his flank, tearing the thin fur.

I inched forward a little more, getting closer so that it wouldn't see me coming in time.

I crouched, muscles tensing as I prepared to spring.

Then I leapt.

The deer around me's heads flicked up at the noise, but it was too late for the buck.

I was on him before he knew it, my teeth sinking deep into his fragile neck, extinguishing his life in one bite.

Blood trickled from the wound, salty and warm.

Wolf instinct took over and I found myself tearing bloody strips from his carcass, the rest of the herd long gone.

The rich meat filled my belly quickly, and I found that I could not take another bite for fear of exploding where I stood.

I looked around, the forest was eerily quiet. No birds sang in the trees, no scuffle of tiny creatures reached my ears.

I strained to hear anything, but the silence pressed again my ear drums, even the trees seemed to have stopped making noise as they moved in the wind.

The vacancy of sound was unnerving. Every noise I made was like an echo, no matter how small it was.

Dorran, where are you? I though desperately, but the connection between our minds had been closed, and it felt as if I had lost half of my soul, or multiple souls anyway.

Then, I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me.

My head flicked round and suddenly I was face to face with something that had scales the deep color of blood.

Then the creature attacked, and I was unconscious before I could move.

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-Firesilk:D