Bit of fluff in this chapter, just thought i should warn you :D

claimer: i own everything that is not is Eragon or Eldest:D

enjoy!

23.-Lake of fire

The dark mountains loomed high over head as the sun began to sink over the horizon. The village that we were heading for would be just over the first peak but we would not get there for perhaps another day.

Eragon, should we not descend and make camp now, the sun will be gone within a few minutes, I thought to him, tired and sore from riding Dorran all day without a saddle.

That is true, head for the clearing over there and land.

I nodded and the huge black dragon tilted his wings into a dive unexpectedly. I cried out as I was almost thrown off of the sleek scales and clutched desperately to the serpentine neck in front of me.

Dorran! Don't ever do that without warning me first! I screeched into his mind and I growled as he laughed out loud, quiet enough so that only I could hear, and that Eragon and Saphira could not.

I slapped his neck in annoyance and cringed as my neck stung, and mentally cursed myself for forgetting that I could not hurt him without injuring myself. Dorran chuckled and dove beneath the emerald canopy, branches scratching at my skin as he weaved in between the trees with amazing grace and agility.

Dorran, I know you love to show off your incredible flying skills, but could you please do so WITHOUT MAKING ME HIT EVERY SINGLE BRANCH IN THE ENTIRE FOREST!

I screamed into his mind and smiled with satisfaction as I saw his shake his head repeatedly as if trying to clear it of my angry tones.

My apologies, he growled into my mind softly, and I sat back in a more relaxing position as the branches seemed to leap out of my way whenever I got close to them.

Dorran remained silent and I knew he was angry at me for shouting when he was only trying to have fun, but I ignored him and closed my eyes, enjoying the cold wind whipping the hair from my face.

We reached the clearing Eragon had mentioned to find Saphira curled around a small fire with Eragon resting his head on her sapphire belly. Without talking he pointed to a simmering pot of stew bubbling over the crackling flames.

I nodded to him and slid off Dorrans back and walked with giddy legs over to the pair, the huge onyx dragon trailing behind me. I accepted the bowl Eragon handed to me and began wolfing down the steaming meat hungrily.

I sighed in pleasure and sat down on the soft grass, resting my head against Dorrans sleek belly. The sun was setting fast now, the fiery mass sinking down over the horizon.

Kalanie, I wonder if you might want to go for a flight before the sun disappears for the day? Dorrans voice echoed around my mind. I nodded and got up, turning to Eragon as I did so and relaying to him where we were going.

We shall not be long, and do not worry, we can take care of ourselves. I added, grinning.

"Fine, Saphira and I will stay here and guard camp from the squirrels." I laughed as he said that and turned to Dorran, climbing up onto his back in between his glimmering wings.

The onyx dragon rose into the brilliant sky, the clouds over head a stunning pink as the blue expanse above grew a magnificent orange as the sun continued to sink.

The cuts on my arms and face stung as an icy blast struck me and I hissed slightly, the pain now more noticeable than it had been a second ago. I should have cleaned the cuts when we landed to make sure they would not get infected, but I had been too tired to do so at the time.

Dorran, do you see any water nearby? I asked him, my eyes now closed, not out of enjoyment, but out of protection from the artic air.

When he didn't answer I cracked my eyes open just enough to see in front of me. From between the trees I could see a small lake, larger than a pond, but too undersized to be an actual, normal-sized lake.

The view was stunning, the dieing sun hitting it from above the tree tops, making it look as if the water had caught fire.

It is beautiful, I exclaimed, marveling the many shades of the stunning liquid.

Dorrans large reptilian head nodded in agreement and he tilted his wings slightly and flew lower over the crystalline depths. One clawed talon dipped into the icy water causing ripples to streak across the lake and sparkling droplets to spray in every direction.

I felt the giant night dragon shudder in pleasure beneath me and his delight became mine as he soared over the water. He dipped lower into the lake until he had landed as a duck might, his gigantic wings folded and his long reptilian tail being used as a rudder to steer him through the icy liquid as his talons clawed through the waters.

I reached down and dipped a hand in the lake and immediately felt the cool water flow over it. Dorran, do you think it would be fine if I transformed? I asked him, glancing around to see if there was anyone watching.

I don't see why not, he replied, his enthusiasm leaking into his words, making me even more excited to feel the water rush over my whole body.

I felt my body vibrate uncontrollably and I stood and leapt off of the onyx dragons back and felt my form alter in mid air, so when I submerged into the deep sapphire blue depths I had completely morphed and I was a dragon once again.

The icy water flowed in between my scales, the sensation amazing and extremely enjoyable. I opened my eyes and saw Dorrans huge black body slice through the water to me, his face practically glowing with pleasure.

I noticed that I could hold my breath for longer than had ever been possible when I was human and I circled around his sleek reptilian form, my eyes never leaving his dark ones.

My wings were pressed close against my sides so that I could swim faster and not be dragged down as much.

Our bodies entwined as we circled each other, our emotions flowing freely through our mental link, increasing the delight twice as much.

I clawed my way to the bottom of the lake, watching the gleaming silver fish as the streaked by out of my way. Dorran followed me everywhere I went, never taking his eyes off me as I swam around the entire expanse, exploring every hideaway and every strand of weed I came across.

I continued dancing through the water until my lungs burned and I couldn't stay under a second longer.

I clutched at the liquid and rose to the surface, my scaled head breaking the barrier between water and sky and I gulped down the cool air, filling my lungs to bursting point with sweet oxygen.

Dorrans head burst up next to mine, diamond droplets making miniature rainbows play across his scales.

I looked up at the sky and noticed that it was now dark, the sun having completely set and the waning gibbous moon high in the night sky.

"Well, even though Eragon may kill us for being gone so long, I'm really glad we were." I said, my voice breathless from staying under the water so long.

"I am too, that was probably the most fun I have had in a while." He stated, grinning and showing all of his ivory fangs as he did.

I splashed him with my tail, the water spraying him full in the face and I laughed at his expression, his reptilian features surprised and annoyed at the same time.

I drifted to the bank of the lake and climbed out onto the muddy soil, my clawed feet sinking deep into the dirt.

I went to lift my foot out but found that I couldn't. I looked back and realized that it was completely submerged.

Erm, Dorran? A little help please… I thought to him, and turned to see him laughing uncontrollably in the mud, his once glimmering onyx hide now a dull brown.

I growled warningly and the dragon behind me stood up and padded over to me, his expression amused and calculating. He nudged my unmoving leg with the end of his nose and snorted.

"Morph to human." He growled and I obliged, my form vibrating and then shrinking.

As soon as the transformation was complete he reared up onto his hind legs and grabbed my shoulders in his front talons.

"Dorran, don't even think about it." I said in a low voice, knowing what his intentions were.

He grinned and crouched low, his wings raising high over his head, and then he pushed off from the marshy ground and into the air, dragging me along with him. My foot came free instantly and I looked up to see Dorran laughing, his night-colored belly rumbling.

And exactly what is so amusing? I inquired, my temper running short and annoyance running through my mind.

Look at your foot, was all he said, and I glanced down and hissed angrily.

One of my boots was gone.

Looks like we're going to have to add a new pair of shoes to the list as well as a saddle, its going to be very amusing to watch you go into town with only one foot covered, he laughed.

I punched him in the stomach and felt his claws slip from him shoulders, causing me to plummet like a stone onto the pitch-black earth below.

is she gonna get squished?? she will if i want her to, hehehe

PLEASE REVIEW!!!-shall i kill her???

-Firesilk:D