yey, this chapter is slightly longer than normal, sorry it's taken forever to update but i've had sports and tests to deal with, so try not to kill me just yet :D hope you enjoy this chapter!

claimer: i own everythign that is not familiar to you...enjoy!:D

31.-Feelings of regret

Dark, earthy smells swam up my nose, the familiar scent bringing back memories of my grandmother, of her now burnt shop and house, of the herbs and healing plants we had worked with. Of the fact that she was now dead.

Tears slipped down my cheeks leaving trails of salt on my grimy face. I stepped inside the doorway uninvited, sensing as if I were welcome without actually being told. As my eyes grew accustomed to the new darkness I realized that there were tiny candles lining the walls, flickering in the now circulating air. The room was sparsely furnished, covered instead with the numerous bunches of familiar plants, and some that I did not recognize, and the occasional sphere of crystal adorning random tables. Vines entwined above on the ceiling, the creepers reaching down to us as if they were fingers, grasping.

Even with the sinister atmosphere, the cavern brought a sense of tranquility rushing through me; it felt like home, something I had not had for just over a week now. It made me happy.

"Well you don't see something like that everyday." Faolans' voice echoed around the spacious expanse. I heard Dorran snort but he didn't say anything, marveling instead in the room that seemed to have the entire Grimshaw forest compacted within.

"You really shouldn't go in there, if Angela catches you in her private stock room, well, she is in need of a few more toads…" Cadara's voice resounded nervously around the walls.

I snorted, "What is it with witches and toads? Why not frogs? They're mostly the same anyway."

"Exactly my point dear." My head snapped round only to be confronted by a short, wrinkled woman that reminded me greatly of my grandmother, her forest green healers' eyes peering out of the candle lit darkness and staring into my face.

"Angela?" I asked, somehow knowing that this was the witch, if not by instinct then by the mysterious aura that seemed to surround her form, pulsating.

Her head inclined slightly and her bright eyes twinkled in the dim candlelight.

"Greetings Kalanie, Dorran, Faolan, and Cadara, what brings you to my humble cave of herbs?"

I fidgeted uncomfortably, "If you don't mind, we just sort of wondered in here, and I was also curious to meet you, I have never spoken to a witch before." Angela smiled warmly, "I find the term 'witch' slightly offensive, if you don't mind me saying, I prefer to be called Angela, it has a whole new meaning in itself, don't you think?" she said this in a joking tone, and I couldn't help but grin openly, I was already starting to like her.

Then a rushed voice came from somewhere in the darkness behind me, "Well, thank you Angela, but we really must be going, we have to get to Nasuada to talk about Arya's death." I recognized Dorran's voice and nodded in agreement.

"Alas, I heard of that unfortunate occurrence, we will miss that elf immensely, as I am sure many others will." Angela's voice supported grief, she had obviously known her for many a year.

Did she say elf? Dorran's voice entered my mind, disbelieving. I thought back to what the old woman had said, and then I realized that she did say that Arya was indeed an elf.

I believe so, but nothing surprises me anymore considering what has happened to me over the past week.

Mixed emotions emitted from his mind them and I recognized guilt and hopelessness among them

Dorran, even though what has occurred has changed my life, I would not have it any other way, except for maybe preventing my grandmother from being murdered, but the past is behind us now. Just don't blame yourself, it is not your fault for what has happened, and if you think for one second that I would be happier if you had not turned up on my doorstep then you are sadly mistaken. I better not catch wind of thoughts like those running through your mind again, or you will be the one that would be better off not knowing me.

I ended my thoughts on a threatening note in hope of scaring him somewhat, but I only caught amusement coming from him, which did disappoint me a bit, but at least it was better than what the emotions he was having before.

Coming back to the present I nodded to Angela and made my way out of the dim lit room, but as I reached the door something brushed against my legs. I jumped back in surprise and strained my eyes in the darkness to find the source of the object. A pair of eerie red eyes stared up at me, reflecting the candlelight and shining with intelligence.

It seems as if I scared you, a voice purred into my head and I relaxed my stance, Solembum, don't ever do that again! I growled angrily into the cats' mind, my heart rate returning to normal after a few moments of frantic beating.

I will try to contain myself, but I must remind you that you did leave something of great importance under my care and I am sure you would like it back, am I right?

I gasped, I had totally forgotten about the egg. As I watched the tawny pelted feline rolled an emerald green egg into my view and I reach down, smiling as a mother might when she looked upon her child.

That is not all you forgot… the cat replied and then dragged the gleaming wolf sword out of the shadows, the intricate wolf carvings shimmering in the flickering light.

Thank you Solembum, I do not know what we would have done without you.

The cats' purrs came louder and he did not reply, instead he lurked over to Angela and wrapped his skinny body around her legs.

I giggled at the sight, and then stepped out into the earth carved tunnel, tying the weapon to Dorran's belt that still remained strapped around my waist. The weight of the metal felt reassuring against my thigh, I felt safe with it, as if I could not be harmed.

"Oh, Kalanie, if you would like to you are more than welcome to come back here and have your fortune told, I am curious as to what the future holds for you." A chill ran the length of my spine but I turned back and smiled to Angela, "That should definitely be interesting." I replied, and shut the door behind us, watching as the reflecting pairs of green and red eyes faded in the growing darkness.

Cadara walked the length of the tunnel shaking her head, as if she could not believe that I was still alive after intruding upon a witch's home like that.

"Well that was certainly interesting, I am sure there are remedies for getting rid of warts like that." Faolan's deep voice echoed through the tunnels. I growled at his ignorance but continued walking, deciding not to slice his throat with my sword right then for disrespecting his superior. But I heard a loud smack that sounded like skin connecting with bone and I was sure Dorran had punched him. I smiled but then gasped as pain shot through my knuckles and up my arm. I grasped my hand and whirled around, only to be confronted by Dorran's tanned face, his eyes curious and apology swimming in the dark depths.

I am so sorry, I wasn't thinking, and I knew he was making you mad, and I just really wanted him to shut up…

Dorran, don't worry about it, we just have to be careful or learn to block each others pain, it's all a learning experience after all.

I gave him a small smile and turned around to carry on walking when I suddenly felt his hand in mine, the connection of the warm skin against my flesh sent tingling vibrations up my arm. I looked at him in surprise and the corner of his mouth twitched up in his special half-grin, his deep onyx orbs boring into mine.

I smiled slightly, completely absorbed in his eyes, hypnotized, when I realized that we had stopped. I looked up and saw a pair of varnished wooden doors, the golden handles gleaming in the light of the hanging red lanterns.

Four guards stood to attention as they saw us approach, "What is your business here, Eragon Shadeslayer is currently in there conversing with Nasuada, so unless you have an appointment or a bloody good reason to disturb them you better be on you way, kids."

I hissed at his ignorance and untied my sword, letting it fall to the floor with a thump. I let go of Dorran's hand and felt the powerful vibrations wrack my entire body and watched in pleasure as the guards faces paled as my body started lengthening and growing scales. I looked down at them baring my fangs, "I am sure we are expected."

A guard with tawny colored hair that seemed to be no older than ourselves seemed to recover first and stuttering he managed to choke out, "Of-of course, let me ju-just check with Nas-Nasuada…" he stumbled around and knocked three times with a huge wooden staff on the left door and waited for it to be opened.

A dark haired young woman poked her head out of the door frame, her small heart-shaped face streaked with tears. "Yes?" he voice was musical but ridden with sadness.

"There are some…people here to see Nasuada, immediately." The boy replied and motioned to us with one hand. The woman visibly paled as she saw me but nodded quickly and disappeared behind the thick mass of oak.

A few seconds later we were let into an office, there was a sturdy looking varnished desk adorned with brightly colored flowers, along with numerous maps of the land around us hanging from the walls.

Behind the desk was the same strangely dark-skinned Nasuada, tears wetting her cheeks, and in the middle were Eragon and Saphira, the deceased elf still strapped to her heavily armored back. Nasuada smiled sadly as she saw me enter, but then her expression turned confused as she saw Dorran and Faolan. "Greetings Kalanie, Eragon said you might be stopping by, but if you do not mind me asking, who are these boys accompanying you?"

"This is Dorran and his brother Faolan." I replied, wondering if Eragon had told her of our shape shifting abilities. Her facial expression soon made it clear that he had not, "Dor-Dorran? Is that really you? But…how?" she stuttered, her eyes flitting rapidly between us both.

I smiled and morphed into my human form, grinning as her brown eyes nearly popped out of her skull. Dorran handed me my sword and I once again tightened the loop around it, attaching it to the leather belt I wore.

"I take it Eragon did not mention our…abilities, huh." I laughed.

Then Nasuada smiled too, "Yes, I am afraid he forgot to state that little fact, and perhaps, if you do not mind, could you possibly tell us the story of how you came to be like this?" she asked, curiosity causing her eyes to twinkle, preparing to absorb even more knowledge.

I sighed, "I might as well seeing that if I do not I will get asked repeatedly anyway, so get comfortable, it is a long tale even though it has only been a few days, but they have been exceedingly eventful indeed."

ugh, now i have to tell her lifes story, this might take a while to get right, hope you liked thgis chapter though, and if i take ages to update please dont give up on me becasue i will write more eventually!!

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- jeez people, do i need to get the chocolate cookies out again to bribe you??lol

-Firesilk:D