jeez, way sorry i havent updated in ages but im pretty much just about to pass out right now from lack of sleep. i've had two swim all-day swim meets in a row, and having to swim the 200 free in each has deffinitely left my cranky and pretty much ready to die.
so anyway, enjoy this chapter, or totally hate it, whichever :D
claimer: ditto to all the others..
36.-The beast within
The winter wind streaked through my silver fur as Faolan and I ran, the bare and leafless trees flashing by as our paws flew over the moist earth. There was only one thought I was truly conscious of that kept repeating through my mind, get as far away from civilization as possible.
Tonight would be a full moon, so that meant yet another episode of completely loosing my mind and giving over to my wolf side. I just hoped no one would suddenly decide to take a late night stroll through the forest, or it could end disastrously.
Faolan accompanied me now, our pelts brushing on each bound we took, our leaps rhythmic, the pounding of our feet on the leaves whipped away by the wind caused by the amazing speed.
I had not been myself since my soul had left, the soul that mattered anyway. As much as I tried to keep my feelings in check, I could tell that Faolan knew that I was in pain, emotionally and physically. Being apart from him was definitely not healthy; it was tearing me in pieces even though I attempted to hide the hurt I felt from others around me.
Faolan was helping me the most, he was like the big brother I had never had, well not that I knew of anyway. Just being in his company lightened my mood somewhat, so he barely left my side these days. I repeatedly told myself that I didn't need him, that I was fully capable of surviving without the one who shared my soul, and possibly my heart as well. But I couldn't fool myself; I knew what his absence was doing to me. That it would keep stabbing at me until I just wasted away, forgotten and unmissed.
I just felt so hollow without him, incomplete and empty. I didn't know if I would ever see him again, but I knew that we would need to reunite before the land is able to be saved by Galbatorix.
We passed through a small campsite, the firewood long ago rotted away and the ashes surrounding it reduced to clumps of darkness. An odd sense of recognition washed through me as I caught a strange, yet familiar scent.
I slowed, Faolan mimicking my movements, and sniffed around the circle, trying to identify the smell. Luckily I was saved from a brain hemorrhage by Faolan thinking, I remember this place, it is where we camped with Murtagh and Thorn before meeting Eragon. I wonder what has become of them now…
Do you think we should attempt to find them? I asked.
The giant wolf shook his head, his wood-colored fur flying in different directions.
No, they left because they do not want to be found. Are we still meant to be spies for them; I feel as if I trust the Varden a lot more than him.
I nodded, agreeing, the Varden just seemed capable of accomplishing more than a lone man and dragon could, not that we would completely give up on him, but we would just put our loyalty towards the Varden before him.
Do you think this is a safe place for us to stay for a while, I think it is as far from people as possible without disappearing off the face of the map entirely.
I think it is ok; this clearing has been untouched for a while now, lets rest.
I nodded and gratefully morphed into a human once more, the ripped green dress I had had weeks before had been replaced by a simple black leather ensemble similar to the one Arya had been wearing. I was pleased to say that it was far more comfortable than any dress, any day, and far more practical.
We had both grudgingly left all weapons behind before sneaking out of the tunnels and running away, Solembum once again guarding the dragon egg, asking no questions about where we were going, but instead saying that we owed him for babysitting.
We had also met the dwarf king, Orik. The visit had been brief, but in it he had said that we were the nation's greatest hope, and combined with Eragon and Saphira, nothing would stop us. He had been troubled when we told him that he had left, but said nothing else and we were soon dismissed.
Thinking back to what had happened weeks before made me start wondering what he was doing right now, and whether he was alright or not.
It was dusk now and I was fidgeting uncontrollably, already the feeling of wildness was creeping over my body, my fingers twitched frequently and my breathing had sped up rapidly to the point of almost hyperventilation.
"Faolan, you know what will happen, just please try to restrain me, I really don't want to roam through the woods without a mind other than a predators'. So do whatever is necessary, knock me out or chain me up, whatever it takes, just make sure I don't kill anything, ok?"
His sapphire eyes regarded mine closely and his reply held genuine sincerity, as if he would jump off the end of the world if I asked him to.
"Do not worry, I will."
I nodded and looked up, the orange light was already fading, the darkness of night advancing rapidly, as if taunting me.
Faolan sighed and stood, regarding me warily, noting every tremor of my hands and the clenching of my teeth. I squeezed my eyes shut as if hoping that if I was unable to see the moon it wouldn't be able to affect me.
But it was a petty wish and as the glowing silver disk rose in the black sky I felt the now normal vibrations wrack my body, only this time, as they had been last full moon, they were more violent and seemed to shake my very core.
The tough silver wolf hair pushed its way through my skin, glimmering in the moonlight. My bones elongated, joints popping and rearranging themselves into a giant wolf skeleton, my nose grew into a muzzle and dagger-sharp fangs emerged from my gums.
As I transformed so did my mind, my humane thoughts gaining a feral edge, and I took off running, the almost lost part of my mind screaming where's Faolan?! Then suddenly a brown shape came bounding out of the shadows and leapt, pinning me to the leaf-covered ground that offered the only protection against the tear-away earth below.
A savage growl ripped through my throat and I reached for the face of the one I must kill, my teeth bared and snapping centimeters away from the animal's muzzle.
My attacker growled in turn, dodging to avoid my fangs, but at the same moment letting go of my pinned limbs, enabling me to move freely again.
I pounced at the animal, tearing at its fur with my claws and teeth, ripping my way through the creature. The back of my mind recognized the beast as Faolan and tried to gain control over my body, the will power of the non-predator side of my brain slowly overpowering the wild part.
I managed to stop myself suddenly and turn away, streaking in the opposite direction through the forest, afraid that if I saw Faolan again I might attack once more and that time I wouldn't be able to stop myself before I did something I would regret.
I need to get control of myself, I thought desperately, my paws were flying but not seeming to go anywhere. Then I felt something tugging at my consciousness, dragging me in a new direction as if by some magnetic source. It reminded me of when the egg had drawn me towards it and excitement stirred in the pit of my stomach, perhaps there was another egg to be found that could aid us in the battle against the empire.
I sped up, the trees flashing passed me, blurring. I was getting closer, the force stronger, more urgent, until I sensed something in the woods besides myself and the other woodland creatures.
I could hear panting, the sharp gasps resounding around the trees. My senses were on high alert, my footfalls slowing as I crept forward, intrigued yet frightened as to what the creature I was about to encounter was.
I entered a patch of forest that had been completely crushed, the surrounding trees seeming to be smashed into the earth. There was a huge sapphire body in the center of the clearing that I recognized immediately having seen no more than one like it in my lifetime. The creature was emitting distress signals and I could tell she was in pain, although the mind waves were coming fainter by the second. It was Saphira, and she was dying.
"SAPHIRA!" I screamed, even though it was a full moon I was in enough control as to not devour her when she was injured. I rushed up to her and pressed my muzzle against her closed eyelid, but she didn't move.
I heard a groaning off to my right and flicked round only to see a crumpled body only a few meters away. Eragon.
I ran over and brushed my nose against the side of his head, the smell of his skin causing my mouth to water, but I ignored the instinct of killing him and instead attempted to awake him.
I couldn't think of anything to do, so I licked his face continuously, the blood and sweat mingled in my mouth but I carried on until he stirred to consciousness.
"Kalanie," he whispered, his voice faint and weak.
"I am here, what happened?!" I tried to keep my voice low so that I didn't startle him too much, but at the same time I wondered how he knew who I was in my wolf form seeing as he didn't know that I possessed the power to transform into anything other than a dragon.
"We were ambushed by Murtagh and Thorn, and we fought them, almost winning, before a huge shape as dark as night suddenly had us spinning towards ground, and then we fell unconscious." His voice was so weak that I almost didn't catch the last word, but hearing the name Murtagh sent me spinning around, looking for any trace of him.
So he was against us? Well that was certainly useful to know, but what was all that about a dark shape?
I would think about it more later, because if I didn't act now, rider and dragon would surely die.
think about the chapter, it refers to Kalanie's transformation at a full moon and Murtagh's true side, just wanted to point that out :D
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!-seriously
-Firesilk:D
