Soon Saphira ocean blue's eyes could make out every ripple of muscle. Every slight drift in motion. The red gleam only grew; brighter and larger with each second like a demonic flame. She could see scales missing from his hide and several chipped spikes that were not like that before. The red beast's motions were fast; he had clearly seen her. She let him approach; knowing she must face him…alone. He pulled back his scaled lips for a menacing grin as he paused ten feet from her.
We meet again… He snarled at her. It's been too long…
Not long enough if you ask me. Saphira snarled back as thunder snapped behind her. The firmness of her voice accompanied by the ferocity her blue form had could send chills down almost anyone's spine.
But not Thorn. He simply had an outraged mindset as his lips curled up and he snapped his jaws at her. He then flipped his jaws open and sent a torrent of blue flame jutting out of his gaping jaws. Saphira saw it coming and quickly veered off; flying towards the canopy bellow. But she wasn't quite fast enough. The torrent reached Saphira's side in mere seconds; singeing ever unfortunate scale it touched from a brilliant blue to a dull black. Saphira roared as the blue flame set her veins on fire. But they soon had relief. The pain of the burn was dulled by the chilling rain falling overhead.
Though the pain, she didn't even see it till it was upon her. Right behind the flame, a red form smashed into her. Ivory claws scratched iron scales it that moment. One clipped the corner of a hard group of scales, pushing them upwards; blood began to seep from beneath her wound as Saphira roared in pain. Thorn battered his spiked tail at her wings, tearing them in several places; and his long neck reached forward towards her head. His jaw found her soft ear and ripped it open; sending blood into her eye. She screamed and blasted a heavy torrent of flame at him; singeing his scales.
It kept him at bay, though not for long. Knowing she didn't have long, she folded her wounded wings in, wincing all the while, and made a quick dive towards the safety of the relative canopy. Thorn was right behind her; though she swerved and spun to confuse him. Her blue form pierce the tip of the canopy followed about ten feet apart by his blue one
But by the time he arrived, she was nowhere to be seen. He could see quite a bit of blood on the ground, but no tell tale signs of a dragon. No gouges piercing the earth. No broken branches; aside from the entering ones. He suddenly saw a flash of blue and looked up.
She wasn't there, though. The rain leaked through the roof of the canopy; slightly wetting his perspired body. Sweat poured from his joints and the rain and slight breeze, to him, felt soothing.
He heard a loud snap suddenly. To his right was a path of barely noticeable broken branches. His lips moved up in a toothy grin as he stumbled along the path.
From above, two, blue eyes watched him. On a thick branch, in the welcomed shadow of a cloud, rested what he was looking for. She was safe…for now. As Thorn frantically scoured the land bellow, Saphira reached out to Eragon. But she could not reach him.
She sighed in frustration. As she did, a thin stream of fire escaped her nostrils. The dry leaves just inches from water burst into flame. The light caught Thorn's eye. They gleamed with delight as they gazed upon the flames. Saphira dashed through the open canopy; sure Thorn was closed behind.
Eragon! She sent a message of desperately to him. Help! On the other line, she could feel his presence, but he was oblivious to her cries of desperation. Something blocked their link. Something powerful.
Bellow, there came a loud crack. Saphira looked to see Thorn's red form burst out of the tree line. He quickly spotted her and pumped his massive wings right after her. Saphira flew faster then she ever had before. But chases like this are what Thorn was made for; as Saphira was made for flight through thick forests. Soon he was on her tail; snapping it. She dove and rose to try to get away.
Eragon! Where are you? She frantically called out as she screamed at the top of her lungs when Thorn's jaws clipped the tip of her tail.
Suddenly she felt an alien presence in her mind. You must do this on your own, my dear.
Who-who is this?
…A friend…And then she remembered the alien presence of earlier.
Okay "friend." I don't think I shall call you that. You are blocking my link!
Very good, Saphira. But you must trust me. You need to do this alone.
And what if I refuse?
The being paused, as if thinking…Your rider will die…
You wouldn't! I'd kill you first.
I wouldn't but he would. It is simply the future. If you call for his help, he will die. He cannot defend from two alone.
Murtagh is near him?
Yes, little one…
Saphira broke the link and dove, once again, to the trees; knowing she could not out run Thorn. Soon she found herself in a new environment. Thick trees were bunched close together. The treacherous path was not safe. Some of the sharp branches were so enough to slip between their tightly woven armor; yet sharp enough to cause problems.
Thorn stumbled along; roaring as the sharp branches impaled his hide. But Saphira glided along; taking to the close forest trees as a fish would to a bed of corral. She was not slowed down much at all by the dense growth and soon, Thorn was behind her.
She paused; hovering over the earth. She felt something stinging in her wing. Suddenly, with a loud snap, her wings gave way. She dropped right out of the sky; falling into a slick mixture of mud and blood…her blood. Her wings ached and stung like a million hornets.
Several small tares broke their surface; exposing glimmering red blood beneath. Her right wing ached right on the bone and when she tried to flap it, she found she could not without it hurting and giving way fast. The bone was clearly broken. A large tare broke her other wing. Her wings could not catch the air currents so easy in this shape; but she tried anyway. She knew she must move to survive.
Her wings began rapidly flapping, rousing the leaves from the ground as they did. It seemed to be working. Slowly, she rose. First on inch. Two. Three. Four. Before she got to her fifth inch, though, she hear another snap and fell right back to the ground.
Into the mud. And into despair. She found herself crying uncontrollably. She knew Thorn and Murtagh were nearby, but what did it matter? She was badly wounded with a price on her head, a mad dragon out looking for her, and she couldn't even call Eragon. She should have never left Eragon's side. She should have sucked it up. She should have…
Enough! You are a dragon for heaven's sake! A god to one as me! And if you are crying, then there is no hope for me! A voice rang in her head. Saphira stopped and blinked in surprise. When her eyes reopened, there sat a squirrel next to her. His tail was halved and he appeared to be picking at fleas. Wiry copper hair grew out from his thick skin. His beady black eyes never left her gaze. There was something about them… The little creature began nibbling at a flea in its hair.
Are-are you talking to me? Saphira asked, startled. She glanced around to see if there was any other creatures nearby.
It stopped and looked at her. No…I'm talking to another blue dragon…Why were you crying anyway?
Saphira was looking off towards the west, not really paying much attention to the little squirrel. The sun was just peaking the rim of the far mountains. That was where she last saw Eragon…
Suddenly she heard a defining screech. She jumped to her feet, ready to fight. But it was just the little squirrel. He did not like being ignored. He repeated his question to her. Why were you crying?
Take a look around, little one. My rider is nowhere to be seen, I don't know where I am, and to top it off, I injured my wings. She promptly fanned her wings to show her scars. Many of them had dried blood on them that cracked as she moved them. The squirrel winced at the painful-looking gouges. His stomach was none too strong.
Looking away from the wounds, he said to her. I can help. You are about a league from Silver Lake; on the shore in line with Helgrind. The water there is cool and fresh. It may be soothing on your wounds. He paused, gesturing to one Saphira hadn't noticed. It was a long one that ran down the length on her neck. Then he went on. I can't really help much about your rider, but tell me, was he near here last you saw him?
Nay, you see, little one, I ran away. One of his companions has ill treated me. But now I regret ever leaving his side…You've been of much help. I shall not forget you. But I must now go…
May I accompany you? These woods are full of predators. And I do need to go to Silver Lake anyway…
Saphira gazed down at the little squirrel. It looked very thirsty, almost weak. Yes, a predator would almost certainly capture it. And she kind of liked the little creature. She hesitated. You may come. But first, what is your name anyway, little one?
Staklvin. And yours?
Saphira.
Beautiful name…Who gave it to you?
My rider. She said as she began to tread away. Staklvin ran after her; having to bound eight times for every stride she made. Staklvin grew tired fast and daintily bounded up her tail. When it was clear she didn't mind, he made his way to the top of her head; where he gathered several leaves. Saphira wondered what he was doing and yearned to ask, but kept her mouth shut.
Overhead, Saphira saw the occasional flash of red; Thorn was obviously following. She could hear the beat of his wings and the soft, angry growls at no being able to directly follow her. She felt, for once, safe. Suddenly she tensed up. She remembered the vast pain just before that lake. It was likely he was biding his time; till he could attack her there. They'd have to move fast. So, she spoke up.
We must rest. I fear something hunts me as well; and if we get there too fast, I fear I shall not be able to hold him off.
Was he the one who did that to you?
Yes, little one.
Well, I was going to ask after a while if we could rest. As she collapsed her tree-trunk legs, he slid down her muzzle. Sleep now. You'll feel better soon.
And within second, she was fast asleep.
