Over the weeks I had been in Alagaësia it had subtly changed from Spring to Autumn and we were beginning to feel it. The air had a chill to it, the elves were wrapping up warmer, the leaves on the trees were beginning to fall and Saphira was eating more. Summer didn't seem to exist in Alagaesia but I was sure it must have. We just didn't notice it through all the… excitement.
Coming up the hill earlier that day I had glimpsed a mountain peak which put everyone in high spirits- just a few more thousand miles to go. Now however it was nearing nighttime and the recent goodwill had faded when we realised just how long it would take us to get there.
The next day…I wondered absently about what everyone was doing back home. The fake me was probably going to my school, sitting in my room, hanging out with my friends and annoying my family. I sighed. Moping wasn't going to make anything better. Wish Eragon would figure that out. He had been even worse since the high had faded- snarling when someone asked him something, not eating, ignoring us all even Saphira. Hopefully seeing all his foster siblings in Dûrgrimst Ingeiteum would help.
We had been travelling for 6 hours on horseback along the worn path. Everyone was still tired however and the horses loping movements were coaxing us back to sleep. The views were spectacular but not very exciting as they were rather repetitive. But the were also packed with features…
"Hey guys, who wants to play eye-spy?"…
Eventually I got them all to play though Eragon and Arya moaned continuously.
"I spy with my little eye something beginning with apple," said Saphira as we passed an apple tree. Stretching up to pick an apple I tried to explain again to Saphira that you only said the first letter of the word or words.
"Okay?"
"Okay," she said decidedly.
"Try again then," I told her.
"I spy with my little eye something beginning with Era."
I slapped my forehead against Ilian's saddle in despair.
That night…The fire had been going all afternoon and was nearly out. I volunteered to go find more firewood and Eragon agreed nonchalantly.
I rolled my eyes and walked off into the trees thinking about nothing in particular and pulling wood into my arms slowly.
I was about to leave when I caught sight of a movement from the corner of my eye. Quick as a flash I dropped the wood and whirled around, every muscle tensed and alert.
I heard a heinous squeal from behind me and spun around again to come face to face with a Nagra. I screamed and tore through the trees. I heard it snort and begin to chase me when suddenly a Shrrg leapt out from behind a tree. It looked a hideous monster but I began to feel some pity for both of the native animals at that point without knowing why. Mixed with revulsion and terror I must admit but still; it wasn't their fault they were ugly beasts that people only wish to see in horror movies and nightmares- other peoples nightmares though of course. Why anyone would want to have nightmares themselves was beyond me. As was the attraction of horror movies. Why would you purposely make yourself so scared that everytime you saw a creepy shaped shadow or a certain person/animal you would scream and enjoy the terror it ensues. Ignoring these rather random explorations of my rather random opinions on all things unnecessarily frightening, I froze and watched as the giant wolf growled and jumped the giant boar. They began to wrestle for dominance. The pig for its life, the wolf for its meal. Both the wolf and the pig looked a little on the thin side and I guessed that the tyrant kings reign wasn't just affecting the civilised creatures but the native animals as well. It became clear to me that both of them were equally matched and this fight was going to go on for a while.
I crept silently away and ran back towards the camp knowing I couldn't interfere with natural processes and pondering what could be done to help the creatures that had been negatively affected by their 'king'.
As I lay in my bed that night absolutely freezing I realised I probably should have let the giant pig gore me rather than death by torture when the others woke up tomorrow freezing also and realised I didn't get any firewood…