I only own my own OCs. Mental speech in ' ' and ancient language translations at the bottom of the page. I think you know the rest by now, and a special shout-out to my friend dragonlady98. Read her stories, too. And Vraela doesn't control water, I named Argeta for the ancient language word "silver."

Raweru was a natural. She was amazing at sword play, a master of magic, and Argeta was just as quick and eager. It was no wonder Argeta took to Raweru so quickly. It took about two days for Arya and Eragon to recover fully, and I found that I had been injured more severely than I'd first assumed. I had to rest for a few days before I healed properly from a sprained ankle, some major burns, and a long cut I didn't remember getting down my left leg, and my magic had drained a lot of energy, also.

After about five days, I was fully recovered, and I began to teach Raweru. Arya still had to teach Alaster, and Quin began to study under Eragon, who knew he could deal with Quin's disposition of seeking trouble. Now, fifteen years later, Raweru was at the High Council, the oldest Riders, and her first student was becoming a fully fledged Rider today. They ceremony would begin a dawn, and I could already see a golden halo over the eastern hills. I now sat in a garden with Arya, who was currently pregnant. It had at first made me mourn Janir, who I had found already had a mate, and wish I had a person like Eragon. I didn't let that get in the way, though. Meirin, Raweru's first student and the first werecat to become a Rider, was joining us entirely today.

But I was nervous; Raweru was to give the blessing, but she was nowhere to be seen. Meirin was in the garden's center, looking wildly for his mentor. I asked Arya, "Where do you think Raweru is this time? Throwing rocks from over Alfa Hjerta, or just flying?" Arya shrugged, and I pulled myself up from the willow branch we sat on. I stretched and said, "Ugh. I'm going to go find her, aren't I?" Arya smiled and said, "Yes. Eragon will start fretting if he sees I'm not here." I rolled my eyes, but leaped down and ran through the crowded streets of Alfa Hjerta, Elf Heart, for the elvish section of the place we decided to call Skulblaka Hjerta, or Dragon Heart. I ran through the tree homes and shops, and finally came upon the giant sequoia tree Raweru lived in. I knocked to see if she might be home, and a snore answered. I rolled my eyes and sighed; she was only sleeping in. Typical, as she had always been a heavy sleeper and preferred to wake after dawn.

I opened the door, and saw that Raweru was sprawled on her straw matress, still sound asleep. I shook her gently and said, "Wake up." She didn't, so I shouted and rocked her harder. Still she slept. I filled a basin with water, and splashed her face with the freezing water. She jumped up, screeching, "Barzul! Barzul!' I quickly told her, "Calm down, Raweru! It's just me. Vraela!" She stopped cursing and saw me, then glared at me. "What was that for? You don't have to wake me early for training anymore, so I must ask, 'why'?" I rolled my eyes and said, "Meirin can't become a true Rider without his master's blessing, can he?" Raweru suddenly brightened an joked, "Well, at least I won't have to worry about being clean. But dry is another matter." I smiled, and pulled a strong gust of wind in through the window, drying Raweru.

She laughed and said, "Well, give me a moment, and I'll be ready to go." She ran down a staircase into the tree's roots, and quickly returned in a beautiful silver dress with soil-colored trim along the short sleeves, hem, and neckline. To keep any confusion from arising, I tell you that Raweru was like me, and after an encounter with a Shade, she now controlled the elements of the earth; soil, rock, metals. I grabbed her hand, and almost dragged her outside. Argeta was in the high branches already, and Emerald approached from the West. I climbed partway up the tree and leaped into air, Emerald flew in under me, and as I fell into the saddle, I saw Argeta nose dive, her underside scraping the cobblestones, and pulling up rapidly as Raweru gracefully jumped on. We then did what many Riders did; we raced. The dragons liked to test their limits in competition, and like any being, the Riders like to feel this same thrill.

When we arrived at the central square where the ceremony takes place, the golden crown over the hills was now a growing glow, and the rim of the sun was visible. We quickly landed on one of the surrounding trees, and left our dragons to the large trees, dropping to the town's center, near the crowd of two-hundred Riders or so (and their dragons), named in honor of the elf queen we lost; Islanzadi Plaza. Along the edges of the plaza, small bushes grew, and the red stones formed a spiral shape that circulated towards the center, where Eragon and Arya stood next to Meirin, who still looked panicked. I nudged Raweru towards them, and I will spare you the boring details of the ceremony and tell you this part. Eragon took the red sword from Meirin, and asked, "Do you take this sword which you forged to help only the good of Alegasia?"

Meirin, though nervous, choked out, "I do." Eragon asked, "Will you use it to aid all in need, and to do what you know is right?" Meirin smiled broadly and exclaimed, "I do!" All the Riders watching were shocked by the young werecat's enthusiasm, as he had usually stayed rather quiet, but now spoke with great force. "Then I return you this sword in full knowledge that you will protect all with its power. All welcome Rider Meirin! The first werecat to join our ranks!" All shouted, "Gala! Gala!" This may seem boring, but when you are a Rider, you know everything counts, and I was proud to know that this young werecat would join all I had helped to create. But I didn't know what else he brought to the Riders, or who...

Gala-exclaim

Hjerta-Heart

Skulblaka-dragon

Alfa-elf