Chapter 4
AN: I decided to limit our friend to only two Alagaësian spells. Indeed he knows many words, but just two works for him, that said, he has two elemental affinities, three if you count when he combines them when he's enraged and yes using the combined will have a huge downside. And has two passive spells weaved into the runes on him, the first is a ward of sorts to keep harmful substances or spells that mean him harm (can still be restrained with magic).
Why these restrictions? Can't have him too powerful, no fun in it to have him be the answer to everything. This will be the last "quick posted" chapter, Gotta leave you to post your opinions, or if you want to keep them coming then say so. FYI this is a filler chapter, our heroic drake had to do something to pass time while Carvahall waited for the traveling merchants. And it WILL serve a purpose.
And now back to your daily programming.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle or the original characters
Oh sure I could fly to our destination but it is nice to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. A bonus to Walking is the scent trail I was leaving for the neighborly wolf packs.
All morning they've been howling and yapping but none sounded threatening so I wasn't worried. Teach and I went over dozens of ideas to keep me hidden from her while we familiarized ourselves with our temporary home. From spells which I failed at fabulously. To covering myself with earthly scents, my idea from watching movies and survival shows. I was fine for now, Saphira wouldn't hatch for some time still. As I strolled through the forest I could see the signs of an early winter yet I hardly felt it. We made a large loop and when we made it back to the spot we chose to watch the farm. There was a surprise waiting on us. Wolves, at least two dozen were scattered about, and every one of them was staring at me and tensed. At first I had thought I accidentally trespassed into their territory and started to crouch to retreat when three very familiar muzzles stepped warily forward. Well I say stepped, the little pup, fully recovered from her ordeal bolted from the pack and over and started to lick all over my face. Laughing mentally out loud, I relaxed and laid fully upon the ground but still kept my eye on the pack. The pack leader, the mother of this reckless spirit, was the second to come forward to lick my face, then her mate on the other side. Next thing I knew the pack was lying about with me in the center, the pup was out like a light draped over my right foreleg, the father, I assumed, asleep not far from it. The little tyke's mother was at the edge of the pack seemingly on sentry duty.
"This was most unexpected.." I remarked to my teacher, "I didn't think they'd welcome me just like that, much less get close so soon."
"Indeed, fledgling, but really look at them, I can sense only two other little ones like the one you saved. And looked at the pack as a whole, They are lean and quite a few are showing recent scars from large claws. My thought is a bear forced them from their home and killed those that couldn't flee fast enough."
I could see what she mentioned now, and now thinking about it, those that had recent wounds were the ones that were most skittish around me.
"They are very protective of the few cubs, after all they are the pack's future.. Just as young Saphira is. And you rescued one, perhaps the most important one. The pack owes you."
I chuckled "I didn't know dragons liked wolves."
She huffed in my head and I could tell that comment annoyed her and her response told me why.
"We respect them even if many back in the day would deny it. Wolves are the greatest of the earthbound hunters, even man. They show complete unity, there is no greed or hate amongst packmates, there is only the pack. It even was recorded that some had the courage to ambush a dragon, of course that was the giant wolves of the Beors but the point stands."
I agreed and decided to help Fernora, whom I named the pack's leader, mentally reached out to her.
"Fernora." I had to give her credit, she didn't startle or cry out upon hearing me, she did turn her head with both ears erect which told me she was a smart wolf as well.
"Eka weohnata verrunsmal onr fjandí wool breoal"
'I will fight your enemy for family'
That got a reaction. The intent behind the words made her leap to her feet and started to give quick barks and growls and soon every wolf was up and making with their wolf-talk and bounding about. Managing to stand up without stepping on paws or tails and without knocking anyone with my wings as I stretched, I asked in the ancient language to take me there. With a few growls from her and the pack split, the injured and her mate remained with the pups and the bag with my teacher. Which I told them in the same language to protect and do not touch. She wasn't happy but I told her if it was a bear I couldn't let the bag get ripped or her shattered and she reluctantly agreed.
Those guiding me led me south, deeper into the forest with Fernora taking the lead. It must have been an hour but I knew we were getting closer. How did I? My company. They started this journey acting like hyperactive puppies but now every one of them were walking carefully, their tails hung low almost tucked and every little sound made their very alert shifting ears lay back and their bodies twitch. When I started picking up the scent of a bear and saw the markings on trees I told them all to letta or stop then to sitja, or stay and went on alone. Following the scent, I came to a dead end against a cliff face dotted with small caves perfect for dens, and asleep at the entrance to the largest was a massive grizzly. Now that I was here, I almost felt sorry for what was going to happen and though it's the law of nature for the strong to prey on the weak, young ones were still young ones.
I gave my loudest, most menacing growl and the bear woke with a jolt and a roar. A roar that quickly sounded strangled when it realized exactly what it roared at. I decided to explain to it in wild dragon fashion, sending to it images of a defeated pack then the same pack approaching me followed by the pack then traveling through the woods with me in the center accompanied with my anger. It got the message though and it wasn't happy. I thought it was going to flee as it began to back up but instead it swiped at my neck, its deadly claws only went *sskrrrt* across my silvery scale, not even scuffing. That however, sealed its fate. With an almost snake like motion my head jerked forward, impaling my horns into its jugular and moving I pinned it against the cliffside. It tried repeatedly to knock my head loose but I only shook my head myself, savagely goring it further. I kept it held there, my whole face coated crimson from the waterfall of blood gushing from the bear's ruined artery until I felt its heart stop. Only then did I back off letting the corpse fall with a heavy thud. My instincts wanted me to roar my victory but I knew roaring was a bad idea, they tend to echo in mountains, alerting people so instead I settled with releasing twin flumes of flame in a satisfied snort then managed to get the body draped across my back.
I really wasn't surprised when I turned and saw the half of the pack that led me there sitting in a semicircle with Fernora in front. None made a move until I started moving then they parted with the pack leader moving to take position on my left. Not a sound was made until I crossed into the treeline then there was a bark, then a howl.
Suddenly they were all bounding about, sometimes tackling one of the others before taking off and I laughed out loud this time. I contacted Fiori and sent her the memory of the confrontation then of my escort. Seems not even she was immune to their antics and I could imagine that if she still had a body, she'd be grounded by her laughter.
—-
When we reached where we left the others, my half of the pack had calmed down. That or they simply tired themselves out. I dumped the bear in the center then moved to lay next to my bag looking to my left out to my charges' home. I would have continued if it wasn't for the quick bark I recognized as Fern's. Turning back to the pack I noticed not a single one had made a move to eat and were looking at me, not even the pups though they were whining.
"Wha-" I tilted my head in confusion.
"It is your kill fledgling, They are honoring you by letting you take the first bite" Fiori pointed out. I simply sighed, getting back on my feet and went over to it.
"I'm not hungry though, would they get upset if I give my piece to some wolf?"
"No, but I suggest giving it to the matriarch, normally she's the first to eat after the pups." She advised and following her advice, ripped a chunk from the upper hind left leg and carried it to fern, dropping at her paws then made my way to the river to wash the blood from my scales before it fully dried, my camp filling with growls and tearing of flesh. After I had come back from cleaning I saw nothing was left of the bear, hardly any bones either. They must have been hungry but every sleeping wolf had a round belly so the rough times should be over for them. Looking out over the farm and valley I had to admit, It was beautiful and peaceful.
A few days Later I had to take shelter with the wolves in their dens to escape a nasty blizzard in the mountains. And a few more and it had unleashed its load on the valley it almost buried it.
The blasted thing seemed to last weeks, those poor souls. Counting the days that passed, I returned to the ledge on the 8th after the storm had abated, My mentor swaying gently in my now nearly bursting bag. I had worried the coldness would make her far more fragile as is, so I hunted for another bear. And upon finding one, skinned it of it's pelt which I wrapped her with. Was quite grisly but I rather have the smell hanging under my nose than lose her. Close to that evening We watched as a train of wagons came and made camp in what was a meadow close to town.
"It's time to get serious. I feel Saphira is close to hatching."
"It Is odd," She mused. "Normally a hatchling doesn't take this long to hatch for their prospective partners."
I gave a thoughtful hum while we observed the traders set up their tents, my eyes catching the jugglers, musicians, and performers. "Perhaps, but I think he hasn't been in contact with her much, he seems not to realize its an egg, but a curious stone."
We pondered the reasons as we drifted off to sleep.
I woke with the rising sun and after going through my stretches, being very careful of it after being dogpiled by wolves sometime in the night, resumed watching the activity.
Easily spotting our young soon-to-be rider and his uncle.
That brought up another thought..could I save him? I had wolves as friends, and could easily stage it to look like a pack got him before the ra'zac could. Certainly watched plenty of CSI with my mother when she was alive to pull it off, the question is.. getting Eragon to leave if he didn't die. For most of the day I laid there and slowly planned the rescue. As the day drew towards night, I had settled on a plan while I watched Eragon, Garrow, And Roran return to the farm. I gave a large yawn and began to head back to my overwatch, a serious expression set on my muzzle.
Tomorrow, It was time to get to work.