Gren ceased his looting of the body to grab at the gem, inspecting it closely. His gaze hardened as familiar feelings assailed his mind. Grief. Despair. Hopelessness. As the vision ended, Gren spoke softly. "It's not as if it matters now." His voice trembled slightly, and he pocketed the gem. Grendel brushed a few fingers against Lanari's cold cheek, before standing up abruptly. "What now?" His tone had grown serious. "And whatever we do, we can't just leave these other eggs here..."

For the first time in his life, Grendel was incredibly grateful to lack any form of family or close friends. Leaving would be easy for him. He had nothing to go back to. But what of the others? Alphonse, Gale, and Demund all had some form of family back in Mashal. "Guys. Going back would be a foolish path to take. Every second we spend near Mashal puts everyone there in danger. Your families would be safer if they knew nothing of your departure. Imagine what would happen if the Empire came here questioning and thought that they knew anything about the eggs!" He looked around the room uneasily. And what if someone discovered my mother? "We... we need to go." He picked up his dragon once more, holding it close. A foreign yet welcoming presence began to enter his mind.

"I am Onam." Gren looked down at the creature in his arms, and it looked back at him intelligently. "Hello."

Their words were true, but the thought of leaving his father without a word? What would he think of him suddenly turning his back? What if he assumed the worst? It would destroy him! Demund couldn't bare it. Clenching his fists in frustration he looked to the floor and spoke, ”I...can’t. I just can’t leave my father like this! The shining dragon still sitting atop Demund’s shoulder knew his conflicted feels and decided to give him reassurance. He nudged his cheek with his scaly head to gain Demund’s attention. Loosening his fists and looking to his new friend, the dragon nodded as if to tell him to go.

Looking back to the others he ran his plan by, ”Everyone in town knows I never planned on staying in Mashal forever. I’ll head in, get whatever supplies we need and if anyone asks I’ll say I’ve decided to leave. No one has to know about the dragons, the hut, any of it, but I have to tell my father I’m leaving at least.” He didn’t know if the others agreed, but his mind was made up. He was going back with or without them.

He picked up the dragon and gently pet him as he set him next to one of the unhatched eggs. He then removed his bandana and wrapped it around his hand to hide the markings. Heading to the stairs Demund climbed one step before looking back at everyone, ”If you feel you can’t wait for me, I understand.”

Galen Derricson

Gale listened intently to the others' concerns, forcing his own worries away and focusing on coming to a solution. He didn't really need to go back did he? He worried for a moment about his parents, but it was safer if they didn't know anything, right? And he had everything he needed to survive, and potentially to feed his dragon, and the others' too if he had too.

He hoped his skills were up to the task anyway.

"Right," he said seriously, his voice sure for once. He wasn't as certain as he sounded, but right now nobody knew what to do, or couldn't agree on what to do, so his plan was the best course of action he could think of. "Demund, you and Alph will go back to the village. Gren and I will stay here with the dragons, salvage what we can-" bury Lanarí, "and find something to eat." The mind attached to Gale's own perked up at that. "Try to avoid mentioning us, but if you have to answer any questions say we split up and you two started talking about leaving. You'll go and get whatever supplies you can, pack your things, and meet us back here."

He withheld the advice to be quick, a rushed goodbye would only hurt.

"We'll wait for you." He assured them, giving them both his best earnest look.

"Yeah," Alph said, reaching up and gently disentangling Ashwing from him. He hesitated a moment, but sensed she wouldn't like to be handed to someone and put her on the ground instead. "That sounds like a plan. I have a sword and a horse at home at the very least."

As he followed Demund up the stairs, he sent an experimental thought back toward the dragon.

Guard the other eggs.

He put a hand to his chest, but there was nothing to do about the bite and the blood. It was a small enough wound that he could explain it away pretty easily.

"C'mon, Dem, I'll let you repair my sword on the road!" The two of them went up the stairs and out of the hovel, to make their way down the hill and back toward the bridge to town.

So much noise. . .

The girl crouched in the branches of a tree not far from the cabin, watching for any sign of the humans who had gone inside of it before. She recognized their faces from the town of Marshal, though she couldn't remember ever speaking with any of them for any length of time. She had gone to the smiths once to have a set of throwing knives crafted for her daily training, though they had taken long and weren't exactly perfect. Better than she expected though of a small town blacksmith.

Red hair tumbled down her back, parts braided together to keep them out of her way, her bangs falling in her face though green eyes pierced through to watch carefully. It had been quiet for far too long, her nerves growing edgy and restless. Jumping down from the tree, the young halfbreed jogged over to the cabin, carefully stepping inside as to not make too much noise. It was smaller than expected on the inside, though as she soon saw a tear in the wall, magic paper cast aside to reveal a doorway. Inside of which she could see someone. Carefully walking over, she peeked through the door, looking inside as humanly and innocent as she could.

"What's going on?"

Galen Derricson

Gale froze at the voice, already they were discovered! But it was familiar in a way that all of the residents of the village were, a kind of accent that marked them all even if the sound of their voice wasn't well known. He spun to face the entrance, looking up from the satchel stuffed with a change of women's clothes, a few more papers, and a 100 year old map, he spotted the bright red hair of the shy girl (or he assumed she was shy by the fact they'd never spoken) that he'd noticed around the village a time or two. It was hard not to with hair like hers. Something about her was just so different to everyone else he couldn't help but notice her, even if his interests did lie elsewhere.

He struggled for a moment to remember her name, henrecalled it being just as unique as the girl herself... "Zyloria?" He questioned hesitantly, glancing around at all the dragon eggs and hungry hatchlings. Damn, well now she has to come with us! There was no way they were going through all the trouble of disappearing only to leave a witness behind who could spill everything- and there was no way they could cover this up and hide it from her, she was now a witness.

But Gale was not at all eager to become a kidnapper, so he thought maybe he should try to convince her first. "Uh- hey?" he tried not to look alarmed, hoping a calm conversation, as if nothing was wrong, would make her more agreeable. He only suceeded in looking very alarmed and a small bit scared. The fear was mostly from the dragon in his head who turned out to be a massive scared cat and was hiding behind another of the eggs.

At first, Ashwing didn't want to separate form Alph. While she was flattered in his trust in her, at least for the next week there would be little she could do if the other humans decided to try what a dragon tastes like. When the thought came upon the eggs though, sometyhign stirred in her.


Slithering off of his shoulders and making a grab for his belt to slow her fall, the dragoness landed on the dusty ground and walked over to the remaining eggs before curling over them protectively like their mother would. Looking up at the humans, her expression was defiant as if meaning to tell them not to touch.


She telegraphed over. She picked Alphonse for an eternal companion, and frankly didn't entirely like the people he was leaving her with. Not interested too much in the humans, she spared a look to the other dragons in the room. Big. Big. Huge! she thought as her eyes ticked from Kolysakr through Onam to finally coming to rest on Damascus. The picture filled her with inexplicable rage. She was easily the tiniest.

She hissed when a new voice could be heard, both out of surprise and because she saw one of the males cowering behind her. Worthless.

The female looked at the boy, wondering who exactly he was since he hadn't spoken to her before. "Yes. I am she." Her voice gaze way to a hint of a foreign accent, as if she had lived in another part of the world for a long time, though for as long as she had lived there she had never paid much attention to the names of the villagers. Her father had insisted that she socialize, but from a young age she had known who and what she was. She wanted to live with the elves, but it was growing more and more dangerous every day to be one of them, and he had brought her here. Curiously, she peered around, taking another step closer so that she was through the door.

"You are nervous." The she-elf was often observant, though while she brushed passed him, she tilted her head slightly to the side. Voices, and squeaking? She cast a glance at Glen, another back at the stairs before she turned to him, her arms grossed. "What did you find?" Her voice, stern and commanding, like an elder sister scolding her child siblings. There were endless possibilities that could be had. Elves. Spies. Magic. Hearing a frightful squeak the girl slipped into the chamber that held all the eggs and dragons.

Dragons. They had found Dragon Eggs. And they had hatched for them. Perhaps? No. It wasn't possible. The Dragon Riders were coming back, and not just in places she could not reach. Pale eyes scanned the room, knowing that those present might not appreciate the intrusion. She felt no fondness or attraction to any egg in specific, though the amount of magic in the room was enough to raise her own energy levels tenfold. If only her father would have taught her something about magic.

They were at the bridge when they were finally able to see the smoke through the trees. A single black column, obviously not from any chimney, not even the forge.

"Dem," he said no more, but pointed to the smoke. The two set off at a run to get home. As they got closer they could smell the smoke. It almost smelled like cooking meat, but Alph recognized the wreak of burning clothes and hair as well, and knew better. There was nobody outside as they made their way between the buildings, but Alph could see eyes peeking from behind shutters.

"Get your things," Alph told Dem quietly, "And ask your father what's going on."

Alph for one, went to his grandfather's brewery and walked in the door, calling out to him as he opened it. The old man walked out from around a corner, holding Alph's sword in a defensive manner.

"What happened?" Alph asked.

The old man hesitated, but picked up the scabbard from the table nearby and sheathed the old chipped blade. "I'm not sure," he answered, licking his dry lips. "I didn't see. Just heard the shouts, saw people running for their homes."

"Yeah," Alph took the sheathed sword out of his hands gently but firmly. "I saw that everyone was holed up, but I didn't see why. Listen," he looked sideways at his grandfather as he started packing his saddle bag, just some food and spare clothes, and what was left of his coinpurse. "I don't want to leave you here after whatever this was, but I have to go, I really do."

His grandfather nodded in understanding. They embraced quickly, and Alph walked back out the door, to move around to the stables and get his horse. Once she was saddled, he walked in the direction of the smoke, meaning to see it for himself.

Gren found himself unable to pull his eye away from the intruder. What was her name again? Just then, his question was answered as Gale began to converse with her. Gren stared at Zyloria suspiciously, sidling closer to the eggs as he attempted to communicate with Onam. "I'm Gren. Gods, this is weird as hell." He didn't like the appearance of Zyloria right now. What if she was a Rider too? That would be one less egg for him! And of course they would have to bring her along now, the nosy little b- Wait, maybe this was a good thing. They would need all the help they could get for the journey ahead, and surely more company wouldn't be such a bad thing. It didn't really matter, actually. Might as well come at this situation the best you can. Grendel sighed. "Hey Zyloria," He said in a mock threatening tone. "You sort of need to travel with us wherever the hell we please now or we might have to kill you or something." Gren heard a chuckling in his head after saying this. "I'm joking, but I'm also pretty serious."

Demund wasted no time after they reached Mashal and split for the their own homes. Filled with panic he ran faster than he ever had before. What happened? Had anyone they been close too harmed? Was this...because of them?

Demund pushed the thoughts out of his mind. He had a task and it needed to be done quickly. He paid no mind to the empty streets or the neighbors peering out their windows. Arriving at his home knocked on the door and announced his presence. The door swung open and Demund’s father rushed him inside.

Relatching the door his father let out a long sigh of relief, “I was so worried something happened to you. Are the others alright?” Demund asured him everyone was well followed quickly with his own questions, ”What is going on? Why is everyone hiding?”

Taking a deep breath, his father did his best to explain everything. “Not long after you boys left, a woman with deep red hair showed up and started asking questions about ‘magic’ and ‘rider swords’. Of course no one knew what she was talking about. She must have thought we were lying because then she...she...” his father looked visibly disturbted and his voice trembled as he spoke. “She went to the house in the center of town...and murdered the poor family that lived there."

Demund couldn't believe what he heard. That family never did anything to warrant such crulty! The whole town must have been like this father, struggling to make sense of this senseless violence. Demund knew though. She had come for the eggs. For them. Despite the shaken state his father was in, Demund knew he couldn't wait any longer. ”Father...The time has come for me to leave Mashal.”

The old Smith was caught completely off guard, “What?” Demund knew more questions would follow and instead of lying, he decided he deserved the truth; though not all of it. ”Me and the others…We found something in the woods. Something many powerful people would be angry if it became known. I can't tell you anymore but. That woman? I'm almost certain she was looking for us.”

A cold silence fell over the room. Demund's father stated at him with shocked wonder. Though Demund prepared for a bombardment of questions, he instead walked over and put his hand on his son's shoulder and said calmly, “Whatever you need. Take with you.”

The two scurried about the house putting together a pack of various supplies and filling a small purse with coins. Just before he was ready to leave, Demund's father emerged from his room with a long cloth package loosely tied together. Before he could ask, his father explained. “I wanted you to have this when you left for your travels. Though it's not how we planned, I think you'll need it now more than ever.” Handing it to him, Demund could feel it's shape and knew what it was. He pulled the string off and revealed the finely crafted sword resting in its sheath.

It was beautiful. The full length was easily just above three feet and made completely of steel. The blade was perfectly straight and balanced for one or two hands as needed with an edge that could cut a gently falling leaf. It's hilt was wrapped in soft leather strips and had a remarkable design. The whole thing must have taken weeks if not more to craft yet he never once saw his father working on it.

Before he could thank him, his father pulled the boy in and hugged him tightly; tears streaming down his cheeks. “I only wish your mother were here. She would be so proud.” It was when he spoke these words reality came crashing down on Demund. This may be the last time he ever saw his father, or the town he had called home for so long. He nearly didn't let go, but doing so would seal the fate of everyone here. The tie had come. He needed to leave.

Giving a last tearful goodbye to his father, Demund strapped his new sword on his back and carried his load of supplies outside. The fire from the center of town still clouded the sky and burned his lungs with the dark fumes. Whether it was to fully convince him of what he was doing, or simply out of morbid curiosity, Demund knew he had to see what the final fate of the family was. And so he headed to the center of town.

Galen Derricson

Gale scooped up the satchel he'd found and slung it over his shoulder, shoving the unbound journal he'd found inside. He saw the exact moment Zyloria's eyes found the eggs and the hatchlings and knew they were screwed. Gren's words, while inappropriate, were true. Mostly. "Right, no one's killing anyone," he cut in nervously. But could they trust her? Eyeing her up for a moment, Galen decided no, he didn't trust her, not enough to leave her behind. "You shouldn't have come," he decided, his frustration rising. This moment where they became legends, Dragon Riders, and gained life-long companions, was ruined from the start, but being discovered so soon? There was little to enjoy, they would be hunted, but now their head start was being threatened. "You should really come with us," he insisted, stepping closer to her, his eyes pleading. He hoped she would agree, they couldn't be sure she'd stay quiet otherwise. "The King will being hunting us, and anyone who knows anything about us. You'll be safer with us- I think-" he hesitated, glancing back at Gren. They hadn't discussed it yet, but where else would they go? "We're going to the Elves, they'll protect you."

He hoped that was incentive enough. Everyone was curious about the Elves, and while most villages had untrustworthy sources and untrue rumors, Mashal was more informed of the truth. They knew the Elves weren't bad, and that they opposed Galbatorix and practiced magic. Surely Zyloria would want to go with them now?

"More like you'd be safer with me." Zyloria saw the male before her step closer to the eggs, a hatchling that wasn't his curled up with the remainder of the eggs. She was careful to hide her interest, her excitement to perhaps be going to her mothers homeland. No one here knew that she was a half-breed, though they would soon enough if she stayed with them for two long. She was reaching maturity, meaning she would no longer age at the same rate as them. One foot tapped on the ground, her brain working to see what would get them and the eggs out of Marshal before they were spotted.

"We have a wagon, some trunks we can put the eggs in. Anything that's already on it's way here will find these when you're gone." Zyloria paused, crossing her arms beneath her chest, vibrant green eyes watching the two males before her. Her bangs splayed in front of her face, though the green shone through. Her mind was working in a tangle of questions, things she would need. Her father would have to come with, he knew so much about Dragons and fighting. "Get your group together, bring as many of the eggs as you can. Farm at the bottom of the hill, by the creek."

She turned on her heels, picking up an egg that was sitting further from the others. She didn't think anything specific of it, just that it was easier to get without the others freaking out. "I'll be taking this with me though. Insurance and all."

Alphonse converged on Demund on the main road, as both of them walked toward the smoke. They looked at each other, but didn't say anything. Alph noted that the both of them were armed now. He knew that Dem was interested in learning to make swords, and thought that this was perhaps a secret project of his. It certainly looked new.

The two slowed to a stop some five yards away from the source of the smoke. Alph for one didn't feel the need to get any closer to the still smoldering ruins of what had been three of the townspeople. He pulled his undertunic out from under the leather jerkin he wore and covered his mouth and nose with it. Looking past the bodies, he saw that their house had been ransacked as well, someone had been looking for something, and apparently weren't happy that they had failed to find it. The eggs? Alphonse couldn't think of anything else worth having, or worth killing for, in Mashal. It seemed a staggering coincidence, but at the same time, it wasn't particularly likely that all four of them had eggs hatch for them.

"Dem," Alph said, looking at the younger boy. "We need to get back, and fast." He put a foot in the stirrup and mounted his horse, then held a hand down for Demund. "Get up and hold on tight." The horse was old and well traveled, but they didn't have far to go, and neither of them were particularly heavy either.

Demund stared at the smoldering bodies. He had gotten used to the sting of smoke pouring into his eyes and didn’t hinder his gaze as he looked upon each one. He knew them. Though their names escaped him and he hardly spoke to any of them, he at least remembered their faces. And now? They were nothing but blackened forms that only gave the shape once being human. For the first time this day Demund was glad he had not eaten yet, as it surely would have come back up.

Pulling his eyes away from the horrid sight, Alph called to him from horse backing noting it was time to leave. Helping him up, Demund spoke just loud enough to be heard over the horses gallop. “I found out quite a bit from my father, but I think it would be best if I shared it once we have regrouped.”

---

The larger of the dragons made no move as the new arrival peeked her head around the corner. Instead he sat still watching her as she and the other humans spoke. She seemed friendly enough, at least she didn’t appear to be a threat. The others of his kin disagreed. The small orange one hissed and glared ready to go on the offensive while the no as small white one hid behind one of the unborn.

How quickly his stance on the girl changed when she made a grab at one of the eggs. Damascus didn’t even hesitate to leap past the girl and onto the stairs blocking her path. At least, as much as a newborn dragon could. He gave a short snort and an angry look at the red haired girl, making it clear he didn’t approve of her leaving with the egg.

"OVER MY DEAD BODY, EGGTHIEF!"

Was a single shrieking thought resonating through the minds of everyone in the room as Ashwing pounced and landed in front of the woman, her tiny jaws wide and soft, dull claws at the ready in an attempt to at least look threatening. How dare she? How dare she treat one of her unborn cousins like a property to be claimed! Or worse yet, a hostage! How would she feel seeing a child of her own kind being taken away?

From the corner of her vision, she could see the biggest hatchling blocking the way out. At the very least it looked like one of them would stand with her. Instinctively her eye ridges dropped a little and her tail swayed from side to side to indicate happiness with his decision. Hopefully that would be enough to get the egg safely on the ground again. If not, she would... she would...

Guard the other eggs, she recalled her chosen one's wish. And all Divine help her, she would to her last breath.

Alph put his heels into the horse's flanks, hard, and the two of them sped off as fast as she could carry them. She was no charger or destrier, but she was fast enough on the half decent road that Mashal had, and in a matter of minutes they were crossing the bridge again. He had to slow down shortly after the bridge, to guide the horse safely down the hill and across the flooded valley. It was about midday when he lashed the tired beast to a nearby tree and went back inside after a quick look around to make sure no one was approaching.

"OVER MY DEAD BODY, EGGTHIEF!"

The thought threw Alph into action before he had properly digested it. The emotions, the anger and the fear, coming to him from his dragon spurred him on faster than anything else could have. He was drawing his sword on his way down the stone stairs, but he stopped short just behind one of the other dragons(he didn't recall which one).

He hadn't expected someone to already be here, but even more he didn't expect to recognize the threat. She was a local, the one with the strange name. Zyloria. He didn't know what the situation was, but Ashwing was accusing her of theft.

"Aye," he said aloud, standing a few steps up with his sword held ready, "I would put that down."

The half elf rotated the egg in her hand, looking between the two small dragons, each perhaps the size of a housecat, and the humans watching her quietly. She couldn't hear the dragon hatchlings speaking, though she assumed they were unhappy with her touching the egg. It was heavy in her arms, though as another boy walked into the room she had been putting it into a cradle of cloth against her right hip, opposite her own short sword. The male lifted a hand, old sword in hand as she watched him. His grip wasn't confident, and his voice shook ever so slightly. He was pale, as if he had seen a ghost before his arrival.

The corner of her mouth turned up, a small grin taking shape on her usually calm and distant face. "Do you know how to use that Alphonse?" She asked him, adjusting the cradle over her shoulder, tightening the knot so that the egg wouldn't fall. She didn't want it breaking after all. "Could you kill someone with it?" It was a rather forward question, but one that they would all need to answer eventually. With the journey they had intended to make, they would need to be stronger than they were now. They were village boys, untrained and barely more educated than the average townsperson. Though, that just might be because of her father.

Zyloria stepped toward the male, moving until his swordtip was pressed lightly against her chest. "Apply pressure right here-" She adjusted it's placement, setting it against her leather tunic, to the left of her sternum. "-and you stand a chance of killing someone." Her gaze never left his eyes as she lowered her left hand to the hilt of her own weapon. "Besides. I rather like the look of this one."

The half elf, knew that danger was approaching, her could smell the fire in the air, the smoke on their clothes. Something had happened back in the town, something that they couldn't let them get away from. A step back, a sigh and an almost motherly caress to the egg - that which she felt a soft vibrate in response - and she moved her hand from the hilt of her blade. "From the looks of it, we don't have a lot of time. So I'll explain on the way." Zyloria took a deep breath, steadying her already swiftly beating heart. No doubt the dragons could smell the nervousness on her. "Local storyteller that taught you guys about the world? Yeah, he's my dad. If you guys are going to get out of here in time, you will need help. Help that Father and I are more than willing to provide. He'll teach us to fight, to care for our dragons and where not to go. There's horses at the farm, some jarred vegetables from last season." Her left hand clenched, fingers digging into the palm of her hand to stop her own shaking. "I hate Galbatorix just as much as you do. I'll be dammed if I don't do what I can to get rid of him."

By the time she was finished speaking, she was looking at the floor, one hand on the egg for confidence, the other beginning to bleed from how tightly she had clenched her fist, trying her best not to shake. These were the reasons she hated human. She didn't understand how an eternal beauty, a woman immortal and nearly a goddess, could have stood human culture enough to fall in love with her own father. She would never say that they shouldn't have met. She just wished that there was a way that humans could learn to be better. But these were children, common village children who didn't know anything about the world. Human children who shouldn't ever want to kill someone. Perhaps, when they have time, she may speak with them of her forwardness. But now was a time for escape and survival.

Feelings of annoyance entered Onam's mind as he leaped from Gren's arms, slowly prowling towards the flank of the elven woman trying to take one of his cousins away. He guessed that she was a half elf, as she lacked the obvious physical characteristics of a full elf, yet the the untapped magical energy within her was palpable. He tossed a thought back at Gren, stopping a few feet away from Zyloria. "It is?" The hatchling's barbed tail began to curl upward over himself as he lowered the front of his body to the ground, ready to leap at and stab Zyloria if necessary.

Before Gren could even act, multiple dragons had sprung into action, saying what was literally on all of their minds. Thanks to Alph's dragon at least. Gren instead unslung his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming just to the left of Zyloria's head.

"It is?"

"I guess not for you, no."

Gren rolled his eyes at Zyloria's words."You're still going to put that egg down, after you tried to ransom it for Gods know why. Two seconds is all I need, thief. One second to move my aim just slightly, and one second to let go of this arrow. I recommend you take that egg and put it into Gale's hands nice and easy now." He paused. "I won't need a third second to hesitate." The threat was very real, and his voice stood on it's own, solid as steel. Grendel's mind was doing backflips of joy, however. There was no way Zyloria could be a rider at this point! He mused over how quickly everyone in the room turned on her so quickly, it was fascinating really.

Alph kept the blade pointed toward her until she let it press against her. He was grappling with not only his won feelings, but those of his dragon as well. He could keep calm in the face of a threat, but Ashwing didn't have that knack, and all he felt was fear-filled aggression from her.

When the red headed girl reached for her own sword, the anger came from his own mind as well, and he was overwhelmed with it. He almost plunged the blade in, but at the last second she moved her hand away, touching the egg instead, and his own stance relaxed some.

Alph took the last steps down the stairs, but kept his sword out. He didn't trust her, not after she took an egg, and not with an unknown threat lurking. But then, she had been in the village since they were both small, and unlike Alph she hadn't left for any extended period of time. How could she have created the mess they had found in town?

When he spoke up again after the tense moment, his voice cracked on the first few words. "She's right, actually. We don't have time. Not to argue and not for anything else. Three people have been murdered in town. By magic. The family who lived in the big house," he added, with a reassuring look to Gale who still had family in Mashal.