BURTHR (Birth) The Inheritance Cycle

Chapter 5

Adrenaline pulsed through Xelena's body as she flew through the air, leaping through the tree tops, landing with the agility and grace only an elf could possess. It was pitch black outside, but even with only the stars for light, she was able to expertly maneuver through the trees she called home.

As the treeline ended, giving away to the rocky land beneath the mountains, she raced forward, scrambling up the large boulders. She sprang up, from rock to rock, as she scaled the mountainside with the skill of one of the great goats who were native to the Beor Mountains.

She was fast, but not fast enough, as massive claws wrapped around her, ripping her from the land, and tossing her into the air.

She was in the air for a few moments, before she fell back down to the ground, landing on her bottom on the rocky earth, wincing. You win again. She thought with a sigh.

The ground shook as Dwerva landed beside her. At four years old, he was massive – he stood clear above every tree, and he could only walk around at night, for Urgals might spot his long neck and shoulders above the trees.

Dwerva had once stood at her knees, but now she stood at his. I always win, Little Bird. Dwerva said with a laugh.

Dwerva had called her Little Bird for years now because of the way she loved jumping through the treetops as if she could fly just as well as her dragon. She was no longer little, of course, but the name had stuck.

Right, well, maybe be more gentle next time. I'm hungry. I'm going to check the garden. She told him, this time speaking in English. She had struggled to retain the English that her mother had taught her, but she got good practice by speaking English with Dwerva on occasion.

As am I. But I will not eat your puny carrots. He said, slightly sneering.

Do not think yourself better than I because you kill other animals. She said, rolling her eyes.

It is not my fault I am a dragon. With that, he took off into the air. The wind from his powerful wings swayed the tree tops. He blended perfectly in the night; you could only notice him if you paid attention and realized his huge body blocked out the stars.

Xelena stood slowly, a little scraped up from falling, and then walked through the Spine, thoughts racing through her mind. She knew as she had known for years now, that she and Dwerva would not be safe here for much longer. She could not hide a massive dragon from the Urgals for long. And this forest would not be able to feed him for much longer, either. They had already exhausted the supplies of deer, elk, bears, and other creatures of the Spine. The Urgals were bound to recognize that, at the very least, a large predator had been consuming their prey.

They had to leave the Spine. She knew this. But leaving the only place she had ever lived in would not be easy.

She ran now, hoping that if she ran fast enough, then maybe her thoughts would not be fast enough to follow her. This was a silly hope, of course. You cannot outrun the truth.

She ran and ran, until she was back at the hut. Breathing heavily, she plopped down by the dirt bed where she had planted whatever fruits and vegetables she could find, which was not many.

She did not have hope that they would survive the coming winter. Competing with the Urgals for food would likely prove to be an impossible task.

She ripped a carrot from the earth and dusted it off, using some water she kept stored in leaf bowls nearby to rinse it off. She ate it slowly. It tasted like regret.