Daughter of Scales - A Eargon Fanfic

The Violet Teardrop

The sweet sound of a birds song greeted me as I opened my eyes. I stretched and looked at the dying embers of my long gone fire. I smiled at the sight of no more rain. I thanked any gods out there and grabbed my only gifted possession. A small woven bag, worn over the years. I placed my map carefully in it along with its pencil and set off. I had grabbed my cup of water to take with me, sipping on the fresh water inside. My throat felt better after the sips and my spirits rose. A smile even broke free. I happily made my way with the help of my map to the hidden cave. I was excited to find it intact and not flooded from the down pours. I slowly made my way inside and relied on the sunlight that had breached the clouds barrier to guide me. It wasn't very deep like mine though the make up was more treacherous. Sharp rocks and slick stones made it a slow quest to reach the back. I made a mark with a stone on the back, reminding myself I had explored this. I was slightly disappointed at the cave itself. It was not what I had thought it would be, I guess my imagination had drawn up some wild fantasy about adventure and a hidden world within the cave that reality had scoffed at. With a sigh of disappointment, I made my way back. The slow progress made me even more frustrated until I suddenly tripped on a rock and went head first into the ground. My head spinning and throbbing, I cursed my luck. I was about to kick the culprit of my tripping when I paused. The object I had mistaken for a rock gleamed with an indigo hue, the likes of which I had never seen before. Tiny droplets of rain covered it like watery scales on a precious jewel. My pain long forgotten, I inspected the glittering item. On my knees I got a closer look. Its perfectly smooth oval surface winked at me as I ran a hand over it. It was cold to the touch and sparkled like a thousand gems. It was about roughly a foot long, so rather large compared to me. My eyes twinkled as I ran my hand over it again. Suddenly it moved. I scrabbled back in fear. Was it all just my mind playing tricks on me again? Was I really going delusional? Still fascinated with it, I timidly moved forward and sat next to it again. It showed no signs of having moved at all, sitting there perfect as ever. I wondered what it could be, a large crystal or precious gem?! If it was one of the two, I could possibly bring it to town and sell it for a high price and finally be accepted and prove I don't have cursed luck. I scanned the 'gem''s placement in the rock and saw it wedged between two rocks. It didn't seem too heavy so I reached out and placed my left hand on it first to stabilize and yelped out in pain. My hand felt like it was on fire and I curled into a ball with it tucked inside. The stinging lingered as I uncurled. I swore softly under my breath and looked at the stone with new feelings. It sat there, looking innocent. I looked at my hand and gasped in disbelief. A swirling burn mark was imprinted on my palm. I sighed and used the sleeves of my clothes to touch the thing. Nothing happened. I debated if I should leave it or not, it seemed like too much effort especially if it was worthless. 

Something deep down though told me it wasn't, that it was something priceless. I shook my head and tried again. I freed it with one powerful pull and its cool surface laid on my stomach. It was not as heavy as I had originally thought. I struggled to pick it up and lug it out of the cave. I stared at the village and it seemed hundreds of miles away. I set the thing down gently and paced around it, thinking. I could leave it, or I could find a way to pull it or drag it to town. But theres the risk it's not worth much and I get kicked out or worse. I say out aloud, talking to myself. I stared at it. 

"I've come this far, can't just let it be." I tell myself and decide to take it to the middle point, my cave. I grunted from effort and carried down the path. I was drenched in a thin sheet of sweat by the time I made it back. I grabbed my mostly dry clock from the stick hanger and made a tiny bed for the stone on the floor. I gingerly inspected my hand again. The mark had faded into a peculiar shade of silver. It shined like raindrops in sunlight. I gently rubbed my other hand over it. The pain was minimal, just a small throbbing under the mark. I walked over to a nearby evergreen tree and gathered some water on the leaves and let it fall on my hand. The burn or whatever it was stung at the cool waters touch but it was worth the slight relief it brought. My stomach rumbled from the lack of breakfast. I gazed at the stone before opening the tiny wooden crate holding my food. I clutched my stomach as I realized the food had run dry. What rotten luck. The village was the only place with quick food, and my mediocre hunting skills wouldn't catch me anything anytime soon. 

"Village it is." I murmur and grab my woven bag and sneak my way down to the bustling village. I tucked my vivid near white blonde hair under my shirt to hide it from any on lookers. I crept up behind the bakers shop and leapt silently over the tiny fence. I heard commotion inside and braced myself against the wall. I waited until it seemed to die down. I peered over the window and my stomach went from rumbling to roaring at the heaps of fresh bread. I willed it to shush as the bakers massive stature came into view. My heart pounded as he barked orders at his two sons, Pard and Fenesis. Both a few years older than me, they shared their fathers reddish brown hair but had their mothers glowing hazel eyes and lanky build. I shook my head and focused on getting food. The baker cracked the window open with his beefy hands and I held my breath as he looked out the window. Thankfully there was a tiny ledge sticking out from the window that hid the majority of my head. Nevertheless, he sensed something off. He stayed there for a minute extra, my heart rate almost beating out of my chest all the while. He finally huffed and walked away. I sat there an extra moment before peering in the store. The bread was just sitting there, waiting. My mouth watered as I looked for signs of the baker and his sons. I hoisted my tiny frame over the ledge and reached out for the closest loaf to me. The golden brown crust leered at me as I forced my arms to extend to their limits. I clipped it and froze as the baker's heavy footsteps sounded close. I heaved myself closer, testing my balance. I gripped the edge of the loaf and sighed in victory before thrusting myself out the window. I hit my head on the way out and hissed in pain. I heard the baker ask what the noise was and I scrambled to the other wall as he looked out. My head throbbed as I gasped for air. Many minutes had passed before I finally ran for it. Hopping the fence, I sprinted to the safety of the hills, not realizing someone was watching me from afar.