Dawnbreaker [Inheritance Cycle]

14. Preparations

Sitting on a low cobblestone wall, she watched the horizon as the sun slowly set behind the distant mountains. Below her, a sprawling city was laid out in stark detail. A small creature, the size of a cat, hopped up to sit beside her.

She glanced at her friend. "You're in your true form," she idly noted.

Instead of skin or fur, the creature had a mixture of carapace and scales, deep crimson with a black undertone. Her wings were furled and her tail curled around her body.

Her angular head followed the sun as it hung low.

"Yes." Came the simple reply.

"What if someone sees you?"

"There is no one here," her companion said, "and I am tired of hiding."

She nodded in agreement, looking up at the sky. They remained there together in silence for a long while, in the spirit of gentle companionship.

"I'm glad I met you," Serafyna whispered.

The creature perked up, looking at her. "Even after all this time?"

"Always."

-

"Hey there."

Serafyna.

She paused as she entered the refuge and raised an eyebrow, repressing a shiver at the tendril of thought.

Since her last interaction with the dragon, she had given some thought to the way the dragon communicated and realized that the mental contact itself didn't feel uncomfortable or invasive; quite the opposite. The presence of the dragon's consciousness felt warm and uniquely familiar.

It was only the unconventional method of communication, through thoughts, that she needed to get used to.

"Yes, that is my name," she replied.

Mmm. Serafyna.

She rolled her eyes. "Is that all you can say?"

No, came the reply, tinged with slight amusement.

Serafyna raised an eyebrow at the response. Then, she grinned, "A sense of humor, huh? Okay, fair enough."

It was early morning, and it was very cold. There had been a short-lived storm the previous night and everything in sight was coated in a thin layer of undisturbed white snow and frost. Not that it made much difference. In the winter, the valley was perpetually covered in snow.

The first thing she did after waking up was put on her winter gear, grab some of the leftovers from last night's dinner, and quickly make her way over to the refuge, eating on the way. She didn't bother bringing Eragon along, figuring he needed some time to himself following Roran's announcement.

The crimson-scaled dragon walked towards her. It had grown fast and now, its head was nearly at eye-level with her. It was now larger than the biggest of the bears she'd seen in the wilds.

Yet, the sheer size and the sinuous strength behind the dragon's limbs didn't intimidate her in the slightest. She was certain, through their unique Connection, that the dragon would never harm her.

It closed the distance and gently nudged its head against her chest in an affectionate manner, although even that gentle action nearly managed to toss Serafyna to the ground.

The creature rumbled, purring like a cat. Serafyna scratched the scales atop its angular head, grinning still. "Keep that up and eventually you'll end up squashing me flat." The dragon huffed in response.