Pugna: An Eragon Fanfic

19

Warning: This chapter is kind of violent, so if you scare easily, or love rabbits, plz don't read :/

The Hadarac Desert is calm after a slight windstorm. The yellow dunes tower over the flat, sandy landscape. No nomads wander past this stretch of desert. All is calm.

A brown coyote streaks across the bleak countryside. It seems out of place. The coyote runs into a particularly small cave, perhaps seeking shelter from the blistering sun.

The small cave entrance opens into a large passage that leads farther then it should. The coyote snuffles around, then begins to follow the faint path down into the passage.

The path angles slightly downward and it gets colder the further the coyote pads down the passage. A strange purple light seems to emit from farther down the passage.

Farther and farther the coyote walks, and it seems the passage goes on forever. The purple light intensifies until it's almost unbearable.

The coyote continues on until, finally, the passage opens up into a massive room. The walls have been sculpted into great peaks and cathedral-like spires. It is an awesome sight. A huge throne sits in the center of the room, and atop it sits a very handsome man in resplendent robes. His bright green eyes reflect the purple crown on his head, which is the source of the eerie purple light.

The man smiles kindly and opens his arms wide, welcoming the coyote. "No need to hide, Alyson," he says, "we're all friends here."

The coyote begins to morph and change into a beautiful young woman. The woman straightens up and looks the man in the eye warily.

"Who are you?" She asks.

"One who would help," he replies.

"I require no help," says the woman defiantly.

"Of course not," he says soothingly, "but the world requires help. A great tragedy is about to happen, and I wish to be of service." His voice is smooth, reassuring.

"What are you?" Asks the woman.

"Human. I am human," he insists.

"I require no help," repeats the woman. She starts for the exit.

"That would not be wise," admonishes the man.

The woman ignores him and steps to the passage mouth. Once the very tip of her boot touches the threshold, a scream echoes throughout the cave.

The woman whips around. Two men clutch the arms of a teenage girl. A red haired, kind faced teenage girl. The woman crumples to the ground.

"No..." She whispers.

"I am deeply sorry it had to come to this Alyson," says the crowned man, "I did not wish to reveal our prisoner."

"You BASTARD!" Screams Alyson. She rushes at the man, changing in midair to become a savage wolf.

"Now, now, none of that," says the man calmly. He twitches a finger on the arm of his throne and the wolf is thrown against the wall.

The wolf changes back into the young woman, a trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth. She snarls and rushes at the men still clutching the red haired girl, but is thrown back again. Feebly, she looks up at the man on the throne, gaze full of hatred.

"What do you want from me?" She says.

"Oh, my dear, I wanted nothing more than your support in our mission, you didn't have to get hurt," he sounds sincerely concerned, caring.

"Let her go, I will support you however I can," says the woman weakly. She motions towards the captive girl.

The man gets an evil gleam in his eye. "That's the ticket!" He says. He waves a hand at the two burly men and they drop the girl.

The redheaded girl falls to her knees, face hidden by a curtain of hair.

"Aly..." whispers the woman. "What did you do to her?!" She shrieks at the crowned man.

"She is fine," he says, snapping his fingers. The man almost seems... amused?

The redheaded girl arches her back and begins to transform. She grows bigger... and taller... the skin darkens until it is pitch black and lumpy. The hair recedes into the skull at an alarming rate and is replaced by a set of ridged horns.

The redheaded girl has been replaced by a demon straight from hell.

The men around it begin to morph as well, taking on a similar appearance to the impostor.

The woman slumped up against the wall screams and, without a last look, transforms into a rabbit. It tries to bound away, but one of the monsters pounces. It slashes the rabbit from ear to ear and the woman reappears, bleeding, in the dirt. She gasps for a moment, then all is still.

The man on the throne stands and says to the monster nearest to the dead woman, "go on,"

The beast coils, like a pouncing cat, and dives towards the woman. As it leaps, it grows smaller and smaller. The demon lands on the woman's throat, then disappears.

Suddenly, the gash on the woman's throat heals, and she sits up, looking around. The only difference between the woman that walked into the cave and this zombie are the eyes, which are now purely black.

In a few seconds however, these fade to their original bright green.