The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

The Parting of the Ways

Our two dragons went hunting along the banks of the river and brought back a trio of does. We'd stripped the dragons of their saddles for the time being, and I rifled through Amera's saddle bags to try and find any cooking implements. Murtagh had a tripod and pot, and I was able to find some bowls and utensils amongst my things. When the dragons returned with their prizes, we both shared the task of skinning one doe, while Amera and Thorn began working on their own dinners.

How was your hunt? I asked her as I began to skin the doe in front of me. Chancing a look over at her, I saw her tail twitching happily, and a light in her silver eyes.

Thorn is very experienced. I was able to pick up some new tricks from him.

I am glad you enjoyed yourself, I laughed.

Is there a particular reason you are laughing at me, Tabatha? she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

None whatsoever. I couldn't help the smile that came to my face. She snorted indignantly in my direction and snapped her teeth, which caused a bark of laughter to burst from my lips.

"What's so funny?" Murtagh asked, a hint of a smile upon his face.

"Oh, it's nothing," I laughed. Amera blew a ring of smoke from her nostrils and it floated over to me, ringing my head in a cloud of unbreathable air. I coughed and swiped it away so that I might breathe again, and then felt my face flush red when I realized the rumbling sound coming from the dragons was them laughing at me.

"Well, it certainly sounds like something," he prodded.

"I'm just teasing Amera," I replied, coughing once more to clear my lungs. "I believe she's infatuated with Thorn."

"That doesn't come as a surprise, considering..." He paused and looked me over for a moment. "They say that a dragon's emotions are influenced by their Rider. It would surprise me more if they weren't drawn to one another." I nodded slightly, and then a look of surprise and amusement passed over Murtagh's face.

"What is it?" I asked. He was looking at Thorn, so I knew that they were conversing. The great red dragon snorted and then turned his head towards Amera. Suddenly, the two dragons began to circle one another, their tails twitching rapidly.

"Thorn has told me he wishes to test her." Their jaws hung open to expose their teeth, and they were breathing heavily in a sort of whining sound.

"Test her? I don't—" I looked back at Murtagh, and when I saw the knowing look in his eye and the wry smile upon his face realization suddenly dawned on me. "Oh," I said quietly, looking back at the dragons. Thorn was the first to jump forward, nipping at Amera's haunches. He was much bigger than her, but she was a quick little thing. She slashed at his foreleg, but only just barely missed. They continued to circle one another, but Thorn had the advantage of length and he was able to rake his teeth across her hindquarters.

Amera yowled in anger when the gashes began to bleed, but she jumped forward quickly and latched her teeth onto the back of Thorn's head, though not firmly enough to cause him serious injury. Murtagh laughed aloud, a sound that I hadn't heard in a very long time, and when I looked at his face there seemed to be genuine happiness there. I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up from my chest to join his.

"Thorn is thoroughly embarrassed," he said.

"I suppose that means she's proved herself?" An overwhelming sense of pride washed over me from Amera, and she let out a triumphant bugle as she released Thorn from her grip. He shook her off and then spread his wings as wide as they would reach, the thin membrane of their folds casting a red glow over the entire clearing. He truly was a beautiful sight to behold.