*Hey everyone. It's Weeksjmj29. Sorry I'm late again. Was trying to figure out how to do this chapter. Now, this chapter and the next one will be dedicated to Scarlet_BlackWing. Now, onward to the story. Hope you guys enjoy it. -weeksjmj29

Derek, Neida and his family rushed down the path, heading as far from Therinsford as possible without reentering the Spine. Derek look behind him to see if Leo was keep up with his mother and his sister upon his back. He smiled when he saw that he was keeping pace with the horses.

"At least he can keep up with us. But then again, his lithe and feline Grace, along with his leg muscles, it's made sense that he is capable of keeping up with us." Neida looked at him for a second before turning her gaze towards the path they rushing along on.

"You seem almost in awe at the Griger." He blushed as he looked away. "Well, I have always been fascinated with the creatures. They are big as mountain lions but smart as humans. What's not to be fascinated with?" She grinned as she moved her horse close to his and whispered in his ear.

"It can't turn into a dragon." He shook his head as he sighed. He knew that she was right. "That may be true, but they are still interesting." She smirked as she went fast, knowing that she has won. She then looked at him. "Now that has been taken care of, we must make haste."

Derek nodded. "Yes. It's only a matter of time before they catch up with us or worse, the Ra'zac may chase us as well." He looked down as they continued to flee. "I heard stories of the Ra'zac. Stories so terrifying, that they always gave me a nightmare." He looked towards his family, who were near him on the Griger. He knew that they were afraid. Hell, he was too, but he knew that now was not the time to be afraid. He looked over towards his father, who was riding the horse next to him. He noticed that he had a focused and stern expression on his face, one that he has never seen on his father.

He remembered that his father was once in the army years ago, but he didn't think that he still had the mindset of a soldier after years of being a bartender and bar owner. He knew instantly that this was not the case.

He looked down and thought to himself as they road. 'What caused this in the first place. What brought the soldiers to Therinsford in the first place?'  His questions were answered when his father spoke.

"That one lad has surely stirred up quite a mess to not only get Carvahall in ruins, but Therinsford as well. One might've thought that he should've turned himself in. Instead, all of this had happened."

He looked at his father. "What do you mean? Who's the person you're talking about?" His father looked at him as he looked back the way they had came, the orange hue of the flaming town still visible. "Roran Garrowson. I overheard one of the soldiers spit his name out as they buried themselves in mead at the tavern. He must've either done something really bad or know something big for the emperor himself to send the Ra'zac to Carvahall and Therinsford."

Derek looked down as he began thinking. About what has happened. The discovery of Neira, the Griger and becoming a dragon rider, not to forget to mention the attack on Therinsford. Now, his mind goes to the thought of Roran Garrowson. He knew the man his father talked about, as he knew that Roran worked in Therinsford for a little while before having to return. 'What did you get everyone caught up in, Roran?'

He shook his head and looked forward as he and the others head towards the mountain path that lead out of the valley. They stopped at foothills that led to the start of the path to rest before making the trek. Derek got off his horse and help his father get his mother and sister off of leo. The looks on his mother and sister'a faces told him everything.

They were scared and rightfully so. After what has transpired in the past couple of hours would traumatized anyone. He patted Leo on his foreleg as held onto Amelia, who was shaking in his arms. He touched her cheek as he knelt in front of her. "It'll be alright, Amy. I'll protect you and our family."

Neira walked up to them and patted his arm and gave Amelia a hug as well. "I will too as well, little Amy." She then rubbed her scaly nose on Amelia's which caused her to giggle, helping her forget what has transpired. Derek and the other smiled at the scene. 'Thank you Neira.'

He jumped when he heard her respond. 'You're welcome.' She looked at him and smiled. 'Did you forget that we could speak to each other because the bond?' He looked down, embarassed as he nodded. She laughed at that, which caused the others to smile.

Derek then put on a serious face as he looked at the others. "We'll rest for 5 minutes. After that, well hit the mountain path." His father and mother nodded as they sat down and talked amongst themselves. Neira stood next to the Griger as Amelia played with his tail.

Derek smiled at the sight, but the smile faded instantly as a single thought ran across his mind. 'It's only a matter of time before Galbatorix knows about Neira and I, and he'll send his army to find us. What will we do then?'

~meanwhile, in Uru'bean~

A man sat on top of a throne with gold band on his head. At his feet knelt a man and a woman. The man to his right had silver armor and a hand and a half sword in it's sheath. The man had brown and black hair and frown on his face.

The woman to his left wore a red hunter's jacket over a brown shirt and trousers. On her back was a bow and quiver full of arrows. On each side of her waist sat a crossed sheath set of daggers. She had her auburn hair set in a ponytail. Her blue eyes stayed low until the man told them to stand.

"Rise." He motioned them to stand. The man and woman rose until they stood tall. The woman spoke. "You called for us, Master Galbatorix?" The man grimaced at the way she called Galbatorix master. She was willing to serve him, whereas the other man wasn't. Galbatorix smirked at how the man before him grimaced.

"Yes. I have, Felicia. I have also summoned you Murtagh Morzanson. I have new orders for you." He then looked at Murtagh. "Your orders are to capture the young Dragon Rider known as Eragon. You will also help my forces when they do battle with the Varden at the Burning plains." He then looked at Felicia. "You're orders are different."

He laid back and closed his hands before looking down. He then looked at Murtagh. "You have felt it too, haven't you?" Murtagh nodded. A few days ago, he felt a pulse run through. A vibration through nature itself. "I have. It felt pure and powerful. Something I never felt before."

Galbatorix nodded. "Indeed. I have also felt something happen. A shift in nature. As if something from the past has awakened. The Eldünarí are stirred even further then before. It's as if they know something has been revived." He then stood. "It seems that she has awakened."

Murtagh looked at him with a confused expression. "What do you mean?" Galbatorix looked at him. He then looked at Felicia. "Felicia, your orders are to take a whole unit of soldiers to the spine. Your task is to hunt and bring back your target alive." She nodded. "What is my target?"

He looked at Murtagh, as if he knew that what he would say would reveal a revelation. "A creature that hasn't been seen in almost a hundred years. It'll look human, but it would look a little different. One of the Ra'zac will help you. Now go." She bowed and then left the throne room.

Murtagh stayed silent until he heard the doors shut behind him. Once they did, he spoke. "There's something you're not telling us." Galbatorix looked at him and then away. "The creature that I sent Felicia to capture is the first of it's kind. Something that no one has ever seen before. Something that everyone thought wasn't possible is made flesh. I'll reveal it to you later. For now, go and prepare for the task I've given you. It'll be some time before the Varden will move. Now, go."

Murtagh reluctantly bowed and then left the throne room. Galbatorix watched as he left. When the doors closed, he smiled wickedly. "So, you have finally awakened Draman. You will be mine."

~meanwhile, at the foothills of mountain pass~

Neira let out a shudder, which caught the attention of Derek. "What's wrong? You cold?" She looked at him and shook her head. "No. But I have a feeling someone is talking about me." He caught the double meaning. "I see. Well, we will need to be careful from now on."

She nodded as Derek walked over to his family. "We need to get going. The soldier may still be after us. We need to get through the pass as quickly as possible." He watched as his parents nodded and then stood. He helped his mother and sister get back on Leo. After that, he got back on his horse as Neira and his father got back on theirs. He then stepped in front of the group.

"Let's go."

And that, my fellow readers, is the end of this chapter. How suspenseful, and Galbatorix already knows. Ooh. Lol. Sorry for the long wait. Now, more chapters will come soon. For now, adios my friends.:)-Weeksjmj29