Hey! So, before I start posting chapters (I've had this thing forever - I really need to work on my time management) I want to warn you that I will probably not update in a while... if at all. I keep wanting to finish it before I get this out there, but I wrote all of this a pretty long time ago. My writing style has changed quite a bit...

But I'm still fairly proud of this story. Seriously, it was going good until my inspiration faded. So, despite the sticks and stones anyone reading this may throw, I figured I may as well upload it.

I would rewrite it...

But...

There's so much of it already written, it'd take forever! So please forgive me if you read it and find you actually like it. Maybe someone would be willing to continue on for me... but like that'll happen. I always mean to pick up some abandoned stories I meant to start on but never find the time or inspiration for it.

At any rate, thanks for reading this whole long and probably boring author's note! Enjoy!

It was cold, and it was wet, and it was loud. I opened my eyes, my cheek pressed upon a shore of smooth pebbles. The rest of my body lay in the shallows, the water almost covering me completely. With difficulty I got my hands under me, pushing off the ground to sit up. I glanced behind me, where a waterfall roared. That must be where the source of the sound had been.

Slowly I began to register pain in my body - numerous aches and bruises… but nothing felt broken. It still hurt though, so I remained still for a while, taking in the rest of my surroundings. Where the waterfall was, there was also a cliff - and high above that cliff seemed to be trees and bushes. The pond was deep. If I swam to the middle, I could sink three times my height.

Finally I stood. My body grew sore, pain flashing for a brief moment, but it faded to dull aches once more. I made my way to the center of the pond, drifting on the surface. Cold as it was it eased a bit of the pain. In fact, though I could tell the water was cold…

It didn't bother me at all. Grateful for this, I stayed in the water a bit longer. Then finally I eased out of it, standing and wringing out what I could of my clothes - a plain outfit that was nevertheless comfortable. Although it was rather worn and torn, as if I had traveled in it for a long time. I held out my hands, inspecting them. Even my body seemed unfamiliar.

Then something registered above the roar of the waterfall - a groan. It was actually loud, but couldn't compete with the waterfall's sound until just then. I hesitated, then drew my sword. It was only then I realized I had one. The reaction had been purely instinctual. But I resolved to worry about that later, listening hard for the sound of that whimper. However, the sword seemed to weigh no more than a switch. As I carried it, I wondered whether it would be any protection.

When I heard it again, I walked towards it. It came from the trees on the other side of the pond - more of a lake, really - so it took me a while to maneuver around the body of water and then make it through the trees. When I broke through, I gasped. "A dragon?" I said wonderingly. A great blue eye opened slowly, the scales shimmering as the massive body shifted.

Even though something in me was frightened, at the same time, I wasn't scared at all. I sheathed my sword, which glittered a blue exactly like this dragon, and stepped closer, running my hand gently across the jaw. "What happened to you?" I asked softly, caressing the leathery skin. The dragon stared intently at me, as if trying to communicate, then groaned again.

It shifted briefly, one great wing rising. It was beautiful - like a piece of the sky - but torn and bleeding. My eyes wide with horror, I dropped my sword and hurried around the dragon, tentatively placing my hand on the wing. The dragon twisted it's head, trying to look at me, but gave up. I stroked the wing, grief roiling in me at the tragedy, when something in my mind shattered.

Suddenly it felt empty in my head. Instinctively I reached out with my mind, tugging at the energy that made itself known to me. The torn flesh and membrane of the wing mended in seconds, a rush of energy leaving me drained. "All better," I murmured to the dragon. It stood shakily, staring down at me. "Go," I urged it. But the dragon crouched next to me.

Slowly I backed away, and it followed. I ran my hand through my hair. "What do you want?" I asked tiredly. It made a soft growling noise at me before lowering itself, still staring at me. I looked at it incredulously. I knew it understood when I asked, "Do you want me to ride you?" The dragon nodded. It was interesting to see such a large head move in that way.

"No," I replied, shaking my head. I turned and ran. As expected, the ground shook as the dragon leapt after me. Instinctively I pushed back with my mind, a loud growl a result. I didn't risk looking back - only running as fast as I could from the thing.

"Where are they?" he said, baffled. The island was empty no matter where they looked, and all the Eldunarí were shattered. The eggs were also nowhere to be found. What could kidnap a Dragon Rider? Thorn pointed out. Murtagh nodded his head.

Absentmindedly he lay his hand on the hilt of Zar'roc as he looked around again. "First visit in a while," he sighed, "and already there's trouble. Perhaps we should tell Nasuada." Thorn inclined his head, allowing Murtagh to swing himself into the saddle. As the red dragon stood, he commented, Maybe we should exercise caution. His Rider laughed grimly at that.

"Indeed we should," he agreed. "After all, really, what could destroy all these Eldunarí with a Dragon Rider defending them, and live to tell the tale?"