Cicállaé returned to themselves uneasy that morning, both halves unsettled by the events they'd both witnessed and heard of from Error surrounding the strange skeleton that was Abyss.

That new and mysterious god had collided his and many other's fates with their own, becoming hopelessly entangled as he bombarded them with a sudden onslaught of unraveling mystery, every single answer leading only to a dozen other questions.
Abyss, or Soul, be as it may, was a conundrum, an annoying curiosity that begged their attention even when a world away.
It was aggravating.

Ignoring the troubling thoughts, the treeskeleton faced the humans, the trio (technically five) all regarded each other.

"If I die," Roran broke the silence, addressing mostly Eragon. "Will you see to Katrina?"
"I shall." Replied the Rider.
"Tell her that I went into battle with joy in my heart and her name upon my lips."
"We shall." This time Nightmare answered, solemnly dipping their skull at the honorable man.

Eragon quietly cast a spell before addressing Roran. "There. That will filter the air in front of us and protect us from the paralyzing effects of the Ra'zac's breath."

Then the humans began to outfit themselves in the still filthy armor they'd worn just days ago in the battle of the Burning Plains. They reeked of dead, a faint odor of rot floating about them, almost drowned by the pungent smell of sweat and undercurrents of fear.

The god of emotion bore Dream's armor, something adjusted to fit on bones snugly as a barrier to prevent breaks, chainmail guarding their ribs as padded bracers and greaves protected their armbones and legbones, particularly the more fragile sections of the ulna, radius, and fibulas.

Their slinging weapons wrapped around their limbs, loaded and ready to launch the arrowhead at the Ra'zac and Lethrblaka, despite it being likely to be useless due to wards. They held Blädrsolus and Arget Sundava in both hands, grinning savagely for a moment before putting them away and preparing for flight.

When Eragon slung his strung bow onto his back, Cicállaé took their packs and stored them in their inventory, hopping into the air as they darted to the rim of the gulch, standing there with limbs arranged like wings, waiting for Saphira.
She wasn't far behind, shale shattering beneath her talons as she leapt after them, perching on the same rim of the hollow, wings entirely vertical before she shot into the air, wings whooshing as she gave a tremendous flap, angling towards Helgrind.

The treeskeleton followed, flapping frantically as they fell in a little behind and below the dragon, a rather poor flier due to the composition of the wings. They peered across the great lake that was Leona, grey mists drifting across it's chilled surface timelessly. They noted a considerable surge of grief and rage from Eragon as they boy stared out at the passing landscape.

It occurred to Nightmare; this was the area that Brom died. The place where he and the first of those that landed in Alagaësia first arrived.
It filled the merged god with a profound sense of awe and nostalgia, tainted slightly by the depressive situation of the time.

They flew onward, the sun flaring to life upon the rim of the world, the golden rays landing on the trees and distant city of Dras-Leona and setting the mists of the lake alight in white, the waters themselves an introspective blue. Helgrind stood before them, as black as ever in spite of the grey tinge of ice on it's razor edges, reflecting faintly the gold of the sun on its blackened cliffs.

Saphira went vertical on her wings as she spun around the dark stone, diving downward to give Eragon a view of the altar, of which Cicállaé could see easily.
The slaves were gone.

This concluded, the team tilted back and flew upwards, hunting for an opening in the dark mountain, looping around like swallows. Nothing living grew or lived on the bleak ledges, the mountain standing true to it's name.

Eventually, Saphira landed on a heavily eroded spire beside the main mass of the stone, flapping to regain her balance. As she did so, no one failed to notice how the tip of one wing vanished into the rock instead of brushing against it.

Blinking, Cicállaé landed atop a Blaster and inched forward, the others watching as the snout of the laser skull disappeared into the rock. "An illusion." They confirmed, entering and finding a wide cave suffused with sunlight pouring in from outside.

Dismissing the Blaster, they stepped into the ragged stone and summoned bone attacks, sticking them at the edges so that they revealed the empty space to the dragon, teleporting out of the way as she leapt through.

He claws tore into the bare rock as she found her footing, gleaming scales casting blue flecks all across the darkened oval shaped chamber, recessed deep into the mountain that reduced to a pile of haphazard slabs at the back, five low tunnels leading deeper into the depths of the dark mountain.

The treeskeleton shivered at the rotted odor of the place, full of soured meat and mold, Saphira's breath loud in the otherwise silent cavern.
Eragon and Roran were busy dismounting when a noise not unlike a dozen hammers cracking against rock sounded, then another not even two seconds later.

Cicállaé stiffened as they sensed a blank, concealed consciousness in the dark, intentionally hiding it's thoughts as a beak seven feet long appeared. They wouldn't have noticed it at all if it hadn't bloomed with rage and a sadistic excitement seconds before.

It's oversized and insectoid eyes gleamed black as it threw itself upon the dragon, batlike wings flaring as it slammed into Saphira like trains colliding at top speed. The humans went flying as it screeched, dragon bellowing in fury.

Eragon! Her thoughts raked across the god's minds as the Lethrblaka engaged her in a sort of devastating catfight across the mutilated floor, rending the stones apart with their claws and teeth.

Cicállaé then snapped out of their mute disbelief and glanced at the humans, Eragon supporting his weight on his hawthorn staff as Roran lay inert on the floor. Then a second Lethrblaka detached from the bowels of the earth and tore into Saphira's side, letting loose a screech that made the world turn grey with it's intensity, sounding horrifically similar to a wailing baby.

Wincing, Nightmare assumed control and teleported over to Roran as he was just pushing himself up, helping the mortal to his feet as the Ra'zac rose like mole rats from a dank den, hissing furiously.

Eragon quickly shouted "Brisingr!" to the creatures, distracting them long enough to reach Roran, nodding at both others before shouting at his cousin. "Hold them off for a minute!"
The Determined one grunted, hefting his shield and hammer as he faced the beasts.

Assured that they could handle themselves, Cicállaé launched five arrowheads at the Ra'zac, only for the darts to miss, circumvented by wards. They tore the devices off, knowing they were useless in this situation as the slings vanished into their inventory, leaves folding back as the ends of the branches turned sharp.

The treeskeleton whipped out the glowing blade of light, Blädrsolus, and darkened crescent of night, Arget Sundava. With the enchanted weapons in hand, they dove forward and sliced at the thick muscle that made up one of the Lethrblaka's thighs.

The creature screamed in agony as it stumbled, enormous beak snapping at the god and missing by inches, wind whistling as the stone crunched beside them. In return, a branch stabbed at it's sensitive and oversized eyes. The round thing popped like an overgrown grape, the creature screaming as it jerked away.

Hot blood splattered onto their branches, coloring the golden green leaves with thick motes of steaming lifeblood as Saphira rolled around, exposing one of the three deep punctures the Lethrblaka had left in her delicate underbelly and sides. The creatures shed their own blood, yet it was a strange blue-green, alien. The brief thought darted through their minds that perhaps, this race wasn't from this planet.

Cicállaé snarled ferally, fangs glinting as they wielded the sickle as a hook, stabbing it into the fleshy stump left of the bitten off tail as it thrashed, branches hooking in as they climbed on one of the Lethrblaka's backside, dodging as it snapped at them, bucking to throw them off as the other rent deep gashes in Saphira's underside, the dragon roaring in both rage and agony, snapping her heavyset jaws at the throat of the hellish creature as it easily dodged.

Nightmare switched one hand out for a spare branch as it wrapped around the handle of the sickle, blade embedded in flesh as the other three with many split ends burrowed their tips around it, anchoring the god to the beast's back as it wailed, thrashing as he raised the bright, shining blade with both hands, snarling as he steadied himself upon the demon as Dream extended his mind to possibly grab it's consciousness-
Brother wait, it's about to-

He cut off as the Lethrblaka threw itself into the air, pounding it's torn wings as it shot upward towards the jagged ceiling.
Shit. Nightmare barely had time to unhook himself from it's skin before it was too late. It crashed into the ceiling.

They couldn't react, only choke before their branches splintered, bones snapping, entire body flattening into a goopy, wooden and disintegrating bone mess. The Lethrblaka howled as it peeled off the ceiling, stalactites having stabbed right through it's flesh and impaling the treeskeleton, leaving them hanging there, sightless as their skull was crushed like an eggshell.

Brother? Dream asked softly, voice shaking as pain threatened to shatter all coherent thought.
…. This is the second time I've died in Alagaësia already. Nightmare responded resignedly.

And thus, the god of emotion dissolved with a sigh, leaving behind a thick, dripping, blackened mahogany smear that smelled of underripe apples and tree sap, clothes falling to the bloodied and gouged stone with a wet smack.

A pulsing energy faded from the visible spectrum as Eragon shouted a two word spell towards the Lethrblaka, turning and engaging the Ra'zac as the winged beasts went blind, eyes becoming circular mirrors.

They took to hovering around Roran as the human stared at what remained of their physical form in horror, only to tense up as they slid into his mind, Dream almost just as unsettled.

But you died? He questioned in alarm.
We're gods, Roran. Dying isn't the end for us. In truth, I'm rather irritated by this, actually. It's the second time I've died in Alagaësia…. Both deaths are pathetic. Unbelievable.

Before further conversation could continue, the fully blind Lethrblaka shot across the entire width of the cave, slamming into the far side with a resounding crash that seemed to shake the entire mountain, flecks of stone raining from the ceiling from the impact. Eragon, Roran, even the Ra'zac flinched from the titanic sound. Saphira immediately pounced on the creature, clamping her crocodilian jaws around it's neck and thrashing, snapping it. The beast went limp and she roared, something easily reminiscent of a TV tyrannosaurus, except far more deafening.

Dream had enough time to note that Nightmare watched a surprising amount of dino films before the remaining half-blind Lethrblaka crashed into Saphira, the pair of tremendous animals rolling until they paused on the cliff edge, then dropping out of sight.

Then her mental voice reached the Twins, and due to their position, reached Roran by proxy, despite being directed to Eragon.
Tend to yourself. This one won't escape me.

Roran grunted, not caring for what reason was behind this strange situation, glancing back up at Eragon in time to see his cousin face him again.

"I sealed off Katrina's cell so the Ra'zac can't use her as a hostage. Only you and I can open the door now."
Roran nodded sharply, biting back a groan as he replied, the twins noticing his wound as he did so.
"Good. Can you do something about thi-" He froze as his own injury seemingly began healing itself.

Eragon peered around in confusion. "Where are they?"
"They died. In front of me. I saw them standing on one of the beast's back before it flew up and crushed them on the ceiling, but they seem to still be here." Roran tapped his temple. "I hear them."
Eragon blinked. "Nightmare has done that before. They don't quite die, as I understand it."

Roran nodded brusquely, not interested in questioning further. "We need to hurry." He changed the subject. "They're getting away."
"Right."

Eragon began to lead the blind mortal down the tunnel in which the Ra'zac had fled into, plunging into total darkness several yards in, to which Roran growled under his breath.
"Maybe you're different, but I can't fight in the dark."

"If I make a light, the Ra'zac won't come near us, not when I now know a spell that works on them. They'll just hide until we leave. We have to kill them while we have the chance."

"What am I supposed to do? I'm more likely to run into a wall and break my nose than I am to find those two beetles…. They could sneak around behind us and stab us in the back."
"Shh…. Hold on to my belt, follow me, and be ready to duck."

With this, the Rider started to guide the blind one through the black. The Twins decided to do what they were able, reaching out to Eragon's consciousness and connecting the two humans between themselves, moving to settle more in the Rider, due to his changed form and familiar mind being something less jarring than Roran's brute, more simplistic thoughts.
Nightmare. Dream. The human greeted them.
This is a very weird experience. Dream stated awkwardly.
I would imagine. Eragon agreed, intimately aware of their surroundings.

They fell into silent observation and concentration as they felt the air eddy around them, listening to the directionless skittering in the darkness, the water plinking, gravel crunching beneath them as they crept forward, hell, the humans' breathing was terribly loud in the disturbing quiet.

It was around 10 or 15 minutes in the dank, moldy and sickly sweat stench of blackness before Saphira returned.
I'm back.
After a quick mental glance over her to check for extra injury, Eragon replied, the Twins touching her consciousness to make themselves known.

And the Lethrblaka?
With a note of satisfaction, she answered.
Floating belly-up in Leona Lake. I'm afraid that some fishermen saw our battle. They were rowing toward Dras-Leona when I last saw them.

Well, it can't be helped. See what you can find in the tunnel the Lethrblaka came out of. And keep an eye out for the Ra'zac. They may try to slip past us and escape Helgrind through the entrance we used.
She snorted. They probably have a bolt-hole at ground level.
Probably, but I don't think they'll run quite yet.

And so they wandered in the dark for about another 10 or 15 minutes, until they were undoubtedly too close to Katrina's consciousness to ignore. Eragon then addressed Roran.
Katrina's cell is about fifty feet in front of us, on the right.
To which Roran replied. We can't risk letting her out until the Ra'zac are dead or gone.

Eragon gritted his teeth in frustration as Dream caught wind of a faint emotion ahead, dragging Nightmare's attention towards it as the Rider responded.

What if they won't reveal themselves until we do let her out? For some reason, I can't sense them. They could hide from me until doomsday in here. So do we wait for who knows how long, or do we free Katrina while we still have the chance? I can place some wards around her that should protect her from most attacks.
Roran paused, considering this.
Let's free her, then.

They started inching forward along the wall when Nightmare alerted them.
Wait. Something watches.
It's angry and almost invisible to us.
Eragon tensed slightly, Roran preparing to duck before the sound of a string twanging had both humans slamming themselves into the wall.

"Kveykva!" Eragon cried, red light exploding into existence and coating everything in directionless light as bright as the sun at low noon.

The Ra'zac screamed shrilly, dropping it's bow and covering it's face as it recoiled from the light. Another cry sounded from behind them, Eragon spinning to find Roran already charging at the beast. It backed away, too slow in the face of the rage-fueled human as he brought his hammer down on its face, shell crunching sickeningly.

"For my father!" Crunch.
"For our home!" Clunk.
"For Carvahall!" The carapace caved in with a nauseating squelch. The strange blood seeped out around it, appearing purple in the red glare of the light.

Eragon spun around to face the second Ra'zac, only to find the tunnel empty. Swearing, he stomped to the dead body and slammed the staff into the insectoid carcass with a satisfying thunk.
"I've waited a long time to do that." He grinned savagely.
"As have I."

They had a moment before Eragon had to duck over, crying out as the groove the arrow had cut into his cheek burned.
"It's bubbling!" Roran yelped in horror. "Do something!"
Seithr oil. The Twins both realized. Here was something they could now handle, invoking spells to cleanse the wound and heal it before Eragon could utter more than a word.

The Rider blinked in surprise from the speed at which they operated, working his jaw to test it and straightening, impressed. You're quick.
Given the fact that we are two closely interconnected consciousnesses working together on the same thing, I don't see why we wouldn't accomplish things that much faster.
It's kind of fun in a way.. Dream marveled.

Eragon nodded, then Saphira reminded them all.
Talk later. As soon as those fishermen reach Dras-Leona, the king may hear of our doings from one of his pet spellcasters in the city, and we do not want Galbatorix scrying Helgrind while we are still here.

Yes, yes. Eragon agreed hurriedly, letting the red glow disappear before he summoned a red werelight, anchoring it to the ceiling and peering around the hallway.

It was all carved stone, except for the iron doors that lined the sides.
"Ninth down, on the right." He told Roran. "You go get her. I'll check the other cells. The Ra'zac might have left something interesting in them."

Nodding, the mortal bent down and searched the dead body roughly before shrugging. "I'll do it the hard way, then." Loping to the door and dropping his shield, Roran started slamming his hammer into the hinges, intending to break them.

Eragon watched for only a moment, before turning away and unlocking the first door with magic, revealing slimy walls, black manacles on chains and a pile of human bones. Dream internally recoiled from the sight before Eragon moved on.

On the fourth door down, Eragon opened it a bit more slowly, all three minds knowing there was someone within.

As the red light fell upon the human figure that Eragon was well familiar with, a strange melody briefly played from Dream's consciousness, sounding like a sound effect from an older video game known back in the-

Dream, you played Legend of Zelda?

I- um.. heh.... No?