What happened? he asked in a voice that reminded Eragon of the rock slide he'd seen in Carvahall when he was just a child: loud, wild, and rumbling.

"You're my bondmate now," Nia explained as she picked up Dew. "My name is Niaomi Leafësdoter, but everyone calls me Nia. And this is Dewdrop, also known as Dew."

I am Rumble, the griffin said. Thank you for healing my wing. For that, I shall faithfully accompany you as your...bondmate.

Niaomi smiled. "Great! Only three left to find. Now get Ion before heading back to the others - I left him at the blackberry bush." She set the pup back down and the three clambered up the hill, walking in the direction they'd come from and collecting the thunderbird on the way. Soon, sounds of laughter and whinnies were heard.

Rumble cocked his head. I smell phloÿnar.

"They're friends," Nia said quickly. "So please don't eat them."

The griffin's eyes seemed to be smiling as he told her, I'll try my best.

They emerged into the little glen where the rest of the group was reclining, having long ago caught up to Bramble. Nate looked up at their arrival, and his smile turned to shock as he saw the girœdiań appear into view. The others turned as well and froze in astonishment, while the pegasi's reaction was much more volatile.

G-girœdiań! Delli nickered, dancing backwards away from the creature. The rest followed suit, huffing as they reared nervously.

"Guys, guys, calm down!" Niaomi said, waving her arms to get their attention. "He's not here to eat you - he's my newest bondmate, Rumble."

N-not going to eat us? asked Loivissa, her blue eyes wide in fear.

I can assure you that I will not, Rumble replied, looking at the five pholÿnar. Nia's friends are mine as well.

"Well, that's cool then!" Nathan recovered and grinned at his sister, his brown eyes dancing. "Quick find, Nia."

"I had some help," his sister said as she pet Dewdrop, who wagged his tail proudly. She introduced the rest of the group, and they were all friendly except for the pegasi, who kept a good distance away.

Gedwëy flew up to Nia, settling onto her free shoulder as the fairy said, "Four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and thirteen seconds counting."

"Well, let's hop to it," the girl replied as she tucked Dew back into the pouch alongside Ruyi. She distributed the blackberries to her four siblings before they mounted their pegasi.

Niaomi was just about to fasten the pack to Cloud's back when Rumble stepped forwards. If you wish, you can ride me.

"Sure!" she said. Hesitating, she turned to back to her pegasus. "Hey, is it okay, Cloud?"

Of course, the pholÿn said quickly before bolting into the sky. Nia sighed; it seemed the pegasi were still very skittish around the griffin. She climbed onto Rumble, and the girœdiań launched into the air behind Cloud. Gedwëy nestled herself onto his ruff, and Ruyi slithered out of the pouch to wind herself up her bondmate's arm and onto her neck.

The others circled as they waited for Niaomi to catch up. When she did, Nick began, "So, the next bondmate is a stenörsvilaka. Now, Hekate said it would 'be a gem,' which makes sense since that's what stenör means in the ancient language."

"And the svilaka part is one word mushed together," Ren continued. "Svit-blaka: literally "wise bird", the name for an owl. So your next bondmate - "

"Is a gem owl!" Rosaminda finished with a smile. "And I remember where gem owls live - in the Great Pine Forest."

So let's go there, Bramble said from the ground. I feel so exposed on these plains. And with those words, the group flew off.

The image faded, and present-day Rose was the one who spoke now. "I led us all to the part of forest where I'd read about gem owls. All owls were made by Athena, but these particular ones were also the output of another being - spirits. As a favor for the goddess, they turned one species of owls into living metal and gems."

"Like how they created my flower," Eragon said.

Rosaminda nodded. "Precisely. Your flower, which is named the kuldrfeön, was made the same way gem owls were made. Now, a stenörsvilaka's feathers are yellow gold, and the beak and claws are white gold. Some have silver streaks through their plumages, and their eyes are were they get their name from; each iris is an actual ring of a gemstone. A gem owl's gaze can control metal, and they use this skill to forge beautiful homes and such. They are immortal, and like most birds of prey they do not flock together and live alone."

As she finished speaking, her godsister touched the mirror to reveal a new image. The group was flying low, almost grazing the trees as they followed Bramble through the forest.

Have you spotted anything yet? Cloud asked.

Not yet, the unicorn replied. I - oh wait, wait, think I got something!

The pegasi and Rumble stopped flying, flapping in place as Bramble walked over to a tree. Sniffing the base, he called upwards,Yep, this is a gem owl's scent. You guys can land in the little glen over there.

The group followed his instructions, and settled gently onto the ground. Rumble flexed his claws as Nia jumped down from his back and Gedwëy flew off her head, chiming, "Four hours, twenty-two minutes, and one second counting."

"Let's get a move on, then," her bondmate replied as she walked towards Bramble. The griffin fell into step on her left, and the rest of the group stayed to the right, all following on foot. There was more space in between the trees here, and the light fell in long slanted angles through the tall canopies of the pine trees.

Dewdrop had wriggled out of the pack and now ran over to Bramble, sniffing the tree as the trêuräz had. He's right; definitely a gem owl, the wolf confirmed. Ion, who was becoming a much better flier, twittered as he flew to one of the higher branches. He settled there as the rest discussed their options.

"What happens next?" Renata asked, sitting on a tree stump; Nicholas stood behind her and started delicately plucking leaves out of her hair.

"Hmmmm," Niaomi thought as she rested against Rumble. "I'm open to suggestions."

"How about we stake out this tree and wait for a gem owl to fly by?" Nate offered as he laid on a log beside Rose, putting his head on her lap. The blonde absentmindedly began brushing back his dark hair and stopped when she realized what she was doing. "Hey, I liked that," the boy grumbled, and so she continued, face reddening.

"That could take hours, and we don't have that kind of time," Gedwëy said. She rested on Cloud's head as she combed her long hair with her fingers. "We need to find a quick way to track down the stenörsvilaka."

But there aren't any ways, Vindrlíf complained as he knelt down behind the log his bondmate lay on. How do you track a bird?