The group of soldiers moved slowly through the mountains. No one moved to stop them or even question them. The few dwarves that did see them quickly hid, but they were few and far in between. Out of the one hundred soldiers that had gone on this expedition only thirty remained, and ten of those were injured, not that they showed any sign of it.

Sharrag was usually plodding along slowly behind them. His head low to the ground and his wings drooped. He didn’t even bother to tuck them into his sides. His scales were more dull then they usually were, and his claws lacked the sharpness they usually did.

The group had been travelling for days, which were closing into a week now. Soon they would reach the end of the Beor or mountains and they would be out in the open, for the world to see. For some reason the thought of it made Sharrag’s scales itch. He had spent most of his life hiding from the open world, trying to protect his pack from the people that came from it.

‘Almost how the elves live,’ he thought with a small smile.

He surprised himself with that. He hadn’t thought he would be able to find amusement in small things now that he scarcely a being. He felt good about being able to find humour in the small things in life, especially in these dark times.

With a sigh he looked forward. Only about a hundred metres away the Beor Mountains came to an abrupt stop, leaving a view way out into the horizon of the country known as Surda. Another small piece of information Sharrag had acquired from Thorn’s mind. This also confused him. These humans were under the rule of Galbatorix and as far as he knew Surda was an enemy of the empire.  Maybe they had been defeated?

As they reached the river the shade put its hand up brining the company to a halt. Sharrag resisted the temptation not to ‘accidently’ stop to late and step on one of the men. In the long run it would probably just end up bad for him.

“You know what to do men,” rasped Sythrel.

The column of two-legs began to move in well-rehearsed fashion. A few of them went into the bushes and drew out a cart with many different forms of the fake skin humans call clothing. The soldiers quickly stripped out of their weapons and armour leaving only their undercoats beneath.  They then dressed into the more normal clothing making them look like a group of travelling merchants. A few of them belted their weapons on their hips, making them seem like the guards of the small caravan. All in all it was a foolproof plan, except for one thing.

‘You are an exceptional thinker Sharrag,’ said Sythrel, walking up to the dragon, ‘You seem to not be able to help but think through the strengths and weaknesses of any plan. I will make sure to suggest that Galbatorix put you in charge of a small portion of his forces.’

Sharrag winces slightly as the shade entered his head. It had made him sware in the language-of-magic-and-truth to keep his mind open unless told otherwise. This knew rule was getting hard to get used to, for he had spent most of his life with his mind barriers firmly in place, besides from the times he talked to his pack.

‘Yes we will need to do something about you won’t we,’ said the shade thoughtfully, ‘I want you to follow our caravan from high in the sky. You are a reasonably high flyer aren’t you? And with our pace as slow as it is you won’t need to land as often as you did on your trip across the Beor Mountains.’

‘What about landing,’ grumbled Sharrag, ‘It’s not as if two-legs such as yourself wouldn’t notice a huge green dragon flying down from the heavens.’

Sythrel narrowed its eyes at Sharrag’s use of ‘two-leg’, ‘Make sure you land only during the night and in remote places. You’ll be able to catch up to us late.’

‘And what if I do get tired?’

‘Rest, for a few days if you must, but always catch up to us.’

‘And if I do get seen?’

‘Kill the people that do see you.’

‘What if I can’t?’

‘I’m sure you’ll find a way, and if you don’t then I suppose I’ll just have to send you to Galbatorix’s city ahead of us, after a small punishment of course,’ Sythrel grinned, ‘But I don’t think it would come to that, seeing as you’re quite a capable dragon, especially when it comes to hiding.’

Sharrag growled slightly before snorting, deciding not to answer. His silence was answer enough.

‘Good, then its settled. Now off you go,’ it said.

Sharrag growled again, before taking off into the skies.

‘Oh and Sharrag, swear you’ll follow us in the ancient language,’ its voice said in his head one more time.

‘I already did,’ replied the dragon, remembering a few days back when he tried to make a run for it, but was stopped by the shade and his true name.

‘I know, but you’re flying this time, and knowing you, you might find a way around it,’ it stated.

Sharrag growled through the mind connection. He felt a slight annoyance from the shade, then shuddered and faulted in the air as his true name was whispered through the connection.

‘Do it Sharrag,’ said Sythrel, and then whispered his true name through the mind connection once more.

Sharrag groaned, and gave in. It was impossible to fight the over whelming power of a true name. With a growl he grudging recited the words of truth to the shade. Once he was done he flew higher into the air, trying to get as far away from the beast bellow as he possibly could.

* * *

Seven Shrrg passed through the bush, grey streaks running across the valley floor. They were following something, a scent. It was a strange scent for a wolf to be following, even if it was a gigantic as a Shrrg. The scent was that of a group of men. Three groups of ten. And following the humans was an even stronger, more dangerous scent. They were definitely on the right trail.

Talismen stopped, bringing the small party to a halt. He looked back over the seven off them. With him he had brought Seriah, Craves and Siserl. Tay’el had stayed behind to look after the younger pups. The other three wolves were the pups that had now begun to get big enough to hunt… and carry weapons. They had begun to talk as well and each other them had chosen a name. There were two males, Brice and Fang, and one female, Tae. She had tried to have the same name as Tay’el but the others thought that would have been a bit strange.

They were slightly awkward amongst the bigger Shrrg, for they had never been out on a hunt before, and were constantly stepping on twigs and dry patches of leaves. Every time they did Talismen’s fur stood on end and he cringed. They were lucky they were hunting humans and not Feldunost.

The small pack had been travelling for a few days now, and by the scent left by the humans they were getting closer. Talismen didn’t know what they would do when they found them, but he knew they were going to have to kill that creature that had taken down Sharrag. How they would do that he did not know.

‘Keep going, we are getting closer,’ he said.

The group set off again at a brisk pace. They could keep this speed for days, and they had been doing just that. They had set off after the group two days after they had left. Talismen wanted to make sure that they didn’t think the Shrrg would follow them.

‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ asked Siserl, padding up beside him, ‘Sharrag said to not follow him.’

He growled at her, ‘We can’t leave him. He is the one thing that keeps this pack together, and safe. We can’t do this by ourselves.’

‘Maybe we should try,’ suggested Siserl.

Talismen growled at her again, before gaining speed and overtaking her. He closed his mind to them, not wanting to here what they were saying. He knew that the others were a little sceptical about chasing down their Alpha, especially when he had said not to, but Talismen couldn’t help but feel that they should. They couldn’t leave Sharrag to the enemy. It was unwolf like.

The party travelled for another few hours in silence, besides the cracking of sticks from the inexperienced wolves. They followed the trail into another valley. The valley that lead to the end of the Beor Mountains. Talismen remembered it because it was the valley that he was born in, the valley in which they found Sharrag’s egg.

Talismen growled as he scented the smell of another Shrrg pack in the vicinity. They would have to move quickly to get through this place without being seen. He sent a silent message to the others to move as quickly as possible. They did, and began to lope through the forest. The three new hunters seemed to have become more silent now, as if they realised the danger in being in another Shrrg’s land.

For another hour they ran through the valley, occasionally stopping when they heard the howl of another wolf. Talismen was doing all he could to keep the other Shrrg of his packs scent. He made sure to go through every stream he could, and often made sure that the pack was still following close behind. They were, but the pups were getting tired.

Suddenly a new scent caught his nose. It wasn’t the normal scent that was smelt in these mountains. It wasn’t off wolf, Feldunost, dwarf or human. It didn’t smell like a dragon either. He sent a message back to the other wolves telling them what he smelt. They came to a halt near the scent and begun to stalk towards where it was.

The pups held back, not wanting to get in the way of the more experienced Shrrg. Talismen slowly drew out the large great sword that he kept in a sheath on his left shoulder. He balanced it in his maw. It was slightly uncomfortable to hold a weapon like this but he was getting used to it, which was good.

The sounds of other swords being drawn sounded through the forest as the other Shrrg drew their weapons. They slowly crept up towards the scent, spreading out. The four more experienced wolves at the front and the three pups at the back. They stalked over a small hill and stopped, surprised at what they saw.

‘Two-legs?’ he thought in surprise.

He was right. There were two two-legs down in a small clearing, walking along and glancing at the ground occasionally. They were different then the normal two-leg. They were rather slim figures with green cloaks and strange pointed ears. They were discussing something in a strange language.

‘The ancient language?’ thought Talismen.

Sharrag had told them about it, but he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that they were two-legs. Enemies. He looked at the other wolves and nodded at them. They slowly crept slowly towards them.

‘Now,’ said Talismen, and they jumped up, running at the two-legs with swords levelled at their heads.

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Hey guys, new chapter, about time right :) Sorry it took a little longer then expected, been very busy. Anyway, vote and comment if you enjoyed. Tell me what you think so far. New chapter our soon, until then See Ya!

Pennator^^