For the next few weeks Sharrag was constantly waking up and falling asleep again. He managed to drink some water during that time but he wasn't able to eat or even walk dew to the pain it caused him. The elves were becoming slightly worried for the dragon. He may not be dead yet, but if he didn't eat soon he may die of starvation.

Over a month after the shade's defeat Sharrag woke up once more, this time feeling a lot better then he did previous. He lay for a second, the dull pain in his throat still present, though not quite as bad as it had been a couple of weeks back. He debated whether to get up or not. Even if he did feel better he was still week. A rumble in his stomach forced him to realise just how hungry he was. With a snort he forced himself from where he had been resting, stumbling slightly on his hardly used limbs.

No one else was around at that moment, and it was the first time he realised that he was in a cave, lit up by magically burning torches. He stumbled towards the cave entrance, using his tail to keep himself balanced against the cave walls. As he came into the sun he squinted against it, the light being brighter then it had been in the cave.

'Sharrag?' said a confused voice from his head.

The dragon looked around and smiled as he came across one of his younger wolves, Fang, 'Yes.'

'You are awake,' said Fang, a little confused with the dragon's sudden appearance, 'You are supposed to be sleeping.'

Sharrag rumbled with laughter, and was happy to find that while it hurt a little, it didn't hurt so much as before. He could withstand it.

'I may sleep later, but right now I am hungry. Very hungry,' he told the young Shrrg.

Fang nodded his head, 'Follow me.'

Sharrag nodded his head, hauling himself off the cave wall. He stumbled after the Shrrg, who continued to glance back worriedly at his leader. Fang had grown up under Sharrag and he had never seen the dragon so week before, even after the shade had broken his mind.

'Are you alright?' asked Fang.

Sharrag let a tired smile towards the wolf, 'Trust me Fang, this is the best I've felt for a long time.'

Fang nodded though was not entirely convinced. They walked down to the valley. As they went Sharrag noticed an increasing number of Shrrg coming out of the forest. In fact, as he looked down into the valley, he realised there were quite a few thousand of them mulling around the valley. Not quite as much as when they had first come, but enough that they looked almost like a grey see in the regrowing forest.

'I didn't realise we had killed so many,' said Sharrag.

'We haven't, quite a few of the packs have gone hunting. We need a constant supply of food for the many Shrrg. And now that you have waken up maybe more,' said Fang, 'Talismen has been leading them in your stead while you have been asleep, once he had healed of course.'

Sharrag nodded, proud swelling up in him for his second in command. Talismen had proved his worth to the pack again and again. He had no doubt that he would make a great Alpha for the Sharrag's pack.

They walked through the Shrrg to a pile of Feldunost in the middle of the army. Sharrag's belly grumbled again at the sight. He picked up his pace slightly, now getting used to his legs again. The Shrrg made a path for him, knowing that the Alpha had the right to eat first. They were also slightly afraid. Sharrag may be a severely weakened but he could still kill a Shrrg rather easily with a swipe of his tail or talons.

The dragon eagerly grabbed one of dead Feldunost and bit of a large chunk, swallowing it quickly. He let out a small groan afterwards. It hurt to eat. With a snarl and shake of his head he began to eat more slowly, finding it less painful when he took smaller chunks from the carcass. Once he had finished one he quickly moved to the another, and then another, until he had eaten five. Feeling satisfied he nodded towards Fang and they headed back up to the cave.

He lay down with a thump in front of the cave and told Fang to leave him be. The young Shrrg nodded and ran off to join some of the other teenage Shrrg. Sharrag sighed, feeling a sudden itch to be in the air. He doubted he could get off the ground though; it was a big step from walking to flying after what he had been through. So contented himself to sit and watch the Shrrg below.

He found himself drifting off to sleep when he felt a familiar mind reach out to his own. With a delight he eagerly accepted it.

'Talismen! I was wondering when you would get back,' the dragon's smile grew as the wolf came trotting up out of the Shrrg pack, a slight limp added to his gait.

'Sharrag,' greeted Talismen, 'It's great to see that you are finally up and about. You have been asleep for far to long.'

Sharrag laughed and nodded with agreement, hauling himself to his feet to meet the wolf. Talismen studied Sharrag. He had changed since the fight. He had lost almost half his body weight in the month he had slept, and had a new set of scars covering his body. One that wound it's way from his snout to his right eye. The multiple scars across his neck and another that looked like a giant crack through his side. They wouldn't heal for a long time.

Sharrag noticed the wolf's interest and smiled at him, 'I'll be fine. I just need a couple of days to get myself going again, and I'll be back to the dragon you know me as.'

Talismen nodded his head with a small guttural laugh, 'I'm sure you will.'

A sudden disturbance from the wolf pack below drew his attention. A Shrrg broke through the large pack and sprinted up the hill. Sharrag recognised her as Seriah, one of the females from his pack. He reached out to her mind and instantly recognised the worry coming from her.

'What is it?' he asked.

'Red dragon,' replied the wolf, out of breath, 'Just flew into the valley. The one from before.'

Sharrag felt his heart drop. He was in no condition to fight off another dragon at that moment. He growled in annoyance. He had just defeated the strongest enemy he had ever faced; he was not going to fight against an even stronger one in his condition.

'Talismen, gather the Shrrg,' he said, 'If I'm going to meet this dragon again, I want an army at my back. Oh, and find the elves.'

* * *

Sharrag watched the glinting blood red dragon descended from the sky. Sharrag growled a threatening growl. The Shrrg behind him all hunched up in slight fear. Thorn was bigger then when they had last met, far bigger. Sharrag could see that the dragon was now the same size as him, if not larger. He had scars running across his belly as well, ones that could only be made by dragon claws.

Thorn stopped to hover above them, looking down with a slight surprise on his face. Sharrag cursed his inability to breath fire. He had tried before he had seen the dragon, only to be met with a pain far worse then what had happened during his meal. Fire would do no use to him here.

"Peace Sharrag," came the booming voice of the human on Thorn's back, "We have not come to fight."

The green dragon narrowed his eyes, not quite trusting the red dragon and his rider. He reached out his mind to them, 'Come down then.'

If there was going to be a fight then it would be better on the ground, where he could actually have a small chance. Surprisingly Thorn began to descend, landing a few metres away. Sharrag tensed. Murtagh slid off his dragon's back and drew his sword. Sharrag let a rumbling growl come from his throat. The Shrrg behind them all growled as well. Thorn took a small step back. Suddenly the two-leg threw the red sword to the side, letting it clatter to the ground. Sharrag tilted his head in surprise and confusion.

He reached out his mind to the human and was surprised to find that he let him in without any such resistance at all. He felt the urge to delve deeper into the rider's mind, but restrained himself. Murtagh hadn't come to fight at all.

'What do you want?' asked Sharrag.

"We wanted to see if you were still alive," said Murtagh, studying the dragon, "And as far as I can see you seemed to have recently been through quite a lot."

Sharrag snorted, trying to feign his strength, 'I will still destroy you and your dragon if you even attempt anything that threatens me or my pack.'

Thorn growled at him. Sharrag growled back.

"Peace Thorn," he turned to Sharrag, "I know you don't trust us, but we have been freed from the evil king's control. The war is over."

Sharrag felt a jolt of surprise fly threw him. The war was over, and if what Murtagh said was true, then it meant he could finally reveal himself without being forced to choose a side for himself. And Saphira...

'How long?' he asked.

"Quite a while now, a little over a month," he said, "The Varden one and Eragon killed the king. The land is at peace, except for the occasional uprisings of Galbatorix's final supporters."

Sharrag glanced back at the elves, who had just come from an unknown location. They had heard what Murtagh had said and were gaping at each other with smiles of joy on the faces. The war was over. Sharrag felt so happy he could fly right to the human capitol to meet with the blue dragoness, thought his weakness stopped him. He wouldn't be going anywhere for a good while.

Murtagh looked wearily at the elves, before turning his attention back to Sharrag, "I can see you a quite happy for this information."

Sharrag nodded with a smile, 'Thank you rider.'

"Can I asked what happened?" said Murtagh, looking over the dragon again.

This time it was Talismen who answered, 'Sythrel. He took control of all these Shrrg and attacked us. We barely managed to hold out. Sharrag came up with a plan which worked and everything turned out alright.'

Murtagh took a step back when he realised the voice was coming from the Shrrg, "You can speak?"

Talismen nodded his head, Sharrag felt amusement coming from him, 'I can.'

Thorn and Murtagh looked at each other and the human laughed, "Well, you don't mind if we stay here for a while. We are a bit short on food, and you look like you need all the help you can get."

Sharrag thought about it for a second. He had no doubt Murtagh was being sincere, he was reading his mind as it was. He was still a bit hesitant in trusting the dragon and rider, but until he healed he needed someone to help him lead the giant wolf pack. Talismen would help as well. With any luck Thorn would be able to give him a little information on Saphira as well. Once he was fully healed he would leave once again to go looking for her.

'Okay red rider, though make sure you don't aggravate my wolves, not even you would hold out against this many,' he said.

Murtagh nodded his head in agreement.

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Hey guys! New chapter! Hope you enjoyed. Very close to the end of the book, and I know you are itching to see Sharrag and Saphira meet. Just be a little more patient, its coming soon. Vote and comment if you enjoyed and next chapter will be out as soon as I can get it. See Ya!

Pennator^^