A Gloomy Evening

[Mira Nightingale]

The walk to the cemeteries took over an hour, and by the time Mira got there dusk had already fallen. A bitter wind ripped through the trees, blowing leaves and twigs around her feet, which were clad only in small, green, slipper-like shoes. In her hands was a small carton of tiny flowers that had just sprouted. She, in turn, was wearing a simple, modest dress of green velvet, with a modest neckline and a flowing hem. The material of the dress kept her warm enough, but the thick emerald colored cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders provided the most warmth to her bare shoulders.

That was how Mira entered the cemetery. She would have come on horseback, but ever since the accident she was afraid to get back on a horse. She wasn’t even sure if she would ever get over her fear of almost being crushed by her horse, and every time she thought about it she got the shivers.

The cemetery was dark and gloomy, and with a twinge of fear Mira thought she saw something creeping along the trees. She should never have come this late. She wouldn’t be able to get home before dark fell now, since the shadows of night were already creeping around.

That thought in her mind Mira picked up her pace as she headed in the direction of her uncle’s grave, her dark red hair blowing behind her in the wind.

[Allen †]

Eragon sat on a tree, watching the stars twinkle overhead. He noticed some colour stand out in the darkness of the cemetary. It was someone with flaming red hair. He watched quietly as the girl walk towards a grave. He sighed. He leapt down from the tree and walked up to her. He decided not to speak first, as he considered this as rude when someone was mourning.

[Mira Nightingale]

She finally finished the walk to the grave without any incident, and looked at in without too much remorse. It had been years since her Uncle had died, and although he had been close to the family, his death hadn’t caused too much change other than the customary wearing of all black for a few months. Carefully arranging her skirts so they wouldn’t get too dirty or crumple, Mira set the flowers on the ground and prepared to bury them in the same spots she did all the other flowers she brought every single year. They always died, no matter what she did to preserve their life, but it was the thought that counted, after all.

Suddenly, a noise from behind her distracted her, causing her to jump slightly as she startled and to turn around quickly. It was a young man, from the looks of him, but it was rapidly getting darker so she couldn’t make out his face or anything. “Um, hello.” she started, still a little nervous. “Are you here for a… particular reason?” she asked him cautiously, not sure whether he was friend or foe. Licking suddenly dry lips, she waited for him to reply.

[Allen †]

Eragon smiled slightly. "Just to watch the moon." He said. "With my new friend." Something shining was on his shoulder. It was a blue dragon.

[FireAngel73]

::Lyra swiftly walked around the edge of the cemetary, skirt billowing, blonde hair swirling behind her, to two gravestones side by side. She kneeled beside them::

I just wish I could remember...

::Hearing voices drift from the other side of the cemetary, she looked up, wiping her eyes when she saw two people talking. Deciding she needed to take her mind off her parents, she walked over to them::

Hello..I'm Lyra ::she said shyly::

[Mira Nightingale]

The young man’s answer told Mira all she really needed to know. He was friend, not foe. He was just another visitor similar to herself. When he mentioned watching the moon, Mira gazed upward at the large crescent, noticing that it was very bright. And then when he mentioned his friend and nodded toward the blue dragon on his shoulder, she took a half step backward out of hesitation. “Is he a real dragon?” she asked him cautiously, peering at the dragon. She had never, ever seen one before. “Can I touch him? Or will he bite?” she asked him again, still treading on the edge of caution.

As a girl from the opposite side of the cemetery headed toward them, Mira turned and smiled softly at her. “It’s nice to meet you, Lyra.” she told the girl with a small nod of her head. “I’m Mira, and this is…” she trailed off as she looked over at the dragon and the man she had been talking to, since she wasn’t sure what their names were as of yet.

[Allen †]

"She," Eragon said. "Is a real dragon. I don't think she'll bite. " The dragon blinked at him. Don't bite. The dragon looked at him, and he felt a dim acknowledgement from the dragon. "I guess... it won't."

"Hello," He said, smiling to the new girl. "I am Eragon. And this is my dragon... err... Saphira." Saphira blinked coyly at the girls.

[Mira Nightingale]

When Eragon corrected her, stating that the dragon was actually a female, Mira nodded her head in a somewhat apologetic way. “I’m sorry… Saphira.” she told the dragon, knowing that she could, most likely, understand at least a little of what they were saying. “I’m never met a dragon before.”

Getting the assurance that she needed, she carefully reached out a hand and stroked the top of the dragon’s head. Still rather skittish, she pulled her hand away quickly. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

[Allen †]

Saphira bared her teeth and let out a wisp of smoke. Eragon grinned. "Its nice to meet you too, Mira. Is that your name..? I heard you saying that to erm... this new girl." He said, jerking a thumb at the new girl.

[Mira Nightingale]

Mira nodded in reply to Eragon. “Yes, that is my name.” she told him with a small nod, glancing back at Saphira out of the corner of her eye. A silence descended on the three, since no one was saying anything at all. Taking it upon herself to bring back the conversation, she glanced at Lyra. “What brings you here today, Lyra?” she asked the girl.

Another silence descended, and Mira noticed exactly how dark it was getting. “Oh no,” she murmured to herself, glancing around at the creeping shadows and darkening gloom. “I really should be heading home now since it’s so late,” she said to Eragon, a little regret making its way into her voice. “Do you know which way is the exit to the cemetery? I can’t tell what anything is in the dark.”

[Allen †]

Eragon squinted in the dark. "That way." He said, pointing to the gate. "I think i should be going too. I need to hunt."

[Mira Nightingale]

Eragon pointed toward the exit and she nodded, ready to hurry away. Then, however, he mentioned hunting. Her curiosity made her stop walking and turn back toward him. “Hunting?” she repeated, slowly, trying to keep her voice indifferent. “Hunting what?”

She eyed Lyra for a moment before she turned back to Eragon. It didn’t seem like the girl was going to utter another word at all. Turning back to Eragon she waited for him to answer her question.

[Allen †]

"Game of course," Eragon said. "For food. I don't really spend my money. And I have to hunt for my best friend too. She needs the food." He sucked in air from the graveyard. It wasn't that bad. He still wondered why he must hang around in graveyards, especially at night.

[Mira Nightingale]

As Eragon explained, her interest was caught. That was her greatest weakness, her curiosity and interest in things she had never done before. “Could I come with you?” she asked him hopefully after a moment, forgetting that she was wearing a dress. Not like it mattered. She was so used to the things she could do practically anything, although she did find pants much more comfortable.

“I’ve never been hunting, so naturally I’m interested in learning.” she attempted to explain after another silence. Holding her breath in anticipation, she waited for Eragon to say the fateful word- yes or no.

[Allen †]

Eragon smiled. "I think you could... you are so brave... braver than any girl - save three - I have ever seen venturing near a graveyard so late in the night. But we must hurry." Eragon said, then he turned and walked briskly towards the gate with his inhuman speed.

OOC: Check out the forest keke Hunting for Food 2 (Christine)