Gregor the Underlander
Chapter 1
Gregor was a warrior.
Gregor could see in the dark.
Gregor could take out a 12 foot hulking bulge of muscle that abstractly resembled a rat.
Gregor was a capable killer.
He should be feared.
Then,
The powerful warrior stubbed his toe.
Gregor had to stop himself from blurting out an obscenity as he massaged it. His little sister, Boots, burst out of their Grandma's room's door and stumbled over to him to give him a hug.
It has been an entire year since Gregor had been in the Underland but the memory of it was still fresh in his mind.
He had been trained and forced to fight in a war he had no place in and went on many journeys across it that left him scarred, mentally and physically.
His family had made the decision to not move to Virginia, but rather stay where they were, in New York. Ever since it had been decided that they would be staying in New York, Gregor had wanted to go back to the Underland.
It was a hushed subject until Gregor's other little sister, Lizzie, finally broke during dinner one night and blurted out, "I want to go visit the Underland!" before quickly putting her hands over her mouth, which was gaping, and looking around the table to see the family's reaction to the suggestion.
Gregor's mom simply stood up, pushed her chair back and stormed outside. Their father turned it over in his mind. "If I can convince your mother, then I don't see why not." He said.
Gregor's father has recovered a great deal since his time as the rat's prisoner in the Underland, and had regained most of his strength and healthy complexion, and had started to resemble a father again, as he had been absent for just over 2 years.
He strode down their staircase, 2 steps at a time. He opened the door and slammed it a little too loudly, startling Lizzie, who had only grown more insecure and timid after they had left the Underland for the last time.
Gregor heard shouting outside and knew his parents were arguing. He didn't want his sisters to hear, so he herded them all of to bed. The sound of loud, aggravated voices outside his window prevented any kind of rest.
He tossed and turned for what seemed like an eternity before the voices abruptly stopped and he could hear the faintest rustle of leaves from across the courtyard.
Gregor's parents had been arguing for a good hour now, and he found it strange that they just stopped as if they had simply worked out all of their problems and just decided to stop talking.
"I should go check on them" he said, more to himself than anyone else. He slipped off his bed and quietly prayed his creaky floorboards did not let out a high-pitched whine that he knew too well.
His ears were straining to hear what was going on outside, but to no avail. He slowly crept down his stairs which were, thank goodness, carpeted.
He put his ear to the door and heard his parents quietly discussing housing options in Regalia.