Gregor and the Hidden Prophecies

Chapter 2

"Gregor, are you sure that we came to the right place?"

The boy looked around. They walked out of the tunnels and into the arena. The sight took him slightly by surprise. There were Gnawers everywhere, lounging around, just…hanging out.

"Yeah. Luxa made peace with the Gnawers, remember? Let's go." They walked forwards, walking past as all of the Gnawers stopped what they were doing to watch them.

"And where do you think you're going?" A brown Gnawer asked, walking up to them. "You're the warrior right? To late kid. They lost."

"What are you talking about? Gregor asked, stopping. He looked at the Gnawers, hoping to see a familiar face. "Why are all of you here? Is Luxa letting you stay for awhile?"

Apparently the rest of them found that funny because they all started laughing at them. Lizzie took a step closer to her brother.

"Luxa?" The big rat looked around at the others. "How long has it been since that brat has ordered us around?"

Gregor's stomach started flip-flopping. Something was right here. "I-I want to speak with Ripred."

That got another round of laughs. "Ripred the boys says! We must get Ripred for the little warrior!"

Gregor looked at Lizzie. "Run!"

They took off, since Gregor knew that there was no way that these Gnawers were on their side. The big rats made no notion to stop them, though they did taught them the whole time. Once Gregor thought that they were deep enough into the tunnels to stop, he held out his hand. Lizzie stop next to him, panting.

"Gregor…I don't think that those guys were joking. Something happened to the others!"

The teen nodded slightly. "Yeah…we've got to find the others."

"But how?"

Gregor sighed, leaning against the wall of the tunnel. Maybe he should take his sisters home…but how? The currents didn't travel upwards! He defiantly should have thought this out more.

"We've got to find them."

Lizzie shook her head. "We don't even know where to look!"

The ex-warrior sighed. "They have to be around here somewhere."

"Gregor, the Underland is huge!"

"No see Temp?" Boots asked.

Gregor shook his head. "No. Look, Liz, I know that you want to help out but I've got to get you and Boots home. I just have to find a way to that stairway that leads to the park."

"I don't want to go!"

"Well you are."

"Says you!"

"Lizzie, think about it. This is dangerous."

"So? I want to know what happened to Ripred!"

"You're worried about me, are you?" A voice said from somewhere in the darkness. "Well I'm just fine."

"Ripred!" Lizzie ran off towards the voice before her older brother could stop her. "What are you doing here?"

Ripred snickered as Gregor walked towards him, right behind Lizzie. "Just looking around. Trying to think of a plan. I'm guessing that you guys went to the arena first?"

Gregor nodded as Lizzie got on Ripred's back. "What happened? It was full of Gnawers."

The Gnawer sighed. "There was a war. The Gnawers had the trust of the humans and used it to their advantage. The humans weren't prepared."

Gregor gulped. "A-Are they okay?"

"The ones that survived." The rat sighed. "I suppose that you want to see them."

"Yes." Gregor nodded.

Ripred smiled. "So…do your parents know that you have come to save the Underland or are they still in the dark."

"We left so that we could say goodbye." Lizzie worked her way back into the conversation. "We're moving."

"Yeah, do you know any way to get Lizzie and Boots back home?"

"Why?"

"I don't want them in this!"

"It's too late overlander. They're here now, and they're staying."

"But it's dangerous!"

"Not if we're safe." The peacemaker stated. "Now, are you ready to go see the humans?"

"Yes." Gregor switched Boots to the other arm. She's getting heavier. "Where are they?"

"Not far." Ripred told him. "Some of them are only an hour's walk."

"Some?"

"They have split off into groups."

"A-Are Luxa and Mareth in the hour away group?"

"No. They are much further away. That boy though…Howard, he's in the group."

"Why are they split up?"

"Different views. The war with the Gnawers had already taken it's toll and then when they invaded, they blamed your little girlfriend. Those who still follow her went one way while the others chose a different way."

"Howard blames Luxa?"

"Yes, very much so."

"But they were starting to get along!"

"Things change."

"But it's only been six months!"

The rat started to walk off, Lizzie on his back. Gregor sighed and followed after him.

______________________________________________________________________

The people looked up as Gregor walked by. Some muttered curses under their breath, about how he should have been there to defend them. Others cheered, thinking that he was there to save them. He followed Ripred as they walked towards a tent set up at the end of the place they had decided to stay. They walked in.

"Ripred, we were not expecting you for-" The man talking cut himself off. "An Overlander?"

"Not just any Overlander. I believe you know him as the warrior."

"This is the warrior? He looks...different than I remember."

"It's defiantly not that he got more muscular." Ripred looked around. "Have you had any contact with the others?"

"You mean the ones that follow Queen Luxa? No."

Gregor felt the urge to speak up. "Where are they?"

The man looked at him. "We believe that they went to the jungle. Not sure though."

Lizzie climbed off Ripred's back. "Is Heronian here?"

"No Lizzie." Ripred said, not even looking at her. "You and the pup go away for awhile."

"You mean Boots?"

"Yes. The child."

Gregor sat Boots on the ground and she and Lizzie left. He looked at Ripred. He listened to him and the man go back and forth on some topics before asking, "Are we going to the jungle?"

"I'm not. As for what you do, that's your business."

Gregor glared at the rat but looked over at the man. "Are there any fliers that would take me and my sisters to the jungle?"

"Hmmm, I am not sure. You can ask around though."

Gregor nodded and walked out, leaving the two to keeping arguing over attack plans. He was walking around, looking for his sisters when someone called out for him.

"Overlander!"

He turned and saw Howard rushing towards him. He smiled, though he didn't like Howard at the moment. How could he blame Luxa? "Hi Howard."

Howard smiled back. "I was told that the warrior was here. I had to see it to believe it."

Gregor got an idea. "Hey, Howard, would you mind if you had Nike and some others take us to the jungle?"

Howard's smile disappeared. "You want to find the others?"

"Yeah." Gregor admitted. "Can you guys take us?"

"Gregor, I do not think that you should be bothered with them."

Gregor held his tongue, not wanting to argue with Howard. "Did the Gnawers take over in the Fount too?"

Howard looked away. "Yes. My family was killed in the fight."

Gregor closed his mouth. "I-I'm sorry."

Howard nodded. "It's fine. You did not know."

It dawned on Gregor that that was the reason that Howard blamed Luxa. She was the only one that he could blame. But Gregor kept his mouth shut on the subject. "Lizzie and Boots are here too. We really need to get to the jungle. Will you take us? I understand if you don't want too."

Howard closed his eyes, as if thinking. "Yes, I will take you. We will need another flier. I will have Nike ask if any others wish to go with us."

"Okay, thanks."

"Meet me back here in an hour."

Gregor nodded, walking off. Now all he had to do was find his sisters.

______________________________________________________________________