4

Gregor left the council room quickly, allowing the Underlanders to finish up their decisions, and walked straight back to his room. I really hope Wynn agrees with me. He wanted to keep her out of harm's way, but he also knew he needed to get home as soon as possible. He couldn't let his family worry. Hopefully she would understand, and be willing to help with the prophecy. When Gregor entered their quarters, he was surprised to see his cousin sitting at the table reading. There was a basket of scrolls and fabric books beside her.

"What's all this?" Gregor asked. Wynn jumped slightly, and looked up at Gregor.

"Reading material. Nerissa… she dropped it off. She said that I enjoyed learning about people's culture, and that it would keep my mind off everything." Wynn shivered. "That creeped me out. Also I don't know how we're on first name basis already. I mean. She's Queen Luxa's cousin, so is there a title involve with that or… " Gregor chuckled.

"You can just call them Nerissa and Luxa," Gregor assured her. "Everyone goes by their first name down here. I know they sound really formal, but some things are pretty laid back. Like titles." Wynn didn't look convinced.

"Nerissa also said something about a prophecy. That I should help." She gave Gregor a suspicious look.

"Yeah. I kind of said that we would be willing to be involved in a prophecy for them. If that's alright with you," Gregor said nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. His cousin seemed to consider this.

"Why are you so willing to help them?" she asked calmly, though it sounded like she was restraining herself.

"It might end the war, and we can get home faster." He thought that would satisfy her.

"Is that all?"

"What?"

"Is that all," she repeated. She looked him in the eyes. "You're not just doing this for some girl, are you?" Gregor couldn't believe what she was implying.

"Some girl," he asked, unable to hide the annoyance in his voice.

"Yes. Luxa. Or Queen Luxa. The queen. I don't know. The point is you better not be doing this just to impress her."

"Why would you even think that?" Gregor was annoyed now. Sure he liked her like that in the past, but that was years ago and he thought he was going to die. It was completely different now. Besides, what would Wynn know about it?

"I heard the way you talked about her, Gregor. Did you have to pick a queen to have a crush on? I mean, at least pick a queen from up top," she said pointing upward.

"I'm not saying we should do this for some crush, Wynnora. I'm trying to get home as soon as possible."

"Fine," she said curtly.

"Geez. What are you all upset about?" Gregor immediately regretted saying that.

"What am I so upset about?" she asked standing up. "I'm upset because I just fell down a hole, and now I'm stuck in some underground city. I'm upset because I just got accepted on a dig, and now that's probably over along with my career. I'm upset because I might not see my family again." Her voice was raising. "I'm upset because Grace trusted me, and I only got you into trouble. I'm upset because you were a child and they used you, Gregor. I'm upset because you never told me." She looked like she could go on, but stopped, putting her hand over her mouth as if to hold back a sob. There was a knock at the entrance.

"Come in," Gregor said.

Luxa and Ripred entered, but Gregor and his cousin ignored them. He felt awful now. He was so worried about figuring out how to take care of her and how to get her home that he forgot to just ask how Wynn was feeling. He looked at her, feeling guilty about the hurt look in her eyes.

"Anything else?" he asked softly. Wynn thought a moment.

"I think I left my keys in the car," she mumbled.

Gregor chuckled and rubbed his eyes, which got a small smile from his cousin. He turned to Luxa and Ripred.

"The council has agreed to fulfill Nerissa's prophecy," Luxa said without bothering with introductions.

"Vikus is finishing up with the arrangements, which mainly involved keeping the counselors from scratching at each other," Ripred explained.

"You should be more respectful," Luxa said, though her smirk showed that she thought much the same.

"I think he should have just let me handle it. I am the peace maker." Ripred turned his gaze to Gregor's cousin. "What's the matter, Overlander? Never seen someone so handsome before? Many do find my beauty alarming." Gregor turned to Wynn, and almost laughed when he saw her staring at the scarred, talking rat with her eyes wide.

"Wynn," he said. "This is Luxa and Ripred." Her eyes flicked between the two, and she mumbled a hello. "So, what now?"

"We wish to see how much of your fighting skills you have retained," Luxa said, ignoring Wynn's stare (it was getting a little rude). "If you have no objections, we would like to go to the arena now." Aurora poked her head through the window behind them.

"Greetings, Overlanders," she said politely. Gregor didn't think it was possible, but his cousin's eyes got even bigger at the sight of the talking, gold bat.

"That's Aurora," he said to her. "You want to fly?"

"Fly?" she asked in alarm, keeping her voice down. "Are you crazy?"

"You do not trust my bond?" Luxa asked dangerously.

"No. No," Gregor said quickly. "It's not that. It's just…" He trailed off. Wynn in no way trusted the Underladners, while Gregor was pretty sure the Underlanders didn't like her much yet. Obviously his cousin didn't mean to insult them, but this first meeting wasn't going well.

"I'll walk the girl to the arena. You two go," Ripred growled. "Follow me, girl." Wynn looked to Gregor, but he only shrugged. They really didn't have that many choices. She reluctantly went with the gnawer, while Gregor went with Luxa and Aurora.

Gregor felt a little guilty, but he was glad his cousin went with Ripred. With just Luxa and Aurora, he could just enjoy flying. Aurora even did some loops and dives, and he knew they were for him. Gregor was thankful for the time alone with his old friends to just enjoy.

When they landed, Mareth asked Gregor what he remembered from his training four years ago. After getting back in touch with his cousin years ago, she had asked him if he wanted lessons in swordplay since she had seen he had become interested in it. His mother was completely opposed to the idea, so Wynn kept it a secret. They would go to lessons several times a year to learn, and Gregor loved keeping his sword skills tuned. He could now fight in several styles, and knew how to use a shield or a dagger along with his sword. Gregor was now pretty happy to tell Mareth that he had actually gotten lessons in the Overland thanks to Wynn's help.

"So she too knows how to handle a sword?" he asked. The excitement in Mareth's voice made Gregor feel bad when he had to admit that she didn't.

"Well no. Wynn was mostly in it for the history lesson. She was never very good with a sword," Gregor explained. She was actually terrible whenever she tried, if he was perfectly honest. This seemed to disappoint the Underlanders, because, Gregor assumed, she would be far more useful with some combat skills. Gregor continued, "She is pretty good with a bow. Her parents had her learn it when she was really young. Would archery be useful?"

"Not nearly as useful as a sword," Luxa said a bit too bluntly. She could be a bit too honest at times.

"Any skills she may possess will be welcomed," Mareth said, giving Luxa a stern look. "Besides, there have been a number of battles won with archers, and a queen would do well to remember this." Luxa looked away, though she didn't actually look mad so much as bored at Mareth's gentle reprimand. So Mareth still gets to talk to his queen like a coach.

Mareth had Gregor go through some drills with Luxa, but it quickly escalated to fighting. Luxa was fast, but Gregor was stronger. He realized that if he used some of his rager instincts he could still beat her, but decided to challenge the skills he had learned. He was actually having fun, and it appeared Luxa was as well. She flipped around him, as flexible as ever, smiling as she slashed at him. Gregor grinned back as he blocked and countered. Mareth seemed pleased with what he saw. Soon Ripred and Wynn showed up to the arena, and it appeared they were talking.

"You should teach your cousin here some manners," Ripred said as he walked up to them. Gregor wondered what they could have been talking about. "Or to at least know who she can take that tone with."

"You're one to talk," Wynn mumbled.

"I wouldn't take an attitude with me, little miss. You're practically useless, and I could kill you in a second," Ripred spat. Wynn just looked tired of him.

"Well I could be the comic relief," she suggested, "or is that your job, Mr. Sassy Pants?"

Luxa whispered to Gregor, "I can see they have become fast friends." Gregor was not excited about this trip. Out loud, she said, "I see you have handled your first meeting with a gnawer well. I am impressed, especially considering the terrible company that Ripred is."

"Well, it's not my first time talking to an ass," Wynn replied dryly.

"This one is cheeky, isn't she? I guess one so useless has to compensate by having a sharp tongue," Ripred growled.

"Is that why you talk so much, Ripred," Gregor asked. He wanted to defend his cousin, but he knew he was only making the situation worse. Wynn and the Underlanders may not be getting along, but Gregor didn't have to let her feel alone. Luckily Mareth stepped in to defuse the tension.

"Greetings, Overlander, my name is Mareth. I am the general of the Regalian army. Gregor has informed me that you have some skill in archery. Perhaps you would allow me a demonstration." Wynn glared at Gregor, and he gave a weak smile back.

Howard came up behind Luxa, and Gregor heard him whisper "what have I missed?" Luxa only shushed him.

"First off, my name is Wynnora. Or Wynn. Or Wynnie. It doesn't really matter. Second, archery is a hobby. I wouldn't call it a skill." Wynn's voice was cold. Gregor wondered if his quick telling of his story didn't leave the right impression of the Regalians. He couldn't imagine how she could be so curt with Mareth. He was such an immediately likable guy.

"I would still like to see what abilities you do have," Mareth insisted, and handed her a bow made of some kind of bone, a quiver of metal arrows, and something to protect her arm and hand from the string. "I believe these will suit you." Wynn eyed Mareth cautiously, though Gregor thought it was because he was such a large man and carrying several weapons, not because he was an Underlander.

"Go on, Wynnie," Ripred said in a condescending tone. "Try to hit anything you like." Wynn glared at him. In one swift motion, she took an arrow from the quiver and shot is straight into the ground next to Ripred's paws, who only stood a few feet from her. He growled.

"Try not to look too impressed," Wynn said with a mean smirk, "I was aiming for you claw." The other Underlanders looked concerned that she might not be able to do much or that she was all attitude, but Gregor snickered.

"Watch yourself, girl," Ripred said threateningly. "Aim for that target over there," he ordered, pointing with his tail. It must have been 25 yards away. "Hit the bullseye and I might not eat you."

"And if I don't hit the bullseye?" Wynn inquired.

"Then I will definitely eat you," Ripred said with a smile revealing his sharp teeth. This time Gregor's cousin did flinch.

"That's motivating," she mumbled, taking a deep breath. Then she pulled out an arrow, took aim, and loosed it. It buried itself deep in the bullseye. Wynn looked impressed. "These are really good," she said, her cold tone leaving her voice for the moment as she re-examined the weapon. Mareth smiled proudly at the praise of Regalian weapons. Ripred wasn't done yet though. He flicked his tail, sending a bloodball into the air. Wynn drew an arrow and hit it, sending droplets of red liquid everywhere. The rat flicked up eight more bloodballs, and Wynn hit five. Gregor smiled as he looked at the shocked, but impressed faces of the humans.

"I guess that will do for now, Wynnie," Ripred said.

Introducing his cousin to Howard was even more awkward than introducing her to Luxa. Gregor could tell she didn't like him one bit. Then again, she probably doesn't like any of the Underlanders. He had failed to tell her any good or funny memories he had of his friends down here, and he regretted that. All Wynn had to go off of was stories about how they used him to end a war.

"I hope my cousin's behavior," Luxa said, "did not make your entrance into the Underland too jarring. More so than need be, I mean." Wynn looked at the queen thoughtfully. To Gregor, it looked like she was sizing Luxa up. Luxa was clearly doing the same to her.

"Please accept my apologies," Howard cut in. "I merely wished to retreat as quickly as possible, and thought that your condition would make flying… difficult." Wynn's eyes flicked to him with a dirty look.

"Think nothing of it. I love being drugged by strangers."

"Do you have to be so sarcastic?" Gregor mumbled. "Be nice," he added a little louder. "They'll both be with us for the trip along with Ripred and some fliers you're about to meet." Wynn looked at him in disbelief.

"What?"

"Gregor is correct," Luxa cut in. "These will be the members of our party." Wynn continued to look at Gregor.

"You mean we're going on a diplomatic mission to end a war with an adolescent queen, a glorified life guard, and Master Splinter?" Luxa and Howard looked insulted, though they couldn't have possibly known what half of what she said meant, but Gregor cut them off before they could say anything (or Luxa could draw her weapon).

"Stop it, Wynn," he said firmly. "You don't to be so rude. You're only making things more difficult."

"You don't see a problem with this?"

"No, I don't," Gregor snapped. He grabbed her arm, and pulled her away from the Underlanders, shooting Luxa an apologetic look as he walked away. "What is your problem? Why are you like this right now?" he snapped when the others couldn't hear.

"What do you mean?" Wynn asked. "They're pompous, rude, and probably going to get us killed. Why should I be polite to them?"

"Because they're actually nice people," Gregor hissed. "My friends. Did you forget that they have all saved my life at one point?"

"Did you forget that they manipulated you as a child so you would then be willing to die for them?" she shot back.

"You don't understand anything," Gregor snapped a bit too loudly. He took a deep breath to calm back down, and hopefully not draw more attention to them. "You just don't get it. You have no idea what I've been through with them."

"Oh, so you're going to choose them over me?"

"Yes." Wynn's look of anger instantly melted away into one of shock. She looked as though Gregor had slapped her in the face. He felt awful for hurting her feelings, but she needed to hear this. He pushed down the sick feeling he had in his stomach, and forced himself to continue. "They're my friends and family, and you can't talk to them like that. I know you don't understand, and that you hate them right now. But if you keep doing this, I'm going to defend them."

Wynn looked away, biting her lip. It probably wasn't easy being yelled at by someone four years younger than her, but he couldn't let her keep acting like that. He was getting tired of flipping back and forth to defend and reprimand everyone. He hoped that he could get Wynn to understand how he felt about the Underlanders, but it seemed impossible at the moment. Gregor led his cousin back over to the Underlander, where Aurora and Nike landed next to them, their wings sending gusts of air over the group. Wynn couldn't hide her awe for the fliers. Her jaw dropped slightly and her eyes widened at the full sight of them. Luxa stepped up to her bond with a smug smile.

"Meet you Aurora, my bond, and Nike, princess of the fliers." Luxa gestured to each in turn. They nodded to Wynn, and she gave a small wave back. She couldn't keep her eyes from Nike.

"I am pleased to see you look well, Overlander," Nike said good-humoredly. "You were unconscious when first I saw you." Gregor's cousin mumbled something about calling her Wynn. Luxa and her cousin excused themselves, so Gregor thought it was time to get Wynn back to their quarters to talk.

Gregor asked Nike if she would mind taking him and his cousin back to the palace. She happily agreed. Wynn's first ride (awake that is) was worse than his own. She kept apologizing, and Gregor knew she didn't appreciate riding on a princess. When they finally got in the air, Gregor had to remind her to breath, and she barely kept her balance. She also kept checking above her to see where the ceiling was, which no doubt made her dizzy. Gregor had to try hard to keep from laughing, and he was glad the good natured Nike was the one to help his cousin the first time.

Nike dropped them off in High Hall, and Wynn thanked her and smiled. Then she shakily walked to a seat and collapsed.

"Congratulations," Gregor said sarcastically, "I think that was the first time Wynn gave a real smile down here." Nike chuckled.

"Then I am honored," she replied. "I shall see you tomorrow when we leave." With that she flew off again. It had been a long day, so when they got back to their room, Gregor ate and went right to bed. He was slightly concerned that his cousin didn't eat, but she said she was sick from the flight. She stayed up reading instead.

Ok, so I'd like to apologize now for focusing too much on my OC in the coming chapters. I don't mean to, it's just that I'm using her to make some conflict. Anyways, I hope you're all enjoying the story.