Previously:

"I'm so close I can almost touch them," he thought. "I'm almost to you Luxa, I'm almost here."

Disclaimer:

I own nothing. Suzanne Collins owns everything but the plotline.

Chapter 3

Aurora screeched loudly, surprising Gregor. It took him awhile to realize it was the signal to the people of Regalia that Overlanders had arrived. He crouched low enough to reach Aurora's ears. "If we see Luxa at all while we are there, please don't tell her who we are. I want her to figure it out."

"I will do that for you, Warrior. I will keep your secret," she promised as they started to land on the dock of the underground river. The sound of the rushing river reminded him of the first night he was ever in the Underworld. It was a very frightening night for him. Rats had come and attacked him and Boots.

Once they landed a swarm of people around them. There were so many of them that Gregor and his sisters didn't have any room to get off Aurora.

There were a few faces he remembered. He saw Mareth, Howard, and Dulcet. He saw Vikus standing next to Howard. His hair was cropped just as short as he remembered, except now he held a cane in his hand, leaning on it greatly. A giant rat was standing towards the back of the crowd, there was a big scar going across his eye, with another perpendicular to the first. Gregor turned to help Lizzie down and she was practically bouncing in his arms.

Once she was on the ground, she shoved through the crowd to get to the giant rat. The people she pushed by started whispering to each other about how that was rude but stopped abruptly when they noticed where she was going.

"Ripred!" She yelled happily, launching herself to tackle the giant rat.

The surprise and shock were easily seen on Ripred's face as he asked, "Do I know you?"

"Ripred, it's me! It's Lizzie!"

His shocked expression changed into happiness as he leaned down to her, wrapping his big arms around her waist. "Lizzie? What are you doing down here? I thought your family was moving to Virginia."

"We were going to. But I told my parents that I didn't want to move to Virginia, I had to stay here."

"That's amazing Lizzie! But I have to ask," he said giving Gregor a skeptical look. "Who is the young man you brought with you?"

"Ripred you don't recognize him? You've known him longer than you've known me. I mean you did teach him and all." She said, smirking.

Lizzie pulled on his paw to bring him over to Gregor. Every step of the way Ripred was staring intently at Gregor. "Do I know you, young man?" he asked Gregor.

Gregor crossed his arms and looked up at the giant rat with an amused expression. "Really Ripred, I can't believe you haven't recognized a fellow rager by now," he said rolling his eyes.

Ripred's eyes widened. "Gregor?" he asked. Behind him the group of people started whispering again. "Is that really you? You've grown into yourself nicely." He chuckled, nodding in approval.

"Yes Ripred, it is me," he said putting a smile on his face.

All at once, people started to push to the front, so they could place their hand on their savior. But Mareth, Vikus, Howard, and Dulcet all got there first. Mareth, Vikus, and Howard all went to Gregor, while Dulcet went straight to Boots, scooping her up into her arms, who yelled "Dulcie."

"Gregor, my boy, what brings you down here?" Vikus asked after hugs were passed around.

"Temp contacted Boots saying that you guys needed help. So, we raced down here as fast as possible."

"I can't wait to tell Luxa you're here!" Howard exclaimed, starting to leave.

"No, Howard, please don't tell her. When I run into her, I want to see if she can recognize me."

"But, why not just tell her? After you left, she was really upset. She was crying for weeks. Whenever someone would ask her what was wrong, she would say she missed Solovet. But she told Hazard that she really was missing you. She'll be really happy that you're here." Howard said pulling Gregor aside.

"She would be very pleased you are here and well, Gregor." Vikus said, following them.

"I know she would be, and I am too. But let's keep me being here on the down low. Okay?" Gregor told them.

They both agreed and turned to tell the same thing to the crowd. Like Howard and Vikus, the crowd agreed. Dulcet stepped forward holding Boots's hand.

"Temp is actually here in the castle. Would it be alright if I took Boots to him?" she asked him.

"You can, but first we have to have a meeting with the Queen of Regalia," he replied. Taking Boots hand, he started walking into the castle, Lizzie riding on Ripred's back, and the crowd following them.