Hey Guys...I'm assuming by the time this gets to you It'll have been around 3 to 4 days since I wrote it considering that my internet seems like its never going to come back...stupid Earthlink...I only got the last 5 chapters to you because of the library but my time frame doesn't exactly allow me to go very often.

Song of The Day: Take My Hand by Simple Plan... played Fast in Windows Media Player... =D

Disclaimer: I don't own the Underland Chronicles :'(

Ch 7: Falling High

After the talk with Hazard and the others had ended, Gregor's day was relatively useless. He hadn't even gotten the "Okay" to go ahead with the mission to save Luxa by the time he got to bed.

When he woke up the next morning his eyes were burning because of the lack of sleep he had gotten. He kept on having the same dream again and again.

His Mother. Ares. Luxa. It constantly repeated when he closed his eyes.

Lizzie and Boots were adjusting well to the new city. Lizzie had gotten much happier after she had seen Ripred and Hazard. Gregor thought they would be the ones to take her out of the shock she was obviously in. After all she had seen her mother killed in front of her eyes. At the very least Lizzie had shielded Boots eyes, and Boots wasn't even sure as to what was going on at the time. Boots would be okay but he was still worried about Lizzie. He was satisfied when he heard that Ripred had taken her out for a walk in the city.

As for Boots she was having an amazing time with Temp. But Gregor dreaded the day she asked "We go see Mama?" She was only 4, almost 5. She was smart enough to realize they were here for a reason, but did she really understand she would never see her mother again?

Ms. Cormaci had scolded Gregor for not bringing her down here sooner hilariously enough. When Ripred had literally bowed his big head down to the lady and said "The Mighty Master Chef of the Overland graces us all with her presence? Is there anything I can get for you? A blanket? Servants? Salsa ingredients?", there was no holding back Ms. Cormaci's roaring laughter.

It seems his entire family was taken with Ripred. He was glad. After all this time no one made him feel safer.

Even as he thought of all this, he got up out of his bed and went to the bathroom for his morning bath. He couldn't help think about everything he would have to do today...

It all started with the council. He would have to get the okay for the mission before anything. He probably would seeing as there were two ragers going on the mission, so that was a done deal.

Then he would have to decide what fliers to take. Two would probably be strong enough to carry us but 4 would be the best. One to each person. However Anya would need to learn how to fly a bat.

Then came the difficult part. Battle training. If Anya was actually coming then she would need to be trained in battle for as much time as possible before they set off. Well at least she was athletic.

"Well I'm gonna be so tired by the end of the day, who knows, I might just get some dreamless sleep" said Gregor hopefully.

Gregor got out of the bath and dried himself off. He started to put on clothes for the day. Something diplomatic would probably work best for what he was gonna do today. He chose a pair of slim full length gray pants and a tucked in black button down with a collar. The Underlander clothing was definitely getting more intricate these days, probably an account of the alliance with the Spinners. Regardless, it seemed that was the most professional thing he could find through the clothes that were already set in the wardrobe.

He put on the clothes and walked over to Anya's room to wake her up. If she was coming on the quest she would need to be at the council meeting. He knocked on the door.

"Hey Anya! Wake up! Open the door!"

No response.

"Anya! Hello? Anyone there?" His hands were starting to hurt from the hard stone door.

"Looking for me?" He swerved around to face Anya.

"What the hell? How do you sneak up on me like that?"

"Just an uncanny talent I guess." She said with a smile. "And this black hoodie may have something to do with it. They tried to burn it! I just had them wash it though."

She took down her hood and laughed. "Come on, lets go, don't we need to see some council or something before we go?"

"How did I never consider telling them to wash it..." he groaned at himself. "How do you know we have to have a meeting with them anyway?"

"Howard told me when he woke me up this morning"

….Gregors face resembled something like this...-_-.

They started walking to the council meeting room. Luckily they were on the same floor anyway so it didn't take long. When they got to the entrance to the council room they saw Vikus and Ripred standing there.

"Hey Vikus, Ripred" said Gregor.

"Greetings Gregor, have you thought about how to convince the council to allow you to go on the mission for Luxa's safe return?" asked Vikus.

"Well to be honest I didn't think we would need much persuading..." said Gregor awkwardly.

Ripred just looked at him "...So you have no idea what to say?"

"How about...if any one can do it, its us...so...let us go?"

Ripred just glared at him.

"What! We are two ragers after all!" Gregor said indignantly.

"So...are you supposed to be a rat?" asked Anya out of no where.

"Are you talking to me?" asked Ripred.

"Well do you see any other rats around here?"

"We're called Gnawers in the Underland"

"So...Gnawers are rats...that stand on two legs...talk...and are the friends of humans?"

"Yes...and I'd really adore some shrimp and cream..."

Gregor broke in "Um sorry to break your little conversation here but...when the hell do we go in?"

"We enter when the current meeting ends...this is what the council does...they just sit in there debating matters that the queen is too bored to do herself." said Ripred.

Vikus added. "We must also wait for Justin to give the okay so we may go in. Hes heading the council meetings these days for training."

"Wait...who in Sandwiches name is Justin? Some diplomat in training?" asked Gregor.

Ripred and Vikus just looked at each other.

"Did you not tell him Vikus?"

"Truthfully I had thought Howard would've told him everything but it seems he dodged most of the arrows..." replied Vikus.

Gregor sighed. "Do you ever tell me anything of importance?" He was too used to this.

"Well we do try...but matters seem to become more difficult than desirable" started Vikus.

"Wait wait wait" said Gregor "what the hell am I missing here? Who is this Justin character?"

"Gregor" said Vikus. "Justin is the to be king...He is...Luxa's betrothed"

I know, its a very short chapter but this seems like a good chapter mark, after all the next one can be the council meeting and this is a decent cliff hanger.

So yeah, review, tell me if you think it's good or if its going badly.

-Glacierstrike