Disclaimer: uh-huh, you all think I'm going to do a disclaimer, dontcha? Well, too bad, in the spirit of teen rebelion, I'm not going to. So there.

Chapter Seven: The Gnawer And The Ruler

Many hours I have thought of you they were weak and fragile thoughts, wishes whisked away in the breeze. Resembling a feather adrift on currents as powerful as the tide. For that is what I am in this world. I am my thoughts. And my thoughts are me. For where would I be with my thoughts adrift on the breeze? I would still be me. Thinking of you.

Luxa laid down her quill, careful not to splatter the parchment. Rubbing her eyes with her ink stained fingertips, the young queen sighed. The horrors and demands of cleaning up after a horrid and dreadful war, accompanied by the shock of recently being crowned along with the fatiguing necessities of daily living had taken their toll.

The queen's days were concerned with leading, deciding, planning, pondering, healing, building, maintaining, caring, grieving, and loving.

She was leading, not just the human nation but as the victor of a land wide war, the gnawers, flyers, nibblers, and almost every species in the underland relied on the young ruler's guidance. To Luxa, it was frightening that the lives of so many relied on her choices, thus the burden of decision.

She obviously had help from countless sources, offering support and guidance, and when needed, advice and opinions. However, the final decision landed squarely on her shoulders. The power at which she now held had terrified her mind. Her thoughts were infused with the desire for peace but thoughts were not enough, she needed actions. However, all actions were put on hold, the humans and gnawers were crippled from the war that had set them on the path for peace.

Lost pondering the depths of her political situation, the ruler did not notice the scared veteran gnawer sulking underneath the pale stone archway leading to Luxa's personal rooms.

Waiting for his presence to be taken accounted for was becoming tiring to the rat. The brown-coated gnawer stalked to the square stone table at which Luxa had spread her papers. Peering over the ruler's trembling shoulder, his eyes masterly scanned the thought out stanza scripted on the fresh parchment.

The intruder let out a snort of mirth and rolled back on it haunches, letting laughter shake his muscled body.

"Ripred!" The startled queen shouted as she stood and spun around to find the veteran smirking teasingly. "What are you doing here? And sneaking around the royal chambers none the less?" Instead of the anger he suspected, her accuses were laced with fatigue.

In between sputters of laughter, Ripred managed to answer, but not concealing his snide tone. "Well, excuse me Your Highness, but the council summons you . . . Again."

Luxa slouched against the table; the stone's chill could be felt through her black shirt and pants. "They are all fools; I do not know why we reinstated them after the war."

"That is perhaps one of the few subjects we can agree on. They waste more time on arguing over unimportant details then putting plans into motion." commented Ripred with a flick of his tail. "Your race was always on to bicker among your selves."

"If I had the energy to, I might state that your race was divided in half for the whole war and at least us humans took our stand and fought together." Luxa sighed.

Ignoring a jab that would certainly lead to disagreement, Ripred instead branched a plan to potentially embarrass his bond.

"I see you are spending your free time with a quill in your hand." Ripred was inching closer to the table with every word.

"Does it concern you with how I spend my free time?" Luxa retorted.

"It does when the opportunity to embarrass you arises." He suddenly lunged to the table, claws out stretched to apprehend the potential blackmail only to be met with the cold edge of a steel blade. Luxa held the sword strategically over her writings, which were bound in a leather notebook. An amused smirk adorned the gnawer's features as he blasted the rager sensation into high gear. Spinning he knocked Luxa's knees out from under her freeing the papers from their sharp guard. Snatching them from the table, Ripred sorted through, snorting here over a weepy-washy remark unleashing a chuckle done by a snide remark, while the queen took her chair again and turning it to face the rat's commentary evoking a playful banter.

"Really, Your Highness you have quite the talent for such writings. It would not surprise me if one day your writings will be recognized along side Sandwich's own prophecies," Ripred was positive she could hear the sarcasm in his voice, yet she took it as a complement, sitting up straighter and managing a mask covering her emotions.

"Why, thank you, Ripred, I was not expecting praise from you, especially some so high."

Ripred rolled his eyes when his back was turned, he was still not willing to make his disbelief in the prophecy's known. He said, "Of course. You do seem to write in the same dreary manner as he did, and look, you write about the Warrior even more then ol' Sandwich!"

"Give me those!" She snatched them away and rubbed the wrinkles out, hugging them close. "It is not my fault I can't help but think of him. He touched my heart deeply." She muttered sadly. A small frown forming.

Ripred realized the amount of distress he had made and tried to amend it. "Look, Luxa," He started in a soft voice. "Gregor touched all of our hearts deeply. Every person's in a different way. And you cannot help it that you fell for him, but you have to hold your head high, put your duties first and emotions second the way any accomplished and wise leader would."

"He certainly touched the hearts of my people, but not of you. I doubt you even have a heart!"

Luxa knew she had shot low, that she had insulted the rat. She could see the pain evident on his face. "Don't say that!" Ripred retorted sharply. "I do too have a heart, girl, and I loved him like a son! Him and Lizzie, I saw them as family, and until you went and got all defensive, I saw you as close to me. However, not anymore. He was different from your people; he was wonderfully full of surprises. (I could not help but take a quote from the book. It was too darn tempting!) And I miss him too."

Luxa stood shocked. The rat had become gentle with her. That was something she never expected. She sighed, realizing she had made a big mistake. "I'm sorry, Ripred, I did not think of my words or how harsh they were. I take them back."

"You are forgiven. Nevertheless, remember, you are a queen. Your words are heard from many important figures, think before you speak. You could soon spark another war."

Luxa nodded, grateful for the advice. "I suppose I should go to the council. They were expecting me."

Ripred nodded and left, Luxa trailing behind him, thinking of that day they had bonded, the two of them, The Gnawer And The Ruler.

Hey person-reading-this-who-should-really-give-me-a-review-and-not-only-because-I-ask-really-nicely-every-week,

Thank you all who reviewed! I hope I pm'd all of you, but if not, review again and I promise I'll get back to you.

So again I ask if you review, please tell me what team are you on team FangXMax or team DylanXMax. This is from James Patterson's jaw-dropping series, Maximum Ride. I just gotta know. I'm all FangXMax and am reading Angel right now and am sooo ready to punch someone. J.P. I can not believe you.

So chapter 11, which I was occupied with took me forever to finish. NOt just because I was obessesd with watching paranormal shows on SyFy while typing. Nope. Other crap was also an issue. So yeah.

Disclaimer: I reconsidered. Is being a rebel worth getting sued? Nah, its not. Not mine.

Thanks once again,

~AssassinAuthor