It didn't matter that I had been isolated from the rest of the Underland for years, because I still knew that I was looking into the face of Ripred the rager rat, the one who a lot of gnawers were terrified of. It was said that he was the deadliest thing in the Underland, especially when he performed his number one battle strategy, the spin. I was no sissy, but I was inot/i going to let him test it out on me. I got to my feet immediately.
"I'm running from—uh oh." I said. I heard feet pounding behind me and I quickly leapt to the side. So Twirltongue ihad/I been following me.
I smelled her anger, her exhaustion, as she began to pounce on me, but someone threw her off. I saw her in a surprised heap on the floor, staring at Ripred in astonishment. But she smiled her chilling smile and stood on her feet again.
"Ripred. How lovely to see you." She purred, staring at the big gray gnawer who was about a foot and a half taller than her. Ripred may have been stronger and tougher, but I knew Twirltongue had her own way of manipulating others. But apparently Ripred knew that.
"Twirltongue. I'm charmed." He said mockingly, rolling his eyes but never taking them off of the silver gnawer in front of him. I just backed off to the side, feeling lost. "So, how did you get Twitchtip to talk to you this time? Did you force her to, or just convince her?"
There was no need to ask how he knew my name. Almost everyone did. But how was he so sure that I hadn't just ran into Twirltongue along the way and she had just begun chasing me? It wasn't true, of course, but it was a possibility most would consider before jumping to the worst—or in Twirltongue's case, best—conclusion.
"It was actually quite easy." Twirltongue answered, smiling. "Twitchtip happens to be quite easy to mislead, even though I am quite positive she could smell the death preparations in out mind." She smirked, staring over at me. I scowled at her. I desperately wanted to attack.
"All I had to do was convince her that I was fond of her powers, and that everyone who wasn't were idiots. Quite simple, isn't it?" she smiled. Ripred snarled at her.
"Get out of here, Twirltongue." He growled, raising his lips so his razor sharp fangs were visible. But Twirltongue shook her head pleasantly, still smiling.
"I'm afraid I can't Ripred dear. You see, I have unfinished business to attend to. Twitchtip is not yet dead." She said. I was amazed that she could still keep that intriguing grin on her face while she was being stared down evilly by myself and Ripred. But nevertheless, she did keep it.
Ripred snickered. "What, are you saying iyou're/i going to kill her?" he laughed. Now Twirltongue lost her evil grin, and she looked angry. She smelled it, too.
"As a matter of fact," Twirltongue began, staring me down, "I am!"
She lunged at me and I jumped to the side to dodge the blow, but it never came. Ripred shoved her back and pinned her down, holding his claw over her heart.
"Give me one reason to, and I swear I will, Twirltongue." He snarled. "Don't doubt it for a second." He pushed his claws into her chest, not hard, but enough for me to smell the fear in her sweat, even though she wasn't showing it on her face.
But she suddenly slipped out of his grasp and began to run, but he clawed her back, leaving a nasty gash there. She howled in pain, and began lapping up the blood, and Ripred aimed a blow from his tail at her, sending her spinning out of the tunnel.
"This is not over, Ripred!" she cried down the tunnel as she ran out. Ripred glared at where she had disappeared for a second, and then swore loudly.
I nearly smiled in relief, but caught myself just in time. Ripred was not here to do my bidding, nor did I want him to. But I was so glad to be rid of Twirltongue.
To my complete astonishment, Ripred rounded on me, sporting an angry look.
"Why did you lead her here, you idiot? Why did you even talk to her?" he snarled at me. I was so taken aback that it took me a second to answer.
"I needed to get away! I had already been running from Gorger's soldiers, and then Twirltongue tried to kill me as well! What do you think I should've done, let her kill me? I need somewhere to go!" I shouted, with more force than I was aware of.
"Well, you're sure as hell not staying here, if that's what you were thinking!" Ripred roared back, matching my forceful monologue and adding on even more anger.
"I never asked to!" I shouted, getting angrier with every passing second.
"Well, leave!" he thundered, positioning himself to chase me out. I highly doubted that he would actually fight me, but he obviously didn't want me here. But then again, who wanted me anywhere?
"Fine!" I said, my voice wavering a little. I didn't want to break down in front of Ripred, but I felt so alone. So I just turned and ran out, not looking back until I was out of sight from Ripred. I kept running until I came to a river, and then I broke down. I hated the feeling of isolation, but I was sure it would never leave my presence. It had found the gnawer it wanted to torture, the one who was already suffering so much and feeling an abundance of pain. It was cruel how fate was always against the one who was in dire need of hope. I felt drained of every ounce of it.