For a terrible moment, Lizzie thought that Ripred was fatally wounded. He lay on the ground, still and silent, before roaring and pouncing back in their direction.
"That hurt," he murmured, stretching out his back muscles. "Alright, let's go. They're above us, we can catch them if we try."
"Catch who?" Lizzie asked, already remounting. She could tell that he meant business.
"Not sure. We should probably see who it is first," Ripred said.
"Good suggestion," Lizzie said, her rare sarcasm making its appearance. She hated how callous everyone was being.
Kent seemed to realize this, and looked at her sympathetically. "It is the only way, Lizzie. These people, they may be the ones who took your niece. You will not know until we have them."
Lizzie felt her muscles tense uncomfortably. Morals seemed to fall second in line to personal safety. She understood, but it made her sad nonetheless. "Fine, let's go."
"As you wish," Ripred replied. Both Gnawers raced, at breakneck speed, up and out of the cave-like structure. Before Lizzie knew it, they were inside some sort of dark tunnel.
"The diggers helped make these," Ripred said. "They're very crafty when they want to be."
"Are more of them on our side?" Lizzie asked.
"Hard to say," Ripred replied. "These were built for us, though. I know that much."
A few claustrophobic minutes later, they were in a dimly lit room. It seemed to be an actual room, lined with walls and filled with furniture.
"They're gone," Ripred stated. He muttered something under his breath, which Lizzie assumed was an Underland curse. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to follow them."
"What about Hades Hall?" Lizzie asked.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll end up there. Everyone goes to Hades Hall, eventually. But take what you can from here. There might be food, and we want to have as much at our disposal as we can."
Kent and Lizzie stuffed bits of bread and other dishes into their pouches. Everything was cold, and it made Lizzie wonder how long the group had been there. Had they been waiting, hoping that she would come? Or Ripred, or Kent and Gashlash? Did they only want to hurt them?
She locked her legs tightly around Ripred's body; they would not be parted, if she could help it.
The trip was just as fast as ever, leaving it hard to have many conversations. Things were quiet, mostly, and Lizzie wondered if it had been like this for Gregor. He'd always described quests as being adventurous and full of action, never as quiet walks round and round. She wondered if they'd ever get anywhere.
"Footprints," Gashlash remarked, darkly. "Looks like humans. Fliers and Shiners could be around too, I do not know."
Ripred gave an exaggerated sigh. "All right, well, maybe they won't be armed." He laughed at his own joke. "I can hope, can't I?"
"So humans are the most dangerous?" Lizzie's question asking had become a tendency over the last decade or so. It was a nice alternative to panic attacks, and solved her nerves with productiveness. However, in the Underland, the questions were never ending.
"I'd say so," Ripred replied. "They're evil or they're angry, mostly. We've been very fortunate to find the ones, like Kent's family, who have managed to stay sane."
Kent gave a tentative smile. "We do what we can."
"Everybody quiet," Ripred announced, several moments later. "I hear them. We must have caught up. Weapons ready."
"Weapons?" Lizzie said, incredulously. "I don't have –"
Kent handed her a spear. "Just in case. It may not be of need."
Lizzie's hand shook as she held it up.
"Charge," Ripred said quietly.
They did so, thumping along the gravelly path until a small group of humans were in sight. Lizzie did not know what she'd been expecting, but this certainly wasn't it.
They seemed like ordinary Underlanders. There appearance was a little pale and tweedy, perhaps, but certainly not bloodthirsty.
She assumed that Ripred hadn't expected them either, for he paused a sizeable number of yards behind them, and signaled for Gashlash to do the same. "I don't recognize them, do you?'
"No," Kent said. "They might be rebels. Or his followers, I do not know."
"No fliers," Ripred mused. "Well, alright. We'll let them go a little further. I don't really feel like fighting with the rebels, it takes a lot of energy."
"And if they're his people?" Kent asked.
"We run," Ripred replied. "But I don't think they are. He's not stupid, he'd send better people than them."
"I suppose," Kent said. He looked doubtful. "Should we go the other way?"
"No, no, let's stay here for the night. We can sleep."
"Sleep?" Lizzie felt upset. She wanted to get to Hades Hall.
"Or you two sleep, we'll carry you. You'll need to be awake when we get there."
They went further through the caves and tunnels, Lizzie allowing herself sleep. If Ripred said it would be important, she believed him.
She was awoken hours later by Ripred's voice, talking quietly to Gashlash.
"What's going on?" she asked softly, sitting up.
"It's the rebels," Ripred said. "They haven't done much yet, other than be disorganized. We can listen, once they start. Get Kent up, would you?"
Lizzie shook Kent awake, briefing him on how they were waiting for the rebels to begin their meeting. Then, still tired, she settled her head atop of Ripred's.
"Order!" They heard a man shout, somewhere from the heart of the crowd.
"You're sure we can't be seen?" Lizzie inquired, anxiously squirming in her seat.
"Yes," Ripred replied, "The idiots are too distracted to notice us."
"Now," the man continued, his voice fully audible as the crowd quieted down. "Today we are discussing the fate of the little girl."
"You got her?" somebody shouted.
"Yes," the man replied. "The Warrior's daughter is in the Underland."
Lizzie felt her muscles grow numb. She stumbled off of Ripred's back, walking towards the crowd. Secrecy no longer mattered, she wanted answers.
