Okay, I know, I'm a terrible person for making you wait this long. But I do have a good explaination, which involves both my Beta and I having school-related deadlines. But at last, here it is, chapter 11. And I do not own the underland chronicles. Yet.

Chapter 11.

Nerissa was adjusting to life in the jungle surprisingly well. Already she had made many friends among the nibblers, and several of them had come to return the favor. She was looking healthier too; the warm moist air seemed to be doing her good.

Nerissa wished Torrance could stay in the jungle full time with her. Soon after her arrival, she had seen in a dream that she and Torrance would someday be married. At first she had been, well, a bit creeped out. But she found that the more she thought about it, the less she was opposed to the idea.

Torrance was a good man. Once he had gotten Nerissa settled with the nibblers he had returned to Regalia to report back to Stellovet. Since then, he had been leading a double life, half in the jungle, half being Stellovet's servant. Nerissa knew he disliked leaving her alone, but people would get suspicious if he did not show up for guard duty. She understood.

"Nerissa?" a timid voice brought Nerissa out of her reverie. She looked up to see a young nibbler standing in the entrance to the cave. "Hello Secant. How are you?"

"Pretty good. Mother asked me to tell you that supper is ready." He shuffled his feet. "And Nerissa? Will you tell us a story tonight?"

Nerissa had been entertaining the pups with stories and games during the evenings as a favor to the adults. She smiled. "Certainly. Tell your mother I will be there in a minute."

Secant left and Nerissa began to gather her shawls about her. She stood and started towards the cave entrance. She was about half-way there when all of a sudden she froze. There was a rushing sound in her ears and she saw in her mind's eye her cousin Luxa, the Warrior, and the Codebreaker all in a dungeon.

The Codebreaker looked up and said: "Stellovet will try to kill us."

Luxa looked up. "She will take the crown and rule Regalia."

The Warrior sat up and in a weak voice stated: "We must escape to the jungle."

All three intoned: "But how?"

Nerissa awoke from her vision and sat bolt upright. She gasped, and then scrambled to her feet. She had to get word to Torrance right away.

"I am going to the Fount and I will pack an apple, a base-ball, a crown, a dog, an egg, and hmmm. How about a flier?" Luxa asked. The three kids were playing an Underland variation of 'I packed my grandma's suitcase'. It had been four days since Luxa had named Stellovet heir to the throne, and they were getting a little bored.

Lizzie nodded. "That works. My turn. I'm going to the Fount and I'll pack an apple, a base-ball, a crown, a dog, an egg, a flier, and a…gorilla. Next."

"What it a gorilla?" Luxa sounded curious.

"Oh, well... It's an animal about the size of a grown man, but a little shorter. It has dark colored hair all over its body and it's really smart." Lizzie shrugged. "Sorry, that's not a great description."

"It sounds very…cool." Luxa had been picking up on some overland terms over the past few days.

Lizzie smiled. "Yes, it's very cool. Gregor, it's your turn."

For some reason, playing games helped keep Gregor lucid, although he had to sometimes be reminded of stuff, including when it was his turn to go.

"What? Oh, my turn. Right. Well, I'm going to go to the Fount and I'll pack an apple, a base-ball, a crown, a dog, an egg, and…" He trailed off. "I forgot."

Luxa sighed. "A flier, Gregor."

"Oh, right. A flier, a gorilla, and—"

Gregor was interrupted by the sound of a key in the lock. The door swung open, and the three children were momentarily blinded by the light that rushed in.

Putting up her hand to block the light, Lizzie saw that a tall man was standing in the doorway.

"Your highness?" the man whispered.

Luxa stood up. "Yes?"

"I am he called Torrance. I have come to rescue you."

Okay, the first three people who review will get a sneak-peek at the title of the sequel to this fic. There will only be one more chapter in this story, plus an epilogue. Sadness! Look for the next chapter in the next week or two, it depends on how much computer time I get. 6 people + one computer = not much time! Please review!