Chapter 25

Hera did a swerve and positioned Gregor in a spot that could be a promising attack point to a rat's face. Gregor's sword went for its throat, missed, then went for the nose and hit. The rat's paws went up to its nose in pain, but then swiped back at Hera, who did a full body roll, leaving Gregor clear to sever its tail, which he did. Blood spurted up at both of them, but then the rat gave a blow from its paw that sent them both tumbling in the air. Hera lost control and couldn't stay flying, so she touched down, Gregor still clinging to her neck. It looked like the rat was going to kill them, but then Hera gave a smile. She snapped open her wings and Gregor could hear the crack as the rat's neck broke. It died instantly, as did a few others nearby. With the satisfaction of killing them, Hera again took air.

Gregor saw some scratches on both of her wings. "You okay?" he cried, over the wails and screams of the battle.

"Yes, I am fine! They barely more than scratched me!" Hera called back.

"That was awesome, with your wings!" Gregor cried again.

"Yes, I have always noted that that was a sufficient attack, I have just never gotten the chance to use it, until now!" Hera called. "We must continue fighting!"

She positioned them above a group of about eight rats. She did a sweep, a move they had practiced in training, and Gregor's sword went wild, severing ears, cutting noses, anything he could reach. Then he distributed more fatal blows, killing about five of them. The other three he left injured and unconscious on the ground, and they flew toward another pack.

This pack of rats was ready for them, however, and Gregor received a slash on his calf and a scratch on his thigh. Hera got a few more scratches on her wings, but nothing that could stop her flight.

They killed many more rats and injured even more, when finally, Ripred called them in. Hera's wing just barely escaped the claws of a rat as she flew up to the others, way out of the rats' reach.

Gregor surveyed the group. Everyone was injured to some degree, but none of the injuries were particularly horrible. The cut on Gregor's calf was probably the worst, and it wasn't really bad.

Henry had called the remaining living gnawers in, and was making a plan or something, so they had time. Ripred spoke from atop Apollo.

"Okay, they're no doubt making a plan to really attack us, so we have to watch out. I also noticed the Gushgore is still alive, so he and Henry together can really get us. Anybody have a plan?" he asked.

"You do not?" Luxa spoke up. Almost every time, Ripred had a plan for them to follow. Even though Luxa hated taking orders, Ripred's plans always worked in some way.

"Actually, I do. I just want to see if anyone can overpower it." Ripred answered matter-of-factly. Nobody answered. "Well, then, I guess we'll have to use mine. Now, Henry could be planning to attack with or without the gnawers, so we must be prepared for either one. If he attacks without, we outnumber them. If he attacks with, then they beat us, but we can always fly ahead. With or without, I want you to get Stellovet and Nyx first, avoid the gnawers for now. Then go for Henry and Thor." said Ripred.

"I cannot kill my sister. Is there not any other way?" Howard spoke. Gregor looked over at him. He looked very pale at just the thought.

"If you can think of one. Or else just sit on the side, or attack gnawers." Ripred replied.

Howard gulped. "I will go for the gnawers. But please, if there is any way to escape her death, please use it!" Howard said. Ripred nodded.

"I do not wish to kill either of my cousins, so I will go for gnawers with Howard." Luxa said. Ripred didn't argue with her.

At that moment, Henry broke up the gnawers. They all spread out across the cavern, so Gregor guessed Henry had chosen to attack with them.

Ripred gave Henry and Luxa a signal, and they both dove for separate sides of the cavern. Then he looked over at Gregor and Hera, and Hera and Apollo made for Henry, Thor, Stellovet, and Nyx.

"So my cousins do not wish to attack us." Henry snickered. "What cowards. But no matter, we will go for them after we get you!" he continued. Stellovet, Nyx, and Thor snickered, but Stellovet looked a little uneasy. Gregor knew that she didn't want to kill her brother either, but she didn't want to disagree with Henry.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Hera sneered.

"Oh, it shall not be too hard. But of course, why would I tell you my plans, for would you not go to any extremes to prevent me from executing it?" Henry answered. Gregor had to agree, but he though he knew the plan anyway. Henry would probably attack the fliers first, and then go for them on the ground. Ripred would probably be a little harder than Gregor, but with the rats' help, he could get him. That was the basic plan that most gnawers and their allies went by.

"Well, in that case, go ahead." said Ripred coolly. Henry lunged for the rat with his sword, but Apollo dove out of reach quickly, making Henry's attack look way off. Ripred signaled Gregor and Hera, and they immediately flew for Stellovet and Nyx.

Gregor wildly waved his sword, but Nyx pulled some nearly impossible moves that escaped it every time. Stellovet shakily went for Hera's wing, but Hera did a roll to avoid it.

"Gregor!" Gregor heard a voice from far away. It was Luxa, pointing to one of the tunnels leading into the cavern. A swarm of rats who had dipped their tails in glow-in-the-dark solution had come in, and were helping Luxa and Howard attack Gushgore's ever growing army. Gregor turned back to Stellovet. His sword went out, waving wildly, and Nyx was again pulling her wild acrobatic moves to avoid it.

But one shake sent Nyx into a spin that sent Stellovet flying off of her, screaming. Nyx immediately dove to catch her, but just as she was almost under her, a huge rat with a glow-in-the-dark tail jumped and caught Stellovet. He tore her throat out and left her lying on the ground, her silvery blonde hair fanned out behind her lifelessly. She was quite dead.

Nyx gave a cry and flew down to her bond, as if trying to bring her back to life. When she realized she was gone, she flew back up. But Gregor and Hera had already moved on to help Ripred and Apollo with Henry.

"Stellovet's lost!" Gregor called to Ripred. Then Hera dove down and pulled up, leaving Thor's underbelly clear for Gregor to attack. He almost did, but Thor's giant wings flapped down, and Hera had to dive to avoid them, bringing Gregor out of reach. They flew back up.

Thor's wing had flapped back up, sending Apollo with Ripred on his back flying through the air. By the time Apollo regained control, they were halfway across the cavern, leaving Gregor and Hera alone with Henry and Thor.

"Well, warrior, you have escaped death a number of times, but you will not this time!" Henry cried. And before Gregor could do anything, his sword went for Hera's wing and hit, leaving a deep gash there. The bat started falling to the ground, and Gregor flew off. One of the other fliers caught him; he thought it was Nike; and touched down.

But by the time they did, they were too late.

Spread out on the stone floor was Hera, bleeding heavily and not moving a muscle. Her chest was perfectly still.