Part II: 'Letters from the Underland' continued

Dear Gregor,

It is known throughout Regalia that Sandwich first came to the Underland because he thought all life in the Overland was to end. But I always thought there was more to it. For example, he does not say how life will end in the Overland. Perhaps if you come down for a visit, Vikus can tell us if there is more to the story. Perhaps even Vikus does not know.

I spend my nights wondering if I am doing the right thing for Regalia. Maybe bonding with Ripred was not the right thing to do. Many people here are not in favor of humans bonding with rats and treat Ripred with much disdain. He does not pay any attention to this for the most part, but just yesterday he got into a fight with one of the palace guards over who has the right to walk the corridors alone and who does not. The guard thought he did not. Ripred tried to go around the guard, but the guard would not let him continue. Ripred tried this three more times. The guard got nastier each time. Ripred finally threw him aside with his tail. The guard smashed into a wall and was unconscious for several minutes. Howard had to stitch up a cut over his eye. Ripred says he did not intend to hurt the guard, but he was being annoying. This incident does not do much for the rats in Regalia other than make people hate them more than they already do.

There are several dozen rats in Regalia right now. I understand why letting them in the city is the right thing to do. But my heart jumps every time I see any of them. It is hard not to fight them all the time. Even Aurora does not know how to treat them. It does not help that they spend so much of their time sharpening their claws in plain sight of everybody.

I wish you were here to help me figure out what to do. I wish you were here to help control Ripred. I just wish you were here.

Frazzled and irritated because of it,

Luxa