This is my first fanfiction so please go easy on it. If you like the story I'll keep chapters coming. If not keep it to yourself, please don't hate on it. If you find any errors, whether it be spelling, grammar or anything else please just let me know. I've been reading many of the fanfictions on this site but I just wanted to add my own to them.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Underland Chronicles or any of the characters, save the ones that I will be adding. Both the Underland Chronicles and the characters within belong to Suzanne Collins.

-Ssi


The TV flickered a dull light throughout the living room. Gregor sat on one end of the couch with his legs on top of the foot rest, while Luxa lay across the couch with her head on his lap.

"Is it not amazing how small these spider are, cousin?" Hazard said as he turned from the armchair to look at Luxa. He had been so excited to show her the discovery channel but was met with nothing but a quiet wheezing sound as she slept.

"How long has she been sleeping?" Hazard asked.

"Um, I'm not sure, how long ago did we start watching?" Gregor queried as he, himself let out a long yawn.

Hazard gawked at Gregor, "An hour or so ago!"

"Then I'm pretty sure she's been asleep for around an hour," Gregor said, smirking.

"But she must see how odd these Overland creature look!" Hazard said definitively.

"I'm sorry Hazard, but I think she needs her sleep more. She's had a pretty tough week," Gregor reasoned.

"I know, but..." Hazard started before hesitating. "I know," he repeated before slowly turning back to the TV.

Gregor looked down at Luxa as her hand over her wound twitched slightly. Her face gave no sign of pain however, so Gregor assumed that it was just from her sleeping and not from her wound hurting.

A few strands of silvery blond hair obscured the right side of her face. Gregor gently swept the strands across her forehead and ran his fingers through her hair. Gregor closed his eyes and breathed deeply, listening to the world around him. The TV made the most noise, but Gregor could also here his uncle snoring in the next room and Luxa breathing softly right in front of him.

As he listened his mind also mapped out the room with echolocation. Gregor could "see" the TV… Or at least the screen. It lit up in his mind as though it were warm, which it probably was. Hazard and Luxa also radiated heat through this form of sight that Gregor had learned to master.

But there was another source of heat that confused Gregor. It was a small source that stayed perfectly still right next to the window.

Gregor cracked his eyes open and turned to look at the window sill. His eyes found the Overland rat immediately. The rat was motionless, staring out the window down at the street. As Gregor watched, the rat glanced over at him meeting his gaze. Gregor was sure this was the rat he had seen earlier in the other room. It was odd though, seeing an Overland rat with absolutely no fear of him.

The rat turned back to look out the window as though he had never seen Gregor. For what seemed like an hour Gregor watched as the rat stayed still like a statue.

That's when it started to squeak. For such a small animal it sure could make a racket.

"Wha-s tha-?," Luxa asked groggily as she lifted her head off of Gregor's lap.

Hazard, who was now standing up staring at the small rat, was listening carefully. "She keeps saying 'look'?" He relayed.

Gregor wasn't sure how Hazard knew it was female but he trusted the kid's ability to talk to Gnawers so this had to be close enough, right?

"Look at what?" Hazard asked.

"I'm not sure," Gregor said as he stood up. Crossing the room quickly, Gregor made his way to the window. The moment Gregor got close the rat became silent and sprinted away into the dark. Perplexed Gregor looked out the window.

From this window Gregor could see the street in front of the building. So his eyes naturally landed on his fathers car. His mom had just slammed the passengers side door and turned to enter the building.

Gregor had no clue as to how the rat knew what his parents looked like but he knew that she might have just saved Gregor's skin.

"It's my mom, Luxa we have to leave right now!" Gregor said as he sprinted over to the table and grabbed the flashlight he had left there earlier that evening.

"Now?" Luxa said as she sat up and stretched her neck. "Are you sure?" She asked as she looked back at him with glassy eyes.

"Yes, she'll be up any minute now." Gregor said quickly. Luxa just blinked a few times in response and nodded.

Hazard helped her to her feet and hugged her. "Be safe, Luxa," he said with a sad expression.

"I will be," Luxa reassured him. "I shall send for you as soon as the palace is safe again. Fly you high, Hazard." She said, glancing up at Gregor as he opened the front door.

"Fly you high," Hazard mimicked her as she followed Gregor.

As they entered the hall and started walking quickly towards the east stairwell. Gregor hoped that his mother would take the stairs closest to the front door and not the corner stairs.

"I'm sorry we had to leave so quickly," Gregor said quietly as they entered the stairwell.

"I know," Luxa said sleepily. "I am just going to miss this place, I always wondered what it would be like to spend a day in the Overland. I just never really thought it would be as it was."

"Maybe you can come and visit again sometime," Gregor said halfheartedly, knowing full well that she wouldn't be able to.

"Yeah," she smirked at him as he glanced over his shoulder. "And I am sure the firelands shall freeze within my lifetime as well."

The two teenagers slipped into the laundry room and over to the grate. Gregor was overjoyed when he could hear the currents blowing faintly below.

"Ready?" Gregor asked.

"Ready." Luxa replied as Gregor helped her through the grate and she dropped out of sight.

Looking around Gregor took a deep breath, followed her into the grate and felt the world beneath him open up.

Gregor turned on the flashlight as he fell and pointed it towards the ground. He could see Luxa approaching the bottom but something didn't seem right. She was moving faster than Gregor remembered the fall being. The currents were subsiding and Gregor could feel himself speeding up.

Gregor watched as Luxa fell the last few feet and landed on her feet stumbling over and grabbing her abdomen. Gregor twirled around in midair trying to find the best way to land but as he feet hit the ground he felt himself fall onto his side and everything when black.

Gregor's eyes opened to see nothing but darkness. His head felt like it was splitting open as he regained consciousness. He felt warm hands against his chest, shaking him. "Gregor!" Luxa's voice seemed distant and frantic. "Gregor!" She called out to him again.

This time Gregor felt a sharp pain in his side as she shook him. His lungs let out a grunt of discomfort as he started to sit up.

"Gregor! are you ok?" Luxa asked in panic. "I thought you had lost your light!" She said as she moved her hands up is chest and over his shoulders. In the darkness Luxa moved blindly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Gregor responded as he sat up fully and propped himself up with one arm as he wrapped the other one around Luxa's waist. "I may not have lost my light but I definitely lost my flashlight."

"When you hit the ground I saw it fly out of your hand. The moment it hit the ground it made a really bright light and then everything went dark," Luxa explained.

"We'll be ok, I know the way to Regalia. Even in the dark." Gregor tried to reassure her. "How's your side feel?"

"Do not worry about me. I am not the one that fell unconscious," Luxa said furiously as she separated herself from him. "Do not ever do that to me again!" she exclaimed.

"Luxa, I'm fine. I promise. I just hit the ground a little harder than I was expecting to," Gregor responded, a little surprised at how freaked out Luxa was. "How long was I even out for?"

"A few hours at the least. I had no way of waking you and no way of finding help," Luxa's breaking slowed back to a steadier rate.

"I'm sorry Luxa," Gregor said quietly as they sat still in the darkness.

Although she couldn't see him, Gregor's echolocation allowed him to see her as clear, if not clearer, than any flashlight could've. Her eyes were closed and her head was tilted forward. Gregor leaned closer to her and pressed his forehead against hers.

Gregor knew that this was neither the time nor the place for it, but it was also too hard to ignore any longer. Gregor tilted his head just enough to kiss Luxa's lips. Without hesitation Luxa was kissing him back. Gregor could feel the rager like sensation creeping through his veins just like the first time they had kissed in the museum, years ago. As their lips parted the air seemed to thicken with silence.

It was moments before either of them spoke.

"I-", Gregor started.

"I know," Luxa interrupted him. "I never stopped either."

Gregor could see she was smiling. But not an entirely happy smile. There was a sadness to it, but Gregor knew he reflected the same emotions in his expression. The only difference was that she couldn't see him.

Luxa leaned forward kissed Gregor, again, softly before moving to her feet. "We should probably start towards Regalia," She said as she helped Gregor to his feet.

"Yeah," Gregor said as he entwined his fingers with hers before starting to lead her in the direction of Regalia. They moved slowly through the silence and darkness as their minds began to wander.


I hope you enjoy the chapter. As always please rate and review. Any and all feedback is welcome. Enjoy your Thanksgiving festivities.

-Ssi