"It is time for us to go to bed I believe. If I am not gravely mistaken, we will have a long and arduous day ahead of us tomorrow."

Gregor looked up from where he had sketched the Starshade with the charred vine. His gaze met Hamnet who had spoken and now moved over to the fire to extinguish it, then Luxa at his other side. For a second he thought her pale skin glowed with the dim light of the lake, and despite the quite sorry state of her clothes, she had seldom looked better.

"I believe Aurora and I should sleep here as well tonight." Her voice competed with the loud rushing of the waterfall and she took a step towards Hamnet. "Can we bring her here? I am certain she will feel easier with another flier at her side." Her gaze met the peacefully dozing Nike.

Hamnet rose back up and nodded. "Certainly." His gaze trailed to Gregor, "Will you come and help us?"

Gregor sighed and got up. "Sure." He regarded Boots who had curled up with Hazard and Temp on Frill's back, they were nearly invisible between the dense vines that bordered the clearing. Then Lapblood, somewhat offside. She had most likely still not entirely recovered from yesterday's experience with the quicksand.

For a moment he was confused as he failed to spot Ripred, then he remembered Hamnet had sent him to gather more food earlier.

Gregor turned back to the curtain of vines that concealed the mouse colony this spring harbored and silently followed Luxa and Hamnet back in. He could hardly believe they had already spent more than a day here, it seemed like they had just arrived. Here, in this place that couldn't feel more like a haven, shielded from the rest of the slumbering death trap that was the Underland-jungle.

Then again – his mind wandered back to the beginning of their journey, over the Arch of Tantalus and their first encounter with Hamnet, the episode with Boots and the frogs, the plant that had eaten Mange and taken their water, and the chaotic blur that had followed – how much time had passed since he had arrived back in the Underland?

Gregor sighed and tried hard not to begin counting days again. The days he had spent in the Underland so far. He knew they had to be traveling for less than a week, but he couldn't tell exactly as his memory of the time before they had arrived here, after losing the water, was more than lackluster.

Why didn't he want to count the days, Gregor suddenly asked himself, as he stepped into the little chamber the mice had provided for Aurora. The golden bat looked up as soon as they entered, somewhat dazed.

Of course he knew why. Gregor helped lift Aurora and carry her down the tunnel that led back outside – because he didn't want to think about his mother, still waiting in Regalia, about Howard and Andromeda and how sick they must be by this point.

As his mind wandered to Ares and how minuscule the chance of ever getting back in time to save him was, Gregor stopped himself. He could not think of Ares now. Because if he thought of Ares he would lose hope – and losing hope was the worst thing that could happen to anyone out here.

Gregor determinately gripped Aurora's fur tighter and shoved the curtain of vines aside to step through. Yet as he attempted to keep his balance on the somewhat slippery stones before the curtain something darted out of the dense vine network across from where they had come and over his head.

Gregor cried out and nearly slipped, Hamnet caught him in the last moment. "What was that?"

Gregor and Luxa simultaneously set Aurora down who twitched, yet remained in her painkiller-induced, light sleep.

As soon as her bat was on the ground Luxa stepped forward and drew her sword. Her gaze was turned upward, searching for the unidentified flying object. Gregor's unease amplified and he fumbled at his own belt, then remembered he had taken his sword off to sleep and not put it back. Yet before he could look for it, Hamnet had his arm. "Stay back..."

Gregor opened his mouth to protest – who knew what that was? For all the jungle had shown to harbor so far, it probably was in some shape or form deadly. But before he could speak he winced again as the thing darted back over their heads, flew an honorary round over the lake, and finally touched down at the beach, next to where Hamnet had previously lit the campfire.

Gregor stared at the figure with round eyes, still clutching Hamnet's arm. He... knew that bat, he thought, yet before he could call his name Hamnet beat him to it – "It... it is... Is it truly you, Thanatos?"

Gregor winced at the loud clanking sound Luxa's sword produced as it slipped from her hand and hit the stone beneath. Only now he noticed everyone who had been silently dozing so far had awoken. Frill hissed and Hazard on her back ducked, her open ruff shielded the boy, Boots, and Temp. Even Nike had dazedly raised her head and Lapblood had assumed attack position.

Gregor blinked, attempting to make out the figure that now slowly slid off the back of the black bat with the distinct white face and couldn't keep his heart from beating out of his chest. It's the Death Rider, he thought, the image of a man with a mask from a rat skull and a flaming sword, riding on the neck of a serpent, flashed in his mind and he blinked, attempting to make him out better in the shade.

"It's...", the figure then spoke and regarded the defensive party members before stepping closer until the light from the lake properly illuminated his features.

Gregor's gaze met his face for the first time and his eyes widened. Not from the fact that he had the distinct features of an Underlander – the pale skin, and the white-blond hair. Not from the fact that his later estimate regarding his age had been correct – he had to be around Howard's age. Gregor tried not to stare and swallowed. His face was stern and meager with prominent cheekbones and many scars that painted white, intricate lines on his skin. His hair was somewhat tousled and longer than even Hamnet's, he now wore it tied to a short ponytail.

Yet all that was still not the reason Gregor's eyes had widened in shock at the sight of his face. Something was not right, he blinked, attempting to remember if he had seen two eyes through the sockets of the skull mask last time. He... must have, Gregor furrowed his brows, staring at the right side of the Death Rider's face in disbelief. At the leather eyepatch that showed above and below the outskirts of what appeared to be a horrific scar.

"What in the actual name of Sandwich are YOU all doing here?"

His words were followed by a deathly silence, only disrupted by the incessant chirping of the jungle and the rushing of the water. But before Gregor or anyone could respond, a different voice cried – "Fur!"

The Death Rider winced and nearly fell over as Boots had slid off Frill's back and waddled over, to latch onto his fur-covered leg.

Both Luxa and Gregor could barely suppress laughter and Hamnet stepped forth, eyeing the bat and his rider up and down. "Thanatos", he repeated and Gregor barely had time to ask himself how they so apparently knew each other before he continued – "as... much of a surprise as it is to see you here, it's a welcomed one. And you", he turned to the Death Rider, "you are...?"

The outcast's head jerked around and they locked gazes, staring at each other in silence for a few heartbeats. "It is... Hamnet", the Death Rider at last mumbled, his eye round with disbelief. "Hamnet and...", his gaze met Boots on his leg, then Gregor and Luxa, and finally Frill and Lapblood. "And..." Gregor had hardly ever seen him so genuinely lost.

In his stead, Thanatos spoke – "It is good to see you indeed, Hamnet. It's certainly been a while, even in outcast-terms."

"Indeed." Hamnet took another step closer. "And you are not alone – after everything that happened it is you who appears here, with someone who..." He squinted at the Death Rider, "even... knows my name."

"What of your own company?"

They all winced as the outcast himself interrupted, seemingly having regained some of his wit. "The Overland-siblings, their fliers, Queen Luxa", his gaze wandered to Lapblood and Frill, on whose back Hazard had peeked his head up now. "And... some new faces." He shook his head, "One could almost believe this is supposed to be another quest."

"One could almost believe some of them have even the slightest clue as to who you are because I certainly do not", snarled Lapblood suddenly.

The outcast turned to her, giving a somewhat crooked smile – "Me? Of course, well, I am the Death Rider, prophesied grim reaper, part-time mercenary, and aspiring quester, resided in the Dead Land, well, usually. At your service!" He lifted an imaginary hat and gave a small yet elaborate bow.

Lapblood was unimpressed, but Gregor, Luxa, and Hamnet, even Thanatos, grinned. Hazard on Frill's back giggled, and Temp who had followed Boots to the outcast mumbled his own welcome, "Greetings to the Wielder of Light, greetings."

"Ahh... so YOU are that "Death Rider" I keep hearing so much about – really? Who'd have thought", a different voice sounded from the darkness, and everyone's heads jerked in its direction.

Gregor barely made out the silhouette of Ripred in the shade, his yellow gaze locked on the outcast who spun around, nearly tripping over Boots.

"YOU are here?!" Gregor made out unease in his voice and asked himself if the outcast and the rat had ever met. He had been surprised by Hamnet's presence while Thanatos had not, for whatever that was supposed to mean. And now Ripred too.

Gregor blinked and quickly decided it was probably not worth it overthinking all these people's past dynamics. Hamnet and his apparent history with everyone was a sensitive enough topic. And both the Death Rider and Thanatos were outcasts too, so it was probably equally complicated for them.

"Oh yes, I am." He casually strolled forward and set down his bag with supplies before approaching the Death Rider again. "And so are you, it seems. Care to explain?"

At first, Gregor furrowed his brows but soon realized Ripred had a point. As nice as it was to see the Death Rider alive and well – what even could he be doing here?

The outcast exchanged glances with Thanatos who finally answered – "We were on our way to visit the nibblers that live here as we heard some kind of plague had broken out. We wanted to ensure they were safe."

"I see...", Ripred eyed him up and down, "friends with the mice, eh? Well, Luxa over there will relate to that. Isn't that right, Your Highness?"

Luxa, who had taken a few steps forward until she stood face to face with the outcast, hesitated. "You know the nibblers?"

"We used to live here, actually. For three whole months."

Luxa's eyes widened. "They never mentioned you..." In response to his furrowed brow, she hesitantly explained she had stayed with them herself over the last two months. "It was them who took us in after Aurora and I had been separated from the others in the Tankard", she shot a glance back at the curtain of vines. "I owe them my light."

"Well, looks like you got a taste of the life out here then", the outcast grinned and Luxa returned his smile.

They stood face to face now, the outcast was more than two heads taller than her, and yet, in the eerie light of the water for a second Gregor thought they looked alike, in a way.

The resemblance was not nearly as striking as that with Hamnet and when the outcast turned, Gregor could have sworn he had imagined it. He silently sighed. Maybe all these people had started to look alike to him now.

"Oh, she did." The Death Rider winced as Ripred approached to pat him on the back so hard he nearly fell. "But formalities aside, I'm sure we're all eager to exchange stories. You want to know what we are doing here, and we –" He narrowed his eyes at the Death Rider and then glanced around – "Had he always one eye?"

Gregor shook his head, so did Luxa. "I wanted to ask...", she began but was cut off by the Death Rider – "Oh right, you all don't know that. Well", he shrugged, how Gregor thought meaning to seem casual, "turns out that's what happens when a serpent bites you in the face. And before you ask – no, getting that information was not worth it."

"A serpent?" All heads turned in Frill's direction, on whose back a wide-eyed Hazard had risen now. "A real serpent? Father's told me about them, but I've never seen a real one!"

The Death Rider gave a pained smile and tugged at the eyepatch. "Be glad. They're bitches." Then he frowned – "Wait... father? Who is your father? Who... even are you?"

Hamnet, who had listened silently so far, shifted. "As you all seem to be acquainted, I assume we can trust him?" His gaze was on Thanatos as opposed to the questers.

The bat, as well as Gregor and Luxa, nodded. "He helped us during the quest to slay the Bane", Luxa mumbled and Gregor nodded. "He's saved mine and Twitchtip's lives when nobody else would."

"Well, in that case", Hamnet stepped forth, beckoning Hazard. "May I introduce – this is Hazard, my son, and our friend Frill the hisser. Come, greet the newcomers, Hazard!"

It took only a few minutes for Hamnet to re-ignite the fire and assemble the questers around it. But when he beckoned the Death Rider to join, he could barely move from where he stood, with Boots still relentlessly clinging to his leg.

"Well, someone's a fan of your footwear. Not that I can blame her. These look quite comfortable." Hamnet knelt and removed a protesting Boots from the outcast's leg. "I like fur!", she cried, slapping at Hamnet's hand.

"Hey, you know what?" The Death Rider knelt beside her, "it's much too hot here to wear these anyway. You can have them, for all I care. As long as my legs aren't in them only, of course."

Moments later everyone watched a delighted Boots scamper off with the outcast's boots, one under each arm, closely followed by Temp. Frill hissed she would watch they did not stray too far from the clearing, and so the Death Rider finally took a seat by the fire.

"I'm really sorry", Gregor muttered as the outcast plopped down next to him, but he only shrugged. "I needed an excuse to take them off anyway. Though", he narrowed his eye at Gregor, "if she ends up not giving them back I'll hold you responsible."

Gregor swallowed, insistently hoping Frill and Temp were watching Boots closely enough to prevent that. He eyed the Death Rider from the corner of his eye and thought his opinion on whether he should anger him had not changed.

Next to Gregor Luxa had taken a seat, with Hazard and Hamnet to her left, and across him on the other side of the fire cowered Ripred and Lapblood. Thanatos had lied down next to the outcast. Only Nike and Aurora were still sleeping.

Gregor yawned himself and remembered Hamnet had been meaning to send them to sleep before the Death Rider had arrived.

"So", the outcast glanced around the assembly, he had to turn his head considerably to even see who and what was to his right. "Now that we've all been introduced –", but before he could finish, Hamnet cut him off. "Actually, you've not introduced yourself. You came here with Thanatos, and they call you the Death Rider. But that can hardly be your only name."

The outcast froze and clenched his jaw. "I... well, I don't go by my old name anymore. It's the Death Rider, and only that."

A couple seconds of silence followed his announcement, then Hamnet cleared his throat. "Very well then. So is your right, of course." He tilted his head. "The... Death Rider, I've heard that name before. Is there not a prophecy about him?"

The Death Rider nodded. "Gregor gave it to me when we last met."

"A prophecy it was what you gave him, then", Luxa mumbled. "I did not... I mean, there is also a mural on the wall of the old nursery, a mural titled "Death Rider". Henry never mentioned a –", she bit her lip at once and turned her gaze to the floor. "N... nevermind, press on."

"I believe I know what mural you are talking about", Hamnet nodded. "It lies beside the turtle, does it not?"

Luxa nodded and when nobody spoke, Ripred cleared his throat. "Alright, all... names and Death Rider murals aside, you wanted to ask something?"

All gazes turned to the outcast who winced again as the rat addressed him. "I just wanted to ask what the hell you all are doing here", he mumbled. "You could not have come for the nibblers, could you?"

Ripred shook his head. "You've heard of the Curse of the Warmbloods?"

The outcast nodded. "We've come to check whether the nibblers were affected. But they seem to not be."

"Oh, the nibblers are fine", Lapblood snarled. Gregor thought he made something like a spiteful undertone out in her voice. "But the gnawers die in large numbers. And even the humans have their casualties to bear, from what we hear."

"Indeed", Ripred eyed Gregor, "Our warrior himself could tell endless tales of what kind of casualties the humans incur, couldn't you, Gregor?"

All eyes instantly darted to Gregor and he found himself wishing to slap Ripred in the face for that. Instead, he bit his lip and looked down. He said not a word, but the rat did – "With how both his bond and his mother lie in the hospital, am I not correct?"

"His... bond?!"

Gregor's head shot up at the Death Rider's surprised call. His brow was furrowed and there was something Gregor couldn't put his finger on in his stare. "Yeah", he replied. "He was the first one who caught it." Gregor swallowed. He's probably dead. He couldn't bring himself to say it.

"... Oh." The outcast averted his gaze. "Sorry to hear that."

Gregor gritted his teeth. "The point is, we came here to find the cure, and if we don't find it soon, a lot of people are going to die." He dug his hand into the sandy ground.

"The cure... is here?", the outcast frowned again. "In the jungle?"

Ripred nodded. "There's this prophecy... weren't you trying to decipher it earlier, Hamnet?"

"We were, but we haven't a clue." Hamnet sighed.

"To give you the short version, it calls for Gregor the warrior, his sister the princess, and this other folk", Ripred gesticulated at the assembled questers, "to team up with us rats", he pointed at Lapblood, "and venture into the Vineyard of Eyes to find the cure. And Hamnet's here because he agreed to lead us. Ain't that so?"

"Wait, the cure is in the Vineyard?"

"Yes", Hamnet stared at the Death Rider intensely. "It is a flower, Gregor said. Didn't you even sketch it earlier?"

Gregor nodded, but before he could get up and look for the stone with his drawing, the outcast squinted. "A... flower? It doesn't happen to be small and white, with five petals that look like triangles", he attempted to form the shape with his fingers.

Gregor's eyes widened. "Y... yeah, that's it!", he eagerly nodded, "It's called Starshade. Apparently, it grows in this Vineyard, where –"

"It's not directly IN the Vineyard", the outcast interrupted, "but there's a whole massive plain of those flowers right beyond. We've rested there, like, every time we've crossed the stupid thing so far. It's, what – an hour of flying from here?"

Gregor's heartbeat instantly elevated. Before his inner eye, he saw the flower from Neveeve's book and attempted to imagine a whole plain of it. His mouth automatically curved into a smile. Were they really so close to the cure already?

"You have crossed the Vineyard?" They all looked up as Hazard suddenly spoke, staring at the Death Rider with wide, green eyes. "Not even father has. He says it's too dangerous."

The Death Rider nodded. "I mean, it's pretty awful, but you get used to it. Once you know what to expect it turns from a threat into a nuisance."

"Oh, I am sure it does", Ripred grinned and eyed the Death Rider with curiosity. "Well, seems we found ourselves an expert. Nothing against your leadership, Hamnet, you were excellent. But as you said yourself, you've no experience with the Vineyard itself." He narrowed his eyes at the outcast, "Speak up then, lad, how is it?"

The Death Rider frowned. "Unsettling, is probably the word for it. It's... eh, it's hard to explain. You'll see what I mean soon enough."

Gregor swallowed. To him, the whole jungle was unsettling, to say the least, and he had no real desire to go to a place that was so bad even a veteran like the Death Rider found it unsettling. Then again, if it was what he needed to do to save his mom and friends, he clenched his fist, he'd go anywhere without hesitation.

"Oh, I am sure we will", Ripred grinned. His words were followed by grave silence, if you disregarded the noises of the jungle. Finally, it was Hamnet who spoke – "So, you will lead us to this plain of Starshade, then?"

Luxa's head jerked up at once and she stared at Hamnet, then at the Death Rider, but said nothing. Lapblood narrowed her eyes as well, but she also remained silent. The outcast himself winced. "You... I... what?"

Hamnet frowned. "If you know how to traverse it, we would appreciate your help", he continued. "I know my way around the jungle, but as Ripred said, I've no experience with the Vineyard itself."

Gregor looked back at the Death Rider who nervously tugged at his eyepatch, then pressed his lips together defiantly. "So now all of a sudden you ask for my help, while back on the waterway you voted to condemn us to certain death. Is that so?" His stare was only on Luxa.

She could not hold his gaze for longer than a couple heartbeats and her cheeks flushed. "I...", she looked back up and cleared her throat, "I will admit I have... misjudged your loyalty. I should not have sent you away." Gregor barely kept his jaw from dropping. He could not remember a single instance of Luxa ever apologizing to anyone.

"Is that so?" Apparently, it wasn't enough for the Death Rider yet.

Luxa visibly swallowed. "I will be grateful if you help us reach the cure", she finally blurted out.

Perplexed silence followed her words and Gregor couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. Once in a while, her eyes would dart up to glance at the outcast's face, and Gregor suddenly wondered if she blamed herself for what had happened to his eye. After all, he had lost it in the process of saving her and Aurora.

"There is no reason for us not to help them."

All heads jerked up as Thanatos spoke for the first time. Gregor felt guilty as he had nearly forgotten the bat was there. Yet the Death Rider ignored him. "Lead you... through the Vineyard", he slowly rose to his feet. "And then what?"

"Well", Ripred tilted his head, "I can imagine some species will not be delighted once they hear we found the cure. I can very well see us being attacked on our way back and in that case, we could use all the competent help we can get. If my memory doesn't fail me, the territory of the cutters lies directly behind the Vineyard."

Gregor frowned and eyed Ripred. He had never mentioned an imminent attack. Wasn't this a peaceful mission? Even the rats participated in it. Why would whoever these cutters were, or anyone, attack someone who was trying to cure a plague?

"Competent help, you say? And what do you want from ME then?"

Everyone winced at the unexpected aggression in the outcast's voice. He stumbled a few steps back and nearly tripped. Hamnet opened his mouth but he didn't let him speak – "In case you haven't noticed, I've not come out of that serpent-battle unscathed. Stuff like losing eyes has side effects. So I will be more hindering in battle than I will be useful!" He cried as he stumbled over the first of the rocks in front of the vine curtain.

Gregor sat like rooted to the spot and stared at his strained face, as well as he could make it out. He immediately felt guilty for not having considered the consequences of such an injury. "You mean... like depth perception?"

The outcast twitched in his direction and narrowed his eye. "Depth perception, most of my hand-eye-coordination, half my field of vision", he stretched his right arm to the side, like holding a sword. "I wouldn't even be able to SEE my blade without turning my head!" He pressed his lips together, "So you all can go to your stupid Vineyard by yourselves. I came here to see the nibblers, and that I will – AGH!"

"What is this commotion out – AGH!"

Luxa was the only one who suppressed laughter as the Death Rider collided with someone who had emerged from behind the curtain of vines. Gregor made out the cream-colored fur of a mouse. "Cevian!"

The outcast steadied himself on the rocks and turned to the mouse as well. "Cevian!"

Only then Gregor recognized her. Shortly after they had arrived here, a mouse named Lovelace, who had claimed to be the leader of the colony, had greeted them and permitted them to stay. The rats too, if the humans took over responsibility for them, even though mice and rats were apparently enemies in the Underland, or so Hamnet and Ripred had claimed.

And with Luxa's own arrival had come Lovelace's daughter, Cevian. It was her who rescued Aurora and I, he recalled Luxa's words, without her, we would have both been lost.

Yet apparently, Luxa wasn't the only one who was friends with Cevian.

"It is good to see you", the outcast called but as soon as Cevian caught her first glimpse at his face, she winced in shock. "Y... you... your...!"

"Right, the eye." He instinctively raised a hand to cup it. "I... I've got much to tell you, and I want to go see Teslas."

Cevian twitched. "You... how long have you been here? You've not announced your arrival." She threw a glance back at the assembled questers. "You did not come with them, did you?"

"No", he shook his head without turning back. "I'll tell you everything later, okay? I'm in your father's workshop if you need me." With that, he pushed the vines aside and disappeared into the colony. Outside remained Cevian and Luxa, both gazed after him somewhat confused.

"Would you like for Cevian and I to show you around the colony?"

Gregor looked up from where he had watched sleeping Boots and Hazard, in the curve of Frill's body. He yawned and his gaze met Hamnet, who had been in hushed debate with Ripred ever since the Death Rider had disappeared, maybe fifteen minutes ago. Nobody else had waited for further instructions from him. The kids, the bats, and Lapblood lied sleeping, even Thanatos had retreated into a secluded niche, after exchanging words of greeting with Cevian, somewhat offside the camp, though his ears were peeked, most likely at the ongoing conversation.

Gregor himself had prepared to go to sleep as well, he was exhausted beyond belief. For a moment he considered claiming his singed feet still hurt but quickly dismissed it at the sight of Luxa's excited grin. Somehow she made it hard for him to deny her anything. "Sure."

Excitedly she pulled him up and Gregor suppressed a sigh as he followed Luxa over to the vine curtain, not without throwing a few glances back at Hamnet and Ripred. By the curtain he made out Cevian with a hand lantern, she beckoned them to come in.

It wasn't like he didn't want to see the colony or anything, in fact, he had been curious for it ever since they had arrived. He just wished they would wait with the tour until the next morning. Yet when they then entered, Gregor immediately forgot his exhaustion. With intrigue, he realized the colony was much more extensive than he had expected, and buzzing with busy life. Then again, he didn't really know what he had expected, if anything. It wasn't like he had ever seen something even remotely comparable.

"This is where Aurora and I stayed. But of course, you know that." Luxa pointed into the small cave from where they had fetched the golden bat earlier. They stood in silence for a while and with how much discomfort Luxa oozed, Gregor felt he should say something. He attempted an encouraging tone. "She was really strong. And you too, you know?"

Luxa twitched. "She was."

Gregor meant to reply but just as he had opened his mouth they met up with Cevian again who waited in a crossroad of four tunnels. "Would you like to see my father's workshop?" She held the lantern into the narrowest tunnel and Luxa's eyes lit up. "Oh, he will love Teslas' workshop! Let us go!"

She left Gregor no time to protest as she grabbed his arm and dragged him along. He contemplated whether he should ask what kind of workshop she was talking about but decided he'd see soon enough anyway.

It took longer to get there than it had taken to get anywhere in the colony so far and Gregor was on the brink of asking when Cevian's lantern illuminated a curtain from fabric, blocking the view to the cave behind. He had only a second to wonder why there was a curtain all of a sudden, he hadn't seen any in the whole colony so far, when a strained voice sighed from beyond –

"It's not like I expected you to do anything. It's... I guess this is just how it is now."

"Do not say that. Not like that. Not like you've given up hope. If you give up hope, you give up your strive to better yourself, and if you do that, you're already lost."

"Father?" Cevian stepped through the curtain, disregarding the voices one of which Gregor moments later recognized as the Death Rider's. He opened his mouth to greet him when he followed Cevian through the curtain and instantly forgot what he had meant to say.

"Oh... oh geez", Gregor mumbled as he gawked around, unable to close his agape-standing mouth.

"Yeah, that's about what I said the first time as well." He winced as someone addressed him and found himself face to face with the Death Rider. Next to him, Gregor made out a mouse, his fur was black and he wore something along the lines of a tool belt.

"Teslas, what are you –", but before Luxa could finish her sentence the mouse, Teslas, how Gregor assumed, interrupted her. "Oh no, no, no. YOU are banned from here, or have you forgotten?"

Luxa's mouth shut and she pouted. "Oh come on, it was an ACCIDENT!"

"Oh yes, and that ACCIDENT only cost me my entire stash of plant extracts. Do you have any idea how long it took me to gather them all?"

"Three... years, you said", Luxa mumbled and despite her remorseful tone, Gregor saw the hint of a grin she could barely suppress.

"Wait, she did what?" The Death Rider did not bother concealing his grin.

"SHE", Teslas strolled over to Luxa and gave her a hefty pat on the back, "as she claims, ACCIDENTALLY, set off an unfinished new fishing gadget and BROKE every SINGLE vial of plant extract I had ARDUOUSLY gathered over THREE years on her first visit here. So I banned her permanently."

The outcast instantly broke into vigorous laughter and as strangely amusing as the situation was, Gregor could no longer keep his own awe at bay. "You... you can actually build stuff? Like, all of this is yours?" He gesticulated around, though took care not to touch anything.

Teslas' gaze met him and he eyed him up and down before giving something like a smile. "Indeed. H... hm, Death Rider, was it?" He glimpsed at the outcast, "he's helped me with some of it during his time as my apprentice, but most of it is mine. T... Teslas, it is. My name, I mean." He awkwardly patted Gregor's shoulder. "You look and smell like an Overlander."

"I'm Gregor. And yeah, Overlander. Nice to meet you." His smile was as awkward as Teslas' expression.

"Man you guys are so anti-social!" It was the Death Rider who at last grabbed Gregor's shoulder, "anyway, let's not bother him for too much longer. He gets nervous when there are too many people in here, don't you?"

"And take the royal whirlwind with you when you leave!", Teslas screamed as the outcast dragged both Gregor and Luxa towards the exit. All she did was giggle.

"You've really studied under him for three months?" Luxa had not stopped pestering the Death Rider for a moment after they had left the workshop.

"Yeah." He shoved them out into the tunnel that led to the vine curtain. "And you really broke all his plant extract vials?" Luxa only laughed as the three stepped out onto the clearing.

Gregor remained silent for most of the walk, he was still digesting all he had seen. A mouse inventor, he smiled. "He has to be careful, the rats are out for inventors to build them weapons", he mumbled and the outcast nodded. "We know. Though he's fairly safe, here in the jungle. The rats fear the Vineyard, that's why they've left this colony alone so far."

Gregor nodded and only then looked ahead, to see both Hamnet and Ripred were staring at them. Or more specifically, the Death Rider.

"There you are", Hamnet cleared his throat. "I... Ripred and I were wondering, if you are not willing to lead us, maybe you could at least –"

"I'll lead you."

All heads darted at the outcast when he spoke and he sighed. "Look, I'm not going to be of much use in a battle, but there's no way I can sit around here knowing you all are heading for certain death."

"We will not forget this", Luxa mumbled, but he was apparently not done yet. "I've one condition though." All remained silent and Gregor noticed Luxa's fists were clenched. "If the cure for this plague is indeed that flower, shade-something or whatever, and if your doctors synthesize a cure from it – I want it."

Gregor believed even with the jungle noises he'd hear a pin drop after his announcement. Luxa stiffened and her eyes visibly wandered, looking for someone she could ask for advice, but in vain. Nobody but her had the authority to make such a promise.

After what felt like an eternity of silence she finally raised her voice – "If that is your price, you shall have it."

Gregor stared at Boots whom Hazard had taken to sleep on Frill's back again and readied himself to collapse beside his backpack. He yawned twice in a row and found himself incredibly grateful Hamnet had, at last, sent them to sleep, after the Death Rider had agreed to lead them.

Every fiber of his body was ready to collapse and sleep then and there when his gaze met Luxa, a couple feet from him. She had leaned on a rock and when he followed her gaze Gregor realized she was watching the outcast.

He had settled on the far end of the clearing and curled into a ball, with Thanatos by his side. He had left his boots off after Boots had given them back earlier, and he wore not his coat either. Well, of course not – Gregor wiped his forehead. It was searing hot.

Despite how tired he was, his feet automatically carried him to Luxa. She threw him a short glance as he sat down beside her but immediately went back to watching the Death Rider.

They must have sat in silence for a couple minutes before she raised her voice – "I know this sounds silly, but there is something about him... I don't know, it seems... I feel like I know him from somewhere."

Gregor eyed her cautiously. "Really?" He looked back at the Death Rider and remembered that moment when he had thought they looked somewhat alike.

"It is impossible, is it not? He... something in the way he looked at me earlier..." Luxa did not finish her sentence and Gregor didn't press her for more, despite his curiosity.

"I am being silly", she mumbled and hung her head.

"No!" Gregor frowned, but before he could say more she shook her head. "It's just that, for a second he reminded me of... of someone I... I used to know. I don't even know why or how, it is utterly ridiculous, but I..."

"Why is it ridiculous?" Gregor had no idea who she was talking about, but she looked so miserable all of a sudden that for a second he considered embracing her.

"Because he is dead."

"Oh." Gregor's mouth shut and he averted his eyes. "Sorry." Well, now he would definitely not ask more. She clearly didn't want to talk about it, and yet his mind reeled. Was it one of her parents? Or a different relative?

"You should go to sleep, Gregor."

He pressed his lips together and stood up. He could take a hint. "Yeah, I'm pretty tired." Like on cue, he yawned. "You too though."

Luxa nodded absent-mindedly and Gregor kept his eyes on her as he took the first step in the direction of his backpack. "Well, good night then, see you in the morning!"

The last thing he heard before collapsing where he intended to sleep was her, whispering "good night" back.

Gregor had no idea how long Hamnet had let them sleep for, yet when he awoke he felt stiff and sore, so much so he had to stretch for a full minute before he pulled himself to his feet.

Hamnet was grilling fish and mushrooms over a re-lit fire, and when his eyes searched for Luxa he spotted her sitting on one of the rocks in front of the vine curtain, playing with two mouse babies.

Just as Gregor had approached her, the Death Rider emerged behind her from the curtain, accompanied by two mice, a grey one with long fur and one who Gregor thought must be a baby, she was all white and maybe half as tall as the grown one. Before anyone could say anything she had darted past Gregor and Luxa at Thanatos, who had been stretching his wings and was nearly run over by her enthusiasm.

The Death Rider laughed and the grey mouse joined in. "Man, must she have missed him", the outcast mumbled and the mouse nodded.

Then he remembered Gregor. "Platonius", he pointed at the grey mouse. "And the one climbing on Death is Curie. We saved them from a rat prison, a while ago, that's how we even ended up here in the first place."

They exchanged a few words and Gregor found with every day he spent here, he liked the mice more and more. Not a single species in the Underland had ever treated such a diverse group as them so hospitably and welcoming. It turned out Platonius had been sent by Lovelace to share their food with the questers, and Hamnet added salad and some kind of berries to the menu.

"Want some of this too?" The Death Rider held out a somewhat clunky-looking loaf of bread. "It's not salted, but it'll suffice for sandwiches."

Hamnet froze mid-cutting the salad. "Some... what?"

"How do you know this term?" Gregor winced as Luxa had jumped from her stone and appeared behind the outcast, closely followed by the two babies she had played with. "I had not heard of it before Gregor explained it, during our first journey together, to save his father."

The Death Rider opened his mouth but was cut off by Ripred who audibly spit out the head of his second fish and yawned. "Oh, he most certainly caught it on your boat last time. Didn't you?"

The outcast shut his mouth again and turned his way. "Yes, that's it! Gregor mentioned it and it stuck with me, because, well, it's pretty striking!"

For a moment Gregor thought his voice had a nervous undertone, but when he turned back to help Hamnet prepare the food, Gregor left it alone.

Only five minutes later they all sat around the campfire eating sandwiches with salad, mushrooms, and grilled fish. Gregor shuddered as he remembered the raw fish from earlier and thought this was one of the best meals he had ever eaten on a quest.

Lapblood occasionally threw the mice who had joined their circle dismissive glances while oozed Ripred notable discomfort, but they all were too taken up by the food to protest.

Hazard soon found himself surrounded by the babies who had played with Luxa earlier. The grey one was called Scale, the brown one Cube. The boy eventually seized eating and began feeding the babies instead, talking to them in their own language. Boots tried to participate in the conversation, but of course, she only made random squeaking sounds that seemed to irritate the mice more than they conveyed anything.

Gregor had just picked her up to ask Temp and Frill to keep her entertained when Hazard seized squeaking to stare at the Death Rider with round eyes. "Can... can you understand them?"

Gregor froze mid-movement and looked from Hazard over to the outcast who grinned widely, then produced more of the same squeaking noises the boy had made. "I too talk like mouse!", Boots demanded and Gregor turned back to her. "Hey, maybe Hazard can teach you."

The squeaking only increased in volume, now that four voices were making it, and Gregor sighed before setting down a protesting Boots next to Temp. "Would you look at that", he overheard Ripred's hushed whisper to Hamnet, "not only has he experience with the Vineyard, he also speaks a different language. What will we discover next? That he flies without his bat?"

Gregor's gaze trailed to the outcast who had now picked Cube up to sit on his head and laughed about something. Well, if he was entirely honest, it would not surprise him. Not anymore.

Hamnet and Ripred allowed them all to chat for another half an hour, yet Gregor noticed the more and more dire gazes they exchanged once in a while. Shortly after the mice had said their goodbyes Hamnet opened his mouth to speak, yet he was cut off by Luxa. "We have not heard your side of the story yet, Death Rider." She eyed him curiously. "What became of you after we battled the serpents?"

The outcast pressed his lips together and his gaze darted at Thanatos, who seemed in some sort of conversation with Nike. Though, maybe "conversation" was not the correct term, as from what he saw, she did most of the talking and he sat and listened, looking somewhat exhausted. The instant he heard the question his ears peaked and, to Nike's eternal disappointment, he moved over to the rest of the group.

"What's her deal?", the outcast asked, nudging the bat who only groaned. "She seems to be overly interested in how we first met you all", he regarded the rest of the group with a look.

The Death Rider only laughed. "Oh come on, don't look so sour and socialize a little. Aren't you fliers supposed to be super social?"

The bat with the white face narrowed his eyes. "Well, SOME of us are." He threw Nike a glance who giggled, then began to whisper with Aurora. They were both visibly doing much better this morning.

"Didn't she ask you a question though?", Thanatos nodded in Luxa's direction and the Death Rider froze before turning towards her. "Right..."

The tale that followed shook Gregor to his core, as he was certain it did everyone. Hamnet inspected the fabric the spinners had stitched onto Thanatos' wing with something like awe, and both Nike's and Aurora's eyes became round as they heard in which state he had flown himself and the outcast out of the Labyrinth.

Gregor too had to admit it sounded unbelievable, and when he next looked at Thanatos he did so with considerably more respect than before.

At the mention of the two bonding, it was Luxa's eyes that widened. Gregor frowned, hadn't they claimed bonding was out of the question for them on the boat? But when Luxa broke into spontaneous applause Gregor turned his frown into a smile and joined, so did Hamnet, and Ripred moments later. Hazard tilted his head in confusion and Lapblood at least mustered a grin.

The outcast jumped to his feet and bowed like a stage performer but Thanatos retreated a few inches and nervously flapped his wings, as opposed to accepting the applause.

Yet with the applause also ended the Death Rider's story. He insisted on hearing what had happened to the others next, so Gregor took over, describing his ordeals in the Labyrinth and why he hadn't killed the Bane.

"Oh no, Ripred's a daddy now, how adorable!", he laughed pointing a finger, which earned him a hefty slap from the rat's tail. "Worth it", he only mumbled and at that, even Gregor grinned.

There wasn't much more than that to Gregor's tale either and as soon as he concluded with Nerissa's interpretation of the prophecy, Hamnet stood up. "Alright... this was a pleasant get-together, and I am certain where we are headed, we will be better off in good mood." He exchanged a look with Ripred. "But we must get going now."

The group instantly fell silent and Gregor swallowed, eyeing the dense vines beyond the clearing. Of course, he had nearly forgotten what lied ahead.

It took but ten minutes to ready the group for departure. Hamnet did a last round of medical check-ups – he re-bandaged injuries, including Gregor's singed feet, and administrated painkiller to both Nike and Aurora. They would ride on Frill, together with their supplies.

It took some effort to get Nike to leave Thanatos and take her place on the lizard's back, meanwhile, Gregor fetched Boots to take her designated seat on Temp. Everyone else was to go on foot.

When he had secured the bats, Hamnet turned back to the group and exchanged glances with the Death Rider. He had put his boots back on, yet his sword wasn't strapped to his back, the handle instead stuck out of his backpack.

"To the Vineyard of Eyes, then", Hamnet called, and Frill led the way into the jungle.