Chapter 8

"Ah, welcome, Gregor. I assume we all know why we are here, or has Ripred not filled you in?" Vikus asked Gregor.

"No, he told me. So let's get to the prophecy!" Gregor was putting on an act of fake excitement. He didn't want anyone to think he was still thinking about Luxa, even thought he was. Vikus unrolled a scroll. Nerissa had recopied it into her own, neater handwriting.

"Now let us begin with the first stanza." said Vikus.

As warrior, is he done?

For a new plan has begun

Fate is now becoming clear

Is there not scratching left to hear?

"Gregor, what meaning do you believe the first line has?" Vikus asked him.

"Umm, I think that Sanwich is questioning weather I have to fight more or not." Gregor took a guess.

"Yes, I believe your thoughts are correct. Although it might also be questioning whether or not you still have the ability to fight, and kill. That may also be a possible interpretation." said Vikus. Gregor nodded. "And the second line?"

"I think that's saying that there's some creature with some new plan to do something to the Underland." Gregor took another guess. Vikus gave a nod, to show that he agreed.

"Yes. It may be a good plot or a bad plot, but as the remaining stanzas are warning us of one who wishes to devour, we must assume it is bad." Vikus said. "You are doing well so far, Gregor. You have basically grasped the meaning of these lines, and that is most wonderful. The third line is fairly easy. It only states that what will become of you and the Underland is geting clearer and clearer, and we will soon know." Gregor nodded. "Now this fourth line is perhaps the trickiest in this stanza. What do you make of it, Gregor?" Vikus continued.

"Uhh, maybe that there are more bad rats who want our light, or something?" tried Gregor. This line really was confusing!

"Well, that is possible. We can also beleive that it may be questioning the thought of another code, like the code of claw, or that the gnawer population will be wiped out completely. It is most uncertian, but we do not believe the latter possiblility to be the answer. However, we must face the fact that it may be the correct interperatation. Ripred, Hera, and Nerissa, do you beleive mine and Gregor's interperetations are accurate?" Vikus asked. Hera gave a flutter of her wings in approval, Nerissa nodded ghostly, but Ripred had a few doubts.

"I'm still a bit unsure about the scratching line. It seems like it could mean other things. As for the possibility of the gnawers being wiped out, I think Gregor and I know that couldn't happen." Said Ripred. He gave a glance over at Gregor. He was the only one, well, besides Ares, who knew about Ripred's nonbelieving in the prophecies.

"I will not question your thoughts. However, we still must consider it a possibility." said Vikus. "Now, let us proceed to the more unclear lines of the prophecy. The only unclear line of the second stanza is the final line."

Can we fight a bloodless fight?

"We, of course, is referring to the humans and their allies. Sandwich may be suggesting a war, but one of which there is no blood." said Vikus.

"Is that even possible?" asked Gregor. He was still confused about that.

"We are unsure, but it may be." Vikus answered.

"Ahem. I have another possibility." Nerissa spoke up. She stood up and started pacing the room, looking at the previous prophecies.

"What is it, Nerissa?" asked Vikus, who was surprised.

"I am led to belieive that it has less to do with physical fighting, and more of verbal. I believe it is suggesting an argument type of fight between the humans and the "Ones who wish to devour". I believe that to be another possibility." Nerissa said. They were all taken aback by this very possible answer. Vikus looked proud of her, though.

"Nerissa, this is very possible. Thank you." he said. "Now, what do you think of this line?" Vikus pointed to another line.

And free the light from its disguise

Nobody had an answer. What disguise could the light possibly be in? Gregor was surprised that this stumped even Vikus. "All right then. Who do we think is the ones "Who wish to devour"?" Vikus asked.

"Perhaps the cutters?" Hera guessed. "Or the twisters?"

"I think it's the rats. Some other ones, who still don't like the comprimise." Gregor spoke up and startled everyone, for he had not spoken in a while.

"Yes, Gregor! That is a wonderful possibility!" Nerissa cheered. Ripred just gave a nod, and Hera and Vikus nodded their approval.

"Okay, we are finished here. You may all return to your buisness, thank you." said Vikus. Gregor walked out of the room and to the council room. He wanted to go and tell Luxa of their success.

When he got to the doorway, he saw Luxa hunched over a map with some of the newly elected council members. The others had died during the War of Time, save Vikus. They looked busy, so Gregor figured he would come back later, and go to see his sisters now. He was just about to leave when Luxa looked his way.

"Oh, hello Gregor. Do not go, we are finished here." All of the council were returning to their quarters. Luxa came out with him. "Did you make any progress with the prophecy?" She asked.

"Yeah, we solved a couple of things. There's still a couple that are still confusing." Gregor answered. Luxa nodded.

"Would you not like to go check on your sisters?" she asked.

"Yeah, let's go." They walked down the corridors. Luxa wished to take the long way, so they could talk, and Gregor had not refused. On the way, they ran into Perdita, a guard who they were friendly with, Lapblood, a rat who had helped them many times, and Heronian, the mouse who helped break the Code of Claw. They stopped and talked with each one of them.

They were nearing Luxa's room when they ran into Temp, Boots's cockroach friend. He was hunched over a human, who was bleeding heavily from a gash in his leg.

They rushed closer and saw that it was Hazard.