I must tell you: I hate those fanfiction authors who say I have to have so many reviews to update. I'm not like that. But I do feel that the reason this chapter was so late was due to the lack of positive reinforcements. Not a lot of motivation if you get what I mean. So, I will continue to update, and I will absolutely not threaten you to get reviews. But I will say that the timeliness of my updates will increase with an increase of reviews.

Anyways, I apologizing for updating so late. I know excuses aren't excepted, so I won't try and give any.

Enjoy!

The first night I got here, I was terrified. I was practically blind from the darkness, didn't know where any water or food was or if the water or food was dangerous, and I sure as heck didn't know what was out there. And I missed my little boy terribly. What was he going to do without a mother? I considered going back, having already discovered large fissures in the Earth, several animals that seemed to contain violent tendencies, random pools of water, and the different ecosystems ended abruptly; Forest immediately turned to deserts, deserts to oceans, oceans to jungles. Mind you, I had only been here for 1day. I missed my family more than can be expressed in words, but it was already too late, in too deep. I hope my baby knows, and always remembers, that I love him.

They had worked it out. Gregor, Ripred, and Temp would go on foot, using echolocation and natural instincts to avoid the places where land did not exist. Luxa, Lizzie, Boots, and Hazard would all fly with Nike.

Gregor pecked Luxa on the cheek, promising to stay safe, while Ripred and Lizzie hugged, and Hazard picked up Boots and sat her on Nike's back. Then they were off, Gregor raising a flashlight, watching as Nike rose out of his sight.

"Come on… guys. We should get going." Gregor wasn't exactly sure what to call his traveling group.

"How far are we supposed to be going, Gregor? Until the holes stop?" Ripred paused and laughed to himself a little. "Because I don't think that's ever going to happen."

"We don't need your pessimism at the moment, Ripred. Luxa and I decided on a few hours and then finding a place to rest. This day has been stressful enough." Gregor's tiredness showed through as he snapped at Ripred.

Ripred just nodded and they started off with a series of clicks emitting from Gregor.

Luxa had a dreamy look on her face, as if she weren't really paying attention. Maybe I shouldn't bother her then, Lizzie thought. No, came herself responding, get it over with now so you don't have to do it later!

Lizzie tapped Luxa on the shoulder, the older girl responding with her head snapping towards Lizzie's direction. She relaxed and gave Lizzie a questioning eyebrow, accompanied with an annoyed look.

"Um, I just wanted to say s-sorry, for earlier. I was really just c-curious, but sometimes I can come off a bit know-it-all-ish, so, s-sorry." Luxa smiled at Lizzie and Lizzie was taken aback. Luxa never used to smile. But despite Lizzie's confusion and discomfort, she smiled back.

"You're forgiven." Luxa said before turning back around, eyes glazing over, muscles relaxing.

Okay then? Lizzie decided not to let it freak her out too much. Lizzie sat rigidly straight. Hazard was seated behind her and she was afraid that if she relaxed even the littlest bit, she would touch him. She knew that it was ridiculous, that he didn't have some sort of contagious disease, but she just couldn't help it.

Meanwhile, Hazard was looking towards the ground, though all he could see was darkness. My mother left me for this? A place riddled with holes? And then his heart rose in his throat and his next thought made him immediately feel horrible for feeling resent towards her. Has she fallen in one of these holes? Is she dead? Hazard tried to shake the thought, but it didn't budge. He wanted to cry. He took in a deep breath and adjusted Boots, who was sitting in front of him, into a more comfortable position for himself. Her presence comforted him and reminded him of the times where she sang song after song and they learned the roach language from Temp. That made him miss his Dad. Hazard closed his eyes and willed his heart to turn stone, willed himself to not care. Too Late.

Gregor panted and wiped his forehead. This was much more work than he had expected and they had been at it for three hours and twenty minutes. It was safe to say he was exhausted. He waved the flash light in the air, switching it on and off in a Morse code message: Let's Stop. Lizzie understood and told Luxa and they used their own flashlights to send a message back: We will meet you.

Gregor's caravan stopped and listened as Nike swooped down and thudded a few feet to the right of them, barely missing a hole.

"Did you guys spot any shelter?" Gregor asked to the group in general, but it was Hazard who answered.

"A mountain range will begin if we go a bit farther. I'm sure we'll find plenty of caves there."

"Okay. Nike you fly overhead again. Temp, you take Boots and Hazard on your back. Ripred, you take Lizzie and either hold her hand or put her on your back or whatever. Luxa, you're with me." Hazard and Boots tentatively approached Temp and Lizzie sat on Ripred, who had gotten on four legs to crawl around the holes. Luxa walked over to Gregor and blushed when she found her hand in his. Nike set off.

A few minutes later Nike called from above that the moments were literally right in front of them. As in, Ripred's claws tapped against the rock just as Nike finished talking. "See any caves?" Ripred called up.

"Yeah, step up and duck." The group followed the instructions and quickly made a fire.

"Is this really such a good idea?" Hazard asked glancing suspiciously from the fire to the dark mouth of the cave.

"Well, I'd rather we have light. We can always fight off any creatures that are attracted." Gregor responded.

"And to be honest, the animals we'll be scared because they probably have never been exposed to light. It would hurt their eyes." Lizzie replied before looking down at her feet and blushing.

"Okay…" Hazard sat by the fire and stared into the flames, continuing to wonder about his Mom and think about his Dad.

Luxa and Gregor curled up into one another, just happy to have one another's company. Lizzie and Ripred chatted about life, Temp was trying to teach Boots certain words in the Roach language that she hadn't been able to learn before or had forgotten, and Nike rested in the shadows. All was peaceful and tranquil; normal almost.

Then was a scuffling noise. Boots froze.

"It's fine, probably just a bug." Ripred reassured her. And then the noise came again, louder. The whole group froze and each head slowly swiveled to the back of the cave. Now it became more click like, similar to talons on a floor. Click click click click; each one growing louder and more ominous. A shape began to form in the darkness. A winged creature and as it got ever closer, its size increasing with each click, a color of the thing could be made out: green.

So, who thinks they know what it is? HUGE amount of foreshadowing going on here. Sorry, but you know I love my cliff hangers! Anyways, if someone can guess who or what it is, I'll put your name in the story. That is if you give a name... If not, your username will be incorporated (As in: "Hey Lizzie, u r awesome and you should know it."). Sorry, but I've ALWAYS wanted to do one of these. Also, comments and criticism are excepted as well as plot ideas. I actually plan on using all the ones I've gotten so far(hint hint!). Don't forget to review!