Woot. It's chapter nine. Sorry about the confusion with Ripred's offspring. Honestly, I used to be a huge Warriors fan, so I found my old list of gruesome names I made in like fourth grade and was like, "Wow. These could be gnawer names." Then I thought that only Ripred would be able to name his children such vile names. I guess you guys are here to read about Gregor, and not my strange thought process, so here's the wonderful—
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The Underland Chronicles (Including, but not limited to: Characters, events, and places) aren't mine, and never will be.
Previous: "It was only right to bring all the known ragers together." Ripred nodded once before turning to where Luxa stand in shock. The poor queen could probably only hear the wicked sounds coming from Slashtongue. "I guess it's alright that the queen of Regalia be present as well."
Gregor once more just barely was able contain a sudden burst of laughter; subduing it by clamping his lips into thin lines. This, he thought, this rat is a rager? Gregor felt fingers brush against his side, and mildly froze before remembering Luxa was somewhere behind him probably wondering what the hell was going on. Keeping his face turned to where the two gnawers sat quizzically looking at him, Gregor lifted his hand to meet hers, and guided her slowly to his side—Keeping her hand in his to steady her of course.
"The queen is here? Father, why didn't you tell me?" Slashtongue whined and turned his back to Gregor and Luxa. "I'll probably scare her off, or… Or what if I look like a monster. Already I can't go anywhere near Regalia because some guard thought I had some disease." The younger gnawer buried his face against his own pelt, for now he was curled up in a subtly shuddering ball of fur.
Gregor, having a softer spot for misunderstood gnawers after the incident with Lapblood, wanted to step forward and comfort Slashtongue. As if Ripred could predict Gregor's emotions, a scarred tail whipped out to block Gregor's path. Luxa on the other hand was hardly fazed by the sounds of the gnawer's misery.
"I've seen far worse things than a beat up gnawer." Gregor let out a single laugh to try and cheer up the beaten down Slashtongue. "There's this guy in the Overland by the name of Justin Bieber, and as far as I'm concerned his face is really scary." Gregor pretended to shudder.
"I'll have to agree with you on that one, boy. Found a few posters of him while in a library once. Bet he gave me mental scars to go with the battle-caused ones." Ripred set down his rough tail, and leaned back further to reach back and pull out another bone. Gregor half expected him to verbally continue to torcher Slashtongue, but his new bone seemed more interesting.
"R-really?" The voice was hardly audible through his pelt.
"Yes, and now that nobody's feelings are hurt, we can all go back to Regalia? Okay? Good." Ripred spoke before Gregor could even open his mouth to respond to the younger gnawer, and quickly turned. The scar-embedded rat began to make a series of scratching and clicking noises. Before Gregor could question it, or recognize a form of the code used during a war years ago, multiple gusts of stale cave air wafted swiftly and smoothly over his face.
A flier, Euripedes Gregor guessed, had landed just feet away from them.
"Vikus and the citizens of Regalia await. Need I remind you, Queen Luxa, that this is the fourth time you have postponed your coronation?" The voice was lighter and softer than Euripedes', and with a smile Gregor recognized it.
"Nike, it's good to see you again. Erm—Hear you, I guess." He took a step towards the flier princess, and gave her a small, formal bow. Assuming that with the much farther advanced echolocation that bats had she could easily tell where he was.
Before she could respond, two more fliers landed.
"It is good to see you too, Overlander." Nike purred, "Meet you Hera and Zeus, my children." In union both of the smaller fliers aligned themselves beside Nike, dipped their heads, and spoke.
"Greetings, Overlander." Because of both of them speaking together it took a few moments to identify which flier was which. Sitting to Nike's left was Hera, who stood at about half a foot shorter than her mother. At the princess' right sat Zeus who looked hardly less than a few inches shorter than his mother.
"How is your mother, and the other fliers?" Gregor attempted to keep some sort of formality. There was a brief pause, and both Hera and Nike winced. Wrong question, he thought regretfully.
"She passed months after the arrival of Hera and Zeus." Nike opened her left wing for Hera to shuffle closer and lean into her mother's side.
"I'm so sorry." Gregor's voice lowered and softened as he nodded his head in respect.
"The royal bloodline lives on, for now I am the queen, and my children will continue the legacy after me." Both of the younger fliers seemed to perk up at the thought of that. Zeus straightened his back in a gesture of pride. Gregor would have been judgmental of their attitudes about their grandmother's demise, but held his tongue because of the fact that he hadn't been raised by the brutal laws of royalty.
"Speaking of royalty, you, dearest queen, need to return to Regalia at once." Ripred picked at his teeth before pointing to Luxa, spraying a slight mist of saliva on the two. Despite the rat-spit shower, Gregor silently thanked Ripred for ending that awkward conversation. Luxa shrank away from the gnawer's actions, and knowing her she probably gave him a dirty look.
"I assume that is somewhat correct, but do you think it is possible to reschedule it to tomorrow? I'm terribly exhausted." There was a begging whine lacing her tone. To this Gregor raised a brow.
"If my guessing is correct you two were sleeping, right?" Ripred scratched his chin, "To say you're tired would inquire that you were doing… Other activities. I'm sure Vikus wouldn't think so positively if I were to word this situation like that."
Gregor felt his face burn, and was thankful that nobody could see him. Though being surrounded by animals with highly tuned ears that could probably hear his racing heart was no comfort for him.
"Then I won't attend. I refuse." Luxa promptly took a step away from Gregor and crossed her arms.
"Dad, maybe we should just—" Slashtongue began, but was cut off by Ripred's harsh tone.
"Listen here you spoiled little girl, I know you feel on top of the world because the Overlander is here by chance, but your entire city—thousands of people—have been planning this day, and devoting their whole lives for your perfect party." Ripred advanced a few steps, and his ivories bore slightly when he spoke.
"Chain me there to my chair then. I won't be served." The queen made a sniffing sound and turned her nose away.
"Well then have it your way." Ripred turned to Gregor, "Prepare yourself, Gregor, looks like we're leaving a few days early."
"Leaving?" Gregor's voice cracked at the sudden turn of mood, "If you dare think I'm already leaving the Underland then… Then you're wrong!" His arms flew in the air defensively.
"It's a wonder how your brain can even distinguish colors." Ripred grumbled, "Didn't Vikus talk to you with Nerissa. You know, about the Prophecy of the Return. Remember now? Good boy, I'll get you a golden sticker before we head off."
A tremor of shock sparked through Gregor's whole being.
"That was serious." He murmured in a hardly audible tone before clasping his hands over his face.
It wasn't much help that Slashtongue's puddle of drool was starting to reach the toes of Gregor's sandals.
"No offense, but we wouldn't go through the trouble of dragging you down here just to attend a coronation. Though the looks of the Underlanders were quite amusing. The queen's expression was far more entertaining." Ripred paused to snort in laughter. "Yes, it was serious. Now if you're ready I think we should start packing some things. Journey might take days longer than any other down here I believe. We still need to see who's attending, and before Luxa attempts to even think of joining you just know she can't. I'd say that you could maybe take roughly seven people, and with that—"
"Ripred." Gregor cut him off, "Lets focus on getting back to Regalia first."
"Father, may I come too? If… If it's okay with the queen?" Slashtongue cocked his head and looked up at Ripred. Both holding in as much saliva and pleading his father for approval.
"Take the fliers," Ripred mumbled as he turned around and padded towards the edge, "we'll meet you there."
Awkwardly Gregor looked at the three fliers; unsure of whom to ride.
"Could the Overlander be with me on the way back?" Hera curiously chirped. Nike looked back and forth between Gregor and her daughter before shaking her head.
"Maybe next time. For this ride I can carry the queen and Overlander." With that the flier queen turned and allowed Gregor to approach.
As Gregor was about to mount the bat he heard Luxa clear her throat. Smooth, he thought bitterly, leave the girl in the dark.
"Erm, sorry." He turned back to gently grab her wrist and guide her to Nike's backside. Gregor boosted Luxa onto the bat's neck before lifting himself up. It took a few moments for Nike to adjust to the weight. In these moments Gregor awkwardly tried to leave a few inches between Luxa's back and his chest. In take off the effort was lost when the queen leaned back into him due to the sudden gust of wind. Gregor heard her mutter an apology, but before she could lean back forward he draped his arms on top of her pale ones, and laced all ten fingers together.
Hera and Zeus were not-so-silently flying some lengths behind their mother. Hera would giggle every few moments, and Zeus would mutter something about 'not understanding adults.'
Gregor simply smiled, flashing his white teeth in the dark where nobody would see. His ears started to burn again at Ripred's words, but he pushed the thought back into the corners of his mind; enjoying the moment he was living in.
Just as the faint outline of Regalia was visible Gregor thought he heard a voice, but after straining to hear it again and failing, he shrugged slightly and pushed that thought away too. Until he heard it again. Though it wasn't just a voice; it was a terrified shout yelling into the night:
"Cutters!" The voice wailed, "Cutters are marching on Regalia!"