The next thing Gregor knew he was being shaken awake by Luxa. "You are needed in the hospital. Ares is in need of you," she said.
"Ok, but when do we leave?" Gregor asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"When Ares' wing is fully healed," Luxa replied.
"Okay. Well, thanks I guess. I'll be leaving now," Gregor said awkwardly.
Gregor began to walk towards the doorway. "Gregor, wait." Luxa said.
"Wha- " Gregor started, but before he could get the word out Luxa took his face in her hands and kissed him.
They broke apart and Gregor was as red as a crisp fall leaf. "Uh…thanks.." Gregor stuttered.
"Stupid! Idiot!" Gregor muttered to himself as he rushed out of the room before he could say anything else that would make him look or feel like an idiot.
Gregor started walking towards the hospital, thinking of all the stupid things he had done or said to Luxa in the past. He almost ran into a doctor who was carrying a large needle in his hand.
"Sorry," Gregor apologized as he moved out of the doctor's way.
Gregor walked over to a sheet of paper on the wall that said where the patients were being held. Ares was being held in stall 6. Gregor walked along, looking up, searching for the number 6. He found it and walked in to find Ares sitting up on his bed. Ares looked weak, with his wing in an awkward sling.
"Luxa said you needed me?" Gregor choked out.
"She is correct. You must go on without me. Ripred won't wait another minute to find his pup," Ares told.
"Ripred can wait, I need you Ares. I need to fly with you again," Gregor replied.
"The doctor reported it shall be at least two more days that it is fully healed. He has me on medicine to make the healing process go by faster," Ares answered.
"Good. I just want to get this over with," Gregor said.
"I do to. Though having it over means others die," Ares said softly.
"I know. But we will try our best to keep our loved ones alive," Gregor added.
"Gregor, you are wanted in the feast room," a nurse said.
"Oh, okay. Thank you," Gregor replied. "Well, I have to go Ares."
"Yes, goodbye." Ares replied.
Gregor walked out of the hospital and towards the feast room. Hoping Luxa wouldn't be there. Gregor walked into the room, and Luxa was there of course. He looked down at his feet as he crossed the room to his seat. Gregor sat next to Ripred, feeling alone without Ares next to him.
"What's wrong with you boy?" Ripred asked.
"Nothing," Gregor muttered sheepishly.
Ripred glanced over at Luxa and back at Gregor. "Is she mad at you?" Ripred whispered.
"No, more like the opposite," Gregor replied.
"Ah-huh, I see." Ripred said slyly.
"The doctor said it will be two more days until Ares' wing is fully healed," Gregor blurted.
Ripred glared at him, "We must go now. We must leave today. My pups' life is at stake!"
"Ripred, you needeth not go today. It can wait a couple of days. Your pup will be fine," Vikus said. "You know you cannot go without us."
Ripred shut his trap and twirled his claw in his soup. "Normally I wouldn't be so dull…..what is wrong with me? Why am I not enjoying the soup I love so dearly?"
"Because something you love even more is not here with you, enjoying the moment as well," Luxa mentioned.
Gregor moved his food around his plate with his fork. He wished that they could just leave today, and Ares be healed. He didn't want to disappoint Ripred any further. Gregor took a bite of meat and slowly chewed it, though it was really quite delicious he didn't seem to taste it. He only had a metallic taste in his mouth.
"What are we doing today?" Gregor asked.
"I suggested a picnic. Just you and I," Luxa said.
Gregor's face turned a bright red and he looked down at his plate so no one would see. Did Luxa really want to be alone with him? No…they couldn't be alone, Aurora would be there. Unless she has something planned for Aurora.
"No running of though, do you understand?" Mareth asked in a harsh tone.
"We understand. Aurora has to check in with the doctor, her wing has been hurting that she displaced a while ago. We wouldn't be able to get far without her. We will only be in the fields," Luxa told.
"I will proceed on making you a lunch sack," a waitress said who was standing in the back of the room.
"I'm done here. I am going to go wash up," Gregor said as he got up from the table.
Really all he wanted was peace and quiet. He wanted to write a letter to his mother, telling her how well he was and what quest he was going to go on this time. Gregor walked back to Luxa's room. He began to look for a scroll and found one in an old stone desk. There was a quill and ink on top of the desk. He sat on the chair that was in front of the desk.
Dear mom and Dad,
I am doing well here. There hasn't been any sort of danger. There was a new prophecy found. We weren't going to take the voyage for a while, but Ripred's pup was found here in the Underland, and he has to find it before it dies. Please don't come down here, you will only worsen things.
I love you,
Gregor.
Gregor curled the scroll back up and walked out of the room. He found a guard outside of the room and asked him if he could make sure that the letter made it up to the laundry room. The guard nodded and told him he would see what he could do. Gregor found Luxa slinging a pack over her shoulder.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"Yeah," Gregor replied.
"A bat will take us down. We must be back within the hour, we have more training," Luxa stated.
"Okay, well lets go then," Gregor replied as he started down the hall towards the High Hall.
A smoky colored bat sat in the middle of the High Hall. Luxa said a few words with the bat and she mounted. Gregor sat behind her, wishing that the bat under him was Ares. The bat flew off from the High Hall and over the fields. It took less than two minutes to fly to the fields. The bat landed softly and waited for his cargo to dismount; when they had he took off for the palace.
Luxa sat down in the middle of the field, cows surrounding her. Gregor sat by her and helped her open her pack. The sack held a roll of meat and bread and cheese. Gregor began to slice the bread while Luxa did the cheese and meat.
"Have you ever tried to ride any of these cows?" Gregor asked between bites.
"No. Absolutely not, that is absurd. Do people ride cows in the Overland?" Luxa asked.
"Well not cows, but an animal called a horse. They are like cows, just without the horns, utters, and they are much taller. And they have a mane and a hairy tail, not like a cows tail," Gregor replied.
"Have you ever tried riding a cow?" Luxa asked.
"Yeah, back on my old farm I did. We had to have someone tie the cows' horns and lead it though," Gregor told.
Luxa took Gregor's face in her hands and kissed him and didn't let go. It wasn't a normal kiss, this one was different, she added her tongue to it. Gregor wrapped his arms around her and rolled her over into the plants. The plants were so long no one could see them; they could do whatever they wanted. Gregor began to slide his hand under her shirt but stopped at the sound of wings. They broke apart and began to fix their hair like nothing happened. Gregor shoved a sandwich in his mouth, as did Luxa.
Mareth sat upon Andromeda. "We are leaving right now, you must hurry."
"Wait, I thought Ares' wing wasn't fully recovered? We still have two more days," Luxa stammered.
"Plans have been changed. The doctors say Ares can fly, just not very far and without much weight," Mareth replied. "Mount Andromeda. All of the fliers are in the High Hall packed up and ready to fly."
Luxa mounted Andromeda and Gregor sat behind. The bat flew up and sped towards the High Hall. She landed near the other fliers and Luxa and Gregor dismounted.
The fliers already had their packs, even Ripred was fully strapped.
"They work fast," Gregor muttered.
Gregor found Ares and mounted him. "Why are we leaving so early?" Gregor asked.
"They say the Bane has moved farther into the Fire Lands with Ripred's pup. We must leave as soon as possible if we are to find the pup alive," Ares replied.
After a brief discussion of why they were leaving so soon, Vikus waved his hand, signaling the fliers to take flight. Ares remained on the floor while Boots and Temp mounted; after they were secure he rose into the air and went into his place in formation.
Andromeda was the first to take off. The other fliers followed her out over the city.
The fliers flew for a while, crossing cracked earth, rivers, creeks, and oceans. They stopped in a cave. Not because the fliers were tired, but because of the thick, black, choking smoke that lay in a large cloud ahead of them.