19
In the distance, the water turned rough with waves being thrown over stalagmites. Gregor was not sure how they got on this course, surely Howard had not directed them here. However, that did not matter now. What mattered now was that was that there was no way the boat would be able to navigate the rocks and waves.
"Howard!" Luxa called, and rushed to her cousin. She got him to his feet, while Gregor woke everyone on the other boat. Now Gregor heard the Underlanders shouting at each other.
"Why did you change course?" Howard yelled.
"I did no such thing. You must have set the boat in the wrong direction from the start."
"I would not make such a mistake."
"Guys!" Gregor yelled. "This doesn't really matter right now. What are we going to do about it?"
"We lift one boat, and Howard should be able to navigate the other. This is called the Gnawer's Teeth, is it not? You have gone through it before."
Howard shook his head. "On a smaller craft, yes, but as it is, no. The rock formations are far too close together. Have everyone board this boat, and the fliers will lift it to safety."
"Uh," Wynnora said, hanging off the back of the boat, "That may be a problem." They all ran to her, and saw the rudder was destroyed.
"What could have-" Luxa began.
"There is no time to wonder about that now, Luxa. Go to the other boat." The boats were quickly moving toward Gnawer's Teeth, and now the front one was turning sideways. With Luxa on the safe bat, Gregor helped Howard transfer a few supplies, then everyone climbed over and Gregor cut the rope. Howard instructed the strongest fliers, Hippolyta and Hector, to take opposite ends, to best distribute strength. The fliers lifted the boat out of the water with some difficulty, and began to move it away from danger.
Gregor was watching the other boat hit the stalagmites and shatter, when Hector lost his grip for a moment. The back left of the boat dropped several feet, sending everyone flying in that direction. Lapblood narrowly avoided sending Kik flying off the boat, but Whiptail flew into Luxa and Howard. Howard flipped right over the side and into the water, but Gregor leaped for Luxa. As she flipped over the side, he grabbed her hand, and held tight.
"I must go for him!" Nike cried
"No, Hipp cannot hold your side on her own," Hector said back having regained his own grip. He gave some order for them to change positions, and they all moved.
"Stop!" Gregor yelled, but it was too late. The jarring motion of the fliers made him lose his grip, and Luxa fell into the water below. Gregor did not even think, he just grabbed a rope, and lifted himself to the side of the boat. "Wynn! Grab the other end of this rope." He tied a hasty knot around himself, then jumped in.
The water was freezing, and Gregor found it hard to catch his breath. He used echolocation to try to spot Luxa, but the water made it difficult. He needed to know what direction she was in.
"Luxa!" he called. "Luxa!"
"Gregor!" He heard her to his left. He concentrated in that direction, and spotted her. As he fought to swim in her direction, he called out to her.
"Luxa, swim toward my voice!" He kept calling to her, so she would know where he was. Every time he called out to her, water would fill his mouth, causing him to cough and gag, but he could not stop. The waves coming from Gnawer's Teeth slowed them greatly, but Gregor could tell he was getting closer to her.
He reached Luxa just in time. His rope was almost out of length, and Luxa was barely able to keep her head above the water. Gregor grabbed her and held tight. She could not swim anymore, and was coughing out water. Gregor struggled trying to keep her up.
"Wynn! Wynn!" he called back to the boat. She was not pulling them back. It was difficult to tell at this distance, but it appeared only three fliers were holding up the boat. "She must be helping to find Howard," he thought.
"Luxa? Luxa look at me." He turned her face to look at him, and she looked completely exhausted. "Can you hold on to me by yourself?" She gave a weak nod. Gregor moved her around to his back, so she could hold on around his neck. Then he began pulling on the rope to bring them back to the boat. After a few pulls, he felt the other end start to pull him in. Gregor was exhausted, so he just held tight and waited to be pulled in.
Gregor focused all his energy into holding onto the rope and making sure Luxa was still with him, and he had no idea who pulled him onto the boat. He collapsed on the deck, and Luxa coughed out even more water. He heard Howard give directions from somewhere on the boat, but he was too tired to open his eyes. "They found him," he thought, and fell asleep.