I'm so very sorry for how late this is. I haven't really almost updated in half a year, which totally sucks! But, here it is, and it is slightly short, but I will get the next chapter out soon.

I wanted to say thank you to SymetricallyObsessed, for 1) The prophecy comment (I know this great website, www. rhymezone .com and if you type in a word it gives you every word that rhymes with it) 2) Reviewing. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have remembered to finish the chapter and update.

Um, also; I love critique, I do, but, everyone makes mistakes. Some of these chapters I got out as quick as possible, others I went through with a fine-tooth comb. And also, if you have nothing nice or helpful to say, don't say anything at all :) And don't curse, I don't want to disable anonymous reviews because all of you are awesome, but I don't like swearing.

Anyway, Read, Review, and enjoy :)

I'm very lonely. I can't tell the time or what day it is or what year. All I know is that I've been here a very long time and I wouldn't mind a little human companionship now. My hair has grown very long and I'm carving a knife to cut it. I wash in the creek and have started weaving baskets out of the long grass that grows here and clothing out of animals that cross my path and are violent. I feel so uncivilized, being isolated for so long. I talk to myself, just so that I won't forget. And I draw, and obviously I write. I've taken a small animal under my wing. It's just a cub or a baby, so I don't know what it will look like when it gets older. I wonder what my baby boy will look like when he gets older…

"Just a bit farther now. See, see how you can see my face and see that ray of light?" Luxa said. The group was getting pretty tired of her "motivational" speeches. They hadn't rested for but a few seconds and were really starting to feel it.

"It's sunshine, Gregor. Look, it's coming out of that hole!" Lizzie pointed from her place on Nike's back. "We really aren't that far from it!" The hole was about a yard wide and sure enough, what looked like warm, yellow sun was seeping out of it.

With this realization, everyone started to speed up, but, they were hiking up the base of mountain and soon started to slow again. The bats switched off from flying to walking every few seconds. Finally, with a great huff of relief, they reached the top.

Then Gregor had a knife pressing into the fragile skin of his throat, a few drops of blood already trailing their way to his collar bone. He stood completely still. The rest of the party drew in a shocked breath. Luxa went to attack the assailant, but Hazard put a hand out to stop her. He gave her a sharp look and shook his head.

Then the attacker spoke, a voice that was hoarse, but recognizably female. Her face was hidden in the shadows. "Who are you? Where do you come from? How did you find me?" Gregor was about to go into Rager mode when he heard that it was girl. Granted, Luxa was an excellent fighter, but everyone knows you don't hit a girl!

"My name is Luxa, I am Queen of Regalia. The one that is at the end of your knife is The Warrior. His name is Gregor. The bats are Ares and Nike, and the rat is Ripred. Please, remove your knife from Gregor's throat." Luxa spoke, her voice high and regal.

The girl slowly removed her knife, but placed a hand on his chest, not allowing him to step forward. "And the others?" She spoke it quietly, seemingly in a state of awe.

Luxa spoke again. "This is my cousin Hazard, and these are Gregor's younger sisters; Lizzie, formally known as the code breaker, and Boots, the princess foretold in the roaches prophecy. And this is Temp, hero of the roaches."

The woman had dropped her hand from Gregor's chest the moment Luxa spoke. Gregor hadn't so much as heard her breathe or shift her weight.

"H-Hazard?" Her voice, cracking, dropped below a whisper so that only Gregor and the animals could hear her.

"Yeah, Hazard… Why?" Gregor asked, a confused look spreading over his features.

The woman stepped out of the shadows. A brown and blonde braid went down to the backs of her knees. Her face wasn't Underlander white like Luxa's, but it wasn't the faded summer tan color that Lizzie's had. She had light green eyes, similar to new leaves budding in the spring, and almost the same as Hazard's, except hers were a warm inviting green, and his were an electrifying green. Her face had wrinkles, but not too many, just enough to make her look wise. She wore a pair of brown, tattered capris, what looked like a once white shirt, a jacket made out of a material close to grass, and a leather cord with a pretty steel blue stone on it sat at the base of her neck.

Hazard gasped and stumbled backwards, trying to get away. How could she? How dare she sow up after all this time? Hazard had known what the prophecy said,

Strive to find the wife

Of the man who caused the strife

But he hadn't really believed it. But, there she was. They had found her. Or had she found them? Either way, she stood there gaping at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish, and he stood there, his eyes wide and his eyebrows reaching his hairline, staring right back at her.

To answer some questions:

Hazard is very edgy because times have been hard in the Underland since Gregor left, but I have yet to go into that. Also, remember the things that have already happened to him, and now this prophecy says they're going to find his Mom, a woman who abandon him, and he's nervous about that, etc.

The Fireflies will be making an appearance :) They were awesome; I loved them :)

If any of you thought it was weird that Hazard's really, um, "protective" of Luxa (meaning when he's a little snappy towards Gregor and stuff), it's because she's like his sister and she's seen her suffer because of this guy (he's very intuitive of people's emotions) and what guy likes their sister dating?

Anyway, hoped you enjoyed it, I'm sorry for the lengthy writer's notes and the long wait, but I've gotten a lot better at writing and getting past writer's block.