~ PANDORA

As Pandora entered the war room, she quickly became very confused.

"Pan? I thought you were staying the in fliers' lands," she said. The little bat stood next to Aurora. Luxa sat at the table.

"I could either stay there and be safe or go with you and be of some help. I'd rather do the latter," Pan answered.

Pandora sighed and didn't argue. "So, who else is going?" She asked Luxa.

"It is a very small group," she said. "Just you and Pan, me and Aurora, and two scouts. We will meet them later on. I didn't want to give them very many details."

"Good thinking. Any idea on where we're looking for the queen?"

"I thought you may know."

"I... I..." Pandora started to shake her head, but then her gaze fell on the map of the Underland that was painted on the wall. She could tell where some of the map had been repainted, when she had taken it upon herself to write over it. "Call me crazy," she began, "but I'm getting the weirdest feeling that we should be heading to the Dead Lands. I feel... pushed almost. Do you feel it?"

Pandora turned around to look at Luxa. She could tell from the expression on her face that Luxa did not feel whatever it was Pandora was feeling. The queen looked somewhere in between concentrating and trying to convince herself to believe her. "No. But it's as good a lead as any. Do either of you have any objections?"

She opened the floor for input from the fliers. Pan shook his head.

"I have none," Aurora answered.

"It's settled then," Luxa said as she got up from the table. "Prepare as quickly as you can. Eat some food. Bring only what you can carry. We are leaving soon."

Pandora nodded in agreement, and then followed the queen and her bond as she exited the war room. Walking a few paces down the hall, Pandora stopped and turned to Pan, who was right behind her. "Want to come with me somewhere before we have to leave?" She asked him.

"Sure," the bat said. "Where?"

"Well, I need some supplies and I know a pretty decent spot where we might score a couple flashlights," Pandora said with a small smile.

"The Overland museum?" Pan asked, a bit of excitement entering his voice. Pandora was happy her friend was able to remain so true to himself, even after such devastating news.

Pandora nodded. "Hopefully it'll be a little less crowded down in that part of the palace, too."

The duo went down a few flights of stairs, and although the floor was just as crowded as the others, Pandora was pleasantly surprised that everyone steered clear of the little supply room where the Underlanders put everything that had fallen from the Overland.

"Wow," Pan said in awe as he scampered inside. "Look at all this stuff!"

"I'm glad to see they're still trying to keep it organized," Pandora said as she glanced around. "I've spent a lot of time in this room. It helped me think. It was a good... distraction. Oh, a few new pieces."

Pandora laughed as she picked up a lamp one of the Underlanders had placed on the floor. She could tell they had great difficulty wrapping up the cord. At least they had tried. Pandora re-wrapped the cord and placed it on a shelf.

"What do you normally look for when you're down here?" Pan asked.

"Well I usually start with a backpack to hold everything," she started, scooping up one from the box that contained at least half a dozen. "Flashlights are a priority. There's only a few left, but it's better than nothing."

Ranging in various sizes, there were four flashlights left. At least there were only four humans going on their mission, Pandora thought.

"Batteries are a must. They give power to the flashlights. We might need to replace them more than once to keep the flashlights working." Pandora quickly checked all four flashlights to make sure she grabbed the right kinds. "Not a bad start. Now I usually look for other things that might be useful."

"Like tape?" Pan suggested excitedly. "Mareth and Luxa told me how they used to be able to attach the lights to their arms with it, to keep their hands free."

"Yes! Tape... tape... there it is. Well, masking tape is better than no tape," Pandora said, tossing the half-used roll into her backpack.

Pan walked to the other side of the room to peruse what could be useful. "Here's a bottle of water!" He cried.

"Nice find," she complimented, walking over so Pan could drop it in the bag. After a few paces, she spied something laying on the top of one of the full baskets. "Wait a minute..." It was full of things that just didn't belong together. Perhaps it was a bin the Underlanders put things in when they just couldn't figure out where it went. She picked up a square white bottle.

"Is that more water?" Pan said, walking over.

"No... it's lighter fluid." She shook it slightly to check how much was left inside. A little more than half full. "I'm definitely taking this."

"What's lighter fluid?"

"I'll show you on a torch. Its flammable liquid. I wonder if there's some matches around."

Pandora accepted Pan's bottle of water and placed both bottles inside of her pack. "I know we're probably gonna have loads of torches with us, too. But having matches would make me feel so much better... ah! I found some!"

It was a small box that advertised a hotel, but most of the matches hadn't fallen out. It was perfect.

"I'd say this trip to the Overland museum was very helpful," Pandora said, smiling at Pan. He smiled back.

~ GREGOR

"You look prepared," Ripred commented once Gregor made it back to the arena. He glared at the rat, clunking noisily as he made his way towards the middle of the field. "Still nervous?" Ripred asked him once he stood by his side.

"Surprisingly... no. I feel calm. Ready." Gregor had felt nervous all the way up until Miravet helped him strap on the ebony armor. It was as if the metal kept the nerves from fogging his mind.

"Well, you can't speak for everyone here. For some, this is their first time fighting."

Gregor winced at Ripred's words, looking around the arena at all the creatures. Many faces looked up and turned towards the two entrances into the arena from somewhere beyond Regalia. Scouts ran through the entrances and onto the field, shouting at the top of their lungs.

"They're coming," Gregor said. "Right now."

"Then it's time to get a move on. Say something to the troops. Then get into position." Ripred paused for a moment. "Quickly!"

"Alright," Gregor snapped. He looked back at all the faces surrounding him. He had been trying to think of something bold to say all day. No inspiration had come, but it was time to face the music. If he was going to be Regalia's warrior, ninety percent of the job was to motivate the troops.

"Everyone!" He yelled, getting the attention of the entire crowd in just a matter of moments. "The cutters wanted to keep us divided. They invaded the shiners, the stingers, the spinners... and now they're trying to invade Regalia! There will be hundreds of them. But their strength doesn't lie in their numbers! Their strength comes from defeating the other creatures one at a time. And now we all stand here." Some of those on the arena started to cheer. "Look around you! There are humans, gnawers, stingers, spinners, and crawlers. We are all different." Others chimed in the din, making their voices heard but trying to make sure Gregor's voice still carried. "But we are all here to fight for one thing: peace. We stand here now together. Let's make the cutters fall apart. We fight to stop the fighting! Now everyone get ready!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, and the different creatures started organizing themselves into lines. Spears twiddled in the strong hands of farmers. Claws twitched on the gnawers. Pincers snapped open and shut on the stingers.

"Run like the river," Gregor said to Ripred over his shoulder as he headed towards a store room on the left-hand side of the field. His soldiers assigned to his group followed.

"Same to you," Ripred called. He watched as his group got into formation: spears and shields, line after line, with a gnawer on each end and stingers bringing up the rear. Gregor had to give Miravet and her team of blacksmiths a lot of credit. At the drop of the pin, she had designed spears that were steel from end to end. Her team did a great job making hundreds of them, the shafts flexible and light and the points strong and sharp.

Gregor held the curtain open and ushered his group inside. It was a rag tag team of whoever they could find. Whoever was willing to face the onslaught of red soldiers. Surprisingly, it wasn't hard to find able bodies who wanted to fight in the warrior's own group. Once everyone got inside, Gregor joined them and dropped the curtain into place.

As Pandora had said, they created their own version of that one Roman battle that Gregor forgot the name of. She had been so excited to share it at the time that she had talked too fast for Gregor to pick up all the details. But what was important from the story was what he and Mareth used for the plan. There were only two entrances into the arena, and the lines upon lines of cutters would have to be funneled through. Without their strength in numbers, the cutters wouldn't be making it to the other side of the arena alive.

Knowing to not underestimate them, Gregor came up with a secondary plan. Once he saw that Ripred's phalanx was getting overrun, and with more cutters pouring into the arena, Gregor would lead the second group of soldiers in from the store rooms on the side. This would add an extra front, fresh fighters, and most importantly, a boost in morale. All they had to do now was wait for their opportune moment.

Shouts erupted from the arena. The cutters were here! "Be ready," Gregor said softly. He peered out the side of the curtain and saw giant, red ants streaming in from the two entrances. Gregor guessed about four or five of them could get in at each entrance at the same time if they marched shoulder to shoulder.

Spears lowered and shields raised to guard the men and women. The shields! It wasn't something Gregor had seen so much in the last war, as many Underlanders elected not to use one. Who needed a defensive tool when they could fly away on their bond? And now, all the humans used them. They sure weren't fancy but they held fast.

The Phalanx seemed to be working. Shields protected the left side of each soldier and the right side of the person next to them. The long spears meant even soldiers three or four rows back could help the soldiers at the front. The gnawers on each side of the line was a great addition; they were fast enough to pick off any cutters who veered away from the phalanx, and could still protect the soldiers at the end, who didn't have someone next to them to shield their other side.

"It won't be long before they start trying to go around the entire unit," Gregor informed his team. "They're seeking out weaknesses. They can't find any at the front, so they're going along the sides."

After a moment or two, the first of the cutters got close enough to the sides of the arena to attempt to climb. Many got stuck in the sticky webs, and stingers picked them off easily. Sooner than Gregor expected, a few of the cutters had the idea to snap the silky webs that connected the sticky ones to the chairs and walls. They were trying to make their own path.

"Now!" Gregor shouted. He grabbed as much of the curtain blocking the entrance of the store room with one hand and used his sword to cut it off above his head. He threw it to the side as he ran onto the field. With fresh shouts, Gregor's group joined their companions on the battlefield.

Striking down cutters as he made his way forward toward Ripred, Gregor's sword became an extension of his own arm. Each move was clean, precise, and smooth.

Ripred was a whirl of claws, teeth, and tail. He had remained in position at the front of the phalanx. Gregor didn't realize the rat saw him join, but just as planned, he slowly made his way to stand directly in front of one of the entrances. Gregor stood in front of the other. He yanked his dagger from the hilt and held it in his left hand. Having not practiced the move at all, Gregor let his instincts take over, and he started to spin.

It seemed effortless, like a dance he had practiced so many times that it was ingrained into his muscles. A head here, a leg there... mandibles... a thorax... piece by piece, the red army was losing its numbers.

The arena battle was working. Thinking about it fueled Gregor's assault. How were his troops faring? As well as he was?

Gregor realized... his rager sense was completely at the forefront of his mind, yet he was still able to focus on other things. He could look around him and register that Ripred had ordered the phalanx to turn, separating into two smaller phalanxes that turned ninety degrees to pick off the cutters who were trying to move their way around Gregor and Ripred. They had adjusted their formation; what was once a rectangle was now a horseshoe, with stingers and crawlers hanging to the rear to ensure no one was entering the city.

He started noticing that less and less of the red army was entering the arena. Gregor and Ripred stopped spinning and picked off the last few who entered. Gregor took a few paces closer to the rat to be heard over the sounds of battle, as the last of the cutter's army was struck down.

"I have a feeling the queen ordered her troops elsewhere," Gregor yelled.

"Mareth is ready at the wall," Ripred answered. "I'm sure they will set their sights on that point into the city."

"Do you think she realized, with both of us here in the arena, that there are no ragers with the troops on the wall?"

"And no bonded soldiers either? It definitely crossed my mind."

"Do you mind if I go and join them?"

"If nothing else, it would boost morale to see you up there," Ripred answered. With no other cutters entering the arena, Ripred turned to look at his soldiers. The fighting had ceased, and some members of the group were starting to address their dead and wounded. Gregor was relieved not many had perished. "What're you waiting for? A flyer to land here with a written invitation?"

"Right," Gregor said. Returning his sword and dagger to his hilt, Gregor clapped Ripred on the back and started walking to the closest entrance to the city.

"Nice job keeping it in control," Ripred called after him.

Gregor turned and started talking while walking backwards. "Why can't you ever say what you want before I start walking away?" Ripred smirked. "If we both live, we're going to stand and talk like civilized creatures."

"Walking and talking is faster! Now less talking, more walking," Ripred said. He started to wind his way through the troops, and Gregor could hear him calling orders as he made his way out of the arena.

"Keep clearing the field. I want small groups in rotation to take a short break. Stay hydrated! I need spinners mending the holes in the webs. Everyone else, remain in position in case they return. We will not let our victory be soured by being surprised by a second front!"

~ PANDORA

After grabbing a bit of bread and cheese, Pandora and Pan made their way out of the palace. Pandora couldn't believe just how many people could fit inside the walls. It was madness! To think there were hundreds more who were preparing for battle on the outer rim of Regalia boggled Pandora's mind. And for everyone, Regalian or Fount member, was at least ten cutters. Maybe twenty. Maybe more. She shuddered at the thought.

Once they made it to the High Hall, Pandora climbed onto Pan's back and they made their way towards the meeting place Luxa described. It was on the other side of the city – far away from the arena – and was a much better place to head off on a covert mission. As they flew over the city, Pandora wondered what Howard and his siblings were doing on the top of the wall.

"We will need to move quickly," Luxa said once the two landed. Aurora and the two scouts were by her side. "We have to skirt around this part of the Underland to avoid the cutters marching their way toward the city."

"Right," Pandora agreed, determined and ready to go. She hoped to cover much ground and get as far from the city as possible before she folded back into her timid self.

"Heath and Matthias will lead the way to the Dead Lands," Luxa said to introduce Pandora to the two men standing with her and Aurora. "They've been our most skillful and trusted scouts for years."

"Now that Morne and Thomas are dead," Heath said dejectedly. He was a tall, thin man in his early forties. Matthias looked much younger and had a slightly more muscular build. They both stood at the front of the group, leading the way. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

"Nice to meet you both... under the circumstances," Pandora said kindly.

The group wasted no time in starting on their travels. After bowing low to Luxa, Heath climbed atop Aurora. Matthias sat behind Pandora on Pan. The two bats took off and flew down the tunnel Heath directed them to. Pan took a bit more time to pick up speed, but soon was trailing close behind Aurora.

"So, you really can see into the future? Like Sandwich could?" Matthias asked.

"Come on, boy," Heath snapped his head around to stare daggers at his younger companion. "It's not right to ask her questions such as that!"

"I just wanted to know! My apologies," Matthias said to Pandora.

"You're fine," Pandora answered. "It is true. If you don't believe me and want to kill a few hours, just ask Nerissa. She'll give you all the proof she has."

"But how can you prove someone can predict the future?"

"You don't. Until what they say starts happening," Pandora answered.

"But is it happening because we make it happen?" Matthias asked thoughtfully.

Pandora smiled. "You can be the judge of that."

"Considering where the Reaper's Gate is and the paths that lead to Regalia from that location, we're traveling down the quickest path available to the Dead Lands," Heath called from in front of them. "It might take us a few hours just to reach the outskirts."

"Well that's better than days, I guess," Pandora said optimistically.

"I suppose," Heath answered.

As the small group continued down the tunnel, following its twists and turns, Pandora felt as if it would take forever to reach their target.

"Did a lot of these tunnels form by water?" Pandora asked.

"Yes," Luxa answered. "The river has been flowing down here longer than any creature could call this place home. I am sure it helped shape many of the tunnels we now use."

"What about the Reaper's Gate?" Pandora asked.

"I'm not sure. Possibly," she said.

"How did it get is name?"

"The humans have been calling that cavern the Reaper's Gate for as long as Vikus can remember," Luxa said. "Its name could possibly date back to when Sandwich first arrived. As far as to why it has such a name..." Luxa thought for a moment. "I suppose it is because many creatures perish there. Some of natural causes. Some get lost in the miles of tunnel that connects to that huge cavern. There have also been many battles fought there." She turned around to look at Pandora. "It wouldn't be the place I would choose to die." Luxa glanced down at Pan before turning back around. He didn't seem too bothered by the discussion about the Reaper's Gate.

"We walked through it once," Pandora said, thinking of all the lives that were lost there just a few short hours ago. "Gregor and Howard and I. It smelt like death, and Howard almost lost it. He was terrified. I... I think he had gone through it by himself. Back when he was alone and no one could find him. I'm afraid to ask. I don't want to bring up old memories, but..."

"Did you read the note you placed inside the backpack you gave him?"

"The what?"

"You gave Howard a backpack before you left on Nike. He had it with him when he returned. The water was gone, and the flashlight's battery didn't work anymore, but he kept it... and the note."

"No," Pandora said. She was the one who wrote the note but didn't have the foggiest idea of what it might have said. Did she forget because of her visions? Or did she forget because of the stressful situation at the time?

"Here," Luxa pulled out a small, folded piece of paper from a pocket. Aurora slowed down enough so she was coasting just a few feet above Pan. Pandora held out a hand, and Luxa expertly tossed the paper to her. "I've been meaning to give it to you. When Howard got back, I went through the pack. I didn't know if you would have wanted to read it then, so I've been waiting."

"Thank you," Pandora accepted the note. Grabbing a flashlight from her bag, for she was saving them until they really had need of them, she unfolded the piece of paper and held it close to the little light. Her handwriting was hard to make out, but Pandora could confirm that it was indeed her chicken-scratch. Obviously in a hurry while forging it, Pandora squinted as if that would help discern one letter from the next:

A cavernous space formed long ago

A place where the river once flowed

Walk through and soon realize

Death and decay wear no disguise

A hallowed ground it may be for some

A resting place for more to come

Walk through and with no light

The feeling of dread you cannot fight

Bones clatter and scrape with a dry rasp

Is this a skull that you have clasped?

You will find yourself here again,

And death at last you will befriend.

The words hit Pandora's stomach as if she were swallowing rocks. Was this what she left for Howard? When he was alone and struggling to make it back to Regalia? To keep hoping he would be rescued?

Pandora crumbled up the paper and threw it aside.

"It's disgusting how I can come up with these awful rhymes," Pandora snarled. "Why can't anything I write be about hope? Or love? Or friendship?"

"That last line talked about friendship," Luxa chimed in.

"Befriending death isn't what I had in mind," Pandora said. "Befriending an adorable nibbler pup, now that is a poem I want a part of."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Matthias noted.

"Befriending nibbler pups is not the sort of destiny-changing prophecies that we dream of, now are they?"

Pandora sighed. "No. But for once, would it be too much to ask for a break from the morbid pessimism?"

Luxa gave a small laugh. "Pessimism births optimism, and then it all hangs in balance."

"Well I hope optimism can be born soon," Pandora grumbled.

They continued in silence for a little way, and then got to a fork in the tunnel. The bats slowed and came to a stop. Luxa decided a short break was in order before they continued. Pandora knew Pan would have never admitted it, but he definitely needed it. She helped him drink some water from the pack Aurora was carrying while Heath distributed a small snack.

"The left leads to the Dead Lands," he said as he handed Matthias some bread and cheese. He turned to look at Pandora, as if to get her approval.

Pandora shrugged and shook her head. "If you say so." She couldn't help feeling like she wasn't helping at all.

The tunnel to the left was much narrower, to the point where everyone had to walk close together or go one at a time. There wasn't enough room for the bats to fly, and Pandora hoped it would widen soon. At this rate, they would never make it to the Dead Lands until after the cutters destroyed Regalia's last hope.

After a few minutes of walking, Pandora felt a ripple travel up and down her spine. "Wait," she told everyone. She laid a hand on the rock wall and used it for support. Luxa gently placed a hand underneath her opposite arm.

Closing her eyes, Pandora saw what it was like on top of the wall that surrounded Regalia, or at least what it would look like soon. Mareth had pots of boiling oil hoisted up on wheeled contraptions. Commanding the pots to be dumped, the soldiers... or farmers... or just citizens... would spill the oil slowly and move the contraptions from left to right.

A human atop a flyer swooped by and threw a torch, lighting what seemed to be the entire side of the outer wall ablaze. Cutters scaling the wall or just underneath it burst into flames. Groups of ants retreated slightly from the wall to evade the destruction. They could no longer climb... for now.

Then Pandora's view shifted. It wasn't fixed anymore. It zipped through tunnels, through caverns. Her vision was clear and bright, as if she carried a torch throughout the whole journey. But it was over in an instant.

It ended at the sight of a huge ant, surrounded by an army. She was gargantuan... and menacing.

Pandora gasped and opened her eyes, startled by the sudden image at the end of her vision.

"What did you see?" Luxa asked calmly. The others looked at her expectantly.

"The army on top of the wall. They can hold the line. At least from what I saw." Pandora pushed herself upright and got off the wall. Luxa didn't move her hand, in case she needed some help keeping steady. "Up ahead," Pandora pointed, "is another fork in the tunnel. About a mile from here. We go right."

"That doesn't go to the Dead Lands," Matthias said.

"It circles around it," Pandora replied. "They're already not expecting company, but the queen still has an army around her anyway. There's an opening. As close as we can get to her. If we go that way."

"All those troops she sent our way," Aurora lamented. "And there's still so many surrounding her?"

Pandora nodded grimly.

"How was Mareth? And my cousins?" Luxa asked as they started to slowly make their way forwards again.

"Mareth seemed alright, considering the circumstances. He's going to invent a platform with wheels for the pots of oil. He's planning on covering the entire outer wall in boiling oil, to keep the cutters from climbing."

"I knew it was wise to keep him around," Luxa said with a smug smile.

"I didn't see anyone else. I have no idea who will be left to fight," Pandora said quietly.

"Then let's hurry and overrun the cutters before they overrun us."

Pandora gave a curt nod. She felt much more confident now. She knew where the queen was hiding out, even though she didn't know what they were going to do once they got there. What were four humans and two fliers against an entire army? The more she thought of her vision, the heavier the rock in her stomach became. She hadn't seen Howard. All she could do was hope he would remain safe.

~ GREGOR

Gregor could have run all the way from the arena to the outer wall but refrained in order to maintain his strength. He was wearing a full suit of armor after all, and the battle had just begun.

He had made it to the bottom of the wall on the inside of the city only to hear the sounds of battle. The cutters had already begun attacking! Gregor had thought they might have taken a few minutes to regroup. Their queen must have thought to push the last remaining troops of Regalia, ordering her soldiers to go full steam ahead.

"Gregor," came a voice he recognized from above. He looked up to see a familiar black and white bat aloft, getting ready to land beside him.

"Nike! How are things here?"

"We are holding them back. For now," she answered. Motioning for Gregor to climb onto her back, Gregor wasted no time, and soon the two of them were rising to get to the top of the wall.

"Where's Howard?" Gregor asked loudly enough to be heard over the shouts.

"He's running triage at the moment," Nike answered. "He's not fully recovered, so Mareth is having us take frequent breaks from the battle. In fact, he's separated all of the remaining bonded pairs into two groups. We alternate who dives down to defend the wall."

"Smart tactic," Gregor noted. They landed and Gregor immediately hopped off with a swift, "thanks." He could see Mareth about fifty yards away.

Walking past the troops seemed to happen in slow motion. Everyone who saw him as he passed looked over and had their companions do the same. It wasn't hard to pick him out of the crowd, what with the dark armor. He could feel the mood of the soldiers change as easily as noticing a heavy fog rolling in.

Mareth finished talking to someone, who nodded and walked swiftly away. He turned to face Gregor.

"Good to see you here on top of the wall," he remarked.

"This is your battle," Gregor said, "I don't want to overstep." He placed the palm of his hand on the pommel of his sword, as if it were a habit he had done a million times before. "I'm a soldier here, just like everyone else. Tell me where you want me."

"If I may request, general," came a low voice. Gregor turned to see a large dark bat approaching. In the torchlight, his coat seemed to be more of a dark grey than black. This flyer looked as if he had seen a million battles. He seemed unfazed. Almost completely calm.

"Yes, Barend, please continue," Mareth invited, turning around to look at the flyer.

"I would be honored to have the Overlander fight with me as a companion, if he so desires," the bat offered. "I believe we would make a formidable pair."

Gregor felt uneasy about Barend's suggestion. He had never met this flyer in his life, let alone fight with him. How would they be in sync? How would they communicate?

Then Gregor thought back to how he fought with Ares. They argued with each other quite a bit. Sometimes the tension between them was thick enough you could practically cut it with a knife. Did that stop them from defeating the Bane together?

"That is completely up to Gregor," Mareth answered, turning to face Gregor once again. "What say you? Whether you choose to fight with a flyer or not, I still have a place for you. Do not feel pressured. Just your presence here on the wall has reinvigorated the troops."

"You know what, Mareth? Yeah. Let's do it. I'll fight with you, uhhh... what's your name?" Gregor asked the flyer.

"Barend," he answered. "It means 'brave.'"

"Alright, Barend. Sounds good to me," Gregor said. A smile had actually broken out onto his face. Was this something he did now? Smile before going into battle? He had smiled while fighting before, even if he didn't mean to. It felt strange to be in such a mood.

"Do not think I'll treat you any differently than the bonded soldiers," Mareth told them both with a small smile on his face as well. "You might be the warrior," he looked at Gregor, "and you both may be ragers," he continued as he looked at Barend, "but you will still be in the next wave I send out. And you will still be a part of the same tactic as everyone else."

"Which is?" Gregor asked. His eyebrows had raised when he heard Barend was also a rager. He and Ripred thought they were the only two, joining together to defend the arena.

"Take out as many cutters as you can and come back to the wall when you're called."

"Sounds like a plan," Gregor said.

"Actually, I'm creating a new one as we speak. Wait for the signal. I'm sending out all the bonded soldiers at once. Give me a moment."

"Yes, sir," Gregor said with respect. "We'll be ready and waiting. Do you know where Howard is?"

Mareth pointed further down the wall as he started to walk away. "Follow the blood trail. When you start seeing bandages, you're in the right place."

"Let's wait with him. To make sure he's ready," Gregor suggested to Barend. The bat nodded his massive head and followed Gregor as he made his way down the wall, toward where the general had set up triage. "So... a rager, huh?"

"It would seem so," Barend responded with a nod. "However, I've been fighting for so long I cannot tell anymore."

Gregor let out a small laugh. "I almost wish I had that problem. It's all I can think about."

"What I am worried about is what we are going to do once the fighting ceases. When we are not needed anymore," Barend said thoughtfully, looking at Gregor with a serious expression.

Gregor thought for a moment as they walked their way past soldiers lying down on either side of the wall. There was just enough room for a narrow walkway past their feet. It was saddening to see so many wounded. Weren't they supposed to have the upper hand in a battle in which they were the ones defending the wall?

"I'd rather not have a purpose than keep the world fighting all the time," Gregor said truthfully.

Barend nodded at Gregor's comment. "To each his own."

"Howard!" Gregor called to the man as he noticed him. He was stooped down next to a fellow soldier, finishing up a bandage on his arm and giving him some water.

"Gregor, I thought you were in the Arena with Ripred?"

"I was. But they turned about-face and marched here. I thought I'd help out. Mareth's gonna call all the bonds out at the same time. I just thought I'd let you know."

Howard scooped up his helmet as he stood up. "Thank you," he said. "Chimney! Would you like to take over?" A younger girl came over with fresh bandages in her arms. "You remember my youngest sister, Gregor?"

"Oh yeah," Gregor said. "You've grown a lot!"

Chimney smiled as she kept working. "She's turning into quite a capable nurse," Howard noted. He tightened his belt in which his hilt was attached and started walking back towards Mareth with Gregor and Barend.

"She's got some good role models," Gregor said.

The three of them passed Mareth, standing next to a few Regalians who were hurriedly throwing a contraption together. It reminded Gregor of the lift that took people to the High Hall, except the platform was rigged to go sideways. "Excellent work. I want one for every pot," Gregor could hear Mareth said as he checked their progress.

"Mareth, how much time do we have?"

"Not much," the general answered. "Get into position."

Gregor nodded as he passed. Nike had landed next to Howard and he quickly filled her in. Between the four of them, they passed along the word to all the bonded pairs they could find that they were about to fly head-first into the fight. Some hurriedly went to go find some water. Others shuffled their feet near the edge of the wall, waiting on pins and needles for the signal to dive.

Barend situated himself near the edge of the wall and invited Gregor to climb onto his back. As Gregor got himself situated, he peered down at the action below. It was chaos.

He had never seen so many of the cutters in one place. They made clear, even rows that went back across the fields as far as Gregor could see. They marched right over the lower wall at the other end of the field, and there were still more beyond his vision, all the way into the nearest caves, that Gregor could sense using his echolocation. It seemed to get better and better the longer he stayed down in the dark world of the Underland.

Regalia had no troops on the ground. Then again, why would Mareth send out any doomed parties? They struggled for numbers already. The red soldiers climbed the walls, attempting to get up to the top and assessing any weaknesses they could find.

When the bonded soldiers were not out to strike down the seemingly endless horde, the only creatures available to fight who could maneuver freely on the wall were spinners. Farmers with spears hurled them at the oncoming army, aiming for cutters who were lined up one after the other as they climbed the horizontal plane, spearing three or four at a time and sending them careening down towards the ground.

Gregor was grateful for the small bit of insider information Pandora was able to provide. If Mareth hadn't done such a great job with his plan after speaking with her, the cutters would have already made it into the city. Without the many bonded soldiers who used to guard the wall, as Gregor had seen when Regalia was at war with the gnawers, the battle was quickly leaning towards the cutters as the winning side.

"Winged soldiers, hold steady!" Mareth yelled. Lieutenants positioned along the walls echoed his command. Gregor turned to look at the two dozen or so bonded soldiers left. They dotted the top of the wall, with solo fliers in between ready and willing to fly into battle as well.

The soldier to Gregor's left turned to look at him. "What say you about flying straight down the middle?" He suggested. "As far down the plain as you dare? You could show the cutters what they are really up against."

"What do you think, Barend? We could clear a path and not get in the way of the others," Gregor pondered.

"As long as you're ready to hold on tightly," Barend said. "I'll try to slow down on the rolls."

"Wasn't thinking of pulling my dagger out when we're really needing a weapon with a greater reach," Gregor said. "But now I'll definitely use my left hand to hold on."

Barend's laugh was even lower than his speaking voice.

"Fliers get ready," Mareth shouted. The lieutenants again repeated his call. Barend looked towards the general for the signal, and Mareth presented his sword high over his head.

Once his sword slashed down through the air, Barend pushed off from the edge of the wall, and they were airborne. Gregor squeezed his legs tighter, maintaining a firm hold on Barend as they dove ninety degrees down into the ensuing battle.

Barend hooked his claws into a cutter attempting to climb the wall and dragged his body down with them, hitting several other red soldiers and making them lose their grip. He tossed the mangled body of the first on top of the heap of others at the bottom, unfurled his wings, and caught just enough air to slow the pair ever so slightly.

With how much momentum Barend had, he didn't even need to flap his wings as he and Gregor shot down the middle of the army.

Their teamwork was effortless. Barend would roll, and Gregor would cut down the red army with his sword fully extended above his head. With his powerful wings and strong set of claws, Barend could scoop up squirming bodies and toss them into the air towards Gregor, who would deliver a final blow.

Together, they sent many of the cutters to their deaths as they ripped a gigantic hole right down the middle of the queen's army.

It seemed like a lifetime but took only a moment. Barend gave a few strong flaps and soon they both were higher than the red army could reach, taking some time to rest as Barend coasted his way through a wide turn, to head back to the wall.

As he took in a few deep breaths, Gregor took his minute of respite to look back at how the bonded pairs and other fliers were faring. A few stayed close to the wall to discourage cutters from climbing or picking off those who chose to. Some stuck together to implement a similar tactic to Gregor and Barend's – attacking in a straight line. With a bit of communication, those fliers and bonded pairs were able to stay close together and zigzag their way through the orderly lines of the cutter army.

"Ready for more?" Barend yelled back towards Gregor. He sounded eager.

Gregor adjusted the grip of his sword and sunk lower onto Barend's back to prepare for a second round. He didn't share in Barend's eagerness to get back to killing Underland creatures. How much longer would it be until Luxa and Pandora reached the cutter's queen? Would they know when she was dead? Would the cutters know? "As I'll ever be," Gregor said.