Gregor and the Prophecy of Death (Book 7)

Chapter 20

A blur of fur and humans.

That was all anyone could see in the high hall with all the fuss about the quest. Some bats were getting strapped with food and water, some being given the emergency hampers that were now mandatory for everyone. Before Gregor could find anyone to talk to someone slid a backpack onto his back.

"It's mandatory. Like the bats," the servant told him.

"Gregor there you are," Lizzie said beside him. "Vikus wants you over here." She pulled him to a corner of the high hall where Vikus was standing over a piece of paper with Aurora, Luxa and Ares.

"Good morning Gregor. I need to run you guys through the map before you leave. Everyone has seen it except you four. You will be heading west to the jungle go through it for about 5 days. Then comes the waterway. Once you get to the edge of the jungle where you reach the river you will fly out to the connecting waterway to meet the dock Regalia has set out there," he said drawing the path with his finger. "Then you sail to the Uncharted land and you will be at the possum's land. You all have this map and are to update it every day before sleeping. Safe journey you all," Vikus said leaving the high hall.

Gregor transferred the items he has in his other backpack to the one he was given and in a few minutes they were ready for take off.

"You ready for this man. It'll be just like the old times," Gregor said to Ares before climbing on his back.

"Ready as we can be."

Lizzie POV

I left Gregor after leading him to Vikus and headed back to where I was with Boots.

"Do you think the new bat'll be for you? What if her name is the Greek goddess of archery," Boots said. Blabbering was part of her way to shake off nervousness. "Who is the Greek goddess of archery?"

"I'm not sure. I'm thinking Athena or-," I began.

"Lizzie I want you to meet Artemis. She will be your bat for this journey," Hazard said reflecting her thoughts.

"Hey," I said to her with a little wave.

"Hello princess. It is a pleasure to meet you," Artemis said with a small bow.

Next thing I knew there was wind blowing through my hair because of how fast we were going. No one was talking except Gregor and Luxa's occasional exchanges of words while flying on Ares and Aurora side by side. We flew for four hours, mostly in silence, before Ripred called for a break.

"Time for lunch," he said as he got off Hades. "We're going to be taking breaks every four hours so Ares and Hades can alternate carrying me," he added.

Everyone seemed to have their own non assigned assigned jobs from their past quests together. Without hesitation, Luxa and Gregor started making sandwiches while Hazard passed the water around the cave we had stopped in. I ended up sitting next to Artemis.

"So where are we now?" I asked her pulling out my map to start a conversation.

"We're over halfway to the Arch of Tartarus. Middle of the Deadlands. We have about two hours left to get there," Artemis answered me.

As if on cue, Ripred spoke up confirmed this. "Ok everyone wrap up. We'll take the two hour flight to the jungle entrance then sleep there for the night."

I sat around with Artemis as everyone else cleaned up. Hazard went around with the water bag once more after the meal. He was just finishing with Gregor and Luxa to end with me when they said something that made him go red. Gregor pushed him away playfully. He stumbled over to me with a slight grin.

"Would you like some water Lizzie?" Hazard asked me.

"Sure," I said returning his smile. I drank the water knowing I wouldn't get more for some time while Hazard watched and waited. I handed him back the water. "Thanks."

"It's no problem," he said and went to put the water away.

Before we mounted to make the rest of the way, I noticed Artemis looking at me with a knowing, teasing grin.

"What?" I asked.

She raised and eyebrow, "You and Hazard?"

"Not you too," I said as I mounted her.

She paused for a moment. "I really don't think any of us are wrong," she said and we took off.