Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (Underland Chronicles, #2)

by Suzanne Collins

“I do not take orders from you, Overlander. Let us be clear on this from the start. I do not take orders from you!” “Whoa!” said Gregor, startled by Ares’s intensity. “What’s your problem?” “My problem is that at this moment, you are reminding me a great deal of Henry,” said Ares.

It was at that moment that Gregor decided he was bonded to a big jerk. And he felt pretty sure that Ares had come to the same conclusion.

The smaller rat, Twitchtip, snarled at Ripred. Then she tore a hole in the moss with one slash of her paw and buried her nose in it. Okay, well, she was weird.

Twitchtip was so eager for her first glimpse of Regalia that I didn’t have the heart to disappoint her another minute. Right, Twitchtip?” Ripred said, poking the rat with the tip of his tail. Twitchtip yanked her nose from the moss, snapped at Ripred’s tail, which he whipped out of reach just in time, and shoved her nose back in the earth. “Isn’t she a charmer? Isn’t she just irresistible?” said Ripred. “And I’ve had her all to myself on a journey from the Dead Land. Imagine the fun.”

“It was my turn to make the introduction,” wailed Zap. “Photos Glow-Glow made it last time.” “But we both know that, as a male, I am more visually pleasing to humans,” Photos Glow-Glow said, his rear end blinking in a variety of colors. “Zap can only make one color, and it is yellow.” “I hate you!” shrieked Zap. And Gregor knew this was going to be the longest trip of his life.

Gregor had spent a lot of time amusing his little sisters. He recognized a good toddler bit when he saw it.

“I cannot go back,” Luxa said with satisfaction. “It is too far now, and Aurora and I would most surely perish in the deep.” “Yes, you timed that nicely,” said Mareth. “I know,” said Luxa. “I know you know. Everyone will know you knew if you ever arrive home in one piece to tell the tale,” said Mareth.

“Gregor!” Luxa had his hand. “I forbid you to go, Gregor! You will not survive.” “Not with you guys as backup!” said Gregor.

Gregor felt the last bit of warmth disappear as the ice went across his forehead and up over the top of his head. There was nothing left that anyone could do to him now. There was nothing left to fear. “Me?” he said. “I’m going to go kill the Bane.”

That was the thing about Ripred: One minute he was about to kill you, and the next he seemed to understand it was all you could do not to curl up into a ball and die.

“For now, you must go home. You have worries of your own there, yes?” Well, yes. Gregor had worries wherever he was.