"Saving me with the ... What is this weapon?" She gestured to the root beer can.
"It's not a weapon. It's a root beer," Gregor said. He took a swig.
Luxa looked alarmed. "Should you drink it?" she asked.
"Sure, try it," he said. Gregor offered her the can.
She tentatively took a sip, and her eyes widened. "It bubbles on the tongue," she said.
"Yeah, that's why it exploded. I shook up a lot of bubbles. It's safe now. It's just like water. Go ahead, you can finish it," he said, and she continued to take tiny curious sips.
"Anyway, I owed you one," he said. "You saved me from that rat the first night. So we're even."
Luxa nodded but seemed troubled. "There is one other thing. I should not have struck you for trying to escape. I am sorry."
"And I'm sorry I called your home creepy. It's not like it's all creepy. Some of it's great," he said.
"Am I 'creepy' to you?" asked Luxa.
"Oh, no. Creepy is like spiders and rats and, you know, things that make chills run down your spine. You're just... difficult," said Gregor, trying to be honest but not flat-out rude.
"You, too. You are difficult to ... uh ... make do things," said Luxa.
Gregor nodded, but he rolled his eyes when she wasn't looking. It was hard to imagine anyone more stubborn than Luxa.
Vikus called them all to dine, and even the roaches felt comfortable enough to join the circle.
"I am drinking Gregor's spinner weapon," announced Luxa, holding up the root beer can. He had to explain about the root beer all over again, and then everybody had to try a sip.
When the can got to Boots, he said, "Well, that's the end of that," thinking she'd guzzled down the last few swallows. But instead she poured out two little puddles.
"Beeg bugs," she said, pointing to the first puddle. "Bats," she said, pointing to the second. Both sets of animals obligingly drank up the root beer.
"I believe Boots to be a natural ambassador," said Vikus, smiling. "She treats all with an equality I myself aspire to. Come, let us eat."
Everyone dug in like they'd never seen food before. When he'd slowed down enough to actually taste his food, Gregor asked the question that had been worrying him since they'd escaped from the spiders. "Can we still go on the quest without the spinners?"
"That is the question," said Vikus. "That is the question we must all consider. Clearly we cannot expect any spinners to join us willingly."
"We should have seized two when we had a chance," said Henry darkly.
"The prophecy says the spinners must assent," said Vikus. "However, we know the rats have taken many spinners prisoner. Perhaps we can free a few and persuade them to accompany us. I have often had good results with spinners."
"But you will not be there, Vikus," Solovet said quietly.
"What do you mean?" asked Gregor, feeling his mouth go dry.
Vikus paused a moment, taking in the group. "It is time for those of us not named by the prophecy to return home. Mareth, Solovet, and I will fly after we rest."
Gregor saw his surprise mirrored on Luxa's and Henry's faces.
"Nothing in the prophecy forbids you to come," said Luxa.
"We are not meant to be here. And beyond that we have a war to fight," said Solovet.
The thought of going anywhere without Vikus and Solovet filled Gregor with panic. "But you can't leave us. I mean, we don't even know where we're going," said Gregor. "Do you guys know where we're going?" he asked Luxa and Henry. They both shook their heads. "See?"
"You will manage. Henry and Luxa are well trained, and you show great resourcefulness," said Solovet. She spoke simply and definitely. She was thinking of the war, of the bigger picture, not of them.