Rat Hole

[Cricket Argyll]

?By the souls in Dark Forest...What have you done, Ms. Argyll?!? Jonas Lowri was privileged to look upon the chaos and carnage wrought by Cricket?s order to slaughter the crew. They were dead. To a beast, they were dead and it made the little ratmaid smile.

The island rats, too, were of a small enough number than even the child could count them. Seven. Two would likely be dead soon with their wounds and the other five would have a fun time cleaning up the mess.

?I saved ya,? Cricket replied simply to the marten?s inquiry. They were both lucky in that sense. The maid had been able to find the marten before serious harm came to him and?she balled her paw into a fist and bared her yellow teeth in a silent snarl. And it had been all without the help of those useless, bumbling woodlanders!

-----

?Doctor Lowri!? Cricket shouted over the noise. ?We gotta save that prissy marten if we ever wanna get rescued!?

Tassle studied the earnest child intently for a moment, then smirked. ?Do it yourself, Cricket. I really do hope you save him, though, because if a rescue ship really is coming we?ll need him. However, right now I have no interest in dying. I have creatures counting on me,? she glanced at Broo-haha and Ragears for a sickeningly heroic moment. ?It?s more important that I stay alive now than get rescued.?

Cookie?s ladle was in her paw and swinging through the air faster than she would have thought possible, but the shrew countered with her knife and Cricket had to disengage or lose her paw when their weapons locked and began sliding down. ?You don?t have time to waste here, do you, Cricket?? Tassle began moving away, herding Brooga and Roger. ?Go save the good doctor before your little minions kill him?Your Queenship.?

?A plague on the fleabag that birthed ya, Spikey!? Cricket snarled and scurried away. It was always more annoying when they were right.

-----

?Silus!? Now Doctor Lowri was kneeling next to the remains on the weasel who had been so troublesome. ?Silus, you fool! How could you let this happen to my crew?! How cou--!?

?Quit whinin?, Doc,? Cricket sighed and kicked the head of the former businessman unceremoniously from the marten?s lap. Cheh. Got what he deserved allus orderin? me ?round. ?Ya got more important things t?do asides bawl over some lifeless hunk o? worm food.?

?Why you little!? the marten lunged at the impudent child, but met only air.

?I ain?t got time fer ya t?gimme ?the spankin? I deserve?,? the rat rolled her eyes. While the doctor fumed, Cricket turned to one of the less wounded islanders and asked. ?Where?s Obli-what?s-his-name??

She shrugged. ?See shrew take Chief with. Go to tunnels. Much danger.?

?What?s Spikey want with him?!? She grabbed the front of the rat?s ragged vest and pulled her close, suspicion welling within her like a tide from the ocean floor. It was cold.

?Not know,? the rat raised an eyebrow and planted her spear firmly next to her side. ?Let go or I kill you. Obligo say we listen to Chirrupy Rat, but he not here.?

Cricket let go of the savage quickly. She had seen them fight and had no desire to engage the remaining seven?however badly hurt they were. Tch! Worse than badgers in blood wrath ?cause they?re harder t?hit!

Before she could continue questioning the islander, another approached, limping and with a bloody rag tied around where his ear used to be. ?Wakeeha say sacrifice all dead to Big Evil. She say we ignore him too much. He mad.? As if on cue, an enraged howl sounded just outside the main gates.

?Whacky?s alive??

?She not fight,? there was a touch of resentment in the pygmy?s voice. ?Stay in main hall like coward. We not follow anymore, but Seer say truth. What you want us do, Chirrupy Rat??

Since when did I become ?Chirrupy Rat??! the child snarled inwardly. If ?Cricket? was bad, then this was? ?My name?s Facestealer Argyll! Stop callin? me Chirrupy Rat!?

?Facestealer? Hahaha?? from behind, the Doctor chuckled and Cricket felt her ears going red.

?Shut up!? the child snarled. ?It?s a good name!? Turning to the rats, temper making her words harsh Cricket commanded, ?Do what Whacky says and make him,? she pointed to the marten, ?help ya.? Jonas stopped laughing and the maid turned to grin meanly at him, but the expression froze when she saw the look on the doctor?s face.

?Ms. Argyll,? he rose from a kneeling position and towered at least three Cricket?s high, ?you may not be aware of the position you are in. I am the most senior member of those remaining from the Black Brine. I am the captain and you are my crew. Commanding a hundred beasts of disrepute is beyond me, handling one brat is certainly within my power. Do not test me.?

?I?? she was Cricket again. Cricket, the scared little rat with a Big Evil outside, plotting woodlanders below, a creature big enough to do more than just spank her right there and?The rats! ?I got the rats on my side, Doc! Ya can?t do nothin? t?me ?cause I c?n jist have ?em kill ya.? She stuck out her tongue. That?ll put him in his pla-- ?Hey!?

?You forget, Ms. Argyll,? the bespectacled pine marten whose fine clothes were turning to fine rags smiled in a way that chilled Cricket as much as Silus? glares as he placed a heavy paw on the girl?s head, ?I am the only one with a ticket aboard the rescue ship that is coming for us. Wouldn?t it be awful if you couldn?t get a ride because you killed me??

That sleazy, egg-headed four-eyes! He was clever. Cleverer than she wanted him to be. They both knew that Jonas? threat was more than sufficient to keep the wild child in check, at least long enough to distract her with other matters.

?Now that that?s settled!? the marten?s claw left her head, but the weight remained on Cricket?s shoulders. Curse ?em all? Why did every obstacle she overcame have to be replaced with a new one? First there had been the crew, then the slaves, then the rats, then the crew again, and now the weakling captain and his simpering daughter. Curse ?em all t?the hounds o?Hellgates. ?Shall we have a look at this Big Evil that has stolen my beloved daughter from me??

?Look?!? her reverie was broken by Jonas? suggestion -- Not a suggestion?an order.

?Yes,? the doctor nodded emphatically. ?If my daughter is under its claw, I will know of it, and where she is. I sent that badger to find her,? Meanystripe?s in on this, too? Come t?think o?it, I didn?t see his ugly mug with the rest o?the bodies. Chiihii. Better t?kill him later myself! ?but I don?t trust him in the least. Hah?I don?t seem to have anybeast to trust these days. Even Silus??

Another story on the tip of another beast?s tongue. ?C?mon!? Cricket grabbed the marten?s paw and began leading him to the battlements. Watching the Big Evil, Or whatever that thing out there is? had to be better than listening to sappy reminiscing about a bothersome creature who would never be a bother again.

-----

Cricket gulped as she stared over the battlements at the white beast rapidly devouring the bodies of the crew and rats. In the light, she could see this one wore a brown tunic with a fine leather belt. He would seem civilized if not for his dinner habits. Ugh?! The little rat felt her stomach do back flips and wished desperately to vomit like any self-aware beast should, but one of the few curses of being a rat prevented the release. Nausea found a comfortable home in her head and stomach.

?You?re a w-wolf!? Jonas informed the creature needlessly.

A bloodstained ear pricked up. ?And you?re?mm?clever, little one.? The golden gaze shifted from the pile of meat to the creatures looking down. ?Won?t you come down and join me? This is quite a feast.? His crimson smile was enough to make Cricket?s few remaining teeth chatter.

Make it go away. Make it stop. Make the noises stop!

?I?I think not,? Jonas was in better control of himself, but barely. The island rats were still dumping the dead carcasses over the side and each time a sickly thud, crack and squelch followed.  ?I must?I must ask you something,? the marten gulped.

?Oh??? the wolf at the door waited expectantly.

?Wh-wh-where??

?Where?? The white wolf?s grin became even worse as he picked up one of the bodies and began munching on it. ?Very good, little one. Try for two words next. Do be quick about it, though. From my brother?s howl, I know he is in pain and I need to get back to him.?

?Wh-wh-? Jonas was shaking now, too. He tried to steady himself on the battlements.

?Where is his daughter?!? Cricket shouted, eyes squeezed shut. ?We gotta know if she?s alive.?

?So you do speak? Heh.? There was a crunching sound as the canine?s teeth crushed the bones in whoever -- Whatever! They ain?t alive anymore! S?jist meat. S?jist?Ugh! ?Well, I have no idea who you or your daughter are, so I can?t really help you, can I??

?Jonas?L-Lowri. My name.?

?Lowri?? There was a thoughtful pause. ?Hah! Are you the one that wench has been crying about?? His voice became high and nasally. ?Please! Please don?t eat me! My Daddy will give you whatever you want. Just talk to him. Talk to Doctor Jonas Lowri. Please!?

?Well, Daddy,? the wolf swallowed whatever he was chewing and Cricket dared to open her eyes. ?Your little girl will serve a noble purpose. She is to be the virgin sacrifice to the Devourer. No doubt it will be pleased with her and grant us favors.?

?What favors?? the rat piped up and regretted it. She was now disgustingly fascinated by the wolf and his strange words.

?Letting us off this Fates forsaken island, for a start,? the white wolf shrugged. ?Then we can finally go home to Father and the rest of the pack.?

?I c?n get ya off this island!? Both Jonas and the wolf stared at her.

?Him.? She pointed to the marten. ?There?s a rescue ship comin? an-an? ya c?n get passage aboard if ya give him his daughter back.?

?A rescue ship?? The canine tossed back his head with a bark of laughter. ?The Devourer will destroy any ship that touches these seas. Why do you think we are here? Certainly not for the company of those senseless rats! And you? You no doubt came by vessel, as well. Where has it gone, little ones? Eaten by the great Devourer! Perhaps you know it not, but the reefs here are built on the bones of ships. Yours, as ours, is nothing but a wayside tavern for fishes now.

?Hmph?I need to get going, though.? He stood up abruptly and both vermin on the battlements flinched. ?All this talk is not worth my time and my brother is hurt. The wench is probably hungry, as well. Farewell, little ones. Thank you ever so much for the feast. I?ll be back to fetch the rest later and perhaps then you?ll come and sit at my table?or lie on my plate. Hahaha!? The bloody wolf stalked away, his raucous laughter ringing through the dead air.

?We follow--? Jonas began.

?I know,? Cricket snarled. That smoosh-faced fox was laughin? at me!

-----

Following the wolf proved simple enough as his tracks were clear and scent strong. The reluctant pair came to an expansive tunnel. Jonas immediately pushed the child forward and the rat briefly wondered if he had ever set foot outside an office.

I seen the Big Evil a buncha times an? even I ain?t too scared t?go first in a tunnel. S?the ones in the back that get snatched first anyway, she thought with a sniff. Cookie?s wisdom had yet to fail her, so let the four-eyed fool bring up the rear.

?Be quiet!? the marten commanded and they continued in absolute silence with only the powerful odor of death to guide them. Then, in the darkness, an enraged howl set their fur on edge. It was followed by the white wolf?s voice screaming:

?MOTHER!?

The pair rushed forward and saw the Big Evil, encumbered by a body stepping purposefully toward Meanystripe!.

?You will pay for this, little one,? the wolf snarled at the badger. ?You will pay with your worthless life and I?ll feed your mangled carcass to that wench. Brother?oh, my brother!?

?Out of the way, dog, or you?ll be next,? Meanystripe growled in reply, hefting some sort of weapon Cricket could not make out. ?I?m in a hurry.?

?Dog? Dog?! You dare insult me so?!? the white canine howled. ?Forget the wench, I?ll rip y--Argh!?

Why?m I doin? this? the little ratmaid wondered as she latched onto the Big Evil?s hind leg with her powerful incisors. It?s really stupid. I could get killed. I?ll prob?ly get killed. But he laughed at me! Jist like that other one! The other one was dead. Cricket watched in satisfaction as the black wolf tumbled from the white wolf?s paws when his leg buckled.

Meanystripe charged forward and was yelling something along with every other beast. I don?t wanna die. Not with Meanystripe right there watchin?. Tch!  That?d jist be embarassin?! So, I don?t wanna?DIE!

Her jaws released and she scrambled back as Ulrick engaged the wounded wolf. The makeshift hammer the badger wielded struck the wolf?s shoulder and there was a thud, and wet smack like when Cookie used the tenderizer for the Captain?s meat. A shrieking howl of pain followed and the wolf toppled over the remains of his kin.

?That?s what?cha g-get,? the rat panted and spat thick, salty blood from her mouth. ?For laughing?at me!?

And Ulrick served his purpose. The brute beat the white wolf even as a lone howl began filling the larger cavern with ghostly echoes.

?MOTHER!? the canine screamed as he tried to bite and tear Ulrick apart while keeping the hammer blows from striking vital spots. Then the weapon dropped and the woodlander grunted in pain, holding his paw.

Cricket saw the problem immediately. An arrow lay next to the badger and dark liquid seeped from the flesh wound on his paw. Her eyes were adjusted to the dark, but even if they had not, she would have known what to expect. A lithe gray wolf stepped from behind a concealed entrance near the cairn where Dyera had been kept, anger radiating from her in an almost visible aura. The martenmaid squealed in terror.

?What have you been doing to my children?? Mother?s voice was ice as she lifted her bow and took aim for a second time. Behind her, Cricket could make out other small shadow creatures. There's more o'em?!