Redwall - Dirthaven, Part 2

Story by Skipai on SoFurry

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#50 of 1998-2019 Stories

As the Dark Boar completes the first day of sail on the sea, Scratch meets up with Nips before they finally get to meet their leader, their captain who is called Cluny. As Cluny lets the two other rats know part of his plans for the future and of his families past, Blackpaw begins to make plans to find out exactly what is being planned. Meanwhile down in the lower decks a large black rat 'Blacksoot' waits for his lover 'Slosh' to turn up... Blackpaw spies on Scratch and Nips as they return back from their meeting with Cluny...


Redwall - Dirthaven, Part 2

By Skipai (c) 2017

The Dark Boar had been sailing throughout the entire day since it had left Dirthaven, it had been quite an uneventful day and the entire crew was still in high spirits as the rich vibrant colours of the evening sun began to lower down into the sea, a bright flash of green came now and again as Scratch kept hold of one of the ropes within his hand paw as he looked outwards, his other hand paw hovered over the top of his eyes to shield them from the bright light.

"Fancy a drink?" A voice came from behind Scratch as he turned around to see another rat had come up from behind, a bottle was held in each hand as the right one lifted up and held it out towards Scratch. "I'm Nips, yeah before you ask; parents called me that since I kept biting them when I was young." Scratch grasped the bottle and nodded his head. "Where you get these from?" The rat looked about as he saw others on the deck that hadn't received any and turned his head to where Nips had moved to the left of him, back against the side of the ship and he had the neck of the bottle inside of his mouth before the sound of the cork that was being pulled made a loud pop sound. The rat turned his head to the side and spat the cork out into the water before he turned his head back towards Scratch with a smile. "It seems me and you are favourites of our captain, we're to meet with him later tonight."

"I see, well that's good then." Scratch said as he bit into his own cork and pulled it out as he too, turned his head around and spat it out over the side as it quickly vanished from sight. "But won't the other crew members get jealous?" Scratched enquired as he turned his head back towards the other rat that was beside him.

"Oh you've not seen the Captain yet then?" Nips asked and saw that Scratch shook his head back in response to the question and he grinned. "Oh you'll know why when you see him then, he did get to see you from a distance." Nips turned and pointed up to the higher deck. "I wouldn't go and deny whatever he wants though; he's not to be messed with." "I wouldn't want to." Scratch said as he lifted the bottle to his lips and took a small sip of the wine, found that nothing bad was happening and then drank a bit more of it. "All I want is to get this mission done successfully, collect my own portion of the wealth awaiting and pay off what I owe." Scratched paused and looked at Nips. "And you? I mean, what are you doing on this ship?"

Nips stayed silent as a fox came up along the deck and paused as he looked at the two rats, and then frowned. "Who gave you permission to drink?" The fox turned to face the two rats as he leant forwards and looked at Nips first, before he turned his attention to Scratch. "I knew you would be trouble." Scratch sighed. "Oh hello again Blackpaw sir, what a pleasant evening, don't you think?" Scratch saw the fox nose twitch as he sniffed the aroma that came from the bottle and growled deeply. "You stole wine?" Blackpaw grabbed Scratch by the neck and lifted him upwards. "I should just throw you overboard and-" Blackpaw blinked as he saw Nips had moved and was now behind the fox as a rodent hand had moved downwards.

"Listen here, matey, you're going to let my friend here go, gently mind you and then go about your business." Nips paused as he pressed a small blade upwards to make his point as Blackpaw felt the blade rest just underneath the fabric as it pressed against his nuts underneath. "No one harms this one or me for that matter. Captain says so and you wouldn't want to piss him off now, would you?"

Scratch felt the grip around his neck lessen as Blackpaw swallowed loudly. "What, the captain gave you those bottles?" Blackpaw slowly lowered Scratch down again and then with the same paw that had lifted him up, began to gently pat the ruffled fur down and fixed the shirt as he continued to speak. "Why didn't you say so before, clearly my mistake and all, right? The captain really doesn't need to know about this, does he lads?"

Nips smiled as he slowly removed the blade from where he had pressed it a few moments ago and lifted it up to his lips and licked the edge of it gently. "No sir, we won't mention a thing, it was clearly a mistake on our behalf by not saying such sooner." Nips slowly moved out of the way as Blackpaw nodded and regained his composure. "Very good, next time you two should be more careful in where you drink such gifts, we wouldn't want to have more crewmembers becoming jealous now." Blackpaw looked about and nodded before he walked off down the deck as he barked out another order. "Get that rope tied up properly!"

Nips leant back against the side of the ship once more and smiled as he slowly placed his blade away on his belt. "Well, seems we have to be more careful now around the first officer. I can't see him accepting the situation that has just happened." Nips slowly took another long drink from the bottle and wiped his mouth with his free paw. Scratch watched as he looked at Blackpaw now kicking a stoat flat onto his front as he yelled at him. "Called that clean, do that again you lazy slacker!" Scratch could hear Nips chuckle beside him. "Now I will be keeping an eye on him, I suggest that you do Scratch as well."

Scratch bit his lower lip for a moment and then he nodded his head back. "I think I agree with you matey, so about that answer, what are you doing on this mission then?" Scratch turned to look at Nips now as he took another sip of the red wine, which was fruitful and cooling after a long day's work under the bright sunlight of the day.

"Same as you but I like to go and kill a few of them." Nips said back as he closed his eyes with a sigh. "Before I even knew about Dirthaven I lived on the mainland, near the coast with other rats at the time. We had done nothing wrong to anyone at all, we barely even talked to others as well since we liked to stick to our own kind." Nips paused as he took another long drink from the bottle and swallowed while red wine stained the grey fur on his chin. "We lived, we fished and we kept peaceful. We had enough food and a healthy supply of fresh water from a nearby well so there wasn't any reason to go about and do what others rats did. And then they came, the invaders..." Scratch lifted a hand paw to give his nose a scratch with a claw and nodded. "So it was other virmen that came and attacked then?" Nips shook his head back with a darker look on his face. "No, it wasn't other virmen at all, it was woodlanders, blood thirsty woodlanders."

Nips rolled his shoulders as he gave a sigh. "You think after all they kept going on about, justice, the righteous law and all that they wouldn't be known to be blood thirsty killers but I learnt that lesson that day. Hares came along, mice with them and they just attacked out of the blue. Quite a lot of us were killed instantly without any remorse on their behalf. Only a handful managed to escape their attack. I lost contact with everyone and eventually I managed to find a virmen ship further along the coast and was brought to Dirthaven afterwards."

Scratch moved a hand paw and patted Nips on his shoulder gently. "It's okay, we deal some justice of our own back to them, and how does that sound to you?" Nips gave a soft smile before his face darkened as his teeth showed. "Oh that sounds just fine matey, just fine..."

***

Both rats stayed where they stood as they drank the rest of the wine as the sun went down and another rat moved about the ship as he held a lit torch in his hand paw and began to light the various lanterns about the deck, which made the whole area dance and glow as the various shadows danced about.

By the time another rat came up to them, both Scratch and Nips had been standing in the cool air which had made their fur fluff out a bit more and they nodded to the larger rat that folded his arms about his chest and looked from one to the other. "I see you've made yourself comfortable while others had been working?" The large rat smiled as he held up his right hand before either Scratch of Nips could argue back. "I'm joking, I knew you both worked hard during the day, that's not why I'm here. The captain is ready to see you both now and I'm to lead you to his cabin."

"Well, then we shouldn't keep the captain waiting should we?" Nips said as he pushed himself from the balcony of the ship edge and looked at Scratch. "Come on, we don't want to be late now, do we?" Scratch smiled as he pushed himself to standing upright again as they both made to make a move forwards but the large black rat pressed his hands against their chests. "Aren't you forgetting something?" Both rats looked at each other and then upwards at the larger rat and both blinked at him in confusion. The large black rat grunted. "Just hand me the empty wine bottles and we can then move on?"

Nips and Scratch blinked as they looked down to the empty wine bottle in their hands and blinked once more and nodded as they handed them over as they started to follow the large rat across the deck. As they arrived to a ladder, the large rat dropped the two bottles into the empty barrel and moved upwards as Nips bent down with a grin. "Right after you matey, I'll be right behind you."

Scratch nodded as he turned to face the ladder and began to make his way up as he looked up at the large black backside of the rat above him and felt something stir within his own loins and he frowned, shook his head for a moment and muttered quietly to himself. "Not now..." Nips, was just below him as he looked upwards. "Did you say something?" Scratch shook his head as he replied back to him. "Nope, didn't say anything." The rat pushed himself onto the upper deck and continued to follow the large black rat that was a few paces ahead of him. Nips came up alongside Scratch and smiled. "Sure, you got a small lump down there." Scratch blinked as Nips reached and gave the bulge that had formed in Scratch's pants and that made the rat blush. "Dammit, I don't think the captain would like that..." Nips gave a laugh as he gave the other rat a smack on the rear. "So much to learn..." Then Nips went ahead as Scratch walked at the rear with a raised brow.

Two large brown rats stood at the side of the door that they were approaching and they both dipped their heads at the large black rat as he nodded at them and came to a stop before he knocked on the door gently three times before he spoke. "Captain, I've brought the two that you requested." Scratch looked at himself as he brushed his clothes down and fought hard to maintain a better posture as he thought of something else to get his semi erection to die down. Nips remained relaxed as he looked at the door in front of them and heard the voice come from inside. "Ah, good they're here. Show them in Blacksoot."

The large black hand paw gripped the door knob and it creaked as it turned before the large rat pushed the door open and slowly Blacksoot dipped his head down as he ducked under the door and stepped inside, then he turned around and with a large hand he beckoned the door to enter as Nips went in first as Scratch took a deep breath and then followed himself as he entered the warm room.

"Very good Blacksoot, you may go now." The large rat said as he stood at the other end of the room as he faced towards the window with their back to them. Blacksoot nodded his head as he turned around, bent down and went through the door before he reached and closed it behind him as the door knob made a squeaking sound again as it clicked into place. Scratch stood still with Nips right beside him as the large rat continued to face away from them. "I've been keeping an eye on both of you for a while now, I'm glad that both of you have decided to help me on this mission of vengeance." Nips smiled as he dipped his head as he responded back. "It is a pleasure captain, anything that we can do to make this a successful mission you can count on both of us."

"And what answer does your friend have to say?" The large rat said as he continued to stand still facing away from them. Scratch thought quickly as he answered back. "I agree with Nips, sir. The success of this mission is the utmost importance for all of our kind." Nips turned to look at Scratch with a smile and quickly turned to face the front again. Both saw the rat turn his head slightly to the side, the farther part of the cabin was darker so only the shadow form could be seen as the rodent seemed to look at them both and then smiled as he spoke. "And does killing woodlanders make you horny?" The rat said as he noticed the small bulge in Scratch groin. The question made the rodent blush more as he swallowed. "I don't under..."

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!" The shadow form of the rat yelled out as both rodents saw him turn about now but no features could be seen. Nips turned to look at Scratch worriedly as the other rodent swallowed again. "O-of course sir, a dead woodlander is a good woodlander."

"A very good answer indeed but I also know you're into the males which is fine by me, in fact I do believe I chose well after all." The large rat walked closer to the other two as his features began to come into view. The rat was scarred about his face, his left eye had a black eye patch where large deep scratch wounds ran diagonally across his cheek, over his eye and across his snout. The one eye looked deep, the blackness of the pupil glinted with evil thoughts as the large brown rat smiled with his yellow teeth. "Be loyal and we will bring revenge to what those woodlanders have done to us, I promise full and total revenge if my name isn't Cluny!"

Scratch blinked as he looked puzzled, but quickly lost it as he saw Cluny give him a rather dark look and he lowered his snout. "I-I'm sorry sir, I didn't know you were of the same family, forgive me." Cluny rolled his shoulders as he nodded his head, the dark look on his face quickly fading away. "Ah yes, I'm from the great family that Cluny fathered way back when he was alive, each of us carries the same blood as him, to conquer and rule over all others that..." Cluny lowered his voice and came right up to the two rats and bent down so his head was in between theirs and whispered. "Just we rats will rule the world, no foxes, stoats, rabbits, mice... Just us rats, I can trust you two can't I?" A large rodent hand came down on each of the rat's shoulders and squeezed them firmly.

Both of them noticed the same weapon that had been attached to the tail of Cluny, the metal spike flicked about as the captain waited for their answer and both of them nodded their heads as they spoke the exact same time. "Yes, you can trust us captain!"

As quickly as they spoke the words, the sensation of the hands on their shoulders was removed and Cluny turned to walk to a seat and sat down into it. "That is good to hear, now please come and sit so we can discuss things for a brighter future for the both of us." Cluny nodded to the chairs on the other side of the room as both Scratch and Nips walked over and sat down.

Cluny moved his hands until the long fingertips pressed against each other as he looked at the two rodents that sat on the other side of the room, he remained quiet for a few minutes until he finally spoke. "Ever since the first Cluny of our line was defeated by those woodlanders in Mossflower, that brought great shame to our family, so much so that we lost control of Dirthaven to a rival family of foxes." Cluny frowned as he spoke the words, his fingers never moved from each other as he continued on. "Most of my ancestors had tried to gain control of Dirthaven first and failed along the way that we rats lost the trust from others on the isle. It wasn't until my great grandfather decided to change tactics and worked for the foxes and we regained the trust so we can be here now..." Cluny tapped his fingers as the claws clanked together a few times.

"I always wondered why we weren't liked." Scratch said as he rubbed his chin with a hand paw. "I remember my father telling a tale about us being treated as bad as woodlanders at one point. It made me sick to hear such things." Nips frowned as he scraped his incisors against each other with a nod as well as he agreed with his friend's words.

"Well, all of that is about to change for the better." Cluny said with a wicked smile on his face and clasped his fingers together. "So you can do whatever the fuck you want to do, steal, rape or murder or all of the above once we hit land." Cluny turned his head to where Scratch was and added slowly. "And even pay off your debts in one way or another, just how much do you owe the foxes anyways?"

Scratch had a hand paw on his crotch as he idly listened to Cluny and had at the time been gently rubbing the semi in his pants. Once the question had reached him, Scratch stopped and looked at Cluny before he answered back. "Well, captain it's a fair amount. They say I owe about one hundred gold coins."

"I see..." Cluny said thoughtfully. "My, that's a lot to lose while playing betting with them, are you sure they didn't cheat?" Cluny gave a wider grin as he showed off his yellow teeth as Scratch looked thoughtful but didn't reply as he rolled his shoulders at the large rat.

Cluny got up from his seat as he made to the table and poured himself some wine into a goblet before he turned to face the two and spoke while he swirled the wine about gently. "Well, they did. That's how they get you to do what they want you to do. Go out into the world and get the riches before they take it off from you on your return. They call it taxation but it doesn't end there either." Cluny slowly took a sip of his wine as he swallowed. Scratch frowned as he listened to the large rat as he continued on. "They up the amount you owe until they think you cannot get anymore riches and then they will take something from you, say... A family member or a lover..."

Nips slowly placed a hand paw on Scratch thigh and gently squeezed as Scratch looked at Cluny with shocked eyes. "I-I-I didn't know..." Scratch said as he looked at the large rat at the other side. "I was always told we were equal..." Cluny laughed loudly as he held his belly with a hand paw, some of the wine spilt out onto the wooden floor as the red wine slowly stained but most of it fell in between the floor boards. "Oh you actually believed what you were taught, that's amusing..."

Scratch frowned now as he glared at Cluny, but the squeeze on his thigh made him remember where he was and his facial features returned back to neutral again before Cluny had finished laughing and returned his gaze back to where the two rats where. "You're funny Scratch, so I like you. But if you're really with me, we will get our revenge on everyone. Are you with me?"

For a moment there was silence in the room as Scratch thought things over, Cluny remained quiet but his eyes never left him as Scratch saw the large rat drink the remaining wine from his goblet. Eventually Scratch nodded his head. "I'm with you..." The sound of the rat was full of anger, malice as he looked at Cluny. "But I want to kill the one that tricked me."

Cluny smiled as he slowly turned around and poured two more goblets of wine and walked over to the two rats. He offered them as Scratch and Nips took them and walked back to refill his own as he lifted his goblet up. "Then, let us drink to our new arrangement on taking over the world." Cluny dipped his head, saw the other two dip their heads and all three rats drank deeply from their filled goblets.

***

Down in the ship, Blacksoot rocked back and forth in his small cabin, the cot had always been too short for him so the large rat had kept his knees up while he had his head laid back against the wall. His clothes were crumpled on the floor as he sighed, a large black hand paw had been stroking his thick shaft for a while, and the head of his cock had swelled up as a large blob of pre had hung there for a short while, swinging about as he kept his gaze onto it.

It had been a good day for him, the ship was in good order, the captain was in a happy mood and nothing had gone wrong so far on this trip. Though Blacksoot knew that this was only the first day and that there was many days to come, he wasn't going to ignore the good days and some privacy as a soft moan escaped from his lips as he pulled back on his shaft a bit further and watched as some of the pre squirted out onto his black furred belly.

Blacksoot stopped mid stroke as he saw the door open and he smiled at the shorter, thinner rat the came into the room and closed the door behind him. "Ah, Slosh there you are? What took you so long this time?" Slosh looked at the larger black rat on his back, naked and with a throbbing cock in his hand paw and he folded his arms about his chest and frowned. "Apparently being held up while you're on your back and wanking yourself off, that's what is happening. Fucking fox, don't know who the fuck he think he is bossing about up on top."

Blacksoot pushed himself up as he swivelled about in the cot and placed his large feet onto the floor and let go of his penis that stood up between his legs and he gave a sigh. "Let me guess, you had a run in with the first officer again?" Blacksoot saw Slosh nod his head as he got up and walked over to the shorter rat and wrapped his arms about him and hugged the other rodent tightly. "You have to be careful around that one, remember what Cluny said when he went about recruiting us. Never trust anyone unless it was a rat."

"I know, I know what he said but that doesn't stop my ears being practically bitten off though does it? All because Blackpaw is annoyed about the new rat was up on top and drinking wine." Slosh looked at Blacksoot as he saw the large rodent pull away and smirking. Slosh placed his ears against the back of his head as he sighed. "The captain did it, didn't he?" Blacksoot gave Slosh a gentle kiss on top of the forehead as he replied back. "You know he only does it to annoy that fox and the rest of the others." Slosh nodded his head. "I know, but I don't trust him. The way he sounded, it's like he has a plan to start trouble on the ship." Blacksoot blinked. "Where is he now?" Slosh replied back as he pushed Blacksoot backwards towards the cot. "Oh he's gone off to sleep in his quarters, after he's had his drink of course so nothing to worry about until tomorrow..." Slosh smiled as he pushed Blacksoot onto the cot and licked his lips. "In the meantime I believe I need to have some relief myself."

Blacksoot smiled as he saw the shorter rat undress as he stood there naked in between the larger rat's legs and slowly the larger rat grabbed his legs, shifted a bit and then held them close to his chest as Slosh stroked his own shaft. Blacksoot sighed. "Why can't I be top this time around?" Slosh tilted his head to the side and frowned. "You know why, you're far too big for most of us and I rather keep the food I eat inside of me."

Slosh knelt down onto the floor as he pushed his snout against the large black balls and licked them with his tongue as he gave a soft moan before he pulled his head back briefly. "Besides, you're really tight and I like it, you big strong guy." Slosh moved his head back again as his nose bumped against the large heavy ball sac as the orbs slid over the sides of the other rat's nose, to press up against the side of the snout as Slosh pushed forwards as he began to lick around that ring of muscle that was always hidden under the thick rodent tail.

Blacksoot splayed out his long toes as he gave a soft moan and felt his long tail shift about as it moved to go around the right leg of the smaller rat that continued to nuzzle against the heavy balls as he pressed his long tongue past the tight ring muscle and licked around inside the fleshy earthly tasting tube inside that pulsated and pushed back against the invading organ.

As the ship rocked about, parts of it creaked as another section of the ship cooled down. Blacksoot panted as he kept a tight hold of his legs as he felt the wetness of his own aroused penis leaks vast amounts of pre that began to pool about within the folds of his hunched up belly. Slosh pulled his tongue out from the inside of the larger rat's rear as a thin line of pre stretched and he gave a happy grin before he licked it away with his tongue and swallowed.

"You ready?" Slosh said as he moved into position, his penis wobbled about in front of him before it was taken within his warm palm and the rat held onto it as he pressed the leaking head against the back entrance of the larger rat. Blacksoot nodded his head as he kept his legs up and apart and slowly he felt the smaller rat begin to push against his wet anus and the fat head began to sink inwards with a wet squelch.

It wasn't long as Slosh rammed his entire shaft right into Blacksoot who gave a loud moan as the wooden wall behind him creaked as the rat leant against it, before he felt the sensation of the shaft pull outwards again before it was rammed back inwards again as he felt his entire body shiver as the tip of the head bashed against his prostate, his own cock leapt upwards as it sprayed pre all over his belly and chest.

Slosh pressed his long fingers into the buttocks of the larger rat as he worked out his frustration, he turned his head to the side and began to lick at the larger rat foot, before he took the largest toe into his mouth and nibbled on it as it made Blacksoot give a surprised squeak as his other toes flexed about.

Blacksoot rocked as he felt the dick slap in and out of him now, the sound of a wet mouth that slurped around the big toe as saliva began to drip downwards along the sole. Slosh reached in between the legs and took hold of the thick shaft of the other rat in his hand and began to stroke it hard and fast as he made the pre squirt about all over the chest and belly, some of which sprayed about inside of the other rodent's thighs as the wooden cot slammed against the wall with thuds

With each stab into the tight ring, the thick shaft pulled outwards again with a wet shiny look, tinted with brown as it leaked onto the thick tail and began to run as tiny rivers as the hairs split the thick liquid to fall downwards. Eventually the shaft of the smaller rat that was pink flesh at the start turned streaky brown as Slosh quickened the pace, while his claws scraped on the wooden floor to gain a better grip and pulled away from the large toe that he had been nibbling and suckling on with a loud gasp, followed by a loud groan. Slosh gritted his teeth as he dug his claws into the buttock of the larger rat now as he continued to pump the thicker penis with the other as he heard the wet slapping sound around his pre drenched paw, the sound of the skin slurping, sucking and slapping made both of the rodent's noses twitch as they embraced the thick scent of sex in the tiny room as it hung about thickly, intoxicating with the scent of rat shit that continued to cling around the smaller rat penis that slurped in and out of the anus noisily.

Blacksoot cried out as he felt his shaft shift and throb before thick ropes of his semen slammed into his chest and face as his penis continued to be pumped by the tight embrace of the other rodent, his balls clenched upwards as the rest of his lower body muscles clamped around the invading cock that kept slipping in and out of his messy anus until it was hard to pull in or out as Slosh groaned as his own shaft throbbed in time with the pulsating intestinal walls and sprayed his own thick white rat cum deep inside of the other rodent. A small trickle of blood flowed down his pinkish paw as his claws dug deep into the skin of the larger rodent as he had pierced the skin in his climax.

As the climax began to subside for both of the two rodents, Slosh kept his penis embedded inside of the larger rat and slowly he pulled his hand away from the buttock which made Blacksoot groan as he also let go of the thickly white covered shaft and then his body pressed against it as the smaller rodent hugged the larger rat with a soft groan. Blacksoot smiled as he lowered his legs to the side of Slosh and wrapped his arms about the other rodent as Slosh leant up and nuzzled the other rat on the snout as both kissed. "Really wish you were as big as me, and then I could do that to you." Blacksoot said as he licked the nose of the other rodent. Slosh smiled as he licked away the tasty rat cum from around the face of the larger rodent. "But who would I have to save me, my big hero... And besides..." Slosh smiled as he rested his head against the other rat. "Who would be able to sneak into places and get the best food and drink for you?" Blacksoot smiled at the other rat as nodded his head. "True, very true love, size doesn't matter at all. We all have our skills one way or another."

Blacksoot moved a hand paw up and brushed the other rat's hair gently. "Let me know about Blackpaw though, if he does anything... I will kill him." Hidden from Blacksoot, Slosh buried his head into the larger rat but was smiling, already an idea was forming in his mind as soon as those words were heard, and he eventually lifted his head up and nodded. "I know love, I appreciate it, and really I do."

***

Blackpaw looked out towards where the captain's quarters were and he frowned at the two large rats that continued to stand guard right outside the door. The fox leant against the railing as he turned his head back again to look at the moon lit sea again and tried to relax but he ended up frowning at the scene that lay out in front of him. Blackpaw slowly pushed himself off from the railing and walked off, he would find out what had been going on in there. Cluny was clever but he knew that if he didn't want to die on his return he had to find out what that rat was actually up to.

As Blackpaw moved towards the steps to go down to the lower decks, it wasn't long after that when both Scratch and Nips came out of the captain's quarters, both had an arm about each other as they turned their head back towards the room. "Good night captain!" Nips reached and closed the door as he nodded at the nearest rat guard as both moved across the deck. Both tried to walk in a straight line but they veered off one way or another on their way towards the steps that led down to their quarters.

"You're quite drunk matey of mine." Scratch said as he gave a soft giggle as Nips belched out loudly while he patted his belly. "Ah, so I am matey but you didn't hold back on the drink yourself, did you?" Scratch thought about that as he nodded his head. "It was good wine though, not like that swill we usually get."

"Ah yes, I hate that swill, not fit for con...con...drinking..." Nips said as they fell forwards and just managed to grip hold of the railing as they leant forwards at the edge of the uppermost step. Scratch smiled. "So I don't think I can make it to my room on my own? So, can you make it to your room on your own?" Nips shook his head. "I don't think I can either. Say, how about we just go to one of our rooms and sleep together like really good mates." Slowly the both rats stumbled down the stairs as they laughed loudly, singing about good times, killing woodlanders as they vanished in the candle lit corridor before they reached one of their rooms and crashed into it, before the door closed loudly behind them, then silence. In the furthest end of the corridor a shadow form of a long snout and pointed ears could be seen, before that slowly backed away from sight and another door opened and closed with a click of the latch.