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Paul winced as he felt Pox's tongue licking at his temple, but he didn't protest. He was still reeling from the shock of having such a violent confrontation with his father. He hadn't expected it to happen so fast, or at all. He had hoped that maybe he could convince his father to accept Pox, though in hindsight it was obvious that was never going to happen.

The rat sat down on the ground next to him and put her arm around his shoulder to hold him close, “Only a small cut on head. Should be fine," she said and nuzzled at his hair.

He sighed and leaned into her, not even having the energy to be disgusted and he rested his cheek against her furry shoulder. “I'm sorry…I really didn't think this through," he said and sighed as he squeezed his arm around her, glad for her warmth.

She shrugged, “What sorry for? Pox tell you father stupid all the time. Tell you he not accept Pox."

Paul nodded some, “Yeah…I really should start listening to you more…" he said, which got a small giggle out of the rodent. He smiled to her and then sighed, “I don't know what I'm going to do now…I don't have any money…no home…I don't even have a coat."

The rat draped a cloak over his shoulders, “You still have Pox. Will always have Pox," she said and pulled him more into her lap, pressing her body against him.

He smiled and pulled the coat tighter and looked up at her, “Even though I don't have a warm bed to sleep in anymore?" he asked with a small amount of playfulness in his voice.

Pox let out a huff and gently pushed on him, “Oh well if no warm bed, Pox might need to find new human to be mate!" she said teasingly, before squeezing tight, “Of course Pox doesn't care about bed. Pox not that shallow."

Paul smiled some at that and hugged at her arms around him. “I appreciate that," he said and then sighed, “I'm not looking forward to living on the streets now, though."

Pox rubbed her cheek on his, “Why stay on street?"

Paul shrugged, “What am I supposed to do? I'm sure my father will tell everyone how he disowned me. About you too. And that article in the papers… No one will hire me even as a laborer, they wouldn't want to be seen showing me kindness, and there aren't a lot of opportunities at smaller businesses."

Pox rapped a knuckle gently on the top of his head, “Human being stupid again, why live on street? You come live with Pox in warrens. Is still a little cold but not as cold as up here. Pox's bed not warmest but will be much warmer with you in it."

Paul sighed, “Would your kind even accept me, or us being together?"

Pox moved a hand to the handle of her dagger, “Pox will make them accept you," she grinned and licked his ear, “Just have to stop washing Pox's scent off so much." She then brightened a bit, “You can meet Pox's sister Ticktock too, she will love you. Will probably make Pox share!" she said grinning a bit.

Paul blinked a bit and then shook his head, turning to look at the rat, “Wait…share? What do you mean, share?"

Pox giggled some, “Ticktock is Pox's sister. We share lots of things, food, bed, cloaks…" she then leaned in teasingly to whisper in his ear, “…mates."

Paul's cheeks got red at that suggestion, and he imagined being cornered by two ferocious rats, just like Pox. “Uh…um…" he looked up at Pox, but only saw her usual expression of playfulness, but it wasn't like usual, “Please tell me you are joking…"

Pox shook her head, “Pox not joke this time! Won't make you but would make Ticktock happy maybe. You would like her too, she smart, even smarter than Pox is."

Paul shook his head slowly, “I er…I don't know, that-" he was interrupted by Pox knocking on his head again.

“Stop! Stop thinking so much. Come back to warrens with Pox, meet Ticktock!" she said firmly, “You say you should listen to Pox more, so listen to Pox more!" She glared at him sternly, like a mother reprimanding a child and when he went to protest again, she put a hand over his mouth, “Say yes or Pox drag you to warrens anyway." Paul sighed heavily and then gave a nod of his head in agreement, and Pox let him up. She then pushed him out of her lap and got to standing. “Come then. Follow Pox," she said taking his hand and leading him along. “Pox know of sewer grate nearby, will take you below to warrens."

Paul sighed and followed along, “Okay Pox…I'm trusting you," he said as he squeezed her hand and the two went along making their way through a few streets, taking a more direct route than Paul was used to.

They passed by a few people who were both confused and scared to see Pox leading him along. Eventually they came to the sewer grate and Pox pulled it open before dropping down, and gesturing to Paul to follow her, “Come on!" she said to him.

Paul covered his mouth, “Ugh…the smell…"

Pox huffed, “No complain! Come!" she said, “Before guard and rat-catcher come!"

Paul shook his head and swallowed hard, “Okay…" he said and started to climb down the ladder into the hole, pulling the heavy grate back overhead, before joining Pox in the tunnel. “Ugh…I can't see a thing down here!" he said.

Pox growled some, “Quit complain!" she said again, and she grabbed Paul's hand and he felt something thick and warm placed into it, “Hold tail, will lead in dark. Just trust Pox."

Paul swallowed and nodded, “Oh…okay…" he said, “Sorry…"

Pox huffed, “Is fine, but you need toughen up!" she said and started again, making her way through the maze of sewers in the direction of the warrens. She kept her pace slow so that Paul could keep up. “Ground slimy, be careful with steps," she warned.

Paul was grateful for the warning, and he continued to walk, slowly growing a bit more sure of himself as his eyes adjusted to the dark. It wasn't completely pitch black, some light shone down from the grates above, but it was near enough that all he could make out was the vague shape of Pox ahead of him. “I feel like I'm following a shade on the way to hell," he commented.

Pox let the comment go, and before long they arrived at the entrance to the warrens. “Okay, we close," she said, “Will probably see other rats, will try to avoid most and take you to where Pox and Ticktock live," she said.

Paul swallowed, “Okay…whatever you think is best," he said and squeezed her tail a bit more firmly, following her.

As they went into the tunnels, going deeper underground, Paul heard a chattering ahead. Pox saw the two male rats as they were walking up the tunnel ahead of them, and her hand went to her dagger keeping herself covered with her cloak. It didn't take long for the two to notice Pox, and then Paul behind.

The larger of the two spoke up first as they got closer, “Oh, what's that? Looks like Pox is bringing home fresh meat today!" followed by the other, “Good, I like when the meat is fresh," he said, leaning in and snuffling over Paul, “Smells fresh, looks skinny though!"

Pox hissed and slapped the male away, “Back off Notches! This human is mine, not for eating!" she said growling to the smaller rat, and then at the other, “You too, Stripe-snout! Keep your hands off!" She emphasized her command by slashing out with her dagger, making the two jump back.

The two rats chattered more, “Okay, Pox! No need to be violent today." the larger one called Stripe-snout said.

Notches was right behind, nodding in agreement, “Yes fine, your human. Smells like piss anyway," he said and gave Paul a shove as he passed by, sending the human stumbling into a wall.

Stripe-snout paused and looked between Paul and Pox, “Who is this human? Why did you bring him here?"

Pox huffed a bit, “None of your business, all you need to know is that he belongs to me and is not to be hurt!"

Stripe-snout wiggled his nose and glanced between the two, “You know the elders won't you having a human here."

Pox shrugged, “Let me deal with Milkeyes and the others."

Stripe-snout nodded, “Okay then. I saw nothing of course. I'm going with Notches to see if your nuns left us any meat." He then pushed past Pox and Paul making his way out of the warren.

Pox gave a nod of her head, “Get going then, make sure he doesn't eat any before you get it back here this time."

When they were alone Paul finally spoke up, “Um…I didn't understand any of that chattering…is everything okay?"

Pox nodded, “Yes, is fine. Stripe-snout and notches just thought Pox was bringing home dinner," she said, putting her tail back in Paul's hand, “Come on, almost home." She then continued on.

It quickly became clear to Paul as they went deeper, that he would have no hope of finding his way out of this twisted labyrinth of tunnels on his own. By the time they finally came to a stop, he had lost count of how many turns they had made. Eventually he saw a light up ahead of them, and they came to a small alcove dug into the dirt. Pox pushed a curtain aside and revealed the interior.

Inside the space was rather cramped, with a large pile of rags and old blankets along one wall, and a table on the other that was illuminated by a single gas lamp. Pocket watches of various sizes lined the walls, softly ticking away, and at the table a single rat was hunched over, examining one that had been taken apart. She looked up at the disturbance, looking between Pox and then Paul.

Pox gave a nod and pushed Paul forward, “Ticktock, this Paul, Paul, this Ticktock."

Paul gave a polite bow, “Um…nice to meet you," he said, looking at the rat. He was surprised to see that she was smaller than Pox, and even smaller than him. Unlike Pox who had inky black fur, Ticktock's was more of a light gray in color.

Ticktock got up and moved forward, taking hold of Paul's face, and bringing it down closer to hers as she sniffed at him, and turned his head from side to side to get a better look at him. She then let him go and gave him a hard swift slap across the face. “That's for hurting my sister," she said.

Paul winced and rubbed his cheek, “Ow…what the-" he started before he was cut off by the smaller rat throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him into a surprisingly tight hug. Paul blinked a few moments and then gently patted her back, “Uh…what?"

Ticktock let him go, “That's for finally being her mate," she said and looked to Pox, “She's been walking on clouds for weeks."

Paul nodded slowly, and then Pox pushed him inside the alcove, “Yes yes, Pox very happy to have Paul for mate." She sat down on the pile of rags and Pulled Paul to sit next to her, putting her arms around him, “We need talk though. Bad things happened."

Ticktock sat across from Paul and Pox and tilted her head, “What did you do now?" she asked.

Pox shook her head, “Not Pox's fault this time!" she looked to Paul for a moment before speaking to Ticktock in her native tongue, and the two went back and forth for several moments, as Pox explained everything that Paul had told her about his argument with his father.

Ticktock shook her head, “Okay, that's bad, very bad," she said rubbing her muzzle and then fidgeting with her numb fingers, “If your father threatened to send a rat catcher down here to get Pox, he might do the same to get you back, Paul."

Paul swallowed and nodded, “You are right. Especially now, he wants to see me suffer for crossing him. He might not do it right away, I'm sure he'll expect me to come crawling back at some point, but it would happen eventually."

Ticktock nodded and got up to pace some in the little alcove, “That would be a problem, doesn't give us much time to get you in good graces with the elders," she said.

Pox huffed and shook her head, “Pox was planning talk to Milkeyes, even call clan meeting, declare Paul Pox's mate, challenge anyone who wants harm him," she said, squeezing at Paul again.

Ticktock turned and shook her head, “No, that won't work. Milkeyes will tolerate Paul right up until other humans come looking for him, and then you'd have to deal with Gnarltooth who will want Paul dead from the start, and Stumptail will do whatever the other two say."

Paul stared at the floor as he listened to the rather bleak reality of the situation, before he spoke up, looking at Ticktock, “What do you think it would take to convince your elders?"

The smaller rat shrugged her shoulders, “Prove you are more useful alive than dead for starters. Show you are worth the trouble that would be caused keeping you around."

Paul sighed some and shook his head, “I have no idea how to do that…" he said, “I was barely useful up there, I don't know anything about your world down here…"

Pox shifted and got to her feet, “Well we have day or two to think. Pox will go talk to Milkeyes anyway. Speak with alone, he'll be easier to convince that way," she said and turned to leave.

Ticktock sighed and rubbed her muzzle again, “Be careful Pox, you don't want to earn more lashes from Stumptail's barb!" she called out to Pox. She then looked to Paul and moved over to him before dropping down into his lap, pressing close so her back was against his chest.

Paul tensed up and looked in the direction Pox had gone, and then at the smaller rat in his lap and he swallowed suddenly realizing that she was naked without even a cloak on like Pox wore, just a few gold and silver chains on her wrists and ankles. “Um…"

Ticktock closed her eyes and leaned against him some more, “Relax human, you don't have to be afraid to touch me, I'm not going to bite," she said rubbing her hands together again.

Paul sat there, hesitating for a few moments until Ticktock took hold of his hands and placed them on her small breasts. He flinched and tried to pull his hands away, but she held them in place.

Ticktock giggled, “Relax…you can touch me. Pox won't be mad, and I won't hurt you," she said and relaxed some more, letting go of him and then stretching her arms above his head, gently caressing his cheek.

Paul nodded and closed his eyes, relaxing slowly and he shifted his position some to get more comfortable, starting to rub slowly over her chest and down her stomach. “Sorry…you are the only other rat besides Pox that I have met and…this is kind of a new experience for me I guess…" he said and continued to caress her body.

Ticktock nodded her head and then turned around in his lap, putting her arms around his neck. “Hopefully a good one," she said as she leaned in and nuzzled against him.

Paul nodded some and he rubbed over her back down to her tail, “Yeah, so far it is," he said sighing. “Certainly not what I was expecting either."

She giggled a bit and leaned in to lick at his ear, “What were you expecting? Me to tear off your clothes and have my way with you like Pox would?"

Paul chuckled a bit and shivered at the teasing to his ear, his hand caressing over Ticktock's muzzle, “Well…a bit yes…the first thing Pox ever did was force me to have sex with her."

Ticktock nodded some, “She was in heat, female rats get aggressive," she said and continued to nuzzle at him, her nose twitching as she caught his scent.

Paul had learned the hard way that female rats went into heat, and Pox was especially rough during those times that she did. “I have to admit, I have a hard time seeing you as the aggressive type, at least not right now anyway," he said continuing to rub at Ticktock's body body, finding himself relaxing more and more as he pet her.

Ticktock nodded, “I'm not…and I don't go into heat like Pox does."

Paul tilted his head at that, “Oh…you don't?"

She shook her head, “I had my womb taken out when I was younger. I didn't want to be a breeder rat," she said.

Paul tilted his head, “A breeder?" he asked, “Like you'd be made to have children?"

She nodded, “Yes, I would have. I'm a runt. Small and weak compared to other rats. So, males would easily have been able to overpower me and force me to have pups."

Paul swallowed, “That sounds unpleasant…but to make yourself barren…"

Ticktock rolled over again, taking hold of Paul's hands, and moving them to her front, “It was easiest solution. We use a mushroom that we can find rarely that we dry and mix with our medicinal herbs. It helps to calm heat, but it's getting more and more scarce. Pox uses it when she needs to focus on jobs," she said, “She of course doesn't want to breed either, but she's big and strong and has cut the balls off of any rat that tried."

Paul's hands stopped at that revelation, wincing at the mental image. “Oh…remind me to never piss her off." He said, going back to giving Ticktock's breasts some attention.

Ticktock giggled at that, “You won't! You cut open her side and threw her off a roof and she still loves you. It would be very hard for her to get so angry she'd do anything permanent." The rat then grinned, giving Paul an evil eye for a moment, “It's me you have to worry about."

Paul was once again shocked for a moment, until Ticktock started to giggle, and he realized she had been joking with him. He let out a sigh of relief, “You had me there for a moment," he said and sighed, resting his hands on her stomach and he nuzzled into her long hair. It was dark and curly like Pox's, and she kept it tied in the back in a ponytail. He noticed her smell didn't bother him as much as Pox's did. “So was Pox actually joking about wanting to share me between you?"

Ticktock giggled a bit more, “Why? One rat not enough for you? Want to have two?" she asked him and licked under his chin.

“Well…uh…" he swallowed, not entirely sure what the right answer to that question was. “What I mean is…well…you said you don't want sex…"

Ticktock turned over again and pushed Paul onto his back, straddling him, “I never said that. I said I don't want to be forced to breed. I do still get pleasure from sex, and I like having it." She rubbed her hands over his chest.

Paul swallowed and nodded some, “So you would want to…"

She shrugged and smiled, “I think so…at least to try and see if I like you for that." She then leaned herself closer to Paul, pressing her muzzle against his lips and pressing him into a kiss with her.

He swallowed hard and slowly responded, nervous at first. He held it for a few moments before gently pushing her back, “I…think it best to not…not right now…" he said, “I…this is very strange…and different…and I'm not really sure what I think about it…"

Ticktock nodded and then put her arms around his neck, fully laying on top of him. “Okay then, no sex today…but I'm not getting up. You are warm and you smell nice, and your hands are soft and gentle."

Paul opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but then decided better of it and he put his arms around Ticktock again and held her close, resuming running his hands along her back and through her fur. “You are soft and warm too…" he said.

The two laid like that until Pox returned sometime later to join them. She had a somber expression on her face as she moved over them to take a position behind Paul so that he was in between the two rats. She put her arms around him and squeezed tightly, “Milkeyes will talk to other elders…" she said, “We meet with whole clan in few days to decide."

Ticktock remained silent, while Paul nodded some, feeling Pox holding him in an iron grip he turned to look at her, “Is everything alright?" he asked, “You are squeezing me awfully tight."

Pox gave a slow nod, “Yes…is fine for now. Is getting late, should sleep some."