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Paul, Pox and Ticktock made their way slowly through the dark tunnels of the warren. They were accompanied by three other rats, and each of them save for Ticktock had two large sacks of beans or grain slung over their shoulders. Paul had only one of his own as well and was holding onto Ticktock’s tail to help him navigate the near pitch darkness of the tunnels. “So, what should I expect from this meeting with your elders?” he asked as he carefully made his way down the tunnel, trying to avoid tripping on loose bricks or slipping on patches of slime.

Pox was ahead of him, “Mostly Pox will declare you mate in front of whole clan. Will present food to show you useful, and maybe that convince elders to let live.”

Paul stopped where he was at that, and Ticktock let out a yelp as her tail pulled taut. “Ow ow ow! Hey! Let go if you can’t keep up!” she said, pausing and turning to smack at Paul’s hand.

He shook his head, “Sorry!” he said wincing, “I thought…Pox you never said anything about them…maybe killing me!”

They continued moving again, Ticktock huffed, “What did you think was going to happen? They won’t just let you go if they don’t like you. You know where the warren is, and that makes you a danger.”

Paul swallowed some, keeping pace with the others, “I…guess I hadn’t considered that, but what if they do decide they want me dead?” he asked, suddenly growing rather nervous.

“Will be fine,” Pox called from ahead of them, “Food will do good, get elders and other rats like you.”

They continued to make their way through the tunnels, soon coming to the meeting chamber that the clan used to gather. Several large gas torches were used to light the chamber and there were many rats gathered around, sitting, or standing on the stone steps. At the front were two large seats, each holding an elderly male rat, with a third standing to the side with his arms crossed over his chest.

Ticktock moved next to Paul and took hold of his hand and she spoke softly to him, telling him about the three, “The tall one standing there is Stumptail, he is kind of like our law bringer. He’s the toughest rat in the entire clan except maybe Pox. In the center there is our leader Milkeyes, he’s the oldest of all of us, but you can’t underestimate him. He’s half blind but he can still fight. The fat one to his right is the shaman Gnarltooth and his familiar, that’s the hound that mauled my hands,” she said shivering a bit in fear, and Paul felt her grip on his hand tightening.

Paul was suitably intimidated by the large Stumptail, though he found the other two much less imposing, though as he looked to the hound the two locked eyes for several moments, and Paul felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as the creature regarded him with an infernal intelligence.

Pox moved forward to address the elders, while Ticktock stayed with Paul, translating the rat’s speech for him. Pox looked to the elder rats and gave a respectful bow before them, and they regarded her and Paul. She looked up at them and spoke, “I have come at your command, elders. I have brought Paul with me as you told me to.”

Milkeyes nodded his head, “So you have,” he said, looking over at Paul and then back to Pox.

Gnarltooth spoke up next, “I do not like this. The human is a danger to the clan by his very presence.” The old rat picked his crooked teeth with his good claws, “It gives no value to the clan, and it will bring rat catchers to our tunnels. It would be foolish to allow it to live.”

Pox swallowed some and shook her head, “Paul is no threat to us. He was cast out from his clan, he has no loyalty to the other humans,” she said.

Gnarltooth sat up straighter in his seat, “Even if that is true, it still offers no value, it would just be another mouth to feed.”

Pox shook her head, gesturing to the gathered crowd around them, “There are plenty of rats in our clan who sit idle all day and do nothing to help out. Are they not just mouths to feed too?”

“Those are rats, though, they are our brothers and sisters,” Gnarltooth protested, “This human is different.”

Pox looked back at Paul and then Gnarltooth, “It’s not different at all, and Paul would be valuable to the clan!” She gestured to the other rats that had followed them and they dropped the sacks of food in the center of the floor, making a large pile. “Paul can still walk among the humans. He can trade in their silver and gold and brass, and to show his desire to be one of us, he brings us food! There is enough here for everyone.”

This got the other rats surrounding them to start chattering and talking amongst themselves, and Paul glanced around. Apparently, Pox knew her audience. He felt a small pang of sympathy that they could be swayed so easily by the promise of a meal.

Gnarltooth let out a loud bellow that silenced everyone, and he looked to Pox, “And how do we know the human hasn’t poisoned this food? This could be a trick so the humans can get rid of us once and for all!”

Pox growled and clenched her fists and looked like she was ready to attack the old rat, but she managed to hold her calm, “He didn’t do that because he wouldn’t!” she then took a deep breath and stared right at Gnarltooth, and then Milkeyes, and Stumptail, “This human is my mate. We love each other, and he left his clan to be with me.” This declaration got even more curious chattering from the assembled audience, and an expression of shock out of the old Gnarltooth. Pox glared at him and continued, “He gave up living in a warm house, and having a warm bed, and as much food as he could want, to come down here. He hates his people just as much as we do.”

Gnarltooth shook his head then looked to Milkeyes_, “You can’t possibly allow this! A human and a rat do not belong together!”_

Milkeyes sat there and regarded Paul for several long moments and then looked at Pox, then to Gnarltooth, “While I do not entirely condone such things, Pox has the right to choose her mate. She has proven that well enough,” The elder rat said, giving a crooked smile toward Pox, before regarding Gnarltooth again, “If you disagree, you are welcome to draw your blade against hers.”

Gnarltooth snorted and turned his head away, “If that is your wish, Elder,” he said.

Milkeyes nodded and then looked to Pox, “I still have questions myself, Pox. Where does the human get his silver, get his gold?”

Pox frowned at that, “He has coin, given to him by his clan for the things he has done for them.”

Milkeyes nodded, “Yes, I know about how humans trade, and what will happen when he is out of coin? How will he provide food then?”

Pox faltered at that, and swallowed, shaking her head, “That I do not know, Elder. But if you give Paul a chance, he is a clever human. I am sure he can think of something, and he has enough coin to be sure we have food for many days.”

Milkeyes rubbed his chin and thought, “And what of Gnarltooth’s point about the rat catchers? Can you be sure none will come looking for him?”

Pox sighed and shook her head, “No…I cannot promise that. Paul’s father is a powerful man and may wish revenge.” She swallowed, “But we are a strong clan. We know how to fight rat catchers, and with food to eat, we will be stronger still!”

Gnarltooth spoke up again, seeing an opportunity, “So you admit it then!” He then turned to Milkeyes, “Do you not see the danger? Letting the human live will only bring us trouble! Pox does this all the time!”

Milkeyes looked like he was about to say something, but the brute Stumptail spoke up, “Pox always does what she thinks is best for the clan. She was the one who started robbing humans to feed the younglings. She started giving healing herbs to get them to give us meat. If she thinks this human will benefit the clan, then I am willing to give him a chance.”

Gnarltooth glared at Stumptail, “And what if rat-catchers do come? What if rats get killed because of this human?”

Pox stepped forward and shouted, “Then you can kill us both in return! I will gladly bind my fate with Paul’s. If he brings trouble, then you can put us both to the knife!”

Stumptail looked at Pox for a long moment before nodding, “That will satisfy me,” he said.

Gnarltooth looked between them and then at Pox and then Paul and shook his head, “But not me! I will not accept that,” he hissed. Suddenly, the black hound growled and then let out a yowl and whine, and the old rat narrowed his eyes at Pox again, “Yes… that I can accept… I will allow this human to remain, but only if Pox agrees that if any rats die because of him being here, then she will be the one to put him to death by her own hand.” He then raised a hand, “But she will be spared the knife herself. She will live out the rest of her days alone, until age takes her.”

Pox stood there, eyes widening some at the proclamation and she looked to Paul and then Ticktock, who shook her head slowly. Pox swallowed hard and then looked back to the elders, “I…accept those terms.”

Gnarltooth grinned, “Then swear it with a blood oath.”

Ticktock let out a gasp, “Pox, no!”

Pox growled and then moved forward, drawing her knife and slashing it across her palm, she held her clenched fist up as the blood began to splatter onto the stone at Gnarltooth’s feet, “Fine, if that is how you want it, I swear on my life blood, that if any rats are harmed by other humans because of Paul being here, I will kill Paul by my own hand and live out my days in shame, and I will hold to this oath as long as you and I live, Gnarltooth.” she then growled and moved in closer, leaning over the rat and placing her bloody hand on his chair next to his head, leaning in so only he could hear, whispering something to him in secret.

She then turned and stepped back down, moving to stand near Paul, looking back at the other elders. Milkeyes looked to Gnarltooth, who fidgeted in his chair and nodded slowly, and then to Stumptail before addressing the gathered clan, “Then this matter is settled, the human may stay in the warrens as long as he continues to be useful, and he provides aid to our clan.” He then waved off the gathered rats, “Take the food to be stored and prepared, we will have a feast tonight.” The old rat then got up and made his way out of the chamber, while several other rats gathered up the sacks of food to haul them off.

Pox and Ticktock lead Paul through the tunnels to show him more of the warrens, letting him see the various tunnels and chambers. They showed him where the other rats nested, and then where the clan got its clean water from, where the medicinal herbs were grown, and where food was stored and prepared. The food was kept under lock and key by a tall rotund female rat named Ladle who almost dwarfed Pox in height and certainly in weight. She wielded her namesake, a heavy cast iron one, like a club. By the time they had arrived, a large cauldron was already on the fire getting a sack of beans boiling with some mushrooms and a few pilfered carrots, making a watery soup.

When the Ladle saw them, she spoke to Pox and Ticktock, and then Paul was suddenly grabbed up and lifted completely off his feet as the large female gave him a hug so tight it pushed the air out of his lungs. The other two rats started laughing, and eventually Pox was able to extract Paul from her grip.

Ticktock giggled, “She said thank you for bringing such a large amount of food,” the small rat said, patting Paul’s back.

Paul nodded and rubbed his head, “Oh, tell her it’s no problem at all,” he said, “I’m happy to help.”

The rats continued talking for a little while, and Paul admitted he felt a little left out of the conversation, not able to understand much of the rats’ language. He made a point to ask Ticktock for lessons, since she was so well spoken in his own tongue. Eventually the large female let out a loud yell, and several large stacks of bowls were produced by several smaller rat pups. The large female then began to ladle out servings that got passed out as more and more of the clan gathered.

Paul was handed a bowl and he, Pox and Ticktock found a spot to sit and eat, each of them with their own bowls. The food was bland, but after going a few days without anything, Paul was glad to have it. As the trio ate, several rats came up in ones and twos, chattering words of thanks that Ticktock translated for Paul. The males kept their distance, but a few females and small pup rats were more physical in their thanks, much to the delight of Ticktock and Pox as Paul’s dinner was interrupted several times as a female, or child gave him a hug.

All around them the rats seemed to be in high spirits, and as the meal progressed, some started to sing and dance in the dim light from the cooking fire. It brought a smile to Paul’s face, it was really a simple thing he had done, but they were delighted all the same for the food and the momentary ease of tensions it brought.

Ticktock smiled when things settled down and they were left alone for a bit, “Pox was right, giving food was a good way to get clan to like you.”

Pox stuck her tongue out at Ticktock, “Pox knows what clan needs and wants,” she said and sipped at her soup, “Elders don’t feed them, insist rats get food themselves, but when food is hard to get it makes everyone cranky.”

Ticktock nodded her head, “But you keep peace by feeding everyone, that’s why they like you more than the elders. No one likes them, but no one will challenge them.”

Paul nodded and when he had finished his food, he set his bowl aside, “Well, I’m glad that went as well as it did,” he said, “Though, I didn’t quite get the whole bit there at the end with the blood and everything…Ticktock stopped translating.”

Ticktock grumbled a bit as she finished her soup, and she started to wring her hands again and shook her head, “Yes, things turned out as good as can be expected. But… well… at the end, Pox swore an oath to kill you if any rats are hurt because of you being here.”

Paul gave a slow nod and then moved closer to Ticktock, and pulled the smaller rat into his lap, before starting to rub at her hands gently to help her with the pain in her fingers, before looking Pox and smiling, “Well I’m glad that’s nothing to serious to worry about.”

Ticktock shook her head, pressing into Paul, enjoying the attention. She shook her head however, “No, she made a blood oath. If something happens and she finds out about it, she will be compelled by magic to fulfill the contract,” the young rat huffed and shook her head, balling up a fist and smacking it into the top of Pox’s head, “And my stupid sister promised she’d hold the oath as long as she lived!”

Pox pushed Ticktock away and rubbed her head, “It not that bad, Pox swore to hold oath if both Pox and Gnarltooth live, and how you say matters just as much as what you say. If Gnarltooth or Pox dies, then contract is broken. Pox also swore to kill Gnarltooth if he tries to hurt Pox’s loved ones.”

Paul moved closer to Pox’s side and sighed some, “I…can live with that…” he said and put his arm around the larger rat and pulled her against him.

Ticktock sighed and turned to put an arm around Paul’s neck and leaned against him some more, looking up at his face, “You are pretty calm about that, knowing that Pox might have to kill you now.”

He shrugged as he squeezed Ticktock gently, “There isn’t much I can do…and I figured living ‘happily ever after’ was out of the question at this point. Besides, I know Pox will make it quick at least.”

Ticktock nodded some and gave Paul’s neck a lick, “Huh…we rats must be rubbing off on you, that sounds very ratlike, but it would be nice if you could be happy here with us anyway.” she said.

Paul nodded some and then gave Ticktock’s hand a gentle squeeze, “Well, I am happy, right now at least. And you are right, I could be in a much worse position too.” He sighed and leaned into Pox, “I’m just glad the hard part is over.” He smiled and looked up at Pox as he relaxed there with the two females.

Pox nodded and gave a gentle nip at Paul’s ear, and squeezed him against her side, along with Ticktock. "Yes, hard part done,” she said and sighed softly, “Pox has cute mate and good food and warm bed.”

Ticktock giggled a bit and nuzzled in against Paul, “Mmm…So do I,” she said and looked to the human, winking, “Right?”

Paul blinked a moment at the smaller rat and then chuckled a bit and nodded, “Yes I suppose you do,” he smiled, giving Ticktock’s nose a kiss before turning and doing the same to Pox, “My two wonderful rat girls.”

Tictock giggled, “Still need to find a way to be useful to clan in the long term though,” she said, rubbing her hand over Paul’s chest.

He nodded, “Yeah, and I have a few ideas, but I don’t want to worry about that right now. I just want to enjoy what I have right now.”

Pox giggled some and nuzzled into Paul’s hair, “That very ratlike. Yes, we enjoy what have, worry about rest later. Tomorrow maybe. Or day after.”

Ticktock nodded and gave Paul another squeeze, “Yeah…that sounds good.”