Tunnel Rat

Milo was having a dream where Justin and Brutus kept appearing out of nowhere and yelling 'Surprise!' He woke up in his cot in the barracks, muscles tight and tail coiled. Something wasn't right! From the ceiling a dark shape dropped towards him, and he rolled aside, coming to his feet. Someone yelled "Surprise!" as they landed on his bed where he had been asleep just a moment before. His pillow tossed feathers into the air as it was stabbed with a small knife.

Before his attacker could react, Milo's tail wrapped around their neck, and he brought his spanner down hard on the back of his attacker's head. Whatever it was quit moving, and slumped onto the cot. He stayed wary, wondering if it was a trick, prepared to give them another lump.

A lamp was lit, and suddenly Justin was standing next to him, polearm in one hand and lamp in the other. "Oh, just one of those guys. I was worried we had spider problems again. Check to see if he's still alive. We really aren't supposed to kill them, but then again, they aren't supposed to be playing these games with anyone except trained guards."

With a start, Milo realized the creature was a small rat-kin dressed all in black. He checked their pulse, found they were still alive, and rolled them over. His victim groaned.

"Oh, good. They'll be fine after they get patched up and get over that headache you gave them." Justin seemed very unconcerned about both the attack and the possibility of Milo having killed his attacker.

"But who are they? Why did they attack?"

"Shadowlurker-in-training. The Death-Master assigns them targets among the guards and other higher-level people in the hollow. The Shadow gets experience in skulking and their victims get to train their perception. Playing Surprise! is traditional in a lot of hollows. Sometimes the Shadows take some lumps, and sometimes we get a knife in a soft spot. This one must have been trying for some extra credit. Let's see who it is."

Justin pulled down the facemask revealing a young, female rat-kin with light brown fur and short hair. Justin laughed. "Oooh, you scored a point on Princess Throatslitter. Nice job! She's out-scoring me four to zero right now. Good to see she isn't invincible." Justin applied a chunk of moss from his first aid kit to the lump on the back of her skull and wrapped a bandage around the unconscious Shadowlurker's head.

Knowing how easily Justin had seen him trying to sneak in, Milo felt a chill go down his back at the thought of someone who could surprise the experienced guard so easily. "So, you said I was off limits, right? I won't have to worry about her?"

Justin gingerly picked up the small girl. He smiled at Milo and chuckled. "That was before you scored a point on the Death-Master's granddaughter. You're fair game now. She'll want revenge, and all the little thieves and cut throats wanting to catch her eye will be after you too! That's pretty awesome for your first day! Your perception and regeneration are going to get some nice chunks of experience!"

"I'll go dump her off with the healer, you better get a move on. Grab some chow at the mess hall and then go have fun with Gilad." Justin sauntered off, whistling a happy tune.

Somewhere a bell rang twice. Milo remembered his new job as an assistant at fight practice. He left the barracks and headed to the mess hall, paying close attention to roofs and shadows. The smell of something delicious was in the air.

Larry was sitting on the porch, looking sad. The few other people who were heading into the mess hall were carefully avoiding him. Larry wasn't begging today, sitting very still with his arms wrapped around himself and shaking. Milo started to walk by as well, but stopped instead. "Good morning, Larry."

Larry looked up and after a few seconds his eyes seemed to focus. "Good morning Tallsqueak. How are you? Larry is having a bad day today."

Milo could see that Larry was rocking back and forth a little bit and trembling. But he seemed more coherent than before. Moving slowly, he sat down next to him. He remembered how bad the itchy feeling had gotten right before the fight with the world boss. He'd eaten a pound of cheese in a minute when Vary delivered it to him. And then eaten more during the fight. That itchy feeling was better now, but he had an idea of why Larry felt so bad. "Does food help? Are you going to get breakfast soon?"

That perked Larry up. "Yes! Breakfast! It's honey and groat day. Larry loves honey and groats. Larry will get a big bowl and it will be a better day! Does Tallsqueak like honey and groats? You should go get a bowl. A big bowl!" Larry's eyes seemed animated now, and he was drooling again.

Milo stood up. "Thanks Larry. I'll go have some. I'll see you later." Larry nodded and sniffed the air, thinking about his own breakfast.

The line for food was moving fast. As each person got to the front, one of the servers gave them a large earthenware bowl of something that steamed and smelled spicy and sweet. Milo asked about the food when he got to the front. Riftkin was happy to let him know what it was.

"An old recipe my Granny passed down to me. Lots of the families have a variation on it, but my Granny makes it the best. She takes groatvine seeds and grinds them fine, then threshes them with a sharp groat-sieve with steel blades. Then we add fireant honey, spicebark, and ground meg nuts to it. The secret is extra honey."

Milo noticed a huge bowl with an extra-large spoon. "Is that Larry's bowl? Maybe I could take it out to him and eat with him. He seems lonely."

Riftkin looked a little nervous. "I'm not sure. Bleusnout has him on a set schedule, let me go ask." He went into a back room, and was back in a moment accompanied by the huge chef.

"You wish to go take food with Larry? I don't see why not. I have him eat last so he has some privacy. But it would be good for him to eat with someone." He shook a finger at Milo sternly. "But no talk of cheese, and if his eyes get wild, then slowly move away and come get me. You must always be careful around him."

Milo promised, and then balanced one bowl in each hand and headed back out to the porch. Larry saw him coming, but stayed sitting. "Honey and groats for Larry? Larry gets the big bowl!" Milo handed it to him, and Larry began to eat quickly, finishing up by licking the bowl clean with his long tongue. Milo ate his at a slower pace and saw Larry looking at him, but not talking at all. The meal was actually more than he could eat.

"Would Larry like a little more honey and groats? Tallsqueak is full." He handed the bowl to Larry.

"Larry is never full! Yes, yes. Larry will help Tallsqueak finish breakfast." Milo's bowl was also quickly finished. He saw both Riftkin and Bleusnout watching from the doorway, and handed them the empty bowls.

"I have to go now Larry. Have a good day."

Larry began hugging himself again, then looked up. "Breakfast tomorrow is little fishes fried with mushrooms. Larry's likes little fishes. Tallsqueak should come have little fishes with Larry."

Bleusnout was nodding his head. Milo assumed that meant he was granted permission to eat with Larry again. "Sure, Larry. I love little fishes."