Tunnel Rat

Milo was unsure of what was going on, and on so many levels! He hadn't intended to become a Master of the Hollow and was unsure of how he felt about the whole thing. He took Gilad aside and spoke to him. "What's happened to Bleusnout, and what is the Conclave all about? I'm just following your lead. I'm not really a master."

Gilad looked at the young whelp. No, that was wrong. He should think of him as a young warrior. He'd earned that much. But they all looked so young to him now!

He tapped the ring on Tallsqueak's finger. "You found this ring, lost in the hidden parts of the hollow. And did you not take it from the last Scout Master? Do you think the ring would accept you so readily if its last owner didn't approve of you? You found his remains and brought them home to be laid to rest with his ancestors, after no one could find him for decades. That counts for much. And Old Healer approves of you.

And the Hollow has need of you. Something smells bad, and not just the gorgonzola. You might feel too young for such responsibility, but right now, it is you who are our our Master of Scouts. Your responsibility is to find the dangers that threaten the Hollow, and help us to prepare against things and that threaten us. My whiskers twitch and my bones ache. Something bad is afoot. Keep those young eyes open. Use that sharp mind to see what others may not."

Milo had no argument for the old fighting Master's logic, so he stayed quiet, and observed what he could. Over the next few minutes, the other masters arrived. The first was Master Clawhammer. He was a tall ratkin with a thick waist and large muscles. His arms were bigger than Milo's thighs. Clawhammer worked a forge, hammering iron, copper, and tin into the tools and weapons needed by the rest of the Hollow. His forge was near the mines and often he led the groups of miners who entered the maze of tunnels beyond, looking for the ores they needed. He also oversaw many of the trades that were practiced in the Hollow. He was skilled in carpentry, blacksmithing, mechanics, and smelting.

Milo made a mental note to talk to him about a possible trade deal with the Engineering Outpost. The Outpost could always use more ores, especially of the type that the Hollow didn't have much need for. In return the Hollow could gain better quality armor and weapons for the guards, and better picks for the miners. It could be beneficial for both groups.

Helen Brownfur was known to most simply as 'Mother'. She always seemed to have a gaggle of little ones around her. She had birthed 13 children of her own, including three sets of twins. As if that was not enough, she had also adopted four young children who became orphans when their parents were killed in a mining accident. Her family had always been prolific and she was related to half the Hollow. Milo had seen her in the mushroom fields showing the little ones how to pick the best shrooms. He hadn't known she was the Gather Master, but in hindsight it fit her well. She was patient and guided the young in gathering skills, teaching them early how to supply the Hollow with food.

As each of the Masters entered the room, and were shocked to see Bleusnout's condition, shaking their heads sadly and talking with Old Healer. A Master of Cheese was the last person that anyone would expect to give into the lure of partaking of too much cheese. They were known for wills of iron, and the patience of saints. Helen Brownfur was particularly upset, having worked closely with Bleusnout. "This isn't right! He..he has always been too strong for something like this to happen. I don't believe that he gave into his hunger. What did he eat? We need to know!"

Rifkin was nervously bouncing from one foot to another and wringing his hands. "I don't know! He and Smiley were down here going through all the new cheese belonging to Tallsqueak. I have been working to keep meals cooked for the hollow. It was only when I realized he was missing that I checked down here and found him this way! He was face down in the Roquefort! But I agree with Mistress Brownfur, this is not right. Where is Smiley? Where is the rest of the Hollow's cheese?"

Gilad stood up. "There are many things to discuss. But first, you will excuse us, Rifkin, I'm sure you have things to do preparing the meals. The conclave must meet in private to discuss these issues."

Rifkin looked slightly surprised as if he hadn't thought he'd be asked to leave. "Yes, I will start the next meal, it's very important to keep the Hollow fed." He retreated upstairs, gathering up a bundle of dirty rags on the way, and they heard the banging of pots and pans through the floor.

Gilad sighed. "I feel the events of today have unnerved young Rifkin. He will need much support for us, if he is to fill the shoes left by Master Bleusnout. He is young, but with our help, I'm sure that he can rise to the occasion."

Master Clawhammer snorted. "He'll be fine. Bleusnout has been training him since he and Smiley were what? Four years old? We may eat an awful lot of grilled mushrooms and simpler food until Bleusnout is up and about, but we've all had worse."

Old Healer looked pained as he said, "That may be some time. Whatever Bleusnout got into, it wasn't just Roquefort, and with so much cheese missing, we may never know. He has gorged himself on the most potent of stinky bleu cheese, and I fear he has overdosed. Without knowing what he ate, it is very difficult to treat him."

Milo walked over and looked at the chef. Someone had cleaned off his face. "Where are the cloths used to clean the cheese off of his face? If we examined those, perhaps we could isolate bits of the cheese he ate?"

Old Healer liked the thought. "A good idea. It may give us a clue. The cloths were in that pile Rifkin took with him, please go and retrieve those, Master Tallsqueak." Milo ran upstairs, and the others turned to Old Healer.

Clawhammer asked. "You obviously think he is ready for that title. And I do find him talented, but we are already looking at possibly giving one young whelp a Master's ring before he is ready, is it appropriate to proclaim a new Master of Scouts after so many years?"

The Master of both Healing and Death laughed. "Give it to him? That sneaky whelp found my brother's hidey hole on his own and took the ring. A very traditional method of promotion in my clan. And he's already rebuilding the scouts, and has stolen two of my promising skulkers. All three of them had the nerve to surprise me in my own lair. Tallsqueak thinks oddly, and has put his nose into every corner of the Hollow. He's perfect. I just wished I could get rid of my other rings to young ones like him. "

Arlothe chuckled. "Cremona and I are fond of him. He's more of a sage than a true mage. Very curious about everything. Scout fits him well. You should talk to him Clawhammer. He's an accomplished mechanic and miner. He has some ideas about how we can trade the useless hard copper off to a group of dwarves in return for good metal. A lot of good metal. For some reason they value the hardstuff."

Master Clawhammer nodded. "I'd heard something of that, and saw him taking some of your young mages into the mines. I've always approved of cross training. We can't run a Hollow with a bunch of specialists. He has my vote then."

The Master of Fighting sighed, then chuckled. "I only object because I was hoping to retire at some point and let him take over my position of Master of Fighting. He is already running the beginning class and doing drills with them each morning He learns quickly and can handle the young whelps. And some not-so-young trouble makers. He is even giving Cremona a run for her money."

Arlothe chuckled at that and Mistress Brownfur looked intrigued. "I'd heard of that. Cremona is a fearsome fighter. We used to spar before I got old and stiff. If he can take her on, he is qualified."

"He certainly can take her on. They go all out, and he can ignore most of her poisons, and send her back to me with bruises each night. I've gained two levels in first aid and one in massage therapy since they started beating on her each night."

Gilad continued. "And he is strong enough to fight one-on-one against a Cheese Fiend." There were some intakes of breath at that statement.

"Tallsqueak has been working with Larry to move him past the limitations imposed upon him by the transformation to a fiend. Working together, Larry is now creating a fighting style that lets him use traditional claw and tail techniques. He is both exhilarating and frightening to spar with. Master Arlothe has also been observing and can verify this as well."

Arlothe smiled and patted his stomach. "And I'm getting fat from eating too many snacks while I watch the carnage. "Cremona cannot best Larry. Her poisons are rapidly pushing up his Fiendish Resistance to the point many of her spells are becoming useless against him. She can beat Tallsqueak in one of three bouts, and he can beat Larry in roughly the same. But I most enjoy watching Gilad bounce around Larry, trying to avoid his dance moves." Arlothe had been having a great time each evening watching the four gladiators give each other bruises, cuts, and poisonous wounds. He was content to sit with his students and enjoy some late-night snacks.

Brownfur was unconvinced. "And Larry is under control? We are not creating a worse threat than we had before?"

Gilad was adamant about that. "No, if anything, Larry is getting better. He has given up cheese altogether, knowing he might become out of control if he eats it and fights. Fighting and becoming better is more important to Larry than cheese. His control is impressive."

Brownfur looked to where Bleusnout was laying, "Control can be fleeting. But this discussion is not about Larry, although I am so happy to see him get better. He was always the sweetest of whelps. No, this is about Tallsqueak. How many of us approve of his becoming Master of Scouts?"

The hands were raised. The votes were cast and a new Scout Master was chosen. The first in many years.

Milo returned soon after, visibly upset. "I was too slow, he had already ran them to the laundry and made sure they had been put into the wash. The lye soap will ruin any chance of isolating mold cultures or bits of cheese on them."

The other Masters nodded. It had seemed like a low chance of helping the situation in the first place. Old Heal nodded at him and patted him on the shoulder. "It was a good thought. We have talked. You will wear the ring from now on as the Hollow's Scout Master. Take a seat, we have another subject to discuss. We lack a Master of Cheese."

Old Healer pointed to Bleusnout. "We have one, but he is unable to do his job, and hopefully that is temporary. Let Rifkin make the meals, and the conclave can decide on when cheese is disbursed to the Hollow."

"If Rifkin can do the job, give him the ring. I don't see Bleusnout being trusted again, even if he recovers." Clawhammer didn't trust that the Chef wouldn't backslide again. Better to go with new blood.

Gilad suggested a compromise. "There may be more too this situation than is readily apparent. By Rifkin’s own words, he wasn't here when this happened. Perhaps it was some sort of accident? And let us not look past other oddities. We have cheese missing? Who took it? And where is Smiley? He has been here at the Hollow as long as Rifkin and trained with Bleusnout as well. We need to find and talk to him, and find out the real story."

"I suggest we let Rifkin assume the title for now. He will be the interim Master of Cheese and take over the duties. Perhaps this all works out and Bleusnout recovers quickly and resumes his position as master? But if not, then Rifkin will have our support while he works to take over the position without the crippling responsibility of dumping a title of Master on him immediately. It would be better to let Bleusnout recover and give him the ring himself, after all, he has been training Rifkin and Smiley for the better part of two decades since the two whelps were found in that abandoned tunnel. He is essentially their father."

This vote was not unanimous but it passed. The Masters rose to leave and inform Rifkin. Old Healer asked Milo to stay with him a moment. "I will need your help to take the Chef to my apartment. This is not a good place for him, too much cheese. Watch over him for now while I summon two others to help us carry him."

Milo was suddenly alone in the cellar, Bleusnout's heaving breathing the only sound. He considered the problems he saw.

What had the chef eaten and how to cure him?

Where was Smiley?

Where had the cheese gone?

Firstly, Milo considered the problem of figuring out just what the Chef had eaten. He was upset that Rifkin had been so quick to wash the towels used to clean off the Cheese Master. But it wasn't just the Chef's face that would have traces of cheese. Milo carefully looked at his claws. The left hand showed cheese under the nails. Milo carefully cleaned the claws, saving the samples. Bleusnout's right hand was closed until Milo pried apart his fingers. Inside was a crushed golden puffball mushroom. Milo saved that as well, and then checked the Chef's mouth and nose, carefully taking samples from his gums and his nostrils.

Hearing Old Healer returning, he hid his samples and helped move the chef to where Old Healer could care for him.