[ IP ] The Last Stand

`` Gamey, sir, I'm scared!'' Frit squeaked as he circled about beside his mentor. 
 
 `` No, son! Do not fear,'' The older rat spoke back to him, his usually-moderate tone now strung tightly with a sense of repressed alarm. `` He can smell it. Stand tall, and remember why you're here!'' 
 
 Frit, although slightly taller than his cloud-white mentor, remained shivering with his long-sword and buckler gripped meagerly in his paws. `` I ca n't see him, sir! I ca n't see him!'' 
 
 The dust and fog had become even more of a soup, rising up around the two. Gamey grit his teeth as his subordinate began to get hysterical. `` Stand your ground, Frit- **Come out now! We know you're here! **'' Frit jumped; He'd never heard the elder rat so much as raise his voice. `` **Face us, you coward! Are you a mouse, or are you a rat? **'' 
 
 The wooden floorboards creaked quietly to one side, sending both rats twirling around to face the source. Frit shrank away as Gamey grinned, his headdress rattling. `` **We've come for justice! You've killed and now you must pay! **'' The elder rat shouted, brandishing his own sword. 
 
 Movement. The rise and fall of a dark mass sliding into view, silhouetted against the fog. Two glowing green orbs. It stood above the two, taller than any rat from Haven. Frit shuffled back two paces, his sword and shield lowering. `` *Sir... That's no rat, *'' He stammered. The grin quickly disappeared off of Gamey's snout. 
 
 *Prrrrrr... *
