Rat squeaking human speaking

Art by me

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   Adult settlements were normally just small villages of tightly knitted family units, mostly found on the outskirts of the forest in which was called No Man's Land.

They were also such fun to destroy. Of course, not doing it right could and would get you caught or killed; but once you've done it once, you quickly become a pro at it.

Seven founded himself placed in a small squad, the group being made of One, Five, Bread, and himself. Explosives were strapped to the two pyro techs while the two scouts went ahead and made sure the streets and hiding spots were clear of any kids that were there.

While it was uncommon, most of the adults who defied the Abandonment Policy normally used their kids as free labor and kept them hidden from the outside world. They weren't all that well taken care of either, as most of the kids they evacuated were normally starving or sleep deprived.

This one was a lot smaller though, Seven hoped it didn't have any kids in it. It was near the edge of the forest, but at the same time, if he and Bread weren't careful, the trees would light up faster than Christmas trees.

The two pyro techs were situated facing towards one another from across the trees, moonlight shining down into the woods, providing light for the two scouts below as they checked nooks and crannies.

The boy in blue couldn't stop the smile on his face, these things were always so much fun. He reset his sash around his shoulder and chest again, the vials of gasoline shining in the silvery moonlight.

The Molotov cocktails around his waist quietly clinked against one another, the faint scent of alcohol invading his nose. The wind blew gently, the tree branches and leaves moving and softly rattling.

He had a grab on the thin branch above him as he carefully sat towards the much thinner end, dark blue eyes scanning the buildings.

It was just three simple shacks, no big deal for them. The largest shack was what looked to be the actual house, walls facing the forest were cover in mildew and plant life, sharp thorns covered vines clinging to the once white walls.

Windows were closed, no light to be seen, curtains drawn to give privacy. The shackles on the roof were a dark gray color, with a small red brick chimney, no smoke coming from it.

No animal or monster made a noise, the place seemingly dead. He cast his eyes towards a small building, what seemed to be a gardening shed. The tin roof shimmered in the lighting, moss and mold covering it, small flowers blooming along the bushes at the bottom of it.

The next shack just seemed to be a smaller version of the large shack, and seemingly just as dead. The ground was hardened from being tread upon for years.

It was probably the smallest settlement Seven had seen, but it was just something to help him get back in the game. It was a lot easier than his first destruction run, where he and a few older friends had to take care of a settlement that could be counted as a medium-sized village.

It was just a warm up, there shouldn't be any problems.

From his spot in the tree, Seven spotted One flashing the signal it was all clear and that there were no kids in sight. Taking the cue to go ahead, the boy in blue took a small bottle of rubbing alcohol from his bag, pouring into one of his Molotov bottle, hoping to get an extra kick out of it.

A loud sound of an explosion made him nearly drop it, fumbling to catch the glass in his hand. "Damnit, Bread!" He cursed under his breath.

He patted his jean pocket for his lighter, before cursing even more under his breath as he remembered how he gave Squeaks his lighter. It was a way to remember him when he thought he'd never see her again, he didn't know the flea bag would follow him to the mainland.

He resorted to matches, quickly taking a pack from his bag and lit it, placing the flame to the cloth. It ignited, and wasting not time, he threw it towards the gardening shed, the closest building to him.

Large flames grew from where the Molotov hit, the red hot fire roaring as it was released from its confines, beginning to devour the plant life on the shed wall. Smoke trailed from it, light wisps beginning to slowly fill the air.

Another bottle crashed, only this time going through a now broken window, fire beginning to pour out of it. Seven looked down, seeing One and Five taking shelter in the wet dew soaked grass.

Embers rose higher and higher into the air, ash beginning to fall around them as the buildings burned away. The distant cries for help made a devious smirk rise on the boy in blue's face. Revenge was always so sweet.

If only he could set a fire loose in the hideout and burn the stupid rabbit warren to a crisp, smoking the others out, while he finally got him, Rain, and Squeaks out of this place. This wasn't the place it use to be...

They watched the flames destroy everything, before it finally had its fill and slowly died away. Thick clouds of smoke filled the air, the unforgettable stench of burnt human flesh lingering in the air. This was a lot calmer than normal, perhaps they were just an elderly couple and had a much harder time in the flames, not like Seven really cared, they were still adults.

Seven began to scale down the tree, Molotov cocktails rattling against one another as he got down. Five let out a small happy cheer, jumping up and down with excitement as looked to the other with wide eyes.

"That was so cool! I never got to see a settlement burn down before!" He squealed happily. Seven dusted his jacket off, looking over with a pleased look.

"This was nothing. Back when Mono was a scout, me, him, and Rain would burn down settlements way larger than this, this is just a warm up," he boasted.

One gave a small smile. "I'll go get Eight. Seven, watch him for me please," he said, before turning and going around the now empty, ash covered clearing.

Five looked to Seven, eyes still wide with admiration. "Do you have stories of when Commander Mono was younger? I'd tried to ask Rain, but she kept brushing me off and no one else really has stories of him besides when he became Commander."

The boy in blue was quiet for a moment. "What about any of the older kids? They normally share stories all the time," Seven questioned.

Five blinked his eyes, before shaking his head, confused by his statement. "The only older kids here is Commander Mono, Oracle Rain, and you, One and Two if you want to count them too I guess."

A small feeling of dread settled in Seven as he heard Five explain. What about Four and everyone else? Four was normally a walking storybook with how much knowledge and stories he had on everyone, sometimes Seven felt like he'd had dirt on everyone in the rebellion at one point. He was well liked, as was a few of the older kids, how come they weren't here anymore?

"So, do you?" Five asked again, snapping Seven out of his thoughts.

"Oh, right, yeah. There was this one time, when me and Mono were a lot younger, when he had a big crush on Rain, before she became Oracle, he had talked me into helping him pick flowers with him for her. It was... kinda sad really..."

The memory of the cheering and laughing the two had as they sometimes tackled one another and rolled in the grass on that warm spring day nearly made him choke on air. They were a lot younger, yes, but Seven knew he wanted to keep the other protected when they played or he heard the other boy give genuine laughter as they spent time with one another.

To always see his affection never returned hurt, but the rebellion would never accept him for his silly, other worldly thoughts, so why did he even bother getting hurt like he did.

Besides, Mono was no longer the Mono Seven had at one point grown so close to.

"Man, that must have sucked when Rain became Oracle. Oh well, at least they share a room together now that Commander Mono got rid of the old Oracle's room after last winter's fox attack," Five chirped, not seeing the sudden look of horror on Seven's face.

Before Seven could even begin to worry about what he had just been told, a gut wrenching pain shot through his abdomen. He wrapped his arms around his stomach, letting out a groan as he suddenly drop to his knees.

No, no, nononono- stop it! Stop! He just ate back at the hideout, why was he getting hungry again!

Five reached out, confused worry in his actions as he warily reached out to him. Seven looked up, pushing the other back with a quick shove. "No! No, stay back, it's not-" he couldn't finish, feeling something bubble in the back of his throat.

With a cough, black liquid covered the grass. Seven covered his mouth with a hand, more black liquid seeping through his fingers. His vision grew blurry, feeling the blood drain from him all of sudden, becoming light headed.

Five came back, but despite Seven's feebly attempts to push the other away, he grew more and more worried. Seven fell to the ground, the black liquid continuing to dribbled from his mouth as he cough wildly.

This hunger spell felt so different, the pain in his stomach growing more and more worse by the passing second.

He could barely breath, wheezing for breath as he curled up, trying to stay awake. Eventually, he hadn't realized his eyes closed, quickly falling unconscious.

~~~

    Six and Bandage found themselves looking at the now dead fire, the burnt building now empty shells of what they used to be.

"So, the humans just, do this?" Six asked, looking to the other. Bandage gave a nod, before looking up, noticing the smoke blocking out the moon and stars.

"Humans monsters, they kill their kind no second thought," he muttered softly, his claws digging into the soft grass under them, his head lowered slightly, as though in sudden fear at the statement.

Six spotted a small strange rat padding around the other side of them, orange fur on them as they ran to a tree to meet another one, this one coming down from a tree.

Six watched with interest, trying to focus on what they were squeaking, but was too far out to hear them. Bandage slowly got up, turning and getting ready to leave, before he froze, tilting his head to the left of him.

"Six, hear something?" He asked. Six looked at him confused, before focusing on what was happening around her.

Cricket chirped, faint wolf howls, distant owl hoots, wind blowing. "Hear what exactly?" Six asked, trying to focus on the noises still. The pup stayed still, before the duo jumped as a piercing scream cut through the air.

Before Six could even think about running and finding what that noise was from, Bandage was always gone, running through the bushes and shrubs of the forest.

Six noticed the other two strange rats running towards the noise, before she followed behind in the underbrushes. The screaming got louder, before the sound of a duo of growling and snarling rang over it, the sound of a feral fight come from the other side of a bush. Six dove in, bursting out the other side, freezing as she saw the sight before her.

Bandage and Blueberry were snarling at one another, before the pup was pounced on by the other, the two now in a rolling ball, blood and flashing of teeth and claws being seen as they snapped and bit one another. Bandage let out a loud yelp of pain, scrambling to try and get out from under the other. To the side, one of the young strange rats that took them to the rabbit warren laid on the ground, holding his shoulder with a paw, blood coming from his wound as he tried to hold back his cries of pain.

Averting her eyes from the injured pup, she came to the other feral's side, jumping and latching her teeth into Blueberry's blue scruff. Bandage let out a whimper, escaping from the fight, holding his paw as blood began to stream down from his shoulder. Blueberry thrashed angrily, trying to throw off Six, who held on with a vicious grip between her jaws.

Blueberry reached around with a paw, Six letting go to scream as he scratched her with his blunt claws, throwing her off of him. Six feel to the ground, trying to recover from the knock back, but let out a yip as Blueberry pinned her down. Blood dribbled down from his jaws, droplets falling onto her.

From the angle they were in, the rat child could see the other's eyes, seeing a glazed over look, his pupils nothing more but tiny, hard to see dots in a deep sea of sapphire blue. Never before had she seen his eyes like that before, he looked so unfocused, delirious, insane.

Hungry.

Blueberry gave a growl, Six watching with wide eyes as he opened his jaws again, his flat teeth soaked in blood. Six closed her eyes, blindly reaching up in a desperate attack, scratching his neck and shoving him back with all her might. Blueberry tumbled back, a hand going to his neck, red streaks from her claws dressing it.

He looked back to her, and for a moment, she thought he would jump to attack her again, but watched as he fell over. After a few heartbeats, Six got to her paws, carefully and cautiously coming to his side. He passed out, from the looks of it.

She turned her attention to the injured pups, looking over their wounds. The orange furred rat and the one that smelt of burning trash came through the bushes, frantic from the sound of fighting. Despite obviously trying to help, the one that smelt of burning trash kicked her out of the way, throwing his arms up and yelling at her.

Scared by the sudden assult, Six jumped back, looking to the others, the orange rat pulling the green pup away from them, while Bandage was given the same treatment as she was.

They continued to yell and shout at them, before the two ferals finally got away from the group. They got a few paces away, Six slightly panting from her sudden sprint as Bandage panted heavily, trying to keep up, his injuries crippling him. Scratches and bite marks cover him on his shoulder, back, chest, and arms, blood dripping from his mouth.

"Static Stones grow worse," he mumbled softly. Six looked at him, wanting to ask but figured now was not the time. She told Bandage to stay so he could try and recover as she crawled under a bush, looking out to see that was happening.

The rat in green cried as the trash rat tried to tend to his arm, orange rat holding Blueberry up under his front paws, half dragging him over to them. Blueberry was dirty, covered in blood with small cuts and tears in his blue fur, pale skin showing underneath it. His brown fur was messier then usual, light black colored strains on his chin as though he were bleeding black.

"No! No, he bit me!" The rat in green squeaked loudly.

"Five, Five, it's okay, it was just a feral. We'll tell Commander Mono about this, and get it all settled out. We'll take care of them," Orange rat said.

"No! Seven! Seven attacked me!"

"Seven would never attack anyone. Look, it was that feral that attacked you and he helped you. You should be thanking him once he wakes up. Come on, let's get you back to the hideout and get your patched up, okay?"

Six quietly slipped away, returning back to Bandage, who tried to lick the blood off his wounded arm.

They didn't share a word, but both knew what the other was thinking.

They weren't fully safe in the forest anymore.

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Finished - Feb. 10th, 2021

I'm tired, so this will be a short after chapter thing.

Anyways, yee, not a lot to say actually, but this is almost 2,500 words long, and LN 2 comes out day after tomorrow (it's like, 2 am where I am), so yeeeeaaaahhh.

Hope you all enjoyed! If you did, please leave a vote and comment as it helps who support, and I'll see you all next chapter.

Take care!

* Edited Mar. 18th, 2021 *

I got two things done today, yaaaaaay! I had to rewrite the small fight scene so it was Six instead of Bandage, because De originally thought Bandage was not a toddler.

Anyways hope you enjoyed!

Take care!

* Edited May 21st, 2021 *

Typos fixed