6 A desperate battle

Not long after he ducked down, Finn saw a group of rats burst into the great hall. He counted about eight of them as they ran around in a crazed frenzy. Some started attacking the bodies of the guards, while others charged down and out a different door. Two of the rats made their way to the bottom of the stairs and as if detecting an unfamiliar scent, paused before sticking their snouts against the ground like blood hounds and following the scent slowly up the stairs.

Finn had a bad feeling when he noticed they didn't stop near the fallen guard and instead kept going up the stairs. It seemed like they could track his scent, and that was bad news. He could probably take on a single rat directly with either the club or crossbow, and if he got in a surprise attack first, disable a second rat or even kill it using the crossbow. However, he only would have time for one shot, judging by how fast they could run, before he would need to use his club. Remembering the way the rats squealed like pigs as they died, Finn thought fighting any rat here would call all the others nearby really quickly.

Yes, it was time to get out of there. Going back through the double doors he shut them behind him, hoping that would buy him some more time, but considering how easy it was to push open, he doubted it would stop the rats for long. With the doors providing a little sound insulation he sprinted towards the hole in the wall. With all other options involving fighting off a plague of giant rats, the tunnel to the unknown seemed not so bad.

Stopping as he turned the corner to catch his breath, Finn sneaked a peak back at the double doors and saw them slowly be pushed open. Two sets of beady eyes could be seen in the dim light darting back and forth looking for their prey. Not seeing anything they went back to sniffing. Relieved that none of the other rats had joined the hunt, he decided to finish off these two before continuing into the tunnel. He wouldn't want them suddenly joining a fight from behind him when he is unprepared.

Seeing the hole in the wall, it suddenly seemed more inviting than he had thought at first. If the whole structure was infested with dangerous rodents, this exit might be his only hope. Sneaking through the hole in the wall, he readied the crossbow, now thankful he had greased it enough to stop it from making more noise than the slight clicking of the lock as he wound it up. Readying a bolt he put the club down nearby for quick access, and pointed the crossbow art the opening in the wall.

Following the trail left by the human, the rats were confused when the trail split, one trail continued down the hallway, but the other went into a hole in the wall. Puzzled, they paused for a little too long, and before they could react a crossbow bolt had pierced through the head of one of them instantly killing it. Surprised, but finally aware of Finn's location the other rat leaped through the opening squealing as it charged at him its eyes crazed with bloodlust.

Although successfully taking out one rat, the speed at which the other rat charged, caught Finn off guard. He only just had time to put down the crossbow and pick up his club before it leaped at him at chest height. It's weight enough to knock him over and wind him.

It went for his throat just like a dog, but he managed punch its head away with his left arm. Kicking it off him he planned to strike it with his club, but before he could, it's thick tail swung out slapping his arm and knocking the club out of his grasp. Turning around it pounced on him again, denying him a chance to stand up again. This time he managed to get his left arm in the way of its mouth to protect himself, but it bit down hard on his leather arm guards causing him to yell in pain.

The leather was working, it stopped most of the smaller teeth but the rat's powerful incisors punctured through and into his arm. Taking advantage of it maintaining its bite, he drew a dagger with his other hand and stabbed it up into the rat's underside. A few painful and disgusting seconds later it released its grip in his arm and he threw it aside kicking it again to make sure it was dead.

Glad to be alive, Finn slumped back down. His nerves were fried from the extreme danger he had been in, his heart loudly thumping in his ears. Although the adrenaline rush and thrill of the fight seemed enjoyable, he was scared by how his previous successes had caused him to be overconfident.