Freedom

It was our final day on the training grounds. 

After 4 weeks of dueling and combat training Itch finally deemed us 'combat ready'. He still thought of us as amateurs but apparently, amateurs are better than 90 percent of soldiers anyway and so we will probably stay alive. 

Although I'm happy we'll finally make it out of this shit hole it still does not answer my real question. What are we actually being trained to do? 

Itch had just explained it off as us training to be honour guards for the Red Baron but what that meant still evaded me.

My final duel with Thassius went my way. That made the record 20 - 8 in my favour. He had gotten better thassius. His unwieldy way of swinging his weapon had been refined into a gracious dance of curving swipes and vicious smashes. 

My skills have improved since 4 weeks ago. My slashes now have the power to slice through his thick hide. About three weeks ago I had to switch to dull blades for combat since Itch would not have me kill his second-best soldier over training drills. 

Speaking of Itch he had also changed his approach over the 4 weeks. The once repeated use of the whip had been replaced with a more teacher-style approach. 

While I would not yet forgive him for the pain that whip put me through I recognize his importance. He's a magnificent teacher and a deadly fighter. 

About two weeks ago he challenged us all to a fight and was only brought down after 20 of us had gone down. 

"Its finally over young ones" 

He called us young ones still despite all of us being full-grown adults 

"You're finally worthy, I remember when yous were alls so young still ...."

He droned on about this and that seemingly trying to make a soppy last speech but failing miserably as he occasionally had to turn his back to let out a little chuckle before continuing back. 

"But nevertheless, I presents to yous my final gift" 

At this moment several rats wheeled large boxes into the room. 

Opening the boxes there were armours of all types. 

"A rat's hide while strong will not get yous far against a solid blades. I had you learn without so your reflexes told yous not to get hit no matter what. I find soldiers trained in armours gets too comfortable and begin to rely on it to deflect hits. I also find these soldiers dead at the ends of the battle" 

Swarming forward we began to pick through the various pieces of armour. Clearly, picked up in various raids or scavenging as they all differ greatly from one another. 

Raveging through the pile I eventually laid my eyes upon a lightweight-looking breastplate. It was painted a familiar colour of white not dissimilar to my fur. Grabbing the armour I lifted it up to admire it. It was nice and did not look particularly restrictive. While not providing the highest level of protection it was much more suited to my fighting style. 

Scrounging around for a bit longer I managed to find the remaining parts of the armour. The helmet was clearly not made for a rat but rather had long holes made for long ears that would stick out the top of the helmet. 

I decided to keep the helmet for now. Maybe some good hammering may make it more wearable and it may come in handy if I need to bash something skull in.

Lining back up Itch observed the now rag-tag and largely multi-coloured group that lay before him. 

"You twos come heres"

He pointed to me and thassius before pointing arbitrarily to the ground in front of him. 

We slowly walked over still getting used to our new armour. Thassius had picked a set of large iron-looking armour. While limiting his mobility it covered his main weakness which was smaller cuts and jabs while he was still recovering from his large swings. 

"Yous will answer only to mes and the Red baron. I appoint yous elite guard. Yous will lead your troops and answer directly to me" 

This was not an unexpected revolution. We had taken a leadership role for a while now and had undergone some of Itch's more vigorous strategic teachings. 

"Now follows me" 

we got into an orderly line and marched behind Itch as he sauntered out and down the twisting passages. 

We made it back to the chasm, a sight I had not seen in months. However, it was distinctly much quieter than usual. Although still lively with the sound of rats it seemed many were absent. 

We kept travelling up passing the passage to the breeding grounds. It would not be in use until the next hexatide which was till in almost 4 months. A hexatide was what we used to divide our mating season. Once every six months female rats would become fertile and a great breading would occur. 

We continued into unfamiliar paths. Before long we reached what appeared to be several large tunnels extending straight upwards. 

Itch went first clambering up one of the tunnels. With a slightly reluctant and nervous expression, I picked a different tunnel and began to clamber up it. 

Despite the unfamiliar movements, It came naturally my claws easily digging into the dirt and rock walls propelling me further up. 

While the weight of the armour posed a minor problem Itch's training has made me more than prepared for this child's play. After a minute or so of wriggling up the tunnel, I found what felt to be dirt above me. I made one final push and breached the dirt. 

Light flooded my vision temporarily blinding me and threatening to have me fall all the way back down the tunnel. 

I had experienced the luminescent lights of the clan tunnels yet this was something different. This was a light delivered by the great burrower themself. 

Finally blinking the blindness away I was able to open my eyes without tears pouring out. I looked around to see a mess of vibrancy around me. 

The smell was vastly different to the musty stuffiness of the hole. 

Small bursts of colour dotted the floor and sounds of all sorts of life echoed amidst the trees. 

It was beautiful. Far and between the drab colours of the clan hole. 

Pulling myself fully out I felt the sharp tips of the grass on my feet. 

Getting a better look around I saw Itch had also emerged not too far away. Thassius was also beginning to pull himself out of a hole as sniffer and splinter also seemed to be just beginning to emerge. 

Itch immediately began barking orders to get back into order. 

I followed them. As much as I would love to explore the place it was completely new to me. Any untold dangers could be hanging in the forests. Itch had told us that all it takes is a spider or a snake to bite you and then boom. You're dead without you even noticing. 

It did not take long for all 100 rats to clamber out from the holes and rejoin the group. We then proceeded with me, Itch and Thassius taking the lead. 

We marched for an hour or so with Itch occasionally stopping to make sure we were heading in the right direction. Where we were going was still a mystery. I had asked Itch but he brushed it off saying 

"Yous will see" 

Eventually, the trees began to die down and we entered a large verdant clearing. Standing in the centre was a fortress of wood. Rats patrolled the battlements with slings and the occasional small bow. 

Arriving at the gate we were hailed through. 

Walking in we were treated to a site of tents dotted around the place. Rats dressed in red and black rushed around or sat by campfires. 

Itch dismissed everyone but me and thassius with the order to get some beds ready for us. we had been trained in this just a week prior. 

We continued eventually arriving in front of a tent significantly larger than the surrounding ones. Itch pushed himself in. 

"My lords" 

He says as me and thassius work our way in behind him. 

The red Baron was sat on a makeshift throne in the middle of the room with several other rats busying themselves caring for him. 

"Wes has arrived" 

The red baron leaned forward opening his large maw

"Good, there is much to do. They have gotten far too boisterous as of late. This war was necessary sooner or later" 

My ears pricked up. 

War, what being would pick a fight with the Red Baron? 

"The Stone Claw clan has begun raiding our hunting parties and killing several of our people"

He talked with a lot more clarity than the other rats. The usual squeaks and drawn-out S's were absent. 

"Those fucking goblins" 

Itch replied. 

It became apparent why we had been ordered to make our way here. 

War was brewing and we would make a star appearance.