The white devil

Dusk quickly overtook the sky. The goblin hordes which now awaited us stood firm and resilient even as the cold shivers of the night took over. 

The assault was upon us. The other rats were already waiting below in the tunnels. It would begin upon the monster's arrival. 

It felt almost unjust disrupting the quiet and calm moonlight for such savagery. 

Thassius stood to my right seemingly deep in thought as well. Peaking at him through the side of my eye is saw him already prepped for the battle ahead. Black armour adorned every spot on his body. 

I too was armoured to the teeth. My white armour glistened in the subtle rays of moonlight. I wonder if the goblins could see me. I wonder if they waited with baited breaths for the attack that was sure to come. 

This was my first time entering a battle I meant to begin. It felt strange. Different from anything else. The patient waiting for it to start. 

The silence felt sickening. A forlorn reminder of what was to come.

Rats do not feel fear.

At least that is what I was taught. It was not fear that was coursing through my veins but excitement. Death may taunt me from above the clouds but feeling the embrace of death tickle at my fur before slinking back was a feeling of pure ecstacy. 

I know there will be deaths. For all I know Thassius will lay dead at my feet. 

Rats do not feel sadness or mourn. 

Again this was taught by Itch in one of our first classes. I did not believe this one as much. Splinter's death still hung heavy on my mind. Two months to die in such a way before your first clash with an enemy. 

I wonder what he thought of while dying

"Yous got taller"

A voice disrupts my internal thoughts. 

I turn to see Thassius now gesturing to me. 

He's right. He used to just edge me over in height however now I stood nearly a whole foot or two taller than him. It seems I hadn't noticed when I was with Sniffer before. 

"Maybe a late growths spurt" 

But this can't be true. Rats are known to rarely grow after their first month alive. 

"Mayb..."

Thump 

Thump 

Instantly Thassius turned and began charging towards the holes. I followed just behind. 

I dived down the holes and began scurrying into my place. 

The thumping got louder before a great roar finally exploded. 

Even in the holes, the roar stung my ears. 

The satisfying sound of wood crunching beneath an enormous wait followed by the wails of goblins rung out. 

I let out a screech. 

The signal for my men to attack. 

Furiously digging at the dirt above me I pulled my way out from beneath the ground. 

The sounds of battle had already begun. The creature was waiting through hordes of goblins occasionally stomping down on a few unlucky ones. 

Heads popped up out of the ground around me and began storming in various directions. 

Each Rat had a distinct job. 

Some were to hunt and kill any goblins they could. 

Others were to start fires and cause as much chaos as they could. 

The results were already showing as I smelt smoke beginning to infest the air. 

Wielding my two swords I pushed forward along the winding and intricate streets. 

A small platoon of 5 goblins blocked my path. 

Goblins were small before but now looked like children. 

My movements are faster. 

My swings are stronger. 

I felt invincible. 

Carving through the goblins I saw fear erupt into the eyes of the final one as he fell to his feet covering his face. My swords cut through both hand and face.

I had become stronger.

Since my fight with the monster, I have become a predator. Goblins fell like bugs beneath my blades. 

The fires were now in full swing leaping from house to house like an eager wolf tearing through its prey. 

I had no idea if we were winning the battle. For all I knew I was the only rat still surviving. 

I continued now with an increased pace. I headed for the large building where I had seen Vrogg standing before the battle had begun. I was betting on him not immediately joining the fight before gaining full info on what was happening. 

I charge through the root I had pre-planned out butchering the occasional goblin who had accidentally strayed into my path. 

Finally, I arrived in front of the large building. 

I had made it in time. Vrogg stared at me seemingly sizing me up. 

The small white rat still standing next to me had a distinct look of pride on her face. It seems she believes this to be the last stand of a desperate rat. 

I will take two heads tonight. 

Vrogg did not stand still for long slowly walking down the row of stairs leading up to the door to the large building. 

His scythe slid along the wooden boards making a satisfying grinding sound as it went. 

I began to back away only to realise the alley I intended to use as a battleground had collapsed due to the fires. Where an alley once stood was now a wreck of wood and scrap. 

I had no time to mourn my fallen plans. I began sizing up Vrogg. 

Where before I may have looked weak in comparison now we stood nearly eye to eye.

I would have to take my chances here. 

A small flick of my sword let the blood slide off. 

"?t_a_r m_ee_eh_n r_oh_y s_t_ah_w"

He barked a list of words towards me. 

The small white rat behind me seemed to answer in my stead. 

"z_l_oh_k ee_h Schreetch headtaker" 

It seems the white rat had been taking linguistic lessons. 

The goblin began to chortle out a slow laugh. It seems laughing is universal. 

I let out a low growl. I hope that's universal as well. 

Vrogg walked with overwhelming confidence. Each strut seemed careful and pronounced. 

Occasionally with a small flick of his wrist, he would make the scythe loop around his arm. 

"ee_v d_n_s_a_l_k t_s_v_l_a_k_n_ah_v d_ah_k_s_a_n_g_v_ah_l s_d_n_ah_v_ah_g_ny_k_l_aw z_d_n_a_l_v k_l_ah_s_d_a_n_s d_n_a_k_s_l_a_f_n_ah_f p_ih_k_s_zszh_aw aw_p wuh_p"

The goblin began spouting out words. 

His irritatingly talkative nature was advantageous, however. It gave me plenty of time to discreetly pour the small bottle I had prepared down the blade of my sword.

He did not even notice. 

Poison. The stuff we were gonna use to poison the liquid leaving plenty left over. While not enough to instantly kill a creature like Vrogg it should be enough to cause major pain. 

I zoned out Vroggs speech he seemed to be making. I wonder if he knew I did not speak goblin or if that even mattered to him. 

Now fully prepared I did not care to wait longer. I rushed in. 

Vrogg seemed surprised at my vigour however this quickly fell as the talkative and confident shell made way for a more focused appearance.

Using the scythe-like extension to his arm he swung in long arcs with vicious accuracy. 

I slinked through the first few swipes and began trying to dash closer however, I found myself blocked by even quicker flurries. 

The closer I became the quicker his scythe swiped through the air. 

Ripples of air chased the scythe as it rocketed after me. 

My arms worked overtime blocking and parrying the scythe with my own blades when dodging became impossible. 

Sparks of warm flame flew through the air as the clanging sound of metal rang through the opening. 

My eyes fluttered desperately trying to keep up with the metal scythe. 

We must have looked a sight to behold. 

However no matter the beautiful sight we were creating I was being pushed back. 

My arms grew fatigued and my feet no longer seemed to keep up with his blows. 

The occasional glimpse through Vrogg seemed to be carefree using just one arm to whip the chain back and forth. 

I could not lose this battle. 

My eyes began working overtime. The once sea of afterimages slowly disappeared. 

I felt a soft thud from my back as I hit the wall I could fall back no longer. 

I dropped my arms and stopped dodging. The sharp scythe screeched along my armour leaving small cuts in its path. 

An elated smile seemed to spread across Vroggs face as he realised I had given up. 

He drew back his scythe stopping the onslaught of attacks. 

"ee_l_k_ih_w_k s_ih_TH d_n_eh l_ih_w ee_ah" 

He launched one large swing aimed at my throat. 

This arrogant bastard. I knew it from the moment I saw him walk. His weakness. 

I dived to the ground making one strong slice above me. 

A deafening sound erupted above me before a thud rang out where I had stood. 

A scythe now lay where I had previously stood. The chain attached to the bottom is now cut short.

I raised slowly to my feet. 

Vrogg looked panicked. 

His weapon in pieces he looked shocked. 

My sword had also taken the brunt of the clash. It was now shattered around halfway up leaving just a stump behind. 

I walked forward blood dripping from the countless wounds I had gained during the fight. 

Vrogg staggered back in response falling backwards upon reaching the stairs. 

I felt my own blood trickle down into my mouth as I walked forward.

Vrogg incoherently yelled however I couldn't even hear it any longer. 

Finally, I stood over him. Now towering above him. 

I could not understand his language. 

But somehow I still knew what he was saying. 

He was begging. Most likely for his life. Just moments before the embodiment of pride and confidence was a shrivelling cretin whose life lay in my hands. 

I sheathed my weapons as Vroggs face lit up. He began bowing at my feet attempting to kiss them. 

I grabbed him by the jaw and lifted his face so I could stare into his eyes. My other hand dove into his throat tearing through his flesh. His eyes seemed empty. The happiness seeped out. 

Before the battle, I had wondered what someone thinks before dying. It would seem they think of nothing but the cold embrace of death. 

My claws reached the other side of his neck as I yanked his head into the air. 

blood rained down from his head into my mouth. A metallic yet beautiful taste. It felt good. 

Goblins who had been watching the fight stood in awe. I had not noticed them beforehand. 

"A devil" 

"Run from the white devil"

They repeated the same few phrases. 

I let out a screech as scattered away. 

"You've done well, Schreetch. My master was worried you would be too weak and would die too quickly".

I turned to see the white rat begin walking towards me. 

She walked with a distinct class that other rats did not quite have and she talked without the usual stuttering and squeaking of a rat. 

It was graceful in a certain manner. 

Finally, she had closed in on me. Standing now right in front of me. 

"You will be of use to us"

She let out a light chuckle. 

Then a soft moan escaped her mouth. Emptiness filled her beady eyes. 

She gently lowered her head to stare at where my arm now stuck out her chest. 

Pulling it out I grabbed her by the throat and the small tuft of hair on her head and pulled. Her head ripped off with a satisfying pop. 

She was a fool. Thought I was as stupid as all the other rats and would fall for her sweet talking and lies. 

But I would never forgive. 

I walked wielding two heads in either hand. 

Back through the winding streets. Goblins fled at my sight repeating the same phrase 

"The white devil" 

It was weird. It seemed I could understand them now. Their once foreign language was no less familiar than the tongue of rats. 

A thought I would have to keep until after the battle. 

Goblins ran in all directions. 

Occasionally I would pass the crisped corpse of a goblin caught in the fires. 

One mother seemed to be sitting with an empty expression above two charred corpses of much smaller goblins. The expression was the same as that of both the white rat and Vrogg. 

So this was war. 

The monster was still running a rampage over the far side of the village. I let out a screech to signal a successful mission and began ambling over to one of the nearby holes. 

Blood still stained my tongue. The taste of death. 

The taste of victory.