Rise of the Ratmen

Femi's attention. He crouched low, claws grippin

ne hand, it clutched a rusted axe; in the other, a splintered wooden shield. The

d beneath him, oblivious to his presence. This was his chance. With a silent breat

skeleton's skull with a single, decisive blow. The force of gravity amplif

breath. He stared down at the lifeless bones, a grin spreading across his fac

ed. Each victory had been a quick strike to the skull like this, but now, he felt a surge of t

lips. "You've been a loyal partner, but sometimes a

d it up, turning it over in his hands. The blade was dull and corroded, and the wood

e femur aside and gr

nstead, he focused on the armor the skeleton wore a patchwork of red leather, riddled with holes and reeking of decay.

he realized it didn't account for his tail. With a quick adjustment, he used the axe to c

thing out the leather. "At least I

dmen he'd seen wandering the streets back home, their waists wrapped in nothing but newspaper.

or, his newly acquired axe

here in the distance, mingling with the occasi

ompanion for hours. He hadn't eaten since he'd stumbled into this cursed p

a torch flickered against the walls. He paused, his sharp

g nervously behind him. Peering around the corner

tip. Their hollow gazes swept the area, but they moved with

ing in the torchlight. This was his chance. He crouched l

pty gazes scanning the corridor but failing to notice him lurking in

rd, claws scraping lightly against the stone

muscles bulging as he swung

ce of the blow shattering bone and sending fragments scattering across the fl

ed on his heel, tail helping him maintain balance, and brought the axe down again. This time, the blade cleaved through the skeleton's ribcage, shatte

sharpening his senses and numbing the ache in his injured muscles. He glanced down at the shatter

pons but decided against taking

ed for food. He needed to keep moving. He adjusted his g

d, clinging to his fur and making him shiver slightly. The walls were slick wi

, clean water reached him. It was strange; he hadn't realized water had a scent at all. But the

s he followed the sound. The scent of water filled

moved, sharp eyes scanning the shadows ahead. The promise of clean

shadow. In the center of the room stood a fountain, its sto

lowing out through a narrow channel in the floor. The sound was soothing

for any signs of danger. The room was empty, save for

ands into the cool water. It was clear

d throat. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, the tension in

ze drifting to the shimmering surface of the water.

R

he breathed. His ears, large and rounded, flicked at the sound of dripping

claws brushing against the coarse fur. The reflection

slumping as he leaned

ith exhaustion, "no use denying it. I'm a r

ettling heavily on his chest. His tail lashed behind him, the

continued

contemplating life," his father's

f his father's voice, steady and firm, brought a flicker of comfort,

n it. If he stayed here, wallowing in self-pity, he'd die of hunger. He nee

he still need

determination. His stomach growled in agreement,

on the scattered bones. They were old and br

t move. The dungeon had to have something edible or at least

er, was a small, round object. Femi crouched down, reaching into the water to retrieve it. It was a piece of fruit, slightly br

the fresh-looking food before him. In this demo

good to give up. As he stood there, contem

long as it doesn't turn me into a yam when I eat

strils. He devoured the seeds greedily, the juice staining his fingers and dripping down

d ended up here, in a place so devoid of life. But he p

, feeling renewed. His hand brushed against the water cante

le dehydration this place can lead

im with the cool water. With the canteen now replenished

ht his eye, no hidden passages, no lurking th

fountain, a small smi

incere. The fountain had been a rare moment of respite in

he air, the weight of it was very reassuring in his hands. Like having

to the corridor, but before he could go

as he turned back, to face the

at the other side of the fountain cambers, which wasn't there before. It's surface was c

symbols etched into the doorframe,

s this?" he shouted, voice e

his get here. Is the evil in this place not alre

e those demons who brought me here want me to enter," he muttered under his br

he door that would take me out of th

door, his paws trembling sligh

back a little and wondered if it w

, it opened wide the air that rushed out was thick with dust, m

hollow gaze seeming to pierce through him. The air around it radiated an aura of malevolence, an

door?" Femi lamented, his