37 400 Mouse Years Later (1/2)

The stablehands brought out more rats captured in traps. Some rat lay immobile inside what appears to be a large cage. The rats who were barely conscious looked at Tarou. It appears like a rat purge was happening inside the stables.

'Could this be the result of what happened last night?'

'So, that human believed that I wouldn't gnaw off horse hooves!'

The thought made Tarou glow. Barca was the best human in the world but he wouldn't reveal it to anyone, not even to Boss.

Just when his mood brightened up, the mouse who looked more energetic than the rest of its gang continued to struggle inside its cage.

'This mouse must be their leader,' Tarou thought as he studied the creature whose fierce red eyes were full of loathing. He wanted to get closer to the rat to gloat about his victory but the animal's piercing gaze deterred him from doing so.

The hissing and chattering started again and Tarou could make out some curse words directed at him. Soon after, the weakened rats in the larger cage joined in. The sound made Tarou cringe but he didn't back down.

Unable to continue holding the rat's gaze while listening to the haunting sounds, Tarou covered his eyes with his paws. The noise made by the captured animals was starting to get to him and he crouched down to muffle the noise, willing the voices to go away.

”Rats!” a low and hoarse squeak called out in disgust. The sound silenced the voices and made Tarou look up to see the formidable force that conquered the rat.

Tarou detected the parade of small paws headed towards him. As the figures came closer, Tarou realized two of the three rodents were familiar — they were the mice who gave him directions to the stables. The one heading the parade was a mouse with a cane. Kaia and Aure trailed after him. The older rat stopped in front of the energetic mouse caught in the trap who was about to start another violent round of chattering. Without any hesitation, the old mouse lifted his cane and poked the rat's eye, silencing him before squeaking one word.

”Newcomer.”

Tarou heard the words clearly but he was unsure who the man was referring to so he looked to the right and then to the left. Tarou looked at the mouse as if he needed some sort of confirmation.

”Yes, you,” the old mouse reiterated. Tarou simply stared at him. What did this old mouse want him to do? He felt confused and he didn't know how to act.

”Tarou, you should show the elder into your home,” Aure squeaked in her high pitch voice which she was clearly trying to tone down. Relieved at finally knowing what to do, Tarou motioned the party to follow him into the tree hollow.

'How did these mice know I made my nest here?' he wondered but kept mum. He was a stranger to this place after all. There are always systems in place for mouse communities to know what's going on.

After entering Tarou's home, the older mouse circled and smelled him. His elder's whiskers wiggled and his ears perked up as he continued circling Tarou who stood up on two paws as a sign of respect.

”Elder?” a tentative squeak asked in a high pitch tone.

The older mouse did not acknowledge the statement but he looked Tarou in the eye while saying in a gentle voice.

”You should take cover inside the manor. That space is always rat-free.”

Out of the blue, the old mouse pushed Tarou's tail aside using his cane and was about to continue sniffing him.

”What are you doing you old mouse!” an alarmed Tarou squeaked as he backed into a wall. The old mouse just looked at him like his existence was a surprise. As if nothing happened, the Elder fired another question.

”Why would you prefer living outdoors?”

Still cautious, Tarou did not leave his position but he answered the older mouse after thinking things through. ”I have easy access to food here.”