Hod stood with his mouth opened in shock as a group of humans wearing uniforms sauntered into the gas station.

“Exterminators!” he gasped as the alarm rang within the walls.

It was suddenly chaos as the Get-Go rats scrambled for their escape route leaving Hod no choice but to get swept up in the activity, but not before tucking the note behind a match box staircase.

He felt the vibrations of the pack as they rumbled and stomped to their stations, evacuating to the inner walls and relaying messages from the lookouts; messages Hod was supposed to have sent first.

He knew Lord Smork would be angry with him, that the superior rat would punish him for not paying attention.

Why did he freeze like that? Those seconds counted and he'd failed again.

Guilt wracked his little body as he snapped into action hoping he could make up for it somehow.

Flashbacks of “the incident” filled Hods brain as he scurried down the halls, directing citizens as he fought his own tremblings.

“Hod!” a voice called over the chaos and the little rat froze, his eyes closing in defeat.

It was Razr and Hod could already sense his arrogant energy as he approached, unhurried in his bulky form.

“Lord Smork wants to know why your alarm didn't sound?” he smirked, his cold eyes boring into the soft depths of Hods.

“I...” he took a deep breath, the rats racing past him were pushing and crowding.

Razr rolled his eyes, pushing Hod backwards with a meaty paw,

“Spit it out Skittle, we're kind of in an emergency here!”

Hod flailed and regained his posture, “I'm sorry!”

Razr scoffed, “That's not an answer. Why didn't you sound your alarm?”

He narrowed his eyes and Hod felt the pressure of a thousand seas crushing him, drowning him in their ruthless waters.

“I don't know” he mumbled, struggling to stay afloat in his mind.

He was anxious and just wanted to get the pack to safety before they were all poisoned or left starving in traps, this wasn't the time for any of Razr's nonsense.

Razr snorted, his belly wobbling from the effort, “You're pathetic.”

Hod sniffed, “We have work to do, can I go?”

It felt silly to have this conversation now. Their safety was at stake but Razr would always be a bully with nothing better to do that pester the weak.

The big rat scoffed, “Don't think I'm done with you, Skittle,” he grinned, “Lord Smork sent me to tell you you've been re-assigned.”

Confusion addled his brain but Hod clutched his paws against his body, “To where?” he asked.

Razr met Hods gaze and held him there in an uncomfortable battle before answering.

“You've been assigned grounds patrol. Once the chaos dies down you'll be back on the floor to scout for traps and poison...”

The rest of the words were muffled as Hod felt his panic rising, the world fading away.

No, no, no!

Images of the incident filled his head and he knew there was no worse punishment than being given grounds patrol.

Hod turned away from Razr, his thoughts only on one thing.

The big rats voice turned hostile but Hod didn't hear him as he heeded his inner voice and fled.

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He blindly shoved through the throngs of rats, wedging his small body between the spaces and outrunning the shouting Razr by far.

He slipped through a narrow beam and rushed down the darkened alley before leaping through a hidden passage out into the gas station.

He squeaked in surprise as he rolled directly into a bag of chips that was opened on the counter where the clerk stood most days.

The store was dark now as the exterminators set up their supplies.

Hod kicked himself for being so reckless! He'd attempted to run but found himself exactly where he'd tried to escape from.

Maybe Razr would report to Lord Smork that Hod had been so excited about his assignment that he'd run straight there skipping and singing.

He laughed at himself knowing Razr had probably been gleeful to announce his desertion.

Hod munched a few chips before peeking out of the bag to survey the area.

A few humans in funny suits were talking and unfolding things from big bags, but it looked like they were unhurried.

'That's good' Hod whispered to himself.

One of the humans was surveying the area and came too close for Hods comfort as he stilled in the chip bag.

“This place is a dump” the human said, “No wonder they called us.”

A different human agreed, “I've already found several open packages of food here.”

The first human made a gagging noise, “Yuck!”

Hod realized he was in the open bag and quickly looked around to find safer refuge.

He swallowed his fear and raced across the counter, diving into a tissue box. He nestled into the soft material, burrowing under the layers.

Honestly it was cozier than his own bed which was just an empty Drumstick wrapper.

He'd enjoyed it at first when there were little peanut crumbs to snack on before sleeping but it had long been empty and was now full of holes that let in a draft.

Snug and warm, the danger nearby was momentarily forgotten as he rested his eyes, the weariness of his body overtaking all thought.

The pack would be fine, they'd all done this before and no one would miss him.

Somehow the thought was comforting; it felt safe to be forgotten.

Alone in his little bed he dozed off, dreaming of chip crumbs and mysterious notes.

Hod was awoken with a start; someone had pulled a tissue from the box and was blowing their nose loudly.

How deeply had he been sleeping? Hod mentally kicked himself for being so careless!

He wasn't sure how long he'd been out or what time it was but he could hear a muffled voice outside the box.

It rumbled his whiskers so he knew it was a human.

Hod shuffled through the layers of the tissues to hear better.

“I just don't feel like its necessary dude,” came the unmistakable voice of the clerk, he must have been on the phone again because there was a pause before he spoke.

“I know they're just rats bro, but it feels wrong.”

Hod perked up, his interest piqued.

“Well I'm throwing them away. I don't get paid enough to deal with glue traps and poison! My boss can suck it.” He laughed then, “Yeah its like, way dangerous for our bodies.”

Hod peaked out of the box, surprised it was late morning already.

He hoped the pack made it to the sheltered base and nobody was hurt. He felt annoyed that he'd slept so long.

The clerk was on the phone, pacing behind the counter, a fresh bag of chips rested nearby.

Hods mouth watered, he was so hungry and the thought of those salt and vinegar chips had his brain in a fizzle.

He watched the clerk; the strawberry blonde human was preoccupied for now.

The little rat took his chances and raced for the bag, crawling inside as quietly as he could.

The tangy scent of vinegar overpowered him as tiny specs of salt and chip dust coated his nose and whiskers.

Hod munched until his paws were greasy and his tongue burned from the acidity.

Hopefully the clerk wouldn't mind sharing.

Suddenly the bag shifted and Hod slipped on the chip oils, falling backwards as a hand reached inside.

Too late the fingers brushed against him and both Hod and the clerk let out a yelp of surprise as the bag fell to the counter and Hod tumbled out, covered in salt and oils.

“Oh shit!” the clerk cried and Hod tried to run but his paws were slick and he stumbled, falling on his behind.

The clerk laughed, “Hey, it's you!”

Hod paused, his curiosity outweighing his survival instinct. Maybe this clerk was kind and could help him?

“Sorry about startling you little dude!” he smiled and slowly reached for a peanut butter cup on the other side of the counter.

He broke it in half and laid it gently in front of Hod.

“You hungry?” he asked, taking a bite of the half he still had in his other hand.

Hod carefully and hesitantly took a bite of the gifted treat. He never said no to a peanut butter cup, they were his favorite and also the reason he'd originally been removed from grounds patrol.

The incident still burned his pride and haunted his dreams.

The clerk chuckled, “I figured you liked these since you got caught trying to steal one that one time.”

Hod froze, panicked that the clerk remembered that it was him.

His biggest fear, his greatest failure, his colossal mistake, it was all tied to that night.

Hod gulped and continued eating, trying to pretend he didn't understand the clerk. It was crucial humans didn't know they could respond.

“So...” the clerk said, “When are you going to trust me enough to talk back?”

Hod dropped his jaw, peanut butter cup falling from his hands....WHAT?!