The team sat around the Mayor Kenster’s dinner table eating lunch.

The mayor asked Sophie, “Do you know if that was a normal size goblin raiding party?”

Sophie nodded, “If the leader of that group of goblins just took control of their group, they may not have been around long enough to get a strong following. That really is the saving grace with goblins. They tend to fight amongst, the leaders don’t last long enough to become a serious war party.”

The mayor nodded and poured more wine for everyone.

Zack broke the silence, “I think our team should be called ‘Sophie’s Brigade’.”

Teesa smiled and said, “I like it, Sophie you are the leader, and we need a name.”

Marko teased, “What happens when Sophie bites it? Are we changing our name to ‘was Sophie’s Brigade’”?

Sophie laughed, “Maybe ‘The Unit formerly known as Sophie’s Brigade’.”

The whole table erupted in laughter.

Zack thought, finally some levity and smiles from this group.

Sophie said, “I will think about it, I am not sure I like the name being after one person.”

Sophie put moved her hands across the air like highlighting a marquee and said, “I thought something like ‘Vinstra Ass-kickers’!”

Zack spit his wine all over the table. As the table erupted in laughter.

Zack finally composed himself and said, “I read a book once that the team went in the other direction to throw others off.”

Zack gestured like Sophie did and said, “Team Biscuit.”

No one laughed as they stared at Zack like he was an idiot.

Autumn snarked, “I didn’t sign up for a team only to be known as the archer on Team Biscuit!”

Everyone laughed as Zacks face flushed.

Zack responded, “Well it was awesome in the book. Maybe not in real life.”

When lunch was cleared the mayor asked, “What is your next move?”

Marko interrupted Sophie, “Fucking Ring Rats!”

The mayor shot up and looked around them, “Where, I hate those things.”

Sophie said, “Sorry Mayor, Marko was alluding to our next quest. A small forest west of here seems to be infested with Ring Rats. We have to go clear it.”

The mayor sat down relieved, “Oh good I hate those things. Well not good, but I am glad they are not here.”

Sophie said, “On that note we have a long haul ahead of us to get to said fucking Ring Rats. Mayor Kenster, thank you for your hospitality. We must take our leave. Call on us again if we may be of service.”

After they said their goodbyes, team to be named later set off on their horses for the Ring Rat infestation.

Zack asked, “How long will it take to get to the Ring Rats?”

Teesa responded, “About five hours on horseback.”

Zack grimaced at the idea of spending five hours on the back of a horse only to fight the Ring Rats.

The trip was uneventful. They arrived at the outskirts of the forest around 6 pm.

Marko was the first to notice the tell-tale signs of Ring Rats. Some of the trees were decaying with parts of their leaves shredded and assorted dead animals lying around.

Sophie became tense as she said, “We need to be focused. We do not want to be taken off guard.”

Zack finally asked a question that had been bothering him, “I get that an infestation of any creature could be problematic. I don’t get why people are so worked up by Ring Rats. I mean, come on, they're rats.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Teesa tapped Zack’s shoulder. When he looked, she pointed her bow staff into the tree. About twenty feet above them was the remains of two fully grown bears. Their bodies had been mutilated. They were strewn across the trees being held up by their tendons and stretched exposed muscles.

Zack gasped, “Oh shit, rats did that to two bears? How? That is insane. How could rats do that?”

Sophie quietly said, “They swarm in overwhelming numbers. Like in the hundreds. And they are wicked fast.”

Zack sat back taking in the scene and said, “Well that shit is awful. Why are we doing this by ourselves?

Sophie responded, “Because we need to build out reputation and the quest rewards.”

Zack almost said, what quest rewards, but stopped himself. He thought, oh shit that's right, they get quest rewards I don’t get.

Marko hushed the group and points into the distance. “Do you hear that? About a mile or so away there is something happening.”

In unison Teesa and Sophie said, “I can’t hear anything.”

Once Marko pointed it out, Zack could hear the faint sounds of movement and distant yelling.

Sophie cautioned, “We need to be careful, I heard this is how they ambush you. By tricking you into going deeper into their nesting area only to surround you and attack.”

Zack responded, “Well maybe if we know this is the case we should not go in there?”

Sophie shot back, “We cannot complete the quest if we don’t go in there.”

Teesa said, “I am with Cor on this one. Seems like a bad idea to walk right into their trap.”

Marko hushed them again, “I don’t think this is a trap. I think the trap just got sprung on someone else. When Ring Rats lure victims it is not with human voices. I can faintly hear people yelling.”

Sophie paused and said, “I forgot, Marko has a hearing talent, I trust his senses. I say we go.”

The group complied and they started off. As they worked their way through the forest more dead animals were strewn across the landscape.

Zack said, “This is disgusting, seriously what the heck. So much blood and entrails.”

Teesa grimaced as she said, “That is their calling card, they only eat certain parts of animals. They leave the rest to mark their territory.”

The path took them deeper into the forest. The trees were so thick the canopy blocked out the light to a significant degree. Zack noticed it was about as light as dusk after the sun had just gone down.

Marko had been leading the group as they came up to a hill that bordered a little valley with a creek. The group crested the hill with their bellies on the ground to get a better look at the situation without being noticed.

No one was prepared for the scene unfolding in front of them. Fifteen soldiers were in a circle surrounding ten injured or dead soldiers. Around them were at least 200 rats.

Zack thought, this is some bullshit, on what planet are these creatures’ called rats. They are to rats what a tiger would be to a house cat.

Teesa gasped and said, “I have seen a dead Ring Rat before, but I had no idea they were that big. Seriously, what the fuck.”

Sophie drew in a deep breath, “Those guys are fucked unless we help them.”

Sophie suddenly crept back down the hill. She had a sickly look on her face. The team followed her and sat noisy din of battle and death for a moment before Sophie finally spoke.

“Did any of you see the color and crest of the soldiers down their?”

They all shook their heads as Teesa said, “To busy staring at the giant rats.”

Sophie said, “They are royal soldiers, probably from the Duke or possibly the Queen. I saw the gold dragon on black armor, but the banner had the queen’s insignia.”

Marko asked, “Well, that is a problem.”

Autumn exclaimed, “Royal soldiers, shouldn’t we help them?”

Then as an answer to Autumn and a smile on his face, “A problem that perhaps the rats will take care of for us!”

Teesa chimed in next, “The quest is to clear the forest of the Ring Rats, it did not say anything about saving royal soldiers.”

Autumn looked anxious but bit her lip and said nothing.

Zack snuck back up to the top of the hill and peeked over. Disgusted he shook his head and climbed back down.

Zack said, “I think that decision is about to be made for us. They are not going to last much longer.”

They all crept back up and surveyed the situation. The soldiers did better than one would have expected. There were about 20 rats left and the last of the soldiers was being killed as they peered over the top of the hill.

Autumn in a fit of rage stood up and began nocking arrows. All around the small battlefield rats fell to the ground. In a matter of moments Autumn had killed 5 of the rats before they realized they were being attacked.

Marko and Sophie ran down the hill and attacked the remaining rats. The rats were injured and clearly tired from the previous battle and were not able to mount much of an offensive. They were dispatched in minutes. By the time it was over Autumn had killed eleven rats. Sophie and Marko killed the remaining nine.

When the last rat died Sophie raced over to Autumn and threw her to the ground, “What the hell was that? Are you trying to get us killed? No one attacks without a plan. Never ever attack without my word. More importantly never attack before the group is ready.”

Autumn sat on her backside with fury still in her eyes, she looked defiantly At Sophie with a snarl on her face.

Sophie yelled, “Do you understand!

Autumn held the defiant look for a moment longer and then her shoulders slumped. “You are right, I am sorry. I lost my mind for a second. Watching the remaining rats eat the people sent me over the edge. It will not happen again. I knew we could take them.”

Sophie argued back, “Did you know some Rat Rings will feign losing sacrificing members to get their enemies to relax and make mistakes. Only to attack with a second horde in waiting?”

Autumn look down at the ground and almost at a whisper said, “No I did not. I am so sorry. I just lost it when I saw them eating people.”

Sophie stared angrily for a moment longer, turned and walked to the soldier’s wagon.

Marko followed Sophie to the wagon as they began to look through the soldiers’ things.