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The grey rat would shake his head, sighing long. This conversation was clearly taking its toll. His ears were drooped, his head was lowered, eyes getting to be a little heavy. One by one, the white mouse before him, named and described members of his family. Not ones she had seen personally. No, most listed would probably have thought to hunt the mouse should they have crossed her. Instead the account was taken from another source: A cat, which had claimed them.

The mouse bowed her head, paw rubbing over her forehead. This had been more difficult than she expected. First she'd had to sit before the cat light heartedly telling her the talle of each life snuffed out, one after another after another after another, Tabatha had certainly feasted well. Despite how far Licthia had come in facing into darkness, even into her own end, it had been wearying. Now she had to do the opposite, recounting each life taken, until the rat sitting across her recognized them and they could move on. She'd started with the ones Tabahta could name, those Tarik could check off completely. Then she'd go on to the one's the feline could describe, their build, their coloring, any deformities, whether they'd died bravely or had gone down the feline's maw kicking and shrieking, offering up their kin's lives. They were rat's, she reminded herself, she wasn't supposed to care about rats! Most of them, perhaps all of them, given the opportunity would have snuck up on her, bit her neck in half, and feasted on her corpse. Yet whether it was because she was soft hearted, or because she couldn't help but share the pain that rat across for her bore as she confirmed that one kin after was lost to him forever, she felt an weight coming over her; she was weary.

The cat had had a strikingly vivid memory. It didn't surprise the mouse, for she knew the feline's obsession, but still, it was remarkable to in action. To see how she remembered each and every encounter, each every life she'd taken so clearly. As a result, while he was uncertain about a few, Tarik had been able to identify nearly all the rat's she'd listed, even when the cat didn't know their names.

"Alright, next one she said was kind of skinny," she started. "A young one, looked to be just of age." She swallowed, looking to Tarik, hoping he could identify him. The sooner the rat recognized a description, the sooner she could stop recounting it. "Mostly solid black pelt, bit of white on his belly. No other obvious marks or deformities, kind of thin." The mouse looked to the rat, in hopes that was enough and she could stop talking, but when he showed no sign of certain recognition, she bit her lip and continued. "He came here. Seemed inexperienced, went to forage near the bushes sunwards of the burrow." The mouse sighed. "He. . . shrieked, when he saw her. . .completely terrified. . . . she tried talking with him when she caught him, but he couldn't do nothin but squeal and try to bite." The mouse swallowed. "She . . .killed him quickly. . .. he was so scared, she thought it would be cruel to stretch it out further than she had to."

The mouse lifted her head to scan about. Even in the midst of such a conversation, even so close to her burrow where she'd never come across a pred, she was naturally cautious. They'd silently agreed to have this conversation outside in voices just above a whisper for the sake of a certain rabbit still huddled within. Tabahta had actually been more specific about the young rat's end, but she's spare Tarik that, as it wasn't relevant to identifying him.

The rat flicked an ear, head raising only slightly. He wanted to know for sure who had been taken by the cat, because it might mean there were survivors. Still. . he was certainly feeling regret by now, to listen though these descriptions. Not only was it upsetting to hear about the deaths of his family, but it brought a painful memory. . . of when the cat recited a few to himself. He'd take a breath, trying hard now to think. Black. Young. No one was coming to him right away. The most common reason for banishment, the loss of a challenge to a leader, it was not something he recalled a young rat ever doing. Firstly, they wouldn't stand a chance, further still, the rat being young, likely wouldn't be taken seriously in such a challenge. . . for his own sake: Perhaps only held down in warning. Tarik would look off, in thought. It didn't make sense. When she went on. .. described the young rat's poor decisions in foraging, it made him consider it was one of the hunters. Then, his eyes went wide. Tarik already formed the name in his mind, but. . . was too distraught to speak it as Lichthia recalled the grime scene, looking only in horror. When she finished, his eyes shut and wiped them. It was take him a moment to gather the words. "I. . . I. . . t-think that was Kryan." He'd look to be uneasy, more so then after hearing the others. "He. . . was caught stealing food, I think. That's what. . .was said." To 'steal', to think selfishly, it was an action they had little tolerance of, no matter the age. "S-some think he let some of the prey free in storage. L-leader Adri made the order."

The mouse nodded, eyelids lowering slightly at the news. She didn't like the suggestion he'd been outcast for freeing prey. She'd made an exception for Tarik, but it was still far more comfortable for her to hate rats in general, and to hear one had possibly saved a mouse, perhaps even forfeited his life for such, was unsettling. The world was complicated enough as it was. "Colony should be more tolerant of youth makin an error." She'd sigh. "Not that I'd consder showin compassion bein an error, if indeed that's what he was guilty of."

The mouse would give a quick scan, then she'd straighten and turn her head to look at the rat. If there was to be any good news, it was now. "That's it," she told him. "That's all she took. I asked her if she was certain. . . she said she was and I believe her." The mouse inhaled. "She said she never forgets a prey." She'd pause and look into the rat's eyes. "So. . . . did I miss any of 'em?"

Tarik would appear a bit choked up, but tried hard to keep focused. Much like mice, rats rarely lived long lives. But. . . one was young? Just hold enough to make it out of the nest? This rat had been a hunter, so Tarik had never talked much with Kyran personally. It helped to ease the weight. Had it been one of the younger gatherers, he probably wouldn't be able to hold himself back. "They said he had a chance to apologize." The rat looked off, "he d-didn't. . ." They said it was. . . too much a risk. For more food to be taken or lost." He'd sigh. "The hunters knew about Tabatha. They. . . p-probably warned him. That's why he was so scared."

As she finished, the grey rat raised his muzzle. It was a relief to him, that he might not have to hear of any more of these descriptions. . . these deaths. He wasn't sure if he could take much more otherwise. Still, something felt off to him. Tabatha had told him of the first rat she saw. The first of many who was both exiled from the colony, and took shelter in a discovered burrow. Since hearing that, Tarik already thought long and hard of all the others that had been outcasted since. His memory wasn't the best, but he had thought at least a dozen. And. . . even including the young rat he had forgotten of, the list felt. . . a little short. "I. . . I think. . ." Tarik got a little gleam of hope in his eyes. "I think there should be more. . ." But who else? He'd begin to think through.

There were a few mentioned he couldn't quite name before, but recalled their faces and descriptions. Did she mention Ranvir? Maybe he got away? No. . . the cat chased him, cornered him, and took him as he pleaded for mercy .Jedrek? He was one of the few that tried to fight back. Tarik shook his head, even just sorting things in his mind was upsetting. He'd start thinking on just the gatherers, ones he knew more about. Kapil. He was brown, and features fairly unremarkable. Though. . . likely to have been one of the rats Tabatha didn't get a name of. He'd have to think harder to match those more accurately, but for now would move on. Another gatherer would come to him. Bylun . . . he didn't remember hearing anything that could have matched his description. "S-she didn't mention an. . . albino?"

The mouse watched the rat as he thought to himself, trying to remember who he knew. Was htis worth it, she wondered. Or would it just prolong Tarik's pain. Even if they did find a rat Tabatha hadn't caught, they still wouldn't know if they were alive. "Albino?" she asked, a small smile forming despite the grim nature of the discussion. "I didin't know there were albino rats. I'm certain Tabatha would have mentioned one if she caught 'em."

The rat couldn't help but smile in return, for however brief a time. "Yeah. . . there are. M-maybe. . . maybe he's ok then." The possibly of one survivor, it helped lift his spirits. After first meeting the cat, Tarik didn't even hold that hope. Still, it was hard to smile for long. Not given the circumstances. He'd force himself to continue thinking, if one was possible. . . maybe there was more. Already Tarik had gone through the gatherer rats. Other than Kapil, all of them seemed accounted for with certainty. He'd then think on the hunters. It was harder to name them, but he had. . . 'checked off' ones he couldn't name by appearance and personality.

Color seemed to make sorting easier, so he'd start with that this time. Unfortunately there were no other albinos. A white rat with normal eyes was mentioned, and the only white hunter Tarik could think of: Navon, apparently he had come close to catching on, just a little too late. He fled before she revealed herself. . . and was pounced. There were only a few black furred hunters he knew of that were banished: Dalek and Kyran. Dalek. . . was one of the four rats Tabatha described to him directly, and. . . Kryan just recently. Tarik then recounted the greys, including another two Tabatha had named to him: His close friend Hunter, and the first rat fall victim, Rakin. It seemed like all the grey hunters were accounted for. . . upsetting as that was That really just left the most common of rat furs. . . brown. Things felt more ambiguous there, having not heard many direct names in that category. He'd attempt to place who he could from the hunters. It was. . . difficult, to say the least. Brown rats tended to blend in more often than others, and he wasn't well acquainted with most hunters to begin with. He'd consider. . . that there was one brown rat that stood apart from the others: A lead hunter, Aidan. The personalities mentioned, none seemed to quite fit him. Aidan didn't seem the type to rush into a fight he couldn't win, and. . . certainly not beg. "Were any of the brown rats, described as. .. 'reddish'? I. . . think there might be another."

Lichthia shook her head. "No, no she didn't," she answered. "If it was any other cat, I wouldn't put much weight on that, but Miss Tabatha was very descriptive. M'sure she wouldn't leave a detail like that out." She'd smile and look up. "By the way, y'gotta tell me these rats names, and a little bit 'bout 'em. Assumin they are around, I wanna be able t'introduce m'self properly, should I ever encounter one of 'em." Unstated, but surely understood, was the mouse's assumption that knowing the name of of an outcast rat might be enough to persuade them not to pred her. An outcast rat was more likely to be hungry after all, and would have to hunt on his own, if he wanted meat.

Two rats confirmed as not being claimed by Tabatha, Tarik's smile would last a bit longer this time. It had been hard to sit through all this, but it was now fast becoming worth it. He'd be momentarily distracted to take in the mouse's question, before regaining focus. "Oh. . . Yeah." Speaking about the potential of some fellow-outcasts being alive, it only furthered his spirits, his ears and head had lifted. "The albino is Bylun. He's a gatherer, much taller than me. . . and larger. Not fat, just a bigger build. He's pretty strong, was able to carry a lot of food. We had talked sometimes." He'd look down, trying to think how a mouse might see him. "He looked a little intimidating. . . but he's friendly."

Lichthia would smile leaning forward. Friendly, and a gatherer. She liked the sound of that! Well friendly to Tarik didn't mean he'd be friendly to her, and even if he was a gatherer, that didn't necessarily mean he didn't hunger for meat, and wouldn't try for a mouse given the opportunity. Tarik had been a gatherer after all. Plus this one was bigger than Tarik. Still, she found it encouraging. She took a reflexive look about, and leaned in, ears spread, curious about the other.

He'd pause and think a bit. "Aidan is. . . the reddish-brown rat. About my height, m-maybe a little taller." Tarik's eyes looked off some. "He's. . . well, he used to be a lead hunter. Very quiet, and dedicated. I heard he was strict, didn't seem to show much emotion, but his hunting parties usually caught something and rarely lost anyone." His voice grew softer "I heard a lot of stories about him, how well he tracked and brought down prey. Some rumored he could have handled most catches himself. . ."

The mouse listened attentively, smile fading. A hunter. .. a lead hunter? That sounded more dangerous than a forager, even a big one. Interest grew as Tarik continued. This Aidan could make a catch himself? And the way Tarik said it, it sounded like he meant more than a mouse; after all he'd talked once before about rats who could take on rabbits. A rat like that, on his own now, hungry for meat, wouldn't hesitate to go after a lone mouse. And this one wouldn't be a pushover, like Tarik. This one would could be a challenge!

She took a breath, reminding herself, she didn't actually want a challenge. Her life wasn't her own to risk. Morathi might be pleased, but too many people she cared about depended on her for her to risk her life for a thrill. Plus he was a friend of Tarik's, so she shouldn't want to hurt him either. Well. . . not too badly anyway. Of course he was a lead hunter, unlike Tarik he'd undoubtedly throttled scores of mice, and couldn't complain if. . . .no, no, remember Jaabir, remember Jack, remember Tarik, she reminded herself, taking a deep breath. She'd even made that promise to Tabatha. "S'good y'tell me 'bout him," she'd reply softly, just a tiny bit of tension in her voice, suggesting her concern at the news of a outcast hunter in the woods, though the thrill she'd felt would be well hidden, except for just a slight squeeze of her staff by her lower paw. "I'll be sure t'use his name and introduce m'self right away if I should ever meet him." She'd purse her lips, thinking.

Tarik would give a small nod, unaware of the mouse's bubbling eagerness. "Y-yeah. . . that would be best." Greeting them with their own name. Was that even the best course of action? Bylun, he reasoned, would react in confusion. The large forager would probably stop long enough for the mouse to explain, if he was hungry enough to hunt at all. But Aidan, he wasn't sure. Surprise, confusion, those just weren't reactions Tarik ever seen in him. At least, if he captured her, he might ask before snapping her neck. The grey rat shifted where he sat, "M-maybe stay away from Aidan. . . if he see him. J-just let me know."

The mouse would listen, and nod slowly. Despite her silent ascent , there was something inside her that resisted the idea of encountering a rat of this Aidan's caliber, and simply leaving him alone. It seemed like a wasted opportunity, somehow. "If he's as good as y'say, might not be likely I'd see him without him bein aware of me." She'd smile; there were all sorts of imponderables of course, she might run into Aidan after Tarik was gone. "But that does sound best, if I can, I will.." She'd lower her eyes, thinking.

One of the rats ears would flick, and he'd give a slow nod. "Yeah. . . Aidan, probably would know" Tarik frowned some, leaning in. "If. . . he was after you." The rat looked off, concern growing apparent in his voice. "Well. . ." Tarik rubbed a paw at his neck, "I don't think most would notice." Eyes drifting back, he would stare for a moment, thinking how best to reinforce the danger. "He was probably the best hunter. . . should have been a colony leader."

The mouse's eyes would lower and her expression would suggest worry, though in truth what she was feeling was temptation. Most wouldn't notice Aidan, perhaps, but she was confident she would. She'd been bested by another pred, but with the exception of Jaabir, she'd never been taken by surprise. Two night's ago, Morathi had trained her for over an hour in fighting without the use of her eyes. "Well," she'd eventually remark, giving a small smile and raising her gaze back up to Tarik, "if he's out there, I hope you run into him before I do." The good natured mouse had told very few lies, but that was certainly one. While she was disciplined enough, she was confident she would indeed leave this Aidan alone should she run into him and run and find Tarik, deep in her heart, she couldn't help but hope this Aidan would spy her before she spied him, making such a course impossible.

"That challenge y'were talkin about, . .. ." she began, as much to distract herself from her musings as anything else. Besides, that mention of who should be colony leader had reminded her of something. ". . .. was either Aidan or B. . ".she'd pause. ". . . .Aidan or Bylum part of that group challengin the leader y'spoke about?"

"Y-yeah. It would be. . . better if he saw me." Tarik began to smile some. Even if Aidan wasn't very personable, he was still family. So while he feared for the mouse's safety, he very much hoped both of these rats were alive. At the question, Tarik's head tilted lightly. He'd look to be if not a little confused. After some thought, he'd finally shake his head, with uncertainty. "No. . . Bylun fought. . . Adri." The rat paused, "No. . . I think Viren. Bylun had been training for awhile, carrying extra food when foraging to make himself stronger." Tarik would sigh "I remember he came really close. . ."

"Aidan. . ." the grey rat grew silent, thinking. His expression took on a bit of bewilderment, recalling the stir at Aidan's leave. "S-some thought he fought and lost in private with one of the leaders. . . but no one knew for sure. He just. . . left." His eyes looked back, "I. . . don't think he challenged anyone. He probably would have won if he did. But. . . he was very dedicated, it didn't make sense that he would go, without being exiled. Hunter Gavin took over his status, no one talked about it much."

Licthia leaned in at that, expression attentive. "Ohhhh. . ." she muttered, "a mystery!" She'd stop to consider that, then would smile. "Well if y'lucky, maybe y'll get t'ask Aidan himself. Least from your description, he sounds like the sort who might survive if anyone could." She'd glance down the hill in the direction of Tarik's old den. "I'm guessin he was too cautious t'take advantage of an empty burrow, place like that one was." The mouse was making an effort to be diplomatic here. Otherwise, she would have said this rat had been too clever to nest in such a badly positioned burrow. She didn't want to suggest Tarik had been careless in doing so, but secretly she thought he was. She was a survivor, she never have stayed in such a death trap for long. And evidently this Aidan was a survivor too. He could make a worthy foe.

Tarik's smile returned. It would be nice to ask Aidan about that. Actually, it would be enough to talk to him at all. Or. . . bylun. Or. . . anyone really, that he believed to have died. "I hope so. . ." he'd mutter, and gave a quick nod. "Y-yeah. . . I think he might have. He was very experienced." He'd bring his head down slightly, perhaps wishing he had been so wise. "The. . . the rats Tabatha mentioned. None of those sounded like him." The grey rat sighed, muzzle lifting. "Bylun was a good gatherer, so maybe he'd be ok." Tarik would his head against a paw, clearly tiring at all this thought and emotion. "I think there. . . could be few others. I'm not sure. Kapil was another brown rat. He's shorter, lanky. A gatherer." He'd frown a bit sadly, "Wasn't very happy. . . argued a lot. They would have been gone before Bylun and Aidan. He tried to fight. . . Murat. Might be another hunter I missed. . ."

The mouse would sit silently, listening attentively, repeating the details to herself. Kapil. . .brown rat. . .short langthy gatherer. This was survival information after all. Yes, she was confident of her own abilities, but part of her abilities were never forgetting that anyone could make a mistake, or be unlucky, and she would always be prey. Even a former gatherer might go after a mouse if he saw an opportunity, and knowing their names might allow her to talk her way out of a rat's stomach some day. Bylun. .. .. . albino. . . ..tall. . ... big. . . ..friendly, at least to other rats!. . . Kapil. . . ..short. .. brown. .. . lanky. . .. .gatherer. . ... .didn't sound as friendly. . . And then of course there was Aidan, but was in a class of his own. Aidan she wanted to meet!

"There are. . . advisors too, who don't have to go out as much. The only one I know who tried to start a challenge . . was Vivek." Tarik shook his head, "That's the one Tabatha said. . . riddled with her. None of the mystics ever challenged for position, I don't think, not any recent."

The mouse would smirk at the mention of the mystics. "Why would they?" she asked. "Sounds like they have a good thing going there." Of course she only knew what little Tarik had told her about the mystics, but that had been enough to awaken an amused cynicism in her. She recognized the name of Vivek; like Tarik, Tabatha had told the story of the riddling contest to her too.

"They. . . wouldn't." the rat replied softly. There was little reason for a mystic to even consider the risk. Most wouldn't even have a day's worth of survival experience. They were already respected, given extra food or water should they claim need of it for their. . . gifts. And just as colony leaders, mystics never had to leave safety. A higher title and more responsibility, just didn't seem worth it.

The mouse held her staff in both paws, and pulled it close to her as she thought. After a pause, if it seemed Tarik wasn't about to continue, she'd venture, "There's been somethin I've been meanin t'ask you, ever since you told me about how y'left." She ran a paw over her forehead, furrowing her brow as she remembered. "You said, you and someone else . . .Hunter. .." she inserted as she made an effort to remember, ". . . made a challenge cause y'overheard someone sayin y'leaders foot was lame." She'd pause and think. "Severin." She'd tilt her head, regarding the rat, and gave a half shrug. "Y'think someone might have made that up? T'get some of you to challenge him, so they could get rid of some troublemakers?"

Tarik leaned in, his large beady eyes giving a blink. His ears would soon droop a bit. The subject, of how both he and his close friend were cast out, it. . . had become upsetting to think about. Still, he'd give a short nod, listening close as she continued. At the implication. . . that there may have been foul play, Tarik seemed a little taken back. Surely no one would do such a thing? Not to Hunter. Not to himself. "I. . ." He'd begin to shake his head, though. . . would pause to consider the possibility. As much as the grey rat had valued his family, more-so after being seperated, he knew some were less honest than others. Could it have been a trick? "M-maybe. . ." The rat's muzzle formed to a frown, "Don't know why anyone would. The rumor started from the hunters. I didn't know them as well." His words grew soft, a clawed foot digging into the ground. "It's possible. Some get. . . concerned about status."

"Remember, I'm a mouse, I don't know nothin bout the ways of rats, 'xept what you've told me," Lichtia would reply, giving a small shrug. "Could have just been an innocent mistake. S'just, seems awfully convenient someone would let something like that slip, then it turn out to be not true at all."

The mouse's words were becoming harder to take in for Tarik. He looked to be a little upset at the idea that his friend's death, and his own hardships could have been the result of another's deceit. It was. . . painful to consider. Could others have fell victim to similar acts of betrayal? Wouldn't the ones responsible, be worse than any cat? Finally, he'd remind himself that none of this was certain, and calm. "M-maybe. . . a mistake. . ." he'd repeat "I. . . could try to find out when I get back."

The mouse nodded. She could see the distress this caused the rat, but, the leadership fights of rats didn't interest her all that much, and wouldn't have interested her at all, except for Tarik's exile. She wouldn't have understood Tarik's feeling of betrayal. She didn't understand the leadership fights at all, and as far she knew, everything was fair game. Anyway, it was obviously a rat thing. She'd stretch a little, leaning back. "We done here?" she'd ask. "Think maybe we covered what needed to be covered, maybe go back and keep Jack company."

Tarik took a sigh, "Y-yeah. . . I think so too." He'd get to his feet then, and begin to dust himself off. His thoughts would drift now, to what they had accomplished. It had been hard, sitting through all those descriptions, checking off body after body. They couldn't confirm anyone as being 'alive', but at least there was hope for that now. . . more than he had before. His head lifted slow, eyes lowered. "T-thanks. . . for doing that. For. . . listening to her."

The mouse would smile at that, stoking the earth with her staff. "I gotta admit. .. s'not an experience I'm eager to repeat." She'd sigh. "Livin with Jaabir, I'd venture to say I gotta bigger tolerance for pred-talk than most." She'd lower her eyes. "But hearin Tabatha, speakin about one conquest after another. . .. even though I didn't know any of 'em. . .. it was difficult to listen to." It occurred to her then that for all his horror, she'd never had any trouble listening to Morathi. She wouldn't tell him, but again it seemed the feline had proven there was more to cultivating fear than raw bombast or power. "Still," she'd finish, trying to end on a high not, "s'worth it if we found a few of your friends who might still be alive."

Raising his muzzle, the grey rat peered back. He'd seem tired, the grim conversation having drained him. And yet, he'd return her smile, walking nearer as she spoke. The mentions of Tabatha and her 'conquests', brought his ears to lower. Tarik had heard of only four 'hunts' from the feline herself, and the words still carried in his mind. "I. . . c-couldn't have done it. . ." he'd mutter. When Lichthia gave her final mention, he'd relax as before, coming just beside her. "Yeah. . . it would be." The rat knew getting his hopes up wasn't best, but he just couldn't help be think it true. . . . that at least one other had survived.

The mouse's paws were both on her staff as she leaned forward. She wasn't exactly tired, but it had been. . . draining. There was still light out, but the sun was burning read on the horizon. "Tarik," she said softly, gripping the staff and looking up at the rat. "Y'think y'could go back, keep Jack company?" she'd ask. "Think I'll fetch some water. I. . ." She'd take a breath. "I kinda feel like I need a little time t'be alone, t'clear my head." She asked, a little bashful; if anyone deserved time alone it was the rat after all. But still. . .. "I promise I won't be long, n'I won't go far."

Tarik would be looking toward the closed burrow. It was strange to find peace there, in the home of this mouse. The well enclosed shelter. The bags of food laid near by. The soft comforting rabbit fur bedding. The soft comforting. . . rabbit. It all provided a sense of security. And though not acknowledged, the heavy scent of 'prey' brought delight to his more. . . predatory instincts. At the mention of his name, the rat peered back. "O-oh. . ." He'd look to frown some. It wasn't that he felt offended, but more that he felt concern. When possible, he liked to accompany her. A short walk through, before the sun fades. . . would at least be considerably less dangerous than the mouse's other ventures. "That's. . . that's fine." He'd force a light smile and nod, beginning to head inside. "I'll. . . go check on Jack then. . ."

The mouse would smile and put a paw on the rat's shoulder. She felt his concern through his frown and was touched. It was funny how things had changed, barely a week ago he had tried to make a meal of her, and she'd tried to feed him to her snake. "I won't go far, and I won't be long," she said softly, before picking up her staff, pushing herself up, and walking off. Indeed, she'd barely go ten steps before she knelt down again, and looked out through a break in the foliage down the hill to the forests below. She wasn't even sure why she needed the time alone. Well, the meeting with the cat had been tiring, but normally the fuzzy bunny in the burrow was her refuge from the predatory side of her life. She just felt she needed a few minutes. Alone.