The Elf will go try talking to the rats, in case that works at all.

They flee again but just after that - Very, very faintly, more in impressions and sensations than anything like words, but just possible to interpret if you are specifically listening, not immune to mind effects, and strain-

Twoleg sniffing again. Danger? Don't know. Trade? Twoleg did not trade before. Vote do? Watch/Observe/Caution/Wait/Hide/Listen.

Trade? inquires the Elf.

There's hushed rat-conversation, and then a clearer and easier to hear- Small lives in hidden places, safe from cat and hawk. Twolegs have never talked to us. We are hungry lately. We have learned an old secret of the dragons. We make the Boom. Strong Fire-essence within, ready to burn. A good distraction, a good weapon. Boom is useful. More useful than food to a big twolegs?

Maybe. There is a spoken conversation, and the demon gives the Elf a dinner roll. Please do not Boom anything right now, but I would like it if you told me more about it.

We will Boom if you hunt us. The secret of making the Boom is worth very much.

Hit it hard and it Boom. Throw it and Boom. Want it to burn and Boom. We are one and many. One uses the Boom to save many if we must.

We are not here to hunt you, says the Elf. She puts the dinner roll down where they can get it.

What is that food trade for? We don't trust twolegs. You are friends with the cats. We think you are tricking us.

This is trade for what you told me about the Boom, she replies. I have not met any cats here.

A bunch of rats come out and start tearing up the roll, taking it back into their crevices.

You quieted the angry things. You make food from nowhere. You talk to us. All these things have never happened before.

We're not from this planet.

Do you desire secrets? Secrets for more food?

Yes, we can keep giving you food for secrets.

What secrets interest twolegs? Places to get food and water? The things that happened here? The ways of we rats? What we sneak and see of other beings?

We'd love to learn more about the ways of you rats.

The rat clans are not a proud people. Pride is foolishness. We live half-blind in the dark, always hungry and always searching. We are one and many - what one of us knows, we all know, linked by the essence and spirit of our Love. What one of us decides, we all decide, a family that knows each other better than ourselves. Though we are small, we are careful and observant and clever. No trick or distraction is beneath us. We use the small paths others cannot access, we use our secrets, we use our numbers, we use even our teeth and paws if we must. Hunted by cat and hawk and hunger, the rats yet survive.

Are there other rat families, separate from you?

There are many clans, each with their own secrets and scents, yes. We share a kinship with them, though less than the furbound bonds of family.

Are there rats who are not in clans?

Yes; They are lost and confused without a family. Food?

Food. Can they join a family? Or have babies who are in a family?

Food!

This does not seem impossible, but we have never done it. Never in our memory had we too much food and too few bodies and no fear for the future changing and found such pitiful things, such that we would take in strange rats.

If one of you traveled very far from the others, what would happen?

A horrible fate. They would be lost, lesser, frightened and vulnerable.

Do you have any stories about a time when all rats were alone?