Bab 319: 319

The ratman who had opened the door stood at attention, giving a quick nod before taking his own place at the table. He was younger than the rest, his fur cleaner, and his eyes sharper, but his posture was rigid with the weight of responsibility.

The female leader, Por, gestured for them to begin. Her eyes flicked toward the oldest of the ratmen, a grizzled elder whose fur had turned almost completely white with age. He cleared his throat before speaking, his voice rasping from years spent in the tunnels.

"The hunts today were successful," he began, tapping his claws against the stone table. "Four teams went topside. Three returned with prey—boar, deer, and even a bear. The fourth team encountered a pack of dire wolves. They managed to kill two, but we lost two of our own in the process. The rest of the team is being treated in the infirmary."