The sunset turned the glade purple, where Cluny the Scourge warriors' tents were pitched. Shades became longer, smoke from campfires wreathed in the air – Cluny's soldiers were cooking their diner. Hoarse orders hung in the evening silence, it was about to get dark, and attack maneuvers on the squirrels' fortress also supported by the mice were over. All the camp except for the guards was getting ready to sleep. Cluny entered his tent and sat at the table piled up with papers showing black plans of different attacks. Generally Cluny was not in bad mood, he was quite satisfied with the maneuvers, though some of his soldiers demonstrated miracles of idiotism. So far everything had been right, he had to just think over further actions a little bit, and then he would enjoy the victory. Cluny took a sip of barley-broth and leaned back on the chair. Cluny the Scourge had many victories and no defeats! He smirked and looked at the ferret's scull hanging on a long stick. "So, Brog, now you look at me down as you always wanted!" Cluny laughed himself at his evil joke. Cluny was a war god! Nobody could stop Cluny!

"Master!"

Fangburn and Cheesethief appeared in the doorway.

"What else?" Cluny said angrily. They were here again to complain about each other. Good mood started to fade away like smoke fades in the wind.

"Master, look whom we've caught for you!"

His subordinates' dirty smirks intrigued Cluny. Was it somebody from the fortress? But rats started to jabber interrupting each other.

"A ratty!"

"A pretty one!"

"A little one!"

"Just for you!"

"A cute one, but she fights like hell, it was difficult to catch her!"

"Wanna have a look?!"

Cluny put his barley-broth on the table. It was getting interesting. His subordinates weren't used to catch ratties often. It was interesting, damn interesting!

"Where is she?"

"We've locked her in the barn, former armory."

Cluny got up and smirked.

"Let's visit our guest!"

His words sank in loud roar.

Approaching the barn Cluny swore heavily. Toilet talk sounded from the barn, even Cluny was sick to hear it. Besides, the one imprisoned in the barn was battering at the door so heavily that it could be heard miles away.

"Are you, idiots, sure she is pretty?" Cluny addressed his subordinates who became visibly gloomy. "I don't rely a lot on you taste!"

He waved his paw giving order not to reply as it was too late for excuses as far as he was already there and was to come in.

Cluny could be fearsome. He was amused seeing reaction of different animals peaceful and not on his appearance. They normally balled and started to answer his questions with voice trembling from fear. His huge height suppressed their will; his bossy voice left no possibility to resist. Soon everybody would grovel at Cluny the Scourge's feet!

Cluny swung open the door with a kick and barked:

"You shut up!"

Silence hung in the barn and Cluny managed to distinguish the ratty in the deceptive light of the fires. She was small, almost up to his waist, with a pointed snout and round eyes. She was all dirty, but it was visible that she was wearing a mini skirt, high boots and undervest with something written on it, but the dirt covered the signature. Her fur was grey and awry. She looked a lot like a gob. Casting a measuring look on her Cluny looked her in the eyes having no doubt to see fear there.

However, there was an unpleasant surprise for him. Her eyes grew bigger, but there was not a bit of fear. Blast his only eye, she was looking at him with admiration and adoration! Hardly did Cluny manage his astonishment when he heard her speaking. She stumbled but not from terror, though from excitement as if she saw her dream and was afraid that it would disappear at once.

"Could it be you?.. The famous, fearless, magnificent, mighty warrior… Cluny the Scourge? What a luck and honor for me to see you!"

The ratty bridged her paws on the breast and gave a broad smile to Cluny. Damn it, she was almost jumping for joy that she had met him! Cluny frowned. He had never seen such reaction before, it was strange and awkward. Trying to bring the situation back to the predictable track Cluny sat in the chair prepared for him.

Meanwhile the ratty started to talk more confidently:

"I am your devotee! Look, my shirt says: "I love Cluny". I'm writing a book about you called "A Great Warlord", I collect your favorite swear words and have learned to draw your portraits!.."

Not to finally lose control Cluny commanded:

"On your knees!"

Hell's teeth, he'd better not said it! The ratty got on his knees with a delightful shriek and grasped his clothes so heavily that he hardly shook her off. Giving the small insolent ratty a fearful look he rushed out of the barn, slammed the door and quickly turned the key in the lock. He could not explain her behavior, and he felt uneasy. It was easy to deal with those who hated you or were afraid of you, but what to do with the one crazy about you? A question from Fangburn interrupted his thoughts:

"So? Is she your type?"

Cluny looked back and Fangburn's smirk faded from his snout.

"Let my tail fall off if she's my type! This little nasty crazy thing! You're an idiot to ask me such questions!"

Fangburn scratched his head and said:

"Well, we will stab her and that's that, don't worry, master!"

"No!" Cluny was surprised at his own reply and at the idea that if the ratty would be killed he felt sick. Then he thought it was funny to have somebody like this around, until he was bored with it. Why killing her now? She intrigued Cluny and he wanted to know her better, there was nothing to do, now the fortress was under the siege, attack was at a distant date, maneuvers were going well, why not playing with a living toy?

"Unlock her, and tell her to cook and tidy my tent!"

Cluny headed for his tent, but the ratty's voice sounded in his head…

As Cluny entered his tent he got angry noticing that Redtooth had tried his food when he was out. A mean thing! Did he really think Cluny was so stupid not to notice that his deputy had tried his food? Sometimes Cluny really marveled at his subordinates' intelligence. Deceiving Cluny was impossible. It was as impossible as to beat Cluny. You should get your head around it to reach old age. Cluny sat down on his bed and scratched his head. He could not kill Redtooth now, he needed him for the time being, Cluny could not just give him a good telling-off for the boldness, there would be rumors that Cluny softened. Should he beat Redtooth? It would be useless… Having cursed Cluny cast the food fouled by Redtooth away from his tent and got to bed. Wouldn't this damned mouse in hoody appear in his dream! It was better to think something else, then she wouldn't appear.

Falling asleep Cluny engineered different traps for the ratty. She was so passionate persuading him that she loved him, so he would check it. Eventually all animals were the same. Everybody was striving for power and ready to stab him in the back. No matter weak or strong, young or old, and even good or evil, everyone would finally betray him, if he went soft. Cluny knew it, he himself employed betrayers many times, and there were so many attempts to betray him. And the ratty was the same. It was funny to rule situations knowing beforehand how animals would act. It was like playing a game, and other animals were action figures. And him, Cluny the Scourge was standing above them all and moving them the way he wanted, and when he was bothered with somebody, he would throw him away. He fell asleep with these thought.