"The Okiba Gang! Night-cursed thieves and assassins! I've had enough of their meddling! Triple the guard!"
—Marrow-Gnawer
Magic the Gathering, Betrayers of Kamigawa, flavor text from Nezumi Shadow-Watcher
The nezumi shivered and pulled his ragged cloak tighter against the night's chill. He hated guard duty, especially at night in the coldest days of winter. The air was disturbingly still, and the only sounds were the occasional burbling of the swamp and his own breathing. He flicked his tail in annoyance as he stared out into the darkness. Why did those damn ninjas have to be most active in the winter?
The rat stifled a yawn and tightened his grip on his spear. He hoped something would show up tonight to end the monotony, be it Okiba Gang or otherwise. He might have even welcomed the arrival of Horobi, but in truth the kami of death and decay was the last thing anyone wanted appearing on their watch. Thankfully he only came to the smell of blood, or at least that is what all the stories said.
A subtle in the brush movement caught his anxious eye, and the rat focused his gaze on that spot. At first he saw nothing, and then something stepped forwards into his vision. A female of his kind, masked and garbed in rough black leather, a blood-stained Kama clutched in each hand. He stood and brought his spear to bear as he recognized what she was; an Okiba Gang ninja.
She glared at him from behind her leather mask, her ears and nose twitching as she sized him up. The smaller nezumi snarled in response, flattening his own ears back against his bristling neck and twisting his claws around the haft of his spear. For a moment both were motionless, but then the ninja charged, springing forwards with her kamas raised above her head. The night-guard shrieked a battle cry and mimicked her move, drawing back his spear. They met in the same instant, spear piercing a gut, kamas slitting a throat. Neither had time to ponder the brevity of their battle, both dead within moments.
Again the night was still and quiet as the two rats lay in a crumpled heap soaked through to the skin by their own blood. Nothing moved, a chill wind blew, and then another form stepped out of the shadows where the now dead ninja had been not a moment before. Another nezumi, another ninja. She turned her blood-red glare towards the two corpses, before sniffing in disdain and slipped past them into the darkness. It may only take one to sound the alarm, but the alarm had not been sounded. There was still a chance for success this night.
