Sorry it took so long to upload this. Life got in the way.

Rossa was again working on her straw blanket. Justin had been taken by the guards, and hadn't yet come back. She sighed; feeling her heart pound in her chest, thinking of what she longed to do with him. She hadn't known what she'd felt for him until she'd dreamt of their first kiss, how it had been full of a passion she'd missed dearly, a feeling she'd longed for since her husband's death.

But is it wrong for me to feel this way? She had been asking herself the question since she'd recognized her true feelings for him, knowing some would say she was betraying her husband's memory by falling in love a second time. And it wasn't just that. Justin, kind as he was, was a different species, with genes she most likely would never have. He was more intelligent, and would live far longer and, like Jonathan, there was something about him she feared. But she didn't think too deeply about it, knowing the same fact was what allowed him to protect her.

She looked up when the door slammed open, eyes widening when she saw her friend bound, his arms held behind him by a pair of burly black guards. One of them let his eye drift to the mouse, lips curling in a nasty smile. Justin caught the look, struggling fiercely, eventually breaking the ropes that held him. He moved like lightning, smashing one upside the head, knocking him down, turning to the other. This guard was bigger than him, but the difference wasn't much, just enough that it made beating his tail all the more satisfying. They exchanged blows for several minutes, Justin getting little more than a bruised hide, eventually knocking the soldier back into the hall. His partner had risen while the fight went on, slamming the cell door before worse damage could be inflicted. Justin turned, hardly panting, moving to sit by the fire as though nothing had happened. The anger faded from his eyes the moment they fell upon Rossa's blushing face.

"I've never seen you like that before," she managed, going back to her weaving. He shrugged.

"I've never had to act that way," he said, running a hand through his hair. Like hers, it had grown greatly in their time of imprisonment, nearly reaching his shoulders. He then began staring into the fire, watching the flames crackle and dance as they licked at the wood that fed them. He pushed a few strands from his face as he thought of what was going on, why they had been stolen from their homes at such a crucial time, what their captor had in mind.

"They're going to kill us, aren't they?" Rossa had set her blanket aside, moving closer, resting her head on his firm shoulder.

"I couldn't say," he whispered, shaking his head. He had the feeling they were planning something of the sort, knowing it was only a matter of time before the plan came to fruition. He sighed, letting his arm fall around her, holding her tightly to his side. She smiled, running her nails softly down his chest. His muscles were taut.

"You're very tense," she hissed in his ear. Her voice was almost seductive. He lifted a brow, the ends of his mouth moving up. She moved in front of him, hands clasped on his neck, her lips slightly open as though waiting for something. They closed their eyes, and kissed. Rossa loosened the rope holding his burlap shirt closed, undoing the small knot at her throat. Her fingers moved through his dark fur, pushing aside the torn cloth, uttering a small moan as he moved to his back, soon discarding the filthy garment. Rossa pulled away to catch her breath, looking deeply in his eyes, dark and passionate like a deep ocean. He pushed the cape slowly from her back, saying nothing, claws becoming entangled in her soft hair. Any words she may have had were burned by the heat of his lips.

"We shouldn't be doing this," he hissed, moving so their positions were switched. His breath caressed her like a loving fog. She giggled.

"There's no one to see us," she gripped his shoulders, pulling his body down to hers. She could feel his skin throbbing, his heart pounding, every inch full of vibrant life. The bits of straw cut her back, but she cared little for the pain, giving herself over to pleasure. The dream that had comforted her so many nights was finally coming true.

"Tell me if I hurt you," he hissed. She made no sound when he entered, but he could feel her walls tighten. He went slowly, though his body begged for warmth, doing his best to ignore the rush that had formed in his veins.

"I love you," he could barely hear the words, leaning down to kiss her. This one grew deep, lasting despite their heavy breaths. He pulled slightly away, his eyes locked with hers, feeling her nails dig into the skin where his neck and shoulder met, groaning when he could go no further. Her body tightened further, begging his release, tears welling at the very corners of her wide, beautiful eyes. He lifted one claw to wipe them away, letting go of his offering little by little, until at last his well was empty, his voice ragged as he let his body fall beside hers.

"I love you," he gripped her hand, letting his arm drift across her, pulling her close. She buried her face in his warm chest, feeling sweat coat her lips, her body aching from what they'd just done. He reached over, grasping her unfinished blanket, bringing it across their naked bodies, hiding them from the chill that swirled in the air. In mere minutes they were asleep, content in the depths of hell.

(****)

Ages and the children were en route to Thorn Valley, after hearing about Timothy's visions regarding his mother, and perhaps the very future of their kind. Jeremy the crow carried them easily, flying swiftly over the forest, past the river, continuing to the black mountains that loomed in the distance, the result of a massive prehistoric climate shift. They were there thirty minutes after taking off, the crow landing perfectly when he reached the valley's blooming fields. The rats scattered about moved closer, asking questions, shocked when they were informed.

"Is mommy here?" said Cynthia. The child was hiding behind her eldest brother, frightened by the creatures surrounding her. One of them, dressed in a blue and white guard's uniform, moved to the front, kneeling to the childrens' level.

"I'm afraid she isn't," he said gently, trying not to scare her further. Still kneeling, he turned to the mouse that had accompanied the four. "Anything, Ages?"

"T-That's why we're here," said Timothy. He stepped in front of the aging mouse. "I think I know where my mother is…and Justin too."

"Impossible," the rat said at first, then looked unsure. He rose to his feet, looking back into the crowd. A lovely girl with black and white fur stepped to the front, looking worried. She brought the other three children along with her, leaving Timothy and Ages with Carlos, who gripped her hand tightly as she passed. She smiled, blushing before moving on. He watched as she vanished inside the cliffs, turning back to the juvenile and aging doctor. "What did you see?"

"It was a cave," began Timothy, turning to point to the mountains. "A really big cave deep in the woods."

"Anything else?" asked Carlos. Timothy nodded.

"There's a tree by the mouth," the boy continued. "It's split, surrounded by dead branches and leaves, guarded by…"

"By what?"

Tim shook his head. "I can't describe them," he said. "But they're big…huge, and…" he trailed off again.

"What's wrong?" Timothy shivered.

"Whoever took them," he said. "He wants to kill them…"

(****)

Teresa stared out the window, wiping a tear from her eye. The sun was setting. She had her sister had been left with Isabella, while her brothers stayed with Carlos. She had no idea what the boys were planning, but felt scared all the same. She turned away at a small sigh, seeing her sister lounge in the rat's arms.

"Why are they doing this?" she asked the dirt wall. "Why?"

Izzy shook her head, unable to answer. She'd been watching the girls for hours, barely hiding her curiosity. "Whatever's going on," she said at last, but didn't finish the thought. She rose with the sleeping toddler still in her arms, drifting silently off to her spare bedroom. Two small beds had been delivered earlier that day, so the Brisby children would have a comfortable place to rest in their new environment. Teresa followed her, watching as her sister was placed beneath the dark red sheets.

"They look almost like blood," she hissed without thinking. Izzy nodded.

"They do, don't they?" she finished tucking the young mouse in, then glanced at Teresa. "You're not ready to go to bed yet, are you?"

"No," Teresa shook her head. "I couldn't sleep anyway."

Izzy smiled, bringing her to the couch. "I know you're scared," she said as the mouse climbed up. "But you don't have to be."

"Why not?"

Izzy smiled. "Because Justin's with her," she gripped the younger girl's hand. "And he wouldn't let anything happen to her."

Teresa shrugged. "How can you be so sure?"

Here the rat blushed, lowering her voice. "Because…he loves her."

Teresa sat stunned, then burst out laughing. "No way," she said at last, barely keeping her voice low. "Are you serious?"

Izzy nodded. "He really does love her."

"How do you know?"

"I could tell by the way he looked at her, and how he acted around her. He's never been that way before."

Teresa sat back, trying to imagine it. The leader of the Rats of NIMH was in love with her mother? "How does my mom feel?"

Izzy looked around, still blushing. "Don't tell anyone I told you this, but…" she leaned closer. "I saw them kiss."

The mouse felt her jaw drop. "What…when?"

"Right before they disappeared," Izzy explained how she'd followed Justin after he'd left the bush, watching from the tall grass as he spoke with Mrs. Brisby. After a few minutes he'd taken her to a different spot, where she'd started crying about his having to leave. He wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her. "I left after that. I don't know what happened next."

"Well something abducted them," said Teresa, burying her face in her hands. She shivered. "And from what I've heard, Justin's the only one who can save her."