Chapter 21

Roan kept his promise to Mel. While relaxing together was nice, Roan didn’t let them stay long, telling Cylthan that if they didn’t go soon, the cafeteria would be full and loud.

After offering her a pastry with a creamy center, he gathered up a full meal on a couple of trays and carried them to a table with glowing inscriptions etched into the wood. Cylthan watched curiously as Roan put down the trays and placed his hands flat on the table. In a brilliant flash, the food vanished.

He noticed Cylthan’s curious expression as he turned, and tilted his head with a smirk. “Did you think I carried all that food from last night on my own?”

Peering at him, she looked away and pressed her lips a little in embarrassment. “Oh, uhhh, I ... didn’t really think about it.”

Nodding unconvinced, he led the way back to his room. Sure enough, the trays of food sat on his table exactly as he had placed them ... and Chencer was already helping himself while Zeffel squeaked ceaselessly in protest. Upon seeing Roan enter, she turned and scurried to his feet, sat upright, and began an entire transcript of the other rat’s transgressions. It brought a smile to his face and he placed his hands on his hips.

“Is that right?” he replied with fond sarcasm. “It’s been six years and you expect him to be any different? Did he at least wash his paws?”

This caused another explosion of chitters and squeaks, Zeffel’s paws moving all about as though she was explaining in detail something that was very clear to her.

Cylthan could hold it in no longer and burst into a fit of giggles. “She’s so adorable! Do you understand her?”

Hearing her laugh, it felt infectious, and Roan grinned with a chuckle. “Not entirely, but I do get the general idea. This is really a job for Silver Eye.”

And just like that, Cylthan had no warning, not even the chance to blink. By the time she squeezed her eyes closed to avoid the flash, the light was gone and the enormous rat stood there, looking down on Zeffel. She squeaked loudly with joy and stretched up to nuzzle their long noses together.

Just as they finished their greeting, more squeaks and chitters filled the quiet and rats appeared from all around– from under furniture, atop the book shelf and from nooks and crannies Cylthan had never noticed. They swarmed around Silver Eye, even climbing up his fur to sit on his back, with a great chorus of squeaks, trills, bruxxing and chitters. It took a few moments, but he eventually greeted every rat until only Chencer was left, still munching on a buttery roll.