085 The Irritable Sneetch

Western Norsem Plain
Horsehoof Highlands

The battle atop the walls of Highcourt City had swiftly reached its fevered pitch. Wave after wave of human warriors scaled the ramparts, while the Black Banner Army stationed above clung to their posts with unwavering resolve.

In scarcely twenty minutes, casualties soared on both sides. At the central tower upon the wall, the ground was littered with the bodies of ratfolk and human fighters alike, leaving not a single inch to stand upon. In this war of survival between races, there was no room for morality—only death or triumph.

One-Eyed Sneetch and his adjutant, Hank, pressed together, faced a relentless assault from the human soldiers and refused to retreat. The two ratfolk were soaked entirely in blood, their weapons breaking one after another in their hands.

Human soldiers continued to scale the walls in waves, and the ratfolk reserves rushed to bolster their numbers.

On Century Avenue, Victor led a group of newly recruited reserve warriors, gripping their weapons as they charged toward the tower in support.

“Stay alert!”
“Follow me—charge!”
A thunderous shout.

Squad after squad of ratfolk fighters followed Victor toward the wall. Though young, Victor’s reputation among the ratfolk was surpassed only by Old Sha; he was famed for his iron-blooded leadership. His renown was not simply due to his role in the tribe’s administration, nor his command of law and justice, but because whenever adversity struck, he was always the first to lead the charge—a fact known to all.

Victor’s reserves were not alone in rushing to the wall; even the six sisters of Old Sha’s family joined the fray. These young ratfolk women, under Dean Britney’s guidance, carried stretchers to the frontlines.

Their two-week internship at the infirmary had forced these pampered girls to confront the true brutality of life. Lucy’s hands were blistered from toil; her third sister, Vera, was so exhausted she nearly fainted. Only by enduring twelve-hour days could they erect a functioning field hospital.

Two thousand beds, over a hundred stretchers—all deployed as soon as the fighting began.

“Faster, girls! Hurry!”
“The warriors on the front need you!”
“Their lives are in your hands now—even a second faster could save one!”

Dean Britney barked in her raspy voice.

Behind her, Lucy and Vera, one in front of the other, carried a stretcher toward the wall.

“Sister, I feel dizzy—I want to vomit!”

Lucy’s face was pale as death; the distance from the wall where the armies clashed to the city gate was a full three kilometers. For the six sisters, unaccustomed to any physical exertion, it was a daunting task.

“Hold on, little sister!”
“It’s just psychological—breathe deeply and relax. Don’t be nervous.”

Vera comforted Lucy, though she herself was near her limit. With her younger sister relying on her, she refused to collapse, no matter what.

On the wall, Karl led a contingent of ratfolk soldiers from the northern ramparts to reinforce the central tower.

“Follow me—charge!”
“Slaughter every human!”

Karl, Edward, and Francis marched side by side with their warriors toward the center. From afar, they could see One-Eyed Sneetch, fighting fiercely among the humans.

Adjutant Hank had long since spent his strength, propping himself up with his weapon. Sneetch stood before him, gripping a thrusting spear in both hands, crossing his arms behind his body, then with a surge of force, smashed down.

Both spears snapped. He spun, driving the broken shafts into the throats of the enemy. Under Victor’s leadership, the reserve warriors stormed the tower and thrust the two human fighters from the wall.

“I’m late!” Victor said apologetically; on the first day of battle, the enemy’s assault was far fiercer than expected.

“You’re right on time!”
“Let your reserves take over the defense—my men need rest!”
“No problem!”

With Victor’s reinforcements, the perilous defensive line was finally held, and the human charge repelled once more.

Sneetch strode to Hank’s side and roared:

“Someone, take him below!”

“I’m fine! I can still fight!”
Hank forced himself upright, stubbornly insisting.

Sneetch said nothing, instead placing his left hand on Hank's shoulder. Suddenly, his right fist flashed and struck Hank’s abdomen, causing the latter to curl up on the ground.

“You’re not fit to fight now!”

War was not a hunt—there was no room for sentiment. Sneetch had no patience for words; taciturn by nature, his actions always spoke louder than anything else. In recent days, he had spoken more than in the entire previous year.

“Medic!”
“Here—over here!”
Vera and Lucy, faces still childlike, rushed forward, panting, their formerly delicate features now smeared with grime.

“Get him to the hospital! If anything happens, I’ll skin you—understand?”

Sneetch’s face was streaked with blood, making his already intimidating appearance even more terrifying.

“Un...understood...”

“Louder! Are you mute?”
In the face of war, Sneetch, as the acting supreme commander, cared nothing for anyone’s background—he treated all equally.

“Understood!”
“Take him and go—now!”
“Understood!”

Lucy and Vera, for the first time atop the wall, stared at the endless swath of corpses, their faces pale as ghosts. Accustomed to a life of plenty, they had never seen such a hellscape.

Lucy retched loudly, vomiting on the spot...

“Are you damn well up to it or not? Move faster!”

Sneetch’s roar startled the two ratfolk so badly they nearly stumbled. In a panic, and with Sneetch’s help, they managed to get Hank onto the stretcher.

Lucy’s eyes were red; never in her life had she suffered such humiliation, and she said not a word.

...

Five minutes later, Karl led his warriors from the north to the central city gate.

“We’re here to reinforce!”

Karl was panting, his body covered in blood, proof of the peril of his journey.

“Who the hell told you to leave your post?”
Sneetch, upon seeing Karl, strode up and gripped his shoulder.

Karl was bewildered, unsure what he had done wrong...

“I just saw the situation here was critical...”
“I asked you, who told you to leave your post? Don’t give me that crap!”

Edward, behind Karl, scowled and reached for his weapon, but Francis quickly stopped him...

Sneetch showed no mercy, baring his two large yellow teeth as he roared at Karl.

“I told you to guard the north wall, not to run around!”
“If your actions cause the north wall to fall, can you take responsibility?”
“Get back to where you came from!”

“Understood!”

“Move! All of you, back with me!”

Karl’s own anger simmered, his thoughts still muddled as he led his warriors away.

He could not comprehend why the usually silent Sneetch was so furious today!

Watching Karl’s retreating figure, Sneetch’s mood gradually settled. These young ratfolk could not understand, nor ever feel, the burden Sneetch carried—a pressure so great it was nearly crushing him.

Looking back on the history of our party, those distinguished commanders, when they achieved glory, the bones of thousands lay beneath them. Yet not one had failed to shoulder unimaginable burdens, enduring pressures ordinary people could never fathom.

It was their sacrifices that made our peaceful life today possible.

...