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Ratau had always been one for company.
Even growing up he was always orbiting around his small friend group or his older brother - Ratoo. So when he was eventually left to fend for himself alone in the hut his father had left him, he wasn't thrilled. Sure, his friends would drop by and play a few games of Knucklebones but other than that...he was in solitude.
You could only imagine the swelling in his heart when he was finally entrusted with mentoring the new red crown bearer; Lamb. He could still remember the first time he laid his eye upon him. A sheep with blood stained wool and eyes dripping with fear. Now, Ratau had never fathered a pup of his own, but once he had the young sheep safe and sound at his old cult compound, the sudden rush of instinct to protect this young lamb flushed over his body like warm water. It wasn't an unwelcome feeling. Not by a long shot.
"Ratau?"
The rat blinked out of his memories of just weeks ago, claws digging into his wooden staff in surprise, "Yes, young lamb?"
Lamb smiled almost blindingly. Ratau couldn't help to mirror it halfway.
"I didn't mean to interrupt but..." Lamb grabbed the satchel that was slung around his body and flipped it open, showing off the berries and mushrooms he'd foraged, "I got some extra food for the stew tonight!"
Ratau chuckled under his breath when he saw the sheep's small tail begin to wave excitedly. The rat nodded in approval.
"Thanks kiddo. Go ahead and throw it in the mix."
Lamb happily did so, Ratau watching with pride growing in his chest.
Weeks later, Ratau had come down with something akin to the common cold. And Lamb, being Lamb, had taken temporary leave from leading the cult to be there for him. It was sweet; having someone care enough to put everything down for him. However, he also couldn't help but to worry about the state of Lamb's cult without his presence.
"Kid..I really think you should...go home." Ratau spoke with a rattling chest and stuffy nose. Lamb struck the thought down immediately, shaking his head and sitting on the stool he'd scooted over to Ratau's bedside. Lamb hummed as he felt the back of his paw against the elder's forehead.
"You're not too warm. The medicine must be doin' its job!" He snickered, tucking the comforter tighter around Ratau without much resistance. Knowing when he's defeated, Ratau sighed. He rolled onto his side and yawned, burrowing his face further down into his comforter, drinking in the smell of home. The rat fell into slumber knowing that his trainee would be there when he awoke.
He'd be back up on his feet the next day thanks to the charity of his young lamb friend. Sure, it was a bummer he was left alone once again while Lamb tended to the cult miles away, but the voice in the back of his head nipped lonely thoughts away with the reminder of Lamb's promise of visiting at least every week if not every other. However, the next visit was something the old rat wasn't ready for in the slightest. Lamb stumbled into the light with a paw firmly gripped into his chest, red and black staining once snow white wool. Ratau could only remember back to when he first found him once more after his decapitation followed by an unholy resurrection given to him by The One Who Waits.
Lamb fell down to one knee with a grunt, the eldritch sword he held in his free hand being speared through the earth to be his crutch. Ratau wasted no time, moving the fastest he had in years.
"Kid! What in the hell happened?!" He shouted shakily, dropping his staff and taking Lamb's paling face into his paws. Lamb opened his mouth to respond but was left coughing up blood mixed phlegm onto Ratau's shirt. The latter didn't flinch.
"I...One of H-Heket's...Heket's followers got m...me pretty g-good." Lamb panted, grip on his sword becoming weak. The old rat gently wrapped his arms around the younger, newfound strength giving him the ability to lift him up and prop him up on his shoulder. He couldn't lie, it probably wasn't the most comfortable position for someone potentially bleeding out but he didn't trust himself enough to move Lamb around to get him in a bridal hold without the poor kid losing half of his blood supply. As quick as his brittle body would let him, he raced into his shack. Ratau took great care in placing Lamb down into his own messy bed. He was about to leave his side to fetch some of his spare medical supplies from his old cult days when blood stained paws hurriedly latched to Ratau's fur.
"D-d...please don't go Dad. I don't want to go p-please."
Oh? What was that noise?
Ah, yes, the sound of his heart shattering.
"It's ok kid. You're okay, I'm not goin' anywhere, you hear?" Ratau ran his hand through the wool between Lamb's horns with a nervous laugh. Lamb seemed to be put at ease with just a few words out of his mentor's mouth, empty eyes beginning to close from exertion and exhaustion.
"Need not worry son. I won't ever leave your side."
Weeks passed since then and Lamb’s wound had patched itself together in a few days thanks to the power of the Red Crown. Long, worrying days that Ratau swore gave him a clutch of gray hairs at the tips of his chipped ears. Lamb had gone back to the compound to resume his cult leader duties and Ratau had remained at his shack.
But no longer did he feel like he lived in complete solitude.
"Daaaaad!"
Ratau's fur fluffed out instantly, that warm feeling wrapping around him like a blanket once more. He poked his head outside of his shack to come face to face with Lamb. He had been visiting more often now, usually at dusk.
"Hey there sport," Ratau held the door wide open. "All is well?"
Lamb pranced in with his golden bell chiming with each step, taking his usual spot on the stool next to Ratau's desk.
"Just got done exploring the beginnings of the Silk Cradle. Forgot how sticky spider webs are." Lamb picked at the wool on his shoulder and pulled back the remains of a silk web. He sneered and shook his paw wildly, making Ratau suppress a small laugh.
"The spider's domain is a sticky one indeed."
The night went smooth as most did; Lamb and Ratau playing a few games of Knucklebones over a mixed vegetable delight that Ratau had spent the whole day perfecting. But of course, all good things must come to an end. The night was growing cold and the moon was hanging high. It signaled the time for Lamb's departure. They cleaned up dinner as a pair and soon found themselves standing outside, wind biting at Ratau's sensitive nose. He flexed his whiskers and sighed, a smile still remaining on his face.
"Now, you remember what I told you?"
Lamb rolled his eyes and sighed, "Yeaaah yeaah, brush my wool and clean my paws. I got the whole thing memorized."
The old rat grinned ear to ear, "Ah, but you forget the last one."
Lamb tilted his head.
"You must always remember...I love you, my son."
The sheep's ears flattened, his smile matching Ratau's, "I love you too Dad. Don't stay up late."
Watching Lamb leave left a pang in his old man heart. A feeling of wanting to take the kid away from the madness that surrounded the cult. A feeling to hold onto him and never let go so nobody could ever hurt him again. But that was wishful thinking.
However, he wouldn't have traded anything in the world for the bond they both shared thanks to the crown of death.
For he had no longer felt the longing of company knowing his son was always a burrow away.