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Bitey is one of Nezumi's true children, one of the babies born to the female upon her return from the Beyond. The litter was treated with some trepidation by the rats in the store, as the father was unknown. Rumors were whispered that Nezumi's litter had been fathered by the spirits themselves.

Of course, none of this was true. In fact, what had really happened was this: Nezumi, prior to being purchased, had been separated and left in a quarantine tank in the back room so that she could be put on hold for her buyer. While she stayed there, a wild rat approached her. He wasn't like any other wild rat Nezumi had met; he clearly had domestic blood in him, likely born from a mother or father that had gone feral in the store.

He found his way inside her cage. The union was brief, as these things usually are with rats.

When Nezumi -- who would only come to be named when she reached the home of the Great Ones -- was discovered to be pregnant, her new owners brought her back to the store and demanded a refund. Thus the great prophet Nezumi returned from The Beyond, gifted with a true name, and bearing a litter of pups.

Nezumi never decided to share this story with anyone, and the origin of her pups remained a mystery that she took to her grave.

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Bitey, for her part, never truly felt that she was Nezumi's daughter. She loved her mother and siblings well enough, but she always felt a stirring in her heart that made her feel as though there was a life outside that she was meant to lead. She was wary and distrustful of the Great Ones, with a tendency to n** at hands that came toward her.

When Nezumi died and the great water came, Bitey found the stir of instinct rise within her; the spirits whispered in her ear and told her what she must do. She must step up to become the alpha that her companions needed...and finally realize the purpose she had been born to assume.


Although Bitey has always been nippy toward humans, she's actually quite kind to fellow rats. Confident and fair, she rules her colony with a firm, but compassionate, paw. Rats in her colony are expected to do their part and earn their keep; she doesn't believe in giving hand-outs. She also has no tolerance for upstarts or rebellions, believing them to be a danger to the sanctity of her colony. She doesn't hesitate to put a rat in his place if he deserves it.

Other rats may have domestic lineage, but Ukeshu is 100% wild, and proud of it. He overthrew the old alpha by force, and through the strength of his teeth and claws he was able to conquer the myriad of wild colonies throughout the burrows under the store. He united them all under his banner and ruled with an iron paw.

Ukeshu always kept an eye on the domestic rat colonies, distrusting them entirely. Rarely, a domestic rat would go feral; Ukeshu was hardly welcoming of such rats. He kept his scouts on-guard, watching the cages, and required them to report every development.

These scouts caught the first glimpse of the Big Water, which is the only reason the wild ones were not destroyed in the flood. Ukeshu managed to lead many of his colony to safety, but dozens perished in the flood and dozens more were lost. Now, scattered and frightened, the rats have become hard to keep together; they are escaping from his rule, even fraternizing with the domestic rats.

Ukeshu's growing too old to hold onto his reign with the same tenacity as he once had. Now that his colony is divided, he must work harder to hold onto the power he once held...and any moment he might fall.


Gruff, firm and generally not very conversational, Ukeshu is a rat who communicates primarily through action, not words. Those he cares for, he shows by protecting them fiercely. You will never hear him express his love for anyone, not even his favored females in his harem. He does care for his colony, however, and deeply. He just chooses to show it by being as strong of an alpha as he can be.

Ukeshu has no patience for weakness. He will tear apart any rat who fails to carry his weight in the colony. He also despises domestic rats.