Suddenly a group of about 15 rats charged around the corner - their little red eyes glistening in the darkness. I grabbed Kiya's arm and pulled her behind me; dropping the rat snake on the ground in the process. It slithered right into the approaching group of rats with a small hiss, reaching out and grabbing a furry body in its mouth. I saw two of the rats turn an attack the snake and suddenly it was rolling around as if in tremendous pain. I immediatel grabbed my bow and started shooting the rats. "Don't let them touch you! They're poisonous or something!"
Then I noticed that the first one I'd hit with an arrow was sizzling; and suddenly it evaporated in a cloud of nasty smelling vapor.
