The streets of Stormwind were busy as they usually are each day, with citizens and visitors walking up and down its streets about their business. Beggars lined up those same streets, hoping for scraps or a few copper pieces while well-off people ignored them, chiding those people begging for making wrong choices and not getting a job. Guards stood at their posts and watching for trouble.
Among the rabble, a small silver fox wove in and out of groups, searching for food. As he passed some of the beggars, many of them placed a few pieces of meat in a side satchel the fox carried. They found the critter adorable and a brief highlight to their otherwise miserable existence. The satchel carried little scrolls that the curious could unroll and read. An invitation. To the sewers. The rumors were true: the Rat Kingdom was growing strong in the city and while they were rumored to be in the sewers, recruitment was starting to spread on the street. There were even rumors that some of the nobles were starting to link themselves to the Kingdom, but those were simply rumors. No noble would ever admit to that publicly.
The fox made its way back down to the sewers, where the sound of running water and the smell of waste was becoming home to the creature. It stepped lightly, barely splashing, but calling the Ratz’ attention. They looked and hissed and glared at the creature but they knew better than to attack the fox for it belonged to the current Stormwind regent, Vixxy. That idea was arguable. Vixxy had no idea how to run this portion of the Kingdom and she preferred to go on killing sprees and hunting trips rather than stay in the sewers and watch over a small group of frail, skeletal creatures. So the small gnome did just that. When she had a chance, she would take off with her foxes and go hunting, leaving the ruling to the strong, dark-skinned human Evan, who covered himself in dark furs and watched over the Kingdom as if he were the king.
He loved the attention, the fear the Ratz gave him, and the fact that the Rat King didn’t visit as often as he should have been. He heard gossip about the ever-growing Rat Queen and he assumed that was the reason he was tied up back at the Kingdom, but here was Evan, ruler of the Stormwind division. At times, he would jokingly call himself the Rat Prince, but he was careful not to overuse it too much for fear that the King would get this information somehow. In reality, he was more afraid of Sarinna arriving than the King because that was the more logical person to visit. But she did not.
This afternoon, the silver fox arrived at the small area designed to be ground zero and the Ratz curiously crowded the fox, a makeshift throne, and Evan. Evan knelt and petted the fox. Vixxy had taught Evan how to care for the creature and this particular fox was his. He reached in and found a few scraps of food that he fed to the fox while the starving Ratz watched. A few of the informational scrolls were gone, but he noticed a crumpled paper. Evan reached into the satchel and retrieved it, unfolding it slowly. His eyes widened and he smiled, although it seemed like a nervous smile.
Rat Prince,
He travels south.
Evan threw the paper to the ground and looked around at the Ratz. “Who the fuck is talking up there? I told you not to say a damn word!” No one said a word as they shrunk back. “Fuck.” Evan walked to the makeshift throne and sat, placing his hand on his head.
“Who’s coming, my Prince?” a woman said as she read the paper off the floor. The draenei’s hooves clicked with her steps and she lifted her head, a cascade of brown hair falling down her back. She walked toward Evan, kneeling before him and resting her head on his lap. Evan sighed and caressed one of her horns. “What distresses you?”
Evan smiled and looked down at the woman. “The Rat King seems to be traveling.”
“It is if he finds out what they’re calling me.” He laughed and leaned his head back.
“No, Nadeea, he will not.” He made her lift her head. “But he won't find out, right?” The draenei shook her head. “So start calling me Evan.” The fox curled at Evan’s boots and licked its chops a few times before closing its eyes. “The Kingdom is prospering and the King will be pleased. Let’s leave it at that.”
“I thought you wanted to be King?”
Evan rolled his eyes. “All in due time, my pet,” he said, mimicking the way the King spoke to others. “All in due time.” He smiled at Nadeea and looked at the skeletal bodies that were ready to attack anyone who was a threat to the Kingdom. To their Prince’s Kingdom.