The Rat Gang Crew and the Overgrounders Chapter 7: Amelie Takes the Lead
The dawn broke over the construction site with an eerie calm, the machines idle for the first time in weeks. The bat swarm from the previous night had done its job, attracting attention from both local activists and curious onlookers. By mid-morning, a small group of environmental protesters had gathered near the site, holding signs that read “Save Our Wildlife” and “Bats Before Bulldozers!”
Deep in Ratropolis, The Burrow was buzzing with the news. Ivy had overheard snippets of human conversation through a pipe leading to the surface. “There’s going to be a live TV broadcast at the protest,” she announced, clutching her book of carvings. “This could be our chance to really get the humans on our side.”
Atlas groaned. “And what are we supposed to do? Run out there and wave signs?”
“No,” Ivy replied. “But we have Amelie.”
All eyes turned to the petite mouse, her white fur gleaming in the low light. Amelie’s ears twitched nervously. “Me?”
“Yes, you!” Scarlett said, a rare grin spreading across her face. “You’re fast, adorable, and smart. Humans can’t resist cute animals. If you can get in front of one of their cameras and do something attention-grabbing, it might get them to listen.”
Amelie hesitated. She was used to leading missions underground, but this… this was different. “What if they don’t notice me?”
“They’ll notice,” Scarlett said firmly. “Trust me. You’ve got the ‘aww’ factor.”
As the protest grew above ground, Amelie approached the surface cautiously, staying hidden in the shadows of discarded crates near the perimeter of the site. From her vantage point, she could see the protesters waving signs and chanting slogans. A large van with a TV station logo had parked nearby, and a reporter with a microphone stood in front of a camera crew, preparing to go live.
Amelie’s heart raced. This was her moment. Taking a deep breath, she darted forward, her tiny paws a blur as she made her way to the reporter. She leapt gracefully onto a stack of pallets, positioning herself perfectly in the camera’s frame.
The reporter didn’t notice her at first, too focused on her script. But then Amelie stood up on her hind legs, her shiny black eyes wide with innocent curiosity. Her whiskers twitched as if she were listening intently to the humans’ conversation.
A cameraman nudged the reporter. “Uh, Claire… you’ve got a visitor.”
The reporter turned, her eyes widening at the sight of the tiny mouse sitting on the pallet. “Well, this is unexpected!” she said, a smile breaking across her face. “It seems we’ve made a friend here at the protest.”
Amelie tilted her head, her ears twitching in an almost theatrical display of charm. The cameraman zoomed in, and the protestors behind them began to cheer.
“She’s adorable!” someone shouted.
“Is this little mouse a sign?” the reporter asked, seizing the opportunity for a good soundbite. “Perhaps nature itself is speaking out against the destruction of its home.”
Amelie scampered closer to the reporter, sniffing at the microphone as if curious about its purpose. The crowd erupted in laughter and applause.
Claire knelt down, holding the microphone closer to Amelie. “And what do you think, little one? Are you here to save your home?”
Amelie knew she couldn’t speak, but she didn’t need to. Instead, she performed a small spin, her tail curling elegantly, before pointing with her paw toward the construction site.
The reporter caught the gesture and stood up, her expression turning serious. “It seems even the smallest creatures have a voice in this fight. Let’s remember what’s at stake here—homes, ecosystems, and the lives of countless animals.”
The broadcast went live, and within minutes, clips of Amelie’s performance began circulating online. Social media lit up with posts about the “Protest Mouse,” as people called her, and the movement gained momentum.
Back in The Burrow, the Rat Gang Crew huddled around their radio, listening to the humans’ broadcasts. Scarlett smirked as the reporter described Amelie’s antics. “You’re a star now,” she teased.
Amelie blushed, her fur fluffing up slightly. “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“It was a huge deal,” Ivy said, her eyes gleaming. “You just got people talking about the site in a way they never would have otherwise.”
Atlas nodded. “Yeah, but now that the humans are paying attention, the construction company is going to fight back. They’re not going to stop just because a cute mouse stole the spotlight.”
Amelie straightened, her nervousness replaced by determination. “Then we’ll fight harder. They may have machines, but we have speed, wit, and the whole underground on our side.”
Scarlett grinned. “That’s the spirit. Now let’s figure out our next move.”
Meanwhile, Tommy watched the broadcast from his living room, a wide grin on his face. “Nice work, Amelie,” he murmured. He grabbed his notebook and began scribbling down plans. The construction company would double down now, but he had ideas to keep them on their toes—and maybe even get the authorities involved.
Unbeknownst to the humans above and the rats below, the carvings in the ancient walls of Ratropolis pulsed faintly, as if responding to the sudden surge of energy in the fight to protect their world.
The battle for Ratropolis was just beginning. And Amelie had proven that even the smallest among them could make the biggest difference.
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