"Pest? In mine own realm? You jest." The so-called rat king almost laughed as he dodged Jenny's lunge.
"Wasss that ssuppossed to be funny?" She snarled as she swerved about, frustrated at the miss. She wasn't entirely used to this new shape yet, and was still working out how to maneuver everything.
"I'll tell you what. Since I am an honorable gentleman, and you are obviously a newcomer to your animal form, I'll give you a chance to practice."
"I don't need practiccce. I need food. And you're quite tasty..."
"Oh, stop already. I'm not intimidated. I'll give you a chance to practice with your new body, and then, tomorrow, in the barn, you and I shall have a duel."
"You're joking," she snorted, slithering toward the rat-like man, who stood on his hind legs, tall and proud.
"Of course not. I ache for a good challenge, and ever since the cat-girl got herself hurt, I've had nobody to play with. We'll duel tomorrow, at dawn. If you win, I give you free reign in the basement, and you can devour my denizens as you wish."
"And what if I lose?" She would have folded her arms at her chest had she any arms or a chest. She found this rather annoying.
"If you lose, you help me. I could always use an eighteen-foot long python on my side."
"Eighteen feet long? Are you... wow." She glanced back at herself - he wasn't joking. "Wait - what do you mean 'your side'?"
"Jenny, honey, darling, you're a victim here and you don't even know it. Did you choose to become this... snake-like thing?"
"Well, no."
"And neither did I choose to be a rat. And it's all because of them. I'm planning a revolution, you see - but for the most part, it's been... difficult to gather an army - farm animal-people are too docile, too content with their lot in life. We're meant for more than this, this slavery."
"You're not a slave to anyone!"
"Please. I'm a slave to the form they forced upon me. As are you. Only you seem too willing to accept it."
"Well... look, I'll join up with you anyway. No duel."
"No duel? Shame. You would be a fine opponent."
"I'd kill you."
"You wish."
"Please - I'm practically designed to kill animals like you."
"So little she knows..." He smiles and shakes his rattish head, and scampers away, beckoning her to follow. She does, hesitantly.
"What do you... what is this place?"
The room he led her to through a hole in the wall is small, and she has to clumsily coil herself up to fit inside. Weapons made of various objects, pins, thimbles, shaving razors, matches, etc. line the wall.
"My armory. I'm showing you this to let you know - that even the smallest of us, even the most unlikely, can be deadly. I designed them all myself - and with your help, I want to overthrow the humans who run this place. First we need to stir the sentiments of rebellion."