Santiago
At first the only answer the ninja received was a muffled series of steady and raspy breaths emerging from beneath the strange mask, but after Ratssnicks paws shakily reached up and undid the bindings that held the mask on his face... Allowing him to slip the the strange-device off his rodent-like head... And allowing him to take a sharp inhale of air. 

He certainly looked worse than when they had first found him, his previously mangy coat had numerous large patches missing from it... Bits of fur that had sizzled off within the Fog. His eyes were slightly swollen, and seemed to be looking around slowly at the various raccoons around him. 

His breaths where shallow, shaky, and seemed to be very difficult for him to manage. Judging by the dribble of red on his lip and chin, the fog had done a number on his lungs. 

"*Am-am... 𝒉𝒖𝒇𝒇... N-no... 𝘸𝘢𝘴 no-furs s-slave... 𝒉𝒖𝒇𝒇... Y-your mas-master wants-wishes t-to b-be the one... To bring m-me-me back... '𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦'. He-they will... Kill-slay you the moment he has-has me... Keep my-my bounty-reward for himself...*"
He wheezed out an explanation, trying to make it clear that... If they brought him to their employer... Chances are they'd be walking right into a trap. 

He felt so tired, his eyes where so sore, and his lungs burned. He really just wanted to sleep... Nap and let the pain fade into dreams... But he couldn't afford that, his situation was too dire to not be conscious for it, so despite his quivering eyelids... He remained wide awake. 

"*D-don't bring me-me back... I-... No-no want to go back to-to the room with the table-desk... I don't want-wish to die there.*"
He chittered, turning his head to the side and spitting out a glob of viscous blood. He then sighed... Cursing his foul luck. It'd be weeks before he'd be able to breath normally, if he even *Had* That time left.
Love
The shinobi raccoon continued to place the salve on whatever patches of exposed skin that he could find in a noble but perhaps ill-thought out attempt to ease some of Ratssnick's pain, both he and his companions now embarrassed and ashamed that they had been tricked by their employer. While the leader continued to do what little he could to help the inventor, the remaining eight that were still able to stand and stay alert formed a protective circle to shield Ratssnick from attacks from any other bountymen that may have been nearby; if their boss for this job truly was a slave catcher, then they very well may not have been the only group sent to apprehend the tinkerer.

How could they have been so foolish? So desperate as to be duped by a slave master? If their master had still been alive, he would have been deeply ashamed in his students. Any ninja worth their salt knew what came next in this exchange: restitution. They Kage Clan had done evil against an innocent man and now they had to find a way help him... If the inventor was willing to receive their help. 

Once the salve was exhausted, the leader sighed deeply and looked back at Ratssnick, his eyes showing regret and concern.

"Are you able to walk?" He asked.
Santiago
"*Give me-me time... I-... I will-will be fine in short-little time...*"
He muttered softly between deep breaths, his lungs where settling... Though far from healthy... This allowed him a moment of respite to drink in precious fresh air. Though said air still burnt, like alcohol on a open wound, it was far better then no air... Or any of the fog. 

"*Need to collect-gather m-my things... Ugh... Need to s-scurry-flee to new nest-warren.*"
He tried to rise up from the ground, only for his wobbling arms to fail him, and send him flopping back down. 

"*Just... Need more-more time...*"
He whispered, softly, to no one in particular. 

His eyes felt so heavy now... He felt cold, drowsy, and frail... No doubt a result of his injuries. Even with the healing salves applied liberally to his exterior wounds, his insides still blistered and peeled away, and while the wounds were already starting to heal... His conscious mind was already starting to slip away. 

"*No-no... N-never again... Am f-free rat-thing. S-slave to no-thing...*"
He whispered, his eyes continuing to slowly shut despite their quivering attempts to remain wide open. 

"*N-not even fate...*"
He added, once more a soft whisper, but with far more ferocity and *Anger* Behind his words. But he could not clarify why he had such malice in those words, for as soon as they left his mouth, his eyes slipped shut and unconsciousness embraced his mind. Leaving the raccoons with his unconscious form.
Love
Almost as soon as Ratssnick slipped into the embrace of unconsciousness, the ninjas began their plan to get him to safety. In a language that few in these lands aside from the raccoons knew, the leader commanded two of his number to gently lift the inventor onto their shoulders and carry him out of the woods; another was tasked with retrieving his things. Once the tinkerer and his belongings were attended to, the ashamed ninja warriors departed the forest and walked into the night.

Two days later, the shinobi assigned to watch over Ratssnick in his recovery began to grow worried that his charge would not wake up; indeed, this fear was shared by all of the Kage Clan, who now prepared for the distinct possibility that their ignorance could have cost a man his life. As he sat across from the bed where the inventor lie, secure yet still unconscious, he wondered what steps would be necessary if Ratssnick never woke up from his slumber. As he did every morning, he said a prayer to the many gods the clan served to have mercy upon the rat, for at this point, there seemed to be not much more that mortal hands could do. The superficial wounds were beginning to heal, yet the deeper ones remained a problem.