The rat in front of her squealed as it died, and Natya flailed her staff with both hands, trying to keep the rats that were flanking her at bay. "Back! Back!" she cried, as her staff connected solidly with one, knocking it back against the wall, where it scurried away into its hole again. The other lunged at her unprotected back, but she caught it on a backswing, and deflected the blow.