This is meant as a log, and reflection of various ideas related to a myriad of loose ends which due to slow RP, never got tied. It is not meant as a canonical path for the muck unless it is wished to be such. It is hoped that by brainstorming this publicly, we can overcome the barrier to RP on the muck and get things going as full speed as they were years ago.

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Years ago, in a hidden (or not so hidden) corner of the Rats' colony, a small group of rodents gathered, each selected by their leader to view a reflection of what could come if they did not remain vigilant. This dark vision soon faded, however, and the colony continued its merry way, ever so slowly inching towards the state of complacency prophesied that day.

All seems to have died down. The feral predators and enemies of the colony have gone silent, leaving the rats in a lull of peace and false security. They had known the threats to them; warning signs such as the epidemic spoken of by the children of the lost Mice, who had set up a colony of their own nearer to the city, and the controlled burns humans were doing in the Rats' back yard. Indirect threats, and apparently not enough to awaken the Rodents of NIMH to the building danger, as all is always quiet prior to the greatest threats one can imagine. But, all seems to be peaceful, and no-one seems concerned in the least....

Months later, winter is approaching fast, its bone-chilling wind already nipping at th ears of those who venture out. The fires have driven more and more ferals into the Valley, creating an overpopulation which makes food scarce, thus driving both hungry animals and their predators closer to the colony farms, where the vast surplus of crops due to a mild summer have put strain on the efficiency of harvest, leaving many a plant and Rat vulnerable to the hungry mouths which have comes seeking refuge from the fires.

Within the colony, many others have began to dream things. Terrible things which leave even the toughest rodent unable to sleep. Things which bring the safety of the colony into question. Even though the dreams all differ, rumors begin to stir among some, questioning whether these dreams may have significance, perhaps related to the Stone somehow, which has been all but forgotten of late, since so many have had these dreams. Others are more skeptical, and blame a storm, bad grain, or some other natural occurrence, forming the beginnings of a rift in the opinions of those dwelling in the colony.

Meanwhile, in the mouse colony, events seem to be winding down as well. In fact, after the epidemic, the colony has fallen into a state of quiet and peaceful recovery. In haste, many of the Mice had not been as careful as perhaps they should have been in acquiring supplies to restock themselves from the epidemic, as well as in response to the illnesses themselves. In the end, being so close to the city proves a bad move for the Mice, and at the most unlikely time NIMH descends upon them, capturing many and killing others, while others still manage to escape, by sewer or otherwise. And so the remainder of the once proud NMC begin the long and perilous journey to seek out their comrades in Thorn Valley.

Back in the Valley, the struggle with the booming population of ferals continues as the Rats attempt to prepare for winter. Then suddenly, the population drops, due to a bizarre illness (possibly caused by the ingestion or inhalation of benzene and other toxic chemicals from the fires, and unknown events related to the fires) which causes the afflicted creatures to become disoriented and confused, perhaps even agitated, only to later be found dead. Even a few colony scouts appear to be affected, though the condition seems to be treatable. However, many of the larger predatory animals remain mostly unaffected, and now without the prey they usually feed from.

The word, and the refugees from the NMC arrive at the Valley Colony, telling of the colony's discovery by NIMH, and the capture of many of their comrades, leading to the question of a rescue, and even potential discovery by NIMH in the Valley. To make matters worse, the influx of refugees puts strain on the colony's food reserves, and the ailment affecting the wildlife has not gone unnoticed by humans, resulting in a sizable influx of human activity in and around the valley.

In all the sudden strain which has come, many of the colony's organizations begin to break down, the entire colony divided by their opinion of how to respond to the situation. More guards are needed to keep the peace amongst the Rats and Mice, and hold off the hungry predators and remaining ferals as they try to break into the colony, either after the food stores or the rodents themselves. But these same guards are wrapped up in the division as well, stifling their ability to keep the peace in response to rising emotions and prejudices.

With the walls closing in on all sides, and NIMH practically at their doorstep, will the Rats and Mice of NIMH be able to pull together and save the life they have worked so hard to make for themselves? Or will they stumble and forever be lost? This is for you to decide....