Packrat Love

## Premise

Ralph falls for a female Wood rat, whose family is hiding from Scientists.

## Synopsis

The story begins at morning, where three shadows quietly exit a truck after escaping a cage, and heading for the swamp. Later in the day, as Kissyfur and the cubs end another day at the School Tree, They see a female spotted wood rat with dark markings, which Ralph falls for. of course, the girl rat ran off hiding under a tree stump. Ralph approaches the scared rat, and introduces Himself. The girl rat says Her name is Cassidy and asks Ralph why He didn't run from the Bear, then asks where Her parents are, when they got separated. The cubs don't know, as Ralph is still enticed to Cassidy and faints. Ralph wakes up in His home, asking where Cassidy is. Ralph's Mother asked who Cassidy is, and Ralph explained everything. Meanwhile, in Kissyfur's house, Kissyfur told his father about Cassidy, and about Her aversion to bears. However, Gus spots some humans wearing Hazmat Suits approaching the swamp, and camouflages His homes, as the humans arrive. And to their shock, they see one of the humans, tearing the leaves off a shrub, and another said, "Any animals We find, We cage them, including Subjects, 25, 59, and 88." as they follow footprints. Kissyfur and Gus who saw them, began to worry.

At another part of the Swamp, Ralph and His parents, not knowing about the invading Humans, look for Cassidy's folks. Soon, They find Cassidy in front of the School Tree. Ralph calls for Her and introduces Her to His parents. As Ralph's Mom, Chelsea asks Cassidy what Her parents look like, but, before She could answer, Emmy Lou comes and asks Ralph why He came here after school hours, but Cassidy hides behind Ralph. However, as Ralph's Folks try to explain the situation, Emmy Lou sees the humans and has tells them to hide, as the humans tear through the leaves and foliage. Emmy Lou, realizing that the humans don’t care about nature, while they tear the foliage and might locate the denizens’ homes at some point, roars for everyone in earshot to run for Gus’ Paddlecab and escape, The humans go after Emmy Lou, but two of them break off pursuit just to capture Ralph's parents, as one of them looks at the disguised school tree. And when things were hopeless, a streak of darkness attack the humans, and freed Chelsea and Nathan. but what made the humans run for it, were swamp monsters scaring the humans away, after the humans run, the swamp monsters was Gus in disguise, who said that two wood rats came up with the idea.

The scene changes to inside Gus’ house, where Ralph’s parents and Cassidy keep watch, as Cassidy says Her mother asleep. At morning, they hear the humans re-entering the swamp with multiple cages, since the scientist who broke off pursuit finds out about the School Tree’s interior, after observing the tree’s steps. But as they enter the swamp, a policemen arrests two of the scientists, (As one ran for dear freedom.) much to the denizens’ relief as Cassidy thanks Her dad Erwin, for anonymously summoning the police, (by tapping morse code on a pay phone.) as Chelsea informs the others to come see Cassidy's new brother and sister, Isaac and Rose. Sylvia then asks Ralph's parents to be the kids' Godparents, which they accept. As Cassidy's family decide to make a home near Ralph's home. however, the one scientist who escaped arrest goes to capture the Woodrats, Ralph bites into the scientist's hazmat suit, tearing it, forcing the scientist to run away, and getting arrested minutes later by the police. Cassidy, who saw it, kissed Ralph on the nose, making Him blush and weak in the knees. The next morning, As the cubs begin class in the School Tree, Emmy Lou announces two new teachers to join the School Tree. Erwin, to teach them about Human History, and Sylvia teaching Science, and Cassidy being a new student of the School Tree.

## Quotes

Ralph - My name's Ralph. Why'd You run away?

Cassidy - Hello. I'm Cassidy. But... Why did You not run from that bear?

Ralph - Oh, That's Kissyfur.

Cassidy - Has He eaten any animals of the Rodentia Order?

Ralph - ...What?

Cassidy - Sigh. I'm referring to You, the Beaver, and the Porcupine.

Ralph - No?

Emmy Lou - Ralph? Why are You-- (Notices Cassidy, who hides behind Ralph.) Who is She?

Chelsea - Um, I'll explain.

Emmy Lou - Humans. They're in the swamp. Hide quickly!