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UNDERGRAIN PROVINCE — The Rat Republic issued a national emergency alert late Sunday after a catastrophic locust swarm swept across its central grain-harvesting districts, destroying tens of thousands of stored kernels and leaving the country facing its most severe food shortage in nearly two decades.
The Ministry of Harvest and Storage confirmed that more than 68% of the nation’s strategic grain reserves were consumed or contaminated within just three days, overwhelming rodent-led defense units and triggering widespread panic among urban and rural burrow communities.
A Swarm of Historic Scale
Officials report that the swarm — described by witnesses as a “moving storm of wings and jaws” — originated beyond the Eastern Grassfront before sweeping into major granaries, including the critical Wheatstone Cavern Reserve and Kernel Vault 3, two of the Rat Republic’s most fortified food-storage facilities.
“We were unprepared for a swarm of this magnitude,” said Chief Grainkeeper Marrow Softwhisk. “No amount of barricading or whisker-level security could stop the sheer volume of insects.”
Early estimates suggest that the swarm consisted of nearly 4 million locusts, making it one of the largest recorded in the region in over forty seasons.
Government Implements Immediate Rationing
President Rusk Gnawthorne addressed citizens at dawn, announcing strict rationing measures to preserve what remains of the country’s grain supply.
“All rat families will move to emergency allocation protocols,” Gnawthorne said from the Capitol Burrow. “We will survive this winter, but only through discipline and unity.”
Under the new rules:
- Individual burrows will be limited to one grain allotment per night
- Foraging may only occur during designated safe-hours
- Unauthorized hoarding will be subject to penalty by the Grain Guard
The Rat Republic’s grain economy, long considered robust and meticulously managed, is now under intense strain.
Trade Talks Begin With Squirrel States
With grain at historic lows, the Rat Republic has begun urgent trade negotiations with neighboring squirrel nations, who control the region’s acorn surplus. However, squirrel leaders have expressed hesitation.
“We sympathize with the Rat Republic’s hardship,” said Nutterly Oakwind, spokesperson for the Eastern Squirrel Confederation. “But our reserves are limited, and winter is approaching fast.”
Chipmunk lending guilds have already offered high-interest nut loans, drawing criticism from rat economists who accuse them of exploiting the crisis.
Locust Swarm Leaves Ecological Scars
Environmental officials warn that the aftermath of the swarm extends far beyond food loss.
“The ground is bare,” said Dr. Burrowleaf Grainroot, an ecologist with the Burrow Institute of Sciences. “Every stalk, every husk, every seed has been stripped. Recovery will take seasons.”
The sudden vacuum of grain is expected to destabilize food chains across the region, potentially increasing predator incursions as owls and foxes seek prey migrating toward limited food sources.
Citizens React With Fear and Resolve
Across the Republic, ordinary rats describe scenes of desperation and uncertainty.
“I’ve never seen our vaults so empty,” said Pip Tailbrush, a worker in the capital’s Harvest District. “We used to boast the best storage tunnels on the continent. Now we’re sweeping up dust.”
Despite the fear, community groups have begun launching mutual-aid initiatives such as Kernel Share Networks, redistributing small caches of leftover grain to the most vulnerable nests.
Security Concerns Rise
Military analysts warn that weakened reserves could make the Republic more vulnerable to territorial incursions from rival rodent factions, particularly the notorious Ironfang Burrow Alliance, known for opportunistic raids during times of famine.
Grain Guard Commander Slate Whiptail confirmed that border patrols have been doubled.
“We cannot allow this crisis to invite aggression,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Meteorologists offer little immediate hope, predicting a continued dry spell that could leave future grain regrowth severely stunted. A small chance of relief looms in the form of possible late-season rains — but experts caution that even favorable weather cannot repair the damage quickly.
The Rat Republic has scheduled a national address for later this week and is expected to unveil a long-term recovery plan that may include cross-species alliances, expanded tunnel farming projects, and emergency grain imports from distant rodent federations.
For now, the Republic stands at a crossroads: facing hunger, uncertainty, and the long shadow of a future shaped by scarcity.
