"Have our sisters cleaned their stations and tools? This 'ball' is meant to be a big deal."

  "Not yet, they're busy dealing with Dryliet's latest toy, it's already broken swathes of the western forest."

  "Fuck, well, damn." Sigh "Just get it dealt with and have the bots deal with the cleanup and tell her to reign it in tonight."

  As her sister left with her orders, the grove leader thought back on the situation. Of all her sisters, Dryliet was among the most beautiful and skilled but had a horrible streak of damaging the grove and the surrounding forests. Fortunate or unfortunate, she was also just as good at fixing her messes as she was causing them, so the grove matron couldn't even petition their father for an intervention. But, as the hours went by and night settled on the floor, the area surrounding the grove transformed from the splendidly wild forests into a bustling party.

  From their grove, she could hear a sharp whistle, signaling the arrival of the Kobolds to the party. Approaching their leader, she greeted him with all due courtesy.

  "Sup."

  "Heyo."

  Said courtesy was never implied to be formal in any sense.

  They grasped each other's forearms, her smaller frame being dwarfed but only in size, in strength they were almost equal. They struggled against each other as they tested their might against one another, not giving ground to their rival.

  "Hmph, getting a bit soft Ferroma, you let those toys of yours do all the heavy lifting these days?"

  "Not on your scales Druchan, but I can tell you're eating an extra bull or two, you're practically flabby!"

  The two of them struggled for another moment before both gave up and started laughing, letting their force push each other into a bear hug. Their two retinues lost their (mostly fake) tension as they began to mingle with each other, trading what small stories and plans they had.

  "It's good to see you are whole after the attack, it's a shame we couldn't fight the enemy together."

  She was also interested to see how they would have done together, the occasional practice together or spontaneous clean-up when their father shifted his presence to them weren't going to do much. What they needed was real action.

  "Indeed Commander, but Father had a plan, and it worked, our greater sibling was able to handle them."

  "As the maker commanded, and somewhat related, will other floors be joining us?"

  She thought momentarily as the revelry continued, the distant sounds of drinks and meat being consumed with little regard for sanitation, not that it mattered strictly. She felt some regret at not encouraging some sort of decorum that she learned from the rats, they always had impeccable table manners.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  "Possibly, the newest court mage and fort commander have expressed interest, but their duties keep them to their station, likely their immediate servants will arrive instead, maybe a few others."

  And as if by fate, several small groups arrived at the party's edge. The first few groups were well-dressed rats, wearing nice clothing made from sewn cloth and leather with small, well-groomed lesser rats on their shoulders or in tiny pockets at their sides. The second group was likely from the upper floors, wearing rougher, meaner-looking vestments made from patched leather and metal.

  "Greetings cousins, I take it we are on time?"

  "A bit late, but close enough, may I ask your name and those with you?"

  The well-dressed ones came forward first.

  "We are they of the great Underfort, granted leave by our new commander."

  The other group stepped forward.

  "And we are the soldiers of upper floors, we come several stations and rooms."

  Hm?

  "Is it wise to leave your station with it being so close to the surface?"

  "We were permitted by our maker, plus, a new group of cousins were stationed in the outside to handle things."

  That caught them up, the outside was not a place many were permitted to go, not that they would want to. Full of vicious men and hungering things that wanted their home, the outside was not a place they wanted to be, the fact that several were willing to do so for their sake spoke volumes of their character. Although, it was doubtful Father would make something without some class to it.

  "Then I believe the first toast should be to our newest family members."

  "Aye, I would say so."

  "Noble rats, did you happen to see any more coming down to our celebration?"

  "One more, but it will take time to get here, best we get on with it all before the food goes cold."

  "Who are we waiting for?"

  "The worms."

  She frowned at that, she knew of them of course being an ally, but she'd never met one of them. What she did know was that they were big, always hungry, and very very shy. Most likely she'd have to cordon off a large space for them, the other issue was how to incorporate them into the festivities, given their diet of rock and metal.

  She motioned to the sister just behind her.

  "Hmm, clear out a space next to the main area."

  "Yes, sister."

  With that out of the way, the kobold leader and she led the newcomers to the main party, allowing them to join the celebration.

  Taking her place at the head of the table with Druchan next to her, she looked over her family as things went on, people drinking, eating, dunking each other in the moat (Note to self-put them on punishment duty) and generally having a good ti-.

  "Who might that strange lady be over yonder?"

  And now it's over.

  "You know exactly who that is."

  "Truly, she teaches the bright moss how to be brilliant."

  "You say that literally every time we see her."

  "How she, a golden swan dances among swine."

  "I will help them throw you into the moat to get you to shut up."

  Ferroma was a woman of great patience, she had to be, but one of the things that irked her more than her sister's messiness was the overly dramatic kobold, Koboldo. She didn't hate him, no, she didn't think she could hate any of their numbers, but Koboldo was perhaps the only one to earn her ire.

  "Sorry, it was either take him or leave him alone with the forge again."

  Druchan shuddered, she wasn't sure of what incident must have taken place, but if her comrade reacted like that then doubtless it was a disaster.

  "In that case, I must also apologize for one of our number."

  "Hm? Who do you mean-"

  "Is that the great voice of my admirer, for whom could know me and speak such words?"

  Druchan sighed, the look of defeat etched on his face.

  "I think this makes us even in some way."

  "Yup"

  "Wanna watch their drama?"

  "Might as well."

  And so, the Grove Matron Ferroma, and Kobold leader Druchan, sat back down, feasting on beef and fermented drinks, watching their incredibly ridiculous family enjoy the spectacle.