Description
Cockrats are disgusting creatures, with bodies that look like a rat and a cockroach had a fight in a dark alley, and this is the result. They range in size from my second cousin Volo’s tiny dick to a fucking tiny kitten, although the average is closer to that of a regular rat. They have rough, dark, scaly fur mixed with chitinous parts and little antennae that wriggle as if they’re having a party. Generally, you don’t see two that are the same, since some look more like rats and others more like cockroaches, some are larger and others smaller, and everything is just random. Even in the same litter, some can be of one kind and others of another.
Of course, if there’s one thing they all have in common, it’s that these bastards’ eyes emit an evil gleam, and their feet always end in small, sharp claws that allow them to climb everywhere and scurry through garbage more easily than a corrupt politician in an investigation. And let’s not forget their long, hairy tails, which swish in the air as they plot how to ruin your day.
Habitat
These bastards especially infest the most disgusting, filthy, and abandoned places in settlements and ruined cities. Although they generally hide in sewers, underground tunnels, and the darkest corners of buildings that no one in their right mind would visit, they’re increasingly embracing urban life and have learned that living among people’s shit is much easier. In some settlements, they’ve become a real pest. Thank goodness the Tunnel Kafres are here in Junkbridge, otherwise it could be the fucking end.
Behavior
Cockrats are omnivorous beasts, meaning they’ll eat anything, bugs, carrion, plants, shit, or other cockrats. So, these bastards are more adaptable than my niece Jenny in a job interview. Look, this is another one that also eats everything, if you know what I mean.
But the worst part is, don’t think they’re dumb vermin; these bitches are smart and even communicate with each other. They’ve developed what I call the “gossip system” to warn each other of potential problems and organize plans to ruin your day. They’re like your typical nosy neighbors who keep an eye on each other. The only good thing is that during the day it’s very rare to run into them, as they’re more nocturnal than a secret date, lurking in the shadows and coming out in groups when the darkness favors them. But it’s amazing when they start hunting in groups, like a fucking sand hockey team, using coordinated tactics to give unsuspecting prey a good scare. I mean, not like the Junkbridge team, who look like a group of cripples and morons, but a half-normal team.
Uses
Despite their disgusting, verminous appearance that you want to step on or kick as soon as you see them, cockroaches have some uses in the Wasteland. Some crazy people have trained them to hunt unwanted insects and, above all, to act as damn trouble detectors with their “gossip system” (since I made up that term, I wasn’t going to use it once in this whole long post). But you have to be very careful with this, because even though they seem controlled, the damn things are actually constantly planning how to escape and screw whoever has enslaved them… and they usually succeed in the end.
As for eating them, well, in a pinch, cooked cockrats can be a surprising source of protein. But they’re disgusting, they taste exactly like they look, and preparing these bastards requires skill and courage. I’m telling you, people would rather starve than eat these creatures. They’re not that fussy, and that’s why they’ll surely outlive us.
