To their surprise, instead of a horde of rats, a large lizard, fan-spined and low to the ground, came into view. Grinning a happy grin, it was creeping out of a side-tunnel they hadn't seen before, the tail of an enormous rat hanging from its jaws. The salamander cast a curious look at Texcoco, a worried look at Tezka, then caught sight of Tiqxoltiq. The priest was familiar to the salamander and it made a happy chirping sound and waddled over to the priest's side as it gulped down the remains of its current meal.
"Ah, I have not seen you in a while," the priest mumbled softly. "I am guessing that Quas has not tried to eat you again." Cautiously, he reached out a shaky, taloned hand, his bad arm aching there his wound still throbbed. "Do you know where your, um, master is?"
Chirping assent, the salamander turned towards the tunnel they were facing, trundled over to the opening, past the confused Tezka, and then opened its mouth. There was a soft, almost click-like sound before a gout of intense heat and light filled the tunnel before them. Flames rushed out, scorching the rock and burning away any moss that had taken root. It also ignited a pair of black-clad skaven that had been sneaking up on them! They screeched in pain, wildly batting at the flames that engulfed them.
Laughing softly, Tik gestured to the burning rats. "Tezka, I think these two were trying to catch us unaware. Perhaps you should enlighten them as to whose tunnels these really are?"