The Rat Gang Crew™ and the Overgrounders, Chapter 6: Wings in the Night. #kids #adventure

The Rat Gang Crew and the Overgrounders, Chapter 6: Wings in the Night.
Tommy Smith sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the coded message in his hands. He had read it three times, each pass revealing a new layer of meaning. Scarlett’s words painted a picture: stars, diggers, night flyers. It wasn’t a message—it was a plan. And Tommy knew it was up to him to bring it to life.
His room was a typical boy’s haven: posters of animals, a clutter of books about nature, and jars filled with carefully labeled specimens of leaves, rocks, and feathers. Tommy reached for one of his jars, plucking out a single dark feather. “Bats,” he whispered to himself, grinning. “Of course.”
Downstairs, the faint hum of the television mixed with the sound of his dad’s snoring. Tommy tiptoed out the back door, his flashlight in hand. He had a destination: the old stone chapel near the edge of town. It was abandoned, but every spring and summer, the bats filled its rafters with the flurry of wings and quiet, high-pitched chatter.
As he walked through the cool night, his mind raced with ideas. Scarlett’s note had been careful, but the meaning was clear: bats swarming the construction site would draw attention—especially if they showed up in numbers.
When Tommy reached the chapel, he slipped inside through a broken window, landing lightly on the dusty floor. He shone his flashlight upwards, illuminating a sea of tiny, beady eyes staring back at him. The bats hung upside down, undisturbed by his presence. 
“Hey there,” Tommy whispered. “I need your help.”
He reached into his backpack, pulling out a small device—a handheld ultrasonic bat caller he’d built for a school project. It could mimic the echolocation calls of different bat species. He adjusted the dial and pressed the button, sending out a series of high-frequency sounds.
The bats stirred, rustling like dry leaves in the wind. Tommy grinned. “That’s right. Follow me.”


Back in Ratropolis, The Burrow was a hive of activity. Ivy was poring over her rubbings, her brow furrowed in concentration. Amelie and Scarlett watched anxiously as Atlas tried to patch a crack in the ceiling caused by the earlier tremors.
“These carvings,” Ivy said finally, “they’re a mix of symbols and numbers. I think it’s a map, but it’s not just about where to go. It’s about when.”
“When?” Scarlett echoed, her ears twitching.
Ivy nodded. “The elders used to talk about the cycles of the moon. These symbols match up with those phases. If I’m right, there’s a specific time we’re supposed to follow this map.”
“And if you’re wrong?” Atlas asked, his tail flicking skeptically.
“We won’t get another chance,” Ivy said quietly. “The construction is speeding up. If we don’t act, Ratropolis won’t survive.”
Amelie stepped forward, her voice firm. “Then we trust the map. Whatever it takes, we follow it.”
Scarlett sighed. “Fine. But if this leads to nothing, I’m holding you responsible, Ivy.”
“I’ll take that risk,” Ivy said, her eyes blazing with determination.

At the construction site, the air was thick with the smell of diesel and the rumble of idling machinery. Tommy crouched behind a pile of wooden pallets, his bat caller in hand. He adjusted the frequency and pressed the button again.
Above him, the first bat swooped down, its wings cutting through the air like a shadow. Then another. And another. Within minutes, the night sky was alive with dozens of bats, their erratic flight patterns creating a mesmerizing dance.
Tommy couldn’t help but smile. Scarlett’s plan was working. The bats swirled above the construction vehicles, their presence eerie and unexpected. He just needed to make sure the right people noticed.
Grabbing his phone, Tommy snapped a few photos and started typing a message. **“Endangered bats swarming construction site. Need to act fast. Can’t let this happen.”** He sent it to every environmental grou