Dervel

Dervel crossed his eyes, bit his lip and wrinkled his nose down.  “Got an idea!” he said after a few seconds, his features pinging back into place.  “I just had some deep thinks.”

Dervel

Dervel is, by all accounts, a very special rat.  He’s an innocent – that is to say, he’s not very bright.  He’s six months old, tall and skinny and those ears – well, nobody’s too sure about those ears.  Whenever anyone asks Dervel why his ears are so droopy, he always gives a different answer.  Sometimes it’s because a bear pulled them; other times it’s because his brother once tied rocks to them.  Whatever the reason may be, it’s clear that his ears are unique – even for a dumbo like Dervel.

Dervel is several months younger than the girls and is often bullied by Snitch, who knows that he’s too nervous to stand up for himself.  Secretly he idolises her and wants nothing more than to be her best friend and, because of this, he lets her get away with all sorts of mean behaviour.

In the book, Dervel meets Snitch after seeing posters put up all across the Vermin Realm, advertising for rats to join her.  Although it isn’t clear what he’s joining exactly, Dervel is immediately won over by the promise of a free rucksack, and is kept under Snitch’s control with threats of physical violence, emotional blackmail and, frequently, bribery.  He is made Snitch’s First Officer after accepting a mission that no one else in her army wants to do, and is enormously proud to think that he is in some way useful to her.  He meets Smurt through Snitch, and their own friendship is cemented when the trio get stranded in the Human Realm.

Dervel doesn’t see much of his family in the Vermin Realm.  His mum, Gloria, and his dad, Frank, are no longer alive and although he does have one brother, Snaggle, they aren’t exactly close.  In fact, most of Dervel’s memories from his childhood seem to revolve around Snaggle tormenting him and giving him beats.
Dervel doesn’t ask much from life.  All he really wants is friendship, a rucksack to call his own and an endless supply of sandwiches.  He particularly likes triangle-cut chocolate spread sandwiches.  He is fascinated by history and his dearest wish is to have a history book of his very own.  Unfortunately, he can’t read very well.

If you ever do happen to run into Dervel, don’t offer him any jelly.  It frightens him.