Nemi looks back and gives Elric and Tortle smile, "I'd be pleased if you'd do so, I do not see well in the dark either." Then after waiting a moment for his torch to be lit, leads the group into the cave cautiously.  "The fire may also help to keep it at bay should it mind our intrusion.'

perception 18 

Horkur follows closely behind, weapons drawn at the ready.  "Aye, yes thanks for the light."

The tunnel does no go far. It opens into a small cozy den littered with bits of grass, hairs, seed shell fragments. A field mouse (slightly larger than you) crouches at the back, looking terrified, whiskers trembling, beady black eyes fixed on you, reflecting the torchlight.

Horkur pulls a ration from his pack, unwraps it, and tosses it on the ground toward the mouse.

"It's OK little guy, we are friendly folks!"

Animal handling check please, with advantage due to your increased ability to communicate.

Animal Handling: 19

The mouse tentatively creeps out, accepts your offering m, bringing it back to the far wall, and calms down somewhat. It nibbles at the ration.

Elric smiles as Horkur's gesture seems to find success.  He creeps back slightly and turns to the side, hiding the torch's direct flame from the mouse's sight so as to avoid scaring it.

Horkur takes another ration from his pack, unwraps it, and slowly approaches the mouse cautious not to spook it - however if it will allow him to he will approach to pat/pet and try to calm it further he will continue forward to try to do so.

"Awe, its good huh buddy, yes...  Unkle Horkur just wants to be your friend, maybe we can help each other."  He continues in a calm and friendly tone, almost as if he were talking to a toddler, holding the ration out in front of him - a smile on his face.

Congratulations. You’ve made a mousey friend.

Horkur gives mousey a hug and begins rubbing and scratching behind his ear.  

Looking back to the rest of the group, he asks: "So, I have never trimmed a mouse's nails before..  Any thoughts on how best to approach?  Maybe we can get our cozy little friend here to take a little nap first or something?"  His mind immediately then wonders for a moment, as if struck by a half-formed idea.  "Also, any thoughts on how to train a mouse to be a mount?  They are such good little climbers I suspect he would be such a big helper, yes he would!"

Elric considers the thorny issue of mouse pedicure. "Well, erm I bite my nails.  If Mousey is friendly they might be persuaded to do the same?"

Horkur nods.  He pulls another ration from his pack and unwraps it, handing it to the mouse.  As he does so we will try to point to the mouse's nails and say, "Those are getting long my friend, perhaps a quick trim?  I am happy to help you make it clean, but if you would prefer to do it can I ask to have your nail trimmings?"

Persuasion with advantage 

Persuasion: 16

I suppose the mouse, with some trepidation, will reluctantly allow you to trim its nails.

(this is something I never imagined might actually occur in D&D)

Horkur gently trims the tips of the longer nails on the mouse (careful not to trim too closely) and slides them into his pack along with the ant hairs from the day prior. He gives his friend a good rub and says "Thank you my friend, you are very welcome to keep us company if you would like - I would love your company and perhaps we could fix some sort of saddle on you if you would let me, but I will not force you into my servitude.  If you decide stay, please do be careful when you go out - there is a big bird outside somewhere!"

Horkur turns to his friends: "Where next?"

The mouse will remain on its burrow for now but you will leave on good terms with it.

"This is great!" Says Elric, patting Horkur on the shoulder. "Just an aphid's hair follicle to go, so...go where the plants are?"

"We used to see those aphids on the underside of our beet leaves, would turn em yellow.  Perhaps we should head to the vegetable patch?  Though, when I used to see them, there used to be dozens of the darned things on them..  Anyways, spose we look for some plants that ain't lookin so green to find em."