Brindle 3: The Fellow Traveller
Chapter 1: In the Beginning
As the sun was going down, the colours of the sky changed and spread like watercolour. The sight was beautiful and had a sense of calm and serenity. The bright stars slowly lit the scene as the daylight drew to a close. The last daffodil said goodbye to the world for another year, and the bluebells were being born. The only other movement came from the entrance of the burrows that made Watership Down what it is. A home for rabbits. Indeed, three such beings appeared from the mouth of the hole, sniffed and moved a little away. If you listened carefully, you might hear a noise. The three rabbits were communicating by means that is known, but different, to man. That is to say, they were 'talking'. Not like you me, but if they were to be written differently, you would not understand. I will tell you what they said, and of the extraordinary events that formed their future, and changed their lives forever.
Listen, this is what happened that night. ''We can't possibly do this!' said a plump doe to the other two bucks. ''What if we are caught? We were forbidden to ever go there!'' Blethlin was adamant, and whispered loudly.
''Not so loud, Blethlin'' said Brindle, quietly. '''This is important, and it must be done. What the chief of the warren is going through, I can't imagine. We must help, not just her, but the warren!''
''But what I don't understand is' said Rian 'Why does our Chief feel so reluctant to help Miriple-rah?''
''Well' said Brindle 'History says that they were loosely connected by family. Now we don't know why, but Elven-rah, our chief, left his daughter kit in her care. But the kit didn't see the light of day again''
''She died?'' gasped Rian
''Yes, and no one knows why such a healthy kit, with not a scratch on her, stopped running'' Brindle waited, letting all the facts sink in. He noticed a bug on the ground, and he bent down to have a look, the grass pressing like silk on his chin. Bugs always fascinated Brindle. He found them enthralling to watch, because he never knew what they would do next. He always wondered what was going on inside their heads, what the rest of the family was like, etc. He found it a lot of fun to imagine all these things, going down to insect level and exploring the life of the minute. The bug itself was a dark green colour, just visible in the limited amount of light. It resembled a mouldy nut, pointy at one end. Brindle noticed that its shape represented the unknowing, the two faced side of others. On the outside, a tasty morsel, but on the inside, foul and disgusting.
Bugs were not common on the downs, especially ones like these. They scuttle away during the day, muttering about 'rabbits, such a nuisance. They are so noisy!' But of course they aren't, but we have a different perspective of them, don't we?
Brindles movement distracted the bug, and it turned to look at him. It gave him an accusing look, and then its wings started to buzz, like a large helicopter, and noisily whirred and stuttered away. It began to spit with rain, and Brindle looked up to see Rian gazing into the sky. ''The birds are out'' he said simply, the rain bashing his eyes, the eyelids trying to protect them. One bird, swooped down at devoured the bug that had just taken off.
''But we don't have a clue what is going on'' said Blethlin in dismay. ''It'll be like walking calmly into a burrow that we believe is not inhabited by hombil'' she continued, sarcastically.
''But what if we don't go? What if we stay here? What if we don't go and ignore them? Someone will die! And if we die there, then we will die knowing that we attempted to help!'' said Brindle, leaning towards her. Rian stood, hopping from one paw to the other, and then lifted his paws to wash the rain out his eyes. '' I'm in the middle'' he said. It frustrated him when he couldn't make his mind up. It was lucky it was raining, or his tears would have been noticed. Rian usually stood by like this, saying nothing. He felt he could learn more, concentrate and still stay friends with them. His pale fur opened up to reveal his skin in the breeze. He shivered. ''Look'' said Brindle. ''We are getting cold. The sooner we get there, the sooner we come back, but I'm not going back now! Besides the guards will kill us if they know we are up so late!''
Again there was another pause. Rian looked to Brindle, waiting for what he should do. He thought to himself 'If Brindle is going, then I will travel with him'. He did not have to wait long. Suddenly, Brindle got to his feet, and dashed across the field. 'I am going, and that is final!' Rian bolted after him, trying to keep himself by his side. Blethlin paused, and then 'Brindle! Come back here at once!' she called, but found that her legs pushed her forward.
So their journey begins, but when will it end?
Chapter 1: In the Beginning
As the sun was going down, the colours of the sky changed and spread like watercolour. The sight was beautiful and had a sense of calm and serenity. The bright stars slowly lit the scene as the daylight drew to a close. The last daffodil said goodbye to the world for another year, and the bluebells were being born. The only other movement came from the entrance of the burrows that made Watership Down what it is. A home for rabbits. Indeed, three such beings appeared from the mouth of the hole, sniffed and moved a little away. If you listened carefully, you might hear a noise. The three rabbits were communicating by means that is known, but different, to man. That is to say, they were 'talking'. Not like you me, but if they were to be written differently, you would not understand. I will tell you what they said, and of the extraordinary events that formed their future, and changed their lives forever.
Listen, this is what happened that night. ''We can't possibly do this!' said a plump doe to the other two bucks. ''What if we are caught? We were forbidden to ever go there!'' Blethlin was adamant, and whispered loudly.
''Not so loud, Blethlin'' said Brindle, quietly. '''This is important, and it must be done. What the chief of the warren is going through, I can't imagine. We must help, not just her, but the warren!''
''But what I don't understand is' said Rian 'Why does our Chief feel so reluctant to help Miriple-rah?''
''Well' said Brindle 'History says that they were loosely connected by family. Now we don't know why, but Elven-rah, our chief, left his daughter kit in her care. But the kit didn't see the light of day again''
''She died?'' gasped Rian
''Yes, and no one knows why such a healthy kit, with not a scratch on her, stopped running'' Brindle waited, letting all the facts sink in. He noticed a bug on the ground, and he bent down to have a look, the grass pressing like silk on his chin. Bugs always fascinated Brindle. He found them enthralling to watch, because he never knew what they would do next. He always wondered what was going on inside their heads, what the rest of the family was like, etc. He found it a lot of fun to imagine all these things, going down to insect level and exploring the life of the minute. The bug itself was a dark green colour, just visible in the limited amount of light. It resembled a mouldy nut, pointy at one end. Brindle noticed that its shape represented the unknowing, the two faced side of others. On the outside, a tasty morsel, but on the inside, foul and disgusting.
Bugs were not common on the downs, especially ones like these. They scuttle away during the day, muttering about 'rabbits, such a nuisance. They are so noisy!' But of course they aren't, but we have a different perspective of them, don't we?
Brindles movement distracted the bug, and it turned to look at him. It gave him an accusing look, and then its wings started to buzz, like a large helicopter, and noisily whirred and stuttered away. It began to spit with rain, and Brindle looked up to see Rian gazing into the sky. ''The birds are out'' he said simply, the rain bashing his eyes, the eyelids trying to protect them. One bird, swooped down at devoured the bug that had just taken off.
''But we don't have a clue what is going on'' said Blethlin in dismay. ''It'll be like walking calmly into a burrow that we believe is not inhabited by hombil'' she continued, sarcastically.
''But what if we don't go? What if we stay here? What if we don't go and ignore them? Someone will die! And if we die there, then we will die knowing that we attempted to help!'' said Brindle, leaning towards her. Rian stood, hopping from one paw to the other, and then lifted his paws to wash the rain out his eyes. '' I'm in the middle'' he said. It frustrated him when he couldn't make his mind up. It was lucky it was raining, or his tears would have been noticed. Rian usually stood by like this, saying nothing. He felt he could learn more, concentrate and still stay friends with them. His pale fur opened up to reveal his skin in the breeze. He shivered. ''Look'' said Brindle. ''We are getting cold. The sooner we get there, the sooner we come back, but I'm not going back now! Besides the guards will kill us if they know we are up so late!''
Again there was another pause. Rian looked to Brindle, waiting for what he should do. He thought to himself 'If Brindle is going, then I will travel with him'. He did not have to wait long. Suddenly, Brindle got to his feet, and dashed across the field. 'I am going, and that is final!' Rian bolted after him, trying to keep himself by his side. Blethlin paused, and then 'Brindle! Come back here at once!' she called, but found that her legs pushed her forward.
So their journey begins, but when will it end?