Chapter One

-An Evening in Spring-

The sun sat low in the evening sky. The birds finished their songs and settled into their nests to roost. On Nuthanger Farm, the sheep were rounded up for the night, the new-born lambs keeping close to their protective mothers. A little way from the farm, atop a steep chalk down, Watership Down, a few rabbits dozed happily in the orange glow. The young kittens rolled around in the grass, playing and frolicking with each other. The evening silflay was over and the rabbits were enjoying the last of the day's sunlight before retiring to their burrows for a peaceful night's sleep.

Across the fields, over the small river Enborne and on the opposite side of the railway line was situated a very different kind of rabbit warren. Efrafa was a strict, militaristic place where any rabbit who was not on the council, in the Owslafa or in the standard Owsla, had a pretty poor standard of life. This had not always been the case. Efrafa's previous chief rabbit had been challenged a couple of years previously by a huge rabbit named Woundwort. He had killed the chief and immediately took the rank of General in the warren. He introduced a system known as the Marks. Each rabbit was given a Mark when they were born and they had to follow the rules meticulously, or else be punished by General Woundwort or one of his many Owsla captains. The rabbit of Watership Down had become involved with Efrafa and another warren, Darkhaven, Woundwort's birthplace, through an unlucky coincidence and it had led to the demise of Woundwort and many of his Owslafa and Owsla rabbits.

In the Chief rabbits burrow, Chervil-rah and his Supreme captain of Owsla, Vervain, were plotting a plan that they had been figuring out for the past few weeks. The final stages of the plan were coming together and it was to be put into effect late the next day.

'So, it's settled, Captain Vervain?'

'Yes, Chervil-rah; one wave, a quick victory; up, do the work, and then back down to Efrafa.'

'Very good,' said Chervil, 'Tell the troops to get ready.'

'Yes, sir.' Vervain left the burrow.

'This time it'll work.' Chervil growled to himself.

As the last of the light left the sky, the rabbits of Watership Down went below to their burrows. Hazel-rah, the respected chief, and Bigwig, the captain of Owsla, were the last to go underground that night.

'Once again, I feel fraudulent as chief.' Hazel chuckled.

'I know what you mean,' replied Bigwig, 'the Owsla hasn't had any real danger to deal with for days.'

'Well, let's hope it lasts. See you when Frith returns, Bigwig.'

The rabbits hopped down the main burrow and went their separate ways to their sleeping quarters. The night was uneventful and all the rabbits enjoyed a good night's sleep.

When the sun returned the next day, so too, did the rabbits. They ate the sweet green grass, watched the kittens playing and listened to stories. Hazel smiled at his warren of healthy, happy rabbits. Frith was watching over them and he could think of nothing that could diminish their happiness. His younger brother, Fiver, had not yet come up from his burrow. Hazel was not worried. Fiver had been running in his dreams and Hazel knew that when Fiver was dreaming, he liked to be left alone. However, the morning passed and Fiver still had not emerged from underground. Hazel went down to check on him, but could not wake him. That evening, Fiver still had not woken. There was no sign of illness about him. Hazel thought that Fiver must have been doing something the previous day that had tired him more than usual and decided to leave him be.

'Hazel! Hazel-rah!' Blackavar, a buck who had escaped from Efrafa a little while after Hazel's group had made their warren, ran down to Hazel's burrow.

'What in the world's wrong, Blackavar?' Hazel asked, turning to see Blackavar's face. The rabbit was scared out of his wits.

'Efrafa!'

'What?' Hazel was perplexed, 'Efrafa? Are you sure?'

'Yes! I'd recognise Chervil and Vervain anywhere. They're coming towards the Down; every buck in Efrafa.'

'Fiver! Wake up!'

Fiver did not respond to his brother's shout. Hazel had no choice but to leave him. He ran after Blackavar and joined Bigwig on the edge of the Down.

'It's going to be an all out battle, Hazel.' Bigwig gulped.

'Are our rabbit's strong enough to win?'

'I don't know. We've always relied on our wits. We've had no time to prepare. We'll have to fight.'

'All right,' Hazel turned to the crowd of rabbits behind him. 'Do your best to defend the warren. May Frith be with you all.'

'And with you, Hazel-rah.' Bigwig said.

'Attack them! Kill them!' Vervain's shrill cry cut through the air as the Efrafans surged forward.