Okay, this is my first time using fanfiction and I only have one request: PLEASE REVIEW! I'd also like to dedicate this story to Pheonix Fire Spirit (read her stuff, it's great). My story wouldn't be here if she never told me about fanfiction. Also, thanks to Richard Adams. He was the real basis for my insparation. You rock Richard!!!!!!

If you haven't read Watership Down, then you obviously wouldn't know about Lapine, the language of the rabbits. Here is a list of the Lapine words I used in this story:

rah- prince, leader, or Chief Rabbit. Usually used as a suffix

Owsla- a group of the strongest and cleverest rabbits in a warren that serve the Chief Rabbit and his doe. Some Owslas are strictly military while others are made up of garden raiders or patrolls. A storyteller or seer may also find their way into one.

silflay- to go above ground and feed

elil- enimies to rabbits (foxes, badgers, men, ect.)

tharn- stupified or hypnotized with fear. In certain contexts it may mean "looking foolish", "heartbroken", or "forlorn."

Anywho, on with the story.

A heavily built young buck with a thick gray coat stood guard in front of Hazelrah's empty burrow. His father had left only a moment ago as though in some sort of trance. Perturbed by his unusual behavior, the buck left his post to follow Hazel. As he passed through the Honeycomb, a voice stopped him.

"Ashwood! Wait a moment!" The buck turned to face the speaker. It was Rosebarb, a young brown furred doe and the first female Captain of Owsla. But doe or not, that shouldn't come as a suprise considering she was one of Bigwig's granddaughters. Rosebarb continued, "Where's Hazel? He told the Owsla to report to him this morning but none of the officers or I can find him." She sounded as worried as Ashwood began to feel.

"I was just going to look for him," he replied. "Hazel was acting strangely when he left so I decided to follow and see. He's probably just gone out to silflay."

The two rabbits exited the warren through the main run. Above ground, Ashwood spotted a group of his sisters playing bob-stones with some of the younger kittens among piles of already fallen leaves and went to ask them if they knew anything of Hazel's whereabouts.

"Moonflower," he began, directing his question at an albino kitten. "Have you seen father anywhere?"

Moonflower replied, "Actually, I saw him heading toward that ditch over there. He looked tharn, Ashwood. It was really weird." Leaving his sister with words of reassurement, Aswood, followed closely by Rosebarb, made his way to the ditch.

The sight they found was not one they were glad to see at all. Hazel lay motionless at the edge of the ditch, sprawled out as he would to sleep. "I think he's dead," murmured Ashwood, his voice filled with despair. Rosebarb gently touched noses with the old rabbit at her paws. It was dry and no breath came from it. "I'm sorry Ashwood," she told him sympathetically. "I know you loved your father very much." If rabbits could cry, Aswood would be doing just that at this moment. He said, "The Black Rabbit would have come for him sooner than later. At least he looks comfortable. We'd better tell the Council."

After receiving the report from Rosebarb, the Council (another attribute later adapted from the Efrafans) discussed the issue of electing a new Chief Rabbit. "Well," began a grizzled old buck, his fur graying with age, "I think the doe, you know the one from his first litter, should take the position. She's old enough."

Another put in, "I agree with you that we need a rabbit of age, but the doe you speak of is much too old. She'll stop running by next summer. Perhaps Inlethlay (literally translated as 'moon fur'). He's an officer in the Owsla and Hazel had only good words for him."

Words of approval rippled over the Council, but a young doe in the back spoke up. "I agree that Inlethlay is an excellent choice, but he's need on the Owsla. If anything were to happen to Rosebarb, he's next to take her place as captain. I say that we elect that young gray buck who was always with Hazel or outside his burrow. He'd have a lot of experience, helping Hazel with his duties and all. Ashwood, I think his name was?"

After much consideration, the Council made their decision to make Ashwood the next Chief Rabbit.

One of the Owsla messengers was sent to ready him to appear before the Council at ni-Frith.

Excited to carry out his very first duty, the novice messenger scampered out of the Council burrow. He still couldn't believe that they were actually going to make his best his best friend the Chief Rabbit! Turning into the first burrow of a long run, the messenger found Ashwood and his brother huddled in the middle sleeping.

"Ashwood," he said quietly. "Ashwood, wake up. It's Speedpaw. I've got some good news for you."

Still groggy from just waking up, Ashwood stumbled out of burrow. "This better be good," he said crankily.

Speedpaw got very excited and told him everything about the Council meeting and their decision. "You've got less fifteen minutes 'till ni-Frith," he told him, assisting him in flattening his disarranged fur. "The Council hates tardiness, so you'd better show up a little early."

"But I can't be Chief Rabbit!," objected Ashwood. "I haven't even been considered to be accepted as part of the Owsla yet. And I can't run very fast or fight either. Why don't they choose Inlethlay? He's everything and more."

Speedpaw replied, "I honestly don't think they're looking at your physical ability, Ashwood. True, I got accepted because I can run, but you can actually give something to the warren, I think. But we'd better go now. Wouldn't want to keep the Council waiting, now would we?"

Leaving his friend outside the Council Burrow, Speedpaw continued down the run, going about some other Owsla business. Ashwood took a deep breath and nervously hopped into the entrance.

He was greeted by the grizzled old rabbit, obviously the Head of Council, and received nods from the other six and the Captain of Owsla all sitting in a semicircle around the burrow. Rosebarb winked good luck at him as the Head began to speak.

"Welcome, Ashwood. It has come to our attention, after the unfortunate death of Hazelrah, our warren is in need of a new Chief Rabbit. After much discussion, we have decided to pass this responsibility on to you. Do you accept, knowing your duty to defend the warren against elil and to keep up the general well-being of the rabbits here?"

With the strongest voice he could muster, Ashwood replied, "I accept and pledge," glad to be over with it.

Then the Head spoke to Rosebarb, "As Captain of Owsla, do you accept the responsibility of protecting the life of your Chief Rabbit before your own, and can you speak the same for your officers?"

She replied, "I accept and pledge."

So Ashwood became known throughout the warren as Ashwoodrah. But that was a mouthful, so most of the rabbits just called him Ashrah.

Ashrah could do anything he wanted in the warren, but he promised not only the Council but himself to do his best for the warren. Little did he know, however, that his first test was coming sooner than he thought......

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was my sad attempt at a clincher ending! Yeah, this chapter wasn't too exciting, but the next one has a garden raid so that one should turn out better. Please review!!!!