Author's Note: I personally thoroughly enjoyed the BBC/Netflix retelling of Watership Down. This oneshot is an exercise in writing for me, who hasn't written fiction in a long, long time, of one of my favourite scenes: Hazel making the decision to ignore Fiver's warning and go to Cowslip's warren. Unbetaed and no doubt roughly done, but I hope you enjoy all the same!
The band of rabbits sat in a moment of brief, stunned silence as they watched the stranger – Cowslip – lope away. He had been unorthodox and odd in his introduction, but in the wake of their adventure, his invitation to join his warren were words of salvation. Hazel thought with some relief that the luck he had been wishing for just a short while ago was coming their way, and perhaps they would be able to put the quarreling and animosity from the night before behind them.
It was not in the least surprising that it was Bluebell, ever the chatterbox, who broke the quiet: "Well, that was unexpected."
"We're going, right?" Hawkbit chimed in, prompted by the prospect of a safe place to rest. "He seemed nice. I liked him. Let's go. Let's go right now."
The others, tired from their journey and a restless night, did not need much more convincing. It seemed an easy decision, and might have been for any other rabbit. This was not the case for Hazel, however, as it quickly became apparent that his best friend and greatest ally was also going to be the lone dissenter amongst them.
"But why did he invite us there?" Fiver asked, squinting after Cowslip, as if it would allow him to see through the rabbit and his motives. "It makes no sense to share with us. I've got a feeling–"
Hawkbit rolled his eyes and sighed, "Here we go."
"I've got a feeling," Fiver continued, unperturbed by Hawkbit's derision and with great conviction as he made his way to stand in front of the group, "we should have nothing to do with that rabbit or his warren, that we ought to leave this place at once and head to the down."
"What do you think, Hazel?" Bluebell asked. After all, whether they liked it or not, this was Hazel's adventure. They had followed him here and so he was the rabbit they turned to.
Hawkbit was, again, the one to interject: "Yeah, yeah, we all know what Hazel thinks," here, he broke into a mocking sing-song, "he thinks the same as Fiver."
Hazel was aware of the others watching him, waiting for him to speak. Worse than that, he knew what they were waiting for: either for him to discredit his brother, or himself. Blackberry's words from only just the day before echoed in his head: "Hazel's no fool, Hawkbit," he'd said, "He knows that we need to take Fiver with a pinch of salt every now and then."
If he was to be a leader, it would be his responsibility to make sure everyone was safe. He wanted to do right by them. But what was right? Did he follow his head, or did he follow his heart? Should he listen to reason, or follow his brother's intuition? Hazel tried to be logical: clearly, they needed a dry and safe place to rest. These scrapes were evidently not that, and what is dryer and safer than a warren? It was also likely that to go against such a clear majority would not work in Hazel's favour, only outcast him further.
But he trusted Fiver, perhaps more than he trusted any other. He had seen his brother's words come true time and again. The problem was that aside from insisting that he has been right in the past, Hazel had no evidence to show for it. Such reassurances wouldn't go far with these scared and tired rabbits. He had no way of knowing what had happened at Sandleford (if anything) and nothing to go on now but a feeling. And what could be worse here that Fiver could sense, than with the birds which he couldn't?
Perhaps it was simply Cowslip himself that had Fiver on edge, Hazel reasoned. The stranger was truly an odd rabbit if his approach was anything to go by. His unnaturalness left even Hazel with a sense of unease. Furthermore, they were all tired, and Hazel didn't doubt Fiver was especially so, as small as he was. He needed a chance for proper rest and that would set him right, surely. And if it didn't, they could leave afterwards, once they'd all slept properly. Just for one night, to give the place a chance. It was a good compromise.
One night. What could happen in that time, when they would be safe underground in a place where clearly a single rabbit is unafraid to approach a group of strangers? (Hazel wasn't sure if such a question was rhetorical, or if he truly wanted an answer.) Just one night to give the others a rest and a reason to trust him. Right now, he was simply their chief by circumstance. How long would that last? He needed them to like him if they were going to truly follow him. He needed to prove himself worthy and he could start now.
"I think we should go to Cowslip's warren," Hazel concluded aloud, hopping forward in the direction Cowslip had gone. "These scrapes are no good in this weather and I fancy taking the chance to get warm and have some sleep."
Hazel did not feel any sense of fulfillment in his decision, but he told himself it was the best choice. The others would be happy, safe and dry underground, and while he was sure Fiver would forgive him anything, he was equally sure the others would not.
They needed little other telling and immediately set off towards the warren. Hazel hung back briefly as he knew, even without looking, that Fiver had not yet moved. They had grown up together, been through thick and thin at Sandleford together, and Hazel could guess how he must be feeling.
He wanted to say something, to explain his reasoning, but all his words seemed inadequate in that moment. He glanced back briefly, but could not bear to look at his brother for long. He didn't want to see the sadness and betrayal he knew must be there. Mostly, he didn't want to look into his brother's eyes, so oddly coloured and different that they might as well be an outward expression of his unique ability to see Beyond. To see those eyes, so bright and obvious and unmistakable, Hazel worried he wouldn't be able to ignore what his heart and his brother were saying.
He followed after the others.