Into the Wood

The dark mystery of the night was only penetrated by the white light of Inle as Hazel waited in the thicket at the edge of Sandleford. He had his brother, Fiver, with him and a young man he knew named Dandelion as well.

Hazel was older than both having already passed twenty years. He could've been in the Owsla but his younger brother needed looking after and not many other people tolerated Fiver's gift. Fiver was a psychic, and a darn good one at that. He had had a vision of doom coming upon Sandleford and Hazel was the only one to believe him, that is except for the few who agreed to run away with them.

As brothers they both had the same auburn hair and while Hazel had their father's copper-colored eyes, his brother had the misty gray of a psychic. Hazel was taller than his small brother yet Dandelion towered above both of them. He was a lanky young lad with short blonde hair and amber colored eyes. He was a good friend of Hazel's and helped convince other Outskirters like them to leave the warren.

Their chosen spot of cover was agreed upon earlier that day and everyone willing to leave the doomed warren was to meet the three there at fu Inle. Hazel was about to remark on their companions' lateness when he heard someone walking up to him from behind.

"Who is it? Blackberry? Is that you?" he whispered cautiously.

"Yes Hazel, it's me. I've brought along a little friend of mine, you remember him don't you?" answered Blackberry. She held the hand of a small boy who she urged to come out of the shadows.

"Um, hello there… sir. Nice night… isn't it?" The boy was obviously frightened but tried to look brave all the same. "I'm Pipkin."

Pipkin's mother, Violet, died during childbirth. He grew up without any real parents, and though most of the Outskirters would take turns taking care of him, Blackberry was the one he looked to as a motherly figure. As a baby, Blackberry never let him out of her sight and, even as a growing boy, this hadn't changed. Blackberry was a pretty young girl with unusual silver hair. She was very intelligent and many recognized her as the healer of Sandleford. When she heard about Fiver's vision, she was quick to realize they had to leave before it was too late.

"I hope you don't mind. He won't slow us up, will you dear?" Blackberry said as she walked closer to the group.

"Oh no! Don't worry Mr. Hazel, I'll run as fast as El-ahrairah! I'll be as strong as-"

"Shh! Pipkin of course you can come just don't shout. Blackberry were there any others?" Hazel said exasperatedly. He was anxious enough just trying to calm down Pipkin, dealing with others was sure to put a strain on things.

"Not many others I told would come. I'm sorry Hazel, they just won't listen."

"Actually, I told Bluebell and Hawkbit. They said they'd come but-look there they are!" Dandelion pointed to some shadows slowly making their way to the small group and sure enough the two brothers made themselves known.

"Hazel, what's this I hear 'bout some trouble comin' 'ere? Hawkbit says that brother o' yours 'as been 'avin them visions again. What's goin' on?" demanded Bluebell. He looked cautiously between the five of them with beady eyes.

Normally, he would be running around the warren with his brother, Hawkbit, causing mischief on any unlucky victims they'd pull pranks on. He wasn't much bigger than his younger brother but what he lacked for in size he made up for in authority. They both had the same messy, gray hair and sarcastic personalities. And right now they also shared the same look of exasperation.

"Fiver says there's some doom to come upon Sandleford and we have to leave before-" Hazel said, trying to make Bluebell see reason.

"You're actually goin' to listen to him 'bout this? Are you mad?! With all his moanin' 'e'll 'ave the entire Owsla on our tails in no time."

"My brother is not mad. And I'd appreciate you'd keep that in mind if you're to come along with us."

Before Bluebell had time to think of something else to say, they heard not too distant cries as the Owsla searched the warren for the runaways. Hawkbit jumped in surprise.

"Bluebell he's come looking for us!"

"What are you talking about? Who's coming?" Hazel questioned as he heard approaching footsteps.

"The Owsla! We ran into Toadflax and Ragwort on the way over and they must have alerted the-Dandelion behind you!" Hawkbit screamed as a hulking figure appeared just behind his friend. Dandelion jumped out of the way just in time for the mountainous figure to come charging into the group just feet in front of Hazel.

"Well, there aren't many of you are there?" the immensity was in fact a Captain of Owsla of great importance and was well known among the warren as-

"Bigwig! Are you off duty?" Hazel was just able to make out the face of the Captain standing before him. Fear swept over him as he realized his small group was no match against the Captain if he were to fight them.

"Ha! Off duty, and likely to remain off. I've left the Owsla. Happened just after you talked to the Threarah." Bigwig smugly ruffled his grayish-brown hair in mock boredom and stood in front of the group with pride. "I've been thinking about what you said Fiver, and if the chief won't listen… Well, I didn't like the way things were getting around here anyway."

"Alright then," Hazel heard the Owsla getting closer and turned quickly to the small group,"well I suppose we start running now." Bigwig grunted in approval and turned towards the part of the field that was closely shrouded with towering forest trees, not far but indeed distant.

"That might be wise, but the Owsla would be covering the farthest part of the field right now. So I say our best bet would be running into the forest." He looked at the group and saw the fear in their eyes; he knew they would be making this journey on blind hope. "Everyone got that?"

The rest nodded heads and they were soon bolting straight towards the woods.

The group heard more officers scattering around them and ran. None of them looked back as they heard the Owsla running around the field trying to find them.

They ran across the wide field that surrounded Sandleford and made it into a line of trees without being spotted. Since most of them had never been farther than the field, Bigwig led the way through the small wood. He did so with an air of regular authority, this didn't surprise Hazel, though it made him wary. Bigwig was good to have in case there was fighting. But Hazel knew him to be rash and sometimes had quite a temper, nothing like Bluebell though. In truth Hazel was ashamedly annoyed that he had bothered to show up, not many of them could say different, he was sure of that. Everyone knew he had an anger problem, and with Blackberry being around it could only get ugly. He decided to keep a close eye on both of them from now on, but for now Bigwig could lead them through the forest.

Their urgency fueled their sprint and they hardly noticed the distance put between them and the warren. Pipkin suddenly fell and let out a sharp cry to Blackberry. She went to his side and called the others to stop, unfortunately Bluebell was the only one to hear her.

"Oy, come on Blackberry, you're 'oldin' us up!"

"Can't you see he's hurt?"

"All I can see is you 'oldin' down a perfectly capable young buck!", he gave Pipkin an arrogant look, "Isn't that right lad?" When he didn't receive an answer from the obviously frightened child, Bluebell just jogged back to the rest.

"Oh that nasty- Never mind, come on dear, I'll help you up." She offered the boy her hand and they struggled but slowly made their way to the others.

The group trudged on through the wood and every once in a while they had to stop to let the smaller ones rest. From dragging their tired feet through the crowded undergrowth of the forest to hobbling over fallen trees, the group was exhausted. Bluebell, Hawkbit, and Dandelion wanted nothing more than to go back to the warren.

"You know it was safe at the warren, maybe the Threarah will listen to all of us. Eh Hazel?" Dandelion had stopped and looked back towards Sandleford and seemed to be in a daze. No doubt the exhaustion and shock, thought Hazel.

"We can't go back Dandelion, you heard Fiver, we'll all be killed." Hazel slowly pulled him back in the direction of the group and was worried to see so much sadness in his friend's expression. "Come on, why don't you try to tell Pipkin a story. I think he was hurt along the way, it could do him well to hear one of your stories." Dandelion just shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts, and walked towards Blackberry and Pipkin.

Dandelion had been one of the best storytellers Hazel had ever heard, he was even getting along good in the hierarchy of the warren, as most storytellers do. Their inherited knowledge of old legends and faraway peoples was very useful and the best could often be seen living amongst the Owsla. But now all that had changed for his friend, and Hazel felt deeply responsible.

At last they came out of the first wood and came upon a valley-shaped field, with tall grass that rolled with the cold night wind. The moonlight gave the meadow an eerie and beautiful sense of bliss and the travelers were happy to spend the night there. On the other side of the small plain was another wood, denser than the first. More dangerous.

"Alright everyone, we've earned a good rest find a space to sleep for the night and-"

"Wait Bigwig, we're not nearly far enough." Hazel took a step back and examined the sudden belt of trees in front of him. "We'll have to make through these trees if we really want to be clear of the Owsla."

"Now hold on, just exactly who is in charge of this little expedition of ours?"

"No one at the moment, but I don't plan on leaving anyone vulnerable to any attacks by elil. Frith knows what's out here." Hazel tried to sound forceful, and just for the moment it seemed to have worked as the burly Captain rolled his eyes and shouted to the others the change of plans.

"Hazel You don't think we could stay here for the night? Pipkin's foot got caught on a rock and he's had trouble since we left." Blackberry pointed over to Pipkin who was just a little ways off sitting under an old oak tree trying to massage his hurt ankle. "I don't think he can go much further."

"I'll go talk to him, come along Fiver."

Blackberry went to talk with Dandelion as the brothers made their way over to the small boy. Hazel reached him first and Fiver hung back behind him. Fiver could sense Pipkin's unease at Hazel kneeling before him and seeing him as weak. He smiled at the thought and waited patiently while the two talked.

"Hey there Hlao-roo," Hazel tussled his hair and Pipkin smiled despite the pain in his foot, "you doing alright? Blackberry said you've got yourself an injury there. That can't be true can it, not a tough little bugger like you?" Hazel playfully punched his shoulder and Pipkin laughed.

"No sir, that rock didn't know what hit him. Still, can't we stop here? You know, I don't think Blackberry can last as long as us bucks." He puffed out his chest and gave Hazel an over the top salute.

"No, I'm afraid despite that we'll have to keep going. Don't worry I'm sure a tough lad like you should make it no trouble at all." Hazel gave him one last cuff before standing.

"I'll stay with him Hazel, don't worry the others won't bother us." Fiver offered an arm to help the youngster stand up but he was soon back down again as Pipkin collapsed from the pain in his ankle and let out a yell.

"Hazel, I don't think he's going anywhere on that foot, we need someone bigger to help him." Fiver carefully laid Pipkin back down as Blackberry ran over to the three. The rest of the group joined and they were all soon gathered in a circle around the trembling child.

"Hazel he can't go on like this! We need to stop here. He can't be on this foot!" Blackberry had knelt down beside Pipkin and was searching his foot for any breaks. "I don't feel anything strange so it might be a sprain but still, if we have to go on someone will have to carry him, Frith knows I can't"

The group was empty of any volunteers. Having already run past their limit, they were reluctant to carry the boy, no matter how injured, through an unknown part of their small world. With the stress and exhaustion of running from the warren, Blackberry's nerves were ground down to almost nothing.

"Someone volunteer or I'll pick one of you lazy bucks myself!"

Empty, prideful silence.

"Dandelion! Pick him up please!" Blackberry looked to the groaning buck as he reached down for Pipkin. But as soon as he had an arm under the boy another voice rang out.

"We shouldn't 'ave to take orders from anyone. Especially a demanding, annoying little doe like you!"

"Hey Bluebell, take it easy will ya?" Hawkbit put a hand on his brother's shoulders, trying to calm him down. He was only brushed off as his brother took another step towards Blackberry.

Dandelion stood up and tried to dispel an argument he knew would only grow in intensity, "Really Bluebell its fine-"

"What do you mean annoying? You're the one who's been complaining the entire night!" Blackberry narrowed her eyes and glared daggers at the buck.

"Maybe I've been complaining because there's one person on this little expedition o' ours that should've been left at the warren."

The two's furious stare was abruptly broken when Bluebell found himself suddenly staring at the powerful arms that could only belong to the mighty Captain of Owsla as he cracked his knuckles and towered over the poor sap that dared cross him.

"I don't like your tone, old son. Apologize. " Bigwig looked down at him with warning clear on his face.

"But I-"

"Now!"

Horrified at the thought of having to fight, Bluebell gave a hasty apology before heading into the forest still fuming with his brother staying back to explain his actions.

"He's really a nice guy once you get to know 'im." Hawkbit offered an apologetic smile and began speaking again but was cut off by Blackberry.

"Well if he acts nice one more time I'll take care of him myself." Everyone gave a face of surprise at the normally pleasant doe. Dandelion, taken aback, said to Fiver ,"Glad we brought her."