Another glorious day once again on Watership Down, the wind still blowing clean, the grass as green as it can be, and the world so very peaceful and welcoming.
At the entrance of the burrow the Warren's Chief rabbit slipped out, sniffing the air cautiously for any danger. Once he was sure it was safe he pulled himself further from the burrow, stretching his body a bit to pop his tired bones and joints. He then gave his head a shake and gave his ears a good scratch before he hopped to a nice spot in the grass to watch the run rise.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" A soft little voice spoke up from behind Hazel which startled him back to his feet and whipped around to see who spoke.
He glanced around some until he noticed a small brown mouse sitting in the grass not too far from him.
"Oh Hana, yes a lovely morning." Hazel greeted with a friendly smile.
Hana smiled back and walked up to sit next to the rabbit.
"You're up awfully early Hazel, planning on going somewhere?" She asked curiously.
"Who says I'm going anywhere?" Hazel asked back.
"Just guess." She answered.
Hazel smirked and looked back out across the down.
"I don't know yet Hanna but to tell you the truth I'm up early is because…I'm worried. I'm worried about everyone's futures and we need more of us on the down. Without more of us we won't have a future." Hazel answered her's earlier question.
The small mouse smiled at this.
"So you need new rabbits? I know where you can find them." Hana replied proudly before she started to lead Hazel down the hill and continued to lead him until they reached the farm.
"At the farm." She said, gesturing to the old farm that they go to steal flayra.
"There are rabbits down there?" Hazel questioned, very confused since he and none of the others have ever seen them.
"In cages, farm rabbits. Their inside the barn. Get them out and they'll come here." The mouse replied.
Hazel smiled at that idea and nodded.
"Alright, I'll get them out."
Hana nodded before she and Hazel headed back to the warren.
As the two went into the warren to find Bigwig and Fiver Hazel was the first one to catch the sight of Blackberry and Dandelion looking around a corner and giggling.
"What's going on?" Hana asked and Blackberry giggled and gestured for them to stay quiet.
"Only the cutest thing you'll ever see."Blackberry said.
"Just take a look for yourself."Dandelion said.
Curiosity taking too much of them Hana and Hazel too peeked around the corner and saw that the rabbits were right, it was the cutest sight ever and they had to stop themselves from saying 'Aww'.
Bigwig had Fiver in his arms and was gently grooming his neck, chest and ears and Fiver groomed his shoulders and thick mane. It was a rather intimate arranged but Hazel knew why that was. He saw Bigwig asking Fiver to be able to court him and judging by the look of things his younger brother said yes.
"It's such a surprise to see old Bigwig gentle with anyone. He's usually such a ripe lemon."Dandelion said with a soft chuckle.
"Yes, but it seems like Fiver hopped his way into his heart. I wonder what this could bring."Blackberry said.
"Alright, you two, that's enough spying. Hop off now."Hazel said.
With satisfied smiles the two rabbits nodded and left, obviously going to tell the other rabbits what they saw.
Hazel chuckled and shook his head at their childlike glee but was happy to see they would accept their pairing if it ever came true like he knew Bigwig was praying would. He then turned back to looked at Bigwig and Fiver, he smiled and watched them for a bit longer before he cleared his throat to get their attention and let them know of his presents.
The two bucks looked over at him and instantly Fiver gasped and blushed in embarrassment at being caught.
"Ha…Hazel, how long have you been there?" Fiver shouted.
Hazel chuckled and hopped up them, smiling gently down at his little brother.
"Long enough Fiver and long enough to see you two really do care for each other." Hazel replied before he leaned down and licked Fiver's forehead comfortingly.
Fiver calmed down some but was still very embarrassed and got out of Bigwig's arms.
"What is it, old chum?"Bigwig asked.
"Hana has found a place where we can get mor allies."Hazel said and gestured to the field mouse who came into the room to tell the other bucks what she knew.
"It's a farm that tends to all sorts of animals and I saw a few rabbits there. Luckily though the lock never works and the famer uses a flimsy rope to hold it together. All you have to do is bite through the rope and free the rabbits."Hana said.
"But since this is a dash and rescue mission, only the three of us and Hana are going."Hazel explained.
Bigwig smiled at the sound it and nodded.
"Alright, then let's get going then." The captain of Owlser replied, a bit of excitement creeping into his voice.
Fiver whimpered fearfully some and crouched down to the ground in fear.
"But Hazel what about the…cat?" Fiver questioned, his body shivering from the mere mention of the feline.
Hazel knelt down to Fiver and smirked.
"It'll be alright Fiver, I won't let that cat get you and don't worry, I'm not planning on making you do much other then be our look out." Hazel replied to reassure the young buck.
"He's right lad, Hazel and I wouldn't let no mangy flea bag hurt ya and if one does show I'll deal with it personally." Bigwig added in, kneeling down beside Fiver and nuzzled him.
Fiver smiled at the reassurance and nuzzled the lion head rabbit back.
"Alright then, let's go."Fiver said and off the group went.
Hana led the way to the farm she spoke of and pointed out the human who was tending to his chicken and cows. She then pointed to the cages where all the rabbits were and sure enough the locks were tied with rope that could be easy to chew threw.
"Alright then, Hana you and Fiver stay here and make sure that the farmer doesn't notice us. And if he does you'll come and tell us so, Hana."Hazel stated.
"Right!" Hana said with a salute.
"Since the ropes are weak looking it'll be pretty easy so we shouldn't be too long. Just stay out of sight."Bigwig said and the two largest bucks hopped away.
Fiver and Hana watched the go and Fiver sent them a silent prayer for their safe return. Once they disappeared into the barn Hana climbed up a wooden pole in the ground so she could keep an eye ut for the cat while Fiver watched the farmer.
Inside the barn Hazel glanced around inside until he spotted the cage Hana had said the rabbits were kept inside of up on top of a stack of hay bells.
"There it is." Hazle said, pointing towards it with his nose.
Bigwig looked in the direction and nodded. The hopped over to the hay bells and then helped each other up until they sat in front of the cage. Inside were four or five very large and healthy rabbits, resting peacefully without a care in the world.
"Hello in there." Hazel greeted, waking the rabbits instantly.
They looked at him curiously and one got up from her resting spot to inspect him closer, Hazel smiling friendly back at her.
"My names Hazel and this is my friend Bigwig." The Chief rabbit introducing himself and his right paw rabbit.
"Oh, hello. I'm Clover. Are you the new friends Mr. Thomson said he'd bring?"Clover asked.
"Mr. Thomson?"Hazel asked.
"Our human farmer. He's very nice, and let's us all stay here to keep us from harm's way of the fox and in return we eat his grass in places his grass cutter can't reach. This is good, because this is around the time that fox is around."The doe explained and shivered at the thought of the creature.
"What?!"Hazel asked in shock and Bigwig gasped.
"Oh yes. Every year at this time like clockwork, that mean fox goes on the hunt for rabbits and any other creature it can eat. You two are lucky to come here in time."Clover explained with a slight smile not aware of the horrible realization the bucks reached.
"Fiver and Hana!"Bigwig exclaimed in worry.
At this time, unbeknownst to them, a large red creature was stalking the runt and field mouse with greedy eyes. It licked it's lips and growled as it slowly walked towards them.
Fiver was become worried and nervous the longer they waited. He glance up at Hana who was still perched up on the wood pole.
"Do you see them?" He called up.
Hana looked back down at him and shook her head.
"No, I guess that old rope was tougher than we thought." She replied.
Fiver pulled his ears back and looked back towards the barn.
'Oh I wish they'd hurry up, the longer we're here the more nervous I get." He pleaded.
"Don't worry so much Fiver, we'll be leaving as soon as Hazel and Bigwig come back." Hana called down to try and calm the distressed young rabbit.
Finally the red creature pounced and Hana and Fiver turned around to gasp at the sight of the red fox.
"Let's get's out of here, Hana!"Fiver said and the duo ran off.
At the sound of the canine like growl Hazel and Bigwig knew what it was.
"Bigwig, we have to go and help them! Wait here, Clover, we'll help you as soon as we can."Hazel said and the two bucks hopped out of the barn, not noticing that another pair of eyes were watching them and then they followed.
Fiver and Hana ran with all the power their legs had to get away from the large red fox. The vulpine was nothing if not persistent as it chased them. With every corner they took the fox took it as well. Finally it came they came to a stop when faced with a dead end. Fiver and Hana turned around and looked at the fox who was licking his lips.
"What do we do now, Fiver?"Hana asked.
"Run up the tree and stay there. I'll be fine."Fiver stated.
"Are you sure?"Hana asked in a worried tone.
"Trust me, it'll be fine."Fiver said with a smile. After a moment Hana finally ran up the tree and the Seer turned to look at the fox.
The vulpine growled at his prey and was about to charge until a rock was tossed at him and Fiver looked to see Hazel and Bigwig.
"Get away from him!" Hazel yelled.
Bigwig yelled his famous battle cry as he charged at the fox and rammed right into its side, knocking it clear off its feet and winded it.
"Nobody hurts Fiver." Bigwig growled angrily.
The fox coughed as it struggled to regain its breath and then snarled at who dared to attack him. But when he saw Bigwig and Hazel it whined at the sight of the larger rabbits and turned tail and ran, not thinking a small rabbit was worth the fight.
Bigwig continued to growl after the fox as it ran off with its tail between its legs. Once it was out of sight did Bigwig relax again and then sit up with a victorious grin.
"Ha, I bet now he'll think twice before he messes with another rabbit again." Bigwig sneered.
Hazel hopped over to Fiver to check his little brother for injuries and was soon joined by Bigwig.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
Fiver nodded, trying to get his shaking back under control.
"Yes, thanks for the help." Fiver replied.
Bigwig smiled and nuzzled Fiver lovingly before he looked up at the tree.
"Its like I said love, I'd never let anyone or anything hurt you."
Hazel smiled at the two but then noticed that another one in their party was missing.
"Hey, where's Hana?"Hazel asked.
"Up, here Hazel!"Hana called out from the tree and climbed down from the tree. "Did you manage to get those other rabbits out?"Hana asked.
"No, not yet. One of them told us about the fox that comes around here and that's how we ended up coming this way. It's a good thing we did."Hazel said.
"Well let's go on back then. That farmer tends to all of his animals for an hour each and the rabbits are next."Hana stated.
"Right." Hazel replied before he turned and started to hop back towards the barn, determined to finish what he came here for.
The others followed close behind until they came to the barn entrance. Hazel turned to Fiver and Hana.
"You two stay here and keep an eye out, maybe this time we won't have any interruptions." Hazel ordered which the two nodded in understanding.
The Chief rabbit and Bigwig went back inside and hopped back over to the cage.
"Clover?" Hazel called, not really remembering which rabbit he had spoken to earlier.
Hazel and Bigwig heard a yawn and looked to see Clover standing up and wiping the sleep from her eyes. She looked through the cage and saw the two bucks.
"Oh, it's you two again. You ran off so suddenly before. You weren't going after that fox, were you?"Clover asked curiously.
"Actually, yes. It was because you told us about him that we were able to save two friends of ours. So we thank you greatly for that."Hazel said with a smile.
"Oh well that's good to hear."Clover said.
"Now we can get you all out of here."Bigwig stated.
"But why would we leave? We like it here. The farmer is nice, we have all the food and water need and it's fun to ride on his dog."Clover said.
"Well I'm sure that it's all very lovely here but haven't you ever wondered what it would be like in other places with other rabbits? How much fun you could have being around more of your own kind and seeing new animals too?"Hazel asked.
"Hmm...I never thought about that before."Clover said in thought.
"So will you come with us?" Hazel asked.
Clover thought for a bit longer before she smiled and nodded.
"Sure, why not." She replied happily.
The two wild bucks smiled before Bigwig hopped up on top of the cage and started to chew on the rope that kept the rabbits in the cage.
While they worked Fiver and Hana were both starting to feel a bit nervous as they started to smell something in the air and it wasn't good.
"Do you smell that Hana?" Fiver asked the mouse as he glanced around, trying to find what it was making that smell.
"Hana sniffed the air and nodded.
"Yes and I'm hoping it's not what I think it is." She replied.
Fiver looked back at her, fear clear on his face.
"What? What do you think it is?" he questioned.
"A cat." She hissed distastefully.
"Reoow, you're so right."Said a purring female voice and out from the shadows came Tabitha the cat. The rodent mammals gasped at the sight of the feline.
"Hana, quickly, get up the tree."Fiver said.
"No, I ran off on you already and I'm not doing it twice."Hana stated.
"Now isn't the time to be stubborn, Hana."Fiver said.
"Let your friend do as she pleases, long ears. I for one have no problems with her sticking around."Tabitha said and laughed.
"I'll bet you don't, you greedy beast."The Seer said with a glare.
"What can I say? A lady needs to eat."Tabitha said and charged at the two.
After Bigwig and Hazel got Clover to come with them, said doe being the only one to come along since none of the other rabbits wanted to, they hopped quietly out of the barn then got up to where Hana and Fiver were at.
"Fiver? Hana? Where are you?"Hazel called out. Bigwig took a whiff of the air and gasped.
"Oh Frith, it's that darned cat. She must have gotten to them and they ran."Bigwig said.
"Tabitha? But that can't be her. She's always so nice to us. We're even good friends."Clover said in disbelief and shock.
"Tabitha may be friends with you, Clover, but I'm afraid that she doesn't really care for us wild rabbits. We have to find them and quickly."Hazel said and the rabbits followed the scent of the cat.
"Oh dear." Clover whispered unhappily as she watched Hazel and Bigwig go after their friends, following their scents.
Fiver panted hard as he kept running as fast as he could while Hana rode on his back, throwing acorns and small rocks at the chasing cat when she got too close.
"We've got to find somewhere to hide. I can't keep running like this for much longer" Fiver yelled to Hana through his heavy breathing.
"I know Fiver but where?" She called back, looking around the area they were in at the time which was on the other side of the farm.
She then spotted an old wheel barrel propped up against a fence and gasped at the idea she got.
"Fiver there, we can hide underneath it until the others come looking." She suggested.
Fiver looked and saw the wheel barrel and ran to it. He rammed his body into wheel, knocking it off balance. As it came falling down Fiver jumped underneath it, hidden before the cat could see where they went.
Tabitha stopped to look around for her prey and hissed angrily when she couldn't find them.
"Come out, long ears and long tail! You can't stay hidden forever."Tabitha said.
When the feline got no answer after so many minutes she gave an irritated huff and walked away. After being sure that Tabitha was gone Hana and Fiver came out.
"Whew. That was close there, Fiver. That wench almost got us, she did."Hana said.
"Yes, but we're out of harm's way now at least."Fiver said. Just then they heard growling and turned to see the same fox from before coming out with bared teeth.
"Spoke too soon, it seems."Hana said fearfully.
As Tabitha walked back to the farm she was suddenly ambushed and pinned down and looked to see Hazel and Bigwig.
"Alright, cat, where's Fiver and Hana?"Bigwig asked sharply, not about to take any bull this creature said.
"You mean that mouse and runt of a rabbit? Don't worry, I lost them while I was chasing them. I lost them up ahead."Tabitha explained.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?"Hazel asked with narrowed eyes.
"Use your nose, long ears. If I really did eat them I'd have blood on me."Tabitha said.
Hazel glared down at her and sniffed before he looked up at Bigwig.
"She's right Bigwig, there's no blood." Hazel reassured the Lion head Rabbit who sighed in great relief before he glared down at the pinned cat.
"Where did you lose them?" Bigwig demanded.
The cat hissed angrily as Hazel pressed down on her back a bit harder.
"I lost them around the fence I don't know if they continued running or hid, now get off me." Tabitha growled and tried to bit Hazel but Hazel was too fast for her and kicked her in the nose.
But they did as she demanded and let her go. She jumped to her feet and ran back to the barn, hissing angrily back at them as she went.
They watched her ran before suddenly they heard a scream and then a dog like growl.
"That's Fiver." Bigwig gasped.
Fiver and Hana fearfully backed away as the fox came towards them. They couldn't run as that would only agitate the fox and there were no trees or hills to get up to. So when the fox charged at them the Seer and field mouse truly thought it was over and closed their eyes but then they heard the fox whimper in pain. Fiver was the first to open his eyes and gasped at who he saw.
"Campion?"Fiver asked in shock.
"You may be an outsider, young runt, but no rabbit let's another get eaten. Stay back, I'll handle this."Campion stated and charged back at the fox and kicked it in the face.
Fiver gave no fuss and did what the larger buck said, hiding in a thick bush with Hana and watching as he saw Campion fight the fox.
"Are you sure it's wise to trust him? What if he turns on us and takes us to that awful warren."Hana stated.
"Well considering neither of us can take on that fox, we have no choice but to believe him. Go on back to the warren, Hana. I don't want you getting hurt."Fiver stated.
"Are you sure?"Hana asked.
"Yes, the last thing we need is for you to get hurt. Please go."Fiver said and without another word the field mouse ran off.
Fiver turned his attention back on the fight and watched as Campion fought tooth and nail with the vicious fox, nearly getting bit a couple of times but was fast enough to get out of the way.
Unknown to Fiver he was being sneaked up on from behind by the rest of the Efrafr patrol that had come with Fiver.
"Well well well, what do we have here?" Vervain spoke up behind Fiver.
The young buck gasped and whipped around to face him and slowly back away.
"Ver…Vervain." Fiver breathed fearfully of the larger rabbit as he stalked up closer to him as Fiver backed away.
"A pretty young runt like you shouldn't be out alone. Especially one with such special traits as yours."Vervain said with a grin.
"S-special traits? What do you mean? I'm just like any other buck."Fiver said as he tried to get away from the black rabbit but he was unable to.
"No, you're not. In fact no one can even compare to you since you're the last of your breed. You're the only Buck-Doe there is."Vervain said and Fiver gasped in shock when he heard the Efrafa rabbit said.
Meanwhile Bigwig and Hazel were running fast to get to where they heard the screaming and canine like bark. They were surprised to see that Fiver wasn't there, but even twice as surprised to see Campion fighting the fox.
"Campion?"Hazel asked in shock.
"Glad you could make it. I sure could use some help with this flea bag."Campion said as he kicked the fox.
"Where's Fiver?"Bigwig asked.
"Don't know. Somewhere in the bushes."The enemy buck said as he fought the fox.
Hazel nodded and hopped over to the bushes to search for him while Bigwig helped Campion deal with the nuisance. Bigwig let out a battle cry as he lept at the beast as it had its back was towards him.
The fox didn't have time to react to the attack before Bigwig landed on its under back and bit into its neck. It howled in pain and started to buck around, trying to shake the large lion head off but it only made him bite down harder.
Campion then took this as his chance to finish it and ran up and lept at the fox's own exposed throat, sunking his teeth in deep.
The fox screamed in pain from the sharp teeth biting into him and finally rolled over on the two bucks which caused them to fall off him and with a painful whimper the fox wandered off.
"And don't come back even for a second, ya living window dressing!"Bigwig shouted out.
"Thanks for the help. You're a pretty strong Owlser fighter for an outsider."Campion said.
"You're not too bad yourself. Now where is Hazel and..."But Bigwig's question was cut off when suddenly Vervain was kicked out from the shrubbery and Hazel came out, growling ferociously at the black rabbit and Fiver came out and tried to calm down his brother.
"Hazel, please. Don't go losing your head."Fiver tried to plead but to no avail.
"Vervain, what goes on here?"Campion asked. Vervain stood and brushed himself off before gesturing at Fiver.
"Him! He's more than just a Seer, Campion! He's a Buck-Doe too!"Vervain exclaimed.
Bigwig noticeably stiffened at this. How did Vervain figure it out?!
"Vervain, you loony wanker, Buck-Does have been extinct since we were but kittens. How could you even tell that this one is such a creature?"Campion asked with great disbelief.
"Don't believe me, old friend? Just look at the pads on his feet! You'll see they're heart shaped. Only Buck-Does have heart shaped foot pads."Vervain stated.
Campion raised a brow but looked at Fiver and saw he was hiding his paw pads from him, fear and worry clear on his face. Campion didn't have to see the pads to now know that Vervain was telling the truth, for the first time in his sniveling life.
"And what's your point Vervain?' Campion asked the evilly sneering rabbit as he stared Fiver down.
"My point is Campion is if we take him back to General Woundwort it will please him and he will reward us handsomely." Vervain answered, watching Hazel and Bigwig snarl at the idea and stand in front of the young buck to protect him and block him from his sight.
Fiver whimpered and trembled fearfully and crouched down on the ground to make himself look smaller and less noticeable.
Campion looked at the two Watership Down bucks for a moment. He actually agreed with Vervain to some extent, but when he looked at Fiver the thought of selling off such a rare and lovely young thing to the brute that is his Chief Rabbit made him feel uneasy. Being a runt there was no way Fiver would last in being Woundwort's mate. And the more he thought of it, the more Campion considered in mating with Fiver himself. With a stern look to his fellow Efrafa rabbit Campion said this;
"No."Stated the rabbit. Vervain and the other bucks couldn't help but do a double take while Fiver sighed in relief though he still stood close to Bigwig.
"What? But Campion this is a once in a life time chance! Woundwort may even make one of us Chief Rabbit!"Vervain stated.
"I said, no. As rare a Buck-Doe is we don't have need for runts."Campion stated harshly and though Fiver was still relieved he couldn't help but be instulted.
"But Campion..."Vervain started again until the stronger buck cut him off.
"Let's go, Vervain. We were meant to patrol and nothing more."Campion said and dragged off the struggling and complaining black buck.
After a while the Watership Down rabbits could only blink.
"Well then, that was strange."Hazel said.
"Yeah. Never thought I'd see something like that happen. Are you alright, Fiver?"Bigwig asked in a concerned tone as he checked over the young runt.
"I'm fine physically, but I'm worried too. I mean, what if Vervain tells Woundwort about me?"Fiver asked worriedly and even seemed close to crying.
Bigwig wrapped his arms around Fiver and hugged him protectively close to his chest.
"If he does Fiver I won't let him get you. I will protect you with my life and keep on fighting until I give my last breath." Bigwig promised, giving the shivering buck a reassuring squeeze.
Hazel smiled as he watched his friend be so kind and protective of his little brother, very pleased to know that if Fiver did choose to be Bigwig's mate that Bigwig will protect and love him. Fiver smiled and nuzzled into Bigwig's thick mane, breathing in his scent.
"Thank you Bigwig." Fiver whispered back softly.
The large Lion head leaned down and licked the young buck's ears comfortingly until Hazel got their attention and ordered them to go find Clover and return back to the warren. As they hopped off they never noticed that Camion had stayed behind, hiding within a clutch of bushes after telling Vervain to go on without him.
Today had certainly grown into an interesting development. Not only was the runt Fiver a Seer but he was the last living Buck-Doe. He only said that Fiver wasn't worth their time so that he could think of his own plan. The runt would in no way be able to hand the brutality of Woundwort and Campion honestly did like Fiver, so he came to his decision, he would court the young Buck-Doe Seer for himself.
However with Bigwig as a rival Campion knew he had an uphill battle ahead.
"Let the games begin." Campion said and hopped away.
A/N- This is a Partners fic. Myself and JackalyenMystique from DevaintART. If you like this and you want us to continue please review and tell us.