Chapter Three

Dawn broke over the forest as Inlé, Moss, and Primrose woke from beneath a tree. Moss looked at Inlé. "Where are we going, anyway?"

Inlé sat up, a light in his eyes. "El-ahrairah's warren. That's where we'll go."

Primrose's eyes widened. "That's a really long way, though."

Inlé shrugged. "So? They say that he's outwitted a lot of elil. His legends are told throughout the land! Think of what it would be like, living in a legend's warren!"

Moss began to silflay, speaking around mouthfuls of grass. "But think of all the dangers, Inlé. The Thousand, men, and the distance. I don't think we'd survive."

Inlé narrowed his eyes. "We have to try, at least. With some luck, we may make it."

Moss nodded. "Let's go then."

They moved off, flitting from bush to bush to avoid the Thousand. This was after Frith had blessed El-ahrairah, turning the elil into vicious predators to hunt and kill the children of El-ahrairah. Inle's green eyes darted from shadow to shadow, his breathing loud in his ears.

A figure watched the three young rabbits go. He narrowed his eyes and gestured to one of his bodyguards. "Go to the two shadow rabbits we picked up earlier. Tell them…I have an assignment."

The bodyguard nodded and took off. Prince Rainbow allowed himself a smirk.

Inlé, Moss, and Primrosekept running, oblivious to the fact that they were being distantly watched. Two black figures flitted from tree to tree, their eyes never leaving the trio. One of the two narrowed his eyes. They'll pay. They'll all pay for what they did.

The three rabbits came to a stop in a small river. It only came up to their necks, but they stopped nonetheless. Moss turned angrily to Inlé. "Now what are we going to do?"

Inlé looked around. He was starting to get testy, as the sunlight soaking into his fur was making him hot and irritated. "I'm thinking, alright?" He spotted a small piece of driftwood. He ran over to it. "Here! We can use this!"

Primrose tilted her head. "I don't think that'll hold all of us."

Inlé lifted his nose and sniffed the air. "We don't have a choice. We're being followed."

Moss's eyes widened. "Followed?"



"I don't know how to explain it, but we are. I can feel them."

Moss sighed. "Fine. We'll get on, but one of us will have to carry Primrose if that wood doesn't hold up."

They all climbed on and Inlé and Moss pushed their feet into the sand to propel it outward. The current caught them, and they shot down the river.

Meanwhile, back at the trio's warren, Tussock slammed into the ground with a cry of pain. Prince Rainbow placed his paw on the old rabbit's head and snarled into his ear. "Now, tell me where they are, and I might spare the rest of your warren."

Tussock ground out the words through his teeth. "I don't know where they went. They went into the forest and that's the last I saw of them."

Prince Rainbow removed his paw. "That's not much to go on. But we already have assassins chasing them." He leaned closer to Tussock. "Your son is the adventurous type, is he not?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "He will most likely go to El-ahrairah's warren. Thank you for the information, Captain. I will make good use of it."

Tussock gritted his teeth as he sobbed. His son would soon be dead. And it was his fault. "I shouldn't have let him go. This is my fault."

Sorry if this is short. I had a case of writer's block for a few months. If you've been paying attention, you'll probably figure out who those two assassins are. And you might recognize the river scene too, if you've read the book.