I had a strange dream last night; I demeaned that I was being pursued by Mr. Gorwood and I was sheltered by a woman called Mrs. Frinvie who was a former wildlife professor. She told me about a necklace that can grant wishes, then Mr. Gorwood tracked me down and I ran until I fell into a rapid river and fell into a new world under it. I had turned into a rabbit and was taken in by kind other rabbits. As I looked down on mu paws, I realise that it wasn't a dream at all. This was incredible. I went outside, very stealthily hearing the occasional snoring of other rabbits. The air was cloudy with the morning mist. The view was beautiful from here; I could see so many trees, hills and meadows much to my delight. But I needed to remind myself that being a rabbit means being bait to a fox, an owl, or a weasel.
"Good to see you up bright and early like an Owsla should."
I turned round to see Bigwig coming out from the burrow. He seemed real impressed of his position. He never seemed to say anything without mentioning his Owsla.
"Good morning, Bigwig," I greeted. "I'm often an early morning person."
Three rabbits popped out as well. I recognized them as Hawkbit, Dandelion and Strawberry. Hawbit and Dandelion had the look of tiredness on their faces, but Strawberry on the other hand looked committed. Pipkin popped out also with Gilia Snowdrop and Mallow.
"Morning all," I said smiling.
"So we can see," grumbled Hawkbit. "Having to do morning patrol; that's mourning for you."
"I'm hungry," moaned Dandelion.
"A hungry Owsla is a sharper Owsla," remarked Strawberry.
"Exactly so, Strawberry," commented Bigwig proudly as if it were something he had always said to them.
The three got in a line. At that same point, Pipkin and Hazel and Primrose's three kittens, Gillia, Snowdrop and Mallow, went to their own spot huddled together talking.
"Good morning," I said to them. "How are you up so early?"
"Morning patrol," said Bigwig.
"May I please see how you handle it?"
"Always looking for more Owsla members. Get in line," ordered Bigwig. I took my place next to Strawberry.
"Nice to have you here," he greeted, smiling at me.
"Thank you, Strawberry," I said.
"Silence!" ordered Bigwig. "Ears up, Leo. Shoulders straightened. Chest out."
I followed the lead of the other three.
Bigwig seemed really professional; like a more professional version of mu horrible former P.E. teacher, Mr. Growlard. He was the uncle of mu best friend Michael Dawnrah who, unlike his uncle, actually did sport and had reached all the top classes in Karate, Taekwondo. Kung Fu and Judo. Mr. Growlard was a chubby man but somehow got his job in school much to youngsters' grief as it was them he picked onto most. If only he were now so I could see Bigwig take him down.
"So today, we will be patrolling the orchard, Efrafa Grounds and Nuthanger's Farm."
"Couldn't Fiver do that?" moaned Hawkbit. "He senses danger, so he's pretty much the alarm."
"I'll see to it that he reads any danger coming to you from me if you don't shut your mouth, my handsome young buck," glowered Bigwig, his face close to Hawkbit's. I was right that Bigwig was a rabbit not to cross, but I couldn't help liking him. The way he owned that gray grump, it was just too much but in a good way.
"Owsla march!" ordered Bigwig.
And we we were off hopping down the hill and into the forest close to where I had landed yesterday as the young ones went to the orchard for their duties. I felt a little concern for that however; suppose they ran into a weasel? In any case Pipkin was the head so he was probably experienced.
"Who is that up above?" I asked Strawberry as we hopped down to the orchard. I could make out a brown hawk-like bird with what looked like Hannah riding on its back.
"Scree," he answered. "He's the one who saved you from falling. Hannah rides on him to patrol from above. Just like Kehaar."
"Who?"
"The gull who lived with us, be he's gone with his mate. Much to our relief really. She was a pain the whiskers to us all; chatting non-stop to Bigwig and teaching young'uns to spit cherry pits at others. Terrible example she was. But then again, we're all glad that Kehaar has found love."
I felt a bit of sadness hearing that. I longed for Rosie Rell's hand but I was a shy person. Egotistical Elliott Edderdeen made many passes at her but she always seemed to reject much to my relief. I just couldn't help hoping that one day I will win her.
We came to a hole full of ruins and boulders. This must have been the Efrafa Bigwig mentioned. He told me that it was a place where their enemy General Woundwort ruled, imprisoning innocent rabbits, including Primrose and Pipkin. Nuthanger's Farm was quite healthy and pretty to look at with all it's vegetables and crops but the dog that went by the name of Duster, looked ferocious. Down in the orchard, while we waited for the Junior Owsla to catch up, Bigwig put us under a task to split up ourselves so if that was done, then they wouldn't need to focus on one problem at a time. He told me that I didn't need to try hard for it as I was new but I was an adventurous person - or rabbit.
I was at a clear spot in the orchard. The sun was bright where I was. So bright it brought my attention something that shone in it's beam from a tree: something green. I hopped to it to find a gem. A gem attached to a string hanging from the branch. I wonder if this is the Necklace of Wisdom I thought to myself. I picked up an apple in mu mouth and threw it at the object; I failed. I tried a few more attempts where it finally toppled down to me. I put it on and it fitted my neck perfectly. When patrol was over, we hopped back to Bigwig.
"What's that your wearing, Leo?" asked Bigwig looking at the Necklace. "Looks like that pesky beam from the apple tree."
"It is. Something I found to give to someone," I said.
"A doe has already got your attention has she?" chortled Dandelion. He had a stupid voice, somewhat like a child's voice but in a foolish squeaky tone.
"Love is everywhere?" laughed Hawkbit sarcastically.
"Shut up!" snapped Bigwig to the both of them.
"No doe has got my attention at all," I told them.
"What is it for then?" asked Strawberry with a look of maturity.
I told them about Miss Frinvie and how she told me about the Necklace of Wisdom and what it can do that hasn't been revealed yet.
"Finders keepers then, lad," smiled Bigwig.
Suddenly we heard screaming. Pipkin and the three kittens ran towards us hiding behind Bigwig and the others. Out emerged was a skinny looking black rabbit with some sort of beard - which remind me of P.C. Vanie - with a huge black rabbit with a bald side on his face and a bright blue eye. I looked at him in horror as I recognized him. Mr. Gorwood! It was Mr. Gorwood! There was something in him the made me think of that ogre. The rabbit that had chased me to this new world.
"How dare you trespass around my hunting grounds," he growled in a nightmarish way. The kittens and Pipkin quivered.
"Look here, mate," said Bigwig. "Who are you to say this is your hunting place? I'll have you know that I am Captain of Owsla."
"H-He's right you know, Darklunn," quivered the skinny black rabbit.
"Vervain," said Dandelion. "How you doing old chum?"
"Don't you chum me," he threatened.
This now-called Vervain resembled P.C. Vane's beard and timidness but not that nasty attitude.
"Owsla?" said the now-called Darklunn, "Then you must be Bigwig. Bigwig of Watership Down."
"That's right," said Bigwig crossly, "and if you want to pick a war, you're welcome to, but mind you we won the last one and we're not afraid to take another."
"You!"
It was addressed to me. It was a very sick feeling the spoken to by this horrible rabbit. But Darklunn was more fixed upon what I was wearing on my neck.
"You evil, deceitful, cunning thief! Give me the Necklace! I've been planning long how to get it from the tree!"
"Don't do it, Leo," said Bigwig sternly, "the thing of being a rabbit of Watership Down is if you are one, you don't give in losing something precious. Defend what you love."
"I found it!" I cried to Darklunn in fright but with a jolt of courage. "I'm keeping it for someone."
Bigwig patted my shoulder proudly.
"I'm warning you boy," Darklunn growled. "It is for your own redemption that you give me the Necklace. You do not want to see how I run things in Zaltha."
"What in the name of Frith is Zaltha?" said Bigwig in bewilderment?
"My warren. Only me and Vervain and an army I wish to keep silent until someone is taken there or close to it. You're welcome to visit."
"Well in that case," said Bigwig, looking at the kittens behind him. "Unless you want to plan a war and become the new General Woundwort, I would highly recommend you scurry of to your so-called Zaltha before we leave you for the Black Rabbit of Inle."
"There he is now!" shouted Hawkbit.
Everyone panicked android. What was so frightening about this black rabbit. What did Inle mean? When they realized the truth of the rabbit not being there they sighed, including the two villains. Bigwig thunked Hawkbit on the head.
"I shall leave then," said Darklunn. "I see that death lies before me if I challenge to lot of you as I am one and you lot live a whole warren. But I warn you my whole army are not rabbits but are strong. They'll snatch any of you if you dared to travel at night." He looked me and glowered at me menacingly. "And as for you my handsome young buck, like I said, you shall cause damage to yourself if you keep that treasure on you for long. I would plan a war with this puny army, but since you have robbed me, it is you I want most of any other weakling. I dare you to keep that thing as long as you want, but so long as you do, you are my main target in the whole of this place. I promise. I will make you scream for the Black Rabbit of Inle as soon as your guts are pulled out from the doings of myself." And he hopped off with Vervain next to him.
The four youngsters peeked out from behind a tree quivering - even I was shaking a little.
"It'll be alright, Leo," said Strawberry.
"No Strawberry," I said. "It won't. Mr. Gorwood was only the beginning. His reinforcement is waiting for me - and that is Darklunn himself."