Chapter Nine: Reluctant Allies

"The prisoner's putting up quite a fight," Vervain thought from his relatively safe position behind the General. "We should've just killed him when we found him...Ow!"

"Ow, he says," the grey-furred prisoner mocked, "Care to try and kill me again, Vervain? I'm ready for you this time! No stab from behind now, hey?"

Getting no reply from the cowardly Efrafan Captain, the prisoner began doing what was probably the most unwise thing he had ever done. He began insulting Woundwort to his face.

"How about you, Woundwort? There's enough of your Owsla here to overpower me if you're too scared! Ow!"

Several of the Efrafans had snuck up on the irate prisoner and attacked him from behind. In his slightly weakened state, Bigwig, for who else would be taunting Woundwort in such a bold manner, was taken by surprise and overpowered.

"Oi, you took my advice," he laughed, "Going a bit odd are we? Letting your enemies advise you...Ow!"

Bigwig winced in pain as an Efrafan rabbit clawed him in the face.

"Corydalis, you have my full permission to kill him!" General Woundwort snarled.

"With all due respect, General, he may be useful."

"How so? The only thing I'd do for either of you is end your miserable lives!"

"Sh! Idiot, I'm trying to save your life, don't you realize!" Corydalis whispered.

"Not two moons ago you walked away and left me to die! I don't need your help!"

"You want to go home? Then you have to trust me..."

"Trust you?" Bigwig snarled, "Why in the world would I trust you?"

"Because I'm your only chance!" Corydalis murmured. "Don't you want to see your friends again?"


The previous evening, on Watership Down...

Blackberry could not sleep, but it was not anxiety that prevented her from resting, but joy. Campion was alive! He had never been dead, simply a prisoner.

"Um, he couldn't have been dead if he's alive, could he?" Blackberry laughed. She wondered if Campion felt the same way about her that she did him.

She lay awake for some time, pondering.

Finally, she gave up trying to sleep and, thinking the outside air was surely less stuffy, she made her way quietly out onto the down.

Looking about, she noticed quickly that she was not the only rabbit unable to sleep. Campion sat at the edge of the hill overlooking the surrounding countryside, looking in the direction of Efrafa. Before Blackberry had time to retreat inside the warren, she was startled by the sound of Campion's voice.

"Come on out, Blackberry. Your presence will not disturb me."

Campion listened closely, a touch eagerly, hoping the silver doe might actually come out. For a moment there was silence, and then he sensed Blackberry next to him.

They were silent for some time, gazing up at the stars.

After awhile, Campion heard Blackberry sigh.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She smiled. "Nothing. Everything is perfect. You're alive and Dandelion is home safe and well. I will sleep well again after tonight, I'm sure."

"Why can't you sleep?" Campion asked, concerned.

"I'm too happy," Blackberry smiled, "You're alive, and now I have something to live for again. What about you? I imagine you need your rest, what with that dramatic escape and all."

Campion laughed softly. "More or less the same reason as you, I suppose. In Efrafa, Dandelion was telling stories about how Hazel and Primrose love each other so much. Blackavar and little Leao, and Moss and Trill. They all have something...that I never had...until..."

"Until what?" asked Blackberry.

"Until I met you, Blackberry."

Blackberry gasped.

"What's wrong?" asked Campion. "Why did you say that?" he berated himself, "For all you know, she's in with love some other buck."

Blackberry blushed. "I...feel the same way...about you."


Presently...

"You look like you've been dream-running all night," Moss chuckled, "Or else you didn't sleep at all."

"What makes you think that?" Campion said.

"Have you looked at yourself recently, sir? Your fur is sticking up right in the middle of your face."

"There's more than one reason for that area of my head always looking funny. And I'm seriously not a Captain anymore, Moss. I'm not your commanding officer anymore."

"But what do I call you, then?" Moss asked.

"I have a name. Campion. Just call me Campion."

"If you say so, sir, sorry, Campion."

"That's better. Now, I need to talk to you."

"What about?" Moss wondered.

"The Efrafans are still out there," Campion sighed, "This war's not over yet, Moss. Not by a long shot."


"All right, I admit it, you saved my life. Now tell me what in the name of the Black Rabbit of Inle convinced you too!"

Corydalis edged away from the irate Watership Captain.

"I...I...I want to go home, Bigwig. I tried to tell Campion that, but he doesn't trust me, so he knocked me out and left me behind."

"And because Campion doesn't trust you, I should?"

"Bigwig, you have three days. At the end of those three days, General Woundwort marches on Redstone Warren. Before he leaves, he's going to kill you. I've seen what he's capable of, what he did to Hawkbit convinced me of just how evil he is. I don't want to kill my family. Please, Bigwig, help me escape. I just want to go home."

"Corydalis, you'll have a trial, and they'll judge you for your crimes. It's likely you'll be banished from Watership Down."

"I'll take that chance, Bigwig. Just help me get us both out of here."

The grey buck sighed. "I have to get out to warn Hazel and Hickory. I can't escape from Efrafa alone. I need a partner, and for lack of a better one, you'll have to do. But one false move, and be assured, I won't hesitate to kill you."

"I'll take that chance. Allies?"

Bigwig groaned. "For better or worse."


On Watership Down...

Campion had managed to get a quiet word to Hazel, Hickory Captains Holly and Broom, Fiver, and, naturally, Moss. The five rabbits had adjourned to the far side of the hill, where they were holding a Council of War.

"Hazel, it's noticeable that you've lost a lot of rabbits, and you don't want to lose any more. But, well, sitting here grieving will do us no good. Woundwort will return, and his forces are stronger than ever with the addition of Cowslip's bunch, who, by the way, Hickory, can fight fairly well now. We need to be ready."

"I agree with that," Hazel said, "What do you think, Fiver? Fiver?"

"A warrior true, and the once heartless traitor, must unite to get home, sooner or later!" Fiver moaned.

The seer shook his head. "What did I say?"

"A warrior true, and the once heartless traitor, must unite to get home, sooner or later!" Hazel whispered. "What does it mean?"


Sorry it took so long. Well, here we are again. Escaping from Efrafa, must stop all the escaping. Review please, opinions much appreciated!