The Shadow of Efrafa Part 1
I woke up in the next morning, not having enough sleep I had hoped after digging the whole warren. The real reason was killing the Efrafa rabbit on the first patrol as Owsla. From what I had been told by Hazel and Bigwig, I had to take drastic measures any way possible to defend myself and someone I cared. I cleaned up my burrow from sleeping last night, as I usually wanted to keep it clean when the morning began. I been stopped getting any calls in the matter, as I assume that they pretty much stopped searching for me and obviously giving up.
"If they suspect that I'm no longer missing, and assume dead. Very well." I decided to wrap the towel and decided that I'm home, unless something along the way could help me get back. I went down the tunnel to see everyone else up in the morning inspecting "The Honeycomb".
"Yes, very good and solid." Hazel said, as he inspected the outer layer of the dirt walls.
"That should keep the rain out." Bigwig said.
"And have you ever seen this much open space in a Warren." Blackberry added.
"It's like being outside, but you know inside." Dandelion said.
"I guess the digging must have paid off." I said.
Everybody noticed that I showed up. "Good morning, Andrew." Hazel and everybody said in the warren.
"Good morning." I said.
"Do you always sleep in?" Hawkbit asked.
"After some hard work been done, I have to say yes." I answered.
"Either way, in case of more rabbits joining us, there's always an extra hand to build them a burrow." Blackberry added.
"Do you think they would be able to get anybody?" I asked.
Hazel felt a little down.
"Is it something I said? I'm sorry if I said it wrong." I apologized.
"No, you said nothing wrong, we're just rattling around like walnuts in a well." Hazel sadly said.
"I wouldn't say walnuts, but more muskrats to put it." I said.
Hazel simply sighed and hopped off out of the warren. We started to realize something is troubling with Hazel, more likely since the warren is completely constructed.
"Now what's bothering him?" Bigwig asked.
"I was hoping, if anybody knows. Since we finished constructing the warren, he seemed a little down." I began to worry.
"He's thinking again." Dandelion assumed.
"About what?" I asked.
Everybody shrugged their shoulders without having the slightest clue yet.
"I don't know. But, he does entirely too much that." Hawkbit said.
"Well, only one way to find." I decided to go see Hazel to see what the problem is.
I exited out of the warren to see Hazel standing by the edge of the down looking at the sky. Apparently, I didn't have a football or a empty water bottle with me to make this of a cliche like Johnny and his best friend, Mark.
"Hazel?"
He turned around to see me approaching to him. "Andrew. Is something wrong?"
"I was going to ask the same question, but with you. Something on your mind?" I asked.
"I don't know. Ever since we arrived here, I felt like we have done not enough." Hazel worried.
"We did make some progress. For instance, took me, Kehaar, Hannah, Captain Holly and Strawberry in, and more importantly finished digging the warren." I listed.
"I know, but it doesn't seem it's not enough." Hazel said.
"Than what is it, than?"
"I'm hoping to have other rabbits that are outsiders or possibly from another warren to join us." Hazel answered.
"Never a bad idea, but where do you think you could get them from?" I asked.
"Maybe Efrafa." Hazel said.
Surprised, after our encounter with their patrol, I wasn't exactly sure why would Hazel wanted some rabbits to join us from Efrafa. "Why there?"
"Hoping to see some rabbits could join our new warren." he said.
I than started to remember what that black rabbit said about me and Pipkin to become their prisoners. "I did recall that one of the rabbits that spoke to me and Pipkin about becoming their prisoners."
"I beg your pardon?" Hazel asked.
"When I was in part of the Owsla patrol, we got encounter by the Efrafa patrol. Soon after regrouping with Pipkin, one of the rabbits, who was nearly all in black stated, 'that me and Pipkin would become prisoners of General Woundwart." I recalled what a Efrafa rabbit said.
"Are you saying that they have prisoners?" Hazel questioned.
"I don't know, that's all I heard from them. Are we going anybody out of there?" I asked.
"If someone or group of rabbits in harms way than yes." he committed.
We than looked back at the sky not only to see the day was clear, but a good wind breeze blew around us. I than saw that Bigwig and Fiver came out of the warren to join us.
"Speaking about rabbits or searching for one, where's Keehar?" I asked Hazel.
"I asked him to scout out the Efrafa warren." Hazel answered.
Fiver and I gasped.
"Frith above why?!" Bigwig questioned.
"Unless we found more rabbits to join us, we won't last." Hazel said. "It's simple as that."
"Especially for female rabbits?" I started to joke.
"Of course not!" Hazel exclaimed.
"Oh come on, if you even think that we won't last. I'm pretty sure half of it is to look for a girl- or a doe in that matter." I said, as Hazel started to blush a little. "Got yourself a secret admirer? Huh?"
"Alright, you're taking it a little to far." Fiver said.
"Okay I'm sorry, I was just joking. The main fact of course what you said, we needed more rabbits." I apologized.
"So you plan on recruiting from Efrafa?" Bigwig asked.
"There is nowhere else, unless you feel like going back to The Warren of Shining Wires." Hazel answered and made a suggestion to Bigwig.
I noticed Fiver lightly shivered and thought it was a burn, since what had happened to Bigwig there, with him being caught in a snare. Bigwig than remembered what had happened.
"Not in this lifetime." Bigwig said, as he rubbed his neck, as he remembered being trapped in a snare.
"No kidding, Sherlock." I said.
"But Hazel, from what we know about the Efrafans they live for war." Fiver said.
"Really, why live like that? I know other countries and civilizations at the time only live by war." asked.
"And the chap in charge, Woundwart from the sound of him. He would tear you into bits as he look at you." Bigwig said.
I gulped into my stomach from hearing "tearing into shreds".
"If you live there, wouldn't you want to get out?" Hazel smirked and questioned Bigwig.
Bigwig didn't answered.
"I know if I lived in non-Democracy country I would, it wouldn't be easy though." I answered.
Hazel smiled and nodded, before headed back into the warren.
"Always thinking your big brother." Bigwig said to Fiver.
"He does." Fiver said.
"Thinking about your brother, I would starting thinking about my siblings as well." I started to recall about my family siblings.
"You have an older brother also?" Fiver asked.
"Actually, one older sister, brother, and three young sisters. Two of the three is one set of twins." I said.
"Wow, you come from a big family." Fiver was surprised.
"I wouldn't know a experience to have a big family for myself." Bigwig said.
"Well, if you have more than three different family last names, the experience is also great." I said, as I laid on the tree's stem and watched the sun shine, as the skies are blue, as Fiver and Bigwig went back inside the warren.
Like a rainy Sunday morning makes me want to stay in bed
Twisted up all day long
You're my inspiration, girl you take me places
Put the words right into these songs
Stealing kisses under cover, babe
See forever when I see your face
And I swear God made you for me
You make it easy
Lovin' up on you
Make it easy
With every little thing you do
You're my sunshine in the darkest days
My better half, my saving grace
You make me who I wanna be
You make it easy
You took all my rough around the edges
Never let it ruffle up your feathers, angel
Yeah I'm down for life, you got me wrapped around your finger
And I like it just in case you can't tell
You make it easy
Lovin' up on you
Make it easy
With every little thing you do
You're my sunshine in the darkest days
My better half, my saving grace
You make me who I wanna be
You make it easy
Stealing kisses under cover, babe
See forever when I see your face
And I swear God made you for me
You make it easy
Lovin' up on you
Make it easy
With every little thing you do
You're my sunshine in the darkest days
My better half, my saving grace
You make me who I wanna be
You make it easy
You make it easy
I woke up from my nap on the tree, while listening to Jason Aldean, only to see Kehaar was close to my face and flapping his wing to get his attention. With a light jump, I paused the song and removed my headphones.
"Oh Andrew, you awake yea." Kehaar shouted.
"I'm... you even give me a little scare, but yes." I said.
"Kehaar sorry." he apologized.
"Don't worry about it. Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Yes, Kehaar needs to see Hazel and rabbits." he said.
"Regarding to Efrafa?" I questioned.
"Yes."
In that moment, Hazel, Bigwig, and the Owsla came out of the warren.
"Kehaar, what do you have about Efrafa?" Hazel asked.
"Kehaar see rabbits outside, until forced back in. Saw two rabbits would suffer, so I make them run! Dirty, Efrafa place is no good for rabbits or gull! No Good! No Good!" Kehaar exclaimed, as he ran in circles.
"So there are rabbits there, who will join us." Hazel in relief for hope of having new rabbits in the warren. "If we could get them out."
"Easier said than done by the sound of it." Dandelion said.
"They're not done at all, if you ask me. Who needs that lot coming after us, hmm?" Hawkbit questioned.
"It twists my tail." Fiver added. "Imagine living like that."
"I couldn't imagine that for myself." I said.
"If Woundwart finds Watership Down, before we're up to strength you won't have to imagine it." Bigwig said.
Hazel began to think for a moment and decided to make up a daring risk. "Then we go to Efrafa, before Efrafa comes to us."
As the late afternoon came for the sun to start set, Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, and Kehaar started on their journey. However, I started to follow them, until they after we went downhill, they noticed I was following them.
"Why are you following us?" Bigwig asked.
"I wanted to go too." I wanted to volunteer.
"I'm sorry, Andrew. This is too dangerous and a risk for yourself." Hazel worried.
"Don't forget, if Efrafa see you and remembered that you accidentally killed one of their Owsla bucks, it would be the end of you." Fiver added.
"I know, but I don't want you guys to do this alone." I said.
"If you wish, but we strongly disagree." Hazel added.
"Hazel, if it was something regarding to Efrafa, I'm already involved now. I'm marked man and I'll try to persuade them that it was accident and self-defense." I told him.
They looked at each other and decided to have me go along with them.
"Alright, please do be careful and we'll make sure to look out for you as well, and thank you." Hazel decided.
I let out a relief. "Thank you."
"Well, let's continue on." Bigwig stated and we continued with our journey.
We went through the woods for hours, as we journeyed our way to Efrafa. Even though, we didn't have much of a rest, except a bite to eat and I also have some music to keep me company. As the night fall, we founded ourselves near a railroad track.
"Are we nearly there yet, Kehaar?" Fiver asked.
"Efrafa over there, if Efrafa is on far side, not far now." Kehaar answered.
"Right, we'll meet you at the river." Hazel decided to have us regroup. "Keep an eye out for Efrafa patrols."
Kehaar nodded his head and took off into the night sky. I than heard what I suspect a wolf.
"Is that a wolf?" I asked.
"Wolf?!" Hazel exclaimed and all four of us stopped from where we're going and kept our heads down. We than heard another howl.
"Oh, I guess not. I'm sorry about that." I apologized.
"Alright, let's keep moving." Hazel said and we kept going.
"Have you worked out what we're going to do when we get to Efrafa?" Bigwig asked Hazel.
"Check the layer of the land... decided whether we could negotiate with Woundwart or... whether we trick him." Hazel tries to come up with a plan.
"So you haven't have a clue then." Bigwig said. We than stopped alongside the railroad tracks. Fiver began to sniff the track, as they haven't seen one before.
"What are these?" Fiver asked.
"They're railroad tracks." I answered.
"Railroad tracks?" Hazel questioned.
"They're tracks that trains ride on to travel." I explained.
"Another 'man' travel?" Bigwig guessed.
"Yep."
"They sure shine like a giant double slug trail, doesn't it?" Bigwig said as we heard a train horn from the distance.
I chuckled. "I don't think so. I see slugs when they move. Besides, I always seem them and hear them 'night trains' at night back at home."
"'Night trains'?"
"I came with it, as trains ride through the night and from a song called Night Train by Jason Aldean." I said.
"Still if it was a slug, I wouldn't want to meet it after leaving this." Hazel said.
"I doubt you will and no slugs could leave this marking." I assured him and another horn blew. We than saw a 'night train' with it's lights shining on the tracks, as it was heading towards our way. It was moving fast that we couldn't have enough time to react, as Hazel, Bigwig, and myself hopped off the tracks, not only than we realized that Fiver was gazing at it's lights.
"FIVER, GET OFF THE TRACKS!" I shouted. He wouldn't budge, as the train was approaching towards him. I ran fast as possible and tackled him off the tracks, saving him from being another road or track kill that animals fall victims to them every single day. We than landed on grass.
"FIVER! ANDREW!" I heard Hazel and Bigwig screamed, however nearly couldn't hear them, as the train muffled their shout. After the train left, we both stood up and came back towards them.
"Oh, Great Frith." Hazel was relieved.
"For a minute there." Bigwig also was relieved.
"Just what were you thinking?!" I asked Fiver.
"I'm sorry, I was hypnotized from the lights, I froze." Fiver apologized.
I sighed. "I'm sure for the fact that not many animals would have lived through this kind of incident. You know could have been killed! Like Ariel from Footloose."
"He didn't mean to, Andrew." Hazel protected his little brother. I than realized it was a bad connection, because Fiver froze from the lights, but Ariel from Footloose was being reckless, but saved by Ren McCormick. I guess I was trying to be overprotective.
"I'm sorry. I was too worried and you could have-"
"We know. It's okay." Fiver assured. "We'll just make sure we'll stay off it's path."
"Only we hear the whistle blows at least." I added. Fiver and everybody else nodded for agreement and continued with our trip to Efrafa.
We than met back with Kehaar at a river bank. Kehaar was started to rest his eyes after soaring for overwatch.
"No sign of Efrafa patrol." Kehaar said.
"Thank you, get some rest before the morning. We all should." Hazel suggested.
Kehaar started to fall asleep. Bigwig decided to keep on watch in case of elil, while Fiver snuggled with Hazel, and I set up a small fire, by using small sticks by the river path, and lie down near it. I set my bag down and pulled out my guitar, as I heard the whistle of them night trains passing through the night.
"There goes freight trains." I said.
"Are those the same ones, we stumbled upon?" Hazel asked.
"No, freight trains travel slower than passenger trains." I said, as I started to strum the guitar.
"What song is that?" Fiver asked.
"It's the song I told you guys about. Night Train." I answered. "Want to hear it?"
"I don't mind." Fiver agrees.
"I don't see why not." Hazel agrees also. I started to strum the guitar, as the campfire spark an amber at the clear night sky with stars shining. Even Bigwig started to hear the strums and joined us.
I've been thinkin' bout you all day baby
Waitin' on that sun to go down
Whatcha say I pick you up after work
Slide over, we slip out to the outskirts of town
Got a blanket and a fifth of comfort
A little something to knock off the edge
It's supposed to get a little cool tonight
Looks like I'm gonna have to hold you tight... yeah
Bout a mile off old mill road
In that spot nobody knows
Park the truck and we take off running
Hurry up, girl I hear it coming
Got a moon and a billion stars
Sound of steel and old box cars
The thought of you is driving me insane
Come on baby lets go listen to the night train
Yeah I hope it's gonna be a long one
If were lucky it's moving slow
Wouldn't mind if it lasted all night
Lying next to you on that hillside lets go
Bout a mile off old mill road
In that spot nobody knows
Park the truck and we take off running
Hurry up girl, I hear it coming
Got a moon and a billion stars
Sound of steel and old box cars
The thought of you is driving me insane
Come on baby lets go listen to the night train
Let's go listen to the night train
Bout a mile off old mill road
In that spot nobody knows
Park the truck and we take off running
Hurry up, girl I hear it coming
Got a moon and a billion stars
Sound of steel and old box cars
The thought of you is driving me insane
Come on baby lets go listen to the night train
Let's go listen to the night train
"That was wonderful. Well told!" Fiver praised.
"A good song." Hazel praised also.
"Hear, hear." Bigwig as well. I set my guitar down and covered myself with blankets and lie on the sleeping bag.
"Hopefully, you all have a good night sleep." I said.
"And you two, lad." Bigwig said.
"Goodnight." Fiver said.
"Goodnight Andrew." Hazel said. They fell fast asleep, as I was still wake and I looked up at the starry skies. A shooting star zoomed across the sky. I closed my eyes and say a little pray.
"Please God, give me strength and guidance. I can't do this alone when I have to meet with Efrafa's leader and explain to them of my fault. I'll say the truth of what I have done." I prayed, before tucking myself in with the blankets and went to sleep.