Chapter 24
"Alright you lot. Outside. The General wants those new tunnels dug."
Vervain scowled as the soldier gave orders to him and the other prisoners. One infraction in Efrafa was all most rabbits got. Speaking out against the General, attempting to run away and disobeying orders were all reasons for being thrown in the Efrafan holding burrow. The rabbits within were used for labor: digging new tunnels, repairing any damage to the warren, and sometimes used as fighting practice for the owsla. Vervain glared at the ground as he followed the other prisoners out behind the soldier. He learned quickly that it did not pay to argue or to try and refuse their demands. Most of the owsla showed little respect for the position he once held.
The prisoners were led around the large, fallen tree that served as the support to the warren to the area where the digging was to be done. Vervain smiled as he approached the dig site. This is my chance, he thought, this is as close as I'll ever be to the tree line. All I have to do is escape from here and find the outsiders. Once I tell General Woundwort where they have their warren, I'll have my position as Captain of Owsla back from the filthy commoner, Moss. I just need to wait for my opportunity.
As it turns out, he did not have to wait very long. Another rabbit apparently had the same idea. Suddenly, one of the does broke from the group and shot straight for the trees. The call of "runner" rang through the air as some of the owsla soldiers gave chase. Seeing that everyone's attention was focused on the area where the doe had broken through the thick brush, Vervain stealthily made his way in the opposite direction.
"There's another one! Over there!"
Not looking back, Vervain ran as fast as he could away from Efrafa. He heard the faint sounds of owsla soldiers in pursuit. Because the fastest of the soldiers had gone after the doe, and he had a considerable head start, Vervain was not in immediate danger of being captured. But he was tiring quickly and he knew he needed to find a hiding place. Vervain ran until he broke out of the woods, and found himself along the river, close to the broken bridge. He hopped into the water, hoping it would hide his scent from the swiftly approaching soldiers. He allowed the current of the shallow river to add to his speed. Chancing a look behind him, Vervain could make out the soldiers coming out of the trees on the same path he had taken. Nearly exhausted, Vervain knew he needed to find somewhere to hide immediately.
When he looked back again, to see how close the soldiers had gotten, he tripped over a sand bar in the river. Lifting his dripping face from the sand, Vervain saw a moss-covered wall. Out of options, he decided to hide between the moss and the wall, hoping the soldiers would pass him by. However, when he squeezed behind the moss, he found not a wall, but a cave.
This is perfect, he thought with glee, they'll never find me in here. Not wasting a moment, Vervain swam against the light current until he reached a shallow area, leading to dry land. He crawled out of the water and turned to face the cave entrance. He could barely make out the voices of his pursuers, who had stopped at the mouth of the cave.
"Where did he go? Do you see him?"
"He must have gone this way, come on!"
The splashes faded as they ran got fainter as they ran the opposite way from the cave. Satisfied that he was safe for now, Vervain set out to explore his temporary hideout. He followed a small stream leading to the main body of water deeper into the cave. After turning some corners and climbing over some ledges that had formed from erosion, Vervain found himself in a large chamber filled with stalactites in various colors. Not one to appreciate the natural beauty, Vervain was about to move on when something hit his nose. There had been a familiar smell wafting throughout the cave when he entered, but it had been too faint to make out. As he moved further in the cave, the smell strengthened until he recognized it with widened eyes.
It's the outsiders! They've been here! As he thought about it, the pieces of the puzzle began to come together. Any time we tried to chase them, we always lost them here. It was this cave! This is how they've been getting in and out of Efrafa without being caught! I have to tell the General! He quickly turned towards the entrance of the cave and began to run. He swam out and ran back to the warren. In his excitement, he didn't hear the soldier behind him until he was tackled off his feet. Before he could move, a paw pressed against his throat.
"Get lost, Vervain? You're running back to Efrafa, you know." Vervain's face filled with hatred as he heard Campion's voice. "Oh well, I supposed it's just less distance that we have to drag you back. Bring him along."
As the paw removed itself from Vervain's throat, he spoke in a raspy voice. "I found them, Campion! The outsiders, they're in a cave by the river, past the moss. We have to tell the General!"
The captain shook his head. "Enough with your rambling, Vervain. General Woundwort already thinks you're crazy, do you really want to prove it?"
"But I know it's true! I smelled them! Take me to him. By the General's orders, you must bring me to him."
Campion grimaced. Woundwort had become so angry over the winter at having the outsiders elude him that he demanded any rabbit with information concerning their whereabouts be brought directly to him. Campion could not deny Vervain his audience with Woundwort without looking suspicious in front of the other soldiers.
"Fine," he relented. He turned to the other soldiers. "Take him to the General and have him tell his story. I'll check it out myself, so the General doesn't have to waste his time." The soldiers nodded and started back to Efrafa with Vervain in tow. Campion went the other way until he reached the wall that Vervain had been talking about. Please be wrong, he thought, entering the cave.
Sam and Hazel were on the top of the hill at Watership Down, enjoying a midday silflay and discussing their future plans.
"I don't know what to do, Sam," Hazel said sadly. "We need to deal with Woundwort as soon as we can. You know what Campion said: he let so many rabbits die over the winter because they 'weren't strong enough for Efrafa.' We have to do something."
"I know, Hazel," the teen replied, "but I don't know what we can do. Like I told you, Efrafa has us so outnumbered, there's no way we'd stand a chance in a fight. The only thing I can think of that would technically work would be me going in there in my human form and taking them on by myself, but I can guarantee there would to too many innocent casualties. We both know I have the power to take them down, but there's no way of doing it peacefully." He sighed. "And I don't want wholesale slaughter."
"I agree. That isn't how this situation should be dealt with. Maybe if we-"
"Hazel! Sam!" The two looked over at Silverweed, who was sprinting toward them as fast as he could run.
Sam laid a paw on the breathless buck's shoulder. "Calm down, Silverweed. What's going on?"
The mystic took a moment to catch his breath before he answered. "There's a strange rabbit in the caves. And he's coming this way!"
"How do you know?" Hazel asked.
Silverweed averted his eyes. "Well, ever since I came here, I knew I needed to do something to keep my mystic powers sharp. So I set up a…watch net, I suppose you could call it. Basically, I can sense any rabbit that's on the down. This net stretches out a fair distance from the top of the hill, and I can sense any rabbit within its boundaries. That includes part of the caves too. I usually don't worry when other rabbits approach the down, because so far, I've recognized them all and they've all been peaceful. But I've never felt this new mind before."
Sam nodded. "Alright Silverweed, thanks for the heads up. Go tell Bigwig and Glade. Come on Hazel, let's check this out." The two rabbits nodded, Silverweed turning and running off another direction while Hazel followed Sam.
The two bolted into the warren, ignoring the confused looks the other rabbits sent them. They rounded the corner leading to the cave and slowed their running. "What should we do, Hazel? Should we wait here and get the jump on them?"
The chief shook his head. "I'd rather not let them get to the warren at all if they aren't friendly. And considering that Efrafa is on the other side of the cave, I'd say that is a distinct possibility."
Sam nodded and the two of them walked quietly though the cave. They had not been traveling long before Sam gestured to Hazel to be quiet. The two of them stood still and they could hear something moving towards them in the cave. Looking around, Sam noticed a deep crevice in the wall, just big enough for Hazel. Sam gestured for the chief to squeeze in there, and went to hide around a corner in on the path. The two waited as the strange rabbit moved closer and closer, until it came around the corner.
"Campion!"
The Efrafan Captain jumped and immediately fell into a fighting stance until he recognized the speaker. "Sunflower?" he said with a hint of dread in his voice. "No, Vervain was right!"
"Right about what?" Hazel said as he stepped out from the crevice, making Campion jump again.
"For Frith's sake, stop that! Vervain found this cave when he was trying to escape. He's probably telling the General about it as we speak."
Hazel and Sam gasped. "This is bad," Hazel said. "Come on, let's get back to the down. We should talk with Bigwig and Holly and see what our…options are. Come on Campion."
Campion looked surprised. "Me? I don't know Hazel, I should get back to Efrafa, surely I can-"
"You should come with us, Campion," Sam interrupted gently. "Take a chance to see what you've been working so hard to protect."
"Won't the others at your warren be alarmed when an Efrafan captain appears in their warren?"
Hazel smiled. "Campion, everyone at our warren knows what you've been doing for us. They may be surprised, yes, but I guarantee you'll be welcomed. Besides, Primrose has wanted badly to see you after she heard you were captured last fall."
Campion looked to be debating whether or not to follow them, until he lowered his head. "Alright, I'll come with you."
They smiled and took the path leading back to the warren with Campion following behind them. They followed the path until they entered the burrow. Campion took in the new warren as he followed Hazel and Sam outside.
It's so different here, he thought. Even the walls themselves seem happy. Nothing like Efrafa. He exited the warren behind the pair, and gasped in amazement as he beheld the view from the hilltop. He could see forever, and for once in his life, Campion let his guard down. It felt like he did not have to worry, as long as he was here. It felt like home.
"This…" Campion said hesitantly, at a loss for words.
"It's something else, isn't it?" Sam said understandingly. "I thought the same thing when I first came here. It was so different from where I had come from, but it still felt just like a second home. Oh!" Sam exclaimed as he saw Blackberry come around the tree and freeze at the sight of Campion. "Blackberry, this is Captain Campion, the one that's been doing so much for us in Efrafa. Campion, this is Blackberry. She practically designed the warren by herself, and she's the one we go to if there's any digging to be done. She's crazy good." Silence. "Campion?"
Neither Campion nor Blackberry made any indication that they had heard him. They just stared at each other in amazement. Campion was the first to act, hopping closer to Blackberry until they were a foot apart. When they stood closer, Sam could see that Campion was head and shoulders above Blackberry. "Hello Blackberry, I've heard a lot about you."
She stared a moment more before it registered that he had spoken. "Oh, um, yes. I've heard much about as well. You're a hero for everything you've done for us."
Campion averted his eyes with a pained look on his face. "Hardly. My recent actions don't begin to make up for the things I've done in the name of Efrafa. I'm no hero."
Blackberry closed the distance between them and put one of her paws under Campion's chin, moving his head to so he was looking at her. "You have turned from that path, Campion. You may have done bad things in the past, but they can be forgiven. You're working to help others now, and to ensure that Woundwort won't hurt anyone again. That makes you a hero to me."
Campion was about to respond when Sam interrupted. "Hey Blackberry, do you think you could finish showing Campion around the down? We have to talk to Bigwig."
A large smile burst onto her face. "Of course I can!"
Campion was about to agree, but hesitated. "Shouldn't I come help you make a plan?"
Sam gave him a wry smile. "You've done enough for us already. You've earned a day to yourself, pursuing whatever pleasures you want." Campion and Blackberry both blushed madly. Sam chuckled. "Come on Hazel, let's go track Bigwig down." They walked away in search of the captain while Blackberry and Campion started talking animatedly.
"This sounds bad," Bigwig said as Hazel finished telling him the news Campion had brought. "Our problem remains: we still have no way to fight them."
As they sat in the cave, Sam voiced an idea that had been in his head for a while. "Maybe we don't have to." The other rabbits looked at him in confusion. "Couldn't we find some way to block the cave? I mean, there are tons of rocks around here. I'm sure if I just fired off a few energy balls, something would give way."
Hazel almost nodded but then stopped himself. Bigwig and Sam watched as their chief's face scrunched up in concentration. Sam was about to ask if he was alright, when Hazel's head popped up with a look of inspiration on his face. Hazel darted off towards the Efrafan exit with Sam and Bigwig scrambling to keep up. He ran through the large chamber with the stalactites and followed the stream until it reached the small ledge. "Yes, here would work," he mumbled to himself.
"Hazel, what-" Sam began.
But Hazel didn't listen as he took off again back the way they came. Sam and Bigwig shrugged, but they followed Hazel as he ran. This time, he stopped in the large chamber and began to look around. Eventually, his gaze drifted upward, where it hung on the stalactites. Hazel considered for a moment and looked at Sam, then back up.
"For the love of Frith, Hazel, what-" But Hazel darted away again, ignoring Bigwig completely.
When they caught up with him again, Hazel was staring at a large boulder that was sticking out of the wall. It was one Sam had noticed as soon as they had walked down the path for the very first time. The boulder was huge, standing from the floor almost to the ceiling of the cave, and it was eight feet wide. Sam always though it looked kind of precarious considering how far it hung out, but he paid it little mind, since it did not seem to be going anywhere. Hazel scratched at the base of the stone, then turned to them with a grin. "I've got it!"
"Got what, Hazel?" Bigwig asked. "All you did was run about and stare at the cave."
"No, I mean I know what to do about the Efrafans. If we can't fight them head on, we need to use trickery. We can set traps in the cave to stop them as they come!" Sam and Bigwig's eyes widened in comprehension.
"So when you were looking at those places in the cave…" Sam began.
Hazel nodded. "Exactly. Near the ledge where the small stream flows, I was thinking we could make some sort of barrier, maybe with some of the rocks around. We can stack them on top of each other and block some of the water from flowing. If we make it so that it can be collapsed, then if the Efrafans won't leave, we can trigger the trap and send rocks and water shooting at them. In the larger chamber, I was thinking that Sam could throw his green balls at those rocks on the ceiling."
"Stalactites," Sam offered.
"Yes, those. They would fall, and I'm sure that would cause some serious damage. The last thought I had, was that if they were still coming even after those two, is that we could dig around this boulder, and cause it to fall. The wall around it is loose enough that we should be able to get through it. We would lose our access to the cave, but they would lose access to the warren."
The other two were silent for a moment as they considered what their chief had said. Bigwig was the first to respond. "I think the first two could work Hazel, but I don't know about us digging out that boulder. It's bloody huge!"
"Then here's the plan," Sam responded. "The rest of you work under Blackberry digging out that boulder. That's easily going to be the most work, so I'll leave that to all of you. I can go set up the rock dam at the beginning of the cave and scope out which stalactites look most likely to fall. Setting up the barrier will be easier for me anyway. You know, with my hands."
Hazel nodded. "That sounds good. Let's go let the others know."
They went back to the warren and gathered everyone together. Campion had been formally introduced to everyone at this point, so Hazel was able to get right to the bad news. Near panic followed as Hazel finished informing them that Woundwort was going to attack, but Bigwig managed to rein them in with a loud bellow. As they quieted, Hazel and Sam explained their plan to trap the caves. Campion looked a bit depressed at the news, but the others nodded in agreement. Soon, the all of the rabbits were on their way back down into the caves to set up their traps.
I wonder where Campion went, Sam thought as he left the others and went to help Blackberry weaken the boulder. Sam tried to keep an eye on him, but Campion just disappeared. Sam made his way to the ledge where he was supposed to be setting up the first trap, when he saw someone already there. It was Campion.
"Campion?" Sam asked quietly. "What are you doing down here?"
He glanced Sam's way, then back again. "I was getting ready to go back to Efrafa. If I'm not back soon, Woundwort will suspect something. I should be able to give you another day or two at least to prepare."
He turned to leave when Sam stopped him. "A-Actually, I don't think you should go back." Campion stopped and looked at the teen with an unreadable expression. Sam continued. "Maybe you could get us a couple of days, but I don't think that's worth putting you in danger again. You've done enough, Campion. This is the first time you've really been away from Efrafa, and out of Woundwort's grasp. I don't think you should give it up. Stay with us. Stand with us."
"I don't know if I deserve to, Sunflower."
Sam was about to reply when he heard a voice behind him.
"I think you do." Sam and Campion turned and saw Blackberry standing there with a concerned look on her face. Sam moved to the side as Blackberry hopped closer to Campion. "Campion, we forgive you for everything you've done. Can't you forgive yourself?"
Campion averted his eyes. "It isn't that easy, Blackberry. If you knew half the things I've…"
Blackberry moved closer and nuzzled Campion's chest. "I don't care what you've done. I only care what you do now. Please, don't leave. I don't want you to go." Campion looked down at her with a pained expression. He glanced at Sam, who only raised his eye brows.
Campion sighed. "I…suppose I can't say no to that, can I?"
Blackberry's head snapped up. "You mean it? You'll stay?"
He nodded. "I will. When Vervain leads the others here tomorrow, I will stand with you. Hopefully I can convince some of the others to see the truth as well."
Blackberry nuzzled him again. "Thank you Campion. Alright, I have to go help with digging around that boulder. Will you come help?"
"Actually, I think I'll stay and help Sunflower. I think even he could use some assistance gathering all the rocks he's going to need. Beside, I'm a bit on the large side to be digging."
Blackberry nodded. "Alright. If you two finish before us, you should come help." Campion nodded and Blackberry hopped away.
Sam watched her before he turned to Campion. "Alright, I guess we should get started." Campion nodded and they began their work. It was Campion's job to bring stones over to Sam while the teen planned out how best to stack them to make a worthwhile trap. While they were working, a concern rolled into Sam's mind.
"Campion, are you sure you're really alright helping us like this?"
"Of course I am," he replied, "why wouldn't I be?"
Sam grimaced. "Well, I just wanted to be sure you really thought this through. These traps we're setting aren't just for show. We aren't taking any prisoners in this fight. Some of the Efrafans may die. In fact, I think we're counting on it. I just want you to be aware of that. No one would blame you for sitting this one out. It's can't be easy knowing you're going to be fighting against former friends."
Campion stopped rolling the rock he had been bringing and sighed. "As soon as you and Hazel appeared in that passage and proved Vervain right, I knew this wasn't going to end peacefully. And yes, it's going to hurt knowing I might be the cause of some of their deaths. But if that's what it takes to free all the innocent rabbits still waiting in Efrafa, then so be it. Not a single rabbit in that owsla is completely innocent. Not Vervain, not me, not even Moss. I'm ready to do what it takes."
Sam nodded understandingly. The two continued working in silence for a bit. "I've heard you speak of Moss before," Sam said. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"No, he-" Campion began, but then stopped. He considered for a moment before he responded. "Looking back, I would say that yes, he was, and still is, my friend. He was one of the first rabbits I trained for the owsla, and he's stuck by my side ever since. Any time you've heard me talk about there being goodness in the Efrafan warren, it was always him that I was talking about. If circumstances had worked out differently, it could easily have been him standing here having this conversation. "
"I hope to Frith he makes it out alright then," Sam said as he turned to his human form to start piling the rocks up. "I would hate to wipe out one of the few good rabbits in Efrafa."
Campion chuckled. " 'Hope to Frith,' eh? That reminds me of something that's been on my mind all winter. What exactly is your story, Sunflower? How does a human come to be the size of a rabbit and get end up as part of a warren? Not to mention the things you can do: changing your shape, throwing those green death balls, even just speaking Lapine. I don't know much about humans, but I know they can't do that."
Sam laughed. "Oh that's right, I suppose you don't actually know that much about me, do you? Well let's see, the quick version is that I was brought here by Prince Rainbow in order to help Hazel and the others find peace. I assume that means defeating Woundwort. As for the odd things I can do, those are all powers given to me by Prince Rainbow. Each is assigned to a color. The first two, purple and blue, complement each other. The first lets me change into a rabbits, and the second gives me the…I still don't know how to explain this. I suppose you could say it gives me the extras that make the rabbit body complete. Without my blue power, I wouldn't be able to speak Lapine, I would smell like a human, I would have human hearing, and other things like that. The green power allows me to throw those 'death balls,' as you call them." Sam thought back to the winter, when they were unknowingly on the way to Buttercup's warren. "Oh, and apparently it makes my punches super strong too. And my last one, red, lets me manipulate fire. Anything else you wanted to know?"
Campion shook his head in disbelief. "If it was anyone else, I'd think they were insane. But I can't argue with what's before my eyes." There was silence for another few moments. "Did you say something about fire?"
Sam grinned like a child. Stand back, Campion." The captain did as he instructed and watched. Sam took a deep breath before exhaling and letting flame bellow from his mouth, similar to the demonstration he had given Glade last fall. When he finished, the ceiling of the cave was charred, and showed signs of melting. Campion stood still as stone with a shocked look on his face. Sam chuckled. "Awesome, huh?"
Campion shook his head slowly. "Efrafa doesn't have a chance. There's no way we could ever have won against you. You're too powerful."
Sam sobered quickly upon seeing Campion's reaction. "Hold on now, just because I can do that, doesn't mean I'm going to be using it on the Efrafans. Burning to death is a horrible way to go, and I don't plan on using that power unless it's absolutely necessary."
Campion nodded. "Thank you."
The two focused on the task and hand, rolling and piling stones for nearly two hours. The result of their labors was a wall of rocks packed tightly enough that it held back most of the water, causing the water level near the wall to raise almost a foot and a half. Satisfied with their work, Sam and Campion headed back to where the others were working on the boulder. When they got there, they were surprised to find only Blackberry and the other does still digging.
"Where did the rest of your work force go, Blackberry?" Sam asked as they approached.
She jumped slightly, not having heard them approach. "Oh! Hello Sam," she smiled deeply, "and Campion. I wanted the rest to stop. We're close to getting as deep as I'm willing to dig beneath this thing, and I didn't want their clumsy digging to mess anything up."
Sam nodded. "I suppose that means we're out too. How's it coming along?"
Blackberry looked behind her to be sure none of the others were listening. When she saw they were all focused on their digging she turned and whispered to Sam and Campion. "I don't know if this is going to work as a trap, Sam. I can't think of any way to rig it so that we can make the boulder fall on command. To make it fall will require careful digging, and there's no way to decide when it falls. It's not like there's a main section of the wall holding the boulder in that we can just knock out at the right time."
San groaned in frustration. "Alright. Just, weaken it as much as you feel comfortable with, and then leave it alone for now. I'll think of something."
"Alright," Blackberry said. Sam and Campion left them to the digging while they went up to the warren.
"What are you going to do?" Campion asked as they emerged from the warren to see the sun setting. "It's going to take quite a force to move that rock."
Sam's head popped up. "Wait a second, I wonder if I could…yeah, let's try that! Campion," he said suddenly to the other rabbit, "I might have an idea. I'm going down the hill to test it out; can you spread the word that no one should bother me?"
"Of course, Sunflower," he responded with a puzzled tone in his voice. "But what-" Once he had agreed, Sam had already begun sprinting away.
Campion decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and do what he said. The first rabbit he ran into was Pipkin.
"Hi Campion," the young buck said energetically, despite all the work he had done today. "How are you liking the down?"
"It's amazing; there's truly no other word for it," Campion replied. "Oh Pipkin, Sunflower wanted me to tell everyone that he's going to be down at the bottom of the hill working on a way to dislodge that boulder, and that no one is to bother him. Any idea what that's about?"
Pipkin sighed and looked down the hill in concern. "Again? Embleer Frith, Sam."
"What's he doing exactly?" Campion asked, beginning to worry that may letting Sam go off on his own was not the best idea.
"He's experimenting with his powers. He always goes down there whenever he gets a new idea in his head. He usually tells us 'Don't come get me unless the sun sets and I'm not back yet. In which case, come get me right away, because I probably screwed something up.' It usually goes alright whenever he goes down there, but there have been times where he had come back burnt, bruised, and one time Glade and I found him unconscious. He worked too hard and got…I think 'backlashed,' is the word he used."
"Backlashed?" Campion asked. "What's that?"
"From what Sam has told me, it happens when he uses his powers too much. If he works himself too hard in a short amount of time, his powers go away for a full day. There's more to it, he feels a great deal of pain and sometimes he'll go unconscious."
Campion turned to face the same direction Pipkin was, new respect in his voice for the teen that gave so much for his warren. "That's incredible. He's so powerful; it's hard to imagine that he, too, has limits. So what do you think he-"
*BOOM!*
Campion and Pipkin stood in shock as they heard a loud bang come from the bottom of the hill. They glanced at each other and nodded before taking off for where Sam had gone, regardless of his warning. When they got to the bottom of the hill, they found Sam sprawled on the ground about twenty feet away from a smoldering crater. He sat up shakily and smiled at his quickly approaching friends.
"I did it guys!" He yelled. "I've got the solution to our problem."
"Sam, are you alright?" Pipkin said worriedly, circling his friend to check for injuries.
Sam chuckled. "I'm fine. Maybe a little banged up, but fine nonetheless. But look at that hole! That's going to be perfect."
"What did you do?" Campion asked as he lent Sam his shoulder to help him stand.
"I can make remote grenades! They'll be perfect for getting the boulder to fall. Watch this." Sam stood up and concentrated on his red power, bringing the fire from his stomach to his hands. But instead of letting it burn freely, he kept the power in check, holding it in his grasp while he brought more and more up. As soon as he felt he could not put any more power into the glowing red ball be now held in his hands, Sam opened his eyes and gave the sphere a little toss, landing in the crater he had made earlier.
Campion watched as the ball sat there, unmoving. "That's it?"
"Just watch," Sam said with a smirk. "Oh, and I'd cover your ears." The rabbits did as he said as Sam turned to his creation. With a smile on his face, Sam snapped his fingers and the ball exploded like the grenade it was named after, sending dirt and grass flying. Once his ears had stopped ringing, Sam turned back to his friends. "See? Problem solved."
Campion nodded. "Alright, let's go tell Blackberry and begin the final preparations.
Early the next morning, Sam, Hazel, and Campion stood on the stone wall that had been built the day before. The first of three traps the Watership Down rabbits had prepared. Campion knew Woundwort would attack at dawn at the latest. There was a better chance to take the enemy by surprise that way. The three waited silently as the moments ticked on with no sign of movement in the cave. Soon, however, they began to hear a single runner coming in their direction. Just after they heard him, Dandelion sprinted around the corner. Sam turned to human form to help him up and the lanky buck gave his report.
"They're coming, Hazel-rah," he said breathlessly, "just like Campion said. They're going slow and quiet, probably trying to take us by surprise. I don't think they expected us to be ready for them."
"Oh they expect it alright," Campion said grimly. "Woundwort is too crafty. To be safe, he would assume I decided to side with you. I knew exactly how he was going to attack, and he knows I knew. He's going slowly to avoid an ambush. He isn't expecting us to lay the traps right in front of his face."
Hazel nodded in understanding. "Dandelion, go tell the others to be ready. We'll wait and hope we can get Woundwort to see reason."
Dandelion ran towards the warren, leaving them alone again. They did not have to wait long. Soon enough, a large group of wet rabbits rounded the corner, led by the huge black form of Woundwort, flanked on either side by Moss and Vervain. When he saw them standing on the pile of stones, he held up a paw, stopping the rest of the rabbits.
"Now what do we have here?" he mocked. "A rabbit that thinks he can play at being a chief, a slave of a dead god, and a traitor. Have you come to surrender? Surely you don't think you stand a chance."
Hazel stepped forward. "Woundwort, or whatever you are, leave this place. Only the Black Rabbit waits for you in here."
Woundwort threw his head back and let out a laugh. "I can assure you that no, he does not. If you want me to leave so badly, you have to give me something first." The Efrafans whispered in confusion while Hazel, Sam, and Campion shared a concerned look. "Give me the messenger." At this, the Efrafan soldiers began talking louder, questioning their leader's sanity.
"Messenger? What messenger?"
"Does he mean the ithe?"
"Maybe he-"
"Silence!"
A demonic shout burst from Woundwort's throat, silencing all the soldiers. "You heard me," he said to the three. "If you give me the messenger, I will leave this warren, and never come back. The rest of you will be safe, but only if he comes without a fight."
Hazel and Campion glanced at Sam, who merely looked at the ground in uncertainty. He took a tentative step forward. "Y-You promise? If I go with you, you'll leave my friends alone?"
"Of course I promise," Woundwort said convincingly. "You have my word as chief."
Sam raised his foot to move closer to the Efrafans, when he was suddenly yanked backwards by his shirt. "Absolutely not!" Hazel said to him and to Woundwort.
"But Hazel," Sam began. "If I-"
"He's lying, Sunflower," Campion said, never taking his eyes off his former chief. "The second you're down there, he'll kill you and then come for the rest of us."
"But-"
"Sam," Hazel said urgently, "we need you here. What if Campion is right? Then we've just lost a friend, and the only one who could protect us. Even if Woundwort keeps his word, I'm not willing to sacrifice you. None of us are."
Sam stared at Hazel for a moment before he got to his feet and turned to Woundwort with a defiant look his eyes. "No deal, tyrant. We will defeat you, and we will free all the rabbits you're still keeping against their will."
Woundwort's fake smile slid off his face, replaced with rage. "Fine ithe, have it your way. Owsla, charge!"
As soon as he said that, Sam, Campion, and Hazel jumped into the water and made the short swim to the higher part of the passage. "Go on," Sam told the other two, "I'll be right behind you."
They nodded and ran to the next interception point while Sam turned and watched the wall. Wait for the first one, he said to himself, then blow it. Soon, a pair of ears appeared over the stones. Sam was about to blow the wall, when he got a clear look at the rabbit's face. Off-white face with dark grey around the eyes? That's what Campion said Moss looked like. Conflicted, Sam decided to wait until Moss had jumped in the water. As soon as he was clear, Sam snapped his fingers and ignited three grenades he had hidden in the rock pile. As he did, stones went flying everywhere, and without the wall to hold it back, the water surged forward, sweeping Moss back and taking some of the other soldiers off their feet. Sam grimaced as he heard some screams of pain, but he turned and ran the way his friends had gone. He rounded the corner and found Campion, Bigwig, and Holly waiting for him.
He stood next to them and face the way he had come. "Everyone ready?" he asked. They nodded. The plan was to spring each of the traps, and have holdings point in between where they would fight off as many soldiers as they could before being overrun. Or until Woundwort arrived. As soon as either of those things happened, Sam would cover their retreat. Sam readied his staff while they waited. One end he left blunt, but he attached a blade to the other end.
The four did not have long to wait, as rabbits soon began appearing in ones and two. They fought hard, and were able to hold off the wave, incapacitating rabbits where they could, and killing as they had to. Sam cringed whenever he was forced to stab one of the soldiers, or slice a throat, but he kept going. They all accumulated scratches and other injuries, but kept fighting. Soon though, Sam saw Woundwort approaching and called a retreat, firing a green energy blast at the ceiling above them and startling their pursuit.
They ran along the path, Sam in the back shooting off energy blasts behind him to try and keep off their followers. He half limped due to a deep gouge that one of the Efrafans had given him when he had let his guard down, but he managed to keep up with the others. Soon, they found themselves in the large chamber with the stalactites. They quickly made their way to the opposite side where Glade, Strawberry, Hawkbit, and Dandelion were waiting.
"Sam!" Glade exclaimed as he got closer. "You're hurt!"
"It's nothing," he said quickly as he took his place in the back of the group. "Just stay focused, alright?"
Glade nodded and turned to face where she knew the Efrafans would be coming from. Sam climbed onto a rock behind his friends. His job at this part was to shoot energy blasts at the stalactites as the Efrafans made their way through the cave. The Efrafans were relentless in their push, soon appearing through the passage they had just entered from.
"Here they come!" Sam shouted as the launched his first blast.
The stalactite fell to the cave floor, along with some rubble that was knocked loose as well. Sam heard shouts and yells of pain, but he stayed focused. The soldiers began to spread out, and Sam found himself having to fire where it would do the most damage. He soon began to hear the sounds of fighting as his friends engaged the rabbits that Sam was not able to hit with the falling debris.
He spared a look as his friends. Bigwig and Holly were fighting three rabbits between them, while Dandelion and Hawkbit kept the Efrafans confused with their erratic fighting. Glade, Strawberry, Holly and Campion were each fighting single-handedly, but they were holding their own, dealing with each soldier as they came. When Sam looked back up, he saw Woundwort enter the chamber. Every time Sam tried to hit him with a stalactite, the Efrafan general would drift out of the way. He was gaining ground quickly.
"Run!" Sam yelled to his friends. "Fall back! Hurry!" He jumped down from the stone and let out a breath of fire, aiming it above the heads of the soldiers, causing them to freeze up so his friends could get away. Sam ran too, and soon found himself standing to one side of the boulder. The only ones waiting were Hazel, Campion, Glade, and Bigwig. The rest had gone to fortify the warren in case something went wrong with their plan. Sam, Hazel, and Campion stood in a line as they waited for the Efrafans. They did not wait long before the soldiers rounded the corner, led once again by Woundwort. The general stopped on the other side of the boulder.
"What is this?" Woundwort scoffed. "Have you finally stopped running, content to die by the might of Efrafa?"
Hazel nodded to Sam, who stepped forward. "We don't need to run, Woundwort. I'm giving you one last chance to run. Your army is in tatters." The Efrafans had upwards of fifty soldiers when they first came. Sam counted twenty in front of him. Most were injured. To his relief, one of the uninjured was Moss, who stared only at Campion, paying the human no mind. "You have no chance of victory, leave with the soldiers you have and you can prevent any more unnecessary death."
Woundwort glared at Sam. "The only death there will be yours. And I find killing you very necessary."
Sam sighed in sadness. "Fine, have it your way." He looked to Moss, who had finally managed to tear his gaze away from Campion and was looking at him. He mouthed the word "run" to Moss, then turned and began walking away from Woundwort with his hand held in the air.
*Snap*
The sounds of Sam's fingers hitting his palm were barely heard before a series of deafening explosions echoed throughout the cave. Sam did not need to look to know that the boulder had been blown apart and there were heavy stones and debris falling. He heard the faint voice of Woundwort, but it was quickly lost in the noise. Sam waited until the rumbling stopped before he turned around. The passage was blocked by tons of stone, making it completely impassable. The Efrafan assault was over.
Sam turned back to his friends, including the noncombatants that had emerged from the warren upon hearing the rock slide. "We did it," he said in a lifeless voice.
"We did," Hazel agreed. "It was such a waste; so many good rabbits dying to satisfy a mad chief."
"What do you plan to do now?" Campion asked.
Hazel responded with steel in his voice. "The only thing we can do: we press our advantage. Tomorrow, we attack Efrafa."