We crossed the walkway bridge and after I finished my final comment to Richard Adams. We started to go on through the hills and found Hazel, looking more exhausted and unwell. I noticed his bandage wound was starting to bleed through it.

"Hazel!" I rushed over to his side, unwrapped the bandage, and emptied my backpack to pull out my first-aid kit. I started to clean his wound once more and and wrapped a new bandage around his wound.

"I thought I told you not to worry about me, brother." slightly weakened Hazel stated.

"I know, but we can't afford to lose you now or never." I worriedly stated.

"Hazel, we need to leave." Blackberry suggested.

"I know Bigwig. He'll find a way to get out." Hazel turned towards Blackberry.

"We don't even know if he is still alive, as well as the prisoners." he feared. "Even if they did escape, as Kevin said last night, they might have been caught."

"No. Fiver, Kevin, tell them." Hazel want for the both of us to side with him.

Fiver and I looked at Blackberry and the others, as I let out a sigh and Fiver came over to Hazel. "You know yourself this is no country for rabbits, Hazel. The heat's crushing us like a giant paw."

"Even for you." I added, as the bucks headed their way. "You look like you took the heat worst than any of us."

Fiver than looked up towards the incoming clouds that are forming and coming on their way towards us. "And the storms will be here before long."

"I can't give up on him, as he promised to get the prisoners out." Hazel stated.

"You walked miles to get here on an injured leg and stuck it out amongst the marsh and the heat and the humans." Fiver went on. "I know you'd wait here forever for Bigwig and the others to come. If you say stay, we stay, but if we leave, know that we gave it our all, brother. No one can say we didn't."

"As well it doesn't mean we can't give up in the final hour too. Besides, Kehaar had misunderstood from the previous night before. He'll may come to our aid tonight." I added, as Fiver picked up his big brother on the right side of his paw to lift him back on his feet.

"We'll pass back under the Iron Road and then to the south, to avoid Efrafa." Hazel stated the latest order.

"And who knows, we may come across with Bigwig and the does, as we're passing through. Just don't give up." I encouraged Hazel to keep up with the spirit.

We finally managed to catch up with the rest of the band. Hazel gave us an direct order that we'll be passing through the Iron Road, before heading south. The rest of the bucks nodded in acknowledgment. We continued to press on as we're heading our way to the meeting point. I started to hear a sound of an angel humming, as if she was coming from a dark place and she started to sing a ballad. It was surreal, but it was convincing that the beauty of her voice started to sing from my heart. I had to stop, as the sound of our feet suppressed and her singing grew louder. My necklace started to glow bright. I heard the rabbits calling for me, but I paid no attention, as I was fixated on the necklace and spellbound from an angel singing.

10,000 enemies wait at my door
I wait for freedom soon, can't take much more
I feel the whole Earth shake
Brought to my knees
Although 10,000 strong, I shall be free
I shall be free
I shall be free

I couldn't know the full lyrics of that beautiful song. I may not know the title or heard the song that I ever. It was beautifully original and heart touching, as back up vocals joined in, with a chant: "We shall be free".

I hear the sweetest sound (We shall be free)
Blowing from the north (We shall be free)
It's says, "Don't panic now" (We shall be free)
What's mine is yours (We shall be free)
I hope 10,000 times (We shall be free)
You tell me the truth (We shall be free)
'Cause now there's much to do (We shall be free)
I trust in you (I trust in you)
I shall be free (We shall be free)
I shall be free (We shall be free)
I shall be free (We shall be free)
I shall be free (We shall be free)
I shall be free (We shall be free)
We shall be free (We shall be free)

"They shall be free." I proclaimed.

"What?" Hawkbit questioned.

"They shall be free! I'm not giving up on them, just as Hazel isn't giving up Bigwig and the does." I spoke up. "Tonight will be the night. They will escape." I spoke up.

"You still believe they'll come out and Kehaar soaring down for us?" Hawkbit questioned me.

"Yes, I do! Any miracle could happen and we're not giving up until it's over. What Hazel ordered is given, is that order we're to enact upon it." I stood up.

The rabbits were uncertain. Hazel and Fiver knew what I was trying to encourage them. "What about Bigwig? I know you all wouldn't leave him behind because he volunteered to free the does. You guys feared him and looked up to him as he's 'The Strongest Rabbit of Watership Down'. I probably look up to him more than any of the rest of you have bucks have. Especially looking up to Hazel, as he wouldn't give up as if it was 'the eleventh hour'. I'll be damned, if I ever see any of you guys desert your leader or even your Captain of the Owsla. I'll be more than happy to have you tried quickly that your heads will spin and finding yourself in a prison cell like all the other dishonorable deserters back in my world in the military. We don't tolerate dishonorable deserters and betrayers that leave their base, their post, or a mission with a lamest excuse just to cover their asses for nothing!"

A boom of thunder rumbled. It may have got their spirits up. They finally win over from my inducement to keep up their spirits and motives of why we're doing this. Hawkbit finally nodded lastly, as we than continued to press on. I reached towards Hazel. "They shall be free." Hazel smiled and nodded.

"I knew you wouldn't give up." he commended up.

We pressed on through the stormy night, as it rained heavily down upon us. Later, we finally reached towards our meeting point. Hazel than stepped forward, as a general would make his next order for to us soldiers to enact upon. He moved forward, as we followed suite behind him. The flash of lightening revealed a shadow of a buck, with a boom of thunder. We came to a halt, as we don't know, whose lurking underneath the Iron Road. The shadow left, as another flash of lightening came. A shadowy figure emerged from the bridge, as it stood there still. We stared at each other for minutes, as we could only question ourselves if he's a friend or foe. After more flashes of lightening, it unveiled the shadowy figure... as Bigwig.

"Bigwig!" Fiver recognized him right away. "Hazel, it's Bigwig, and he's with the others!"

We hurried over with rejoice that he's alive and well. "What happened?"

"There's been a delay or so, until we found the opportunity." Bigwig answered.

I let out a relief, as I see the prisoners from Efrafa behind him. One of them I recognized right away was Hyzenthlay. I walked towards her. "Captain Holly kept his word that you'll be free with your sisters. He'll be glad to see you."

"Thank you." she thanked me, as another doe came forward. "This is one of my sisters, Thethuthinnang."

"It's a honor to meet you, at last." she bowed.

"You don't have to bow. You're a free rabbit..." I than froze, as I recognized the voice that wasn't long ago. "Did I hear your voice somewhere?"

She became puzzled. "From where?"

"I don't know... you do have the same singing voice I heard moments back." I wondered if it was the same voice of an angel singing.

"She's our singer, to keep our spirits up with high hopes." Hyzenthlay spoke of her sister.

"I see..." I started to have bit of drawn to her, as I wished to hear her sing. However, in a another pleasant time, instead of now.

"These Efrafans are fast, big and they know how to cover ground." I than heard Bigwig informing Hazel about the Efrafan Owsla.

"No kidding." I agreed.

"If they catch up with us-"

We stopped and gasped, as we than saw an army of Efrafans in front of us. They even blocked our one only way out. We're surrounded! We than see the biggest rabbit coming down through the aisle of his soldiers to make a nightmarish appearance. The prisoners and the rest of us gasped in fright, as we than saw General Woundwart in present.

"So, we finally meet. Thlayli." he spoke to Bigwig, as he started to approach to him. "They told me you weren't a fighter, but I know a fighter when I see one. I'm going to take great pleasure in killing you."

"No!" I than stood in front of Bigwig. "You're not going to kill anyone of us, you'll have to go through me!"

General Woundwart cackles. "You?! A human defending a rabbit."

"Kevin, stay out of this!" Bigwig advised me.

"It's you!" one of Woundwart's captain's recognized me, it was Orchis. "You're supposed to be dead! I killed you!"

"Oh great." I shook my head.

"Well, since one of my captain's failed to kill you. Perhaps I should finish what I have started, since you arrived..." General Woundwart raised his paw, as he may strike me, instead turned onto Bigwig. "...starting with you!"

"NO!" I screamed, as I held his paw and grabbed Woundwart by his head. I than felt a unease feeling as time began to froze...