"Is Woundwort really out there Fiver?" Strawberry asks as he, Alexis, Strawberry, Dandelion, and Hawkbit sit on the edge of the hill.
"The one eyed evil lives again. A wandering darkness his mind insane. He gathers an army beginning with one. The battle for peace is not yet done." Fiver says as Alexis and Strawberry look at him.
"Well that seems clearer than most of your visions though it's a bit more unsettling." Dandelion says.
"Honestly Woundwort should never have been able to walk away. That's one rabbit the world doesn't need in it." Alexis says nervously thinking back on when she was a prisoner in Efrafa.
"Oh it's not right is it? I mean Woundwort walks away from the battle of Efrafa but Campion's gone forever." Hawkbit says angrily.
"Maybe he's not. Maybe he's still with us." Fiver says getting Strawberry's attention.
"What do you mean Fiver?" Alexis asks.
"You had a vision about him?" Strawberry asks hopefully.
"No... just a... tickle.. a feeling." Fiver says.
"Um with us... the way the spirit of El-ahrairah is with us or um with us living and... breathing?" Dandelion asks nervously.
"I don't know.. It's all muzzy in my head." Fiver says as he looks down.
"So he might be a ghost.. walking among us." Hawkbit says scaredly.
"I'm not keen on ghosts." Dandelion says as they then hear yelling and see Pipkin and the other kits charge toward them and head but them sending Alexis and the others rolling down the hill before retreating.
"So how come you didn't see that coming oh mystic visionary?" Hawkbit asks angrily as he sits up.
"Pipkin and that junior owlsa are getting to be a knot in my tail." Dandelion says angrily.
"I gotta hand to our kids though Fiver. They are getting better at what I've taught them...unfortunately." Alexis says as she gets up off the ground.
*Timeskip*
"The babies have to grow up sometime. In a world full of enemies like Woundwort the sooner the better." Bigwig says as Alexis, Primrose, and Hazel are following him.
"I just don't think their ready to go out on their own." Hazel says as they stop.
"I have to agree with Hazel. I don't like the idea of mine and Fiver's kits going out either. Yes I've trained them well but their still only children." Alexis says with concern for her children.
"Is that your final word?" Bigwig asks.
"I'm afraid so." Hazel says.
"You two asked for it then. Now!" Bigwig says as the kits come running out of their hiding spots with Pipkin.
"Not again." Alexis says as Hazel's and her's kits tackle them down onto the ground.
"Are you alright father?" Gilia asks as Alexis and Hazel stand up.
"Bigwig said it was the only way we would get your attention." Sky says as she looks at Alexis.
"You have our attention now." Hazel says.
"I wouldn't make a habit of greeting your parents that way kids." Primrose says.
"Very impressive." Alexis says.
"I thought so." Bigwig says proudly.
"So.. can.. junior owlsa.. go on.. solo patrol?" Pipkin asks as he is jumping up and down.
"It's a dangerous world. You need cunning, strength, and speed." Hazel says.
"We've got all that. Honestly." Pipkin says as Gilia and Tara nod in agreement.
"I don't know.. Hazel what do you think?" Alexis asks as she looks at Hazel.
"Look you two. Come up with a challenge... some sort of test. If they pass they solo patrol." Bigwig says suggesting his compromise.
"That sounds fair." Primrose says agreeing with Bigwig.
"Fine." Alexis says giving in.
"We'll work something up and let you know." Hazel says getting down on all fours still winded from being tackled.
"Need a hand Hazel?" Primrose asks as she looks at Hazel.
"I can manage very nicely thank you." Hazel says as he hops off soon being followed in action by Alexis as she hops off into the woods for her afternoon training.
*Timeskip*
After a while of training Alexis then sees Pipkin in the bushes and stops her training.
"Yes Pipkin what is it?" Alexis asks.
"It's just I wanted to ask you something." Pipkin says as he hops over to her.
"Yes?" Alexis asks as she looks at Pipkin.
"Alexis why is it your so worried about me and the others. I mean we've been trained very well." Pipkin says.
"That maybe be so Pipkin but your still only children. Besides Hazel worries for the same as me. I worry about you and my little ones because your my family because I love you. I'm worried for you. It's not that I don't think your ready." Alexis says.
"You care about me?" Pipkin asks.
"Yes Pipkin. I see you as one of my own. Even as much of a adventurous stubborn ball of fur you are." Alexis says as she gently nuzzles Pipkin.
"Thank you Alexis." Pipkin says kindly.
"Your welcome Pipkin." Alexis says as Pipkin starts to hop off but stops and turns back around.
"Oh and Alexis I have another thing I wanted to ask... do you always have to keep a promise? Even if there's a good reason not to?" Pipkin asks.
"Well Pipkin let me put it to you this way. A promise is a commitment to someone. And for some a promise is something to give them hope and faith. When you make a promise it's important to try and not break that promise. After all what good is a promise once it's been broken. But why do you ask?" Alexis asks.
"I know a secret that would make Blackberry happy again. If only I could tell her." Pipkin says worriedly.
"That's always the problem with secrets or promises. Either way you go about things depending what it is you can't always make everyone happy. Now run along Pipkin I'm going to meet up with hazel to work out your test." Alexis says as she gently nudges Pipkin along.
"Well thanks anyways Alexis. Bye." Pipkin says as he hops off.
*Timeskip*
"Your challenge is to steal these stones." Hazel says as Pipkin looks at the stones.
"You have until Frith is directly over head." Alexis says.
"That doesn't sound too hard." Pipkin says confidently.
"They'll be here to make it difficult. If your caught in the attempt. If they even see you. You fail." Hazel says as Strawberry, Fiver, Hawkbit, and Dandelion hop over smiling.
"Hey! That's a job I'd have trouble with. Be fair you two!" Bigwig says.
"The world isn't fair Bigwig. That's the challenge." Hazel says firmly standing his ground.
"Pipkin and his junior owlsa can take it or leave it." Alexis says as the children talk and confide in each other.
"We accept the challenge Hazel-rah." Pipkin says as they accept the challenge.
"You two really can be a nasty bit of work when you wanna be can't you." Bigwig says causing Alexis and Hazel to laugh.
"We learned from the best there Bigwig." Alexis says as she hops off with Bigwig and Hazel.
*Timeskip*
"Time's up. Look's like the junior owlsa failed the test." Hazel says.
"Really?" Gilia asks.
"I thought we we're on time." Seth says as they present Alexis and Hazel with the stones.
"Well done troops." Bigwig says proud of the little ones.
"Yes. Very well done." Alexis says as Pipkin comes running over followed by Fiver, Dandelion, Hawkbit, and Strawberry.
"What's going on?" Hawkbit asks.
"And you call yourselves owlsa. It's a wonder we've survived this long with you scruffs on the job." Bigwig says disappointed.
"Come on then. How'd you do it?" Hawkbit asks as he looks at the stones.
"We pass the test?" Pipkin asks.
"Yes. Yes I supposed you have." Hazel says.
"Grumlin pulled the real stones under ground. These are substitutes." Pipkin says as he explains what they did.
"They tricked us! That's not fair." Dandelion whines.
"The world isn't fair Dandelion. Junior owlsa ready for solo patrol Hazel-rah." Pipkin says as he salutes Hazel.
*Timeskip*
"Oh Fiver I'm worried about the little ones." Alexis says looking out towards the woods.
"They should of been back by now." Hazel says feeling worried as well.
"You sent Bigwig to keep an eye on them." Primrose says.
"Yes they should be fine." Fiver says in attempt to calm Alexis's worries.
"What if they ran into something bigger that even bigwig can't handle?" Hazel asks.
"Do you want to go and look for them?" Primrose asks.
"And have the junior owlsa think I don't trust them?... Yes alright let's go." Hazel says as he, Alexis, Primrose, and Fiver go out into the woods in search of the little ones.
*Timeskip*
"See not a thing to worry about." Primrose says as they stop among seeing the little ones with Bigwig, Hannah, and Kehaar.
"They're alright. They're safe as burrows." Fiver says.
"Hawk! Take cover!" Hazel shouts seeing a hawk as they go running over to their little ones.
"Oh fine! Is the whole warren out checking up on us!" Pipkin says as Alexis, Fiver, Primrose, and Hazel tackle their little ones and hover over them protectively.
"Mother that hurt." Snowdrop says whining.
"Yes mom please get off." Eclipsa says.
"Dad get off your squishing me." Seth says trying to get out from under Fiver.
"Hazel you can get up now." Bigwig says nervously as the hawk squawks up in the sky as it circles.
"Your supposed to be watching out for them and you don't even see a hawk attacking!?" Hazel asks angrily.
"Yes Bigwig are you off your rocker!?" Alexis shouts angrily slightly growling at him.
"Scree won't hurt us Hazel." Pipkin says.
"Excuse me?" Alexis asks looking at Pipkin with disbelieve.
"Friend! Kehaar friend! All long ears friend! Always!" Scree shouts as he flies off.
"Notice he didn't say anything about mice." Hannah says annoyed.
"I don't believe it." Hazel says shaking his head with disbelieve.
"Why? There's no end to the wonders on Watership Down is there?" Bigwig asks.
"Father you are heavy!" Gilia shouts as Alexis and the others get off their kids.
"My son the hawk. I make good father no? You got childrens. Everybody gots childrens. Now is Kehaar's turn." Kehaar says sadly.
"He's off again." Hannah says shaking her head.
"Kehaar go now. Find gull who loves me. Find mother for our childrens. Be back sometime. Bye." Kehaar says as he picks Hannah up hugging her before putting her down and taking off flying.
"That was rather sudden wasn't it?" Hazel asks.
"Gulls no understanding them." Bigwig says.
"As long as he comes back." Hannah says as she climbs on Alexis's back.
"Imagine.. a hawk that's a friend to all rabbits. Someday Scree may help out a rabbit we've never met. Well done Pipkin. Well done." Hazel says as they head home.