Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Juniper Protection Program
As soon as the rabbits reached the top of the hill, Hazel came shooting out of the warren, having apparently been alerted by someone to the situation.
"What in the name of the Black Rabbit of Inle is going on here?" Hazel yelped upon seeing Bigwig unconscious and Azalea's newly acquired burn marks.
"I'll explain later," Campion said grimly, "For now, can you run fetch Blackberry? Ask her if she knows what to put on burns."
Hazel dashed off, and Campion sank gratefully onto the cool grass. Phlox and Azalea lay down as well, although all three rabbits were only too aware of the unconscious form of Bigwig close by.
Blackberry soon appeared, followed by Pearl and a concerned-looking group of other rabbits, Hawkbit included.
"I'm not quite sure what to do for burns, but I can try my best," the silver doe said briskly. She rattled off a list of herbs to Hawkbit, who for once trotted off obediently.
When the grey buck returned, Blackberry had already checked over Bigwig, and had assured the anxious rabbits that he would be fine, although he might have some rather nasty scars. Azalea sat nearby, watching carefully as the other doe treated her brother.
"All right, Azalea, now let's see you," Blackberry said, after she had instructed Phlox to take Bigwig to his burrow and make sure that no one disturbed him.
The caramel-furred doe shrugged.
"I'm fine."
"Oh, no you don't," Blackberry chided, "You're acting exactly like Bigwig, and he's never fine. Let me have a look at you."
Azalea reluctantly lay down.
"Oh, all right, if you insist..."
Meanwhile, Twinleaf was doing something so uncharacteristic that, had Woundwort been able to see him, he would never had heard the end of it.
He was spying on Juniper, who was spying on Alfalfa and Strawberry. What made it all the more uncharacteristic was the fact that he was doing it in company with Kehaar.
"Will you stop putting your beak down my ear?" Twinleaf muttered to his partner in crime. Kehaar shrugged, if indeed a seagull can shrug.
"Kehaar does not put beak down ears. Why you want to come spy on little bunny anyway?"
"I have had a thought, and I am observing Juniper to see if my assumption is right."
"What you mean?"
Twinleaf sighed.
"I had a son named Yarrow. He got lost when Leao, Aspen, and I escaped from Efrafa. Juniper looks like my mate, Aspen, and his father was named Yarrow. Even more interesting is the fact that his personality is much like that of my mate. If the kit is my grandson, as I think he is, I want to know for sure. And the easiest way is to observe him as we are now. And if it comes to odd questions, why are you so interested in Juniper?"
"Little bunny all alone. Has no family. Kehaar knows what to be lost and lonely. So, want to watch little bunny. Make sure he safe."
"Well, then, let's watch."
The pair crouched in the long grass, watching the small black and white figure.
Juniper snuck a little closer to Alfalfa and Strawberry. He wasn't about to let Alfalfa out of his sight if he had any choice about it.
"That kit," Juniper reflected, "Is the closest thing to a family I have."
He could have taken care of Alfalfa without these rabbits' help, but if they wanted to stick their noses in, that was fine by Juniper. But he wanted to be sure he could trust them to take care of his friend before he moved on. Because move on he would, whether the Watershippers liked it or not.
Later that day, Fiver discovered something that made him want to go hide for about ten seasons.
Phlox and Violet had snuck off someplace, without telling him or Poppy, which in the seer rabbit's opinion meant that they didn't want him around. Which made it only too clear what they were doing.
"Why do they all have to go fall in love?" Fiver grumbled to Blackberry.
"Rowan's not in love," the silver doe pointed out.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Fiver answered, gesturing to Pearl and Rowan laughing and talking nearby.
"Oh. Well, um, I'd best go see how Bigwig and Azalea are doing," Blackberry said awkwardly.
When Blackberry had left, Fiver began talking to a patch of clover.
"It's not fair. Why in the name of Frith do they have to fall in love? Corydalis fell in love, and now she's dead, and the rest of us are all paranoid because of it."
"So my mother is dead?"
Fiver jumped.
"You did not just hear that, TJ!"
"Yeah, I heard it, but I knew anyways. It was kinda obvious."
"It was?" Fiver groaned.
"My parli is sad, my marli ain't here, and you all got droopy ears about it."
"I see."
"Why don't you like kits, Grandpa Fiver?"
"Do I dislike kits?" Fiver asked.
"You don't like to do stuff with us, and you don't want Aunt Violet to fall in love and get some kits."
"I just don't want to lose her!" Fiver protested, "Like I lost..."
"Like you lost my mom. That's what you were gonna say."
"Yes," Fiver sighed, "Yes, it was."
"Do I remind you of my marli?"
"You do," Fiver admitted, "I guess I just don't like to think about her. But that's not your fault. Tell you what, go get your brothers and sister and we can all do something together."
TJ brightened considerably.
"Really?"
"Sure, whatever you want to do."
"Okay," TJ said, dashing off toward the warren, "Hey guys, guess what Grandpa said he's gonna do!"
"What did I just do?" Fiver wondered. He sighed.
"Oh, well, at least now they won't be able to say I never do anything with them."
Sorry this is late, my internet was down last night.