Chapter Fifty-Two: Ivy's Punishment

Woundwort had been trying to take a nap, which he would never have admitted to anyone, but it seemed that this would be a day for interruptions. First, Vervain came with some crazy scheme to take away Pearl's kittens, then, just when Woundwort was about to fall asleep again, Appleseed showed up to report that Campion had attacked the Owsla, and he was worried someone would be injured.

The General did the natural thing. He told Appleseed to deal with it, and went back to sleep.

Or tried. Because then Vervain and Vine showed up with Thorn and informed him that the young rabbit had been caught trying to sneak away.

"Then, just do something about it!" Woundwort roared, "I am trying to sleep! Where's Cactus, he's the only competent one of the lot of you!"

The white buck poked his head cautiously into the burrow.

"Here, General."

"Guard this burrow and the next rabbit that comes in here, kill them!"

"Okay, General. As you say."

Cactus fidgeted nervously, and whenever any rabbit came near, he quickly chased them away.


The Efrafans had finally succeeded in getting Campion back into his cell. Not long afterwards, the boulder was once again rolled aside, and no other rabbit than Thorn was pushed inside.

"Say hello to your new cellmate," Vine laughed, "Be careful, he bites!"

"Only my enemies!" Thorn challenged, "Care for a demonstration?"

There was no reply from the outside.

"What a pity," Thorn mumbled, "I was looking forward to killing him."

"What did he do?" Phlox asked.

"He became an Owsla officer," Thorn announced, "I really hate Owsla officers."

"I hope that only applies to Efrafans," Blackavar said nervously.

"Depends," Thorn said, "On where you're from."

"We're from Watership Down," Campion said.

"Then you're probably safe. Are you going to try getting out of here?"

"Well, we were, but we can't leave Pearl and her kittens."

"The kits should be safe here," Thorn said, "I think they've learned their lesson about mistreating children. It does not turn out as a good arrangement for anyone."

"I don't think Pearl will leave them," Blackavar said, "I wouldn't if I were her."

"And you're not even a doe," Phlox pointed out.

"Thank you, I was aware of that."

Thorn sighed.

"And I thought the Efrafan Owsla were thick. Some Owsla Watership Down must have."

"Hey!" Phlox yelped, "We have ears!"

"No, actually, you don't!" Vine called from outside the cell.

"Shut up!"

"Can't make me! No-ears!"

"That's not nice at all!"

"Why do you think I said it? Being nice is no fun. Ear ripping, on the other paw..."

Campion sighed.

"Phlox, just ignore him. That's the only thing that ever works on Vervain."

"So the guard can hear us, which means we have to feed him false information while we talk," Thorn whispered, "You're Phlox, right? Keep him busy."

Phlox nodded, and then went back to arguing with Vine.

"Right," Campion whispered, "We need to decide, do we make a break for it at silflay or try it in the night?"

"Night didn't work so well for you the last time," Thorn pointed out.

"Then we''ll try at silflay. One thing worries me. Will Pearl come with us?"

"If we have to, I'll knock her out and carry her," Blackavar vowed.

"You?" Thorn laughed, "You're hardly bigger than Captain Vervain!"

"Thank you so much," Blackavar said sarcastically.

"If we plan to escape, we'd best get some rest," Campion said hurriedly.

"Sounds fine to me," Blackavar said, "Phlox, try and keep it down over there, will you?"


Campion had hoped to be able to speak to his family again, and perhaps unravel the mysteries he had been left with, but instead of the misty meadow, he was greeted by a dark and forbidding landscape.

"Moss?" he called, "Marli? Ivy?"

"I am the only one you will find here, Campion."

He turned and saw Ivy, pale and spectral.

"Ivy? Why...?"

"I told you I had been punished. I am granted only a short time each moon with the others. That is my punishment. Lord Frith decreed it so."

"Are you all alone?"

"For the moment. As I was granted my day with the others when I first arrived here, it will be almost another moon until I am allowed to leave again."

"Will something happen because I am here?"

"No. That's the other thing. I am allowed a dream connection three times. This is the first. I can help you only twice more. Now listen closely."

Images flashed before Campion, the hazy silhouettes of two kits, both of whom dissolved at the same time, and then a grey buck whose green eyes flashed in the mist, and whose front paws shone with an unearthly vibrancy.

"A fire shall come, and if the Down is to be spared, two kits will be sacrificed, and the third seer will appear in Efrafa on the same night."

"Two kits? The third seer? What are you talking about?"

Ivy's image flickered, then dissolved.

Campion woke up back in the prison burrow, the memory of his vision still fresh in his mind.

"Campion, it's time for silflay," Phlox said.

"Oh, all right. Let's go, before we miss our chance."


Ivy hopped along through the swirling black mist. She was thankful that she had been able to conceal the true gloom of this forbidding place from Campion. Knowing him, he would have found his way to the Black Rabbit's lair and demanded she be released from her exile.

She smiled to herself as she sensed the only other rabbit allowed in this place watching her.

"Thank you, Black Rabbit."

The other rabbit, a small male with fur of jet black and eyes of gentle aquamarine hopped out of the fog. When he spoke, his voice was soft and kind.

"Any time, Ivy. Except, I'm not allowed to do it any time. Three times, to be exact."

"It wasn't your idea, Inle-rah," Ivy said, "We both know if there was anything you could have done, you would have."

The Black Rabbit smiled shyly.

"You can call me Inle, you know. No one ever calls me Inle anymore."

"Okay, Inle," Ivy said.

"I have to go," Inle said, "I'd much rather stay here, but when one has a kingdom to run..."

"Run along," Ivy said, "I'll still be here when you get back."

The Black Rabbit hopped off into the fog, reverting to his spirit form as he left.

"And why can't we tell the rest of the world how nice you are?" Ivy muttered, "Lord Frith gets a great reputation, and I can tell you from experience, Inle is much nicer."


And from that, you can tell I read too much Warriors for my own good. KEERALIE STOP WITH THE DREAM THING! And now I'm talking to myself...