The rabbits on night watch were getting tired but they kept their eyes open to the silence of the forest, knowing that elil was bound to take advantage. Thumper and Pipkin's group were a distance away where Jason had been pouting just in case he came back. Huckers, Strawberry, Thorn and Strawberry were paired in each nook and cranny to where they were currently residing.

Inside, Cynthia was lying on her pile of grass tossing and turning. Only today she realised how strong her love for Pipkin was the same day she lost her old buckfriend - as she improvised.

"Can't you sleep, cariad?"

She looked up to see her older sister out by the entrance.

"I'm scared for Pipkin," confessed Cynthia.

"Me too for Leo," said Rosie as she hopped over to Cynthia, sat down and licked her head affectionately.

"Can I have another one please?" Cynthia asked.

"For you, lovely," said Rosie, "all the kisses in the world."

And she licked Cynthia again and agains as she preened against her older sister's breast.

"I haven't kissed you this much since you were a baby. Mewling and puking in Mother's arms."

"Stop showing off your Shakespeare skills," blushed Cynthia whilst smiling.

"What skills do you prefer? Fy sgiliau Cymraeg? Mes competences en franca is?"

"Oh stop it!" Cynthia chuckled. "How do you know so many accents?"

"We're Welsh where Welsh skills are concerned," chuckled Rosie. "I just like learning languages."

They were silent for a few seconds, Cynthia snuggled into Rosie as she looked lovingly down at her smaller self. I myself wish I was there to see it so I'm happy that Rosie told me about it. It was like looking at Hazel and Fiver - as sisters.

Rosie hadn't felt her sister snuggle with her since forever. The first time she ever held her in her arms was the innocent age of six. She remembered it very well, her father standing like a prideful lion and her mother lying in bed smiling happily and proud of both her newborn baby and the big sister her first kit - err, baby had become. This startled her a little, as she was starting to get used to the language of rabbits around her. But however, she would not let it interrupt her feelings of the past. Everyone seemed like they wanted a regular life back then, but ever since she had played the role of Alice, the girl who introduced her to the wonders of curiosity within the world, things seemed different. They had become richer than as she had expected and her father seemed to push her further, but then it may have been for affection especially encouraging her to win every lead she can. But here, it seemed she was surrounded by those who accepted her for who was she was and not just for talent. And with everything Cynthia went through today, Rosie felt a stronger feeling for her. Was she really her sister or her daughter?

At that thought, Rosie felt a feeling of determination.

"I'm going to just go outside and keep watch," she told Cynthia.

"Okay," Cynthia permitted.

Rosie kissed her head and leapt up to get out.

"Rosie?"

She turned to her sister.

"Will you wake me when Pipkin arrives?"

Rosie smiled.

"Non puoi consigliarmi, per dirti quando torna Pipkin, piccola."

"Oh, stop it!" Cynthia giggled.

"Yes," said Rosie. "I'll wake you up the moment he returns."

She exited the burrow and went out into the night air. It was cool but cold at the same time, soft wind rustled the leaves and and the breeze was gentle enough.

Rosie sat there thinking deeply of Cynthia's relationship with Pipkin. She was happy to see her sister find someone but there was an obvious, logical issue.

"Rosie?"

Rosie turned to see Tiger-Lily poke out of the mouth of the burrow.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Pitching in," said Rosie. "Hoping Leo will return. Cynthia is anxious for Pipkin too. How's Zinnia?"

"Sound asleep," said Tiger-Lily in contentment. "Sleeping with Cherry and the twins."

"I always slept with Cynthia on her cot whenever she was upset," Rosie chuckled.

"What's a cot?" asked Tiger-Lily.

"Never mind," Rosie shook off. She remembered so well that night with Blackberry where Leo found himself answering all the humanistic questions she had asked him.

"Something's on your mind," said Tiger-Lily. "I see it in your ears."

Rosie only now realised this. The ears always betrays the emotions of a rabbit, but still, she was willing to share her problems with Tiger-Lily, a big sister who gave her advice on how to reason with Cynthia on her previous boyfriend.

"I'm happy she has fallen for Pipkin," she began.

"Me too," Tiger-Lilly interrupted. "They are perfect for each other."

"But the issues is where we come from," Rosie pointed out. "We're not really rabbits. We're humans in the body of rabbits."

"What?" said Tiger-Lily, confused.

"I know it's odd to believe," said Rosie. "But that's another story - and might I add a very long one."

"What do you want to share with me, love?" Tiger-Lily asked, pushing the human topic aside.

"They can't really be together," said Rosie. "If she was to stay our world would pause and she would be the only one moving. Plus, if she was to stay with him, it would be difficult to explain to Mother and Father. But I reckon she would experience more difficulty at school when other boys try to get at her."

"Wouldn't your parents understand if you showed them our world?" asked Tiger-Lily.

"I'm sure Mother would," said Rosie, "but Father prefers us to be with rich males. I think Leo is rich enough."

"You just answered your own problem and for her," Tiger-Lily smiled. "We don't reside in a perfect world, we don't reside in a perfect race. Everyone wants everyone to follow a false path, but the one true path of want is the heart, only the heart, nothing but the heart."

Rosie smiled gratefully. She had only known Tiger-Lily for two days but this rabbit seemed the right person to speak to whenever an issue intruded into your life. She just simply had to let Cynthia choose her own path to happiness.

Aggressive rustling commenced nearby.

The two does gasped.

Rosie, feeling the determination to keep her sister out harm's way, ran to the bush where the rustling had come from and, with her hind legs, ready to spring, pounced on -

"Hazel?"

"Rosie?"

She got off him and helped dust him off.

Rustling emerged behind Hazel as his group appeared behind him.

"For one so gentle, you pack a wallop," Hazel joked.

"Sorry about that," said Rosie as she dusted off his back. "I thought you were elil. Cynthia's sake."

"Nice to finally see a face we do know," remarked Bigwig when he saw Rosie.

"Thank goodness your okay, pretty Rosie!" smiled Silverweed.

"What a relief," said Campion.

"Hope you're okay, sweetheart," checked Spartina.

"I'm fine," Rosie replied. "So are the others - what's left of them."

"What do you mean?" asked Campion.

"Come with me!" said Rosie as she escorted them back the warren.

"Everyone!" she called. "Look who it is?"

"Is it them?" asked Thumper from far down the corner where he and the young Owsla were. "Literally that long to find the stowaway?"

Everyone in the warren shot out to see who it was. Half were confused but others reacted excitedly.

Pipkin's Owsla reacted to the familiar faces as did Strawberry.

"Where's Hawkbit and Dandelion" Bigwig demanded to Strawberry. "Napping on night patrol as always I presume."

"For once their not," Strawberry chuckled.

"They are not here!" replied Tulip.

"Probably miles," said Loganberry.

"They have been taken by the Black Rabbit?" asked Silverweed in panic.

"No," replied Rosie instantly seeing his worried expression. "Leo, Dandelion, Hawkbit, Pipkin, Blackavar and Michael have all gone off in search of Jason who has wandered off."

"He's wandered off?" remarked Hazel in shock. "Why would he do that? He's new to this universe, inexperienced."

"I thought I taught Leo better!" said Bigwig crossly. "And now look! Mercy is not your friend as I told him last year!"

"It wasn't Leo's fault!" Rosie argued. "For all we know, well-"

Would they believe the incident of how day instantaneously switched to night? How could she break this gently?

"Before I explain," she improvised, "have any strange things happened to any of you."

"I'll say," Hazel responded. He told Rosie of the friendly human girl, the ginger cat that helped them find the strange necklace, the challenge of facing an apparition of Chillblack and Fiver's journey to the sun and moon.

"That's exactly what happened to Leo and Michael" Rosie exclaimed, half excited and half worried.

"Yes," said Silverweed. "Fiver did say he met them both on his way to the sun and moon."

"That's everything that's happened to us," explained Rosie.

"It all began right after Jason made fun of Pipkin's parents," said Acorn.

Bigwig looked wide-eyed with shock which slowly melted into danger.

"Knowing that they were dead?"

"Well," said Pollen, "we don't really know."

"Regardless," said Bigwig. "I'd give him a real Efrafa of a time if he was here! He has no idea what Pipkin has been through!"

"We should know," said Cynthia. "Pipkin thinks he is responsible for their deaths."

"Where is he now?" Bigwig requested. "He had nothing to do with it."

"I just said," said Rosie. "He's with the search party for Leo."

"From what we can gather," said Thorn. "We all had three necklaces in which we formed one task each of three and again for the night and the course have changed for a porpoise leading us further to Chestnut."

"And where is Fiver?" asked Rosie, her mind driven back to the importance of his absence.

"He disappeared just like that," said Hazel. "Just like how you explained how it quickly went from day to night - it was the same case with us. His scent was still strong and it led us to hear."

"Where did the others leave?" asked Campion. "And how long?"

"Where I met you all," explained Rosie. "And judging from what I last recall, I should say like an hour and a half."

"Then we must all go at once!" suggested Hazel.

"Haha!" reacted Huckers happily leaping in the air with a little leg dance and kick and his paws clenched and punching invisible foes. "Finally a quest of combat opposed to standing!"

"Wow!" reacted Bigwig. "I'm not gonna lie but you are the tallest rabbit I've ever seen, very fit for an Owsla member!"

"Ever met a hare, bushy?" commented Huckers chuckling. "Happy to make your acquaintance. I'm Huckers!"

"Huckers?" asked Bigwig. "I never knew of such a name."

"Short for - Huckleberry. I don't like it, so it's Huckers."

"I don't wish to sound rude," declared Campion patiently, "but introduction must be skipped for now. We have to leave now and find Fiver and the others."

"But how will we know who's here and who isn't?" said Hazel.

"I'll handle that if you'll allow me," said a dark brown rabbit Hazel never met. "I know the group you don't. I'll take care of them."

He checked all of them and they instantly left, the twins, Zinnia included, on Thorn's back.

"Thank you, Thorn," said Tiger-Lily with strong gratitude.

"Precautions for the young," he responded.

Bigwig was taking a very strong liking to this particular buck. He was almost convinced he was of Campion's blood.

"Very impressive responsibility for one so young," responded Bigwig.

"Only being next line after the fox took Papa."

"Oh," said Bigwig sympathetically. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Not too bothered," said Thorn. "Favoured Burdock there."

"It was difficult for him to balance the four of you, dear," said Cherry trying to make an excuse.

"Truth hurts, Mother," said Thorn. "One day, you will find yourself fessing up."

Not only was this rabbit responsible, he had a star spark of intelligence in his mind, surpassing Strawberry - not even Hawkbit or Dandelion, or Blackavar for that matter, would compare.

"What's your name, lad?" asked Bigwig.

"Thorn," he introduced to the lion head.

"Bigwig," the lion head introduced. "You know, I'm Captain of Owsla and I think you'd suit the Owsla it well if you are willing to live with us at Watership Down."

"That would be wonderful," said Thorn. "If this means further protection for my mother and siblings, I'd be more than happy to accept, Bigwig, sir."

"We need somewhere," responded Burdock overhearing all of this. "Since our mother was stupid enough to lose ours."

"Another remark of your life giver and I will knock in the ruddy stream!"

Bigwig's opinion on Thorn only strengthened hearing this; no tolerance for bad behaviour.

"You'll be stealing my title if I'm not cautious," said Bigwig with a soft chortle.


A good mile away, in a beautiful clearing of the forest, Uncle Fir was resting on his front, a belly full of berries, the same said for Giselle and Chestnut. The berries hit the spot for Chestnut but he craved for a rich, juicy carrot. He remembered his very first carrot that his father brought for him. He would not stop eating it until it was all gone. Thinking of his father then brought his happy memories to gloom as to why he left. But his misery was interrupted by a soft belch by Uncle Fir.

"Charming," remarked Giselle.

"Well there aren't that many insects for badgers here, are there," Uncle Fur chuckled.

"That's disgusting," complained Chestnut.

"One look of disgust is a morsel for another," said Uncle Fir with another belch. "How like young'uns, judging food by appearance. My nephew was just as bad."

"You have a nephew?" reacted Giselle in sudden interest.

Uncle Fir displayed sadness within his eyes.

"I did," he said getting up and resting on his back, leaning his head against a flat boulder. "but in tragic circumstances, he was taken from me."

The two kittens got their feet and looked into his face.

"Looking up to the stars," Uncle Fir continued, "I feel he is up there looking down on me, but with anger but I keep tryign to convince myself he is happy."

"What happened to him, Uncle Fir?" asked Chestnut.

"I don't think we should ask about such things, Chestnut," criticised Giselle, gently. "It's always difficult."

"I guess I should share with you both," said Uncle Fir. "As I shared the tragedy with Walnut's father who I assume to the tale to him."

Giselle and Chestnut climbed onto the badger's stout, soft belly and made themselves comfortable as he began the story.

"Me and my sister did not have the best relationship," Uncle Fir began.

"Did one of you do something?" asked Chestnut.

"We were different," the badger sighed. "Being different is enough to make anyone lack a good relationship."

He looked up at the night sky wondering she was there now.

"She gave birth to Toadstool," Uncle Fir resumed. "I was there somehow to see him into the world, and she lay dying I swore to her that even through we lack a lot in common, I will raise him like he was my own. Frith saw it through, we fished, frolicked, hunted, stuck together through thick and thin, which led us to make a new friend, which was Walnut's father."

Giselle and Chestnut reacted in amazement.

"How did you meet him?" asked Chestnut. Since this all linked with Walnut, his best friend outside the family, Chestnut was becoming more entranced by the story.

"Caught in the Shining Wire," Uncle Fir explained. "We saved him on time. He was just about Toadstool's age. It seemed like Vine had a new friend in Toadstool, had it not been for the tragedy."

The two kittens straightened up their ears to listen, Chestnut leaning so far, he collapsed onto his front.

"I felt the forest and meadows deep within was not safe for those two darlings so I brought them to a mansion. I was raised by humans but was later set free into the open. I left Toadstool and Vine at a place where we thought was safe, but when I cam back to them, four human boys were running about with Man's stick. They screamed and cheered in excitement and fired at the hiding place for the young'uns."

Giselle gasped.

Chestnut covered his face with his ears.

"They were screaming and dancing about congratulating the one with the stick for his aim," the badger explained sadly. "Only Vine was lucky enough to survive."

"That's terrible!" said Giselle. "If they were my kittens I would have scratched the lives out of them all!"

"Why are humans so evil?" said Chestnut sadly.

"Something we we'll never know, young'un."

"And what about Vine?" asked Giselle.

"I raised him like my own cub," said Uncle Fir. "Until finally he went his own way with another rabbit and gave birth to young Walnut."

Chestnut's sadness was encouraged form what Walnut had told him previously.

"She then went with another rabbit," said Chestnut. "Walnut told me."

"Sadly, yes," said Uncle Fir. "You can't trust does these days. Walnut and his father came back to me but I had to convince Vine to find a new place to raise Walnut that he way he will not meet the same fate as Toadstool."

"It wasn't your fault," said Chestnut. "You didn't know there were evil humans."

Chestnut immediately reflected upon his own words. Dreams could nit be helped. Somehow he dreamed of Carnation getting killed and he somehow got killed soon after. His father told him that dreams are nothing and that if was to happen for real, it would be a quick-sidence. Chestnut felt some sort of prison release within himself. Half of him was saying that it was not his fault that Carnation was killed. But then, the dream where he fell into the ... into the ... he was too shaken to say the name of the place. It somehow brought him back to the reason why he was here in the first place. He wanted to live his life a good rabbit and stay with his parents and go to Frith's Meadow. He missed his mother's sweet voice speaking to him and her beautiful singing. He missed his father's gentle voice, he warm fur soothing him to sleep, his tricks that made him laugh and his licks and nuzzles.

"I know," said Uncle Fir forlornly. "But it's too late to understand it all. It's like I've lost everything."

"Not everything," said Chestnut optimistically. "You prefer everyone calling you uncle who prefers to call you uncle. And when we get to the Field of Frith's Miracles, you could make a wish to become a rabbit and be there for Walnut."

"If it means having to fit in with a group of rabbits," said Uncle Fir considerably, "then maybe I could."

Giving the badger a new idea to start his life anew and his own realisation of the dream and forgiving himself was beginning to become together.

"Earlier on today" said Uncle Fir eying Chestnut, "you said you got somebody killed. What did you mean?"

Chestnut began the whole story with the dream, Carnation's fate, running away, ending up at Rawfinn and learning about the Field of Frith's Miracles.

Uncle Fir gave a considerable expression after the kitten had finished.

"It was an accident," said Chestnut beginning to feel remorse well inside him.

"Dreams have nothing to do with casting accidents," said Uncle Fir. "I find this very peculiar. But I can assure you, son. You are nowhere near responsible for this rabbit's misfortune. So many queer things have been happening what the young kittens who attacked you, the sun who took the others away, but you must never let odd happenings make you to blame for all these. You're just an innocent young rabbit new to this world."

"As least you have a papa," said Giselle nuzzling Chestnut. "I have an uncle to find."

"You'll love him," said Chestnut. "He tells great stories - and has nice ears to nibble on."

Something shiny caught the attention of the three friends.

Chestnut and Giselle hopped off Uncle Fir's belly as he got to his own feet and watched three white pieces of light like the shining yellow ones this morning.

"This will probably lead us to the others," said Chestnut with faith.

"Only one way to find out," agrees Giselle.

"Onto my back, children," Uncle Fir instructed.

They clambered on and advanced towards the light, closing their eyes so not to be blinded but its splendour.