AN: All rights and considerations for this fic go to Richard Adams who created this world of rabbits. I own nothing.
Part One Kehaar returns
Just as Hazel, Silver, Pipkin, Bluebell, Vilthuril, Fiver and the litter of kittens were about to go down the run to finish the story* they heard a stamp of "hawk" from one of the Efrafan rabbits still above ground and those buck** rabbits still above ground ran for cover as the does sheltered their frightened litters and herded them back towards the holes. The three buck kittens gathered round Bigwig jumped, but as Bigwig stood his ground, they didn't run.
Just then, a shadow fell over Bigwig as a shape came streaking from the sky, wings folded like a bolt of lightning. This was too much for the kittens and squealing they bolted. Bigwig, fur flattened and blown every which way by the force of the wind of the bird's descent, flattened his ears and prepared to attack but then he truly saw the bird and he leapt back out of the way with a cry of welcome.
"Kehaar!"
Kehaar pulled up and alighted somewhat gracefully on the ground next to Bigwig. His black hood was lighter than it had been when they last saw him as gulls, when it becomes winter, have white heads and only a spot of darker color on their faces.
"Meester Pigvig, ees goot to see you! I come like before and scare all liddle rabbits, ya?"
"And some of the bigger ones," muttered Silver as he reappeared from the hole. Pipkin had gone down to tell all the others that everything was all right and that Kehaar had returned.
"How was the Big Water, Kehaar?" asked Hazel, ever the host and also to give his rabbits a chance to recover from their fright.
"Ees goot, many, many birds for talk, no mudders for me but ees for next year," said Kehaar. "Now plenty, plenty storm on Pig Vater so ees come see rabbits. Plenty beetle?" he asked hopefully.
Hazel laughed and for the next little while some of the bucks, and even a few of the kittens, began to gather insects and worms for their guest. The kittens were fascinated by this newcomer and, now that it seemed the danger had passed, the does came up to thank Kehaar for his help in rescuing them from Efrafa. The former Efrafan bucks stayed away, somewhat worried that the gull would still see them as enemies.
Once Kehaar was comfortably full, a contented silence descended upon the warren. Vilthuril turned to ask Hazel if he wanted her to continue the story or perhaps to start it over again for those who didn't hear the first part and, though there was still some time until twilight, a great cloud of darkness came upon them.
All looked up in wonder, which turned to terror as they beheld the form of the Black Rabbit of Inlé*** approaching from the south. Though no one had ever seen him before, no one needed to be told who he was. Even Kehaar knew instinctively what he represented.
*This story starts in the last chapter of Watership Down ("And Last") just before the rabbits were going down into the warren to listen to the rest of Vilthuril's story.
**For those who don't know: male rabbits are bucks, female rabbits are does, and baby rabbits are kittens.
***The Black Rabbit of Inlé is basically the rabbits' Grim Reaper. He's not good or evil, he just is but all fear him.