Chestnut was sleeping peacefully until the summer birds woke him up. Walnut was gone, but he had planted a few leaves under Chestnut's head for comfort. Chestnut bounded outside and was happy to see the sun was out and the sky was blue. A yellow butterfly passed by him and he hopped after it, giggling. He was still chasing it until he saw Walnut standing by an oak tree, the very tree he was sleeping by in his dream.

"Walnut! Walnut!" cried Chestnut as he charged towards him. "I had a better dream this time!"

"What was it?" asked Walnut, looking very happy to see that he may be getting over his paranoia of making dreams come true to cause death.

"I dreamed that Daddy came and said he was coming for us and he said he would adopt you! How swell is that?"

"Oh," said Walnut, a little unsure of what to say. "Err, did you dream anything else with it?"

"That was the best part!" said Chestnut jumping up and down. "I met some stars saying there was a place I can get rid of my evilness! It's a place called Firth's Field of Miracles! He will answer you and grant any request! Maybe he can help you bring your father back! Maybe he will also bring Carnation back! And I've always wanted to see my Grandma! Maybe he will let me see her as well!"

Walnut did not answer this as his attention was preoccupied with some distance singing. It was some song in Lapine language. Neither rabbit could understand it but it was some sort of march all about Frith and the guide to sunny days and discovering the unexpected as well as fighting evil. The song was growing closer and closer and seven young rabbits, all around Walnut's age, hopped forward to them, smiling but looking rather serious at the same time. They were all in two straight lines expect the biggest rabbit was guiding them forward. As soon as they reached Chestnut and Walnut, the leader, grey with a white belly and yellow eyes, turned instantly to his followers.

"Path, halt!"

And the six rabbits, raised to their paws and stood straight.

The leader hopped up to Chestnut and Walnut.

"Who of you both is the summoner?"

"I dreamed of a group of leaders if that is what you mean," replied Chestnut timidly.

"That's precisely what I mean," responded the leader.

"I'm Chestnut," introduced Chestnut.

"My name is Walnut," Walnut introduced himself. "And who are you lot?"

He hopped to one rabbit at a time to learn their own names;
One with a black patch on his left eye, white belly and orange coat: "Forget-Me-Not."

One with a greyish blue coat and brown eyes: "Periwinkle."

One with a green coat and orange eyes:" Elderberry."

One with a white coat but brown splodges over her with sky blue eyes: "Blossom."

One with a golden coat of fur and a white belly with green eyes: "Sunflower."

One with a dark brown coat and a white belly with bright, brown eyes: "Oaknut."

"I'm River," introduced the leader. "We're the Path."

"Path?" asked Walnut. "Path of what?"

"The Path of Frith," responded River. "We hear people in their sleep and lead them to his meadow to solve their problems."

"Which is what I have!" said Chestnut. "I have a power I want to get rid of. Only Frith can speak to me."

"That's why we are here," said River. "to help you there. Anything you wish for?" he asked Walnut.

"Can Frith raise the dead?" he asked.

"Only to those desperate, young and orphaned at a young age," explained River.

"Then that's me," replied Walnut. "I need my father back, and my mother if it isn't any trouble."

"He can only grant one," said River.

Chestnut was rather disappointed. While he wanted to get rid of his guilt with Carnation's death he mainly wanted to rid his power before more blood would spill.

"Okay," agreed Chestnut. "How far is this meadow?"

"A fair few miles," responded River. "But a far travel means rich rewards."

"Rich rewards? What do you mean by that?"

"Too many questions!" snapped Elderberry. "Shut up, Runt!"

Walnut ran to Elderberry and pinned him down, everyone gasping in shock but staying where they were in their positions.

"Listen here, you little slug!" he snarled. "Only I can call him that and tell him what to do! Do you understand me?"

"Alright, alright," replied Elderberry argumentatively.

"Do-you-under-stand-me?" repeated Walnut threateningly.

"Yes," sighed Elderberry.

Contented, Walnut released him.

"Not much sleep," explained River to the two friends.

"He'll sleep forever if he goes at Chestnut again," growled Walnut.

"Come, come," said Sunflower. "We are the Path of Firth, the path of good, redemption, light and happiness to all."

"Yes, lets argue not," agreed Oaknut.

"Forgive me," said Elderberry. "I don't know what came over me."

"Forget it," replied Walnut.

"It's okay," said Chestnut. "Daddy taught me that Uncle Leo said, 'Forgiveness is stronger than anger.'"

Everyone looked at him.

"Leo?" asked Forget-Me-Not. "As in 'Leo Barning from Above?'"

"That's what they call him," said Chestnut.

"Did he confront Darklunn and his spy?" asked Periwinkle.

"And defeated Chillblack the witch?" asked Blossom.

"I think so," said Chestnut.

"Of course he did!" responded River, laughing. "There is no rabbit who knows nothing of Leo Barning from Above. Even the dullest rabbit knows of him."

"Who is he?" asked Chestnut.

"Just a figure of speech," said River, a little surprised with how literally the little rabbit took words.

"Sorry to overtake your position, River," said Elderberry. "But shouldn't we be going?"

"Yes," said River. "We ought. While this forest is beautiful, that doesn't make elil any different."

"Elil? Here?" asked Chestnut worriedly. "There was no elil in the dream which took place here."

"It was just a dream," said Walnut.

"A dream which resulted these rabbits arriving," debated Chestnut. "The stars said so. Daddy was here and so were you, fast asleep by that tree."

"And here we are, young Chestnut!" remarked River happily. "Here to save you from your grief and nasty powers to create the future."

Walnut seemed unconvinced still, but had no choice but to accept the circumstances for what they were.

"Well this is going to be a great adventure!" cried Chestnut, jumping up and down like he always did when playing with his father. "I was taken prisoner, met Walnut and had a dream that summoned al of you to us!"

River leading them all, the nine young kittens moved from their location, singing that song again which Chestnut soon founding himself singing to as well, Walnut joining in too, but rather reluctantly. He didn't seem that fussed with signing when happy. hopped through the wood, through a meadow and up a hill which seemed hours to climb. Walnut eventually had to give Chestnut a ride as to how tired he was. Eventually, they reached the top, Walnut, once again ordering "Path, halt!" but Walnut accidentally stood in Periwinkle's position and knocked her over, knocking Forget-Me-Not and so on like a path of dominoes. They all worked together to dig a burrow big enough for them all. They feasted on the fresh grass and all lay on the hill watching the sunset.

"I would always watch the sunset with Daddy," sighed Chestnut trying to feel his father's paws over him as he lay on top of him feeling the lovely evening breeze.

"Mine as well, "said Walnut, thinking back to when he sat by his father's warm side and feeling the evening breeze himself. Why did he ever venture far to get the weasel to ruin his life?

"Frith always watches over us as much as he can while he sinks," said Blossom.

"Where are your parents?" Chestnut suddenly asked.

"Who are you to nose?" snapped Elderberry.

"Elderberry!" criticised River.

"Is he still sleepy?" asked Chestnut.

"Always is," responded River intelligently.

"We're all orphans," explained Sunflower.

"We al came from an orphanage we forgot about," said Forget-Me-Not. "But we were abused, tortured and we all ran away."

"We all put our faith in Frith," said Periwinkle. "And as we were desperate, he opened himself to us. He helped us with food, water, love and care. He very soon gave us the job of luring the unfortunate to his meadow so their problem scan be solved."

"As a result," said Oaknut rather shyly, "we are called the Path of Frith."

They both sat up to talk.

"Have you noticed?" said Chestnut. "You are the second person I met to almost have the same name as me. Both our names end with nut."

"And we look alike," marvelled Oaknut. "As well as yourself, Walnut. It's enough to think we are all related."

"Have you ever asked Frith to grant you any wishes?" asked Chestnut.

"Well," said Oaknur rather awkwardly, "I've often wi-"

"Shame on you, Oaknut!" said River looking serious. "How dare you let your own selfishness better you? Frith blessed you to summon the unfortunate, that should be enough!"

"But it's fine to have desires, isn't it?" said Chestnut, rather shocked by River's scolding to Oaknut.

"Time and time, he wanted this other thing," said River. "Very spoiled he is, spoiled rotten."

Oaknut looked sad and ashamed.

"The sun is almost set," announced River. "Path, retreat!"

They all got up without groaning and they hopped back in, Oaknut bringing up the rear.

Chestnut started after them as Walnut stretched lazily and sat up.

"What's selfish about wishes?" asked Chestnut.

"Nothing," said Walnut. "But the way River took it, you'd think Oaknut would have put Frith to shame and make him neglect him."

"And he does he neglect?" gasped Chestnut in fright.

"No!" laughed Walnut. "Frith never neglects. You take so many things literally no offence."

"What's literally?"

"When you look at a situation or saying in a serious matter," explained Chestnut. "Sarcasm and metaphors that's what you need to learn."

Chestnut jumped back on topic.

"I think River was a little nasty to Oaknut. Should we tell him so?"

"No," said Walnut. "Considerate as it is, there is something a little fishy despite this being to do with your dream. The way Sunflower goes at you and then River's criticism for wanting something. Nothing wrong to want."

"Daddy says greed is a sin."

"Want and Greed are two different things, Chessie."

"Chessie?"

"Short for Chestnt isn't it?" said Walnut. "It's fun to mess with names a little. It turns out to be a good laugh."

"Err, okay," said Chestnut uncertaily "Um…Wallie?"

"A bit cliché but not bad for a beginner," smiled Walnut.

Walnut and Chestnut hopped into the burrow, laughing about their new nicknames again and again.

Chestnut was following Walnut into their burrow when he peeped through a burrow to find little Oaknut praying.

Oaknut was almost the same height as Chestnut, about three inches.

Chestnut thought about what he was about to say he wished for. He hopped through the burrows to see who was sleeping where; River's burrow was just by the entrance, a long way from Oaknut's: good. Chestnut hopped back into Oaknut's burrow and advanced towards him gentle, his eyes closed and paws together.

"Oaknut," whispered Chestnut.

Okanut gasped.

"Sorry!" whispered Chestnut.

"It's alright," said Oaknut quietly. "Thought it might have been River."

They continued their conversation as quietly as possible.

"Will you tell me what you wished for?" asked Chestnut. "It's alright if you want something. Need and Greed are two different things."

Taking deep precautions to be quiet, Oaknut said quietly, "to have a life. It's lovely to help people like you and your brother don't get me wrong but I want to have a family and live a happy life. I know I got the six but it can be lonely to not have a family."

"Maybe when we reach the Field of Frith's Miracles, you can make one, "said Chestnut. "I could drive the others away and you can make your wish and River won't scold you for it, not even stop you. But Walnut is not my brother, just a friend. Though I would like him as a brother," he added.

"Pardon me," said Oaknut.

"It's alright," said Chestnut kindly. "It's an understandable mistake to make. We do look alike don't we. Me and Walnut that is, I mean I know you and me are alike but – but-"

Chestnut was only now bringing himself into a circle of what he was saying.

"I get what you mean," said Oaknut.

"We better go to sleep," said Chestnut. "Are you sure you are okay?"

"I'm fine," responded Oaknut but very unconvincingly.

Chestnut suddenly remembered his father from his dream and what he did to him what Uncle Leo taught him.

"Maybe this will help," said Chestnut and he planted a small kiss on Oaknut's cheek.

"What was that?" asked Oaknut confused.

"Daddy told me in a dream that it was called a kiss," Chestnut explained. "It made me feel comfortable when scared. How does it make you feel?"

"Quite protected," said Oaknut rather positively.

"Well, goodnight," smiled Chestnut. "May Firth watch over you tonight."
"You as well, Chestnut," said Oaknut.

Chestnut hopped back to his burrow and found Walnut resting on his front.

"There you are," he said sleepily. "Waiting is a favourite hobby of mine."

"Is i-" Chestnut began, but then he thought about what Walnut had taught him earlier on. "Was that starkasm?"

"Yup," said Walnut. "Sar-casm."

"Oh, right. Well, sorry for keeping you waiting. I needed to ask Walnut if he was alright after River shouted at him."

But then he lowered his voice so River could not hear, despite being far from them (their burrow was at the very end).

"He wishes for a normal life."

"He does?"

"Yes. He wants an actual life and have a real family, so I told him it's alright to want and he can make his wish at the Field of Frith's Miracles while I keep the others away."

"If River stops him, leave him to me," said Walnut earnestly. "Don't be offended but a rabbit your size cannot take on a rabbit his size! He'll make you into a toadstool."

Chestnut looked a bit disheartened.

"I know you don't like your height," said Walnut, "But I want to look out for you. It was no easy task at Rawfinn but someone had to stick up for you."

"And it was you," said Chestnut smiling. "Thank you."

He laid himself down on his front and snuggled into Walnut's side.

"Goodnight, Walnut – I mean, Wallie," he yawned.

"Goodnight, Chessie," whispered Walnut before drifting off to sleep himself.

Chestnut closed his eyes and thought deeply of Oaknut. If he did want a family, he was more than welcome to be his brother. He wanted Walnut for a brother too, but the way the goal was put out, he would probably reunite with his father anyway. But a fine thing it would be to have two of them for brothers; they all looked alike and their named all ended with nut. Chestnut couldn't keep that off his mind all night. Even when asleep, he was certain he dreamed that his father and mother adopted them. No need for anymore envy against, Gillia, Snowdrop, Mallow, Raspberry Roseberry or Leo II, Not even Hickory and Marigold's kittens. Having two brothers, it would mean two more members of the family to look up to, someone to protect him if ever bullied, which he never was, but a time may come, but it had as a matter of fact with Great Aunt Larkspur and her soldiers.

The thought of her chilled Chestnut as he remembered sleeping with Uncle Dandelion and her blue eyes glaring at him. He got up, hopped around Walnut's other side, rested against him, closed his eyes tight and buried his into Walnut's fur. Daddy wasn't here true, but a brother alike would have to do for now.