After silflay, we headed off to the direction the golden path led us. It led us through a wide, open meadow which seemed like what to call paradise if it hadn't been for the actual purpose as to why we were here in the first place. I led the group with Rosie and Pipkin at each side. Behind us, we heard Daffodil offering to have Cynthia on his back as long as she massages it and heard him groaning in enjoyment as the journey continued.
"Smarmy old lad!" criticised Huckers privately.
"Why don't you tell us something we don't know?" remarked Thumper.
I couldn't let Cynthia go out with him. I saw Elliott Edderdeen with many girls in school and through college. Not one of them ended up with him due to the amount of extents he went to. But then my thoughts moved onto Fiver and Michael as well as those involved in their group to find Chestnut. This task for each me, Fiver and Michael? How would they help us find Chestnut? What's purpose for it all? Seeing as I had tho unlock three souvenirs from the souls for the Necklace of Wisdom, I guess maybe it will lure us to Chestnut alive and unharmed and all of us ready to take Larkspur on.
We stopped in the afternoon for another silflay. I ate with Pipkin, Rosie, Tiger-Lily and Zinnia. Most of the other males ate with each other except for Cynthia and Daffodil who did so together.
"In many of these journey you'd see me start myself until a quest was complete," I heard him say to Rosie's giggling sister. "My own warren was taken by the Zalthalians at Zaltha Prison and I would not eat until the peace returned. Darklunn would not dare mess with me. I've got your back at all times, Cynthia, darling."
That story was as true as Bugs Bunny marrying Donald Duck. I was there and so was Pipkin right next to me, who at the time was ailing, as well as Fiver who took Darklunn down completely. That false fact made me so furious I almost went for him.
"Don't, Leo!" suggested Pipkin seriously. "It's probably what he wants. He's not worth fighting."
"Remember his so-called upper claw scratch through?" I said quickly calming down. "He didn't lay a scratch on poor Dandelion, lucky for him. His hiccups from last year were entertaining but to be clawed on his belly, though. I wonder if he actually can fight, that Naffodil."
Despite it being a bad joke, Rosie and Tiger-Lily chuckled at my insult.
"That's his nickname from now on," I suggested.
"I don't approve of him being with my sister though," said Rosie. "Who knows what might happen. I hate to argue with her if I told her my opinion on him. Say, where'd did they go now?"
We stopped eating and looked at where the path lead. There we saw them. Daffodil and Cynthia hopping onward to wherever the path was taking them.
"CYNTHIA! DAFFODIL!" I called at the top of my voice as did everyone else.
We followed after them quickly as we could.
"Cynthia's asking for trouble being with him!" said Pipkin as we ran on and on after them.
"Bucks are not to be trusted," said Tiger-Lily. "No offence, you two. I mean certain bucks."
"I know what you mean," I assured her.
We climbed a bare hill reaching up to the sky, all of us out of breath but desperate enough to put the health and safety of this thirteen-year-old little girl. I remember when I first met her, just a four-year-old little girl when Rosie played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She was crying because she thought the Wicked Witch was going to hurt her older sister and hugged her tightly when she was assured of how safe she was. But now in Rosie's case she needed to hug her tight when we get her out of whatever he situation might be, seeing as the golden path was leading us closer. We were lead over the hill when the sky seemed to dull up. On the other side was a meadow with old rocks reminding me of my home country in Wales where we are known for sheep - including the now grey sky for that matter.
We followed the path to the bottom of a flat landing and on the right, coated by rocks was a hole with a waterslide going down. Nothing to be seen except pitch black. Daffodil was standing by the side looking sheepish.
"Where is Cynthia?" I asked dangerously.
"Just for a little ride," said Daffodil smiling. "No harm in it. I only told her to go down to check if it's safe seeing as she is a brave young doe."
"For all we know she could be drowning!"
Rosie ran closer to the hole and shouted in an attempt to overlap the rushing water.
"Cynthia! Are you down there? Can you hear me?"
There was no answer. Even if there was the rushing water would deny one.
"Let's go!" said Rosie but I stood in her way as she was about to enter the hole.
"No, Rosie. Stay here. I've been here two years longer. I can't have you getting hurt. I think it best that some of you stay here with her to protect and I'll take some of us down to the burrow."
Rosie looked saddened.
"I know you're scared, Rosie," I said kindly and putting a paw on her left shoulder "but you need to think as well. I know it's hard to do when you are panicking but we must think before we act."
"I'll bring Pipkin, Huckers and Daffodil."
I turned to Pipkin and whispered to his face, "and this a chance to redeem yourself to her."
"So I'm free from a cage, imprisoned by Larkspur and now i have to risk my life for a doe?"
"She's thirteen years old, dammit!" I snapped.
Thumper sighed and nodded.
"I'm game for any challenge!" Huckers puffed proudly. "Just stand by me and all shall be fine."
While saying all that he punched invisible elil everywhere. I couldn't help but giggle to that.
Daffodil doesn't look so cheery and proud anymore however. On the contrary, he was shaking.
"I'm not really one for waterslides," he chuckled nervously, "You see I -"
"You can go first!" said Pipkin viciously as nudged him toward the slide.
"Didn't you just hear what I said?"
"Does before goes," I agreed with Pipkin as I nudged him further.
"I can perform the upper scratch if I'm to be threatened," said Daffodil crossly.
"Good idea," said Huckers as he turned round and hind kicked Daffodil with his left leg and the vain rabbit when shooting down.
"I'll go next," said Huckers as he jumped down followed by a hesitant Thumper.
"Thumper and Hawkbit have so much in common," I said to Pipkin who nodded.
"I'll go next," said Pipkin.
"Are you sure?"
"When it comes to love, you must be there sooner," replied Pipkin.
Then he landed on his front and slid down.
I turned to Rosie who was being comforted by Zinnia and Tiger-Lily.
"Don't worry," I said to her as I hopped up to her and nuzzled her face. "We'll find her."
I hopped on my front and took off. It was like the sort of slide you would shoot down in a swimming park, only scary. Everything was completely dark, I was deaf to any sound bu the rushing water. I kept turning a bend on several occasions and as it was so dark, I was worried and about hitting something headfirst. I covered my head for protection but the next thing I knew, I was dropping form the slide and landed on my feet on a concrete path.
I was present in what looked like an ancient, wet, abandoned tunnel. The wallet were wet and drips every now and then were in ear-shot.
"Pipkin?" I called without shouting. "Huckers? Thumper? Daffodil? Where you lot?"
"Leo?" came a whisper making me gasp.
I turned to see a face merge.
"You scared me, Pipkin," I whispered with a paw over my heart.
"Sorry," he apologised. "Huckers told me to stay put and wait for you while he, Thumper and Daffodil went on ahead."
"Why?"
"So if any danger comes at least have of us will have a prior warning."
"Wouldn't surprise me if Daffodil was making a plan to escape," I commented coldly.
The place Pipkin emerged was a dead end except for some tint holes big enough for rats to crawl through.
"Let's go," I said. "We're gonna find them but let's keep close together."
We both hopped on through the cavern, darkness making us feel less confident but Cynthia's well-being bringing it back. Pipkin was sure to make Cynthia think twice on Daffodil and know that Pipkin is a better buck for her, willing to come down her to rescue her.
"Huckers?" I called out. "Huckers! Thumper! It's Leo and Pipkin! Can you hear us?"
No answer.
I looked to my right and saw another passageway. I made out that it was another waterfall but there was no way rabbits our size could fit through it, but then there was quite a good chance Cynthia might have been the right size.
"This way," I said, jerking my head to the left, trying to drain out the thought of Cynthia being drifted to the right of the current.
"ARRGH!"
I was tacked and pinned to the ground on my back. I looked up to see Huckers who looked bewildered.
"A thosuhdand pardons, young Leo," he apologised brushing me off as he realised me.
"What was that for?" I asked as I got to my feet.
"Thought you were elil."
"Didn't you hear me calling?"
"I did," said Huckers shamefully. "But I had to make sure you were no enticement."
"Fair enough," I responded. "Where are the others."
"Other bend," replied Huckers as he he turned his head to the new corner.
"Anything we found?" asked Pipkin.
"A certain rabbit thought it isn't one?"
Me and Pipkin looked at each other.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Come with me and you'll see," Huckers replied.
He led us to the bend and we were greeted by Thumper and Daffodil (who was shaking like jelly), looking up at a giantic carved rabbit. Dark green bark and emerald blue eyes and it seemed as if it was glaring down upon us.
Suddenly, the glow of the trinket beamed not the sculpture's middle and carved golden nwrods. I read it out loud when it had finished:
Three suns dare solve the task
Must dare more to lift the mask
Innocent flourishes magic veins
Young shall suffer deadly games
"I bet even Fiver couldn't understand this if this was a vision," Pipkin replied.
"I couldn't understand it if I were a riddle pro," I agreed.
The water, that just so happened to be rushing under our feet, began to rush rather stronger. I was scared if a tidal wave was on its way when the bottom of the sculpture opened and lead down a burrow wide enough for any rabbit, fat or thin.
"Riddle solved," gulped Daffodil. "I'll just go back and tell the othe-"
As he tried to to make his way back, Thumper had pinned him down.
"Rabbits who put little'n's in danger can go first to face the danger."
He released Daffodil and back him into the entrance. Then we all entered.
We were led into a new chamber not as dark. There was a narrow path leading all the way down into the darkness.
"Cynthia!" I called. "Cynthia! Are you down here?"
The answer was responded by a threatening growl.
Daffodil fled down the path in terror.
"Let's go before any danger worsens!" suggested Huckers as he and Thumper shot off down the tunnel.
Me and Pipkin looked to the bare wall where the growing had occurred from, then, as though a bomb exploded within, the wall burst open and the face of a very vicious grey wold in blue, icy eyes appeared and growled loudly at the sight of food.
"RUN, LEO!" screamed Pipkin.
I charged down the cavern as the wolf was digging his way free. Pipkin by my side dashing as fast as he could. My heart was throbbing like fear itself trying to rip its way out. Two years ago, I outran a vicious dog which reminded me the fears of being a rabbit but this wolf seemed to have doubled my fears up.
I turned to see the beast charging after us, tough waving aside the mouth.
"I have an idea!" panted Pipkin. "I will find somewhere to hide and you keep it distracted chasing you."
"I thought you wanted to redeem yourself to her!" I said.
"Trust me!" said Pipkin. "Let me hide and you keep it chasing."
He hid behind a small passage as I resumed the chase.
I kept on running. I remember playing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when when you run down the corridor from a troll when you run to the girl's toilets to rescue Hermione from it. I used to think level was great fun if I were to go into the game itself but now I take it back completely.
I was coming to a wide chasm. I was ready. I charged to it at full speed and leapt powerfully over it and grasped onto the edge and clambered back up. I didn't stop to see what the wolf would do. I could see him coming to it and I ran on until I found myself down another slope going down and into another passage. I slot inside.
I was in a new chamber which reminded me very disturbingly of the lair of the Minotaur; the Labyrinth. It was almost like the death chamber where I ecnourted my battle with Darklunn back in Zaltsah Prison expect there was no curifuction symbol carved on the floor up above was the shape of a rabbit's head and two red hellish eyes.
"Leo?"
I looked back down to see Huckers, Thumper and the shaking Daffodil with -
"Cynthia!"
I ran up to her concerned.
"What on Earth happened to you? Rosie is worried sick!"
Guiltily, Cynthia looked at Daffodil who stopped shaking and looked stern. she was about to answer when the wolf popped it's face in, almost blocking out the light from where it was.
Cynthia screamed loudly and covered herself.
"THE WOLF IS HUGE!" she wailed.
Daffodil tried squeezing into a hole in which Hannah herself would logically fit through.
Thumper stood there shaking.
Huckers hopped up to the beast looking serious.
"Put your dukes together then, lad!" demanded Huckers proudly
I must confess, I secretly took Huckers for an amateur but how wrong I was.
Huckes lept at the drooling mouth and uppercutted the wolf with his head.
The effect was not perfect but the wolf staggered a little but it roared at Huckers charged at him. He kept away in the nick time but landed roughly onto the ground twisting his paw.
"Not the sort fight that was cracked up to be!" he complained clutching his paw with his good one.
I quickly remembered the last time I took on a dog the first time I arrived. I jump onto the wolf's back, ran to his head and just before he could bite into Huckers, I covered its eyes with my paws, making him run about wildly and shakily like a Bucking Bronco.
"What are doing to him?" cried Thumper in a gobsmacked expression.
"I know what I'm doing!" I responded. "You and Daffodil get Huckers and Cynthia out of here!"
Before they could do anything, the impact of the wolf's jolt, made me fly off him and I landed on my back. I groaned and the wolf glowered over me, saliva pouring, mouth open, fangs prepared to strike.
The wolf stopped and howled in pain and rose in the air. On his back was Pipkin biting into its neck. With another strike from his teeth, the wolf stopped shrieking and slumped lifeless onto his side.
"Told you I had a plan," said Pipkin as he hoped over to me.
"You saved my life," I said gratefully.
"One's life is important," responded Pipkin, "but when a friend's in trouble, their life is more important."
I got up and hopped over to Cynthia crouched in a corner, looking down at her shocked face.
"Are you okay, Cynthia?" I asked worriedly.
"Thank you for saving me," she shuddered.
"It's Pipkin here who you should thank."
"Thank you, Pipkin."
"My pleasure," said Pipkin. "I'll help you whenever I can. Trust me."
"Yet I," Daffodil cut in, finally out of his hiding spot and back in his pride "was sent down first to find you. They say it was fitting that I you future mate should be the first to rescue you from death as I had with many other does who had been wasting my time unlike you."
Cynthia jumped and hugged Daffodil tightly.
"Smarmy sod," I muttered under my breath.
We followed the path back to where we landed from the slide.
"How are we going to get back up there?" I asked.
The trinket glowed again and it shot at the waterfall. The water turned yellow and seemed to dry like concrete. Then it ascended forward and slowly formed into steps.
"Let's go," I said.
"Cynthia!" cried Rosie in relief. She ran to her sister and hugged her and kissed her gratefully.
Cynthia was burying her head into her breast for comfort after what she went through down there.
"What were you doing down there?" said Rosie rather sternly.
"Daffodil said I should check if it's the way down to the challenge because I'm a doe and should always check for bucks,"
We all looked about for Daffodil but he was looking about like he lost something.
"Amateur," snorted Thumper.
I was so livid with Daffodil and so curious about the sculpture's clue I failed to realise that my trinket had turned white.