Night was still. It had been about two hours since the fight broke up. River said that they would have to perform another ritual when the moon hits its height in the sky concerning those who broke up the fight so that meant Periwinkle and Oaknut would have no means to participate. Chestnut had been feeling shaky all two hours long at this notion. The journey he had taken through that horrific experience was enough. He could not decide which nightmare was the most frightening, this or the Valley of Fire. Then there was the worry if his father got hurt when trying to rescue him. Will he have been killed? In which case he may never return home. He hoped he would be alive when he asked Frith to rid him of this evil gift he held. He loved his mother very much but his father was his best friend; there to play with, to eat with, to sleep with, there to comfort him when hurt, there to make him laugh when he was sad, there for almost everything. He just wanted to feel his soft, warm fur to assure he was with him all the way, a hug to keep him warm from the night chill. When would this living nightmare end? When would they reach the Field of Frith's Miracles?

He went outside the think burrow to find Walnut sitting against the side, his legs to his chin and his arms folded. He was frowning and looked severely hurt. Silence involved itself in the scene except for some nearby crickets.

Chestnut hopped up to him and sat next him looking into his hurt expression.

"He's only jealous of you because I bet you had excellent parents."

"Would you laugh if I told you he was right, Chessie?"

Chestnut looked puzzled.

"Are you joking?"

"You'd know if I was joking," he said shortly. "I wouldn't be sitting out here pouting like a spoiled little baby otherwise."

"All mothers and daddies are great," said Chestnut optimistically. "I know mine are. All mothers and daddies are great."

"Well your innocence about parents will end when you hear this," said Walnut now looking at Chestnut with a saddened expression. "I don't suppose you ever knew anyone whose mother was a - a - philanderer?"

"What's that?" asked Chestnut.

"A rabbit who makes babies with different rabbits, weather it's your daddy or not."

"Daddy says babies are stars. They come down to you."

Walnut considered this. Chestnut was clearly a toddler and he had to go with it that way. He would learn the truth about babies and where they came from eventually.

"Let's just say that my dad told me I could never have a mother because she was a disappointment. I cannot imagine any other kitten with a mother who just runs with someones else the minute you are born. Do you not know the shame of being the son of a mother who just sends deliveries to the babies up in the sky? That's why I wanted the wish for her to be here so she would be an honest doe. It seems I was only brought onto Earth for nothing."

"That's not true," said Chestnut gently. "Daddy says everyone is born for a purpose."

"And what purpose is mine? Walnut, kitten of a dishonest doe. Walnut, an orphaned kitten on account of going out at night. Walnut, imprisoned at Rawfinn for being a kitten whom are considered blasphemous. Walnut, babysitting a toddler who thinks he's killing people."

Chestnut drooped his ears.

"I'm sorry, Chessie," said Walnut now calming down and stroking his ears. "I didn't mean that last part. When anger hits someone they don't realise what they say or do."

"I forgive you, Wallie" said Chestnut. "My Uncle Leo says forgiveness is stronger than anger."

Walnut just on and dropped onto his front.

"I want to look after you, Chessie. I really do. But with all we are going through," his face scrunching and mouth puckering up his voice croaking, "I just wonder how much more I have to experience bad things."

He began to sniffle and breath heavily through his sobs.

"I sometimes wonder if Frith only birthed me because he was bored!"

He sobbed very sorely, burying his face into his paws, soon using his ears to cover his eyes.

Chestnut nuzzled him for as long as he needed consoling.

"I just think I'm better of unborn!" he sobbed through his muffled voice.

"No you're not," Chestnut comforted. "I see why Frith put you here. He knew I would experience these horrible things. He put you on Earth so I wouldn't be alone. Now you are helping me find my way. I'd probably be lying dead if it wasn't for you. So far you always sheltered me and fed me."

Walnut went on sobbing as Chestnut kept nuzzling him which made Walnut calm down a little.

"I guess you're right," Walnut whimpered, now revealing his face again, his eyes bloodshot form crying. "I was hoping I would die soon before I met you. I had someone to live for when I met you. I still do. Perhaps always."

Chestnut smiled as they pressed their heads together affectionately. Walnut loved Chestnut very deeply like his own baby brother but he could bring himself to say that - yet.

"Family is everywhere at Watership Down," replied Chestnut. "Wether there were parents or not. Uncle Pipkin copes well with it."

"I wouldn't mind taking a look at that place," responded Walnut drying his eyes with his ears. "They say it's a place without fear."

After what Walnut interpreted with Frith putting him on Earth, maybe this was also part of the plan; to find a safer home even if it meant costing him the life of his father. He would have gained a family anyway which was Chestnut himself. He knew nothing of Fiver bur heard amazing things about him form those three bothers of his, Iris, Hawthorn and Tubular. The say they hated him but others such as the unfortunate victims have said positive things saying how he can stop bad things happening in the future. As for Chestnut's mother he had said wonderful things of her. It would be a shame if his father could not find another doe, for he longed to know the love of a mother.

"What 's going on out here?"

They looked to see Giselle emerge form the mouth of the burrow with concern on her face. "I thought I heard cryi-"

She saw Walnut's bloodshot eyes.

"What happened?" she gasped.

"Angry about my experiences and life," said Walnut. "But young Chessie here helped me see it different."

Chestnut smiled proudly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she checked with Walnut. "It upsets me to see others cry."

"I'm fine," he assured Giselle as he sat up. "Just been holding these things in for a while."

"If you're sure then. I need your opinion on something," said Giselle changing the subject.

"What's an opinion?" asked Chestnut.

"A point of view of what you think about something," Giselle explained.

"Opinion on what?" asked Walnut. Then he had a feeling and nodded at the burrow's entrance. "Them?" he was now whispering.

Giselle nodded seriously.

"After what they did to Chestnut," she was now speaking. "I'm thinking they must come from the worst of such."

"I agree. Why are we even with them? I had a feeling something was fishy since they arrived."

"But the stars in my dream told me of their arrival."

"It's just a dream, Chessie," said Walnut. "You need to understand that dreams are only a coincidence."

Chestnut thought deeply on that. A good while at least - even long after this talk which still went on.

"I say we escape," Giselle whispered.

"Tonight," agreed Walnut.

"But what about Oaknut?" asked Chestnut. "He doesn't seem the type to be part of that lot."

"How do we know he isn't?" asked Walnut. "Beauty is discovered within, Chessie. Not out."

"I spoke to him," Chestnut defended. "He told me what he was trying to say he wished for before River stopped him; he wants a family. I couldn't leave him here to suffer. And he's smaller than me."

Walnut looked at Giselle who exchanged a sympathetic expression.

"Everyone deserves family," said Giselle. "An opportunity for such may only happen once forever."

"Fine," sighed Walnut. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. Only question is will he come if we were to leave tonight?"

"I''l convince him."

They froze and turned to the mouth of the burrow to find Periwinkle, guilt written all over her muzzle.

"You know of this?" asked Walnut worriedly.

"Please don't tell!" begged Chestnut.

"I want to come," said Periwinkle. "I myself want to go home. I want to see Watership Down again."

Chestnut gasped in surprise.

"You used to live on Watership Down?" he asked Periwinkle incredulously.

"You're my cousin, Chestnut," Periwinkle confused sadly. "Your Uncle Hazel is my father."

Chestnut's feelings fo fear turned to excitement but then of curiosity.

"So why are you here?" he asked.

"When I was little," Periwinkle began, "I was not good at much stuff. Games anyway. My brother and sister, Mallow, Snowdrop and Gillia would always tease me and it hurt my feelings. One day one of them said I would never survive at the rate I go. I then wondered of my mother and father felt the same way. I decided to leave rather than learn the truth - since what I don't know cannot hurt me."

"So where did you run off to?" asked Walnut.

"I came across this mysterious, black old rabbit named Chillblack she said she would help me. She would lead me to join the Path of Frith and fog everyone's memories of me. The spell would only be broken when those who knew of me already would see in the flesh. So ever since I've been stuck with this lot. Only now I knew of this ritual which I think is all cockamamie since I thought we'd be peacemakers. I just want to be back with my family. I want to travel to the Field of Frith's Miracles with you."

"More the merrier," Walnut accepted.

Chestnut ran to Periwinkle, jumped up to her and hugged her, happy that he at least had a family of his own blood with him in this frightening adventure.

Periwinkle hugged him back thinking the exact same thing.

"Oaknut must come with us," said Chestnut.

"And he will," said Periwinkle. "You lot go down to the trees where the ritual was performed. I will get Oaknut so nothing will seem suspicious, then we will all run together and the journey to the Field of Frith's miracles will only concern us five of us."

Periwinkle hopped back into the warren as soon as the others followed the instructions and she hopped into Oaknut's chamber. He was lying sound asleep so she pressed her paw on waking him up as gently as she could.

"Oaknut? Oaknut?"

Oaknut stirred onto his back and opened his eyes groggily.

"What is it Periwinkle?"

"It's time to go."

"Go where?"

"I'll explain later. Now come on, get on my back."

With him safely clutched on her back, they left the warren.

They ran all the way down to the hill and went to the join the waiting accompanists.

"Let's go then," said Walnut.

"Without us?"

Elderberry emerged from the darkness of the trees, smiling very cunningly in a way that made Chestnut think he was having another trip through that trickery they had performed on him.

"Periwinkle? Jokenut?"

"I bet you spent all year coming up with that," commented Walnut sardonically.

"Insubordination has painful penalties, you two. I wonder how River will react? The Black Rabbit really will have to come for you now."

Oaknut was shaking which Walnut realised.

"Shut up!" he whipped at Elderberry. "You're frightening Oaknut."

"Scared of his own shadow. You lot have two choices: stay here and wait for doom or come back and join us to extend the Path of Frith who will not open to you even if you reach his field where he will answer to your desires. How does that sound, Hutch-Bred?"

Walnut scrunched his mouth, turned round and which huge blow form his legs, he sent Elderberry flying back up the field, tossing and tumbling all around.

"Everyone, run!" demanded Walnut.

And the five young kittens willingly fled.