With half the group reunited it almost felt like everything was back in the way things ought to be. True I was stuck again with grumbling Hawkbit but then of course we had Dandelion and Pipkin's young cadets with us but there was still the disadvantage of Thorn's spoiled little brother Burdock, Jason still in his foul attitude added further with insulting Pipkin's deceased parents and Daffodil who I could see that Cynthia was still interested in. But the biggest disadvantage was we still needed to find Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, etc. I just hoped they were alright. I longed for a supportive word from Hazel about leading a group, Bigwig teaching me further to fend for myself or Fiver updating me on any possible visions. But then there was little Chestnut astray in this big, cruel world in the paws of Larkspur. There was a task still ahead of us and I tried my best to assure myself that Chestnut was still alive because of it. Two of us - as far as I know - completed our share and we needed to know if the absent group had also succeeded.

I was lost in thought when I saw Jason among some tree stumps sitting on his bottom, pouting. I suddenly remembered what he did and now I was syncing into bog brother mode. I hopped up to him and and looked over him.

Witnessing my shadow, he looked up at me, sulkily.

"What do you want?" he remarked disrespectfully. "So I made Pipkin angry."

"His parents died, you know," I chastised.

"I'm aware," he remarked crossly.

"So why did you taunt him?"

"One half I forgot and the other half I was just angry."

I shook my head disapprovingly.

"What you said to him was very unacceptable. You have no idea what he is going through. He fears that it was his fault his got killed by the weasel and he is having growing pains. You might experience it yourself one day - you just think about that."

"Whatever," Jason grumbled.

I hopped away to leave but not before giving Jason's backside a huge hind kick.

"Hey!" he yelled as he fell onto some leaves. "Are you handicapped?"

"I gave Pipkin two offers of choice," I responded. "First choice: give you a good talking to. Second choice: give you a good kick in the backside. He wanted both."

I hopped away as Jason angrily tore on the leaves he fell upon.

Acorn, Tulip, Loganberry and Pollen just so happened to be watching the scene and they laughed and cheered.

"That'll show him to speak of his parents like that," remarked Acorn.

"Big brother discipline is Firth-born all over you," laughed Loganberry.

"That'll show him some respect," said Pollen.

"He's got the nerve," commented Tulip.

"I hope he was not like this with you lot," I said, still angry for what he did.

"He was rather pouty," said Tulip.

"But we didn't really see anything coming," said Loganberry. "He was well behaved when we taught him all those moves - like the one he used on you just now."

"Discipline is one trying to teach him," said Acorn.

"We clearly overindulged him," said Pollen.

"I'm pretty much to blame too," I confessed. "but should he give you any trouble, tell me."

I hopped up to the hideout Michael and his other comrades had created before we found them. Pipkin was at the entrance laughing heartily and contentedly.

"Your wishes have been granted," I said.

"Thanks," said Pipkin. "I haven't laughed like this since Kehaar left! 'Are You Handicapped!' " he added in an accurate impression of Jason with his way of complaining and whinging.

"Laughter," I said happily. "The best medicine of any ailment."

"What's medicine?" asked Pipkin.

"Sorry," I apologised. "I should have said herb or plant. Medicine is a liquid we humans drink to make ourselves better when we're ill. Like Blackberry's herbs and plants she uses to cover injuries. That's an example of a medicine."

"I think laughter is the best," said Pipkin.

"You're right," I agreed. "But you haven't taken the dosage you were supposed to."

Pipkin was about to respond what I meant when I tackled him to the ground and tickled his belly, his flank and his neck, the rabbit squealing with laughter. When I was satisfied, I left him on the ground still recovering from the torture. Eventually he got up and hugged me gratefully.

"Thank you, Leo," he said happily. "You always know how to make me happy."

I left the hideout and looked up to the clear sky. The sun was beaming very brightly and it's beams were reflecting on the green leaves above the trees. My admiration for the beautiful day was interrupted when I heard Michael' speaking. He was in a position ready pounce and he was looking at an acorn that was lying on the ground. Michael was going through the list of all his most hated people in his life:

"Kiss my tail, Edderdeen. Kiss my tail, Bigwig. Kiss my tail, Mr. Rell. Kiss my tail, Mr. Greenpine. Kiss my tail, Miss Hall. Kiss my tail, Miss Bites. Kiss my tail, Mrs. Marblestick. Kiss my tail, Uncle Ridd."

And he struck at the acorn and crushed it with his paw.

"Neat, Michael!" I applauded with my paws.

"Thorn taught me that," said Michael hopping up to me. "Think of your biggest foes and imagine they are elil when improving on your skills."

I wanted to give it a go. Regardless of the destroyed acorn, I began to list my foes and performed the same ritual as Michael.

"Kiss my tail, Mr. Gorwood. Kiss my tail, Aunt Madeline. Kiss my tail, Gold-Toothed Shadow."

I struck at the fragments of acorn regardless of the catering that followed. It felt good mention all those people I hated. It was like playing video games where I attack someone pretending it was them. That last thing I wished was death upon them but pretending to take them down was satisfactory in someway.

"So have you found some promising path?" I asked Michael when we settled.

He shook his head.

"Nothing looks too promising at the moment."

I looked up in wonderment when I saw a familiar sight; a white owl was soaring through the blue sky and into camouflage through the white clouds. The very owl guided me to this world win the first place. I remembered that stormy weather so well when I was in pursuit, fell inot the rapids and fell through the water into here. I remember that it once came to me last year and gave me the acorn necklace telling me I can arrive here whenever I wanted to, but of course Jason had lost it and we were stuck here.

"We'll take this path here," I suggested.

"Err, hooray he discovered the path by just staring into the unreachable sky," commented Michael.

"Exactly," I responded to his sarcasm. "A white owl just flew by. This owl lead me to many great things."

"Leo," said Michael brightly, "In logical terms of being a rabbit, an owl can lead us to many great things such as the butcher parlour in its den in the treetops."

"It's not like that, Michael," I replied, "it led me to this universe and gave em the acorn for us to enter here. It must be leading us to Chestnut. I can vouch that it's guiding us somewhere - trust me, I'm more experienced than you guys."

Michael considered this and nodded.

"Yes. Sorry, Leo. I'll go tell the others."

He hopped away to get everybody prepared but was held up by Hawkbit and Dandelion who were fighting over a tree they were trying to scratch against and made an effort to break the fight up.

"Hurting inside," Thorn remarked.

"Tell me about it," I responded. "His dad is as loyal as a squirrel valuing nuts over family - ow!"

I examined the thing that landed on my head which was a nut. I looked up to see a squirrel squeaking crossly at me.

"Sorry," I apologised feeling embarrassed. I had to be more careful when referencing animals. I really should know better, being in this place two years longer than any of the others I brought here.

"But yes," said Thorn. "My dad was not much use either. But I'm a professional with skill. The least he can do is learn from me."

"He's actually rather skilled regardless of tutorial," I pointed out. "He can flip, he can kick and -"

"Yes, I did see," Thorn interrupted. "But he was only lucky when it came to the weasel. I only stood away because it was his battle - yet I jumped into action when I thought he was hurt. He may be skilled but he still has more to learn such as scent which we all smell, wind which gives us the smell of hungry breath of elil - and then there's the heart."

"Heart?" I asked.

"Heart may be of feeling," Thorn replied as he was scratching his right ear with his foot, "but it can give the feeling when something is not right. Right now things are quite calm, so therefore I am calm."

I considered this a very intriguing thought. I had a brilliant adventure my first time here but on the back of my mind was still Mr. Gorwood waiting for me which still had pain held onto me. The heart seemed like an internal mood ring now I thought more of what this brilliant rabbit has told me. Frankly it would seem that Michael would prefer him as a tutor as opposed to Bigwig who he was not on good terms with.

"So, what happened to your father?" I asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

"It's rather tragic really," said Thorn in concealed pain. "But the twins were permitted to play outside as it was a gorgeous day. But unexpectedly a fox appeared in sight. Father came to the immediate rescue and sacrificed himself to it. The twins have been in guilt ever since - Burdock convicting them they shouldn't have gone out. So, after that, being the oldest, I now take care of my mother and the other three."

"I'm really sorry to hear all this," I sympathised. "But you must be a brilliant son to look after your mother like this."

"Her comfort is my happiness," Thorn replied. "And with Burdock guilt-ridding the kittens, it gets harder because I often almost convince them it wasn't their fault what happened."

"Of course it wasn't," I agreed. "The fox was a devastating accident. Anything could have happened. Might have been Burdock for all we know - I do not wish to use him as an example, regardless what a stinker he might be."

"Indeed," said Thorn. "I see also where you are coming from. The last thing I'd wish is my brother dead. But it will take some sort of miracle to make the twins think otherwise."

"Pipkin is in the same state too," I commented.

"Ah yes," said Thorn remembering that awkward row not long ago. "Something happened to his parents?"

"As a baby," I explained, "his parents died in a weasel accident. He's never been like this but these days he is troubled that he is to blame for their death."

"Poor lad," Thorn expressed with some seriousness mixed with compassion. "It's self-hatred that creates such a convincing idea."

"You think he hates himself?"

"At occasional traits of a youth. His own happiness can get ruined if a tragedy like that came. He's clearly not to blame. Like you say, he was just a baby when the tragedy occurred."

"Is there any way to snap him out of it?" I asked with concern. "I hate to see him like this. He doesn't deserve to be like this."

"The only to get out is by understanding himself," said Thorn. "Understand yourself will prove if you are guilty or not."

"Butterflies are nice!"

"Dragonflies are nicer! Butterflies are for does!"

"That's not true!"

We turned to see Dragonfly and Butterfly yelling at each other.

"Please excuse me," smiled Thorn as he rushed over to break up the squabble.

Looking at those twins, I wondered how they would get along when they grew up. For me and Jason there seemed no redemption, considering what he said and did today.

My thoguhts were interrupted as I saw Rosie lying her front looking at some bluebells near bt. She looked rather glooomy which was ratehr rare for she would oftwn make the best of everything. I hopped up to her and lie down on my fortn next to her.

"What's wrong, Bagheera?" I asked.

"It's Cynthia," said Rosie. "I tried speakign aosme sense to her about Daffodil and it proved fruitless. She thinks I'm trying to get in the way of her happiness."

"That's not true," I said placing a paw on her own. "Teenagers always think they are right."

"I tried breaking her away from that Daffodil but she wants to stay with him. I'd hate to think what she would do with him - or what he would do to her for that matter."

"He needs to go," I agreed. "Me and the others will think of a plan. We'll attack him - but without attacking him. Maybe scare him off with a stunt. Hawkbit and Dandelion are capable of such a thing."

"How do you mean?" asked Rosie with a jerk of interest.

"One time they played a rather mean prank on me," I explained, "but considering such characters they can probably put their antics to use."

Rosie thought of this and turned back to me.

"Promise you'll do something to drive him away," she ordered.

"I promise," I said. "But only for Cynthia."

"Me as well," said Rosie as we pressed out heads together. "You're a great big sister Rosie. Like how Tiger Lily is with Zinnia."

"I don't think so," Rosie chuckled. "She's more of a professional seeing as they were both on hardship."

"Regardless," I insisted.

Our moment was interrupted by a musical beam. My attention went to the gem which was now beginning to beam a blinding white.

"Leo!"

Michael was running up to us in the same condition with his.

"Could this be Glowpaws summing us?" I said.

"Most likely," Michael replied but looking doubtful and worried.

The beam engulfed us like a vegetable knife swinging down upon the cutting board. The next thing we knew we were floating in the starry night sky. We both looked about and there was nothing of interest to lead us thought this new mystery.

"Sooooo," said Michael finally breaking the silence. "Onto Neverland."

"Hello?"

We turned and saw Fiver floating along with us like reindeers driving Father Christmas' sleigh.

"I'm glad to know you're alright, Fiver," I smiled gratefully.

"Likewise," Fiver responded. "I was just standing outside our burrow watching the dawn when the necklace thing glowed a stronger white and here I am."

"Us too," said I. "But I don't know why it's night here."

"Maybe Sunglow made a bad mistake and distinguished day for night," interpreted Michael shortly. "regardless of the stars."

"I hear all mockery, Dawnrah!" came a familiar stern voice.

Michael looked rather shocked from the rebuke he received. But in all fairness nobody suspected it in such a quite area up in the sky.

"Sunglow?" I checked.

Before we all knew it, the stars arranged themselves into a staircase going straight up towards the moon.

"Let's go," I replied, thinking of the previous experience and how easy that one was.

"Yeah," replied Michael. "I'm not hanging around this time playing Rock, Paper Scissors with ears and paws. I don't even remember how we did it."

We hopped up the steps without question, the last ones were quite a challenge but we were not so sure why it was easy. I suppose maybe since it was night time and everyone was resting.

We hoped and hopped and hopped and hopped until we were literally close to the moon itself. It was huger than I ever pictured it and the whiting was completely beautiful. It made me feel all calm inside and every concern in my conscience was gone. It made me think back on that Heavenly choir that sung before me, Jason, Rosie, Michael and Cynthia found ourselves in this universe.

"Small step for man," said Michael, "a giant leap for rabbits."

"Come," came the disembodied but familiar voice.

I listened carefully and realised it was inside the moon. I was rather hesitant upon touching it in case of something disastrous. But then, this was a convincing, assuring voice that was seemingly welcome. I had to risk it otherwise we would not be back in reality.

I slowly put my paw on the sidings of the moon and fell right through it. I heard Fiver and Michael panic.

"He'd still be here if this golf ball were made of cheese," I heard Michael react. "Leo! Are you there?"

"I'm fine!" I called back. "You two can come through! It's okay!"

In a second, I saw a paw emerge and Fiver plopped through followed by Michael. They were sprawling on each other before getting back up and shaking themselves.

We looked about in wonderment as everything was completely white. Almost exactly like the Television Room from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or perhaps a laboratory in a hospital or outer-space which ever interpretation fits with the reader.

"Now what?" said Fiver breaking the science.

"I respond to what I foresee."

Emerging from the far end was a pure white rabbit.

"Snowflake?" asked Fiver, confused.

"Your doe is not I," said the rabbit as it came to halt. There was something vert familiar about this stranger, the appearance the voice, all of a sudden -"Glowpaws!" I identfiied. "How have you changed appearence."

"Glowpaws is my name of the day," the rabbit replied. "When it comes to night, I am Beampaws, Rabbit of the Moon."

Me and the other two looked at each other.

"Anyone having trouble with this?" remarked Michael casually.

"In a way," replied Fiver. "I'm having trouble with everything that's been happening yesterday and today so far."

"In any case," I said turning to the now-called Beampaws, Rabbit of the Moon, "Let us see what Glo - I mean Beampaws has to say this time - say, is this to do with the trinkets we wear."

It only now occurred to me that they were all white and we were in the moon. I could not believe we realised this only now. Even Michael and fiver seemed to be in surprise of the same reason because they were looking deeply at these trinkets with further interest.

"You assume in accuracy," Beampaws replied with an important smile. "I am informed that you have succeeded each of your three tasks. Leo Barning from Above emerges in triumph to rescue his doe's sister, Dawn-Rah takes down the weasel to protect his weaponry and Fiver the Seer, with the help of his brother, takes the false Larkspur's threats into challenge for his baby."

"But is Chestnut safe?" Fiver asked in fear. "I must know."

"For now," replied Beampaws. "From what I interpret, he is with young friends and an old badger, uncle to one of those friends."

"That's bad news," said Michael.

"If Bark is a badger to trust," Fiver defended, "then this badger is to trust too."

"I call you," Beampaws continued, "to say what must be said. There will be another challenge for three of you, but there shall be a deaprture which shall bring a reunion. That is all you have to know."

I was having a lot of trouble understanding this strange rabbit.

"What do you mean a departure creating a reunion?" I asked.

"I only foresee, Leo Barning from Above; not witness," Beampaws replied in a sentence which gave me some deja vu.

"This is the last time for this trio to witness my presence," said Beampaws as he backed away, slowly disappearing into thin air. "Just keep in mind what I say. With what's to come, you have have the hcance of achieving all."

Beefore any of us could retort, we were zipped back to where were pulled away.