Fiver ran back into the burrow where Hazel was sleeping. He was now stretching on his side and scratching his right ear.
"The same thing happened again!" accounted Fiver. "Sunglow, now there was another similar rabbit called Beampaws and -"
"Slow down, Fiver," Hazel criticised. "I'm only just waking up."
When Hazel was wide awake, he and Fiver sat down as he informed the whole event.
"Very fishy," commented Hazel after Fiver had the finished the story about Beampaws and explaining that there should be a departure from one of the three search parties. "and Chestnut with with other kittens and a badger?"
"If Bark is one to trust this one is too," said Fiver trying to keep confidence within him.
Hazel nodded but reluctantly. "Frith has a purpose for everyone's destiny."
Fiver thought of this; he was reminded of something nervy bad he committed before he lost his baby.
"Hazel?" asked Fiver. "Can Frith punish as well?"
"I suppose not," said Hazel.
"What if someone made a mistake they kept from others?"
Hazel began to look concerned.
"What's wrong, Fiver?" he asked patiently putting a paw on his shoulder.
Fiver took a deep breath and confessed his guilt:
"One night, Chestnut had a dream that Carnation was killed and he fell into the Valley of Fire. I believed it to be a bad dream. He then asked me if I ever had nightmares that ever came true. I didn't want him to be convinced he caused something like that, I didn't even know it was as sign. So I lied and said I only had dreams about you getting shot, Bigwig getting caught in the Shining Wire but never happened. Then Carnation died and - well, it seems it was a sign."
"I see," said Hazel sitting up purposely.
"But, Hazel," said Fiver close to panic. "I … I didn't know what to do. I didn't know this was going to happen I - I thought I might cause him a belief that he was making horrible things happen."
"It's wrong to lie, Fiver," said Hazel sternly. "And it only causes problems to grow bigger - even to the innocent."
"I didn't mean to," said Fiver tearfully. "I thought I was doing the right thing."
"It's not your fault he's out there now," said Hazel patiently "But if you told him the truth, he would at least know he's not creating an evil future."
Fiver ran to the wall and scrammed at it, growling in anger.
"I don't deserve to be a father!" he yelled.
"We've heard quite enough of that!" said Hazel firmly.
Hazel ran to him and pulled him away, Fiver still trying to break free to attack the wall further but Hazel was stronger. He pulled Fiver in who was now sobbing. Hazel held him close to his chest as he sobbed into it.
"Why did I make such a bad mistake?!" he wailed hurried in Hazel's chest.
"Because you're a parent," said Hazel simply. "Bad mistakes result better parents. You're a wonderful father, Fiver. I've seen you playing with Chestnut every minute of the day and giving him lessons. But there's no such thing as perfect."
"You make no mistake whatsoever when it comes to your kittens," Fiver said looking up at his brother. He leaned against his chest again as let out more sobs and gulping for air.
"Oh I think you'll find I did, concerning … you."
Fiver ceased his sobbing and looked up at Hazel who wore a face of condemnation.
He took Fiver to one side, sat on his rump, picked Fiver up and placed him on his lap.
"We were playing Tail Tag by our favourite spot by a tree," Hazel explained. "You loved the game very much and we played it hours on end. One afternoon, I was lying in the shade while I let you hop about. I fell asleep but soon I was waken by you screaming."
"What was happening?" asked Fiver, hardly remembering anything from these experiences but his curiosity nagged him to listen.
"There you were in the pond trying to keep up above the surface," Hazel explained shuddering softly. Now this pond happened to be where pike were swarming around. In a panic I dove into the water after you and brung you back to shore. I did not tell Mother because I knew she would have been furious with me and wouldn't entrust you to me anymore."
Fiver felt some relief hearing this. Hazel looked after him and saved his life to make up for his lack of effort to keep and eye on him. Fiver nuzzled his brother's chest for gratitude.
"You saved me," said Fiver smiling weakly up at Hazel. "Very loyal for a once lazy sod."
After a minute, the brothers cracked into laughter, Hazel falling on his back as Fiver lay on top of him.
"So even brother can make mistakes," said Fiver looking at Hazel.
"Of course," said Hazel. "But at least we know that Chestnut is alive and well - otherwise Beampaws must have foretold something bad."
"So your not disappointed in me?" asked Fiver.
"Of course not," said Hazel patting his brother's head. "We all do silly things when it comes to our kittens. Children are the learners of life, parents are the learners of parentage."
Hazel gave Fiver's nose a touch with his own and he wrapped his paws over him for a hug and Fiver snuggled into him.
"Thank you for forgiving me, Hazel," said Fiver gratefully.
"I can forgive you for anything, little brother," said Hazel kindly as he smiled at Fiver. "I just hope you'll forgive me for being a once lazy sod."
"I can forgive you for anything," Fiver replied as he gave his brother's mouth a lick.
"Well," said Hazel as he positioned to get up with Fiver hopping of him. "Better get some breakfast if we are to begin travelling today."
They all met outside and began tanking themselves. The day was beautiful and it gave Fiver some relaxation in his mind that things would turn out okay. He found himself in a random episode of false hope that if butterflies were to emerge on a day like this, Chestnut would be chasing them which would lead him to the group. But he had to remain logical. The brain is allowed to be exceedingly evil in times of worry and losing faith.
"Eat some more, Fiver," said Silverweed dropping his bite full of grass in front his brother. "Chestnut wouldn't want Daddy skin and bones when he resumes him."
"It's just too difficult, Silverweed," said Fiver.
"Just for us," Silverweed egged on. "Please Fiver. You're losing weight. Yesterday only had pieces of grass and the other day you refused to eat the carrots. You'll make yourself ill."
Fiver started to nibble on the grass which tasted rather juicy. He then tucked into it as though he never did. Maybe it was Silverweed's encouragement or his newfound faith after the mistake he made or maybe the joy of the day he liked to think of as a sign.
"That's better," said Silverweed contentedly and supportively.
Fiver smiled at Silverweed gratefully and accidentally let some grass blade slip out his mouth making him snigger as well as Silverweed.
"So Hazel told me what happened," said Silverweed when Fiver was filling himself up.
"You're not angry are you, Silverweed?" asked Fiver.
"Of course not," replied Silverweed sympathetically. "Of course, it's bad to tell lies but we both understand why you did it. We both agree it wasn't your fault we're here. No one saw it coming."
"That's true I guess," Fiver agreed, his spirits low again as he dropped onto his front. "I'm lost. How can I explain everything to my Prince Winter?"
"Here's the best thing to do," said Silverweed, hopping into Fiver's facial direction and also dropping to his front. "As soon as we find Chestnut, you will tell him the truth. Explain your gift for seeing the future, that way he will understand his way of vision reading himself. And if it makes you fell any better, I will also tell him of my seeing the future. Two partners to back him up."
"You really would?" asked Fiver. "Even thought I made the mistake?"
"I'll always back you up, regardless of you own flaws, Fiver," Silverweed promised as he places paw on Fiver's. But he quickly gasped and went white in the eyes.
"You'll make the journey with others, Fiver," he recited.
"What?" asked Fiver getting up. "What did you see, Silverweed?"
"Hmm, I don't know," said Silverweed, not smiling sweetly as he usually did anymore. "I only touched paw for comfort, Fiver. Not to scare you."
"I know, Silverweed," Fiver consoled. "I do not know if this is to do with Chillblack's witchcraft, seeing as she played with my visions last year almost getting myself killed."
Hazel came up to them after talking with Bigwig, Spartina and Campion while silflaying.
"Are you both ready?" asked Hazel.
"Silverweed read something for tomorrow, Hazel," Fiver replied. "I will make the journey with others."
Hazel looked confused but worried.
Fiver gasped and began to shake all over.
Upon hearing his wails, the others ran
Silverweed supported him as Fiver hyperventilated in shock through his recital:
He who sees will soon depart, and reunite with friends all smart
A stupid child shall take a chance, the sibling learns within advance
Fangs of white shall they all meet, they all must run to shun defeat
Fiver fell as the vision released him from its grasp. Hazel and Silverweed nudged him up.
"What was that all about?" asked Bigwig.
"Whatever it is," responded Spartina, "I don't like the idea of it. 'They all must run to shun defeat'."
"We must be careful with this," said Campion. "Who knows if this is trickery."
"That's what I said just now," said Fiver sadly. "Suppose Larkspur is behind everything? The incident in the secret burrow at the birthplace, and now this coming from nowhere."
"Now let's be logical," said Hazel waking everyone up from their far-fetched suspicions. "Yes, this was queer but Fiver saw in his mind that there was to be a task for each of the three groups. Chillblack would have gone further to do anything to make sure were all dead by now. Furthermore, we've seen nothing that involves the Gold-Toothed Shadow."
"Yet," Bigwig corrected shortly. "Try not to promise the future, Hazel. We don't know what's to come."
Nobody said anything, they just stood this in silence and considering, only the singing birds backed up the silent scene.
"Wait a minute," Fiver suddenly remembered and now on his hind legs, "Beampaws says there is another task - but in the night."
"So," said Bigwig, "we just need a white path?"
He was being sarcastic, but he looked taken aback when Fiver's necklace - now white - glow and shot a beam on the ground. They all saw some lining across the grass like a very, very long worm. It was flat and looked pale. Where they looked it stretched on and on as far as their eyes would allow them.
"I didn't know Firth grants wishes regardless of sarcasm," Bigwig remarked.
"Let's wait until nightfall," Hazel suggested. "We'll straight our eyes with this light."
They spent the rest of the day, Bigwig and Campion practicing fighting against each other, including Spartina and Hazel, but Fiver drifted to sleep in the sun, with Silverweed by his side. Fiver closed his eyes feeling the warmth of the sun focus itself onto his coat and tried to imagine Chestnut pulling his ear with his mouth, a nice feeling the baby gave him to assure him was no dream when he was born.
Me and Michael addressed the experience to the others who listened in amazement. Even Jason was amazed by the part with the moon.
"So Lance Armstrong really did reach the moon," he commented dryly. "But no one will believe the idea of rabbis doing so."
"Why don't you tell us something we do not know, Professor Cheese-Astronomer?" said Michael in an obvious tone.
"So Beampaws would not help further?" asked Rosie sympathetically.
"Poor dears," remarked Cherry. "All for a lack of answers."
"He said he could only foretell," I replied. "Yes, Jason?"
Jason put his paw down and he responded "Did he foretell you chickening out and wanting to get out of here and go back home?"
"No, Jason," I said plainly, "he did not foretell me chickening out and wanting to get out of here and go back home. Owing to the fact that you were stupid enough to lose the acorn."
"Back on topic," said Michael quickly. "We just need some sign to lead us to the task."
Our gems began to glow and they shot onto the ground and creating a lined path like it did previous with the sun glow.
"I really promise to stop being sarcastic now, Lord Firth!" Hawkbit panicked, crouching down and wrapping his paw over his head. "And really do promise to stop grumbli-"
"It's not Frith, Dorkbit," said Michael. "Just a little magic."
Hawkbit slowly got up with a little confidence from Michael's observance.
The lining of the beam was completely flat form the impact it delivered though it was rather pale.
"We'd better wait until sundown," Michael responded after the ling pause that followed this moment. "We'll blind ourselves eyeing the path in this light."
"So we have to stay hear until sundown?" moaned Hawkbit. "I'd rather strain my eyes than go with this plan."
Michael hopped close to him glaring. "And I'll tell you the gruesome accident of Louis Braille that caused him to go blind and give you a harrowing lesson of going with the best plan we've got."
"Not with the kids here, Michael," I lectured looking at Butterfly and Dragonfly hiding behind their mother.
"If it means leading to something, I'm willing to agree with your plan, Michael," said Thorn.
"Me as well," Blackavar backed up. Soon everybody agreed as well as Hawkbit but reluctantly.
"I say," said Rosie suddenly, "where's Cynthia?"
"Lat time I saw her," said Pipkin, "she and Daffodil when behind the tree up above that hill. I'll go and inform them what's to happen."
"Thank you," said Rosie. "And Pipkin?"
Pipkin turned back to face Rosie.
"Please make sure Cynthia is alright and not doing anything wring with - him."
Pipkin nodded and hopped to the destination.
I hopped close to Rosie and said "Beampaws foretold a departure form one of us. If were lucky it will be Daffodil and you can sleep easily."
Rosie sighed in hope and relief.
Pipkin hopped up to the tree where he heard some muffled sobbing. He hopped around to find a hole inside the tree. He peered in to find Cynthia wrapped in a ball like a hedgehog and crying her heart out.
"Cinny?" Pipkin asked in concern.
She peered at the speaker and hid her face again.
"Go away!" she sobbed. "It's bad enough for someone to see me cry like this!"
Pipkin could not help himself. He just ran to Cynthia and cuddled her so seh had someone to cry into. He waited patiently as she sobbed and hiccuped violently into his fur. She finally started ease down when Pipkin spoke:
"Come now," he soothed, "tell Pipkin what happened."
Cynthia finally found her voice thought still crying uncontrollably, tears oozing like the crack of a broken tub full of water.
"D-Daffodil dumped me!" she said trembling through her sobs.