Part Four - The Promised Friend
"I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil." Psalm 119:162, NIV
Swather waited before beginning his story, listening to whispers and quiet weeping in the darkness. The weeping he recognized as belonging to Finch, as well as Pearl and her daughter Sapphire, who had been beyond consolation since the tragedy. Burdock remained silent, his head buried in his marli's side. Tobacco was also devastated, but concentrated his strength on supporting and comforting his mother and sister.
Hoping that his voice would not break while speaking, Swather cleared his throat and began the story in his familiar voice, soft yet clearly audible throughout the main burrow.
"As you know, El-ahrairah had many mates, and countless kittens. He was proud of all of his young ones, and enjoyed watching them romping in the fields on sunny days. He was also fond of all of his mates, but one in particular was a bit closer to El-ahrairah's heart. Her name was Linnet, and she was his closest confidant. Whenever El-ahrairah felt angry, sad, or otherwise not himself, he could always count on kind and wise words from Linnet to cheer him up and get him back on four paws.
"Once, El-ahrairah came to blows with Rabscuttle, his Owsla Captain, over a seemingly minor incident during a raid upon King Darian's garden. El- ahrairah had just finished tunneling under the garden fence, and was proceeding cautiously towards the fresh lettuce rows, when Rabscuttle stamped the alarm of elil. Both rabbits bolted back under the fence, but no elil was to be seen. Although there was no harm done, El-ahrairah was rather upset, and uncharacteristically made a mountain out of a molehill. 'Honestly, how difficult can it be to recognize elil? Surely you can tell a homba from a lettuce plant?'
"Rabscuttle wordlessly endured the chiding, which went on for the remainder of the time that they nibbled on the lettuce plants, and even on the trip back to their warren. Finally, as they neared home, Rabscuttle could take it no longer. He turned on El-ahrairah, and snapped, 'Well, if you're so perfect, I guess you can just go on your next raid yourself! I've seen more gratitude from hraka than I've seen from you today!' With that, he left El-ahrairah behind and stormed off to his burrow, where he sat sulking.
"El-ahrairah returned to his burrow as well, also sulking. Linnet noticed immediately that something was wrong and asked her mate to share his trouble. 'It's that Rabscuttle,' growled El-ahrairah, 'Not only is he incompetent, but he is insubordinate as well! I've a good mind to dismiss him as my Owsla Captain!'
"Linnet was taken aback by this unusual display of rage, unusual especially since it was directed at Rabscuttle, his loyal friend. She calmed him down by nuzzling him, and telling him of one of his son's accomplishments that day. 'Ash defeated a stoat all by himself today - and saved one of the young does in the process.'
"El-ahrairah relaxed a little and replied, 'Ah, yes, Ash. He's going to be an Owsla legend some day. Perhaps he could replace Rabscuttle.'
"Linnet nuzzled El-ahrairah more sharply than usual and said, 'Please tell me what happened, dear.'
"As El-ahrairah recounted the elil-alarm incident, despite the fact that he told the tale in such a way to make Rabscuttle seem as foolish and as incompetent as possible, Linnet saw through his slant to the story. 'Well, don't you think you've blown this out of proportion? I mean, no rabbit is perfect, dear. Don't you want Rabscuttle to be alert when you are on raids? What if there had been elil, and Rabscuttle had hesitated lest he be wrong in his judgment? Then where would you be? Inside the stomach of a homba, perhaps? I think you owe somebody an apology, dear.'
"El-ahrairah was silent. Linnet had a way of helping him go from indignant to apologetic with just a few words. Still, after a moment, he protested, 'But, Linnet, he was so rude to me just now!'
"Linnet wasn't taking the bait. 'And I suppose you did nothing to provoke him, right? Come on, dear, give me the whole story.'
"El-ahrairah admitted, 'Well, I suppose I was a bit harsh on him. But there was no elil there, and he scared the wits out of me!'
"Without missing a beat, Linnet offered, 'And a scared rabbit is a live rabbit, right? Honestly, dear, Rabscuttle was just doing his job, and you don't have the good sense to appreciate him as much as you should. I really must suggest the apology option, dear.'
"El-ahrairah could see that he was not going to get Linnet to side with him against Rabscuttle, and anyway, he was already reconsidering his actions that day. After a few minutes of thinking it over and surprising himself by how much his guilt grew, he decided to pay Rabscuttle a visit. With a sincere apology, the whole matter was forgiven and forgotten, all thanks to Linnet's wisdom and level-headedness."
Swather paused before continuing onto the next part of the story. He wondered again if this story could really help ease the warren's pain. This next part will be painful for them, but it's the last part that should pick them up, he thought, I'll have to trust my instinct. He went on:
"After Linnet patched things up between the two friends, El-ahrairah's admiration for her grew, if that were possible. He was greatly anticipating their next litter of kittens, and thinking about what names to give them, and then one of the most mournful days in his life dawned.
"There was suddenly a great commotion outside his burrow. He went out into the run and inquired as to what was happening. 'There's been a hawk attack, sir! It's got one of our does!' replied a harried Owsla buck. El- ahrairah immediately made his way towards the nearest exit with difficulty, as he had to push past numerous rabbits desperately trying to flee from the silf to the safety of the warren. El-ahrairah had the good sense to stay underground as well, but as Chief Rabbit of his warren, his need to assess the status of this crisis overrode his instinctive fear.
"As he exited the burrows, he stopped a nervous doe and asked, 'Who is it? Tell me!' The doe merely replied that she didn't know and hurried inside. El-ahrairah was looking for another rabbit to ask when he was approached by a shivering kitten.
"'Sir, I saw everything; it's so terrible!' sobbed the kitten.
"El-ahrairah quickly asked, 'Who have we lost? Please! Tell me!'
"The kitten wailed, 'She was trying to get away, but she couldn't run.'
"El-ahrairah repeated as sharply as he dared to a kitten, 'Who was it? Tell me!'
"At this point, another Owsla buck emerged from a nearby hole, saying, 'Sir, get in here! And the kitten too! That hawk is still in that tree over there!' The buck indicated a nearby tree with a nod of his head.
"As the kitten scampered to safety, still in tears, El-ahrairah turned to the tree that had been pointed out, and saw the hawk on one of the upper branches. Draped over the branch next to it, and held down by one of the powerful sets of talons, was the bloodied body of a rabbit. As the hawk tore a piece of flesh from its meal with its razor beak, El-ahrairah looked more closely. His blood froze. It was Linnet."
Swather heard renewed weeping from Flax' kin. Just hold on, the next part is to cheer you up, he thought. After a brief pause, he continued:
"El-ahrairah's mind went blank, and an odd rushing sound filled his ears. He wasn't even aware that he was being dragged back into the burrow by two of his Owsla. When he came to his senses, all he could do was whisper, 'She was just here. I can't believe it. She has to come back.' repeatedly. He needed a whole day to recover from the shock, and never quite recovered from the grief.
"El-ahrairah blamed himself for Linnet's death. 'I should've insisted she stay inside when she was so heavy with kittens,' he lamented, 'I should've known the danger of her being out on the silf in her condition. She couldn't run quickly enough. I could have brought her flay in our burrow.'
"The other rabbits comforted El-ahrairah as they could, telling him that it wasn't his fault; that elil can strike anywhere, anytime. But his comfort mostly came not from their words, but rather from just having the other rabbits, especially his other mates, to talk to.
"Some more days passed, and El-ahrairah decided to go alone to the highest hill in the area to discuss the situation with Frith. 'Oh, great Frith, hear my plea. Our enemies are too many and too great. We are miserable and afflicted, and our tears soak our burrows as we lose so many friends.'
"After a pause, Frith answered, 'And what do you wish from me?'
"'To make our enemies our friends again; that is my plea.'
"Frith sternly replied, 'The reason that you have enemies is because your people took all of the world's food for yourselves at the beginning. Do you not remember? Because the other animals couldn't find food for themselves anymore, they had to turn to your people as their food supply. That is why I gave them sharp teeth and a desire to kill your people; otherwise they would have perished, and even your own people would have died from starvation, with uncontrolled growth in number. There wouldn't have been found a blade of grass in all the world.'
"El-ahrairah was silent at Frith's response. He knew that Frith was right, but he still had to come away with something from this meeting. 'Then all I ask for is a reprieve, just some time without worry of losing my people to elil.'
"'And when such a period expires, would it not be all the worse for your people? Would they not lose their instincts, their cunning and tricks, and then be slaughtered?'
"El-ahrairah grew desperate. 'Then, great Frith, just give us some friends from out of our enemies.'
"To this Frith replied, 'But, El-ahrairah, you already have friends among some men.'
"El-ahrairah pleaded even more desperately, 'And I know of them, kind Frith. But there is no true freedom for rabbits who are pets of men. Please, only some friends that will demand neither our flesh for food nor our freedom for friendship.'
"Then Frith, finding this compromise acceptable, and admiring the determination of the prince rabbit, decided to show El-ahrairah that he was indeed merciful, such as he was at the time when he gave El-ahrairah's people the gifts of speed and cunning to escape their would-be predators. 'It will be done as you ask. I will count off a great number of seasons, and then one of your foes will be born as your friend. I will not tell you which of them, nor the time, nor the place. Just know this: Your promised friend will not seek to kill you; and so it will also be with their young. But, it will not be easy for them, for they will be persecuted by their peers for their ways. They may not survive or even find mates to have young. If none do survive, another great number of seasons must pass before another promised friend is born. How do you find this arrangement, El-ahrairah?'
"El-ahrairah nodded, 'Thank you for your mercy, kind Frith. I will ask for no more on this matter.' And with that, El-ahrairah returned to his warren, content with the knowledge that someday, his people would have a promised friend."
Swather, his story finished, waited in silence for a reaction. Oaktrunk, his voice somewhat hoarse, was the first to speak up. "That's a very nice story, Swather, but it doesn't do me much good. Flax is still gone, and nothing can change that."
Another rabbit spoke up. "Only one friend every hrair seasons? I've never met any elil yet that didn't want me as its next meal. Surely, the time will not arrive in my lifetime."
Swather defended the story, saying, "Remember, we are not told when or where, or even which of the elil it will be. But, believe it: someday, we will know our promised friend."
"Thank you, Swather," replied Pearl, her voice noticeably soothed, "I will remember and cherish that story." With that, she, Tobacco, and Sapphire got up and returned to their burrows. Then, the rest of the crowd slowly dispersed. Finch remained, with Burdock now asleep beside her. Swather hoped that the story would indeed have a comforting effect upon the warren.
Oaktrunk, however, was not comforted. After the story, he went to see General Hrairah, telling him that he was about to leave for Grotto Warren for a day or so, just to see what was happening. It was still some time before the next Rah meeting was to be held, so General Hrairah knew that Oaktrunk was just trying to get his mind off of his grief. "I suppose that you shouldn't really go alone, Oaktrunk," said Chief Hrairah, "but I won't stop you. I think some time alone may help you right now."
"Yes, perhaps it will," said Oaktrunk wistfully, "Perhaps I'll find something to keep myself busy." With that, Oaktrunk made his way out of the burrows and towards Grotto, alone. It was a few hours until Frith-set.
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"I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil." Psalm 119:162, NIV
Swather waited before beginning his story, listening to whispers and quiet weeping in the darkness. The weeping he recognized as belonging to Finch, as well as Pearl and her daughter Sapphire, who had been beyond consolation since the tragedy. Burdock remained silent, his head buried in his marli's side. Tobacco was also devastated, but concentrated his strength on supporting and comforting his mother and sister.
Hoping that his voice would not break while speaking, Swather cleared his throat and began the story in his familiar voice, soft yet clearly audible throughout the main burrow.
"As you know, El-ahrairah had many mates, and countless kittens. He was proud of all of his young ones, and enjoyed watching them romping in the fields on sunny days. He was also fond of all of his mates, but one in particular was a bit closer to El-ahrairah's heart. Her name was Linnet, and she was his closest confidant. Whenever El-ahrairah felt angry, sad, or otherwise not himself, he could always count on kind and wise words from Linnet to cheer him up and get him back on four paws.
"Once, El-ahrairah came to blows with Rabscuttle, his Owsla Captain, over a seemingly minor incident during a raid upon King Darian's garden. El- ahrairah had just finished tunneling under the garden fence, and was proceeding cautiously towards the fresh lettuce rows, when Rabscuttle stamped the alarm of elil. Both rabbits bolted back under the fence, but no elil was to be seen. Although there was no harm done, El-ahrairah was rather upset, and uncharacteristically made a mountain out of a molehill. 'Honestly, how difficult can it be to recognize elil? Surely you can tell a homba from a lettuce plant?'
"Rabscuttle wordlessly endured the chiding, which went on for the remainder of the time that they nibbled on the lettuce plants, and even on the trip back to their warren. Finally, as they neared home, Rabscuttle could take it no longer. He turned on El-ahrairah, and snapped, 'Well, if you're so perfect, I guess you can just go on your next raid yourself! I've seen more gratitude from hraka than I've seen from you today!' With that, he left El-ahrairah behind and stormed off to his burrow, where he sat sulking.
"El-ahrairah returned to his burrow as well, also sulking. Linnet noticed immediately that something was wrong and asked her mate to share his trouble. 'It's that Rabscuttle,' growled El-ahrairah, 'Not only is he incompetent, but he is insubordinate as well! I've a good mind to dismiss him as my Owsla Captain!'
"Linnet was taken aback by this unusual display of rage, unusual especially since it was directed at Rabscuttle, his loyal friend. She calmed him down by nuzzling him, and telling him of one of his son's accomplishments that day. 'Ash defeated a stoat all by himself today - and saved one of the young does in the process.'
"El-ahrairah relaxed a little and replied, 'Ah, yes, Ash. He's going to be an Owsla legend some day. Perhaps he could replace Rabscuttle.'
"Linnet nuzzled El-ahrairah more sharply than usual and said, 'Please tell me what happened, dear.'
"As El-ahrairah recounted the elil-alarm incident, despite the fact that he told the tale in such a way to make Rabscuttle seem as foolish and as incompetent as possible, Linnet saw through his slant to the story. 'Well, don't you think you've blown this out of proportion? I mean, no rabbit is perfect, dear. Don't you want Rabscuttle to be alert when you are on raids? What if there had been elil, and Rabscuttle had hesitated lest he be wrong in his judgment? Then where would you be? Inside the stomach of a homba, perhaps? I think you owe somebody an apology, dear.'
"El-ahrairah was silent. Linnet had a way of helping him go from indignant to apologetic with just a few words. Still, after a moment, he protested, 'But, Linnet, he was so rude to me just now!'
"Linnet wasn't taking the bait. 'And I suppose you did nothing to provoke him, right? Come on, dear, give me the whole story.'
"El-ahrairah admitted, 'Well, I suppose I was a bit harsh on him. But there was no elil there, and he scared the wits out of me!'
"Without missing a beat, Linnet offered, 'And a scared rabbit is a live rabbit, right? Honestly, dear, Rabscuttle was just doing his job, and you don't have the good sense to appreciate him as much as you should. I really must suggest the apology option, dear.'
"El-ahrairah could see that he was not going to get Linnet to side with him against Rabscuttle, and anyway, he was already reconsidering his actions that day. After a few minutes of thinking it over and surprising himself by how much his guilt grew, he decided to pay Rabscuttle a visit. With a sincere apology, the whole matter was forgiven and forgotten, all thanks to Linnet's wisdom and level-headedness."
Swather paused before continuing onto the next part of the story. He wondered again if this story could really help ease the warren's pain. This next part will be painful for them, but it's the last part that should pick them up, he thought, I'll have to trust my instinct. He went on:
"After Linnet patched things up between the two friends, El-ahrairah's admiration for her grew, if that were possible. He was greatly anticipating their next litter of kittens, and thinking about what names to give them, and then one of the most mournful days in his life dawned.
"There was suddenly a great commotion outside his burrow. He went out into the run and inquired as to what was happening. 'There's been a hawk attack, sir! It's got one of our does!' replied a harried Owsla buck. El- ahrairah immediately made his way towards the nearest exit with difficulty, as he had to push past numerous rabbits desperately trying to flee from the silf to the safety of the warren. El-ahrairah had the good sense to stay underground as well, but as Chief Rabbit of his warren, his need to assess the status of this crisis overrode his instinctive fear.
"As he exited the burrows, he stopped a nervous doe and asked, 'Who is it? Tell me!' The doe merely replied that she didn't know and hurried inside. El-ahrairah was looking for another rabbit to ask when he was approached by a shivering kitten.
"'Sir, I saw everything; it's so terrible!' sobbed the kitten.
"El-ahrairah quickly asked, 'Who have we lost? Please! Tell me!'
"The kitten wailed, 'She was trying to get away, but she couldn't run.'
"El-ahrairah repeated as sharply as he dared to a kitten, 'Who was it? Tell me!'
"At this point, another Owsla buck emerged from a nearby hole, saying, 'Sir, get in here! And the kitten too! That hawk is still in that tree over there!' The buck indicated a nearby tree with a nod of his head.
"As the kitten scampered to safety, still in tears, El-ahrairah turned to the tree that had been pointed out, and saw the hawk on one of the upper branches. Draped over the branch next to it, and held down by one of the powerful sets of talons, was the bloodied body of a rabbit. As the hawk tore a piece of flesh from its meal with its razor beak, El-ahrairah looked more closely. His blood froze. It was Linnet."
Swather heard renewed weeping from Flax' kin. Just hold on, the next part is to cheer you up, he thought. After a brief pause, he continued:
"El-ahrairah's mind went blank, and an odd rushing sound filled his ears. He wasn't even aware that he was being dragged back into the burrow by two of his Owsla. When he came to his senses, all he could do was whisper, 'She was just here. I can't believe it. She has to come back.' repeatedly. He needed a whole day to recover from the shock, and never quite recovered from the grief.
"El-ahrairah blamed himself for Linnet's death. 'I should've insisted she stay inside when she was so heavy with kittens,' he lamented, 'I should've known the danger of her being out on the silf in her condition. She couldn't run quickly enough. I could have brought her flay in our burrow.'
"The other rabbits comforted El-ahrairah as they could, telling him that it wasn't his fault; that elil can strike anywhere, anytime. But his comfort mostly came not from their words, but rather from just having the other rabbits, especially his other mates, to talk to.
"Some more days passed, and El-ahrairah decided to go alone to the highest hill in the area to discuss the situation with Frith. 'Oh, great Frith, hear my plea. Our enemies are too many and too great. We are miserable and afflicted, and our tears soak our burrows as we lose so many friends.'
"After a pause, Frith answered, 'And what do you wish from me?'
"'To make our enemies our friends again; that is my plea.'
"Frith sternly replied, 'The reason that you have enemies is because your people took all of the world's food for yourselves at the beginning. Do you not remember? Because the other animals couldn't find food for themselves anymore, they had to turn to your people as their food supply. That is why I gave them sharp teeth and a desire to kill your people; otherwise they would have perished, and even your own people would have died from starvation, with uncontrolled growth in number. There wouldn't have been found a blade of grass in all the world.'
"El-ahrairah was silent at Frith's response. He knew that Frith was right, but he still had to come away with something from this meeting. 'Then all I ask for is a reprieve, just some time without worry of losing my people to elil.'
"'And when such a period expires, would it not be all the worse for your people? Would they not lose their instincts, their cunning and tricks, and then be slaughtered?'
"El-ahrairah grew desperate. 'Then, great Frith, just give us some friends from out of our enemies.'
"To this Frith replied, 'But, El-ahrairah, you already have friends among some men.'
"El-ahrairah pleaded even more desperately, 'And I know of them, kind Frith. But there is no true freedom for rabbits who are pets of men. Please, only some friends that will demand neither our flesh for food nor our freedom for friendship.'
"Then Frith, finding this compromise acceptable, and admiring the determination of the prince rabbit, decided to show El-ahrairah that he was indeed merciful, such as he was at the time when he gave El-ahrairah's people the gifts of speed and cunning to escape their would-be predators. 'It will be done as you ask. I will count off a great number of seasons, and then one of your foes will be born as your friend. I will not tell you which of them, nor the time, nor the place. Just know this: Your promised friend will not seek to kill you; and so it will also be with their young. But, it will not be easy for them, for they will be persecuted by their peers for their ways. They may not survive or even find mates to have young. If none do survive, another great number of seasons must pass before another promised friend is born. How do you find this arrangement, El-ahrairah?'
"El-ahrairah nodded, 'Thank you for your mercy, kind Frith. I will ask for no more on this matter.' And with that, El-ahrairah returned to his warren, content with the knowledge that someday, his people would have a promised friend."
Swather, his story finished, waited in silence for a reaction. Oaktrunk, his voice somewhat hoarse, was the first to speak up. "That's a very nice story, Swather, but it doesn't do me much good. Flax is still gone, and nothing can change that."
Another rabbit spoke up. "Only one friend every hrair seasons? I've never met any elil yet that didn't want me as its next meal. Surely, the time will not arrive in my lifetime."
Swather defended the story, saying, "Remember, we are not told when or where, or even which of the elil it will be. But, believe it: someday, we will know our promised friend."
"Thank you, Swather," replied Pearl, her voice noticeably soothed, "I will remember and cherish that story." With that, she, Tobacco, and Sapphire got up and returned to their burrows. Then, the rest of the crowd slowly dispersed. Finch remained, with Burdock now asleep beside her. Swather hoped that the story would indeed have a comforting effect upon the warren.
Oaktrunk, however, was not comforted. After the story, he went to see General Hrairah, telling him that he was about to leave for Grotto Warren for a day or so, just to see what was happening. It was still some time before the next Rah meeting was to be held, so General Hrairah knew that Oaktrunk was just trying to get his mind off of his grief. "I suppose that you shouldn't really go alone, Oaktrunk," said Chief Hrairah, "but I won't stop you. I think some time alone may help you right now."
"Yes, perhaps it will," said Oaktrunk wistfully, "Perhaps I'll find something to keep myself busy." With that, Oaktrunk made his way out of the burrows and towards Grotto, alone. It was a few hours until Frith-set.
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