Chapter Three: Elil Bait
"Talia," a familiar voice called. The doe looked up sharply, a drop of blood striking her in the eye. Blinking furiously against the blood and her tears, she dove into a bush in an attempt to hide from Quickmoss. "Talia, that homba has been spotted by scouts, it looks as though it's going to western edge of the warren. Are you ready?" The Officer paused, his nose wrinkling at the scent of blood and fear. He looked around, spotting several droplets trailing into a bush. "Talia?" he called again, his voice slightly uncertain. His head appeared through the bush, looking down at her with concern. "Frith-rah! Are you alright, what happened?"
"I...I..." she stuttered helplessly, shaking her head, angry at herself for not being able to stop her tears from flowing. Worse yet, was the feeling of despair at having to tell the buck she thought she loved what had happened. "I've been punished for speaking out against Radish-rah."
"You've been what?" Quickmoss demanded, leaning in to half drag, half assist Talia from the bush. His mouth closed firmly, but gently around the scruff of her neck and pulled. "What in the world did you say to him? I was under the impression the Owsla was going to reward you-"
"This is my reward," Talia said gesturing at her ear and cheeks. "A dog in the wood told me that the warren is in danger. Men are coming to build more man places, they want to build right here. But Radish-rah would not listen to the warning. He accused me of trying to spread lies and undermine his authority." She shook her head helplessly.
"Shhh!" Quickmoss hissed, covering her mouth with his paw and glancing around sharply. "Don't repeat that to anyone, do you hear? If Radish-rah thinks those words are treason and lies; you could get worse by continuing to speak."
"That doesn't really matter, now." She explained Captain Oyesten's command that she would receive full punishment at the Warren Meeting.
Quickmoss swore violently, gazing at Talia with angry and stormy eyes which frightened her. She had never before seen him angry, nor had such a gaze from him ever fixed upon her. She cowered down, expecting another cuff. The Officer's gaze softened. "Oh, I'm sorry, Talia. I'm not angry with you. I promise I'm not going to hurt you. I will talk with Radish-rah, he's a relative you know; he'll listen to me. I-" Whatever Quickmoss was about to say was drowned out by the sound of hrair rabbits thumping an alarm.
"Homba!" A general shout was called though out the warren. Rabbits dashed in every direction, many quickly disappearing into dark runs. Quickmoss's ears pricked up as he stood on his hind legs for a better look.
"On the western edge by the outskirt burrows," he said to Talia. "Embleer of Frith! They're not going to make it below!"
Talia mimicked Quickmoss's pose to see what he was talking about. "Westeria," she whispered realizing the homba was bearing down upon a group of kittens and the elderly doe. Without comment she leapt into action, dashing across the warren grounds, fearing she would not make it in time to rescue her friends. She barely noticed Quickmoss heavy on her heels. "Get the others below!" Talia called back to him. "I'll try to get the homba's attention and lead it off!"
"Are you giving orders now?" Quickmoss called back. It took a moment for Talia to recognize humor, rather than anger in the Officer's voice. "You've got it 'Lady Elil Runner!' May the grace of Frith shine upon you; and may the Tricks of El-ahrairah not fail you!"
Talia swallowed with difficulty, knowing she would never be able to fully express the feelings of surprise, and gratitude she felt at hearing Quickmoss, of all rabbits making such a statement. No time for that now. Talia forced her legs to put on a burst of speed; able to see the expressions on the kittens' faces. Westeria had placed herself between the youngsters and the homba; meeting the elil creature in a desperate stance of challenge. Frith's Blessing was with them; for the homba was young, and wasted time by taunting Westeria with broken lapine.
"You're going to fight me?" The homba dog taunted, "you're old. I could break your neck with a mere thought. Very well, come one then. I've young to feed and your sacrifice is good." It poised to pounce but, it's grim expression changed to one of surprise and pain. He wheeled around with a snarl as a set of sharp teeth clamped down upon his tail.
Talia danced out of his way narrowly, causing him to follow her a short distance from Westeria and the kittens. Quickmoss dashed in between the homba and the rabbits, yelling at them to run. He spared a concerned glance for Talia before following the oldster and kittens into the warren. Talia was now the only rabbit remaining silf; and completely cut off from the safety of the warren. The homba waved his tale, his tongue hanging out in a sort of grinning loll.
"You'll be easy too, brave little kitten. And, you're already bleeding. I shall tell my own kittens of your bravery," he barked an instant before lunging.
Talia leapt to the side before sprinting off onto the small game trail leading into the forest. This homba was much quicker than the last had been. Talia ran a zig-zagging pattern, several times she felt the homba's hot breath upon her flank. His teeth barred down upon her tail, removing a tuft of her fur. She hurried under a log, the obstacle gave her a momentary lead. All around them birds called out in alarm. A panicked pheasant ran from the bush between Talia and the homba, distracting the elil. He snapped at the bird, catching one of it's long, shining tale feathers. Talia paused fearfully, seeing that the homba would be following the fowl.
"Am I too much of a challenge for you?" Talia called out to him, her voice triumphant. "Will you tell your kittens that part of the tale as well? How you were attacked by one runt of a rabbit and she scared you off?"
The homba barked, spitting out the feather as he spun around to resume his chase of the rabbit. The attack on his tale he had been willing to forgive; however this rabbit needed to be taught her place in life. It was not wise to taunt the hunter who would be her killer. "Barney!" Talia cried, shooting into the yard without looking to see if the man happened to be about; or if any other danger lurked. Belatedly, she caught sight of the man's legs at a nearby wood pile, and froze in fright. Barney's bark of warning pulled her out of her tharn stupor barely in enough time to move out of the homba's path again. It landed with a snarl right where she had been standing. Desperate, she sprinted directly between the man's legs and into Barney's dwelling. Talia attempted to skid to as she ran between the Brittany's legs; she hit the wall of the dog house hard enough to make her vision go momentarily black, then starry lights appeared to dance before her.
Barney continued to bark, straining his leash to it's fullest. Snarling and snapping at the homba, who had paused for a moment, gazing up at the man in wide eyed fear. "What the?" The man called, surprised by the rabbit, then the homba's appearance. Quickly the man untied Barney. "Hunt!" He ordered as he ran to the porch to retrieve his gun. Dog and master rushed out of sight in pursuit of the homba, who how had now become the hunted.
Talia lay on her side, panting heavily. She listened to the sounds of the man lumbering through the woods. How did they ever sneak up on anything? Men were so unbearably loud. Not much later, Talia heard Barney's excited bark followed by the sound of two gunshots. She moved back into the far shadow of the dog house, listening to the man's return with fear. He had seen her this time; she'd run right between his legs. Only now was Talia realizing what she'd done.
"Good boy," the man was saying, patting Barney on the head; holding his gun in the crook of his arm, the carcass of the homba in his hand. "Now," he said, dropping the homba's body at the edge of the yard. "I could have sworn..." The man's legs came closer to the dog house. Barney whimpered and pranced in the man's way, nearly tripping him. "Barney, BACK dangit!" He shoved Barney down, grabbing a hold of the dog's collar and forcing him to the side. The legs came closer, until the dog house was completely engulfed in shadow. The man's feet soon disappeared beneath a pair of knees, which were soon obscured by hips, then a chest, finally the man's face came into view; peering into the dog house.
Talia scrambled back, looking desperately for a way around him. Trapped! There was no way out of this. She crouched low, flattening her ears; praying that her death would be swift and as painless as possible. Her eyes squeezed shut as she saw the barrel of the gun appear at the opening of Barney's home. She did not see the man set the weapon gently on the ground at his side. "You're a very lucky little fellow," The man said. Talia, not speaking human did not understand anything.
His voice gave her some encouragement; it seemed gentle. She opened her eyes slowly, continuing to shake and look around for an escape. "It's OK. The fox is gone, it won't chase you again. After an escape like that, you deserve a bit of rest. I won't hurt you either, promised Cammy I wouldn't hurt a rabbit. Take as long as you need." He stood, grabbing Barney by the collar. "Porch Barney, you can go back home when your visitor leaves. Don't want you harming him either."
Barney whimpered, casting wistful looks at the dog house. His rabbit friend had not looked good, he was concerned and wanted to make sure she was not seriously wounded. "Is OK!" Barney called out (although the man heard only barking; and tried to calm the dog). "Master said he ain' gonna hurt ye! Rest all ye need; then hide in tha' bush. We'll talk to'night."
Talia sat in the shade of the dog house, completely stunned at the man's disappearance, and promise from Barney that his Master had sworn not to harm her. Slowly, Talia moved to take a long drink from Barney's dish before settling back into the shadows to lay down. She was in no condition to run again at the moment. She trusted Barney's assessment of the man, and laid her head on her paws wearily.
She could hear the man trying to calm Barney down, saying something like: "That rabbit has had a bad day. Lets let him go, Barney. Besides, rabbit's poor fare. You've earned a steak dinner tonight my friend."
"Talia," a familiar voice called. The doe looked up sharply, a drop of blood striking her in the eye. Blinking furiously against the blood and her tears, she dove into a bush in an attempt to hide from Quickmoss. "Talia, that homba has been spotted by scouts, it looks as though it's going to western edge of the warren. Are you ready?" The Officer paused, his nose wrinkling at the scent of blood and fear. He looked around, spotting several droplets trailing into a bush. "Talia?" he called again, his voice slightly uncertain. His head appeared through the bush, looking down at her with concern. "Frith-rah! Are you alright, what happened?"
"I...I..." she stuttered helplessly, shaking her head, angry at herself for not being able to stop her tears from flowing. Worse yet, was the feeling of despair at having to tell the buck she thought she loved what had happened. "I've been punished for speaking out against Radish-rah."
"You've been what?" Quickmoss demanded, leaning in to half drag, half assist Talia from the bush. His mouth closed firmly, but gently around the scruff of her neck and pulled. "What in the world did you say to him? I was under the impression the Owsla was going to reward you-"
"This is my reward," Talia said gesturing at her ear and cheeks. "A dog in the wood told me that the warren is in danger. Men are coming to build more man places, they want to build right here. But Radish-rah would not listen to the warning. He accused me of trying to spread lies and undermine his authority." She shook her head helplessly.
"Shhh!" Quickmoss hissed, covering her mouth with his paw and glancing around sharply. "Don't repeat that to anyone, do you hear? If Radish-rah thinks those words are treason and lies; you could get worse by continuing to speak."
"That doesn't really matter, now." She explained Captain Oyesten's command that she would receive full punishment at the Warren Meeting.
Quickmoss swore violently, gazing at Talia with angry and stormy eyes which frightened her. She had never before seen him angry, nor had such a gaze from him ever fixed upon her. She cowered down, expecting another cuff. The Officer's gaze softened. "Oh, I'm sorry, Talia. I'm not angry with you. I promise I'm not going to hurt you. I will talk with Radish-rah, he's a relative you know; he'll listen to me. I-" Whatever Quickmoss was about to say was drowned out by the sound of hrair rabbits thumping an alarm.
"Homba!" A general shout was called though out the warren. Rabbits dashed in every direction, many quickly disappearing into dark runs. Quickmoss's ears pricked up as he stood on his hind legs for a better look.
"On the western edge by the outskirt burrows," he said to Talia. "Embleer of Frith! They're not going to make it below!"
Talia mimicked Quickmoss's pose to see what he was talking about. "Westeria," she whispered realizing the homba was bearing down upon a group of kittens and the elderly doe. Without comment she leapt into action, dashing across the warren grounds, fearing she would not make it in time to rescue her friends. She barely noticed Quickmoss heavy on her heels. "Get the others below!" Talia called back to him. "I'll try to get the homba's attention and lead it off!"
"Are you giving orders now?" Quickmoss called back. It took a moment for Talia to recognize humor, rather than anger in the Officer's voice. "You've got it 'Lady Elil Runner!' May the grace of Frith shine upon you; and may the Tricks of El-ahrairah not fail you!"
Talia swallowed with difficulty, knowing she would never be able to fully express the feelings of surprise, and gratitude she felt at hearing Quickmoss, of all rabbits making such a statement. No time for that now. Talia forced her legs to put on a burst of speed; able to see the expressions on the kittens' faces. Westeria had placed herself between the youngsters and the homba; meeting the elil creature in a desperate stance of challenge. Frith's Blessing was with them; for the homba was young, and wasted time by taunting Westeria with broken lapine.
"You're going to fight me?" The homba dog taunted, "you're old. I could break your neck with a mere thought. Very well, come one then. I've young to feed and your sacrifice is good." It poised to pounce but, it's grim expression changed to one of surprise and pain. He wheeled around with a snarl as a set of sharp teeth clamped down upon his tail.
Talia danced out of his way narrowly, causing him to follow her a short distance from Westeria and the kittens. Quickmoss dashed in between the homba and the rabbits, yelling at them to run. He spared a concerned glance for Talia before following the oldster and kittens into the warren. Talia was now the only rabbit remaining silf; and completely cut off from the safety of the warren. The homba waved his tale, his tongue hanging out in a sort of grinning loll.
"You'll be easy too, brave little kitten. And, you're already bleeding. I shall tell my own kittens of your bravery," he barked an instant before lunging.
Talia leapt to the side before sprinting off onto the small game trail leading into the forest. This homba was much quicker than the last had been. Talia ran a zig-zagging pattern, several times she felt the homba's hot breath upon her flank. His teeth barred down upon her tail, removing a tuft of her fur. She hurried under a log, the obstacle gave her a momentary lead. All around them birds called out in alarm. A panicked pheasant ran from the bush between Talia and the homba, distracting the elil. He snapped at the bird, catching one of it's long, shining tale feathers. Talia paused fearfully, seeing that the homba would be following the fowl.
"Am I too much of a challenge for you?" Talia called out to him, her voice triumphant. "Will you tell your kittens that part of the tale as well? How you were attacked by one runt of a rabbit and she scared you off?"
The homba barked, spitting out the feather as he spun around to resume his chase of the rabbit. The attack on his tale he had been willing to forgive; however this rabbit needed to be taught her place in life. It was not wise to taunt the hunter who would be her killer. "Barney!" Talia cried, shooting into the yard without looking to see if the man happened to be about; or if any other danger lurked. Belatedly, she caught sight of the man's legs at a nearby wood pile, and froze in fright. Barney's bark of warning pulled her out of her tharn stupor barely in enough time to move out of the homba's path again. It landed with a snarl right where she had been standing. Desperate, she sprinted directly between the man's legs and into Barney's dwelling. Talia attempted to skid to as she ran between the Brittany's legs; she hit the wall of the dog house hard enough to make her vision go momentarily black, then starry lights appeared to dance before her.
Barney continued to bark, straining his leash to it's fullest. Snarling and snapping at the homba, who had paused for a moment, gazing up at the man in wide eyed fear. "What the?" The man called, surprised by the rabbit, then the homba's appearance. Quickly the man untied Barney. "Hunt!" He ordered as he ran to the porch to retrieve his gun. Dog and master rushed out of sight in pursuit of the homba, who how had now become the hunted.
Talia lay on her side, panting heavily. She listened to the sounds of the man lumbering through the woods. How did they ever sneak up on anything? Men were so unbearably loud. Not much later, Talia heard Barney's excited bark followed by the sound of two gunshots. She moved back into the far shadow of the dog house, listening to the man's return with fear. He had seen her this time; she'd run right between his legs. Only now was Talia realizing what she'd done.
"Good boy," the man was saying, patting Barney on the head; holding his gun in the crook of his arm, the carcass of the homba in his hand. "Now," he said, dropping the homba's body at the edge of the yard. "I could have sworn..." The man's legs came closer to the dog house. Barney whimpered and pranced in the man's way, nearly tripping him. "Barney, BACK dangit!" He shoved Barney down, grabbing a hold of the dog's collar and forcing him to the side. The legs came closer, until the dog house was completely engulfed in shadow. The man's feet soon disappeared beneath a pair of knees, which were soon obscured by hips, then a chest, finally the man's face came into view; peering into the dog house.
Talia scrambled back, looking desperately for a way around him. Trapped! There was no way out of this. She crouched low, flattening her ears; praying that her death would be swift and as painless as possible. Her eyes squeezed shut as she saw the barrel of the gun appear at the opening of Barney's home. She did not see the man set the weapon gently on the ground at his side. "You're a very lucky little fellow," The man said. Talia, not speaking human did not understand anything.
His voice gave her some encouragement; it seemed gentle. She opened her eyes slowly, continuing to shake and look around for an escape. "It's OK. The fox is gone, it won't chase you again. After an escape like that, you deserve a bit of rest. I won't hurt you either, promised Cammy I wouldn't hurt a rabbit. Take as long as you need." He stood, grabbing Barney by the collar. "Porch Barney, you can go back home when your visitor leaves. Don't want you harming him either."
Barney whimpered, casting wistful looks at the dog house. His rabbit friend had not looked good, he was concerned and wanted to make sure she was not seriously wounded. "Is OK!" Barney called out (although the man heard only barking; and tried to calm the dog). "Master said he ain' gonna hurt ye! Rest all ye need; then hide in tha' bush. We'll talk to'night."
Talia sat in the shade of the dog house, completely stunned at the man's disappearance, and promise from Barney that his Master had sworn not to harm her. Slowly, Talia moved to take a long drink from Barney's dish before settling back into the shadows to lay down. She was in no condition to run again at the moment. She trusted Barney's assessment of the man, and laid her head on her paws wearily.
She could hear the man trying to calm Barney down, saying something like: "That rabbit has had a bad day. Lets let him go, Barney. Besides, rabbit's poor fare. You've earned a steak dinner tonight my friend."