Chapter Four: Uncertain Future
Talia awoke with a start, wincing at the pain in her injured ear. She glanced around sharply, alarmed at the scent of dog mingled with semi- unfamiliar surroundings. After a moment, she recognized the dog dwelling as belonging to Barney; although the Brittany was still absent. With a slow, painful stretch, Talia tried to remember falling asleep in the first place. That was a safer subject than where her mind wanted to go. How could she return to the warren? Certainly once again her mission had been successful, the warren had one less homba to concern themselves with. Yet, she was to be punished before the entire warren in two weeks.
"Ye awake yet?" Barney called from somewhere silf. "Talia? My master won' let me back until he knows yer safe. We need to speak, ye and I."
With a sigh, Talia peeked cautiously silf. She spotted Barney tied to the porch, his head raised; tail thumping on the wooden stairs. With a canine whine, he shifted his head to the left, indicating a line of trees leading back into the woods. Talia gave a nod of understanding and limped in that direction, watching the house from the bushes. She laid down once more, deciding to wait until the man led Barney back to his home before returning. Finally she decided to consider the fate in store for her when she went home to Bradley Wood Warren.
Quickmoss had promised to help, Talia did not doubt the sincerity of the Officer's promise; however she knew Radish-rah and the others would not listen. Despite his relation to the Chief Rabbit, Quickmoss was on the lower end of the Owsla rankings because of his age. The doe imagined herself with shredded ears, the warren at large forbidden to speak with her unless to give a direct order or further punishment. She would be of the lowest ranking possible within the warren. Even Tamsin and Westeria would not be permitted to speak with her or else share Talia's fate and punishment. Could she even dare go back? With a whimper, Talia tried to force the terrifying thoughts away. She was frightened to go home, but more afraid to strike off on her own. Only her birthing in Bradley Wood gave her a place. What incentive would another warren have to take her in? Were there warrens out there that valued skills other than size and physical strength?
She sighed heavily, resting her head upon her paws; her mind turning upon itself in an endless circle of fears. Eventually, she found herself thinking of nothing at all, staring uncomprehending at a blade of dark grass. Talia glanced up sharply as she heard the man come out of his home. The tall, fearsome creature patted Barney on the head; speaking to the dog. Talia could not understand the human; however Barney wagged his tail causing a loud repetitive lumping sound from the porch. The man approached the dog dwelling in a manner which Talia assumed to be quieted...for a human. From her position in the under brush on the opposite side of the yard, she could hear his every footstep as he trod across sticks, gravel, and last years fallen leaves. She watched as he peered into the dog house for a moment. Finally he turned to Barney with a smile and a shrug, untied the dog and led him home.
"Guess your houseguest is gone, Barney." He fastened Barney's lead to a hook on the side of the front of the dog house; patting his pet on the head once more before returning into his own larger dwelling. Talia cocked her head as the door closed behind him, suddenly wishing she had run onto his gun after all. The thunder stick would have been merciful compared to what the Owsla would do to her.
"Is safe now, Talia," Barney called softly, sniffing at the air for the scent of his rabbit companion.
Reluctantly Talia left her hiding place and ventured back into the open. She made no effort to hide herself if the man should return; a small tempting of the Black Rabbit perhaps. Barney watched carefully, noticing Talia's posture. "Are ye hurt?" the dog asked concerned, sniffing harder to catch the scent of blood.
"A few wounds," Talia said without affect, "nothing serious." Yet. "I'll live." For now. Talia sat before the dog. "What did you wish to speak to me about? And why didn't your master kill me?"
"Ah, he's like me. Soft spot for rabbits," Barney grinned, his tongue lolling. Talia had difficulty imagining humans having a soft spot for anything. "Wha' I really wanted to talk about is the men. They came back again after ye left last night. Didn't like the looks of 'em. Dressed dark, movin' quietly so as not to draw attention. They ran off when I barked at 'em. Said somethin' about burnin' wood."
"Burnin'?" Talia asked shaking her head at the unfamiliar term. Perhaps it was the dog equivalent to Bradley Wood.
"Ye know, like fire?" Barney attempted to explain. Talia continued to shake her head, the young doe having never seen fire before either. Barney frowned darkly. "Bad stuff, burns...hot ya? Real hot. Could kill I suppose. Have a sniff at tha' area o' there by the fence. You'll see what fire does."
Talia turned and hopped the short distance to the area Barney had indicated, her nose wrinkling at the bitter scent of burnt garbage. She sniffed at the blackened area of earth curiously, sneezing as she got ash in her nose. Experimentally, she prodded the area with her paw. "The grass does not grow here," she said softly.
"Got burnt," Barney answered. "Killed it, I imagine."
Talia gazed at the blackened area for a long time, her mind trying to figure out why the humans might want to do something like that to the woods. Why does man do anything? She asked herself, shaking her head in disgust. Finally, she looked up at Barney, shaking her head. "I still don't understand completely," she admitted. "But, danger, I understand." She sighed deeply and shook her head again. "If the humans are planning something, there is nothing I can do. The warren will not listen. I've tried." Talia refused to cry in front of the dog, so she did not. "If I were more important, perhaps they would listen." Barney snorted, disgusted with Talia's treatment by the other rabbits. "Yer more important than they give ye credit for, Talia. Never forget it. I hones'ly don' know what the men are planning. I think ye should leave, an' as many who will listen to ye. At least get yerself out. It's not safe."
The conversation was broken by Barney's master, who could be heard speaking loudly. "No, I will not...Who do you think you're talking to?" The man spoke. He opened the front door, tossing the remains of dinner out into the yard. Talia made no attempt to hide, he seemed distracted anyway. The man held an odd white object to his ear, speaking into a part of it. "That's all I have to say, good day," He grunted, and poked the object hard. "Here's your steak, Barney," The man called out before returning inside.
Talia wrinkled her nose in disgust as Barney rushed to the dinner scraps eagerly. "Uh," she said weakly as the dog tore into a piece of cooked meat. "I think I'll go now. No offense, but..." The sight and smell of the meat made her ill. She backed away slowly.
"Hum?" Barney looked up for a moment, whined guiltily and swallowed his mouthful. "Sorry 'bout that. See you again soon, yes? Please be careful."
"I will," Talia said quietly, turning away quickly and hopping back into the dense trees. She looked back toward the man place when she was certain she would not see Barney's meal. Talia's ears drooped once more as she thought of her dreaded return to the warren. Only the lack of available alternative shelter, and habit forced her to begin her return. She felt almost as if something were leading her back to the warren, as though she would have no choice if she decided to try and fight the instinct.
"I told Barney I could not live in the woods because rabbits were not meant to live alone," Talia said to herself, as the warren came into view. She paused, watching the warren. "How much more difficult will it to live alone in a warren full of rabbits?" She wondered aloud, reluctantly entering the warren boundaries.
Talia awoke with a start, wincing at the pain in her injured ear. She glanced around sharply, alarmed at the scent of dog mingled with semi- unfamiliar surroundings. After a moment, she recognized the dog dwelling as belonging to Barney; although the Brittany was still absent. With a slow, painful stretch, Talia tried to remember falling asleep in the first place. That was a safer subject than where her mind wanted to go. How could she return to the warren? Certainly once again her mission had been successful, the warren had one less homba to concern themselves with. Yet, she was to be punished before the entire warren in two weeks.
"Ye awake yet?" Barney called from somewhere silf. "Talia? My master won' let me back until he knows yer safe. We need to speak, ye and I."
With a sigh, Talia peeked cautiously silf. She spotted Barney tied to the porch, his head raised; tail thumping on the wooden stairs. With a canine whine, he shifted his head to the left, indicating a line of trees leading back into the woods. Talia gave a nod of understanding and limped in that direction, watching the house from the bushes. She laid down once more, deciding to wait until the man led Barney back to his home before returning. Finally she decided to consider the fate in store for her when she went home to Bradley Wood Warren.
Quickmoss had promised to help, Talia did not doubt the sincerity of the Officer's promise; however she knew Radish-rah and the others would not listen. Despite his relation to the Chief Rabbit, Quickmoss was on the lower end of the Owsla rankings because of his age. The doe imagined herself with shredded ears, the warren at large forbidden to speak with her unless to give a direct order or further punishment. She would be of the lowest ranking possible within the warren. Even Tamsin and Westeria would not be permitted to speak with her or else share Talia's fate and punishment. Could she even dare go back? With a whimper, Talia tried to force the terrifying thoughts away. She was frightened to go home, but more afraid to strike off on her own. Only her birthing in Bradley Wood gave her a place. What incentive would another warren have to take her in? Were there warrens out there that valued skills other than size and physical strength?
She sighed heavily, resting her head upon her paws; her mind turning upon itself in an endless circle of fears. Eventually, she found herself thinking of nothing at all, staring uncomprehending at a blade of dark grass. Talia glanced up sharply as she heard the man come out of his home. The tall, fearsome creature patted Barney on the head; speaking to the dog. Talia could not understand the human; however Barney wagged his tail causing a loud repetitive lumping sound from the porch. The man approached the dog dwelling in a manner which Talia assumed to be quieted...for a human. From her position in the under brush on the opposite side of the yard, she could hear his every footstep as he trod across sticks, gravel, and last years fallen leaves. She watched as he peered into the dog house for a moment. Finally he turned to Barney with a smile and a shrug, untied the dog and led him home.
"Guess your houseguest is gone, Barney." He fastened Barney's lead to a hook on the side of the front of the dog house; patting his pet on the head once more before returning into his own larger dwelling. Talia cocked her head as the door closed behind him, suddenly wishing she had run onto his gun after all. The thunder stick would have been merciful compared to what the Owsla would do to her.
"Is safe now, Talia," Barney called softly, sniffing at the air for the scent of his rabbit companion.
Reluctantly Talia left her hiding place and ventured back into the open. She made no effort to hide herself if the man should return; a small tempting of the Black Rabbit perhaps. Barney watched carefully, noticing Talia's posture. "Are ye hurt?" the dog asked concerned, sniffing harder to catch the scent of blood.
"A few wounds," Talia said without affect, "nothing serious." Yet. "I'll live." For now. Talia sat before the dog. "What did you wish to speak to me about? And why didn't your master kill me?"
"Ah, he's like me. Soft spot for rabbits," Barney grinned, his tongue lolling. Talia had difficulty imagining humans having a soft spot for anything. "Wha' I really wanted to talk about is the men. They came back again after ye left last night. Didn't like the looks of 'em. Dressed dark, movin' quietly so as not to draw attention. They ran off when I barked at 'em. Said somethin' about burnin' wood."
"Burnin'?" Talia asked shaking her head at the unfamiliar term. Perhaps it was the dog equivalent to Bradley Wood.
"Ye know, like fire?" Barney attempted to explain. Talia continued to shake her head, the young doe having never seen fire before either. Barney frowned darkly. "Bad stuff, burns...hot ya? Real hot. Could kill I suppose. Have a sniff at tha' area o' there by the fence. You'll see what fire does."
Talia turned and hopped the short distance to the area Barney had indicated, her nose wrinkling at the bitter scent of burnt garbage. She sniffed at the blackened area of earth curiously, sneezing as she got ash in her nose. Experimentally, she prodded the area with her paw. "The grass does not grow here," she said softly.
"Got burnt," Barney answered. "Killed it, I imagine."
Talia gazed at the blackened area for a long time, her mind trying to figure out why the humans might want to do something like that to the woods. Why does man do anything? She asked herself, shaking her head in disgust. Finally, she looked up at Barney, shaking her head. "I still don't understand completely," she admitted. "But, danger, I understand." She sighed deeply and shook her head again. "If the humans are planning something, there is nothing I can do. The warren will not listen. I've tried." Talia refused to cry in front of the dog, so she did not. "If I were more important, perhaps they would listen." Barney snorted, disgusted with Talia's treatment by the other rabbits. "Yer more important than they give ye credit for, Talia. Never forget it. I hones'ly don' know what the men are planning. I think ye should leave, an' as many who will listen to ye. At least get yerself out. It's not safe."
The conversation was broken by Barney's master, who could be heard speaking loudly. "No, I will not...Who do you think you're talking to?" The man spoke. He opened the front door, tossing the remains of dinner out into the yard. Talia made no attempt to hide, he seemed distracted anyway. The man held an odd white object to his ear, speaking into a part of it. "That's all I have to say, good day," He grunted, and poked the object hard. "Here's your steak, Barney," The man called out before returning inside.
Talia wrinkled her nose in disgust as Barney rushed to the dinner scraps eagerly. "Uh," she said weakly as the dog tore into a piece of cooked meat. "I think I'll go now. No offense, but..." The sight and smell of the meat made her ill. She backed away slowly.
"Hum?" Barney looked up for a moment, whined guiltily and swallowed his mouthful. "Sorry 'bout that. See you again soon, yes? Please be careful."
"I will," Talia said quietly, turning away quickly and hopping back into the dense trees. She looked back toward the man place when she was certain she would not see Barney's meal. Talia's ears drooped once more as she thought of her dreaded return to the warren. Only the lack of available alternative shelter, and habit forced her to begin her return. She felt almost as if something were leading her back to the warren, as though she would have no choice if she decided to try and fight the instinct.
"I told Barney I could not live in the woods because rabbits were not meant to live alone," Talia said to herself, as the warren came into view. She paused, watching the warren. "How much more difficult will it to live alone in a warren full of rabbits?" She wondered aloud, reluctantly entering the warren boundaries.