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Author's note: Because this chapter was too long, I decided to break it up into two smaller chapters. Enjoy! This week, it's a two-chapter update!
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CHAPTER 8While Hyzenthlay, Rabscuttle, and the others were discussing matters at El-ahrairah's warren, the Watership Down rabbits and Justin were prepared to fight for their lives. Hazel stood up, his quick mind trying to take hold of the situation.
"Blackberry, Strawberry, Hawkbit, Bluebell," he commanded in a low voice, "get ready to dash out and escape with the cross-bearer once all our enemies are out in plain view. Justin, I want you to ride on Bluebell this time, and whatever you do, do not leave and get separated from any of us! Bigwig, how close are they?" Yet the Efrafans popping out of the underbrush and surrounding the group of sixteen answered that question.
"Uh, that close, Hazel-rah?" answered Dandelion, trying to be funny despite his terrified demeanor. Hazel and Bigwig cursed under their breath; so much for escaping like last time in the forest. Bigwig yelled out, his words in sync with his strategic experience.
"Surround Justin! Don't let the Efrafans get close to him! Everyone else, get ready to attack!" Then turning, he snarled at several rabbits which were ten feet in front on him. "Right, then you stupid, miserable, flea-bitten lot! Let's see how well you can fight after joining with Elil-rah! I'm betting that the dark chap hasn't succeeded yet in having your brains grow bigger with your bodies! Pity that your wits haven't improved much!" Hazel and Holly could see that Bigwig was trying to taunt them into attacking him and not Justin, giving his friends a better chance to escape. Yet, the Efrafans were no fools. They just remained still, their dark iron lances lowered and ready to gouge anything that came close to them. The other rabbits got down on all fours in defensive poses. Justin glanced in between Strawberry and Bluebell as they, along with Blackberry and Hawkbit, stood upright in an informal circle around Justin, facing the Efrafans fearlessly. He could tell now that the Efrafans soldiers had a little more of an unfair advantage. They were slightly bigger than the Watership rabbits, and they were armed with weapons while Hazel and others only had their paws and trickery. With a quick count, Justin could see that there were more than twenty rabbits, outnumbering their fifteen. Unless they had a bigger army or God's intervention, it was going to be miraculous to be able to escape. Suddenly, the group in front of Hazel and Bigwig parted sideways, like the parting of the Red Sea by Moses in the Bible, to reveal Mallow and Vervain, smirking in arrogance. Speedwell and Acorn growled, ready to rush at them, but Fiver wisely held up a paw to stop them while Vervain addressed the Watership Down rabbits.
"Hazel-rah, Fiver, I see you both haven't changed much."
"Save us the formalities and tell us what you want us to hear," retorted Hazel dryly, narrowing his eyes. Vervain's smirk got wider.
"I think you know what we want. We know you have the cross-bearer, the human, and you cannot possibly expect to take him back to El-ahrairah's warren to heal El-ahrairah without running into all sorts of risks. Even as I speak, Prince Rainbow, Woundwort, and Elil-rah are setting up forces all along the land to prevent all of you from succeeding in your mission. Not that it matters anyway. Elil-rah will take over the land beyond life to rid this potential paradise of all of El-ahrairah's children and his legacy. But still, we think you could save yourself a lot of trouble if you hand over the boy to us. I promise you in good faith that once we kill him, we'll let all of you go back home. We know you cannot kill us, and we cannot kill you, as this is the land beyond the living. Yet, certain wounds and injuries can be avoided, and I know that Hazel-rah would like it if all his friends and companions from Watership Down were safely out of harm's way. Well, almost all are from Watership Down. I must say, dear Campion, I'm disappointed in you. You've actually gone soft in thinking that these new-found friends of yours are worthwhile." Campion glared at him but said nothing.
"You must have hraka for brains if you actually believe we would take that offer seriously," replied Hawkbit, his paws up and ready to cuff the first Efrafan who came in his path. "The minute our backs would be turned, you'd attack us anyway, with or without Justin."
"'Justin'? My, my, the man has a name? How pathetically touching," drawled Mallow, "Besides, what's to stop us from killing the cross-bearer anyway? We've easily got you outnumbered, and Elil-rah made us more powerful than El-ahrairah's gifts to you." Justin shivered at this statement.
"And you have the audacity to call yourselves 'rabbits'," commented Strawberry, his eyes igniting as hot anger rushed adrenaline throughout his body. "And I sometimes wonder why Frith even took the time to make sure you were even born and raised as a kitten!" Vervain, not answering, raised a paw.
"We're wasting time! EFRAFANS, ATTACK! IGNORE THE OTHERS! JUST KILL THE BOY!!" With that, the twenty something Efrafans charged out at Hazel and the others. Justin gasped in fright as he saw the battle unfold.
Silver, Holly, Buckthorn, Dandelion, Bigwig, and Hazel charged together at the same moment, a huge, heavy force, and tackled nine Efrafans, knocking them down to the ground and stalling them. They rolled, fought and struggled in a furry heap, shouting curses and emitting the occasional cry of pain from a cuff, a scratch or a spear wound. Three other rabbits rushed out at the small group valiantly protecting Justin, but Campion, Fiver, and Pipkin intervened, steeping into the charging rabbits' paths. Undaunted, the three Efrafans raised their lances threateningly, but Campion, trained from years of organizing Wide Patrols, winked knowingly at Fiver and Pipkin, and they all hopped out of the way at the last second, leaving the Efrafans to stab at the empty ground. Before they could do anything, Campion leaned on his front paws and kicked out with his powerful rear feet, catching one Efrafan off guard and sent him crashing into his fellow colleague. Pipkin and Fiver dashed at the third remaining Efrafan with a combined head-butt to the rabbit's soft stomach, stunning him to the ground. Silver and Holly were able to get up from the tussle and face two other soldiers charging at them with full speed, while Dandelion, Bigwig, Hazel, and Buckthorn still held on strong, cuffing, dashing between awkward spear thrusts, and kicking at the Efrafans with every opportunity they had. Holly nodded to Silver as the two Efrafans leapt at them. With strategic teamwork, Holly and Silver fell on their backs and caught the Efrafans on their stomachs as the wretched rabbits painfully landed on the outstretched claws of Silver and Holly's feet, dropping their lances. Within another second, Holly and Silver effortlessly kicked out and flipped the enemy on their backs into the hard ground. With a bound, Silver leapt up and landed on both of the Efrafans' stomachs, his paws and feet ready to scratch them if they dared to struggle as Holly rammed another Efrafan with a full-on head-butt to the back. Despite their efforts, many of the other rabbits, including Vervain and Mallow, were able to get past Silver, Holly, Hazel, Dandelion, Buckthorn, and Bigwig, and were now menacingly getting closer and closer to Justin and his four protectors. Even the efforts of Campion, Pipkin, and Fiver were only able to stall two Efrafans while the others got closer and closer to Justin, Strawberry, Blackberry, Bluebell, and Hawkbit, ready to strike on all sides. Yet Acorn and Speedwell were not prepared to let them by without a fight. They courageously charged Mallow, Vervain, and their ten uninjured Efrafans. Seeing the dash, the rabbits lowered their spears at them, hoping they would run right into the dangerous points. However, with a brilliant leap, Speedwell landed on his belly and slid headfirst underneath the spear points due to his velocity, like a major-league baseball player sliding to steal home plate, only to crash into the upright feet of three soldiers and knocking them over, like a bowling ball crashing into the bowling pins. Seeing a perfect opportunity, Acorn jumped and landed on the head of one of the fallen soldiers who was now trying to get up were it not for the fact that Acorn was sitting on his head and pushing it into the dirt.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Acorn condescended in a sarcastic, droll tone, "If it hurts, let me know so I can make it hurt some more." Enraged at the impudence, two other Efrafans raised their spears to hit Acorn, but at the last possible instant, he hopped back and avoided the blows, leaving the spears to come down on the head of the rabbit Acorn was sitting on previously. Shocked at what they had unintentionally done, the two enemy soldiers did not see Acorn head-butt straight into them but they certainly felt Speedwell's hind feet as Speedwell kicked at their backs at the same moment Acorn charged. Both of them fell, stunned and breathless. Mallow and Vervain were hysterical as they saw the remaining troops were too occupied fighting the others, and they screamed, "You fools!! Grab and kill the cross-bearer!! He's escaping with the others!!" Sure enough, Justin was on the back of Bluebell as they, Strawberry, Blackberry, and Hawkbit were edging slightly away from the ruckus, about to make a hasty escape since the rest of the Efrafan Owsla were too busy being preoccupied with defending themselves.
"Uh-oh, that's our cue to run for it chaps!" Bluebell cried, but unfortunately, five Efrafans got in front of them with their lances drawn. Blackberry and Justin turned around to see Mallow, Vervain, and two others block the group from behind. Now they were trapped with no way out.
"Hazel-rah!" yelled Hawkbit in terror, and all of them turned and looked past Vervain and Mallow to see a terrible scene. Fiver, Dandelion, Pipkin, and Hazel had been overpowered by some of the soldiers and now the four bucks were on the ground, pinned by the heavy Efrafan bodies and their lances at their heads. Buckthorn and Acorn were struggling to rise and buck off the Efrafans who were pinning them down onto the grass too, but they were easily outweighed.
"I'll get them!" roared Campion as he charged straight at the melee, but an Efrafan swung his lance into Campion's stomach, causing him to sink into the ground in agony as he too was pinned like his friends. Holly, Speedwell, Bigwig, and Silver were surrounded by the Efrafans that they were not able to render unconscious, but they were still full of fighting spirit, so no enemy rabbit dared to advance near them. Instead, they just made a circle around them. Enraged at being surrounded, the four could only helplessly watch as Bluebell let Justin off his back and put himself in front of his human friend. Hawkbit and Blackberry did the same while Strawberry silently whispered to Bluebell and Justin.
"Whatever you do Bluebell, make sure none of the Efrafans can get a clear shot at Justin with their lances. Shield him with your body! Justin, we want you to duck your head and try to avoid any weapon that comes your way. Once the battle becomes too ferocious, they won't be able to do much when you can make a run for it. The instant you get a chance, young one, run as fast as you can and don't look back. We'll stall them for you." Justin, who wasn't able to utter a single word during the whole ordeal, now found his voice as his stubbornness and anger rushed out.
"No! Forget it! I'm not leaving any of you!!"
"For Frith's sake, stop being so much like Bigwig!" Bigwig, upon hearing this, glared at Strawberry.
"No!" Justin repeated hotly, "I'm not leaving anyone behind!"
"Oh, you idiot!" stuttered Hawkbit, who was so angry with Justin that he could barely speak straight. "Stupid, fatheaded, buck, doesn't know when the running's good for him! Need I remind your small head that we can't be killed in the land beyond living but you can?! Just listen to us and run for it when you have the chance!"
"And need I remind you, Hawkbit, that the Efrafans can run a hell of a lot faster than I can, so even if I did run for it alone while the rest of you fight, I'd be defenseless and they'd overtake me before you could even say 'flayrah'?!! And did it also occur to you that I don't know where to run to?! I don't even know how to get to El-ahrairah's warren even if I did make it out alive!" Hawkbit apparently didn't of think that one, and he just turned back to face the advancing Efrafans, red in the face, while Blackberry glanced back amusingly at Justin and commented, "You're like Bigwig all right. Hot-headed, but bright when you want to be." At this point, Mallow, seething with impatience and seeing an opportunity, flung his lance directly at Justin's heart with lethal precision. Bluebell saw the weapon coming as Blackberry yelled, "Justin, behind you!"
Justin turned only to see the big, dark body of Bluebell roughly push him to the ground and shielding Justin. There was a soft noise followed by a squeal of agony by Bluebell as Justin could see him wincing from the lance which had its tip embedded into Bluebell's shoulder. Justin turned white as Blackberry helped him up from underneath Bluebell who was starting to pant and gasp with effort as the blood ran down his fur from the wound. Hawkbit and Strawberry did their best to continue remaining in between Justin and the Efrafans, though their hearts were nearly blazing with absolute hatred as they braced themselves for a beating. Blackberry and Justin, nearly in tears, knelt next to the wounded Bluebell as the other rabbits from afar, restrained by the Efrafans, watched the drama helplessly.
"Bluebell..." whispered Justin, not knowing what to say, but Bluebell just shook his head and tried to make his voice as jovial and joking as ever.
"What are you crying for?? C'mon, young one, keep a stiff upper lip! Had to do something to protect the cross-bearer, you know! Besides, this is just a flesh wound, I'll be up and ready before you know it! You know I can't die here in the land beyond life." Despite the cheerfulness in his voice, Justin could see the worry and concern in Bluebell's eyes, and it was touching. Never before had he known anyone to risk his or her safety to save his life.
"Brave, yet foolish and delusional as ever, Bluebell," snarled Vervain as he and the other rabbits surrounding them got ready to launch their spears too. Hawkbit, Strawberry, and Blackberry gasped; there were far too many spears to block for Justin, and it would be inevitable that one of them would wound him, or worse.
"Oh, no you don't!!" Seeing the upcoming danger, Bigwig tried to barge himself through to save his rabbit allies and Justin, but the surrounding Efrafans hit him on the hind legs with their lances, causing him to stumble. Buckthorn, Acorn, Campion, Hazel, Pipkin, Fiver, and Dandelion tried to sunfish and break loose, but they could not free themselves from the gripping weight of the huge Efrafan Owsla, and for their trouble, they only received several blows from the iron lances. It was beginning to look bleak, but then, something miraculous happened. Justin, in his anger and grief at Bluebell being injured, raised his head and yelled out what he thought would be his last words at Mallow and Vervain.
"If you didn't have those damn spears, you wouldn't be able to fight and run like the cowards you really are! I wish you never even had those lances!!" The second those words left his mouth, Justin felt a familiar warm feeling rush out of his heart as his cross flashed with a golden light, shining so brightly, it nearly blinded all the Efrafans, Mallow, and Vervain as it covered the grassy field with sunlight. In disbelief, Strawberry, Hawkbit, and the other Watership rabbits could only stare as each and every lance in the battlefield, including the one in Bluebell's shoulder, glowed in a golden luster before disappearing into dust, crumpling in the hands of the Efrafan soldiers. When the flash subsided, the Efrafans were completely tharn with disbelief when they saw that they were weaponless. So were the Watership Down rabbits, but Hazel, seeing an opportunity, quickly came to his senses and yelled to his friends, "NOW, EVERYONE!!"
Understanding the situation, Bigwig and Silver rammed headfirst into the Efrafans surrounding them while Speedwell and Holly bravely tackled the rabbits pinning down Campion and Buckthorn. Once they were free, all four of them overwhelmed and kicked at the rabbits pinning down Hazel, Fiver, Pipkin, Dandelion, and Acorn. The enemies were so completely in awe of witnessing the power of the cross-bearer, they were much too dazed and shaken to even try fighting back. Some even began to run away in fright, abandoning their posts and duty as Mallow and Vervain kept screaming at them, "No, you fools! Come back!! Kill the cross-bearer!! He can't harm you!!" Yet their furious cries landed on deaf ears as more and more Efrafans kept edging away from Justin and the others, unwilling to fight them after what they had witnessed. As Hawkbit and Strawberry did their best to protect the others, they could hear the frightened mutterings of the Efrafan soldiers as they looked at Justin like he was the Black Rabbit of Inle himself.
"By the light of Inle, the boy has more power than Prince Rainbow!!"
"Keep away from him you fools!! He'll hurt all of us if you get too close to him!"
"Oh, by the stars, Woundwort is a fool to think that we could win against him and the rabbits of Watership Down! We should run for our lives!" The wretched rabbit that said this was immediately cuffed so hard by an angry Vervain, he bleed profusely between the ears. Mallow, who felt that he needed to set an example and who wasn't the least bit terrified of the small teenager, rushed towards Justin at full gallop, snarling, "I don't need any weapon of man to take care of this threat! I'll tear out your throat myself, cross-bearer!!" Bluebell, seeing this, tried to get up and fight for his friend but he was too weak from his spear wound, and Justin could only watch in petrified horror as Mallow leapt at him with his teeth bared...
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Don't you just love cliffhangers? =)
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