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Author's note: I'm so sorry, I again apologize for being late, but this chapter caused me a bit of trouble. I wanted to write more about Blackberry, but honest to fan fiction, I couldn't picture a conflict for the bright fellow! ~Blackberry glares at him~ Oh wait, thought up of one! And plus, there was all the stress of buying presents, wrapping presents, and the holidays, not to mention playing my new Kingdom Hearts game on PS2! ~Everyone stares at him, wondering why an author could put more precedence on video games that writing (hey, I have a life outside this story!)~ Anyway, I apologize for being late, and hope you enjoy this chapter about our ever so famous bright genius, Blackberry! Constructive criticism and suggestions are WELCOME! =)
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CHAPTER 16It was a bright mid-morning two days following the events of Lord Brock's attack at the pathway leading into the canyons. After Pipkin had his enjoyment with his wings, the instant they both landed back on the ground, the wings faded away, vanishing into the sunlight. Surprisingly, Pipkin wasn't crushed about giving up his newfound ability to take flight so quickly; using it to save the famous cross-bearer just once was enough for him, and the memories would last in his mind forever. Now, they were already in the very heart of the canyons, after Justin used his powers of his cross to repair the bridge that Lord Brock had previously crushed, and were among the steep slopes surrounding the gorges, the rocky walls actually sunburned to a dark red. However, much to Justin's extreme relief, the grasslands at the very center of the gorges had lush plants, several fruit trees and a nice, sparkling stream of clear water running though banks of bright, sandy soil. There were even some wild carrots and cowslips for the rabbits to feast on, and to everyone's delight, Holly and Bigwig and Hazel all agreed after two days of traveling, here would be a perfect spot to rest for a day. They've all been worn out, including Justin, and here, with its high, protective barriers and ample cover underneath, Hazel and Holly believed the very bottom of the canyons would be the safest place to recuperate. Pipkin was retelling all the rabbits gathered around him, while nibbling on carrots, what exactly went on between Lord Brock and himself when they got tackled off the cliff, and apparently, from the looks on some of their faces, they too, wished they had wings and the ability to take flight. Well, almost everyone. Bigwig and Buckthorn were on sentry duty, and Blackberry laid on the grass next to a large, fallen, rotting, dead birch tree along with Justin next to the sandy banks of the stream abound with cranberry bushes. Justin was drinking the cold water from the stream. Well, literally inhaling it since he hadn't any water for a day since they went down the rocky path of the mountains to the canyons.
Blackberry ambled beside Justin. "I can see you've been needing that for a while, young cross-bearer."
"Yeah," panted Justin, feeling loads better now that his parched throat was diminished. "I just had no idea how thirsty I was." Blackberry cocked his head in puzzlement towards the human he was supposed to protect.
"Thirsty? You've only been without water for one day."
"Um, Blackberry, that's long enough. In fact, a human can only last two or three days without water. If I did that, then I'd probably die. But why? How long can you guys last without drinking water?"
Blackberry gave a sheepish smirk. "Well, since this is the land beyond life, to tell you the truth, we only eat, silflay, and drink whenever we feel like it, so we could last much longer than before when we were in the physical world. Though we still silflay, we could live hrair days and Inle without food or water if we wished it so."
"But...but then why not? If you didn't have to stop all the time with rest and silflay, then we'd get to the warren of El-ahrairah a lot sooner." Blackberry stared at Justin for a moment, but then averted his gaze as he shook his head slowly. "That's a foolish question, young one."
Justin then realized it: the Watership rabbits were constantly stopping and resting for him. Justin needed food and water constantly, and the rabbits understood this, so rather than journey through the travel as fast as possible, they were considerately stopping to give Justin a chance to rest and regain his strength. That alone must have been nerve wracking and tedious for them since every time they did that, it allowed Elil-rah's Owsla to get closer and closer to tracking them down. Justin felt humbled and touched; it was another reason why he felt more appreciative of the rabbits of Watership Down.
"Sorry about that," he whispered shamefacedly, "I never really thought about how much you guys are sacrificing yourselves for my sake." Blackberry gave a wry, disbelieving look towards Justin before settling down on the sandy back next to the teenager.
"I must admit young chap, I didn't ever think I'd hear the day when a human appreciates the Lapine ways of rabbits! Now I've certainly heard everything!"
Justin glanced at him quizzically. "You make it sound like humans and rabbits will never get along." Blackberry's face showed annoyed incredulity as he stared at Justin, and Justin then realized that the rabbit was serious.
"Wait...you can't possibly...you're serious??" he finished weakly. Blackberry gave Justin a sad glance.
"For someone who was chosen to be the cross-bearer, you're incredibly naive." Justin was quick to check himself for not being offended, especially since he couldn't argue with that. Blackberry continued.
"Justin, don't mistake me for a heartless Efrafan, and I'm happy for you in seeing that you've found some happiness in the land beyond life, especially since you think of the rabbits such as Bigwig, Silver, and Pipkin as you're close friends, if not your brothers. But, you do realize, that you're rather more of an exception rather than a rule. Frith always told us that men were one of the Thousand, so...to be practical, I'm not so sure I even approve that you should even be here because a part of me is fearful that you would ruin this world for us like men before you have ruined the physical world."
"Blackberry, you know that's not true."
"Isn't it?" Blackberry's voice was now a bit resentful and acidic. "I've seen everything a rabbit has ever feared from the world of men. You've 'conveniently' forgotten, young one, on how I've had to leave my home because men decided to destroy Sandleford just to suit themselves. So tell me, am I right? You, a boy, should at least be able to acknowledge what I say is true." Justin paused. He did know that many times, humans certainly didn't know much better (or that they didn't care). Wars, famine, hatred, prejudice, it all existed in society, and in such a materialistic world, most people cared only to look after themselves rather than care about other matters. If homes needed to be built, people had no reservations on bulldozing a forest to clear some land (like Sandleford, Justin noted sadly). If food was needed to be obtained, kill a cow, strangle a chicken, burn a field to create fertile farmland for crops, regardless of the consequences. After all, as long as they were content, who would care about a few suffering animals such as mice, birds...or even rabbits? This made Justin realize why Blackberry wasn't so eager to immediately trust the human who would be the summoned cross-bearer. Blackberry took this silence as unspoken agreement as he continued.
"For the light of Frith, I've don't think I'll ever be able to understand the ways of men. Even if it takes me until the end of time, I don't think I can ever comprehend in my mind why men do the things that they do. Fires, the White Blindness, the demolition of trees and forests to make room for houses and farms, the shooting of innocent animals for sport, hrududu crushing any unlucky animal who walks into its path, and the like!" The tone in Blackberry's voice slightly worried Justin. Though Blackberry was certainly friendly and encouraging, Justin couldn't get the feeling that the black-tipped earred buck wasn't as close to Justin as the others. Yet then again, he never had much of a chance to either.
Justin tried to find a mutual agreement between himself and Blackberry's statement. "Well, granted, yeah, a lot of humans do foolish things without thinking how it affects others, but, Blackberry, not all men are evil. I mean, well, yeah, I don't blame you for thinking about the dark sides of men, but there's a lot of good too. I'm not the only one who cares about animals and the environment; there's many humans in my world who try to conserve nature and encourage peace."
Blackberry looked at him sadly, as if he pitied Justin. "You may care, Justin, but even if you tried, you're still a threat to every single creature in the land beyond life."
Justin was floored; this was certainly the first time anyone said something that blatant to his face. Not even Bigwig was this harsh. "Excuse me??"
Blackberry ignored the frosty decline of the teenager's voice. "Justin, do you want to know why I'm so apprehensive about your presence here in the land beyond life? Do you?? In the physical world, you don't know anything about living on your wits, never knowing when one of the Thousand will snuff out your life in an instant, living every moment of your existence wary, nervous, and to top it all off, live to breed, survive, and be in a home where you belong! Don't you remember how scared the lot of us were when we had to leave Sandleford warren to escape death? And why Watership Down was such a safe, hallowed haven? Because men were never there to threaten us, and entering into the land beyond life, a world where no animal ever has to fear about death, pain, or sorrow ever again, is certainly more than enough to cause chaos and wide-spread panic if any animal found about your coming!"
"But I don't WANT to hurt anyone here!" Justin fervently protested.
Blackberry sighed, "I know that, young one, but...I still have doubts. Remember all the abilities you were able to achieve with your prayers and that cross of light? Did it ever occur to you that you could also use it to destroy and cause pain and suffering? Lord Brock's demented dreams of power were only a taste of the horrors your powers could inflict on this world! And I'm sorry for saying this, Justin, for I can see you are an admirable chap, but if it wasn't for the fact that we need you to heal El-ahrairah, we'd probably be one of the many who would be against you even being here." Justin was now completely floored. So now Blackberry, a rabbit he always considered tender and understanding, had the same hidden feelings as the other animals of Elil-rah's Owsla sent to stop him. Of course, he knew Blackberry was straight-headed enough to never consider treachery, but...the fact was, Blackberry, like Flyairth, was still very, very wary of the ways of men. He decided to ask a question.
"Blackberry, do you...do you even like me??"
"Of course, you're the cross-bearer, the only one who can save this land and heal El-ahrairah from the powers of darkness inflicting him." Justin decided to rephrase it again.
"I meant...do you like me, personally? If I wasn't the cross-bearer, if I wasn't the chosen one..." He couldn't finish, but Blackberry, ever so perceptive, finished the question for him.
" 'Would we still have protected you, even though you might have died out there on your own?' " He paused before replying honestly, "No, we wouldn't have."
"So, basically, even if I am close to some of you, like Pipkin or Silver, you...the only reason you're tolerating me is because of my cross?? Of my powers??!" Blackberry remained silent without looking at Justin, and Justin tried to persuade him. "Blackberry, please, you can't think like that! I'm not someone who wants to hurt you, and I really do care about you guys! You're my friends now, the only friends I've ever had! Blackberry, if you got to know me like Bluebell or Acorn, then you'd realize that everything you think you know about the ways of humans doesn't exactly apply to me! Please, Blackberry, don't think like that!"
"Justin, I can't do that. It goes against everything Frith taught to us rabbits, and you should have known by now that this wasn't going to be a peaceful mission where you would have every creature you'd ever come across to welcome you with warmth and praise. I'll always be your protector if needed, but other than that, to tell you the truth, I like myself the way I am, and I don't want to associate myself with men any more than I have too."
"You 'can't', or you 'won't'?" Justin specified grimly, feeling his resentment for the thickheaded rabbit emerge, "After all, Bigwig, Pipkin and the others don't seem to have a problem with accepting me and getting close, despite me being a human."
"With no offense to my comrades and closest friends, they don't know any better."
"And you do?" Justin's voice got colder. "Blackberry, just because you have incredible wits doesn't mean you're always right! You don't know everything!" The teenager touched a nerve, and Blackberry's head snapped as he glared at the cross-bearer. That was the first time he had ever heard someone say that to his face, and insultingly enough, he didn't like it.
"By Frith, the instant El-ahrairah becomes well again, I can't wait for the moment when you have to go back home!" he snapped. "By the Black Rabbit, I don't even know why El-ahrairah even sent me! I should have just stayed behind with Flyairth; at least she shares my concerns about men being in the land beyond life!"
"Maybe he'd thought you'd learn something, but apparently not. You're so clouded with your instinct and beliefs, you probably can't even realize that you still have a lot to learn." Justin said scathingly and flatly, trying to mask his hurt at Blackberry's future relief once he went back to his world.
Blackberry growled in Justin's face, emphasizing every word, the peaceful wisdom on his features temporarily masked with annoyance and denial. "You don't know anything."
"And with feelings like those, you're no different from an Efrafan," Justin said with sorrowful sullenness as he got up and left, away from Blackberry's company. Conflicted, Blackberry couldn't honestly retort back.
***
Later that afternoon, Blackberry had a long talk with Hazel-rah and Bigwig (Bigwig, as usual, wanted to resort to screaming and beating for hurting Justin's feelings, but Hazel wisely decided he just watch after the cross-bearer with Pipkin). Hazel and Blackberry just talked side by side as they went to go silflay on crabgrass and fireweed.
"Blackberry, I can't say I'm not disappointed in you, but I also know you're not as senseless and inconsiderate as Hawkbit, so obviously, this is something that is neither the fault of you nor Justin. It's something much more troubling than that. You still have reservations about Justin being here, don't you?"
Blackberry nearly dropped his share of fireweed blossoms as he left his mouth hang open in bewilderment. "How...how did you know?!"
"El-ahrairah. Before we left the warren in Fenlo."
Blackberry gave a small grunt of embarrassment, and Hazel used the moment of awkwardness to get through his friend. "Blackberry, old chap, we've known each other far too long to hide secrets or hidden feelings from each other and our friends. And whether you have qualms about Justin being here or not, the fact is, he had no choice in the matter nor did he make any decision to come here. Frith and El-ahrairah summoned him, and I know you can hardly argue against our Lord and our Prince for making a rash decision as letting a human come into our haven."
"I know, I know, Hazel," Blackberry seethed impatiently, "but I...I just can't."
"Because you're afraid to get close to him, because no matter how much your heart sees Justin's light and vulnerability, your mind and sense remind you of the horrors men have inflicted upon our world, the promises that Frith told us to be cunning to prevent destruction by the Thousand, and the timeless oath all animals, elil and prey alike, have learned and understood that humans are evil, should never be trusted, and must do everything in our power to ravage and cause trouble for humans." Blackberry sighed in annoyance at Hazel's presentiment.
"El-ahrairah, again?!"
Hazel smiled knowingly. "Yes, but he only told me and no one else. Not even Rabscuttle knows. But that's not the point here. The point is, you know better than to think that. I mean, look at the demeanor and morale of this group ever since Justin came along; it's changed dramatically, and frankly, most of the rabbits can't imagine never meeting Justin. Despite being a boy, he's like El-ahrairah at heart."
Blackberry became slightly mulish, guilty, and ashamed, but still nevertheless, resolute. "I didn't mean to condemn Justin, Hazel-rah."
"I know you didn't, but you should remember the advice El-ahrairah gave you."
"A fat lot of good it does me. I didn't even want to come. I remember putting up a little resistance when El-ahrairah summoned us to his den and told us the prophecy. That's when El-ahrairah talked to me privately, giving me some advice." He flashed back:
"Something troubles you, doesn't it, Blackberry?" El-ahrairah gasped as best as he could while still conscious enough to withstand the pain the black mist surrounding him. Blackberry at first didn't know how to answer, like a small child expected to give an intelligent response to an adult, but then he spoke openly, "El-ahrairah, my Lord, please...I...I do not wish to go protect the cross-bearer. Please, can't you send Stonecrop or Blackavar in my place?"
El-ahrairah, instead of reprimanding him, just smiled understandingly as he looked at the black-eared buck with kindness, not anger, with his blue, shining eyes. "I'm glad that you had the courage to tell me the truth, young one. And...I do understand completely how you feel. But, you must realize that you are needed on this mission to protect the cross-bearer."
"Why?" questioned the rabbit tightly.
"Like the expedition to Watership Down, rabbits had realized the value of your role as the 'inventor', the one with shrewd wits and cunning, the one who searches the unknown, regardless of his fears, to find a possible solution which can affect the outcome of any battle. Ever curious, watchful and uncanny, I need you to go with Hazel and the rest of the rabbits from Watership Down and with Captain Campion. But, heed my advice: cruel is the rabbit who closes his heart, and foolish is the one who refuses to acknowledge humble wisdom from others, whether they be mice, birds such as Kehaar...or yes, even a human."
"El-ahrairah, please, think about this!" pleaded Blackberry, "I know there must be another way to help you from Elil-rah's sickness! Please tell me what it is, and no matter how difficult or impossible it seems, we will only be ever so happy and obliged to accomplish it!" El-ahrairah chuckled, despite the sickly feeling spreading throughout his body.
"Simple, young one, go retrieve the human cross-bearer and protect him with your beautiful mind."
Blackberry lowered his head in shamed disappointment at El-ahrairah's answer. "But why me, Lord?" he whined dejectedly.
The Prince of all Rabbits smiled sadly before sinking to unconsciousness due to the evil plaque surrounding his powerful form. "Because I want you to learn a very important lesson from your travels with the human."
Blackberry just stood there in the den of his Prince lying in a stupor, wishing that for once, he wasn't so enigmatic.
Hazel's voice brought Blackberry back into the present, "Blackberry, the question is, what are you going to do about this now? Judging by the way things are going, this probably means your 'trial by fire' is approaching quickly." The black-eared rabbit, despite always having the voice of reason and common sense aid his decisions, couldn't answer Hazel's question.
***
"By golly chaps! What a beautiful night! Starry sky, a bright moon, the coolness of a nearby stream!! The sounds of the wind blowing, the chirps of the crickets sighing..." Bluebell marveled loudly, his praise echoing annoyingly amongst the canyon walls.
"The sounds of my aggravation rising and my headache pounding," groaned Campion as he rolled his eyes at Bluebell's endless enthusiasm. He, Bluebell, and Bigwig were on night sentry duty while the rest of the rabbits were sleeping peacefully next to a warm outcrop of rock jutting from the ground. Campion fondly looked at the image of Justin sleeping peacefully using Silver's head as a pillow and with Pipkin dozing happily in Justin's arms. Still, several hours of enduring Bluebell's chatter and comical nonsense was enough to make him wish he persuaded (bullied) Hawkbit into taking his place.
"Oh, come now Campion!" Bluebell grinned, "That's not being very positive now, is it? I know, a jolly, good song should daresay lighten the mood! How about it, buckos?!"
"NO!" yelled Campion and Bigwig with equal insistence. Bluebell, of course, pretended he didn't hear that. He continued anyway, "Ah ha, ah ha, O Campion and Bigwig! The land is nice, it hath been enticed, t'is free from Efrafans, elil, and the like! While friends sleep, we hardly make a peep, while we fight against darkness that sneaks and creeps!"
"Think Hazel-rah will mind terribly if I hurt him?" Bigwig said flatly as the rabbit jester carried on.
Campion smiled wanly, "I think he'll let this one pass, so be my guest. Please. I insist." Yet before anything could be done, all three of them heard a strange, raspy, voice behind them, completely taking them by surprise.
"Nekasssssss......"
***
When it was done with the three rabbits, the figure crept closer and closer to the huddle of furry bodies entwined snugly around the human cross-bearer, its target. Its spine-chilling, eerie eyes gleamed with ruthless expectations amongst the yellow and black pupils. It bared its fangs, immediately ready to strike a lethal blow to the human; in an instant, it would be done and Elil-rah would reward him greatly. Yet to its surprise, the cross trinket around Justin's neck set off a brilliant luster, and as the creature struck, it felt its head and teeth unpredictably collide painfully against an invisible wall. "What?!!" it screamed in its head, "It's impossible!!"
But then it saw why. All around Justin and the sleeping mass of rabbits was a swirling mass of a golden force, glinting gold in the darkness and enveloping the group. It was a shield of sunlight, and as long as it remained, the creature had no possible way of killing the cross-bearer. Apparently, even without the teenager's conscious awareness, the cross exhibited mystical properties that could not be overcome. It fumed immensely; Elil-rah was not going to enjoy this unseen complication. And with Justin and the rabbits still peacefully sleeping, the creature couldn't use its powerful abilities to overwhelm him like he did with the three rabbit guards. It paused as its mind clicked. It smiled craftily at the unconscious and paralyzed, limp forms of Bluebell, Bigwig, and Campion, a new strategy taking root in its small, wicked mind. Those three rabbits could prove quite useful after all...
***
"Bigwig!! Campion!! Bluebell!! Where the heck are you guys?!!" yelled Justin frantically, his calls echoing unanswered in the yawning crevice, while he, Acorn, Silver and Pipkin wandered around aimlessly amongst the canyon. Earlier, at Pipkin and Fiver's frantic screaming, Hazel-rah and the other Watership rabbits had awoken at the crack of dawn to discover that their sentries had literally disappeared. Not a trace, not a scent. Mad with worry and anxiety, Hazel-rah and Holly split the group into several divisions, forming a search party. Unfortunately, to their worried disappointment, they couldn't find anything as they combed over rocks, plants, and sand, hoping to spot the slightest clue that could lead them. And it had been like that for several hours. Hazel, Buckthorn, Blackberry, and Fiver reconvened with them at the stream while Dandelion, Hawkbit, Speedwell, and Strawberry were still sniffing and looking elsewhere.
"Anything?" Hazel asked, already knowing the answer he was dreading.
"Nothing," gasped out Acorn worriedly, a bit exhausted from wandering around in a mad frenzy, "But what makes it odd is that there's no scent of them!! Could it be possible that they were captured, just like how Justin and I were when Volgnamass and his weasels attacked us?!"
Silver rebutted that possibility. "No, it can't be. Why would they take Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell without trying to take Justin along as well? There's no point for Elil-rah to capture three rabbits when the cross-bearer is his main target! But what puzzles me is that if one of Elil-rah's messengers did appear while we were sleeping, then why is Justin unharmed?!"
"Could Bigwig, Bluebell, and Campion just simply have left to go exploring and that they would come back later?" put in Buckthorn. "You know, Hazel-rah, like a small expedition or one of Campion's Patrols??"
"No, because I know both Campion and Bigwig, and they would never leave the responsibility of protecting the cross-bearer for such a foolhardy, worthless run," Holly chipped in worriedly, "Hazel, whatever happened to them, it has to be due to Elil-rah's minions! I'd stake every single tuft of gray fur and my whiskers on it!!"
"So what should we do now?!" wailed Pipkin, the thought of his friends missing in action causing his eyes to water. Either way, Hazel knew it was going to be a tough decision. If Bluebell, Bigwig, and Campion were kidnapped, then the ones responsible were probably still nearby, and that meant they were all in danger. Yet, no smell, no scents, no recognizable footprints or paw marks of traditional elil littering the soft ground, so they had no idea who or what they were dealing with. Not even Holly and Blackberry, with their limitless knowledge, could recognize the strange, curved, skid marks that were left in the sand. That made it less desirable and more difficult to search and rescue their friends from danger. Yet, if they left right now, knowing Justin and some of the other rabbits, they would resist and try to linger on and look for them anyway. Yet, if they did continue with the search party, Hazel knew that it would be a telltale chance for Elil-rah's messengers to lead them into a trap and kill Justin. Blackberry, who had returned with the remaining rabbits, spoke what was on Hazel's mind.
"Hazel, I don't think Bluebell, Bigwig, and Campion would appreciate it if we endangered Justin's life for their sakes, and we better get moving! It will be a long journey to climb out of the canyons and across the mountains, but if hurry, we might be able to evade any elil who are still in the vicinity! Please Hazel-rah, Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell won't be in any immediate danger, but they'll understand if we try our best to get the young one out of here as quickly as possible! They wouldn't want Justin killed because of their predicament!" Before Hazel could make a decision, Justin interrupted heatedly.
"Hazel, NO!! Please, we have to find Bigwig, Bluebell, and Campion!! They risked their lives for me before!! We have to find them, and I don't care what chances I have to take! I don't want to leave them behind!!"
"Justin, for Frith's sake, please be logical!!" snapped Blackberry heatedly. They've already gone through this predicament before with Bluebell when he was wounded terribly from the Efrafan spears, and frankly, Justin's nobility over common sense was starting to annoy him. "This is best possible solution, and I don't care what your heart is saying! There's no rational basis to storm around without direction in the enormous canyon only to wind up literally hopping into the fangs and claws of Elil-rah's Owsla!! Can't you see that this could be a trap, that Elil-rah and his soldiers are exploiting your weaknesses of stubbornness and friendship to lure you into their clutches?!! We don't have time for this argument! Please, Hazel-rah! We must leave now!!"
Justin narrowed his eyes as his voice became more hard and forceful, indicating that he wasn't changing his mind. "I'm not leaving until we find them!!"
Blackberry's voice became equally forceful, and the unnaturalness of it sent the other rabbits, who have always known Blackberry as a mild, clever, understanding fellow, into a shocked silence as they unwillingly watched on as an audience. "And in the process, you'll endanger the rest of us while you selfishly look for them?! By the Black Rabbit, must you always be so dense?!!"
"Must you always be so heartless?" snapped Justin, "Blackberry, just because something seems the most reasonable doesn't mean it's for the best!"
"And this seems better to you just because it's from your heart?!! By Frith, you think that just because you're the almighty cross-bearer, you're always right about these things, and you act like a spoiled buck!! You always let your feelings cloud your judgment and common sense!!"
Justin didn't answer, and he replied hotly, "I don't care. I'm going to stay until they're found; they're my friends and I can't leave them behind, not after what they've done to protect me." He did an about-face and swiveled around towards the opposite direction, but Blackberry hurriedly rushed in front of him and blacked his path. His voice, though reasonably quiet, was intense enough to knock down a brick wall.
"That may be true, Justin, but if I was Bigwig, Bluebell, or Campion, and I had learned that you left El-ahrairah to suffer in agony just to save me as a noble bravado to further impress your friends, I would despise you."
Justin just sadly looked in his friend's eyes. "Unlike those three, however, you already despise me because I'm a human." At these words, Blackberry was stunned, and that gave Justin the opportunity to slide away quietly past the shocked rabbit.
***
"Great seasons of Frith and Inle! What on earth is this?! Hazel-rah! Everyone! Come here, quickly!!" This came from an astounded Speedwell, after he, Hawkbit and Dandelion breezed past Blackberry to accompany Justin, and after several minutes of exploring and walking past a huge rock pile heaped awkwardly against the smooth canyon wall, they found that hidden from sight was a partially buried cave opening. Even through the rocks blocked most of it, the three rabbits could smell stale air escaping from the grotto. Hazel and the others, including a reluctant and petulant Blackberry staring solemnly at Justin, scurried towards the rock pile blocking the cavern. Holly and Strawberry then noticed some telltale hairs lying on the pebbles of the heap, and upon closer examination, to their horrified relief, they were remnants of rabbit fur. Bigwig, Bluebell, and Campion's to be exact. Strawberry gave a grim expression back to his friends as he solemnly stated, "It's them, all right. Whatever this thing is, it took Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell with it; we can smell their scents all over this rock. So that means..."
"If they are here, then the eli, whatever it is, took them prisoner through this run," Hazel finished for him grimly. Without word, everyone started digging at the rock pile, clearing away the mess easily as if it was dry soil. In a short time, the mouth of the cave was completely cleared, and the rabbits were now facing straight in front of an enormous cavern opening, large enough to let an elephant pass through. The air was stagnant, almost dead, and reeked of grime, dust, and God knows what else. And though it was murky, the rabbits could see that the sloping path led downwards into the unknown darkness, with shadowy moss and lichen growing on the rock walls, forming eerie and sinister coils and tendrils hanging down from the ceiling like arms ready to grab unsuspecting prey. Justin tried not to shudder; being in the dark was another one of his phobias, but Fiver, to his surprise, was already shivering. Speedwell, in concern, asked him, "Fiver, what's wrong? What do you see??"
"A clever trap, or a trap made for the clever? Danger lurks in the eyes of the beholder, but without sight, one can see the fight. Like a ditch filling with water in the rain." With a final shudder, Fiver opened his eyes again after his visions from his second sight only to see everyone quizzically looking at him in uncertainty. Acorn groaned, "O Frith and Inle, I don't know who's more cryptic: El-ahrairah or Fiver."
Blackberry broke in, "Hazel-rah, my guess is this is not going to be the only path down into this mountain. I wouldn't be surprised if there were winding tunnels with multiple runs and openings, like a normal warren! Even if Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell are down there, how do we find them quickly enough without getting close to whatever forsaken, bloodthirsty messenger of Elil-rah sent to kill Justin and attack us?"
"I know, Blackberry," sighed Justin in temporary agreement, "I wish there was a way...or...or something that could guide us to where our friends are right now." Instantly, to everyone's surprise, the cross around Justin's neck started to glow, bathed and illuminated in sunlight. Smoothly, the jewel levitated in the air, floating, and as far as the chain around Justin's neck would allow, the bottom end of the crystal pointed directly into the dark cave. Justin just stared with trademark wide eyes. The cross was acting like a compass, and it wasn't hard to figure out that they needed to travel in the direction the cross was pointing in.
Speedwell just stared at the jewel levitating on its own free will. "I think...the cross wants us to go in and follow it."
"Brilliant deduction, Speedwell," snapped Hawkbit, "By Frith, Justin, why didn't you tell us you could do that?! By the fur and paw, we would have had an easier time traveling back to the warren of El-ahrairah rather than wander slowly through thick and thin if you used that power before!!"
"Hey, I just learned this, okay?!" snapped Justin, "I don't even know how I do this or what kind of stuff I can do with my cross yet. All I can remember is that Dandelion said I could do anything, provided that it helps you guys."
"Look, let's not argue," Silver interrupted gracefully, "The point is, we now have a way to find Bigwig and the others. And for every moment we stand here, it could lead them deeper and deeper into danger." But before any of them could move, Blackberry growled impatiently, "I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL OF YOU!!"
Everyone turned to face the buck who was getting more and more frustrated with the fact that it seemed that only he was aware of the situation unfolding in front of their very eyes. He snapped impatiently, "Has it ever occurred to any of you that this could be a trap?! That we're risking Justin and ourselves for a foolhardy mission?! And that every moment we spend dawdling, El-ahrairah is getting weaker and weaker?!!"
Hazel sighed, but he could honestly say he felt no resentment on Blackberry for simply being overtly cautious, anxious and wary. "Blackberry, we all know those are very possible risks, and yes, none of us wish to endanger ourselves nor Justin nor El-ahrairah. We haven't forgotten our main objective, but not even El-ahrairah would approve of leaving our comrades at the mercy of elil. Blackberry, if you were the one trapped down there, we would have gone after you without a second thought."
"It's not that, Hazel-rah! Of course I know you would."
"If you're worried, Blackberry, you could come with us and make sure everything is going according to plan, making sure all of us won't be in danger. We could use your wits and brilliant ideas at a time like this when we don't even know what creature took our friends or what types of extraordinary abilities it even has," Holly chipped in gently.
"I...I..." and the buck faltered, not wanting to say what was on his mind, and he just looked down on the ground. Hazel sighed again in aggravation, but he understood.
"How about this, old chap? We need you to stay here and watch out for any suspecting elil who may be outside this cavern and waiting for a perfect opportunity to trap us. Just stay here as a sentry, then. If there's trouble...if there's trouble," Hazel finished weakly.
The group left, fading away torturously in the enveloping shadows, and Blackberry could hear Hawkbit smirk back at him, silently accusing him of being a coward. Speedwell and Acorn, to Blackberry's slight relief, caught the look and angrily told Hawkbit off, but Justin glanced back, and Blackberry could see the boy had worry and concern in his eyes before he disappeared from sight. The lone buck just shut his eyes in self-loathing and anger. So that was how it was going to be. Instead of listening to Blackberry, a rabbit who, time and time again, had proven that his wits and voice of reason always resolved sticky situations, Hazel-rah and the others chose to follow Justin, a human teenager who was always destined to be their enemy and who was just impulsively following his heart, getting into trouble.
Blackberry refused to let the frustration get to his patience, but he cursed to himself, "Why, El-ahrairah, why?"
***
Back at the warren, El-ahrairah, though wavering between the brink of unconsciousness and consciousness, raised his head weakly as he could hear, feel the pain of Blackberry's prayers. Without the knowledge of Rabscuttle and Hyzenthlay, who were both carefully looking over him, he closed his eyes and let his powers of empathy take into effect.
Blackberry, you know better than to ask questions you already know the answers to.
Blackberry jumped as he looked around wildly. He was alone, but...but he heard El-ahrairah's voice in his head. "It...it can't be...El-ahrairah?" he whispered weakly.
Yes.
"By Frith, I never even dreamed you had such powers!!"
There are many things about me you don't know about, just like how there are many things about young Justin that you have made yourself too blind to see. Young Blackberry, don't you remember what I told you: cruel is the rabbit who closes his heart.
Blackberry felt guilty, but he protested, "I never asked to come here."
But I did, Blackberry, because despite your fears, you're more of an advantage to young Justin than a disability. Even though there are times we're forced to do the things we'd rather avoid, we do them because it may lead to a better future and prevent the past from overflowing like a pool of water, ready to flood the mistakes and misdeeds from the precedent again and again when clouds cry tears of rain. And you should realize by now that Justin is not like other men you've experienced before.
"I know that, my Lord, but...but why should I change my feelings and thinking for his sake?! I have always trusted my intuition and my mind rather than my heart because they have never failed me, and I have learned time and time again that emotions can be misleading! So what am I supposed to do?! Throw away and ignore everything I have ever learned about survival and life as a rabbit?! After using my mind and ideas to help Hazel-rah and the Watership rabbits fight, escape, and deceive our enemies, I'm now supposed to use it to help a human teenager?! Asking me to alter my feelings, my instinct, and my Frith-given nature, all for Justin's sake! It isn't fair, my Lord!"
Perhaps, but it also isn't fair to Justin either.
Blackberry didn't know how to process this, so El-ahrairah patiently explained, like an ever so loving father towards a child who didn't know any better.
Blackberry, you're not the only one who has to endure change if he wishes to prevent Elil-rah from gaining power and destroying the world we have grown to cherish. Young Justin, though he may be a human and one of the Thousand, made a conscious choice to help us, and he does not even belong in this world, and to his point of view, it isn't fair to give such a young one the burden of fighting Elil-rah or summoning him from his home. He could have refused, he could have broken down and cried like a helpless child, but instead, he actually chose to help the creatures in the land beyond life, even though humans constantly and ruthlessly kill and torture animals for sport or food, even though this is not his world to protect, and despite the fact that he is putting his life at risk. Justin knows he can never change the fact that he is human, but he can change the beliefs he's always had about the world, about how it is silly to think that everyone should obey what they are told if their hearts say otherwise...and about how he would always be alone and unimportant in his world. Blackberry, he may be a boy, but he has a spirit no different from any other creature in the land beyond life, and it's selfish of you to think otherwise.
Blackberry now felt worse, especially since he realized that Justin was having a hard enough time as it is without his stubbornness, but he still secretly felt conflicted. He asked, "But...but then why is Justin able to change? Why is he the way he is?" El-ahrairah chuckled.
Because he has learned to always trust his heart, because he has found comfort and love after years of hate and scorn, and because he cares deeply about you rabbits from Watership Down. Now go to him; he will need you.
"But...but I..." began Blackberry, whispering.
Don't be scared to listen to your heart and your mind. You have a beautiful mind, Blackberry, so instead of using it to further strengthen your doggedness, use it for what you have always done with it: to protect others, to save lives, to understand the unknown, to lessen fear...and to be cunning and full of tricks so that neither you, nor Justin, nor your comrades can ever be destroyed. With those final words, Blackberry was left alone for several seconds before the black-tipped buck madly ran straight into the cave after his friends.
***
"Are we close yet, Justin?" Speedwell asked for the fifth time as the group cautiously traveled down the winding tunnels that led deeper and deeper into the ground. The cave had literally opened up into a maze with turns and twists in every possible direction, and if Justin had been in here alone without his cross, he'd be doomed to helplessly wandering throughout these runs until he died of thirst and hunger. The tunnels were certainly wide enough for all of them to travel together as a group, and the light coming from the floating cross was a little comfort in the stifling darkness as it shone strongly enough for them to see their way a little bit. Already, they have made a series of confusing lefts and rights, and Justin already lost count of how many forks in the tunnels that they had to pass by. He hoped his cross wouldn't fail him; he couldn't picture the thought of what would happen if he couldn't see an inch away from his face.
"I don't know, Speedwell," admitted Justin sheepishly as the cross led them into a small room that conjoined into three separate runs, and by the tugging of the jewel, they took the tunnel on the foremost right. "But I can tell you one thing: we're going deeper and deeper into the ground. Wherever Bigwig, Bluebell, and Campion are, Elil-rah's messenger, whatever it is, took them pretty far from the surface."
"Everyone, be alert," commanded Holly vigilantly, "and Justin, I want you to be prepared to for anything that might come." Justin nodded apprehensively, ice clutching his gut.
***
Excellent, thought the creature craftily as it saw from above, watching the group slowly make headway into the confusing maze. It knew the human would never abandon his friends, and it also knew, as Elil-rah warned, that Justin's cross of light had the power to locate the bait it so conveniently left for them to follow. However, the rabbit soldiers of El-ahrairah's Owsla were neither foolhardy nor impulsive, so it knew it had to separate the human from the rest. That shouldn't be so hard, it thought maliciously as its gleaming yellow eyes withdrew into the obscurity.
***
"Hey! I think we're getting closer! The cross is pulling on the chain harder!" Justin cried with extreme relief as his orange orb starting hovering more forcefully, generating more pressure on the silver necklace. As he stepped forward, further and further into the tunnel and into a large chamber, Buckthorn and Strawberry, both of whom were in the very rear, suddenly stopped as they stared behind. Hazel and Holly noticed with uneasiness.
"Buckthorn? Strawberry? What's wrong??" Holly asked sharply.
"Thought we heard something," muttered Buckthorn intently, adrenaline coursing through his veins, making him primed to strike in an instant. Pipkin started whimpering and shivering, and Silver sternly, but gently, shushed him as everyone strained their ears. Then they heard it, a harsh, grinding voice, like sandpaper on stone, hollowly floating like a ghostly voice, echoing cacophonously on the dead air.
"Deeaaatthhh...Deeeattthhh...to the crossss-beaarrerrr."
Dandelion gasped out and squealed in awfulness, while Speedwell choked out, "It's here!"
"Justin, quick, time-freeze the blighter!!" yelled Hawkbit urgently but before he could do that, by some sort of freak chance, the ceiling above Justin started to crack, and to their horror, bits of dirt, debris, and grime started to hail down. Reflexively, Justin backed up hastily away from the threat and shielded his face with one arm while the tunnel collapsed, causing a cave-in. When the dust settled, horrified, Justin looked back to see a solid wall of moss-covered rock and dirt. The teenager pressed against the wall, hoping he could loosen a portion or two. No such luck; the avalanche was firmly embedded into the ground. He could hear muffled voices coming from the wall.
"Justin?! Justin?!!" It was Hawkbit and Speedwell.
"I'm here! I'm all right!! Where are you guys?!!" Justin was partially thankful his friends weren't crushed to death underneath the rubble.
"Thank the stars!! We're on the other side of the rock!" yelled Speedwell, "None of us are hurt, so we were able to escape from being squashed by the collapse of the run!"
"Justin, do you see Bigwig, Bluebell or Campion over there?!" asked Hazel frantically as Buckthorn and Silver futilely tried to claw and dig through the barricade of hard earth and stone. Justin, realizing that his cross was still pointing in the opposite direction behind him, turned around and let his narrowed eyes adjust to the faint golden light that seeped into the small area. He was in a great, spacious chamber, lined with dry, brown soil and supported structurally with plant roots and lichen. The entire ceiling was lined with creamy colored stones and rock of sandstone, lime, gravel, and mica. What was astounding about the chamber was that there were three other openings leading to other tunnels and pathways. Two burrows commenced on the packed walls in front and to his left, and oddly enough, the third opening was on the ceiling itself. Before he could wonder what kind of creature would even be able to easily travel through these tunnels, his eyes caught several limp forms on the dry, dusty ground. To his joyful relief, it was the still forms of Bigwig, Bluebell, and Campion. He rushed over to their sides, but then realized they were all still unconscious, cold, stiff, and barely breathing. Troubled, Justin closed his eyes and let the healing sunlight from his cross channel into his hands and onto Bluebell's body, soon cloaking the burly rabbit with gold. Several minutes passed like hours, but to Justin's panicked dismay, Bluebell was still immobile and paralyzed, even after the healing powers. Justin tried again, but whimpering, he realized that Bluebell still hadn't awoken. His healing powers weren't working, and if Bluebell couldn't awaken, then Bigwig and Campion couldn't either. He was so vexed that he didn't notice nor hear the figure creeping silently out of the opening from the ceiling, slowly descending onto the soil without even a murmur, behind his back.
"Bluebell, please, wake up!" pleaded Justin softly, gently shaking the rabbit's stiff body, "Wake up! Wake up, please!!"
"He will not awaken, young one," a harsh voice hissed behind him forebodingly, "He will never awaken." Sweat literally crawled down Justin's neck chillingly as Justin swiveled around, the fear choking his throat and preventing him from screaming. He was staring face to face with a giant snake. But not like the snakes he had seen in his world, for this snake would give any sane person nightmares for the rest of his or her life. It was colossal, large enough to swallow a cow in a matter of seconds within its huge, pink, quivering mouth lined with a black forked tongue and six white fangs as long as a human forearm. It's long body was heavily shielded with a thick armor of bright, green scales, piled upon one another in an intricate design while the dark-gray belly of the monster sparkled was embedded with fragments of mica and shiny rock fragments in the presence of the sunlight. On the back of the snake, protrusions of bone from its spinal cord were jutting out of its body with a mixture of blood and dirt, running in a perfect line all the way down to a tail with a three-pronged, black claw, similar to the tail of an earwig. Its face was the most terrifying part. The snake had a shaggy mane of gray fur and a similar small, gray beard curling from its lower jaw. Yet what was most unnatural about the abomination was that it had three yellow eyes, with the third one positioned vertically in the middle of the snake's forehead, symbolizing the evil third eye. And each one of the eyes now had no pupil; instead, they were all glowing with a demonic, chilling yellow luminosity, and Justin couldn't help but stare in those endless pools of light, seeing his reflection on each of the eyes, as the snake chanted tunefully, "Look into my eyesssss, young human. My eyesssss of gold. I command you, young one, look into the eyesssss of Nekassssss."
Instantly, Justin felt his body become heavy, ridden with lead, as he his eyes just continued to gaze fixedly into those seemingly, comforting pools of the sun. He couldn't take his eyes off them as the snake continued to work his hypnotic powers over the teenager. With his strength seeping out of his body, Justin's body began to shiver and grow weak, the heat seeping out of him by the second. Justin felt numb and drowsy, as if he was floating. The teenager sank to his knees, groaning as he felt his brain shut down, and his body betrayed every frantic scream his mind was sending to his burdensome nerves. Nekas's eyes gleamed as it sensed his victory was drawing near, and as the teenager uneasily propped himself with his hands to prevent himself from toppling over, the serpent bent down and brought his snout closer to the human's eyes so that they were mere inches apart. Justin couldn't avoid staring into the unholy eyes, ignoring the screams of panic from the Watership rabbits, divided on the other side of the rock wall, unable to help the cross-bearer.
"Justin! Justin!! Please answer!! Justin, what on Frith's name is happening?!! Justin!! Justin!" All the rabbits chorused urgently and with anxiety and fear, but the human could only hear the buzzing in his ears as the snake continued to assure the human, almost caressing his face.
"Do not be afraid, young crossss-bearer. We are brothersssss, you and I. My eyesssss of gold and your crosssss of light, we both share the same powerssssss. Give in, give in, young Jussstin, and let me take care of you. Ressssst now, go to sleep," it chanted in its deep, raspy voice, and Justin's eyelids were nearly dropping as his eyes glazed over and his complexion turned pale.
"I...I..." Justin whispered weakly, his memories becoming blurs as his brain was slowly dying under the snake's gaze. Nekas smiled maliciously as it stretched its mouth wider and wider, ready to swallow the young teenager in one gulp.
"JUSSSSSTTTIINNNNNNN!!!" bellowed a voice, strong and determined, and from the tunnel on the left side of the cavern, Blackberry shot out like a bullet as he bounded onto the enemy's face and delivered a single, quick, hard bite on Nekas's nose. With a screech, the monster broke its concentration as it reeled back, flinching from the pain of the rabbit's attack. Unfortunately, the ceiling wasn't large enough to allow the fell height of the snake, and painfully, foolishly, Nekas hit its head against the unsound ceiling, and as a result of the powerful collision, dirt and stone rained down on the snake, covering its head with choking dust and blinding grime and soil. Cursing and screaming, the snake shook its head and writhed painfully, black blood starting to dribble down its face from the bite Blackberry delivered. Justin groggily held his head in his hands as he let the cobwebs clear away and for the numbness to fade, but when he opened his eyes, to his ecstatic revelation, he saw that he wasn't alone as Blackberry nuzzled his face worriedly, sniffing and asking, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Justin said shortly, but his eyes were watering with appreciative respite as Blackberry helped him up. "But...how on earth did you find me? In all these tunnels??"
Blackberry's ears flushed with embarrassment as he awkwardly and sheepishly admitted, "El-ahrairah helped me follow my heart." Yet before Justin could ask what he meant, Nekas almost cleared away the dirt embedded on its face as it glared vehemently and murderously at the two protagonists. Blackberry then remembered Fiver's cryptic warning before entering the tunnels: "A clever trap, or a trap made for the clever? Danger lurks in the eyes of the beholder, but without sight, one can see the fight. Like a ditch filling with water in the rain."
"Justin," the buck warned urgently, pulling him roughly, "Whatever you do, don't look into its eyes! I'm probably assuming that's how it was able to overcome Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell so easily while they were at guard duty the previous night! C'mon! Hurry!!!" With that, Blackberry got on all fours, and Justin obediently and madly scrambled on his furry back as the snake lunged at them.
"DIE!!!" Nekas screamed, but with a bound, Blackberry, with the cross-bearer on his back, dashed out, narrowly avoiding the snake's fangs as they struck the dirt nearby, and scurried into the other tunnel on the far side of the cavern. With a furious hiss, Nekas slithered after them with surprising speed and agility. Inside the run, Blackberry panted, fear and instinct brushing his senses and making him more alert as they traveled down the burrow. Justin just yelled his worry in his ears while lying flat to prevent his head from hitting the low ceiling of the tunnel while they sped by with an angry snake monster on their trail.
"Blackberry, we can't leave Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell behind! They're still asleep in that cavern, and we have to go back!!"
"Couldn't you awaken them? With your healing powers!!"
"No, that's the problem!!" Justin wailed, "The snake has them under his control with those three eyes of his, and I think as long as he has that hypnotic ability, they can't ever wake up!!"
Blackberry's mind raced furiously, but then he remembered Fiver said that without sight, one could see the fight. Could it be possible that...
Suddenly, they rushed out into the open space of another chamber, but to their shock, it was a dead end. There were no other tunnels leading out of the room, and both of them were trapped. From the sounds behind them, Nekas was gaining, and there was nothing else in the chamber except for a small pool of cold, clear water supplied from an underground stream. Justin swore he felt his fear and panic intensify as he wildly looked around, "We're trapped! There's no way out!!"
Blackberry then spoke to him, "Not quite, Justin. We're not finished yet, not by a long shot! Remember Fiver's vision and riddle? The part about without any sense of sight, you can see the fight?!" Justin nodded apprehensively, and Blackberry continued. "I think if we can get rid of that monster's powers from his eyes, perhaps maybe blind him somehow, we can win this yet! If he doesn't have his sight, if he becomes blind..."
"Then maybe Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell will wake up from his spell!" Justin finished for the buck, catching on, but then a thought struck him. "But...but how do we blind him?? Can you claw his eyes out?!"
Blackberry miserably shook his head, "No, he's too powerful and big for me, and before I could even attack him, he would put me under his control, just like the others! I can't fight him if I can't look at him, young one!! But maybe...maybe we can blind him some other way!!" Justin then glanced at the pool of water as his mind began turning. It was a long shot, but...
"Blackberry, I have an idea!" he gasped out as he whispered the plan that was dangerously outlined into the rabbit's black ear. Blackberry turned at him, shocked. "What in the name of Frith?! That is unarguably the most foolish, insane, stupid -"
"I HAVE YOU NOW!!!" bellowed Nekas as it emerged from the tunnel, ready to attack them again, its three eyes glowing as it tried again to invoke its hypnotic glare from its evil eye. Blackberry gulped.
"O how I've come to loathe your bright ideas, young one!!" groaned Blackberry, but without argument, he and Justin ran and plunged themselves into the pool of water with a splash. Nekas smiled as it slithered up to the pool. Fools, it crowed for it knew that they would never be able to swim to safety using the underground stream. The human would drown before it even got a chance to see freedom, and if they didn't swim for it, then it would corner them and kill them with its own power. Either way, it mused to itself, they have lost. As he glanced into the pool, he could see both the human and the rabbit, staring stupidly at it, motionless and holding their breath as best as they could. Nekas sensed triumph, and to make sure they would not give too much of a struggle, it invoked its hypnotic gaze at the two as it hissed, "Look into my eyesssss you foolsssss!!"
Yet what happened next was completely unexpected. The light from the serpent's eyes was shining brightly enough to cause a reflection of its mirror image onto the water surface as he stared at Blackberry and Justin. Yet because it didn't acknowledge this, the snake, before it could overpower Justin and Blackberry, saw a complete likeness of itself with the same, blinding, yellow stare on the shimmering facade of the pool. And since the surface of water was just as good as a mirror, the snake got its hypnotic powers reflected right back at him, giving it a taste of its own medicine. To its complete astonishment, the light seared into its eyes and brain, becoming so intense, all three of its eyes withered into burnt, useless, brown tissue, and in agony, the snake screamed in fury and discomfort as the pain from its seared eyes became unbearable. Seeing the light die, Justin and Blackberry emerged from the surface of the pool, drenched and their lungs burning as they both gasped in precious air. As they crawled back on the solid ground, Justin was ecstatic; he was so afraid that his plan of using the snake's reflection on the water wouldn't work. Blackberry, choking and vomiting water, just gave the teenager a mock, mischievous glare.
"As I've said before, oh how I've come to loathe your bright ideas, young cross-bearer."
"Oh shut up," Justin said humorously, and in a moment, both of them raced back to the chamber where Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell were waiting for them, free from the power of Nekas, as the snake continued to howl in vengeful wrath.
***
"By Frith, that was certainly an experience I'm never going to forget!" groaned Bluebell as he stumbled out of the cave and into the fresh, inviting air of the canyon and open space. Earlier, to Blackberry and Justin's joy, they found Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell alive and aware, now that Nekas has lost its hypnosis once it destroyed its own eyes. With a little help from his cross, Justin, Blackberry, Campion, Bluebell, and Bigwig were able to rejoin their friends in the winding tunnels and find their way out and back to the canyon.
"I'm just glad you three are all right and safe!" chimed in Pipkin happily as he nuzzled against Bigwig's fur affectionately. Bigwig smiled at his friend, but then his eyes grew dark as he muttered, "I'd sooner would have liked the chance to give that eli disgrace a beating it will never forget!"
"It's all right, Bigwig," consoled Justin as he rode on Campion's back, still dripping from his dunk into the pool, "I really doubt Nekas will be able to attack us again, now that he's blind and can't use his powers to put creatures to sleep." Campion then turned his head to his human friend and to Blackberry.
"Blackberry, Justin, I speak for all three of us when I say 'thank you' for what you both have done," he praised with fondness, "You all could have left us behind with that serpent, but instead, you came back for us and fought that monster at your own risk, just to make sure we'd come back. I can't tell you both how much your friendship and loyalty meant." Blackberry just blushed, and Justin smiled. Holly sighed with relief.
"By the Black Rabbit, I think now I can say we're out of the thick of danger -" yet unfortunately, to Murphy's Law, there was a sharp squeal of rage, of immeasurable, uncontrollable anger, and with an explosion of the earth and sand in front of them, Nekas emerged into the open, its eyes leaking black blood as it wrathfully, as its sense of smell was able to detect the large group of rabbits standing directly in front of it.
"I AM NOT FINISHED YET!!!" it hissed in outrage, its anger and bloodlust fizzling in its dark blood, "I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!!"
"Oh embleer Frith!" cursed Strawberry.
"By the fur and paw!" panicked Speedwell, "It still wants to try and fight!"
"DIE!!!" Nekas roared as it lunged with fangs bared, and the rabbits of Watership Down were lucky enough to dodge the poisonous head of the serpent. Campion ordered to Justin, "Justin, hurry!"
"Time, stop!!" commanded Justin in a loud voice, but in a flash, Nekas buried itself under the ground, avoiding the power of the time-freeze, and it dug underneath the dirt with powerful thrusts of its head, hiding itself underneath the dirt to shield its vulnerability to Justin's cross. And with the snake hidden in the dirt, Justin had no way of time-freezing the snake or predicting where it was going to appear next.
Buckthorn cursed as he valiantly tried to get Fiver out of the open, "Frith in a hole, this monster is as cunning as El-ahrairah! We'll never find it before it has the chance to attack us!!"
Bigwig hollered to everyone, "Quickly, run everyone!!" With a mad dash, the rabbits rushed to the road that would take them out of the canyon, but Nekas emerged from the ground again, like a jack-in-the-box, completely taking the rabbits by surprise and lunged again. The rabbits dodged, barely, and Nekas burrowed itself into the ground before Justin could time-freeze it. Hazel then realized that if this game of cat-and-mouse continued much longer, they wouldn't be able to keep Justin safe for long. Blackberry panted as he nearly gave up hope. Even after blinding the monster, what else could they do to stop it? It couldn't die, and it was still hungry for their blood and flesh, but then, to his bewilderment, the buck heard El-ahrairah's dying voice one final time before his Prince fell into a stupor.
Your storm, Blackberry-rah, use it. Your storm, like a ditch filling with water in the rain.
"El-ahrairah??" he gasped weakly, and then Blackberry knew what needed to be done. What El-ahrairah needed him to use to protect Justin. Bringing himself close to Campion, Holly, Hazel, and Justin, he whispered his plan, but when he finished, the teenager gasped, "Blackberry' but you'll get hurt too!"
"I have to, for your sake and for El-ahrairah's," whispered Blackberry, smiling at Justin's naive loyalty and before he could argue, Blackberry was off while Hazel told Justin, "Just stick to his idea, Justin! If not, we're all doomed!"
"But Blackberry..."
"He wants you to make it out of here in one piece, young cross-bearer," Hazel finished for him, looking at Justin with his soft eyes, "Do you want to refuse him that duty?"
Justin miserably shook his head and prayed as he grabbed his cross, "Please, make it rain all along the canyon! Make it rain harder than any rainstorm in the land beyond life! Flood the canyon with water!!"
***
Blackberry called out tauntingly to Nekas, "Nekas, you still want to fight?! Come and get me then! You should at least be able to remember me, Blackberry, the buck who stole your chance of killing the cross-bearer and who wounded your nose!!" Immediately, the snake emerged out of the ground, fuming as he recognized the buck's voice.
"YOU!!" it screamed, "I'LL RIP YOUR BODY TO SHREADS YOU EMBLEER RABBIT!!" and before Blackberry could even run, the snake's tail whipped out from behind him and grabbed him painfully with the three-pronged claw, holding him securely. The snake was so intent on hurting Blackberry, he didn't even notice that rain was starting to pour down, torrential amounts of water cascading like a heavy mist as a strong downpour was already starting to instantaneously create puddles and flood the tiny stream. Blackberry gasped and squealed in pain as he tried to fight out, but the snake brought him closer to its bloody face as it sneered to the buck, "NOW, YOU SHALL FEEL MY WRATH!!"
Yet before he could bite him, he heard a distinct roaring noise, and to its horror, it could sense a massive overflowing flood coming down from the canyon directly at them. Because Justin, to Blackberry's urging, used his powers to invoke a torrential storm, the canyon was collecting all the rainwater pouring down on it, multiplying the water by the moment, letting it gather and increase in destructive force as it surged powerfully down towards them. Blackberry then cast a glance at the remaining rabbits. To Blackberry's idea of floating wood to make a vessel to carry Fiver and Pipkin through the stream and to get the Efrafan does out of Efrafa, Hazel, Justin and the others were now atop the fallen birch tree that Blackberry and Justin found when they first talked. Even if the flood caught them, the tree was buoyant enough to float them out of harm's way, symbolizing Blackberry's last and final use of his idea to protect Justin. Even if he did get swept up in the flood with Nekas, Blackberry could honestly say he didn't care; he's do it again if it was to save El-ahrairah and his friends.
"Looks like this 'embleer rabbit' has a more cunning mind than you, Nekas," Blackberry smirked, and the serpent could only manage to scream before the flood swept them up with a resounding crash. Stunned, the snake let go, and Blackberry had the fleeting glimpse of the snake being swept down the canyons with the rapid, churning water before the cold overcame his body and took him under. He could hear screaming, but his mind was slowly shutting down as the air escaped as bubbles from his nose and mouth. Yet, to his surprise, he felt himself be slowly lifted up out of the water by a telltale, golden, levitation ring and to be gently set down on the floating birch tree with Justin and the rest of the rabbits. Justin had extracted Blackberry, his friend, out of the flood before he could disappear in the depths of the rapids. Blackberry coughed and sputtered before looking into Justin concerned, grateful eyes, his tears mingling with the rain that fell down his face and hair. He grinned.
"I said I wasn't going to leave my friends behind," he whispered before tenderly hugging Blackberry around his neck. And this time, Blackberry could honestly say he didn't mind being close to a human as he friends looked on, smiling at the sight of Justin holding Blackberry close.
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Next: SPEEDWELL in "Speedwell's Ghost of a Chance"
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