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Author's note: Sorry about the delay, but seriously, I had the worst case of writer's block with this chapter, but I'm finally finished!  Enjoy the chapter of the last (but not the least) rabbit protector of Watership Down, Hazel-rah! =:)

Ugh, this is official: Hazel has the longest chapter out of all the fifteen rabbits.  This was 40 pages on my computer!  But I'm finally finished!  Enjoy!

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CHAPTER 23

                "Are we still lost, Bigwig?"

                "We are not lost, Dandelion!"

                "Um...Bigwig, I am quite sure we have passed this spot already!  It has already been marked with our paw prints!"

                "I know what I am doing, Holly!" Bigwig growled impatiently.

                "You have said that for the past three times, Bigwig," grumbled Campion, rolling his eyes in deep aggravation, "Bigwig, we are all tired, and we need to face the truth!  We have been running amongst these hedges, following the path of Frith, the scent of smells, markings, the flow of a breeze, anything!!  Yet we are all still no closer from finding our way out of these thickets and bushes anymore than when we have first started!  We need to rest!"

                "We can rest once we find our way out!"

                "Embleer Frith, Bigwig!  Must you always be so stubborn?!  We cannot possibly keep going on at this rate!" Strawberry growled angrily.

                Blackberry, though tired, tried to offer some reason, saying, "Actually, Strawberry, it would be best if we could find our way out of these brush muddles.  With such thick cover, it may keep us out of sight, yet it also prevents us from catching scent of any of Elil-rah's Owsla, making this area a perfect place for them to attempt an ambush."

                Bluebell, extremely annoyed with the nonchalant, wiser-than-thou, logical attitude Blackberry carried in his voice, snapped, "You know, that reasoning of yours can sometimes get very annoying, you black-eared duffer!"

                Blackberry growled back, taking insult.  "At least I am trying to offer assistance, unlike some rabbits who hop around, making comments and terrible jokes out of that big mouth of yours!"

                "I am not the one who has the big mouth in this Owsla, or the big head for that matter!"

                "Enough, you two," sighed Dandelion wearily as he and Fiver stepped in between the quarreling Bluebell and Blackberry, "Fighting will not solve anything, and there is no need for brawls.  We may be lost but we will find our way out, as always.  El-ahrairah and Frith are guiding us, and we won't fail, not as long as we keep believing that."

                "Dandelion, be quiet!" snapped Bluebell and Blackberry simultaneously as they kept giving death glares at each other.  Buckthorn broke in gracefully, addressing to Fiver.

                "Fiver, is there any way we can find a way out of these mess of hedges and bushes?  With your second sight?  It may be of some help, and the quicker we are out of this copse, the better."

                Fiver shook his head, explaining, "I'm sorry, but I cannot sense anything, Buckthorn!  All I can see is darkness and emptiness, nothingness, the unknown vast of space and barrenness, naught!  My second sight for some reason is not giving me the visions needed to help guide us through this mass!"

                Buckthorn then turned to Justin, who was riding on Holly's back, "Justin?  Your cross?"

                The young adolescent shook his head despondently.  "No, my cross also isn't working for some reason!  I kept praying for it to act as a compass so we can get out of here, but it's not being responsive!  It's as if it won't listen to me."

                "So basically, we are hopelessly lost...again!  Thanks ever so much, Bigwig!!" groaned Hawkbit, and his voice was now so discordant and astringent that Bigwig had to force himself to slowly count to four before he could yield to the enticement of strangling Hawkbit.  Holly noticed Bigwig was slightly quivering underneath his fur, and he placated the seething, boiling soldier lightly on the shoulder, trying to ease him.

                "Do not let Hawkbit get to you, Thlayli.  He is still your comrade."

                "Bury him alive...head-butt him into a lake...toss the duffer off a mountain...there must be some way to get rid of him!" hissed Bigwig to himself, obviously lost in his incensed need of brutal violence.

                "Hazel-rah, what do you think?" Pipkin asked the Chief rabbit, hoping he could provide an answer, yet the leader of the Watership Owsla did not even act as if he heard the question.  He was so melancholy and cheerless, his entire face was riddled with creases and creases of worry, despair, blame, guilt, and self-hate amongst the coffee-colored fur.  He no longer the light-hearted, spirited, yet clam, wise, and strong soul Justin remembered him as when he first met the rabbits of Watership Down, his eyes keen, compassionate, and never wavering between vacillation and fear, yet he appeared to be drained, weary, and oblivious to everything around him.  Holly, Campion, Bigwig, Fiver, and Blackberry all attempted to talk to him after he emerged from the thicket shortly after Holly had defeated Greenweed, and Lousewort and Sneezewort (after discussing matters about Justin's safety with Holly) had agreed to go ahead of the group towards El-ahrairah's warren in the meadows of Fenlo, leaving the rabbits behind while they go and try to warn the Owsla of El-ahrairah of the cross-bearer's approach.  But, it was no use.  Hazel, clearly distraught and broken, needed some time alone, and though Bigwig, Fiver, Pipkin and Campion were against this idea, after much one-sided attempts of conversation and discussion (in which Bigwig got so annoyed with Hazel's dreary silence he was about to cuff his Chief rabbit), the rest of the rabbits and Justin understood that Hazel needed some time in isolation for reflection and meditation.  It was ultimately up to him whether or not he would step out of his misery.

                Speedwell gently hushed his friend as he led him away quietly as Hazel hopped behind the rest of the rabbits, trailing last.  "Not now, Hlao-roo, Hazel-rah is not in the mood for chatter.  The poor bloke is taking it quite hard, ever since Fiver was abducted for the trials in the Land of Yesterday and Tomorrow, and the recent attacks of Greenweed, Lord Brock, and Cowslip are not helping him with matters much."

                "Poor Hazel-rah," murmured Pipkin unhappily, clearly in pain at seeing his friend and mentor in angst.

                "I know, I wish there was something we could do to help him," Justin acquiesced, bothered that Hazel still could not snap out of his doom and gloom, thus abandoning his role as the leader of the fellowship to scatter in the wind.

                "I am just as irritated and worried as you two are, but sulking and brooding over it until Elil-rah comes will not help with matters!" snapped an irascible Bigwig who overheard their discussion, "Look, I certainly do not wish for Hazel to remain in this state, and I would surely wish for nothing more than for the chap to get back to his old self!  Yet I do not think that Hazel-rah is in his right mind yet to help us lead the Owsla and protect the cross-bearer just yet, so as of now, just trust Holly and me to command this mission for El-ahrairah, all right?!"

                No one else refuted this rearrangement, so everyone silently adhered to Bigwig and Holly as they kept exploring and wandering for a possible exit out the thick, tortuous brush.  Blackberry, as he hopped along, noticed that there was something odd about the entire copse and vegetation they were in.  The bushes and hedges surrounding them were unnaturally thick, so thick that not even the strength of ten rabbits would have been enough to tear their way through the thick brush; they were almost as hard as stone.  And the hedges were starting to grow in uniform shape, displaying almost perfectly trimmed tops, exact light tones of green and yellow, and rectangular walls with flawless edges and corners.  In fact, the thicket and the fields no longer appeared to be creations of nature, but of man, and yet there was no scent of any other human except Justin around them.  However, all of this seemed so eerily familiar; Blackberry was sure he had heard something like this before...

                "Bigwig, will just admit that we are all pointlessly lost?!!" snapped Hawkbit, riddled with ennui and impatience.

                "Hawkbit, will you shut up?!" barked Bigwig, done in, "I know what I am doing!"

                "That would most indeed be a first!"

                "O Frith and Inle, this is exactly like being lost in the heather when we first arrived out of Sandleford back in the physical world!" Silver groaned softly, having a good inkling of what was about to emerge from the ongoing sniping.

                Furious, Bigwig was now roaring in front of Hawkbit's face for the insulting remark, standing on his hind legs and none too gently was roaring in the smaller rabbit's face, his fur bristling, his ears and whiskers twitching, and his brown eyes hard and narrow.  "Now listen to me, you furry, rat-tailed, obtuse, wretched excuse of a mud-hole!!  As of right now, I am the prime leader of this mission, and El-ahrairah has trusted myself and Holly and Hazel to help bring the cross-bearer back to his warren!  The last thing we need is some whining buck that's worse than a helpless kitten to tell an Owsla captain what to do and to spread dissention in this group!!"

                "Embleer Frith, Bigwig, this is exactly like the incident with Blood Whitetail and the Wolfen Gale all over again!" snapped Hawkbit, bristling, "Can't you see that we need rest and work together as one?!  You can't push us until we are at the brink of exhaustion or ignore our concerns and opinions on what we think are best!!  Just because you are a commander and an Owsla captain does not mean your decision and word outweighs the general consensus!!  We are supposed to act as one for Justin's sake!!  At least Hazel-rah never acted this boorish!!"

                "I'm not Hazel-rah!" Bigwig snapped.

                "Frith in a barn, that is certainly something I am grateful for!" sneered Hawkbit, "El-ahrairah forbid if even Hazel-rah should turn out to be as stubborn, obstinate, dense, short-sighted and violent as you, you inconsiderate -!"  That was all Hawkbit was able to manage to verbalize before a swift, hard cuff from Bigwig struck him across the face and sent Hawkbit reeling onto his back.  While wiping the trickle of blood from a gash on his mouth with his forepaw, Hawkbit gave Bigwig a mixture of pure indignation and outrage, and Bigwig glared obdurate daggers back just as harshly.  Holly was shocked; certainly, there were many instances when Bigwig has cuffed Hawkbit, yet those were times in jest or moderate discipline.  This time, as Acorn and Speedwell helped Hawkbit rise, Holly could see that Bigwig simply hit Hawkbit because he vindictively wanted to hurt him out of spite and opprobrium.

                "Bigwig, that is enough!" Silver cried as he tried to place himself between the two, yet Hawkbit furiously stood up, murder in his eyes, wrenching himself free from Acorn and Speedwell's grasps for control.

                "Hawkbit, no!!" cried out Speedwell.  Yet the significantly smaller, blackish rabbit, with a roar, charged, barreling past Silver before he could grab him and directly and brutally tackled Bigwig, knocking him off his feet.  Instantly, there was an uproar as the others of El-ahrairah's Owsla shouted for the two to cease, amidst the gasps, bellows, curses, and pleadings for peace.  Disregarded, Hazel just still remained static and glum.

                "Hawkbit, stop it, please!" Pipkin and Fiver pleaded as they along with Justin tried to pull Hawkbit as he and Bigwig were tightly wrapped along each other's body, trying to maintain their hold as they kept scratching and biting.  Campion and Buckthorn were trying to pin down Bigwig, but bucking, he threw them off as the adrenaline and blood rushed in his veins, exacerbating the situation as Hawkbit managed to sink his teeth into Bigwig's shoulder, and in painful retaliation, Bigwig sank his claws into his aggressor's face once again, leaving back deep, hacked gashes on Hawkbit's head.  If it continued any longer, Bigwig and Hawkbit would both be seriously mauled and battered, yet Justin and Acorn then came up with a clever way to break them apart.

                "Multiply!" shouted Justin, and in a flash on golden light, twenty-odd replicas of Acorn appeared out of thin air, and with stratagem and quick tactic, both Bigwig and Hawkbit, though struggling and writhing, still invigorated by their anger, were dragged apart and both being pinned down by at least ten Acorn rabbits each.  One bold Acorn replica, who positioned himself by squatting atop Bigwig's chest, spoke in a clear, firm voice, "Bigwig, we will release you once you call for a truce."

                Bigwig remained stubbornly silent, embarrassed beyond comprehension.  Then another clone, who held Hawkbit with a secure bear hug around the argumentative rabbit's shoulders, asked the panting Hawkbit, "And you, Hawkbit?  Both Justin and the rest of the chaps agree that if you two can at least pretend to be civil towards one another, then we'll feel safer to let the two of you go."

                Hawkbit just gave an annoyed growl before he glared at Bigwig.  Silver and Holly sighed, rolling their eyes.

                "We would also be willing, though acquiescent, with a temporary, forced compromise between the two of you.  And, no, the two of you do not need to be sincere in the compromise either as long as you leave each other the bloody hell alone!" Holly declared in a tired voice.  Hawkbit and Bigwig, whose faces were now as red and flushed as Elil-rah's glowing eyes, shared a submissive look between them.

                "Truce, chap?" rasped Bigwig.

                "Truce...and now, WILL THE EMBLEER LOT OF YOU GET OFF ME?!!!" screamed Hawkbit, his voice rising with great irritation, strained and hoarse.  The multiples obliged, and their job done, they vanished into smoke, wafting into the clear air above.  Despite the fuming glowers Bigwig and Hawkbit flashed towards each other and the strings of curses running through their heads, they begrudgingly kept silent as Justin healed the both of them with his cross, his light sealing their wounds in an instant, though Justin had to bite his tongue from reprimanding the both of them as well.  In the interim, the rest of the rabbits were discussing what to do alongside Holly, minus Hazel who was apart and separated from them.

                "Holly, we need to rest.  I'm not so sure that the remainder of us can keep this up, and Pipkin is close to collapse," Campion said thoughtfully.

                "Normally, I would agree, Campion," Holly said, "yet, there is something...perplexing about this place, and it makes me feel uneasy, as if I remember something such as this before."

                "It is probably just fatigue, bucko," Strawberry tried to soothe sensibly, "There is probably nothing to worry about!  If there was danger, the Fiver would have been alerted from his visions of the second sight."

                "No, Holly has a point.  There is something odd about this place.  Haven't the rest of you noticed how strangely homogeneous and perfectly shaped the surrounding vegetation is around us?  It is as if...as if we are in some sort of a man place!  Never in nature has anything been this faultless!  Listen, I agree we would need rest, and we will, but I would certainly be less apprehensive if we were out in the open where we could at least get a clear view of any attacks or armies from Elil-rah's Owsla."  Dandelion, Speedwell, and Acorn gave numerous sounds of agreement.

                Campion then queried, "But in order for us to do that, we need to find our way out of this growth, and Justin cannot use the cross to guide us as he did last time in Nekas' caves, and Fiver has no premonitions of the path that could lead us towards the exit of this tharn place.  How are we do leave?  We are practically stuck."

                "Wait a minute!  There might be another way!" Justin exclaimed, silently kicking himself for not thinking of it sooner.  Hoping it would work and that his powers would not go on the fritz again, Justin clasped his cross and started to pray.  To his excitement, it succeeded as the golden sword with the amethyst handle appeared with a flurry of sunbeams into Buckthorn's paws.  Buckthorn then understood what Justin wanted him to do.  With a roar, the strong buck charged with the blade above his head before bringing it down on a particularly dense area of shrubs with a fierce, downward slash.  There was now a large, yet narrow opening through the barrier of bushes, hacked open by Buckthorn's sword.  From the gap, the rest of the Watership Owsla could see that it had opened up to a lesser dense area, littered with damp soil, dead leaves, and several black, barren trees, gnarled and shriveled from age against the cloudy, clod sky.  There wasn't a single ray of sunlight penetrating through the afternoon atmosphere.  Still, it was better than being cramped and clustered in such claustrophobic environments.

                "Excellent thinking, young one!" praised Blackberry as the rest of the rabbits grew extremely reassured at the prospecting hope, and the sight did manage to calm down the previous exchange of blows between Bigwig and Hawkbit.  "Come on!  Let us -!"

                Yet to everyone's surprise, the hedge quickly, with odd, gurgling noises, healed itself, enclosing the gap once more again.  Stunned, they could only watch as the wall of bushes grew and grew with an incredible rate, crackling and rustling until the opening Buckthorn had made had completely disappeared, the plant barrier was now completely renewed and intact, with no trace of the damage Buckthorn had made moments before.

                "What in the name of the Black Rabbit?!" Buckthorn bellowed.

                "Frith in a hole!" Silver gasped.

                "Normally, I would find this comical if it wasn't so intimidating," gulped Bluebell.  Blackberry then gasped at the word; he then realized why this seemed so vaguely proverbial.

                "Embleer Frith, now I remember why this was so familiar!" cried out Blackberry, holding his head with his paws, "This is a comical field!  A comical field!  Exactly how El-ahrairah was in the story!"  Blackberry's words sent chills in everyone's backs, including Justin's, who recalled that in "The Story of the Comical Field", the antagonist Greenweed sent victims to be devoured by a dark, unknown, evil creature by sending them into the comical field.  The comical field was a man-made maze, a labyrinth, with walls consisting of thick bushes and winding passageways, like the hedge mazes found public gardens in Justin's world.  However, the difference was that once a creature was unfortunate enough to step paw into the comical field, they would never find their way out again only to become feasted upon by the dark creature, such as the Minotaur trapped in the maze built by Daedalus in Greek mythology.

                "Wait..." said Justin weakly, "...if...if we're in a comical field, then...then where's the monster??"

                The adolescent could have sworn that the temperature of the air had suddenly dropped at the sound of his question.  The rabbits, including Hazel (who had probably snapped back to attention at the imminent danger), began to look apprehensive and fearful.  Holly immediately took charge.

                "Buckthorn, quickly, try to force another opening through again, and for El-ahrairah's sake, do not stop and give it a chance to seal itself up again!  We'll try to jump through when -!"  Yet what Holly said was lost as a loud roar reverberated throughout the thicket.  It was a hellish screech unlike anything Justin had ever heard of before, though similar to the cry of a eagle mixed with the deadly growls of a lion and a bear with a touch of foghorn mixed together to form something intense, something huge, something rotten, desolate, and evil to its very core.

                "What...what was that?!" whimpered Pipkin, shivering, yet Fiver, who was next to his friend, began shaking as his eyes suddenly glazed over.  He was having another vision of warning premonition.

                "Fiver?!" Acorn gasped.

                "The Unknown...the evil...a second light in the darkness...It is coming," sniveled Fiver, holding his head painfully as the bleak images barreled through.

                "Fiver, what in -?!" yet that was as far as Speedwell was able to ask before the ground started to rumble and shake madly, nearly throwing all of the fellowship off-balance, and to their dismayed terror, the entire comical field was swiftly and drastically changing as well, with the walls breaking apart, moving wildly in different directions, and forming new barriers.  It was as if the comical field was now alive, and all the hedges and bushes were doing their absolute best to prevent the rabbits from escaping...and to divide the Owsla apart from each other.

                "Help!" yelled Pipkin as he and Fiver were suddenly elevated above their comrades' heads as a new wall sprouted rapidly from underneath the ground and their forepaws, and before the two rabbits could do anything about it, their were stuck standing on the very top surface of the hedge as the column rose higher and higher with no intention of stopping.  Before Justin could react with this cross, another wall, thick, green, and bushy, skimmed across the dirt with hasty effectiveness, attempting to cut off Dandelion, Speedwell, Acorn, and Justin from the rest of the group.

                "Justin!" Campion hollered as he and Strawberry endeavored for rescue, but it was too late.  The hedge automatically positioned itself in front of the four, sealing them off into a separate, different compartment of the maze away from their fellow warriors.

                "Hey!" shouted Justin.

                "O Frith and Inle!  We're trapped!" exclaimed Dandelion as he placed his paws on the hedge while standing on his hind feet, trying to see if he could push or budge the barrier away from them.  As Acorn was trying to comfort Justin, Speedwell suddenly sensed something was watching them, and from the corner of his eyes, he could have sworn he saw something dart between the hedges.  He wasn't sure...but it was black, huge, and certainly foreboding enough to make his fur turn cold.  He turned around sharply.  Nothing was apparent, but Speedwell, though he could not explain it, knew that whatever it was, it was close.

                "Dandelion, something is coming!  We aren't alone here!  Something's coming!" Speedwell shrieked.  Acorn and Justin looked around wildly at the warning, but they could view nothing but the green walls and the moist, brown dirt.  Dandelion, though, hollered as loud as he could, hoping the others could hear him on the other side of the wall, "Campion!!  Strawberry!!  We're trapped!!  Embleer Frith, get us out!!  Hurry!!  Speedwell thinks he can sense something approaching directly for us!!"

                Campion and Strawberry's faces blanched at this.  Buckthorn took action.

                "Stand back!!" he commanded as he, still carrying the golden sword, thrust the trusty blade as hard as he could onto the hedge.  It was no use as the brush, immediately after succumbing to the harsh, cold metal, instantly healed its gashes and cuts made from the weapon, showing no damage.  It was repairing itself faster than previously before.  Campion, Strawberry, and Buckthorn felt their hearts plummet with consternation.  Meanwhile, Justin was trying his best to use his power to get all of them out of the enclosed room as Speedwell and Acorn braced themselves for attack.

                "Teleport!  Teleport all of us out of the comical field!"  Nothing happened, and there was only a silent, anticlimactic setback as another harsh, slobbering growl from the unknown lurker in the maze thudded all around them.

                "Oh no!  It won't work!" groaned Justin.

                "Then we'll all still be snared in this tharn trap without anyway to escape from the brute that's tracking us!" panted Speedwell, his mouth slightly frothing from fear.

                Dandelion then hit upon an idea.

                "Justin, wait, if we cannot teleport everyone out of the comical field, try teleporting everyone back together at the place we were previously!  Bring us back all together and on the other side of this wall!  That way, we'll be away from the monster even though we will all still be stuck in the labyrinth!  Hurry, chap!"  Justin understood, and trembling, he grasped the necklace in his hands and prayed silently as Speedwell, Acorn, and Dandelion gathered around their friend, and to their extreme joy and respite, a flurry of golden embers and sparks completely engulfed them before disappearing back to their Owsla.  As they vanished, everyone in the maze could hear an unearthly, furious shriek of disappointment as the mysterious, nameless creature could do nothing but watch its prey escape from its clutches.

                For the time being, Fiver and Pipkin, while cowering from the dizzy heights as the hedge continued to rise higher and higher, they too, found themselves surrounded by the cross' power of teleportation as the strange appearance of lights and dust swallowed them entirely, only to bring them back along with Justin, Dandelion, Speedwell, and Acorn, all six of them becoming visible in front of everyone's eyes.  Now, the group was finally one again, reunited.

                "Justin!" gasped Strawberry, relieved, and Hazel was seen touching noses with Fiver, apparently now back to his sensible, alert self, brought back to the reality of the battle.  However happy the rest of the team was for Hazel being back, they knew they needed to focus their attention on the upcoming danger.

                "Now what do we do?" gasped Strawberry, "Justin's cross will not work for specific tasks, and the creature is still trying to track us down exactly like it has tried to achieve before with El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle!  And with the comical field altering itself by Elil-rah's will, it will not be long before we are all separated from each other again if we stand around and do nothing like tharn kittens!!"

                There was another roar as rustling and snapping and crashing noises emerged from all around them.  It was plain indication that whatever the evil carnivore is, it was now on the move and quickly doing its very best to track down and corner the Watership Owsla along with Justin.  Bigwig finally decided on the best alternative, headstrong action.

                "Everyone, run!" he barked sharply, taking into command and hurriedly lifting a scared Justin upon his broad back, "For Frith's sake, run!  Holly, Buckthorn, Bluebell lead us!  Everyone else, stay close together and do NOT lag behind!  Stay close and run!!  RUN!!"  Immediately, without any further hesitation, the entire Owsla of Watership Down raced, galloping madly yet unified, as their paws and feet pounded relentlessly on the terrain, following Holly, Bluebell and Buckthorn, the three of them using every sharp wit and clever thought they could gather despite their frantic panic threatening to break through their senses.  Wordlessly, albeit there was panting, gasping, and terrified glances over their shoulders, the group wildly ran, following any opening or gap that appeared.  Unfortunately, there were various efforts of the hedges trying to separate them again by establishing new walls and blockades, yet Justin was prepared and cast his time-freeze on the entire comical field.  It worked in the sense that the hedges could no longer sprout and move, no longer threatening to confuse and hinder their rabbits from escaping.  Regrettably, however, it was apparent that the power of stopping time had no effect on whatever was catching them as the monster, now further determined and angered by the flashes of sunlight, was apparently running harder and more recklessly in its thirst for the hunt.

                "By the Black Rabbit, the creature is unstoppable!" uttered Bluebell in alarm.

                "At least we won't have to worry about those blasted plants trying to block our way in the comical field!" panted Silver as he scurried along, "So things haven't gone bad yet, chap!"  As if on cue, the instant the rabbits and Justin turned around a corner, to their horrified apprehension, they all realized that beyond the corridor of plants ended at a large, brown, wall of rock, obviously from the side of a mountain.  After outrageous twists and turns, vain attempts to try to find a path out of the cursed comical field with an insane, bloodthirsty monster, the entire Owsla had ran straight into a trap with no way out!  There were no other passageways, and the only possible route out of the predicament would be back...towards the monster that would trailing shortly behind them.

                "By the way, did I ever thank you duffers for aiding us with your tracking abilities?" Hawkbit growled scathingly.

                "I do not believe so," Bluebell averred vacantly, half paying attention to Hawkbit and half dreading on what other possible solutions could not help them get out of this.

                "Good, then I'll keep doing it!" snapped back the castigating rabbit rudely.

                "We have to turn around!" Holly ordered bravely, though he knew to be willing to run into one of Elil-rah's creatures and endangering the cross-bearer was certainly less than pragmatic.  "We can't just stay here and await our fate helplessly!"

                "If I'm for the Black Rabbit, that tharn, embleer creature is coming with me!" growled Bigwig, "Justin!  Transform me into a dog, quickly!  It may be enough to stop this monster of evil and for me to delay it long enough for you buckos to escape!"

                Bluebell complained, "But Bigwig, it still will not solve the problem of having us to search and discover for a way out, and considering that Justin's time-freeze will not stay for long, it will not be long before the comical field tries to separate us again!"

                Blackberry added, "And even if we did manage to stay together, you will still be left behind at the mercy of that monster, and the plants all around us will constantly alter and adjust themselves so that it will ensure that we will never find our way out!  The only one who was able to find escape was El-ahrairah, and even that was pure, random luck, something we cannot depend on to protect the cross-bearer!"

                Another roar of bombastic triumph rang out in the air, this time loud enough to make the bushes and hedges all around the Owsla quiver slightly, and though Justin could not see it, the beast was truly frightening and shocking as he could hear its hot breath, its heavy feet ripping up sod and grass in its wake, the faint plops of drool dropping from its mouth, and its gargantuan, heavy body as it slowly, terrifyingly, made its way in the passages of the labyrinth.  It was close, so very close.  And the fact that the teenager could only imagine what the creature would be like was enough to make him light-headed with fear and the deepest terror.

                Pipkin then squealed, "What if we made our own exit out of this comical field?!  We could make a new opening out and be able to escape from the creature!  After all, in the story, the beast would not leave the comical field; it would not travel beyond the boundaries of the hedges!"

                "I already tried that, young one," said Buckthorn, "Do you not remember, with the sword of the cross?  The hedges and the walls of the comical field would immediately close up as soon as I drove my blade into them.  It is of no use, Hlao-roo, for if I simply tried again, the barriers of brush would just close up again!"

                "Then, why can't we try doing it into the ground and dig our way out...or...or how about through the mountain?" whimpered Pipkin.  The other rabbits and Justin looked at him with incredible, marveled wonder.  It was a simple question, yet it was brimming with a cunning inspiration worthy of El-ahrairah.  Pipkin looked embarrassed, thinking he said something stupid.

                "Well...I thought....I thought -," the small soldier stammered, thoroughly nervous, yet Blackberry cheered excited, cuffing Pipkin lovingly, "Great golden Frith, young one!  You've hit it upon the mark!  You're right!!  You are absolutely right!!"

                Justin was already on it, praying with renewed, fervent passion as he grasped the cross with one hand, and in a flash, both Strawberry and Holly were showered with gold, yellow, and orange, their entire bodies shining with a faint outline of sunlight before vanishing again.

                "Holly, Strawberry, I gave both of you your powers of rending and seismokinesis!!  You guys can use it to make a path through the mountain!  Hurry!!" Justin shouted, almost pleading as the unknown drew closer and closer, growling and grumbling.  Holly, with a cry of might, threw his paws towards the mountain, and with a tremendous, shattering explosion, through the dust and debris floating in the cloudy air, to their happiness, a deep cavern, large and inward enough to house all of the rabbits, was now formed in the dark rock, the opening cracked with ugly, jagged edges and miniscule pieces of shiny quartz.  Holly was successful and strong enough to shatter the rocks into pieces

                "Come on!  Hurry!  Get in there, you tharn duffers or I'll rip your ears off!!" ordered Bigwig brusquely as he, Hazel, and Campion herded everyone inside, avoiding the sharp, large bits of mineral littered on the ground.  Once they were all within the cave, without further ado, Strawberry raised up his paws and immediately, with a soft, rhythmic thundering, a wall of thick, impenetrable rock rose above the soil and dirt from the ground and sealed off the opening to the cavern, hiding and blocking the Owsla and the teenager safely from the clutches of the monster.  Safe at last, the Watership rabbits and Justin held their breaths in the stifling, murky darkness of the cave as they heard the creature finally approach the area where they were previously standing only mere seconds before.  Despite the faint traces of light originating from Justin's cross, the cave was still dark enough to make all the occupants shiver as they heard the screeches of enraged, cheated, disappointment, and the wall of stone that Strawberry had summoned shook violently as the brute was slamming its heavy paw into the rock, hoping to break it down.  The stone barrier held fast, but Strawberry and the others saw that tiny cracks were beginning to surface from the buckling pressure, and it would not be long before the living horror would succeed in breaking through.

                "That won't hold it off for long," commented Dandelion worriedly.

                "Hey, look at this!" exclaimed Justin in surprise as the rest of the fellowship of El-ahrairah turned around.  Apparently, Holly's powers tore the mountain deep enough to reach a second cavern, almost like a tunnel, conjoining the two.  And they could feel cold air, blowing softly like a gentle breeze, though it was certainly cold, misty, and gloomy.  Under the gentle glow of the sunlight, Justin could see that the stone was no longer brown, but black, almost like marble and so frigid to touch, it burned.

                "Well," sighed Hazel in defeat, though he did seem to improve emotionally and psychologically, appearing more and more like his old self again, "It's not much, but we do not have any choice.  The longer we stay here, the further the danger increases when the...whatever the creature is that was chasing us...breaks through.  At least if we travel, we will be able to find a way out by following the smell of fresh air in the runs.  Come on!  The faster we hurry, the sooner we can find ourselves out in the open, and I daresay I shall be in the mood for some silflay and cowslips, eh chaps?  Come on!"  Their spirits raised by the sound of Hazel's strong, authoritative, yet gentle demeanor along with the thought of food and rest was enough to get all of them to follow with great haste up the tunnels.  Yet, if they remained at the cavern for a bit longer, they would have heard a secretive, sickening, eagerly murderous voice, disembodied yet viciously baritone and untamed, chuckle from the other side of the rock wall of the comical field, "THE BLACK RABBIT, JUSTIN...THE BLACK RABBIT SHALL DELIEVER YOU TO YOUR DEATH, CROSS-BEARER."

                                                                                ***

                "It's so cold, it hurts to even breathe," shivered Dandelion as Hawkbit and Pipkin huddled next to him for shared warmth as they hopped along the stone run.  They had been in numerous caverns and winding passageways, branching out to other stone burrows and caverns.  It was almost as if they were in another maze, but luckily, they were able to smell the fresh air that was guiding them towards a possible opening out.

                "Embleer Frith, this is even colder than that one winter back at Watership Down while we were planning on building Vleflain!" griped Hawkbit.

                "I remember," commented Acorn thoughtfully, "That was the winter when I had stopped running, and it was the worst frost we ever experienced back in the physical world.  If Kehaar did not warn us, both Vleflain and the Honeycomb would have surely perished."

                "And I remember that story too," Justin added, "In 'Tales From Watership Down', that was the same winter you all met Flyairth, and she came to live with you at Watership Down."

                "O embleer Frith!" groaned Bigwig, trying to keep his mind off the frost and grateful for the conversation, "Do not remind me, young one!  I am still having nightmares of when I first met that unbearable, jumpy, troublemaking doe!  Her and her tharn, 'white blindness' paranoia!  I tell you, Justin, that winter was nearly enough to make me scratch out my own fur!  If it was not for the fact that I could spend my frustrations out on Hawkbit, I would have surely gone mad!"

                "I knew it!  I knew you were picking and bullying me more than usual on that winter!" Hawkbit whined in a bragging voice, "Yet I can probably understand why.  That Flyairth, always so jumpy and opinionated and stubborn!  I would be highly surprised if there was any buck who would have been willing to even to touch her!"

                Blackberry gave a secretive glower as his ears slightly flushed red.  Justin, however, noticed this and gasped.

                "Blackberry??" he asked with disbelief and pleasant surprise, "You...you and Flyairth??"

                Blackberry did not answer, but now, with wide eyes of embarrassment and shyness, the black-eared buck's entire face was now blushing.  As the other rabbits chuckled, though some, such as Bigwig and Hawkbit were taken aback at the news, Bluebell, coming to his friend's defense, guffawed, "Actually, they are close friends, Justin, but I daresay that our ever-so-intellectual genius has a little affection going for the doe, eh chap?  Ever since they met back at Watership Down, Blackberry was quite taken with her, and even though they never had a chance to express it, after they both came to the land beyond life, they had a chance to grow close and...be intimate."

                "Wow," Justin was able to manage, smiling and fighting the urge to chuckle, "Well then, Blackberry, I'm...happy for you and Flyairth."

                "O Frith and Inle, Justin!" moaned Blackberry, now mortified and hot despite the cold temperature, "It is not as if we are mates, you duffer!  We are simply good friends with complementary and shared views, nothing more.  And we respect each other greatly; she admires my intellect and wits and cunning inspiration."

                "I'm not so sure that is all she admires about you, you black-eared duffer!" chortled Silver as he tweaked the spot between Blackberry's ears on his head affectionately.

                "That is enough, everyone," Hazel said in a final tone, though one could detect the amusement in his voice, "You've all had your fun with Blackberry long enough, and additionally, there are some more good news!  Look!  It is getting lighter at the end of the run!"  All the rabbits turned in front of them to see that Hazel had spoken the truth.  Despite the steep slope of the run, almost as if they were traveling through the mountains again, they have been journeying to for the past hour or so, they were all relieved to see that there were faint traces of white, pure light from the outside world competing with the faint shimmer of golden sun from Justin.  It would not be for long now until they would finally be able to be out in the open and get a well-deserved rest.  Everyone was done in and exhausted.

                "It's not much further," Silver sighed with relief, yet, as with Murphy's Law, he spoke too soon.  Suddenly, to Justin and the rabbits' horrors, with a gentle rumble of moving rock, the end of the tunnel sealed up, closing off the only exit the Watership Owsla knew off.  Now, they needed to search for another way out.

                "Frith in a hole, this just gets worse and worse!" moaned Dandelion.  Silver and Campion turned to Strawberry violently.

                "Strawberry, did you do this?!" asked Silver, and Strawberry's eyes narrowed at the accusatory tone in the light-furred rabbit's voice, again infuriating the reddish rabbit of the sense of mistrust from Silver he had received before.

                "No, I did not!" he snapped, "Embleer Frith, Silver, you have a real hard time accepting the fact that I'm loyal to El-ahrairah, don't you?!"

                "You certainly cannot blame me," snapped Silver back, "After all, you are the only one here who can control the earth with the power Justin blessed you, not to mention you were still a part of Cowslip and the Warren of the Shining Wires!"

                "Silver, that is enough!" Campion shouted hoarsely before turning to Strawberry, "Strawberry, is there a way you could use your power to unblock the run and let us out?"

                "Not until that crack-brained, fat buffoon over there apologizes!" snapped back Strawberry, obviously hurt.

                "Those insults were uncalled for!" snarled Silver.

                "And I have a lot more in mind if you desire to hear the truth!" growled Strawberry.

                "I think we were better off in the comical field with the evil elil," murmured Dandelion uncomfortably and wryly to Speedwell, Acorn, and Bluebell.

                "Is it too late for us to go back?" Speedwell quipped dryly as he looked on at the intense argument.

                "Look, Strawberry, stop being so stubborn and self-righteous and remove the embleer wall of rock!  What else do you propose to do besides standing there and being an idiot?!" Silver said sharply.

                "Frith in a barn, I know what I would love to do right now!" growled Strawberry, holding up a paw threateningly in front of him, in plain sight of Silver.

                "Just you try it!" snapped Silver, ears pointed straight and fur bristling.

                "Enough, you two!" yelled Campion as he and Fiver got in between the two quarrelsome rabbits and forcefully got in their paths, knowing that neither one of them would be willing to hurt Campion and Fiver physically to get to the other.  Fiver then begged to Strawberry.

                "Strawberry, please, don't fight!  You know Silver does not mean it and that he trusts you, but we are all just...strained and scared!  This tharn place of cold is no place for warm hearts and brave spirits such as ourselves, so of course we are all extremely edgy and quick-tempered.  This isn't going to help us or Justin, and you still have the powers of Digger and Swift-Warning to manipulate the earth and rock, so use your gifts to help the rest of us get out of here!  Please!  We can discuss apologetics later."

                Yet before Strawberry could even act, a voice sounded above all of them, shadowy, calm, serene, yet so mysterious and ethereal, like trying to grasp water and fog as it slowly flowed into pools of ice water with only the faintest of lulling noises.

                Strawberry would not be able to move the rock even if he wished it so, for my power and my warren can only prevail here alone, and it is of my will and decision to not let you rabbits of Watership Down and El-ahrairah leave.

                Horror-struck, Justin and rest of the rabbits slowly turned behind themselves and glanced upwards to see that they were all staring directly into the face of the Black Rabbit of Inle.

                Justin's breath caught in his throat as he felt his heart quicken, his breath come out in short, small pants, making small puffs of fog in the cold, artic atmosphere.  In "Watership Down", the Black Rabbit of Inle was an angel of Death in the form of a rabbit who served Frith, the god of all rabbits, by bringing death to animals and accompanying their spirits to the land beyond life.  If a rabbit or any animal were meant to die, that their time has come, then the Black Rabbit would bring death to the animal, whether it be sickness, a predator, or the gun of a human.  The thing was though, the Black Rabbit of Inle really was a rabbit, with his own warren and his own Owsla of shadows and darkness, which was exactly what the Black Rabbit represented, darkness, death, and fear.  And, in the story, "El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inle", the Black Rabbit refused to take El-ahrairah's life in return for saving his warren from the siege of King Darzin, saying it was not his time.  Even when El-ahrairah resorted to trying to infect himself with the White Blindness, the Black Rabbit finally relented to save El-ahrairah's warren and he and his shadow warriors drove away King Darzin and his soldiers.  In short, the Black Rabbit was not necessarily an enemy, yet one could definitely argue he was not an ally either.  Justin took in what he was seeing.  The Black Rabbit was large, almost as tall as lion, King Darzin, and standing up on his hind feet allowed him to tower over the rabbits by more than twice their heights.  Unlike the rest of the Watership rabbits, each having a distinctive scent, the Black Rabbit had no smell, and actually smelled like...fresh, bare, clean nothingness.  He had no scent.  The entire pelt of the rabbit was blacker than night, blacker than ink, with not one fur out of place and meticulously groomed and kept short.  Though he was a rabbit, Justin could feel that there was practically no warmth radiating from his body; he was as wintry and lifeless as the unfeeling rocks that made up the tunnels.  The Black Rabbit's face was deep, solemn, yet, in a very demented and strange way, wise and fatherly, and even though his eyes were glowing in a crimson glow as pure and flawless as fresh blood, Justin could honestly say he felt no form of threat from those eyes that were analyzing them calmly and coolly.

                The rest of the rabbits were shivering and trembling with petrified awe; even though they had all met the Black Rabbit of Inle before, they still could not bear to face him for long without having the roots of fear and ice take hold of their bodies.  Though some such as Buckthorn, Holy, Hazel, Fiver and Campion were doing their best to maintain their gazes, the rest, especially Pipkin, were shivering and whimpering.

                Hazel forced himself to remain composed and gracious under the presence of the overwhelming spirit as he spoke cordially, "My lord, the Black Rabbit of Inle, please let us go.  We...we mean you and your warren no harm for we are -."

                I know who the lot of you are, Hazel-rah, the Black Rabbit said coldly, as if he was slightly irked that they did not give him credit for his acute discernment and omniscience, and about Justin, the human armed the with light of Frith and God in his jewel, the cross he wears around his neck.  He then turned unexpectedly towards Buckthorn, giving a slight nod of his head as greetings.

                Buckthorn, I see that you are well.  Buckthorn just stared blankly at the Black Rabbit before humbly averting his gaze and mumbling a slight, embarrassed response.  This, however, got some of the interest of the others, despite their fears and surprised that the Black Rabbit knew their friend a bit more intimately; they never found out, after Buckthorn fought off Hufsa, whether or not it was true that their friend had actually won a tournament of bobstones against the messenger of Death.  The Black Rabbit then turned to Hazel, frowning, as the Chief Rabbit tried to speak calmly and earnestly.

                "My lord, please, why are you holding us prisoner?  We have not committed any crime, and Justin is not one of the Thousand.  My lord, please, let us leave so that we can help El-ahrairah and heal him before Elil-rah kills him!  Please, we need to finish our mission.  Allow us to leave your warren."

                No, I cannot do as you ask, Hazel, the Black Rabbit of Inle replied.

                "What?!  Why not?!  We need to get to El-ahrairah!  For whatever reason?!" protested the other Watership warriors heatedly.  The Black Rabbit of Inle paid no attention to the objecting rabbit soldiers as he focused his eyes on Hazel and Justin, who was still riding on Bigwig, next to him.

                All of you are free to explore my home, for you are all welcome guests, not prisoners, but I do not wish to allow you, Hazel, or Justin, to leave this warren at this current time, especially since Elil-rah's minions are tracking you and your Owsla which could endanger your task to return back to Fenlo.  Additionally, I do not wish any of you to leave until the serious matter of endangerment and reckless ineptitude in your leadership skills as a Chief Rabbit in this mission is taken care of.

                "What?" gasped Justin, thoroughly confused.  The Black Rabbit of Inle then turned to the cross-bearer sternly.

                I must admit, young Justin, I do have reservations about allowing a human, one of the Thousand, to enter in my bode, my sanctuary and home.  It is not a pleasant thought, and despite what El-ahrairah swears by, I do not agree that a human boy is the key to helping Frith fight against Elil-rah.  All men have caused despair and torment to animals ruthlessly and without just cause, and yet here, standing before me, is a human, one who is truly more evil than any other animal in the entire land beyond life, possibly even more so that Woundwort, and yet I may possibly have to aid your Owsla into helping him.  It is hardly a tolerable compromise.

                "It was not his fault!  He never asked to be chosen!" Silver snapped heatedly despite his cold stomach turning over with dread.

                "My Lord, Justin is not an enemy, and El-ahrairah trusts in his power and judgment, so there is no reason to have such a lack of faith for our friend!" pleaded Fiver.

                El-ahrairah also trusted Hazel in leading the Owsla of Watership Down to fight against Elil-rah and protect the cross-bearer, but after hrair brushes with danger and near-failures of having the human killed, I can honestly say with conviction that I do not believe Hazel  is capable of continuing his duty as the commander.  The rest of you, the members of the infamous Owsla of El-ahrairah, all of you have proven yourselves worthy as rabbits of the highest nobility, for all of you have shown blessings of power and courage and cunning worthy of El-ahrairah's legacy, all used to protect Justin.  Yet what troubles me is that Hazel has not proven himself, and if the cross-bearer has not chosen to bless him with power, then I am justified in thinking that perhaps, it would be more beneficial if Holly or Bigwig took control of Hazel's duties for the time being.

                Hazel looked stunned, appeared shocked that one of Frith's most influential and powerful servants, the Black Rabbit of Inle, was showing condemnation and scorn at his efforts to keep the group together and to protect Justin.  The rabbit then clouded his face as he drooped his head a bit, obviously hurt.  The rest of the group just looked at Hazel blankly, dazed and astonished that the Black Rabbit of Inle would exhibit such formality and remoteness to their friend.  Justin then broke in awkwardly.

                "You...you want us to forsake Hazel as the Chief rabbit, as the leader?  But...but you can't do that!"

                The Black Rabbit answered coldly, I do not need to explain my actions and my decisions to you young one so do not be impertinent with me.  Though El-ahrairah may have delegated the responsibility to Hazel, I, or Frith, can overlook such a decision if it feels it will endanger and compromise your safety and the safety of the land beyond life.  But it is of no importance as of now.  You must all be tired, weary and hungry.  My warren is free to you all for rest, and in the Grand Hall of my warren, there is a quaint spread of grass and flayrah for you all.  Though none of you are allowed to leave the premises, you are all free to explore and run about...but, a word of caution.  I am fairly sure that all of you are familiar with the stories about El-ahrairah's last journey here, where he has tried to infect himself with the White Blindness from the holes and pits of disease, pestilence, and plague.  I shall tell the lot of you right now, you are all forbidden to enter there.  After the last experience, I have placed a seal in the holes and runs of affliction: those who dare enter shall never leave and to defy my wishes and warnings shall lead to...unpleasant consequences.

                Hazel's head perked up at these words, and so did the rest of the Watership Owsla, astounded from the austere and stark tone in the Black Rabbit's voice.  Justin could have sworn that the mysterious messenger of death was staring directly at him almost already accusing him.

                Enjoy the humbleness of my abode and rest, but heed my warnings.  With that, the Black Rabbit inexplicably vanished into thin air.

                                                                                ***

                "I cannot believe the Black Rabbit said such things!  The nerve of him!" growled Buckthorn, seething inwardly, which was an odd sight considering that Buckthorn was usually not one to lose his temper so easily.  "How dare he?!"

                "I know, chap, but getting yourself all riled will not help with matters," Silver sighed wearily.  After their encounter with the Black Rabbit, though Bluebell was quick to point out that it was more as a condemnation, the rest of the rabbits agreed that they could not stay in the warren.  It was bleak, dismal, and it threatened to drain out every bit of warmth, courage, and positive emotion from their hearts and bodies.  If El-ahrairah could hardly stand to remain in such a place for so long, then what chance did the rabbit warriors of Watership Down have?  It was also because unlike them, Justin was still very much alive and has not stopped running yet, so the atmosphere and ambiance had a more disastrous toll on the adolescent's health and body.  He was actually so cold, his skin already turned slightly blue from just several minutes of exposure to the warren's frost, tomblike surroundings.  It was clear to the rest of the rabbits to leave as quickly as possible without explanation and without telling the Black Rabbit for Justin would not even last an entire day in the cold runs and tunnels.  Without eating the food (for in the story, if one ate the flayrah given by the shadow Owsla of the Black Rabbit, their thoughts and secrets would become apparent, betraying themselves to the Black Rabbit about their plans), the Watership Owsla spilt off in different directions, hoping they could all cover more ground and find an exit quicker than expected.  Hazel, who was now extremely forlorn and despondent at the Black Rabbit's severe criticism, did not join in the search, and Justin volunteered to stay with him.  None of the rabbits objected to this, for they knew Justin could not be of much help, especially when they all found out, to their dismay, that the cross again refused to function for some bizarre reason, so now, the teenager could not use the cross as a compass to search for the nearest exit nor could he use it to teleport everyone out.  In short, he was powerless, but the rabbits comforted him, telling him that they would find the exit themselves and that he needed some rest from the long journey.  Now, Hazel and Justin were enjoying each other's company in the run where they met the Black Rabbit while the rest split up and went in their own groups.  Right now, Silver, Buckthorn, and Pipkin were together in one run while Bluebell, Speedwell, Fiver, and Acorn were in another group of tunnels, Bigwig, Dandelion, and Blackberry were hesitantly wandering in the Grand Hall, and finally, Campion, Hawkbit, Strawberry and Holly were exploring a long trail leading deep underground where they swore they could smell faint traces of fresh air.

                Meanwhile, in another mesh of runs, Speedwell, Fiver, Bluebell, and Acorn were discussing matters with Hazel-rah as they carefully pawed through the ice and marble.

                "Replace Hazel-rah?  I cannot believe it!  We could never do such a thing!" Speedwell said in outrage, flabbergasted.

                "Well...maybe....maybe the Black Rabbit has a point," Acorn commented hesitantly, "I mean...well, look at everything that has happened so far.  Ever since Hazel-rah saw Fiver get carried off into trial for the Lands of Yesterday and Tomorrow, he hasn't been the same since.  The poor chap is taking it quite hard, and because of that, it has been taking a great deal of toil on his role as our leader.  He was not able to defend Strawberry and could not comfort him when Strawberry lashed out at him, blaming him for Justin nearly getting killed, and he had to leave Holly behind in order to follow that embleer Greenweed.  Perhaps, it would be better if Hazel-rah did not take on so much responsibility because it isn't going to help him get better and regain back to his old self.  After all, Holly and Bigwig could handle matters just as well."

                "Acorn!" snapped Bluebell furiously, "Are you mad?!  How could you say such a thing?!  Though I do concede that perhaps Holly could aid Hazel, Bigwig could not lead a rabbit to flayrah!  After the mess in the comical field, this only convinces me that Hazel-rah, regardless of the mistakes he has made, is still a vital part in our mission, and I for one do not care if he was never blessed with the cross, if he never got to prove his valor!"

                "Will you two shut up?!" snapped Speedwell, cuffing both Acorn and Bluebell on their heads, "Need I remind you two duffers whose brother you are condemning about in front of him?!"  He pointed a paw at Fiver, who had his back turned to them.  Yet, the seer was perfectly still and trembling with hurt.

                "O Frith and Inle," cursed Bluebell to himself.

                "Me and my big mouth," groaned Acorn to himself as he ran a paw over his face.

                Speedwell then approached Fiver, sincerely apologetic, pleading, "Oh come on, bucko, don't cry.  You know Bluebell and Acorn -"

                Fiver then gasped out loud, interrupting the white rabbit, "Oh no!  It's here!"

                Bluebell asked, bewildered, "What?!  What in the name of the Black Rabbit are you talking about?!"

                Fiver then turned to them, his eyes wide and glassy with shock as he received his vision of the mystical, second sight, "The false one!  From the comical field!  It is here, right here in the warren of the Black Rabbit of Inle!!  Justin and Hazel are in danger!"

                On cue, all of the rabbits, the Owsla of shadows, and the Black Rabbit of Inle himself, heard the telltale, unearthly screech of the lone monster from before in the hedge labyrinth.  Realizing what this meant, Fiver, Speedwell, Acorn, and Bluebell ran as fast as they could back to the tunnel where Hazel and Justin were waiting.  Once they got there, to their dismay, they found it empty.  Justin and Hazel were gone, vanished, disappeared.  The other Watership rabbits caught up with them.

                "We heard the roars of the beast from the comical field!!  What in the name of Frith happened?!" gasped Strawberry.

                "Where are Hazel and Justin?!!" Campion practically screamed in worry, seeing that the run was empty.  Outside, Buckthorn and Dandelion were sniffing all along the runs.

                "We have their scents!" cried Dandelion, "Hazel clearly ran in this direction!"

                "Poor chap, he must have carried Justin away from danger the instant he heard the roars of the creature.  He must have been trying to locate us!" Blackberry moaned, cursing himself for not bringing Hazel and Justin along with them.

                "Follow those trails!" ordered Bigwig, and off they dashed with Dandelion and Buckthorn in the lead.  deeper and deeper they went in the network of convoluted, tortuous tunnels, sloping deeper and deeper underground until they all emerged into a large cavern, dimly lit with blue phosphorus gleaming on the large stalactites frozen at the top of the cavern.  In the room, there was a lone opening, large enough to allow an Ilip to pass by, to a tunnel leading further into the ground.  Dandelion's sharp nose then caught the faint, departing scent of Hazel from the mouth of the tunnel.

                "They went in there!" he said sharply.

                "Which means that the eli from the comical field followed them into the tunnel!  We have to help them!  The poor chaps would not be able to come out of it, even with Justin's powers!" Holly bellowed.  He, Buckthorn, and Bigwig barreled right through, with the others following them, but to their surprise, something powerful thrust back, and to Bigwig, Buckthorn, and Holly's shock, all three of them were sent flying backwards, colliding with the other rabbits and falling into a tangled heap.  There was a brief period of regaining one's bearings and muttered groans

                "Silver, will you get off me?!" snapped Hawkbit, surprisingly lucid, considering it was muffled since the large, gray rabbit was lying on the quarrelsome Hawkbit's head.

                "What...what in the fur and paw of El-ahrairah happened?!" Blackberry squealed.

                It is because I cannot allow you rabbits to enter the holes of affliction, said a voice quietly behind them, and all of them turned to see that the Black Rabbit of Inle himself squatting quietly behind them, gazing solemnly at the group of fourteen.

                "The...the holes of affliction?" Pipkin gasped in terror, realizing what it meant.  The Black Rabbit had just previously said that those who enter the forbidden sites would not be allowed to depart from them as consequences.  Campion and Bigwig, however, were still adamant.

                "Let us in!" roared Bigwig.

                I cannot, Thlayli.

                "Please, you cannot imprison the cross-bearer and Hazel-rah!!" Campion yelled, "It was not their fault for running into the runs of affliction!  They had no choice!  The monster from the comical field was pursuing them; it was the one that attacked us earlier and forced us to seek refuge in your warren in the first place!!  Please, do not do this!  Black Rabbit of Inle, you know Hazel-rah would never dare to insult your authority and show such disrespect!  Not if he could help it!"

                I know Campion, but I still cannot allow what you rabbit request of me.

                "WHY??!!!" screamed all the rabbits in impatient, aggravated indignation.

                                                                                ***

                Earlier, in the blocked tunnel, as Justin and Hazel were keeping each other company while waiting for the others to return, they too heard the sudden roars of the incoming creature, the nightmare they thought they had left behind in the comical field.  Unfortunately, they were not able to completely rid themselves of the vermin, they now had to face the perilous menace again, but this time, the only other rabbit who was available to defend the cross-bearer was Hazel.

                Hazel then turned to Justin and fiercely ordered to Justin, rising on his hind legs and getting in front of him, "Justin, quickly, use your cross!  Pray for the other rabbits to help, pray for a time-freeze spell, pray for anything that could stop this animal!  I shall try to delay it!  Hurry, young one!  GO!"

                Before Justin could refuse, Hazel dashed into the darkness of the warren, leaving Justin alone by himself.  There was a vicious cry of surprise from the beast before the teenager could hear sounds of scuffling, cursing, and squeals from Hazel-rah as he and the creature furiously fought.  Justin grabbed his cross and prayed urgently, "Please, please, work this time!  Do something!  Teleport us out of the warren!  Teleport my friends back here so they could help us!  Stop time on the monster!  Do something!  Anything!  PLEASE!"

                The cross remained as silent as before, still softly glowing, but evidently no sudden change in its luminosity and radiance, no sudden surge of marvelous power.

                "Damn it, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Justin yelled at his cross furiously, "Why won't you work?!"  There was a loud noise of an object being struck, and squealing, Hazel flew out of the darkness before crashing to the ground, lying on his side.  Amazingly enough, Hazel was still conscious.

                "I cannot fight it!  It is too powerful for me to battle by myself!  Where are the others?" Hazel managed to sputter out.

                "I don't know, but my cross won't work!  It still won't listen to the prayers of help I've been asking for it!"  Another roar interrupted his frantic explanation, and Hazel seemed to make a decision.  He went on all fours determinedly and ordered, "Justin, quickly, get on my back!  I promised that I would not let anything happen to you, and I shall be damned if I break it now!  hurry!"  Justin scrambled onto Hazel's slender back, and they were off like a shot.  The creature, enraged, started chasing them, and though Justin could not see it for the warren was too dim and murky, he could hear the hot, panting breath, the heavy thudding of the shallow craters the beast made as it pounded its feet against the floor of the run, the snarls of impatience yet somehow managing to express a bit of maniacal, disembodied laughter, as if chasing Hazel and Justin was all a game to it.  Faster and faster Hazel madly dashed, trying his very best to lose the creature trailing behind, but no matter how abruptly the rabbit turned, they could always hear the monster right behind them.  Finally, Justin and Hazel saw a bit of light at the end of the run they were currently on, and encouraged, they both dashed into the grand, spacious, phosphorescent cavern with the single tunnel leading to the underground holes and pits of despair and disease, the only place the Black Rabbit had forbidden them to go into.  Though Justin did not know this.  Suddenly, Hazel's foot caught onto a sharp rock and the rabbit twisted and fell, sending both Justin and himself tumbling onto the dusty ground.  Hazel was disoriented, so Justin helped the rabbit up, though Hazel was so dizzy, he needed to grab onto Justin's flannel shirt, nearly ripping the material as he regained his bearings.  There was another roar behind them, and both Hazel and Justin looked up to see, to their horror, from the run they had emerged from, in the dark, they could see a pair of glowing orbs without pupils and shining with unholy tones of red and crimson, the eyes of the creature gazing at them intently.

                "Justin, run!" Hazel commanded and Justin could only helplessly dash into the hole along with his sole protector.  Deeper and deeper, both of them nearly stumbled in the darkness as Justin felt himself being jerked roughly left, right, and straight ahead before both Hazel and Justin collapsed on the ground, shaken and exhausted.  Yet, it soon dawned on Justin that the creature was not trailing behind them.  They were safe!

                "Hazel!  Can you hear it?   There's nothing trailing behind us!  We're not being chased any more!  We're safe!  We're safe!!" Justin cried, nearly overwhelmed with joyous relief.  Hazel did not answer, and Justin could not see what was occupying him.  The tunnels were so dark, the teenage cross-bearer could not see his hand if it was directly an inch away from his face.  Then the adolescent noticed that there was no soft golden sunlight offering some comfort of illumination, and frantically, he felt all around his neck until he realized, to his horror, he was no longer wearing his cross! The chain was no longer around his neck, and without it, he was helpless!

                "Hazel, we have to go back!" Justin begged, terrified, "I lost my cross!  I can't feel it around my neck anymore!  Without it, I can't summon any power strong enough to stop the creature from the comical field, but I don't know where it is."

                "I know, Justin.  I ripped the cross off your body as you helped me up before we entered the holes of affliction," Hazel replied slowly.  There was a brief, stunned silence, and Justin thought, hoped, prayed, that he did not hear right.  He tried to speak, but his mouth was so dry and tight, he could only manage a small choking noise.

                Hazel's voice then grew a bit louder, "No, you heard me correctly young one.  Your cross is outside the holes of afflictions, in the lit cavern where we saw the eyes of the creature.  Of course, you cross would never have been able to work, but I could not risk it.  Even in the forbidden holes of affliction, your cross could have succeeded in breaking the rules of life and death in the warren of the Black Rabbit, but even so, the fool would take a larger role in your death than he would ever know."

                Justin felt his blood run cold and his skin crawl.  Hazel's eyes were now glowing with crimson hue, the exact same color as the creature that was chasing them.

                "Of course, it was all so simple to trick you," Hazel laughed cruelly, his voice now slightly erratic, like a twisted recording, "There was no creature chasing us in the comical field, there was no creature tracking us down in the warren of the Black Rabbit of Inle.  It was all an elaborate, cunning illusion, a mirage, just to ensure that you, and you alone, Justin would be with me, without your treasured friends, so that I could so easily kill you."

                Justin still was shocked, in extreme disbelief at what Hazel was saying.  It couldn't be true, it simply couldn't.  And that moment of shock was exactly how Hazel was able to send Justin onto the ground with a single, brutal kick into the adolescent's chest with his powerful hind legs.  Justin crashed into the stone wall behind him, and Hazel, his body being a good deal heavier and larger than the boy, tackled the cross-bearer, pinning him down and nearly crushing him, as Hazel went for Justin's throat.

                "NO!" Justin yelled as he threw his hands up and managed to maintain a tight grip on Hazel's chin and lower part of his head as the human boy pushed back the buck's sharp teeth away from his neck with all of his might.  Hazel, still relentless, bucked and struggled, scratching Justin in the process.

                "Hazel, stop, please!" Justin begged, but it seemed that the words had no effect on the rabbit who was once the cross-bearer's kind, loving friend.

                "Why won't you die, you troublemaking pest?!" squealed Hazel irately as his paws managed to pin down Justin's hands away from his face, and once again, the Chief Rabbit reached over to Justin's throat.  "Now die you little...!"

                Hazel's voice broke off, and despite his hear, Justin then noticed that the buck's eyes blinked in confusion, and the entire rabbit's body was shaking before Hazel let go of Justin and staggered back wobbly several feet.  Out of danger for now, Justin saw what was happening.  Hazel grabbed his head, sweating profusely as whimpers of pain leaked out of him mouth, his entire body quaking wildly and uncontrollably, the scarlet callousness fading vacillating between Hazel's tender hazel-colored eyes and then back to the evil tone of Elil-rah.

                "Stop!  STOP!" Hazel screamed to himself, wringing his head as a painful bolt of agony shot through his body, "Stop this!!  I...I won't let you!!!"

                Then Hazel spoke again to himself in the erratic, harsh, vicious, haunted voice earlier, and Justin knew then that something, someone, was controlling hazel.  The buck rabbit was not acting of his own free mind and will.

                "You annoying, little pest!!" Hazel hissed in the demonic voice, "Just die!!  Die!!  Get out and let me kill the young boy without your interference!!"

                Hazel then wavered back to his old demeanor, "No, I won't!!  I won't!!  Leave Justin alone!!  Get out!!  Get out of my head, you...you cursed wretch!!"

                "Fight it, Hazel, fight it!!" shouted Justin at the Chief rabbit, and Hazel shut his eyes painfully, temporarily blocking out the light coming out of his eyes, as he grimly gritted his teeth and held his breath, as if afraid he would explode, visions, tormented thoughts, writing pain and agony, came blazing through his mind and soul in one, unbearable moment.  Hazel could no longer take any more.

                "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Hazel screamed, throwing his head back and his entire body went limp as traces of smoke started emerging from his nostrils, his mouth, and his fur, at first transparent, but then started to accumulate, thickening, and forming into some, unfathomable shape above the buck's head as the last flicker of crimson life died in Hazel's eyes.  The buck, now free, crumbled to the stony floor, nearly unconscious.  Justin then glanced up into the hellish eyes of the thing that was coming out of him.

                The scream that escaped out of Justin's throat would have rivaled that of Hazel's.

                                                                                ***

                "Hazel was possessed??!  By the dark creature from the comical field?!  For the past two days?!!" asked Fiver incredulously and with a hint of dreading alarm, realizing that everything that had happened, the comical field, the chase, the sounds of the roars splitting up Hazel and Justin apart from the others, was an sophisticated plot to kill Justin.

                "You knew?!" snarled Bigwig in bubbling, burning outrage, red-hot iron glittering in his eyes and his ears now flushed and perked up straight, "You knew?!!  And you did not tell us, warn us?!!  You did not do anything to prevent it, help Hazel and Justin?!!  HOW COULD YOU?!!!"

                The Black Rabbit sighed before clarifying, Elil-rah sent the creature from the comical field from the legends of El-ahrairah to attack you and eliminate the cross-bearer, but the creature, the beast of the deepest, darkest nature, purely devoid of anything except maliciousness and spite and immorality, knew that unlike previous failed attempts, a more discreet plan was in order.  It sensed Hazel's fatigue, his weakness, his moment of pain, and it most likely offered its services to your Chief, disguised as a blessing to remove and heal the sadness and angst Hazel was feeling in his scarred heart.  By doing so, Hazel allowed the spawn, the parasite to infect his heart, to conceal and disguise itself as your friend, knowing that by doing so, it would have a better chance to murder the young one from the physical world.  The instant you and your band arrived, I could sense the power, the impiety, the darkness which was made to kill and destroy and wreck havoc, a darkness that is unlike my own.  I knew then that the beast was in your Chief rabbit, but I did not say anything because if I alerted the creature, it would have surely killed the human right at that moment.

                "You still could have told us!  You could have helped us!" screamed Holly at the Black Rabbit wrathfully.

                No, for you overestimate my abilities and powers.  I can only affect those who have fears in their hearts, the darkness of my powers of death and sadness and bleakness may be cold, but never vicious, never murderous, never used for spite and malevolence.  I could not win in a battle against such an evil entity.  Not even El-ahrairah in the story could have managed to stand up to it, much less fight it.  For that is the predicament: I cannot fight a creature that has no fear, that has nothing to lose, that has no worry, no concern, no joy.  All it cared about is itself, its master, Elil-rah, and without fear, without any weaknesses, I would have been powerless to stop it.  Yet then I remembered that the holes of affliction were, after El-ahrairah's last visit, sealed with a special power by Frith himself.  Not even I would be able to break such power, for it contained a curse, of when one who was foolish and unfortunate enough to enter the pits of despair, they would be trapped there forever.  The curse has no effect on spirits such as my shadow Owsla and myself, but it would be powerful enough to stop the abomination of Elil-rah.  I knew that I had to act quickly, while the monster was still in Hazel's body, so I belittled him and Justin, taunting them, and then dropping subtly about the holes of affliction.  I could sense the creature in Hazel gaining interest at such a fact, and it realized that to lure Justin into the holes would be ideal, for the young boy would be far away from your protection and the protective light.  Either way, he would surely die once he entered the holes, but if I dissuaded Justin from going, the creature would have guessed my plans, so I remained silent.

                "And by doing so, you sacrificed Hazel-rah and Justin!!" snapped Dandelion, "Embleer Frith, how could you?!  How could you?!!"

                It was for the greater good, for I could not allow the evil to stand by in the land beyond life any longer.  Once it would be done with Justin, it would be unstoppable, free to wreck havoc on other innocent creatures and not even my powers would be enough to stop it.  Yet, I would have the power to seal it up forevermore, but if and only if the creature would be willing enough to enter the cursed, forbidden holes and runs.

                "Then let us in!  Break the seal!  Let us go help Hazel-rah and Justin!" Silver shouted.

                I cannot, Silver, for only those with the power granted by Frith can step through the seal.

                "But you can change it, can you not?!" accused Acorn, "Frith would have never blessed these runs with that sort of power unless if he made sure you had the ability to control it, to rule over it, to break it in case anything went wrong!  Am I right?"  The Black Rabbit chose not to answer him, but the Watership Owsla could tell his silence was explanatory.

                Suddenly, ringing in the air, was the sound of Hazel screaming in agony, and several seconds later, Justin's screams could be heard echoing in the tunnel as well.  The rabbit immediately tuned on the Black Rabbit, their primary fears now melted away to hot anger and frustration.

                "My lord!!" Hawkbit pleaded, sobbing as tears started to well in his eyes, "Please, let us through!!  Let us into the runs!!"

                "Please, open the runs!!!" begged Fiver, nearly shrieking.  Yet the Black Rabbit of Inle did not move, did not reply a response, and he remained silent and stony as he stared at the Watership rabbits unperturbedly.

                "Embleer Frith, open them!!  Let us help Hazel-rah and Justin!!!" bellowed Buckthorn, glaring at the Black Rabbit's untouched resolve at their supplications for coming to Hazel's aid, fuming, "Damn it, let us through!!  How can you even think that this is Frith's will?!  Let us in!!!"

                No, replied the Black Rabbit, his voice resigned and already accepting of the unspoken fate chosen for Hazel and Justin, and the indignity of it, the grievance, made Buckthorn so angry, he nearly lost his self-control as he contemplated on rushing towards the messenger of death, throttling him, cuffing him until Buckthorn's own paws were bleeding and broken.  The Black Rabbit, however, seemed to know what the Watership soldier was thinking.

                I would advise you not to attempt it, Buckthorn, for it will not accomplish anything, and you know far better than to give in to your anger so easily.  Hazel-rah and El-ahrairah have always praised you for your firm, unfaltering doggedness.

                "Don't you dare say their names!!" roared Buckthorn, quivering with rage as Silver and Strawberry restrained him from attacking, "You...you...you do not even deserve to acknowledge them!!  Embleer Frith, you know this is not Frith's will to imprison Justin and Hazel-rah!!!  They have never deserved this, and yet you are keeping them as prisoner to be contained as prey for the dark...thing that is trying to hunt them down in the runs!!  And you knew!  You knew that the creature from the comical field was influencing Hazel-rah from the very beginning, trying to lure Justin to a place where he would never be able to escape and where his power would not work against the monster!!  How could you?!  Embleer Frith, you knew and yet you did not do a damn thing about it!"

                Hazel-rah has disobeyed the bonds of my command, even with the knowledge of what the punishment will be if any creature sets foot and disrupts the Pandora's Box of afflictions.  Regardless of him being possessed, I allowed them to enter the runs and holes of disease and pestilence because it was the only way I could imagine to trap the creature from the comical field, a pure evil plague that is nearly as destructive as Elil-rah himself, and since only the young boy was his target, I had to allow Justin and Hazel to be tricked and deceived by the monster for it was the only way to allow the foolish entity to confine itself in its shortsighted, thoughtless desire to kill the young one and to please its master.  This was the only way to deceive and stop the creature from wrecking havoc in the land beyond life, and I am sorry that Hazel and Justin must suffer for it.

                "You are not sorry!" snapped Bluebell heatedly, "You do not regret this at all!"

                You rabbits do not understand.  This was the only way to stop It and I cannot remove Hazel and Justin from the holes because they must ravel out of them with their own free will, exactly how El-ahrairah had done before.

                "No, you do not understand, embleer Rabbit of Inle!!" Buckthorn spat out bitterly, "This is NOT Frith's will!!!  This is not a fate Hazel-rah deserved!!!  How can you possibly squat there and not give a damn about our Chief's fate?!!  I do not care that you are a servant of Frith himself, but if you let Justin and Hazel-rah die...I will find a way to kill you!!  I swear it!!"

                "Buckthorn!" gasped out Strawberry in shock before turning to the Black Rabbit of Inle, yet the foreboding spirit of bereavement showed no emotion or indication that he took offense to Buckthorn's anger, almost as if he understood the grief and pain he was allowing for them.  Meanwhile, the rest of the rabbits were uselessly and vainly trying to break their way into the tunnels where Hazel and Justin were trapped.

                "Hazel-rah!!  Hazel-rah!!!  Are you there, chap?!!  Hazel-rah!!!  Embleer Frith, please answer!!!  Hazel-rah!!!" the rabbits continued to chorus as they vainly kept trying to enter the runs, yet it was no use.  The invisible barrier remained as hard and sturdy as Greenweed's armor.

                "If only there was a way we could help them fight!" sobbed Pipkin frantically, yet Holly, who was studying the dirt walls of the runs fastidiously, trying to spot a weakness or an alternate entrance into the holes of despair and disease when his eyes caught the glint of a telltale golden object, lying nearly buried amongst the dry, powdery dirt.  Blackberry, Campion and Speedwell noticed it too.

                "It is Justin's cross!" gasped Blackberry.

                "But...but then that means that Hazel-rah and Justin..." Speedwell sputtered.

                "...are practically defenseless in the holes of disease and affliction," Holly finished for him grimly, "And since the Black Rabbit won't let us go into the runs, we cannot bring Justin's cross to the young one nor can we help Hazel fight against the malignant evil that is threatening to consume the both of them."

                "Embleer fur and paw, then how can we help them?!" cursed Campion, mad with worry and anxiety, "Blackberry, think, damn it!  There must be a way we can help them regardless of the barrier!"

                Speedwell then gasped as an idea struck him.

                                                                                ***

                Justin was nearly sobbing with fear and his whole body felt so weak, numb and cold from even looking into this beast's glowing eyes, Justin could have sworn that he died of fright and terror.  He could not do anything but lie there awkwardly on his rear while staring at the monstrosity before him that used to be Hazel.  Hazel was screaming with unbearable pain, clutching his body and torso, convulsing and bent over, blood was being vomited out of his mouth at a sickening rate, only to vanish into the black, opaque shadows covering the bleak, dry ground.  The living being, though materializing out of Hazel's flesh and skin painfully like smoke, was physically real enough for Justin would smell its decaying, putrid breath billowing white steam that was so cold, it actually nearly burned Justin's skin, and he could actually feel the wetness of the saliva glistening and dripping from the creature's teeth.  Justin, as he sat there, petrified, allowing the creature to advance towards him, claws sinking into the ground, could not find the words to describe the animal.  The animal was as if it was a creation of every nightmare, every fear, every single sin, evil, darkness, and impurity known to man all combined into one, terrifying, emotionless, savage living monster.  Justin then knew what it was like to face true evil.

                "Who...who are you?" he whimpered, sniveling as his entire body refused to listen to his panic commands of flight.

                The dark, evil beast then rumbled, laughing in delight, its voice like the sound of metal sharpening and grating against rough stone covered with cold, relentless ice, "I AM YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE, YOUNG JUSTIN.  I AM THE BEAST CREATED SPECIFICALLY BY ELIL-RAH TO KILL YOU.  I AM IMMORTAL, AS OLD AND EXISTENT AS THE SKY AND THE EARTH.  I AM ALWAYS IN THE DARKNESS, LURKING IN THE SHADOWS ON YOUR DEEPEST FEARS, YOUR INSECURITIES, YOUR DOUBTS, YOUR HIDDEN SECRETS AND SINISTER URGES, THE URGE OF EVIL.  FOR WHENEVER THERE IS DARKNESS IN ONE'S WEAK HEART, I CAN TAKE AND INFECT THEIR SOUL, CAUSING IT TO GROW DEEPER AND DEEPER IN DESPAIR OR WICKEDNESS.  I HAVE NO NAME, FOR I AM THE HIDEEN PLAGUE THAT WREKCS HAVOC ON LIFE, I STRIVE FOR DISCORD AND HATE AND AVARICE, AND NO CREATURE HAS EVER SURVIVED TO WITNESS MY PRESENCE AND HAS LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT, EXCEPT FOR EL-AHRAIRAH, BUT YOUR LUCK HAS RUN OUT, YOU SAD, FEEBLE, WEAK WRETCH."

                Justin felt the creature advance, he felt It get closer and closer with its warm, sticky breath of saliva, bile, and the stench of the past creatures who were unfortunate enough to fall prey to its voracious appetite of vicious and brutal hunger.  He needed to buy some time, needed to have a chance for either Hazel or himself to come up with a plan to escape for he was without his cross, and without the trinket's protective power, the adolescent would most likely become It's next meal.

                "But...but how does Hazel fit into all of this?!" he managed to whimper, and for an instant, it seemed that his question would go unanswered, but then It paused, chuckling gleefully.

                "HE WAS BY FAR THE WEAKEST CREATURE I HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED.  POSSESSING HIM WAS FAR TOO EFFORTLESS," It chuckled as Justin suddenly saw the pictorial mirage shimmer in front of him, flashing back to when Hazel ran off into the forest after Holly's victory over Greenweed only two days ago.  Justin could only watch, speechless and horrified at what unfolded before him:

                "Hrairoo, please...I...I need some time alone.  Holly...can handle and take care of everything...without me for now," Hazel choked in a glum, miserable voice, nearly disembodied, and without another pause, the rabbit disappeared within the thicket.  Fiver shivered from the cold, distant aura Hazel, his brother, left behind.

                "Hazel," Fiver murmured apprehensively.

                Hazel just ignored his brother as he continued running into the deep, dark eclipse of the forest, hot tears of embarrassment and disgrace threatening to flood out, but the rabbit just stubbornly held them back as he barreled as fast as he could through the trees and grass, his feet pounding hard against the moss and his breath now coming out in angry, furious gasps of humiliation and ignominy.  At last, when the rabbit could not run a single step further, Hazel just collapsed onto the ground on all fours, angrily cuffing the ground with one forepaw, ignoring the faint numbing as the pain in his appendage was surpassed by the pain he had in his heart.

                "They hate me!" Hazel yelled to himself as he kept venting his frustrations uncharacteristically, his voice now strangled and tight with regret, "Embleer Frith, El-ahrairah made a mistake!  Embleer Frith, I failed Justin and I kept failing everyone!!  They hate me!  I failed them as a leader, as a trusted ally, and now I've lost them!  All of them!  I can't go back, not after seeing how they feel about me, their pity, their disappointment, their willingness to easily wish for Holly to take my place!!  Embleer Frith, why El-ahrairah?!!  WHY?!!  I never asked to be their Chief Rabbit, to constantly live up to their expectations, to take on every responsibility, every concern, every worry, and every trouble that comes our way!  Why in the name of Frith did you even send me?!  To watch me fail?!!  To take satisfaction in knowing that I'm not the hero everyone makes me out to be?!!  Frith in the sky, I am not you!  I know I will never be as resourceful and legendary as you, and yet it does not stop you from ignoring how much I hurt, how much it kills me to see my friends lose faith in me, even by my own brother!!  Embleer Frith, just let me die!!!  Just let me die and take away all this torment, and then maybe they would be better off without me!!"  His aggravation and energy spent, the brown rabbit now just weakly remained on all paws on the ground, his head bent down and masking the pain that was carved into his face.

                Justin didn't realize he was silently crying until he felt the cold tears fall on his flushed face.  He had no idea Hazel felt this way.

                "Oh my God, Hazel, I'm so sorry," whimpered Justin to himself with miserable distress as he put a hand over his mouth in shock.

                Hazel was now panting hard, refusing to rise until a mysterious voice then beckoned all around him in the forest.  It was apparent that the voice belonged to It, the carnivore of the comical field, for now Justin, as the sole spectator, could see the forest around Hazel slowly disappear under the gloomy dusk of night, swallowed up by shadows, until there was nothing left except for a small, circular patch of grass and vetch for the rabbit to remain on as the red eyes of It hovered above him like a phantom, mysterious and sinister.

                "I CAN TAKE AWAY THE PAIN, HAZEL-RAH," the vile creature said in a disembodied voice, not unlike the voice of It Justin was hearing now, but actually mollifying, placating, yet still very deadly, like poisoned honey.  Hazel warily stood up quickly, alarmed.

                Justin was horrified to see the twinge of curiosity in Hazel's face, as if the rabbit was appealing towards the suggestive lie of It.

                "Who...who's there?" Hazel managed to choke out.

                "DO NOT BE ALARMED, HAZEL-RAH, DO NOT BE ALARMED.  STEADY THERE CHAP, STEADY.  THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO ACT SO CAUTIOUS OF MY PRESENCE FOR I JUST WISH TO SEE IF YOU ARE ALL RIGHT, IF YOU NEED MY HELP."

                Hazel narrowed his eyes in mortification as he sighed as looked at the ground, muttering heatedly, "Whoever you are, just leave me.  I wish to be alone."

                "I AM TRULY SORRY TO SEE THAT, FOR IT APPEARS THAT YOUR FRIENDS NEARLY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU, WHICH MAKES IT ALL THE MORE TRAGIC BECAUSE I CAN EVEN SEE JUST BY LOOKING AT YOU THAT YOU ARE A TRULY ADMIRABLE AND NOBLE CHAP WHO JUST HAS FAULTS, HAS FLAWS, AND MAKES MISTAKES SUCH AS ANY OTHER RABBIT OF EL-AHRAIRAH."

                "Leave me alone," Hazel whispered stubbornly and heatedly, unsuccessful as his tears of hurt and shame spilled out again, though they did nothing to lessen the angry, pained, grieved look on the Chief rabbit's face.

                "YOU ARE ANGRY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR BROTHER, AND BY THE FUR AND PAW, EVEN WITH THE CROSS-BEARER, FOR THEY HAVE SO EASILY FORGOTTEN HOW YOU HAVE TRIED YOUR BEST EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE HUMAN AND THEIR SAFETY, HOW THEY HAVE EASILY FORGOTTEN THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE CARED FOR THEIR WELL-BEING, HOW YOU HAVE FOUGHT TO DEFEND THEM AND COUNTLESS OTHERS.  AND YET HOW DO THEY ALL REPAY YOU?  WITH CRITICISM, WITH DOUBT, WITH LACK OF FAITH AND TRUST, AND NOW, AFTER HOLLY HAD DEFEATED GREENWEED, YOU JUST STOOD THERE AND WATCHED AS THE REST OF THE WATERSHIP OWSLA COMMENTED ON HOW GREAT AND SPECTACULAR HE WAS, A TRUE LEADER, LEAVING YOU IN OBSCURITY AND TOSSED ASIDE LIKE MOLDY FLAYRAH."

                "Shut up," whispered Hazel as his voice got lower and the tears spilled harder.

                "NO, I WILL NOT LEAVE, HAZEL-RAH, FOR I FIND IT SAD AND TRAGIC THAT SUCH A STRONG SPIRIT SUCH AS YOURS IS SUBJECTED TO UNBEARABLE PAIN AND ANGST AND HUMILIATION.  PLEASE, HAZEL-RAH, LET ME HELP YOU, LET ME EASE YOUR BURDEN, FOR I DO NOT THINK I CAN FIND MY CONSCIENCE TO BE AT PEACE UNTIL I CAN TRY TO MAKE YOU BETTER."

                Hazel then paused, painstakingly taking his time, until to Justin's dismay, Hazel asked softly, "How?"

                "I CAN REMOVE PAIN, I CAN HELP YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS, I CAN CLOSE OFF YOUR SENSES SO THAT SUCH TRIVIAL INSULTS AND WOUNDS WOULD NOT AFFECT YOU.  YOU WOULD BE DEAD TO SUCH HARSH PUNISHMENT, DEAD TO SUCH SUFFERING, DEAD TO THE WORLD.  ALL I ASK IS FOR YOU TO TRUST ME, TO LET ME GET CLOSE TO YOU."

                Hazel did not answer, but he was breathing hard with a mixture of hope and excitement and wariness, his chest rising up and down painfully as he tried to calm his rapid heart.  The manipulative, shrewd figure then asked, "DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE LIVING WITH THE GUILT, WITH THE REMORSE, WITH THE CONSTANT WISHES THAT YOU COULD GO BACK AND RIGHT ALL THE WRONGS YOU HAVE DONE?"

                Hazel then said the worst words Justin could ever hear from him.

                "Do it.  Take away the pain.  I don't want to live with this anymore!  Just do it now!"

                That was all It needed to hear as the brave Chief Rabbit was now engulfed with black smoke and dark shadowy paws, running over Hazel's body, feeling his fur, stroking his flesh and muscle, and the last thing Justin could view from the flashback was Hazel's face going blank, devoid of any emotion and feeling, before his eyes turned into a vicious, harsh red of Elil-rah's power.

                "Oh my God," Justin could manage to choke out and sob as It turned to face the small, frail human again, the fanged, drooling mouth now set into a wide, vile, repulsive smile.  It clearly enjoyed tormenting Hazel like that, without showing any hesitation, remorse, and second thought.  The creature then took a step towards Justin, but then surprisingly, Hazel, who was still weak from his possession, managed to leap onto the face of It and boldly started ripping into the skin with his claws and teeth.  More annoyed than angry, the horrid abomination just simply swatted the battered Hazel roughly off its face, and completely bruised and destabilized, the Owsla leader lay where he fell.  Justin ran to his side.

                "Hazel!" Justin yelled, trying to help him not black out.  Hazel groaned as he wearily tried to stand, but it was useless.  He was so worn out and tired that he could barely even speak.

                "NOW, JUSTIN, YOU SHALL DIE!!!" It screamed as the horrendous fiend lunged towards Justin who was still kneeling next to a bleeding and panting and exhausted Hazel, unable to do anything to defend himself from It's fangs and ravenous instinct of desecration.

                "Justin...run...please," Hazel whispered gravely and hoarsely, almost sobbing, as he felt the blame and guilt water in his eyes.  Justin did not answer as he saw the moments of his life, his memories flash in front of his eyes as It got closer and closer with each and every instant.  There was a brief yet momentous flash of light as Justin felt something strike him and Hazel, a sudden yet invisible force of momentum yet strangely enough, Justin couldn't feel any pain, any wound, and the light was so beautiful, an instant relief of being in the dark runs.  Am I dead, Justin wondered silently to himself.

                Justin and Hazel then saw what was holding It back.  To their complete surprise and admiration, they saw that directly in front of them, forming an impenetrable line spanning across the width of the tunnel with no possible way for the dark creature to charge through, were the rabbits of Watership Down.  All of them, Bluebell, Campion, Bigwig, Acorn, Hawkbit, Silver, Pipkin, Blackberry, Speedwell, Buckthorn, Fiver, Dandelion, Strawberry, and Holly, were glowing with halos of liberating, blissful sunlight as their astral projections, their translucent, psychic forms, were blockading the creature from advancing any further.  The Watership Owsla just simply glared as they stood there, paw in paw, as the demonic, otherworldly creature roared with a fresh new wave of disbelieving fury and pained surprise as the light from the astral projection line seared its smoking skin.

                "IMPOSSIBLE!!!" roared It, frothing with bile at the mouth.

                "How?" asked Justin weakly.

                                                                                ***

                Outside the holes of affliction, in the Grand Hall of the warren of the Black Rabbit of Inle, all fourteen rabbits, the remainder of the faithful group, were gathered around in a circle, and in the very center of the gathering, lying neatly in the dirt, was the golden, crystal cross attached to the silver chain.  All the rabbits had their eyes tightly closed as they concentrated their utmost efforts into maintaining their astral projections, keeping firm paws on the smooth, cold surface of the necklace.

                "Keep it up, chaps!  Don't give up!  Hazel-rah and Justin are depending their lives on us!" barked Bigwig roughly as they all kept praying and utilizing whatever hidden, inward strength they could muster.  Behind them, the Black Rabbit just watched and waited.

                                                                                ***

                "WHAT?!!  THIS CAN'T BE!!  THIS CANNOT BE REAL!!!  YOU WEAK, INCOMPTENT TWITS SHOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO EVEN DELAY ME!!!  MY POWER, MY STRENTH, MY BIRTHRIGHT OF ELIL-RAH CAN NEVER BE SURPASSED!!!"

                "It can now, you dark, treacherous fool!" growled the astral projection of Holly, "Get away from Justin and Hazel, and stay away!"

                "We will not let you by without a fight!" snapped Pipkin furiously, his voice uncharacteristically brave and strict.

                "You sad, pitiable, wretched fool.  You simply do not understand, do you?" muttered Dandelion.

                "You honestly and arrogantly believe all the lies Elil-rah deluded you with?  You actually think El-ahrairah and us chaps from Watership Down would take this lying down, that we would surrender everything we have ever lived for?" questioned Blackberry fiercely.

                "You think Elil-rah's power is the strongest there ever is, you brainless idiot," scorned Hawkbit.

                "But you are completely wrong, dark one, for friends, family, and Frith's gifts to El-ahrairah and to his descendants are what matters in this world," said Buckthorn coldly.

                "I WILL NOT BE STOPPED!!!" roared It as the dark, ghostly atrocity barreled itself into the line of the astral projections, heedless of the pain the light was inflicting onto it.  The persistent attack was also damaging the astral forms of the Watership soldiers as well, for all of them were wincing in pain as It kept pushing mercilessly and doggedly into them, lashing out with its claws and teeth.  Slowly, but surely, the dark carnivore made headway through the astral projection wall as the forms of the Watership soldiers started to fade bit by bit.

                Bluebell looked over his shoulder and hollered, "Justin, take Hazel-rah and find your way out of the runs!  The entrance back into the safety of the Black Rabbit's warren should be the one that leads you into the light!  Hurry!  Take Hazel-rah and go!  The light and protection from our astral forms cannot delay this thing forever!!"

                "Please, hurry!  Go now, while you still have the chance!" Silver cried.

                "Go on!" urged Bigwig angrily.  Justin, white in the face, nodded as he, nearly stumbling, raced to Hazel's side and helped the rabbit rise off the floor.  Hazel, dangerously weak, could not even manage to hop, so Justin awkwardly let the heavy rabbit lean on him for support, though Justin nearly felt like he was going to subside underneath the tedious work of helping Hazel stagger away from the fight between It and their friends.  Hazel was drained, limp, and nearly in danger of collapsing again, and Justin could have sworn that his back was aching from the load he was half-carrying as Hazel rested thickly onto the adolescent's shoulders.  Justin prayed they had enough time to find the exit, for the beast from the comical field was still roaring, still intent and eager to track Hazel and Justin down.  Minutes, to Justin's anxious horror, passed like mere seconds, and no matter which way Justin and Hazel went, there always seemed to be numerous paths that could be taken, numerous holes that could either lead them into a dead end or to another network of tunnels.  In short, both of them were wandering in a web of endless caverns and runs, and if Justin did not have Hazel's Sense of Smell, he would have surely been off course and disoriented forever with no way out.  Hazel, though still drained, managed to faintly trace the smell of relatively fresh air wafting into the runs and holes, and steadily, yet surely, they both crawled upwards in the rising paths of the tunnels, until, after an hour, to Justin's joy, there in front of them, was the faint, shining outline of the exit out of the holes of affliction, it's path slightly flushed with the pale, blue glow of the warren of the Black Rabbit.  They found the exit, and they could escape back into the comfort of their friends again on the other side.

                "Hazel, do you see it?!  Do you see it?!!" Justin cried excitedly, immense with cheer and elation, "We're going to be back with the others!  We'll be safe!"  Hazel did not answer, but blankly, he nodded easily enough.  Justin and Hazel then began sprinting as fast as they possibly could towards the egress.  The tantalizing sight grew larger and larger as they got closer and closer.

                "Not much father now, Hazel.  Don't give up!  We're so close!" yelled Justin with delight.  Yet as they both approached the exit, something went wrong.  A huge, invisible force painfully shoved them back the instant both Justin and the Chief rabbit got close, and it painfully felt like an electric shock littered with razor blades rushed into their bodies for now both Justin and the rabbit had several small, thin yet bleeding lacerations on their bodies.  It was so intense, yet so swift, Justin did not even register what was going on and did not even have time to yelp in pain.  Trying again, Justin tried pushing against the opening with a free hand, and this time, the energy became more severe as Justin, feeling the sting against his palm, withdrew his hand quickly away to see that his hand and fingers were now slightly red from the burning energy and slightly bleeding.  There was no question; Justin and Hazel could not make their way past the entrance for some sort of protective barrier was hindering them.

                "I...I can't go through?!!" Justin gasped out loud in disbelief as Hazel leaned against him heavily, with the teenager struggling to prop up the injured rabbit.  Suddenly, like distant ripples in a pool of water, gently yet noticeably, the voice of the Black Rabbit of Inle reverberated in the dark chamber.

                Hazel has been infected by the nightmare, young one, and to allow him to leave the holes and runs of disease and pestilence and death would upset the balance of peace and chaos, life and death, in this realm and in the land beyond life.  I cannot allow your friend to pass.  You must abandon him.

                "No, I won't!!!" Justin yelled as Hazel's heart sank, immediately blaming himself for his mistakes and for dragging Justin into his conflicts.

                Do not be stubborn, young cross-bearer.  I will not repeat myself again.  Already, I am creating a huge taboo by allowing you to come out unscathed.

                "Then why are you?!!" Justin snapped back, furious at the injustice of it.

                Because you are innocent, you have not been infected by the dark plague that comes from the creature's influence, whereas Hazel is forever cursed with a piece of that dark creatures soul, a remnant that will forever serve as a permanent badge of shadow and guilt for his weakness.  His spirit has been tainted, and I cannot let him back into the land beyond life, for Frith will not have it so.

                The roars behind them indicated that It was nearly through the barrier of their friends' astral projections.  Justin held on tighter to Hazel, his fingers grasping his soft, brown fur.

                "It doesn't matter!  My cross can erase the darkness leftover in Hazel's body!!"

                True...yet your cross remains outside the caverns of death and despair, along with your protectors who are waiting for you.  You cannot heal Hazel without the cross, and yet in order to do so, both of you must exit out of the runs, against my wishes and command, which I cannot allow.

                "That's not fair!!" hollered Justin, beside himself.

                It is not a matter of what is fair or not, but what is necessary; it is what must be.

                Justin refused to give up, knowing that abandoning Hazel and facing the other rabbits of the Watership Owsla would be something he would not be able to face, much less live with.  He wrapped his arm tighter around the torso of a surprised Hazel who was stunned at Justin's fortitude.  Justin yelled, "It doesn't matter!!  I'm not leaving him!!  We're going out together!!"

                Justin tried again, but unfortunately, the invisible barrier kept pushing him back, and the harder Justin tried to walk forward, the force from the magic blockade became more intense, the invisible power literally making deep gashes across Justin's body and causing the teenager to bleed at his right cheek, his arms and hands, and through one pant leg.  Hazel could see the roses of red blossoming and staining Justin's jeans and clothes.  Worried and desperate, Hazel tried to push himself away from the cross-bearer while Justin, sensing his efforts, clung onto the rabbit tighter.

                "Justin, let me go!!" Hazel ordered, a bit hysterical as he heard the dark, evil creature roaring louder and louder in the caverns.  Somehow, Hazel could sense it was approaching closer and closer, and if Justin did not act soon, he would share the same fate as Hazel, a fate Hazel did not wish for the young boy to go through as well.  Hazel tried to shove Justin's hold on him, yet he was still weak from being possessed by It, and Justin, by Frith, was stronger than he had anticipated.  Hazel now had blood, Justin's blood, staining his red and silver tunic as Justin kept attempting to drag Hazel through the barrier despite the burning pain he felt through his entire body.  It was clear Justin would not survive if he kept it up.

                "Justin, please, don't be foolish!!" Hazel pleaded as he struggled to remove himself from the adolescent's grip around his torso, hoping he could force Justin out of the run and leave Hazel to fight off It alone.  Justin just gritted his teeth as he tightened his hold, still attempting to push Hazel and himself through the barrier and into the dim light ahead.  The Black Rabbit's voice floated once again above their heads, distant and shadowy.

                Justin, if you do not release Hazel and come out of the runs, I will have no choice but to allow you to die, at the claws of the dark beast of the comical field, and then El-ahrairah shall truly perish without your aid.  Young one, do not be imprudent.  Is it really worth sacrificing your life, your mission, El-ahrairah, for Hazel?

                "Yes!!" shouted Justin angrily over the triumphant roars of It, signaling that it had already made its way past the astral projection barrier formed from the Watership Owsla and was now rapidly scourging through the winding caverns, eager to finish them both off.  Then before the Black Rabbit could reply for what he expected a final time, Justin then softly asked the Black Rabbit, "Black Rabbit of Inle...when...when you said it is necessary that I leave here alive without Hazel, was it because you showed mercy to me, because I really did have a pure heart and you did not want to punish the innocent...or is it because I'm the cross-bearer?"

                For once, Hazel did not hear the Black Rabbit provide an immediate answer, only silence of contemplation.

                Justin asked again, rephrasing, "When you said I could pass through with your permission, was it because you really don't find any faults with me, that you think I'm not evil, or is it because you don't want El-ahrairah to die and I'm the only one who can help him?"

                Again, the Black Rabbit of Inle did not answer.

                Justin continued, his voice tired yet displaying the faintest traces of ironic comprehension and accord, "You said you do whatever is asked of you by Frith, whatever is necessary for the greater cause.  I...I can understand that, but...but is it necessary?  For me to abandon my friend, my guardian, one of the rabbits who has always stayed by me and cared for me, protected me, and who himself was ordered by El-ahrairah and Frith do always remain by my side and to help me fight Elil-rah?  Well...is it really necessary for me to leave Hazel?"

                Yes, for he has a piece of darkness in him, in his heart, and no amount of power from El-ahrairah or myself can ever help him vanquish that.  Young one, if he leaves this run, he will spread the darkness to other creatures in the land beyond life, starting with the other soldiers of the Owsla of Watership Down and the darkness will corrupt all the other innocent creatures in this land, thus ultimately leading to the demise of this realm, this world.  For that was Elil-rah's plan, young one.  He knew that if you extract him from the runs and holes of disease and affliction, you will, in due course, turn the rest of the rabbits against El-ahrairah from the contamination of the dark demon once you arrive at his warren in the meadows of Fenlo, yet if you leave him, Hazel-rah shall suffer at the mercy of It while the rest of you manage to escape, yet with one comrade gone forever.  Which is precisely why I wish for you to abandon your friend, cross-bearer, for it is the decision of lesser consequences and the more vital.

                "He's...he's right, Justin," Hazel panted wearily, still weak, "I...I can feel it, in my heart, I can feel the dark creature's pain, his anger, his bloodlust, his mind pressing against my own.  I'm...I'm not free from it, Justin.  The only thing you and the rest of the chaps were able to do was to delay It, but the presence is still there, in my heart...and it is making me weaker and weaker.  I will fade away, young one, so please, listen to the Black Rabbit before it is too late!!  Leave me behind!!  Please!"

                "But it still has consequences, ones that I can't live with, and neither can the rest of the guys live with it!" Justin hissed through gritted teeth as he felt a gash rip excruciatingly across his hand before he pleaded again to the Black Rabbit, "Please, you know none of it was Hazel's fault!  He didn't know what he was doing, and the animal was taking advantage of his depression and his sadness!  You can't punish him for being tempted, for making a mistake!"

                Regardless, young one, Hazel still has the piece of the curse in his heart and soul, and to release something such as that in the land beyond life would endanger other creatures.  You can curse me, plead with me, loathe my decisions and hate me as much as you wish, as it has always been with every creature I have brought, but I still stand on my decision, Justin.

                Justin's eyes crinkled a bit in confusion before they registered sad understanding.

                "You're wrong, you know.  I don't hate you."

                Hazel swore he could have seen the one, extraordinary moment when the Black Rabbit actually widened his eyes in disbelief, breaking through his calm, somber, solemn composure.

                Justin continued, "I know what you do, what your role is in the physical world, how you help all rabbits by bringing them death, from the stories I've read about you in 'Watership Down'.  I know that no matter how much everyone remembers how you are only doing what Frith told you to do, that death is a natural part of life, that eventually, everyone has to die but they will meet each other again in the land beyond life, there is always a creature who wishes to bargain with you for a little more time, or complains and whines on how it is not fair, or curses you, the messenger, because what you're doing hurts them and the people who love them.  Trust me, humans go through the exact same feelings whenever they're faced with death, even though it's not their decision to make, even though you're just doing what you've been told to do, that people cannot question God's will because He knows what should happen will happen, and no one can fight against it because His decision is best, even though we may not know it."

                The Black Rabbit hesitated before asking sharply and impatiently, Even if you know that, even if you do realize how creatures feel about me, and what I go through day and night even since the beginning of time, then why are you being so difficult and obdurate?

                "Because where else does Hazel have left to go if he can't come back to the land beyond life?"

                There was only silence in response.  Justin had to think hard about explaining his reason despite the panic and fear and the growls of the dark beast lurking behind them.

                "Because Hazel has already died, and banishing him from the land beyond life isn't merciful, and it's not something that Frith would do.  I know it, deep in my heart.  Hazel is just a rabbit who's loyal to El-ahrairah, yet if he has to die for a second time and leave this place, where else does he have left to go?  If he can't go to the land beyond life, where else can you take him?  To have him suffer and be imprisoned in these holes forever?  That's not gracious like death, and it's not a fate Frith would have chosen for Hazel.  Not even El-ahrairah would have been punished like this, and he's done things far worse than Hazel."

                It was getting closer, the rumbles from its dripping mouth now faintly audible.

                "There is a difference between physical death and true death, and Hazel doesn't deserve true death," Justin supplicated quietly.

                The Black Rabbit of Inle still remained silent, though, although it could have been possible for Hazel to imagine it, he could have felt the entire run suddenly turn less cold and foreboding.

                "Black Rabbit?" Justin requested.

                I am sorry Justin, but unfair or not, I cannot break those rules set in the deepest stone...I am truly sorry.

                It was getting closer, the muffled sound of it's heavy, clawed paws scratching against the hard ground.

                "Then, can I ask a question?"

                The Black Rabbit could not help but smile grimly at the human teenager's naive, inappropriate politeness.

                You may.

                "If you're letting me out of the holes and runs of affliction, even though I'm a human, even though I'm possibly the worst creature ever created and probably the most evil, why aren't you worried that I might infect other creatures here in the land beyond life?"

                Because humans can accept and hide a tremendous amount of wickedness, malevolence, and sin in their hearts, more so than any non-human creature created by Frith, because you also have love and friendship and kindness and hope, gifts also given solely to men to balance out your ultimate iniquities, and because your friends from Watership Down, those sent to protect and care for you would help you deal with the evil and contain it, so that all you display is the true heart of the universal Spirit.

                "So what makes you think it's not the same for Hazel?"

                The Black Rabbit of Inle hesitated before he diverted the subject deliberately, Justin, please do not be foolish.  Leave Hazel-rah behind, for El-ahrairah's sake...and for mine.

                It was getting closer, the low chuckling of insane, sadistic, cruel glee from its core of wicked, foul turpitude, more evil than every single elil the Watership Owsla and Justin had ever faced within the past month synthesized together.

                "Please, young one, please.  Leave me."  Now, it was Hazel speaking, and as Justin turned mournfully to face Hazel, he could see the rabbit's face dimly, feel the moist fur and whiskers soaked from his sweat and tears of fatigue and sorrow.

                "Hazel -," started Justin, whimpering, but Hazel forcefully placed a paw over Justin's mouth, silencing him as he used whatever strength he could muster to stand on his own accord.  Now Hazel's quiet voice was hard and forceful as he had enough with the adolescent's foolishness and wanted what needed to be done quickly.

                "Justin, go...or I will throw you out myself."

                Justin just stood there, pausing and undecided.

                Hazel repeated with more conviction, "Go, or you will surely die."

                Justin still looked defiant, so Hazel, walking lamely, advanced towards him with an angry, fierce look on his face, though in reality, his heart was broken with pity and flooded remorse.  He needed to be cruel to be kind in this case.  Though he wasn't sure if he had enough muscle to actually fight and force the cross-bearer out, he would do so now as It advanced closer and closer.  Justin still did not budge as Hazel roughly grabbed him by the shoulders, ready to push him out and through the barrier close-by.  Justin then looked up at Hazel, clouded, resigned yet sorrowful.

                "Before I go...one last hug?" the boy whispered dolefully.

                Hazel felt his shattered heart engulf his senses, but he gave in, promising himself that it must be done in haste or else the monstrosity of the comical field would be upon them.  Time was of the essence.  Hazel just opened his paws wide, allowing the teenager to wrap himself affectionately around his torso, his clammy face burying itself into Hazel's dirty red and silver tunic, and though extremely restless and fretful, Hazel firmly yet fatherly embraced his friend, knowing that this would be the last time they would ever see each other again.  One second passed, then two, yet Hazel unexpectedly felt in high spirits and warm from the embrace and closing his eyes, he could almost relive all the trials of the elil, the adventures, the past life he experienced on Watership Down, the fun and excitement and risks that came with his legacy.  A part of him wished that he would never leave the cross-bearer's side.

                The roars of the creature got louder and louder and fragments of rock scurried and trembled in its wake.  Justin needed to leave now while he still had the chance.

                "Justin, go now," Hazel whispered.  Justin did not answer and Hazel felt his arms squeeze his body even tighter.

                "Justin, what are you doing?!  For Frith's sake, let go!"  Now Hazel's voice had a slight ring of alarm and surprise as he tried to push the human off him, yet Justin's grip was like rock, and the human kept a vise-like hug around Hazel.  He wasn't leaving, but before Hazel could cuff Justin, to his horror as dawning comprehension entered his mind, he heard Justin whisper the last of his prayer.

                "...and let me take in the darkness; remove the piece of It that is hurting Hazel and put in me instead, so that he will be free from the guilt, from the pain, and be able to go back home with the others back to El-ahrairah."

                "NO!" yelled Hazel in horror as he tried to shove Justin into the barrier, but it was too late.  With a sudden howl, Hazel could only widen his eyes in excruciating pain as he felt his lungs, his heart, his chest explode with searing pain, as if someone drove a burning stake of red-hot metal into his body, and the rabbit shook violently, his voice dying to a faint gurgle as he desperately gasped for air.  Justin, who was still holding onto Hazel, was crying and whimpering in pain as he felt the shard of darkness, the piece of the evil ogre, dig itself unbearably out of Hazel's chest, like a mole or a gopher, before burrowing directly into Justin's chest cavity and into his heart.  The anguish and suffering was horrendous.  Justin felt his entire world fall out from beneath him as his head was swimming, and the rest of his body felt like every drop of blood in his veins turned to the fiercest, hardest ice.  Justin, now too weak to even stand up, felt his vision cloud and blur as he stiffly released Hazel and collapsed onto his back, barely breathing and nearly as stiff and hard as rock.  Hazel, also debilitated, fell to all four of his paws, weakly coughing and gasping for precious air that could diminish the haze of wearisome obscurity that was desperately trying to block his consciousness.  Despite the affliction, Hazel slowly discovered that he felt...free, uplifted, no longer burdened with torment.  Yet, at what cost?

                Hazel then saw Justin lying senselessly on the rocky ground, and his heart then nearly plummeted to the pit of his stomach as he crawled feebly towards his human friend.  Hazel felt the tears of blame and regret obstruct his throat and burn his eyes as he uselessly and pathetically cradled Justin in forepaws, feeling Justin fade away second by second.  Now Justin was the one infected with the darkness, and even if Hazel could be allowed to go free, Justin would not, and as a result, the cross-bearer would never have a chance to save their warren and heal El-ahrairah.  Hazel just shut his eyes as he held Justin close to his body, trying to capture the last, remaining traces of warmth and life escaping from the adolescent's skin.

                "El-ahrairah, what now?  What now??  I've failed you, I've failed everyone," sobbed Hazel.  Instantly, he felt his entire world go dark and at first, Hazel thought that the beast was finally upon them, but then a faint shimmer of light in front of him, bringing the rabbit to open his eyes and look towards the amazing sight that came into his sight.  There, in front of him, were translucent, ghostly forms of the astral projections of Bluebell, Campion, Bigwig, Acorn, Hawkbit, Silver, Pipkin, Blackberry, Speedwell, Buckthorn, Fiver, Dandelion, Strawberry, and Holly, all of them staring mournfully and despondently at the still form of Justin and Hazel, their faces beyond description of the pain they felt and their eyes cascading with tears as they all wept silently.

                And standing in front of them was the ghostly, spiritual apparition of El-ahrairah, the Lord and Prince of all rabbits, who looked intently at the scene that unfolded in front of him, yet unlike the rest of the Owsla, El-ahrairah, though sad and full of lament and dolor, also had silent love and sympathy shining through his kind face, his ears glowing with the faint silver of starlight.

                Hazel, whispered El-ahrairah benevolently.  Peculiarly enough, El-ahrairah's voice was completely opposite of the Black Rabbit of Inle and yet so similar as well.  It was as if the Black Rabbit and El-ahrairah were the proverbial twins of contrary, with one twin representing light and the other representing darkness.

                "El-ahrairah, what can I do now?" wept Hazel, unable to look at his Prince in the eye without wanting to curl up in a fetal position of remorse and shame, "Justin is dead, all because of my hesitation and foolishness!  I am truly alone now, because I failed you, I failed my friends, and no one can help me nor would they wish to!  Justin is the only importance that matters in this mission, and I have lost him!!"

                No, it is not how you say, Hazel, my child, my friend...my brother in Frith and in my heart.

                El-ahrairah's astral projection form was now close enough to touch Hazel, and the heavenly Prince softly placed a warm, reassuring paw underneath Hazel's chin, causing the Chief Rabbit to look directly into his cornflower eyes of blue, as soft and gentle as the clam, clear sky of the month of May.

                Hazel, I am not disappointed in you, nor do I think that you are a failure, a fool, a mistake.  Hazel, every rabbit has faults, every rabbit makes mistakes, every rabbits has moments of weakness, has times when they stumble, and has times when they subject themselves to evil.  Frith can see this before it even happens, I can foretell such deeds before they even began to take root in your mind.  Hazel, I am fully aware of your mistakes, your lapses of oversight, and yet I still stand by my decision that you are the one and only rabbit I can trust to lead the fellowship to protect the cross-bearer.  Rather than condemning your mistakes and your weaknesses, I chose to trust you, love you, and have faith in you regardless.

                Hazel just stared at his benevolent Prince, shocked at the statement.  El-ahrairah continued patiently.

                You are not alone, you are never alone, for I am in your heart, just as I was for Strawberry when he was tormented by Cowslip, just as I was for Blackberry during his conflict with Justin's humanity, and just as I am here now for you, Hazel, for you need the truth of the matter to help you realize your destiny, your importance, your hidden strength.  Do you not remember, Hazel?  Your heart will never mislead you, but in order for it to display the power of your light, it needs to be bonded together with those who care about you.  Such as the incident in the heather after you and the band left Sandleford warren, such as when you and your friends raided the Nuthanger Farm in order to free the hutch rabbits, and such as the liberation of the prisoners of Efrafa and the siege afterwards with the help and care of your family.  Can you see what I am trying to tell you?  You know as well as I that you are not weak, pathetic, and bungling, yet of course you cannot achieve this alone.  No one can, not even myself.  Why do you think I sent the others of the Watership Owsla to accompany you?  It was not to create an army of soldiers at your command nor was it because I had a lack of trust in your abilities, but it was because they are your family, your brothers, your friends that give you strength, that support you in your actions, no matter what cost, and despite the anger and uncertainty that you have witnessed, they do care deeply for your well-being as well as Justin's.  Can you not see them?  They are not just weeping for the cross-bearer.  They are weeping for you, for their Chief rabbit, for their brother, for their comrade.

                "Hazel-rah, please, don't leave us.  We need you," whimpered Bluebell, wrenching his paws together in front of him in frantic anxiety.

                "We will not let it end, not like this, Hazel-rah," whispered Campion.

                "Damn it, Hazel, believe in yourself and trust us and El-ahrairah!  None of us could have fought all this way by ourselves, so why in the name of the Black Rabbit do you think we expect that impossibility out of you?  Fight it, Hazel-rah!" bellowed Bigwig angrily.

                "Hazel-rah, please, come back to us!" Acorn whined.

                "If you leave us, I'll come in there myself and kick your furry tail until some sense gets knocked into you!  Embleer fur and paw, we always cared about you!" shouted Hawkbit, tears of outrage wetting his face.

                "We protect and help each other, Hazel-rah.  Just because you are our leader does not mean that you are above us, for you need our support as well as we need yours," commented Silver sadly.

                "Hazel, don't give up, please!  We believe in you!  El-ahrairah believes in you!" wailed Pipkin.

                "We are here for you, Hazel-rah.  We always have been and always will be," Blackberry stated matter-of-factly.

                "C'mon, chap, fight this!  You've always shown true leadership and direction before!  You cannot stop now!" urged Speedwell.

                "Hazel-rah, I can understand your doubt, but we never stopped caring about you.  It is not because you were our Chief and we were obligated to show you respect, but because you treated us as equals, as peers, with such kindness and humble understanding that no other rabbit has ever felt from a Chief rabbit before," Buckthorn said softly.

                "We will never leave you or forsake you," Fiver murmured, his eyes shining.

                "Hazel-rah, please, you cannot let the story end like this!  All the kittens back in Fenlo will want this tale to end with a happy ending!" pleaded Dandelion.

                "Hazel-rah, you made mistakes, but so has every other rabbit that has ever lived, even El-ahrairah himself.  You are no different from every noble heart that still manages to persevere and fight against evil and enticement," Strawberry wept, rubbing his face with his forepaws awkwardly.

                "Hazel-rah, we are a family, a band of brothers.  Please, come back to us.  Can you not see how much we will all hurt and mourn if Justin left you behind?  If you won't come back for us, then come back for El-ahrairah, for Justin...and for yourself," begged Holly.

                Hazel, please, I never doubted you or your gifts.  Neither have your companions nor the cross-bearer for he was willing to take your burden, your encumbrance, in order to help you, to aid you, to realize your true spirit, not living and listening to the darkness, but alive and well in the Holy Spirit.  Hazel, can you not see the truth?  Gentleness, a contrite spirit, admitting that you cannot fight alone and needing the help of others...that is never a sign of weakness but a character of true strength and humility, a firm leader.  You can still win...but I cannot force you to make that decision.  Hazel, the choice to either fight and admit your powerlessness, your need for help or to stand alone, defeated, and accepting of the cross-bearer's demise is ultimately yours.  You need to make that conscious decision.  It is now or never, my friend.

                As this dialogue and exchange of heart continued on, the wicked abomination of the comical field finally found its way into the run, only to gleefully see its victims, Hazel and Justin, both on the ground, unable to spot the apparitions of light that were witnessing directly to them.  It may have lost its influential hold on the Chief Rabbit, but he would be able to strike the both of the nuisances before they could even make a sudden movement.

                "I HAVE YOU NOW!!!" It bellowed with malevolent, nasty craving of cruel distress and bleak slaughter, as It dashed towards the two targets from behind them, completely vulnerable, powerless, and ready to be set upon by the carnivorous, horrid animal born from Elil-rah's foulest imagination of his sick, twisted mind of evil.  It pounced, but then Hazel said the most uplifting words he could ever utter.

                "El-ahrairah...I...I cannot do this alone.  I need to protect the cross-bearer.  I need to protect Justin.  I...I need everyone to help me.  Please, please, everyone, I won't give up, I won't stop fighting, but please, please, lend me your power, give me strength.  Please!"

                In fractions of a second, Hazel began to glow in soft, pure sunlight.  A single, twinkling spark of life emerged on his chest, in front of the red fabric covering his torso.  It was nascent but nevertheless, still more beautiful and promising as the holiest star of the brightest heavens.

                "Hazel-rah..." Bluebell whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Campion whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Bigwig whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Acorn whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Hawkbit whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Silver whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Pipkin whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Blackberry whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Speedwell whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Buckthorn whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Fiver whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Dandelion whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Strawberry whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                "Hazel-rah..." Holly whispered as he touched Hazel's chest with his paw.  The star grew brighter.

                And last but not least...

                I love you, my child, my brother, for I am with you in your heart.  Protect Justin.  Blessed be, finished El-ahrairah as his paw, his touch of magic, of strength, of power, made the last contact with Hazel's heart.

                The star flickered before it surged, its power of might and virtue increasing by more than a thousand fold, blazing the holes of affliction, indeed the entire stone warren of the Black Rabbit of Inle, with beautiful light of togetherness and love and devotion.  It screamed, stopping instantly in its attack.

                "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!  THIS CANNOT BEEEEEEE!!!" It screamed as the light overwhelmed the monster.

                                                                                ***

                "Wha-...what in the name of Frith and Inle is going on?" Strawberry asked, shocked as the light began to eat its way through the barrier, nearly blinding all of them, including the Black Rabbit of Inle and his shadow Owsla who were never used to such radiance and luminescence.

                "Hazel-rah!" bellowed Holly, now deciding that no matter what the cost, he would march in there regardless of the consequences and drag out Justin and El-ahrairah himself if he had to.  Yet before he could act, the audience could dimly see a silhouette walking, no, stumbling out of the entrance to the holes of affliction and disease.

                "Ha...Hazel-rah??" Bigwig inquired weakly, straining his eyes against the sudden luminescence.

                "It...it can't be," murmured a gaping Hawkbit.

                "O Frith and Inle," whispered Acorn in shock.

                "Embleer fur, paw and tail of all rabbits!" staggered Campion, so astounded he nearly stumbled on his own hind feet.

                "Frith in a barn," Silver said in a hollow voice as his eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open in complete surprise.

                "By the blessings of El-ahrairah!" Bluebell gasped.

                Fiver said nothing as a strange sensation of calm washed over him, as if he realized that this was exactly what would happen, as if this was already predicted, as if he knew, deep down, that everything would turn out all right.  Standing next to him, the Black Rabbit expressed the same emotionless demeanor without surprise and confusion.

                There, in front of the Black Rabbit of Inle and the Owsla of El-ahrairah and Watership Down, stepping slowly, wobbly, yet surely, out of the tunnel of affliction and through the barrier, was Hazel, walking slowly on his hind feet and in his arms, he carried an unconscious and wounded Justin.  Surrounding the both of them was a beautiful, transparent orb of radiance, a shield of sunlight, like the one that had unknowingly protected Justin when Nekas had tried to murder the cross-bearer in his sleep.  Only this time, to the confounded amazement of the rabbits, the streams and rays of the purest gold were coming from Hazel's body, specifically, in the chest region over his heart which beheld a beautiful miniature cross, a second one supplementary to Justin's jewel, except this was no physical object.  This cross, this power, was a figment of the strength radiating from Hazel's gentle heart.  Hazel's eyes were sad, sorrowful, and there was no sparkle of life in his eyes, no quiet, contemplation of wisdom and leadership, just obscure pools of muddy brown.  Yet the look on their Chief Rabbit's face was one of utmost peace and tranquility, as if he knew nothing about pain and anguish, and despite all that had happened, there was a trace of a smile of Hazel's mouth as he emerged from the pits of darkness.  Inside, It was screaming as it vainly tried to grab at the rabbit that was gently and lovingly holding the cross-bearer against his body, only to have Its efforts bounce off from Hazel's light.  It was no use; no matter how hard the creature tried, the shield of light reflected off the black magic and protected Hazel and Justin.

                "NOOOO!!!" It shrieked as the shield Hazel invoked around himself radiated with such intensity, it was actually pushing the darkness rearward, sending the ruthless spawn of Elil-rah further and further back, away from the opening, "IT...IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!  A SECOND CROSS?!!!  HOW??!!!  HOW??!!!"

                Hazel managed to speak in a monotone, hollow, yet influential and potent voice, "This is the power the cross-bearer had blessed me with, the power you tried so vainly to cover and prevent me from discovering, hoping I would neglect to harness it as I was lost and fruitless from your temptations and manipulation and accusations of mistrust, lies, and deception.  This...is the true power of El-ahrairah's heritage."

                "IT CANNOT BE!!!" shrieked the malevolent spawn, "YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CROSS OF LIGHT AND POWER!!!  HOW COULD YOU EVEN BE BLESSED, YOU CURSED, WORTHLESS TWIT?!!!"

                Hazel did not answer as he managed to walk out of the runs, past the magical barrier, past the rocks, away from the treacherous fiend, and into the presence of his friends and the Black Rabbit of Inle.  Fiver then answered for his brother quietly.

                "You have been misinformed, you evil wretch.  The true power comes not from the cross but from the truth, from the light that consists of the love and faith we and El-ahrairah have for our friends, and Hazel, along with El-ahrairah, has harnessed it without any interference from your dark tricks.  That was why Elil-rah ordered you to attack only Hazel, wasn't it, you pathetic lapdog of a servant?  Because out of all of us, despite being the most sensitive to pain, Hazel-rah's heart is the most pure and powerful.  He has the strongest heart out of all of us, and therein, he is the largest threat to you, because his love and loyalty and qualities of courage and leadership for all, outshines even your most powerful inducements."

                "IT STILL SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN!!!  EL-AHRAIRAH HAS THE MOST NOBLE AND STRONGEST HEART OF ANY RABBIT EVER CREATED, AND NOT EVEN HE COULD STAND TO FACE ME!!!"

                The Black Rabbit of Inle the rumbled menacingly with anger, It is because you have overlooked and underestimated the power of their friendship and the power of the cross-bearer's faith, you wretch, and that mistake shall be your last!!

                "I AM NOT FINISHED YET!!!" screamed It as it forced itself vainly through the barrier, the claws outstretched and earnestly anticipating to gouge Justin to death in Hazel's paws.

                The Black Rabbit announced with a booming voice, his aura more powerful and insurmountable and sinister than any of the rabbits had ever felt before, No, it is finished, dark creature!!  Begone, back to the crevices of the runs and holes and pits of despair and eternal captivity where you shall stay forevermore, alone!!  Hazel-rah, finish this!!

                "Digger, Listener, and Runner!  Gifts of Rabbits, set us free!" chanted Hazel, shaking with a mixture of reprieve and trepidation as he turned around to face the creature directly in the eyes.  On cue, the other rabbits bellowed the incantation with all of their might and will.

                "Give us strength to fight our Enemy!" chanted Bluebell and Campion.

                "Let man and animal reunite," chanted Bigwig and Acorn.

                "Bind our hearts and souls alike," chanted Hawkbit and Silver.

                "And pray for the cross to shine its light!" chanted Pipkin and Blackberry.

                "Hope and Kindness, Cunning and Courage!" chanted Speedwell and Buckthorn.

                "Friendship and Love, Mercy and Grace!" chanted Fiver and Dandelion.

                "Frith and El-ahrairah, stand strong beside us," chanted Strawberry and Holly.

                Banish this evil... the Black Rabbit chanted, his voice as gentle as a whisper amongst the grass yet as powerful as a resounding in the walls of the sold warren.

                "...FROM TIME AND SPACE!!!" the entire Owsla of Watership Down, of Frith, and of El-ahrairah finished in harmonious, beautiful unity.

                The creature, unable to speak a single word, managed to cry out an unearthly, demonic screech of rage, disbelief, and agonizing pain as the power and magic of the words from the rabbits' courage, love, and strength engulfed the entire, foggy body of It with a brilliant, shining, golden luminosity of the sun and the cross, bringing the dark creature into depths of excruciating malaise, torment, and misery unknown to man nor animal as the wicked carnivore, now completely devoid of any control over its body, was being inexplicably dragged further and further back, away from the only entrance of the runs and deeper into the pits and burrows and holes of maladies, disease, and pestilence.  It was an appropriate home for the vicious parasite, and regardless of how much It struggled, no amount of power from its own accord nor from Elil-rah's blessings, would have ever been enough to free itself from the grip of holy light the rabbit Owsla of Watership Down and the Black Rabbit of Inle bestowed upon it as punishment.

                "N-NO!!  NOOOO!!!  NOOOOOOOO!!!  THIS...THIS CANNOT...BE!!!  THIS CANNOT BE!!!" the dark beastly atrocity named It screamed, "I...I AM ELIL-RAH'S...MOST POWERFUL SERVANT!!!  I AM INVINCIBLE!!!  I AM UNSTOPPABLE!!!  I AM UNBEATABLE!!!"

                Without a word, the Black Rabbit of Inle waved a paw, and the screams of It were silenced forevermore as the only exit from the treacherous caverns became blocked, magically filled with mounds and mounds of hard, dark soil by the Black Rabbit's magic and power, entombing the creature to a lifetime imprisonment of stifling darkness and insatiable hunger, trapped behind a long, thick, impassible wall of dirt and the light of Justin's cross and the Watership Owsla's prayer ensured that It would remain that way, weakened, innervated and unable to fight its way out.  With a soft rumble, the entire opening was blocked off, as solid and rigid as steel and concrete.

                "And now, you are unmovable," Bluebell quipped in a finished tone for It, talking to no one in particular, yet the remark did cause a few suppressed grins.

                Exhausted and done in, Hazel fell on his knees, still holding Justin in his arms, gasping and nearly faint.  The use of his strength to call forth the light to shield himself and Justin, not to mention calling forth Dandelion's incantation took so much out of him.

                "Hazel-rah!" all the rabbits called out worriedly as they immediately flocked around him give aid, and Silver and Hawkbit offered to take the teenager out of Hazel's paws, but Hazel silently shook his head as he held the boy closer to his torso.

                Let him be, The Black Rabbit of Inle tenderly commanded, and obeying, the entire Watership Owsla remained close to their leader's side, yet stood by with slight wonderment and confusion.  His fur drenched with sweat and every cell in his flesh crying out in soreness, and yet Hazel still managed to smile as he looked down on the serene, peaceful look on Justin's face, closed his eyes, and brought his nose to Justin's.  At first, the others were bewildered.  Then they saw Hazel's entire body glow with golden sunlight as the ghostly, phantom cross appeared over his chest, and though the Watership soldiers were not exactly sure, they were able to see that some of the warmth and gentle radiance slowly, yet surely, was transferring over to Justin's unconscious form.  Now, both of them were bathed with the comfort of healing light, and yet strangely enough, Justin was devoid of his cross necklace.

                "Ho-...how??" asked Speedwell, his eyes wide with surprise, yet twinkling slightly in the presence of the streams of yellow and orange illuminating the entire burrow.

                "By the fur and tail, a second cross?!  Where...where did it even come from?!" gasped Campion in a hushed tone.

                "Fiver, your premonition!" gasped Acorn at the seer, remembering what he said while they were still in the comical field.

                "Dandelion, I thought only Justin would be able to harness the powers of light and Frith.  So...so why in the name of El-ahrairah...is Hazel-rah...even able to harness such power??" Bigwig asked, his jaw dropping.  Dandelion shook his head, speechless and unable to answer, yet the Black Rabbit's voice gracefully provided a long-due explanation.

                It is the light from Hazel's heart that gives him such power, and though the cross did have a small part of the miracle, the light you see is the power of his love and kindness and quiet strength that radiates from Justin and from you, all of you.  Remarkably, such power only arose because Hazel comprehended the truth: that he was beloved by the rest of you, that he never failed El-ahrairah and Justin, and that he is the true and rightful leader of this mission, of this quest.  El-ahrairah did not make a mistake in putting his faith in Hazel, and neither did Justin, for that matter.

                "I am surprised to see that you even care, you dark rotter!" Buckthorn growled bitterly, unfazed as he glared directly into the eyes of the Black Rabbit of Inle.  The dark spirit did not answer the angry Watership rabbit as he and the others watched on.  The basking golden light then vanished as mysteriously as it came, and Hazel, now completely done in, released Justin as he weakly toppled over.  Bigwig, Campion, Fiver, and Blackberry rushed ahead of everyone else and caught the both of them before they struck the hard ground.  Fiver worriedly brought his nose to Hazel's face and snout, uncharacteristically warm and drenched with sweat of fear and confrontation.

                "Hazel," Fiver whispered tenderly as he burrowed his face into Hazel's neck and shoulder, crying softly.  Hazel, touched, just brotherly and affectionately rubbed the spot between Fiver's ears on his head with a forepaw, comforting his younger sibling as he repeated soothingly over and over, "It's all right, Hrairoo, it's all right.  It's all over now."

                "We thought we lost you, Hazel-rah," Blackberry managed to choke out, his grief and sadness starting to overwhelm him.  Hazel managed to smile weakly at Blackberry and Campion who were both propping up their Chief.

                "Strange, I would have thought you bloody chaps would have been more worried about the cross-bearer," Hazel managed to banter.

                Campion then nuzzled his nose to Hazel's face, whispering, "No, Hazel-rah, we need both of you.  Justin may be our cross-bearer, but he cannot lead us, cannot bring us sense and reason, and cannot keep the peace and wisdom and unity of this Owsla such as you can.  Hazel-rah, we would all be forlorn, helpless, and the mission to save El-ahrairah would have been for naught, abandoned, if we had lost you to the evil beast in the runs of the warren.  Please, Hazel-rah, don't ever leave us.  We need you, we trust you...and we love you, like our brother, a true brother, one who would always exhibit compassion, understanding, yet unyielding strength and discipline and cunning in times of trouble to help us.  Hazel-rah, please believe us!  We never wished you to be replaced nor did we ever think that we were better off without your guidance."

                Campion had no inkling of how wonderful and blissful it was for Hazel to hear those simple, sincere words.

                Hawkbit and Strawberry then came up.

                "He's telling the truth, you know, Hazel-rah," muttered Hawkbit solemnly as he shamefacedly glanced at his feet, unsure if he would even be able to look at Hazel in the eyes without feeling guilty, "And...and I wanted to apologize, about how I've been acting towards you ever since Greenweed disguised himself as Damien, how I blamed you for everything that happened even though it wasn't your fault, because I just needed to vent out and gripe and complain.  I...I didn't mean what I said...about being disgraced by the fact that you had to bow to Damien to save the fur of myself and Bluebell, that I didn't want to look up to you as our leader and Chief anymore.  I was just being an idiot, and...and I'm sorry I lashed out at you."

                "I would also like to apologize," Strawberry said sorrowfully, "I just wished to stay mad at you for not doing everything you could to stop Cowslip, for not believing in me, for not coming to my defense, because it was...it was easier to blame you and stay angry with you, being self-righteous over your judgment when I should have realized that you were trying your best and that you never wanted to hurt me, even after I accused you of being incompetent and blaming you for Justin nearly dying when he got caught by the snare-collar.  Do you...will you forgive me?"

                Hawkbit and Strawberry expected Hazel to give them a well-deserved, sharp scolding, but their benevolent leader just beamed at them with a small, considerate smirk on his face, his whiskers twitching with affability and pity.

                "Always, my friends," Hazel said softly, and on cue, the rest of the Owsla from Watership Down gathered around both Hazel and Justin, expressing their relieved concerns and sentiments that they were all thankful that everything was alive and well.  Unexpectedly, a subtle noise from the Black Rabbit made them grow silent and turn around to face the loyal servant and angel of death.  Buckthorn stood up and angrily crossed his forepaws over his chest, blocking the Black Rabbit's path as he glared at him.  The red-eyed spirit then raised his paw and dropped a small object into Buckthorn's arms, causing the Owsla rabbit to catch it before it struck the ground.  It was Justin's cross.  Slowly and silently, all the rabbits could only wordlessly watch as the Black Rabbit then lowered his head directly in front of Hazel, the two of them meeting eye to eye.

                Hazel-rah, Chief Rabbit of Watership Down past, soldier of El-ahrairah's Owsla, protector and friend of Justin, the legendary cross-bearer...I ask for your forgiveness.

                Hazel was floored, though his half-shut eyes were too weary and heavy to widen, thought the rest of the Watership Owsla was stunned with disbelief.  The messenger of Death, the rabbit who struck fear and dismay and terror in the heart of every creature, including El-ahrairah and King Darzin, was humbling himself before Hazel-rah, a rabbit he outshone over more than a thousand fold?

                The Black Rabbit continued, Perhaps...I am not as wise and omnipotent as I have thought, and sometimes, in that doggedness, I refuse to see and acknowledge what you and Justin have just learned in these very runs, to witness and believe that sometimes, it is possible to achieve a victory...without sacrificing anyone.  And I was willing to forsake the cross-bearer and you as well if it meant that he would be prepared to stay in the darkness with you, even if you contained the evil creature's influence into your own heart; Elil-rah had anticipated that possibility...and I nearly helped him achieve that.

                "It was not your fault," Hazel said encouragingly, yet softly, "He deceived me as well and that could have been very well my own spirit who could have killed Justin.  There is nothing to be forgiven for, my Lord.  Neither of us is critically hurt."

                "But...but the darkness?  The one It infected you with in your soul?" Bigwig asked weakly, afraid of losing Hazel again.

                The Black Rabbit replied tactfully, It is no longer a part of Hazel's soul for Justin willingly accepted it as a part of his own psyche, a part of his own essence and aura.  It is a piece of him now, and I just hope that he is strong enough to control it, to not let it overwhelm him.

                "It won't," Hazel said softly as he cast a fond glance at Justin, still unconscious, "I put...a shard of my light, the power that I gained from everyone and from El-ahrairah and instilled it into Justin's heart as well, to balance out the malice he took in from the dark beast, from Elil-rah's pet.  Now...my heart is in Justin."

                "Hazel-rah!" whispered Acorn, Pipkin, Bigwig, Campion, and Bluebell in shock.  Yet the Black Rabbit then nodded his approval, letting the others know that such an act was acceptable, even necessary, for the innocent, human teenager.

                The Black Rabbit then glanced down at the comatose Justin, lying peacefully in Bigwig's paws, as if he were asleep, before, to the warriors' incredulity, the Black Rabbit softly yet fatherly placed a huge paw (which had a span greater than Justin's head) on Justin's hair and ruffled it gently, his crimson eyes twinkling and soft and a faint, small smile on his lips.  Hazel was speechless, as well as the rest of the rabbits.  No creature, not even El-ahrairah, have ever even seen the faintest hint of a smirk on the somber, serious visage of the black messenger and bringer of death.  It was certainly an anachronism.

                "My...my lord?" Buckthorn asked, perplexed.

                The Black Rabbit did not reply as his eyes showered a little warmth on Justin before they immediately snapped back into the cold, dead red luminescence of death and passing, though his face strangely enough was less unmoved than before.  He then commanded to his Owsla of shadows sharply, Remain over vigilant watch and guard on the holes of desperation and pestilence!  These runs are to be filled and remained sealed for eternity!  We will no longer use these pits as tools to serve Lord Frith with bringing merciful death to animals of the physical world, but as a proper prison for the dark creature spawned of Elil-rah's evil!  We will start on creating new runs of disease and death, those that are free of such evil influence immediately!

                The shadow Owsla nodded their obedience before vanishing into the ground and reappearing in front of the sealed chamber, guarding it everlastingly with vigilance.  The Black Rabbit of Inle then focused on the group in front of him.

                You are all reunited and healed, free from the torment and relentlessness of It, for the dark animal of Elil-rah shall never harm another creature ever again.  You all must leave this warren now, for it is no place for you nor the cross-bearer to endure much longer in the depths of cold and nothingness.  I will bring you, all hrair of you, out to the entrance of my warren and you can all find your way back to Fenlo with my blessings.

                Before the messenger of death and Frith could do anything though, Hazel then interrupted his proceedings, needing to satisfy his bewildered curiosity.

                "My Lord?"

                Yes, Hazel?

                "Why...why did you spare Justin?  Even if he was a human being, you chose to overlook the shortsighted darkness and sin he carries in his heart like all other men.  So why did you agree to let him leave?  Did you do it because he is the only one who has the powers of the cross-bearer?" Hazel asked weakly.  The Black Rabbit's eyes slightly twinkled with life, though his expression remained stony.

                No, Hazel-rah.  I conceded because unlike most creatures, Justin did not curse death.  He did not blame me, Frith, or God for his sufferings, his undoing, his trials, his sorrows and his temptations towards evil, for he knew.  He understood what real death truly meant, and there was only one other creature I can recollect who had accepted death so easily and serenely.

                "Understood what?  And who was this other animal?" asked a bewildered Pipkin.  The Black Rabbit chose to leave that question to hang as he addressed towards Hazel for a final time.

                Hazel-rah, as you leave this warren with my preeminent blessings, tell Justin that I am truly and sincerely sorry for what has happened, for I have done him a great wrong.  Never before has any creature within my ward and care and power has ever been misjudged this harshly, and as a result, Justin is both blessed and cursed, by both darkness and light, and no power in my being can ever correct that.  Which makes this all the more regrettable and tragic, for despite my sorrow and graveness, for despite my oath and promise to never become attached and emotionally involved with a creature's death, Justin...showed me a faint glimmer of joy, of light, of the loving energy that drives him to carry on with his burdens, his hope, his friendships with you rabbits of Watership Down.  I have never experienced such gentleness, such vigor, and though I never will again...I thank him for that one moment.

                Hazel nodded, a small, satisfied smile on his face.  The Black Rabbit of Inle then cast one final look at the entire group of rabbits gathered around the fallen human adolescent, their hearts tired yet brimming and basking under the purest emotions of joy, relief, and devotion, before, with a faint gleam in his red eyes, the entire fellowship was engulfed with gentle, soft shadows of the past before they and Justin vanished from his warren, only to be transported out into the entrance in the bleak mountains, where they would be free to continue their travels towards the warren of El-ahrairah in the rosy light of the setting sun.  And from then on, the legends and stories would say that the heart of the Black Rabbit of Inle, for only that one day, grew as soft and loving as El-ahrairah.

                                                                                ***

                Later that night, Justin, now wearing his cross necklace Buckthorn returned to him, with extreme relief, inhaled the cold, sweet air of dusk as he and the rest of the Watership rabbits rested amongst the willow trees lazing peacefully next to a wide, bubbling brook of clear, sweet water.  All over, the teenager's clothes were ripped, ragged, dusty, soiled with dirt, grime, blood and God knows what else, but granted, the cross-bearer was grateful to be alive.  Once he regained consciousness outside shortly after they were escorted out by the Black Rabbit of Inle, Hazel, without a single thought of hesitation and doubt, led all of them down the snow-covered, black mountains of obsidian and marble and graphite, to soon find themselves in a quiet serene meadow, an ideal resting place for the exhausted Owsla of El-ahrairah.  The adolescent cast a fond glance over his protectors, his friends, his only trusted allies and companions in the weird, alien realm of the land beyond life.  Though the teenager already lost the track of time he had been in the land beyond the living, it had been nearly a month since that fateful day when Justin was summoned from his home and awoken, dazed, disoriented, and nearly slain by Vervain and Mallow.  His old life seemed like a distant dream.  As Justin looked over his Lapine friends who were running around, chatting, loafing around on the damp, cool grass, or chewing pellets hungrily, he reflected all the trials they had gone through together, all for his sake.

                Bluebell, a rabbit who was rarely serious and whose jokes and pranks always got the best of everyone's tempers and annoyance, and yet without him, Justin would have died from Mallow's spear, not to mention go through the entire journey without a decent laugh or shred of much-needed humor and spirit.  His role as the jester only brought Justin and the rabbits closer together, like a true family, and Justin had no idea how much he loved the carefree, comical, droll attitude.

                Campion, strategic, resourceful, and yet was unquestionably one of the few rabbits Justin had known to wrestle and defeat the regrets and guilt of his past deeds and troubled soul.  His love for Justin grew ever since Justin stood by him, truly understanding how he felt, unwilling to discredit nor look down upon, during Veil Guplea's illusions and accusations.  Indeed, the rat's attacks did not break Campion, but it made him whole, healed, and reminded Campion that Justin, El-ahrairah, and the rabbits of Watership Down would always have faith and trust in him.

                Courageous, strong, brawny, yet temperamental and harsh, Bigwig, the one rabbit who ever survived to face Woundwort, and who had managed to defeat King Darzin, the lion leader of legends told.  Established, he was stubborn and hasty, yet underneath the gruffness and lack of sympathy was a heart as pure and noble as El-ahrairah himself.  And despite all the mishaps and troubles Justin always brought upon them, Bigwig was more than willing to face and fight them without question nor complaint.  And despite his denial...Bigwig cared more for Justin that he was ever willing to admit.

                Acorn, the prime example of what it meant to be an outskirter to a warren, yet no less of a hero, thoughtful, open, and always sympathetic of fellow creatures who gotten the brunt of life, the underdogs, the outcasts, those who always felt inadequate due to their size, status or competence.  Yet, his trial with the weasels and his powers of multiplicity helped him, Sneezewort, Lousewort and Justin realize the truth: despite what others say, the real gallantry was never based on one's standing in life, but their character and their heart.

                Cantankerous, loud-mouthed, sarcastic, pessimistic Hawkbit, a rabbit who always opened his mouth and voiced his opinions before thinking, yet anyone could always see that Hawkbit never meant to purposely do harm.  Certainly, the blackish rabbit had gotten more sadistic cuffings from his team than anyone else, but Hawkbit would always be valued to Justin and his comrades, and the teenager knew the same was likewise with the rabbit.  His faults may be irritating from time to time, yet after the battle with Blood Whitetail and the Wolfen Gale, it just highlighted how his faults made him special and refreshingly different, yet just as righteous as the other Watership rabbits.

                Silver, another rabbit whose past was scarred with bad memories of taunts, jeers, and feelings of being unloved and uncared for.  However, Justin knew he could always depend on the lovable, gentle, reliable rabbit whose corpulence only made him all the more adorable.  After all, what rabbit would be willing to sacrifice his own safety to be buried alive underneath tons of rock and dirt, just to protect a human?  Silver could always comfort those in need of a tender ear and a shoulder to cry on, and his revelations with his struggles with his family allowed him and Justin to reach a deeper understanding about each other than anyone else could ever imagine.

                Pipkin, innocent, childish, small, frail, yet incredibly sensitive, sincere, friendly, and courageous, always willing to obey orders regardless of how ludicrous they appeared and always eager to put his own safety in the line for his friends.  Even when Lord Brock gave Justin the choice of either surrendering his cross or Pipkin's well-being, Pipkin still was averse to allow Lord Brock to take the only tool that could save his lord, El-ahrairah.  Pipkin may have been the smallest rabbit in El-ahrairah's Owsla, but his spirit and love soared higher than his ability of flight could ever give him.

                The Watership inventor and genius, the black-eared buck, Blackberry.  Though he may sometimes be narrow-minded and ignorant, surrendering his emotions over common sense, Blackberry grew to respect, perhaps even have an affection for, Justin, and Justin was glad to always know that Blackberry, though the two may disagree, knew that following one's heart may not be as reckless as he previously thought, just as Justin had learned that Blackberry would always provide valuable advice, wit, and genius when needed.

                Speedwell, a touchy, compassionate, emotional rabbit who Justin could have sworn he acted like Bluebell, only more rational and humanistic.  He never wished to have power and be ambitious, like a Chief rabbit, but would always happily assume his role as a follower, always seeing that there would be no sadness, no spite, and no fear amongst friends, quietly and without recognition or praise, like a caretaker.  For that, Justin's bond with the nonexistent, filler rabbit from the Watership Down stories only intensified.

                Quiet, unmovable, headstrong Buckthorn, a calm rock of firm resolve amidst a sea of torrential chaos and apprehension, one who reflected reliability and fortitude.  He, in no way, gave in to panic and loss, and his war with Hufsa only strengthened his will, the golden blade given to him from his use of the cross was sharp, swift, sure, exactly like Buckthorn's strength of character.  Yet despite his steel facade, his heart grew soft for Justin's openness and vulnerability.

                Fiver, the meek, pacifistic, yet powerful, empathic, and sensitive seer who was arguably the rabbit who surrendered the most for his mission to protect the cross-bearer.  His powers of premonition and second sight may have brought Justin into danger in the Lands of yesterday and tomorrow, yet Justin and Fiver knew that they were not curses, but blessings in disguise.  After all, God never gives someone trials more than they can handle, and Fiver (and Shardik for that matter) rose above the sadness, the pain, and the hardships, showing his true courage.

                Dandelion ,the greatest Lapine storyteller who ever lived and was, with great honor, the official chronicler of El-ahrairah.  His stories of cunning, trickery, and bravery was an extremely great help to bolster the morale and support of the Watership Owsla, yet his heart and loyalty and sharp mind were even greater treasures.  The solemn epic he composed to defeat King Fur-Rocious was not a random miracle, by all means, but living proof of the true power of the Lapine legends and stories of El-ahrairah's heritage.

                Strawberry, the gentle, wise, meticulous misfit, an exemplary paradigm of the lost finding the right path of life once again.  Of course, he would always have the deeds of his past of the Shining Wires would always trail behind him, but time and time again, he had proved his true love, faithfulness, and allegiance to his real family, his family that reminded him of what it truly meant to be a rabbit of El-ahrairah, and Justin could see that it re-ignited the fire of passion and comfort in his heart.

                Holly, cautious, yet steadfast, unfailing, and sage, the only other rabbit second-in-command besides Bigwig, and whose expertise and knowledge of strategy gained from age and experience was precocious.  He would always be young at heart, excited for a fight, for a chance to right a wrong, for him to show that one would never be too old to learn something new from your friends and to learn from mistakes.  Despite his being the eldest, Holly was more like a brother than a grandfatherly figure in his comrades' lives.

                And last, but definitely not least...

                "Justin?" a voice asked softly beside his ear, interrupting the teenager's thoughts, and the young cross-bearer turned to see the strong, confident, yet kind, benevolent Hazel-rah squatting besides him with a soft, gentle look of gratitude on his face.

                "Hey, Hazel," Justin said softly, though he had no idea why, he slightly shivered.  Maybe it was because the battle against It was a bit more traumatic and harrowing than Justin felt he could care to admit.  Hazel's light brown eyes crinkled a bit in soft compassion, understanding.

                Justin shuddered, causing himself to cast his eyes downward before whispering loudly enough for Hazel to hear, "It...it still feels weird, you know?  To have that piece of you and a piece of that monster in my heart, in my soul.  It feels like...like it's an empty, cold, clammy hole, where I can't feel anything and I'm so...so cold and unfeeling, as if I don't wanna care about anything else, as if I just want to give up, and...and as if I want to just stop feeling anything because it's too painful to continue on."

                "I know, Justin," Hazel replied softly.

                Justin then managed to beam a small smile as he then confessed, "Hazel...I also wanted to say 'thank you'...for everything you've done for me.  I know it wasn't easy for you."

                It wasn't, but Hazel knew that after so much Justin had endured for sake of El-ahrairah and the rabbits of Watership Down , he would do it again in a heartbeat.  He said, "I admit, it took much strength out of me, young one, but...it would have hurt much, much more if I stood by and did nothing.  And I do not regret sharing a fragment of my spirit with you, for I am forever honored to establish that sort of bond with you, even if you are a human.  And...it is I who should thank you, Justin, for you healed me."

                "Well...Hazel, you should know that I didn't heal you.  It was all of us, me, Bigwig, Campion, Fiver and everyone else.  And...not to mention God.  I mean -"  Justin paused, trying to find a way to elaborate on his opinion and belief.  "What I mean is, I don't think the act of me standing by you and being willing to accept your pain, to bear it, was what healed you.  I prayed, because I was lost and I didn't know what else to do.  I didn't have my cross, the Black Rabbit and our friends were on the other side of the barrier, and the beast was getting closer and closer.  And...before I lost consciousness, I think I distinctly remember you praying too, for help, for admitting that you couldn't do this by yourself, that what you needed wasn't for selfish reasons but to protect me and to go back to your friends and your family, because you realized how much they needed you and how much you needed them, y'know?  Don't you see?  I didn't heal you by myself, but your friends and Frith healed you.  That's the power of a godly touch."

                Hazel remembered, how lonely he felt, how much burdens of reproach and blame and mistrust on his shoulders led him to isolate himself, to refuse to admit his weaknesses, and that, instead of making his comrades feel more at ease, only made them feel worse.  It was only when Hazel emerged from the holes of affliction that the Watership Owsla showed pure, luminous joy and compassion and happiness at seeing their Chief rabbit again, just like old times.  Justin was right; the infection may have been banished by prayer and the words of the Lord, but the loneliness, the sadness, the pain, was treated by the greatest blessing Frith ever gave him, the touch from his family.  The intensity of the godly touch, the touch of intimacy, of friendship, of love, of guardianship, of fellowship, of something personal and meaningful.  From Bluebell, Campion, Bigwig, Acorn, Hawkbit, Silver, Pipkin, Blackberry, Speedwell, Buckthorn, Fiver, Dandelion, Strawberry, Holly and El-ahrairah.  It was the sole guiding light in the sea of Hazel's madness and hopelessness.

                Justin, with some afterthought, continued, "And we were wrong too, all of us.  We forgot, even though we have good hearts, how significant we are to each other and how important one touch can be.  All of us were so scared at saying the wrong thing or making you feel worse or leaving you alone because we thought some time alone would be best that instead of helping you and trying to convince you we were here for you, we just tried to distance ourselves from you, thinking that you could handle it yourself except that probably just made things worse off for you.  I'm sorry we did that, Hazel.  We would never mean to hurt you; we care a lot about you."

                Hazel then used a paw to bring Justin closer to his body, resting his chin soothingly on Justin's head while giving him a small hug, whispering, "I know, young one.  Sometimes, even a Chief rabbit and the Black Rabbit of Inle can make mistakes too.  Even if the rest of you chaps tried to make any attempt to help me, I would have dissuaded you or pushed you away, because I was unwilling to let you worry about me, to care about me because I did not wish to see fearful pity from you, and because I did not wish to show and display that I was breaking apart because I did not want to fail you, any of you, as a leader and disappoint you.  I'm sorry too, I was a fool."

                Strange, it made Hazel-rah feel worlds better, just to freely utter those modest words.

                "I'm just glad the Black Rabbit of Inle was on our side, that he really did care for us," commented the cross-bearer.

                "There are not very many who realize it, but the Black Rabbit of Inle was never against us, never cursed us, and he will always be our ally for Frith forbid if there is a single creature who is willing to live forever in the physical world, without realizing that death is as gracious as life, that to endure forever a life of pain, torment, disappointment and hardship is a fate far worse, and that the physical world is only a cheap imitation of the true land beyond life."

                Justin gave Hazel a softhearted, tender look, realizing that the rabbit's hazel eyes were soft and slightly resigned, but liberated and touched nonetheless.  He then remembered that Pipkin mentioned to him as they all recalled their adventure that the Black Rabbit of Inle stated that there was only one other being that understood death as well as Justin himself.  "Sometimes, it's hard to remember that you're not some sort of superhero, that you don't have the answer to everything, that you're not El-ahrairah."

                Hazel managed to give an amused smirk at the thought, "Frith forbid if that ever comes to pass.  I try my best, however, you little duffer."

                "I know, and we'll always keep in mind from now on that you're not 'Super-bunny', that we shouldn't take you and your leadership for granted, and that you're always as faulty and mediocre and human as one of us."

                Hazel's grin grew wider.

                "'Human'?!" he exclaimed in a teasing, offended tone, "'Human'?!!  Frith in a hole, I'm insulted!"

                "You know what I mean," Justin gave a pseudo-strict, exasperated look, "Oh...and Hazel..."

                "Yes?"

                Justin lightly gave a frivolous, friendly cuff on the back of Hazel's head with his hand.

                "Don't you dare ever keep things to yourself ever again without telling us what's wrong, OK?"

                "Yes, 'marli'," drawled Hazel in a smug, amused voice, feeling a bit more lighthearted.  "So, what do you wish to do now?  We can rest for the whole night while it is dark, and we can find something for you to eat if you want."  Justin thought for several moments, looked at the stream, then at his mud-caked, dusty clothes and Hazel's filthy fur.  He started to remove his flannel, long-sleeved shirt and his shoes.

                "Justin...wha-...what in Frith's name are you doing??" Hazel gulped incredulously as Justin stripped off his dirty clothes.

                "Taking a bath," he smiled as he said simply grabbed Hazel by both forepaws gently, "After battling It in the Black Rabbit's runs, we both could use a bath, big time!  C'mon!  You need to take a good washing too!"

                "In...in the stream?" Hazel said weakly as he gave an uncomfortable glance at the clear, yet cold water flowing smoothly over clean stones and sand.  "Justin, rabbits generally try to avoid water, and I'm not surrrrrAAAAAGGGHHHH!!"

                Justin, without waiting for an answer, pulled Hazel as he fell backwards into the stream, catching the Chief rabbit of Watership Down completely by surprise and causing the brown rabbit to lose his balance as he and the teenager fell into the stream with a resounding, tremendous splash.  The other rabbits, slightly worried but mostly, amused, gathered at the bank of the creek as Justin's head, sopping wet but chuckling, emerged from the water, the level being only waist deep.  Hazel, his fur and red tunic soaked, his ears plugged with water, gave Justin a very irritated glare.  Justin snickered.

                "Aw, c'mon, Hazel, don't be mad!  You really did need a bath!  After all, you stink!"

                "He has a point there, Hazel-rah!" Bluebell laughed as Acorn and Blackberry fought hard to not snort at the sight of their Chief Rabbit drenched, waterlogged, and dripping, his fur dropping over his eyes like a wet, pathetic dog.  Hazel then gave a very mischievous smile as he cuffed at the water in front of him, sending a mess of water to splash Justin directly in the face.  Retaliating, the adolescent sent a wave back, only to find that the leader rabbit mysteriously disappeared before the water could hit him.  Looking wildly, Justin and the other rabbits looked around, yet with a quick move, Hazel, cunningly swimming under the water's surface and positioning himself behind the cross-bearer, surfaced, lightheartedly roaring like a lion before tackling Justin from behind and grabbed him in a fierce bear hug, his wet fur clinging to Justin's skin uncomfortably.  The teenager fought congenially as Hazel, feeling his own heart lighten, nuzzled the teenager's hair affectionately, unwilling to let Justin squirm his way out.  The other rabbits laughed at the scene.

                "I am relieved to see that Hazel-rah is finally getting his spirit and happiness back in his heart again," commented Campion privately to Strawberry and Fiver, "It is as if he is a newborn kit again, full of life and vigor and confidence."

                "I know," murmured Fiver, "and I can sense the joy and light rekindled in his heart again."

                "He will always be Hazel-rah, our leader and our trusted Chief rabbit and comrade.  It is highly ironic, isn't it?  None of us realized how much we depended on Hazel, on his authority, on his friendship and kindness, on his noble, effective role as our leader of this mission until we nearly lost him and Justin," replied Strawberry as he observed the playful fracas.

                "I am simply grateful that all of us were strong enough to help banish that monster away, along with the help of the Black Rabbit," Dandelion sighed, extremely relieved before addressing towards Buckthorn, "Which reminds me, you secretive duffer you, did you really win at bobstones against the Black Rabbit of Inle himself?  After all, Buckthorn, the black lord seemed to act more personal and confidential towards you than the rest of us while we were at his warren!"

                "Yes, please tell us!" Speedwell jumped in excitedly.

                Buckthorn just smiled, but set his jaw resolutely, indicating that he was never going to let them in on that piece of information.

                "Buuuccckthooorrrrrrn!" groaned Bluebell with mock aggravation, stressing the rabbit's name annoyingly yet comically, "You are never going to tell us, aren't you?!"

                "No."  Buckthorn's smile grew wider.

                "Let us clarify, you infuriating scamp, you!" growled Hawkbit with a naughty yet playful twinkle in his eyes, "Either you tell us the whole story right now, or else dear Buckthorn here gets a bath along with Hazel and Justin!"

                Buckthorn's smile grew wider.  "I would love to see you bloody chaps try it."

                "CHARGE!" hollered Hawkbit, Bluebell, and Dandelion as they rushed him together, yet Buckthorn, far quicker and graceful than all three of them, managed to twist his body and dodge their attacks, sailing past him, and with a splash, Dandelion, Hawkbit, and Bluebell all emerged from the stream soaking wet and sputtering.  Hazel and Justin, seeing the result, stopped playing and started howling with laughter in conjunction with the rest of the Watership rabbits.  Hawkbit gave Buckthorn a look of vengeance, his wet ears drooped.

                "You shall pay for that, bucko!"

                Buckthorn, as he uncommonly held his sides with his forepaws and doubled over, laughing at the sight, managed to choke out with rare glee, "You will thank me for this later, Hawkbit!  After all, you stunk far more than every single rot in the Black Rabbit's warren combined!  I daresay the water will do you wonders for your stench, not to mention your flea problem as well!"

                The stolid buck was laughing so hard in spite of this that he never sense Campion and Strawberry creeping up behind him softly with good-humored intent.  With brutal shoves, Buckthorn was caught completely off guard as he fell into the stream alongside Hawkbit, Dandelion, and Bluebell.  Abashed that he was surprised so easily, Buckthorn could only react by sending a wave of water to narrowly soak Campion and Strawberry.  Suffice to say it was enough, Campion and Strawberry whooped a war cry as they both dove into the water, tackling Buckthorn as Dandelion, Hawkbit, and Bluebell joined in the fun, squealing and churning the water as they brawled and fought with brotherly love.

                "By the hole in the sky!" sighed Silver.

                "This is no time to act foolishly!  Hazel-rah, tell them to stop and remember that we are at war!  This is no time for frolicking and foolishness!  We still need to reach El-ahrairah's warren in Fenlo!" scolded Blackberry, slightly whining.

                "By Frith, the lot of you!" snarled Bigwig with annoyed exasperation, "You bloody chaps are acting like kittens!  Get out of there!  We should be assigning guards and be on the lookout for Elil-rah's -!"

                SPLASH!  Without warning, cutting off Bigwig's speech, Silver, Blackberry, and Bigwig were engulfed with three separate surges of water splashed towards them from all sides.  His head drenched and his fur cap now partly covering his eyes with wet hair, Bigwig gave a menacing glare at Holly and Speedwell, both chuckling, their forepaws telltale wet from flicking a considerable amount of water from the creek's banks.  Silver and Blackberry faced the other direction as Fiver, Pipkin, and Acorn all together awkwardly scooped up a sizeable quantity of water to drench them with a second time.

                "Holly!!!  Speedwell!!!" roared Bigwig with hot temper.

                "By the Black Rabbit, Thlayli, can you not take a joke?" teased Holly.

                "You would think that all that water would have cooled off that blimey temper of yours, Bigwig!" mocked Speedwell, his white face red with giddiness.  Bigwig bellowed with mock frenzy, slightly smiling, as he chased Holly and Speedwell, who, sensing the danger, leapt into the brook, wadding away from the Owsla veteran.  Undaunted and finally giving in to the enjoyment, the brawny, lackluster, strict rabbit finally gave in to his need for games as he made a tremendous jump from the solid ground, soaring above the forms of a stupefied Holly and Speedwell before crashing into the stream with a terrific shower to swallow up the heads of Holly, Speedwell, and the neighboring bodies of Buckthorn, Hawkbit, Dandelion, Bluebell, Campion, and Strawberry.  Feeling the desire for some new blood, all the rabbits ganged up on Bigwig, Holly, and Speedwell who happily fought back with their own water attacks.  Meanwhile, Silver and Blackberry on dry ground were exacting their revenge on Acorn, Fiver, and Pipkin.

                Blackberry had tackled Acorn, being the heavier rabbit, and now pinned the skinny buck on his back with Blackberry leaning over him, trapping him by sitting on Acorn's chest as drops of water from his drenched head fell on Acorn's tunic.

                "So, you think that was funny, you duffer?!" growled Blackberry, leering, "Embleer fur and paw, my ears will take forever to dry off!  Well, now I have you, you trouble-making rotter!"

                "Actually, chap, I have you," chuckled Acorn.

                "Huh?"  The moment of confusion gave Acorn the opportunity to position his hind feet gently underneath Blackberry's stomach and with a flash, Blackberry was sent backwards into the stream with a powerful flip, exactly how Acorn did with Bluebell when they first met with Justin.  Blackberry squealed with surprise as he belly-flopped into the water, landing close to Hazel and Justin.  With a holler, Acorn hopped into the stream, soaking the black-eared buck again, but immediately afterwards, Blackberry got a hold of Acorn and both of them good-naturedly wrestled in the water.  Silver, after chasing Fiver and Pipkin, finally grabbed hold of both of them and now held them in a strong embrace, both rabbits wrapped by a single forepaw and underneath a forearm, as the large rabbit marched towards the stream.

                "Silver, let us go!" giggled Fiver as he tried to worm his way out of the strong grip Silver had around his waist.

                "Silver, you duffer!  Can't we have some fun?!" squealed Pipkin as he guessed what Silver was planning to do with them, yet the light-furred, fat, jovial rabbit grinned as he tightened his clutch around Fiver and Pipkin, hugging them brotherly close to his torso.  Without a word, he fell backwards into the stream, dragging Fiver and Pipkin with him, immediately submerging all three of them underneath the surface of the brook.  Sputtering and choking, but laughing, Fiver and Pipkin transpired, their heads sticking out of the water as Silver grabbed hold of them again, tickling them as he guffawed, "I'm not through with your little pranks just yet, you two!"

                With a cry, Silver felt Hazel and Justin leap onto his back, playfully tackling the large, wet rabbit, and all was forgotten as the whole group continued to have their fun, their troubles, their worries, their stress, their anxieties washing off into the cold, overwhelming water as the farce continued underneath the starry sky, the light serenely blanketing the band of brothers and friends.

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Next: A RAINBOW IN THE HEART OF DARKNESS

Guess who comes to pay Justin a little visit?  Oh, and I might want to give a little hint about something in the next chapter: there will be a very pleasant surprise to all the fans of Richard Adams in the upcoming episode (or should I say two pleasant surprises) ^_^

If you think you know it, do not spoil it!  Leave the others to wait and find out! =:)

Thoughts about this chapter?  Thoughts about this story?  Constructive criticism you wish to offer?  Something you want to suggest?  Review then!  Don't be shy! =)

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