Watership Down: The CrossBearer

by RogueFanKC

Justin is a scorned and outcast human teenager, but when he is chosen as the Crossbearer, he must fullfill the prophesy of saving Elahrairah with the help of the Watership rabbits in the land beyond life, a journey of courage and love between friends.

30. The Final Battle

Author's notes: Here it is, guys! The ultimate showdown! I'm sorry it took more than 2 months, but I hope that all of you truly enjoy this! Oh, and a reviewer named Light Sneasel left a significant review:

"Masterfull as ever, and touching to. I loved how Pipkin's dream came true, plus that is one more power they have to reach their goals. I just realized, all of these trials just make Justin and the rabbits stronger... that can't be just an accdent can it?"

Nope, there WAS a reason El-ahrairah wanted the rabbits of Watership Down to guard and protect Justin. See if you can guess what it was! )

CHAPTER 29

The light was radiant, immensely bright, and it bathed the entire lands of the battle-torn, diseased ridden, dead fields of the Fenlo meadows with warmth, heat, and the golden richness of the sun and all that was holy. Every rabbit, creature, and Elil-rah winced at the concentrated power and might of the sunbeams radiating from the place where El-ahrairah and Justin once stood, dying. Now, the orange, yellow and gold amalgamations obscured the Prince and the cross-bearer from the eyes of all observers, and indeed, even the clouds of darkness and smoke shrank from the potency of the power of the cross in fear and dread.

"WHAT SORT OF DAMNED TRICKERY IS THIS, YOU FOOLS! I KILLED THE BOTH OF YOU! THIS CANNOT BE AS PROPHESIZED!", Elil-rah bellowed, thoroughly surprised. This was completely unexpected.

With a sudden flash, the nova vanished, brief sparks and glittering dust still alight amongst the cold, howling winds that rushed and swarmed across the brown grass and dry weeds. The storms and gales of harsh, artic, ice were now powerful enough to match that of a hurricane, making it difficult to maintain balance. However, as the eyes of the Owsla of El-ahrairah and Watership Down slowly adjusted their eyes back to the dim murkiness of the stars and sky, a lone, soft globe of light still remained at the field. Within the luminosity was a lone figure.

The Watership warriors remained still, their ears flapping softly in the zephyrs and their eyes glassy and wide with troubled, yet promising disbelief.

Elil-rah dropped his jaw in snarling outrage and, for once, was at a complete and utter loss for words.

The allies and court of El-ahrairah in the Great Hall of the warren of the Prince of all Rabbits gasped and twittered with anxious, hushed, and frantic whispers as they shuffled and shifted nervously.

It was a complete surprise. Where Justin and El-ahrairah once have been was a new, tall figure standing on its hind legs and facing Elil-rah staunchly, the cold air and dark smoke having no effect on its bravado. It looked like El-ahrairah...but then again, one could argue that it wasn't. He was now more than twice as large as before, almost gargantuan. The rabbit's fleece was sleek, shining gold and white, made of pure silver moonbeams and yellow sunfire, all synthesized and combined into a beautiful tapestry of woven silk and fur. If El-ahrairah was beautiful before by Frith's blessings, it would pale into comparison with his new image. Now, he was flawlessly and perfectly stunning. El-ahrairah's face was also different, more composed and human-like with emotion and wisdom untold with a bearded jaw, sharp cheekbones, pale whiskers, and eyes that sparkled with fury and passion in a sea of unearthly aquamarine blue, green and brown. With a broad, wide chest, an erect backbone laced with lean muscle, and wide, rough shoulders, the Owsla could swear that El-ahrairah was almost human like they were...only a thousand times more striking and regal. Yet that was not all. Attached to El-ahrairah's back were seven pairs of large, expansive wings, white as pure snow and with feathers as soft as dandelion puffs. Now, the angelic wings spread until they stretched to their maximum wingspan, forming an intricate and well-designed pattern behind the rabbit, shielding it from the web of evil. El-ahrairah was adorned in pure, white silk that was as bright as the sunlight pouring from its pelt, forming a simple yet sufficient outfit consisting of a belted tunic, a hood pillowing his head with two, convenient holes for the rabbit ears to stick out, and a cloak and cape draping over El-ahrairah's shoulders and traveling a long distance, fluttering and flapping elegantly in the wind. The cape and cloak were neatly wrapped around the rabbit's torso and pinned with an exquisite gold and emerald brooch in the shape of a leaf. Atop the brow of the new El-ahrairah was a golden diadem with a figure of a rabbit in front of the brow, and entwined with the metal band was a crown of ivy leaves, forming a wreath of evergreen flora around El-ahrairah's head. Yet what was most noticeable was where the source of the light was emanating from. The cross, the golden crystal cross their friend, Justin, had worn for so long, was now whole and radiating and slightly hovering in one forepaw as El-ahrairah raised the trinket high above his head, sending halos of fire and blazes of sun, covering the fields of Fenlo with the sanctuary of holiness.

At first, the other rabbits were stunned and bewildered at how El-ahrairah had came to be after the Hellion of Death had fatally stabbed Justin. Then they saw, embodied inside the new form, the shining outlines of the astral projections of Justin and El-ahrairah, flashing together inside the heart of the challenger, before vanishing in the obscurity of the flesh and blood of the rabbit that stood before them.

"El-ahrairah!" exclaimed Bluebell in distress.

"Justin!" panted Campion, still bruised from his battle with the Hellion of Discord.

"O thank Frith and the stars above!" wheezed Speedwell, his whiskers twitching madly.

Regaining his composure from previously before, Elil-rah laughed scornfully, "YOU PATHETIC TWITS, THINKING ONE LAST, SAD TRICK WILL WAVER ME INTO A LACK OF CONFIDENCE."

The figure, the new embodiment of El-ahrairah, said in a deep, calm, yet potent and compelling voice not quite earthly, "IT IS OVER, ELIL-RAH. YOUR REIGN HAS ENDED, FOR YOU WILL NEVER CONTROL THE GARDEN OF EDEN. IT SHALL BE FINISHED, AND YOU SHALL NEVER RETURN...NOT IN THIS WORLD OR THE NEXT, FOR YOU WILL DIE...HERE AND NOW."

Elil-rah sneered as he turned to the Watership Owsla and mocked them with aloof contempt and zealous pride, "YOU PATHETIC RABBITS SHALL HAVE TO BETTER THAN THAT TO TRICK ME WITH AN ILLUSION! EL-AHRAIRAH AND YOUR PRECIOUS JUSTIN ARE DEAD! THIS ILLUSION IS NO MORE OF A MIRACLE THAN YOUR WORTHLESS HIDES AND FLEAS!"

"Fiver, is this your doing? Is this an artifice?" Buckthorn gaped at Fiver.

Fiver smiled, pure and unadulterated joy in his expression of sanguinity. "No...it is not an illusion! It truly is El-ahrairah and Justin!"

Elil-rah snarled, desperation and a hint of fear creeping into the beast's voice, "SURELY YOU JEST, YOU IMBECILE! YOUR PRINCE AND CROSS-BEARER ARE DEAD! GONE! EXTERMINATED! I KILLED THEM MYSELF! AND THIS APPARITION CANNOT HARM ME! NEED I REMIND YOU DUNCES WHAT HAS BEEN PROPHESIZED: NO RABBIT OR MAN CAN KILL ME! I AM IMMUNE TO ANYTHING YOUR INSIGNIFICANT RACE USES AGAINST ME!"

El-ahrairah gave a soft chuckle, wise, knowledgeable merriment in his eyes and voice, making the corners of his mouth twitch into a miniscule smile.

Elil-rah was now livid. What could the suicidal Prince of all Rabbits be happy about? How dare he act in such a lofty, spacey manner of disrespect and lack of fear! But then El-ahrairah said the words that scandalized Elil-rah with much doubt and dread.

"BUT THERE IS YOUR FATAL MISTAKE, ELIL-RAH. WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS NOT A MIRAGE, BUT INDEED, A NEW CREATURE BORN FROM THE CROSS. I AM NEITHER A RABBIT...NOR AM I A HUMAN. NO RABBIT OR MAN WAS BORN WITH SUCH FLESH AND BLOOD, WITH SUCH BLESSINGS OF BOTH THE WORLD OF ANIMALS AND THE WORLD OF MEN. I AM A NEW CREATURE, BORN FROM THE TWO SOULS OF THE CROSS-BEARER AND OF THE PRINCE OF ALL RABBITS FUSED AS ONE. AS JUSTIN AND EL-AHRAIRAH BOTH SHARED THE SAME NAME AND HEART, THEY NOW SHARE THE SAME BODY, UNITED...GIVING BIRTH TO THE NEW CHAMPION OF FENLO YOU WITNESS BEFORE YOU."

"Did...did you understand that?" Bigwig croaked hoarsely as he stared at the figure before them.

"So it is not El-ahrairah!" squealed Pipkin.

"O Frith and Inle, I daresay I'm starting to get mixed up!" groaned Blackberry, holding his head in his paws.

Dandelion then gasped with insight and realization as the words of the riddle branded into his mind rushed forward:

When the hearts of many prayers become one

And the light of Inle releases Frith as the sun

Only then will evil's darkness become undone

For El-ahrairah and the cross-bearer have achieved a mixed oinun

Mixed up...the word "oinun"...it was another anagram. Rearranged, "oinun" was simply the word "union". A union, the banding together of two souls, two worlds, two creatures, two descendants of two forces...yet stemming from one, universal heart of faith, love, and mercy.

"Union!" squealed Dandelion, getting the attention of everyone, including Elil-rah, around him, "Union! UNION! Great golden Frith! Don't you see, buckos! Do you not see yet, old chaps! The last two lines of the riddle! 'Only then will evil's darkness become undone, for El-ahrairah and the cross-bearer have achieved a mixed oinun'! A mixed 'oinun' is basically the word 'union' all mixed up! Embleer fur and paw, this was to happen! El-ahrairah and Justin have united! They have become one to stop Elil-rah...TOGETHER!"

The other rabbits then realized what this meant.

"So El-ahrairah and Justin are not dead!" cheered Hawkbit, "They can still help us win this bloody war!"

"But...if they are one combined," contemplated Strawberry thoughtfully with dawning optimism, "Then...then what El-ahrairah said was true...they are neither a man or a rabbit...but they are both. A new creature that is both the qualities of human and rabbit combined, but is not necessarily solely one or the other!"

"Then...Elil-rah's prophecy of how no rabbit or man can kill him...!" Silver realized aloud.

"It bloody well does NOT apply to El-ahrairah and Justin! Thus, they can defeat him!" Holly cheered, feeling youthful vigor enter his old bones again.

Elil-rah was furiously in denial as he roared loudly enough to echo his entire, booming voice to send shivers of fright and terror into every creature in the land beyond life, from the mountains to the Forests of Yesterday and Tomorrow to the warren of the Black Rabbit of Inle.

"NO, THIS CANNOT BE! YOU LIE, YOU DECEITFUL, FOOLISH, DAMNED WRETCHES! YOU LIE! YOU DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE AND COMBINE NEW CREATURES!" It was easy to notice that the demon, the beast of evil since the dawn of time, was now entirely in stubborn defiance and apprehension, as if his life depended on it. It was hard to believe...but the beast then grasped that it was a very probable ambiguity, a plausible loophole. Never in the beast's unfathomable calculations and cunning could it ever dream the divination could be interpreted in that way.

El-ahrairah then looked at the beast towering in front of him with cold, superior brevity. "THAT IS TRUE. I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE NEW FORMS OF LIFE FROM AN EXISTENCE OF NOTHINGNESS...BUT GOD DOES."

"BUT...BUT GOD DOES NOT CARE FOR THE LOWLY, WORTHLESS ANNOYANCES OF ANIMALS! WHY IN SATAN'S NAME WOULD HE EVER BLESS YOU! YOU ARE NOTHING TO HIM AND HIS POWER!"

El-ahrairah closed his eyes serenely, almost meditating. Suddenly, the astral projection of a golden outline of Justin appeared within the rabbit's body.

"YOU ARE FORGETTING...GOD REMEMBERS AND LOVES ALL HIS BRETHREN REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. AND AS YOU HAVE JUST MENTIONED, ALL DESCENDANTS OF ADAM AND EVE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN."

The rabbits of Watership Down now saw that Elil-rah had reached an innovative level of disbelief, indignation, scandalized gall...and fear. Every ounce of self-control and dignity had now burned away to leave raw, fervent, hysterical power and wrath. The very hairs of the pelt of the demon beast was rigid, upright, and bristled with riled embarrassment, and he scuffed his feet angrily and nervously against the dirt, clenching and unclenching his twitching claws. The heads of the spider, raven, wolf, and goat were all screaming and roaring loudly, their cries of the lost echoing through the bloodstained night. Yet the human skull just glared at the figure in front of him, the reincarnated body of El-ahrairah, while the emerald green fires cast an eerie halo all around the demon, making it appear more malicious and wild than ever before. The skull's eyes were now blazing with harsh vermilion, the red luminosity bright and as flawless as spilled, fresh blood.

El-ahrairah now opened his eyes, serious and determined, the multitude of colors glowing from his pupils now shining with no mercy for the abomination that hindered him and his kind for so long. His mouth was set in a thin line, so still that not even his whiskers were twitching, his ears perked upright with alertness, and his face calm and composed as ever. His eyebrows crinkled his look to a slight frown, not entirely angry and vengeful, but rather seeking justice, retribution, and righteousness for all in the land beyond life, not just his families of rabbit kin. He now cupped both of his paws together high over his cloaked head, the cross still held by invisible forces as it floated between his appendages. The globe of light covering the meadows of Fenlo now grew stronger, more opaque, as if solidifying, a sign that he was prepared to fight for his home.

This was now the standoff, the decisive duel, the ultimate showdown. No one dared to move, or even breathe. Every rabbit and creature both on and hiding from the battlefield was inadvertently holding his or her own breath, fearing to exhale and letting the pounding of their hearts in their ribcages beat louder and louder, like a tome to a countdown of doom. The air was now dangerously crackling and snapping with the fierce, overflowing surge of energy and hatred. The winds now became artic and it took a bit of effort for Hazel and the other rabbits to not cower and tumble from the force of the whirlwinds and typhoons.

"DIE!" Elil-rah hollered in volumes never measured by any human ear, deafening and unbearable, "PERISH BY MY HANDS! DARKNESS INFERNO!"

The rabbit Owsla of Watership Down then saw all five mouths of the five heads of Elil-rah open up before spewing an endless, torrential, building, insurmountable force of shining, black fire, roaring, gathering, and rushing in a tsunami of endless, immeasurable destruction, ready to swallow all the fields of Fenlo and the allies of El-ahrairah in an instant.

However, at the same instant, the rabbits heard Justin's spirit utter the words of hope in El-ahrairah's mouth before El-ahrairah angled both of his paws towards the beast demon with a soft grunt, invoking a firestorm of golden flames and white sunlight, rushing directly at Elil-rah and encasing the entire kingdom of the Prince of a Thousand.

"HEAVENLY FATHER, PROTECT ALL OF US! IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!"

KAAAA-WHOOOOOMMM!

With a resounding explosion of clashing wills that shook the earth and tore apart the sky, breaking even the very stars above, the black flames and the fair conflagration struck each other before both attacks were drawn into a tense stalemate, a deadlock with both attacks swelling and heaving, trying to continue to overpower the other as the obsidian vigor kept licking against the healing bubble of sunlight.

It had begun.

With growing dread, Blackberry, Strawberry, and Buckthorn all realized that El-ahrairah and Justin were doing their best to protect everyone in Fenlo from falling victim to Elil-rah's attack. It put their Prince and the cross-bearer at a disadvantage, keeping him distracted with that additional task along with trying to vanquish Elil-rah. There could not possibly be enough mystical power to shield all those in the meadows of Fenlo and match the hellfire spewing from Elil-rah's mouths at the same time. And indeed, it was true.

El-ahrairah winced in slight pain as the Prince did his best to hold off and reflect Elil-rah's attacks, but it soon became clearly evident that the demon beast of evil was winning. The fires of darkness and hatred were so hot, the rabbits could feel the air wavering with baking, scorching heat in the rabbits' kingdom, making the blood in their ears buzz painfully and their airways constrict into choking coughs. The sunlight flowing from the cross in El-ahrairah's hands soon grew to a dim speck of sparkling hope in a sea of chaos as the rays of gold and orange dimmed and shrank back, exhausted and unable to maintain their full strength against the onslaught.

Elil-rah's eyes and head bayed in triumph, proud and completely merciless, at the sight.

"BWAH HA HA HA HA HA! YOU SEE, YOU STUPID, PATHETIC CLODS! YOU NEVER HAD A CHANCE! EVEN WITH THIS 'BLESSED' POWER, YOU MOCKED YOURSELF INTO A FOOL'S HOPE! AND NOW ALL SHALL LIVE AND DIE BY MY HANDS, BY MY RULE! SO MUCH FOR YOUR 'MIRACLE', YOU LOWLY, TROUBLESOME THORN!"

El-ahrairah did not answer the taunt and instead opened his eyes to fling another surge of light towards Elil-rah, but the demon's attack kept it at bay.

As the rabbits observed helplessly, Pipkin and Fiver gasped out loud.

Fiver cried, wailing laced into his disbelief, "O embleer Frith! Look! Look above! The skies! They're disappearing!"

They all looked up above to find that what Fiver said was horrifically true. The skies, and indeed, the mountains, the clouds, and the very ground that they were all standing on was starting to fade, wavering as if the very existence of its substance was depleting. The skies, now unable to withstand the very brunt of the two wills, tore asunder with a resounding crack, the threads of time, space, and heavenly reality now rent and the pattern of life in the Garden of Eden now in chaotic disorder. Beyond the rip was nothing, an endless sea of blackness where there was not even the faintest glimmer of light. Everything in the land beyond life, every blade of grass, every morsel of soil, every drop of water, and every molecule of air was swallowed within the darkness, erasing every trace of all that ever lived and stood. The roaring was now deafening, and like a true day of reckoning, a surge of fire, water, and howling wind erupted from a nebula of eternal destruction as the rabbits of Watership Down could now see the darkness cause the very sacred grounds of the Garden of Eden break apart. The pandemonium of screams and bloody cries of pain echoed throughout the realm as not a single creature was spared from the endless purification of the relenting evil.

Now it was truly hell.

"What in the name of the Black Rabbit is happening!" Hazel swore, his face now cold and whiskers limp with paralyzing fear.

Hawkbit gasped, "Everything is vanishing! The darkness is taking control of it!"

"It must be because of the battle between the pillars!" Blackberry surmised, panic sending rushes of adrenaline into his brain, "Embleer tail and paw, don't you see! Both Elil-rah and El-ahrairah are the only pillars left in the land beyond life! This battle determines the fate of the land beyond life! Do you not remember what Elil-rah said! The pillars control the very lands we live in! This battle determines the fate of the land beyond life! If El-ahrairah and Justin lose, then we are all doomed to the eternal darkness of Elil-rah!"

"So the darkness is Elil-rah trying to reshape the land beyond life in his own image!" cried Speedwell.

"Then El-ahrairah isn't just fighting to save us!" gasped Silver, "El-ahrairah is fighting for every creature in the land beyond life! He's the only pillar left that will not give in to Elil-rah! So if he defeats Elil-rah, the land beyond life will be spared and all the pillars will regain their roles of Frith and protect this land again!"

"But what if he does not! What if we lose!" Pipkin whimpered.

It was a brooding thought.

"El-ahrairah, don't give in! Please, for the love of Frith, keep fighting!" begged Bluebell, whimpering and nearly sobbing to his Prince and friend.

"Be strong!" bellowed Bigwig, shielding his eyes against the blinding brightness with one arm.

"Justin, we're with you! We won't leave you alone!" Strawberry squealed, propping himself off the ground with his forepaws.

"There has to be another way we can help them!" gasped Buckthorn, "Our Prince and Justin cannot shoulder the burden by themselves!"

Holly sighed wearily as he shook his head and shouted over the din, "But what else can we do, old chap! Our powers hardly managed to injure and stall the Hellions of the Apocalypse! So it would not work against that brute as he is now! Even if we tried to fight outside the protection of El-ahrairah's light, we would be consumed by Elil-rah's fire! It would be too risky!"

"O Frith and Inle, if only we could fight alongside them!" wailed Speedwell.

"But how!" demanded Hawkbit shrilly, "None of us have THAT much bloody power! Embleer fur and paw, if you weren't so dimwitted, you would have realized that by now!"

"Will you quit griping! Honestly, of all the times you could have shot off that big mouth of yours, Hawkbit! Either help us plan a way to help El-ahrairah or shut up!" growled Campion, already irate.

Hawkbit then mockingly and sarcastically drawled, sneering, "Well pardon my bluntness, Campion! I beg for your forgiveness for not being such a saint like El-ahrairah! Why don't I just bow my head and pray for Elil-rah to disappear while I'm at it!"

"Why you -!" shouted Campion as he was about to pound the annoying loudmouth, but what Hawkbit had just said immediately gave a signal of inspirational revelation to Blackberry. The black-eared inventor gasped with surprise before cuffing Hawkbit with appreciative hilarity on the head.

"Great golden Frith and showers!" Blackberry cheered, "That's it! That's it! Frith in a warren, Hawkbit! That's it!"

"What are you babbling about, Blackberry?" Hawkbit snapped, but Strawberry also caught on.

"The first half of the prophecy!" gasped the reddish rabbit, "I remember now! 'When the hearts of many prayers become one'! It means that El-ahrairah isn't the only rabbit meant to fight Elil-rah! Our Prince needs more animals to help him fight!"

"You...you mean...us!" Acorn asked with disbelief. Strawberry nodded.

"But it is not possible for us to be of any use!" Buckthorn emphasized worriedly, "I say with all my heart that I would gladly sacrifice my life for El-ahrairah and Justin's sakes, but Strawberry, old bucko, we cannot be of any use! Don't you remember! Elil-rah said no rabbit or man could kill him! And we are rabbits, not new creatures of God like Justin and our Prince as are right now!"

Fiver, being quiet for so long, then drew his face upwards with shining eyes as he asked boldly, "Are you sure, Buckthorn?"

Bigwig rolled his eyes in annoyance as he barked, "What sort of daft question is that, Fiver! Of course we are! We're only rabbits, and as such, we cannot kill Elil-rah nor help our Prince fight him!"

"Wait!" exclaimed Silver as he turned wildly, "Fiver is right! Are we 'rabbits'?"

"Not you too!" groaned Acorn.

Silver then explained hurriedly, "No, no, listen to me, chaps! Fiver has a valid point! We are rabbits, but not truly in that sense! Rabbits do not wear garments of clothing! Rabbits cannot stand upright! Rabbits can never communicate with men and speak their language! No other rabbits here were able to achieve such a thing! And yet, WE were able to achieve all those things ever since we met up with Justin!"

The other rabbits then understood what Silver was hinting at.

"So...that would mean we are neither men nor rabbits as well...like El-ahrairah!" realized Bluebell.

"By the Black Rabbit! All this time...and we never had even realized it!" Campion said, his blood making his head spin with wild confusion.

"It would make sense, though," Hazel said thoughtfully, "All the other animal allies that have helped us, like Shardik, Sneezewort, Lousewort, and Snitter and Rowf, were never given blessings of power and gifts to help us fight Elil-rah's Owsla! Only WE were given the special abilities of light to help El-ahrairah win the war! And the only way were could have ever been able to receive those gifts of power from the cross would be if and only if we were not truly animals of Frith to being with!"

"But how can we fight that damned beast! WE still cannot help El-ahrairah by simply using our powers! none of our powers could ever match to Elil-rah's might, and as much as I loathe to admit it, we cannot attack him openly with our paws!" Bigwig barked desperately.

Pipkin then nudged Bigwig hesitantly as he spoke over the din of the battle, "But I don't think we are supposed to fight with our paws, Bigwig!"

"Hlao-roo, whatever are you talking about!" Dandelion asked, his face scrunched and faulty with befuddlement. Pipkin then tried again.

"Don't you remember what Fiver said with his second sight? How this is not going to be a battle by our paws, but fought with our hearts! I think it was a clue! We can't fight Elil-rah head on, but we could try fighting another way! Like...like the prayer we used to fight against the creature in the comical field when we met with the Black Rabbit!"

"Frith in a hole, good chap!" gasped Speedwell, "It makes sense! You're right! It makes sense! It could work!"

"Pipkin has a valid point. If it was enough to seal and subdue It from the holes of affliction in the warren of the Black Rabbit, and if it was enough to stop King Fur-Rocious and his armies, it just might be enough to do it again on Elil-rah himself!" Dandelion spoke with growing comprehension and faith.

"We have no point but to try! We have nothing to lose!" bellowed Holly as he got up on his hind legs and started to walk towards El-ahrairah.

"Come on, you louts! Get along with Holly! El-ahrairah would want us to fight with him! Help your Prince!" roared Bigwig.

Hazel said strongly, commanding authority and finality edged in, "Everyone, stand together! This is the moment we have all endured and fought for all these hrair days and nights!"

"We promised him!" Fiver reminded with encouragement, "We promised we would not leave Justin's side, that we would fight for his sake!"

Strawberry then stated with solemn dread, "If we do not act now, everything in the land beyond life will perish, and we will all be living the misery and torment under Elil-rah's rule! We cannot back down! I will not back down and let that wretch take away everything Frith blessed us with!"

"Then let us do this! Together, we can win!" cheered Bluebell.

Together, as one, all fifteen rabbit warrior, shakily and anxiously stumbled and walked towards the epicenter of the energy spewing forth so much mindless and desecrating destruction, bracing and toiling against the harsh wind, heat, and light.

El-ahrairah gave a small cry of pain as some of the fires from the dark flames of hell's wrath managed to break though and grazed against the skin of his arms and cheek. It stung like the most acidic venom mixed with the bile of excruciating ice-cold anger and bloodlust. Justin, inside El-ahrairah's body and soul, could feel the torment as well. And it was apparent to Elil-rah that the protective shield and flares of pure sunlight were weakening even further, dimming slightly by the second, the bubble around the fields of Fenlo threatening to shrink and shatter under the constant strain of the attack.

El-ahrairah, I can't do this! I feel so tired! I'm not sure if I can hold on!

I know, young one, I know. But do not give in, Justin. Focus! Focus, cross-bearer!

Elil-rah was so busy concentrating on gleefully increasing the fury and intensity of his power, he failed to notice the line of rabbits kneeling faithfully and strongly behind their Princes of the Thousand.

Bluebell, Campion, Bigwig, Acorn, Hawkbit, Silver, Pipkin, Blackberry, Speedwell, Buckthorn, Fiver, Dandelion, Strawberry, Holly, and Hazel-rah.

Bracing themselves as best as they could, the Owsla of El-ahrairah, the ever faithful rabbits of Watership Down, the fellowship of the cross-bearer, the revered, legendary warriors all knelt on one knee, linked paw in paw, behind their Lord and friend, as a united front, a last line of defense...and a final act of loyal devotion.

It would be a final testament for the trials and rewards, for the joys and sadness, of the cross-bearer and his fellowship of guardian friends.

Bluebell suddenly remembered the words of Woundwort ringing in his head:

"All my work, all my worry, all my pain, all my efforts to rule over Efrafa and have it conform to my ideals of being a rabbit, of being happy and safe...all destroyed by the likes of your friends! And to have them turn traitor to all animals to protect you, without giving a tharn care about the well-being and consideration of all animals who were destroyed and wiped out by men is an insult too cruel to bear!"

Bluebell then recalled his times with the human child:

"I must say there, chap!" Bluebell teased Justin lightly, "you're the funniest and ugliest rabbit I've ever seen! If we want to make you an honorary member of the Owsla, we'll do what El-ahrairah did and get some dock leaves for ears and some clematis and ragwort for whiskers and a tail. How about it, young one? Want me to teach you how silflay and hop around like the rest of us jolly chaps?" Justin snickered at Bluebell's humor, lightly nudging the rabbit on the side with his elbow in mock retaliation.

"Bluebell..." whispered Justin, nearly in tears from seeing Bluebell sacrifice his safety and shielding his body from Mallow's spear, but Bluebell just shook his head and tried to make his voice as jovial and joking as ever.

"What are you crying for? C'mon, young one, keep a stiff upper lip! Had to do something to protect the cross-bearer, you know! Besides, this is just a flesh wound, I'll be up and ready before you know it! You know I can't die here in the land beyond life." Yet Justin still stood by him anyway, unwilling to abandon the rabbit he had only met hours earlier.

Justin argued vehemently, "Not even an option, Bluebell! I said I wasn't leaving any of you behind, and I meant it! I'm also not leaving behind my friend who got injured because of me in the first place! Either we leave together or we stay together!"

Bluebell then remembered the sincere gratefulness in the teenager's voice as the cross-bearer hugged him like a brother, touched and full of concern, whispering softly in his ear, "Thank you."

Bluebell, angered by his helplessness and mockery of King Fur-Rocious, snarled in defense, "They're not as stupid and delusional as you are, you sniveling ruin of a grimy King! Dandelion and Justin are too smart to even consider coming...What am I saying! He's right! They would try to come back and rescue us!" Bluebell groaned, realizing that the cross-bearer was loyal to a fault, and like a book, he read and anticipated his next moves would naturally be to come and selflessly rescue the Watership Owsla, despite the overwhelming danger on his own life.

Bluebell the recalled the serious arguments and discussion after Rowf attacked their human friend and seriously mauled his arm. Justin muttered lamely and crossly, "I'll be all right, Silver."

Bluebell, though immensely irritated, managed to see the stubbornness of the adolescent, the inner strength and determination. The boy did not want the others to be worried sick, to be wrathful and give Rowf grief when the Dog of War was already in enough torment. Despite it all, he still wished to not complain and bear with his wound, knowing that his role in the mission meant more than his well-being.

However, Bluebell's voice was slightly sour as he glared at the cross-bearer unceremoniously, griping like a true, overprotective parent, " 'All right'! 'All right'! Frith in a barn and Frith on your tharn head, bucko! Young chap, I've heard better and more convincing fibs from kittens caught playing hooky from Owsla training at Watership Down!"

Campion gave a soft laugh as he stated to Bluebell, carrying a sleeping teenager as a passenger, like a pony. "I see you've grown fond of Justin."

"Somewhat." Bluebell confessed, "I don't know why in Frith's name did I even dive in front of him when Mallow threw that spear. I just acted, I guess. I mean, Justin's the only one I've ever met, besides Holly, who actually appreciates my humor and jokes, as if he's never heard anyone act like that with him before. Hazel-rah's and everyone else who has ears are always telling me to shut up and be serious, and Bigwig's always cuffing me whenever my jokes rub him the wrong way. Yet, with the cross-bearer, it's different. And when he saw I was hurt, he didn't want to leave me, even though it was probably the best thing at the time. He was even willing to resist Bigwig's orders, just to stay with me and make sure I would stay with all of you, just to make sure no one would be left behind. I mean, you should know how I now feel about him. You've probably felt the same way whenever you've trained kittens and young rabbits for the Wide Patrols back at Watership Down, and even now, in the land beyond life, you sometimes return to the physical world to influence a leader's heart to take his patrol back home."

Bluebell remembered when Bigwig and Justin were solemnly talking about the battle with King Darzin and his cats, and both looked like they needed some cheering up, so he jumped in, unannounced.

"Oh, please," Bluebell joked, "try telling that to me and every single kitten you've trained for the Owsla! I can attest, Justin, that Bigwig has given us more bumps, bruises, and scars than all the injuries we've gotten from raiding expeditions put together. It's such a pity, Justin, that you couldn't have Bigwig remain for a dog a little longer. I mean, we were all so much better off! Not only did he smell better and was a lot nicer, but he was only half as ugly, and the only thing that we could dislike was his slobbering -!"

Even though Bluebell paid dearly for that remark, he felt a surge of pleasure and gratified pride when Justin couldn't help but snicker and try to prevent Bigwig from pounding the jester into a bloody mess.

"We have a right! After all the cruelties the race of men have done to us, we have a right to seek retribution from Justin!" roared Coltsfoot, showing no remorse for mobbing the human child.

Bluebell snarled sarcastically, "What a lovely way of showing gratitude! You should be ashamed! After what Justin has done to help protect the warren and heal El-ahrairah, you would be willing to turn your backs on him! You're just as bad as a human!"

Bluebell then begged wearily as Prince Rainbow and his Dogs of War advanced towards the adolescent, "Justin, please, will you just go! El-ahrairah needs you! We, on the other hand, do not." Yet Justin sorrowfully did not run.

Bluebell felt his eyes flood with tears as he whispered lovingly, "Justin..."

As always, General Woundwort's words managed to deliver harsh stings in the crevices of Campion's memories:

"You don't know how much I had to suffer, all because of men! You don't know what it's like to have your past haunt you, torment you, give you grief and terror, because all the blame heaps on your own soul until you give in to despair and guilt because you realize that there's nothing you can do but let it tear you apart and drive you mad!"

Campion instinctively scrunched his face when he felt the familiar sensation of his eyes filling with tears of relief:

"I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, Campion. I...I just woke up and saw that you were gone, so..." Justin, despite having done a foolish act, managed to give off an appearance of sheepish devotion, something Campion could feel eating away the stern reprimand he would have normally given to a younger protégée. Despite it all, even after spending less than a day with them, the child was already showing concern and worry, an act foreign to Campion for some human that knew little about the rabbit except in stories told.

"So you went to look for me?" finished Campion, and his face softened considerably at the teenager's compassion. "That was a foolish thing to do, you know, you young duffer. You could have been attacked or killed by being out in the open like this, and I can take care of myself."

Justin still steeled himself to remain, showing to Campion a remarkable display of compassion. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I didn't think you couldn't handle yourself. I was just worried about you, that's all. I mean, besides, no one should be alone, regardless how strong they are."

Campion said quietly, "Sometimes, being alone is the only option you have."

Justin still did not turn away from the Watership soldier.

"I don't see why you're worried about me, though. If there is any trouble that comes our way, I'll have you to protect me," Justin said persistently. Campion felt his defensive wariness spring up immediately; it felt so good to hear such faith...yet so scary and frightening as well. Campion could almost hear the curses and blame thrown at him again, feel the shame and humiliation every time he personally accused himself for his role in Efrafa and the loss of rabbits in Wide Patrols, and how every so often he was described as "the next Woundwort". It was not worth getting the boy's hopes up and then later disappointing him, failing him. "It's not always good to put your faith in people, or rabbits for that matter, who may not be strong enough or worthy enough to even deserve it in the first place."

Later, when Veil Guplea attacked them in the forests of illusions, Campion was overwhelmed with consuming guilt, despair, and hopelessness. He just wanted to give in, to give up, to not go through with the mission anymore. He wasn't worthy, he was as evil as Woundwort, he was shunned, an outcast, unloved. Then he heard the teenager's words pierce his heart and soul.

"You're not alone, Campion. I believe in you, I have faith in you, and I care about you, just like all your friends do back at the other end of this copse. Your friends, the ones who have been with you since you lived at Watership Down, the friends who have forgotten and forgiven you for your role in Efrafa's siege, and the friends who I know you will always fight and defend for to the very end. Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, and all the others, you know they feel exactly the same way, maybe even more than I do. And what you said earlier, about how it's not good to put your faith and hope in people who don't deserve it or who aren't strong enough? You're wrong about that too; no matter how little faith you have, even a little bit of faith, as small as a mustard seed, can help you move mountains. And it doesn't matter whether or not a person deserves it or whether they're strong enough because as long as they care about others as much as others care about them, they'll never be weak."

"I believe in you, I have faith in you, and I care about you..."

Back at the Forests of Yesterday and Tomorrow, Campion felt his protective anger and battle-wrath surge the minute the otter shoved Justin to the ground. Campion, despite his ire, could only stare in shock at Justin's next actions...and wonder at his blind inanity.

"Why you -!" began Campion, turning red from seeing Justin being mistreated, but Justin stopped him, pleading, "Don't! Campion, please! It's all right, I'm not hurt!"

"No, it's not all right, young one!" Campion snapped back, completely livid and irate, "Why do allow them to continue on like this! Don't you get mad at such stupidity and rude behavior!"

"No, I don't," Justin replied, softly yet strongly, emphasizing each word, and Campion was floored. Justin continued, "It's OK, I'm not that hungry anyway. Let's just go and get back to the clearing."

"I believe in you, I have faith in you, and I care about you..."

Campion then remembered how much he nearly killed himself with worry and insane anxiety when they had to leave and abandon Justin for the new cross-bearer, Damien. How quick he was to come to outrage and offense when he heard Blackberry indirectly insult the adolescent...

"I know how you feel, Buckthorn, but Damien is the cross-bearer now," Blackberry sighed, "He's the only one who can help us with El-ahrairah's plight, and Justin...simply cannot do that for us anymore. That is all there is to the matter, chap. Simple as that, and nothing more. After all, it is perhaps for the better. If Justin was too weak to be the cross-bearer, it would be better for a stronger man to take his place."

Campion lost all control as he yelled furiously, spit flying into the inventor's whiskered face, "'Weak'! 'WEAK'! How dare you, you ignorant, shortsighted scamp! Is that all that Justin is to you! A tool, a pawn, an implement that we can toss aside like moldy flayrah or hraka when it is no longer of any use to us!"

"It is the truth, Campion!" the Watership warrior retorted in a condescending tone.

The Wide Patrol veteran then grimly recalled how Strawberry had to arrest Campion's paw before he could cuff that annoying, know-it-all smirk off Blackberry's face, desperate to do something to remind Campion that he still was loyal and troubled for the boy.

"I believe in you, I have faith in you, and I care about you..."

Campion then pleaded as Justin faced the Dogs of War as a willing sacrifice, "Young one, please, this is not the time to be noble! You must go on! I...I cannot bear losing you! Please, young one!"

"I believe in you, I have faith in you, and I care about you..."

Campion felt the tears fall from his face as he whispered, "I care about you too, Justin."

Bigwig narrowed his eyes in irritation as the General's snide voice broke in:

"Do you even know what it is like to lose your trust in others! Do you even know what it was like to be alone, because you could never open your heart to anyone, because no one could ever trust you! Do you even know what it's like to always put up a facade of strength when in reality you are just as scared and vulnerable as the newest newborn! I never could be at peace because of men! I could never find respite, never find trust...all because of YOU!"

Yet the look of painful offense and mistrust faded as Thlayli could almost hear Justin's sadness in his voice, scared, helpless...yet completely innocent, honest and courageous:

It was when they met up with the hlessi, Zadnir, and after a fierce argument and some harsh words, Justin stomped off by himself. Bigwig had to chase after him and duel for the boy's trust.

"That's enough! Justin, don't listen to Zadnir! Come on, we have to get back to Hazel and the others before any other of Elil-rah's Owsla come by to attack us!"

"Justin, Bigwig isn't a real friend! Don't go with him! He'll just hurt you, treat you like a child, never listening to you or giving a care about how you think or feel! Come with me and we'll go help El-ahrairah at his warren by ourselves, just the two of us! Don't you even remember what Bigwig said! He doesn't even want you as the cross-bearer! A real friend wouldn't ever say that!"

"Justin, please don't listen!"

"Justin, who do you believe? Me or Bigwig?" After a few tense moments, Bigwig could honestly say he had never been more surprised...and touched.

"I believe in Bigwig," Justin declared stoutly, kindly, and with full support, as if he knew he would never regret siding with Bigwig, even after the unfair treatment he endured from the fur-cropped buck.

In the battle with King Darzin, once the adolescent gave the Watership rabbit the power of shape-shifting into a dog, a cat's mortal nemesis, Bigwig was about to cripple the lion beyond recognition, but then the cross-bearer's voice, full of panic and pleading mercy, cried out.

"Bigwig, stop it! That's enough! STOP, PLEASE! Bigwig, please, King Darzin won't be able to hurt me now, especially not in this condition. You've made your point, but please, stop before you hurt him any further!"

"Justin, this eli wouldn't show you even the smallest bit of the same mercy you're giving him if you were the one being injured!" Bigwig roared in outrage, "He wouldn't give the slightest notion that he cared, and after killing you, this crack-brained slave-driver would have forgotten you as easily as Ni-Frith by the following day! Why are you showing mercy now, to him at a time like this!"

Justin still stood firm in his stance. "Because I don't want to see anyone get hurt because of me, and whether it would be one of the rabbits of Watership Down or an enemy, I don't ever want to kill a living creature or see it suffer! I could have used my power to harm the Ilips or Veil Guplea, but I didn't because they're just scared and corrupted, like Strawberry said, and I don't care how much they want to hurt me because it doesn't give me the right to show them the same bloodlust and ruthlessness! Please, Bigwig, stop this! What's important now is that we save Hazel and the others from Darzin's cats! Don't hurt him any further! Please!"

For a second, Bigwig and Justin just concretely fixed their eyes on each other. Bigwig, though he fervently protested against it, though he wanted to ignore the boy's pleas and just simply do what he wanted to the eli...he saw into Justin's soul and knew that such an act would shatter the boy's trust in him again. And to further assault the king of cats would put Justin through grief and guilt...and that was something Bigwig would never wish upon any creature. Defeated, Bigwig leaned over to the wounded Darzin and whispered ferociously in his ear, "If you ever come within a smell's distance of Justin or any of my comrades, I will make you regret it! And tell your dark master Elil-rah that he will never be able to lay a paw on the cross-bearer, not while I'm still alive!"

It was later that night, Bigwig remembered, that the cross-bearer finally became, in the rabbit's eyes, no longer a weapon, no longer a valued piece of treasure...but a human boy who had feelings and needed companionship, just like Bigwig himself always needed.

"I also want to say that I'm sorry, that I was wrong." Justin just stared at him with disbelief. Damn it, did the child have to make it harder than it already was!

"But don't get use to me apologizing on a whim, you young duffer! And if word gets out that I admitted this, I'm going wrestle you to the ground and head-butt you into this stream, you hear? I guess, I was afraid something would happen to you, and with so many elil hunting after you, I didn't want to risk the chance that you would get killed. But, now I realize that I should have listened to you and to Hazel and the others. You're a good lad, and only a true Owsla rabbit, er man, would have been able to help win against King Darzin. I...I admit it, I was wrong in thinking that you couldn't defend yourself, or protect yourself. And...and I also wanted to let you know that I didn't mean what I said earlier about how I wished you weren't the cross-bearer because you always made stupid decisions. After that scuff with King Darzin while he was still disguised as Zadnir, after I said all those things and treated you worse than any kitten I've ever trained, you still chose to side with me rather than Zadnir. That...that meant a lot to me, young Justin. After all, you must admit, if I was in your place, I would have done the exact opposite."

Justin replied, "I guess I did it because I didn't know Zadnir that well, while you however, I've known from the stories since my childhood. I know that despite your rough demeanor, you're a good friend and a loyal companion, so I didn't let my bad judgment get the better of me. And besides, you're not the only one who gets angry and mean sometimes. I'm sorry too. I should have realized that you cared about me and only wanted to protect me from danger. You could have abandoned me after I punched you in the nose, but you didn't. You chose to follow us and check to make sure everything was all right, and if you didn't do that, I wouldn't even be here right now. So, I owe you my life."

"The favor has been easily returned. You helped save me from danger when you transformed me into that dog to save you and Hazel-rah. So that makes us even. Except..." At this last part, Bigwig had a playful gleam in his eye as he finished, "I still owe you for cuffing me in the nose. I don't mind telling you, you young duffer, that my nose was jolly well sore afterwards."

Scared, but conceding he deserved some sort of retaliation, the teenager agreed, "All right, then...then cuff me on the head, and we'll call it even."

"Sounds fair."

Justin shut his eyes as Bigwig raised his forepaw, ready to hit the teenager in retribution. Justin winced, but Bigwig, in rare jest, decided he could never strike the boy and instead, fatherly nuzzled him, Justin's laughter echoing pleasantly in his ears

"Oh, come now young one!" he chortled, "You know I won't hurt you!"

When Prince Rainbow was about to kill Justin, Bigwig remembered how vulnerable he felt, how much he was hurt at the boy's foolishness to forfeit his life for theirs, how frustrated he was with fury and self-blame as he yelled, "You coward! You sentimental idiot! Fight him! Run! Do something, damn it, do anything! Please!"

Before the confrontation with Elil-rah, Bigwig whispered heatedly, as if he wanted to convince himself more rather than Justin, "You'll come with me, all right, young one? Hazel-rah and the others will probably need to talk to you as well, but I want you to understand: we will not leave you, but you must not give in! This fight must not be lost! Realize that either Elil-rah will be defeated or you and El-ahrairah will be defeated, and if that happens, you shall surely die. Justin, do not be afraid, but do not think that we will abandon you or run. If you fight, then we shall fight as well. El-ahrairah and you may be fated to war, but the prophecy did not say we could not come to help. Do not be afraid, all right, young one. I know what it is like to be scared in the face of an impossible mission, but you must not give up. We are counting on you, El-ahrairah is counting on you, and all animals in the land beyond life are counting on you. Remember that, all right?"

"Am I gonna die?" Justin asked, hushed. Bigwig wanted, with all of his heart, to say no, but he couldn't bear to make a promise to the teenager he couldn't keep. He cared for the boy too much to let that happen.

Bigwig then gave a small smile as he tearfully whispered with hope, "You will not die, Justin...I will always fight for you."

Acorn tensed his body instinctively when Woundwort's accusations of Justin tore through his mind:

"You are a plague, a danger, to every creature in this land! Everything you do is for your own self, to fulfill your own needs, to satisfy your own wants, without giving a damn about the other creatures around you, without even sparing those less fortunate than your fat, worthless hide!"

Acorn then flashed back to the cross-bearer, and the buck knew that wasn't the real truth at all:

"I can't tell you how sad I was to leave Watership Down. It was something I risked everything for, my life, my well-being, my freedom, and as soon as we got settled there, after a few seasons, I had to pass away because there wasn't enough food to keep us alive during that winter. And what made me ashamed was that I blamed Frith and El-ahrairah for doing this to me. I fought and pleaded to let me go back to Watership Down because I didn't want to leave and be separated from all my friends, not to mention give up the very life I worked so hard to live, after so much torture I had to endure back at Sandleford. It just wasn't fair! I got mad at them, saying that if they truly cared for a rabbit like me, then they wouldn't have ever put me through all this and take it away so quickly." He paused before continuing in a softer voice, "But I think what also bothered me was the fact that not a lot of rabbits cared a lot about me, so when I died, I probably never amounted much to them so it was probably better for the warren. It was like I was just some sort of...of...a filler rabbit. You know, like a rabbit who's just there to make the number of the rabbit warren large but doesn't really amount much to anything."

"Acorn, that isn't true," Justin whispered as he placed his hand gently on the rabbit's head and comfortingly stroked the spot between his ears, "Your friends missed you greatly when you died. I remembered reading that in the stories of Watership Down after Efrafa's siege, Hazel and Bigwig especially felt your loss. Everyone was very sad that you passed away because you've been through the thick and thin: the mission to retrieve does from Efrafa, the siege afterwards, not to mention the journey to Watership Down in the first place. No one would ever forget what you've done. And I'll admit, you didn't have as big of a role to play, not like Hazel's authority, Bigwig and Silver's strength, Fiver's visions, but you still had a role nonetheless. No matter how small a role you have, none of the missions that took place in your life wouldn't have been the same, maybe never have been even fulfilled, if everyone didn't play their part. And despite what you think, you were helpful too. You and Pipkin were the best insect-catchers to help feed Kehaar, helping the rabbits convince him to go find does for the warren's survival. You were also there to help defend the does if the Efrafans ever broke through the blocked tunnels during Woundwort's attack. And you're forgetting that El-ahrairah asked you to be one of the few rabbits to come get me in the land beyond life and to protect me from danger. That's far more important than any expedition any rabbit's ever been on."

Strange, mused Acorn, seeing as how that lifted up his spirits significantly.

"Justin, what in Frith's name are you doing?" asked Silver incredulously as he and Acorn spotted Justin wandering away from the mass of sleeping bodies. "Is something wrong? You should be resting, not be on guard duty with us. You need all the strength you can get when we journey again in case we need your powers."

"Nothing's wrong, it's just that I couldn't sleep and besides, I was worried about you guys, especially since you can't get any sleep and have to spend the entire night protecting us. If you guys want, I thought one of you could go take my place and get some rest since I'm not sleepy at all. Plus, I could just keep watch too cause there's nothing else to do here." Acorn didn't know whether to be impressed or exasperated by the foolish empathy.

Justin, despite his shaking, asked smugly, once he invoked the powers of multiplicity to create a sufficient army to overpower Volgnamass and his horde of armored weasels, "Still think you're a useless filler rabbit?"

Acorn laughed with warmed openness, "Think up of some flayrah for me to eat, and I'll consider changing my mind."

Of course, Justin readily agreed without a moment of hesitation or convenient lapse of memory.

Back at the Forests of Yesterday and Tomorrow, once the King of Yesterday took away the Sense of Smell from the rabbits, the Owsla of El-ahrairah were shocked at what Justin did to help them.

"Wait!" broke in Justin, respectfully but frantically, distressed at seeing his friends suffer, "Please, don't do this to them! Please! What if...what if I give you my cross as collateral! As a token of assurance that we won't do anything! I'll give you my cross for safekeeping if you return the sense of smell back to my friends! Please, I give you my word!"

Of course, this led to a worse predicament.

Bigwig angrily reprimanded the teenager for his lack of insight, "By the fur and paw of El-ahrairah, why in Frith's name did you even do it! Now you're completely defenseless, you can't invoke your powers if there's trouble, and to make matters worse, you had to give it to one of the kings no less! As if one of those stuck-up, tharn, stubborn, old scalawags even needed more power to begin with! Couldn't you have frozen time and stopped all of them!"

"Bigwig, I...I'm sorry," Justin apologized sorrowfully, almost close to a sob as he replayed the events in his head again while burying his face as he hugged his knees. "I just didn't want you guys to suffer, and if I didn't do it, he would have never returned your Sense of Smell back. Besides, what choice did I have? Everyone here isn't an enemy sent from Elil-rah; they're just creatures who don't like the fact that I'm even here, so if we fought them, we'd be attacking animals who aren't on the side of the bad guys."

"Justin," Acorn said softly, gently, as he placed a comforting paw on the teenager's head, "our Sense of Smell we can do without for the time being, but you, without your cross, we cannot afford. Now, there's no telling what will happen to us now that the King of Yesterday has our gift of smell and the King of Tomorrow has your jewel of light and potential."

Despite it all though, Acorn was grateful for Justin's willingness to suffer alongside his protectors. It made it easier to endure, knowing that their human friend wanted to keep them company altruistically. However, it also nearly cost him his own life, especially when Prince Rainbow was offered another compensation.

"You win, Prince Rainbow. You win, but please, please, let my friends go. You can kill me and take away my cross, but let Hazel and the others go on their way back to El-ahrairah's warren in Fenlo. You...you have my word: if you let Hazel and the other rabbits from Watership Down free, I'll surrender the cross and...and I'll let you kill me. I'll let you take my life for theirs. But, please, please, don't hurt them!" the cross-bearer begged, not willing to let the Dogs of War send them to limbo.

"Justin! No, you mustn't! It is not worth the risk!" yelled Acorn with a terrified expression of dread on his face.

Acorn sobbed, "Cross-bearer..."

Hawkbit had to bite his lip from hissing in response to Woundwort's wrathful tirade against the Watership Owsla and the cross-bearer in his remembrance:

"Do you honestly think that I turned my back on Frith and El-ahrairah, you presumptuous wretch! THEY turned their backs on ME! They abandoned me! They knew what I was going to endure, what I was going to feel, how I was to suffer, and yet they didn't give a damn!"

For once, Hawkbit was rendered speechless and could not find a single negative or sarcastic comment to utter when Justin appeared in his mind:

It was when they first met when Hazel asked Holly, Speedwell, Dandelion, and Hawkbit to escape with the boy, the human they met mere seconds ago. Hawkbit, while running for his life and the fate of the mission of El-ahrairah, was starting to get highly annoyed with the teenager's persistent questioning.

"Elil-rah?" asked Justin, bewildered, "Who is the heck is Elil-"

"Oh for Frith's sake!" snapped Hawkbit impatiently, "Danger in one end and questions out the other! Even when we're nearly tharn, we still have to endure your annoying questions!" He expected a snide retort, an insult, heck, even a mean glare of immediate revulsion and dislike, something he was already used to from countless times in the past. To his shock, the boy just looked at him in a bemused way with no hint of offense or hurt.

"Let me guess, you're Hawkbit?" Justin asked warmly. Hawkbit, unprepared for that kind of rejoinder, just ducked his head back down, muttering and embarrassed. He was certainly not expecting a child to laugh at him, and strangely enough, though Hawkbit put up his superficial, scathing front...he really didn't mind.

It was several weeks later, after Hawkbit had the argument with Bigwig and Hazel and Holly had told him off, and brusquely passed him and his feelings aside (in his opinion), and he ran off to be alone and to brood. The cross-bearer quietly came by and sat next to him, without a word and without a reprimand. Hawkbit, however, wasn't in the mood to talk.

"By Frith, you meddlesome pest, don't you know when to leave a rabbit alone for a while! I'm busy!" Justin still remained where he was. Hawkbit angrily tried again.

"Look, young one, I don't appreciate the concern, I don't want to speak to anyone right now, and I don't want to lose time talking with you instead of eating some meager mouthfuls of grass before Bigwig bites my tail again for not joining Buckthorn and Pipkin for guard duty. So, unless if you have a hard time hearing things, I'll make this loud and clear so that even you can understand. Go away." The cross-bearer still did not move.

"You know what, young one!" the rabbit snapped, "I don't have time for this! If you want to try to talk yourself hoarse, trying to cheer me up, you might as well be chattering to the trees because I don't want to chat to anyone right now! So goodbye!" As he got up to leave, Justin's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"I talked with Acorn and Campion," Justin said softly as he looked down on the grass, "Acorn's going to take over your job of being a lookout for today, just so that you could get some rest, and Campion is going to calm down Bigwig and Hazel so that they don't stay angry at you. So, there's no need for you to leave, and you can rest now if you want. You don't have to do guard duty today."

Hawkbit immediately felt ashamed. Despite it all, the boy had patience and sympathy with him, something that he thought he exhausted out of everyone, including the sage Hazel-rah. However, Hawkbit suspected that even the mighty cross-bearer wanted to scold him for such childish behavior, to correct his faults in an annoying, pretentious demeanor. Yet the human child managed to surprise him again.

"But...that doesn't mean I would have you any other way. Hawkbit, it's not always bad to be sincere and honest. It's what sets you apart from everyone else, makes you original. A real friend would always want to tell a person the truth, even if it does hurt, and not just what the person wants to hear. Even though, yeah, it may make some people angry and unhappy, but if you do it because you want them to be safe and not to spite or torture them, then you're helping them from getting into trouble in the future. Plus, despite it all, I remember all the times you defended me from elil and protected me to the best you could, so I know that deep down, you care about me and everyone else very much. I mean, I can truthfully say that I find your outlook on things refreshing. It makes me laugh, and it also makes you so much like Bluebell."

Hawkbit, warming up, scoffed mockingly, "Please, I rather be called a dung beetle or an embleer hraka. By the Great Marsh, young Justin, you are more annoying and persistent than any other rabbit that I know of, and that's saying something!"

"Well, I did learn it all from you," shot back Justin humorously.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean!" growled Hawkbit as he gave in to his playful urges and wrestled with the human like a wild, rough, yet teasing playmate.

Even afterwards, Hawkbit had to say he never knew what it was like to have someone mind his feelings and watch out for him...until he met with Justin.

"It's okay, Bigwig, I don't mind walking. Really, I don't. Plus, since all the rabbits are going to travel slowly when we cross the desert, I might as well lighten the load and travel on foot with you guys. I'm not helpless, and I could use the chance to stretch out my legs again."

"Could you two please keep Bigwig occupied somehow so that he doesn't notice that I'm not riding on Hawkbit anymore? Please? I promise this will only be until when it gets cooler and easier for Hawkbit to get back his strength to carry me again. If there's any danger, I'll ride on Campion, and he, Blackberry, and Hawkbit will take me away as far from danger as they can. Will you? Please? I know it's asking for a lot, but it's to help out Hawkbit. I don't want Bigwig to yell at him again."

"After all this is over, I expect several carrots for saving your dependent, useless tail." Hawkbit griped as the rest of the rabbits took over in his struggle with Blood Whitetail and the Wolfen Gale.

"Really, Hawkbit!" scolded Dandelion and Strawberry, both already ready to reprimand him for his ability to make thoughtless remarks, but Justin just gratefully and joyously embraced the blackish complainer with a tight hug around the Watership rabbit's neck.

"I will, I promise, but I'm just really glad that you're OK!"

"Ow! By Frith, be careful of my neck, you duffer! I've got plenty of wounds from battling the Wolfen Gale for you, so watch it!" Hawkbit groaned good-naturedly.

"Hawkbit! He's trying to say 'thank you', you unfeeling, bellyaching, selfish cocklebur!" yelled Speedwell as he cuffed Hawkbit lightly on the head, "So be nice!"

"It's all right, Speedwell," Justin smiled as he defended his friend, "I know Hawkbit's trying to say 'you're welcome'...in his own way of course."

Justin laughed gently, though his eyes were starting to water with relief, as he hugged the rabbit close to his body. "Hey, if it makes you feel any better, what I said before was true. You and your big mouth saved the day this time."

"Thanks...I think," the rabbit grumbled sarcastically as the rest of the rabbits chuckled affectionately for their friend. But, Hawkbit never felt more welcomed and proud to be himself in his entire life.

"If you surrender the cross, I swear I'll never have any respect for you as long as I live!" screamed Hawkbit as he was trapped in the stone pillar with the others of the Watership Owsla, but Justin, damn him, did not run nor take it to heart because he knew Hawkbit better than that. as the adolescent stared back sorrowfully to Hawkbit, the rabbit knew Justin didn't believe him.

Hawkbit felt the wind rip the waterfall of tears streaking down his face as he sighed, "I didn't mean that, Justin...I do have respect for you."

Silver shivered from the coldness and maliciousness of Woundwort's reverberating barbs:

"All they cared about was focusing their attention on blessing pure potential such as yourself and your damned protectors, and yet all the meanwhile, they ignored me because I could not meet their expectations, their ideals! They abandoned me! They were the ones who wronged me! And yet you think because I lived differently and joined with Elil-rah I must truly be the despicable one! HOW DARE YOU!"

Yet warmth from his heart flooded the rabbit instantly as Woundwort's terms also caused him to remember Justin's antithesis:

"Hey, Silver. You okay?" Justin asked softly, after Silver heard the hateful words of Buckthorn unintentionally calling him fat and useless.

"I'm fine," choked out Silver stonily, but Justin kept trying to probe, and aggravatingly enough, Silver was close to breaking under the painful reminders and shame.

"Silver, I just wanted -" Justin began again, but Silver then snapped.

"I said 'I'm fine', young one, so embleer Frith, stop pestering me!" The anger then soon passed, but Silver was horrified at what he said to the child; it reminded him of his greatest fear, that he would grow to be just as cruel and callous and heartless as those rabbits who mistreated Silver, that he was no better than any other of those bullies. It was almost enough to make Silver curdle and die of loathing.

Even when Scry-rah and the hawk horde attacked, Silver and Buckthorn kept arguing. Silver remembered the tinge of regret he felt when Justin tried to get them to reconcile, bringing the boy into their argument.

"Silver, don't go! Please! Buckthorn's just trying to make sure you don't get hurt, and I'll stop the hawks from attacking! I'll time-freeze them now, so that we can escape and they can't carry us away or separate us!"

The battle was short, fierce, and too close for comfort. Silver did everything he could to protect Justin from the hawk chieftain. But it was the Watership rabbit, in the child's eyes, who deserved the protection. Silver was horrified to see the boulder rush down to splatter both himself and Scry-rah...but the rabbit was even more horrified to see the teenager endanger and exhaust his strength and life-force to summon every bit of power to stop the rock from crushing them. When Silver and the boy were buried in the avalanche, the obese rabbit could recall what he thought were Justin's last words.

"Silver?" the boy whispered weakly, nearly suffocating.

"I'm here, young one. Don't talk, just lie still." Silver jabbered frantically.

"Don't...leave...me...please," Justin murmured faintly before losing consciousness again.

"I won't, Justin," sobbed Silver as he brought his nose to the human's.

Silver also remembered when he and the teenager were rescued, how relieved and free he felt from burden and self-abhorrence.

"Where's Silver?" Justin feebly asked, "Is he all right?"

"I'll live," smirked a teasing, filthy, dusty Silver as he came up beside Fiver and smiled upon his friend. Justin looked at him with a tired yet merry glance.

"You...you were there while I lost consciousness, weren't you?" Silver glanced to the side, averting his eyes and embarrassed, but the theme of humility was draped on his face. Silver then felt the teenager's dry, cracked hand gently touch the left side of his face and whiskers, compelling the fat, light-furred rabbit to turn back his gaze to see Justin's face grinning with tears of gratitude.

"Thank you," Justin whispered hoarsely, "I'd...be lost if you weren't there with me during God knows what happened. Thank you." It was the first time he ever felt appreciated, and for once, Silver had no shame in breaking down at that moment with bliss.

Silver muttered bitterly, "You'd actually be surprised how we are not that much different, you and I, Justin, with your father and my uncle, the Threarah."

The teenager, in sympathetic understanding, gave the fat protector a reassuring hug around his neck, firm, positive, and Silver had to chuckle at the feeling of the child's smooth skin nuzzling against his ear.

Once they arrived at the warren of El-ahrairah, however, things were not exactly a bed of roses, sweet and pleasant.

"You dare side with the boy! Then you are more of a fool than I thought! Just like you were when you left the Owsla back at Sandleford!" sneered the Threarah gratingly at Silver as his nephew tended to the wounded cross-bearer.

"I will make this clear to you, Uncle," Silver snarled, eyes blazing as he put himself in front of the cross-bearer, shielding his friend, "Justin is not to leave, he is welcome in our home, and if you ever lay a paw on him again, I will hurt you!" Justin, however, to Silver's surprise, found no hard feelings to the rabbits who turned on him so quickly, even after he healed El-ahrairah.

Justin slowly understood the reasons why and became glum. He said solemnly, "I guess no matter where I am, I always get people angry with me. I shouldn't have thought this would be different. I didn't mean to cause trouble."

"We know you didn't, Justin," Silver said compassionately, realizing the child was blaming himself again, as a defensive mechanism of acceptance of fate, "Just forget about it and rest now."

Funny how ironic that was, coming from him, the rabbit of self-pity. When the Dogs of War were about to tear the adolescent to pieces, Silver managed to wheeze out feebly, "Justin, can you not see you will be working directly into Elil-rah's paws? This is not a path even El-ahrairah would wish for you to take. Justin, my friend, do not let him use us against you. Please, leave."

But Justin still chose to fight and challenge Prince Rainbow for his safety, to protect Silver.

Justin then whispered encouragingly to the Watership soldier, "But, at least, even though we can't repair the hurt and pain we got from others, I do know that we can always depend on each other and our friends, the ones who we love and care about, the ones who feel our pain and understand us, the ones who know us best. And as long as we have that, I know that we'll be able to heal little by little. Certainly, the hurt and sadness will still be there, but with a little light, even the blackest darkness in our hearts can be lifted so it won't hurt as much, especially since God loves me...and Frith loves you."

Silver blubbered, his face damp with salty rivers as he choked, "And I love you as well, Justin."

Pipkin cowered slightly under the shivering wind, but the words of the Efrafan General were colder:

"If you and your cursed protectors only knew how much I have gone through, you would be able to understand how much I hate you...ALL of you! What gives you and those Watership rabbits the right to be held in such high esteem, to have a life of ease and love and carefree while I had to suffer in loneliness, hatred, bitterness, and scorn! It was not fair! What did I do to deserve all that! Damn it all, I was just a kitten! A bloody kitten! And yet I had to see pain that no creature should have gone through!"

Yet no amount of icy fear could stop the small rabbit from summoning up the truth:

It was when Hazel and Blackberry asked Justin to try to invoke his powers as the cross-bearer, on the very night he was rescued from Mallow and Vervain. Of course, the boy could not do so at once, and that led to some doubt on whether or not Justin was the one figure that could fight Elil-rah. Pipkin, of course, could see something about the human, something that made him want to trust the boy, to feel safe with him.

"I don't care; I still think he's a good one. He's different from all other men we've seen before," he chimed in support. Of course, it was much later when the adolescent was able to prove himself that the others of the Owsla of El-ahrairah agreed with him.

Pipkin, a bit mortified about sharing his deepest desire with the cross-bearer, of all creatures, managed to shamefacedly mutter, "Well, you'll think it's silly like Bluebell or Hawkbit, but...but I just thought that if I had wings and could fly, then I could be a real guardian angel, just like you've always wanted. If I had wings, I could finally be more useful, do a better job of defending you, and finally have my dreams come true and getting the chance to fly, just like Kehaar." Pipkin remembered he thought Justin would laugh or call him silly, like the others, but the teenager's response surprised him greatly.

"Not really. I think it's a good wish. Heck, a lot of men in my world wish to fly and such, and we have airplanes and other gadgets and stuff to help us fly and soar in the air like birds, so it's not at all unusual to have that sort of dream or ambition, even if it does seem stupid or nutty to others. But...why do you want wings so much?"

"Well, I always felt that when you're flying, having the wind and air rush by as you rise above and watch the land below, it's the best feeling ever. Kehaar was telling me about his travels and his 'Big Water' when he was injured and when we had to care for him back at Watership Down. I was really enchanted from all the tales, all the stories, all the chronicles he told about how it felt so free, so liberating, to glide and play in the air without a care in the world, to feel like all your worries disappear in the clouds, like fog under the sun, to see things above and beyond in a magical, new view. He told me everything seems so small when you're flying in the air, but it also appears more exquisite and thrilling when you get a bird's eye view of the land and terrain. Ever since then, I've always wanted to fly, and when the Black Rabbit brought my spirit up here in the land beyond life, it...it was so breathtaking, I could not even describe it, and I could only watch in awe as I saw myself leave my body and my home, only to head into the light of Frith and welcomed into the warren of El-ahrairah. I just...I just wish I could do it again, but El-ahrairah said that Frith only gave birds the benefit of wings, and that I should always be thankful that the rabbit's powers of digger, listener, runner, and swift warning that Frith gave me. And don't get me wrong, I do appreciate those gifts, but...I wish could just fly, even if it's just for one more time."

Justin just said encouragingly. "Pipkin, I don't care if you don't have wings, strength, or a burly, Owsla size like Holly or Bigwig. You're a great guardian angel the way you are, and to tell you the truth, I'm honored to even be protected by a famous, faithful, and affectionate rabbit such as yourself. Now, c'mon, cheer up, Pipkin! Hazel-rah and the other Watership rabbits wouldn't want you to be so gloomy and downcast. That's Hawkbit's job!"

Pipkin recalled asking the adolescent, "Justin, what do you dream about? What do you wish for with all your heart?"

"I guess I wish I could have a loving family and friends, people who care about me, cherish me being with them, and who would always help me, guide me through trouble, and prepare me for challenges and trials in my life with encouragement, not anger and harshness. And I would feel the same way about them."

"Well, you will always have us, Justin." However, the Watership rabbit felt it wasn't too much of a consolation.

"I know," Justin said quietly.

"I wish you could be with us forever." It was the first thing that came to Pipkin's mind, and by the wisdom of Frith, he had no idea why he even said it. But it felt good to share it with the human.

Justin stroked Pipkin's head gently, smiling. "You know what? I wish so too."

The Ilips snarled alongside the Efrafans on that fateful night, "Saving El-ahrairah! With a human boy! You rabbits are a disgrace to all animals created by Frith! You cannot possibly expect to trust a man to help you! They're all evil, enemies to Frith himself, and we will not let you or any other creature stop us from killing him! He is a threat to us all, and Elil-rah was right to send his army out to destroy him! Now step aside!"

"You're wrong!" shouted Pipkin angrily as he bravely tried to get into the Ilips path. "Justin isn't evil! Elil-rah is the one who's evil! He's lying to you about the cross-bearer! Justin actually cares about animals and his friends, and he would never -"

"Leave him alone, ya big bully!" snarled Justin in Pipkin's defense when Lord Brock, the badger, insulted his honor mercilessly.

"I will, when I have that cross! Give it to me!"

"Over my dead body!" yelled Justin in contempt.

"That wasn't a request, you little brat! Now, if you do not give me that cross, I will grab that rabbit from your hands and toss him off this mountain, and you'll have the perfect view of seeing him hurtle downwards into a very painful landing to the ground below right before I kill you regardless and take the cross myself! Being familiar with how much you treasure you precious rabbit friends, I know this is one of your weaknesses. I've had enough: cross-bearer, you either hand me that cross immediately or I will personally take that sniveling, whiny buck from your hands and crush him with my paws before flinging him off this mountain! CHOOSE!"

Pipkin was horrified to see the human was about to comply, and with guilt, Pipkin wished the human wasn't so damn attached to him, wished Justin didn't find it worth to sacrifice his own safety for Pipkin's in return. It was exactly like the situation with Prince Rainbow:

"Justin! Please! I do not wish to see you get killed!" begged Pipkin, wailing piteously as he saw Justin expose himself in a dangerous and vulnerable position to the Dogs of War.

When Pipkin was finally blessed with the golden wings of angels from Justin's cross, he felt like he could fly the entire land beyond life on his small shoulders.

"See, Justin! This is absolutely wonderful! There's nothing like this in the world like flying!"

"I guess you're right, ol' buddy," admitted Justin, laughing, "Looks like you finally got your wings, Pipkin! You're now a qualified guardian angel!"

"Frith-rah!" cheered Pipkin ecstatically, but then Justin added compassionately, "But, with or without wings, you'll always be my friend...and my guardian angel."

Pipkin smiled, his eyes twinkling with tears of joy and love, and said, "And you'll always be my friend...and the cross-bearer who I'll always protect and always be by his side with all my mind and heart."

Pipkin lamented to himself softly as his tears dispersed into the winds, "Always, Justin."

Accusation and blameful understanding surged through the black-eared Blackberry as he played back the words of the universal hatred of humans told by Woundwort:

"You think you know sadness and suffering! You think you can fully comprehend what all creatures of Frith have to endure because of you, because of men, because of the fact that they must face a bleak future due to the fact that no matter what we do, our efforts would be in vain because men gave himself the right and the authority to treat animals as food and slaves! That no matter how hard we try to survive, men just simply wipe us out without even a thought of remorse!"

Blackberry would have normally agreed...but not as of now:

"But, Hazel-rah, can we trust him?" Blackberry asked Hazel on the very night of Justin's arrival, suspicion and fear already taking root into his mind without any justification, "He seems nice enough, but remember when we encountered Cowslip at the warren of the Shining Wire? They seemed nice and kind too until Bigwig nearly died in a snare! We just can't base our judgments on what little we know about him."

Of course, Blackberry soon felt pity towards the boy when he heard about his abusive and unloved life. Yet the buck was ashamed to admit that pity did not mean the same as trust and compassion, and frankly, the child would never earn it from him. Justin still tried to make peace and friends with the Watership inventor, much to the rabbit's annoyance and ire.

"Justin, don't mistake me for a heartless Efrafan, and I'm happy for you in seeing that you've found some happiness in the land beyond life, especially since you think of the rabbits such as Bigwig, Silver, and Pipkin as you're close friends, if not your brothers. But, you do realize, that you're rather more of an exception rather than a rule. Frith always told us that men were one of the Thousand, so...to be practical, I'm not so sure I even approve that you should even be here because a part of me is fearful that you would ruin this world for us like men before you have ruined the physical world."

"Blackberry, you know that's not true." Justin tried to dismiss the statement, which made Blackberry all the more offended and aggrieved.

Blackberry's voice turned cold at Justin's ignorance. "Isn't it? I've seen everything a rabbit has ever feared from the world of men. You've 'conveniently' forgotten, young one, on how I've had to leave my home because men decided to destroy Sandleford just to suit themselves. So tell me, am I right? You, a boy, should at least be able to acknowledge what I say is true."

"But I don't WANT to hurt anyone here!" Justin fervently protested.

Blackberry didn't put much stock of faith and sincerity into Justin's response.

"Blackberry, do you...do you even like me?"

"Of course, you're the cross-bearer, the only one who can save this land and heal El-ahrairah from the powers of darkness inflicting him."

"I meant...do you like me, personally? If I wasn't the cross-bearer, if I wasn't the chosen one..."

"Would we still have protected you, even though you might have died out there on your own? No, we wouldn't have." Blackberry felt the child might as well know the truth. No sense in deluding the fool. Once this was all done, there would be no further use for him.

"So, basically, even if I am close to some of you, like Pipkin or Silver, you...the only reason you're tolerating me is because of my cross? Of my powers! Blackberry, please, you can't think like that! I'm not someone who wants to hurt you, and I really do care about you guys! You're my friends now, the only friends I've ever had! Blackberry, if you got to know me like Bluebell or Acorn, then you'd realize that everything you think you know about the ways of humans doesn't exactly apply to me! Please, Blackberry, don't think like that!"

"Justin, I can't do that. It goes against everything Frith taught to us rabbits, and you should have known by now that this wasn't going to be a peaceful mission where you would have every creature you'd ever come across to welcome you with warmth and praise. I'll always be your protector if needed, but other than that, to tell you the truth, I like myself the way I am, and I don't want to associate myself with men any more than I have too." It actually felt satisfactory to say that to his face...but not much.

"You 'can't', or you 'won't'? After all, Bigwig, Pipkin and the others don't seem to have a problem with accepting me and getting close, despite me being a human."

"With no offense to my comrades and closest friends, they don't know any better." The buck was surprised at the condescending, pompous tone in that sentence.

"And you do? Blackberry, just because you have incredible wits doesn't mean you're always right! You don't know everything!"

After that, Blackberry didn't have much trouble of thinking that Justin was a troublesome, delusional, stubborn bastard. And the conflict from his heart was strained even further when Justin kept butting heads with him.

"That may be true, Justin, but if I were Bigwig, Bluebell, or Campion, and I had learned that you left El-ahrairah to suffer in agony just to save me as a noble bravado to further impress your friends, I would despise you."

Justin replied with much pity to the Watership warrior, "Unlike those three, however, you already despise me because I'm a human." Despite his quick sharpness, Blackberry was silent at this accusation, partly because he knew it was true.

However...

"As I've said before, oh how I've come to loathe your bright ideas, young cross-bearer," Blackberry managed to laugh with wry humor as they managed to escape Nekas' clutches.

"Oh shut up," Justin said humorously, any trace of his resentment for the buck easily forgotten. It was still forgotten when Justin managed to save Blackberry from the rapid floods in the canyon.

"I said I wasn't going to leave my friends behind," Justin repeated before tenderly hugging Blackberry around his injured neck in the pouring rain. Blackberry, though a bit uncomfortable, was too relieved and tired to object. To tell the truth, he kind of liked it.

"Forgive me?" Blackberry asked hesitantly. Embleer Frith, where did that come from? Justin just smiled.

"Of course. Always. After all, we're friends," Justin replied without a moment's hesitation. Unfortunately for the cross-bearer, it wasn't enough to encourage Blackberry to forsake everything for him. And what bothered Blackberry was that he truly regretted it.

"You idiot! You fool! This is NOT rational! You're just acting based on your own emotions, just like what happened back with Nekas! If you do this to me again, I won't EVER forgive you!" the Watership soldier squealed, outraged at Justin's foolishness to give up the cross to Prince Rainbow.

"Flyairth, he won't be hurt, will he?" Blackberry murmured as the mob of rabbits started to gang upon the human teenager.

"No, but all the rabbits at the warren do not feel safe with the human child here! Do not get in our way, my friend. Please, Blackberry, you don't want to throw away everything you have ever worked for, for this human. He is not worth it."

Blackberry, giving in, agreed. After all, it was true, wasn't it? El-ahrairah only asked them to protect the boy and bring him to the warren to be healed. He did not say anything of the sort about swearing allegiance him, standing by him always, and even fighting against their own friends and family just to support him. That was too high of a price for Blackberry; he could not do it. Besides, once the boy was done with his mission, he would have to return home and they would never see him again. There would be no need to be attached to the child nor to fight for him since he could, most likely, achieve it himself without his help. It wasn't cowardly; it was just...logical. But the look on Justin's face was heartbreaking. Blackberry knew then that he could never forgive himself for it...and he didn't expect the human boy to either.

The human cross-bearer stopped Holly from cuffing Blackberry, coming to the black-eared buck's defense, much to the Watership inventor's surprise. Here he was, still stubborn, still wanting to distance himself away from the child, and still wished to have nothing to do with Justin for the sake of his pride and honor...and yet Justin still had his heart be soft.

"If he doesn't want to fight, he doesn't have to. I can't force him to give up his safety and life for me. That's too much to ask for anyone."

"Blackberry?"

For an instant, the buck thought the boy would curse him and rave at him in justified fury. He was prepared for it, was ready to just block the meaningless words out. He just simply wished that all the rabbits in the Great Hall weren't watching them so intently. Even Flyairth was showing interest.

"I...I just wanted to say that...even though we haven't been on the best of terms, I still wanted to say I'm sorry...for being an embarrassment to you."

The rabbit twitched. That he wasn't prepared for...and it was all the more painful for at that moment, Blackberry's heart broke. Damn him. Damn the pride. Damn the proper rules of nature and decent rabbits.

"I...Hawkbit, Acorn, and Speedwell explained it to me, though it was really on a skewed point of view," Justin gave a half-hearted chuckle before continuing softly. "But...I understand, and I don't hold it against you either. To tell you the truth, I probably would have done the same thing if I was really respected by my peers as well. I should have realized it was really selfish of me to expect you to humiliate yourself for my sake and give it all up, and...even though I don't agree with it, it doesn't stop me from saying I'm still glad I got to know you...as a friend. I...I just wanted to say that...in case I don't come back."

Blackberry was so cold with remorse and shame, he did not even feel the tears spilling from his eyes as he bowed his head and wept quietly, "O Frith, forgive me...I was such a fool."

Speedwell nervously stamped upon instinct as Woundwort snarled in the crevices of his darkest nightmares:

"You, the cross-bearer, the almighty, powerful one who was meant to defeat Elil-rah! Surely you jest, you meddlesome, disgusting worm! You're weak, you're foolish, you're dense, and you have never and will never amount to anything significant in your life! You are nothing more than a pitiful specimen of a human who was a mistake, a wasted life, a worthless, disappointing vagabond upon whose death will only bring relief and joy to the world that so despised you! You are nothing!"

The white rabbit jester, however, could not help but give an amused snort with watering eyes as he fondly remembered:

Speedwell flashed back to when he and Justin had a heart-to-heart talk about the nightmares haunting the boy.

"You're afraid to go back to sleep, aren't you?" Speedwell asked the cross-bearer softly, knowing how morose the teen felt after the ghost rabbits tried their first attack on his psyche.

The boy shivered as he replied, "No...I mean, yeah. Maybe, a little."

Speedwell could not help but smile at the young one's stubbornness as he drew close to the protégé, " 'A little'? 'A little'? You naive duffer, you! A little would be, like say, an ant, a grain of sand, or yes, even Hawkbit's brain! But this is certainly not little! It's all right to admit you're scared about these things, Justin. You're not alone in this. I mean, great seasons of sun and rain, what I saw would probably give me the screaming horrors for hrair days and nights! The point is, young one, you don't have to be very scared cause you're stuck with us, us bucks from Watership Down!"

"I know, but...it's easier for me if I convince myself that possibility. Otherwise I don't think I'll ever be in my right mind, not to mention it wouldn't make me relax any easier or feel safe." The white furred rabbit just felt his empathy and concern grow for the child. He knew it wasn't easy for the cross-bearer, especially since Justin was being the target of dangerous assassins and Elil-rah's Owsla repeatedly. To still be able to endure the ordeal for the sake of adversity and friendship was nothing short of admirable.

"Like I've said before, Justin, it's not wrong to admit you're scared and vulnerable. Heck, by the fur and paw, I would have said you were lying if you said you weren't. I remember when I left Sandleford and crossed over the heather with the others, it really put a chap like me off, and brought about the very worst in me, not to mention I wanted to give up and abandon everybody without giving a hraka's care about my comrades. But traveling to Watership Down, fighting Efrafa, and yes, even coming here to get you for El-ahrairah's sake, changed me for the better, but it was only because of El-ahrairah and Hazel and my friends that I was even able to do that."

"Speedwell, are you ever afraid?"

To be honest, Speedwell did not wish to talk about such private matters to other bucks...but it was hard to resist not opening up to the vulnerable and trusting kid.

"That's a silly question, you young duffer. Of course! After all, like I said, every animal and creature, even El-ahrairah, feels fear at some point or other."

"Well, what do you fear?"

"To find out that I'm fighting on the wrong side, to betray a creature's trust I suppose. In other words, being in the dilemma of having to choose between two people I care for and against one of them. I'm not good at choosing sides or making first-rate decisions, young one. That's why I trust Hazel-rah, Bigwig, and Holly. I mean, Frith in a hole, I'm not a bally leader, I'm a follower."

Justin smiled finally, cheering up to the white buck's touch of caring.

"Y'know, this is the first time any one of you rabbits has actually hugged me." Justin, however, instead of being repulsed or uncomfortable, to Speedwell's surprise, just snuggled up closer.

Speedwell gave a small laugh and blushed, enjoying the closeness. "Well, what can I say, young chap! I'm a touchy, feely kind of rabbit who always wants to keep everyone's spirits up!"

Speedwell then said, "How about a story then? I daresay, a jolly good story should be able to calm the likes of you down!"

Justin nodded, liking the idea. "Okay, which one?"

"Your choice, Justin."

"How about your story? A nonsense story, the one starring you and Lucy from Nuthanger Farm as the King and Queen of all rabbits?" That request couldn't make Speedwell happier; he remembered he felt his heart was going to leap out of his chest in giddy excitement.

"You're quite sure?"

"Of course!" chimed in Justin, eyes twinkling, "Even though I've read it many times in 'Tales From Watership Down', it'll be even better hearing it from a real, talking rabbit such as yourself. And who better to ask than the rabbit who came up with the tale in the first place?"

Speedwell honestly could say he never had such a better and more enjoyable time telling that story for Justin became the ideal audience, attentive, polite, silent, and with wide-eyed interest. Unfortunately, the attacks by Hogweed and the other specters of the dead made matters immediately deadly for the both of the Watership affiliation.

"We're not finished yet! We will kill that human, even if he isn't in this dream world anymore! And we will do it with your help! It's time you now saw the errors of your ways, Speedwell, and finally saw that you're on the wrong side!" Hogweed snarled in malicious contempt.

"My loyalty lies with El-ahrairah and my friends of Watership Down," growled Speedwell as he was painfully beaten and restrained within an inch of consciousness, "And I will never betray them, or Justin for that matter!"

"You foolish boy!" screamed out Hogweed in magnanimous arrogance, "You're even more reckless than we thought if you think your light will affect us! Soon, you will die and we will get our revenge for what you and your kind have done to us! Feel our wrath for you deserve what you are about to experience!"

"YOU'RE WRONG!" Speedwell managed to shout, despite the burning in his chest and arms from being hung by his forepaws by restraints, "JUSTIN NEVER DESERVES ANY PAIN OR TORMENT THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM! HE'S NOT EVIL! HE'S ONE OF THE SINCEREST AND MOST CARING BEINGS OF THIS LAND! AND I WON'T LET YOU HURT HIM!"

"Justin, don't! They'll kill you! Please, forget about me! Just run for it! Hazel-rah, please, stop Justin! Take him and the rest of the rabbits far away from here! Get back to El-ahrairah! I'm not worth it! Stop him, please!" Speedwell bellowed, seeing Justin walk up to the monstrosity holding him prisoner.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you any better, young one."

"You didn't fail Speedwell!" Justin spoke out strongly, and unaware to them, the light from his spirit began to envelop Speedwell additionally. Justin continued, "I don't care if I get hurt or injured from this because as long as my friends are safe! And...I don't want you to suffer for my sake because I care about you too much to leave you behind. So, whether you like it or not, we're stuck with each other!" And once the draining battle was over...

"Miss me?" Speedwell managed to joke at the distraught child. Justin cupped Speedwell's face with one hand, seeing the wounds he so valiantly took for Justin's sake.

Speedwell tried to smile, "It looks worse than it actually is young one. Owwch! Watch that part! Hogweed did a number on it when he kept cuffing me back in the dream realm."

"Hey, on the upside, you're not the only one injured," beamed Justin as he absentmindedly ran his fingers across the deep gashes Speedwell inflicted on him in order to wake him up. The white rabbit wasn't sure how to feel about injuring the cross-bearer, but chortling, the teen just wrapped Speedwell's torso fiercely with a great hug.

"By the light of Frith, must you always give me a hug every time I get injured!" the Watership rabbit grunted in mock annoyance.

" 'Well, what can I say, young chap! I'm a touchy, feely kind of rabbit who always wants to keep everyone's spirits up'!"

Speedwell then remembered when he and the rest of the fellowship was captured, and Prince Rainbow was forcing the human adolescent to surrender his life for his protectors' sakes, remembered the helpless anger he felt.

"Bucko, please, listen to us rabbits!" Speedwell choked, shuddering hard at trying not to sob, "You think you cannot carry onwards without us, but do you realize how much more it would hurt us if we lost you! If we came back to El-ahrairah empty-handed with no way to cure him! We would be far more devastated than a thousand fold from what you would feel!"

"Get away from him!" Speedwell threatened Rowf as the dog advanced towards his human friend, "Frith in a hole, you've hurt Justin enough with your self-righteous hatred, you wretch! Take one step closer and I'll scratch your nose to shreds!"

"Maybe some rabbit should, Blackberry!" snapped Speedwell at Blackberry back at the warren of El-ahrairah, outraged that one of their own would desert Justin, "How could you do such a thing! To Justin! After the battle we had with Nekas and Greenweed, I would have thought that you would have realized the truth by now! Embleer Frith and Inle, you abandoned Justin! After all we promised him, you still chose to ignore him without a second thought!"

"So there we were, King and Queen of the rabbits, and Lucy was covered with flowers and I was covered with dandelion leaves! I dug a nice hole for us to sleep together. My horse slept too, but his master came looking for him, and the farmer came looking for his Lucy. He had a whole bushel of hay with him, so my horse didn't go hungry, and my dear Lucy rode him all the way home to the farm, and I promised to come and see her every time it rained. I kept my promise, but on the sunny days, when it was as clear as water with a slight spring breeze, Lucy requested I take her lonely, younger cousin, Justin, to visit the places only us rabbits knew about. He was always so sad, ever since his mother died, and he needed a friend. And so, I carried him on my back to visit the land beyond life while Jesus and Frith showered us with blessings of flayrah and rainbows and candy! Just for the two of us, and he saw Hyzenthlay and Hazel and all the rabbits of Watership Down in the meadows of Fenlo, always lush and green with grass and flowers blooming out pots of honey and sugar within their petals. All the rabbits said, 'Look at that human! He's so sad and lonely! We'll adopt him and make him a member of El-ahrairah's family! We'll care for him like he was our very own!' And from that day on, Justin never knew pain, sadness, or hurt, for he continued to live in the warren, with the Watership Down rabbits as his best and very close brothers and El-ahrairah as his father in the burrows of light and friendship."

The cross-bearer was already sleeping serenely on the grass before the storytelling ended, using his arm as a makeshift pillow. Chuckling, the white buck draped a furry paw over his charge's chest, drawing him close, before lying beside him to rest.

"And that is the end of my story, young one."

A rainfall of tears spilled from Speedwell's white, bruised face as he hoarsely said, "Just like El-ahrairah..."

Buckthorn was stoic as he recalled the General's harsh, bitter tone:

"Why couldn't you just die! No animal in this land will ever love you of their own free will, no animal will ever trust you, and even if you do what you were meant to do, you honestly think that those fools will look upon you as some sort of savior! As their sovereign messiah! No, they will turn on you the instant you help them, and then they will forget who you were or what you ever done for them! You...twisted...arrogant...bastard!"

The buck could not keep up the unbreakable expressions for long:

"But...why couldn't he send other rabbits with you? I mean, if he really wanted to protect me, he could have sent the whole warren to get me and look after me from Elil-rah's minions," asked Justin innocently before blushing and realizing what he had just uttered could have been taken offensively. "Hey, I didn't mean that the way it sounded! Of course I'll always have faith in you for helping me! You, all of you, helped me so much during this entire journey back to El-ahrairah, and I'll...I'll always have faith in you guys and that God will help me live through all this."

Despite being famous for being extremely stern and rigid, Buckthorn couldn't help but feel more at ease with the cross-bearer. Truth be told, the buck dreaded the thought if Justin was one of those arrogant types who was so full of hot air and self-importance from being powerful that he treated everyone around him like they were beneath the human. Yet Justin, fortunately, was not like that...and it showed.

"Justin, that may be all well and good, but you have to be more confident in yourself and your own abilities if you ever face a bleak situation. And...I won't lessen the fact that yes, there will be tests, possibly demanding and seemingly insurmountable, that you may to face alone, without us. There's a rabbit proverb that says, 'Grass and flowers may die, but the ever hopeful rabbit continues to silfay when hungry'. So try to have a little faith in yourself too, Justin. The cross of light may be a part of you, but it is not you in entirety. What matters is the fact that you force yourself to carry on, to continue no matter how difficult things may be, to never give up. That was what kept all of us alive when we left Sandleford and came to Watership Down, because we wouldn't abandon our mission, our hope, and our dreams. So, come on you young bucko, chin up! Try not to worry so much and have some faith in yourself too! Bobstone guess."

Buckthorn whispered at the incarcerated human child as he was at his hope and wits' end at the battle with Hufsa, "Justin, please...if you really are the cross-bearer, please...give me strength to win this, for everyone."

"Not anymore you won't," Justin's astral projection growled, protecting Buckthorn from Hufsa's magic. "Buckthorn taught me that loyalty and determination will always prevail, to never give up! Even without the cross, true power comes from faith, from hope, from friendship, and it's a separate power than can never be taken away and misused! The power knows Buckthorn is my friend, and it won't let you cause anymore harm with it! Now get out of Buckthorn's head and STAY OUT!"

Buckthorn, though he could never explain why or how, knew, from the warmth in his mind and heart, that Justin helped him. Unfortunately, it came at a devastating price as Justin shielded Buckthorn with his own body so that Hufsa would turn him to stone and not the Watership warrior.

"No..." Buckthorn sobbed as he cradled the bloody form of Justin in his paws, his resolve finally breaking. Yet what came next was a blessing.

"Buckthorn! Heavenly Father, please, I trust Buckthorn with my life! Let him use the cross to save everyone! Please, help him!" The sword of power, a weapon of the cross and light. A gift of power to help him fight Hufsa. Buckthorn could feel the faith and trust Justin gave to him from the blade. The Watership soldier never felt more touched at the display of reliance and friendship. And it gave him more to fight for; this was something he would never let Hufsa take away from him. Yet as the battle was over and Hufsa was grotesquely wounded, Buckthorn, for once in his life, became afraid of Justin. He couldn't bear it if he frightened the child from trusting him, after seeing his harsh, cold ruthlessness with the Elil-rah Owsla soldier. He could not bear abandonment again like he had with Lichen.

"Justin, look at me," Buckthorn said softly, nearly pleading. Justin looked at him blankly, fatigued and stunned.

"Justin, it had to be done. If I didn't do it, he would have killed you and tortured the rest of us, without a thought of guilt, remorse, or mercy. It had to be done. Do you understand?"

The teen nodded easily enough. "I understand, Buckthorn, and I...owe you my life. You...you injured someone, a living creature, for my sake, and...and I know that can't be easy."

The Watership buck knew that deep down, Justin wanted another solution to the carnage, but it pained him that the child didn't see things on the same level. And the thought that Justin might distance himself from his protector hurt the rabbit deeply. "Are you afraid of me now...because of this? Because of what I did?"

Justin just shook his head and gave him a soft, reassuring hug. Buckthorn, thankful from the display of loyal affection, closed his eyes gratefully and wrapped his paws around the human's body. It was such a simple gesture, but the warmth and feeling of holding the teenager out of love and feeling cherished...Buckthorn could not ask for more than that.

"I'll never be afraid of you, Buckthorn, for I'll always trust you, for you're my friend."

"So, you lucky duffer, is it true? Was Hufsa right? Did you really beat the Black Rabbit of Inle in a tournament of bobstones?" Dandelion asked later as they fled.

Buckthorn said mischievously, "I won't say."

As the rest of the Watership rabbits groaned, Justin snickered as he said, "Oh, come on! Leave him alone! It wouldn't be the first time a rabbit in this group has kept a secret or two. Besides, he's not hurting anyone!"

Like a true friend, the child did not desert Buckthorn nor faltered in his undying support for his Watership protector and companion. It was clear to any rabbit that Justin would never forget what Buckthorn had done and suffered for his sake...and Buckthorn was appreciative of that reminder.

Then Buckthorn remembered the times he had gladly defended Justin just the same:

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, the Black Rabbit said in an emotionless, frigid tone as they were begging the messenger of Death to open the holes of affliction where Hazel-rah and Justin were trapped with It.

"Don't you dare say their names!" roared Buckthorn, outraged beyond comprehension and so full of anger, the buck's head was buzzing, "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!"

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 travel out of them with their own free will, exactly how El-ahrairah had done before, the Black Rabbit said forlornly, accepting whatever would happen as unchangeable fate.

"No, you do not understand, embleer Rabbit of Inle!" Buckthorn spat out, his body shaking, "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, what are doing! Don't hurt him! Please!" Buckthorn was still frozen in place, even though his heart was pained to ignore Justin's pleas to not fight the other rabbits and wreck havoc at El-ahrairah's warren. But this must be done; he would not let these fellow rabbits cross that line again...at least not without dire consequences.

"How pathetic," Sandwort sneered at the boy and the buck, "Needing a human to tell you what to do? Waiting for the cross-bearer to give you orders, like those mindless dog servants of Prince Rainbow?"

Buckthorn replied softly and with great restraint, "This is one of the gifts the cross-bearer had blessed us with during our journey. I may be cautious and reluctant to resort to violence, but I will not hesitate to use this if you threaten the cross-bearer again."

Buckthorn could only breathe heavily as the burning in his lungs competed against the hellfire of pain and sorrow in his heart when he saw that Justin was refusing to run and leave them behind while he was trapped in the stone pillar made by Carnage (Rowf). The rabbit remembered how much he just wanted to say a single word, any word for Frith's sake...but the pain of losing Justin kept him heartbreakingly silent and drained.

Buckthorn shut his eyes as he howled despite the tears, "WE'RE HERE, JUSTIN!"

Fiver trembled as the voice of Woundwort emptied every feeling of hope and valor in his world:

"I hate you! You represent everything that has ever caused me suffering, that has tormented me day and night, even after I found death! I never found any respite, any chance of peace, all because of you, you damned human! I wish you never existed! I wish you never came! YOU are the cause of every tragedy that I ever faced!"

Yet the seer then saw visions of the past flash through his head, his second sight reminding him of the one, universal power no evil could destroy:

"And how would you know!" Fiver sobbed at Hazel's ignorance and inability to empathize, "You don't know what it's like to never have a life without worry, trouble, vexation, and responsibility! Even life as a Chief rabbit pales in comparison to the fact that the second sight took my life from me, my sanity, my control, ever since Efrafa tried to attack Watership Down! I never asked for this power, this insight, and it asks so much from me, consumes me! Why can't I just be a...a normal rabbit! Why couldn't I just forsake this power when I want to, so that I wouldn't always be troubled from painful premonitions, the screaming horrors, the ability to feel the pain, wrath, and destruction of death and war and danger! Every time I see a vision with my second sight, I can feel it, everything, the emotions, the anger, the hurt, the impeding doom, and it takes so much out of me! It's just...it's just no one knows what I undergo!"

"I know," Justin said softly, looking directly into Fiver's eyes. Fiver could tell his voice, though gentle and hesitant, was still strong enough to bore deep into the seer's grief and understanding.

"Hey, you're forgetting who you're talking to. Fiver, I know what it feels like. Remember when you guys first found me, when I was being chased by Mallow and Vervain? When Dandelion told me the story of Elil-rah and the prophecy? I acted exactly how you are now, and trust me, I don't think any human would be in their right minds if they actually wanted to be chased around by Elil-rah and his Owsla, to live every day and night in fear and caution, and to constantly worry about using and learning powers to protect yourself and the ones you care about. I mean, I didn't ask to be the cross-bearer and I didn't ask for any of this, but...I have to do it. Just like how you have to always use your visions, to deal with them and interpret them, to protect us. We don't know why we're chosen, but we do know that crying and contemplating it isn't gonna get us anywhere. And besides, it would be better if we bore the responsibility rather than someone else who might not be able to handle it. I mean, could you imagine what would happen if Bigwig or Hawkbit had to be the ones with the visions in this group? But Fiver, you are helpful, for all of us. You always gave us a hint or a clue to figure out what was going on, to find out a weakness, to find a solution! I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for your visions, for your premonitions, for your intuition. So don't beat yourself up over this!"

Fiver still kept crying like a broken soul, and, though Fiver did not comprehend it then, he was grateful when Justin and Hazel drew him close and cuddled him gently, their expressions just blank with worry and pain...but not with blame and impatience like Fiver's father. And, though foreign, it was a welcome experience...despite the awkward shame Fiver felt whenever Justin constantly put his own safety and reputation on the line for the rabbit.

"Justin, think about it. If I stayed behind, that may help in bargaining to the Kings of Yesterday and the King of Tomorrow to give back your cross and the Sense of Smell back to the rest of my friends and letting you go. Then the rest of you will be free to get back to El-ahrairah, and you don't have to worry about me since I can't die, and with me not part of the group, I wouldn't constantly have to put you and the rest at risk!" the seer persisted in the Web of Thorns when both he and Justin were jailed and imprisoned.

"Fiver, NO!" Justin whispered intently, "What if there's a time when we do need your second sight! Then I'll be in greater danger! And what about Hazel? Don't you even realize this'll kill him inside, having to leave his brother behind to take the fall for something that wasn't even your fault to begin with! Why do you think the rest of the Watership rabbits are even fighting for you? For us! It's because they care for you too much to let anything happen to you!"

"WAIT!" the teenager yelled, "WHAT IF...WHAT IF I WANTED TO FIGHT FOR FIVER'S DEFENSE! If...if I fought in the duelists' test, for the defense of Fiver, will you accept? Since Hazel and the rest aren't here and Fiver's still hurt from the otters, let me participate in the duel! Let me fight! If I win, let both me and Fiver go along with my cross and their Sense of Smell, but if...if I lose...you can let the opponent kill me during the battle! Let the duel be a fight for my death! The challenger can try to kill me all he or she wants, but if I can evade their attacks until my foe tires out or gives up, then it proves that we're innocent! Please, your majesty! This way, there will be a fair fight and if I lose, I'll die in this fight anyway!"

Fiver saw the hope and unrelenting dependence the child had for him as he steely stared into Fiver, "But...you have another sense! Your second sight! You've done it before when Hazel was shot from the farmers at Nuthanger Farm when he tried to free the hutch rabbits! You can do it again! Please, just do this! Just have faith in yourself!"

"I guess because I had faith everything would turn out OK, and that no matter what, I would always prefer it if I died trying to save someone rather than someone sacrificing themselves for my sake. I've already had one important sacrifice of love in my life. I don't need another, especially since I still think, hope, that no matter what, if we look hard enough...well, there would be a way to save and help everyone without sacrificing anyone, without leaving anyone behind. And I wasn't willing to leave you behind, especially since I know how much that would hurt Hazel. And myself, for that matter."

Blackberry asked hesitantly on the very night Justin arrived into the land beyond life, "But what is your take on the matter, Fiver? Could it be possible that he has passed on as well and that the Black Rabbit made a mistake in bringing him here?"

"No, the Black Rabbit could never make a mistake, and even if he did, the boy isn't dead. He was brought here, even though he was alive. But I can tell you one thing of the boy: he's extremely lonely because I felt the pain he's experienced over the years of his life, and he wishes he could have a normal family, or at least a group he could feel he belonged to. Yet, I can also sense in him great loyalty, patience, and love. Who knows? Maybe he really is the cross-bearer." And Fiver truly meant what he said, realizing that Justin's soul mirrored so much his own.

It was after Justin had stopped time on the entire forests of Yesterday and Tomorrow and Shardik had betrayed his kings to give the teenager his cross. Justin said with sincere love to the hulking grizzly in front of him, "I'm sorry, Shardik, for what you had to do to save me, what you had to give up. If...if you want, you're free to come with us to El-ahrairah's warren where it'll be safe and no one will persecute or judge you."

Fiver could not agree more with the cross-bearer...and he could not have felt more pride and touching admiration for his friend. Justin was not one to forget Shardik's loyalty and bravery, and if anything, Fiver would have loved to welcome Shardik back into the warren. And he was glad to see that Justin did not ignore or dismiss what had been a strenuous and complete sacrifice on the bear's part.

Shardik said sadly, "My place is somewhere else, young one."

"Shardik?" The teenager was still persistent.

"What now, young one?"

"Thank you." It was a simple answer, but full of understanding and fulfilling nonetheless. Fiver then knew Justin was truly worth fighting for. And when Justin had finished healing Woundwort back in the warren of El-ahrairah...

"I still blame you for everything that has happened to me. I do not regret wounding you and giving you and your friends grief and suffering during your journey. I still hate humans and desire some aspects of power and authority in my old life under Elil-rah, you know," Woundwort growled.

"I know," Justin replied; Fiver would see he had already been through this with Rowf.

Woundwort then had a sneaky smile on his face as he leered, "And what is to stop me from taking over El-ahrairah's warren and claiming his power as my own? What is to stop me from being the next Prince of all Rabbits? What makes you think I'm no longer loyal to Elil-rah?"

Fiver answered for Justin, "Because you know, deep inside, what you didn't need was power and supremacy, but a family and a fellowship you could trust. You had all the power you wished for under Elil-rah's rule, but it never made you happy. I can sense it even right now, in your heart, Woundwort. You never felt satisfied, at peace, always restless with anxiety, worry, and self-doubting torture. Even if you did become the next El-ahrairah, you would still be just as miserable as before, as you always were. Now, you realize that you have an opportunity to fix things, to start anew, like a seed ready to burst into a baby plant, without a chance of your past and misgivings coming to haunt you. And you would never risk that chance again...not after what you have seen of Justin and Elil-rah."

The seer, to his surprise, could see the reluctant, petulant admission draping onto the General's face.

Fiver's eyes blurred with his tears as he gripped his comrades' paws tightly and said fiercely and angrily, "This has to work!"

Whispering a furious denial of the horrors of losing the battle, Dandelion bore in mind what Woundwort had raged back in the Skies of Hellfire:

"You're evil and you're selfish, Justin! I know everything about you, your life, your troubles, and to tell you the truth, you deserved it, every little bit, because your destiny to become the cross-bearer would be a greater travesty to animals who never deserved to be injured from your powers of the cross! You deserved to be alone!"

His eyes were so painfully shut, Dandelion could feel his eyes threatening to pop from the pressure as Justin's voice echoed in:

Dandelion recalled when he first met Justin, how the teenager painfully struggled and writhed, thinking that, at the time, the Watership rabbits were going to kill him. The golden storyteller got a foot to the face for his troubles, but eventually, when all was as calm as the child could be, Dandelion, though he had no idea why, reached out to comfort the adolescent stranger.

"Don't worry, young one. Hazel-rah is a smashing leader. Don't be scared to trust us or him."

The teen, white in the face, just nodded, but Dandelion was a bit surprised to see the lack of fear, mistrust, and skepticism from Justin. He wasn't a danger; he was a naive, innocent kit at heart.

Dandelion then remembered how touched he was at the sight of admiration and honest enjoyment that sparkled in Justin's eyes, when he told the group the stories of El-ahrairah with his skillful, aesthetic, talent "I never knew how much you and the rest of the guys around here depend so much on stories. I mean, it's like...like I'm there, with you, actually witnessing what was going on, in the midst of the adventures and travels with El-ahrairah himself! Heck, no wonder you're always known as the best storyteller at Watership Down!"

Dandelion then brotherly encouraged the cross-bearer gently, "Justin, I won't lie to you. None of us knows why El-ahrairah sent for you, and by the fur and paw of El-ahrairah, I myself do not know if the additional prophesy told by the King of Tomorrow is true or not, but I do know this: El-ahrairah sent for you to come protect this land and his children, El-ahrairah trusts your powers, and El-ahrairah trusted us, and only us, to protect you with the very best of our abilities. So, don't think the absolute worse about yourself, all right young one?"

The gold rabbit was pained to hear the self-blame and fear in the young child's voice, "But, does it even bother you that the cross-bearer has to be a human, a creature who has waged a battle against all animals since time began? That the King of Yesterday and Tomorrow could be right when they said I was a menace to all creatures in the land beyond life?"

Dandelion lifted Justin's disconsolate chin and touched the human's nose delicately, whispering, "It did at first, but the more time we spent with you, all of us realized that you are not the enemy. I am honored that I have received a chance to protect and know you, just like how I've always been honored to be the chronicler of this journey, the raconteur to memorize and foretell all our travels and adventures into a story, so that this legend will never pass and will always be a part of Lapine history. Justin, if nothing else, trust El-ahrairah and his judgment. You are not what you think you are: the cause of all trouble you bring into the land beyond life, someone who isn't strong and cowardly, someone who is destined fail. I don't see that in you, and neither do Hazel-rah and the others. In fact, the stories will say how no other rabbit will ever find any other creature so devoted, so gentle and full of kindness and mercy, than the teenage cross-bearer by the name of Justin within all of the land beyond life."

Justin gave Dandelion an amused, skeptical look. "Since when has there already been stories about our adventures?"

Despite the serious, dramatic moment, Dandelion had to marvel at Justin's humor.

"I'm working on it as we go along, or, as you humans say, 'I'm winging it'?" Dandelion smirked at this comment.

"Are your stories ever true or just based on your own opinion?" Justin shot back, grinning.

"Is there a difference?" Dandelion chuckled, "Now, see! You're smiling! That's the old chap, now! Come now, no more sad faces, no more wallowing in self-pity, no more sadness, no more doubt, you hear me, young one?"

Dandelion relished that one moment, the moment he felt like a caring ward, the moment he felt like he could father Justin and care for him like he was his own kitten. After being emotionally starved from the feeling for so long, the rabbit bard welcomed it with open, willing paws.

Justin chuckled, "I swear, I don't know who's more overbearingly optimistic: you or Bluebell."

"That may be open to some debate, young cross-bearer. Now, if you asked who's more of a storyteller, well now, there's no contest there!"

After teleporting from the lethal army of King Fur-Rocious, Dandelion wanted to desperately return to rescue his comrades. And he was relieved to see he wasn't the only one.

"I don't know, but I'm not going to leave them behind!" Justin thundered, "And no, I don't care what you say, I'm not leaving them behind!"

"Justin -" began Dandelion.

"No, forget it! I don't care if I'll be endangering myself, or if I'm being stupid, or if I'm going to walk into a trap! I don't care about any of that!"

"Justin..."

"Hazel and Bigwig and the others are going to get hurt if we leave them behind! And even if we did leave them behind, we'll still be in danger because it's just you and me! And just the two of us can't fight any other remaining traps and surprises that Elil-rah put in our path to try to kill me!"

"Justin..."

"I know you don't like this, and hell, I don't either! You think I really want to go and get killed! I don't, but I'm not gonna abandon my friends either, and we're not going unprepared! As long as we have my cross, we might still have a chance to beat King Fur-Rocious! I'm sorry if I'm acting like a jerk and a spoiled brat, but I'm not going anywhere except back to where King Fur-Rocious is, and that's final!"

Dandelion didn't answer as he crossly glared at the teenager.

"Can I talk now?" he asked flatly.

"What?" Justin snapped huffily.

"If you took yourself off your high tail for just a moment, you would have heard me say that I agree with you completely. I want to go back and help Hazel-rah too!" Justin was floored, and then he blushed as he glanced downwards, embarrassed.

"Sorry, I got kinda carried away," he mumbled apologetically. Dandelion's grin grew even wider as he placed a paw on Justin's head and ruffled his hair affectionately. By Frith, he wasn't sure if he wanted to cuff the kid or hug him for his stubborn, persistent, loyalty.

Dandelion ran, faster than he ever had before, as the rabbits of King Fur-Rocious chased after him and Justin mercilessly in the runs. "As if I had a choice, you young duffer! We don't have a choice! It's the only path that this run is leading us into! But we'll be trapped if it's a dead-end with no other way out, cross-bearer! It's a bad lookout!"

Dandelion could feel his hope and optimism diminish, but as usual, Justin never failed to cover that base.

"No, it isn't! I've got an idea! Just run into the end of the tunnel!"

"Justin!"

"Just trust me, Dandelion! I won't let you get hurt! Just trust me! I trust you!"

"Our children's children will hear a good story, Dandelion," Justin managed to smile as he placed a feeble hand on Dandelion's bloody paw.

Relieved, Dandelion beamed through the tears, "And you'll be the chap to tell it alongside with me when we get back to El-ahrairah's warren, young Justin. I would not want any other being by my side but you when we chronicle this adventure together for all rabbits back home."

Dandelion glared at Blackberry, fuming that the black-eared comrade would not be willing to fight for Justin, after everything the teen did for the inventor rabbit. But Justin said softly, with understanding, "If he doesn't want to fight, he doesn't have to. I can't force him to give up his safety and life for me. That's too much to ask for anyone."

Dandelion snarled at Blackberry, "And to think he still forgives you sickens me."

Dandelion thought furiously as he stomped out of the run, How dare he! How dare he hurt his kitten like that!

"Why? Why?" Dandelion cried piteously as he saw Justin tell Prince Rainbow that he would willingly sacrifice his cross and his life if the Dogs of ware spared the rabbit Owsla. Dandelion then knew, at that moment, how agonizing a mother doe or a father buck felt, when they saw one of their kittens die before their very eyes.

"I trust you, Dandelion."

Dandelion released the angry tears from his stubborn eyes at last, shouting valiantly, "We will always be your family!"

Strawberry shuddered at the instinctive fear of General Woundwort of Efrafa:

"You stupid, little boy! You're just doing this to glorify yourself, and you are as mad as that troublemaking seer, Fiver! Your words of kindness and hope have no meaning to any right-minded animal, for everyone can see the truth: you are taking advantage of any fool who believes the hraka sprouting from you mouth, from the lies and deceit, all to make your own life easier and to selfishly ease your burdens, without giving a thought about how many innocents you had to destroy for it!"

The reddish rabbit could feel the claustrophobic fear of the cramped runs, the misery, the gloomy prisons, threatening to choke him, but then rabbit misfit felt the memories of his times with the cross-bearer reach out and gently massage assurance into his scars:

It was the first night when it was discovered that Justin would be the cross-bearer foretold in the prophecy, when the Efrafans sent by Woundwort surrounded their camp. Strawberry was doing his best to control his apprehensive terror as he silently gave advice to Hawkbit, Blackberry, Bluebell, and Justin.

"Whatever you do Bluebell, make sure none of the Efrafans can get a clear shot at Justin with their lances. Shield him with your body! Justin, we want you to duck your head and try to avoid any weapon that comes your way. Once the battle becomes too ferocious, they won't be able to do much when you can make a run for it. The instant you get a chance, young one, run as fast as you can and don't look back. We'll stall them for you." Instead of complying, Justin just retorted back.

"No! Forget it! I'm not leaving any of you!"

"For Frith's sake, stop being so much like Bigwig!"

"No!" Justin repeated hotly, "I'm not leaving anyone behind!"

Then Strawberry remembered when Silverweed disguised himself as the human cross-bearer, how he managed to have all the rabbits turn on Strawberry and heartlessly banish him from the Owsla, how hurtful it was to not have any of his allies believe and trust him, to stand up for his defense. It was the worst betrayal Strawberry could ever imagine. Yet Justin, the true Justin, still endured whatever came gracefully for his sake.

Justin snarled at Cowslip helplessly, "You're lying! Strawberry didn't betray me! He would never betray me! He's my friend, and I trust my life with him if I have to! I don't believe you or your lies!"

"Where is your mighty and omnipotent El-ahrairah now, Strawberry!" Cowslip bragged as he continued to pummel and gouge out Strawberry's face, "Where are you friends, your sworn comrades who would always stand by you! Admit the truth, you traitorous wretch! When it comes down to it, you are no better than the rest of us, your past will never let you go, and you will never be anything more than a weak, cosseted, dandy from the Warren of Shining Wires! Your destiny lies with all those other useless dolts who died for no other great purpose other than to save my own fur and paw! Just like your precious Nildro-hain!"

Strawberry then bellowed back with all of his strength, his identity confirmed, "My destiny...is to protect the cross-bearer and El-ahrairah!"

"Justin!" yelled Strawberry as he leapt towards the human teenager who toppled over, losing his balance, into the chasm that Strawberry used to send Cowslip and Silverweed tumbling to their supposed doom with the Watership soldier's seismokinesis.

"Strawberry!" whimpered Justin as he precariously held on to his ward's paws, slick from sweat and dirt.

"Justin, give me your other hand!" Strawberry yelled urgently, "Justin, don't be stubborn! Give me your other hand! I'm not going to let you die!"

Then Strawberry saw the cross-bearer hold up a familiar object that Cowslip dropped, the very object Justin was willing to sacrifice his life for the rabbit's sake. It was the key Elil-rah gave to Cowslip to free him from the collar, the dull metal glinting from the light of the cross.

"Strawberry, here take it! It's they key Elil-rah gave to Cowslip to free them from their collars! You can use it to save yourself! Cowslip dropped it!"

Strawberry was so shocked, he nearly dropped his slim hold on Justin's fingers. The cross-bearer risked his life to just give him this? The child wanted to see it to the end to help Strawberry with his painful past, when no one else wished to? Strawberry could never repay Justin back for his empathy.

Later that evening, when all was well and safe:

"Whatever you did, Strawberry, it doesn't change my opinion about you. You still the rabbit I know and love. I don't care about how you're different...and neither does anybody else."

It was so uplifting, releasing the emotion of defeat, just to hear that.

As Justin surrendered himself to the dog guards of Prince Rainbow, Strawberry wailed with horrified concern, "Justin, for the love of Frith and all that he has created, do not throw your life away! Think about El-ahrairah! Embleer Frith, don't do it!"

But the teenager did not comply to the pleas, and regardless of the cost, Justin became to willing sacrificial lamb to the wolf...for their sakes. It was then that Strawberry could fully realize that what Woundwort had always believed about the cross-bearer would never apply to Justin's dedication.

Strawberry resisted the comforting urge to bury his head in his paws as he whispered, "Thank you, Justin."

Holly grimaced as he reflected on the ludicrous ranting of the Efrafan General:

"You do not know how many tears I've shed over the deaths I've seen, over the anguish I felt, all because of you and your blasted race! DAMN YOU! You don't know what I've lost, how I've tried to keep all rabbits safe in Efrafa, to spare them from the heartaches of loss, only to have them turn their backs on my legacy and curse my name once your Watership friends came!"

Yet the sounds of the young, carefree laughter of the human was far more powerful than anything spoken from the words of that lunatic:

"What, did you actually think you were strong enough to be the cross-bearer!" scorned Damien as he continued to berate Justin after taking over as the new "improved" cross-bearer, "Did you actually think Frith wasn't going to use you as a worthless replacement until he found someone a lot better! Please! Even by looking at you, I can already tell what your life was like: you have no friends, you're an embarrassment to your family, and no one wants to admit they're even close to you! You're scum, weak, a sniveling moron who always lets people step all over him, and even if you could fight back, you're so weak and girly and pathetic that you'd just get your ass handed back to your every time! No wonder Frith decided to bring me to this land and take your place! You couldn't even handle fighting by yourself without depending on your so-called 'friends'! Hell, the best and only company who would be willing to tolerate you is nothing more than a bunch of animals! God, that's so sad, it's revolting!"

Holly felt so angry, both at Damien and at Justin. Embleer Frith, why wasn't Justin defending himself against that wretch! Why wasn't he giving that bloody bastard a piece of his own mind! By the fur and tail of the Black Rabbit, Justin would be in the right! Incensed, Holly took it upon himself to defend the cross-bearer.

"That is enough! You have made your point, Damien! You are the new cross-bearer now! But stop laying it thick upon Justin! He has never done a single act of injustice against you or your person, and yet here you come, take his cross, and insult and mock him as if he was nothing!"

Of course, that was a deadly mistake and had cost Holly the chance to return back home to El-ahrairah with the rest of the fellowship. Injured, Holly begged Justin to leave him as well. Holly then saw a hidden strength, a secretive edge of power, that Justin rarely displayed through his timid, meek, gentle personality. But Holly discovered that it was there.

"No. If we're going to be left behind...I want us to be left behind together."

Later, as Holly regained consciousness from his wounds, he overheard Justin begging the two weasel deserters, Lousewort and Sneezewort, to help Holly so that the rest of the Watership warrior rabbits didn't go mad with worry and dread.

"So...so what do we do, now?" Justin queried.

"Well, we were hoping you would tell us, lad," Sneezewort replied softly, "After all, me n' Lousewort are renegades from our own army, and we do not have anything planned, but remember young Justin, we'll gladly return the favor for the kindness you have shown us previously. If there is something you wish for us to do, just say it, and we shall gladly help you."

Holly heard Justin hesitate, pausing, before stating strongly, "I want you to take Holly back to the warren of El-ahrairah in the meadows of Fenlo."

"What?" Lousewort gasped, not sure if he heard correctly.

"I want you to take care of Holly for me," Justin repeated, "Holly is still too weak to journey back to El-ahrairah by himself, and...and I know the rest of the guys will be very worried about him in the meantime. But if Holly was back at the warren, he could get better care, and he would be reunited with his friends and his family."

Holly didn't know whether to scold Justin for making himself into such a pity-case or to be impressed by the boy's grace and willingness for carrying other creature's burdens.

Sneezewort asked, "And what about you, Justin?"

Lousewort stated, "You wish for us to leave you behind, do you not?"

Justin remained silent.

"Justin, there is no point for you to throw your life away, mate," Lousewort tried to argue compassionately, "And you shouldn't be so hard on the rabbits; they are your family too and they would be glad to see you again."

"They would not want to see me, and neither would El-ahrairah for that matter. Damien is the cross-bearer now, not me. Besides, it's just as well. No one here would care if I lived or died, now that I can't be of use to anyone."

Holly, though he would always care for Justin, felt his patience snap as he reprimanded the adolescent, feeling that he needed to show some stern, disciplined, tough love. "No, it is El-ahrairah and Frith's decisions, not his, not yours, not even Hazel-rah and the others'. For Frith's sake, Justin, do not act like a spoilt, selfish kit who covers his ears and whines at every single moment his elders try to give advice or try to make one see the real truth. You are far too gentle and noble to act as such, and you know the truth as well as I do! Do you honestly believe what Damien has told you? Hazel-rah, Bigwig, Silver, Speedwell, Campion, and the rest of the bloody chaps care for you! They did not wish to abandon you, they did not wish to harm you nor cause you grievance! Yet, do you still thoughtlessly wish for them to forget how their Prince, their ancestor, their benevolent leader, is dying and forsake the only thing they need to help him, all for your sake! Do you still wish for them to ignore another suffering creature in need, all for you! If you still do, then you are no better than Elil-rah himself! As for Damien...yes, he is the cross-bearer who will fight Elil-rah, but I still stand by my conviction that El-ahrairah and Frith would be pleased and welcoming to see you if you come to their warren! And...I still think that regardless, you shall always be our friend and the only one any rabbit would be willing to declare with joy as the cross-bearer. I would stake every tuft of gray fur on my body on that, young one."

Instead of rudely arguing, the gray war veteran was relieved to see that he got through the boy, and Justin was trembling, slightly abashed, in Sneezewort's arms.

When they had later traveled into a dense forest and found the incarcerated Lord Brock, Justin, despite the danger, told the weasels and Holly that he wanted to help the enemy badger. Suffice to say, all three of them were not pleased.

"Justin, have you gone mad?" Sneezewort demanded angrily, "You could have been killed!"

"Sneezewort, we can't leave Lord Brock there without helping him!" Justin protested.

"He still wishes to eradicate you!"

"He's in pain! He probably hasn't had food and water for several weeks! He's suffering! We can't just walk away and ignore him!"

"I can live with that," huffed Holly darkly.

"Sort of like how Volgnamass and Damien could live with it when they abandoned all three of you?" Justin snarled, unrelenting. They sighed; the young one had a point. It was surprising to see that Holly still had a lot to learn from Justin's undying faith and compassion. And when he finally defeated Greenweed, everyone was cheering for Holly, erasing the reminders of when young rabbits used to curse the old Sandleford captain for helping to lead so many rabbits to their doom. Justin smiled at the relief and pride drawn on Holly's face.

"'Pelil éan, atha néan'," quoted Justin, grinning. Holly cast him a fond glance as he lowered his head so that his eyes were level with the cross-bearer's.

"And I could not have been able to do it without you, young one," Holly whispered affectionately to the teenager, his red eyes twinkling, as he brought his nose to Justin's, like the love between a grandfather and his grandson. Justin reminded him of his young heart and soul, underneath all the angst and guilt of his past...and Holly would never wish to lose it ever again. Exactly like how he couldn't bear it if he lost Justin.

"Don't, young one, don't! Otherwise, we will all die in vain and so will El-ahrairah!" the old rabbit entreated vainly as Carnage attacked Justin. When Justin was able to calm down and heal Carnage back into Rowf, it still didn't lessen Holly's anger the slightest. He was going to maul that dog for hurting the young one! But once again, Justin begged for the sake of clemency.

"Don't hurt him! Please! Rowf didn't know any better! If you won't do it for Hazel, then please, do it for my sake! Please! Don't attack Rowf and Snitter! It wasn't their fault! Please, just forgive him! Just let it go!"

Holly managed to wheeze, his aged, wrinkled face full of sorrow and sadness, breaking his stern resolve, "You young duffer."

For the first time, Hazel truly understood how Woundwort felt for all these years:

"Maybe you'll truly understand why I hate you and the rest of El-ahrairah's legacy! Maybe you and the rest of those fools will understand why Elil-rah is the true savior of this world, why Frith's values are nothing, if you even had the faintest sliver of the knowledge how much it hurts to be cursed, to be ignored and scorned, to try to live to everyone's expectations, only to feel hurt and burning anger at the sight of others enjoying to witness your failures, your ideals mocked, and nothing you do could ever change the fact that you will always be nothing more than a deep disappointment!"

And likewise, Hazel could say he knew how blissfully liberated he felt when Justin came into his life:

It was back when the rabbits first met Justin and Dandelion had finished telling Justin about the prophecy of the cross-bearer, and how, be logical reasoning, it had to be him. The adolescent was scared, disbelieving, and though it was a delicate situation, Hazel needed to say it.

"Justin, this is something we need to ask of you. We need you to come with us to our warren to heal El-ahrairah and then to fight Elil-rah with your power. You, and only you, can do this feat for no other in the world has the ability to accomplish this. I know you may be scared and this may be asking for a lot of you, but you must do it."

"Why!" snapped back Justin, frustrated, "Why must I do this! Don't you know you're asking the wrong person! I don't even know if I can do this! This too much, more than anything I can ever handle! I can't possibly be strong enough for this!"

"Justin, realize this: if you don't do this, if you fail, you will be killed by Elil-rah and his army. They now know you're here in this world, and since you haven't stopped running unlike us, it is possible to seriously hurt and kill you in any way possible. We know this, Elil-rah knows this, and now you know this. You were brought here for a reason, but we can honestly say that it was no accident. I know you feel hurt and scared yourself, but also realize that you're with us now. The rabbits you've known since you were a kitten, the rabbits you've admired for their courage and bravery, and the rabbits that now see you as a friend and our only hope in this fight. Like Buckthorn said, we won't let anything happen to you, and we'll do everything in our power to protect you."

"You promise?" Justin asked hesitantly. Hazel and the other rabbits nodded.

"I guess I don't have any other choice. All right then, I'll do it. I'll help you."

So much was required from the cross-bearer, and it pained Hazel to admit that it was not fair for the teenager. It was far too much for anyone.

Hazel reasoned to Bigwig after the fur-cropped rabbit argued hurtfully with the teen, "There's no point in making Justin feel worse than he already does. He knows what he did earlier with Bluebell and Campion was foolish, but has every good intention to do what he did. His heart's in the right place. He's not doing this to spite you, Bigwig; he's doing it because he cares for us too much to let us go. He's bonded with all of us in such a short time, and I don't want you to do something that could jeopardize our relationship with Justin. The young one has had a rough enough time as it is, and you're not really helping matters much."

"Oh my God, Hazel, I'm so sorry," whimpered Justin as he saw the flashbacks of It possessing Hazel right after the battle with Greenweed. Hazel, though drained and injured past all comprehension of his senses, could detect that the boy had sorrow and anxiety in his voice, but not disgust and blame. In fact, he was surprised when Justin became adamant in coming to Hazel's defense to the Black Rabbit of Inle himself.

The Black Rabbit stated, 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 in defiance.

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, to Hazel-rah's shock.

"He's...he's right, Justin," Hazel huffed with fatigue, "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, and then addressed 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.

Hazel then remembered that Justin then performed the ultimate sacrifice: he took in the dark piece of It, the remnant of evil, out of Hazel's heart, and prayed for it to inflict himself instead. Now, the teenager was shouldering the burden of Hazel, unafraid of the consequences and the pain. That act of friendship was what enabled Hazel to seal It into the prison of the holes of affliction. The words of the Black Rabbit and Justin still affected him to this very day.

The Black Rabbit, bowing to Hazel, then spoke solemnly, 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-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.

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."

In the illusion Woundwort created to imprison Justin, to force the teenager to surrender his cross, Hazel had to slap the boy hard across the face before he could renounce his claim as the cross-bearer. Justin held his cheek numbly as Hazel whispered sorrowfully, tears watering the rabbit warrior's eyes, "You're far too noble and young to make such a decision, young one."

The cross-bearer was starting to weep and numbly, Hazel held to his tightly, grateful that Justin opted the more difficult, yet more noble choice. "We nearly lost you, Justin. We nearly lost you. Thank Frith we have found you. Thank Frith."

Woundwort was screaming beyond feeling, "Justin, you fool! You are ruining everything! Is that what you want! I'll give you riches, status, power, vices beyond the wildest imaginations of any human, and yet you are willing to forsake it all...for that illusion! You fool! It is not real! Turn back while you can, cross-bearer!"

Justin then declared fiercely, "No, I don't want it! I don't want anything! Everything I ever wanted...is with me right now! Hazel, please don't leave me! Please!"

Hazel then spoke to Justin gravely as the Dogs of War and Prince Rainbow were about to strike the boy, "Cross-bearer, young one, Justin, our friend, please, run as fast as you can back to El-ahrairah's warren in Fenlo. You can not surrender the cross, not even for us!"

"I won't, Justin," Hazel-rah promised. He would never leave him, his friend, his ward, his hope...his heart brother.

Hazel gritted his teeth and his eyes, though spilling tears, showed formidable fire as he yelled from the depths of his soul, "We can do it!"

The rabbits were so busy focusing whatever little strength and valor they had left in their souls, they failed to notice something extraordinary happening to them. The memories of love, friendship, compassion, and loyalty created yet another set of miracles.

For each of the rabbit warriors of Watership Down, all of them were unaware that a spectral, translucent, phantasm of a cross, made of pure golden sunlight, slowly yet surely, materialized into view in front of each rabbit's chest and torso. Exactly like the blessing of power Hazel-rah received when he fought against It in the warren of the Black Rabbit. All of them, Bluebell, Campion, Bigwig, Acorn, Hawkbit, Silver, Pipkin, Blackberry, Speedwell, Buckthorn, Fiver, Dandelion, Strawberry, Holly, and Hazel-rah, had a small pocket of light encompassing their own crosses of power and love in front of their upper bodies Leisurely, the glowing intensified until Elil-rah could spot, with extreme confusion, a line of fifteen, lustrous stars lined directly behind the Prince of Rabbits, blazing brightly, despite the black fires, with the essence of yellow and orange.

"WHAT! IMPOSSIBLE!" Elil-rah bellowed in pure, terrified shock, "A NEW SOURCE OF FRITH'S LIGHT! HOW IN THE NAME OF HELL'S BEASTS WERE YOU WHELPS WERE EVER ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF GOD AS WELL!"

Justin closed his eyes in eternal thanks as he could feel the determined, persistent, courageous presences of his protectors.

My friends...I knew I could count on them...as always. I can feel them...fighting with me...their strengths, their spirits...joining with me and the cross.

Then, let us finish this once and for all, Justin. Let us all destroy this abomination once and for all...together.

"THIS IS THE TRUE LIGHT OF HOPE!" roared El-ahrairah and Justin together as their souls and hearts united for the final amalgamation along with the fellowship of Watership Down, their voices booming.

"Digger, Listener, and Runner! Gifts of Rabbits, set us free!" chanted El-ahrairah and Justin.

"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..." chanted Hazel-rah.

As one, El-ahrairah, Justin, and all the rabbits of the Watership Down Owsla ended the prayer with beautiful, final, powerful, crescendo.

"...FROM TIME AND SPACE!"

Justin could feel and see flashes of images and emotions fly by:

Bluebell laughing like a loon, holding his sides as he rolled on the dirt, laughing.

Campion, serious and resourceful, leading young rabbits into a farmhouse like a confident guide.

Bigwig, gruff and irritable, training potential soldiers and barking out orders.

Acorn looking extremely proud and valiant as he engaged with other rabbits in the Owsla of El-ahrairah.

Hawkbit sniping and arguing, though good-naturedly, with Blethlin with mock annoyance.

Silver, peaceful and gentle, contently grazing on clover and sweet grass.

Pipkin eagerly following Kehaar as the gull took to the skies, casting fond glances at the rabbit chasing after him with obsessive curiosity.

Blackberry, intellectual and prudish, staring blankly at the stars with thoughtful, contemplating expressions.

Speedwell jumping around the fields of grass and clover, carefree and joyous.

Buckthorn escorting El-ahrairah as an ever-faithful guard, watchful and dutiful yet cautious.

Fiver, squatting on an anthill with Vilthuril, wordlessly and with transfixed eyes, staring into the landscape in the distance.

Dandelion telling a story to an audience of adoring, wide-eyed kittens in a warm burrow.

Strawberry, haunted yet free, sleeping peacefully in the paradise of El-ahrairah's warren under the warm sun.

Holly running with Blackavar and several of the other hlessi as they explored the unknown, young and giddy and full of daring courage.

Hazel, quiet, reserved, yet no less of a leader, gently providing sage advice to young, attentive, inexperienced rabbits.

With the streams of the purest essences of warmth and magnificent splendor, the shadowlike, ethereal crosses on each of the rabbits' chests exploded in a glory of brilliance, and fifteen beams of light, one from each cross, flew and twisted in the air, convoluting and twisting wildly, before being absorbed by the cross in El-ahrairah's paws. The crystal began to build in its intensity, charging and compelling into an infinite, unfathomable force of power. It was huge, unstoppable, and all around the meadows of Fenlo, the darkness that was swallowing the very lands of the Garden of Eden, shrieked and howled in rage and pain as, within their very centers, streams of fresh, white light also emerged, rushing out of the cloak of evil and bursting out like a hailstorm of bullets. All over the land beyond life, tiny new sources of holy power rained out of the ground, the earth, the trees, and the skies and stars, only to come together and make home at the very cross in El-ahrairah's paws. Elil-rah, despite the attack, could not ignore the fact that he could feel and sense the gravity of all the power radiating around him.

"THIS...THIS CANNOT BE! NO! HOW! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!"

The very last words Elil-rah heard before his oblivion were from El-ahrairah as he replied cryptically, "WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, THERE IS ALSO LIGHT. BUT IN THE VERY HEART OF DARKNESS, IN THE VERY DEPTHS OF CALAMITY AND DEATH, THERE RESTS TRUE POWER, THE LIGHT OF LIGHTS, THE GRANDEST STRENGTH OF ALL...FOR THE HEART'S TRUE ESSENCE...IS LIGHT!"

With a gigantic flash, the dark fires surrounding them vanished under the cruel relentlessness of the power and fire from the cross, and El-ahrairah released a powerful, endless surge of sunlight directly at Elil-rah. It grew, larger and larger, forming an orb as large as the sun towards the dark creature. Elil-rah tried to resist, tried to fight, but it was futile. The light engulfed him, searing into him, tearing the demon beast apart, and the enemy had no choice but to suffer as the nova consumed him. The sun's inferno and searing light obliterated Elil-rah instantaneously.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Elil-rah as his own body betrayed him, writhing in pain, the spider, the skull, the goat, the wolf, and the raven all screeching in agony as their very hearts of their own bodies exploded in a fury of sun and holy fire. This was the proof of Frith and God's might, and with final clarity, the body of the demon began to fade under the intense brightness, growing dimmer and dimmer as piece by piece of Elil-rah disintegrated and completely vanished into the void of nothingness.

"AAAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Elil-rah could do nothing but watch helplessly as the damned fellowship of all that was holy withdrew from his view, the distance between the two forces growing larger and larger, as Elil-rah watched helplessly, his voice muted into silence, as he and his soul plunged into the never ending abyss of the eternal cavity, where he would endure an eternity of silence, damning emptiness, and torturous isolation. This, as Elil-rah's last remains were destroyed within the light, was truly the most damning sentence God and Frith could ever assign to the dark creature. And no power ever known would provide salvation.

Elil-rah was gone...forever.

It was finally over.

Overexerted and weakened, the entire Owsla of Watership Down released their hold on each other's paws and toppled over, unconscious and drained. Whatever mana they had left was spent in the final battle, and now depleted, they were no more.

El-ahrairah, with a sad smile, closed his eyes, as if he did not truly relish the swift hand of justice dealt on such a sinful creature, as if he did not gloat over the punishments of the wicked. The crystal trinket flashed, and slowly but steadily, the entire lands beyond life were bathed with warm sunlight, engulfing every creature with healing comfort and warmth, and like the Watership soldiers, they too gave in to the peaceful slumber and fainted into a fitful rest. Even the allies at the warren of El-ahrairah in Fenlo were all now laboriously on the ground, unfeeling and comatose. As the light grew, the darkness faded, melting, leaving forth a new, fresh grandeur of the paradise that once was. Now, everything sparkled with the fresh dew of morning and to the east, the beautiful rosy glow of morning broke across the dark, starry sky, extinguishing the stars one by one.

It was a new day of the reincarnation of the Garden of Eden. what was once broken was now whole and renewed.

With a final flicker of light, the power from the cross faded and now, the rabbits of Watership Down, though still lying senseless on the grass, were now back to normal. They were no longer anthropomorphic humanoids, wearing tunics of a multitude of colors, but instead, they were now ordinary rabbits, natural by Mother Nature and Frith intended.

In the very center, El-ahrairah still stood upright, but, now devoid of the cloak, crown and wings, and in his paws, he cradled the prone, sleeping form of the teenage Justin, the rabbit's blue, clear eyes now content and at peace.

"It is over, young cross-bearer," he whispered, "We have won."

Author's notes: I am sorry to say...that after over a year of writing and reviews, the NEXT update will be my LAST one for this story. Since this is after the final battle, anything else done afterwards will be anti-climatic (I think) so for the remaining three chapters, I will update them ALL TOGETHER in the next update. So, though it will be the last update, it will be a 3-chapter update. In those three chapters, I will wrap up and address these questions:

1.) Why was Justin chosen to be the cross-bearer?

2.) Who named Justin "cross-bearer", a word in the human language?

3.) How did Justin get a piece of El-ahrairah's heart inside him in the first place?

4.) What will happen to Justin and the rabbits now?

All in all, this shall be finished. And to all the reviewers, I will leave a special thanks to every reviewer who ever reviewed in this story.

Constructive criticism? Felt that there wasn't enough action the battle? Felt there was too much? Want to express your opinion? Review! Fell free to say whatever you like! I am free for all opinions (except flames)

Till then, wait for the next update in a month. )