Chapter 2 is FINALLY up! I'd like to thank all who reviewed my first chapter, however a special thanks to the following:Blacklight 52- I enjoyed your review and thanks for the encouragement! I'm glad you like Speedpaw, you'll see more of him.Phoenix Fire Spirit- Thanks, I was more carefulthis time. Hopefully...... Hareward the White- Thanks for pointing that out about the counting, I didn't remember.

Some Lapine words of note:

lendri- a badger

El-ahrairah- a rabbit folk hero (name literally translates as "Prince with a Thousand Enimies"

Anywho, with that said, on with chapter 2!

"Oh please! Let me go with you!" Ashwood hadn't begged like that since he was a kitten. In the Honeycomb, he was speaking with Rosebarb about a planned trip to Nuthanger Farm. The warren was complaining that they hadn't had carrots in a while so as Chief Rabbit, Ashwood felt obliged to get them for his people. It had been his idea and didn't understand why Rosebarb wasn't keen on his going. True, he had never been on a garden raid, but he could learn. With some help.

"Have you ever even watched a garden raid?" Rosebarb argued , trying to make him understand. "It's a very dangerous process. There could be a dog, or men, or even a lendri if we happen to run into one. Besides, you're the Chief Rabbit and nothing can happen to you. The Council would make a spectacle of killing me in front of the whole warren if some something were to go wrong and you- what!?"

Ashwood was laughing at her as they left the Honeycomb. "Don't be a fool, Rosebarb. I'm coming and that's that."

Above ground, Ashwood found the rest of the selected rabbits to go on the raid. He was embarrassed to realize that he didn't know the names of the officers in his own Owsla, so he turned to Rosebarb with a look of complete dismay. So she began to explain their mission. "Ashrah," she began. "I've taken the liberty of selecting two officers and other Owsla personnel for the raid at Nuthanger Farm. The two officers, Felzin and Inlethlay, and myself will each take command of a group of four."

Felzin, a well aged rabbit of about three or four years with dark mocha fur and white streaks under his eyes, nodded and smiled a greeting, complete respect for his Chief Rabbit in the gesture. Inlethlay did the same, but with an almost jealous look in his eyes. Could it be possible that he knew that the Council was going to elect him before they decided on me?, thought Ashwood to himself. If that was true, he would have to gain his respect as soon as possible. It would be too easy to overthrow a new Chief Rabbit, especially if you were already trusted enough to have a high position and Inlethlay was a perfect example of that.

Rosebarb continued, "Felzin, you'll take the field from the east. Inlethlay, you make a direct move head on but stay low and don't attract the man's attention. I'll go with Ashrah from the west. Where the bridle path meets the farm, we'll split up and take our positions. We need to get this done as quick as possible and get as much as possible. After your group is finished, head back to the bridle path and wait until everyone else arrives. Everyone understand?"

After receiving an affirmative from both officers, they descended Watership Down, which was rather awkward because rabbits' bodies aren't built to climb downward. With such large back limbs, many of the rabbits ended up tumbling head over heels down to the bottom. Ashwood was relived as he stumbled the last few feet onto the bridle path. Despite the large bruise he would have on his tailbone in the morning, the trip was, so far, going relatively well.

Not far down the path, a white pickett fence marked the start of the farm. "Here's where we split," said Rosebarb. "Keep focused and remember: don't put too much in your mouth. Whatever you gather, you'll have to carry all the way back up the down. Now let's make this quick."

They were about to go their separate ways when three rabbits came running down the bridle path from the direction of Watership Down. Ashwood immediately recognized the rabbit in the lead as Speedpaw with his very light, almost dirty blonde, brown fur. The other two's names he couldn't recall but he knew he had met them at some point.

When the three reached them, Speedpaw shuffled nervously for a moment, pretending to catch his breath. He had never had to speak in front of more higher ranked rabbits then he could count before. Not only that, but he knew Rosebarb wouldn't like what he had to say. The Council had sent him and the other two personally to help the captain with carrying the food back to the warren. But it wasn't that. Everyone on the Owsla knew that the Council didn't trust Rosebarb because she was, Frith forbid, a doe and there had never been a female captain before. The only reason why they elected her was because the rest of the warren wanted her in the position. So it seemed that they were the only ones who had a problem with it. But that could make all the difference. As soon as Speedpaw mustered enough courage to speak, he said shakily, " Captain Rosebarb, the Council sent us to help you bring the food back to the warren. That is, um… if you need it. The Council thought so anyway….." He trailed off after seeing the enraged look on Rosebarb's face.

Damn the Council!, thought Rosebarb agrivatedly. I don't need help! They still don't think I'm capable to lead my Owsla, do they? This can't go on any longer. I'll have to confront them this time. Embarrassing me in front of my officers and Chief Rabbit! I don't want them to think that I'm unable just because the Council is sexist! Oh well, I might as well use these little helpers they've sent. Less work for us. "Thank you, Speedpaw. Just wait for us here. We shouldn't be long."

Leaving the three messengers, the rabbits split into their separate groups. A little ways eastward, still following the bridle path, Rosebarb's group squeezed under the fence and immediately found themselves in a carrot patch. Ashwood's mouth began to water as he gazed at rows upon rows of orangey goodness. He had selected a good time for the raid; they were just right to eat now.

Following the others' examples, Ashwood began his attempts at eradicating the carrots from the ground. Even if he grabbed the base, they still found a way to either snap or not come up at all. So he resorted to gathering previously uprooted carrot pieces that he found lying around. No one seemed to notice, so he just kept at it. The raid wasn't as exciting as he expected one to be. He was thinking it would be more along the lines of something out of an El-ahrairah story with danger and adventure. It was a little disappointing, but better than staying at the warren to argue with the Council about how they should go about fixing that minute hole in one of the back runs. Plus it was a nice day to be outside; Frith was high in the sky blazing His elegant self over everyone and a pleasant breeze just fluttered the bushy green tops of the carrots in the patch. Maybe someone would be telling a story in the field when he got back so he could relax.

"I think we've got a pretty haul," Rosebarb called to everyone. "Let's bring all this to those three so they can carry it up."

Knowing that they now had extra help, Rosebarb had taken her time not only in getting to the field, but getting back. So she was quite suprised to find that both groups had not arrived yet. "Let's wait for them," she said with a hint of concern in her voice. "They should be coming any minute."

They waited for a while. A long while. Finally, Ashwood spoke up, "Something is obviously wrong, Captain. I say we should go and get them ourselves. Waiting here won't do us any good." Rosebarb nodded in agreement and lead the group down to the fields once again, but this time straight forward where Inlethlay was supposed to be. Keeping low, crawling on their bellies under the taller plants, they made their way through the central field. The farmer's house wasn't far off (only a few hundred feet away by human terms) and the smell of cooking meat drifted to them from an open window.

Ashwood wrinkled his nose and said, "That smells awful," to a very pretty brownish-red furred doe next to him, whose name he had learned was Ember. "What is that?" He found her fiery fur extremely attractive and he immediately liked her after only a few minutes of speaking with her previously.

"It's probably rabbit meat, Ashrah," she replied. "Men eat us if they can catch us." She shivered, disturbed by the thought of devouring her own kind in such a barbaric manner.

Suddenly, a loud crash and a man's voice cursing came from the farmhouse. All of the rabbits froze to listen. Inlethlay, visible because of his silverish white coat, sat upright on his haunches with his head and ears erect as he waited perfectly still. What is he thinking?! If that man comes out of the house, he's going to be seen!, Ashwood thought fearfully.

Then the farmhouse door swung open wildly, slamming against the side of the house with an ear splitting bang that broke the silence in the garden. The farmer, barefoot in ragged jeans and a dirty wifebeater that had been worn a year too long, stumbled out of the doorway hefting a shotgun. It didn't take the rabbits long to figure out what he was going to do with it.

Instinctively, Ember began to stamp the ground rapidly with a hind foot. She called out to Inlethlay, "Officer, get down!" But it was too late. He had gone tharn and couldn't do anything but stare transfixed with fear at the farmer and his gun.

"Out of my garden you damn rabbits!" the farmer exclaimed in a gruff voice and aimed the shotgun right at Inlethlay. All of his Owsla training couldn't help him now. Despite his foggy mental state, he knew exactly what was going to happen; it was the end for him. In the back of his mind, or maybe his imagination, Inlethlay could hear the Black Rabbit gently calling his name. When He called, you had to go……

The Chief Rabbit in Ashwood immediately took over and before he knew what he was doing, he found himself bolting straight for the farmer. As he ran over the man's bare feet, he dug his claws in deep and felt them puncture through the flesh and scratch against something solid. The farmer screamed in anguish as Ashwood ripped them free of his foot.

The unsuspecting man accidentally fired the gun too high as he screamed, muffling a curse and bringing Inlethlay back to his senses. He scampered after his retreating comrades, urged on by Rosebarb who had retaken charge of the situation. They hopped the fence's lower beam and made a mad dash for the base of Watership Down.

Officer Felzin, Speedpaw, and the others were waiting for them as they arrived. "I heard a gunshot," began Felzin, worry filling his voice. "Is anyone hurt?"

"No, we're all fine," said Ashwood after sweeping his gaze over the others. He began to clean the now caking blood off of his paws. There would be a stain that wouldn't go away for a few days, he figured.

"You'd better be fine!" yelled Rosebarb in outrage. "You could have been killed! And that man would have eaten you! Him and-"

Ashwood broke in, "Please Captain! I appreciate your concern but don't have a fit and be so disrespectful. I'm Chief Rabbit and if I see it fit to risk my life for one of my officers then I will! You will not speak to me in that tone again. Do you understand, Captain?"

Rosebarb was speechless. She hadn't expected Ashwood's sudden stand. Just nodding and mumbling a quiet, "Yes sir. I understand," she prepared the other rabbits to begin their climb back home.

As they prepared to leave, Ashwood and Speedpaw looked back at the field. The injured farmer was examining his bleeding feet, his face screwed up in pain. "That was amazing what you did back there, Ashwood!" exclaimed Speedpaw excitedly. "It must have been fun wasn't it?"

Ashwood replied, trying to keep up his Chief Rabbitness, "No, it was dangerous."

"So you didn't enjoy attacking the farmer at all. You got no feeling of satisfaction."

"Well I didn't say that."

"C'mon Ash. You had fun. Just admit it."

Ashwood heaved a sigh, smiled at his friend and replied, "Okay, fine. Yeah, I had fun."

----------------------LATER----------------------

Back at the warren, Rosebarb was speaking with Felzin in the Honeycomb. If anyone would back her up, he would be him. "You know the Council doesn't think I'm able to lead the Owsla. It's because I'm a doe, I'm sure of it."

"Are you positive that you're not just jumping to conclusions?" Felzin asked. "There are does on the Council."

"I don't think it's the whole Council, Felzin. Just the Head and maybe a few of his cronies." When Felzin gave her a disbelieving look, Rosebarb continued, "When they elected me Captain of Owsla, the only members who didn't vote for me were the Head and his closest assistants. All of them are bucks. Don't you see?"

Felzin replied doubtfully, "But what if you're wrong Captain? I've been an officer for as long as anyone in the warren can remember. I have a good reputation to maintain. Don't get me wrong, if the Head is sexist like you say he is, then I'll be the first to agree with you-he needs to be impeached. But shouldn't we speak to the Chief Rabbit about this?"

"There's no need to get Ashrah involved. This is my fight, Felzin. All I ask is that you assist me a little and try to convince the Head to trust me, or even just give me a chance! Please." Rosebarb was almost begging at this point and Felzin couldn't just not help her.

A warren is based on trust. We can't survive if we don't trust each other, thought Felzin. The Head must learn to be more open. "Yes, Captain. I'll help you."

Please review!!!! I think this one is MUCH better than the last chapter. And more to come!