Chapter EIGHT - Something Old, Something New
The next morning dawned clear and cool, yet with the promise of unseasonable heat later in the day. Hazel slept late, and eventually had to be woken by Hyzenthlay. However, all the stresses and strains of recent days had left him, and he felt a great determination that Blackavar should be returned to his rightful place at the centre of the warren's discussion until such time as his mysterious death might be explained.
"I've sent Silver and Frogbit down to get the newcomers," said Hyzenthlay a little while later, as the two rabbits silflayed together on the borders of the beech hanger. "I thought it might do Frogbit a bit of good to see that we don't mean to shut him out. He seemed pleased, anyway, though Silver was a bit put out. He came around eventually, though."
"I'm glad to hear that," answered Hazel. "Whatever we might say in the Honeycomb, I can't imagine that Frogbit's going to have a very easy time here for a while, and the same goes - all the more so - for Knapweed. I hope all the trouble's over now, but you never can be sure. Sometimes everything will be calm for days, and then all of a sudden you'll get fights and arguments and Frith knows what else besides. After all, we've seen that for ourselves."
Fiver appeared from behind a clump of nettles.
"Hullo," he said. "Isn't it a fine day? Vilthuril thinks it the best she's ever seen, but then it's her first spring out of Efrafa, and I can't imagine Woundwort was much of a one for letting his rabbits sit around admiring the landscape in any case. How are you feeling, anyway?"
"Well, this ear-tip is going to be a nuisance for a while - I shall have to keep away from bramble and hawthorn, or I'll rip it more badly - but my shoulder isn't too painful. I say, I'm starting to feel like Bigwig, what with all these wounds! I just hope we're going to have a bit of peace for a little while at least, so we can try to get to grips with finding out whatever it was that did for Blackavar." At this, he looked questioningly at his brother, who understood his meaning at once.
"I don't think there's going to be any more fighting, if that's what you mean," replied Fiver. "Something bothers me about one of the new rabbits, though, but I can't tell which one, or whether it's good or bad."
Hazel sighed.
"Whatever it is, I don't expect I shall be allowed a moment's peace. You know, Hrairoo, sometimes I almost wish you didn't have these visions."
"If I didn't, you wouldn't be in a position to be wishing anything," pointed out Fiver, shortly.
* * *
It was almost ni-Frith by the time the welcome party returned. Hyzenthlay had gone underground to shelter from the sun's unyielding glare, and so her mate remained alone at the warren's entrance, gazing out over the wide vista of the Hampshire countryside. He was relieved to see that Silver and Frogbit had put aside their differences, and the youngster was listening with great excitement to Silver's tales of high adventure. Alongside them was a lean, fit-looking buck, who loped easily across the springy turf, throwing up droplets of dew where they remained in the shadows. His fur was a rusty brown, and his eyes shone with alertness and the vigour of youth. Hazel was delighted - just the sort of rabbit the Warren needed, he decided.
"We're back, O Hazel-rah," called Frogbit. "And this is-"
"Wait a minute," interrupted Hazel. "I thought there were three does as well. Where are they?"
"It's probably best to let our new friend answer that," replied Silver - with a hint of irritation, it seemed to Hazel.
The brown rabbit left the other two, and hopped over to Hazel. He had a friendly, easy-going manner, and his Lapine was easy to understand, if perhaps a little more informal than Hazel had hitherto been accustomed to.
"Frithaes, Chief," he said. "And greetings to that fine mate of yours, as well. Joint Chief Rabbits, eh? Well I never. Anyway, you were asking your sidekicks here why there's only the one of me. Good question, really. You see, last night, a bit after those other rabbits you sent had gone - Blackberry, was it? And Bighead-"
"Bigwig," snapped Silver.
"Yeah, right. Bigwig. Anyway, we'd all kipped down for the night, though we were a bit on the jump because we'd heard a lot of owls about. But just as I was getting off to sleep, I heard this voice just on the edge of hearing, talking to Bralvaora* about something. Well, I pricked my ears up a bit - as you do - and it was another rabbit speaking. I could see out of the corner of an eye that it was a big doe - the kind you don't mess with if you value your tail - and she was having a right go at Bralvaora, saying she was a selfish rabbit for leaving the warren, and that she ought to stop being so embleer stupid."
Hazel and Hyzenthlay looked at one another, but it was Fiver who spoke up.
"This large doe," he said. "Her name wasn't Flyairth, by any chance?"
"Yeah," said the newcomer. "How did you know?" Then, answering his own question, "I s'pose she's not the kind of rabbit to keep herself to herself. Anyway, all the does had come from that warren - not me, though; I've come a lot further than that. I just met up with them at the bottom of the hill here, actually, but I was glad I had them with me overnight; it's no place for a lone hlessi, this. When Blackberry and Bigears-"
"Bigwig!"
"-came along, we thought it'd be safer if we pretended we'd all been together from the start, y'see. We thought you might try to split us up or something. Not that it matters now - Bralvaora gave in after a while. Flyairth was awfully persistent, and I think they just got fed up with being moaned at. I felt like having a go at her, but she'd probably have torn my head off. In the end, when she went, the others followed her. So you've just got me."
"Terrific," muttered Silver.
Hazel invited the new rabbit into the warren, and took personal charge of his comfort and security - after allotting him a pleasant, airy burrow, Hazel showed him around, and could not help feeling a touch of pride at the awe with which the warren's latest addition regarded the Honeycomb.
"As it's ni-Frith, we might as well call a meeting now," he said to Hyzenthlay. "I wouldn't normally bother for one new rabbit, but as everyone's had such a rough time recently, I think it might do them a bit of good to hear something positive for a change."
Hyzenthlay concurred, and the warren began to gather in the large chamber. Hazel and Hyzenthlay squatted on either side of the brown rabbit, and enjoyed the effect as the assembling crowd in the hall exchanged glances and whispers. Most of the rank and file had not known about any new rabbits, and rumours flew with great abandon. Was this strange rabbit a spy? Was he an envoy from another warren? Perhaps a hlessi taken in for his own protection, though his shining pelt and sharp eyes made that unlikely.
Hazel waited until most of the rabbits had arrived, and began.
"I'm sure you're curious about our guest," he said. "Well, he's come to join us. From what I've seen, I don't think he's going to have much difficulty in settling down here, but I'd like you to do what you can to make him feel at home, if you would. He's come a long way, by all accounts, and I'm sure he'd like to feel himself among friends here. Silver here was telling me on the way up that he's an excellent bob-stones player, so perhaps some of you could let him in on your games. I think that's all I really need to say about that. We really do need to get back to considering poor old Blackavar, though. It does seem like a long time ago now, but whatever killed him may be dangerous, if not to us then to other rabbits, and I really don't see how we can go on without putting our heads together a little, and-"
"Come on, what's his name, then?" came a voice from the audience. It was Hawkbit. Bigwig rounded on him in irritation, grinding his teeth, and was about to lay into the smaller buck, but Hyzenthlay cut him short.
"You're quite right, Hawkbit," she said. "We're being rather poor hosts here, aren't we; neglecting our duties? I think we should let our new friend introduce himself."
Hazel and Hyzenthlay hopped aside, and allowed their guest to speak.
"Hullo, everybody," he said. "Nice to be here, and I'm highly impressed by this place, you know. Nice little thing you've got going here. I'd like to thank Rahs one and two" - Bigwig looked even more annoyed at this, growling under his breath - "for their really nice welcome, and I hope I'll be able to be of some use to this here warren. Anyway, you probably want to know a little bit about me. My name is-"
But the rest was supplied by another, in a low whisper that nevertheless carried clearly from the back of the hall, where the speaker had been crouching uncomfortably in the shadows by the Honeycomb's entrance.
"Vernal," gasped Strawberry. "Vernal!"
===
* Bralvaora - "hope-friend"
The next morning dawned clear and cool, yet with the promise of unseasonable heat later in the day. Hazel slept late, and eventually had to be woken by Hyzenthlay. However, all the stresses and strains of recent days had left him, and he felt a great determination that Blackavar should be returned to his rightful place at the centre of the warren's discussion until such time as his mysterious death might be explained.
"I've sent Silver and Frogbit down to get the newcomers," said Hyzenthlay a little while later, as the two rabbits silflayed together on the borders of the beech hanger. "I thought it might do Frogbit a bit of good to see that we don't mean to shut him out. He seemed pleased, anyway, though Silver was a bit put out. He came around eventually, though."
"I'm glad to hear that," answered Hazel. "Whatever we might say in the Honeycomb, I can't imagine that Frogbit's going to have a very easy time here for a while, and the same goes - all the more so - for Knapweed. I hope all the trouble's over now, but you never can be sure. Sometimes everything will be calm for days, and then all of a sudden you'll get fights and arguments and Frith knows what else besides. After all, we've seen that for ourselves."
Fiver appeared from behind a clump of nettles.
"Hullo," he said. "Isn't it a fine day? Vilthuril thinks it the best she's ever seen, but then it's her first spring out of Efrafa, and I can't imagine Woundwort was much of a one for letting his rabbits sit around admiring the landscape in any case. How are you feeling, anyway?"
"Well, this ear-tip is going to be a nuisance for a while - I shall have to keep away from bramble and hawthorn, or I'll rip it more badly - but my shoulder isn't too painful. I say, I'm starting to feel like Bigwig, what with all these wounds! I just hope we're going to have a bit of peace for a little while at least, so we can try to get to grips with finding out whatever it was that did for Blackavar." At this, he looked questioningly at his brother, who understood his meaning at once.
"I don't think there's going to be any more fighting, if that's what you mean," replied Fiver. "Something bothers me about one of the new rabbits, though, but I can't tell which one, or whether it's good or bad."
Hazel sighed.
"Whatever it is, I don't expect I shall be allowed a moment's peace. You know, Hrairoo, sometimes I almost wish you didn't have these visions."
"If I didn't, you wouldn't be in a position to be wishing anything," pointed out Fiver, shortly.
* * *
It was almost ni-Frith by the time the welcome party returned. Hyzenthlay had gone underground to shelter from the sun's unyielding glare, and so her mate remained alone at the warren's entrance, gazing out over the wide vista of the Hampshire countryside. He was relieved to see that Silver and Frogbit had put aside their differences, and the youngster was listening with great excitement to Silver's tales of high adventure. Alongside them was a lean, fit-looking buck, who loped easily across the springy turf, throwing up droplets of dew where they remained in the shadows. His fur was a rusty brown, and his eyes shone with alertness and the vigour of youth. Hazel was delighted - just the sort of rabbit the Warren needed, he decided.
"We're back, O Hazel-rah," called Frogbit. "And this is-"
"Wait a minute," interrupted Hazel. "I thought there were three does as well. Where are they?"
"It's probably best to let our new friend answer that," replied Silver - with a hint of irritation, it seemed to Hazel.
The brown rabbit left the other two, and hopped over to Hazel. He had a friendly, easy-going manner, and his Lapine was easy to understand, if perhaps a little more informal than Hazel had hitherto been accustomed to.
"Frithaes, Chief," he said. "And greetings to that fine mate of yours, as well. Joint Chief Rabbits, eh? Well I never. Anyway, you were asking your sidekicks here why there's only the one of me. Good question, really. You see, last night, a bit after those other rabbits you sent had gone - Blackberry, was it? And Bighead-"
"Bigwig," snapped Silver.
"Yeah, right. Bigwig. Anyway, we'd all kipped down for the night, though we were a bit on the jump because we'd heard a lot of owls about. But just as I was getting off to sleep, I heard this voice just on the edge of hearing, talking to Bralvaora* about something. Well, I pricked my ears up a bit - as you do - and it was another rabbit speaking. I could see out of the corner of an eye that it was a big doe - the kind you don't mess with if you value your tail - and she was having a right go at Bralvaora, saying she was a selfish rabbit for leaving the warren, and that she ought to stop being so embleer stupid."
Hazel and Hyzenthlay looked at one another, but it was Fiver who spoke up.
"This large doe," he said. "Her name wasn't Flyairth, by any chance?"
"Yeah," said the newcomer. "How did you know?" Then, answering his own question, "I s'pose she's not the kind of rabbit to keep herself to herself. Anyway, all the does had come from that warren - not me, though; I've come a lot further than that. I just met up with them at the bottom of the hill here, actually, but I was glad I had them with me overnight; it's no place for a lone hlessi, this. When Blackberry and Bigears-"
"Bigwig!"
"-came along, we thought it'd be safer if we pretended we'd all been together from the start, y'see. We thought you might try to split us up or something. Not that it matters now - Bralvaora gave in after a while. Flyairth was awfully persistent, and I think they just got fed up with being moaned at. I felt like having a go at her, but she'd probably have torn my head off. In the end, when she went, the others followed her. So you've just got me."
"Terrific," muttered Silver.
Hazel invited the new rabbit into the warren, and took personal charge of his comfort and security - after allotting him a pleasant, airy burrow, Hazel showed him around, and could not help feeling a touch of pride at the awe with which the warren's latest addition regarded the Honeycomb.
"As it's ni-Frith, we might as well call a meeting now," he said to Hyzenthlay. "I wouldn't normally bother for one new rabbit, but as everyone's had such a rough time recently, I think it might do them a bit of good to hear something positive for a change."
Hyzenthlay concurred, and the warren began to gather in the large chamber. Hazel and Hyzenthlay squatted on either side of the brown rabbit, and enjoyed the effect as the assembling crowd in the hall exchanged glances and whispers. Most of the rank and file had not known about any new rabbits, and rumours flew with great abandon. Was this strange rabbit a spy? Was he an envoy from another warren? Perhaps a hlessi taken in for his own protection, though his shining pelt and sharp eyes made that unlikely.
Hazel waited until most of the rabbits had arrived, and began.
"I'm sure you're curious about our guest," he said. "Well, he's come to join us. From what I've seen, I don't think he's going to have much difficulty in settling down here, but I'd like you to do what you can to make him feel at home, if you would. He's come a long way, by all accounts, and I'm sure he'd like to feel himself among friends here. Silver here was telling me on the way up that he's an excellent bob-stones player, so perhaps some of you could let him in on your games. I think that's all I really need to say about that. We really do need to get back to considering poor old Blackavar, though. It does seem like a long time ago now, but whatever killed him may be dangerous, if not to us then to other rabbits, and I really don't see how we can go on without putting our heads together a little, and-"
"Come on, what's his name, then?" came a voice from the audience. It was Hawkbit. Bigwig rounded on him in irritation, grinding his teeth, and was about to lay into the smaller buck, but Hyzenthlay cut him short.
"You're quite right, Hawkbit," she said. "We're being rather poor hosts here, aren't we; neglecting our duties? I think we should let our new friend introduce himself."
Hazel and Hyzenthlay hopped aside, and allowed their guest to speak.
"Hullo, everybody," he said. "Nice to be here, and I'm highly impressed by this place, you know. Nice little thing you've got going here. I'd like to thank Rahs one and two" - Bigwig looked even more annoyed at this, growling under his breath - "for their really nice welcome, and I hope I'll be able to be of some use to this here warren. Anyway, you probably want to know a little bit about me. My name is-"
But the rest was supplied by another, in a low whisper that nevertheless carried clearly from the back of the hall, where the speaker had been crouching uncomfortably in the shadows by the Honeycomb's entrance.
"Vernal," gasped Strawberry. "Vernal!"
===
* Bralvaora - "hope-friend"
