A/N: Here it is at last! Since ffnet in their infinite wisdom now appear not to allow me to use the sensible device of asterisks to indicate a scene shift, I've been forced to resort to using hyphens. I don't like this format, but it seems I have no choice. Grumble.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - OUT OF BOUNDS

There was complete silence in Hyzenthlay's burrow, but at last Vernal spoke.

"I'm sorry, Hyzenthlay-rah," he said. "I simply can't explain. It's not a matter of not wanting to, you understand: it's that I couldn't make you believe me."

"You could at least try!" said Hyzenthlay in total exasperation. "I really don't want to sound harsh, Vernal... but I think the time has come when you need to understand that although we are all very happy for you to live with us as part of the warren, Hazel and I really can't allow things to carry on as they are."

Vernal took this in, and replied, "Does this mean I can't stay?"

"No, of course it doesn't! You're very welcome here, but you do need to be part of the warren, and as Chief Rabbits, Hazel and I need to know about you. It's just not safe otherwise - for any of us."

"Then I can't stay," said Vernal flatly.

"Oh, really, Vernal," replied Hyzenthlay. "Are you seriously telling me that you'd throw away all you've gained, go out into weather like this and try to live as a hlessi again, rather than explain yourself? Have you done something you're ashamed of, something that's making you frightened of telling me? I give you my word, Vernal: whatever you may have done in the past will be forgiven, and you can start again here. You can even choose a new name if you feel the need to do so."

"You don't understand," said Vernal. "If I told you, the warren would be in greater danger than it has ever been. In fact, it's in great danger already, but I think I can rescue it. But you must let me try."

"Frith above, Vernal, you sound like a stupid kitten doing feeble impressions of Fiver. I said I wouldn't let you leave here without an explanation, I meant it. Now, who are you?"

"I could be anyone," said Vernal. He turned and made to leave.

Hyzenthlay finally lost her temper. "That's enough," she said, and stamped on the floor of the burrow. Within seconds, two burly sentries had appeared at the entrance. "By my order, Vernal is to be confined to his burrow until Hazel or I say otherwise. I want him treated well and spoken to kindly - but don't let him leave."

---

The returning Hazel was met by an agitated Kehaar at the warren's main entrance.

"Meester 'Azel, you come! You not go underground now; you needed outside, over fields. Come quick, ya?"

Hazel was startled, and not a little annoyed at the gull who was blocking his way to his nice, warm - and dry - burrow. "Let me get this straight, Kehaar - you're saying that you want me to go outside again? Why? What's the matter? Is it the Owsla? And why can't Hyzenthlay or Blackberry or Dandelion go instead? I'm dripping wet, Kehaar; I don't want to die of cold out here."

"Ya, ya! Ees for come see Meester 'Olly. He 'urt, not ver' bad but he not run so good."

"Hurt? How was he hurt?"

Kehaar spat. "Dat dam' rabbit, he worse than elil."

"Which rabbit? What do you mean?" asked Hazel.

"I tell you on way," said Kehaar, losing patience. "You come, Meester 'Azel!" And with that he took off and circled low overhead, leaving Hazel to follow him in a mixture of irritation, concern and sheer bemusement.

---

Hyzenthlay opened her eyes and sniffed the air. There was no doubt about it: Vernal had escaped alone. But how could a single buck have knocked down not only she herself but two trained sentries? They were as much at a loss as she, and so she went to see Fiver, who was nibbling on the last of a carrot with a detached air, and asked him whether he had any ideas.

"I don't know, for certain," said Fiver slowly, "but I've been giving all this quite a bit of thought. And it seems to me that Vernal is making himself the centre of attention in this warren - he's done that now, at any rate - but I don't think he has any intention of hurting us. I think he's being driven by something else, something that we can't properly comprehend."

"Is he dangerous?"

"Not in the way you mean."

"Then how?"

"That I can't say. I just feel that he knows what he is here to do, and will do it whatever we say or do to him. You've just found that out for yourself, after all. The only way to stop Vernal," added Fiver plainly, "would be to kill him."

Hyzenthlay was taken aback. "Surely you're not saying we should do that, Fiver?"

"I'm not saying that, no. But we don't know what he has in mind. A dark veil has fallen over this warren since Vernal's appearance amongst us, and that veil will not be lifted until his time is over. What the veil hides, who can say? Perhaps it is great danger and evil, or perhaps great blessings for the warren." Fiver shivered slightly. "But whatever it may be, we cannot stop it. We cannot. Cannot."

---

The rain, though still heavy and cold, had eased off very slightly, which cheered the Owsla as they huddled together under a stray rhododendron bush on the edge of a hanger. Silver and Bigwig seemed relatively calm, but Holly was in considerable pain, this exacerbated by his concern for Bluebell.

Bigwig was stumped. "I wish Hazel were here," he thought. "I'm not much use at a time like this, when what a chap really needs is some comforting words and a bit of calming down. I'm snared if I know what to say to Holly." He said nothing aloud, however, and made to nibble at a patch of grass overhung by one of the bush's branches. His prayers were soon answered, however, as Kehaar landed noisily beside him.

"Bigwig?" came a faint voice through the wind. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, I think so, Hazel," said Bigwig. "Silver will keep, too. And Vervain - Kehaar told you about him? - he won't be bothering us again. But as for the others... Holly here isn't able to run properly with that paw of his, and as for Bluebell-"

"Where is Bluebell, anyway?" interrupted Hazel impatiently. "Don't tell me he's going to play hide and seek at a time like this!"

"That's what I was about to tell you," said Bigwig with some restraint. "We don't know where he is. One minute he was next to me; the next, gone. I'm a touch concerned for him, if the truth be told."

At that moment, the rabbits realised that they were being approached at some speed by another, though at first it was impossible to see who it was through the sheeting downpour. After a few seconds, however, it became clear that it was Vernal, who hurtled into the small group without slowing down, almost knocking Hazel flying as he did so.

"Here I am!" said Vernal brightly. "I just thought I'd come along to see what was what, Hazel-rah, and maybe try to give you a paw with... well, with anything that needs doing," he finished vaguely.

Hazel was angry. "Now, look here, Vernal-" he began, but the other buck did not stop to hear what he should be looking here about. Instead, he looked into Hazel's eyes and spoke clearly and without emotion, leaving the Chief Rabbit in no doubt that what he said was no more than the simple truth.

"Listen to me!" ordered Vernal. "Listen to me, all of you, and do exactly what I say. Don't ask questions, and don't try to stop me. Otherwise your friend Holly will die."