Inside the warren of Watership Down, on the same night where the rabbits made the horrifying discovery of two kittens abducted and held prisoners in Efrafa, everyone gathered together for a meeting in the Honeycomb. What they just heard from Hazel and his gang seemed unbelievable, despite the seriousness in this situation.

"We're supposed to make the exchange on the riverbank near the stone bridge," Bigwig explained. "Our lives for Aubretia's and Pipkin's." He was good at masking his emotions, but no doubt he was taking it very hard as he thought about the lives of his daughter, Aubretia, and little Pipkin.

All of the rabbits, including Kehaar and Hannah, gasped in shock and fear. Lily stayed quiet this whole time, for her silence managed to show just how affected she was. Clover stole a secret glance at the distressed mother. She understood the mother's feelings, and she would have felt the same way if one of her children had been kidnapped.

"You can't surrender!" Blackberry protested, then her face fell sadly. "Even if it means losing Pipkin and Aubretia."

Hannah stared at the doe in disbelief. "Blackberry, how can you say such of thing?! It's Aubretia and Pipkin!"

"I know, Hannah, but Watership Down wouldn't last one season without Bigwig and Lily."

Captain Broom nodded his head in agreement. "I'm afraid she's right. Woundwort will be down on us like winter rain."

"But what about those two sweet little children trapped in that terrible, hellish place?!" Blossom objected.

"The good of the warren comes first," Hawkbit agreed.

Shocked, Hannah glared angrily at the grey buck. "Give up on Pipkin and Aubretia?! You think that's good?!"

Ashamed of his poor choice of words, Hawkbit stuttered nervously, "I-I-I never said that."

"NO ONE'S GIVING UP!" Hazel bellowed, thus came a silence in his command. "We won't surrender, and we won't abandon Aubretia and Pipkin either. We have a secret ally in Efrafa."

"Captain Campion," Bigwig added.

Kehaar sighed in dismay, "Ahh, but for now, Woundwort still got poor little Pipkin and Aubretia."


The next morning at Efrafa, the new slaves were outside silflaying in the grass whilst the guards kept a close watch on anyone who dared tried to escape. Well, not all of them were slaves. For deep within the dark tunnels, Pipkin and Aubretia had been given a comfortable burrow to sleep in during the night. Now they were given the best flayrah to eat for breakfast by their so-called gracious hosts; Orchis and Vervain.

"General Woundwort thought you might enjoy this flayrah, young Master Pipkin and young Mistress Aubretia," said Vervain, abruptly shoving the food toward the hungry kittens.

"Thank you." Aubretia nodded politely.

Vervain and Orchis hated every second of this, behaving nicely to the outsiders' offspring when they should be treating them like slaves. Neither of them understood why the General would do this, but the two brothers were forced to play along for their Chief's sake.

Orchis fumed silently in a rage. How dare Lily mate with Thlayli and produce his children. He had his eyes on Lily first to begin with, and she had the nerve to leave him for a bigger and stronger buck like Thlayli. Orchis stared at the female kitten. Thoughts of killing her to make Lily suffer for rejecting him raced through his mind. He could have done it quickly had the General not forbid him to do this because he had been plotting a scheme to make Thlayli and Lily surrender themselves by using their children as bait.

"What are you staring at?" Vervain's sharp voice brought Orchis back to reality.

"Kehaar says you're awfully ugly and Bigwig says your brother has a crush on Lily," Pipkin said, though he looked at the bearded buck sympathetically. "But I don't think you're all that bad."

Unfortunately, Vervain wrongly took this as an insult. "You need a lesson in manners, you snarky little pup!" He was about to raise his paw to strike him.

"Pipkin didn't mean it!" Aubretia defended her friend, trying to be brave. "He's just trying to be nice!"

"Nice, eh?" Orchis growled, finding the little doe's courage humorous. "Why don't I show you how nice I can be?" The buck prepared the claw her eyes out when...

"ORCHIS! VERVAIN!"

The General's booming voice made the two brothers lose all their anger which instantly turned to fear, as they had to gently pat Pipkin and Aubretia on the heads so not to disappoint Woundwort, who had come in to pay a visit to his guests.

"Uhh, General, we didn't hear you come in," Orchis smiled awkwardly.

"Perhaps you both would like a lesson in obedience?" Woundwort warned them, his mismatched eyes bore down on the two brothers.

"If the General wishes to give one," Vervain said, innocently.

"He started it!" Orchis tried to pin the blame on his brother, who scowled in his direction.

"Pipkin and Aubretia are our guests," the General reminded them, approaching the kittens. "I won't tell you again." He placed a massive paw on Pipkin's shoulder as he ate a lettuce leaf and Aubretia ate a carrot, whilst she stuck her tongue out at the two brothers.

Orchis and Vervain rolled their eyes in silent disgust, then left the burrow together.

Behaving like a false polite host, Woundwort asked gently, "So, how's the flayrah today?"

"Very good," Pipkin replied, evidently happy. "Thank you, sir."

"A soft bed... a dry chamber... food... nothing wanting here, eh?"

"It's all very nice, sir. Thank you." Aubretia wagged her tail happily, but then she frowned sadly. "But I miss my parents, my siblings and my friends. Are you going to let us go soon, sir?"

"Missing your mother and father, huh? Not to worry." Woundwort bent down to take a bite of a lettuce leaf. "You'll both see them soon."

"Both?" Pipkin was puzzled, as it quickly dawned on him that the General believed the two youngsters to be related. "But Aubretia is not my sister. I don't have a mother and father, sir." The young buck glanced wretchedly at his food. "A weasel got them both."

At this point of learning the fate of Pipkin's parents and the truth of his non-relation to Thlayli's daughter, Woundwort first brushed off the fact of this tiny mistake of assuming the kittens to be siblings, because what really disturbed him the most was the fate of his family, almost exactly the same as Pipkin suffered a loss. He began recalling the deaths of his parents; his father ambushed and killed by the fox, his siblings mauled by the fox's mate. Then his mother crossing paths with the hungry weasel as they tried to escape the fire. He remembered his mother's kindhearted smile telling her sons that she loved them before she engaged the weasel in battle. But he was too fast for her, allowing the weasel to overpower and kill her in cold blood, before the horrified young eyes of Woundwort and Ragwort.

Sensing there was something wrong in the Chief Rabbit's behavior, Pipkin and Aubretia exchanged concerned glances. Woundwort had not eaten the lettuce leaf and seemed to be staring into space with a look of utter horror in his mismatched eyes.

"General, what's the matter?" Pipkin asked, trying to get his attention.

Aubretia lightly tapped his arm, and the gentle touch made Woundwort come back to reality. He shook his head, then noticed the youngsters gazing at him with deep concern.

"I lost my parents, too... my mother was murdered by a weasel, my entire family slaughtered by foxes... Ragwort and I were lucky to be alive," Woundwort admitted, this time there was a hint of melancholy in his raspy voice as he looked down at the kits. "I was your age."

"I'm sorry." Pipkin's eyes widened in sorrow for the General's loss. "It's awful, isn't it?"

Aubretia's ears drooped across her cheeks as she spoke with compassion, "Life's not fair when you lose someone close to you, right?"

Woundwort stood up, he needed to leave the burrow when he felt this odd pain in his pulse. He had never felt this way before with anyone who could relate to what he suffered through, much less than dear Clover. "Well, I can't spend the whole day filling my face, can I?" he said wretchedly. "If you need anything, just ask."

The General left the burrow, leaving Pipkin and Aubretia alone to keep eating their flayrah, although neither of the kittens felt hungry anymore after learning of Woundwort's tragic childhood.

At the same time, Campion came lolloping through the tunnel. He stood to the side, standing up straight and tall, allowing his Chief Rabbit to pass by. "Captain Campion, ready to return to duty, sir!"

"Fine, good. Carry on," was all Woundwort could say.

There was something wrong with the General, as Campion had noticed. Like he seemed a bit off today. Campion decided to find out what is going on. He found Moss and Avens standing guard at the guests' burrow.

Moss noticed his Captain approached, and he smiled in relief. "You're looking better, sir. Dreadful thumping those outsiders gave you."

"Risks of the game, Moss," assured Campion, but he caught sight of a familiar young buck sitting next to a young doe in the burrow. There was no mistaking Pipkin's appearance, but the other kitten is new to him. "New prisoners, are they?" he asked.

"Guests, sir," Moss explained. "Pipkin and Aubretia from the outsiders' warren, and one of them is the offspring of Thlayli-rah and Lily." He peeked inside the burrow briefly to make sure they're still there. "The General's playing a fancy game of Bob-Stones. He'll release the kits if their parents surrender."

Campion disliked where this was going, but he masked his emotions perfectly. "Really? Have they agreed to turn themselves over?"

"Not yet... I hope they do, though..." Moss suddenly had an unsure and remorseful feeling in his stomach while he took another glance in the burrow. "I'm not keen on killing Pipkin and Aubretia. I sort of like the young fellows."

"Same here," Avens confessed, with a hint of a smile. "They're cute little bouncing balls of fluff, aren't they?"

But Campion hardly listened to them. Woundwort was planning to kill Aubretia and Pipkin if the exchange goes on or not. It was too much for him to bare. They were only innocent children, but he had to keep his emotions in control. He wanted to agree with Moss and Avens to express doubt of hurting kittens, but he feared the officers would get suspicious and report him to the General, then it would be found out that he had become a spy. "You'll do as you're ordered, lads!" he exclaimed, sternly.

"Uh, yes sir!" Moss stood up straight, taken aback.

"Sorry, sir!" Avens saluted.

But no sooner had Campion gone, the two officers shared frowns of disappointment.

"I used to think he was a bit of alright, but they're all the same these officers," Moss scorned, revealing he actually had little regard for what he sees as unnecessary cruelty in Efrafa. "Cold as snow!"

"You have a point, mate." Avens agreed, sharing his thoughts with him.


Back on Watership Down outside the warren, Hazel and Bigwig gathered a small group together so to discuss a plan to rescue the kittens and defeat Woundwort for good all at the same time.

"What if we capture Vervain and Orchis, and trade them for Pipkin and Aubretia?" Hawkbit suggested.

"Woundwort wouldn't go for it," Bigwig rejected the idea, fully aware of the two brothers' unpopularity in Efrafa. "We need something clever and tricky."

Behind the small group of rabbits, Kehaar and Hannah were told to stay on the sidelines by Bigwig as they fumed over listening to the rabbits' discussing their plans.

"They fight their little rabbit wars, and they think it's only their business," Hannah grumbled. "I've got ideas, too!"

"Oh, I like to get idea someday," Kehaar agreed.

"Come on, Kehaar. It's time we fix things for Aubretia and Pipkin."

"That's a good idea!"

Hannah leapt up on the gull's back and directed him to fly further down the hill to meet up with the neighbors close by and request for their assistance in rescuing Pipkin and Aubretia. Although Pipkin knew these critters better than anyone else since he was more acquainted with them and kind to all creatures on the high hills. One of them was a mole named Drumlin, who scampered for cover when he mistook Kehaar for a predator. The gull landed gracefully in front of the hole in the ground.

Hannah climbed off and called out to him, "Hey Drumlin! Come up, it's Hannah! Pipkin's in trouble, and so is Aubretia!"

The mole's head shot out of the hole, briefly startling the mouse. "Pipkin? Aubretia?" Drumlin gasped. "Oh dear! We can't have that, can we?"

"No, we can't. Now listen, spread the word out to all the critters on the down..." Hannah gave the mole instructions on what to do next which lasted all day when the news spread like wild fire.

Night had fallen on the down, but only Hazel and Fiver and Bigwig remained outside. The lion buck was using little sticks and rocks to mark up a plan to destroy Woundwort and rescue the kittens.

"So, you and Fiver are above Efrafa's main entrance, then Lily and I come out with Pipkin and Aubretia," Bigwig explained, "and you kick down some rocks."

"It's the sort of thing Woundwort expects," Hazel refused. "We'd lost half the warren if we tried it."

Bigwig's patience was wearing thin, his anger boiling up to frustration. "So, what do you suggest? Beyond giving ourselves up! All you've done is tell us what we can't do!" He swiped the rocks and sticks aggressively, then he scorned fumingly at his Chief Rabbit. "Need I remind you that my daughter is in that damn place! If anything happened to her or Pipkin, I'll never forgive you if you don't come up with a plan!"

"There's no need to start arguing, Bigwig!" Hazel stood his ground, not the least intimidated. "I know you're right on me telling you what we can't do, but I wish I could think of something."

"We're tired, maybe a little sleep will give us a fresh eye," Fiver suggested.

"We've only got until the moon is round, Fiver," Bigwig pressed on. "We need a plan now!"

Suddenly a strange bat with brownish gray fur and gleaming golden eyes flew over their heads, then caught hold of the main tree's branch and hung upside down. He spoke in what might be a European accent mixed with a Transylvanian voice, "I am called Darkling. Hannah tells me of Pipkin and Aubretia's danger. I have come to help."

"That's good of you, Darkling," Hazel said, politely.

"Uh, not to be impolite, chum..." Bigwig doubted strongly that a single bat could be of use to them, "but just how is one bat is supposed to do any good?"

Darkling gave a sly chuckle. "Oh, not just one of me." He gestured his wing out to the slightly half-moon where eerie sounds filled the air.

After the trio of rabbits lowered their heard to duck for cover, Fiver opened his eyes and gasped, "Look!"

The rabbits looked up and their eyes enlarged when an enormous swarm of bats filled the night sky, enough to cover the glowing moon. It was then Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig's brains clicked when they correctly deduced what Darkling is trying to tell them.

But not all of the rabbits were enthusiastic deep within the burrows of the warren. One particular doe couldn't sleep peacefully that night, dreadfully worried for the safety of her daughter and Pipkin. Lily's dream suffered from her anxiety, in which Orchis transformed into a hawk and flew screaming over a river of blood where mutilated corpses of dead rabbits floating downstream, catching hold of an unsuspecting Aubretia whilst she nibbled on some violet flowers. Next, there was Vervain driving Pipkin before him toward a shining wire in the long grass, and Pipkin's mouth dabbled with froth and blood as he choked to death. Finally, as big as a horse in a field there brooded the gigantic figure of General Woundwort, who cackled callously at the grim fates of the dead kittens, enraging Lily so much that she tried to attack the monster out of blind anger. But his superior size and strength overpowered her, slashing his massive claws down on her and slicing her body into pieces.

Awoken out of her apprehensive nightmares, Lily cried out in agony and panted heavily with sweat drenching her forehead. It took her a second to realize it was all a nightmare and she was still in her burrow with two of her three kittens, and to remember that her unfortunate daughter kidnapped by Woundwort, even Pipkin is gone. However, her concern for Pipkin made Lily think of what it would've been like if he was her son. He was always hanging around with her children the most, taking the role of a big brother figure and tasked with looking after them whenever she left the warren with her mate. Hopefully, when the kittens are ever rescued, the doe would like to adopt young Pipkin as one of her own... or if the kittens will ever be saved. The memory of that gruesome nightmare made all thoughts of whatever grim fates Woundwort had planned for those kittens... no, two of her children.

"Is everything alright, Lily?" Bigwig had come rushing to the entrance of their burrow, overhearing her cries and assumed the worst.

Lily turned away, not wanting to show her eyes moist with tears. "Please, leave me alone." She laid back down and tried to get some sleep.

The lion buck suddenly grew concerned and he entered the burrow to shift close beside her. "Not if it's bothering you that much. Tell me what's wrong." He put a comforting paw around her shoulder.

The doe bit her lower lip, then choked on a sob. "Ohh, Bigwig! I'm frightened! What if we can't save them in time?! Suppose Woundwort plans to kill all of us, even if we make the exchange?!" She buried her face in his broad chest, wailing uncontrollably. "I've never felt this hurt in a long time, not since I lost my former home!"

Bigwig felt his heart break when he realized what she meant. He pressed his body against her own, nuzzling her with genuine concern. The lion buck understood the kind of hurt she was going through. "You're feeling exactly how a real mother would feel when her kittens are in danger and she feels there's nothing she could do to save them." He used his paw to turn her chin and make her look at him. "But I'd say sitting here and hoping for the best isn't going to work. We will get them back!" His green eyes shone softly with gentle solace.

Lily realized she had not talked to anyone about how she felt since her kittens' abduction, everyone seemed more interested in discussing a rescue plan. She wiped her eyes, trying to calm down on the weeping. "Do you really think so?" she asked.

"I believe it." And when Bigwig gave her a small kiss on the lips, he smiled when he could see now that Lily felt much better after her suffering in silence.


"Hop on one foot and bleat like a sheep, Vervain!" Pipkin's voice could be heard loudly in the warren. "And croak like a frog while eating flies, Orchis!"

In Efrafa one morning, Woundwort had taken the kittens out of their burrow to amuse themselves by giving commands like an Owsla captain or a chief. Vervain and Orchis were forced to do the entertainment in front of the General and several officers nearby, much to their dismay. Aubretia giggled like a school girl, finding these two mean bullies acting like animals hilarious.

"Baaa…" Vervain's impression of a sheep was lame.

"…Ribbit." Orchis' frog impersonation was no better, especially when he accidently stuck his tongue out and ate a real dragonfly. "Yechh! I think I swallowed a bug!" he coughed, gagging.

Woundwort came over on the top of the pedestal beside the kittens, amused at the two brother officers' play acting, including Orchis swallowing a dragonfly. "It seems you have a flare for command, young Pipkin."

"Really?" Pipkin smiled at the compliment. "It doesn't seem that difficult."

"I wish I could give commands." Aubretia frowned and folded her arms. "But Mommy always told me that Daddy is a sexist, meaning he says does can't do anything!"

"Well, there are some warrens where does can be a leader," Woundwort assured her, and the little doe looked up at him with a face filled with hope.

Orchis hurried out of the chamber, feeling the vile taste of the dragonfly in his mouth made him sick. Some of the rabbits cringed when they listened to him coughing or spitting loudly outside.

Vervain resumed his spot beside Campion, still lamenting silently in disgust, "I can't keep this up much longer. And as much as I find Orchis' predicament amusing, I find it sickening that my brother and I are acting all chummy and nice to those little badger spawns!"

Campion chuckled, a little amused. "Never mind, Vervain. You're both not much of actors, anyway." Deciding he had seen the kits doing well enough, the Owsla Captain decided to go report to Hazel in secret, to let him aware of the events going on. "Permission to check the guard, sir!" he requested. "We'll want them alert for any incursions by... the enemy." As he said that last word, his gaze landed upon the confused Pipkin and Aubretia.

After considering this for a moment, Woundwort granted his captain permission. "Carry on, Campion."

Campion bowed, and then left the chamber.

"Perhaps you'll be Captains in my Owsla someday, little ones..." Woundwort said to the young buck and doe, "just like Campion and Vervain. How's that sound?"

"Thank you, but I'd rather be like Hazel and Bigwig." Pipkin appreciated the idea, but he idolized two admired bucks in his home warren the most. "I'd follow them anywhere, to the end of the world even."

"And I'd rather be like my Mother," Aubretia added, her eyes twinkled at the thought of Lily. "She's the best and bravest mother I'd ever had."

Hearing these strange names puzzled the General. "Pray tell, who is this Hazel and Bigwig?"

"Bigwig's real name is Thlayli, but everyone calls him Bigwig because he's used to it," Pipkin replied. "And Hazel is Fiver's brother, but he-" The young buck didn't have time to finish his sentence because Vervain cut him off.

"Ha! And every rabbit in Efrafa would follow the General!" Vervain boasted. "Even into the lair of the Black Rabbit."

"But they only do it out of fear," Pipkin defended. "It's not the same."

"You show the General the proper respect or I'll-"

"GET OUT!" demanded Woundwort, suddenly feeling defensive of the young kitten against Vervain.

"But, sir, I only want to-"

"OUT, OR I'LL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND!"

Shocked, Vervain made a wise choice and scampered out of the chamber in a flash.

Turning back to the young kittens, Woundwort noticed how strangely calm they were ever since they had been brought to Efrafa. "Why aren't you both afraid?" he questioned.

"I am, sir." Aubretia admitted, sadly. "I'm afraid you'll find out where our warren is hidden. I'm afraid you'll kill my family and friends."

"You hide it very well."

"Daddy once said to use our fear to make us stronger. He was always afraid of what would happen to Mommy before I was born." The young doe stared up at the giant chief rabbit. "That's why you're so strong, isn't it?"

"You get scared, too." Pipkin asked. "Don't you, sir?"

"We all do." This was the first time that Woundwort had ever opened up about his past to anyone besides Ragwort. "Fear is part of every rabbit's life. It makes us who we are..."

The General recalled back to his childhood, imprisoned in that wretched hutch beside his brother, Ragwort. The two young bucks trembled in fear and terror as the black cat outside their cage tried to claw at them, hissing menacingly. He bullied them with this method, day in and day out. Whenever the Man entered the scene, the cat would suddenly pretend he had been acting all nice and friendly to the rabbits. The Man unlocked the hutch door and dropped in some spinach leaves for the rabbits to eat. However, Woundwort had quite enough. The change in the young buck started to gnaw at him from the inside. He will not tolerate this suffering any longer. Ragwort may not have the courage to fight back, but Woundwort can. His scowl blackened like the soul within. Examining the wires of his cage, Woundwort concocted his plan to make their escape. He began to gnaw and bite at the wires. That night when he succeeded in creating a large gap in the wires, this caught the attention of the cat. The feline prepared to make a pounce on the escapee, until Woundwort lunged forward and sank his teeth into the cat's front leg, tearing open the flesh hidden in the fur. The cat was so shocked and stupefied that a meek little rabbit could do this as he let out a pained howl, joined by a shriek when Woundwort clawed at his ear. The noises awoken Ragwort when he discovered what Woundwort had recently done. Gesturing his brother to follow him, Woundwort lead Ragwort out of the hutch and their escape into the night, and to freedom.

"My brother and I escaped..." Woundwort finished explaining his childhood to the stupefied kittens, "my fear of elil and Man made me strong enough to do anything I dreamed of."

"But Mother and Aunt Clover say that not all humans are evil," Aubretia attempted to make him see a bit of reason. "They were both raised by small human children, and they liked rabbits."

"Some humans may treat you with kindness in a hutch," Woundwort warned her, "but in the outside world, they're a greater threat than the elil. Man has the power to shape the world."

Aubretia was disheartened from what she was told. True, she knew the stories of Lily and Clover raised by humans in hutches, but the stories of Sandleford's destruction and Cowslip's warren was enough evidence that most humans would consider killing rabbits than rather care about them.

"But, here... I am the power," Woundwort announced. "I rule."

"And everyone's afraid of you?" Pipkin questioned. "Is that what you really want?"

"You..." Woundwort wanted to scold the young buck for his words, but he didn't have the heart to do it. "Go to your chamber, Pipkin. You too, Aubretia."

Pipkin sadly returned to his burrow, except Aubretia because she began to make odd hops.

"I, err... I need to go pee," she confessed, embarrassed.

"Sainfoin, escort the young doe outside to uhhh…" Woundwort couldn't bring himself to say it when he gave out a command to the nearby sergeant before leaving.

Sainfoin emerged from the shadows, then he reached down to pick up Aubretia by the scruff of her neck. The little doe made a tiny farting sound, worrying the Sergeant. "And I gotta pass hraka, really bad!"

This disgusted Sainfoin worriedly as he hurriedly carried her out of the warren so she can go pass hraka and avoid stepping on any hraka dropping if she couldn't hold in longer. "This is not what I signed on for!" he yelled, though muffled with his mouth full.


The Honeycomb inside of Watership Down was very overcrowded, though not because of the rabbits, but multiple different species of creatures had come to the warren when everyone heard the unfortunate story of Pipkin and Aubretia's abduction. There were the bats, moles, water moles, blue jays, squirrels, hedgehogs, voles, muskrats and chipmunks. Dandelion was having trouble attempting to keep all of the critters organized in place, although no one seemed interested in what he was trying to tell them.

"How did you find them all, Hannah?" Fiver was deeply impressed.

"I told a few that Pipkin and Aubretia were in trouble, word spread, and they've all come to help." Hannah smiled, quite pleased with herself.

"Oh, you and Kehaar are wonderful, Hannah!" Lily felt a swell of relief and gratitude, so many animals had come here to help rescue her kittens. "Thank you both for this." Her compliment caused the mouse and the gull to blush.

"Quite the popular young chap, he is?" Bigwig chuckled.

"Little bunny likes everybody," Kehaar agreed. "He's a friend to everybody."

"Well, you know the plan. Let's get on with it," Hazel announced. "I'll go ahead and contact Campion."

"When you see him, tell him to give him a message for Aubretia and Pipkin to say hello," Lily said.

"I shall." Hazel nodded.

"Remember, one stone inside the message tree says 'Meet me right away.' Two means 'Wait until after dark'," Bigwig advised, remembering what he learned in the Owsla.

"Got it! Good luck," Hazel understood, before he stood up and rushed out of the Honeycomb.

When his Chief had left, Bigwig started to grumble in slight envy, "Trust him to take the dangerous job and leave me to organize this rabble."

"That's because you're Captain of Owsla, and your job is to give commands to the animals," Lily advised, softly with a chuckle.

Standing up on his back legs to look taller and with stern authority, Bigwig's voice carried out like thunder in the chamber, "QUIET!"

The Honeycomb was filled with silence as the critters stared at the lion buck.

"Special digging teams over here!" Bigwig commanded, pointing to the front center of the chamber. "That's moles, voles, water voles and muskrats! MOVE!"

The animals obeyed instantly as the lion buck continued giving out orders to the rest of the animals on what task they needed to carry out.


Hazel took the shortcut through the underground cavern to get out by the secret tunnel in the riverbank, passing through the curtain of willow, and bounded off into the forest to search for the message tree that Bigwig told him about. It wasn't far, and a single stone had been laid perfectly inside the tree's hollow.

"Hmm, he wants to meet right away," he mumbled.

The Chief Rabbit hopped further onward as he searched for the Efrafan Captain. He came to a hedge of brambles and bushes, looking around warily. "Campion!" he called in a whisper.

"Hello, Hazel." Campion's head appeared out of the brambles when he emerged out of the bushes. "You're here about Pipkin and Aubretia?"

"How are they?"

"They're fine, but if you think you're going to get them out, forget it."

"Don't underestimate us," Hazel warned him. "Bigwig and Lily are taking this very hard."

"Yeah, I suppose I shouldn't." Campion knew better than to advise Hazel to back down.

"And they hope you could give Pipkin and Aubretia a message: Bigwig and Lily said hello."

"I'll do my best to tell the youngsters. Just remember, there won't be a lot I can do to help."

"You won't have to. Come on, I'll show you." Hazel then lead Campion to the stone bridge close to the riverbank, where a huge beech tree stood before them at a distance from the stone bridge. "This is where Woundwort wants to meet for the exchange."

Campion stared at the hazel colored buck in disbelief. "You're not allowing Bigwig and Lily to go through with it, are you?"

"Not the way he expects, no." Hazel shook his head, assuring him and then pointed to a small gap in the bridge. "See the gap in the stones? Woundwort's got to come through there, then straight to the beech tree."

"I think I can arrange that."

"And make sure he goes no further than the tree. It's vital!"

The two rabbits returned to their meeting spot before parting back to their perspective warrens.

"Anything else?" Campion asked.

"Just tell Pipkin and Aubretia to be ready." As Hazel spoke, he noticed the brown buck staring out in space, slightly disturbed. "You said you'd help us, Campion. What's wrong?"

"You know, I saw my reflection in a pond today," Campion sighed, disheartened. "It wasn't me anymore... I was looking at a traitor."

"You've chosen a dangerous trail, Campion, to travel it alone." Hazel spoke in a soft tone. "It's hard."

"Huh... And lonely."

Suddenly the two rabbits' ears pricked up when Vervain's voice sounded off in the distance. Hazel and Campion exchanged worried frowns, because if Vervain discovered them like this and deduced what is going on, then all would be in vain. Without another word, Hazel disappeared inside the brambles and bushes. Just in time, cause no sooner had Hazel left, then Vervain and Moss emerged out of the bushes, only to find Campion sniffing the ground with an intrigued frown.

"I thought I heard you talking to someone," Vervain stated, suspiciously.

"Perhaps there's something wrong with your ears, then." Campion retorted, sarcastically.

Moss came over beside him to sniff the grass. "What have you got there, sir?"

Hazel concealed himself quietly inside the brambles, hoping Vervain and Moss didn't see him.

"Outsider tracks," Campion said. "One of Thlayli's rabbits, I think. Half a moon old, I'd say." The brown buck turned and headed back to Efrafa with Moss in tow. "Come along, Vervain!"

With a groan, Vervain turned and left. Hazel sighed in relief, then he lolloped back to his warren.


Upon their return to Efrafa, Campion and the others discovered that Woundwort was outside doing his usual workout, with a small audience allowed to watch him. He felt like showing off his brute strength and battle skills to his guests. Ragwort recently lost his wrestling match with his brother, having been thrown off by the General when he seemingly pinned him down, so he stood by the sidelines beside the young kittens.

Usually, it was like a tradition for the two brothers to take part in their morning exercise to see who is the strongest. He wrestled Bartsia to the ground as the buck struggled to get back on his feet. Then Marjoram and Moneywort tackled him, piling on top of the General. Pipkin and Aubretia, both whom stood at the sidelines, gasped worriedly. Just when it seemed like the General was on a losing streak, the larger rabbit used his strong arms to push his attackers off. Pipkin shook his head in amazement. Aubretia applauded in delight. The three officers groaned in defeat while recovering.

"Well, next time." Woundwort boasted gruffly, then he approached the two astonished kittens. "My daily exercise, such as it is."

"You're a very good fighter, sir." Pipkin complimented.

"It's a lot better than how Daddy fights," Aubretia added with praise.

Their admirations seemed to make Woundwort feel superior and more worshipped than ever. "I doubt your father, Thlayli, could fight three opponents and win, could he?"

"I'm not sure if he could," doubted Aubretia.

"I shouldn't think so, but then, he wouldn't need to," Pipkin answered. "He relies on Hazel because he always advises everyone to think of a way out of trouble."

"Good for him." Woundwort frowned with a hint of displeasure, though he secretly wondered why this Hazel is just as important to the kittens as is Thlayli.

As Woundwort was taking a break from his usual workout, Ragwort moved closer to him with an slight frown, "I can't help noticing you've gone soft because of these youngsters, brother."

"It's all part of my plan to find their warren," he retorted, defensively.

"Look, I'm not criticizing you for showing off and impressing them with your skills." Truthfully, Ragwort noticed his brother's attitude changing as a result of his conversation with the kittens, however, he couldn't help but feel glad that his brother had bonded with Pipkin over the loss of their families. Signs of regret and sympathy for the kittens welled up inside of Ragwort, even if killing them will be a burden on him. "As your second in command... as your brother... as your friend... I suggest that we keep Pipkin and Aubretia here to train them as future soldiers, if their parents refuse to go through with the exchange."

The General stared at him for a brief second, unsure and considering what Ragwort was telling him. "I'll think about it," was all he said.


Returning to the riverbank and to the secret tunnel, Hazel made sure that no other Efrafans were trailing him. Luckily, there was nobody around. Except for Bigwig, Fiver and Lily as the trio emerged out of the tunnel.

"Ah, Hazel, did you get a hold of Campion then?" Bigwig asked.

"How are Aubretia and Pipkin?" Lily implored, concerned. "Are they alright?"

Hazel answered one question at a time, first to the lion buck he said, "Yes, we're all set." Then he spoke to the doe, "Campion says Aubretia and Pipkin are fine. Now, how did you all make out?"

"When I shout loud enough, I can organize raindrops." Bigwig turned back inside the tunnel and shouted in his best military voice, "Diggers, move out! On the double!"

Moles, voles, water voles shrews and muskrats came marching down the shallow stream on his command.

"We've got enough diggers to burrow to the heart of the world," Fiver awed.

"I doubt they could burrow to the center of the world, but hopefully there is enough for this plan to work," Lily added.

"Right, let's go!" Hazel passed out of the willow curtain, then passed through the stream when making sure the current wasn't strong enough to lose any critters. He waited for Bigwig, Fiver and Lily to join him, then the smaller animals followed close behind them when they swam across safely to shore. "Tonight's the full moon. We have only one chance to get Pipkin and Aubretia away."

"That's all we need," Bigwig sighed, still masking his emotions as he kept thinking about his daughter and Pipkin. He noticed Lily staring at him, the dismay in her blue eyes told him what she was thinking; what if they failed? "Stop worrying yourself, love. We'll get them back," he did his best to assure her.


General Woundwort lead Pipkin and Aubretia to the enormous twisted tree, sitting on the large roots that was able to hold their weight. He gave them a small tour of his warren, showing it off with pride. The view was almost as good as the top from Watership Down, but not entirely giving the kittens a view of the whole world as the warren was completely sealed off from the outside world.

"I built this place, children. When I came here with Ragwort, Efrafa was only a few, weak, frightened rabbits. Their chief, Fiorin, was an irresponsible, careless leader," the General explained how he came into power during his previous leaving the Man's hutch. "The elil were everywhere. Attacking... killing... slaughtering all rabbits in their path."

"Sounds dreadful," Pipkin gasped.

"Sounds awful," Aubretia shivered.

"It was, but I changed that. I overthrew Fiorin in combat. I gave them discipline... order... safety. I taught them how to attack and kill the elil, instead of hiding in fear. I could do the same for your warren, if you tell me where to find it." Woundwort gazed intently at the kittens, hoping now that he gained their confidence, one or both of them will spill their warren's location.

"I can't, sir." Pipkin refused, his ears lowered sadly.

However, Aubretia started thinking about what the General told her. The naïve little doe believed she could trust him with their warren's whereabouts, then perhaps Woundwort will keep them safe from Man or elil. He treated her and Pipkin fairly, so what is the harm in telling him. "I guess I could tell you," she said.

Pipkin stared at her in horror, but Woundwort flashed a triumphant smile.

"Perimeter is secured, General!" Campion informed as he appeared alongside Moss, Vervain, Sainfoin and Orchis.

"I suggest we prepare for the prisoners' exchange, sir." Vervain cast a wicked glance at the two kittens.

Slightly alarmed, Pipkin asked, "What does he mean 'prisoners' exchange'?"

"Thlayli and Lily are going to turn themselves over to me," Woundwort revealed, "in exchange for your freedom."

Realizing the truth, Pipkin and Aubretia became shocked. How could neither of them see it sooner? The General's attempts to gain their trust and treating them like guests was all just an act to get them to expose their warren's location. Aubretia felt foolish most of all for believing him.

"You can't! We won't let you!" Pipkin cried, his voice breaking like he would cry any second now.

"I trusted you!" Aubretia yelled accusingly, making the General's eyes widen.

The two kittens started to make a run for it to the embankment, but Vervain and Orchis blocked their exit. Unfortunately, the clumsy brothers missed their catch and landed face first at the tree's roots, making Woundwort shake his head at their incompetence.

"Sorry, kids." Moss apologized quietly to the kittens before he tried to grab them, but they were smaller and faster than him.

Sainfoin lunged for them, but the kittens ran back the other way and he fell flat on his face. Pipkin and Aubretia smiled at thinking how clever they are to outrun Efrafa's Owsla, until they bumped straight into Campion's stomach and he restrained them both at the same time.

"It's alright, little ones," the brown buck tried to calm the youngsters as best he could. "It's alright."

The mask had been removed and General Woundwort's true colors were unveiled as he spoke, "You can end the war between our warrens, children. You can save the lives of your friends and family." His shadow loomed over the kittens when they stopped struggling. "Where is your warren?" he demanded.

But Pipkin bravely refused to talk, instead he tried to make the Chief Rabbit see reason. "You don't have to keep fighting, General. You're not in a cage anymore. You don't have to be afraid."

The General's steely gaze landed upon Aubretia, who shook her head defiantly as she also tried to make him understand the wrong in his actions. "Do you think this is what your family wanted for you, Woundwort? Do you think this is going to make them proud of you?"

Seeing there was no sense in gaining information on their warren, Woundwort said, "Captain Campion, take them underground and keep them under guard."

Campion nodded, and he got Moss to help carry Aubretia as he carried Pipkin, by the scruffs of their necks, to a prisoner's burrow where the kittens were to be confined for the remainder of the day until nightfall.

Reaching the prisoner's burrow, Moss and Campion brought the kittens inside where two officers were ordered to keep a strict watch on the youngsters until tonight. No sooner had Moss left, Campion leaned in close enough to whisper in the kits' ears, "Listen, I'm a friend. Hazel and your parents are going to get you out."

The brown buck could see the light of hope flicker in Pipkin's eyes, although Aubretia looked doubtful, he added, "Your parents said hello." The young doe stared at him, unsure whether to still believe it, but if what he said is true, she smiled at the hope of seeing her parents again.

Above ground at the warren's embankment, Orchis and Vervain decided to take this opportunity to cruelly end the lives of Pipkin and Aubretia if the exchange doesn't go according to as planned. Orchis was eager to do it the most, determined to kill Aubretia and Pipkin so Lily will lose all her kittens, and Thlayli if he dies, and he will finally gain his chance of mating with her, watching her suffer under his control and producing his own litter.

"Sire, my brother and I have come to agreement on the fates of those little badger spawns," Vervain sneered. "If Thlayli and Lily don't show up, we'd like the honor of killing Pipkin and Aubretia."

"And I'd like to make a request," Orchis began. "If Thlayli and Lily do surrender, I want Thlayli murdered and Lily kept alive. I find her a most interesting doe who would make the perfect mate for me."

Woundwort's gaze never left the distant horizon. He could have agreed to ending the lives of two kittens who suddenly made him feel differently about the way he lived his life and bounded with the losses of their loved ones, but there was no trace or thoughts of murder directed upon Pipkin and Aubretia. They made him feel strange, true. The General felt that odd agonizing pain in his heart. He hadn't felt it since losing his family. But if the prisoner exchange didn't work, what fate could he decide for the kittens. If he agreed with Ragwort's suggestion of keeping the kits here, he could raise them and transform them into fearless fighters. Now, he wasn't so sure. "That... would be... like killing a part of myself," he muttered.

Vervain and Orchis exchanged odd frowns, wondering what on earth has gotten into their Chief as they droned, "Sir...?"

But the General had to give an answer quick as he spoke, "I'll deal with Pipkin and Aubretia if it comes to it, but I don't doubt their parents will come. As for Lily, I'll decide what to do with her." He left immediately, leaving the two brothers puzzled by his behavior.

For the rest of the day, Hazel and Fiver and Bigwig got every critter on the job to set up their trap for Woundwort and his Owsla. Every mole, vole, water mole and muskrat created deep holes in the field where the stone bridge and the exchange will take place. The squirrels and chipmunks used moss and grass to cover up the holes so no one will suspect, then assisted the moles to help chew at the very thick roots of the beech tree, that way it will take Woundwort by surprise. Lily took command of Kehaar's squadron of bats and blue jays to set up an ambush, but only until they heard the signal.

"Enemy patrol!" Fiver warned, just as he noticed the Efrafan Owsla out and about.

Bigwig and Lily dove for cover, along with the smaller animals, and waited until the enemy patrol left the area. The couple looked at each other with sad but determined eyes, silently praying this plan to work or they'll never see Pipkin and Aubretia again.


It was the night of the full moon. Time for the prisoner exchange to begin. Woundwort stood out amongst the entrance, his gaze lingering upon the moon for a second before he resumed focus on his awaiting Owsla with many in numbers. Moss and Avens kept near Pipkin and Aubretia, just in case they didn't get any ideas about running off.

"Move out!" Woundwort ordered "Tight formation."

He led the march first ahead, then came the Owsla as escorts to force Aubretia and Pipkin to come along. The kittens grew nervous, hoping to see either Hazel, Bigwig or Lily again, but feared for their lives the most.

Arriving at the stone bridge and entering cautiously out in the field, Bigwig and Lily waiting patiently for the enemy patrol and their General to arrive with Pipkin and Aubretia. Their silent frowns masked their concern and fear as the approaching party made it on time as they passed through the gap in the stone bridge.

"Not taking any chances, is he?" Bigwig said.

"That's usually what we do," Fiver whispered from behind the long grass. "I mean, not take chances."

"Maybe, but this time we can't risk anything that might disrupt the plan, especially when it comes to 'Thlayli-rah'?" Hazel reminds them, needing to keep up the illusion of Watership Down's chieftainship.

"Still not going to get used to be called that, you know?" Bigwig chuckled at his nickname.

Hazel's attention returned to the approaching Efrafan party, quickly noticing a problem. "He's off the path." Hazel became worried as he watched the General was hopping off the center of the dirt path. "If he steps in the trap too early, it's all over."

Fortunately, Campion made sure to cooperate with Hazel's plan while he directed his Chief, "General, over here!"

The four Watership rabbits sighed in secret, just as Thlayli and Lily approached warily towards the giant rabbit chief.

"Hold!" Woundwort ordered, then he gestured the hesitant kittens to go forward when they didn't budge an inch. "Go on, go on. Go on!"

Without a word, Pipkin and Aubretia rushed forward to reunite with Bigwig and Lily. The lion buck sighed in extreme relief to have them back, whilst Lily leapt forward to embrace them.

"Mommy!" Aubretia cried, leaping into her mother's arms.

Lily scooped the kittens up in her arms at the same time in a loving embrace. She wanted to shed tears of joy, but now is not the time. A warmth of joy and happiness filled her heart now that she had Aubretia and Pipkin back in her life. "Are you both hurt?" she asked."

"We're okay," Pipkin assured her.

"Cross the field and follow our tracks exactly." Hazel peeped his head out of the grass, ushering the kittens to enter.

"I don't want to leave you."

"Do as you're told! Now!"

Reluctantly, Pipkin and Aubretia left the field and vanished inside the long grass.

"Surrender, Thlayli-rah and Lily!" Woundwort demanded. "You can't escape!"

"That's what the fox said to El-ahrairah!" Lily yelled, loud enough for her winged friends to hear. The bats and birds, led by Kehaar, swooped down to surround and overwhelm Woundwort and his rabbits, giving Bigwig and Lily time to retreat temporarily.

As the enemy soldiers try to swat the flying attackers away, their General called out, "Hold your formations! ATTACK!"

Temporarily rattled by the surprise aerial attack by the gull and the swarm, the soldiers found themselves falling into pits dug by the digging crews Bigwig directed earlier. Even Vervain and Orchis ended up bumping into each other and falling into a pit at the same time, which was witnessed by Campion who fell into that pit, weighing the two brothers down. As soon as the last of the fliers were cleared, Woundwort found himself alone… and Thlayli-rah and Lily straight ahead.

Deciding to take matters into his own paws, Woundwort charged towards the two rabbits, unaware that the nearby beech tree was swiftly being uprooted by Drumlin and his diggers. The mole looked up briefly to see Woundwort coming fast, forcing him back underground and relay the order to dig faster through the roots. Soon, by the time Woundwort was about to pass the tree, the roots had finally given way and the towering perennial had begun falling down on its side, stopping Woundwort in his tracks before he turned away to evade it, only to get caught under its branches as he let out a cry in defeat, laying pinned beneath it.

Woundwort had been beaten… but the war was not over. Not yet, as Bigwig loomed over the fallen General. The lion buck's eyes gleamed with murder and hate for this monster who had taken his daughter and Pipkin. He wanted to end this war forever by doing what he always knew how to end a fight.

"The war's over, General, and you lose." Bigwig scowled dangerously at the defeated Woundwort beneath the tree. He raised his paw, claws unsheathed, and ready to deliver the final blow.

"DON'T, BIGWIG!" Pipkin called out as he leapt between Bigwig and Woundwort, preventing the lion buck from making a deadly move.

"Get out of the way, Pipkin!"

Pipkin merely shook his head in silent defiance, while Lily took notice of the Efrafan soldiers finding their way out of the holes.

"It's too late. Run!" she yelled.

Reluctantly, Bigwig lowered his paw to retreat back into the long grass with Lily, though Pipkin being the last to leave as he looked pitifully at the pinned General, the young kitten said, "War isn't the way, General."

"It's the only way I know..." is all the General could say to him before the young kit turned around to follow the others through the long grass.

"…it's the only way I know…"


As soon as the rabbits were all safe, Kehaar was seen waving goodbye to the bats and birds who flew past the moonlight. "Good flying, brothers and sisters! I thank you for your help!"

Pipkin waved to them as well, but then stopped when Bigwig hopped over to reprimand the lad. "I had Woundwort dead to rights. Why'd you stop me?"

"Woundwort would have killed us if given half the chance," Hazel pointed out.

"I know, but we're not like him, are we?" Pipkin asked, pointing out the very difference between them and Woundwort.

While Woundwort ruled by war and fear and violence, Watership Down was ruled by peace and love and understanding. Traits that even Woundwort could never understand and therefore did not expect. Traits that Woundwort had given up long ago when he lost his family and warren to violence. Hazel, Bigwig and Lily felt the young buck's words sting at their cores as they slowly processed over what they had been told.

"…No, we're not." Fiver agreed, realizing what the young buck's message.

"Pipkin, I'm glad you and Aubretia are safe," Lily remarked as she nuzzled the young buck's head.

"So am I, Lily," Pipkin replied.

"Mmmm… you know, I was thinking… since you've been with Bigwig for some time now, and he's always been looking after you like one of his own… and considering everything that just happened, well… how would you like to be a part of our family, Pipkin?"

Was Lily really asking what Pipkin thought she was asking? "Lily... do you really mean it? I know Bigwig has been looking after me for a while now..."

Realizing what Lily is suggesting, Bigwig hopped over to Pipkin with a warm expression. "Well lad, I have been. However, since Lily and I are mates now, and seeing how we've gotten adjusted to being parents ourselves and the fact that Woundwort was fooled into thinking you were my own… I think we'd like to make it official. What do you think… " the lion buck placed a gentle paw upon his shoulder, "…son?"

Pipkin's eyes widened as he soon realized what was going on, as tears began to form from his eyes. All he could do in response… was put his paws around the two rabbits, accepting them as his new parents, who in turn embrace the young buck, later joined by Aubretia who was thrilled to have Pipkin for a brother, as Hazel and Fiver looked at the heartwarming moment with satisfaction.

"Good for you, Pipkin!" Kehaar exclaimed, taking flight and performed a loop-de-loop in the air. "Let's go home and tell everyone the good news!"

And as soon as the rabbits reached the end of their journey home, Basil and Violet ran out of their burrow to greet their parents, and to welcome Pipkin and Aubretia home. The rabbits crowded around, expressing their delight of their victory over the rescue mission and everyone wanted to smother the two kittens with loving hugs. Bigwig had to intervene for their sake, loudly announcing to give the kittens their space as he lead them to their burrow where Basil, Aubretia and Violet usually sleep in cause it was way past the youngsters' bedtime, yet Pipkin belonged to that burrow as well now that he had a new family and he couldn't have asked for anything better.