Chapter 3: The Easy Life
After Holly and Ash's arrival to Watership Down they later rested.
Holly and Ash were asleep while Ash was snuggle his father for warmth while Holly was muttering and panting is sleep.
Holly then had a nightmare of the woods the were in while running away from the owl, although Holly managed to get to the tree Ash, however did not as he fell to the ground, exhausted and the owl then snatched him away.
Holly then screamed as he heard a voice.
"It's all right, Holly, wake up, you and Ash are safe at Watership Down." Said Fiver as Holly was screaming and panting.
Holly then woke up with a yell, which woke up Ash.
Holly then looked at Fiver.
"Oh, Fiver it's you, we got to go back for Pimpernel and Sunflower." Said Holly with concern on his voice.
"When your better." Said Fiver as Holly nodded as he and Ash fell asleep again.
Fiver then went out of the burrows to catch up to the others.
As Fiver got out of the burrows he saw Blackberry giving digging lessons to Hawkbit, Dandelion, Pipkin, Blaze, Hawklaw, Warmth, Frost and Thyme.
"Morning all." Said Fiver to the others.
"Lovely day isn't it, Uncle Fiver?" Asked/Said Blaze as Hawkbit groaned and everyone looks at him.
"Hawkbit's not really a Moring rabbit, are you dear boy?" Asked/Said Dandelion as he rose from the grass.
Fiver, Blaze and Hawklaw then went to Hazel and Bigwig.
"I still can't believe that Sandlford warren is gone, Holly and Ash was luck enouth to escape." Said Hazel as he looks at a direction with Bigwig.
"Yeah, you and Fiver thank for making us leave." Said Bigwig.
"Yes, his visions saved us all." Said Hazel with a sad look.
"But that doesn't mean he's right about everything." Said Bigwig.
Blaze, Fiver and Hawklaw came up to them.
"I never said I was." Said Fiver while Blaze and Hawklaw were rubbing their father's legs.
Bigwig then chuckled nervously with an embarrassed look.
"How's Holly and Ash." Asked Bigwig to pass the awkwardness.
"Better, he want's to go back to Pimpernel and Sunflower." Said Fiver.
Bigwig then looked at Hazel.
"You see Hazel, That's an Owsla captain for you, more concerned for his troops that himself." Said Bigwig with glory.
"Why worry about Pimpernel and Sunflower?, Holly said that they're safe in a fine big warren." Asked/Said Hazel as he wondered.
Fiver then looked at the direction.
"Yeah well, I'm more sure it's more safer then this forsaken place." Said Bigwig.
Fiver then turned to Bigwig.
"Your wrong, Bigwig this is the only safe place." Said Fiver as he looked at the direction again.
"Tell you what, let's find Pimpernel and Sunflower, and have a look at this mysterious warren, we might like it." Said Bigwig as Hazel gave him a look.
"Not trying to get out of digging burrows, are you?" Asked/Said Hazel.
Bigwig then chuckled and looked away.
"Perish the thought, I was only thinking of Pimpernel and Sunflower." Said Bigwig as he stare at Blackberry flirty.
Blackberry then began her lesson.
"Now the trick is to get the rhythm going." Said Blackberry as she digs.
"The front legs push back, the back likes to kick." Said Blackberry.
Hawkbit then groaned.
"Sounds complicated." Said Hawkbit as he moaned.
Blackberry then came out of the hole.
"Now who want's to go first?" Asked Blackberry.
Hawkbit then pointed to Dandelion while Pipkin and Dandelion then pointed to Hawkbit.
"Hawkbit it is." Said Blackberry as Hawkbit then pulled a frown before hopping over to Blackberry.
"Remember, the front legs push back." Said Blackberry as she to remind Hawkbit, but was cut off by him.
"I think I got it." Said Hawkbit before he went inside the hole.
Meanwhile Keehar was still resting his wing and was sleeping.
Hawkbit then tried to dig but then screamed.
"Ow, broke a nail." Said Hawkbit which woke up Keehar.
"Not's so much noise please, Keehar resting." Said Keehar.
"Got any worms, for Keehar?" Asked Keehar as he was hungry.
Hawkbit then jumped.
"Oh, here's one, no he's gone." Said Hawkbit.
Hazel then went up to the group as he got hit with on his face by Hawkbit.
Hazel then coughed.
"Keep up the good work, Hawkbit." Said Hazel as he sighed.
Blaze then tried to keep himself from laughing.
"We're going off to find Pimpernel and Sunflower." Said Hazel as he explained.
"That's right idea." Said Dandelion.
"Oh, just like a buck, do anything to get out of real work." Said Blackberry as she rolled her eyes.
Hawkbit then came out of the hole.
"I'll just tidy up a bit and I'll be right with you." Said Hawkbit as he wiping the dirt off him.
"Me too." Said Pipkin as he hopped to join the others.
"Uh, it's just Bigwig, Fiver and me this time, sorry." Said Hazel.
"Your sorry." Said Hawkbit as he humped.
"I know buck don't usually dig." Said Hazel as he closed his eyes and reopened them.
"But this a new place with new ideas, Blackberry needs your help." Said Hazel as Hawkbit, Dandelion and Pipkin then frowned at him.
"I hate new ideas." Said Hawkbit as he shook his head.
Hazel, Bigwig and Fiver then went down the hill until Holly with Ash on his back came up.
"Hang on we're coming to." Said Holly as he and Ash joined up with them
"I'd rather you stay behind Holly, your still weak." Said Hazel.
Bigwig then scoffed him.
"That's what you think, He's Owsla we can handel anything, right Holly." Said Bigwig as he turned to Holly.
"Are you sure your up to this Holly?" Asked Hazel.
"Yes, I think so, who's in charge here anyway." Said Holly wondering who is chief here.
Bigwig then looked at the ground.
"Well if we're gonna go then let's go." Said Bigwig.
Before the other could take another hop they stopped by another two voices.
"Can we come along too?" Asked Blaze as he hopped in front of his father.
"Eh, no sorry." Said Bigwig.
Blaze and Hawklaw then looked at the ground in sadness.
"Sorry lads, but we can't have two running about everywhere." Said Bigwig as he comfort his son.
"Please." Said both Blaze and Hawklaw with a cute puppy eye look.
"Don't you give us that look." Said Fiver.
They tried to close their eyes, but it was soon to much for them.
"Oh, fine, you can come along, but stick close ok." Said Hazel as Blaze and Hawklaw jumped in Excitement and shouting victory.
"We promise." Said both Blaze and Hawklaw.
The rabbit then finally hopped to the mysterious warren that Holly was talking about.
The rabbits then hopped to a large grass field and later into a horse pen.
The horse then saw the rabbits and ignored them and soon realized that Fiver was under him.
The rabbits then stopped for a little break.
Bigwig then sniffed the air.
"Hmm, doesn't looks quite bad during the day doesn't it?" Asked Bigwig.
The rest of the group then catched up to them.
"The warrens is on the other side of the woods." Said Holly.
Holly then looked at the others.
"Wait till you see it, a fellow called Cowslip seems to be in charge." Said Holly with a smile.
"Well either he is or he isn't." Said Bigwig.
Holly then frowned at Bigwig.
"You think so." Said Holly before he stood up.
"Anyway, you never seen a healthier sneaker bunch." Said Holly.
"Their living the easier life I'll tell you that." Said Holly.
"So there's not much hope of them joining us." Said Hazel as Bigwig turned his head.
"Maybe we should join them." Said Bigwig as he hopped ahead of the others as the others catch up.
The rabbits then stopped again while Bigwig ran ahead.
Fiver then looks at Holly.
"Something about Cowslip bothers you, doesn't it Holly?" Asked Fiver.
"I never said that." Replied Holly.
"With Fiver, you don't have to." Said Hazel.
Holly then looked at the ground.
"Well since you ask, yes Cowslip seem a bit off, they all did." Said Holly as he looks up.
"As if they were, lost?" Asked Fiver.
"Something like that, how do you know?." Asked/Said Holly as Bigwig then came back.
"He gets feelings." Said Bigwig.
"Is something wrong, Fiver?" Asked Hazel as he looks at Fiver.
"I don't know." Fiver Replied as he shook his head.
"Right, we're not here to play bobstones." Said Bigwig as he turned around.
The rabbits then saw a cream colured buck with a slightly green colured little doe and a pink doe with a orange buck with a blue buck beside him and a purple doe, munching on a carrot with their ears down.
"Not scared of being seen are they?" Asked Bigwig in amazement.
"Look at the size of the burrows, you can get a horse in their." Said Hazel also in amazement.
"The big one cream colure's Cowslip, the doe next to him is Hyzenthlay, She is Cowslip's mate, the orange one is called Strawberry, and the doe next to him is called Nildro-hain, She is Strawberry's mate they said they can take care of Pimpernel and Sunflower." Said Holly as he introduces them.
"Who are those young ones?" Asked Fiver.
"The green is Vanilla, she's Cowslip and Hyzenthaly's only daughter, while the other one is called Blueberry, He's Strawberry and Nildro-hain's only son." Holly replied.
Fiver then began to shake.
"I don't think I like this place." Said Fiver as he stopped shivering.
"Shows what you know, these rabbits have got a life here." Said Holly in anger.
"We're not turning back now, Fiver." Said Bigwig.
A rain drop then fell on Hazel's nose and it began to rain.
"I prefer sleeping in a dry burrow." Said Hazel as he and the other looked at the sky.
The rabbits then went to Cowslip, Vanilla, Strawberry, Blueberry, Hyzenthaly and Nildro-hain.
Cowslip and Strawberry then went around like some kind of dance.
"Welcome, welcome greeting all, it's so nice of you to call." Said both Cowslip and Strawberry.
"What's wrong with them?" Asked Hazel as he whispered with his paw up.
"It's a thing they do when they greet people." Said Holly with a whispered with his paw up.
Cowslip and Strawberry then stopped dancing and looked at the rabbits.
"We've come for Pimpernel and Sunflower." Said Holly.
Cowslip, Vanilla, Strawberry, Blueberry, Hyzenthlay and Nildro-hain then went inside the warren.
"Come inside, out of the rain, soft and sweet." Said Cowslip.
The rabbits then followed them into the warren.
Although Hazel had to push Fiver in.
"It's alright, Fiver, I thing their harmless." Said Hazel as Blaze and Hawklaw giggled.
"Quite a place." Said Bigwig in amazement.
"We like it, somewhere to rest one's wary head in the evening." Said Cowslip as Bigwig and the others catched up, while Hazel, Fiver and Blaze looked at the rain.
"There's a winter in here, a coldness that never ends, can you smell it Hazel?" Asked/Said Fiver.
Hazel then sniffed the warren.
"It smells fine to me, your tired Fiver, thing will look better in the morning." Said Hazel as he, Fiver and Blaze hopped to catch up with the others.
"I don't know Hazel, dawn fells a long way away." Said Fiver.
Cowslip and the others then stopped were there a lot of rabbits there.
Hazel then had to push Fiver again for him to get in.
"Look at them, Hazel." Said Fiver as he saw a lot of rabbits staring at them.
"Their eyes their so far away." Said Fiver.
Hazel then stood up besides Fiver.
"I see healthy, well groomed rabbits, what is wrong with you?" Asked/Said Hazel.
Fiver then backed away from Hazel till he hit a wall.
"It's really something, isn't it?" Asked Holly.
"There's certainly room for us, if we wanted to move in." Said Bigwig.
Hazel then sniffed again.
"They smell outrageously healthy." Said Hazel.
Bigwig then sniffed.
"Better then us, anyway." Said Bigwig as he looks at Hazel.
"They must eat like Eliarah." Said Bigwig.
Strawberry then looked up at Bigwig.
"Oh, we do, you'll see." Said Strawberry as he bowed again at Hazel.
"Would you care to see the rest of the warren?" Asked Strawberry.
"Well, yes I would be delighted." Said Hazel as he bowed back at Strawberry.
Strawberry then hopped off with Blueberry while Hazel shrugged his sholders at Bigwig and then joined up with Strawberry along with Blaze.
Hazel then turns around to look at Fiver, who was then looking at the ceiling and they went to catch up to Strawberry.
Cowslip then went to Bigwig.
"So uh, where's Pimpernel and Sunflower then?" Asked Bigwig.
"The roots, you see, their into twine, like ivy." Said Cowslip.
Cowslip then pointed to the ceiling.
"They hold the ceiling high." Said Cowslip.
"Like ivy, is it?" Asked Bigwig.
Cowslip was then looking at Fiver, and Fiver stared at him with fear.
Meanwhile Strawberry and Blueberry was still showing Hazel and Blaze around the warren.
Strawberry then turned around to a man made wall.
"It looks, man build." Said Hazel in worry.
"It is, our builders found it pleasing, so they made it out of our warren." Said Strawberry as he explained and soon he and Blueberry turned around to a burrow wall with a bunch of stones sticking out.
"And look at this." Said Strawberry as Hazel and Blaze then joined up with them.
"What happened there, another man thing?" Asked Hazel as Strawberry's shadow appeared and laughed.
Hazel then crouched down to protect Blaze.
"No, it's a shape, we made it, don't you see, look at it." Said Strawberry as Hazel then looks at the shape again.
Blaze then got off Hazel and walked to the shape.
"It looks pretty." Said Blaze while Hazel just smiled and Strawberry shook his head with a smile.
"Pretty, yes, looks, no." Said Strawberry.
Blaze then looks at him in confusion.
"It's El-Ahrair, you must have heard all those funny stories, haven't you?" Asked/Said Strawberry.
"Their not funny." Said Blaze.
"Technically, their part of our lives." Said Hazel as he continued for Blaze.
Strawberry then sighed.
"You still believe, that must be nice, I wish I-" Said Strawberry as he saw Blaze about to touch the shape.
Before Strawberry could say something, Blueberry then went to Blaze and bite his paw and Blaze then screamed in pain.
Hazel then looked at his son, nursing his sore paw with a little blood on it.
Hazel then went to Blaze.
"What happened?" Asked Hazel as he was worried about his son.
"Blueberry just bit me." Said Blaze as he was sobbing.
Hazel then hugged his son into comfort and started to lick Blaze's paw.
Blaze then winced in pain.
"It hurts." Said Blaze as he was still crying.
Hazel then stops licking and looks at his son.
"I know it does, but I need to heal you, ok?" Asked/Said Hazel softly.
"Ok." Said Blaze as he replied.
Hazel then went back to licking Blaze's paw.
Strawberry was then scowling his son.
"Son, why did you do that?" Asked Strawberry, trying to control his temper.
Blueberry was shaking in fear.
"Blaze was about to touch the shape, I had to stop him." Said Blueberry.
"If you didn't want it touch, then why did you make?" Asked/Said Hazel as he stopped licking his son's paw again.
"Beauty is fragile." Said Blueberry looking at Hazel.
"And because we have time to think and make lovely things." Said Strawberry continuing for Blueberry and doing weird thing with both his paws.
"No worries about food or enemies, just time, all the time in the world." Said Strawberry as he then hopped away with Hazel behind him while Blaze and Blueberry.
"Hey, Blaze." Said Blueberry softly.
"Yeah?" Asked Blaze as he is not sure whever to be worried or not.
"I want to apologize for biting you, that was not cool." Said Blueberry.
"Thanks!" Yelled Blaze in excitement hoping for getting a new friends.
"Your welcome." Said Blueberry.
"Let's get back before our fathers get worried." Said Blaze as Blueberry nodded in agreetment and then the two hopped off to catch up with Hazel and Strawberry, but not before Blaze got one more look at the shape.
Meanwhile on Watership Down the rain was still going on and it was later nightfall.
On the ground it what to appears two like burrows or something, one of which is being Hawkbit and Dandelion as they were soaking wet.
"'What the rush?' you said, 'We had all the time in the world.' you said" Said Hawkbit as he scowled at Dandelion on having a wet burrow, and copying what he said earlier.
"All right, all right, so we should have been digging, we didn't live with it, just be glad that Warmth, Frost and Thyme have someplace warm." Said Dandelion pointed out.
Blackberry then came out in one of them.
"How are you two getting on?" Asked Blackberry in amusement along with the little ones.
"Oh, come join us, there's plenty of rain for everyone." Said Hawkbit sarcastically.
Blackberry then giggled in humour.
"Oh, I'm sorry, but you were the ones who instated that bucks don't dig." Said Blackberry as she then laughed again.
The water on top of the burrow then fell on Hawkbit's head and Dandelion then coughed.
"I'm not gonna live like this, we're having a rethink." Said Dandelion as he held up the roof to make sure not to get anymore rain.
Meanwhile at Cowslip's warren, Bigwig, Holly, Ash and Hawklaw were then munching on a bunch of grass and turnips.
"Listen to that rain, and not a drop in here." Said Holly in amazement as he looked around the warren.
"Wonder how there enjoying things back in Watership Down?" Asked Bigwig.
Bigwig then looks at Holly.
"You know Holly, I think this is the place for us." Said Bigwig.
Cowslip, Vanilla and Hyzenthlay then went to Holly, Ash, Bigwig and Hawklaw.
"Can I fetch you anything else good friends, Cabbage, Beetroot, Murgeto." Said Cowslip as he was offering more Flay-Rah to them.
Holly then rose up from where he was lying.
"I never thought, I say this, but no thanks I'm stuffed." Said Holly with a chuckles while Ash looked at him in shock.
"Good idea, keeping Flay-Rah on hand." Said Bigwig as he complemented on Cowslip.
"But eh, how did you get all down here, and where did it come from?" Asked Bigwig wondering how they can do it.
"Tomorrow you'll see, tomorrow." Replied Cowslip as he, Hyzenthaly and Vannila hopped off.
They then went past Fiver as he gave them a hate filled look before going to Holly, Ash, Bigwig and Hawklaw.
Bigwig then looked at Fiver while still eating a Cabbage.
"Let's get out now." Said Fiver as he was eager to leave.
"Now?, In the rain?, with Flay-Rah coming out of our ears?, not likely." Asked/Said Bigwig as he looked away from Fiver while still eating.
Fiver then looks at the ceiling.
"But the ceilings is made of bones, their hearts are almost hard as stone." Said Fiver making it sound like he was in a vision.
Bigwig then turned away from Fiver.
"I've had enough of your twaddle for one night." Said Bigwig as he was angry with Fiver.
Cowslip's voice then came to them.
"Friends attend, we have an entertainment, the sweet rimes of Silverweed, for your ears." Said Cowslip.
Holly and Bigwig then looked at each other.
"That Cowslips got an odd way for words, isn't he?" Said/Asked Bigwig as Holly nodded in agreement.
Later everyone then gather around Cowslip with a silver buck with green eyes.
Hazel, Blaze, Strawberry and Blueberry then came back.
Nildro-Hain then came up to them and kissed Strawberry's mouth with her own.
Strawberry then chuckled and pushed her back.
"Nildro-Hain, please not in front of the kits." Said Strawberry as he pointed to Blaze and Strawberry who were then laughing.
Nildro-Hain then purred.
"Let em look." Said Nildro-Hain with a hint of flirtiness in her voice.
Nildro-Hain then pulled Strawberry closer and kissed again and they started to make out and started to moan.
Hazel then covered Blaze's eyes.
Blaze then looked away and looked at the silver buck.
"Who is that funny looking silver buck?" Asked Blaze.
Hazel then frowned at him.
"Blaze, that wasn't nice." Said Hazel as he scowled him softly.
"Sorry, father." Said Blaze as he drops his ears in sadness.
Hazel soon feels bad about it and licks Blaze's ear and he laughs.
Strawberry and Nildro-Hain then stopped kissing and saw the silver buck that Blaze was pointing at.
"That's Silverweed, he's Cowslip's son." Said Strawberry as he explained.
"Oh, your in for a treat, you two." Said Nildro-Hain.
Silverweed then began to spoke.
"Frith lies in the evening sky, The clouds are red, about them." Said Silverweed.
Hazel then saw Fiver lying around by himself.
Hazel and Blaze then hopped after Fiver.
"He's Silverweed, he smells like autumn, like dead leaves." Said Fiver as Hazel and Blaze then finally went Fiver while Silverweed was still speaking.
Silverweed then gasped.
"I am here, lord Frith, running from the long grass, oh take me with you." Said Silverweed as Fiver was then shaking his head.
"It's all wrong." Said Fiver almost sounding like he was in a trance.
"To the heart, of light, the silence, for I am ready my friend, my friend, the shining circle, the sun and the rubbin." Said Silverweed almost sounding like he was in a trance as well.
"Let me out, now!" Shouted Fiver as he was afraid and was already running past Hazel and Blaze.
"Fiver, Stop!" Shouted Hazel hoping to get his little brother to stop.
Fiver has already ran past through the other rabbits and then pushed past Strawberry, Nildro-Hain and Blueberry.
Hazel then catched up to them.
"I'm sorry, my brother sometimes, takes thing a bit funny." Said Hazel as he and Blaze went through one of the tunnels.
Bigwig and Hawklaw went after them as well.
"I'll give him funny." Said Bigwig as he was angry with Fiver.
They later found Fiver in a tree.
"Right Fiver, what's the game?" Asked Bigwig with a stern voice.
"There's sadness and evil in that place, don't you fell it Hazel?" Asked/Said Fiver as he looks up at Hazel.
"Are you coming back inside?" Asked Hazel.
Fiver then shook his head.
"No, it's safer out here." Replied Fiver.
"That up to you then." Said Hazel as he and Bigwig was about to turn around.
"Can we stay out here?" Asked Blaze.
"Say, what now?" Asked Hazel as he was concern for his son.
"Uncle Fiver looks lonely and sad, so me and Hawklaw figured, we might as well keep him company." Said Blaze as he and Hawklaw smiled.
"oh, no, no, no." Said Bigwig as he shook his head.
"Your going inside were it is warm." Said Bigwig as he pushed Hawklaw inside.
"Please." Said both Blaze and Hawklaw with sadness in their voice and their ears dropped.
Bigwig and Hazel then sighed.
"All right, you can stay out here, but-" Said Hazel but was cut off by Blaze and Hawklaw's cheering.
"But straight back in, if the weather get worse, ok?" Asked/Said Hazel as he want his son warm and dry.
"Ok." Said Blaze as he and Hawklaw then put their paws in their head and weaved them down.
Blaze and Hawklaw then hugged their fathers by surprise and nuzzled round their stomachs.
Hazel and Bigwig then hugged back and soon left for the warren.
Bigwig then turned to face Hazel.
"Do you think it's wise, leaving them alone?" Asked Bigwig as he looks back as he saw Blaze and Hawklaw snuggled next to Fiver.
"Don't worry, they won't be out here in this weather, and beside, they won't last five minutes without us." Said Hazel as he and Bigwig laughed.
The morning came and the rain then stopped as well.
While Fiver, Blaze and Hawklaw were still asleep a shadow then approached them and shook Blaze and Hawklaw's head with his paws.
They then gasped and stretched and look around and saw Cowslip smiling at them.
"Hello." Said Cowslip as he was being friendly with two of the little ones.
"Hi." Said both Blaze and Hawklaw as they yawned and scratched their ears to prevent them from falling asleep again.
"Listen, can I ask you something?" Asked Cowslip with a concern look on his face.
"Sure." Said Blaze as Hawklaw nodded.
"Your fathers seems to be exhausted from last night, so I was wondering if you could get me a bunch of carrots from those bushes there?" Asked Cowslip as he pointed to the bush.
"Ok." Said Blaze as he and Hawklaw then walked to the bushes.
Cowslip then changed his smiled face into a guilty on what he just said and then went back into the warren.
A few seconds later a dragonfly then came to Fiver's ear and Fiver was then startled when he heard a snarling and saw a fox and then kept quiet.
The fox was then near the warren and Fiver then saw a man in woods and shot the fox.
The shot then woke up Hazel, Bigwig, Holly and Ash.
Bigwig then sniffed.
"There's a fox, up above." Said Bigwig as Holly, Ash and Hazel stood up.
"And a man." Said Holly with a tone of hatred in his voice while protecting Ash.
Cowslip then came to them.
"Not to worry friends, the man just killed a fox for us, it's gone now, we're quite safe." Said Cowslip as he left.
Hazel then looked around the burrow.
"Fiver, Blaze and Hawklaw still outside." Said Hazel as he hoped they were alright.
Hazel then ran out of the warren and saw just Fiver without Blaze or Hawklaw.
"Fiver, I can't believe you stayed up here all night." Said Hazel as Fiver stretched.
"Are you alright?" Asked Hazel as he was concern for his little brother.
"Someone had to stand watch." Replied Fiver.
"For what?" Asked Hazel again.
"I don't know, but it's here all around us." Replied Fiver again.
Hazel then looked around the place.
"Where are Blaze and Hawklaw?" Asked Hazel as he was worried.
"I don't know, all I know is when I woke up they were gone." Said Fiver.
"Please let's go home." Continued Fiver.
Bigwig then called out.
"Hazel." Said Bigwig as Hazel and Fiver looked at him as he was standing by the entrance of the warren.
"We're off to get Flay-rah." Said Bigwig as he ducked back into the warren.
"Look Fiver, we haven't found Pimpernel and Sunflower yet, and now Blaze and Hawklaw are missing to, we can't leave." Said Hazel as he went back into the warren.
"You won't find them, they're gone." Replied Fiver but Hazel ignored him.
Later Hazel, Bigwig, Strawberry, Nildro-Hain, Blueberry, Hyzenthaly, Vanilla and Silverweed were then in a field with carrots and lettuce, While Bigwig was lying down the others were standing.
While Hazel, Hyzenthaly, Cowslip, Vanilla and Silverweed were looking for something to eat.
Bigwig, Strawberry, Nildro-Hain and Blueberry were then talking.
"What's it like?, where you live?" Asked Strawberry breaking the silence while Bigwig was munching on a carrot.
"Not bad, not like this place though." Replied Bigwig.
"Then your lucky." Said Strawberry with hope in his eyes.
"Where's all this come from Cowslip?" Asked Hazel as he wanted to know where it all came from.
"Man, leaves it for us." Replied Cowslip as he looks at another direction.
"Really, why would man-" Said Hazel as he was cut off by Cowslip as he was stoking a turnip.
"After you've been with us for a while, you'll forget all about the hard times, life is easy, here." Said Cowslip as he looked at the turnip then at Hazel then at the turnip again and then look at the direction earlier.
Hazel then shook his head.
"I don't think, we're staying here that long, once we find Pimpernel and Sunflower-" Said Hazel as he was cut off by Cowslip again.
"Long short, like we never knows you." Said Cowslip almost sounding like he was doing a poem.
Cowslip then took off leaving Hazel confused.
Hazel then got to Fiver with a carrot in his mouth.
Hazel then dropped the carrot.
"They got piles of it Fiver, have some." Said Hazel as he offered.
Fiver then shook his head.
"No!, It's all wrong!, the food!, the place, those rabbits!" Yelled Fiver as Bigwig came by.
"Is he still moaning?" Said Bigwig as he walked away.
" 'Oh I got a funny felling in my toes, run and stand on your head'." Said Bigwig as he pretended to be Fiver and put his paws on his head.
Holly and Ash then came by.
"I look everywhere for Pimpernel, Sunflower, Blaze and Hawklaw, not a sniff of them and nobody will tell me where they got to." Said Holly as Bigwig looks at him in surprise.
"What, Hawklaw is missing?" Asked Bigwig as he was worried.
"Yes, according to Fiver, they were gone when he woke up." Said Hazel as he was also worried.
"Where could they be?" Asked Bigwig as he looked around.
"I don't know, and it seems strange, they don't normally run about without telling us." Said Hazel as he looked around also.
"Well, we got to find them, who know what could-" Said Bigwig as he was cut off by two screams.
The others then went to investigate the screams and gasped as they saw the most horrifying thing, both Blaze and Hawklaw were trapped in a snare.
"Father, help us." Squeaked Blaze as he was struggling to breath.
Everyone was then shocked at what they saw and immediately went over to them.
" H-h-h-h-h help us." Said Hawklaw as he was also struggling to breath.
Hazel then saw the wire and then attempted to bite it off but no luck.
"I can't bite through." Said Hazel as he turned around to Holly.
"Holly, run to the warren, bring everyone, you can find." Said Hazel as Holly nodded and ran in the bush.
Hazel then turned to Bigwig.
"Bigwig, keep them both from struggling till we get them out." Said Hazel as Bigwig nodded and went over to them.
"You may be in a snare you two, but don't worry we'll get you both out, just hold on." Said Bigwig gently as he succeeded to keep them still, but not before they shedding a tear hoping they won't die.
Hazel then saw Fiver tried to bite the wire.
"Fiver, that's no good." Said Hazel as Fiver then pulled back from the wire.
Hazel then looks at the peg.
"The peg's stuck in the ground." Said Hazel as he was trying to think of a plan.
Fiver then turned to Hazel.
"Hazel, like a carrot." Said Fiver as he went to the peg and started to dig.
"Yes dig, we got to dig out the peg, hang on you two." Said Hazel as he and Ash started to dig as well.
While Bigwig was continuing to keep them still from the snare.
Cowslip, Silverweed, Vanilla, Hyzenthaly, Strawberry, Nildro-Hain and Blueberry and a lot of other rabbit were going inside the warren with Flay-rah in their mouths.
Holly then came up to them.
"Blaze and Hawklaw is caught in a shining wire, we need help, quick this way." Said Holly quickly as he ran off only to see that no one had move and went back to them.
"Didn't you here me, Blaze and Hawklaw is caught." Said Holly.
Cowslip then dropped his carrot from his mouth.
"There is no Blaze or Hawklaw, there never was, and now they're gone." Said Cowslip as he shook his head, but no one had notice that he shed a tear.
Holly then back away from them n disgust, your mad, all of you." Said Holly as he quickly went back to the others.
Strawberry then dropped his carrot and looked at Nildro-Hain and Blueberry and then at Holly.
Hazel then tried to bite the peg but no luck.
Hazel then back away from the peg.
"The peg is narrow at the bottom, I can't get my teeth on it." Said Hazel.
"Here, I'm, smaller." Said Ash as he then went to the bottom of the peg and got it loose.
Holly soon came back.
"That's got it." Said Ash in success.
Hazel then went to the peg and soon it off the ground.
"Your free you two, we dug you loose." Said Hazel as he and Bigwig was cheering with success.
Hazel soon looked at Holly and saw with now one with him.
"Where is everyone, Holly?" Asked Hazel.
Holly then shrugged his shoulders.
"They wouldn't come." Replied Holly.
Hazel then turned away from Holly and looked at Blaze and Hawklaw still bodies.
"Hawklaw, Blaze?" Asked Bigwig as he looks at them closer.
"They aren't breathing." Said Bigwig as he drops his ears in sadness.
"We're to late." Said Holly in sadness as Fiver's ears dropped in sadness as well.
"Don't look, Ash." Said Holly as Ash turned around and cried on his chest.
Hazel then shook his head refusing to believe it.
"No, no, no, this isn't right, come on Blaze, I know your just kidding, please wake up." Said Hazel with a fake smile on his face and resisting and was to cry poking Blaze's body hoping he was still alive but no luck.
Hazel soon realize that Blaze isn't alive tears started to fall on his eyes.
"No, not Blaze, Oh Frith my heart has joined the thousand, for my son has stopped, has stopped-" Said Hazel as he couldn't finish the rabbit prayer and cried and hugged on Blaze's body as Bigwig did the same with Hawklaw.
Fiver then saw something shining in the bushes.
"They're everywhere, shining wires, all around us, Cowslip knows about them they all do." Said Fiver as he went lower believing it was his fault.
Just then a voice came.
Everyone then saw it was Strawberry, Nildro-Hain and Blueberry.
"The man will come soon, he'll take Blaze and Hawklaw away." Said Strawberry.
Holly then went closer to Strawberry while covering Ash's ears.
"Why didn't you and Cowslip come?!, You could have helped?!" Asked/Yelled Holly as he was angry with Strawberry.
"The man feeds us, protects us from the fox and the badger, there is only one thing to fear, just one." Said Strawberry as Fiver shook his body.
Fiver then looks around the place.
"That's why they dance, and make shapes, and the poetry, to forget their fears, to hide from the truth, oh frith." Said Fiver as he lowered himself again.
Holly then spoke again.
"You knew about the shining wires and you didn't warn us?!" Asked/Yelled Holly in disgust.
"The wire's got my brother and uncle Pimpernel, they stopped running hadn't they?" Asked Ash as he continued for Holly.
"Who says the wire got us?" Asked a familiar voice and Holly and Ash looked in shock to see a orange older buck with a dark brown little one next to him.
"Pimpernel?, Sunflower?" Said Holly with distrust on his voice while Ash nuzzled both of them.
"Yep, we just let Cowslip think the wire got us, because believe us, you wouldn't want to find out what he did to Sunflower." Said Pimpernel.
Holly's head snapped up.
"What did he do?!" Asked/Shouted Holly as he was more angry at Cowslip than when he was before.
"When Sunflower didn't do as he was told by Cowslip, he sort of, abused him." Said Pimpernel as coughed that last part.
Holly's eyes were more raging.
"He abused my son?!" Asked/Shouted Holly as he turned around to Strawberry again.
"Why didn't you warn us?!" Asked/Shouted Holly again at Strawberry.
"Because when a rabbit is gone, we never speak his or her name again." Said Strawberry in sadness.
"If the wire took you, we'd live one day longer." Said Strawberry.
Suddenly everyone heard two groans.
Everyone then saw Blaze and Hawklaw's head rising.
They look down and saw their father's crying.
"Father?" Said both Blaze and Hawklaw in a raspy voice.
Hazel and Bigwig then stopped crying and saw their sons still alive.
"Blaze?" Asked Hazel just to be sure and Blaze nodded.
"Hawklaw?" Asked Bigwig just to make sure also and Hawklaw nodded.
Then without warning Hazel and Bigwig pounced on their sons and tackling them to the ground and hugged and squeeze them tight.
"Oh, I thought I'd lost you." Said Hazel as he sniffed.
"The wire was to long for us to get our necks." Said Blaze as he hugged his father back.
"Don't ever wonder around without telling us first, ok?" Asked/Said Bigwig with teary eyes.
"Ok." Said Hawklaw as he hugged him back.
Hazel and Bigwig soon let go of them and saw a little blood on their ears.
"How did you get that?" Asked Hazel with concern.
"When we got through to the bushes, we hit one of those thorns." Said Blaze as he pointed to the thorns.
"Well then, we need to clean those out." Said Hazel as he looks at Bigwig and winks.
Then Hazel and Bigwig then lick their sons ears and they giggled.
"Stop it, it tickles." Said Blaze as he was pushing his father back as did Hawklaw.
Hazel and Bigwig then hugged Blaze and Hawklaw again as they were happy that they're sons are alive.
Fiver saw this and smiled as he saw the same thing Holly, Ash and Sunflower as they hugged to.
However their moment didn't last as Holly was furious at Cowslip and went over to Hazel and Bigwig.
"We got a score to settle with that fat rabbit." Said Holly as Hazel and Bigwig nodded.
Sunflower then gasp.
"No papa, please he'll hurt you." Said Sunflower as he hugged his father with tears on his face.
Holly then wiped the tears off Sunflower's face.
"I'm sorry Sunflower, but I need to get some revenge on that rabbit." Said Holly with a look of furious on his face.
Soon everyone outside the warren was silflaying.
But that all stopped when they heard Bigwig's growl.
Soon the Rabbits cornered the rabbits at the warren.
"What's the deal Cowslip!, I trusted with one of my friends and my kitten and let you let them die and you let my kitten be abused!" Shouted Holly.
"Go away, unless you want to fight." Said Cowslip as he hummed to prove it and ignoring Holly's question.
Bigwig then went near Cowslip.
"You don't know how, you forgot all the cunning and tricks that El-Ahrah, taught us." Said Bigwig back at him.
Cowslip then tried to pounce on him but due to Bigwig being a large rabbit he had the advantage and knocked Cowslip off him and soon Silverweed, Vanilla and Hyzenthaly soon helped him up.
Soon every rabbit went back into the warren.
"Leave this place, you need the freedom of the hills, you can relearn the ways El-Ahrah." Said Hazel as he was trying to convince the rabbits to leave.
Cowslip slowly back away from them and into the warren
"El-Ahrah is a lie, the man takes care of us, we don't want to leave, we don't want your freedom." Said Cowslip.
"The snare will get you if you don't leave, you don't have to surrender to the shining wire." Said Hazel.
"It won't get me, maybe others, but never me or my mate or my children." Said Cowslip as he was laughing evilly.
"Run, we have to get away from here." Said Hazel to the others.
Everyone soon ran way from the warren.
"Stay in the open, stay away from cover, that's where the wires are." Said Bigwig as he realized where the wires are at.
Strawberry, Nildro-Hain and Blueberry soon looked at the warren and then at the opening where Hazel and the other ran off to.
'You don't have to surrender to the shining wire.' As Strawberry then thought about what Hazel said earlier.
Soon the man found the peg that Hazel and the others dug and replaced with a metal version of it thus making it more difficult to escape.
Soon Hazel and the others then stopped to take a breather.
"We just need to catch are breaths, father." Said Blaze as he and Hawklaw was catching their breath.
"Well luckily, you don't have to run any longer." Said Hazel as he and Bigwig lowered themselves.
"Hop on, we'll carry you, the rest of the way." Said Hazel.
"Do we have a choice?" Asked Blaze.
"Nope." Replied Bigwig as he smirked.
Blaze and Hawklaw soon climbed onto their backs.
Bigwig then looks at Fiver.
"The trouble about being a Owsla, you think your right about everything, I should have listened to you Fiver." Said Bigwig as his way of an apology.
Holly then turned around.
"We all should have listened." Said Holly as he and Bigwig and Fiver smirked along with Hazel.
Soon Hazel's ears caught something and saw Strawberry, Nildro-Hain, Blueberry running towards them.
"Take us with you, please?" Asked Strawberry.
"You lied to us, and let our kittens die, why should we do anything to you?" Asked/Said Bigwig in anger.
"We have to work hard to survive, we don't live an easy life in the hills." Said Hazel as he pointed out.
Strawberry then looked at the direction they came from.
"There is no life in the warren of the shining wires, please?" Asked Strawberry again this time with sad eyes from Blueberry.
Hazel then looked at Holly who nodded and he looked at the others who nodded as well.
"You can come with us." Said Hazel finally.
Bigwig then stood up.
"Come on then, let's go home." Said Bigwig and everyone then hopped off.
Soon everyone was on the down and it later became sunset.
"Keehar, all better now." Said Keehar as he fly down to the rabbits to show them.
"Good for you Keehar." Said Hazel.
"Now you can get your own disgusting worms." Said Blaze as he blahed the image of it in his head.
Everyone then laughed.
Keehar then tried to eat a dragonfly but failed.
"Sick of worms, want fish someday, go to big water, eat like a gull." Said Keehar as he was then with the same distance from the down.
"Me beat you home." Said Keehar as he teased the rabbits.
"Your on gull, yes." Said Ash as he ran so he can beat Keehar.
Strawberry then hummed.
"Home." Said Strawberry with a smile on his face.
Soon Hawkbit, Dandelion, Pipkin, Warmth, Frost and Thyme.
"Well, we hope you had a jolly night." Said Dandelion sarcastically.
"Because we haven't." Said Pipkin while shaking his head.
"We're soaked in the burrows, collapsed and Blackberry won't give us a moments rest." Said Hawkbit as Hazel laughed.
"Home sweet home." Said Hazel as he looks at Strawberry.
Soon everyone was at Watership Down again.