Chapter 4: Strawberry Fayre
After arriving to Watership down Strawberry and Nildro-Hain decided to give themselves time to get used to it while Blueberry decided to join the Owsla much to the disapproval of Strawberry and Nildro-Hain.
The next morning on the down, Hazel and the others were still digging the burrows to complete the warren except for Strawberry and Nildro-Hain who was relaxing in the sun and just near of the burrow while Bigwig was training his Owsla exercises with Hawkbit, Warmth, Frost, Dandelion, Thyme, Pipkin and Hawklaw.
"Two, Three, Four, left, Right." Said Bigwig as the others were goofing around.
"Lef-Oy left, Pipkin." Said Bigwig as he was angry.
Meanwhile on the hill Strawberry and Nildro-Hain were sunbathing while the others were inside the burrow.
Strawberry then yawned and started to scratch himself and soon stopped.
Hazel then came out of the burrow and saw Strawberry and Nildro-Hain and went over to them.
Hazel then shook the dirt out of his fur and started to Cough, like he was trying to get their attention.
"Nasty cough, you got there Hazel." Said Strawberry.
"I've been digging." Said Hazel sternly.
"I wondered why you were so filthy." Said Strawberry as he moved to the right side.
"Strawberry, I thought you were supposed to be training with Bigwig." Said Hazel as he wondered why he was on the hill.
"I was, I mean, I volunteered, but Bigwig said I wasn't suited for the military." Said Strawberry as he explained as he looks at Hazel and then yawned again.
"Not athletic or something." Said Strawberry as he turned around again.
Meanwhile back on the down
"Over the boulder." Said Bigwig again as the Owsla was trying his patience.
Dandelion then hopped on top of the boulder and looked left and right before coming down.
Hawkbit then hopped on top of the boulder and then came down.
However the little ones couldn't even get on top of the boulder even Pipkin kept falling down.
"Through the log." Said Bigwig as he pointed the log.
Hawkbit and Dandelion then ran towards the log but couldn't get through as they were to big for two of them to get in.
Bigwig then stamped his feet on the log.
"One at a time, teamwork is essential." Said Bigwig.
Hawkbit and Dandelion then got out of the log.
"After you, Hawkbit." Said Dandelion as he was letting Hawkbit go first.
"No, after you, Dandelion." Said Hawkbit as he was letting Dandelion go first.
"No, No,No, I insist, after you." Said Dandelion again
Bigwig then rolled his eyes.
"No, I insist." Said Hawkbit again.
"Now!" Yelled Bigwig.
Hawkbit then went in first with Dandelion behind him.
Bigwig then looked around.
"Oh, where are the little ones?" Asked Bigwig.
They soon came around, appeantly giving up on trying to climb the boulder.
"Here we are, father." Said Hawklaw.
"Through the log now." Said Bigwig softly.
The little ones then went the wrong way.
"No, not that end." Said Bigwig.
The little ones were then pushed backwards by Hawkbit and Dandelion.
They later fell in the ground exhausted.
Meanwhile on the hill
Strawberry was yawning again.
"You know Hazel, leaving Cowslip's warren was the best decision of our life." Said Strawberry as he snuggled with Nildro-Hain.
"Here there's fresh air, sunshine, open spaces, and we can enjoy it without fear." Said Strawberry.
"We're very happy that your with us now, but-" Said Hazel as he was cut off by Strawberry.
"But it the freedom that's important." Said Strawberry he raised his paw at Hazel.
Hazel then turned his eye away from Strawberry.
"Yes, but with freedom comes with reasonability." Said Hazel as he looks at Strawberry.
Strawberry then ran around Hazel, ignoring Hazel.
"I'm free Hazel, free to do all the things I ever wanted to do." Said Strawberry as he went back to his spot.
"Such as?" Asked Hazel as he teased.
"Well if I wanted to, I could just sleep out here all day." Said Strawberry as he laid back down.
"That wouldn't be very productive, would it Strawberry?" Asked Blackberry as he surprised Strawberry and Nildro-Hain.
Strawberry then yawned again as Blackberry came down.
"Productive?" Asked Strawberry as he wondered what he had to do.
"There's a lot of work to be done on the warren." Said Blackberry to Strawberry.
"You want to make a proper home, don't you?" Asked Blackberry.
Strawberry then scratched one of his ears.
"Well sure, but what kind of work?" Asked Strawberry as he wanted to be useful.
"Digging." Replied Blackberry as Strawberry stood up.
"Digging!" Said Strawberry in horror.
"That's right, everyone is going to have to pitch in." Said Blackberry as she turned to Hazel.
"Have you spoken to Bigwig, yet?" Asked Blackberry.
"Uh, I was just about to." Said Hazel as he turned around.
"Can I come along?" Asked Blaze as he was filthy.
"Sure, why not." Said Hazel as Blaze followed him.
Blackberry then went up to the burrow while Strawberry was still standing in horror.
"Digging." Said Strawberry as he looked like he was in a trance.
Hazel then rounded everybody and took everyone in the hill.
"Huh?, Digging is does work." Said Bigwig as he didn't want to dig a burrow.
"Bigwig's got a point there." Said Hawkbit as he agreed.
"I agree." Said Strawberry as he yawned.
"Me too, digging is defiantly doe's work." Said Dandelion.
"I am the only doe, do you think I should just built the warren myself?" Asked Blackberry not wanting to do all the work.
Everyone looked at each other.
Keehar came from behind Fiver.
"Is very much important meeting, what for?" Asked Keehar as he wanted to know.
Fiver then shushed him.
"Yes Keehar, shush." Said Hannah as she then turned to the rabbits.
"What the meeting for?, and why didn't any one tell us?" Asked Hannah as she wondered.
"I for one, refuse to dig." Said Bigwig and anwsering Hannah's questions and hopped away.
"But Bigwig-" Said Hazel but was cut off by everyone.
Everyone was having an argument about where to dig.
"No, besides my job is defence, I have an Owsla to train." Said Bigwig as he pointed to Dandelion, Hawkbit and Pipkin.
"But until the warren is finished, what is there to defend?" Asked Blackberry.
"The young ones, and our very lives." Replied Bigwig sharply at Blackberry.
"Naturally, you wouldn't have heard of this Blackberry, but there have been reports of vicious, bloodthirsty warren called, Efrafa." Said Bigwig as walked around.
"Reports?, from whom?" Asked Hazel as he was curious.
"Well from eh, Strawberry." Replied Bigwig as he revealed Strawberry as he was once again sleeping.
Strawberry then woke up.
"Oh yes the Efrafa, their vicious and uh bloodthirsty." Said Strawberry as he was patting his paw up and down trying to remember.
"You've seen them?" Asked Hazel in amazement.
Strawberry then stood up.
"No, but I've heard stories." Replied Strawberry.
"You want to dig a burrow Hazel and I did, that's fine then, but my number one priority is Military Exercises." Said Bigwig as he was hopping away from the group.
Keehar then flapped his wings in excitement.
"Hey, hey, Mitilary Exercies." Said Keehar as he repeated Bigwig.
Bigwig then went further.
"We must be prepared for an attack at any moment." Said Bigwig.
"Yeah, we must be prepared." Said Keehar as he went higher and an acorn fell on Hannah's head.
"You see?" Asked Keehar as Hannah was rubbing her head.
Hazel then went to Bigwig.
"But these stories might be just that Bigwig, stories, we have no proof that this other warren exists." Said Hazel.
Bigwig then scoffed.
"Take all the diggers you want, I'm going on solitary patrol, and I'll get your proof." Said Bigwig as he went further.
"That it then, let' start digging." Said Blackberry as she went back into the warren.
Soon the others followed.
Keehar and Hannah then went after Bigwig.
"Bigwig, Bigwig!" Yelled Keehar as he and Hannah catched up to Bigwig.
"We go with you." Said Keehar.
"Don't be ridiculous, a bird and a mouse are absolutely no use in military exercises." Said Bigwig.
Hannah then looked at Bigwig.
"But Bigwig, we can do special things." Said Hannah.
"Solitary patrols means solitary, understand?" Asked Bigwig as he soon stopped before going away again.
"Yeah." Replied Keehar as he came down and went closer to Hannah.
"Means solitary?" Asked Keehar.
"It means that Bigwig doesn't want us." Replied Hannah.
"Not want us, why?" Asked Keehar.
"Don't worry Keehar, maybe we'll surprise him." Said Hannah.
Fiver was just outside of the entrance and shivered like he was having a vision.
"Be careful, Bigwig." Said Fiver as he went inside the warren.
Bigwig was then in the field to find this Efrafa but had no luck.
Bigwig then hopped into a rock and sniffed for a scent before getting off the rock.
Bigwig then started to crawl to make sure he isn't seen.
Bigwig then noticed a bunch of rabbits and decided to have a closer look.
One of the rabbits with brown fur and green eyes then sniffed.
"I lost the scent, if there's an outsider near about, he's a crafty one." Said the brown rabbit as he looked around.
"Spread out in a wide patrol." Said a black rabbit with a beard to the Owsla.
"Look for any signs of these outsiders, we all know what General Woundwort wants." Said the black rabbit as he and the others left.
Bigwig then followed them.
Meanwhile in the warren everyone was then continuing to dig to complete the warren.
Blackberry then came to the group and rubbed the dirt of her face.
"We're getting there, good job everyone." Said Blackberry as she then Strawberry yet again sleeping.
"Well almost everyone." Said Blackberry as she then went to Strawberry.
"Are going to pitch in sometime, Strawberry?" Asked Blackberry as she woke up Strawberry.
Strawberry then waved his paw at his face up and down.
"Just give me a minuet to catch my breath, it's so stuffy down here." Replied Strawberry.
Blackberry then groaned as Strawberry was trying her patience.
Blackberry then turned her head.
"Hazel, Hawkbit." Said Blackberry.
Soon Hazel and Hawkbit then came to Blackberry.
"I think we need an entrance from the hill, you two go up top and start from there, rest a little first if you like." Said Blackberry.
"No, we're alright." Said Hazel as he was panting.
"Yeah, we're fine, who needs rest." Said Hawkbit sarcastically as he was also panting.
"Can we come along." Said Blaze as he, Warmth and Frost were filthy.
"Sure, why not." Said Hazel.
Soon they left at the entrance.
"I'll help, I could use the air." Said Strawberry as he left too.
Blackberry then shook her head in annoyance.
"I might as well come too." Said Nildro-Hain as she left too.
"Me too." Said Blueberry as he left two.
Soon everyone was then outside and wiping the dirt off.
Strawberry then came out of the entrance and sniffed the air.
"That's all I needed, fresh air." Said Strawberry as he then looked at Hazel, Blaze, Hawkbit, Warmth and Frost.
"You four are filthy." Said Strawberry.
"Are you ready, to do some digging now, Strawberry?" Asked Hawkbit.
Strawberry then went out of the entrance along with Nildro-Hain and Blueberry.
"Ready as can be." Replied Strawberry.
"Oh, but first I'd like to get a bite of Clover, I forgot to eat this morning, I'll be right back." Said Strawberry as he went to the other side of the down.
"I'd better go along, you stay here Blueberry." Said Nildro-Hain.
"Yes mother." Said Blueberry.
Nildro-Hain then followed Strawberry.
"What's gotten into Strawberry?" Asked Hawkbit to Hazel.
Hawkbit then looked at the direction.
"He was so happy to live with us, you'd think he'd want to help out a bit." Said Hawkbit as he shrugged.
Hazel then looked at Hawkbit.
"He's celebrating, he's freedom Hawkbit, we just have to be patient." Said Hazel as he looked at the direction.
"You can be patient, I'll just be annoyed." Said Hawkbit.
"You know this happened before, when we first got to The Warren Of The Shining Wire, he wasn't helpful at the beginning, but when he got used to it he later became useful." Said Blueberry.
"There you go Hawkbit, he just need to get used to Down first." Said Hazel.
Hazel then went up to the entrance while Hawkbit shrugged and went up to join him.
Meanwhile Bigwig was still following the rabbits.
The black one then growled.
"Nothing?, we can't go back to the General with nothing." Said the black rabbit.
Bigwig then came closer.
"Don't worry, we'll find the outsiders and track them back to their warren." Said the brown rabbit.
"And then we destroy them." Said the black rabbit.
"And if there are any Kittens there, we'll just take them peaceful like." Said the brown rabbit.
Bigwig then gasped and soon went backward until he accidently hit a bird and giving away his location.
The rabbits then looked at Bigwig.
"There, in the woods!" Yelled the brown rabbit.
Bigwig then started to run with the other rabbits hot on his tail.
Bigwig then came around a corner with the brown and black rabbits growling at them.
Meanwhile on the down Keehar was flying around with Hannah on his back holding an acorn.
Hannah was laughting with excitement.
"Flying is fun, Keehar!" Yelled Hannah with excitement.
"Is not fun, is much serious military exercise, and Bigwig will be very much impressed." Said Keehar.
Hannah then continued to laughting.
"Yes, military exercise, but still fun." Said Hannah as she laughted even more as Keehar went down.
Meanwhile Bigwig was still running away from the rabbits.
"Get him!" Yelled the black rabbit.
Bigwig was panting from all the running and ducked when he was cornered and went the other way.
The brown one then turned his head around.
"There he is!" Yelled the brown rabbit.
Bigwig was then hopping on the rocks and then went on the rock in the middle of the river and scratched it with his feet and then jumped on a log and up a hill before going again.
The rabbits then went near the stone.
"What are you waiting for?!" Asked/Yelled the black rabbit.
"After him!" Yelled the black rabbit as he pointed to Bigwig's location.
The brown one then hopped on the stone but soon slipped and fell in the river and was washed away.
The rabbits then went to get him while the black one was growling at Bigwig's location.
Meanwhile on the hill Hazel, Hawkbit, Blaze, Warmth, Frost and Blueberry were still working on the entrance.
Hazel soon stopped at he was panting and then looked around.
"I wondered where Strawberry and Nildro-Hain got to?" Asked Hazel.
Hawkbit was still digging.
"I imaged their lost in a field of clover, he wouldn't be miligling, surely." Said Hawkbit.
"I hope not." Said Hazel.
Hawkbit then looked at Hazel.
"You know you must be patience, Hazel, at least Nildro-Hain is being useful, but Strawberry just has some few adjustments to make like staying awake during the daytime." Said Hawkbit then went back to digging.
Meanwhile in the field of clover Strawberry was on top of Nildro-Hain and was kind of going backwards and forwards and was really going fast and the two of them were moaning.
"Oh Strawberry, faster." Said Nildro-Hain as she was blushing.
Strawberry then nodded and went faster.
Nildro-Hain then kissed Strawberry's chest and went on until as shadow came at them.
"What are two doing here?" Aske Bigwig as he came at them.
They both gasped and got off each other.
"Nothing, um something, not mating, we were um guarding the clover, and um defending it from uh." Said Strawberry as he tried to explain and while blushing.
Bigwig then went near Strawberry.
"Defending it eh?, is that what you call it?" Asked Bigwig as he went off to the hill.
Strawberry and Nildro-Hain then went after Bigwig.
"Hey, yeah, defending." Replied Strawberry.
Bigwig then gathered everyone.
"These Efrafa aren't like us, Hazel." Said Bigwig as he explained.
"They consider all outsiders, a threat, and they won't rest, until they killed us all." Said Bigwig.
"That's right, their vicious and bloodthirsty." Said Strawberry.
"Yeah, all right." Said Bigwig as he was still angry about the incident in the clover field.
"They mean to discover our warren, and wipe us out." Said Bigwig.
Everyone then looked at each other.
"Are you sure Bigwig?, why would they want that?" Asked Hazel.
Bigwig then shrugged his shoulders.
"Those there own words Haze, but there is something else I learned, it seems that if there are any kittens, they take them unharmed." Said Bigwig.
Everyone then had a little relief that Efrafa does not hurt kittens.
"We need every rabbit for the Owsla, so all digging must stop." Said Bigwig as he raised his paws.
Dandelion then thumped his foot in excitement.
Dandelion then laughted with excitement.
"Yes, yes, the digging must stop!" Yelled Dandelion.
"No more digging!" Yelled Pipkin with excitement.
"What a relief." Said Strawberry.
"Stop digging?" Asked Blackberry.
"Yes, we must defend the warren." Said Bigwig.
Blackberry then went to Bigwig.
"But there is warren to defend Bigwig, we're not nearly finished." Said Blackberry.
Hazel then went near them.
"We've got to keep digging, if only so to hide if there is a threat." Said Hazel.
"Oh, there is a threat Hazel, we could be struck at any moment." Said Bigwig.
Just then an acorn then dropped on Bigwig's head and fell backwards.
Everyone then went near Bigwig to help him.
Keehar then came down and Hannah then realised herself and threw herself at Bigwig as he fell again.
Bigwig then opened his eyes to see Hannah.
"Surprise, that time eh, Bigwig." Said Hannah as she laughted.
"Kindly, remove yourself from my chest." Said Bigwig with a threating tone in his voice.
Hannah then did.
Everyone then went to help Bigwig again.
"Are you all right, Bigwig?" Asked Hawkbit.
"Of course." Replied Bigwig.
Bigwig then shook the dirt off him.
Bigwig then looked at Keehar and Hannah.
"What's the meaning of this?" Asked Bigwig.
Keehar then came down.
"Is military exercise Bigwig, you must be proud." Said Keehar.
"Certainly not." Said Bigwig.
Hannah was then laughting.
"But you surprised, Bigwig." Said Hannah as she was covering her mouth to prevent laughting again.
Keehar was then laughting too.
"Yes, you look surprise when nut hit you." Said Keehar as he was laughting again.
"Bing, Bigwig fall down." Said Keehar as he was laugthing again.
Bigwig then came to them.
"This is no laughting matter." Said Bigwig.
Keehar then stopped laughting.
"Is what I say, much serious matter." Said Keehar as he then pointed to Hannah who was still laugthing.
"Stop laughting, Hannah." Said Keehar.
Hannah then gulped.
"Don't laugth." Said Hannah as she drops her head.
Keehar then smirked.
"Please to continue , Bigwig." Said Keehar in a posh voice.
"We must form a Owsla, immediately." Said Bigwig as Hawkbit, Dandelion and Pipkin came to them.
"Your right Bigwig, we should set up a patrol." Said Hazel.
Bigwig then opened his mouth but closed it when Hazel started talking again.
"But we need to stop the digging, we can split into two parties, one to dig and one for defence, agreed." Asked/Said Hazel.
"I suppose half an Owlsa is better then nothing." Replied Bigwig.
Hazel then pointed at Hawkbit, Dandelion and Pipkin.
"Hawkbit, Dandelion and Pipkin can join your patrol." Said Hazel.
"That leaves: Fiver, Blackberry, the little ones and me, to continue with the digging.
"Uh Hazel, You've forgotten Strawberry and Nildro-Hain." Said Fiver as he pointed to the couple.
"We don't mind." Said Strawberry as he crouched down.
"Oh yes." Said Hazel.
Hazel then laid his ears in exhaustion.
"Seeing as though you don't enjoy digging very much Strawberry, you can join the Owsla and Nildro-Hain you can join our digging crew." Said Hazel.
Strawberry then put his head lower to the ground.
Keehar and Hannah then came up to Bigwig.
"Bigwig, we like to volunteer again in the possibly. " Said Keehar.
"Yes, you must want us now, Bigwig." Said Hannah impersonating Keehar.
"Certainly not, I have no time for birds and mice." Said Bigwig as he turned his head.
Blackberry then went to Bigwig.
"But Hannah has interesting ideas Bigwig, and from the sky, Keehar can do advanced scouting." Said Blackberry as she tries to change Bigwig's mind.
"Your in charge of digging, and I'll look out for the Owsla." Said Bigwig.
Bigwig then looked at the trio.
"Hawkbit, Dandelion, Pipkin, Strawberry." Said Bigwig as he looked at Strawberry.
"Line up at the bottom of the hill." Said Bigwig.
But before Bigwig could move, Hawklaw came in front of him with sad eyes.
"What it is, Hawklaw?" Asked Bigwig in concern.
"How come I can't join the Owsla, despite our training this morning?" Replied/Asked Hawklaw,
"Becuse your too young to face danger." Said Bigwig putting his paw on Hawklaw's shoulder.
"But Pipkin is younger then me and he gets to join." Said Hawklaw as he looks at Bigwig.
"Aye, but that's Becuse he needs to learn responsibility and you already know that." Said Bigwig.
"And besides, I made that promise to your mother that I would keep you safe, remember?" Asked Bigwig in a softly tone.
"Yeah." Replied Hawklaw.
"So, I'm only doing this to keep you safe." Said Bigwig.
"Fine." Said Hawklaw as he gave up.
"Be safe, Father." Said Hawklaw as he hugged Bigwig.
"I will." Said Bigwig with a chuckle.
"I love you." Said Hawklaw as he cried and snuggle next to Bigwig.
"I love you too." Said Bigwig as he let go of Hawklaw and rubbed his forhead with his.
"Father, one last thing?" Asked Hawklaw.
"Yes, Hawklaw?" Replied/Asked Bigwig.
"Are you planning to adopt Pipkin, like you said?" Asked Hawklaw hoping to have another Brother.
"Yes, I will soon." Replied Bigwig.
Bigwig then went to the down.
Keehar and Hannah were watching.
Keehar then sighed.
"If Bigwig not want us, maybe we not Bigwig." Said Keehar.
Keehar then lift his wing up.
"But when Bigwig want us then, maybe we still not want Bigwig." Said Keehar as he was laughing with Hannah behind him.
Soon everyone but Fiver went inside the burrow.
"When I tell you to line up, I mean in a Line!" Said Bigwig in anger.
Hawkbit and Dandelion were fighting again.
"You mean, you mean like a straight line?" Asked Pipkin.
"Up and over." Said Bigwig.
Hawkbit then jumped on the bolder and went down.
Dandelion then did do the sane thing.
Pipkin then went to the top.
Strawberry then jumped on the bolder and put his paw on Pipkin's head.
"Thank you, Pipkin." Said Strawberry.
Strawberry then jumped off the bolder pushing Pipkin at the sane time.
Pipkin was then rolling of the bolder till he hit the ground.
Pipkin then jumped on the bolder and finally made it to the top.
"I did it!" Said Pipkun with excitement.
Pipkin then fell on the ground with grunt.
Hawkbit and Dandelion then went through the log.
Strawberry then went into the log.
"Oh, where's Pipkin, Pipkin!" Asked/Yelled Bigwig as he wondered where Pipkin was.
Pipkin then came from the bushs while panting.
"Here I am." Said Pipkin.
Pipkin then went inside the log and pushing Strawberry out with him in it.
Strawberry then wiped the dirt of his shoulder while shaking his head.
Hawkbit was then laying down while moving.
"Keep low, the enemy could be anywhere." Said Bigwig as Dandelion was following Hawkbit in the same position.
Pipkin was then scratching himself.
Bigwig then came to Pipkin.
"Pipkin, what are you doing?" Asked Bigwig as he wondered on why the young buck was scratching himself.
"You said; Scratch and sniff." Replied Pipkin.
Bigwig then rolled his eyes.
"Stop and sniff." Said Bigwig.
"Oooh, that makes more sense." Said Pipkin.
The Owsla was then assembled.
"Right, there's no time to loose, we must find the Efrafa before they find us, we're gonna have to Learn militarytactics in action." Said Bigwig.
Bigwig then moved his paw.
"Forward." Said Bigwig as left with Hawkbit, Dandelion and Srawberry behind him.
Pipkin then stood still for a Minute.
"Action?, you mean like real action?" Asked Pipkin as he then followed the others.
Keehar and Hannah were behind a tree looking mad.
Bigwig and the others were thrn in a field with long grass and a broken tractor while Bigwig was sniffing.
"Do you got the scent of the Alfalfa, Bigwig?" Asked Pipkin finally.
"It's Efrafa, and no I haven't, let's move on." Said Bigwig as he was moving with Owsla with Strawberry near the tractor.
Strawberry then sniffed.
"Wait Bigwig." Said Strawberry getting Bigwig's attention.
"Oh are you giving the orders now, Strawberry?" Asked Bigwig in frustration.
"Yes, I mean no, I smell something." Said Strawberry as he strummed.
Strawberry then looked in the other direction.
"It's gone now." Said Strawberry.
"Then let's move on." Said Bigwig as he started to move again.
Strawberry then sniffed again.
"Wait, Bigwig." Said Strawberry as he got Bigwig's attention again.
Bigwig then turned around.
"I will not tolerate this behaviour, go back to the Warren Strawberry, your discharged." Said Bigwig in anger.
Strawberry then dropped his ears.
"Discharged?, but-" Said Strawberry as he turned around and still facing Bigwig.
"Now!" Yelled Bigwig.
Strawberry then hopped faster to avoid making Bigwig more angry.
Bigwig and the others then hopped off the in the other direction.
The same rabbits who were chasing Bigwig earlier then appeared from behind the tractor.
"There not far." Said the brown rabbit.
"Move, move!" Yelled the black rabbit.
The rabbits then followed the direction where Bigwig and the others were.
Meanwhile Strawberry was then at a lake where a frog was.
"I'm can't help at a with the digging, and I'v. been discharged from the Owsla, how can I tell Hazel?" Asked Strawberry as he was talking to the frog.
"Can't." Replied the frog.
"Your right, I'm no good at anything, they'll probably banish me from the Warren, and Nildro-Hain will probably leave me and Blueberry will properly hate me." Said Strawberry.
"Then change." Said the frog.
"That's true, I could change, I can do that, I'll prove I'm useful." Said Strawberry.
Strawberry then stood up.
"I'll do whatever's necessary, I'll even dig if I have to." Said Strawberry.
Strawberry then hopped off.
"Good luck." Said the frog.
The frog then went inside the water.
Meanwhile in the field Bigwig and the others were still look for Efrafa.
Bigwig then sniffed.
"What it is, Bigwig?" Asked Hawkbit as he was tensed.
Bigwig then sniffed again.
"Efrafa." Replied Bigwig.
"What?, we're on their trail?" Asked Dandelion.
"No, I'm afraid their tracing us, and they had been for some time." Replied Bigwig.
Everyone was then worried.
"Then, haven't we be going back to the Warren." Asked Pipkin as he was scared.
"That's exactly what they want, nope, we have to go lure them further away from the Warren." Said Bigwig.
"Further away?" Asked Pipkin.
"Yes, until we've sure we lost them." Replied Bigwig.
"Stay close." Said Bigwig as he went further.
The trio soon followed.
Meanwhile on Watership Down Hazel, Fiver and Blaze were digging on the outside of the warren.
Fiver then stopped and turned around.
"Hazel, I see a black cloud." Said Fiver.
Hazel then stopped and look at Fiver while Blaze was still digging.
"Your always seeing black clouds, what kind of bad luck are we in for now?" Asked Hazel.
Fiver then shook his head.
"No, a real black cloud." Said Fiver as he pointers to the clouds.
Blaze then laughed on Hazel's mistake.
The clouds were then coming closer to the warren.
"Perhaps it means good luck." Guessed Fiver.
"It means, we best get as much digging done as we can, before that storm hits." Replied Hazel
"Father can I ask you something?" Asked Blaze as he looks at Hazel.
"Sure, what it is it?" Replied/Asked Hazel.
"Did you and mother actually want me?" Asked Blaze.
Hazel then looked at Blaze in shock.
"Now why would you ask a question, like that?!" Asked/Yelled Hazel.
"I just want a yes or no." Replied Blaze.
"I course me and your mother wanted you, how could you ask that?" Replied/Asked Hazel.
"Well one time back at Sandelford warren, I heard you and Uncle Bigwig fighting and Uncle Bigwig said that you didn't want me, is that true?" Asked Blaze with teary eyes.
"Well most of that is true." Replied Hazel.
Blaze and Fiver then gasped.
"But that was only Because me and your mother were afraid about becoming parents, but after seeing Bigwig become a Father, I realised that if he could do it so could I." Said Hazel.
Hazel opened his arms.
"Do you forgive me?" Asked Hazel.
Blaze then nodded and accepted the hug.
"And I going to have a 'chat' with Bigwig when he gets back." Said Hazel.
Blaze then laughed.
"Is there anything else, you have heard or was told from Bigwig." Asked Hazel.
"Well I heard him say on how kittens were born and were they come from." Replied Blaze as he looks at Hazel.
Hazel then widen his eyes and looked at Blaze.
"New rule, no more listening to Uncle Bigwig." Said Hazel.
Blaze then laughed and soon let go of Hazel.
They soon went back to digging.
Meanwhile in the field the Efrafa rabbits were then at a top of a hill.
The brown rabbit then pointed to Bigwig and the others who were still running.
"There!" Yelled the brown rabbit.
The Efrafa rabbits were then chasing Bigwig and the others.
They turn around to the Efrafa rabbits coming their way.
"Em basic maneuvers." Said Bigwig.
Everyone then started to run in different locations.
The Efrafa rabbits then came down from the hill.
Hawkbit then climbed on a fence while one different brown rabbit fell.
Two other rabbits one blue and the other one another different brown were chasing Dandelion until they bumped into each other.
Bigwig then came from a hill.
"This way." Said Bigwig getting their attention.
Hawkbit and Dandelion soon followed.
Bigwig was taking them to a hill that has a pipe while Pipkin was running in a different location.
Bigwig, Hawkbit and Dandelion went into a pipe and realised it was a dead end.
Bigwig then turnred his head and gasped.
"Wait, where's Pipkin?" Asked Bigwig.
Hawkbkt and Dandelion then turned their heads.
"I thought he was right behind me." Said Hawkbit.
Pipkin then comminuted running unaware there was no one was behind him.
The Efrafa rabbits were then getting closer to the pipe.
"Go back!" Yelled Bigwig as he turned around.
They later saw the Efrafa rabbits getting closer.
"What do we do bow?" Asked Dandelion.
Pipkin then ran straight though the Efrafa rabbits.
"Get him!" Yelled the Black rabbit.
The Efrafa rabbits were soon chasing Pipkin.
Bigwig, Hawkbit and Dandelion came out of the pipe
"By Frith, he's leading them away from the warren." Said Bigwig.
Bigwig then turned to Hawkbit and Dandelion.
"Now's our chance, Hawkbit, you and Dandelion go on back to the warren as fast as you can." Said Bigwig.
"What about Pipkin?" Asked Dandelion.
"I'll get him, go." Replied Bigwig.
Hawkbit and Dandelion then went to the left while Bigwig went right.
Meanwhile on Watership Down Hazel, Fiver and Blaze were still digging.
Blackberry them came out of the tree.
"Hazel!, Fiver!, Blaze!" Yelled Blackberry getting their attention.
Hazel, Fiver and Blaze then came out of the hole.
"Best stop digging for now, I don't like of theses storm clouds." Said Blackberry as she looked at the sky.
Hazel, Fiver and Blaze then went into the tree.
Strawberry then came.
"Hazel?, Fiver?, I've come back to dig." Said Strawberry as he went to the hole on the hill.
"I'll be the best digger, you've ever see." Said Strawberry as he looked inside the hole and then around the hill.
"Where is everybody?" Asked Strawberry.
The rain then started to came on.
"I won't let the little rain stop me Hazel, rain or shine, I'm going to dig." Said Strawberry ad he went inside the hole and started to dig.
Meanwhile in the field Pipkin was still running from the Efrafa rabbits and just ducked as a blue one tried to grab him.
Pipkin then turned around and continues to rub until he ran into the black rabbit and he snarling at him.
Pipkin then turned around to run only to be cornered by the brown rabbit with two others the same blue one and the one orange fur and also snarling at him.
Pipkin was then panting.
"Alfalfa, everywhere." Said Pipkin.
Bigwig then came from on top of a hill to see the Efrafa rabbits closing in on Pipkin and ran down.
An acorn then came into the black rabbit's head and causing him to fall into the ground.
Keehar then came down and attack the other rabbits while screeching.
Bigwig came to a Pipkin and ran with him to get away from the Efrafa rabbits.
"Hey Bigwig, you like the surprise this time?" Asked Hannah as Keehar came down to the rabbit's side.
"You must be much proud now, hey Bigwig?" Asked/Said Keehar.
"Yeah, yeah, good work you two." Said Bigwig.
Keehar then lifted up in the air again.
"Bigwig say; good work, I think he very much proud." Said Keehar.
"Well he should be." Said Hannah.
"Yes, he should be." Said Keehar.
Bigwig and Pipkin was still running from the Efrafa rabbits who were hot on their tail.
Pipkin then tripped and Bigwig then turned around and picked him up.
"There gonna catch us Bi- Bigwig." Said Pipkin as he was panting.
Bigwig then nudged Pipkin's shoulder with his elbow.
"Don't worry, help is on the way." Said Bigwig.
The rain then came on.
Bigwig then looked at Pipkin.
"Ya see, they'll never follow us in this storm." Said Bigwig.
The Efrafa rabbits looked up at the storm.
Meanwhile In Watership Down Keehar then came down and saw Steawberry still digging.
"What are you doing." Asked Keehar.
"I'm digging!, digging my heart out!." Yelled Strawberry as he went back inside the hole and continue to dig.
Keehar and Hannah then shook their heads and went inside the tree.
Hazel and Fiver then came our and saw Strawberry digging.
"Strawberry, you've got to stop and come inside!" Yelled Hazel.
Strawberry then came out of the hole.
"I can't stop!, I love to dig Hazel, I love it!" Yelled Strawberry in a singing tone and went back inside the hole.
"But it's not safe!" Yelled Hazel trying to reason with Strawberry.
Suddenly the roof then started to collapse and trapping Strawberry inside the hole.
"Strawberry!" Yelled Hazel with worry as he then started to dig.
Fiver then joins in.
"Dig Fiver, faster, we haven't much time, he can't breath under there!" Yelled Hazel.
Fiver was still trying to dig.
"We'll never make it!" Yelled Fiver.
"Yes, we will, together." Said Blackberry as she then joined in to dig to get Strawberry.
Hazel then put his paws in the mud and pulled Strawberry out.
"Strawberry, are you alright?" Asked Hazel.
Strawberry then coughed and looked at himself.
"I'm- I'm filthy." Said Strawberry.
Later the rain stopped and sun was out.
A cleaned up Strawberry then came out of the tree and shook himself and started to hop to Hazel and Fiver.
"I'm sorry for causing all that trouble, Hazel." Said Strawberry.
Strawberry then dropped his ears.
"I haven't been to much use, and I wanted to prove myself, I was afraid you were gonna send be away." Said Strawberry.
"Never Strawberry, your one of us now." Said Hazel.
"Hazel." Said Bigwig as he was coming up the hill with Hawkbit, Dandelion and Pipkin.
"We've just encountered the Efrafa, there just as dangerous as I expected." Said Bigwig.
"We must make major changes to the warren, till your edaquit defence." Said Bigwig.
Blackberry then came down from the hill followed by Hawklaw and Blaze.
"The work must start immediately." Said Bigwig.
"And just who do all if this extra digging, Bigwig?" Asked Blackberry as she didn't want to do all the work.
"I will, and so will my Owsla." Said Bigwig while Hawkbit, Dandelion and Pipkin gasped at what Bigwig just said.
Hazel then smirked with Blackberry.
"But I thought digging was doe's work, Bigwig?" Asked Hazel.
"Ah, but this is defence digging, Owsla, inisiet digging proceeders." Said Bigwig in a Off-key voice.
Blaze and Hawklaw were laughing.
"And just what is so funny?" Asked Bigwig.
"Your voice." Said both Blaze and Hawklaw.
Bigwig then blushed.
"Right, come here then." Said Bigwig as he tried to pounced on Blaze and Hawklaw but missed and so started to chase them.
Everyone then went up the hill.
A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait it's just laptop needed a recovery disk so I had to write the rest of the story with IPod/Iphone.