Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Leaving the Warren
Disclaimer I own neither HTTYD or Watership Down.
(Dusk settles over the Warren. Hiccup and Toothless hop along the bramble ditch, nibbling here and there. With them are Fishlegs and Ruffnut.)
Ruffnut: (to Hiccup) But Hiccup, did you really expect Mildew to take your advice about leaving the warren? You're an Outskirter, just like us.
(Hiccup had told the two everything that had happened with him and Toothless before and after the discovery of the notice board last evening. Ruffnut brought the conversation back to the ill fated meeting with Mildew. Fishlegs thought humans left them as signs like rabbits leaving scratches or marks in runs.)
Hiccup: I didn't know what to expect from it, Ruffnut…
(Hiccup hopped further along the ditch. Toothless, Fishlegs and Ruffnut follow. Hiccup continues.)
Hiccup: …I've never been to see Mildew before. Even if he didn't believe us, least no one could say that we didn't try to warn everyone. (to Ruffnut) And your brother told me he'd come looking for me. Sure sounded like he was getting his head bitten off when we were leaving.
Fishlegs: Do you really believe something bad is coming to the warren?
Hiccup: (certain) I do. I've always known Toothless. He's been right before…remember the snow last spring? It took the Owsla a week to dig the snow out of the burrows. (remembers) And to dig Dogsbreath and Mildew out as well.
Voice: And the rest of our lives to wonder why we bothered.
(Every Rabbit present starts at the new voice. They had been so absorbed in their conversation that they hadn't heard someone steadily approaching from the woods. They look up.)
(It was Tuffnut.)
Ruffnut: Hey bro.
(Tuffnut's only response is to scratch his ear with his back leg. His focus remains on Hiccup .)
Hiccup: (nervous) Hello…Tuffnut. Are you off duty?
Tuffnut: Off duty…and likely to remain off.
Hiccup: (confused) What do you mean?
Tuffnut: I quit the Owsla after you left. That's what I mean.
Hiccup: (surprised) Not on my and Toothless's account , surely?
(Tuffnut hops down into the ditch .)
Tuffnut: You could say that. Mildew nearly tore my ears off after I let you in. He can make himself very unpleasant when he wants. Especially when he's woken up at Ni-Frith to listen to some how making outskirters and their trivial nonsense. Told me I should count myself lucky I'm not kicked out of the Owsla. (angry) To still have my privileges! (to Hiccup) Well you know what?
Hiccup: (shakes his head)
Tuffnut: I'm sick of it. Most Owsla would've kept their mouths shut, not me. I called him a embleer old fool, said I could do just as well , if not better somewhere else. He told me not to be such a hot-headed. That I should think it over. (shakes his head) But I won't, Dad didn't train a lettuce stealer.
Toothless: (despondent) Soon, no one will be stealing lettuces.
(Tuffnut looks over at Toothless.)
Tuffnut: Oh, Toothless? Your hear too. Good, it was you I was looking for. I've been thinking about what you said. Tell me, this feeling you had…was it true or are you just making up a hoax?
Toothless: I really have a feeling. I wish I didn't, but I do.
Tuffnut: (bluntly) So you're leaving the Warren? That's what you were seeing Mildew about?
(Everyone is shocked at Tuffnut's bluntness.)
Ruffnut: Leave the warren? Frith-rah, bro.
(Fishlegs doesn't speak. He looks from Hiccup to Tuffnut, then back at Hiccup. Hiccup thought it through, Toothless 's had been right about all the other stuff before, even if this one didn't come true, they'd be better off somewhere else.)
Hiccup: (deliberate) Toothless and I will be leaving the warren tonight. Where we go after that, I don't know, but we're willing to take anyone who's willing to come with us.
Tuffnut: (decided) You mean you, Toothless and I are leaving the warren tonight. You can take me.
(Hiccup is again shocked. He expected many things at suggesting to leave, fear, hesitation…but the immediate support of one of the high ranking Owsla hadn't crossed his mind.)
Hiccup: (to himself) Tuffnut certainly will be useful should there be need for a fight. But he's impatient, and probably won't take to kindly to being told….or asked what to do by an Outskirter. (out loud) Good, we'll be glad to have you.
(There's more silence. Fishlegs steps forward.)
Fishlegs: I think I'll come too. I don't know if Toothless convinced me or your certainness, Hiccup. But at any rate, there's too many bucks in this warren. And the Owsla take all the best food, and the does.
(Fishlegs pulled up a Burnet leaf. He chews slowly and thoughtfully. He was a smart guy, and couldn't shake the feeling they'd see their share of danger before all was said and done.)
Ruffnut: (leans in) If my brother's going, then count me in, too. We've been together since we were kittens, it won't do to separate now.
(Hiccup nodded. Already things were off to a better start then he had expected. )
Hiccup: Five rabbits aren't enough, we should be ready to leave but Fu-Inle. In the meantime, we should go around and see if anyone else is willing to come with us.
Tuffnut: There's one or two Owsla that'll come in handy, and there's one I definitely want watching my back out there? They'll be with me tonight…if I can convince them. (to Hiccup and Toothless) But they won't be coming because of you or Toothless. They'll be like me, uncontent with their lot, but I daresay we'll find them usefull. (to Toothless) I remember the snow last spring,and the flood. I believe these kind of things. Don't see why Mildew didn't.
Hiccup: (short) Because he didn't come up with it himself, that's why. But it can't be helped now. Let's meet under the bridge over the brook tonight with whoever we can convince. (to Tuffnut) And I'd be careful about who you try to talk to in the Owsla. Throk or Mildew won't like this, if they catch wind of it. They could care less about what happens to us (gestures to Himself, Toothless, Fishlegs and Ruffnut) We're outskirters….but your too important to them to lose.
(Tuffnut nods. The five rabbits leave the ditch and split off, Toothless stays with me Hiccup while the others head in different directions around the warren to tell anyone who'll listen to their plan.)
Toothless: (whispering to another rabbit) There's a bad danger coming. Hiccup will lead us to safety. Meet us at Frith-down under the bridge.
…...
(Nightfalls over the Warren. The air is silent. Hiccup and Toothless exit their burrow and look around for any signs of movement. Seeing none, they hurry across the grass towards the brook. Over the short channel of water is a wooden bridge. Hiccup and Toothless crouch underneath it and wait.)
(After a minute or two, movement sounds, coming their way. A second later a rabbit peers under at them.)
Hiccup: (sharp) Who's there? Ruffnut? Fishlegs?
Rabbit: No, it's me…Snotlout.
(Snotlout drops down next to them, hard enough to overbalance himself, he rightens himself. He's got pale blue eyes and a stocky built.)
Snotlout: (to Hiccup) You remember me, don't you? We were in the same burrow during the snow? Ruffnut says your leaving the house. If it's true, I'll come with.
(Yes, Hiccup remembered Snotlout, Loud, and dimwitted. His company in the burrow for five snow bound days had been particularly maddening. But now wasn't the time to be picky. Even if Tuffnut managed to convince any Owsla to come, most would be outskirters like them. Discontent fellows who felt they were getting the short end of the stick.)
(More movements from above. Ruffnut joins them.)
Ruffnut: The sooner we leave the better, I had a close call. I had just convinced Snotlout here to join us, I tried to talk some more over, but then I saw that Dogsbreath had followed me down the run. He asked what I was up too. I said I was just talking around. I don't think he believed me, asked if Tuffnut knew what I was up too and if I plotting against Mildew. When I wouldn't tell him, he got angry, so I figured I'd better leave.
Hiccup: (nods) That was well done. I was hoping to avoid getting any suspicions but that can't be helped. Considering it was Dogsbreath, I'm surprised he didn't knock you down and ask questions later. He wouldn't care if you're a doe.
Ruffnut: (certain) He didn't want Tuffnut to come back on him. And I'm sure if he did, I could give him a rough time. Our parents didn't name us Tuffnut and Ruffnut for both, you know. (to Hiccup) And if it's any comfort, he won't be one of the ones Tuffnut will try to convince, they never liked each other.
Hiccup: It does help, I didn't want to deal with him the whole way, wherever we end up.
(They stop as more paw steps approaching. A second later, Fishlegs makes his way under to join them. Behind him comes four more rabbits. Hiccup recognizes a young buck with warm brown fur and brown eyes as Speedifast. He was certain to get into the Owsla one day.)
(Another was Hiro, he was six months old, like Toothless. He has dark brown fur. His brown eyes look very nervous. He was the hardest to convince, he decided that the best way to avoid trouble was to do exactly as the older rabbits said. Behind him came his older brother Tadashi, a yearling like Hiccup, with dark brown fur like Hiro. Both their parents and Aunt Cass had been driven forcibly out of the warren by Mildew during a white blindness scare. Since then He's raised his brother to the best of his ability.)
(Last was Clueless. Possibly the only rabbit more dimwitted then Snotlout. He had brownish grey fur and brown eyes.)
Snotlout: (looking around) Is this everyone? Where are the does? I thought there would be Does?
Ruffnut: (offended) What do you call me?
Hiccup: (to Snotlout) No, it's not. We're still waiting on Tuffnut.
(The rabbits jump in fright at a metallic cling sounds in the water. An empty tin can floats in the water and bumps into a rock.)
Toothless: (stares at the can) Those things come from man.
Fishlegs: (about the can, awed) Fascinating.
(Speedifast suddenly stamped his hind legs hard on the ground. He stares into the woods on the side of the field the warren was on.)
Speedifast: There's two rabbits approaching from the woods. Big fellows, Owsla sized.
(Startled the rabbits look in the direction he's staring in. Two rabbits break from the tree line and rapidly approach the bridge. Most of the rabbits present drop low, and Clueless looked ready to bolt.)
Tadashi: (to Speedifast) Can you tell who they are?
Speedifast: Hold on, their passing through a patch of moonlight….Ones Tuffnut, even in this light, can't mistake the size or that sheaf of fur…can't tell who's will him, though.
(Tuffnut and his follower reach the bridge. Tuffnut catches the end of Speedifast's comment.)
Tuffnut: (as he joins them) I brought Thuggory, since your wondering.
(Behind Tuffnut is a rabbit with pale grey fur , with patches of near white, and amber eyes, with a brisk, alert expression. He was slightly smaller than Tuffnut and stockier. His father Mogadon had been a close friend of Mildews, and this was his first month in the Owsla.)
(Hiccup felt relieved that Tuffnut only brought Thuggory. He hadn't really found his feet among the other Owsla members yet. )
Hiccup: (to himself) At any rate between him, Speedifast and Tuffnut we won't be too bad off should we have to fight. I just hope he isn't like Dogsbreath. I don't want Toothless or Hiro cuffed and abused.
Tuffnut: (to Hiccup) You know Thuggory, don't you? Apparently, Dogsbreath and some of his lackeys have been teasing him about his fur and that he only got in the Owsla because his father was Mildew's friend. I'd hoped to get more, but everyone else felt they were well off enough here.
(Tuffnut looks over everyone present. He gives a brief approving nod to Speedifast.)
Snotlout: Now what?
Hiccup: Now we get away from here. Hurry before someone spots us.
(Thuggory looks like he's about to speak. A authoritive voice beats him to the punch.)
Voice: (from above) Not so fast!
(Everyone looks up. Captain Throk stares down at them through a gap in the wood. Fishlegs, Tadashi, Hiro and Clueless drop low, shaking. Unseen, Tuffnut quietly slips into the shadows.)
(Throk disappeared from above them. In a second he's on the ground before them. More feet sound behind him. Wartihog and Dogsbreath appear behinf him.)
Throk: Your all under arrest!
Hiccup: Under arrest? What for?
Throk: For spreading dissension and inciting to mutiny! (to Thuggory) Thuggory, your under arrest for failure to report to Dogsbreath this evening and having your duty devolve on a comrade. You'll all come with me.
(Hiccup looked around. Almost everyone was low and trembling. Only Ruffnut, looking ready for a scuffle, and Thuggory, being in the Owsla looked like they might put up a fight. Tuffnut wasn't to be seen. Had him joining, only been a ruse? Hiccup turned back to Throk.)
Hiccup: (to Throk) Just let us leave, Throk. Just let us leave in peace.
Throk: I can not allow that. I am Captain of Owsla!
(Hiccup stepped closer, looking braver than he felt.)
Hiccup: (firm) You may be bigger, but there more of us. We fancy it'd be a good fight. Go now, or we'll kill you.
Throk: (snarls) It's you who'll be killed!
(Throk snaps out at Hiccup's neck, he tears a mouthful of fur loose. Something large and heavy suddenly drops down on him from above. Tuffnut had crept up to the top of the bridge and lunged at him while he was distracted. The two rabbits roll around on the ground, biting and kicking. )
(Dogsbreath starts up in shock. Speedifast lashed out and kicked him in the face. Dogsbreath is knocked off his feet. A second later, Ruffnut plowed into him, Thuggory followed.)
(Throk wriggled away from Tuffnut. On his back, he looks up to get a full image of the one who attacked him.)
Throk: (taken aback) Tuffnut!?
Tuffnut: (on his haunches) Yes, you know me.
Throk: You are a member of Owsla! Explain yourself!
Tuffnut: Didn't you hear? As of this afternoon, I'm no longer Owsla. I quit…
(Tuffnut drops back to all fours. He closes the distance between him and Throk. Throk scurries back to his feet and up the hill. Tuffnut follows. On the bridge, Throk turns to face him, backing away slowly.)
Tuffnut:…I'm sick, sick of it! I'm sick of being in this warren. Of always having to obey your orders…and toeing the line!
Throk: (slightly fearful) Tuff! Be careful now. (backs into the bridge support) Think about what your doing.
Tuffnut: (final) Leave now, Captain Throk…or I will kill you.
(The looks around, Dogsbreath and Wartihog had already retreated, not use to having to fight someone they usually bullied. They hurry back into the woods. Throk's attention turns back to Tuffnut. Thuggory was beside him now, growling low in his throat. Behind them, Hiccup and the others. Throk looked from them, then Tuffnut, then the woods. Then back at Tuffnut. For a second it looked like he might stay and fight. Then he too turned and bolted back towards the woods.)
Tuffnut: (scoffs)
(Ruffnut licks her shoulder, where Wartihog had bitten her.)
Thuggory: (watching Throk vanish into the woods) He won't be gone long, he's gone to turn out the last of the Owsla. You know that don't you.
Tuffnut: Yep.
Ruffnut: Then we'll be in for it.
Toothless: We have to leave, Now!
Hiccup: We'll follow the stream…into the woods. They might not follow us there.
Hiro: The..woods?
Tuffnut: (to Hiccup) If you'll hear me out a moment…
Hicvup: (interrupting, urgent) If we don't leave now, I won't get the chance to. Come on!
(The little group of rabbits sprint down the stream, heading along the field to the darkness beyond.)
There we go. All the rabbits that leave have been introduced. Yep, Big Hero 6 comes in here too.
For everyone who hasn't read or seen WATERSHIP DOWN , here's who is who.
Hiccup- Hazel
Toothless- Fiver
Tuffnut- Bigwig
Ruffnut- Dandelion
Fishlegs- Blackberry
Snotlout- Hawkbit
Speedifast- Buckthorn
Tadashi- Speedwell
Hiro- Pipkin
Clueless- Acorn
For anyone who is interested , check out my Loud House retellings of Fellowship of the Rings and The Phantom Menace.
Until then…read and review….please.