Hello everyone. Glad you're back for more! This is a really fun project for working on
Getting a follow before this chapter surprised me greatly as it never occurred to me of getting 3 follows in the short time this has been up.
Now that there has been some introductions to one another from all the rabbits and mouse, it's now time for them for more road traveling and a visit to a location that might be a bit more than what our survivors wanted.
Chapter 3: Cautious At Cowslips
3 days had passed since the Sandleford Rabbits were on the road. They had picked up some blankets along the way from small places called mini malls, refuelled occasionally and had eaten in some diners but were starting to run low on cash. They were able to save a bit of money in between diners thanks to some of their bus rations such as fruit granola bars, Chips, cookies and applesauce but still, they were going to need work for more cash soon. As for sleep? Well they resorted to just sleeping on the bus' long seats in those 1st 2 days since that is all they could do for now but proper beds were something they could hopefully find soon.
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On their 3rd day in the night, a rainstorm hit their bus making it hard to see but they spotted a flashing sign up ahead reading "Claws Motel, Come Rest Here!" None of them knew what a motel was but the idea of rest sounded lovely in a place that wasn't a bus for a change so Bigwig pulled over to the left into a giant lot full of what looked like many different small houses connected together. A much larger house sat on a hill above the small houses up two sets of stairs. There was even a long building with a sign that read "Dining Area" at the end of the small lot.
"I have no idea what this motel is but a rest in something other than our bus sounds lovely," Holly said. No one argued as the bus screeched to a halt and everyone including Hana on top of Pipkin's Head scrambled off the vehicle into the pouring rain into the building labeled "Office, Ask For Help Here!" The office of the motel was quite big likely from expecting big crowds in case. A skinny cheetah at the desk was looking at a magazine on birds along with a caramel coloured she wolf. Both of them looked up at the 16 Mammals coming in from the noise of their paw pads.
"Oh welcome to the Claws Hotel, I'm Norman Clawson," the skinny cheetah said with a smile. "That's my wife Janet Clawson," he added pointing to the she wolf who looked up too.
"I'm going to assume there are 16 of you?" Janet Asked counting all 15 rabbits and Hana on Pipkins Head. "You're in luck, our rooms have double beds so you can share rooms with each other to save space."
"How many available rooms are there?" Asked Holly. "Oh we have 12 of them, 12 cabins, 12 vacancies," Norman smiled pulling out the sign in book from underneath the desk. "We don't get many visitors so all of you will be able to sign in."
"You must be very lonely out here without many visitors," Blackberry commented as Holly went first for the sign in and she went next before continuing. " "Although I don't know motels or any of us know what they are for that matter."
"You don't travel much, do you?" Norman asked pleasantly.
"None of us even left our town before this," Blackberry confirmed.
"Well, motels are small little buildings people stay in on vacation," Janet answered. The rabbits were interested in hearing about motels and how they were like these special small buildings. Hazel and Fiver did it after Blackberry followed by Bigwig, Dandelion, Acorn, Hawkbit, Bluebell, Violet, Speedwell, Pimpernel, Silver And Buckthorn. Blackberry had to hold up Pipkin for his sign in and Hana scurried off his head to use a provided mouse pen for hers.
"Now that you're all signed in, let's get you into your cabins," Norman said grabbing the first set of keys. "Who's going into cabin one right by the office?"
"I do think I'll take it with my brother," Hazel replied grabbing it. "Holly, can Bigwig share space with you?"
"Shouldn't be an issue," Holly answered getting a yes nod from Bigwig who took the other key.
"Who's next for cabin two?" Janet asked holding up the cabin two key pair.
"I'll share a bed with young Pipkin," BlackBerry offered holding out her paw for the she wolf to deposit the keys into. "Dandelion, can you bundle up with Hawkbit?"
"No issue for me!" Dandelion said as he and Hawkbit grinned together.
"My brother and I are fine in a bed together," Acorn piped up.
"Sharing a bed with my boyfriend is just fine with me!" Violet exclaimed making Buckthorn blushed. The outsider doe had become a bit more talkative and was not being as silent as the day they had found the other survivors.
"You four can take cabin three then," Norman answered lifting the cabin three key set off its hook. Buckthorn snatched the keys fast and kissed Violet on her right cheek passionately getting a few Oohs! From some of the bucks.
"Now finally theres cabin four, who's left for that?" Janet asked holding up the cabin four keys.
"Oh I guess that'll be for me, Pimpernel and Silver," Bluebell responded grabbing the key.
"It is nice to have friends throughout this long journey," Pimpernel added softly. Silver noticed he looked a bit sad.
"Hey, why dont I share a bed with you for company?" Silver offered. "Given I no longer have family and you're quite nervous a lot, it'll do good for the both of us." "Thank you!" Pimpernel shouted giving him a quick hug. Having a friend for company on this trip made his spirits a big brighter.
"How about I help you with some of your bags while Norman shows you what one of our cabins look like?" Janet asked. "They almost all look the same so Norman would just need to just need to show you one."
"Thank Your Mrs. Janet," Hazel replied. the caramel she wolf went to the side to grab some umbrellas from a small cylinder on her left.
"You'll need these to keep dry for fetching your luggage from your vehicle," Said Janet. "What it is you all arrived on by the way?"
"Um a big bus Madame," Bigwig answered. "I'll just show you."
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Bigwig lead Janet to the bus while the others followed Norman to cabin one. Some of them went inside while others stayed out the door to give space.
"Well here's what one of our cabins look like," Norman said nervously spreading his arms out. "A Couple Of Beds to share, there's a dresser for all your clothes, a desk with stationary reading Claws motel and pens for writing in case you need to make lists or such. Plus um, a closet for clothes and the bathroom." He turned on the bathroom light quickly as to not forget to mention it.
The cabins had a dresser made of a classical wood finish, two beds big enough for at least two medium sized mammals, a desk by the dresser with a mini stack of papers reading the motel name and a trio of colored pens, two chairs tucked in, a closet with a few hangers and the bathroom seemed a decent sized with a shower big enough for about 4 wolves to fit in.
"Its nice," Said Hazel. "How much is the cost? We're just staying for the night." Norman's face lit up.
"Oh you're in luck," Norman answered. "There's an overnight special of just $10 per cabin since our place doesn't get visited a lot." Holly dug into his wallet not sure of how much cash they had left but produced 4 $10 bills for him and walked over with the cash.
"Here your go Mr Clawson," Holly politely said handing him the cash. Norman muttered a quick thank you when he then saw his wife poke her head over the crowd of rabbits with Bigwig who had come back with the clothes for him, Fiver, Hazel and Holly.
"Hello dear, do our guests like how our rooms look?" Janet asked.
"They do," Norman replied. "Would any of you want to join us for dinner? The wife and me are having a Curry Vegetable and Potato stew."
"Certainly," Blackberry replied. "Oh the rain has stopped."
Everyone turned around noticing there was no sound of downpour outside.
"How about you get settled in while the wife and I set up the table for our meal?" Norman suggested. Everyone nodded yes and the cheetah went off to the Dining area to begin food preparations.
"Oh I almost forgot to give you this Mrs. Blackberry," Janet said digging into her right pants pocket and producing a tiny bed with a mattress, green sheet and white pillow into her right paw. "Your friend Hana will need this, we keep a dresser of these in our office for the tiny mammals." She then dashed off to meet her husband to help set up dinner.
"Well," Bigwig said gaining everyone's attention. "I suggest we all unpack and get ready for a meal with the Clawsons!"
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Soon after everyone had settled into their rooms opting all to dress up in their pajamas from the lateness of the night, all the Sandleford mammals made their way into the Dining Hall with Hana riding on top of Blackberry's head.
It looked pretty old fashioned with slightly faded orange walls, a few missing tiles in the ceiling and the brown tiled floor. There was a big table in the center for dining and a few on the side but also some side tables with jugs of water, bowls of apples, oranges and bananas, trays of butter spread cups, plastics knives, forks and spoons plus napkins and plastic plates. Janet was settling down a giant red steaming pot of food and Norman followed her with a bowl of chopped fruit consisting of strawberries, diced apples, sliced kiwis and peaches along with several stacks of what looked like butter toast and a pitcher of milk. The center table had also been set up with plates and utensils ready for the group. Hana spotted a tiny
"Now I'm not sure if you like spicy food but this is a recipe my husband has done a few times which is pretty tasty," Janet said first.
"We're all ready for new ideas Mrs. Clawson," Blackberry replied. "We also thank you for your hospitality and giving us a deal to stay given our low cash supply."
"No problem Blackberry," Janet smiled. "Let us all settle down and you all can tell me a bit about yourselves.
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After all the rabbits had settled down including Hana at her special table and introduced themselves, Norman began scooping out portions of his potato and vegetable stew. Some such as Bigwig and Holly found the taste quite odd but warmed up to it shortly though did need to drink a lot of cold liquids to combat the spicy taste.
"So are you guys going on a special trip from your hometown?" Norman asked inbetween bites of a piece of buttered toast.
"I guess you could say that," Speedwell said casually. "We're journeying north"
"Oh, it'll probably be a trip your parents and friends back home will love to hear once you get to your destination," Janet beamed. Hana and the rabbits lost their smiles at that mention of the home town and family. "Oh I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"
"Not really Janet but it's just that, well we don't have homes or families anymore, "Hazel began in a somber tone. "3 days ago, our town of Sandleford got struck by an angry swirling wind leaving us as the only survivors."
"I'm technically a wanderer but stayed in that town for enough to call it home," Hana added. "I helped out with some of the smaller rabbits when others were too busy."
"By angry swirling wind, you mean a tornado?" Norman asked.
"I guess if that's what you call them, then yes," answered Hawkbit.
"Being survivors isn't easy," Silver choked. "We've had no place to stay for long and had to bury several of the town's dead citizens including my uncle, the last of my family and the former mayor of the place!" He sobbed a bit and buried his face into the table. Holly who was on his right patted him gently on the back
"Shh lad, we'll make it on okay," soothed Holly. "All of us have survived this far."
"A lot of these rabbits' lost their parents in a big war Bigwig and Holly fought in together,' Hazel commented. "Pipkin lost his parents to a gang of weasels and many of us had to take on extra responsibilities in situations like those. "For Fiver, I'm the only family he's got left after mother died a year after his birth followed by our father who passed away from smoking too much."
"Oh you poor things," Janet said. She got up and went into the kitchen coming back with a pamphlet with a picture of several smiling bucks in overalls carrying baskets of vegetables. "We did get a bunch of mail recently including this advertisement for a farm with openings for jobs." The she wolf handed the pamphlet over to Holly and everyone leaned in close to read it:
COWSLIPS COUNTRY FARM IS LOOKING FOR NEW HELP TO FARM GREAT PRODUCE. IF YOU CAN CARRY BASKETS OF PRODUCE, USE FARM TOOLS OR JUST SUPERVISE OUR WORK FORCES, THEN WE CAN FIND A POSITION OF WORK THAT SUITS YOU! ROOM AND BOARD PROVIDED.
There was also an address, phone number and some fax contact information but none of them knew how to contact this area. Norman however was typing up something on his phone and then smiled at a result.
"I think that farm according to Zoogle Maps should be just an hour drive away from here," Norman smiled at the group after they all sat back down to their food. "Perhaps they can be a place for you all to get some more work money to wherever you need to go to."
"Can't say any of us would reject to an opportunity to get more cash," Hazel answered. "Our funds are running low and there likely isn't much left to spend even with our bus rations. "What's the status on our money Holly?" The old dark grey war captain pulled out his wallet from his left pants pocket and counted quickly the bills left.
"Looks like there is only $100 left in ten dollar bills here," Holly replied.
"Goodness me, you won't last long on that!" exclaimed Janet. "We've never heard of this farm before but it should hopefully pay enough for your whole group to begin saving for emergency funds and they provide room so you don't have to pay for each night to stay in."
"Some of us rabbits have helped out with produce before," Hazel said back. "We'll head out there tomorrow!"
"Sounds like a plan I'm up for," Bigwig mumbled. "We're kind of making up our destination as we go along. None of us really know where our next destination is." He sounded a bit annoyed at saying that.
"After you're all done dinner, I have a lovely apple pie and a tub of vanilla ice cream for dessert," Janet piped in. "Why not have a bit of that to make yourselves feel better?"
"You're quite generous for a couple of predators who don't get a lot of visitors," Bigwig said casually.
"My wife and I aim to please any guests we can when they stop by," Norman responded. "It's just the way we are."
With how hard it is on all the rabbits so far, they felt happy to share a dinner and soon dessert with the Clawsons and then journey to find more work tomorrow.
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Once dessert had everyone feeling quite stuffed, bedtime was next and everyone had gone back into their cabins to get ready for bed.
Dandelion and Hawkbit were feeling doubtful at this trip in cabin 2 lying next to each other.
"Do you think it's really possible for us at finding a new home north from our old one?" Dandelion pondered out loud. "All any of us have to go off of is a vison from Fiver."
"We could have tried staying and fixing up our town somewhat," added Hawkbit.
"Look' Fiver's vision said we had no future and likely we'd all be dead if none us heeded his word," Blackberry said as she finished reading Pipkin some of the town's history to send him to sleep. "I'm not sure what he also meant about those masked heroes in that other location called Zootopia but if they'll help protect that area, we must protect ourselves and that includes watching out for danger if it includes his visons!"
"Besides, we'll probably meet some new friends on the farm and that'll make us a bit happy to be around more possible rabbits like yourselves," Hana said happily on her bed on the room's dresser.
"I suppose you're right," Hawkbit answered. "Goodnight!" He switched off the bedside table lamp
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In cabin one, Holly had just turned out the lights as Bigwig settled in on his left of the bed. Fiver was sleeping on Hazel's right in his bed.
"Hazel, do you think my visions are okay with our group so far?" Fiver whispered to him. "Bigwig sounded quite bothered about us just going wherever we can and he's not wrong."
"Some are still a bit doubtful likely but our group has survived for about 3 days," Hazel said quietly back. "Think you're still okay with most of them so far, let's get some sleep little brother." Fiver nodded yes and the two brother held onto each other as sleep overtook them.
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*8am morning at Clawson motel*
In the bright morning, all the rabbits and Hana got up ready for their new day for their next destination: Cowslips Farm. Norman had arrived at cabin one letting them know that Janet is preparing a pot of cinnamon flavored oatmeal with dried fruit mixed in for their breakfast and more buttered toast on the side. Thanking him politely, Hazel told Fiver, Bigwig and Holly to get ready while he alerted the others to rise up.
Getting ready took little time but Holly opted for every mammal to pack up their stuff and put it inside the bus first before their meal. All of them hurried fast and soon they were inside the dining hall to see Janet scooping out fresh oatmeal into green glass bowls with big silver spoons. Norman had set down a pitcher of cold milk and a big blue bowl of dried fruit consisting of apricots, raisings and apples. They were seated at the big center table again with Hana's seat already set up.
"So do you guys have much of a plan today?" Norman asked once all the rabbits and mouse got down for breakfast.
"Not really, just go to the farm for work and hopefully earn enough to maybe buy a house big enough for us all to live in somewhere down the line," Bigwig said.
"Well I hope you all find good work and happiness on your journey," Janet said happily.
"Mr Fiver, I'd like to give you a gift before you go," Norman said casually. The young brown red buck who was just sprinkling some dried fruit on his oatmeal perked his ears up at that mention.
"Really, are you sure?" Fiver responded.
"Yes, I'll meet you at the bus before you all leave for this farm," Norman said back.
"Okay but don't be too long," Hazel interjected. "We need to be on our way soon." Norman nodded yes and everyone went back to breakfast.
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*9am Clawson motel*
Everyone was on the bus ready to go with Bigwig getting the keys ready and Hazel and Fiver waiting outside of the back of the bus when they spotted Norman running out of the house on the hill down the steps carrying a smooth brown box. Once he got to the bottom, the box appeared to be fine smooth brown suitcase.
"Hello Fiver, Here's a gift I want you to have," the skinny cheetah said opening up the suitcase gently. Inside were about 7 shiny bluebirds.
"What are these?" Fiver asked.
"Ceramic bluebirds," Norman smiled. "I have a love of flying animals and collect many antiques related to them including these beauties. I won them in an auction which was suppose to be just a 6 pack but got this 7th one from another auctioneer who got it in a stack of junk he didn't really want. I want you to have it as a token of our fine gesture of serving you. I don't do this often but you all seem to be in quite the dire situation so have this one for more company." He gently picked up the bird on top and handed it to Fiver. He also gave a small sack on top of the other 6 birds for him. "Keep it in there so it doesn't break easily"
"Thank you Mr Clawson," Fiver said back happily tucking the bird into the small sack.
"No problems Fiver, my wife and I live in our house up there," Norman answered pointing to the hill on up the flight of stairs. "We're lonely a lot and are always happy to take care of any guests at our motel. Take care you to you all!"
"We will Norman!" Hazel shouted back boarding the bus with Fiver. Janet had just run down the steps to wave goodbye to them as the bus drove off.
"Hopefully those survivors will find their new home for happiness someday," Janet said leaning into her husband's chest.
"Janet honey, a feeling inside me tells me they will," Norman replied stroking her head.
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On the road after an hour of driving, the survival group found a sign reading COWSLIPS FARM WELCOME WELCOME on the left of the road. Turning left onto the road leading them down a short path, the group found themselves on a nice patch of land with a big cherry red house in the front. Slightly behind the red house stood a a large green colored big building in the distance on it's right, a medium sized blue building and a medium sized yellow building. There was also a field of corn, some exposed dirt rows of various rabbits pulling out carrots and turnips. In the distance appeared to be an orchard full of apple trees behind the cornfields and headed their way was a bright yellow buck with a bright goldish doe dressed ins blue overalls.
"Let's ask them for help on the farm," Hazel suggested. All of them got out of the bus. Hana was inside Bigwig's mane around his neck.
"Hello there," Hazel waved to the pair who stopped at their bus. "We got this advertisement saying you're in need of help on your farm?"
"Yes we do, welcome to the Cowslip Farm," smiled the bright yellow buck. "My name is Hickory and this is my mate Marigold." The goldish doe waved to them.
"You're a lovely group of rabbits and a mouse too," Marigold said holding out her right paw for Hana to shake. "Our establishment could use several helping paws around here, we'll just contact the owner to get you settled in." She pulled out a walkie talkie out of her left pants pocket and spoke into it. "Cowslip, there's some new help here looking for work."
5 minutes passed before the cherry house front door opened revealing a faded yellow fur plump buck looking a bit scruffy wearing a pale blue long sleeve shirt and black jeans.
"Welcome Welcome," said the scruffy buck doing a weird dance around the group. "My name is Cowslip, owner of this farm and welcomes everyone willing to help."
"Oh don't worry about that," laughed Hickory noticing the group's puzzled expressions at the dance. "It just his way of greeting newcomers. Anyways, the wife and me will be over checking the corn fields progress and he'll start filling you in on the farm okay?"
"Sounds fine Mr Hickory," Blackberry said as he and his wife left for that area.
"Anyways Mr Cowslip as new workers, do you offer much here on your farm for new help?" Pimpernel asked quietly.
"Certainly my dear buck," Cowslip smiled. "Our room and board is free, there is a dining hall, my cherry painted house is my home and the office, wash and sleeping quarters quite big enough for large groups of mammals with a recreational room for fun." The Sandleford group couldn't help noticing that despite smiling, Cowslip seemed to still look wicked as if he is planning something bad but they shook it off not wanting to upset him and lose their chance at paid work.
"Is there much comfort your workplace can offer us?" Holly asked politely.
"We offer comfort to any mammal willing to help out and you play your part well to keep the farm going," Cowslip said with a non wicked smile. All the Sandleford Rabbits felt their fur stand on end when Cowslip did that. Fiver instinctively hid behind his brother as did Pipkin for BlackBerry. Hana herself planted her face into the head fur of Bigwig. Cowslip smirked, clearly enjoying the effect his words had had on them.
"Violet haze, violet haze…" mumbled a sudden approaching voice. Fiver, Pipkin and Hana came out of hiding to see who it was and the rest of the mammals turned to their right to see a skinny buck with silvery fur running up to Cowslip. He wore a swamp green shirt with dark green stripes and chestnut brown pants, and looked frightened out of his wits, his green eyes bulging.
"Violet haze, violet haze!" the buck repeated at Cowslip, looking up pleadingly into the elder buck's face.
"Calm yourself, Silverweed, there is no violet haze here. You're safe," reassured Cowslip, patting the smaller rabbit on the head.
"Violet haze! Violet haze!" Silverweed gave no sign he had even heard Cowslip, and instead started making his way through the group, repeating the same words to each of them. They all instinctively gave him a wide berth, disturbed by the strange rabbit's behavior. Pimpernel covered his eyes with his paws and only uncovered once the skinny buck moved on. Buckthorn clutched Violet protectively as did Speedwell for his brother Acorn.
Then Silverweed spotted Fiver, and suddenly what looked strangely like recognition appeared on the mad buck's face as his eyes somehow grew even wider. Before the now-terrified Fiver could run Silverweed grabbed his arms and stared unblinkingly into his face, looking more desperate than ever: "Violet haze, violet haze, VIOLET HAZE!" Silverweed screamed.
"You get away from him!" Hazel yelled, yanking Silverweed's paws off Fiver.
"You heard the buck, SCRAM!" Bigwig roared, seizing Silverweed around the waist and throwing him to the ground, the buck landing in a heap.
"Violet haze… violet haze…" Silverweed whimpered pitiably, still not seeming to acknowledge them.
"That's enough, Silverweed. Go on, begone!" Cowslip ordered. Silverweed got up and ran away from the group, saying no more words to them.
"Who is that chap?" a shaken Dandelion asked.
"Oh, it's only Silverweed," Cowslip answered calmly. "Don't worry, I assure you he is quite harmless."
"Why is he here? That poor buck clearly needs help," said Hazel, looking almost as disturbed as Fiver.
"He goes a little funny sometimes, but I assure you this isn't his usual behavior," Cowslip replied, "And when he's well he entertains all the workers with the most stirring poetry. You must come listen to him sometime." He turned away from the group, signalling the conversation was over. "Come now, mustn't dally! We must put you all to work!" But as the group moved away, Fiver couldn't help but look back at Silverweed, who was now repeating his strange message to another pair of workers in the distance.
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"Here on my farm, many mammals mainly rabbits have the pleasure of getting to work with the wonders of flayrah," Cowslip said leading them through the cornfields. Wheelbarrows of freshly picked corn passed the group pushed by various rabbits.
"You must be very lucky to have all these rabbits at your hand attending to the various vegetable patches," Blackberry commented as they were lead out of the cornfields and into an apple orchard.
"Why thank you," Cowslip said smiling at her in his wicked way. Despite only doing it once, BlackBerry and the rest of her friends were thankful Cowslip didnt try a pleasant smile as something about the way he did it felt like he stared into their souls. His wicked styled smiles felt actually more natural.
In the apple orchard, a couple of bucks pale blue and caramel were pushing each other quite roughly. Feeling his war instincts snap into effect, Bigwig rushed over and separated the two hard.
"Oi, break up you 2!" Bigwig growled. "What's got you guys fighting?"
"Carl over there thought he could get most of the apples into my basket so I'd have more to carry this slowing me down!" Shouted the caramel coloured buck.
"Oh you're one to talk Jordan, how many times were you napping on the job and left me picking up your slack?" The pale blue buck retorted. Carl looked ready to deliver a fist to Jordan before Bigwig glared at both to shut them up.
"Okay, clearly you two need some sort of teamwork exercise," Bigwig grumbled. "Why dont you lot work on one tree together at a time for faster work ethics?" The two looked at each other and grumbled in agreement. "Now that isn't too hard is it?" The arguing bucks just repeated their annoyance grunts.
"Quite impressive Bigwig," Cowslip said clapping in amazement. "You'll make a fine addition to our workforce. Let's all head back to my office and get you all assigned the proper jobs."
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Cowslips office back at the big red house near the farm entrance seemed like something out of an old movie. His desk was a bit messy with several papers, a couple of old fashioned pale metal green filing cabinets and a scratched black safe behind his desk. a few chairs and tables were scattered around the side and near a staircase leading upstairs and a basement door. Hickory and Marigold were there too as they helped pair up rabbits to suitable tasks too.
"Now Bigwig, based on your wonderful intervention with the arguing bucks, We can start you off as the orchard security supervisor," Cowslip said. "Do well and I can promote you to a higher level position around here." Bigwig puffed out his chest a bit in pride and Cowslip smirked secretly noting this buck likely had an ego he could exploit possibly.
"Do some of you have other skills you can tell us for determining what jobs for setting you lot up with?" asked Marigold.
"I've been a small nurse for a bit of healing in the past," Blackberry replied.
"Good, we could have you be a portable nurse checking around the farm and offering water for thirsty workers," Hickory said.
"It would be my pleasure," Blackberry smiled.
"We'll need you to sign this timesheet book to mark down your hours," Marigold added bringing over a green colored leather book. "We'll also provide you with workclothes too later. Now what can we pair some of you others with for jobs?"
While Hickory and Marigold continued to pair up the others with tasks, Fiver didn't pay attention and instead looked out a window near the right door entrance staring at the cornfield. Working with flayrah wasn't an issue for them as rabbits but there seemed to be a feeling deep inside him that a danger lurked around for them and as he turned to glance a bit at the apple orchard for a bit, he swore he saw a flash of a pale brown buck hanging from a noose in a tree struggling. Shaking his head again, the buck disappeared but it made him worry so much that he almost didn't notice Holly placing a paw on his left shoulder.
"You okay young buck?" Holly asked snapping him out of his daze.
"Sorry Holly, just looking out at the farm," Fiver mumbled. "Thought I saw something but its not there anymore."
"Well given you were busy doing that, your brother just signed you up to help gather apples in the orchard with him," Holly continued. "There's also this buck named Strawberry here to show us the other buildings on the farm." He pointed Fiver to a plump orange furred buck dressed up in a gray long sleeve shirt and red sweatpants in front of Cowslips desk waving happily. "Just relax for a bit and focus on learning where all the buildings are for what you need okay?"
"Thank you Holly," Fiver said hugging him.
"You're welcome young buck and you've helped rabbits like me get here," Holly said kindly returning the hug. "Now let's find out what these other buildings are."
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"Here is our dining hall for our meals," Strawberry told the group inside the large green building. The inside looked almost the same as Norman's motel dining room but with slight peeling emerald walls, a few more missing ceiling tiles exposing wires and a few rows of tables with plates, forks and spoons and chairs. They seemed to be set up for a large set of rabbits. The kitchen looked basic with an big sink, a slightly white paint peeling fridge and a strange machine with a handle with trays of plastic sticks in them on a large grey platform.
"What are those weird plastic trays with the sticks in them?" asked Buckthorn.
"Oh those are dish trays for our industrial dishwasher," replied Strawberry. "the cups, plates and other big food containers go into the machine which is the big dishwasher for cleaning and come out on the other side. Now follow me to the wash station."
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Now the group was inside the blue building. There were rows of shower stalls in the front, a sink station in the center all with about 20 taps, soap dispensers, a line of toilet stalls at the back and hand dryers.
"Now let's go into the yellow building for your beds and fun," Strawberry said. He led them into the last medium sized building and the first room they were in had a bunch of wooden tables with green mats on them, a wooden holder with two wood sticks with white tips, an old fashioned turn dial tv on a yellow milk crate with a grey system with a red, button and a grey button with a label reading "Pawtendo Entertainment System", some weird remotes wired to it, a stack of grey rectangles, 3 maroon colored leather chairs and a stack of books in the corner right. "Here's our recreational room for breaks and off time. I'll teach you what some of these things are if you're unfamiliar with them but we should finish off with your sleeping quarters."
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After taking them up a staircase, Strawberry opened one of many doors in the hallway revealing a bunch of bunk beds and regular sized beds for two mammals.
"Many of our rabbit workers sometimes have difficulty choosing the type of beds they like sleeping in so we have bunk beds for friends," Strawberry explained. "the regular sized beds are good for...lovers" he said trailing a bit off seeing Violet nuzzle Buckthorn affectionately looking a bit sad.
"Are you okay Mr Strawberry?" asked Violet noticing the orange buck looking a bit down.
"Oh I'm fine," Strawberry mumbled smiling again immediately. "it's nothing, you just get settled in now, hang on." He went out of the room and came back shortly with some work clothes for them. "You take care okay?" He left quickly.
"Quite a strange lad," Dandelion commented. "Anyways, we should get to work now!"
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Later on when everyone settled into their chosen beds and some changing into workclothes, everyone was off to their tasks. Except for Pipkin who was too young and Hana who sadly didn't have mouse sized chores to do but Strawberry offered to watch over them in the recreational room. Fiver chose to wear his short red sleeve and green shorts while helping his brother and Bigwig in the apple orchard gathering the fruit while those two wore blue overalls and short white t-shirts.
"Ah, feels like a relaxing way of work with fruits and flayrah," Bigwig sighed happily. "This security position makes me feel like I'm back on the battlefield for something important!"
"Even though Cowslip and Silverweed are odd, I think I quite like it here," Hazel added. "Hickory, Marigold and Strawberry seem cheerful and this farm is lively with hard working bucks and does dealing with nature. Surely this'll give us fresh air and a good sum of money for saving up."
While Bigwig and Hazel chattered on about the farm, Fiver focused on gathering a bunch of apples on the ground that had missed his bucket when suddenly he felt the tingling sensation of a bad vision. Looking up, he dropped about 5 apples he just picked up as he suddenly saw snares around some of the trees and then there was a sound of someone choking. Staring closely at one of the snares was the same buck he saw earlier choking to death.
"STOP!" Fiver cried. "Don't you see it, Hazel?"
"See what?" Hazel asked concernedly. Fiver's shouts snapped him out of his conversation with Bigwig and he stepped down the ladder he was on for picking apples to get near him.
"Snares!" Fiver replied, his eyes darting frantically, "Shining wire snares, all over this place, waiting to kill us!" Hazel and Bigwig looked around but didn't see anything. Fiver searched with his eyes hard but no snares or suffocating buck were there now.
"'Snares'?" Bigwig scoffed, "Those traps predators used to set in the olden days? They haven't been around for thousands of years!"
"I'm telling you what I'm seeing!" Fiver pleaded.
"And when have you even seen a snare, besides in your history books?" Bigwig asked.
"Um the internet for a history paper?" Fiver replied. Bigwig looked on confused but convinced. "Listen, it's probably a sign telling us that one of us might be choked like in a snare!"
"There aren't any predators here but some of the rabbits didn't seem very talkative and a couple were giving me the shifty eye while we walked back to begin work," Hazel thought. "Perhaps all of us should keep our guards up just in case."
"Please Bigwig, one of us is in possible danger!" Fiver Cried. "A danger that might end up with one of us dead, this might not be a good place to stay!"
"Are we suppose to just put all our faith in these visions. We've been on the road for a few days and now I'm suppose to possibly just leave all because of a feeling you have?" Grumbled Bigwig. "Oh no look out, I have a funny feeling in my tail!" He mocked. Fiver sadly flattened his ears.
"That's quite enough Bigwig!" Shouted Hazel. "Listen, you joined us in our survival trip and got to experience the joys of a buffet but now you're ignoring a potential danger feeling from my brother? Has Cowslip putting you into a paid security position gone to your head in just a couple of hours on Day 1 here?"
"And how often HAVE your brother's visions worked out? He didn't even see the swirling wind coming!" Bigwig exclaimed
"Did you just forget what he said to Holly back in Sandleford about how his visions just come to him and how he can't control them?" Hazel yelled back. "This isn't something he can switch off." Bigwig looked down a bit in annoyance.
"Listen, just give us a bit of space and go watch some of the other workers in the apple tree area okay?" Bigwig just mumbled an unenthusiastic "Fine" and left for the apple orchard
"Hazel, do you think my visions will tear the group apart someday?" Fiver Asked sadly once Bigwig departed. "From the way he blew up at me, it could lead to a bigger danger of our group separating possibly?"
"Don't say that!" Hazel Shouted hugging his brother tightly. "Bigwig is quite hotheaded and likely letting the security position he's in inflate his ego a bit. Come on, we'll go see what Hickory and Marigold are up to for a nicer scene tonight alright?" Fiver nodded yes and the two brothers went back to their work.
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The hours flew by and soon the group found themselves at the dining hall for dinner. The whole group showered as to not smell bad while eating. They had eaten lunch in the form of some quick cucumber sandwiches but they were a bit more hungry for dinner and now found themselves lining up by some tables where Hickory, Marigold, a few nameless bucks and even Silverweed were serving food out of these giant heated silver trays. Given the silvery buck was mostly silent, the group were a bit more comfortable around him though Hazel offered to scoop some food for his brother given he did get grabbed by the strange buck earlier and still feeling a bit spooked. Tonight's dinner consisted of steamed carrots, mashed potatoes, steamed corn and broccoli.
"Ugh, I've never pulled so many turnips in my life," Groaned Hawkbit as he sat down with the group.
"No kidding," Dandelion sighed shoving a spoonful of corn into his mouth.
"I think me and my brother had it easy with picking raspberries in the berry patch," Speedwell said. "We even helped old Pimpernel over here too with the task."
"It's greatly appreciated," Pimpernel replied quietly looking at his carrots. Suddenly the group noticed Hickory and Marigold coming by with their plates.
"How's everyone doing for their first day?" Marigold asked.
"Quite good actually," Blackberry answered. She was sitting on Pipkin's right with Hana on top of his head who was chewing some corn. "Being a portable nurse and delivering water makes me feel good."
"I've helped Buckthorn and Violet handle the spinach near that weird body of water," Holly added. "Don't know what it is or the weird things swimming in it."
"Oh that would be Cowslip's fish pond," Hickory responded. "The fish are the weird things swimming in it but they're harmless and it's something he put in for himself. Is that guy okay?" He pointed to Bigwig who was looking a bit bothered as he continued to eat his mashed potatoes.
"Bigwig and I had a bit of a disagreement over how to handle things in the apple orchard but we should hopefully have things patched up soon right Bigwig?" Hazel said. Bigwig just mumbled a "Whatever" and continued on with eating.
"Well you lot keep up good work," Hickory continued. "The wife and I will be a couple of tables over but anyone is allowed to go up and serve themselves more food now whenever."
Hazel who was sitting in front of Fiver and on the left of Holly watched the couple walk over to an empty table to sit down with Silverweed. When the Silvery buck looked up and tried gazing at Fiver, Hazel told Holly to move over a bit so he could sit in front of Fiver noting Silverweed trying to look at his younger brother which the retired captain did not object to given the spook from their arrival.
"Don't worry Fiver, I won't let any potential danger harm you," Hazel spoke softly. "I assure you that we're all safe here and will work hard to earn the money to a better future." Fiver just nodded yes and went back to eating yet still feeling there might be trouble heading their way.
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Fiver slowly stepped out of the wash station, trembling like a leaf. He could have asked his brother for accompanying but didnt feel like a bathroom trip for a leak was worth disturbing his brother's slumber and he felt fine enough going there. It was midnight but all the rabbits had gone to sleep and he couldn't wait because he really had to find a toilet. Despite all of Hazel's reassurances, despite the fact that a few rabbits around the farm had tried to be nice to him, he could not shake the feeling that there was something very wrong about this place, and in his current solitude and the quiet of the night that feeling only seemed to intensify. Something was going to happen, Fiver could feel it.
He trudged back to his group's room shivering against the cold, when out of the corner of his eye he saw something move. He looked around, and saw what looked like a rabbit with bright grey fur in the distance. Silver? Fiver wondered walking towards it. But as he moved closer he saw it wasn't Silver, the rabbit was too skinny. It was Silverweed.
Fiver crept behind a tree and watched: Silverweed was squatting in front of Cowslip's fish pond next to the rows of spinach, gazing intensely into the water. He was shivering heavily, his arms were wrapped tight around himself just like Fiver's own were, and he was rocking back and forth on his feet and mumbling something that Fiver couldn't understand. Fiver couldn't look away; Silverweed had seemed half-crazed before but now he looked so alone, so sad and scared, just like Fiver felt. Did he have the same ominous feelings about this place too?
"AAGH!"
Silverweed suddenly let out a cry and collapsed to his side, eyes clenched shut and his body starting to shake harder than ever. Fiver ran over to Silverweed's side, thinking the poor rabbit was having a seizure, when Silverweed's eyes suddenly bulged open and he began to speak in a strange voice Fiver had never heard before:
"In five years and three days,
the great city will begin a new phase.
In five years I shall be there,
on the day of the violet haze."
And then Silverweed's eyes rolled upwards and he collapsed. Fiver immediately thought of running for help, but then Silverweed's breathing seemed to slow, and his green eyes opened to meet Fiver's violet ones:
"I'm okay, Fiver, I'm okay," Silverweed mumbled.
"Are you sure? You look-" Then Fiver started. "Wait, how do you know my name? I never told you."
"I know all of your names," the grey rabbit replied, "Your brother Hazel, Bigwig, Hana, Dandelion... I know you all come from a town called Sandleford, you look up to your brother more than anything, and you sense death in this place and the others don't believe you."
"What? How do you-" And then Fiver finally realized, "...You're like me," he whisperes. Silverweed nodded. "You see things too?"
"I get these... visions. Of the future," Silverweed answered. "I never ask for it, I never try to turn it on, one minute I'm fine, the next-"
"Your head goes fuzzy, you get this overwhelming feeling of foreboding, and suddenly it's like you're in a dream," Fiver finished, his ears standing up with excitement. Silverweed nodded again, suddenly smiling. "And then I wake up, with nothing but a few pictures in my head and a strange message on my lips and everyone standing around looking like I'm crazy."
"Yes! It's just the same for me!" Fiver couldn't believe his ears; once or twice in his life he had daydreamed about meeting someone else with abilities like his, but never once had he thought it would actually happen. "What... are we?"
"Seers. We're called seers," Silverweed replied, "And from what I've read we're very, very rare." He placed his paws on Fiver's shoulders, gazing almost fondly into his new friend's eyes. "I never thought I'd ever meet another one."
Fiver then frowned. "Just now… your vision said something about a "day of the violet haze". Do you have any idea what that means?"
"No…" Silverweed squeezed his eyes shut, trying to remember what he'd seen. "There was a giant clock… the time read ten forty-five. I was in some kind of station, it had palm trees in it. And then I looked up, and the sky had turned purple as a grape!"
"Great frith!" Fiver gasped. It was stranger than anything he had ever foreseen before, but every instinct he had told him Silverweed was not crazy. "But what could possibly cause such a thing?"
"I don't know!" Silverweed stated, "But what was most strange was, when I looked up, I remember feeling both fear… and hope. Usually it's one or the other, but this vision was different. I sense whatever this is, both great hardship and great good will come of it."
"And this really happens five years from now?" Fiver asked in disbelief. "But how could you see that? I've never seen more far ahead than a week!"
"Neither have I!" Silverweed concurred. Then a slight smile appeared on his face.
"Maybe… maybe it's something to do with being around another seer."
Fiver was confused. "But I'm around another seer, and I'm not seeing things years in the future like that." "Maybe not that," Silverweed said, "But you somehow sense death around here. What do you see?"
"I…" Fiver remembered: those snares, in the bushes and the trees. And that hanging rabbit he had seen, kicking and struggling for breath. "I did see… snares," he muttered.
"Snares?" Silverweed asked.
"And a rabbit, hanged in a tree, suffocating to death. It was horrible!" Fiver suddenly buried his face in his paws as the vividness of that scene finally came back to him. He drew deep, ragged breaths, trying to get himself back under control, before he heard movement beside him and suddenly felt a soft arm around his shoulder. Fiver instinctively leaned in towards Silverweed's body, feeling oddly comforted by the strange buck's touch.
"If you're seeing snares, maybe it isn't the present or future you're seeing," Silverweed offered consolingly, "Being around you seems to be making me see visions of the far-off future, so perhaps being around me is making you see the far distant past. Maybe this farm used to be some hunting ground in the olden days, back before predator and prey found harmony, and you're seeing glimpses of that." Fiver opened his eyes, and looked into Silverweed's warm and reassuring green ones. "Now, it's just a theory, Fiver. I don't know why you're seeing these images, but I'm sure that by being afraid of them, you're feeding them. They can't hurt you, they're like pictures in a book."
"It still chills me and even if there's no proof this farm is a former hunting ground, that imagery scared me," Fiver said shivering but looking at Silverweed, that fear seemed to melt away now the two had a proper calm meeting together.
"Don't worry Fiver, you're safe now and there aren't any snares around here," Silverweed assured him. "I am glad to have a nice proper meeting with you after nearly spooking you with my grab earlier."
"None of us can control these visions when we can," replied Fiver feeling calm in the presence of this silvery furred buck. "We just have to deal with it in the best way we can. I should get back to sleep, perhaps I can help you introduce yourself properly to my friends at breakfast tomorrow?"
"You'd do that for me?" Silverweed answered quite shocked at the idea.
"Of course, you seem like a nice fellow now and maybe once they know you're like me, they'll be a bit more understanding," Fiver said. "Though we should leave out the part where your abilities somehow made you know our names already."
"Understood and thank you," beamed Silverweed as the two stood up to go back to their beds.
"Will you be fine Silverweed?" Fiver asked walking back to the sleeping quarters.
"No worries, Hickory and Marigold have a special room at the cherry house set up for me in the time I've been here," Silverweed answered back. "See you in the morning!" Both waved goodbye and went their separate ways.
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Sneaking quietly into the room, Fiver hoped he could get back into the regular sized bed he shared with his brother when all of a sudden. an orange and brown blur wrapped around him.
"Fiver you worried me with your disappearance!" Hazel exclaimed waking up some of the others.
"Don't worry brother, I just had to use the washroom badly while you were asleep," Fiver replied. "I even ran into Silverweed by a fish pond out there."
"He didn't hurt you did he?" Hazel asked worryingly.
"No, he was actually a lot more calm now," Fiver answered. "After speaking to him about my worries about possible danger in this place, he surprisingly comforted me telling me that any of the imagery I saw can't hurt me and it turns out he's not that bad. In fact, I offered to help introduce himself better at breakfast in the morning."
"Provided this Silverweed is a bit more respectful of personal space and not yelling about more violet hazes, I guess we can all get a proper introduction with him," Hawkbit mumbled.
"Sure Fiver but I'll watch carefully in case something goes wrong with him again okay?" Hazel said. Fiver simply nodded yes.
"Now let's all get back to sleep," Holly piped in. The others who were up agreed and Hazel pulled Fiver into his bed safe and sound. The young buck slept happily feeling confident his new silvery fur friend will feel welcomed tomorrow.
Hi everyone, sorry it took so long but there was a lot of work and some re-edits in this one and it's the longest yet.
Beecroft deserves a lot of credit for a big chunk of the pond scene, the introduction of Silverweed spooking the group and I loved adding onto it.
Watership Fans may recall Cowslip being quite off in the 90's cartoon and I even gave some nice roles for the show exclusives Hickory and Marigold as rabbits who help run the farm.
Can you guess the Hitchcock Psycho references here too? Read and Review when you can, thanks!
