Hi readers! Thank you for being patient and waiting for chapter 3. Its a lot of text but I needed to show more of how the characters are adjusting with on the road journeys with no home. They've stayed overnight at a motel for a dinner with a predator couple and have now arrived on a farm full of rabbits working with produce. There's also a buck named Silverweed who's quite strange and kind of got off on the wrong foot with the survivors but a quick comfort at a fish pond seems to have at least had Silverweed gain Fiver's trust to help him hopefully get a proper introduction. Unfortunately there is a danger lurking around unknown to our survivors but first, let's get to know of Fiver's new friend first!

Chapter 4: The Second Seer

Day 2 of the Sandleford Survivors were beginning but Fiver felt a bit more happy now. He was going to introduce the group to Silverweed. All except Bigwig who he heard left early because Strawberry had delivered a message of Cowslip wanting to see him. Still after that pond scene last night and finding out the silvery buck now is a rare kind like him, the orange and brown small buck felt more comfortable enough to have him be around his brother and friends.

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Breakfast today in the dining hall was a bit simple today. There was hot buttered toast, a bowl of apples but also this new toast called cinnamon toast. After some samples, the 15 current survivors decided to each grab some cinnamon toasts for themselves, cut up some apples for themselves and each got individual glasses of milk for drinking. Each of the older rabbits were wearing simple white long sleeves and blue overalls that were provided by the farm for their workload. Pipkin being the only non rabbit worker wore a simple yellow r shirt and dark green shorts while Hana on his right shoulder had on a small pair of blue Jean shorts and a white t shirt ate some of his toast crumbs. Seeing the silvery buck in a simple brown striped t shirt and white shorts picking up some buttered toast for himself nearby, Fiver waved over to Silverweed for him to see that he can come over.

"Now friends, my brother wants Silverweed to come over and have a proper introduction with us all," Hazel explained. "He told me he was comforted at a pond last night from some visions and trusts him and I've trusted him from his visions for a long time so we should give him a chance for a proper introduction to us."

"Provided he gives us a good amount of space, we'll be good," muttered Hawkbit. Silverweed shortly arrived over looking down a bit shy.

"It's okay Mr Silverweed, my brother says he trusts you and given I've trusted him a lot, we should all trust you for a proper introduction," Hazell said calmly.

"Okay," Silverweed answered. He looked for a place to sit down and the Shawnson brothers scooted aside to let him sit inbetween them so he had Fiver on his right and Hazel on his left. "Let me reintroduce himself, I'm Silverweed." He waved a little around the table.

"Well Silverweed, I think I'll introduce myself first," Blackberry began. "I'm Blackberry the smart portable nurse now working here!"

"Pipkin's my name and I hope to achieve greatness in something big someday if I find it!" The small light chocolate buck beamed.

"I'm Speedwell and this is my brother Acorn," The tall slightly bright wood buck said next with his arm around his identical looker smaller sibling who looked over to the silvery buck.

"You can call me Buckthorn," Said a slightly plump younger looking smoke Grey Buck.

"I'm Violet, his girlfriend," smiled the light purple furred doe snuggling into Buckthorn's left side.

"Aspiring writer Dandelion here!" The tan furred buck with the black tipped ears exclaimed raising his arms up in the air in excitement.

"If you need a rabbit for help with sarcasm, call on me Hawkbit for the job," The scruffy grey buck grinned at him.

"I'm Silver," the light silver buck said.

"Hana the mouse down here," the small mouse spoke up directing Silverweed down to her position near Pipkin's plate of toast.

"Retired Captain Holly," the dark gray captain said.

"I'm Hazel his brother," the tall orange and brown buck added.

"So what brings you lot to this farm?" Silverweed inquired.

"Looking for work to earn money for a house to buy someday for all of us," Dandelion answered.

"Oh, are your original homes no longer good?" Silverweed wondered. Violet, Buckthorn and Holly shifted uncomfortably at that. Alright, I'll not pry into that whatever it is seeing how its touchy. Anyways, are all you rabbits and mouse together?"

"More or less," Hana replied.

"If it's alright Mr Silverweed, Hazel said you comforted Fiver last night at a fish pond from some visions but is there any other reason you 2 warmed up so quickly to each other after that frightening first impression you gave us?" Asked BlackBerry.

"No worries Mrs BlackBerry, I'll explain it," Silverweed smiled. "You see Fiver happened to be nearby when I was having a vision thinking I was in trouble but i assured him i was okay. I then explained that the both of us are seers, a rare breed that can get visions and Fiver himself felt worried from them but i comforted telling him that they cant hurt him since they're like pictures in a book. The young buck felt quite happy after that."

"Well no wonder my brother adapted to you so quickly," laughed Hazel. "Its like fate mapped out for the both of you to meet!" He then shook paws with him after his short laugh. "Thank you so much for making Fiver feel good. He's never had another of his own to relate to."

"Pleasure is all mine Mr Hazel," Silverweed said back.

"Have you ever met any others like you?" Dandelion asked.

"Nope, Fiver here's the only other seer I've ever met," said Silverweed as he playfully clapped a paw on Fiver's shoulder.

Suddenly a shiver ran down Fiver's spine, and he let out a gasp as a vision flashed through his mind: water everywhere, surging and crashing through buildings, destroying everything. He could hear screams… but then over them he heard his brother's voice: "Fiver?"

Fiver blinked, and suddenly he was back in the mess hall, everyone at the table looking at him. "Fiver? Are you okay?" Hazel asked anxiously.

"What did you do?" Hawkbit glared at Silverweed.

"Nothing! He did nothing!" Fiver protested. "It was… the giant wave."

"In that vision you had 4 days ago? Has it happened?" Hazel asked.

Fiver shook his head. "I don't think so, but if I'm right, it will be soon."

"Hopefully a lot of innoncent mammals will be okay," Pimpernel said. "This Zootopia place sounds big from what you described." Despite stuttering a bit, Pimpernel actually was getting a bit better at speaking thanks to relaxation at the Clawson motel and a bit of easy farm work. Not knowing what to do for work, Speedwell offered to let Pimpernel pick berries with his brother and him which turned out to be good for him. Silverweed looked a bit puzzled to what Fiver meant by a giant wave and a place called Zootopia.

"What is this about giant waves and uh...Zootopia?" Silverweed Asked.

"This is a vision Fiver had several days ago," Blackberry explained. "Some big city called Zootopia will experience a giant wave that will cause a lot of trouble soon but some special mammals will help out the place once it ends."

That left Silverweed deep in thought. His future vision 5 years down the line had him entering a giant city on the day of a violet haze. Could they be related? No, it couldn't be. He just shook it off.

"You okay mr Silverweed?" Asked Acorn.

"Oh uh, I'm fine," Silverweed muttered. "That vision description just had me thinking about what'll happen."

"Dont worry too much, it cant hurt either of us at the moment," assured Hazel.

"You must be quite unique to this farm," said Silver. "Especially since I haven't met another with silver fur such as myself, let alone one who's a seer."

"Indeed I am mr Silver," replied Silverweed. "Although we're a rarity, seers are common in the rabbit group but it's more rare for seers existing in non lapine species."

"I never knew that!" Exclaimed Speedwell. "How fascinating!"

"You must let me hear a bit more about you sometime," Dandelion chipped in. "You could be an inspiration for future stories of mine."

"maybe later mr dandelion," said Silverweed.

"so you get visions of the future right?" asked Violet. Silverweed nodded yes. "Well me and my boyfriend Buckthorn have been dating for awhile and I wondered if your vision could predict our marriage someday.

Buckthorn swallowed the last of his milk rather forcefully from her asking the silver seer that question.

"Whoa, marriage is a little fast don't you think for us?" Buckthorn coughed and blushing rather brightly. "I really like you but it's a bit soon for those thoughts!"

"Wouldnt it be nice though to walk down the aisle and share a kiss together?" Soothed Violet dreamily. "Silverweed could tell us."

"Sorry Violet, us seers cant predict the future by will," Silverweed laughed. "Our visions come at random and it's the same for Hazel's brother." He noticed Violet drop her ears a bit in sadness. "Now dont look too sad, you two seem close enough for a possible marriage. Just take things slowly."

"Our future is still out there and we may get married but let's just focus on the present now," Buckthorn winked and then he kissed Violet on the left cheek which now made her blush.

"Mr Hazel!" Shouted a voice. Everyone turned to the dining hall entrance and saw Strawberry the plump orange buck wearing a thin white long sleeve and thin navy blue sweatpants running up to their group. "Your friend Mr Bigwig wanted me to tell you Cowslip liked his stopping of the fighting apple bucks so much that he upgraded him to an all areas supervisor. This means he'll be making trips to all areas to check up on them."

"Oh dear, the extra responsibility will probably go to his head now," Hawkbit laughed.

"As long as there are rabbits such as Hazel around, Bigwig can be kept in check," Blackberry replied.

"Well i guess i should clean up your dishes and you can all get to your farmwork," Silverweed offered. As he turned away to fetch the dish cart, he heard a familiar voice call out his name.

"Wait Silverweed!" Shouted the voice. The silvery furred buck turned back and saw Fiver shouted his name. "If it's okay, I'd like to help you out if it's okay to change my apple orchard duties. What do you say Hazel?"

"He certainly has given us a better introduction of himself to us, shown he's fine enough and you 2 already have something in common that makes you happy," Hazel said noticing his younger brother beam and his ears shoot up in happiness. "You think this could be arranged Mr Strawberry?"

"Hickory and Marigold probably wont have any issue for that," replied Strawberry. "Let me just check." He pulled out a walkie talkie from his left pants pocket and spoke into it: Hickory, one of our new workers Mr Fiver would like to know if he can work in the kitchen with Silverweed. Uh huh, oh it's no problem? Thanks." He packed away the talkie. "Hickory says it's no trouble at all, the orchard appears to be running smoothly and under control by the other workers."

Fiver hugged Hazel tightly who felt glad his brother had a new friend who could relate to him. Despite the shaky first impression, this new seer proved to them he us just what Fiver could use now.

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Gathering the dishes took awhile but soon Silverweed and Fiver were in the dining hall kitchen in front of a grey machine with two handles, a keypad with switches and tubes going in and out of the machine on a long grey line There was also a long shelf with 3 rows next to the right blank side of the washer with a sign labeled "Rack For Drying"

The young orange brown buck opted to change out of his work overalls and white t shirt into a pair of clothes he picked out the clothing store back in Sandleford with his survivor friends. In his case, they were a real t shirt and black with white striped shorts.

"Great Frith, what do you call this thing?" Fiver wondered out loud.

"Oh this is an industrial dishwasher," Silverweed explained. "Mammals build them for fast dish cleaning for places such as school cafeterias, diners and of course, big workplaces including this farm."

"Certainly much larger than the ones in a regular house," remarked Fiver. "How does it work?"

"Well first you get a plastic dish tray such as this," said Silverweed going to a shelf underneath the right side of the dishwasher full of long pale brown trays with sticks in them. Some trays had bigger holes than others and one tray had real tiny holes. He grabbed one with medium sized holes for demonstration and set it down on the left of the machine. "Then you load up what you can by stocking them on top of the sticks or inbetween them." Silverweed loaded 4 regular sized plates, 5 see through drink glasses and one of the long metal trays that held the toast from breakfast from the dishwasher onto the brown dishwasher tray. "Once you have what you need, simply slide the tray in and pull down the handle to begin." He slide the demonstration tray in the dishwasher, pulled down the handle and then a bunch of sloshing noises began.

"Wow, that is very noisy," Fiver commented pulling his ears down.

"Ah, that is the way of these dishwashers for select workplaces but it gets the job done quickly," Silverweed laughed. "Come on, I'll show you the rest of the kitchen now that you've seen this big dishwasher." That made Fiver realize he hadn't fully taken in the kitchen surroundings from focusing on Silverweed so much. He followed the silvery buck over to a slightly scratched up white fridge.

"Here's the fridge where we store all our cold beverages and food," Silverweed began opening up the doors. Fiver could see clear drawers storing many delights such as lettuce, tomatoes and peppers. The fridge shelves had stuff in bottles including milk, tomato sauce and juices. Then Fiver saw the fridge close and then felt himself being taken by the right paw by Silverweed to a wooden cabinet by a giant sink near the back.

"This wooden cabinet is for storing dried food and some cleaning products," Silverweed explained unlocking the cabinet. The top shelve had bags of rice, pasta, noodles and bread. The middle one was stocked with canned sauces, vegetables and seasonings along with boxes of crackers, chips and cookies. There seemed to be giant buckets of cleaning pink liquid for dishes, medium bottles of soap for paws and something called rinse additive in weird rectangular containers. While being shown all this, Fiver couldn't help but look at Silverweed a bit more. It really felt strange that out of all the events in life that would help him find another friend who is a seer such as himself, it took a tornado and him, his brother and the last of the survivors of their home Sandleford leaving on the hope of his vision of a new future elsewhere that got him here.

"Finally here is our giant preparation and storage station called the island," Silverweed said leading Fiver over to a giant wooden table with some lights hanging above them. There also seemed to be drawers. "Some of these drawers contain utensils for food and storage for the dishes and cups."

"Why do they call this an island?" Fiver asked feeling puzzled at the name of this thing.

"I guess because of it's long shape resembles a long piece of land called an island," Silverweed answered. He then remembered the dishes. "Oh, let's go take out our first tray of dishes and finish up the rest." He quickly went back over to the machine and opened up the washer letting out a bunch of steam. Then he yanked out the tray he demonstrated for Fiver who had caught up with him who felt amazed at how quickly it worked. The tray of dishes and cups were clean so fast.

"Great Frith that is fast!" exclaimed Fiver. "How do they do that so well?"

"In a busy workstation, people don't have much time to wait at least 45 minutes for a single load," Silverweed explained carrying his tray over to the drying rack. Settling it down on the middle row, he quickly unloaded everything and then carried the empty tray back for another round. "So for places dealing with dishes for cleaning, these extra powerful dishwashers are designed to clean and rinse the dishes extra fast more than an a regular dishwasher. The rinse additive from the bottom shelf of the tall cupboard I showed you goes through the tubes on the right after the dish cleaning fluid comes out through the tubes on the left." He used his right paw to point to two sets of tubes mounted on the wall with the left labeled "Dish cleaning liquid" and the right labeled "Rinse Additive" on the left side of the dishwasher above the sink. The cleaning liquid tubes were then shown to be leading down into a red bucket much like the ones shown earlier. Fiver looked at it although he felt his eyes wandering over to Silverweed a bit more who noticed.

"Oh, sorry for being distracted so much," Fiver blushed feeling embarrassed. "I can't believe there are so many wondrous things in this big kitchen not in in a regular home but here I am getting distracted looking at your during your explanations."

"No need to worry Fiver," laughed Silverweed. "I'd probably be distracted quite a bit finally meeting someone else who shared the same qualities as myself and became my friend. We best tackle these dishes now." He reached into a blue bucket on the bottom right shelf of the dishwasher and pulled out two sets of gloves. He strapped on a yellow set and handed him a pair of emerald green ones. "Here you go, protect your paws from all the used food."

Friend, Fiver enjoyed the idea of Silverweed being his new friend as he strapped on his gloves but there might be something more. Thinking back to when he got comforted by him on the first night by the fish pond from panicking over visions of snares, there had been another feeling. Something more than just appreciation of being calmed down yet the young orange buck couldn't place his paw on it as he slipped on his yellow dish gloves. He decided he might bring up this feeling with Hazel sometime and just concentrate on cleaning dishes with his new friend for now.

"Oh and we must forget aprons too in case of any splashes," Silverweed said. Fiver then looked up from his thoughts to see Silverweed walking towards him in a red apron holding out a spare. "Here let me get this on you and tie it up." Fiver stood still as Silverweed slipped his head through the apron hole. Then he knotted the strings around his waist. "There you go, now let's tackle those dishes!"

"Cleaning with another seer," Fiver thought. He felt his time on the farm would be a great time.

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Pipkin sat comfortably in a big maroon coloured arm rest chair next to Strawberry after just beating him in a 3rd round of tetris. The young buck had trouble at first figuring out the gameplay but once Strawberry showed him how to do it, he picked up on it quickly and soon was able to beat him fast. Hana who stood on the TV stand up close seeing the game cheered as Pipkin scored another round.

"Wait to go Pipkin!" Hana exclaimed throwing both arms up in joy.

"That's 3 rounds won by me, I win again Mr Strawberry!" Pipkin cheered holding up his controller in his right paw happily.

"You certainly pick up on this stuff fast little one," Strawberry beamed setting down his controller. The plump orange buck relaxed on the yellowish brown couch feeling good he could keep the two of these smaller mammals company. "What do you feel up to next?"

"Going outside!" stated Pipkin, throwing down the controller.

"Ohhh, I'm not sure that's a good idea," said Hana.

"But I want to go see the others! And see if I can do anything to help!" stated Pipkin.

"Well, I suppose a walk-around couldn't hurt," said Strawberry, and after Hana hopped on Pipkin's shoulder he led them towards the door of the rec hall.

"How do you like that?" Strawberry asked, "The first kit I ever met who wanted to go outside and work instead of stay inside and play video games!" Hana and Pipkin both laughed.

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Fiver soon discovered how strange it felt using dish gloves on his paws given he hadn't done much dishwashing for awhile since Hazel took care of them usually but after picking up a greasy toast plate, he remembered how they did offer mess protection for his paws. He looked over at Silverweed who had begun loading a 2nd tray of utensils already so the young buck decided to quickly load up his 1st tray to keep up with him and perhaps use the time for some lovely chit chat.

"*Ahem*, so," said Silverweed, "What, um… what was Sandleford like?"

Fiver didn't know how to respond to that, would he think they'd be desperate homeless mammals if he knew the truth?

"I know some of your friends such as Violet and Buckthorn didn't want me to press further into your hometown but I'd really like to know about more of where you all came from," continued Silverweed. The tone of his voice got Fiver a bit of courage to face him and turn around to answer noting Silverweed had just closed the dishwasher on his 2nd tray, ready for listening now.

"It… wasn't much," Fiver admitted, "It was a small town in the middle of nowhere, only rabbits lived there and nobody really cared to learn about the outside world. It was… destroyed, by a great swirling wind. We are the only survivors."

Silverweed gasped. "Oh my goodness! Fiver, I'm so sorry!"

"Thanks," Fiver mumbled, his voice choking a bit as he remembered the night in the safety room, with the wind roaring above like a swarm of monsters trying to get in. "And I didn't even see it coming – I saw… a giant wave of water."

"From that vision you had at the table?" Silverweed asked, eyes wide and alert. He got a yes nod, what could this vision mean if a disaster as big as that would happen?

Then the dishwasher shut off, and the silver buck quickly opened it and started putting the clean dishes away while Fiver loaded another tray. When the 3rd tray was loaded and in the washer was running Silverweed probed further: "You really think a tsunami will strike Zootopia?"

"Yes, but I pray I'm wrong, I have been before," Fiver muttered. "And the worst part is, I can't even warn anybody – nobody took my visions seriously in Sandleford, so I don't see why anyone in Zootopia would."

"Nobody at all…?" Silverweed asked with a note of sympathy.

Fiver shook his head. "Nobody but Hazel." Then the dishwasher stopped again, and the two repeated the cycle of unloading, reloading and switching on before talking again:

"So… what is Hazel like?" Silverweed asked. Fiver looked happy at the new change in topic.

"He's… he's wonderful," Fiver answered, "He's kind, he's caring, he's brave, and he's always been there for me. As long as I can remember, he's always been the one looking after me. He used to tuck me in, he'd help with my homework, and whenever I have visions or nightmares he's always there to listen and comfort me. And when our father died, he became my full guardian. That was seven years ago."

"Seven years…?" Silverweed's eyes widened, "But what about your mother?"

"She died when I was two. And father… he wasn't around much after that," Fiver replied, "He worked long hours, and spent a lot of his time at home locked in his den with his smoking sticks and 'funny juice' he and Hazel called it in front of me. I never really knew him either, the day he died we were planning to go on a family holiday, but then he stepped out of the car and collapsed in front of us. The doctor said it was a massive heart attack." Fiver suddenly choked up a little, turning his head away as he remembered that horrible day.

"Don't you have any other family at all?" Silverweed asked anxiously. "Nope, not even before the swirling wind," said Fiver. His mind drifted to the group he had been traveling with the past few days, "But I guess… I've got a new family now."

Then the dishwasher shut off, and once again Silverweed left to put the clean dishes away. Fiver noticed the elder buck took a lot longer to return than the other times, and this time when he came back, his eyes looked rather red.

"What about you?" Fiver asked, "Do you have any family? Are you here alone?" Silverweed visibly bristled at the question. "I do…" he mumbled, "But we… we don't get along." Fiver was startled; family always came first for any rabbits he had known. "Why is that?" he asked.

"Well, my parents are very religious; they didn't take it well when I started having strange unexplained visions," Silverweed elucidated.

"What about your siblings?"

"The same… or they just thought I was a freak," Silverweed explained. "I've always been a pariah, with my family and at school. Eventually… I just left, and ended up here." His eyes shifted away from Fiver's gaze as he recited the last part. Fiver was fully sympathetic.

"I'm so sorry, l I know just how that feels," he said. Then he gave Silverweed a warm smile, "But for what it's worth… I don't know what your family was thinking. I think you're pretty great."

Just then the dishwasher stopped again, and this time Fiver opened it and left to put the dishes away. And with his back turned, he didn't notice that Silverweed had suddenly started smiling giddily, and that the insides of his ears were flushed red. And for the sake of appearances, Silverweed was suddenly glad his front was covered by an apron.

"So Silverweed, how is your relationship with people on the farm?" Fiver asked as he returned with his tray. Silverweed had turned back to the sink to load his own tray, hoping the position would keep the younger buck from noticing any sign of the new "shape" in his apron. "Oh, Hickory and Marigold have been so good to me," Silverweed replied. "There may be some strange folk on this farm, but they're wonderful. Ever since I got here they've treated me like one of their own. They gave me my own room, they helped me finish my education, they… they even accept my visions. They're more my family than my family. I love them."

"Ohhh!" Fiver was so touched that he quickly gave Silverweed a quick hug from behind. "It's so nice to hear we've both made a new family then!" Silverweed, feeling gobsmacked, returned the hug from behind as best he could, but as Fiver moved away, the silver buck noticed the "shape" was now liable to remain for a good while.

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Soon enough, the trio of Pipkin, Strawberry and Hana perched on Pipkin's Head were out in the bright sunshine and heading towards the Fields of spinach, green beans and carrots. Today, Violet, Bluebell and Buckthorn were picking out the veggies while Holly decided to help some other workers wheelbarrow picked corn down for storage in the cornfields.

"Hello, everyone!" Pipkin called out.

"Hi Pipkin!" Violet and Buckthorn answered together.

"Finally got sick of lying around playing video games, didja?" Bluebell called out.

"I enjoy the games but I wanted to get out and see how everyone is doing!" Pipkin Exclaimed cheerfully.

"Basically, we all wish we were in your shoes and inside playing games instead!" replied Bluebell, wiping his sweaty forehead.

"What are shoes?" Pipkin asked.

"I dunno, just an expression I heard once," said Bluebell. "I tell you, it's bloody agony out here."

"It ain't that hot, I been through worse," said Hana from Pipkin's shoulder.

"I'm talking about working next to the lovebirds," Bluebell responded with a gesture over his shoulder at Violet and Buckthorn, who were currently prodding and poking and giggling at each other.

"They are in love, love is...wonderful," Strawberry trailed off a bit thinking a bit deeply.

"Oh, do you have a girlfriend yourself Mr. Strawberry?" Bluebell questioned. "I did... once," Strawberry simply replied.

"Not much of a dater, eh?" Bluebell asked, not noticing the sad tone in Strawberry's voice, "Don't worry, you'll find the right doe someday! Dunno how you'll ever find her here, but you'll find 'er!" Strawberry gave an odd frown at the last comment.

"Oh uh sure," Strawberry mumbled trying to not show much discomfort. That doe he dated in the past. A big beauty but would he find another? Especially after he lost her…

"Anyone here need refreshments or medical help?" Called out a female voice. Strawberry was then brought back to reality and noticed Blackberry approaching them. The doe had on some wrinkly orange suit with a slightly faded Red Cross on it pushing a rusted green dolly with a red cooler, a box of granola bars and a first aid kit with a handle missing. Buckthorn and Violet actually paused their flirting in order to get up and walk over together with Bluebell to the cart.

"Thank you sooo much Blackberry!" said Violet as she reached into the cooler and grabbed orange juiceboxes for herself and Buckthorn.

"And what are you doing out here, Pipkin?" Blackberry asked with some sternness in her voice.

"Oh, he just fancied a stroll," said Hana from Pipkin's shoulder, "Poor dear's feeling cooped up."

"Then in that case, would you like some refreshments too?" Blackberry offered the trio a pair of granola bars and juiceboxes.

"Thank you Miss Blackberry!" said Strawberry, accepting his portion.

"Thank you!" echoed Pipkin. He took the carrot juicebox, poked in the straw and offered it to the mouse on his shoulder, "Would you like some, Hana?"

"Thank you Dear, but I'm afraid I don't care much for carrot juice," Hana replied.

"But what good manners!" declared Blackberry, and then suddenly she affectionately starting rubbing Pipkin's ears. "What a fine young buck you're turning out to be!"

"Oh, Mom, cut it out!" Pipkin laughed trying to shake her off.

Strawberry smiled warmly at the sight, before spotting a buck in a military jacket in the distance. "Hey, there's Bigwig, I'll go get him!"

And he quickly left. Blackberry smirked at Pipkin, "'Mom'?"

Pipkin blushed, "I'm sorry, it just slipped out."

"You do watch over him in the same manner as one sometimes," Hana commented. "You do a real good job at it!"

"Oh uh thank you Hana," Blackberry blushed. That left her thinking quite a bit, could she really be a mother to him? The whole survival group did feel like such a big family and all from a tornado that destroyed their homes.

"You got a bottled water in there, Blackberry?" Bigwig called out, "I'm parched!" The maned buck returned with Strawberry just as Blackberry reached a bottle out to him. Bigwig took it and drained it in one go.

"Ahhh, that's better, it's hard walking around these fields in the sun all day," declared Bigwig.

"Might it be easier if you weren't wearing your military jacket?" Pipkin asked, pointing out Bigwig's attire.

"Oi lad, my new position is very important and this will show off my authority!" Bigwig boomed puffing out his chest again. "Checking all areas on my way around this farm must be attended to greatly!" Some of the rabbits rolled their eyes. Clearly this buck had gotten well, big headed to say the least.

"Honestly though, you'll sweat yourself into unconsciousness with that thing on," sighed BlackBerry handing over another cold water bottle for him.

"Hey, no buck or doe is telling me when I can't wear my pride of the past work uniform," Bigwig replied giving her an annoyed stare. BlackBerry simply huffed in response and dug out more water for the other rabbits.

"And just what are you lot doing out here?" Bigwig asked Pipkin and Hana.

"We, we just wanted a walk," Pipkin stammered a little.

"Well, be careful, we don't know yet what kinds of rabbits are working in this place," Bigwig stated firmly.

"Don't you worry, they're with me," said Strawberry with a small hint of hurt in his voice, "And I'll have you know that most of the rabbits around here are very decent folk, just bucks and does like you trying to make a living."

"I believe you, but most doesn't mean all," Bigwig countered.

"Don't worry Bigwig, I can take care of myself!" Pipkin declared, punching at the air for emphasis.

Bigwig actually chuckled a little, "I'm sure you can..." the maned buck said, "One day, with a lot of training and a little patience, you might make a fine fighter."

"You mean it?" Pipkin asked excitedly. "That would please me to be a fighter such as you!"

"Maybe I can start giving you lessons when things settle down around here," said Bigwig. Then he smiled, "Or maybe right now!" He playfully held up his paws, "C'mon, show me what you got! C'mon!"

Getting the idea right away Pipkin raised his fists boxing-style and started dancing around on his feet, Hana on his shoulder hanging on for dear life. Strawberry quickly scooped her up in his paws.

"Good posture, raise your right fist, tuck in your left elbow more, that's it!" Bigwig praised, "Now c'mon, punch my paw! Don't worry, you can't hurt it!"

With a little hesitation Pipkin jabbed his right fist at Bigwig's left paw, withdrew, and threw two more jabs with his other fist. Then he threw several more punches, the others around greatly enjoying the show, until Bigwig stopped to blow air on his now-sore paws.

"Whoof, maybe you can hurt them a little," said Bigwig.

"Sorry lad, I gotta get back to work now." "Aww, Bigwig, but I was having so much fun!" protested Pipkin.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to need my paws if there are any dangerous folk about," Bigwig answered dramatically. Then he ruffled Pipkin's ears, "But good job! You will make a good fighter someday!"

"Owsla-good?" Pipkin asked.

"Owsla-good!" Bigwig declared. Bigwig then opened his second water bottle and walked off chugging the thing massively.

"Blackberry, is Bigwig usually this full of himself?" Buckthorn asked once the lion maned rabbit walked out of sight.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe it," Blackberry sighed. She then remembered to hand over water bottles to him, his girlfriend and Bluebell. "He talks a bit about his glory days wielding the big fire stick on the battlefield and I swear that if it weren't for others such as Hazel and Holly around, no one would be there to stop him from going on too long."

"'Fire stick'?" Strawberry asked. "It means gun," Violet translated.

"Oh, I think some of you need to be updated on certain terms," Strawberry said. "A lot of us rabbits use newer words more than old words like fire stick."

"Yes, I suppose you're right," said Blackberry, "Things were very old-fashioned back in Sandleford - we'll need to learn more about the modern world if we're ever going to Zootopia."

"You plan to go there someday?" Strawberry inquired. "Some of our produce is shipped far away for areas such as that but you'll need a lot of money for that travel."

"We are planning a trip there," Bluebell added. "A change of scenery you could say." The blue-eyed buck wasn't technically lying. It is a change of scenery but what he didn't say was the part of how it got forced on them.

"Well I hope you get a decent amount of money to put towards that travel," Strawberry replied back.

"Thanks, I hope we're here long enough for that," said Blackberry. "I'm sorry, but I have to go, I've got a lot more refreshments to hand out!" she gave Pipkin a quick kiss on the forehead, "You promise to be good for Hana and Strawberry?"

"Yes, I promise!" Pipkin smiled. He thought a bit on how he had called her mom a few minutes ago, the thought made him feel warm inside.

"And I suppose we should mosey along too," said Strawberry, "Let these fine workers get back to work," he gestured at Buckthorn, Violet and Bluebell.

"Woah, can't you stay a little longer?" Bluebell asked.

"Sorry, but if Cowslip comes by and sees us distracting you, we'll all lose our jobs," replied Strawberry.

"C'mon, don't leave me alone with the lovebirds!" Bluebell cried in a faux-dramatic voice.

Behind him Buckthorn and Violet giggled and started nuzzling their noses together with great relish. Pipkin, Hana and Strawberry all laughed and started walking away as Bluebell further hammed it up by calling after them, "Doooon't Leeeeaaave meeeee..."

"Mr. Strawberry?" Pipkin asked the elder buck. "Hmm?" "Why can't I work with the others?"

"I am sorry Pipkin, but you're too young," Strawberry replied.

"And it's dangerous work," Hana added.

"Not if I'm working with grownups!" Pipkin protested, "Come on, can't I just do something simple like pick berries?"

Strawberry shook his head. "Hickory and Marigold and I all asked Cowslip, and he absolutely forbade it. He refuses to let kits do farm work."

"Well, guess that's nice of him to look out for the little ones' safety," said Hana.

"Protect his profits, more like," responded Strawberry, "The last time a bunny kit picked berries here he ate more than he brought back. And a little before that worked in the kitchen and kept breaking dishes."

"But I'll be careful! And I won't nosh! Not a single berry!" stated Pipkin.

"I'm sorry, but rules are rules," said Strawberry.

"Awwww…" Pipkin groaned.

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An hour later the dishes were done, and it was time for Fiver and Silverweed to start preparing lunch. "I should warn you, I'm a really bad cook," Fiver stated, "The last time I tried to cook Hazel dinner, we almost needed a new stove."

"Don't worry, we're not cooking anything," said Silverweed with a chuckle, "Today we're making tomato-cucumber sandwiches and coleslaw, no stoves involved." He held up a basket, "I'll grab some tomatoes and cucumbers from the larder, can you get a couple jars of mayonnaise? You'll find some in the fridge."

Fiver nodded eagerly and turned away to fetch the necessary ingredient. And as Fiver left, Silverweed couldn't help but admire the younger buck's little brown tail as he walked. So cute… Silverweed quickly shook his head, clearing such thoughts from his mind. Still, Fiver did have nice fur... Silverweed had never seen an orange and brown combo like Fiver and Hazel had. Silverweed bolted to the nearby industrial-sized refrigerator and yanked the door open, both because he needed the vegetables and because he suddenly really needed to cool down. Realizing he was breathing fast he tried to calm himself down. This was no strange feeling, Silverweed had always been attracted to bucks, but he couldn't remember ever feeling as strongly as he felt every time he was around Fiver.

"Different and yet right," he murmured gathering about 5 tomatoes and 3 cucumbers. The silvery furry rabbit knew he didn't need to fear this but it just felt almost as if this happiness wouldn't last. Kind of like that sad time where he got sent to...

"No, I'm not stuck there," Silverweed spoke quietly as he closed the fridge. Right now, he had a new friend and a new seer to teach cooking to, not dwell on unhappy memories. Making his way back to the island center, he saw that Fiver had set down 2 mayonnaise jars already and now was just coming back with a bag of Superbread.

"Wonderful! Here, let's get you slicing cucumbers," said Silverweed. Reaching into a cupboard in the island, he pulled out a strange kitchen tool Fiver never seen before: a flat slab of metal with a slit in the middle, set on a collapsible stand.

"What is that?" Fiver asked.

"It's called a mandolin," Silverweed stated, "We use it to slice vegetables much more quickly. Watch, I'll show you."

First Silverweed made some kind of adjustment to the mandolin, and Fiver saw the bottom half of it raise up over the top. He felt the bottom edge, and realized it was sharp, like a blade. Picking up a cucumber, Silverweed ran the tip of it along the top of the mandolin, and Fiver instantly got it: the blade cut the cucumber and the slice fell through the hole to the cutting board underneath.

"You see?" said SIlverweed, holding up the perfectly-cut cucumber slice, "Now you try!"

Fiver grabbed the cucumber and ran it along the blade like Silverweed did, but his slice turned out to be mostly mush. "You've got to slice quickly, or you will meet resistance from the blade," Silverweed explained. He stepped behind Fiver, "May I?" Fiver wasn't quite sure what Silverweed meant, but he nodded. Silverweed then reached around him, took his paw that was still holding the cucumber, and guided his paw several times across the mandolin, producing perfect cucumber slices while trying not to think about how close they were. He then let go and Fiver kept up the pace, slicing perfectly.

That's it!" Silverweed beamed. Fiver continued on with the cucumbers and Silverweed couldn't help but blush at the fact that he found himself staring at this young orange seer handling thick smooth wet green sticks…

Quickly shaking the imagery out of his mind Silverweed set himself to cutting tomatoes.

"Just a cucumber, just a cucumber..." he whispered to himself.

"What was that?" asked Fiver.

"Nothing!" said Silverweed. "So, um, Fiver, what's your favorite vegetable?" Stupid! Stupid! He berated himself in his head.

"Vegetable?" Fiver asked confusedly, "Well, um..."

"Food! Food in general! What do you like to eat?" Silverweed recovered.

"Okay, uh, applesauce!" said Fiver, "And celery with peanut butter and raisins. And carrot cake! I love carrot cake!"

"Oh, so do I!" replied Silverweed, making a mental note to look up carrot cake recipes the next chance he got. And then another mental image popped up in his head, of Fiver licking creamy peanut butter off a long and hard celery stick. Long... hard... He shook his head, knocking imagery out of his head yet again.

"Why do you keep shaking your head like that?" Fiver asked.

"Oh! Uh, I have an itch in my ear," Silverweed quickly lied, shaking his head again for emphasis.

"Can't you scratch it?" Fiver asked.

"I would, but my paws are covered in tomato," said Silverweed, thinking fast.

"Well, mine are free now, which ear is it?" asked Fiver, coming closer with a paw held up.

"Er! Uh, just inside the right one!" Silverweed answered, his eyes unblinking and his grip around the chopping knife very tight.

"Okay!" then Fiver reached over and actually began scratching Silverweed's ear. A sudden shock of electricity surged through Silverweed's body at the touch, and instinctively he covered his left foot with his right so the latter wouldn't start thumping. It was all he could do to keep himself from moaning in pleasure. Fiver's paw was so gentle, and in just the right spot. Sooo good...

"Are you all right?" Your ear is really hot," commented Fiver.

"Oh yeah... I mean yeah!" said Silverweed, startled out of his reverie. "It's just, uh, very warm in here."

"And you were shaking... are you sure you're okay?" The younger buck asked.

"Oh! Yeah! That's just... relief. That itch was really bothering me, thank you!" Silverweed declared. Fiver looked confused, but then shrugged and turned away to go quickly wash his paws. Inwardly, Silverweed breathed a huge sigh of relief, and then realized 'the shape' was back.

"So um Fiver, since your town seemed mostly comfortable with just staying there without learning about the outside world, my guess is none of your group know Zootopia?" Silverweed spoke quickly, hoping the front of his apron wouldn't be "pointed" once the talk ended.

"No, although Holly and Bigwig served together in the past for some wars if you feel up to asking them," Fiver replied. "Hazel and Father sometimes took me down to a lake somewhere but aside from that, I don't think I can remember who in my group knows what of the outside world. Although you could talk to Violet as she is an outsider who came to live with Buckthorn for awhile."

Silverweed felt impressed. Fiver and his friends had journeyed far and he was eager to learn more about them. He waited for a long time for another seer such as himself and along with many other cool rabbits, this Sandleford lot seemed like a group of friends he'd loved to spend many days with.

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The lunch spread that afternoon looked great in the mess hall. Silverweed and Fiver wore orange aprons over their clothes and served delicious vegetable noodle soup from a company called "Campbulls" in a bright big silver pot along with the tomato-cucumber sandwiches on a nice clear leaf platter and a big brown plastic bowl of coleslaw with serving tongs. Besides some trays and smaller plates the workers could pick up to place their food on, there was also a plate of apple slices and a clear oval shaped clear plastic bowl of jello.

When the Sandleford group arrived to collect their afternoon meal, they were truly impressed by the presentation the two bucks currently serving food behind the counter had prepared.

"Hey there, Fiver!" Hazel signaled his brother as he collected a tray.

"Hello, Hazel!" Fiver called back as he ladled soup into his brother's bowl. "Guess what - Silverweed's been teaching me how to cook!"

"Really?" Hazel asked as he helped himself to a tomato-cucumber sandwich, "He must really have something," He turned to Speedwell who was behind him, "The last time my brother tried to cook we almost had to get a new stove." Speedwell laughed at the story.

"Nice fur-net!" Bluebell teased, pointing at the netted cap that covered Fiver's head and ears.

"Silverweed," Hazel spoke to the silvery buck as he moved in line to receive his dessert, "Thank you. My brother looks like he's having a really good time with you."

"Thanks - I sure know I am," Silverweed replied. Then he turned to smile in Fiver's direction and Hazel noticed - Silverweed's tail was wagging.

"Hmm," thought Hazel. Silverweed sure seemed excited about spending time with his brother.

Hazel wasn't the only one who thought that way - every member of the Sandleford group he could see also gave Silverweed a thoughtful or suspicious look as they watched him and Fiver working together. And as each one got to their table they all looked back and until the last one, Dandelion, arrived with his lunch.

"Am I the only one...?" Dandelion asked.

"No," everyone at the table answered simultaneously.

"Does Fiver have any idea...?"

"No."

"I think it's sweet!" said Violet, "And what a match! Two seers together!"

"It looks like just one seer together, Fiver doesn't even seem to notice," observed Speedwell.

"Maybe it'll take longer for my brother at picking up the signs," Hazel remarked. "He could just be amazed at the moment that he is in the company of another seer who became one of his new friends quickly."

Hana who was in front of Hazel's plate on the table scurried up onto his left shoulder with some bread crumbs and tapped it for his attention.

"You know Hazel, Fiver certainly is impressed with that Silverweed fellow but with Silverweed showing more interest in him aside from just friendship, should any of us let him know his true feelings?" Hana Asked.

"Oh no, that would spoil the potential reveal by Silverweed himself," Hazel laughed. "Let us have my brother find out on his own. After all, we wouldn't want to make him feel bad. Isn't that right Bigwig?" He emphasized that last bit with a bit of an angry grunt and everyone turned over to the lion maned buck still his military jacket on the left of Holly who now just looked up from his bowl of soup.

"What, oh yeah sure Hazel," Bigwig mumbled.

"Are you still holding that grudge against him Bigwig?" Scolded Blackberry.

"I still think Fiver was overreactin' about this place," Bigwig retorted, "I mean look at 'im now! He's happy here! His vision was wrong!"

"Vision? What vision?" Blackberry asked.

"I'll tell you later," Hazel replied, "All the same, Bigwig, you owe Fiver an apology. You hurt his feelings."

"If anything I think he owes me one," Bigwig shot back, "Creatin' a false alarm and trying to scare everybody when we're trying to make a new start!"

Just then, Bigwig felt a smack on his head as he dropped the sandwich he just picked up. Looking over to his right was Captain Holly who he forgot was sitting there looking a bit peeved.

"Oh quiet you!" Exclaimed Holly. "Listen Bigwig, you're one of my best friends and you've served quite well on the battlefield but why is it that apologies are so hard for you? Is saying sorry somehow more difficult than punching an enemy mammal out cold?"

Bigwig gave a derisive snort and stood up from the table, snatching up his sandwich. "'cause I already said more apologies than a buck should ever have to in a lifetime!" he snarled. And then he stormed away while cramming the sandwich into his mouth. The group was stunned.

"What was that all about?" Silver asked.

"I have no idea," admitted Holly.

"I hope you're telling us this vision that got him upset at some point," Blackberry said. "Bigwig being quite stubborn is a nuisance."

"I'll keep that in mind but let's just let Fiver have his fun with Silverweed for now," Hazel responded. "Don't want to ruin his happiness with Bigwig still being cross at him."

"Hello everybody!" a voice called out. The group turned, and saw Silverweed and Fiver standing there, carrying trays of food.

"May we join you?" Silverweed asked.

"Why, certainly!" Hazel moved downward to allow Fiver and Silverweed to sit between him and Blackberry.

"What was up with Bigwig?" Fiver asked. "Oh, he's just working out some issues," said Hazel, not wanting Fiver to know the fight was about him. "So tell me little brother, what have you learned today?"

"Well, Silverweed showed me how to use a mandolin to slice vegetables!" said Fiver, "And he showed me some chopping techniques and of course where everything in the kitchen goes..."

The whole group then started listening in, fascinated by how animated the usually mellow Fiver seemed to get as he talked about his experiences with Silverweed.

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Some time later, the two seers were back in the back having carried all the finished plates, bowls and utensils to the giant dishwasher.

"Phew, I'm tired!" said Fiver. "Is this what every day is like for you?"

"Oh no, I do get days off," replied Silverweed, "We've got a couple hours off now, more staff will come in and do the lunch dishes and start preparing dinner. What say we go relax?"

"I would LOVE that!" Fiver answered eagerly. "Er, I really don't fancy the rec hall right now, is there a quiet place where we can go?"

"Well, er, there's always my room," said Silverweed a little awkwardly. "Hickory and Marigold are working and Cowslip is probably shut in his office now, so it'll be quiet. I can, uh, show you my room and all that."

"Perfect, let's go!" said Fiver.

Fiver felt the world whizz by after Silverweed took his right paw and pulled him across the farm to the cherry red house. Then once inside, the young orange seer found himself being led up a flight of stairs on the right Of Cowslips Office And now pass one open bathroom door on the left and then two open bedrooms on his right toll they reached the end door at the end of the hall.

A poster of an elderly chestnut buck in a dark grey suit with matching dark grey pants, an ocean blue undershirt and leaning to his right on a black cane smiling at them was taped on it.

"Who is that?" Fiver asked pointing at the poster.

"That is legendary British Author Richard Adams," Silverweed smiled. "Famous for his books Virus Vulpines, Shardik, The Girl in the Swing and his translation of the tales of Lord Frith, Ela-a-raih, Prince Rainbow and Rabscuttle."

"I think I know that name," said Fiver, "I think one of his books was on my high school reading list. Never got to read it though."

"Really? Well that's a pity, you must read his El-ahrairah tales sometime!" declared Silverweed. Then he opened the door, "Well, here we are."

Fiver looked around and felt impressed. The room seemed medium sized with a navy coloured bookcase in the upper right containing a few books, a window in front of him showing a bit more of the farm and a small closet in his upper left. In the right corner was a rabbit-sized bed opposite a simple wooden desk and chair. A few posters were also stuck on certain parts of the room. On the desk was a lamp, a framed photograph of Silverweed with Hickory and Marigold and a tiny wooden treasure chest that drew Fiver's curiosity.

"What's in there?" he asked, pointing at the box.

"Uh, nothing!" said Silverweed in a raised voice that made Fiver jump a little. Silverweed looked ashamed at his reaction. "No, it's, um... kind of private."

"Oh, sorry," said Fiver. He then looked around at the walls, which were adorned with a few posters. While Fiver's attention was averted, Silverweed noticed a certain magazine peeking out from under the bed. Frantically but silently he shifted over and kicked it out of sight. He had no desire for Fiver to see his old and well-read copy of Playbunny - Special Edition: Buff Bucks in the Buff.

"This room is really yours?" Fiver asked taking in all the other sights especially the posters. The carrot coloured walls, simple wood plank floor and even his own small bathroom in the bottom right corner. From its own white opened door, its walls were grass coloured with a sink on the left, toilet on the right and shower at the back.

"Yes it is," Silverweed answered after he quickly checked that his Playbunny magazine was well away from Fiver's view. He joined him at his right side. "Once I arrived here, I worked well enough for Marigold and Hickory to offer me this room and it already came with the desk, chair, bookcase and bed. The posters, desk chest and books were all my own which they helped order for me."

"Wow... that's so nice of them," said Fiver. He gazed at one of Silverweed's posters, which was of a Cape Buffalo in a football uniform running to make a touchdown, the biceps in his arms bulging. "You're into football?" he asked.

"Oh, uh, yes!" chanted SIlverweed. In truth the silver buck had only watched two full games in his life; he just thought the player on the poster was very good-looking. Fiver eyed another poster, which was of the Incredible Bulk: a gigantic green-furred rabbit with enormous muscles, wearing only torn purple trousers.

"And you like superheroes too?" Fiver asked.

"Oh yes, very much!" declared SIlverweed, which was actually true. "Have you ever watched the Marvole movies?" Fiver shook his head.

"Well, the Incredible Bulk is one of my favorites," said Silverweed. "A rabbit superhero, you know? You almost never see those."

"Do us seers qualify as superheroes?" Fiver pondered.

"Huh! I never thought of that," said Silverweed. "Let me see... we have powers, we use them for good... yes, we're superheroes, my friend!"

"Well we can't activate ours on command but if there came a time for us to protect other mammals, I'd love to be by your side for a rescue," Fiver smiled.

"Lots of superheroes can't control their powers, we'll fit right in," Silverweed smiled back. "And I would love to... be by your side too. Rescuing."

Fiver beamed with pride. Another seer and a new friend, who would fight by his side for saving others. His mind then thought back to another item on the desk. He strolled back to it and now concentrated on what looked like a map of many different areas mashed together. A title at the top read "Zootopia Overview".

"I'm hoping to visit there someday," said Silverweed, bending over next to him to contemplate the map.

"And I hope there's still a Zootopia when you do," Fiver said sadly, remembering his vision. "I've never wanted so badly to be wrong."

Silverweed's ears drooped. "I wish... I knew something you could do," he finally managed. "But I'm sure if there is a tsunami, it will be in the forecast. The city might see it coming, and prepare in time." Fiver looked slightly comforted by that.

Meanwhile, Silverweed began to notice that his and Fiver's face were very, very close together. He felt warm all over; tingly. He suddenly felt the strongest urge to turn his head and-

"Would you mind if I lie down for a while?"

Silverweed was startled out of his reverie. "Huh, what?"

Fiver gestured at the bed, "Would it be alright if I lie here for a while? I'm pretty tired."

Silverweed unconsciously gulped. "Yes, of course. Go ahead!" Then Fiver laid down on the bed, and Silverweed in turn laid on the carpet next to the bed.

Curled up on his side, Silverweed's previous feelings of arousal had been replaced by a new feeling: shame. Fiver was a teenager, he was an adult, it couldn't happen. They couldn't be more than friends. If he tried anything he would get in trouble with the law, and that was the absolute last thing he wanted. He had no idea if Fiver was even gay, the younger buck had mentioned no past relationships. Silverweed resolved to keep a tighter hold on his feelings from then on.

Feeling depressed now, the silvery buck reached up to his desk and pulled down a notepad and pen. Whenever he felt low there was one remedy that always helped him: writing poetry.

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A few hours later, another day of hard farm work had just ended for everyone and for the Sandleford survivors, day 2 of it had given them a bunch of success in providing more produce for places far away. The worn-out group still in their work clothes entered the dining hall to find nearly all the other workers were already sitting down and eating. The course of the evening being broccoli casserole, split pea soup and steamed carrots. The group got their trays, and at the line-up were greeted warmly by Fiver and Silverweed who were serving again.

"Hello Hazel, hi everyone!" said Fiver.

"Hello little brother, have a good day?" Hazel asked.

"Best I've had in a long time!" Fiver declared.

"You're the last group to arrive, we can join you all in a minute," said Silverweed. Hazel nodded and moved in line with the others to get his dinner, smiling broadly at how happy his brother looked.

A few minutes after finding an empty table Fiver and Silverweed came up carrying trays of their own.

"Hey, where's Bigwig?" Fiver asked as he sat down.

"From what I gathered from what Strawberry told me, Bigwig had to report something important to Cowslip involving two incidents in the orchard," Hazel answered.

"He also helped me carry in a doe who passed out from heatstroke," Blackberry added. "Poor thing, hopefully I can save her."

"You just do what you can Blackberry, all of us have worked hard," Buckthorn said as he kissed Violet on her right cheek.

"Thank you," Blackberry replied. She then turned to her left and spoke to Hazel. "Have you and Bigwig made up yet?"

"Sort of, none of us really spoke to each other but perhaps Fiver working away with Silverweed helped," Hazel said. "With just the two of us, we still worked hard but just occasionally chatted about our future."

"You know it wouldn't kill him to just say a simple sorry," muttered Hawkbit. "Apologies don't make you any less of a mammal."

"I'm afraid Bigwig's stubborn about those sorts of things," said Holly.

"With that pride of his, he's always been reluctant at certain times for it," Dandelion piped in.

"I know but I really wished he'd be less stubborn on it," Hazel sighed. "When I meant he sort of apologized, he mumbled about how he is working on it but we didn't argue anymore for the afternoon. Maybe with a nice meal, he'll start with me and then Fiver afterwards."

"Being patient is all any of you can do," Silverweed spoke up. "Hey, how about I entertain the entire dining hall tonight with some poetry tonight to take your minds off his trouble?" He remembered his new poem on a small pad in his right pants pocket.

"Certainly! We would love to!" Hazel answered.

"I think you'll like it, he showed me some of his other work during break!" Fiver piped in.

"I must say, little brother, you're certainly looking chipper compared to yesterday," declared Hazel, "It's nice to see you're fitting in after all."

"Another seer makes me feel not alone in knowing other such as me exist and in a way, perhaps it is our search for a new home outside Sandleford that got me to find him," Fiver said. "And I've had had no more visions since this morning, it's been a great relief."

All the Sandleford survivors turned to watch Silverweed get up and approach a few figures just walking into the hall. They were Hickory and Marigold followed by Bigwig and...Cowslip. Silverweed pulled aside Marigold and Hickory and spoke to them likely about the poetry. Cowslip stopped a bit away and watched the three while Bigwig got into line for food. Just as Bigwig was sitting down at the table with his dinner, Fiver watched Silverweed step up to the podium carrying a bar stool.

"Hey everyone," said Bigwig, "We need to talk, but first, I have something for you all." He reached into the pocket of his jacket, and pulled out a small stack of envelopes: "Our days' pay."

"WooHoo!" everybody cheered as they collected their respective envelopes from Bigwig. "Dear me, how much is in these envelopes?" Holly asked. Each of the envelopes felt quite chunky. "This cover our first two days?"

"It does indeed!" Bigwig declared. Each rabbit eagerly regarded their stack of money, savoring the feel of cash in their paws, until each one noticed that their pay was mostly in singles and fives along with a couple tens, so it wasn't as much as it appeared to be.

"Huh, I thought we'd get a few more $10 bills in our pay," Speedwell mumbled. "Maybe it is a new workers thing," Blackberry thought. "Perhaps we need to work for awhile and earn more as we go on."

"Something tells me Cowslip doesn't pay much attention to minimum wage laws," Bigwig muttered grimly. "Listen, Hazel, something happened today-"

"Attention! Attention!" Cowslip's amplified voice suddenly called out. Everybody turned their heads to see the plump buck standing at the podium in front of the microphone, Silverweed standing behind him looking nervous.

"And now ladies, gentlebucks," said Cowslip, it is time for our evening's entertainment. Let's give it up, for Silverweed!" There was modest applause from the crowd as Silverweed stepped up to the mike and place a sheet of paper on the podium. "This poem tonight is inspired by a special buck here," Silverweed said staring down at his paper. All the group could tell he felt nervous from how he kind of shook as he read his lines. "One who helped me realize I'm not alone and there are friends out there still for me."

All the Sandleford group's heads briefly turned to Fiver, having no doubt about whom Silverweed was referring to. "With that out of the way, here is my new poem for sharing with you all tonight," Silverweed added finishing his intro. He turned over a page to the next one which contained his new poem and began:

We all seek our special place in the world, Where we may thrive and our dreams can unfurl.

But we cannot all conform to the norm, And there shall always be us outsiders.

Misunderstood we face jeering and fear, And threats of shackles, shocks and bitter pills.

We pray to Lord Frith to save the Hlessi, And let us fly in the warmth of his light, Through the clouds above all who would shun us.

Then Fiver noticed that Silverweed seemed to look straight at him as he began the final verse:

But alas, sometimes Frith's light comes to us, And hope shines anew, when least expected.

Whether it be by design or chaos, 'Tis the beauty of life, in its splendor.

There was a moment of hushed silence in the audience, and then one rabbit started to clap, and immediately all the others started joining in the applause. Silverweed timidly gave a little bow. The entire Sandleford group felt stunned. Some of them had heard of poetry but nothing in this way and from how Fiver got a focus near the end, clearly he had a hand being some inspiration for it.

"Whoa, did you know you'd play a role in the crafting of that poem?" Dandelion asked.

"I had no idea," Fiver gasped. "I did take a nap on his bed in his room which he showed me after lunch. Maybe he wrote it down while I slept. I do recall he showed me some of his poetry after I woke up but I think I forgot how they went "

"You probably just had a nice dream and enjoyed the company of him so much that you forgot it," Hazel replied. "No worries." He tussles his brother's ears lovingly.

"What the heck was that?" asked Silver, "Doesn't sound like any poem I ever heard before."

"It was iambic pentameter," Dandelion answered, "Lines of verse with ten syllables each. Shakesbear in particular was known for them in his plays. They don't have to rhyme."

"I thought he was brilliant!" declared Hana. "The dear looked so scared up there, but he never faltered. This must have been very personal for him."

"Blackberry, what are Hlessi?" Pipkin asked. "In ancient Lapine it was the word for a rabbit without a warren," Blackberry answered, "It can also mean 'outcast'."

"They are both these seer rabbits," Acorn commented. "Maybe most of them go under that label because others don't understand them?"

"With his power, Fiver's always been something of an outcast," said Hazel darkly. "But I think Silverweed was referring to all of us. Rabbits without a home, in a way we're all hlessi."

"There are many rabbits here like that," interjected a voice, "Rabbits with no home, no family, some of us even done time in prison. Cowslip might not pay well but at least he gives us a place to stay and work."

All the rabbits turned to their left and noticed Strawberry with a bowl of soup who had walked up to their table.

"Oh sorry, is it okay if I sit with you guys?" Strawberry continued. "I came in halfway through the poem."

"Certainly," said Speedwell, and he shifted away from the left of his brother and allowed him to sit in between them. "Were you busy elsewhere?"

"Yeah, just thinking of ...stuff," Strawberry spoke slowly. He focused hard on his soup and nobody went further figuring it must be personal.

The group then watched Silverweed recite a few more straightforward poems, and then the silvery buck stepped down and rejoined the table. "So, did you like it?" Silverweed asked.

Hazel noticed the buck was looking more at Fiver than at the rest of the group.

"Um uh, it is really good," Fiver mumbled. Hazel chuckled seeing his brother still a bit loss for words that he had in a way helped out Silverweed with his poetry.

"Yes it is, we all liked it!" Hazel declared. Silverweed beamed. "Silverweed?" Another familiar face come up to the table, this time it was Hickory.

"Nice work tonight, son!" said Hickory.

"Son?" Asked Pipkin scratching his head. "He doesnt look like you or Marigold though."

"It's a figure of speech," Hickory explained, "Silverweed's been like a son to Marigold and me ever since he arrived here," he turned to Silverweed, "Sage still isn't feeling well, would you and Fiver mind helping out with the dinner dishes?"

"Sure, we'll get right on it!" said Silverweed, "Then as he stood he looked out the window, and seemed to get an idea. Actually, there's something I want to show him first, will only take a minute." Once again, Fiver felt Silverweed take his right paw in his left for another outside trip.

"Say Hickory," Hazel began noting how happy Silverweed looked with his young brother. "I'd like to help you out with something."

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"Come on Silverweed, we've got a mountain of dishes to wash!" Fiver protested.

"Just for a minute, I promise!" replied Silverweed, "There's something you've got to see!"

Fiver kept silent as Silverweed led him out of the mess hall and across the lot towards what looked like a giant steel barrel with a triangular roof, supported roughly thirty feet off the ground by four cross-beams and a couple of ladders. "What is that?" Fiver asked.

"The water tower!" Silverweed answered, "It distributes water to the kitchen and the dormitories! Come on, you've got to see what it's like from the top!" And before Fiver could protest further the silvery buck led him to the base of one of the ladders and started to climb.

"Um, I should tell you, I'm not very good with heights!" Fiver called from the bottom rung.

"Neither am I, come on!" Silverweed called back as he climbed higher. Fiver obeyed, following him one rung at a time and doing his best not to look down, until three-quarters of the way up he faltered and did see how high up he was.

"W-Woah!" Fiver clamped his eyes shut with panic and wrapped his arms around the ladder with all his might.

"Fiver!" Silverweed quickly lowered himself back down the wide ladder until he was level with Fiver and placed his paw on the younger buck's back. "Don't worry, I've got you! You're not going to fall! Come on, you're almost there!"

Fiver quickly shook his head, still scared.

"Please… trust me," whispered Silverweed. Still scared but choosing to trust his friend, Fiver slowly let go of the rung and blindly climbed up the rest of the ladder, feeling Silverweed's reassuring paw on his back until his own paw touched what felt like perforated metal ground.

"We're nearly there, we're on the scaffold!" Silverweed explained, ""Please, keep your eyes closed just a little longer! Don't worry, there's a guardrail here to protect us."

Fiver still blindly climbed on the scaffold, and allowed himself to be guided a few feet forward by Silverweed until his friend finally let go. "Okay… now open your eyes," said Silverweed. Fiver obeyed, and what he saw made him gasp.

Before him was one of the most beautiful sunsets he had ever seen in his life. Bright beams of light across the horizon seemed to illuminate the whole farm, bathing the fields in pink, red and orange. "I love to come up here during my breaks," Silverweed explained, "I've written some of my best poetry up here." "It's beautiful…" whispered Fiver, the colors of the sunset reflected in his violet eyes.

"Yeah… beautiful." Silverweed concurred. The two continued like this for a minute, staring into the bright red sunset, before Fiver felt something: he looked down, and saw that Silverweed's paw was holding his own. Fiver's eyes widened in surprise, but for some reason, he didn't feel any urge to pull it away. Then Silverweed himself saw what he was doing, then looked up at Fiver's face, and quickly pulled his paw away. "

*Cough*, sorry. Okay, we'd better get back to work," said Silverweed, and before Fiver could respond the other buck turned and started moving back towards the ladder.

Fiver stared a bit in confusion and thought maybe Silverweed felt very lonely without another seer to relate to. He actually enjoyed the touch and kept that in thought as he walked towards the ladder.

"Silverweed?" Fiver called out, but the silvery buck was already halfway down the ladder.

"Silverweed?" Fiver tried again as he started down the ladder himself. But without looking up Silverweed reached the bottom of the ladder and started to half-walk, half run in the direction of the kitchen. "Silverweed, wait up!"

Without thinking Fiver slid down the last 8 feet of the ladder to the ground and quickly ran to catch up with his friend, reaching him halfway between the tower and the kitchen and grabbing his arm. Focusing on that closeness in the paws from Silverweed had temporarily taken away his fear of heights and made him do that. "Silverweed, please, talk to me! What was that?"

"I didn't - I didn't mean to - Fiver, I'm so sorry..." Silverweed stammered, avoiding Fiver's eyes.

"What is it that you're sorry for?" Fiver questioned.

"Holding one of your paws without you knowing at the sunset," Silverweed mumbled.

"Why ever would you need to be sorry for that?" Fiver said feeling confused. "I didnt mind "

"You... didn't?" Silverweed's face brightened, and his ears perked all the way up.

"No, no, I just... didn't see it coming, that's all," Fiver said.

Silverweed this time looked up directly at his eyes. "If anything, I actually enjoyed it," Fiver added. "I just figured maybe you did that from feeling quite lonely without another seer to be around before my arrival."

Silverweed's heart lifted at the word 'enjoyed', but then it sank down again. Fiver's tone and choice of words did nothing to imply that the younger buck might share his feelings after all.

"You could say that," Silverweed responded. "Listen, how about after dishes, I talk to you in my room about that? It goes a lot deeper."

"Certainly," Fiver said, and in response, Silverweed gave a smile that felt a little forced.

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And with that, the two bucks headed back to the kitchen. But once they arrived, a pleasant surprise greeted them: some of their friends were standing by Marigold and Hickory with big smiles on their faces. And all the dishes that had been on the tables and in the sink were cleaned and put away. \

"What- what happened here?" a stunned Fiver and Silverweed asked simultaneously.

"Surprise, little brother!" announced Hazel from the front of the group, "You both worked so hard today, we thought you'd like a break!"

Silverweed was positively gobsmacked. "But how? We were only gone fifteen minutes!"

"Hawkbit and Dandelion cleared the tables, Buckthorn and Violet wiped them down and tidied the kitchen, Bigwig and I loaded the dishwasher and Silver and Pipkin put the dishes away with Hickory and Marigold's help," Hazel declared. "Never underestimate what a group of rabbits can do."

"Just don't expect this every night," muttered Hawkbit. Dandelion elbowed him in the chest.

"Wow, this is wonderful. Thank you, thank you all," said Fiver, his heart filled with gratitude.

"We all do our part on this farm greatly and you have made a new friend who enjoys your company plus is like you and I wanted to give you 2 as much time together as possible," Hazel said.

Fiver felt his eyes well up with happy tears and ran at his brother for a hug. "Thank you, thank you," Fiver mumbled happily into his brother's chest.

Silverweed stood by feeling a bit left out until Hazel noticed him. "Oh, come here, you!" he gestured at the silvery buck with a paw held out. Silverweed's eyes widened in surprise, and then he too joined the sudden group hug. Silverweed felt strange being in a hug with another seer and his brother but it filled with joy. They were like another family he never had, it never felt this way with his original family.

"Hazel, if it is alright with you, I'd like to chat with Fiver for a bit in my room back at the cherry house," Silverweed Asked. "It's a bit important."

"Well okay, but as long as Fiver can get back to the sleeping quarters, do you know the way?" Hazel questioned to his brother. "Yes Hazel," Fiver replied. Hazel then nodded yes and then watched as the seers ran off to talk about whatever it is they were going to discuss.

"Hazel, can we talk now?" asked Bigwig as the group started exiting the kitchen into the rec hall.

"Of course, what's going on?" Hazel asked, his tone of voice turning much more serious as the two went to a nearby table and sat down.

"It's about some things that happened today," said Bigwig grimly, "I don't think we should stay here."

"Does this involve that doe BlackBerry is currently treating right now?"

"That's part of it," Bigwig replied, "I found her in the field, she'd had a fall and hit her head on a rock, and she laid there in the sun for hours. Head and trauma combined with heat stroke... It doesn't look good for her. Her mate is devastated."

Hazel inwardly shuddered at the poor doe's condition. "What does that have to do with our staying here?" he asked.

"I talked to Cowslip about her and suggested she be taken to a hospital, but he waved it off," Bigwig answered, "Didn't seem to care that she could die. And he's got the only phone here locked in his office. I worry that if one of us gets hurt or sick like that, we won't get any better treatment."

Hazel was shocked at Cowslip's apparent callousness. "But about the nurse's office? Isn't there anything Blackberry and the others can do?"

Bigwig waved him off, "Have you seen the nurse's office? It's a joke, Hazel. You'd be lucky to get a band-aid in that dump, I don't think it's gotten new medical supplies since it opened." His head lowered, "But that's not the worst thing we have to talk about."

Hazel thought hard to try seeing the situation here: Cowslip had a lack of attention to injured workers, the medical station sounded unattended to and now all of this just got dropped on him just as they were settling in with Fiver finding another seer for the first time. How could this fate be so cruel? "What... what is the worst thing?" he finally asked.

"Do you remember those two bucks I caught having a fight yesterday?" Hazel nodded. "Today I found them again, skulking around in the fields. I tailed them, and they led me to a spot where they dug up at least a dozen wrapped packages. They cut one open, pinched out some powder and snorted it - Hazel, there are drug smugglers here!"

Hazel faceplanted into the table. Drug smugglers, a buck running the farm who didn't seem phased by anything and from its description, a medical station that wouldn't be of much use to any serious medical conditions. "Did they spot you Bigwig?" He asked once he regained himself upright.

Bigwig nodded. "I'm afraid I had to confront them, that's my job. But first I listened for a while - remember how they were arguing yesterday? Turned out they were actually fighting over how to split their profits, they just made that apple thing up when they saw us coming. They laughed and said we were dumb to fall for their story. That got me riled up, so I went up and confronted them. "It was two to one, but those bucks must be either real cowards or real stupid because they took off running when they me coming. Didn' even put a fight, and they left their stash behind! I tried to catch 'em but they were too fast, so I grabbed their stash and showed it to Cowslip. Naturally he said he'd call the police, but no one's showed up."

Bigwig leaned forward, "Those bucks are still out there, and I'll bet there are other dangerous folk around here too. I hate to say it, but your brother might have been right. We shouldn't stay here."

"Should we try to earn a bit more and then tell Hickory and Marigold we're deciding to look for work elsewhere?" Hazel suggested. "They don't seem bad but perhaps Cowslip isn't telling them everything and they're just focused in running the Farm."

"I'm willing to try... but we got to be careful," responded Bigwig. "Especially with Pipkin - we can't let him go out alone. And I'm worried for Fiver too. Hazel..." Bigwig looked like he was struggling to come up with the words he was looking for, "I'm... I'm sorry."

Hazel could tell Bigwig was being sincere now through his struggling of those words. "I forgive you but please don't forget Fiver is owed an apology too," the tall orange brown buck responded. "Even with Silverweed occupying a bunch of his time, you still hurt him verbally a bit yesterday."

"You know apologies are hard for me remember?" Bigwig answered.

"Apologizing when necessary is not going to make you appear weak instantly," Hazel stated firmly. "Honestly in situations such as that orchard shout from yesterday, you appear less of a mammal when not recognizing a time for a sorry and instead thinking your ego is more important."

Bigwig gave him a scowl, but eventually nodded a little in agreement. "Fine. I'll apologize to him tomorrow. Right now I'm too tired." He stood up, "Tomorrow at breakfast, please talk to the group about what I said. I won't be able to join you - I gotta start patrol early again. Goodnight Hazel."

"Good luck Bigwig," Hazel answered. "Should I just make it simple and just tell the others to keep their guard up for any shifty looking rabbits based on some bucks you spotted talking funny?"

"Tell 'em to be on the lookout, keep their wits about 'em, and try not to work alone," Bigwig responded. And with that, the maned buck left, and Hazel was left alone to ponder his words. He most worried about Fiver. With not a chance of staying long, his brother was sure to become heartbroken after leaving the first seer he had ever met. Who knew if they would ever meet another one?

*** Back in his own room, Silverweed felt nervous in discussing this new set of events for Fiver. He had to just get these feelings off his chest before he had a breakdown.

"So Silverweed, is this new discussion you need me here for that important?" Fiver asked.

Silverweed had been sitting down at his desk and turned his body and chair around to face him back on his bed against the wall with his pillow as a body rester. He looked beautiful in his short red shirt and dark green shorts and he himself had already gotten dressed in his panamas which were white with blue diamonds on them. While a beautiful sight, the silvery seer knew he probably couldn't have the young orange brown seer but he could at least get this emotional weight off his chest.

"I... yeah, it is," SIlverweed affirmed. He leaned forward, his paws clasped together nervously together. "There's no easy way to say this..." he looked deep into Fiver's eyes, "Fiver, I'm gay."

"Oh?" Fiver Exclaimed with his ears shooting up. "That is important." He noticed Silverweed droop his ears in sadness. "Hey now, you have no need to fear my reaction. I was only in a bit of middle school for some early high school but they did teach us these subjects in school. I don't dislike if a mammal finds their own gender attractive or both, it is their happiness that matters."

Silverweed was most relieved to hear that, even though he had already guessed Fiver might feel that way based on his actions following the scene at the water tower. He would have liked to leave it at that, but he had to get the rest out. "Thank you..." he finally managed, "I'm so glad you're okay with that. But I'm afraid there's more." Fiver leaned forward, hanging on to every word.

"Fiver, I, uh, I like you."

"Well I like you too as a friend," Fiver responded by then he realized there had to be more based on what he had just heard. "Wait, do you like me more than a friend?"

"Yes it is and bear with me," Silverweed said. He got off the chair, proceeded slowly over to the bed, sat down and took Fiver's left paw into both of his own. "Fiver, my liking of you is more than a friend. Despite only a 2 day period of spending time together, my enjoyment of you goes beyond friendship. From just simple stares, spending time doing work or free time, it has blossomed further. Not just friendship but my enjoyment of your company is...romantic."

Fiver now blushed, this answer surprised him greatly!

"Oh my, I didn't think you enjoyed my company that much," Fiver said. His face went red as the lunch tomatoes and Silverweed couldn't help but chuckle as Fiver pulled his left paw back so he could cover his mouth with both paws from giggling like a little school doe. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm laughing!" Fiver giggled, "I - I don't know why I didn't see it - you held my paw and I didn't realize!" He was practically guffawing now, and Silverweed found himself joining in.

Soon Fiver calmed down, and he faced his infatuated friend. "I don't know what to say. No one's ever said they liked me before."

"Didn't you ever had anyone show interest?" Silverweed Asked.

"No, not a soul!" Fiver stated, "Before the swirling wind I barely had any friends besides Hazel - most everyone else thought I was a freak, or just a scrawny little runt." There was a look of sadness on his face now that Silverweed was all too familiar with, having worn the look many times himself.

"Well, for what it's worth... I think you're beautiful," Silverweed whispered.

Fiver smiled in appreciation at those words. "...Thank you. I'm - I'm so sorry I don't feel the way you do. I've never really felt that way about anybody, I guess I'm just broken."

"Us seers are seen as that. Not many can understand our kind, I don't even know if there are seers of other species," Silverweed murmured. "All we can do is rely on each other." He took both Fiver's paws and stared at him firmly. "You don't have to feel broken. Maybe you feel affection for me in a confused way or just instead a strong friendship."

To that, Fiver embraced Siverweed tightly. "I'm so glad we found each other," he whispered. "After my brother, you're the best friend I've ever had."

"Another seer is probably the best friend I could ever had too," Silverweed responded. Then suddenly he felt a familiar feeling stirring in a familiar part of his body and he abruptly broke the hug. "I'm sorry, I'm really tired. This emotional release has really worn me out."

"Me too..." Fiver then yawned, "…And we worked so hard today." He stood up, and patted his paw on his friend's shoulder, "Goodnight Silverweed, see you in the morning." Silverweed placed his paw on Fiver's, and held it there for a few seconds before letting go. "Goodnight... Fiver." And Fiver turned and left the room.

With a deep sigh, Silverweed laid back on his bed, watching a particular crack in the ceiling and feeling 'the shape' go away. At that moment he would have given anything, anything, for Fiver to call him more than a friend. He could picture no match made more in heaven, but it just wasn't meant to be. Fiver didn't see him as anything more than a friend, and that was that. He felt so alone… just him and his books, and his cooking, and his poetry… Suddenly he grabbed his notebook off the desk, turned to a specific page, and reread a poem he had written months ago when he was in a particularly low state of mind:

Rain runs like a rabbit on his own

Snow falls, like a soft and silent stone.

Wind blows with a low and sorry moan

And this is all we have, we who sleep and dream alone.

"Sleep and dream alone…" he whispered sadly. Sniffling, he laid the pad on the dresser, turned out the light and rolled over, only to realize: his sheets smelled like Fiver. He breathed deeply and hugged all four corners of the bed, as if hoping it would somehow conjure Fiver into his bed.

*** Back inside the sleeping quarters, Fiver walked upstairs to find the room with his friends, most of them just laying down asleep or just getting ready. He could see Hana on a nightstand by BlackBerry's bed pulling out some tiny red pajamas out of a tiny suitcase which he couldn't recall seeing but he probably just forgot about its existence from spending time with Silverweed. By his bunkbed, he could see his brother preparing. Hazel had laid out a set of PJ's for him which were literally navy blue with carrots, clothes shopping for a new life turned out to be a good experience with them both back in Sandleford.

"Ah Fiver, come get ready for bed and tell me about your talk with Silverweed," Hazel said gesturing over to himself.

"Um, alright, but first, can we go somewhere more private?" Fiver asked, not wanting their friends to overhear what Silverweed had told him.

Hazel nodded, "Alright," and the two left the bedroom and went into the change room down the hall. Locking the door and now assured of privacy Fiver started to undress for bed; normally shy as he was, he had no embarrassment at being naked in front of his brother. At the point of being in his underwear, Fiver then stopped and decided he wanted to talk now. He wasn't sure why at this point but perhaps the feeling of being bare made him realize he didn't want to hide it as like the bedroom clothes for his body

"Hazel, listen carefully as I don't want you to get angry at what I'm about to reveal about our conversation in his room," Fiver spoke slowly. Hazel nodded in agreement. "Okay, when Silverweed took me into his room, he first went to the bathroom for a PJ change and then came back to his desk thinking a bit. I couldn't tell what went on his head by his posture and silence so I began by asking what is his important discussion. His answer? He is gay."

Hazel's eyebrows twitched a little, but other than that he gave no reaction. Five immediately guessed: "You knew, didn't you?"

Hazel shrugged, "We all sort of knew; we could see the way he looked at you. Honestly, I think he has a little crush on you."

Fiver was startled, both by the news and by the fact that he was apparently the only one who didn't see it. "That's it - he does! He said he liked me!" He quickly went on the defensive, "You're not mad at him, are you?"

Hazel shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with having feelings. And I'm learning to trust Silverweed – I don't think he'd try anything if he thought it was wrong." His expression turned stern, "But all the same I must ask - what exactly happened?"

Fiver gulped. "Well, after he told me he was gay and said he liked me, he sat down next to me and took my paw..." Hazel raised his eyebrows.

"No, not like you might be thinking!" Fiver quickly stated, "I think he was trying to give himself courage - he looked so nervous. And I don't think he's been able to talk about it much before; his own family rejected him because he had visions; they never would have supported him being gay as well. "...Anyway, then he told me a few nice things, and said his enjoyment of my company was romantic."

Hazel was hanging on to every word. "Please, do go on," he said. "And then we had a laugh, because looking back it was so obvious and I never saw it. And then... I was just honest – I told him I liked him as a friend, but not in a romantic sense."

"Fiver, did you have any other reactions once Silverweed said he was gay?" Hazel asked.

"N-no, not really..." Fiver managed, finding himself suddenly blushing, "I mean, it was nice, having someone talk to me like that, but I... I just don't know. You know I'm not like other mammals."

Hazel nodded. Besides his visions Fiver had another unusual trait: in all his life Fiver had never once had a crush or expressed romantic interest in any other rabbit, doe or buck. He wasn't even attracted to other species as far as Hazel knew. Fiver sometimes referred to himself as 'broken', which Hazel hated to hear so he had done some research, and concluded his brother was likely asexual.

"Well, just thought I'd ask," Hazel finally said.

"You know brother, it is nice to finally meet another seer such as myself," Fiver said. "We will probably have to leave someday to find a home but I'll cherish my time with Silverweed in the meantime and who knows the future of our lives? Perhaps Silverweed can come with us for a new life of his own and be a part of our family?"

Hazel felt touched, they had become their own family even with Hana in just 4 days leaving Sandleford. The thought of Silverweed being a part of their family? It did sound impressive, they could have a new friend Fiver could relate to in special abilities but at the same time, he couldn't forget about the danger Bigwig told him. Still, he couldn't just ruin the happiness his brother felt right now for Silverweed and decided to settle on something simple.

"I'm happy you enjoy him dear brother," Hazel answered holding his arms open for a hug. "How about some brotherly love now?" His response came in the form of his young brother tackling him in a tight embrace not caring he was still just in his underwear. Family time was strong between the two and a bit of an underdressed situation wouldn't spoil this. Hazel hugged him snuggly feeling mixed emotions. He had to warn everyone about the dangers Bigwig had spoken to him but also care for his brother and his bond with a new friend of theirs. Their lives had some interesting events so far in their new future but it seemed some bad infected their happiness too What with the unsettling feel of Cowslip and now drug smugglers in the Apple orchard. He could only hope their lives would improve more provided none of them died before they had a new home.

BAM BAM BAM! A sudden rapping at the door drove the brothers apart.

"Hey, you been in there a long time! Let someone else use the room, willya?" boomed a voice from outside.

"Okay, we're coming!" Hazel answered. Quick as a flash Fiver put on his pajamas and the two bucks left to let the buck at the door use the room. Reaching their bedroom quarters, they found that their bunkmates were all in bed by now. Bidding each other a quiet goodnight, Hazel and Fiver climbed into their respective bunks and were soon fast asleep.

A/N: Just to clarify, Silverweed's intended age in this chapter is 21 while Fiver is 16. And for some other characters' ages: Hazel is 9 years older than Fiver at 25, Blackberry is 30, Bigwig is 35, Pipkin is 6 and Captain Holly is 60.