Hi everyone. Are you excited to know where the arrival in the new location would take us? Not to worry as here it is!

Chapter 8: Beginnings in Bunnyburrow

Hazel blinked a bit in confusion. "How are we in the town from one of your visions? Did you see anything that had recognizable imagery?"

"Oh yeah, you were unconscious from...so much blood loss," Fiver paused a bit shivering from the bullet wound but he forced himself to continue. "Anyways, I rode with you in the ambulance and when we approached the town you were to be treated in, I saw a sign that was in my set of visions from Cowslips Farm. It was shaped like a rabbit's head and had a bunch of numbers constantly going up!"

"What were those numbers?" Hazel asked excitedly.

"The - the population of Bunnyburrow," Fiver suddenly giggled, "I think it must be a joke or something, because if there were really so many rabbits here we'd be so crowded we couldn't turn around. It was up in the billions."

Hazel's eyes widened "Great Frith, there must be as many children as El-ahrairah! Any other imagery you saw in your visions while in the ambulance?"

"No," Fiver answered, "The only other thing I remember from that vision is a big house with a sign that starts with H. But Hazel – I'm positive this is the town it's in! I feel it!"

"Well then, we're making good progress then!" Hazel smiled. "I sure wish I could call a doctor to learn about my status and when I can leave to go meet our friends."

"Well, it's..." Fiver looked around and saw the time on Hazel's heartbeat monitor, "Almost 4:30 now. Can we just get some more sleep please?"

"Sure little brother but we must meet our friends soon," Hazel replied. "Got to find out more about this place while we're here."

Fiver got off the bed to retrieve the pillow his brother had thrown, and while he did that Hazel shuffled over to the side of his hospital bed. Fiver returned with the pillow, and saw Hazel patting the bed beside him. Wordlessly Fiver got on top of the covers next to Hazel, and soon both brothers were asleep again.

000***000

A few hours later Hazel blinked, and started slowly opened his eyes again. His head was tilted to the side, looking at Fiver's sleeping face. He smiled sleepily and planted a little kiss on his brother's head, and then noticed something in his peripheral vision: a green and brown camouflage pattern like a military jacket. He looked up and saw Bigwig standing a foot away from the bed.

"Awww," grinned Bigwig. "GAH!" Hazel jumped up in surprise, startling Fiver out of his sleep. Then Hazel looked around and saw: the room was full of rabbits from their group, standing around watching him and Fiver as they slept: Bigwig, Holly, Dandelion, Hawkbit, Pipkin and Blackberry who had Hana on her head.

"Easy now!" Bigwig laughed, "You gave us a right scare there, Mate!"

"How do you feel, Mr. Hazel?" Pipkin asked anxiously, trying to climb on the bed to get closer. Blackberry picked him up from behind and set him down next to Hazel, keeping clear of the wounded buck's leg.

"Errgh, my leg hurts a little," Hazel groaned, stroking Pipkin's ears reassuringly, "But I'm here, I'm alive. How are the does?"

"They're fine, they're waiting outside with the others to talk to you," Holly answered, "And so is the doctor, hold on," He strode over to the door and opened it: "Doctor Bounds? Hazel just woke up!"

A moment later a plump brown rabbit dressed in a white coat entered the room carrying a clipboard in one paw and a walking cane in the other.

"Good morning Mr. Shawnson, how are you feeling today?" the doctor asked.

"Err, fine I guess," Hazel answered, "Where am I exactly?"

"You're in Bunnyburrow General, the best hospital in the Tri-Burrows!" declared Doctor Bounds, "You'll be happy to know that the operation went well, and we were able to remove the bullet. Take a look."

And the doctor reached into his pocket and a small transparent cup with a lid on it, and inside Hazel could see the oval-shaped hunk of metal that had been embedded in his leg the previous night.

"Ooh, that is what got into Hazel's leg?" Asked Dandelion eyeing the bullet. "I hope taking it out wasn't hard."

"I admit we got lucky," said the doctor, "Another inch to the left and it would have embedded in Hazel's femur, and he might have never walked properly again."

Hazel gave a shudder at the thought of walking with a limp for the rest of his life, or possibly ending up in a wheelchair.

"As it is, we expect you to make a full recovery," said Doctor Bounds to Hazel, "But there are some things you will have to do to ensure it: you will have to keep the wound dry, change the bandage, and whatever you do, do not overexert yourself for at least a week, or you could tear your stitches. The nurse will provide you with the necessary supplies and all the information you need, and here is a cane for you to walk with." Bounds held up the cane he'd been carrying, laid it down on the bed and then pocketed the bullet, "Now I must be getting this delivered to the Podunk crime lab, it should ensure a conviction for the buck who shot you. If there are no more questions, you are cleared to leave today if you want."

"Just one question: how can we settle the bill for the operation?" Holly asked.

"None of us have enough for paying you mate," Hawkbit added worryingly.

The doctor frowned, "There is no charge for his stay here."

"Say what!?" Bigwig started.

"Hazel's entitled to victim's compensation – he was shot, so the bill for his stay will automatically be covered. The claim has already been filed."

"Oi, I wish we knew about that sooner!" Bigwig frowned. "I got knocked out by a bat on a work farm several days ago and we used most of our savings to pay my hospital visit!"

"Really?" the doctor's jaw twitched, "Well you should have been entitled, even if you weren't brought in by ambulance. Do you happen to remember the name or location of the hospital?"

"Yeah – it was in a town called Buckeye, somewhere in Arizona," Bigwig growled, "As soon as I get a job and my own phone, they're going to get an earful!"

"Alright," Doctor Bounds said as he scribbled out a note for Bigwig. "Here is the hospital number, call us and ask for me to get in contact for help on the matter. If you can't do it due to reasons, get someone else to do it and say they're asking on your behalf okay?"

Bigwig looked stunned at the gesture. "Thank ya, I will," he muttered in appreciation, tucking the note in his pocket. "Think I'm gonna like it here in this… Bunnyburrow."

"I think you will too, welcome to Bunnyburrow," said the doctor cheerily. "I must go make my rounds, but Hazel, you're clear to leave when you're ready. Just check out at the desk before you go."

And with that, Hazel breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Wow… do you all feel it? I think our luck is beginning to change at last."

"Yeah… the does are safe, your leg's fine and we don't have to pay. For once everything went right, when has that ever happened to us?" quipped Hawkbit.

"I don't know, but if our new luck holds out and Fiver's vision was right, we could find our new home by nightfall!" Hazel declared. "Maybe there's somewhere here we can eat before go, I'm so hungry." And then he pulled back his sheets and started to turn to get out of bed.

"Uh, Hazel," Bigwig muttered, looking at the orange buck's back, "You know you're in a hospital gown, right?" Hazel frowned in confusion and looked down the front of the gown he was wearing, and then felt behind himself and realized that the back was open and held together by a string.

"GAH!" Hazel shot back into bed and covered himself up again.

Bigwig laughed, "Here, we brought you some clothes from out of the bus," He held up a bag for emphasis and put it on the table next to him, "We'll give you some privacy. Fiver, you better stay here and help him. Come on guys." And the rest of the group left the room, leaving Hazel and Fiver alone again.

With the group gone, Hazel grabbed the bag of clothes brought for him and looked through it: a pair of white underwear, a green longsleeve shirt and dark grey pants. Satisfied with the choice of clothes he pulled back the covers and slowly turned himself into a sitting position at the edge of the bed, wincing from his leg as he did so. The anesthetic they had given him was wearing off, although there was enough to still make his body feel heavy and his head feel foggy.

"Are - are you sure you want to leave now, Hazel?" Fiver asked behind him, "It's not costing us anything, maybe we should wait until you've healed a little."

"Now I know you're concerned Fiver but you mustn't worry," answered Hazel trying his best to stay upright and awake. "There is a whole town to explore and we have to find this place in your vision." He grabbed the underwear from the bag, and then undid the string at the back of his hospital gown and pulled it off. Like Fiver, he had no embarrassment at being naked in front of his brother. He tried for a minute to get his underwear on by himself before he realized that he couldn't bend his wounded leg without stretching the injury and causing serious pain.

"Fiver, help!" he pleaded. Fiver rushed over and at Hazel's instructions, looped the underwear around his brother's ankles from near the floor to pull them up, trying his absolute best not to look at the white bandage and patch of shaved fur on Hazel's leg. Once Hazel had the underwear on fully, Fiver did the same with the pants, pulling them up very carefully past the wound, and finally Hazel put the green shirt on himself. Once he was fully dressed he leaned forward with his paws on his knees, smiling fondly at his brother.

"…Thank you Fiver."

Fiver got startled a little, "F-for what?" the kit asked.

"You saved my life last night. I remember now – I saw you walking with Strawberry, you looked like you were in some sort of trance. And then I signalled you and you found me."

"I… I had a vision," Fiver admitted. "I saw a flash of you getting shot, and then I heard the bang so I ran to the campsite where I met Strawberry and Holly and Dandelion and Hawkbit. And somehow I knew you were alive so Strawberry went looking with me…"

Like an old nightmare, flashes of memories from the previous night flickered through Fiver's mind as he spoke, "And somewhere in the woods I saw… you. I thought you were dead, but then I realized it wasn't real, like when I saw Bigwig getting hanged. And then suddenly the forest went really quiet, and I couldn't see Strawberry anymore, and then I saw, I saw…"

"…The Black Rabbit of Inle." Hazel finished.

Fiver let out a loud gasp, having thought that Hazel would never believe the story, "You… you saw him too?"

Hazel nodded, "I did, but please finish your story first."

"Well, he – he looked like a rabbit made of smoke," Fiver continued almost breathlessly, "He looked at me and said, "He's not dead, he needs you, come,", and then he bounded away and I just… followed him. When I reached the pipe where you were he vanished, and it was like I came out of a dream – suddenly Strawberry was there, and I could hear again and everything. And then… oh, Hazel!" Fiver grabbed Hazel in a tight embrace, "I don't know what the Black Rabbit did to me, but I'm so glad he did!" A tear rolled down Fiver's cheek, "He… the Black Rabbit saved you, not me."

"And as soon as I see him again, I'll thank him," Hazel replied softly, stroking Fiver's ears. Fiver's eyes widened,

"What did he – he talked to you?" Fiver stared anxiously into Hazel's eyes, "What did he say? Why did he do it?" Hazel strained his memory, trying to recall that conversation with the Black Rabbit, but it felt like a dream now, and he could only remember some parts of it.

"He said something about… plans," Hazel grunted. "Somehow you and your gift will be really important in the future. And I'll have my part to play too, he said."

"Me? Important for the future?" Gasped Fiver. "Apparently so," Hazel replied. "He said many of us will be but there were no clues as to what it could be." "But how could I be, and how could the Black Rabbit even know?" Fiver questioned. "This whole thing is so strange it's more like we both imagined it. I mean, you were suffering from blood loss, and I was more worried than I had ever been since that dream I had after father died. Remember, when I thought you were going to die? Maybe it's just fears manifesting in dreams again."

Hazel shook his head firmly. "You have a gift, Fiver – you know things before they happen. You think sometimes it's a curse, but it's a gift. The Black Rabbit even said so." He racked his brain some more as he remembered that detail, "He said… there are others like you in his owsla, and they tell him when they see things. Fiver – this was no dream, it was real. I don't know why he would, but the Black Rabbit is looking out for us. I know it."

Fiver scratched his head in confusion. "Why now though? How is it not sooner?"

Hazel shrugged his shoulders as he picked up the cane Doctor Bounds had left and started to stand up, "I have no idea, *errgh*," He leaned back and stretched his aching back, "Maybe he was waiting until you were older, or maybe this prediction only just happened. Or perhaps… since this is the second time in a week one of us has encountered him and lived, maybe he felt we deserved some explanation."

Fiver gave a little shiver as he recalled Bigwig's description of briefly meeting the Black Rabbit when he was hanged at Cowslip's farm.

Knock KNOCK!

A tapping at the door startled both brothers out of their reverie. "Hazel? Are you up? Are you decent?" came the voice of Strawberry from behind the door.

Hazel straightened up, standing next to Fiver at the foot of the bed while propped up by his cane, "Yes Strawberry, you can come in." The door opened, and a new cascade of rabbits entered: Strawberry followed by Buckthorn, Violet, Pimpernel, and Bluebell, and bringing the rear were the 3 does Hazel recognized from the campsite: one yellow with fluffy angora fur wearing a turquoise skirt and matching top, one black and white in denim shorts and a yellow tank top, and one brown and tan in a white sundress wearing glasses.

Once all the remaining Sandleford group made their respective words of relief and well-wishes with Hazel, the does he had helped rescue began to introduce themselves with the black and white doe launching herself at him and wrapping the surprised buck in a tight hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" the doe cried loudly, sounding overdramatic yet sincere at the same time.

"Uh, you're welcome miss," Hazel answered and then lightly tapped her back so she could give him some air. "You mind telling me who you ladies are?"

"You can call me Lucy," the piebald black and white doe said as she pulled her head back to look at him.

"Th-th-thank you, Hazel," stammered the brown and tan doe getting his attention.

"That's Abbey, she's the quiet one," explained Lucy, "And that's Clover," she gestured at the yellow doe beside her.

"You were so brave," Clover began, "Your friends told us what you did – I'm so sorry you got shot." Her ears drooped as she looked at the cane Hazel was leaning on.

"Oh, it's alright," Hazel shrugged it off, although secretly his leg was already aching from the effort of standing up, even with the cane, "If one of you hadn't cried for help, who knows where you would be right now. What happened after I left the camp, anyway?"

"Mr. Holly tried to knock out the buck at camp with a bat but missed, and the buck took Lucy as a hostage," Clover answered, "But then Strawberry came out of nowhere and grabbed the buck and broke his wrist and saved Lucy-"

"Sprained, I only sprained his wrist," Strawberry amended, looking distinctly proud at his role in the story. "…And then Mr. Holly knocked him out, and then we heard the shot," Clover finished.

"Wow, you really did that, Strawberry?" Hazel Asked.

"Uh, yes," Strawberry answered. "We were able to find out who shot you by Holly, um, using interrogation with a ballpoint pen and stepping on his ears for answers. It was scary, Hazel!"

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Hazel muttered grimly, "Holly's a good friend, but he has a dark side. The war had a greater effect on him than he lets on."

"Whatever he did, it worked," Lucy put in, "We could hear the screams all the way from your camp. Then we called the police and an ambulance because we didn't know what the heck Mr. Holly was doing to that buck, and then we led the cops to the scene, told 'em all that happened, and a while later Strawberry came out of the woods carrying you, and then they took you and your brother away, that's about it."

"W-we heard them mention they were taking you to Bunnyburrow General, here," Abbey pointed at their general surroundings, "So your friends packed up and got on that bus and we led them over in our car."

"And Strawberry was such a gentlebuck, he helped comfort us and even helped pack up our camp after the ambulance left," Clover added, beaming at the orange buck. Hazel noticed Strawberry returning a fond look of his own at her.

"Anyway, listen, we owe you all bigtime, and I think I know a way to help you," Clover declared, "Your friends have all said you're looking for work and a place to stay, and I know a place. There's a really big family farm a few miles from here, and they're looking for new workers. Abbey and I know the family, we'll put in a good word for you!"

The Sandleford members present were stunned. "Why thank you Clover!" Fiver exclaimed giving a small clap to her and then turned back towards his brother. "Did you hear that brother? There is a chance for us at getting work here!"

"Sure dear brother," Hazel smiled grabbing his cane. "*Errgh*, well, first let's go find some flayrah, then we'll go."

As he started limping for the door, flanked by the others who were watching carefully for any sign that he might fall, Clover turned to Strawberry, "'Flayrah'?"

"It's an old word for food," Strawberry explained, blushing a little for some reason.

000000000

After everyone had a tuck-in in the hospital cafeteria (the does insisted on paying together for the group's breakfast), the Sandleford group got on the bus while Clover, Abbey and Lucy got in their car, and then the car led the bus out of the hospital lot and into the countryside. The Sandleford group oohed and ahhhed at the beautiful scenery they passed on their way: hills and fields of green and houses in all sorts of colors, some shaped like a rabbit's head. It was mostly rabbits living here, befitting the area's name, but they could also see a small number of other mammals as well such as sheep, deer and even a cougar.

Then they made a turn past a particularly large hill and the group let out a collective gasp: across the valley they were passing was what looked like a field of mirrors, turned up to face the sun. And further down the valley were tall white poles with spinning turbines.

"What are all those?" Pipkin asked, jumping up and down with excitement.

"It's an energy farm," answered Holly, "Those mirrors are called solar panels, they collect sunlight and turn it into electricity. And those white poles are called windmills – the winds makes them spin, and that causes them to make more electricity."

"You mean what makes the lights come on, and clocks and televisions?" Pipkin asked.

"Yes, precisely!" said Blackberry. "Wow, why do mammals build these solar farms?" Pipkin asked.

"Well, all mammals need electricity, but most methods create smoky air or dirty water in doing so," Strawberry answered, simplifying it for the 6 year-old kit, "Solar farms and windmills create electricity without doing any of that, so this area all around us stays nice and green!"

"Wow, there is so much coolness in the outside world!" Pipkin beamed.

"Dang sight prettier than Sandleford, that's for sure," Bigwig agreed fondly as they passed the solar farm to more green pastures.

000000000

A few minutes later, after driving almost 20 minutes from the hospital, the bus was passing a large carrot field when Holly spotted something up ahead: "The does put on their turn signal! I think this is it, everyone!"

"Well, turn mate!" Hawkbit spoke up, and Holly did just that. The bus passed a produce stand where a rabbit was holding out a bundle of carrots to a pair of customers, and those 3 watched the bus go by as it followed the does' car and turned left onto a lot with a giant pink coloured rabbit shaped house with many windows.

Despite passing many big houses with previously, the Sandleford lot stared in awe. They had never been inside one like it before, for such houses just didn't exist in Sandleford. Fiver felt a familiar feeling as he saw the giant 4-story house. Something about it seemed familiar and when he turned his head to the right, he spotted a giant grey barn and a sign that confirmed his answer: 'WELCOME TO HOPPS FAMILY FARM'

"This is the place!" Fiver piped up, "Hazel! Hazel! This is it!" He was so excited he was positively jumping in his seat.

"What is it?" Speedwell Asked from his and Acorn's seat.

"Are we supposed to be here, brother?" Hazel questioned as well.

"Yes, yes, this is the last place in my vision!" Fiver cheered hugging his brother.

"Back on Cowslip's farm? You mean it?" Hazel asked, joining in on Fiver's enthusiasm. Everyone watched the 4-storey house as they got closer, and soon also saw 5 more 2-storey houses adjacent to it, with the odd barn and storage shed thrown in.

"That sign, the one I saw that started with 'H' – it said Hopps family farm!" Fiver declared, "And I remember that house too!"

"First you see just the H, and now you see 'Hopps'?" Hawkbit asked skeptically, "Either your vision-eyes need glasses or you're making this up."

Hopps… Hazel thought, that name sounded familiar…

"If Fiver says it's what he saw, it's what he saw," Bigwig interjected firmly, interrupting Hazel's thoughts. He stood up and faced the others on the bus: "Alright you lot, listen up!" His voice traveled well through the bus, although it still sounded a little ragged, and everyone gave him their attention. "If Fiver's vision was right we might all get work here, but I don't want anything to ruin our chances. That means everyone on their very best behavior, understand?" Everyone nodded and murmured in agreement.

"But what about Hazel's leg?" Silver piped up, "If they see he's injured, what if they don't want to hire him? Or any of us?"

"Don't worry Silver," Hazel answered, trying to sound optimistic, "Once the girls tell them the story of last night's rescue, I'm sure we'll have no trouble getting hired." But in truth, Hazel felt the same way as Silver. However he had gotten his injury the farm was still a business, and the owners might not be willing to deal with the risk of hiring a wounded rabbit. If he was turned away that would mean turning Fiver away too, and possibly the others as well. And like Bigwig had said: any bad impression could hurt their chances, and they had come such a long way he didn't want to do anything that could ruin that. So he made his decision: when the bus pulled over behind the does' car in the cul-de-sac in front of the house Fiver had seen, and when the rabbits started to step off the bus, Hazel got out first and left his cane on board.

Wow, the Sandleford Group's Luck has gotten better! They've arrived in the town from Fiver's vision, spotted the farm from it too and are getting ready for some jobs there but will Hazel leaving his cane onboard turn out badly? Find out next time as the group meet the Hopps, get a good look inside the house and the rescued does tell of their bravery saving them!