Disclaimer– I do not own anything in the Watership down franchise and any plot lines, characters, dialog you recognise belongs to Richard Adams and Alltime Entertainment and Decode Entertainment.
A/N – I apologise for the delay with the update, I will try to continue with the daily updates, but college has decided to give me plenty of assignments, so the updates may become every few days.
Thank you to Chipster-roo for reviewing – there is some more to come for Campion and Skylar, the relationship won't be a dead end, I hope you like what I came up with and I hope you enjoy the new chapter.
Thank you TAY BARTLETT for reviewing – thank you, I'm glad you are enjoying the story, I liked the idea of Bigwig having a brother/sister bond with Skylar and supporting her and Selene when they wanted to join the owsla. Good luck with your studying and I hope you enjoy the new chapter.
And thank you to Chipster-roo, TAY BARTLETT and GodShynin300 for adding me to their favourites/follows.
Chapter 9 – Slithery problems
"Right everyone, move out we will patrol round the warren, working on our stealth and single combat" Skylar shouted, "Selene, I need you to help me with the stealth." She received a chorus of "yes captain Skylar" from the owsla, Selene started to instruct them all on their stealth. Bigwig then joined them "good work all, your stealth is improving nicely, well done Selene and Skylar" Skylar nods "thanks Bigwig" and starts to instruct the owsla on different techniques in combat.
"Keep your balance low as it makes you harder to knock over, and make sure you watch for patterns and make sure you don't lose focus. Hawkbit, you keep doing the same sequence of moves, you will become easy to predict" Hawkbit nods and starts to change his moves order. Dandelion and Pipkins stealth had improved, and their ability to follow instructions was improving.
As they took a break Dandelion was admiring the day. Suddenly Hawkbit said "Efrafan patrol" Skylar then says "hide in the grass now!" The patrol comes close and luckily moves on. Bigwig whispers "right back to the warren, quickly and quietly." After they all made it back to the warren, Hazel calls an emergency meeting. Hawkbit states "it was close, if the wind shifted they would have been on to us." Bigwig shouts "it's getting to the point where it's not safe to go outside, we need to do something, we can't just wait up here hoping the Efrafans won't find us!"
Hazel sighs "ok I agree we need to take more direct action" everyone cheers and Bigwig says "ok, how about some raids?" Skylar then says "The odd ambush or two? It may get them to back off a bit." Hazel smiles at the two but says "the Efrafans out number us" Fiver then says "although they are not looking their best, I get the idea that woundwort is running them too hard" Dandelion then says "yeah they don't seem to be running at top speed."
Selene agrees "they are looking knackered" Hazel says "I think we need to take our inspiration from El-arah" Bigwig says "oh ok the old use cunning and trickery, ok then out with it" Hazel smiles and says "we leave false trails, and scents to lead the Efrafans away from us" Skylar giggles "yeah lead them in circles till they get dizzy" everyone agrees and the next morning the false trail setting begins.
As they all run around the surrounding woodland and field leaving scent and tracks for the Efrafans to follow. As they all take their breaks by a pond Hawkbit says "I hope the Efrafans appreciate all of the time it takes to lead them in circles" Selene flops over and says "I don't know about the Efrafans but I'm tired." Suddenly an Efrafan patrol appears by the pond so they all duck into the weeds by the pond.
They all observe the Efrafans start to drink from the pond. Skylar overhears Campion and Vervain's conversation about them finding a sign of the outsiders or woundwort would have them out for ever. Suddenly Fiver disturbs some bees and Hazel whispers "don't move."
The Efrafans then move on to gather flayrah. Hazel then announces "lets follow the Efrafans, you never know what we may over hear" Bigwig and Skylar grin and say at the same time "the cat becomes the mouse" Hazel chuckles and says "right, and it looks like we could out run them if they did spot us." As they watch the Efrafans approach a large clear structure, they gasp at its beauty. "Look at that, it's just like Prince Rainbows gleaming warren."
As they are admiring the building, Selene calls "hawk approaching" they all dive into the undergrowth as the hawk circled overhead. They all watch in horror as the hawk attacks the Efrafans, as they bolt, Campion, is grabbed by the hawk. Skylar couldn't help but gasp as her blood brother was carried away. Dandelion whispers "Frith save us" they watch as Campion was, luckily, dropped by the hawk.
As they all run over to Campion's body they expect him to be dead, but to their amazement he was still breathing. "Not many could survive a hawk attack" Bigwig looks at Skylar's horrified face and realises that even though she puts on the front of not caring or acknowledging him, she does like and care for her blood brother, and seeing him in this state just made it plain for her.
"Campions in a class of his own" Bigwig says as Skylar starts to clean Campions wounds, working with Blackberry digging burrows gave her chance to learn some basic healing from her. Hazel joins her in cleaning his wounds and says "he won't last long in the open" Hawkbit grumbles "fine one less enemy to worry about." Skylar growls and Hawkbit backs off.
Fiver then says "he is a fellow rabbit Hawkbit" Hawkbit begins to shout "he's Efrafa, he's out to destroy us" Hazel then glares at him and snaps "not today he's not" Dandelion then calls "come and look at this" they all go and look in the clear building, Hazel and Skylar drag Campion into the building. As they continue to clean Campions many cuts, they hear Dandelion and Hawkbit eating the plants around them.
Fiver then came over saying there was something strange about the place. As the sun started to set Hazel announced he was going to stay with Campion, Bigwig then looked at Skylar with sympathy and said "you want to stay too? Don't you sis?" Skylar nods Selene says "I guessed you would" and Hazel looks at her and says "well I would like some company and you are a captain, so you can stay if you want" Skylar says "thank you for understanding Brother, sis, Hazel" she briefly hugs Bigwig and Selene, before moving to sit next to Campion.
As they all leave Bigwig tells them to watch themselves and stay sharp. As darkness falls they take turns keeping watch and caring for Campion. They both start as a voice speaks from above them "bad place to be night times" Hazel says "err hello?" "Night time bad enough up here" the first voice continues, the other then speaks "night time very bad down there." They both look up and see two funny looking birds, one green and one red. Skylar then says "why?" Hazel then says "what else is down here?" suddenly they both hear a man enter the building, the grab Campion and drag him into the shadows.
They see the man fill up a bowl with seed and then leave, both birds fly down to the bowl. Hazel runs to the door and states "wonderful" then the red bird speaks from the bowl of seed "man not like you here, oh no. Should have left while you could, oh yes" the second then states "hide good now, furry long ears" Skylar then asks "from what, what else is in here?" The green one then answers "slither thing" Hazel then asks "what is a slither thing?" the red one says "she hides quiet and waits" the green one continues "she kills all animals that live on ground"
Skylar grumbles and says "not today" the red one then laughs at her and says "you will see" the green one continues "and we will watch you see" they then fly up into the trees laughing. Hazel and Skylar make their way to Campion hoping he would wake up soon. Skylar is on high alert as she listens for any little movement, but it was very difficult with the two birds flapping around the roof top.
The red bird then states "you should fly up here, oh yes" Hazel snaps back "we can't fly!" The green bird laughs at them "flap you ears then, it might work" they then both start to laugh at them again, finding their predicament highly entertaining. Suddenly Campion wakes and gasps "Hazel? What happened?" Skylar decides to answer him "a hawk nearly got you, Vervain and the patrol left you for dead"
Campion gasps at Skylar and says "why are you here?" he looks at Hazel accusingly "you let a doe stay here?" Skylar growls and says "I'm a captain of owsla now I can stay if I want, and Hazel didn't make me stay I asked" Campion looks at her and sighs "captain eh?" obviously not believing her "Well I don't suppose I expected anything less, you did observe the owsla for weeks, I guess you learnt something" Skylar jests back "yeah how to escape from Efrafa, made easy."
Hazel then interjects "you were hurt you needed help" Campion then groans "good old Vervain, solid as a marsh that one, and you just happened to save me? I guess that means your warren is nearby then" hazel then looks at Campion and says "let's not play war games Campion, we are all stuck in here, and there is something in here with us."
Campion looks at the two of them and says "what elil?" Skylar then says "they" indicating at the two birds "call it a slither thing" she continues. Campion groans "that doesn't sound good" Skylar moves to between the two and asks "a truce then? Till we all get out?" they both nod agreeing. Hazel then goes and gathers some food for Campion, leaving Skylar and Campion alone.
"Are you happy Skylar?" Campion asks. "Yes I am Campion" Skylar responds, "I know I wasn't a good brother to you Skylar" Skylar scoffs at this but he continues "but I need to explain some things to you" she gestures to him to continue "did you ever wonder why no one bothered you? Why you were left alone? Why after Tulip was killed no one killed you as well? Well that was me, I pleaded with General Woundwort for your life, I was tasked with keeping an eye on you so you did not start another rebellion, but I instead, made sure no one bullied you, made sure you were safe"
Skylar looks at him but before she can say anything he continues "I knew you were looking for an escape route, I have known you since you were born, I could tell what you were thinking, but I couldn't get close in case General Woundwort suspected something, as there were more and more escape attempts, you were getting the blame, you are the daughter of Tulip, the symbol of rebellion, General Woundwort wanted to execute you and make an example of it, so I had to act fast, I made sure you were out silflaying while I was training so you could learn some fighting moves, I made sure there was a gap in the security posts. I knew I had to get you out because I did not want you to be killed, you are all the family I have left. You got out, but Vervain spotted you, I feared you would be caught, when I heard nothing I assumed you had made it. When we spotted you that once, I was glad you were alive, as General Woundwort made it clear you were not to be brought back, I had to act surprised and pretend I did not know you had escaped, feel betrayed that you had"
Campion paused and looked Skylar directly in her eyes "I needed to save you Skylar, I know we didn't have a relationship, but I hope one day you can forgive me for not telling you about being your brother, for the way I treated you before the rebellion started, you do mean a lot to me, owsla honnor" Skylar looks at Campion with tears in her eyes "I'm sorry I judged you, thank you for helping me" Campion nods and says "and thank you for saving me"
Hazel then appears with food saying "well I'm glad that's all cleared up, eat this, Campion it will help you get your strength back" Campion then looks at Hazel and asks "why would you risk your life for an enemy?" Hazel looks at him and says "just eat" Skylar then announces she is going to keep look out, they both nod and she moves to a quieter area to keep watch.
Skylar can hear Campion and Hazel talking about Primrose. She then hears hazel saying Campion is better than the rest in Efrafa, Campion says that he can't be any worse she then hears hazel raise his voice about Campion following Woundwort and Campion getting defensive and explaining Woundworts arrival. She remembers her mom telling her about how before he came, Efrafa was weak and starving, and how he made them great again. She then hears campion say "oh we are getting along, don't spoil it." Hazel then says "blind loyalty is a fool's choice, who will save Efrafa from Woundwort?"
Skylar starts to think about what Campion said, she decides he was telling the truth. There was a rustle from behind Skylar and she bolts back to the others to warn them. As Skylar wans them the slither thing emerges from the trees. It looks right at them.
Hazel whispers to Campion "can you run?" Campion replies "El-arah couldn't catch me" as the slither thing came nearer Skylar said "go!" they all bolted past the slither thing and into the bushes, as they run, the slither thing followed.
They all run to the other end of the building. As they reach the end hazel round into the clear wall. Campion exclaims "in friths name! What was that thing? Are you ok Skylar?" Skylar nods. The birds join them laughing "slither thing, it find you, it taste your heat, it get you, oh yes" Hazel then snaps at them "why don't you shut your beaks?" the birds then start to argue about shutting their beaks.
Hazel then asks "any idea on how to get out" Campion then says "I don't even know why you dragged me in here in the first place" Skylar answers "to save your life, twit" Hazel then notices a loose stone and tries to dig, but it is solid all the way down.
Campion and Skylar stand you to listen and Campion whispers "it's here" they all look around and the slither thing launches at them, Hazel is frozen to the spot. Campion exclaims "Hazel!" he then knocks him out of the way before running off to the other end of the building. This continues for the rest of the night.
As dawn approaches they were getting tired. As they all paused to catch their breaths Campion declared "we can't keep running" Hazel then said "well we can't exactly fight the slither thing ether." The birds then decide to appear again, the red one says "oh you last all night furry long ears" the green one then says "pretty smart for furry things"
Hazel then gives me a look and I say "well we aren't as smart as you, I bet you know a way out" They say "sure we go out once, but we come back, too cold out, slither thing hate cold too" Campion then says "I don't believe they ever got out, their fibbing."
The birds then declare "we show you, big silly long ears" they both fly to one of the ends of the building and say "we go out there, smart oh yes." They all see a hole in the clear wall, filled in with a cloth. Hazel tugs at the cloth and states "it's packed tight as a burrow floor!"
They all start tugging at it to get it loose. Suddenly Fiver appears on the other side of the clear wall. Hazel shouts "help us" everyone starts trying to free the cloth. Fiver shouts "the monster" Skylar, Campion and Hazel turn round to see the slither thing behind them. Hazel then declares "I'll lead it off and circle back" he then jumps into undergrowth with the slither thing hot hon his heels.
Everyone starts pulling at the cloth again. After a lot of tugging it finally comes free. "Skylar go first" Campion says. Skylar nods and scrambles through the gap as quick as possible. Bigwig hugs her and then snaps to Campion "come on Campion, don't dally about" Campion replies "no not without Hazel" then, suddenly, Hazel re-appears and he shouts "go!"
Campion squeezes through the gap closely followed by Hazel, the slither thing looked through the gap and turned back. Hawkbit chuckled "did you see that, it took one look at us and turned tail" Hazel then said "the cold, the birds said the slither thing didn't like the cold."
Campion then growls at Bigwig and snaps "let go of my sister" but Bigwig growls back "she is my sister and I will hug her all I want" Selene then hops down from the trees and hugs Skylar too. Campion looks at Skylar and says "ok, I guess you deserve better, but I will try to be a better brother."
Skylar looks at the two, but before she can reply Kehaar shouts "ugly Vervain coming, you hiding or fighting" Hazel then looks at Campion and says "we got out, the truce is over" Campion just groans and says "I'm too tired to fight" Bigwig instantly jumps forward and declares "I'm not" Skylar nudges him. As they all turn and run Skylar hears Hazel ask Campion "I asked you who would save Efrafa from Woundwort. You didn't answer."
Campion groans and looks away "you ask too many questions Hazel" as Hazel runs into the bushes the patrol appears. Hazel hears Vervain question Campion about seeing Hazel in the building, but Campion denies, saying Vervain saw him. As they all head back up to the warren Skylar promises to Bigwig she will tell him about what happened in the clear building but for now all she wanted to do was sleep.