Chapter 15-A Light in the Darkness

It had been almost a week since the greenhouse incident, and things weren't getting much cheerier on Watership Down. Kehaar and Hannah had been keeping a watch on the surrounding area, and the reports were not good.

"Ya Hayzel, dere Efrafan patrols everyvere! Every time Kehaar go, find 'nother patrol! Saw ugly-bunny Vervain dis time."

"It's getting bad, Hazel," Hannah added. "I think some of the Efrafans are aware we're part of this warren. Kehaar and I have had to be careful not to lead them back here when we return from our flights."

Hazel shook his head hopelessly. "Thanks you two." He turned towards Sam, Bigwig, and Fiver, who were listening to the pairs report as well. "This isn't good. They don't show any signs of stopping."

"Then we just have to keep laying tricks for them," Fiver said determinedly. "There's no way they would be able to outsmart you Hazel."

"No, that isn't good enough," Hazel replied. "Even El-ahrairah only has so many tricks. We need to try something else. We cannot afford to lose…" The group followed Hazel's gaze towards his three still nameless kittens playing in another section of the Honeycomb.

"We won't." The rabbits turned towards Sam, who was lounging against the wall. "I told you guys already, we have an ace in the hole here. Campion will help us, it's just a matter of convincing him."

"Why do you keep pushing that Sam?" Bigwig asked, annoyed with the teen's persistence. "I'm telling you, he's the same as the others there. His only loyalty is to Efrafa."

"Exactly," Sam replied, still not rising, "it's to Efrafa, not Woundwort. All we have to do is convince him that Woundwort is bad for the warren, and there we go. Although considering how obvious it is, it would probably be more a matter of getting him to admit it, rather than convincing him."

"And what do you think of this Hazel?" the owsla captain asked.

Hazel stood silently for a few moments, lost in thought. "Are you sure Sam?" he asked suddenly. "Are you absolutely sure that he won't turn on us?"

Sam stood and moved closer to the group. "I know it, Hazel. Can you honestly say you didn't see at least a glimmer of goodness in him that night?" It did not have to be said that Sam was referring to the greenhouse. "Any other Efrafan soldier probably wouldn't have helped us. They might even have tried to fight us. He's the best chance we've got."

Hazel looked at Sam with eyes full of desperation. "Alright, Sam. I…I'll trust you with this. We'll try. But how are we going to get him to listen to us?"

Bigwig gave a gruff sigh. "If you're so intent on this foolishness, I think I might be able to help."

Later that day, Sam, Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Glade exited the cave into Efrafan territory. They turned towards the bridge and crept through the grass, mindful of the sentries on the other side. Finding a good spot in the tree line across the river from the Efrafans, they sat and waited for Bigwig's plan to unfold. Bigwig had reasoned that since Campion was the Captain of Owsla, that it wouldn't be unthinkable for him to make daily checks to the outlying sentries. Kehaar was going to keep watch from a higher vantage point, and wait for Campion to visit the sentries on the bridge. Then Kehaar would dive and do whatever would be necessary to separate Campion from the sentries and herd him towards the Watership rabbits waiting on the other side.

"So tell me again why you insisted on coming along?" Sam asked Glade humorously as they were waiting for Campion to show up. "This is probably going to be pretty boring for a while, and possibly dangerous."

"I told you, Sam," she replied, "I joined the owsla to do something. Why would I just sit back at the warren when we're on such an important mission? Besides, if I wouldn't have come, I'm sure Bigwig would probably have had Hawkbit or Dandelion go, and Frith knows how much use they would be."

Sam chuckled, thinking about the other two soldiers. Hawkbit would have no doubt spent the entire trip griping, while Dandelion would find something or other to occupy himself, not truly focusing on the task at hand. "Alright," the teen conceded, "you have a good point. It's good to know I have someone dependable beside me."

The group saw Kehaar lift off and watched intently, Sam missing the small smile on Glade's face. The gull's distinctive cry rang through the air, followed by the surprised yells of the Efrafan soldiers.

"Get ready everyone," Hazel said tensely, "if everything goes according to plan, Kehaar should force Campion over the bridge. As soon as he's close enough, we surround him and…begin negotiations." The group watched and listened as the yelling faded, signifying that the sentries had run away. They waited as they heard wing beats getting closer, until finally they saw Campion run across the narrow expanse of intact bridge.

"Is that him?" Glade asked, having never seen the captain before.

Sam nodded. "That's him alright. Everyone ready? Go!" At Sam's command, the five broke cover and ran towards Campion. He was so surprised that he didn't even try and escape as they encircled him. "That's good, Kehaar," Sam yelled to the hovering gull, "we'll take it from here, thanks!"

"Good luck!" he replied before flying off.

Campion chuckled, drawing all attention to him. "Hah, to think Vervain was right. That gull was with you. I could have sworn he was going crazy. Now what's this all about? Decide I'm better off dead and come back to finish the job? Or have you come to spout more insults about my chief?"

Hazel stepped forward. "We want to help you open your eyes. To see the cruelties that you try and ignore every day. We want to meet you later tonight at the clearing in the woods. Do you know where I mean?"

"I know the place," Campion said suspiciously. "What makes you think I won't just show up with a whole patrol and take you all prisoner?"

"Because," Sam said, taking the floor, "I just know. Deep inside, you're aware of the injustice that happens on a daily basis in that warren, and you're sick of it. You won't rat us out because you don't want to lose the one chance you might ever have of restoring Efrafa to the way it should be."

Campion smirked. "Confident words from someone who needs hrair rabbits just to control me, and a doe at that."

Sam smiled at him. "Well, we had to be sure you wouldn't do anything foolish, like attack, or try and run. We did what was necessary."

"Is that all?" Campion asked.

Sam nodded his head, keeping his eyes locked with Campion's. "Yeah, you're good to go. Let him by, guys." Glade and Fiver, the two behind Campion, nodded and parted, letting the captain leave.

He hopped to the bridge and looked as if he was about to leave, when he turned back. "I…didn't get a chance to ask before. How's Primrose doing?"

"She's doing well," Hazel said. "She's happy at our warren, though she does mention you occasionally. She says you might be the only good one in the owsla."

Campion's ears sagged. "Right then." That was all he said before he hopped across the bridge and out of sight.

Sam nodded to the other. "Alright, let's got out of here before more Efrafans show up." They agreed and headed back to the cave to plan for that night.

Later that day, the group was in the warren, planning for the meeting that night.

"How do we know Hazel?" Bigwig said, still distrustful of Campion. "How can we be so sure that he won't betray us? I still wouldn't put it past him."

Hazel sat, wracked with indecision. "What do you think, Sam? How far can we really trust him?"

"Well," Sam said, "I think we'd be fine trusting him. You can tell he was interested in what we were saying. I really don't think he would waste this chance. But if Bigwig thinks we should be careful, then I'll respect that."

"Hmph, about bloody time," Bigwig said quietly.

Sam continued, ignoring his interruption. "I'll go out and meet him first, while the rest of you hide in the bushes in case something goes wrong."

"No!" Sam was surprised at the word said simultaneously by his friends.

Hazel was the first to respond. "You will not, Sam. You've already gotten injured for me once, I won't let it happen again."

"If you think I would cower in the bushes while a human fights my battles for me, you're sadly mistaken," Bigwig said in a humorous tone.

"Even I wouldn't allow that," Fiver said. "I might not be a great fighter, but there's no way I would let you do something so risky on your own."

Glade nodded her head. "They've about covered it by this point. We're your friends Sam, we're not going to let you go alone."

"I…alright," Sam said. He had no argument against such words. "Thanks, you guys. I guess it's settled then: we'll meet him as a team."

"I want to come!" They swung their heads around at Pipkin's voice. The little buck was bouncing excitedly as he moved closer. "Please please please, let me come! I want to help you!"

Sam and Hazel looked at each other, each willing the other one to say no. "Actually," their heads turned back at the sound of another new voice, "we were both hoping to come." Hazel was already shaking his head before Primrose came around the corner.

"No…no neither one of you should come," Hazel said, trying to discourage his mate. "This could be very dangerous. We're not entirely sure that Campion will honor the plan we made. What if he comes with others? I don't…I don't know if I'll be able to protect you."

"Hazel please," she said, moving closer to him. "I just want to see him again, to see if he's well. Sometimes it felt like we were the only thing keeping each other sane." Then she gave a sly look, "And besides, you'll stand a much better chance of getting him to see the truth if I ask. He always did have a soft spot for me."

"Oh really?" Hazel said, jealously coloring his voice.

"Alright, alright," Sam said before their discussion got out of hand, "you two can come with, for a while. We'll leave you at the entrance to the cave, then come get you later if the coast is clear. Does that sound good?"

"Yes! Thank you Sam!" Pipkin said, nuzzling his friend in the side.

Primrose nodded, a light smile on her face. "Yes, I believe that will work out very well. If Hazel agrees, that is."

Hazel looked between Sam and Primrose, finding insisting looks on both their faces. "Alright," he conceded, "you can come. But you stay in the cave until we're sure it's safe."

"Oh course dear," she said, rubbing up against him, "we'll stay safe. Come get me when you're ready to leave, alright?" Hazel nodded dumbly as she walked away.

Unable to hold it in any longer, Sam broke out in laughter. "Wow, Hazel," he said when he caught his breath, "I didn't realize how wrapped around her finger you were."

"Her what?"

"Oh, I know what that is!" Pipkin said. "It's one of the things on a hand, right Sam?"

The teen chuckled. "See? Pipkin gets it."

Later that night, Sam and the others were waiting in a clearing lit by a full moon in the woods just outside Efrafan territory. They faced the direction they knew Campion would be coming from, trying to see into the darkness of the enclosed trees. They weren't waiting long before they heard footsteps. Sam and Bigwig immediately dropped into fighting stances in case it was elil, but immediately relaxed when they saw Campion enter the light in the clearing.

"Campion," Hazel said as he approached the Efrafan, "thank you for coming. Thank you giving us a chance."

Campion tried to keep a stony exterior as he faced Hazel, but eventually he broke into a look of self doubt. His ears drooped and his posture slumped, Sam had never seen the Efrafan captain look so unsure. He responded hesitantly. "I…I thought a lot about what you said. About what the Gener- what Woundwort does. It isn't right. I think-"

"Ah-hah!"

The group jumped as a new voice rang though the night air: Vervain's voice. They quickly closed into a circle as Efrafan soldiers slowly came out of the woods, surrounding them. Hazel and Sam gently pushed Fiver into the middle of the circle and away from any fighting as Bigwig had to restrain himself from jumping Campion right then and there.

"You tricked us!" he yelled in hatred. "After everything we've said, after Hazel and Sam saved you, you still lied to us!"

Sam's eyes widened in alarm at the use of his human name. He nudged Bigwig roughly. "Shut up!" he whispered fiercely.

Campion stood in the middle of the two circles looking baffled. He spoke with authority in his voice, his hesitation completely forgotten. "Vervain, what are you doing here?"

"The General sent me, Campion," the other rabbit replied, mockingly. "He knew you were up to no good, so he sent us out to…make sure you didn't do anything foolish. How lucky that we seem to have stumbled upon the outsiders! And look: there's their chief and the little mystic, oh and the intruders to our owsla as well. What a lucky day."

Campion responded with a desperate tone in his voice. "You don't belong here Vervain. Just go back to the warren, we'll sort this out later."

"Oh I think not Campion. You see, we're under orders to bring in any outsider we may encounter tonight, along with any sympathizers," he spat the last word as an insult.

"Don't make me fight you, Vervain," Campion said, lowering into a fighting stance and backing towards the Watership Down rabbits.

Vervain shook his head, looking for a moment as if he felt true regret for what he was about to do. "Fine then. Owsla! Get them!"

"This way, follow me!" Campion yelled to the Watership rabbits. He lunged for Vervain and bowled the smaller rabbit over before lashing out with his back legs and sending another Efrafan flying. The group from Watership Down took advantage of the hole Campion had punched in the Efrafan lines, sprinting after him as quickly as they could. While he was running, Sam "accidentally" stomped on Vervain's gut, eliciting a satisfying grunt from the cruel rabbit.

Campion led them away from Efrafa, towards the farmer's field they had used to travel there over land. Although Sam could still hear Efrafan pursuit, the sound was fading away as their group proved to be too fast to keep up with. They ran towards a tractor sitting in the field, hoping that the machine would be a good hiding place and would also mask their scent.

After spending a few tense minutes waiting in which they could hear the patrols voices getting closer they eventually started to fade as they lost the trail. "Alright," Campion said, peeking out from behind the tractor, "they're gone. Vervain never was a good tracker."

"Lucky for us that we got away with such little trouble," Bigwig said with suspicion.

"I didn't lead them there, Bigwig. I swear," Campion protested.

"And what's the word of an Efrafan worth?" he retorted. "Not very much, I'd say."

Campion was at a loss. "I…Hazel! Sunflower!" he said suddenly, "what do you two have to say? You were the ones pushing for peace, make him see I didn't do this!"

Hazel and Sam exchanged similar looks. "I don't…know, Campion," Hazel said slowly. "You understand what this looks like. What do you think Sam?"

Sam stood in silence while he looked at Campion. He saw the desperation in his face. But even more, he saw something else: fear. Sam saw a rabbit that just took a huge gamble, turning on his comrades to try and make things right. There was only one appropriate response. "I believe you."

Campion looked up in hope. "You…you do?"

Sam nodded. "I do, Campion. I know we can trust you." He walked over and stood next to the surprised captain, then faced his companions with an imploring look on his face.

Glade moved to Sam's side. "I trust you, Sam. Time will tell with Campion, but if you think we should believe in him, I trust you."

"I sense honesty from you Campion," Fiver said, moving with the others. "Honesty, and suffering. If we come out on top of all of this, we should have a long talk. It feels like you need it."

Campion was almost speechless at the show of support. "We…?"

Hazel chuckled and turned to Bigwig. "I've come far enough to know to trust my brother with these things. Bigwig?"

The Watership Down captain looked between his friends in exasperation. "Fine," he said at last, "if the rest of you insist, who am I to refuse? Welcome to the group, Campion."

"Thank you, all of you. I can't begin to tell you what a relief this is. There's finally a chance to stop Woundwort."

"And we will," Hazel said with a strong voice, "we can stop him together. He'll never know what hit him."

"So what's our plan?" Sam asked. "Do we actually have any idea where we're going from this point, or are we just playing it by ear?"

"By ear?" Campion asked, confused.

"Oh sorry, it means just go with the flow, deal with things as they come up."

"You get used to that," Glade said with a chuckle. "Sam says weird things all the time, we just kind of ignore it by this point."

"We can make plans once we're safely back at the warren," Hazel said. "Will you come with us, Campion?"

The rest looked at him expectantly and were surprised when he shook his head. "I don't think so, Hazel. I can be of much more use to you in Efrafa. It will be no problem convincing Woundwort that Vervain is lying. Or crazy. Or whatever else."

"Won't that be dangerous though?" Fiver asked. "What if Woundwort finds out the truth?"

"He won't, I swear. Woundwort has always found me more trustworthy than Vervain and I can't imagine he'd change his thinking now."

Hazel nodded in understanding. "If you think that you'll be alright, then stay. But you should at least know where to find us if anything goes wrong."

"No!" Campion said quickly. "I…I'd rather not know the location of your warren. If Woundwort were to ever find out what I'm doing, I'd rather not have any information to give him. It would be best to set up a meeting place."

"Did you have something in mind?"

Campion nodded. "I did, actually. Near the clearing where we met, there's a tree with a large fork in it. We can meet there."

Hazel nodded. "We'll discuss that later. Right now, there's someone that you'd probably like to see."

Campion was about to respond when suddenly, they heard something approach them rapidly through the grass. The group wheeled about to where the noise was coming from, and were surprised to see Primrose burst out of the grass. She was out of breath and had a few scratches on her body, including one on her hind leg that was still bleeding slightly. She stopped upon seeing all the rabbits assembled.

"Hazel?" she said weakly. "Oh thank Frith."

"Primrose!" Hazel hurried over to his mate, fraught with worry. "What happened to you? Are you alright?"

It was a moment before she caught her breath. She finally answered in a near hysterical voice. "They took him, Hazel! The Efrafans took Pipkin! I tried to help, I did, but there were so many…"

"Primrose," Campion said, drawing her attention to the captain for the first time.

"Campion?"

"Tell us what happened," he continued, "tell us everything."

She nodded. "Pipkin and I were waiting in the-" she glanced at Campion, unsure of whether or not to mention the cave. "In the place you left us. You had been gone a long time, and we were starting to get worried that maybe something had happened. So even though we knew it wasn't really a good idea, we went outside to look for you. I knew where the clearing was, so we went there, making sure to stay hidden. We heard voices and thought it was you, until I heard someone I recognized. I heard Vervain. I tried to stop Pipkin, but it was too late. They saw him, and they were on us. We tried to fight back, but it was hrair against two." Tears began to leak out of her eyes as she spoke. "I looked and saw that Pipkin was pinned and the rest of them were slowly approaching me. I…I ran, Hazel. I just ran and left Pipkin there." She ended her story there, unable to continue.

Hazel nuzzled her, trying to calm her down. "It's alright, Primrose. You wouldn't have stood a chance. You had to run. We will get Pipkin back, don't worry."

"Then what are we waiting for?" The group looked at Sam, for he was the one who spoke. "Let's go after them now, before they get back to the warren. It's our best shot of getting him back."

"Actually, we agree on this one, Sam," Bigwig said. "If we can surprise them before they make it back over the bridge, we might have a chance."

"I don't think Primrose is well enough to travel that fast," Hazel protested.

Bigwig nodded. "Alright Hazel, you stay with her and try and get her back to the warren. The rest of us will go."

"No Hazel, go with them," Primrose said. "I'll be fine on my own, it's not far, I can make it."

"But-"

"I'll go with her, Hazel," Fiver volunteered. "I wouldn't be much use in a fight anyway, I can keep her safe."

Hazel looked at his mates imploring face. "Alright," he said at last, "you two go, and we'll be back as soon as we can."

They touched noses before the group quickly made their way to the bridge, intent on catching the patrol unaware when they tried to cross. They crouched in the bushes, waiting, when suddenly a voice rang out in the night.

"Attention outsiders!" They squinted their eyes and managed to make out the shape of Vervain sitting on one of the rails of the stone bridge. "I know you're out there! We have captured your rabbit, the one called Pipkin. If you want to see him alive, Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Sunflower must surrender themselves to Efrafa! We will meet on the night of the full moon in the same clearing we encountered you tonight." They all looked at the moon above them. It was three, maybe four days from being full. "If you do not show up, we will kill him! Make your choice, outsiders!" He hoped down and returned to Efrafa.

"No…" Sam said with hopelessness.

"Let's go," Bigwig said, "there's nothing more we can do tonight." They nodded and followed the river, stopping before they came within sight of the cave entrance.

"I think this is where we part ways, Campion," Hazel said to the captain. "We'll let you know what we come up with for Pipkin. Give us a bit of time, we'll come up with something to rescue him. Let's meet on the night before the exchange is supposed to happen."

"I understand," Campion said. "In the meantime, I'll do what I can to keep Pipkin safe."

Hazel nodded and the Watership rabbits started toward the cave. "Bigwig," Campion said, "would you help me with something?" Bigwig stayed behind while the other walked away. Out of curiosity, Sam hung back just enough to hear what they were saying.

"What do you need?" Bigwig asked.

"I need your help to make it look like I escaped your capture."

"What do you mean?" Bigwig replied. "Can't you just say you ran?"

"Could you escape from that many rabbits with no injuries?"

"You mean you want me to-" Bigwig said, but was cut short.

"You know it's the only way."

Bigwig responded in a pitying voice. "I'll make it quick, Campion."

Sam ran and joined the others as a muffled yell of pain could be heard from Campion as Bigwig delivered the injuries to match his story.

Later that night, the rabbits and Sam had returned to the warren. The kittens were worried when they saw the condition of their mother, but were easily calmed with a few soothing words from Primrose. They were snuggled up against her when one of them noticed something.

"Marli," she said softly, "where's Pipkin?"

The other rabbits stared sadly at one another. "He's…just taking a vacation guys," Sam said quickly. "He's going to be gone for a few days, but he'll be back soon, I promise." The kittens nodded and fell asleep against Primrose. Hazel and the other quietly made their way out of the burrow.

"We have to think of a way to get Pipkin back," Hazel said as they walked outside. "We can't leave him in Efrafa."

"Well of course we can't, Hazel," Bigwig said, hiding his worry beneath a layer of sarcasm, "but that won't exactly be easy. How do we get to him? I doubt sneaking in there again would be an option."

Hazel lowered his head in thought. "It is quite the problem. Any ideas Sam?"

"I don't know. I'm trying to remember how you did it in the stories, but it's kinda been a while. I mean, I've been here for a few months at least, and even before that I hadn't watched the show, er, heard the stories since before my last year of school."

The two rabbits just stared at him in confusion.

Sam smiled sadly. "Long story short, I barely remember what happens next. I think my future knowledge has come to an end."

"Who cares?" Bigwig said bluntly, surprising the teen. "It doesn't matter. We've gone through a lot before you came along, we'll be alright. And you're still here to help. We'll come up with a plan on our own terms."

Sam cracked a determined smile. "Damn right! We'll figure something out, we always do." He turned and stared in the direction of Efrafa. "We'll save you buddy. I promise."

In his burrow in Efrafa, Campion lay on the floor, still bleeding from a number of the wounds that Bigwig had given him. He raised his head weakly as General Woundwort entered his burrow. "Hello…General…" he said weakly.

"Campion," Woundwort responded in an even tone, "Vervain has been telling me some interesting things. He says you're a traitor to Efrafa. How do you respond to these accusations?"

Campion shook his head. "It isn't true sir. I…I tried to get them to show me their warren. I hoped that if I was able to convince them that I had turned against you, that they would lead me right there. I would have worked, if only Vervain hadn't shown up. We ran, but they didn't trust me after that. I barely escaped with my life."

"I sent Vervain, Campion," Woundwort said, stomping the ground in anger. "I commanded him to follow you because you had been acting odd these past few days. I commend you for your initiative, but you are never to try anything like this again unless I allow it, do I make myself clear?" By this point, his face was inches away from Campion's.

"Yes sir," Campion said as meekly as possible, "absolutely clear."

"Good," Woundwort said as he left the injured captain.

Very good indeed, Campion thought to himself triumphantly. I knew it would be easy to trick him. Now to find Pipkin…