Carrots make Vervain a happy bunny.

Mother & Father

When Vervain had been a young kitten Efrafa hadn't fallen into disarray yet. It was a normal warren like there are so many in the world. There were elil about but they could be avoided. The amount of flayrah they ate was limited but there was enough other food around to feed every rabbit. No rabbit could have foreseen that this peace and tranquillity would soon shatter. Efrafa didn't fall from one day to the next. It was a gradual process that began with an increase in desperate and hungry elil that had migrated into their territory. The Owsla was busier every day to keep the warren hidden and safe and the already limited amount of raids on farms became even rarer. Morale at Efrafa was at an all-time low and its Chief and co-Chief decided that something needed to be done. And what better way to boost the morale of a rabbit than with some tasty flayrah?

"I could go for a carrot." Vervain mumbled as he lay around listlessly. "I think I'm starting to forget what they taste like."

"As if you could ever forget that." Nashia replied with a roll of her eyes. Vervain merely huffed because really she had a point. Not that he was going to tell her that. Still, he could really go for a carrot...

"Really, brother, they're just carrots."

"So, you don't mind if I have all of them next time then?"

"What?!" Nashia burst out, then immediately threw her paws over her snout to pretend it never happened. Vervain grinned.

"They're just carrots, after all." He replied, doing his best at imitating Nashia's voice. He was rewarded with a glare and a huff.

"I prefer lettuce anyw- urg." She trailed off, a look of displeasure crossing her face. Vervain wasn't surprised that Campion joined them. It was funny really. Nashia had so much in common with Campion yet she couldn't stand him at all. The young buck seemed completely oblivious to this though which only served to amuse Vervain further. He supposed his sister was just jealous because Campion got to be officially trained as an Owsla officer and she didn't. Vervain didn't mention this out loud though. He didn't fancy listening to another one of Nashia's complaints about how unfair it all was. That's another thing they had in common, Vervain seemed to be the go-to rabbit to complain to for both of them. Official permission or not didn't stop Nashia though. She observes the Owsla officers and then practises their moves in secret. Well, she thought she was doing it in secret, but Vervain was pretty sure every rabbit in Efrafa knew about it. They simply ignored it. Being the daughter of the Chiefs of Efrafa had its perks.

"I'm beat." Campion exclaimed as he flopped down next to Vervain.

"Been training?" Vervain asked, noting his sister's growing displeasure. Yes, most definitely jealous. He supposed it must be frustrating. Nashia was almost, if not even more, competent than Campion.

"Yes, they want me to join the real Owsla as soon as possible."

Neither Vervain nor Nashia commented on this. They all knew the Owsla had no paws to spare. They'd lost a few members recently and they hadn't been that big to begin with. And now with the increase in elil...

"Where's Phyla?" Campion asked curiously.

"Probably off mooning all over Flax." Nashia replied.

"I really don't get what she sees in that buck." Vervain added. Really, he was just so... boring and average. He wasn't strong nor was he very bright either. Vervain had tried holding a conversation with him a few times because Phyla had begged him to find out if he was interested in her, but by Frith you were better of conversing with a babbling brook! When Nashia and he had asked Thyme what she thought about it (because Flax was hardly a wise choice for a companion), she merely said that love can make any rabbit illogical.

Campion blinked in surprise at the siblings' tone. "She's in love. Isn't that wonderful?"

Nashia snorted and Vervain rolled his eyes. Didn't seem all that lovely to him if it made you dumb.

Campion looked confused by their reactions. "Well I think it's lovely. You should be happy for her."

"You sound just like her. Don't tell me you're in love too?" Nashia's voice was simply dripping with disdain. Vervain wondered how Campion didn't notice.

"No, not now, but I'm sure that one day I will be. When the right doe comes along."

"And what a lucky doe that'll be." Nashia snickered at Vervain's tone of voice but Campion merely smiled at him. Sometimes, Vervain thought Campion purposely ignored his sarcasm.

"It'll happen to you too." That sounded much more ominous to Vervain than it probably should.

"Hah! He already is deeply in love!" Nashia exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"He is?" Campion's eyes were wide. He turned to Vervain, "Really?"

"First I've heard of it."

"Oh please brother! Every rabbit knows your one true love is carrots!" She laughed and Campion joined in. How funny, teasing him was another thing that they had in common, it seemed.

"You got me." He answered dramatically. "So know that I won't be sharing their love next time."

Vervain couldn't help smiling as well as his sister and Campion laughed even more. It was a good day.

Even though they were no longer kittens Vervain and his sisters still slept in the same burrow as their parents. It had become rather cramped though but Thyme had said that as long as they all still fit in they would stay there. She seemed very adamant about it. Vervain didn't mind mostly. He supposed that if Flax returned Phyla's affection they'd be moving into their own burrow soon. As much as he liked the comfort of feeling the warm bodies of his family around him as he slept, he wouldn't mind a little more room. Then maybe Nashia wouldn't kick him in her sleep so often.

As she had done just now.

Vervain blearily opened his eyes as another kick connected. She probably practices battle moves even in her sleep! He kicked her back but Nashia slept on as if nothing had happened. Vervain sighed. He was about to try and go back to sleep when he noticed their parents weren't there. Soft voices drifted from the tunnel outside their burrow. Curious, but not wanting to get caught eavesdropping, Vervain angled his ears so he could understand what was being said.

"I've heard him calling me, Thyme." Vervain had never heard his father speak in such a soft voice before. He sounded... fragile. There was a long pause and for a moment Vervain thought the conversation had ended already. But who were they talking about?

"Let some other rabbit go." His mother finally said, her voice holding the same firm tone that she used when she wanted to teach her children something. It was strange to hear it used on his father.

"Thyme, I can't do that. The warren needs some hope and I can give it to them."

"And you think this will give them hope?" Thyme's voice rose in anger.

"We already agreed on the plan." Basil countered. "Your plan, remember?"

"You know what I mean." Thyme bit out. Vervain had never heard his mother so angry or emotional. It made him uncomfortable.

"A rabbit can't escape his fate, Thyme." His voice was soothing but it clearly did little to sooth Thyme. She snorted.

"You haven't even tried yet."

"I have... but the call remains." Vervain had to really focus to hear him now. His father's voice was barely a whisper. "Facing it is my own choice."

His mother sighed, "Then, I respect that choice." She conceded but to what exactly Vervain had no clue. The conversation had given him a bad feeling though. "But I am going with you."

"You shouldn't-"

"I am going with you." She repeated. "My plan, remember?"

"...Let's get some sleep for tomorrow." Vervain thought it strange how happy his father suddenly sounded but before he had time to contemplate it, he heard his parents return. He quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He felt his father settle next to him, their fur brushing, and soon he was really asleep again.

"Vervain, wake up!"

Vervain groaned and threw his paws over his head. "Leave me alone..."

"Wake up!" This time the order was accompanied by a harsh poke. Grumbling Vervain obliged and sat up. He blinked to clear his blurry vision and saw Phyla staring at him, a look of mixed sympathy and amusement on her face. He turned to Nashia who had rudely woken him up. "You better have a good reason for this." He glared at her but she merely smiled innocently.

"Mother and father want to see us." Phyla explained.

"They see us every day."

Phyla smiled at that, "Yes but-"

"They're going on a raid today!" Nashia interrupted loudly. "So come on! Maybe we get to go with them!"

Much to Vervain's relief (and he suspected Phyla's as well) they were, in fact, not allowed to go with them. On the top of the outcropped rock they lined up in front of their parents. It made Vervain feel like the were Owsla officers about to be told their mission.

"Be sure to look after Efrafa while we're gone." Basil told them seriously. "And remember that I love you all dearly."

Vervain looked at his sisters and saw his confusion reflected in their eyes. Why was their father being so dramatic about it? Sure, a raid was dangerous but they were the Chiefs, there was nothing they couldn't handle when they worked together! He looked over at his mother and saw that her eyes were clouded over. He was about to ask what was wrong but Phyla beat him to it.

Basil smiled, "Nothing. I know I don't often show it but I'm proud of you." He looked from Phyla to Nashia before settling on Vervain. "Of all three of you." Vervain found he had a lump in his throat and though he wanted to say something to his father, anything really, the words didn't come so he just nodded as his vision grew blurry. Tears? But why? This was just a raid. They'd be back before he knew it and he could hopefully have a carrot again.

"We better get going while the morning is still early." He concluded, turning to Thyme. Her eyes were clear again as she nodded. She turned to them and smiled, "Behave now."

"We'll be back before you know it." His father added and without another word he and Thyme hopped off with the rest of their raiding party.

Vervain never saw his father again.