Thank you to Faficteller and Chipster-roo for reviewing! I'm glad you both are enjoying this story! :)

Also, Fanficteller, I've got a surprise for you! :D I debated whether or not to do it, but then I went ahead and decided to just go for it. Please forgive my short note here. I really really appreciate the feedback, guys! I'm just tired lol. Gonna go to bed now! XD

Anyway, I hope everyone likes this chapter!

God Bless and Good Day!

~The Lupine Sojourner

"Oh Frith above! Why did it have to be Bigwig?!" I grumble, spotting my brother on sentry duty at the entrance to the Threarah's burrow.

Fiver turns to look at me. "What's the matter? He's your brother, isn't he?" He asks, concerned. "Won't that mean he'll be more likely to let us in?"

"Yes and no." I reply nervously. "He...is odd sometimes. He can be strict and particular or relaxed and carefree with hardly any in between. It's hard to explain, really. He may let us in or he may not. Either way...he'll likely not be too happy." I honestly had no idea what he would do with our unusual request and the fact that I was with outskirters.

"About what? You hanging around with outskirters, asking to see the Threarah?" Hazel asks, a touch of sharpness in his voice I didn't like.

"I'm not ashamed to be seen with you!" I assure them both, since it looked like Fiver might be thinking the same as Hazel. "It's just...my presence might complicate things or it might help. I don't know which."

"I think it might help, so let's go for it." Fiver interjects, saving me from having to continue to talk in circles with Hazel.

"Alright, Fiver. If you think she'll help, let's just go." It was clear that Hazel was not at all satisfied with this conclusion, but wasn't willing to argue any further. "If there is danger coming, we need to leave. We can't waste time arguing." He grumbles.

Swallowing hard, I hop over toward my brother with Hazel and Fiver.

"Oi! Rose, what're you doing with that lot?" Bigwig asks, just as I feared.

"There's no reason I shouldn't befriend them, Bigwig. Now...we need to talk to the Threarah. It's important, brother."

"No. He's busy, Roseluck. You should just go."

"We only need a few minutes with the Threarah, Bigwig. We wouldn't ask if it weren't important." Hazel presses, and Bigwig considers it painfully slowly.

"Please, Bigwig." I plead. "When have we ever asked before?"

After what feels like several more moments of silence, Bigwig softens and sighs. "Alright, go on." He says, nodding back toward the burrow. "But if I get my head bitten off, I'll come looking for all of you!"

Hazel and Fiver make for the burrow and I hesitate a second too long, and end up with Bigiwg's side in my face. He had moved to block the way into the burrow.

I stop. "Thlayli?" I was surprised. Why would he stop me?

"You don't need to be involved in their tomfoolery." He grumbles, pushing me back from the entrance.

"Bigwig, stop." I reply. "I want to go down with them."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because they're outskirters, Rose. They're probably up to no good."

"Then why did you let them down?" I point out, then push past him to get into the burrow. Bigwig tries to call me back but I keep going, and soon enough he has to return to his post. I stay back out of sight, but close enough to hear what is said.

"-...you were saying...your brother senses things?" The Threarah was saying.

"Uh...y-yes, sometimes...images in his head, and…" Hazel hesitates, sighing heavily, "I'm not sure how to say it, but he was right before. He knew the flood was coming last autumn."

For some reason, I doubt my input would be welcomed, so I remain where I was, silent and listening.

"Oh, I see." The Thearah replies, sounding unconcerned. "And what has he, um, sensed this time?" He asks.

Before Hazel could say anything, Fiver pipes up. "I...I don't know what it is, but it's bad. It's so bad! You have to get everyone to leave, tonight, please, Threarah."

The Threarah doesn't reply right away, chewing a little before replying.

"My goodness. Everyone? Tonight?" He laughs with a mouth half full of food. "The entire warren, and you want me to tell everyone that we all have to go?" He takes another bite of food. "Well, I shall have to give that some very serious thought."

And there was the best and worst of the Threarah; he thought long and hard about problems with hardly any actual attachments. He thought through the struggles of moving an entire warren, for example, but just as far as what it would take to get everyone out and away, not to mention settled again when we get where we're going.

There was no problem that was not chewed on thoroughly by the Threarah.

I only knew him a little better than the other rabbits and even that was because Bigwig talks about him a lot.

Fiver, however, was not willing to wait for the Threarah to think about the problem too long, and before I could stop him he snaps back at the elder rabbit.

"You're not listening! There is no time! I can feel the danger like a wire around my neck! Threarah, you have to act now! Now!"

If Fiver had kept quiet, perhaps another audience would have been called in the morning, and Fiver could explain in (hopefully) more detail what he saw and that should convince the Threarah of the danger.

However, if you react rashly to the Threarah, as Fiver had done, he will withdraw any consideration and shove you aside.

Which is precisely what was happening now.

There were several seconds of silence, then…

"Bigwig!" That officially killed any chance we had of gaining the Threarah's help. "Hazel, I think your brother needs to rest for awhile. Why don't you take him out for some fresh air?"

Poor Fiver tries to protest, but Hazel rightfully shushes him.

"Shh!" Hazel hisses. "Yes, Threarah." He says louder, backing Fiver up as I turn and go for the entrance, hoping Bigwig wouldn't be angry as he hops past me to get to the Threarah.

He was. "This isn't over." He growls in my ear, then the Threarah starts lecturing him.

We left the burrow, hearts heavy with some unknown dread.

"What now?" I ask.

"Well, that was our answer." Fiver replies, sounding timid but determined as he stops. Hazel and I stop too. "We have to go."

"What? Just the three of us?" I ask, incredulous. I couldn't process that idea. I'd literally been in Sandleford my entire life so far. I had only left Sandleford for the first time yesterday, for Frith's sake!

Hazel takes a long moment to think of his next move. "...Are you really sure, Fiver?"

"You're considering this?!" This was unheard of! Two bucks and a doe, off to Frith knows where?!

"I'm telling you now as your brother, Hazel, and as a friend to you both...this warren will soon be laid waste." The weight of his words and their implications crashed down on me like water.

But, I didn't doubt he spoke the truth. I couldn't help but feel as determined as he did to find somewhere safer.

"We can leave now, or we can be destroyed with it."

There's a few seconds of silence as Hazel and I process what was said, eyes closed as if that would change the choice we were facing.

We are both thinking the same thing when we open our eyes, however.

"Right. We need to spread the word to as many rabbits as possible, but be careful." Hazel came forward with the plan none of us dared utter. He then turns to me. "I hate to say this, but if the Owsla get wind of this, there will be trouble."

I nod. "My brother might actually be in the mood for rebellion after the Threarah's done with him." I point out. "He's been getting increasingly irritated with the mundane routine of things here and the Threarah." I catch myself. No time for a ramble about Bigwig. "I'll talk to him, then see if I can round up a few does."

"Leave Dewdrop to me." Hazel says and we adjourn to go about the task of convincing rabbits that we needed to leave.

I began with the task of determining where my brother stood in all this.

=#=#=#=#=

"What in Frith's name were you thinking?!" Bigwig growls. I knew he'd go to our burrow once the Threarah was through lecturing him. There would be another sentry at the Threarah's burrow, and not many rabbits would ever know what exactly happened today.

I backed up a half-hop.

He was most certainly mad. But at whom was yet to be seen, so I choose a fairly passive, noncommittal answer. "I'm sorry."

He never liked it when I bucked him.

"And hanging around those outskirters! What's gotten into you?!"

I back up a little more into our run. "Thayli, listen to me. Fiver, the smaller of the- -"

"I don't wanna hear about any of that, Rose. I just…" He groans, sitting down in a sudden weariness. "I'm tired. I don't like having to answer to that rabbit at all. And besides...I heard everything those two said."

"You did?" I ask.

"Yes, and I'm not sure I believe there's a danger, but I've had about enough of this place."

I hold my breath for a second or two, steeling myself to ask a potentially dangerous question.

I dare to take one hop closer to him. "So...are you willing to leave with us?"

There's a few tense seconds of silence, then he spoke. "...Yes, I think I am. Not because of that little outskirter, though."

"His name is Fiver." I point out automatically. "And he's seen things before that have come true. The flood last autumn? He saw it coming, and was able to help his brother evacuate the outskirter burrows before the water would have killed them."

"Really?"

"Yes, and I believe him that there is some danger coming. I'm not sure what that danger is, but I trust Fiver."

Bigwig sighs heavily. "Of course you would. I don't know about any danger, but if you've bought his story, then I'll come to keep an eye on you."

I exhale in relief. "Thank Frith."

"You should. If I hadn't made that promise, and I hadn't overheard what Fiver said, I'd make sure we both stay here." I choose not to ask if he felt the danger as I did. It might turn him from wanting to go to making us stay just to prove his courage or something.

I nod instead, relaxing now any possible danger from Bigwig was past. "I know, but there is danger. I've started to almost feel it myself. It's bad, but if we leave tonight, we'll be away before it arrives."

"Aye, if there is this danger, and it does come here."

It made me incredibly happy to know that, even if it ended up just being Bigwig, Hazel, Fiver, and I leaving Sandleford, I wouldn't be separated from Bigwig.

The thought of leaving Bigwig here alone had nearly kept me at Sandleford, if I'm being honest, but I think some part of me knew that, if I went, Bigwig's promise (if nothing else) would compel him to join us.

As strange as this is to think, I almost hope Fiver's dream comes true, so that at least Bigwig would have more respect for Fiver and Hazel.

Right now, they were merely outskirters planning rebellion to him.

If this whole thing proved true, however, and the danger was real and as imminent as Fiver claims, then we'll be on our own, relying on each other for survival. We'll have to, until we settle somewhere, then it'll be a matter of learning to get along with each other...hopefully without much infighting.

I blink, looking around.

I'd gone on rambling in my head and Bigwig had already left. If he'd said anything, I wasn't listening. I hope whatever he may have said wasn't important.

=#=#=#=#=

"What were you doing with those outskirters, Rose?" A doe (I think her name is Wilderry, but I can't be too sure) asks as I approach.

"Trying to save the warren." I reply, hopping a little closer to her. "Fiver says there's a bad danger coming. He sees things sometimes and he's been right before. I think we- -"

"Hold on. You want to...to leave the warren?" She asks, interrupting me.

"Yes! There's something coming! We've got to go! Tonight!"

"Listen to yourself!" Wilderry (if that's her name) cries. "This is our home, Rose! How can you talk about leaving?!"

"Because our home might be gone by tomorrow! Fiver is confident that there's a danger coming and I believe him. He's seen dangers coming before, and been right. We're meeting at Fu Inle under the bridge. And please, even if you don't come with us, don't tell the Owsla. We don't want to cause trouble. We just want to save the warren."

"...If the Owsla get suspicious and they press me, I might end up telling them, but I'll try to avoid them." She says.

"Thank you." I reply, deciding that was more than likely the most I'll get out of her.

I hop along and find a little group of does. They weren't very receptive either, so I continue on my way.

One of the smaller ones, too shy to speak up, seemed to at least be paying me the most attention, but even she was frightened of the idea of leaving Sandleford and risking the woods and whatever lay beyond.

This was harder than I thought. If I can't convince any rabbits to join us, what good will I have done? Would the others accept me if I don't help out in some way?

How will all this play out?

"Any luck?" A voice cuts through my thoughts.

I shake myself and look around to find Hazel sitting alone looking sad.

"Well...Wilderry says she'll consider it and try to avoid Owsla, and the other does I've talked to aren't thrilled at all about the idea of leaving. They're too frightened of the unknown dangers." I report, settling next to him.

"Hmmm." Hazel murmurs, "Not much luck on my end, either. Dewdrop seems to think we're safer here, too. She doesn't believe the risk is worth leaving…but she said she'll think about it."

I sigh. "Seems like not many are willing to leave with us."

"I have a few more ideas…" Hazel says, frowning a little in thought. "I'll see if I can round up a few more bucks, at least, but I'm not sure I can convince many does."

"You and me both." I grumble in reply.

=#=#=#=#=

"Roseluck!" I hear Fiver call from near the outskirter burrows. I hop over, smiling.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I was curious if you've had any luck so far."

"Not much." I heave a sigh and sit beside him. "The does I've talked to aren't very willing to entertain the idea of leaving. They're convinced we're safer here."

"They don't understand the danger of staying. The Black Rabbit will come and he will take many away with him…" The way he said it made me shiver with fright. I never liked the idea of having the Black Rabbit visit me and take my spirit with him.

Fiver seems to notice my fright and shakes himself, tilting his head and looking at me with a small smile. "But, I have a feeling we'll get away, so we needn't worry about meeting the Black Rabbit."

I smile. "Really?"

"Yes. Somehow...I think this will work."

Without thinking, I nuzzle his cheek with mine like I would to Bigwig.

It takes a few seconds to realize what I was doing. I hop back, embarrassed and flustered.

What was I thinking?!

"I...I'm so sorry!" I squeak. "I don't know what I was thinking!"

"Don't be sorry, Roseluck." Fiver says softly, smiling at me gently as I continue to back up, unsure what to do or say. "It felt...nice."

I stop short. "Really?"

"Yes. Now, um, I think we ought to go find Hazel, and see if we can talk to a few more rabbits before we have to leave."

I nod and follow after him, not quite trusting myself to speak.

What was that? I'd never nuzzled anyone but Bigwig before. It was strange, and yet...it felt natural, like I was meant to do that somehow.

I don't know how to describe it, but I liked that sensation. A lot.

=#=#=#=#=

"Are you alright?" Bigwig asks. I'd been so distracted by my thoughts about nuzzling Fiver, I'd forgotten all about talking to any other rabbits.

And I hadn't noticed I was going back toward Bigwig and I's burrow as Frith was lost to view behind the hills and trees.

I shake myself. "Y-yes. You know me; lost in thought. Are we going, then?" Reality settled in and I remembered we were about due to head for the bridge.

"Yeah. We'll be a bit late, but I think we'll make it before they leave. Seem in a hurry, those two outskirters."

"Hazel's the older one and Fiver's younger and smaller." I point out.

"Right. Now, let's get going before they all leave without us."

Somehow, I doubt they would, but I keep that to myself and hop alongside Bigwig.

Once we were fairly clear of the main hill with the burrows, Bigwig veers toward a small sapling that provides decent cover if you need it. Behind this sapling is a rabbit.

It takes a second to recognize Silver, the Threarah's own nephew.

Silver was the newest member of the Owsla. I wonder why he's here. Was he joining us? Or here to stop us?

"Hello, Rose." He says shortly, glancing around. "Are you still leaving, then?" He asks Bigwig.

"I am. Still game to come with us?" Bigwig replies.

"I don't go back on my word, Thlayli. Let's go." Silver says. "You said the meeting was at the bridge, correct?"

"Yes, it is." I reply before Bigwig can. "If I may, Silver, what made you want to leave with us?"

"Well, frankly, everyone's been giving me a thin time lately. On account of my fur, you know."

I frown as we prepare to continue on our way to the bridge. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"S'why I'm leaving." Silver murmurs, hopping along.

I nod, falling in beside Silver. I did genuinely feel bad for the poor rabbit.

Fresh to the Owsla, and already he was being given a thin time. Honestly, we ought to be decent to each other, shouldn't we? We shouldn't bully each other over petty things, right?

I decide to at least try to stick up for Fiver and Silver and any of the group leaving with us, to try to ensure we all get along as well as can be expected.

Unexpectedly, there's a noise beside us and out of seemingly nowhere comes a smaller doe. I believe her name is Violet.

I remember she was the one who was too frightened to talk or commit to leaving, but seemed at least interested in what I was saying.

"Is there really something coming to Sandleford, Rose?" She asks timidly, practically shaking as she looks around as if we were being pursued.

"I believe so." I reply gently. Bigwig is impatient to keep moving, so I nod in the direction of the bridge. "Come on. Trust me, this is safer than staying."

She stays close to me, and we move along quickly.

With Bigwig leading the way, we made good time, arriving at the bridge a little past Frith down and practically at Fu Inle.

There's a small gathering of rabbits (though it was more than I thought were going to leave with us) under the bridge as Bigwig, Silver, Violet and I arrive.

"So...Bigwig, you're off-duty, then?" Someone (can't quite tell who; they're blocked from my view by the other rabbits) asks coyly.

"Off, and likely to remain off. I've left the Owsla, and I've been thinking a lot about what you said, Fiver." Bigwig replies shortly, glancing at Fiver, then at the other gathered rabbits.

I find I recognized a few.

Pipkin, first of all. He is a small buck, like Fiver, but far more timid. He was always jumping at everything and afraid of his own shadow if he were already startled by something.

Another was Hawkbut, a rather slow buck and not particularly bright, but he was fairly strong and had a decent grasp of things so it might not be that bad having him along.

Then, among the rabbits I didn't know yet, I saw Buckthorn. I tended to avoid him after he rather boldly tried to convince me to mate with him.

I, of course, refused. He was simply not a rabbit I ever saw myself mating with.

I'd never actually felt any kind of attraction to any rabbit so far, but he was persistent until I warned him I would tell Bigwig about it, and Buckthorn gave up.

I was not looking forward to possibly having a repeat of that experience.

But, I reasoned, he was one more rabbit that would be spared from whatever was coming. We couldn't stop to pick and choose.

I also recognized Blackberry, Dandelion, and Acorn, though Acorn I'd only met very briefly while silflaying the other day. He seemed a decent rabbit, at least.

All of the rabbits I knew greeted me, and I returned the greeting as Bigwig was talking to Hazel.

Then came three rabbits, too far away to see clearly yet, but something told me they weren't here to join our group.

Fiver follows my gaze, then goes to Hazel, beginning to warn him when the apparent leader hops over directly to Bigwig, the other two acting like guards, remaining close to the leader.

As the rabbit approached, I saw it was Captain Holly.

"Thlayli?" Holly asks, surprised.

"You know me perfectly well," Bigwig grumbles in reply, "and I know you, Holly. What do you want?"

Holly narrows his eyes, glaring directly at Bigwig. "You're under arrest."

Bigwig scoffs. "Under arrest? What do you mean? What for?"

"For spreading dissension and inciting to mutiny." Holly replies coldly. He faced us boldly. "Silver, you're under arrest, too, for failing to report to Toadflax this evening and causing your duty to devolve on a comrade. You're both to come with me."

Fiver, surprisingly, takes a small hop forward. "You more than anyone need to listen, Captain Holly." He says, and I remember Fiver mentioning Captain Holly specifically in his recollection of his dream. "Something is coming to this place. Something foul and fierce."

I hop forward. Holly had been one of the nicer rabbits to me, as long as I stuck to the rules. I'd consider him something of a friend, really. It hurt to see him against us like this. "You should listen to him, Captain. He's trying to save the warren. Fiver sees things, and he's seen- -"

When he sees me, his eyes go sad and a little torn. "Oh come now, Roseluck. Don't tell me you believe these fools?"

"Yes, I do. Please, Captain, just listen to me!" I plead.

"Roseluck, I have a job to do. Please, stay out of this!" Captain Holly barks back at me, harsher than he probably meant.

It was enough, however, for Bigwig to engage him.

It was over mere moments after it started. Unfortunately, I ended up more toward the center of the rabbits in the confusion, so I don't know precisely what happened.

All I know is there was a scuffle between my brother, Dandelion, Buckthorn, Captain Holly, and the two rabbits Holly had brought with him.

It seems our side won, when things settle down and I can see through the rabbits again.

Holly sat on his haunches, pawing the ground angrily, facing off against Bigwig and panting.

"Go." Growls Hazel, disrupting the sudden quiet and showing his lack of fear.

"It doesn't have to be like this." I interrupt, hopping forward. "Please, Holly. Trust us when we say something terrible is coming. There's no need for all of this."

"I can't let you all go. Least, not those two." He hods to Bigwig and Silver. "They're Owsla, supposed to be examples to the others. And Dandelion and Buckthorn must be placed under arrest, as well. You know that, don't you? I'm a captain of the Owsla, and there's two more officers that've been hurt tonight."

"Go!" Repeats Hazel, hearing enough and hopping forward. "There's more of us here, Captain Holly. We fancy it would be a good fight, so just leave."

"No. You're all on arrest!" Holly retorts sharply, preparing to engage again when Bigwig scuffles the ground with his forepaws, growling to let us know how angry he was.

"Go, or we'll kill you." Bigwig growls.

"It's you who will be killed!" Holly snaps.

"We're trying to save everyone!" I try again. I truly didn't want to leave Holly. If I hadn't been caught up in my own head so much, I would have gone to speak with him before coming here. I might have even convinced him.

But now that Bigwig had struck him, there was no chance.

I breathe a sigh that at least the fighting was over as the Owsla rabbits take off back toward Sandleford.

I watch them go, saddened. I do really wish Holly had joined us.

Perhaps the uneven numbers finally persuaded Holly to leave, or perhaps he took the chance to run back and turn out the Owsla. Either way, the three Owsla rabbits take off.

Now we'll have to run like no rabbit has run before if we want to get away.

"We go along the line of the stream, through the meadow, then into the woods. Come on!" Hazel calls, and I shake myself out from my trance. Captain Holly was out of sight.

We had to brave the woods now. That was the way we would leave the warren, but upon actually entering the woods...that would be as far as most of us have been from Sandleford.

I'd only been through the woods once, but Bigwig had been through many times, so likely he'd have to lead us through it, then to whatever lies beyond.

I follow more toward the rear before Bigwig called me up to him.

"Stay where I can keep an eye on you." He orders as he hops and I don't want to argue, so I nod and reluctantly stay with him, though Fiver and Hazel were more or less bringing up the rear.

I hate to say it, but right now, with Bigwig in a mood, I'd almost rather be with them than my brother.

But for now, there was no arguing with Bigwig, so I hop along, trying not to think about all the dangers Bigwig had warned me about that may be waiting in the woods.