It rained hard that knight and slowed into a drizzled by morning, Hazel stared down in a puddle in front of Hisl and Fiver's Scrape.
"Let's face it, Fiver." He Said Dejectedly. "Bluebell was wrong, I'm not a leader, I'm not Strong like Bigwig and Silver, I'm not Fast, like Violet, I'm not Smart Like Blackberry, I'm not a digger like Dewdrop, I'm not good with Non Rabbits like Pipkin, I'm not… Uh… Whatever useful trait Hawkbit has, I don't know any good stories to tell like Dandelion or Jokes to keep everyone's spirits up like Bluebell himself, Or visions to keep us from harm, Like you."
"You've led us this far." Said Fiver. "And none of us are dead, Isn't that a miracle enough."
"It's blind luck is what is." Hazel said. "And where going to need more of that, Besides what if you are wrong? We can't keep going on dreams."
"Dreams are all we have left, Hazel." Said Fiver.
Soon enough the Drizzling stopped, Hazel than Noticed something, A Rabbit seamed to be standing outside the Scrapes, Hazel stamped his Foot and Woke the others, They saw the Stranger and drew back slightly.
The Strange Rabbit Hopped over slightly, He had Cream colored Fur and a large fat build, His whiskers were curled and he looked rather Elderly.
"My, My." He said. "It seems you've come a long way."
"Do you live around here?" Asked hazel.
"Of course." Said the Rabbit. "In a little Warren just across the way from here."
"How far?" Asked Blackberry.
"As I said, Little across the way." Replied the Rabbit. "You look like you've been through a tiring Journey."
"Doesn't mean we can't defend ourselves." Said Bigwig Confidently.
"Oh, I don't doubt that for a Minute." Chuckled the Stranger.
"Who are you? And What do you want?" Asked FIver.
"My name is Cowslip, And I don't want anything." Said Cowslip.
"Than why are you here?" Asked Pipkin.
"Well I noticed you didn't seem to be doing well on your own, So I thought I might invite to stay at our Warren." Cowslip Explained. "Our warrens not as big as we like, But we've plenty of Burrows, These Scraps of you'rs don't look to comfortable, And there are more heavy storms on their way."
The Rabbits looked at each other in Astonishment at his Offer.
"Now if you Excuse me." Said Cowslip hopping away. "I hate the Rain."
And with that he was gone.
"Well that was unexpected." Said Bluebell.
"I liked him." Said Hawkbit. "Why don't we go?
"I suppose we could." Said Violet.
"Well, It might me dryer in there." Grumbled Silver.
"But why would he invite us? Asked Fiver. "What does he have to gain from it?"
"He seemed Friendly Enough." Said Blackberry Reasonably.
"I think…" Said Fiver.
"Oh Frith." Groaned Hawkbit.
"I think we ought to have nothing to do with this Cowslip, Or his Warren."
"Probably better at his Warren than in these scrapes." Said Dandelion.
"Besides." Added Pipkin. "What would think of us if we don't take up his offer?"
"I'll tell you." Said Bigwig. "He'll think we're snobs."
"Well, It really all depends on Hazel's decision." Said Dewdrop. "Whether we like it or not."
"Oh yes, And we all know what Hazel thinks." Hawkbit sneered. "He thinks the same as Fiver."
Hazel looked to Fiver, Than to the Spot where Cowslip was, And then the Scrapes.
"I think we should go to Cowslip's warren." He said Surprising Hawkbit. "These scrapes won't do us any good and I fancy a dry Burrow for a change."
"Well? Come on than." Said Bigwig. "We can't sit here like fools."
And with that, He and the other Rabbits set off for the Warren, Leaving Fiver and Hazel behind.
"They all think I'm mad." Fiver Grumbled. "You know I'm not And you still won't listen."
Hazel sighed. "Look, we probably won't be there long, Come on than."
The two Brothers followed after the others, They went up a hill and at the top, Found the Warren was a large tree on a hill with Large Roots sticking out as it overlooked a field, With Beautiful Purple flowers, A few Rabbits were sean silflaying outside the Tree, Eating at the Grass.
"Sky above us." Said Bigwig. "Every Creature must see them for miles away."
"Not afraid of being sean either." Added Dewdrop.
"Look at the size of the Burrows, You could get a horse in there." Said hazel in astonishment.
"I already don't like this place." Shivered Fiver.
"Shows what you know." Scoffed Silver. "These Rabbits must have a life here."
"We're not turning back now Fiver." Said Bigwig.
"C'mon let's go." Said Hazel.
The group headed down to the Warren, Where the Rabbits noticed their Arrival, Cowslip popped his head outside of a burrow.
"Oh it's you is it?" He asked. "We're glad you've come, Come inside, Out of the Rain."
Cowslip than hopped back down the hole as the other Rabbits followed him.
As Hazel's rabbits down one tunnel they marveled at how big the Tunnels were, But what truly took their Breath away was what the Rabbits here called "The Great Burrow."
"Look at that!" Said Blackberry Looking up at the Ceiling, "The roots of the Tree keep it from collapsing, It's genius! Clever Rabbits."
"Look at the size of those em." Said Hawkbit. "They could rip us to bits in a second."
Cowslip was perched on a large Stump in the Middle of the Burrow, As he Addressed Hazel's band.
"My Friends, We welcome you to our Warren." He Announced. "We hope you make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you Cowslip." Said Hazel. "This is a fine Warren you have, By all means, But when you said you're warren wasn't as big as you like, We were expecting something a lot smaller, Where are the other Rabbits?"
Cowslip didn't say anything for a moment.
"Why don't you make yourselves comfortable." He said Suddenly Changing the Subject. "A Lot of the Burrows are lying empty, So you're welcome to any that you choose, My Fellow Rabbits will show you around."
Each of Cowslips Rabbits were assigned to a member of Hazel's Rabbits and Led them off to Tour the Warren, As the Group split up to be guided to their Burrows Fiver stayed close by Hazel's side.
"There's some kind of… Winter in this place." He said. "A cold that never ends."
"It seems fine to me." Said Hazel.
"Why do the Rabbits here look so big and Strange?"
"Maybe they ate too much." Said Hazel.
As they were heading to their Burrow their Assigned Rabbits met them, One was a Fat Orange Rabbit and the other was a doe with Pinkish red fur.
"Hello, There." Said the Orange one. "Were to give your tour."
"Oh, Uh." Hazel was Surprised. "Uh… Thank you…"
"I'm Starberry, And this is my mate Nildro-Hain." Said Strawberry.
"We were hoping you'd like to join us." Said Nildro-Hain.
Hazel Agreed, Fiver do so reluctantly, The two brothers followed the pair as they led them through several burrows, Some were completely empty.
"So, Is cowslip you're chief?" Asked Hazel.
"Oh no, We don't have a chief." Said Nildro-Hain.
"But who decides what to do about Elil?" Asked Fiver.
"Oh we don't need to worry about that." Said Strawberry. "Elil doesn't bother to come near us, Not with the Man around to shoot them."
"Man?" Asked Hazel. "What man?"
"The one who Protects us." Said Strawberry.
Fiver seemed to shudder at this. "Why are there so many burrows?" He asked.
Strawberry and Nildro-Hain looked at each other, "Because of the White blindness." Said Strawberry.
"White Blindness?" Asked Hazel. "But everyone here seems so Healthy."
Fiver than saw something against the wall, He stopped and Sniffed at it. "What's this?" He asked. "It looks… Man built."
"It is." Said Nildro-Hain. "Our digging crews found it pleasing, So they made it part of our Warren."
"Oh there's something else." Said Strawberry. "Come we'll show you."
The four Rabbits hopped off to a closed space of Sparkling pink lights coming from a pink Crystal engraved in the Ground.
"What's this?" Asked Hazel. "Another Man thing?"
Strawberry laughed. "No, It's a shape, A rabbit called Laburnum made it, It's where we give Praise to Frith."
Fiver reached out to touch it until Nildro-Hain swatted it. "Careful no to touch it." She said "Beauty is fragile."
"Than why did you make it?" Asked Fiver.
"Because we're so blessed to have it, it's a special place to visit when one is feeling sad." Said Strawberry.
"Oh Brambles, It must be getting late dear." Said Nildro-Hain. "I'll be in the field if you need me." And She hopped off.
"I'll wait for you Nildro." Called Strawberry, The three Rabbits went down another hole.
"Kingcup!" Called Strawberry. "Kingcup! I've got new friends, I thought you'd like to…"
The Burrow however was empty.
"Oh…" Said Strawberry. "He's gone…"
Hazel looked at the Burrow, It looked like no one had been in there for days.
"C'mon." Strawberry said Suddenly. "Let's get you two to your burrow."
Strawberry led Hazel and Fiver, To their Burrow.
"Hope you have a good night's rest." He said and Hopped off.
Fiver looked about. "I'm still not sure about this."
"As I said Before." Said hazel Reassuringly, "There's nothing wrong here, Just go to sleep, Everything will be Better in the Morning." And He went to sleep, leaving Fiver in doubt.
"I don't know Hazel, Dawn feels a long way away."
To be Continued.