Chapter 23.
Officers perk.
Campion led Bigwig up the twisted exposed tree roots, which gave them a good look at the Mark as they silflayed.
"Woundwort likes everyone kept in line, doesn't he?" Thlayli observed.
"Without order and control, there is no purpose." Said Campion. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh, I'm all for strict military discipline." Said Thlayli, playing along with his charade. "Can't have everyone going around thinking for themselves can we?"
Campion nodded as they descended from the Roots, Thlayli then saw the mutilated Rabbit from earlier, Blackavar, standing in a small Scarpe near one of the entrance burrows, Seeing him not among the others of the mark, He went over to him.
"Aren't you going to Silflay with the rest?" He asked.
Blackavar flinched as if Thlayli was going to strike him, then answered weekly. "I don't Silflay at this time, sir."
Thlayli turned to Campion, But before the latter could explain, Bartsia, The Captain of the Owslafa pooped out of the Burrows and poked at the Prisoner. "Tell them why you're here, Blackavar." He demanded as he towered over the unfortunate Rabbit.
"I come here for the mark to…" Said Blackavar weekly, then Bartsia swiped a claw at him, Promptly making him more alert in his response! "I-I-I come here, for the mark to see me!" He said as Bartsia nodded. "Uh, I've been p-punished for trying to leave the warren!"
Bartsia flashed a smirk back at Thlayli and Campion before threateningly raising his claws at Blackavar again. "The Council were merciful!" He cried. "The Council were Merciful!"
Thlayli instantly disliked Bartsia, who pushed Blackavar into his scrape to allow a few more outskitters to pass through. "He keeps trying to run away," Bartsia explained. "Captain Campion and Vervain caught him last time." The three rabbits hopped over to the silflaying mark as they spoke. "The council ripped his ears and said he has to show himself at every morning and evening silflay, as an example to the others, If you ask me, he won't last much longer, He'll meet a Blacker Rabbit than himself one of these nights."
Bigwig said nothing, he just glared coldly at the other Rabbit. "And you are?"
"Bartsia, Captain of the Owslafa." Bartsia greeted smugly. "This the new blood Campion?"
"He is." Said Campion evenly. "Bartsia, I suggest you get back to your duties."
"Of course sir." Said Bartsia, before turning to Thlayli. "Good luck round here new blood, You'll need it." And he hopped away.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Muttered Thlayli darkly.
"Well, now with that out of the way." Said Campion, trying to divert Thlayli's attention from that little episode. "We'll tour the rest of the perimeter now." As they moved further into the Mark. "Sounds lovely." Said Thlayli.
As they made their rounds, Vervain watched them from the tree roots, observing Thlayli closely. Campion meanwhile, looked up at the sky and nodded to the Mark Captain. "Time's up for your Mark." He said. "Get them back underground."
The Captain nodded as he motioned to his guards to escort their charges back underground so that the next mark could some up for Silflay.
"Hmm, none of them strike me as a difficult bunch." Said Thlayli as they observed the transition.
"Most of them are no trouble." Said Campion. "But you never know when trouble's coming."
They continued to talk as Bigwig was led through the forested part of the perimeter, with Vervain following closely behind. "But do they all try to run, like Blackavar?" Thlayli inquired. "They don't strike me as a difficult bunch."
Campion only half nodded. "Not normally, But most of it just… happens on impulse, Sometimes Rabbits rear away in a frenzy, and if you don't knock him over quick, the next thing you know there will be more after them. The safest way to ensure they're watched at all times when above ground, that's what we're here for."
Bigwig only nodded in response, But then he stopped and heard a rustling in the bushes. "Are we… being followed?" He asked.
"Get used to it Thlayli." Said Campion. "In Efrafa, someone's always watching you, especially if they're in Orchis employ."
"Who?" Asked Bigwig, though he already knew the name.
"Captain Orchis." Said Campion. "He's another Captain of Owsla like Vervain and me, and the General's Chief spymaster, He uses others to keep tabs on everything and reports it to either the General or the Council, His Brother, Charlock was Bartsia's predecessor."
"What happened?" Asked Thlayli.
"A few nights back, a group of outsiders were brought in by me, Vervain, and Orchis, They were marked under the Right Flank Mark, But they escaped, Charlock died trying to recapture them and Orchis has been blaming the escapees ever since, best watch out for him." And Campion continued onward.
"Hmm, That makes things… complicated." Said Thalyli as he followed after.
Then further down the path, they were on, Thlayli saw something that instantly caught his attention, He stopped, walked over to it, and stared.
There, placed upon a platform jutting out of the tree, was the Skull of a Homba!
"Oi, Campion!" Called out Thlayli, Campion came over to Thlayli and looked at the Skull with him.
"Is that what it looks like?" Asked Thlayli.
"Hmm, yes." Said Campion knowingly. "That Fox came around here last season, looking for an easy meal."
"Doesn't look like things worked out for the fox." Said Thayli.
"No." Said Campion shaking his head. "It met Woundwort and the Owsla, The General ordered the skull to be left here as a warning to other invaders."
"How many did you lose in the Battle?" Asked Thayli.
"None." Said Campion and he hopped off.
Thalyi looked completely stunned for a moment then looked back at the Skull.
"Very difficult indeed." He remarked, before following Campion again.
Campion and Thlayli made their way back to Efrafa, where they stopped for a moment.
"I'll have to leave you here Thlayli." Said Campion. "I have a digging crew to supervise."
"So am I to have a look around on my own for a bit?" Asked Thayli, trying not to sound too hopeful.
"Sorry, Thlayli." Said Campion with a shake of his head. "But you are still on Probation and I can't leave you alone unsupervised until you've been properly trained."
"And when will that be?" Asked Thlayli.
"When the General says so." Said Campion. "Oi! Sainfoin!"
Sergeant Sainfoin was talking to another Rabbit, when he heard Campion call out to him and hopped over to him.
"Captain Campion, Sir." Said Sainfoin. "You wanted me?"
"Sainfoin, This is Thlayli." Said Campion as he introduced the recruit. "He's to be a new addition to the Owsla."
"Oh, new recruit eh?" Asked Sainfoin as he eyed Thlayli suspiciously. "I can see why'd the General would choose you to be among us but don't expect the entire Owsla to welcome you all at once, You may have the General's respect, But you haven't gained our trust, Least of all mine."
Thlayli would have retorted back had Campion not intervened. "Since you want him to earn your trust, Sainfoin, As you so pleasantly put it, Perhaps you'll escort him around for me."
Sainfoin immediately puffed up with importance. "It would be my Privilege, Captain, If this rust about Hlessi needs whipping into shape, It should come from me!"
"Don't get too indulgent in this responsibility Sergeant," Campion said warningly. "If he so much as gets into one slip up while I'm gone, It will be you I come and find, Am I clear."
Sainfoin was taken aback by this. "Uh, Y-Yes sir, As clear as water sir."
"As you both were." Said Campion as he hopped off, he called back to Thlayli as he left. "Oh and Thlayli, Don't try to leave the warren, You're still on probation."
"Who'd want to leave?" Thlayli remarked.
As Campion left, Sainfoin got Thlayli's attention. "So, where was Captain Campin about to take you next?"
"Oh, uh, Nowhere really." Said Thlayli. "Though I would like to know where to find the Does, I've seen a few with the Marks."
"Ah, Yes, The Does." Said Sainfoin. "They're usually kept in the Marks, You know, The Hind Quarter Mark, The Left Flank Mark, The Right Flank Mark, We guards usually go between the marks you know."
"Could you take me to the nearest one?" Asked Thlayli.
"I suppose." Said Sainfoin.
They made their way to the courtyard of the Right Hind Mark, where they found Several does Silflaying. "As an officer, you can request any doe to join you in your burrow for mating." Said Sainfoin. "Officers Perk don't you know."
"Who's your new friend Seargent!" Called a voice from the crowd, It was Nettle.
"You get on with yourself Doe." Snarled Sainfoin. "And while your at it you might want to learn to curb your tongue in the future."
"Well then, maybe you ought to send some does on Wide Patrol." Checked the young Doe. "Then we might learn to do just that." And she hopped away.
Sainfoin scowled in contempt, While Thlayli looked on at the Smart mouthed Doe curiously. "That Doe just now, What's her name?"
Sainfoin looked over at Thlayli and forgot he was cross. "Fancy her already, do you?" He chuckled. "She's called Nelthilta, "Nettle" for short, But I'd look elsewhere for a mate if I were you. She's a troublemaker, The Council's got an eye on her and her friends?"
"Her friends?" Asked Bigwig.
"Yeah, Always causing a row at the Council." Said Sainfoin. "The Main Councilor, Snowdrop insists that they be broken up, But then certain circumstances compelled that they stay together in the Right Hind Mark."
"What kind of circumstances?" Asked Thlayli.
"Uh, That's classified, I'm afraid." Said Sainfoin. "See the one in the middle there? She's the ring Leader, Hyzenthlay, Captain Orchis has it out for her, She helped a couple of Rabbits escape and his Brother died chasing them, Sure Campion told you this I'm sure."
Thlayli's face lit up. "Perhaps…"
Hyzenthlay felt the newcomer's eyes on her, But they felt different from the ones in Efrafa. They felt… hopeful, Not cruel. She looked up and saw him talking to Sainfoin more.
"There's something different about that new Rabbit." She said to Thethuthinnang.
"It won't be long before he's just like the rest." She scoffed as she went back to eating.
Hyzenthlay wasn't quite sure, But she was almost certain this Rabbit was up to something.
To Be Continued.