Everywhere in Berkshire, on the magical night of Christmas Eve, lights twinkled, voices sung out and other called out "Merry Christmas!". People wandered through the market that consisted of many Christmas enchantments. Hot chocolate, hot chestnuts, urgers, chicken raps, turkey raps, knitted toys, and little decorations for the top of the fireplace or the Christmas tree. And over the forests and beyond the hills, a lonely beech tree was high in festivities itself, young bunnies playing about and setting holies and ivies all around the inside of the tree. This tree was the landmark of their home warren, known as Watership Down. The rabbits were all setting themselves ready for the Feast of Frith before the great day of Frithmas, rolling out the leftovers of flayrah to go freshly with the banquet, including fresh carrots the rabbits had collected from a good friend who taught them something special about humans liking rabbits. Here, there and everywhere, the rabbits were wishing each other season's greetings and their moods filled with high delight, something that could do with lasting long after, what we call Christmas.

A young runt, Fiver by name, tawny brown in colour, had just hopped out of the burrow after tending to his sick little friend Pipkin. He was insisted by their chief of Owsla, Bigwig, to come out and take part in the night patrol where he was ill or not for that was how and Owsla is supposed to be – at least to his eyes.

Fiver was instantly greeted by the grey lionhead rabbit with dark-grey mane and angry eyes.

"What time do ya call this, ya sloppy layabout?" Bigwig snapped.

"Helping Pipkin to his feet, Bigwig," said Fiver calmly.

"And that has affected your punctuality!" Bigwig said severely. "For that, we will make it three rounds for the lot of you!"

He turned to three other rabbits, a reddish pink one called strawberry, a short, grey rabbit name Hawkbit and a tall golden rabbit names rabbit.

The little brown rabbit, Pipkin, hopped outside shivering madly, not even bearing the iconic smile that made Watership Down a lively place ailing with the beautiful greenery that surrounded it.

"I'll deal with you once you get out of your hooky illness, my young son!" growled Bigwig angrily. "I've seen it all, and is won't be pleasant."

Hawkbit harrumphed.

"Well, he's a pretty professional actor if he's shivering as bad as that."

Bigwig hopped over to Hawkbit who cowered.

"You testin' my authority, chum?"

"Just defending Pipkin," remarked Hawkbit.

"He it rather ill if you open your eyes," agreed Dandelion. "He's been to see Blackberry these last three days. She says if he goes outside, he'll get worse."

"He slept in last time," said Bigwig nastily. "And I'm making sure is does not happen again."

Fiver suddenly twitched and gasped.

"You're in for a hidin' if you jump on this bandwagon, Fiver!" warned Bigwig.

Fiver had a gift for reading the future and it was because of this gift they were all alive and lived to find Watership Down. At this moment, Fiver recited what he saw:

Bitterness cold in Owsla's heart, warmth and feeling very sparse

Ghostly happenings come in sight, heed them all and end your fright

Everyone stared at him with worry and expectation of what he saw. Except Bigwig, who scowled, unmoved.

"What was that about?" said Hawkbit with disbelief.

"Nonsense," said Bigwig. "Ghostly happenings indeed. Now START PATROLLING!"

The rabbits all started to hop to their locations, Pipkin making an effort despite the child for his immune system. Disappointing Bigwig was the worst feeling for him to feel. He was so focussed on that fact that he didn't notice the boulder in his way. He tumbled and rolled down the hill and into Fiver, knocking him aside. Bigwig on the other hand watched the sight and rolled his eyes as the young kitten clutched his foot and complaining in agony.

"It hurts! My foot hurts!"

"It's alright, Pipkin!" Fiver assured him as he helped him up. "I'm here."

"Are you tryin' to make me angrier than I am now?!" shouted Bigwig who approached them at that moment.

"I'm sorry, Bigwig!" Pipkin sobbed. "I'm trying!"

"Not. Hard. ENOUGH!"

Fiver rose up and looked Bigwig in the face scowling.

"Everyone has their best! But it's ludicrous to push him in this state. Not only is he ill but injured as well!"

"Congratulations, Fiver," said Bigwig in a dangerously soft voice. "You have just found yourself sacked for insubordination."
"Actually," said Fiver, "I quit! And so is Pipkin."

"That's what he wants," said Bigwig shortly. "And he's failed very poorly."

"Bigwig!"

Everyone turned to see the leader of the warren, Hazel-Rah. Fiver's older brother, and very similar in appearance, only Hazel's brown fur was a tone darker. He was looking reproachfully at the pitiful sight. He eyed Pipkin and turned to Bigwig.

"What is the little lad doing out her in his condition?"

"I'm just simply fighting the lethargy out of him."

"Lethargy is it?" said Hazel. "Then why is he shivering like mad? Pipkin, back to the warren. No night patrol for you this evening."

"Th-th-thank you, H-H-Hazel!" Pipkin shivered through his sobs.


Hawkbit and Dandelion helped him up to warren as he laid on their backs like a connected stretcher. When they all arrived at the warren, Blackberry, a beautiful blue doe and the healer of Watership Down, was standing awaiting.

"Pipkin!" she cried in concern. "You know better than leave the warren sick like this. What were you doing?"

Strawberry answered for the kitten.

"Ask Pigwig. Oh, sorry. I meant Bigwig." (But it didn't sound genuine)

"Thought the kid was pretending and now he's got an illness and a, injured foot."

Blackberry saw them all approaching towards her now. She hopped right up to Bigwig and fived right into confronting him. "I thought a Chief of Owsla has better sense! Forcing a sick child into Owsla duties! Oooh, if you were in his condition right now, I'd leave you to rot! Hawkbit, Dandelion, take Pipkin into the healing chamber."

They obeyed, Fiver bringing up the rear.

In response to Blackberry angry remark, he said "And leave me to die so you can all die? Don't make me laugh! It's bad enough you are getting us all to dig, especially since now there's you, Clover, Spartina, Primrose, Marigold and many more."

"You be careful I don't show you how a doe can fight. My verbal battles towards those who make me cross, it my kindest weapon of battle. Trust me!"

She hopped away to tend to Pipkin, as Dandelion, Hawkbit, Strawberry and Fiver cleared the way.

"You know," Hawkbit said bluntly to Bigwig, "I always hated digging, but I prefer it to being under you!"

"Drop out then!" snapped Bigwig.

"I certainly will!" huffed Hawkbit.

"Count me in!" agreed Dandelion.

"Good luck on your own, almighty Captain of Owsla!" Strawberry backed up.

To which all three rabbits hopped away. Fiver stayed put.

"Blackberry said I can stay with Pipkin when she's finished tending to him which is why I stay put."

Hazel nodded and turned to Bigwig.

"Such a performance," he remarked. "And on Frithmas of all times."

"Frithmas!" snorted Bigwig. "Bah! Maybug! Just another day in the year, where every rabbit takes the time off just for the sake of it. A time of the year where danger lurks around even then, so we all find ourselves a year older and not a warren safer. So 'ere's the deal. Keep Frithmas in your way and let me keep is in mine."

"Keep it?" replied Hazel incredulously. "But you don't keep it."

"Let me have nothing to do with is then," said Bigwig. "Much good has is ever done you."

"I accept not everything is snowflakes and twinkles on the ground. But I have always thought Frithmas as kind, forgiving, loving charitable time. That one time of the year where everybody gathers together and remind themselves of the friends and family that are fortunate to be with and not to be alone until Inle comes. So, I believe Firthmas has done me good and will do me good, and I say Frith bless it!"

"Well said, Hazel!" smiled Fiver proudly. "Like a true leader should speak!"

Bigwig turned savagely.

"Another word out of you and I'll sack you!"

"I quit, remember?" Fiver reminded Bigwig patiently.

Bigwig glared ferociously, until Hazel interrupted his next outburst:

"Bigwig come on. I've seen you enjoy it when we were young. You've found a soft spot for is the day we met."

Bigwig's expression seemed to soften a little, but he maintained his stern look.

"That was then, and this is now," he said. "And Owsla looks forward, not backwards."

"Not even when they are good times?"

"I assure you, Hazel-Rah," remarked Bigwig his face close to the chief's, "that if I was leader, every fool in this warren who hopped about with Merry Frithmas in their mouths would be rejected."

At that, he hopped away.

Hazel sighed in exasperation.

"What did you mean when you were young?" Fiver inquired.

"He had a rough upbringing," Hazel answered, looking on form where Bigwig left. "He was much different when we were young. The world has toughened him up. Too much, in fact."


Bigwig hopped into the Honeycomb, grumbling furiously when who should step in his way? But the elderly Captain Holly and Captain Broom, both of whom bore an expression if disdain at Bigwig.

"We have heard everything that happened, what-what," remarked Broom.

"And?" remarked Bigwig with apathy.

"And have therefore abused the meaning of this time of year," Broom replied.

"At this festive season of the year," remarked Holly, "is seems necessary that we should all have a break from guarding and security. If not, keep things more subtle for the frail and weak. Family, an important part to this group, Bigwig."

"Frithmas, old boy," said Broom. "The time where want is keenly felt."

"Well, unfortunately," said Bigwig crossly, "Want does not get."

"Where ignorance is mainly concerned," Holly replied.

"Something I lack, you two should know well enough of. Pipkin failed to look after himself, and there are many others out there who are ailing and use that as an excuse to neglect night patrol and Owsla training."

"Without their strength and need to recover," said Holly, "they won't be strong enough to commit."

"Besides," added Broom, "they would likely die."

"Well then," argued Bigwig, "I suggest they die and decrease the incompetent population."

At this, he hopped out of the burrow and did his own personal night patrol alone.


Meanwhile, Pipkin sat in a snug nest and his shivering was slowly starting to alleviate. Fiver sat next to him, allowing his warm fur to flow into Pipkin for all the warmth he needed. Fiver was often picked on by many rabbits before coming here, but Pipkin was the first friend he ever had, and he could never leave his side. Not even now.

"How does your leg feel?" Fiver inquired.

"It doesn't hurt if I don't move it," Pipkin replied hoarsely.

"Are you warm enough?" Fiver asked.

"A little," Pipkin replied. "I'm so sorry, Fiver. I didn't mean to ruin night patrol."

"You didn't do anything Pipkin," Fiver assured him. "And I quit because of Bigwig's attitude towards you and us. Your health comes before everything here."

"Why just me?"

"If I'm being honest, it's because everyone needs you. Your heart is perhaps as big as the tree. And we need you to get well so we can have our favourite kitten back on his feet. And I can't wait for him to ride on my back again. And there's only one more sleep 'til Frithmas Day."

Pipkin looked up and smiled.

"It's like having a brother."

Fiver smiled back and nuzzles Pipkin's head.

"You are one to me."

He almost let slip to Pipkin that he loved him, but somehow, he felt what he already said was enough. Pipkin almost told Fiver he loved him, but the warmth of Fiver's fur was helping him drift of into a cosy sleep, yet he lived in worry that Bigwig would never forgive him. But Fiver's presence dulled the pain.