The next morning, Hazel awoke to the Sound of Strawberry, Thumping his foot.

"Wake up you two, It's time to get some Flayrah." He said and he hopped off.

"Flayrah?" Asked Fiver. "But its too early to go raiding Gardens."

The two Brothers joined the others and went outside, To their joy, They found a meadow, Full of Carrots Turnips, Cabbages, Lettuce and other Delicious vegetables, Which Rabbits Called Flayrah.

"Frith in a Basket!" Said Bigwig with Glee. "Flayrah!"

The Rabbits Hurried to the Sandbox where the Flayrah was layed and ate as if their Lives depended on it, Bluebell, Who had never tasted a carrot before, Inched near on and Took a bite.

"How was it?" Asked Pipkin, Who was eating Lettuce with Hawkbit.

"Uhh… Horrible… Uh-Uh." Bluebell Lied.

Fiver was the only one of the Group not eating any Flayrah, He looked towards Cowslip.

"How did you get your paws on Flayrah overnight?" he asked. "And where did it all come from?"

"Man leaves it out here daily." Cowslip Answered.

The Rabbits stopped eating at this and looked up.

"What? Man?" Asked Hazel why would…"

"After you've been with us for a few days." Cowslip interrupted. "You'll forget all about the Hard times, Life is easy here, Now eat all you like we'll leave you to yourselves."

And with that, Cowslip and his Rabbits hopped off, Leaving the Group feeling very perplexed as they continued eating.

"I was sure there'd be more Rabbits to get Flayrah." Said Hazel.

"Yes, Where are they all?" Asked Pipkin.

"Where?" Scoffed Bigwig. "Try asking Cowslip where anything, He barely answers our Questions."

"They sort seam sad, Like trees in November." Said Dewdrop.

"Do you think the man puts food here out of a kind heart?" Asked Fiver.

"Well, It's not Poison." Said Dandelion, chuckling.

Fiver hopped away with a scowl, Hazel looked a little Concerned and Followed him with a carrot, He found Fiver sitting Near bush.

"Are you all right?" Asked Hazel. "I thought you might like a Carrot."

Fiver looked Disgusted. "You really Expect me to eat at mans hand?!"

Hazel was taken aback. "I-I thought you'd be hungry."

"I've got Plenty of Grass thank you." Fiver than took a nibble at some Grass. "Anything those Rabbits do feels just lost and Dark.

"Those look like Healthy Well Groomed Rabbits, What is Wrong with you?"

"There's something evil about this place, It feels like mist, Like Being Deceived and losing our way."

"Hazel!" Called Bigwig. "We're going back inside."

"Are coming or not?" Aksed Hazel.

Fiver sighed. "I suppose…"

Hazel went on ahead back to the Warren, Fiver followed behind at a slower sulkier pace.

Once back inside Hazel found the other Rabbits lying about eating some More Flayrah.

"How have you lot bean?" Asked Hazel.

"Well Hazel I have to say." Said Hawkbit. "This place is a practically paradise, We've got our own Burrows, Plenty of Does, No Owsla to Pester us, And the Food, It's hardly any wonder these Rabbits are so blissful, And I just wanted to say that I was wrong about you and that I'll follow you anywhere.

"To hazel-Rah." Toasted Bigwig.

"Yes to Hazel-Rah." Said Dewdrop.

"To Hazel-Rah."

"Here Here." Said Blackberry.

The only one who did not toast Hazel was FIver, Who slunk near a tree stump and Sulked.

"Attend Everyone!" Said Cowslip. "We have decided that today is a good day for some stories, In honor of our Guests."

"Oh well, Thank you kind Cowslip." Said Bigwig. "It just so Happens we already have a story teller among our Number, Dandelion."

Dandelion hopped up to the Stump and began a story.

"This is the story of Elarah and the King lettuce." He Proclaimed.

As Dandelion began his Tale, Bigwig heard a small chanting going on, Slipping away from the others, He followed the sound until he Found a group of Does around the Pink Crystal.

"Devoted are we to the Path he decides… Praise be to Frith for our food… Blessed are we to be his humble servants… Wise are we to accept our fate…"

Bigwig felt disturbed by this and went back to the Deep burrows, Just as Dandelion finished his story.

"Well told Dandelion." Hazel said.

"Couldn't have done it any better myself." Said Bluebell.

Hazel noticed some of the other Rabbits, Including Cowslip weren't as enthuised as they were.

"Something Wrong?" He asked.

"No Nothing at all." Said Cowslip. "It's just that Elarah and his Trickery don't mean much to us, Charming as it is."

"But Rabbits must always need tricks." Said Fiver.

"No we need dignity and the Will to Accept our fate." Said Cowslip. "And that is why in place of those, Are Poetry, Courtesy of our best poet, Silverweed."

A skinny Silver, Grey eyed Rabbit named Silverweed came up beside Cowslip.

"Frith Lies in the Evening sky, The Clouds are Red about him.

"I am here Lord Frith, I am running through the long Grass,

"Silverweed… He smells like Dead leaves…" Said Fiver who suddenly started to shiver.

Silverweed kept his eyes on Hazel's band as if he was telling them something.

"Take me with you Frith, Take me far away to the Heart of Light.

I give you my Breath, My life, The Silence.

"T-the Roof." Said Fiver. "It's made of Bones, Almost… Like Iron…"

"The Shining Circle of the Sun, The sun and the Rabbit."

"I've had Enough!" Fiver Shrieked and Tore out of the Warren as fast as his legs could carry him.

"I'm sorry." Said hazel to Strawberry. "My Brother sometimes takes things funny, I'd better go get him."

"I'll give him funny." Muttered Bigwig.

"You mean he knows about the…" Asked Strawberry.

"Uh? What?" Asked Bigwig.

"Uh… Nothing." Strawberry said. "You'd… Better go after them."

Bigwig gave Strawberry a suspicious glance than Hopped off.

Hazel and Bigwig followed FIver outside where they found him getting ready to leave.

"Fiver, What's the game? Where are you going?" Asked Bigwig.

"Away, To the Hills." Fiver said Dismissively.

"On your own?" Asked Hazel. "But you'll die."

"Better out there than in there." Said Fiver.

"What are you crazy or Something?" Asked Bigwig incredulously. "Oh, I'm in a mist! Everything's Bad! I've got a funny feeling in my Toe! Everyone stand on your heads! Now look, If Cowslip says we should stay in this Warren than By frith We should."

"Should we?" Asked Fiver.

"Hazel, You go back to the warren, I'll stay with him." Said Bigwig.

Hazel shrugged and Hopped back to the Warren.

Fiver and Bigwig stayed near a tree for the Rest of the Day and All night, THe Next morning Fiver heard a small growl, Like that of a predator, He woke up and saw a Stoat heading to the Warren.

"Bigwig! Wake up!" Said Fiver.

Bigwig yawned. "Firth Damn it any more of…"

He stared suddenly at the Stoat, Than Suddenly at the Stoat and than the two Rabbits saw a man! The Man Pointed his Gun at the Stoat and Fired.

The Ensuing shot was so loud it Woke up the Other Rabbits.

"There's a Stoat up above." Said Violet.

"And a Man." Said Silver.

"Not to worry Friends." Said Cowslip who had popped out of Nowhere. "The man just killed a stoat for us, He's gone now, We're quiet safe."

"Fiver and Bigwig are still outside!" Hazel Realized and Race outside to find them, He found them near the Tree, Shaken.

"Are you two alright?" He asked.

"We're fine." Said Bigwig. "I didn't realize how long we were staying here."

"Better up here than down here." Said Fiver. "I'm telling you now there's a worse danger than that Stoat."

"What worse Danger?" Asked Hazel.

"I don't know?" Said Fiver. "But it's here, All around us."

"What in the Bushes?" Asked Bigwig. "Although to tell the truth I did sort of… Notice a few things… But It probably doesn't mean anything."

And with that he Hopped off into a bush, There was a snap and a loud Scream!

"Bigwig?" Asked Bigwig.

"Somethings got him." Said Fiver.

Hazel and Fiver hopped through the bush to see what had Happened, they saw to their Horror, Bigwig was Writhing and Kicking on the Ground, His head caught in a long wire Connected to a wooden Peg.

"Hazel… Fiver… H-Help me…"

Fiver let a terrified Gasp. "BigWig!"

Hazel Hurried over to him. "Bigwig, You're in a snare, We'll get you out! Fiver Run back to the Warren, Get the Others!"

Fiver rushed off.

"Bigwig, stop struggling." Said Hazel as Calmly as he could. "W-what did they teach you in the Owsla?"

"No good biting wire…" Bigwig Managed to say. "Dig… Peg…"

Fiver had Rushed into the Great Burro where the others were Resting.

"Bigwigs in a snare you have to come Quick!"

The other Rabbits were alarmed and Rushed outside.

"No one leaves!" Barked Cowslip, As he blocked there path. "Frith has decided that it is Bigwig's turn, And so it must be."

The Rabbits Stared in disbelief.

"Turn? What do you mean turn?" asked hawkbit.

"Day less for one, Means a day more for us all." Said Cowslip.

The other Rabbits repeated this.

"Now see here you!" Said Blackberry. "I don't know what you're talking about, But over the Last few Days, Me and my friends have been spooked, Chased, Drowned, Clawed Bitten, Pecked and if you don't get out of the way, Right this minute!"

"You'll find out just why we've made it this far." Added Bluebell.

"Let them leave, Cowslip please!" Pleaded Strawberry.

Cowslip wouldn't budge.

"Out of our way!" Snarled Rosemary, As she pushed him aside and led the others out.

"Fools!" Bellowed Cowslip. "Think you're any safer out there than you are in here? You'll all be dead by Sunset!"

Hazel was desperately digging out the Peg as best he could, When Fiver come back with the Others.

"It's in too deep!" Exclaimed Hazel. "I can't get through!"

"I can, I'm smaller!" Said Pipkin.

Pipkin began to Bite at the Peg as Bigwig Struggled, Pipkins mouth started to bleed and he bit the Peg, Finally the Peg snapped and Bigwig lurched forward with a grunt.

"He's out!" Said Violet as she rushed to his side. "Bigwig the Pegs out you're free!"

Bigwig didn't respond, Dewdrop came over and pressed her head against his chest.

"I… I can't hear him breathing…"

"B-bigwig…" Bluebell quivered. "We… got you out…"

"I think he's dead…" Whimpered Rosemary.

"Not Bigwig." Sobbed Pipkin. "What shall we do without him?"

The Rabbits crowded around Bigwig's body and bowed their heads.

"My heart has joined the Thousand, For my Friend stopped Running today."

"Pipkin… Wipe off the Blood." Said hazel sadly. "It'll attract Elil." He then realized something. "Where are the other Rabbits?

"They wouldn't come." Said Silver.

"Cowslip evan tried to stop us coming to help." Said Hawkbit.

"He what?" Hazel Asked.

"He said the whole thing was Friths will, That a day less for one is a day more for us all."

"What does he…" Asked Hazel. "Oh my frith…"

"Snares…" Said Pipkin. "Shining wires, Everywhere, Cowslip knows about them, They All do!"

"They left Bigwig to die!" Raged Silver. "Lets drive them out, Take their Warren and live there Ourselves!"

"Yes! Yes!" The Rabbits roared. "Back to the Warren Down with Cowslip Kill them all!"

"Embleer Frith You Fools!" Cried Strawberry, As he Rushed up. "This place is nothing but a death hole!"

"Why didn't you and Cowslip come!" Shouted Pipkin. "You could have helped!"

"The man feeds us, Protects us from the Fox, The Weasel and the Badger." He replied. "It's always been this way."

"What do you mean?" Asked Fiver.

"Long ago this place was like any other Warren." Strawberry explained. "Than the White Blindness came and Killed several of our Ancestors, the other Half Survived, THan a farmer found us and thought, "Why should I bother to Keep these Rabbits in hutches, I could make this Warren part of my farm." So he began to shoot at all the Elil, Hawks, Stoats, Ferrets, Wolves the lot and then put out food for them, Our Ancestors grew big and Healthy, We forgot the Ways of the Rabbits and knew only that there was nothing to fear but the One fear, the Shining wire…"

"So that's why they dance." Said Fiver. "And Make shapes and the PoetryI To forget their fear."

"I thought it was all fun and Games." Gulped Dandelion.

"So you knew about the Snares and you didn't warn us?" Asked Hazel.

"I-I wanted to." Quivered Strawberry. "But Cowslip and the Other wouldn't let me!"

"I'll kill them…" Said a voice.

Everyone looked back to see Bigwig Coughing and Gasping for Air, Visibly weak and on all fours.

"Bigwig!" Cried the Rabbits.

"You're alright!" Cheered Bluebell.

The Rabbits Surrounded Bigwig and Hugged him immediately.

"Alright, Give him some Room." laughed Hazel. "Can you walk Bigwig?"

"I can try." Bigwig said as he Struggled to his feet. "C'mon we have a score to settle."

The Rabbits made their way to the Warren, Where Cowslip stood outside with his Followers, None of whom were happy to see Bigwig alive, In fact they were either Shocked or Mad.

"Go away." Said Cowslip. "Unless you want to fight, Hm? Hm? Hm?!"

Bigwig was completely unfazed.

"You don't know how." He sneered. "You've forgotten all the tricks and Cunning Elarah Gave us."

And with that, Bigwig knocked Cowslip to the Ground, The Rabbits scrambled back into the Tree and left Cowslip with Hazel's band.

"Leave this place." Said Hazel. "You need the Freedom of the Wild, You can relearn the Stories of Elarah."

Cowslip just got back oh his feet and Contorted his face in one of pure insanity.

"Elarah is a lie." he Cackled. "The man takes care of us, We don't want to leave we don't want your freedom!"

"The snares will get you if you don't leave!" Hazel Tried to Reason. "You don't have to live in fear of the Shining wire!"

"They won't get me, Maybe others, But not me!" Cowslip backed away into his warren, Laughing Deranged as the devil himself.

"The man around here is coming we have to go!" Said Hazel.

The Rabbits dashed off.

"Stay away from cover!" Said Bigwig. "That's where the wires are!"

The Rabbits ran as far from the Warren as they could get, Than Panted in exhaustion.

"Well…So much for Paradise." Said Bigwig. "I should have listened to you Fiver."

"We all should have." Agreed Blackberry.

Than there was a rustle in the Hedges and Strawberry showed up.

"What do you want now?" Asked Silver.

"You said I should leave Cowslip's warren, That I needed the Freedom of the Wilds, I've decided I want to come with you." Said Strawberry. "If you'll have me."

"You lied to us." Scowled Bigwig. "Why should we do anything for you?"

"We have to work hard to survive." Said Rosemary. "We don't lead an easy life in the Wilds."

"Yeah, Why don't you go back to your Precious Nildro-Hain?" Sneered Hawkbit.

Strawberry's eyes flooded with tears as he let out a choked sob. "There is no life in The Warren of the Shining wire… Not anymore…"

The Rabbits looked at each other.

"My mate… The Wires…"

Hazel felt a pang of Sympathy for the Poor fellow. "You can come with us." He said.

Strawberry beamed. "Thank you."

"Now what?" asked Dandelion. "Where do we go from here?"

"Fiver." Said Bigwig. "The High hills you keep talking about, Are you sure about them."

"Yes, I am Bigwig." Said Fiver. "Those Hills are our home."

"C'mon than." He said. "Let's go home."

And with that, The Rabbits set off, As they vanished, A magpie swooped down and though he found food, It was just Broken peg and a ripped Wire.

To Be Continued.