Chapter 22
At your service.
Thethuthingnang poked her head out from her run as she checked to see if any guards were coming, sure enough, Two Owslafa were making the rounds inspecting the burrows one by one.
"What's happening?" Asked Vilthuril as she hopped up beside her.
"Owslafa coming." Said Thethuthiinnang quietly.
"Hyzenthlay! Nettle!" Vithuril called up silently. "They're checking the Burrows!"
Hyzenthlay and Nettle quickly hurried back down to them, just in time for the Owslafa to come up to them and inspect the Burrow, The Tunnel the Does were digging was obstructed from view by serval grown together tree roots, Seeing nothing of Interest, The two guards hopped away none the wiser.
"Phew." Sighed Vilthuril. "They nearly caught us."
"What's the progress?" Asked Thethuthinnang.
"We came up on the embankment." Said Hyzenthlay. "Where they keep on the right middle toe mark."
"Emblair, So we're still inside the boundaries?" Vilthuril asked despairingly.
"Worse." Said Nelthilta. "We're right near the guard post! We've been watching hoping he might move off, No luck."
"Then we'll have to dig further!" Said Thethuthinnang.
"No!" Said Hyzenthlay. "It's only a matter of time before someone like Vervain or Orchis stumbles on the tunnel! We'll wait until dark then we'll go."
"FOOLS! TRAITORS! AND COWARDS EVERYWHERE!"
The does jumped at the sound of this great roar. "The general!" Shuddered Thethuthinnang.
"Does he… know?" Asked Nettle worriedly.
Hyzenthlay hopped forward as she listened to the General's voice. "WHAT KIND OF FOOLS DO I HAVE IN THIS WARREN?!"
"No." Siad Hyzenthlay. "It's not us, something happened!"
"YOU'RE A STAIN ON THE GLORY OF EFRAFA!" Bellowed Woundwort. "YOU CALL YOURSELVES OWSLA?!"
Hyzenthlay inched forward. "Hyzenthlay! No! You'll be caught!" Called out Nettle.
"Not me." Said Hyzenthlay and she made her way to a nearby entrance to the main chamber of Efrafa, There she saw Vervain and Campion both before an enraged General as he stomped over them.
"F-Forgive me… General." Snivled Vervain. "But the Fox…"
"The first sniff of danger and you run!" Snarled Woundwort. "And now we've got five dead officers in less than a week! And why didn't they smell it coming anyway?!"
"It was… led onto them by something else General." Said Campion. "We don't know what."
"Bah, Sergeants are easily replaceable anyway." Said Woundwort. "Though we still need sergeants to make a Captain out of them to replace Bugloss, Perhaps one of you might have… suggestions?"
"Well uh…" Campion said. "There's Figwort, A most trusted runner, who served under your patrol from what I hear."
"And I'm sure you know Dogbane." Vervain interrupted. "Good dedicated Rabbit, Always knows what he's doing."
"Hmm, yes, I know them both." Said Woundwort as he shook his head."But neither would make suitable Captains. We need Rabbits that can be an improvement over Bugloss and perhaps go by Charlock's example, That's what I'm saying."
"Hmm, Well that's a bit… difficult sire." Said Vervain. "Such a Rabbit doesn't just hop out of the blue."
"Well they better hop out somewhere." Said the General. "For your sake Captain."
Before Vervain could evan gulp, A quiet "Ahem" was heard from next to him, Chervil had come into the Chamber.
"What do you want, Chervil?" Woundwort asked impatiently.
"Sir, Blackavar tried to escape again." Said Chervil. "Luckily Avens and the boys managed to nab him before he got too far."
Woundwort sniffed. "Very good."
"There's more sir." Said Chervil. "During the scuffle they were confronted by an hlessi and brought him in."
"An hlessi? What was he doing?" Asked Woundwort.
"He said he came a long way to join us here at Efrafa." Siad Chervil.
Everyone was surprised. "Wants to join Efrafa?" Asked Woundwort.
"That's what he says sir." Said Chervil.
"Why can't he speak to the Council about this?" Asked Woundwort.
"He was insistent on speaking to you personally sir." Explained Chervil. "And he's… a bit out of the ordinary, Seems most distinctly useful."
"Hm." Woundwort was intrigued. "And where is he now?"
"Uh, Just outside the room." Said Chervil. "I've got Avens keeping guard over him."
"Bring him in."
At this order, Chervil stamped his foot repeatedly and signaled for Avens to enter with Bigwig.
"Here he is Sir." Siad Chervil as Bigwig stood before them between Vervain and Campion.
"General Woundwort?" Asked the Newcomer.
"Yes, Who are you?" Asked Woundwort
"Thlayli, At your service." Said Bigwig.
"Thlayli at your service, Sir!" Snapped Vervain, Already taking a dislike to the stranger.
"This is Captain Chervil, if you already know." Said Woundwort, gesturing to Chervil. "His rabbits were the ones to bring you in, What were you doing there?"
"I've come to join Efrafa." Explained Thlayli.
"Why?" Asked Woundwort.
"Hm, Surprised you asked." Said Thlayli. "It's your warren isn't it… Sir."
Woundwort stared suspiciously at the newcomer as he scraped his claws against the nearby rocks.
"Is there… Anything odd about joining your warren?" Asked Thlayli.
"I'll ask the questions!" Snapped Woundwort. "And I'll ask this again, why do you want to join?"
"Well I've heard it said the leader of Efrafa is a leader of warriors." Said Thlayli.
"Yes, And?" Asked Woundwort.
"I am a wayward hlessi looking for a chief who will appreciate my talents." Said Thlayli.
Hyzenthlay watched from the corner, looking at the stranger with interest.
"Hmm, Where do you come from, hlessi?" Asked Woundwort.
"Sandleford Warren." Said Thlayli. "A long journey sir, on the path of the setting sun from the North, It lies in ruins now I'm afraid, Destroyed… by man."
Woundwort growled. "Man! May frith burned the flesh from his bones!" He swiped his claws wrathfully, for a moment, Bigwig almost sympathized with the tyrant.
"So." Asked Woundwort after regaining his composure. "What are these… talents of yours?"
"I can run and fight." Said Thalyli.
"Huh, fight can you?" Asked Woundwort.
"I don't like this sire." Said Vervain. "A rabbit his size, wanting to join us? He looks more like a trouble maker to me."
"And you'd know all about trouble wouldn't you Vervain." Said Campion.
Vervain scowled and said no more.
"I've been an officer in my old warren's Owsla." Said Thlayli. "And I could spoil a whole stry telling it too."
"Are you alone?" Asked the General.
"I am now."
The General considered. So… you can fight huh?"
"I just said that sir." Said Thlayli.
Woundwort lifted a claw. "Could you…" He then pointed at Vervain. "Fight him?"
"W-What?!" Vervain was shocked, but before he could do anything, Bigwig shoved him to the ground and pinned him down.
"So you want me to kill him sir?" He asked.
Woundwort smiled, satisfied by the display. "Hm, Hm, Hm, Hm. Not today."
Bigwig got off of Vervain, Who scowled venomously at the rabbit as Woundowrt spoke. "Now, with that out of the way, I will grant you access to Efrafa, for now you will be assigned a probationary post in the patrol, You'll take your orders from Captain Campion. Any direction he gives you will be followed to the latter To the latter." The general made a double emphasis on that last part. "Oh and uh… If you're looking for a doe… Well, Woudnwort let out a soft chuckle. "You're free to have your choice here, You're not in the Owsla for nothing."
"Oh, I see…" Thlayli said, warily. "Thank you sir."
"Captain Campion." Said Woundowrt. "Instruct Thlayli in the ways of Efrafa."
Campion bowed and with that, He and Bigwig made their way out of the Burrow, followed by Chervil and Avens, Vervain came last to leave until Woundwort called out to him. "Hold, Captain Vervain!"
Vervain stopped suddenly and looked up in fear.
"This Thlayli… has an odd scent about him." Said Woundwort. "Follow him, watch him closely and don't let him out of your sight."
"Yes, General." Vervain said eagerly, and he hopped off, unaware of Hyzenthlay who had watched the whole thing. Just as she backed off, Vilthuril came up behind her.
"The guards are looking for you." She said, "It's almost time for Silflay."
"We'd better get outside than." Said Hyzenthlay and they both hopped off to the surface.
To Be continued.