Chapter 175: It's Not Quite The Same.

""I can't go alone," she exclaimed looking between her two companions expectingly. "It would be foolish to go at all," Cherrywood proclaimed finally."

-GrimNoxPrincess, From The Burrow

After a while, Blackberry and Bluebell went back underground, and were replaced as sentries by Blackavar and Nyreem. Unlike the previous two pairs, they did not let themselves get distracted. They were casual acquaintances, nothing more, and they were both satisfied with that. They had no meaningful conversations during their stay above ground, apart from the occasional false alarm. When the boredom became too much, they played bob-stones to avoid falling asleep, but the games were all very short, as they needed to get back to their task.

The two rabbits were still at their post early in the morning, when Bigwig went out to silflay. Upon seeing who the guards were, however, he frowned.

-"Anything worth reporting?" he asked.

-"Nothing, sir," Blackavar said. "May we go now?"

-"Yes, go get some sleep."

-"We'll just silflay first," Nyreem said. "All this guarding makes me hungry."

As he went to nibble the grass, some distance from the two guards, Bigwig grew even more frustrated. After the recent incident at Nuthanger Farm, and another close call with the weasels, Blackavar was not necessarily the most qualified rabbit to look out for elil. Nyreem, similarly, was inexperienced, due to her young age. While they both had their hearts in the right place, their skills left to be desired. Things could have easily gone wrong if there had been an attack overnight.

Bigwig's thoughts were interrupted as he saw two rabbits arrive above ground; he recognized them as the two new Chiefs, Holly and Hyzenthlay.

-"Morning," he greeted.

-"Morning Thlayli," Holly said. "I hope you have recovered from..."

-"I know what you're going to say," Bigwig said sternly, thinking back at the previous evening's adventure. "Don't say it. As far as I'm concerned, none of that ever happened."

-"I don't know what happened," Hyzenthlay said. "It doesn't sound like it was very pleasant."

-"It had its good and bad moments," Holly admitted.

-"Anyway, enough about what happened last night," Bigwig said. "Let's talk about what's going on right now. Specifically, the guards."

-"Not having second thoughts about this project so soon, are you?" Hyzenthlay questioned.

-"Not exactly. I still think it's a good idea, and we should continue it; the problem is the way it was handled. The last guards were Blackavar and Nyreem."

The two guards, hearing themselves being mentioned, raised their ears. They did not, however, reply, instead preferring to listen silently.

-"What about them?" Hyzenthlay asked.

-"They have next to no experience," Bigwig replied.

-"They can learn."

-"By having more experienced rabbits teach them, yes. But if two unqualified rabbits are there together, nobody learns anything, and we're all at risk."

-"Bigwig, don't you think you're being a bit harsh on them?" Holly asked. "I'll admit they wouldn't do well in a fight, but that's not their task. They just have to keep a look out and, if anything happens, report back so we can all fight back against the enemy."

-"I have to wonder if our earlier guards kept a look out at all, though," Hyzenthlay questioned. "The first pair last night was Clover and Flora."

-"See, that's an example of a good pair," Bigwig said. "Flora could teach Clover about scents and other important knowledge."

-"Flora did teach Clover...how to kiss."

-"Kiss?" Bigwig was left surprised. "That's supposed to be Bluebell's thing."

-"Yes, and in fact, Bluebell came next. He went alongside Blackberry."

It was then that Bigwig realized what Hyzenthlay was implying.

-"I see what the issue could be," he said softly, thinking out loud. "So don't put Hazel with Primrose or Fiver, don't put Fiver with Vilthuril, don't put Hickory with Marigold..."

-"Don't put Hickory OR Marigold," Hyzenthlay warned. "They might just let themselves get caught on purpose, in a fit of depression. What they've gone through is really tragic, and it has left emotional scars."

-"Fine, but you get my point. If two rabbits are very close, don't let them guard together. And if two rabbits are too inexperienced, don't let them guard together either."

After the end of the conversation, Blackavar and Nyreem went back underground, going in separate directions at the first crossing, towards their respective burrows. Both of them had been left dejected by what they had heard. Nyreem's youth and associated inexperience had been an obstacle for most of her (short) life, and judging by Bigwig's reaction, there was no end in sight.

Blackavar more than anyone knew his own weaknesses, but nobody seemed willing to do anything about it. If someone wished to teach him, he would welcome the opportunity to learn, but nobody, not even Bigwig, had volunteered. It seemed to him that he was talked about more often when he was dead, with the others mourning his absence; after his return, there had been curiosity at first, but since then, he had largely faded to the background, and the others went back to ignoring him.

Hazel woke up early in the morning, long before his mate and kittens. The question he had wanted to ask his brother the previous evening weighed on his mind; while it had not affected his sleep, it still kept him preoccupied now that he was awake.

He hopped towards Fiver and Vilthuril's burrow to see if they were awake yet; however, he encountered his brother in a tunnel along the way.

-"Good morning," he said.

-"Good morning to you too," Fiver said with a yawn. "Sleep well?"

-"I did. Any visions for today?"

-"Not today, Hazel. But as you well know, that doesn't necessarily mean that we're safe. Anything can happen, and I may not see it coming."

-"I understand. But there's something I want to ask you, regarding your visions."

-"Is this what you were thinking of last night?

-"Yes, that's right. I hope now is a good time?"

-"As good a time as any. I managed to get some sleep, and there does not appear to be any immediate danger. Go for it, Hazel."

The two rabbits lied down in front of each other.

-"During our weird adventure last night," Hazel recalled, "you said something to Vervain that I can't stop thinking about. You told him that he would be doing you a favour by taking away your visions."

-"I remember saying that," Fiver confirmed.

-"Did you really mean that, or was it just a trick so he wouldn't do it?"

Fiver pondered the question for a few moments.

-"It was both, honestly. My visions are so terrifying. Even when I don't have any, the uncertainty, the unpredictability, of when the next one might come, can be almost as worrying. But they saved our lives several times; it would be selfish of me to have my ability taken away just because I'm feeling uncomfortable."

-"It's not fair that you should suffer this way."

-"'Suffer', that's a big word. Truth is, I've come to accept my powers. Vervain shenanigans notwithstanding, it's not like I'm losing them anytime soon. I just have to make the most of it, and warn everyone who is willing to listen."

-"It must still be hard burden to bear."

Fiver sighed.

-"Can't argue with that."

The two rabbits got up, and went up the nearest tunnel leading above ground.

-"Another thing," Hazel said along the way. "Do you have any idea where Vervain got his weird powers?"

-"I don't know. A side-effect of the portal, perhaps. These powers were most likely temporary; he should be back to normal by now."

-"I'm glad to hear that last bit. I would dread to see him more powerful than Woundwort..."

-"That would be truly terrifying." Fiver shuddered. "We would have no way of winning against him."