The day was cool and plentiful as A mother swan swam along the bank, searching for food to bring back to her mate and their soon to be little ones, As she was collecting grass from the side of the bank, A great noise was heard not to far away, Panic gripped the female swan as she quickly hurried back to her nest.
On the bank of the river, A certain Weasel hissed and leered at the nest, as the father swan honked angrily, spreading its wings to fight, Soon he was joined by his mate and together they drove the Weasel back.
The Weasel let out a final hiss and gave up the siege.
"Lucky for you, I have other things to do." He sneered, his head turning towards the direction of a familiar hill, with a beach tree right at the top. "Other places to go, and old friends long ears to visit."
Meanwhile,
On Watership down, a great sense of peace was felt, Efrafa was far behind them now, And a great feast had since passed for them, Captain Holly and the others had gathered Flayrah from Nuthanger Farm, While Rosemary treated any wounds they'd sustained in the escape, The local Rabbits had eaten as usual, But to the Efrafa escapes, It was a bounty from Firth himself, and ate to their heart's content!
That was a whole week ago. Now the Rabbits spent their days feasting, playing and telling stories of their journey, Hawkbit, Strawberry and Pipkin were playing Tail tag together, and raced past Bluebell as he talked with Thethuninang.
"Of course Blackberry here doesn't like jokes." He told her. "He doesn't see the value in them."
"Now that's not true at all!" Blackberry protested, as he stood up from eating behind Bluebell.
At the edge of the down, Hyzenthlay stood gazing out into the valley beyond, clearly lost in thought, It was at that moment that Hazel and Fiver came up to her.
"Everything alright?" Asked Hazel.
"I've been thinking about my old warren." Hyzenthlay said longingly. "It's called Redstone, I haven't been back there since Vervain's raiding party took me and my sister away from there, All those Seasons in Efrafa, And I still hold onto the dream of going back there someday."
"So… you're not happy here?" Hazel asked, concerned. "On the down?"
"Oh yes, I am Hazel." Hyzenthlay said. "You've all been wonderful and this place, It's all a Rabbit could ask for…"
"But it's not home." Fiver inquired.
"I want to visit Redstone again." Hyzenthlay said.
"To stay?" Hazel asked.
"I can't say…" Hyzenthlay said, trailing off. "But it would help to put the Memory of my sister to rest."
"Then I'll come with you." Hazel said. "I'll take you home, Hyzenthlay."
"Thank you Hazel." Hyzenthlay smiled.
Suddenly, Fiver began to shiver and shake as he began to speak in another of his usual rhymes.
"Redstone lies all empty and dead,
The dreams there are lost to the red."
"W-What was that?" Hyzenthlay asked, She turned to Hazel. "What's wrong with him?"
"It's a vision." Hazel explained. "The ones Bigwig mentioned to you."
"I'm sorry Hyzenthlay." Fiver apologized. "I don't mean to see these things."
"No… You'r probably wrong." Hyzenthlay said. "Redstone's still there, It has to be! Unless…"
"Hyzenthlay…" Hazel began.
"I have to go back!" Hyzenthlay said, holding a paw to her head now. "I… I need to see for myself." And she scurried away.
"It's alright Fiver it's… It's not your fault." Hazel said.
"The dream of her old home was her only solace in Efrafa." Fiver said sadly. "And I've just ripped it away."
"It's hard to let go of a dream."
"Maybe my vision was wrong." Fiver said hopefully. "Maybe Redstone is just fine."
"There's only one way to find out." Hazel nodded.
Later,
As soon as arrangements were made, Hazel and Hyzenthlay set off on their journey to Redstone Warren, Bigwig was left in charge while they were gone and He, along with Holly, Fiver and Kehear watched as they left.
"I'll see to things here Hazel." Bigwig called out. "You just watch yourselves."
"Ah, two sweethearts on journey of love." Kehear sighed wistfully.
"The Journey's one thing." Fiver said grimly. "What they find at the end is another."
After Hazel and Hyzenthlay left, The Rabbits were effectively left to their own devices, lazing about in the grass, playing Tail tag and bobstones and generally silflaying as before.
Bigwig was laying down against the tree, when Rosemary emerged from the main burrow.
"You do know we need fresh straw for the bedding, Don't we?" She asked sternly. "I can't abide a stale smelling burrow."
"Blackberry, You're a tyrant!" Bigwig scoffed playfully. "We haven't had a chance to stop slogging since we got here, Wouldn't it be nice to spend one day, Lying in Frith's gaze."
"Hmm, Hazel does keep us running doesn't he." Violet mused as she came up.
Not too far off, Fiver, Pipkin, Thethuninang, Vithuril and Bluebell were playing Tail-Tag, When Vithuril finally caught up to Pipkin and cuffed his rump. "Tail-Tagged, You're Elil!"
Pipkin went tumbling forwards, before regaining his footing and turning around. "Haha! Better watch out than!" He laughed, But the game was halted the moment Fiver began to shiver and shake again!
"Fiver?" Asked Bluebell. "What's wrong?"
Fiver groaned and shivered as he blurted out another vision. "Revenge is in his heart! The killer comes back… Hate and revenge strive for his attack!:
Everyone quickly gathered around the runt and listened. "Oh great, More Trouble on the way." Muttered Hawkbit.
"Does he always rhyme when he says these things?" Vilthurl asked Dewdrop.
"Eh… It depends." The other Doe responded.
"Fiver, What were you saying about a Killer?" Bigwig asked.
"The General hasn't found us, Has he?" Clover asked.
"No… The Weasel, The same one that terrorized us before." Fiver said. "He's coming for us, He's coming back!"
Meanwhile,
Far away, Hazel and Hyzenthlay came upon a river, flanked by stone walls running along both sides.
"I don't think we can get across." Hazel said, As he observed the river. "Swimmings no good, we'll never be able to climb out."
"But Redstones on the other side!" Hyzenthlay said eagerly. "There's got to be a way over, And we won't find it sitting here."
Hazel stammered. "I-I don't think-"
"C'mon Hazel!" Hyzenthlay said, as she hopped forward, only stopping as Hazel called out to her.
"Hyzenthlay!"
The maroon doe halted and looked back at her companion. "What?"
"Are you sure you want to return to redstone?" Hazel asked. "Frith meant for us for today and tomorrow, Not yesterday."
"All those seasons I spent in Efrafa, I had no future." Hyzenthlay spat. "Now you want me to forget my past?"
"That's not what I-"
"I'll find my way back home Hazel." Hyzenthlay went on definitely. "With or without your help."
And she hoped forward, leaving Hazel to roll his eyes and sigh. "Does." He muttered before hopping after her.
Meanwhile,
Back on the down, Bigwig and Pipkin informed Kehaar of the situation.
"Same Veseal huh?" The gull asked. "Coming back like rotten fish, Kehaar look for him."
"Report back if you spot him." Bigwig ordered.
Kehaar agreed and took to the skies to begin his hunt.
Bigwig then turned to Pipkin. "Go find all the other animals on the down and warn them to leave or get far underground until the Weasel is gone."
"Oh yes, Bigwig." Pipkin said as he scampered off. "At once."
Bigwig then hopped around making sure everything was prepared for a siege, He spotted Dandelion and Blackavar filling up a run and hopped over to them.
"Come on! Get your legs into it!" He ordered. "I want every side entrance filled in by sunset."
"Ease of Bigwig." Dandelion panted. "We're just about all in."
"I don't need any back chat." Bigwig snapped. "This warren better be safe before the Weasel gets here, even if that means you dig till you drop, Clear?" And he hopped away sharply.
"At least when Hazels bossing us around he's plight about it." Dandelion scoffed.
In another part of the Warren, Fiver, Hawkbit, Blackberry and Dewdrop were digging a large who to trap the Weasel, With Fiver and Dewdrop at the top, and Blackberry and Hawkbit at the bottom, The latter climbing out after being pelted with dirt by Fiver.
"Right, That's it." Hawkbit declared. "I'm taking a breather."
And he slumped down just as Bigwig arrived.
"Get back in there you layabout!" He roared.
"There's no need for that tone Bigwig." Blackberry said, popping his head out. "We've been digging as hard as we can."
"I'm not asking for a debate." Bigwig snarled. "I'm in charge and what I say goes! Now get to it!"
And he bounded off.
"The sooner Hazel's back the Happier I'll be." Hawkbit muttered darkly.
Meanwhile,
By now, Hazel was getting fed up with Hyzenthlay, who he spent the last quarter of an hour trying to convince that there was no way across the river, But Hyzenthlay refused to listen at every turn.
Before he could argue any further, They suddenly heard a neigh and the sound of approaching hooves, Quickly they jumped into the bush and peered out.
It was a dark brown horse, trotting along, towing a boat along with it.
"A boat!" Hyzenthlay exclaimed, as an idea came to her. "We can jump onto it and then onto the far side, like stepping stones!"
Hazel stammered as Hyzenthlay bounded forward. "I-I don't think-"
But Hyzenthlay had already jumped to the Barge, Hazel groaned and followed her, Together they made their way to the far side and prepared to jump.
"Ready?" Hyzenthlay asked, Hazel reluctantly nodded.
And together they leapt to the other side, Hazel managed to touch the ground easily, But Hyzenthlay just bumped into the side and fell screaming into the river!
"Hyzenthlay!" Hazel watched in horror as the dark brown doe swam up and desperately scraped at the side, as the current pushed her along.
To Be Continued.
Hey guys, Didn't expect to see a new chapter for this story did ya, I was gonna do the whole story but I decided to do them in Sections, Mostly because I wanted to wait until I could find a way to tell my version of Primroses death AND set up Fiver's self isolation. (Which won't be caused by Hawkbit in this version.)
I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm also going to do the next Chapters of The Dark Time Comes and Mabel's Adventure after this, So stay tuned for those. :)
Have a Happy Halloween everybody! :)