Chapter 3: Stonecrop's Chance
"El-ahrairah."
There was that name again, but that was the name of a legend. She had associated the name with failure. The humans weren't happy.
"Tell me another," she said.
Knapweed said, "I'll take this one. The story of El-ahriarah and the Black Rabbit of Inlé."
She learned why they came to see her as such. "But I'm no legend. Just a doe that escaped."
"Worry not."
"And yet I can't leave this warren."
"Because we worry about you. We have hrair protecting you."
"That means many," Cicely said. "We won't harm you. One of us better report to Groundsel-rah what happened earlier."
"I'll go," Loosestrife said.
Groundsel himself came but with no extra rabbits. "I've come to make a request. Would you please consider spending some time with Stonecrop to see if you like him? His presence keeps weasels away."
"Do I have a choice?" she muttered.
"Of course, you do, but I implore you to give him a chance. It would be a lot safer for everyone."
"I – I'll go." She felt responsible for Calix's death.
They went back to the warren together.
Stonecrop walked towards her. "You came."
"I did," she said. She had a sense of obligation. His scent wasn't any easier to tolerate. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can do this." It was like she was back in that dark room with uncomfortable cages and rabbits that hated her. Meeting him inside was another error.
"But you lived among humans just like me."
"I just want to forget."
"Let me tell you what it was like for me instead."
"What good will that do? But go on." She groaned.
"I was born in a hutch…" Stonecrop told his tale with great enthusiasm.
She wasn't in any mind to listen. She focused on breathing – waiting for time to pass. It was too much – she made her way out of the warren again but Campion stopped her.
"I need to go out," she said.
"Come then," Campion said. He guided her outside. "Does my scent offend you?"
She sniffed him. He still smelled of man but the scent wasn't as potent. "I can live. It's not like I have a choice, is there?"
"There is. I can ask the Owsla to watch over you."
The ever-stronger scent of man heralded the arrival of Stonecrop. He finally took notice that she left. "Has anyone seen her?"
She attempted to bolt only for Campion to stop her with a paw.
"Right over here," Campion said.
"Why did you leave?" Stonecrop asked.
She didn't answer. She didn't know what to say.
"Why don't you go back in the warren?"
She shook her head. "I can't stand the scent."
"Every doe would be lucky to have me, but you don't like my scent?"
"I don't."
"We have the same scent! What's the big deal? We both lived among humans."
She didn't want to argue. "Can I leave?" she said to Campion.
"I'll take you away from the warren," Campion said. He called out to two rabbits grazing on the grass nearby. "Knapweed and Loosestrife join me."
"Oh, come on! What's the big deal?" Stonecrop said.
Campion sighed. "Leave her alone."
"I never even got the chance to talk to her. How's that fair?"
"She left, for quite some time I might add before you even noticed. Now, stay here."
"You smell the same!"
Campion didn't bother to respond. He led the rabbits away from the warren. It was only when they were a good distance away that Loosestrife said, "Where are we going?"
He stood there, silent, thinking things through. "I just had to get away before I did something I regret. I don't fancy staying in a scrape for the night nor do I want to deal with the mess at the warren. The nearby river could work – but I don't fancy getting wet. Our choices are to leave for Efrafa or Watership Down."
"Watership Down? It sounds familiar," she said. "As if it's something that I should know, but from where?"
"To Watership Down then, and they'll deal with it."
"Yes, Campion-rah," Loosestrife said.
Their hasty getaway wasn't well-thought-out they had to reverse course to get to Watership Down but Campion also wanted to avoid their own warren so they took the long way around.
She didn't speak up then and it didn't seem like it was right to do so now. She could tolerate Campion's scent but she didn't like it. Watership Down was a familiar term from somewhere – as if she had heard it countless times before yet she didn't know what it meant.
They had been moving for quite a while now with no end in sight.
"How much further?" she said.
"Still aways away," Campion said.
They were moving uphill – and was it difficult for her to traverse. It seemed as if a slight misstep would cause her to tumble.
"It's going to be sunset soon," Knapweed said. "And her ears."
"We'll be fine," Campion said. "The elil won't be so bold."
They made slow progress as they escorted her up the hill toward Watership Down. Her ears shone like a beacon before they even made it to the top. It was just as well that other rabbits came rushing to the signal.
"We need to get her inside," a rabbit said.
A terrifying bird was nearby – she had to get away. Her escorts didn't let her escape. "Danger," she said. "We need to run."
None of them moved. "What an interesting rabbit," the bird said. "I am a friend. The name's Kehaar. Your ears have stars on them."
"Why isn't everyone running away? Can't you see?"
"It's as he says, he's a friend," a rabbit said.
Someone else would die and it would all be her fault. "Not a rabbit, not safe," she said.
"You're safe here. The visions tell me that you have a lot to teach us."
She blinked.
"Her?" Campion said.
"Can't wait to see how this one turns out, Fiver," another rabbit said. He turned towards Campion. "We weren't expecting you so soon."
"We have this new doe that didn't like the atmosphere of Groundsel's warren. Their affection for the scent of man was an issue, Hazel-rah."
"We'll talk more inside. At least, your scent is down to a manageable level."
She didn't have much of a choice as they led her inside. The scent of this warren was much better compared to the old one. It was rather spacious too with tons of rabbits about.
"Stars that will take refuge. That's what's happening," Fiver said. "Look!"
The rabbits looked on in awe at her glowing figure. Plenty of rabbits gathered around in the central room.
"I bid you welcome to our warren," Fiver said.
She thought the leader would be the one addressing her, but it was some random rabbit.
"Follow me. We can stay together in the same burrow."
They ditched the meeting right after it began. Fiver led her to his burrow within the warren.
"Can I have your name?" Fiver asked.
She stopped in her tracks. "I don't have one."
"Would you like one?"
"You can give me one. What difference does it make?"
"It's not too important. Come along." Fiver led her further into the tunnels. "This is my mate, Vilthuril." They were both brown rabbits, but Vilthuril wasn't a runt.
"We expect great things from you," Vilthuril said.
She shook her head. "I believe you're mistaken."
"You will usher in a new age of enlightenment."