AUTHOR'S NOTE: following this chapter, I will be taking a short break due to real life. The next chapter will probably be posted on 03 March.
Chapter 257: The Rescue Plans.
"Léaoth on fran, Léaoth on Hray!"
-NightWing367, Nalga Stihrathrah ao ethile fran
(translation: "Tonight we fight, tonight we run!")
Following the ominous announcement regarding Dandelion, a few rabbits gathered for an emergency meeting by the beech tree. The others kept an eye on the Darkhaveners at the bottom of the Down, to make sure that Woundwort didn't attempt a surprise attack while the main leaders were having their discussion.
-"There aren't many of them," Spartina pointed out. "I was expecting a larger crowd."
-"We could strike first," Flyairth suggested. "Attack them before they have a chance to attack us."
-"If we do that, we may lose Dandelion," Fiver predicted.
-"They would be thinking," Silverweed added, "if they can't have him, nobody will."
-"An acceptable price to pay," Bigwig said coldly. "If he's the only one we lose, then we'll be very fortunate. Considering his recent behaviour, he wouldn't be much of a loss anyway..."
-"I'm right here," Hawkbit said. "If you're going to talk about letting my best friend die, at least have the decency to wait until I'm away."
-"We can't just surrender an honest and innocent rabbit to such a gruesome fate!" Bluebell said.
-"He's the one who got himself in this mess," Bigwig recalled. "If he hadn't foolishly run off, he wouldn't be in this situation."
-"No one is abandoning anyone," Hazel said, before the situation could escalate. "We'll get him back."
-"You're not seriously considering agreeing to Woundwort's terms, are you?" Holly asked worryingly. "Surrendering would be a disaster."
-"Besides, Woundwort may not keep his side of the bargain," Hyzenthlay said. "And Dandelion wouldn't be the only one dying."
-"No, we are not surrendering," Hazel clarified. "What we are going to do is rescue Dandelion."
-"But we don't have time to plan an elaborate rescue," Pipkin said. "When I was kidnapped, you had a few days to get ready, and you were also able to choose a specific location for the exchange, and use it to your advantage. This time, they have all the leverage."
-"Time to improvise again?" Fiver suggested.
-"It's worked out well for us so far," Hazel recalled. "And unless someone can come up with a better idea, that's what we will have to do."
-"Honestly, they don't have that big an advantage," Thethuthinnang said, as she arrived running. "Half of them have fallen asleep, right there in the open at the bottom of the Down."
-"Asleep just before the battle?" Holly could hardly believe his ears. "Perhaps we actually have a chance."
-"That doesn't make it safe to attack: that would surely wake them up quickly," Hyzenthlay said. "Any guards around Dandelion?"
-"Only two of them," Thethuthinnang said. "Vervain and a second one." The second one was Orchis, although Thethuthinnang did not know him by name.
-"In that case, the solution is to distract them," Holly decided. "We send someone pretend to negotiate, and keep them busy, while the hostage sneaks away."
-"The only thing left to do is to find a negotiator, then," Pipkin said. "I would volunteer, but considering my history with Vervain, I don't think I would have a chance."
-"It should be me," came an unfamiliar voice.
Everyone turned to look at Moss, the one who had spoken. Seeing him volunteer for this mission was unexpected, considering his tendency to remain in the background after Efrafa, and his limited interactions with those not from his former warren. In fact, some of the others hadn't even noticed that he was present at the current meeting.
-"You?" Bluebell said.
-"No offence," Bigwig said, "but I've never known you for your negotiating skills."
-"I'll admit, I'm not particularly good at it," was Moss' response. "Back in Efrafa, there was no room for negotiation, only blind obedience."
-"Then why you?" Fiver asked.
-"Because it's not really a negotiation. My goal will to stall and distract them, and that's something I should have no trouble doing. After all, I served in Woundwort's owsla for a full set of seasons; I know him and Vervain better than any of you. Except Campion of course, but given his public betrayal just now, I think I have a better chance."
-"But doesn't Vervain hate you?" Pipkin asked. "He was always mad at you over every minor detail in Efrafa."
-"Vervain was mad at everyone except Woundwort," Moss recalled. "But maybe, if I were to concede that he was right about Campion, it would make him more open to further discussions with me. Besides, I don't have to keep the ruse for long, Dandelion will surely be to escape quickly."
-"And if things go wrong, I'll be ready to attack, along with my owsla." Bigwig looked at Hawkbit. "Dandelion or no Dandelion."
-"One more thing," Campion said. "While you're there, try to make contact with the pale lop-eared rabbit called Aspen. He's also working against Woundwort, and he hasn't been outed yet."
Moss raised his eyebrow.
-"I'll see what I can do."
Moss slowly made his way to the bottom of the Down, towards the spot where the Darkhaveners were staying. The others looked at him as he hopped away.
-"I'm afraid there is an additional complication," Campion suddenly remembered.
-"Of course, nothing is ever simple." Hawkbit rolled his eyes. "What is this complication?"
-"Vervain injured Dandelion's paw. Even with Moss distracting the guards, he won't be able to sneak away on his own."
-"Then we'll have to send someone else to carry him to safety while Moss has the guards distracted," Spartina said.
-"Don't look, but there's someone coming."
Vervain was deeply annoyed. Woundwort's decision to wait before attacking was extremely frustrating for him, and now Orchis was telling him not to look, without even saying why not. Predictably, he defied the order and looked anyway.
-"I told you not to look," was Orchis' near-instant rebuke.
-"Which is exactly what one says when you're actually supposed to look."
-"No means no. It doesn't mean yes."
-"Never mind, already!" Vervain shouted. "It's too late anyway, I already looked."
And Vervain kept looking. At first, all he could see was a blurry shape; in fact, at first, he assumed that it was Aspen, who had stupidly wandered off. But as the rabbit got closer, he saw that it was not Aspen, but instead the former corporal Moss. This was one rabbit he had not thought about in a long time; not since he had fled from Efrafa after Woundwort's presumed death. He had never considered him a friend. If anything, Moss had been an annoyance, due to his admiration of Campion and frequent praise towards the traitor captain.
-"Moss!" he cried out in surprise.
And yet, now he was actually happy to see him. With his recent conflict with Orchis regarding the killings, and his failure to find Chibiscuit, it was good to see a familiar face, even a rather unfriendly one.
-"Vervain," Moss replied. "It's been a while."
-"You know this bun?" Orchis asked Vervain.
-"I do," Vervain quickly replied. "This is Moss, he used to be under my command back in Efrafa."
-"I didn't know you still had friends from your former life, this is amazing!"
Moss was taken aback by Orchis' apparent friendliness; weren't the Darkhaveners all supposed to hate each other?
-"And you are?" Moss asked.
-"I'm Vervain's best friend Orchis!"
-"Right...best friend..." Vervain did not really consider Orchis his "best friend", but in order to avoid another argument, he chose not to complain.
Moss, meanwhile, was even more confused. From what Spartina had said, through messages that Bigwig relayed to everyone else, Orchis was supposed to be a savage brute. Still, given how enthusiastic he was to meet him, it would be much easier to keep the guards distracted than expected. Moss also scanned the crowd of sleeping rabbits; there was no sign of that Aspen fellow that Campion had mentioned.