Chapter 7: Dandelion's Big Story.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: part of this chapter is loosely inspired by an unproduced episode of the TV series that has been mentioned on the DVD boxset. (I also stole that episode's name for the chapter name)

"Great stories happen to those who can tell them."

-Ira Glass

Hazel, Bigwig and Blackavar were staring worriedly at the clouds. It had not taken a lot of persuasion for Blackavar to accept to participate in the raid; he was very excited at the thought of adventure.

-"If we want to get back before the storm breaks, we'll have to start now," Hazel said.

Just as they were about to start their descent, however, they heard a female voice:

-"Bigwig, could I talk to you for a moment?"

"We haven't even started yet and we already get interrupted," Bigwig thought. He turned to face the rabbit who had addressed him.

-"What's the matter, Blackberry?"

-"I've been thinking things over, and I feel like I haven't been contributing enough to the warren."

-"Nonsense, Blackberry!" Hazel said. "You helped a lot with digging the warren, and nobody else knows as much about healing herbs as you do."

-"That's true, but...I still haven't done anything in the war against Woundwort."

-"What's your point?" Bigwig asked.

-"I want to join the owsla."

Bigwig remained silent for a few moments, unsure what to reply.

-"Join the owsla? But that's impossible! You have no experience!" he finally shouted, momentarily forgetting how inexperienced Blackavar was. "And you're..."

He was about to say "and you're a doe", but decided against it. Blackberry most likely wouldn't take the comment very well, and after the incident with Clover earlier, he wasn't in the mood for another argument.

-"I would be willing to learn, Bigwig," Blackberry said.

-"Look, I'm rather busy at the moment. If you're serious about this, we'll talk it over tomorrow, all right?"

With that, the three bucks hopped away, leaving Blackberry alone at the top of the Down. When they were halfway to the bottom, however...

-"Hazel, Bigwig, where are you going?"

Bigwig sighed loudly and turned around. Pipkin was further away, looking at them with a look of curiosity on his face.

-"I can't tell you," Hazel answered. "It's a secret."

-"I love secrets! Tell me more."

-"The whole point of a secret is that you don't tell anyone about it."

-"Can I come with you, then?"

-"Look, Hazel, let me handle this," Bigwig whispered. "You and Blackavar go...where you have to go. I'll meet you later."

-"Be nice to him, Bigwig..."

-"Look, I know I didn't handle Clover very well, but have I ever shouted at Pipkin? It'll be fine, I promise."

With that, Hazel and Blackavar hopped away. Bigwig, meanwhile, went back to the top of the Down, with Pipkin following him from a distance.

Hawkbit, Dandelion and Strawberry were lying in the grass next to each other.

-"Such a peaceful day," Hawkbit muttered. "Nothing can interrupt this..."

-"Oi! EVERYBODY WAKE UP!"

-"Ooooh...what's the matter now, Bigwig?"

-"I'm going to need you lot to keep Pipkin entertained for the day."

-"But Bigwig," Dandelion interjected, "how do you expect us to do that?"

-"I don't know. It's your job to find a way."

-"Hey, why don't we try that game," Strawberry said, "what's it called already...right, owslafa. A bird told me about it. The players..."

-"A bird? Has Kehaar been telling you any more crazy stories about the Big Water?"

-"No, it wasn't Kehaar, it was that bird I mentioned yesterday, her name was S..."

-"You can't talk to a bird! They're savage brutes. Except Kehaar, of course."

-"She was quite friendly..."

-"They have gone nuts, both of them." Hawkbit rolled his eyes. "Come on, Dandelion, let's discuss what we're going to do, alone."

-"I don't want to hear any more about it," Bigwig told the orange buck. "Find a way to entertain Pipkin, that's all I ask."

With that, Bigwig walked away, leaving Pipkin with Strawberry and the others. He rejoined Hazel and Blackavar some distance from the Down, thankfully having not been interrupted again.

-"How are you two getting along?" he asked.

-"Well, sir, I must say it's an unusual experience," Blackavar said, "but I have a feeling it's going to be exciting."

-"You'll get used to it after a while," Hazel said. "I just wish Kehaar were here."

-"Where is he?" Bigwig asked. "I didn't even notice he was gone."

-"He and Hannah went to visit some of his gull friends at a place he called the "big city", whatever that is. He didn't say when he would be back."

After Bigwig had brushed her off, Blackberry did not know exactly what she should do. It was clear to her that Bigwig didn't want her in the owsla. His offer to discuss it the next day was most likely a trick to get her to leave him alone.

Then, she remembered Captain Broom. While he was rather old, he still knew several interesting tricks and had proven his worth on more than one occasion. Maybe he could teach her a few tricks she could then use to impress Bigwig. She wandered around the Down searching for him, when she heard loud voices. She approached the two rabbits responsible and listened.

-"I tell you, Hawkbit, I can't play bobstones all day."

-"Nobody's asking you to play bobstones all day, Dandelion, and it's not as if you had any better ideas to suggest!"

-"What is there to suggest? I was looking forward to a quiet afternoon lying in the grass and relaxing. But no, instead we have to babysit Pipkin."

-"Why couldn't Bigwig choose someone else, I don't know, Primrose, maybe? She's already got four kittens, she wouldn't mind taking in another one for one day, would she?"

-"Look, Dandelion," Blackberry interjected, "you're good at telling stories. Why don't you try that?"

-"But I can't tell stories all day. I'll get a sore throat."

-"Perhaps you could act out the story? Pipkin pretends to be one of the characters in the story, Hawkbit can be another, and you, Dandelion, yet another."

Hawkbit and Dandelion remained silent for a few moments, contemplating the idea.

-"That could probably work," Hawkbit said after a while, "and in the end, what have we got to lose? Let's try it. Thanks, Blackberry. Now where's Pipkin..."

The two bucks went away to search for him. Blackberry, meanwhile, resumed her search for the elderly captain.

It did not take long for Hawkbit and Dandelion to find Pipkin. He was sitting further away with Strawberry, looking at a ladybug on a dandelion.

-"Hey Pipkin," Dandelion said, "I'm going to tell a story, how would you like to be one of the characters?"

-"Wow! That sounds very exciting!" Pipkin said.

-"All right. So you're wandering through the forest one night, looking at the full moon in the sky..."

-"But it's daytime. There is no full moon."

-"We'll have to pretend. Just stare at the sky."

Pipkin raised his head and did as Dandelion had said.

-"...when suddenly, a fox springs from..."

-"Hold on," Hawkbit interrupted. "What story are you telling?"

-"The Story of the Rabbit who Served in the Owsla of the Black Rabbit of Inlé."

-"Are you sure this is a good idea? It sounds like a rather scary story..."

-"Oh, it's all right, Hawkbit," Pipkin said, "I like this story so far. Do carry on, Dandelion."

-"So, as I was saying," Dandelion continued, "a fox sprang from a nearby bush, and landed on you!"

With that, Dandelion playfully pounced on Pipkin, pinning him to the ground and making a lot of weird sounds.

-"What are you doing?" Hawkbit asked.

-"I'm supposed to be a fox, right?" Dandelion said. "So naturally I have to sound like one."

-"You sound more like Vervain who didn't get enough sleep, than like a fox, but never mind, we get the idea."

-"So, the fox attacked you, Pipkin, and killed you. You're dead. And you know what happens when you're dead?"

-"The Black Rabbit comes for you?" Pipkin guessed.

-"Exactly. So now we need someone to pretend to be the Black Rabbit..."

Pipkin and Dandelion looked at Hawkbit. As he realized what was happening, he panicked.

-"Hey, don't look at me, I'm grey. Find someone with black fur."

-"I think you'll do very well, Hawkbit," Dandelion said, "although you're a little pale. Come with me, I have a plan."

"Oh no," Hawkbit thought. "What did I get myself into?"