Chapter 22: The Beginning of the Investigation.

"A person's a person, no matter how small. "

-Dr. Seuss

It was early morning in Efrafa; most rabbits were asleep underground. Moss woke up rather early, but instead of going on a short patrol around the warren as he usually did, he remained in his private burrow, awaiting the arrival of Leo and Rake for the meeting. It did not take them long to arrive; Moss invited them to lie down in the corner.

-"You remember yesterday how I told you I was taking over the investigation?" Moss said. "I don't want anyone else to know about this."

-"Why not?" Rake asked.

-"The only reason I'm in charge of the warren right now is because Campion said so. If anyone finds out that I'm trying to free the rabbit they all think is guilty, they would just kill her without a trial. And probably kill me too: I don't have the same respect Campion has."

-"I always knew this warren was dysfunctional, but this is even worse than I thought," Leo said sadly.

-"You will find a lot more examples of this, now that you're in the owsla."

Leo stared at Moss in shock.

-"But I'm not in the owsla."

-"Not yet, but you will be. I'm going to promote you right now."

-"But we just met a few days ago! I appreciate that you trust me, but how do you know I'm the right rabbit for the job?"

-"I know a good rabbit when I see one. You're strong, you're intelligent, and you're good-looking. Can't ask for anything more."

-"When do we do the ceremony?" Rake asked.

-"What sort of ceremony?" Leo said.

-"It's not much of a ceremony, really," Moss explained. "Just two words and a mark."

Moss placed both his front paws on Leo's head; the grey buck was rather ticklish, but did his best to remain motionless.

-"Leo, do you swear that you will always do your best to protect Efrafa from enemies and loyally serve Wo...Campion?"

-"I do."

-"Don't move, this might hurt..."

Before Leo could react, Moss slashed him across shoulder. It didn't hurt as much as he had expected, but he winced at the sight of blood on Moss' claws.

-"Welcome to the owsla Leo."

-"It's an honour, sir."

-"Cut out the "sir" business. Just call me Moss."

-"So, where do we start the investigation?" Rake asked.

-"First, we should meet the prisoner again, and see if she's willing to speak to us."

The three rabbits hopped out of the burrow and made their way towards Heather's burrow. Along the way, Rake bumped into a tree root and a large amount of dirt fell from the roof.

-"Didn't you have the warren stabilized yesterday, Moss?" he asked.

-"I did," Moss replied. "What just happened is bad news: the warren is clearly still unstable."

-"We'll have to walk carefully to avoid any further collapses," Leo added.

When they finally reached the burrow where Heather was confined, they saw that the two guards at the entrance had fallen asleep. Moss poked one of them, who woke up instantly.

-"I'm sorry, sir, I've been tired..."

-"Don't let it happen again. I'll let you off with a warning this time, but next time I may not be so lenient."

The other guard, alerted by the noise, also woke up. He stood up straight, trying to look as if he had never fallen asleep in the first place.

-"How long have you two been on duty, anyway?" Moss asked.

-"Ever since the prisoner was arrested, sir."

Moss could not believe this. These two rabbits had been forced to guard the prisoner for half a day without any breaks. No wonder they had fallen asleep.

-"All right, you're relieved, go to silflay. And the first officer you find on your way is to be sent here at once to replace you."

He peaked inside the burrow; Heather was still lying down facing the back wall, but the flayrah was nowhere to be seen.

-"Oh, and get some more flayrah for the prisoner," he added.

The two guards nodded and did as they were told. Moss, Leo and Rake stayed behind and kept an eye on Heather from outside the burrow. She briefly got up to scratch her ear, but other than that remained motionless.

After the replacement guard returned, carrying a few pieces of lettuce with him, Moss took the flayrah and finally went inside the burrow himself, with Rake and Leo following.

-"I see you've eaten," he said. "Have some more."

Heather turned her head to look at the visitors.

-"Oh it's you again. Why don't you just leave me alone?"

-"I don't want to hurt you. Come on, eat. It's not poisoned."

Heather looked at Moss, then at the lettuce, trying to figure out what he was trying to accomplish with this. Eventually, she glanced at Rake and Leo.

-"And who are these two?"

-"I'm Captain Rake Nightfur."

-"And I'm Leo-rah."

-"Oh great," the doe said. "You brought your friends to interrogate me."

-"Actually, we want to hel..." Rake started to say, but Moss silenced him:

-"Let's not say that yet."

-"Keeping secrets, eh?" Heather said. "No need to, I already know what you're up to." She then took a bite and started chewing, very slowly. "You're trying to bribe me with flayrah, aren't you? It's not going to work."

-"Do you know why you're here?" Moss asked, trying to change the subject.

Heather sighed. She had no reason to lie, at least not yet. Besides, the odds were that Moss already knew the answers and was just testing her.

-"They say I killed Woundwort."

-"Did you?"

-"No, but I tell you, if I had been given the chance, I wouldn't have hesitated to do it!"

-"The same could probably be said of many Efrafans," Leo said.

-"Sure. And I will be forever grateful towards whoever actually did it."

-"You said you wanted to kill him, but you didn't actually do it," Moss said. "I didn't think you had."

Heather did not reply.

-"Do you know who did?"

-"I don't know, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

-"Why not? Don't you trust me?"

-"Oh, I trust you all right. The moment you find the real killer you'll have them imprisoned in this burrow with me until Campion comes back for the trial."

-"Heather..." Moss stopped. This was the first time he had called the prisoner by her name. He awkwardly glanced at his two friends, unsure how they would react; they were both staring at him, but neither spoke. "As I was saying, I want to help you. I don't think you're guilty, so I want you to be free."

-"What do you care whether I'm free, or dead? I'm just a slave."

Moss remained silent for a few moments, trying to think of what he could reply. Officers trying to help slaves was virtually unheard of.

-"Slave or not, you don't deserve to be punished for something you didn't do."

-"Tell that to Vervain. He used to make me..."

-"I think we all know what Vervain did," Leo said, recalling his own horrible encounters with the bearded rabbit. "I'm sorry he hurt you too."

-"The fact remains that we're here to help you," Rake said. "As far as I know, they only way we can do that is to find the true culprit."

-"Well, then," Heather shouted, "what are you here questioning me for? I told you I don't know who killed him!"

-"Do you have any information that could..." Moss started to say.

-"Go away! Leave me alone."

Moss fell silent. With a sigh, he and his two companions left the burrow.

-"I didn't hear your entire conversation with her, but she sounded rather rude towards you," the guard said as Moss hopped past him. "Shall I discipline her?"

-"Worst thing you can do," Moss replied. "Just let her alone, and make sure she doesn't escape."

-"Come on, there's nothing a few bites and slashes to the tail and ears won't fix."

-"I don't want anyone to hurt her until Campion's return.." Moss placed his paws around the guard's neck. "Clear?"

-"...yes sir."

The three rabbits made their way above ground. Overall, Moss was satisfied with the way the conversation had played out. While Heather still resented his authority, at least she talked to him, already a major improvement over the previous evening. His thoughts were interrupted by Rake:

-"You have a crush on her, don't you?"

-"On who?"

-"Heather, who else?"

-"What? Of course not!"

-"No use denying it, Moss..."

-"I tell you, I don't have a crush on anyone. Can you back me up, Leo?"

Leo remained silent for a few moments, thinking of what he would reply.

-"You have a crush on someone, but it's not Heather."

-"You see? I don't have a crush on her," Moss told Rake.

A while later at silflay, Moss pulled Leo aside.

-"Who do you think I have a crush on, if it's not Heather?" Moss asked.

-"I would rather not say..." Leo winked, before hopping away.

Moss remained unsatisfied by Leo's answer. Surely he knew his own feelings better than anyone else? Nevertheless, he decided not to press the issue: the investigation was more important. Hopefully Leo would elaborate later on, though.