The Next day, Kehear flew down from the sky after taking a short flight to test his wing, As he Tried to land, He ended up plopping into a Long batch of grass and poked his head up.
"Perfect landing." He said to Himself, Thinking nobody saw him.
As he emerged from the Weeds, Violet and Hannah ran up to him.
"Hazel's Alive but wounded! The Farm Man shot him!" Said Violet hurriedly.
Kehear tilted his head. "You get black stones out?"
"What do you mean?" Asked Hannah.
"Always with gun come little black Stones." Said Kehear as he swallowed a passing fly and walked past them as he talked more. "You take out Black Stones, he get better."
He made his way over to a Run, Where Hazel had been resting, Bigwig, Rosemary and Fiver stood over him as Kehear entered and inspected the damage.
"Ah." Said Kehear as he spied them. "Many stones."
At Kehears request, Bigwig and Fiver moved out of the Burrow, While Rosemary held Hazel down, Than Kehear proceed to pluck the Bullets out of Hazel's Injured leg with his beak, Hazel grunted and almost cried out in pain as this went on, Rosemary had to hold him down before he exerted himself.
Outside the other Rabbits listened in, Wincing as they heard Hazel's pained grunts, Bigwig and Fiver stood outside and watched this go on, Until at last Kehear finished his operation.
"There." He said at last. "Think I get all black stones out, Little rest and will be good as new."
Hazel managed to get to his feet, With help from Rosemary. "Thank you Kehear." He said, And limped outside to the others.
"Go on Hazel-Rah." Said Fiver. "They've been waiting to see you."
Hazel turned to his Rabbits, They all immediately crowded around him, Joyful at his return, Bigwig managed to pacify them before they all smothered Hazel too much.
"Well." Said Hazel, As he laid back down to rest his Leg. "Bet you all are disappointed at not getting rid of me."
Everyone laughed.
"But now I'm back, I want a full rundown on things." Said Hazel as the Laughter died down.
"Well the Weasel's gone now Hazel." Siad Acorn. "Thanks to Silver, Clover and Haystack have settled in well but… There's something Else."
"What is it?" Asked Hazel.
"Efrafa." Said Kehear. "Big warren, Many Rabbits there, No good place."
"They're out to get us Hazel." Said Pipkin. "Holly, Fiver and Bluebell were there. Said it was worse than we could possibly imagine!"
"Yes." Said Fiver. "We were there. It's big, Massive and makes our Warren look like a Pack of Scattered Ants, They're Rabbits are the Biggest you've ever seen!"
"The Whole lot of us wouldn't be enough to fight their wide patrols." Said Holly. "Of course they're not complete savages."
"What do you mean?" Asked Buckthorn.
Holly showed them all his legs. "See this?" He asked. "You've seen them on Fiver and Bluebell too. They're identification marks, Tells you when you can be above ground."
"What do you mean?" Asked Bigwig. "Who's to stop you!"
"Their Owsla." Said Holly. "Their Chief is called Woundwort, General Woundwort, He's big and Terrifying, The size of a Hare and all he thinks about is fighting and Killing, All in All a grim customer, I don't think evan you would match up to him Bigwig, Under him are Captains, Each one in charge of a mark, If your found above ground at the wrong time, They take you to the Council for Punishment.
"Some of them must get away." Said Blackberry.
"They caught one trying to when We were there." Said Holly. "Turns out if was that terrified Rabbit we encountered on our way to find you, Blackavar was his name, When they finished with him, Both his ears were Ripped to shreds, Worse than this of mine, He was lucky to have not been killed, There was another one, A doe Hyzenthlay, We couldn't have asked without her help."
"Why didn't she go with you?" Asked Dandelion.
"She said she wouldn't leave without the others." Said Holly. "And there wasn't much time before the Owslafa was on us."
"So there are Rabbits there that could join us." Said Hazel. "If we can get them out."
"Easier said than done by the sound of it." Said Dandelion.
"Better not done at all if you ask me." Said Hawkbit. "He needs that lot coming after us more?"
"It twists my Tail." Said Dewdrop. "Imagine living like that."
"If Woundwort finds Watership Down before we're up to strength you won't have to imagine." Siad Bigwig.
"You could never get them out of Efrafa." Said Holly.
"Well you three got out." Said Blackberry.
"Only because Lord Frith sent one of his great messengers." Said Holly.
"Not really sure what it Did to Charlock though." Said Bluebell. "It must have run them down."
"Well it's not going to be easy but we've little choice." Said Hazel. "As soon as my leg is rested we leave for Efrafa, And we don't stop until we free Hyzenthlay, Blackavar and anyone else who wants to leave."
A collective gasp rose among the Rabbits.
"You want to go there after what we've just been told!?" Asked Clover. "Is your Tail on straight Hazel?"
"When they tried to take the Liberty of Rabbits from Watership Down they may not have wanted a war, But by Frith that is what they'll get."
"You'll give it to them mate." Said Hawkbit. "Not me!"
"That's why he's asking for Volunteers Thickears." Said Bigwig.
"I'll go." Said Blackberry. "I could barely stomach the thought of all those poor creatures in that dreadful place."
"I'm coming too." Said Rosemary.
"Count on me!" Said Silver, Raising his Paw.
"I hate that General Woundwort, And his Owsla and His Council with all my guts." Said Bluebell. "If we're gonna make fools of them, I want to be there."
"I'm in!" Said Dandelion.
"You're not Impressing anyone Dandelion." Said Hawkbit.
"Oh come on you!" Said Bigwig.
Reluctantly, Hawkbit raised his paw. "I'm going to regret this." He muttered.
"You'll need me and Kehear too on this." Said Hannah.
"Yea! Yea!" Agreed Kehear. "We prepared for this!"
"I really don't like this Plan of yours Hazel." Said Holly. "Not at all."
"Then you'll have to stay here Holly." Said Hazel. "You're known to Efrafa and it could be dangerous, Anyone who hasn't volunteered will also stay."
Pipkin, Buckthorn, Dewdrop, Violet, Acorn, Speedwell, Strawberry, Clover and Haystack all agreed.
"I've been to Efrafa and I tell you're all making a bad mistake that might very well get you all killed." Said Holly. "But, It would seem I have little say in the matter, I'll keep an eye on things here, Just don't ignore the Dangers, And send word by Kehear if you can."
"Of course." Said Hazel.
To Be Continued.