Time seemed to pass for the Rabbits on Watership Down, and before long, Hyzenthlay had her kits, six babies, all healthy, It wasn't long before another litter came, this time from Clover and Holly, it was a truly Blessed time for the warren, and as the days went by, the kits began to grow, open their eyes, and started to silflay and explore the Warren for themselves.
One morning, Kehear was soaring overhead, when spotted two of Hyzenthlay's kits, silflaying on the down and made a move, pretending to be a Hawk, he chased after them, swooping down everyone once in a while for dramatic effect.
"Oh no!" He wailed. "Here comes the big hawk! Now you bunnies are in vig trouble!"
Hazel, Bigwig and Hyzenthlay watch from beneath the shade of the Tree, Hazel yawned.
"Isn't it wonderful having kits around?" He asked. "It feels like we're really here to stay."
"All those Seasons I spent in Efrafa." Hyzenthlay added. "It was never home, But here…" And she nuzzled her mate Hazel. "I can't imagine being happier."
"Oy Hazel." Said Bigwig. "Watch this."
They turned their attention back to the gull, who continued to chase after the kits, until they tucked up and rolled, causing Kehear to lose his balance and tumble head first onto the ground, Grinning, The Gull picked himself up and dusted himself off.
"Them plenty fast baby bunnies you got there." Kehear said. "They'd es smart too."
"They should be." Said Hazel. "Bigwigs teaching them everything he knows.
"That won't take long than." Said Silver as the kits clambered over him. "But mind you, somebody should teach em manners."
"When I was their age, I was already raiding gardens for Flayrah." Bigwig said, remembering. "Nothing like your first bite of Tender Juicy Carrot, Hmm."
"You know something Hazel." Said Hawkbit, piping up. "A turnip might be nice for them."
"Are you suggesting going to the farm Hawkbit?" Asked Bluebell.
"Our first day of peace and quiet and you of all Rabbits are thinking about Adventure?" Hazel asked.
"N-Never said that." Hawkbit stuttered.
"Quiet reflections for milk pawns." Said Bigwig. "This time of year bushel sprouts are at their peak! Be a shame to waste it all on man, wouldn't you say?"
"What about Bob and Duster?" Asked Clover. "They're not the sort of Dogs to let us wander into the Garden and help ourselves, now are they?"
"Don't forget, stinkin cat lives there too." Added Kehear.
"All this talk of Raiding brings me back to the story of El-ahrairah and Rowsby Woof." Dandelion commented, instantly getting the kit's attention, and they all gathered around to listen.
"Well." Began Dandelion. "One evening, El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle, decided they liked to have some cabbages."
Story Begins…
They knew the man at the nearest farm had the most fragrant mouth watering cabbages to ever come out of the ground, But there was one problem, they had to contend with the local dog, Rowsby Woof, But El-ahrairah had a simple plan, for dogs are simple beasts.
So he tucked in his ears so he too looked like a dog, and then jumped onto the fence to get Rowsby Wolf's attention.
"Oh Rowsby Woof! It is I, your fairy Wogdog!"
"I didn't know I had one." Said Rowsby.
"Well you do." Said the Wogdog. "And I'm here to grant you a great honor."
"Oh really?" Asked Rowsby.
"The Queen of Dogs!" The Wogdog declared. "Her R-R-Royal Majesty, Queen drip slobber, thinks you're the best cabbage dog, who ever wagged his tail! She wants to give you a nice doggy treat!"
"My dreams have come true!" Rowsby Woof declared with delight. "How humbly I'll roll upon the ground for her!"
"That's a good boy, the queen will pass the crossroads this very night, On her way to um… The Great bark and scratch… at the um… Elm grove!"
"I'll get there faster than a bark!" Said Rowsby Woof, as he dug a hole in the garden and popped out the other side.
"The Queen might be late." Said the Wogdog. "But you must wait, Or the treat will go to that yappy terrier down the lane."
"But who will guard the garden while I'm gone?" Asked Rowsby.
"I'm the Fairy Wogdog, Remember?! Uh, I mean, I'll take care of everything here, Everything in the garden will be safe, I promise."
Satisfied with that answer, Rowsby Woof took off up the path. "I'm coming, my Queen!"
"Bye Bye Rowsby Woof!" Said El-ahrairah. "Rabscuttle and I will look after your cabbages while you're gone!"
El-ahrairah now had the perfect tunnel to the cabbage patch, and they didn't have to do any work themselves."
Story Ends.
"And so, El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle ate more Flayrah than any ten Rabbits and had a very long trip home."
"Well told Dandelion." Said Fiver.
"Mr. Bigwig." Said one of Clovers Kits. "What's Flayrah?"
"It's Lettuce, Carrots, Turnips and other lovely morsels that man grows for himself." Explained Bigwig, before whispering to Hyzenthlay. "You see appalling ignorance, breaks my heart, it does."
"Come on now." Said Clover to the children. "Silflay's over everyone, Time to go in."
And the Rabbits all hopped back into the burrows, Except for Bigwig, Hazel, Fiver, Hawkbit, Bluebell, Blackavar and Dandelion.
"If there's anything I've learned as Captain of Owsla." Said Bigwig. "It's that Flayrah waits for no Rabbit!"
And he hopped off towards the farm, With Hazel, Fiver, Bluebell and Blackavar following after.
"You see." Hawkbit said, turning to Dandelion. "That's the trouble with your stories, Suddenly, everyone wants to be El-ahrairah!"
Though he himself followed after them, leaving Dandelion to shake his head in amusement.
Later,
Very soon, The Rabbits came to the farm and took cover in a bush, there they spied the garden, which had a wired up fence and Duster resting comfortably inside, there was no sign of Bob, he was probably out with the Farmer or something.
"So, who gets to be the Fairy Wogdog?" Asked Bluebell.
"I'll have a go." Said Bigwig, and he called out in a feminine voice. "Oh Duster! It's your fairy Dog!"
"Wogdog." Corrected Hawkbit.
"Would you rather have a go?" Asked Bigwig.
"No, No, Go right on ahead." Hawkbit replied.
Bigwig continued. "Yo-Ho! Over here!"
But the dog didn't wake up.
"Perhaps if we were closer…" Bluebell suggested.
And they did, not too close and not too far from the fence, and Bigwig tried again. "Duster! Over here! You're fairy , Wogdog is here!"
Still, the dog did not respond.
"He's a sound sleeper." Bigwig grumbled. "He can't hear us at all."
"Maybe…" Hazel pondered. "Or perhaps he just can't understand us."
"Which makes fooling him a bit tricky." Said Blackavar.
"And tricking him a bit foolish." Said Hawkbit.
"I wonder why Dogs can talk to Rabbits in the El-Ahrairah stories, But not in real life." Pondered Fiver.
"Maybe long ago, they DID talk." Said Hazel. "Maybe they gave up all things "Dog" to stay by the hearth and serve Man."
"Sad really." Said Bigwig.
Meanwhile,
In the farm house, Hannah had snuck in through the window and spied the bread loaves in a little cupboard.
"Right." She said, "Time for food."
She didn't realize that Tabitha the Cat had crept up behind her. "Couldn't agree more… Mousy Morsle."
Hannah gasped as the cat lept at her with a yowl and tried to eat her, but Hannah quickly scurried into the cupboard and hid amongst the bread.
"Got to come out soon, Mouse." Tab sneered.
"Hmm, later maybe." Replied Hannah as she nibbled at the bread. "Worry then."
Tab scowled at the Mouses check, and moved to the open window to sulk.
Meanwhile,
Back at the garden, Bigwig and the others moved closer to the fence to get Duster's attention, as they hid behind an overturned wheelbarrow, Bigwig spoke up.
"I got it!"
"Oh no." Said Fiver. "Bigwigs about to suggest something daring."
"No listen, it's dead simple." He said. "I let him see me, get him barking mad, and he comes after me right under the fence!"
"And then he chases us all over the countryside!" Said Blackavar. "Sounds DEAD simple to me."
"We'll hide, till he wanders off, then, in we go." Said Bigwig.
"I… I don't know Bigwig." Said Hazel, who already started to see that it was a bad idea.
As Duster woke up, Bigwig jumped out.
"Oy! You there, Dog!" Bigwig shouted. "Ey Handlicker!"
Bigwig had finally gotten the dog's attention.
"He appears to be paralyzed with Stupidity." Bigwig said snidely, before jumping back as Duster rushed to the gate and barked at him.
"Come on, Dig, Under the fence!" Bigwig said. "Come and get me, fur face!"
The Dog just kept barking in response, prompting the other Rabbits to come out of hiding.
"Hmm, He's not listening is he?" Asked Bluebell.
"Must be dreadful to be so thick." Joked Blackavar. "More so than Sainfoin."
"I wonder why Man likes Dogs." Hawkbit pondered.
Meanwhile,
Back at the House, Tab heard the Dog's barking and looked out to the garden to see the Rabbits from before standing there.
"Ah, Long Ears…" She purred.
It was then she decided to forget the Mouse, a more appetizing prey was out there, So she hopped out of the window and made her way over to the garden.
Hannah poked out of the cupboard and saw the cat was gone. "Huh, Cat's given up a bit quick…"
She heard the dog barking and looked out the window to see Tabitha heading towards the garden, where Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, Blackavar, Hawkbit and Bluebell were.
"Hazel! Bigwig!" She called out in alarm. "Oh this is bad, they can't hear me!"
She then noticed she was right next to a potted plant on the windowsill, Hastily, she began to push it out, with a great heave, she sent it tumbling out the window and onto the ground with a great.
Crack!
Hazel heard this and turned to see Tabitha creeping up to them.
"Cat!" He cried.
"Everyone back to the brambles!" Bigwig shouted, and the Rabbits immediately retreated, with Tabitha giving chase, Hazel, Bigwig, Blackavar and Hawkbit managed to scramble into the bushes, But Fiver and Bluebell, being smaller and slower, weren't so lucky, Tab quickly turned around and gave chase to them, forcing them to hide in the wheelbarrow, which Fiver knocked into and turned it over, covering both him and Bluebell and shielding them from the cat.
"Oh frith above!" Hazel moaned.
Fiver and Bluebell were trapped in the wheelbarrow, as the Cat prowled atop, the dog quickly came up and barked at her, But since he was on the other side of the fence, Tab ignored him and focused on the Rabbits trapped in the wheelbarrow.
She squeezed her claw under and grasped at the two Rabbits, who both shivered as she spoke. "Ready for lunch? Come out… Come out little long ears… Tabitha's Hungry."
"Oh well this is a bit of a pickle." Said Bigwig, as the Rabbits watched from the Brambles.
"You think?!" Exclaimed Blackavar. "This is a disaster!"
"Yeah, El-ahrairah would be very proud of us for this." Added Hawkbit. "Oh well done you brilliant fools, He'd say!"
"We've got to get Fiver and Bluebell out of there!" Said Hazel.
Just then, Hannah popped up. "Are you Rabbit's moonstruck?! Cats and Dogs everywhere and you come for carrots?!"
"It's not as if we meant for this to happen." Hazel said.
"Well Fiver and Bluebell are now trapped in that wheelbarrow over there." Said Hannah. "What are you gonna do now?"
"Well I've got a… Vague Idea." Hazel said. "But we have to let Fiver and Bluebell know what we're up to."
"I hope you're not asking for volunteers." Hawkbit said nervously.
"Hannah." Hazel instructed. "Go to the Wheelbarrow and tell Fiver and Bluebell to dig their way out of the barrow and into the Garden, Once Bigwig, Blackavar and I get to the other side, we dig under the fence and grab as many carrots as we can without alerting Duster, and while we're doing that, It's up to Hawkbit to distract the Cat."
"Nothing fancy now." Added Bigwig. "Just straight in and straight out."
"Well, I hadn't planned on playing Bob-Stones with her." Said Hawkbit, annoyed.
"Remember." Said Hazel. "Hannah's counting on you, Are you sure you're up for this Hannah?"
"Well how else are you going to talk to them?" Hannah asked. "Call them on the Ringing box?"
"What's a Ringing Box?" Hazel asked.
"Ugh, Rabbits, don't know anything!" Hannah exclaimed as she scurried out of the brambles, as she left, Bigwig left too, making sure not to get the Cats attention as he hurried to the other side of the garden.
"Hawkbit, Now!" Hazel said, as the gray buck hopped out and followed Hannah to the wheelbarrow, where the Cat was so busy trying to get underneath, that she didn't even notice the pair.
Hawkbit bounded up and rammed into Tab, knocking her aside, but the cat recovered and lunged at Hawkbit, who quickly scarpered off, While Hannah snuck under the wheelbarrow.
"Fiver! Bluebell!" Hannah said, surprising the trapped Rabbits. "I'm delivering a message from Hazel, are you two okay?"
"Oh you mean apart from being trapped in here, while a cat is out there?" Asked Bluebell. "Yep!"
"We're in a silly mess." Groaned Fiver. "Aren't we."
"We'll get you boys out." Said Hannah. "Hazel says to dig! Under the fence and the dog."
"Dig?" Fiver asked. "Okay."
Fiver then set to work, scraping the Earth with his paws.
Meanwhile,
Hazel and Blackavar soon joined Bigwig as he too began digging under the garden fence, just as Hawkbit came up.
"Well done, Hawkbit." Said Hazel.
"Yeah, I seem to have a talent for Cat bumping." Hawkbit said, bemused.
Blackavar looked back to the Dog and Cat, seeing them both still around the Wheelbarrow. "If this works, We might make El-ahrairah proud of us yet."
"Sure, as long as Cats and Dogs keep behaving like Cats and Dogs." Said Hawkbit.
Soon, Bigwig emerged on the other side of the Garden right next to a row of Carrots.
"Ahah! Flayrah anyone?" He asked as he picked one up.
Meanwhile,
Fiver tunneled further along with Bluebell and Hannah behind him.
"Do you think we're far enough yet?" Asked Fiver.
"How would I know, I'm a Mouse, not a mole." Said Hannah.
"Be a shame to come up under the dog." Said Bluebell. "But better than that Cat."
"We'll have to risk it." Said Fiver as he tunneled upward, and popped up in a patch of lettuce, he then saw that he was as far from Duster, who was still barking at Tab from the fence, Fiver then saw Bigwig and emerged from the hole to get towards him, With Hannah and Bluebell following behind, The latter collecting some lettuce along the way.
Duster, however, caught their scent and gave chase, which Bigwig took notice of, as he pushed the last carrot through the holes in the fence.
"Get a move on you three!" Called Bigwig, as Fiver, Hannah and Bluebell bolted across the yard and towards the hole, Bigwig quickly joined them just as Duster lunged at them, he barked at them though the hole as they popped out on the other side, Duster and charged at the Rabbits, but was stopped by the fence.
"Alright, let's go." Said Bigwig. "Everyone, grab all the Flayrah you can."
And so, Bigwig, Hazel, Fiver, Hawkbit and Blackavar picked up a Carrot each, while Bluebell held onto the Lettuce he collected, and they made their escape.
Duster watched them go and turned to see Tabitha, still waiting by the wheelbarrow, while the Rabbits took shelter in the Brambles.
"Next time I get an urge for Carrots, I'll talk myself out of it." Said Fiver.
"Oh come on, Fiver." Said Bigwig. "What's life without a little terror eh?"
"With all the things we've been through." Said Bluebell.
They all looked back to the garden as they watched Duster eying Tabitha from the fence, he found the hole Fiver, Hannah and Bluebell came out of, and noticed it let to the upside down wheelbarrow where the cat was.
Duster grinned slyly as an idea came to his mind, and he started to dig, making the hole larger for himself as the Rabbits watched.
"By frith, I think he's finally got it!" Hazel laughed.
"Every dog has its day!" Added Bigwig as they watched.
By now, Tabitha was growing impatient. She was thinking the Rabbits would come out by now, But then, she saw the wheelbarrow starting to move.
"Ah, come out now, little Long ears." She purred. "Tabitha's waiting…"
Suddenly, the wheelbarrow lifted up and Duster came out of the hole.
"Oh my!" Tabitha said in alarm, and with a frighted yowl, she darted off back to the farm house, with a barking Duster right behind her.
The Rabbits watched the whole thing and laughed.
Later.
The Rabbits soon arrived back at the down and provided their treats to their young, while Bigwig regaled a crowd of Rabbits with the days events.
"And then." He said dramatically. "That dog rose up from the earth! Like some monster mole sent by the Black Rabbit of Inle!"
"He gave old Tab quite a turn!" Fiver chuckled.
"Now cat's know how we mice feel." Hannah said proudly.
"Yeah, more fun than Bob stones." Said Bigwig. "Mind if we do it again Hazel?"
"Please don't." Said Holly. "It was stupid Idea to begin with."
"Let's finish these Carrots and Lettuce first." Said Hazel. "Shall we?"
It was then that Thethuthinnang spoke up. "Bigwig, If you weren't raiding gardens at the children's age, however did you get to be your age?"
"Uh… He's pure of heart?" Hawkbit suggested.
Bigwig just shrugged as everyone laughed.
To Be Continued.
Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed this new chapter, for those of you reading I did another chapter of this story for the sake of updating it, As I plan to do with some of my other stories before the year is out.
In Addition to Watership Down (Combined Edition.) Power Rangers and the Phantom menace, Star Wars, Rebellion Unleashed and Quest for the Black Cauldron are all to have new chapters made, and I'll also the next Chapter for Fazbear Terrors too, Please go check them out.
As always, Be sure to Leave a Fave, Follow and Review for more content and I will do what I can.
Stay Tuned for now. :)