AUTHOR'S NOTE: Happy Easter everyone! I have returned and intend to resume posting one chapter every week.

Thank you Anonymous Guest for the review!

Chapter 139: The Forces of Evil Return.

"[...] there are many other enemies that still lurk in this world."

-Sparky The Tomboy, The Darkest Dream

-"They're coming, so many of them!"

The rabbits stared at Meadow, unsure exactly what she was talking about. Something about weasels, but her warning was very vague.

-"What's all this nonsense about weasels?" Hannah asked in annoyance.

-"They're coming, and they will attack!" Meadow repeated.

-"This makes even less sense than Fiver's average vision," Hawkbit complained.

-"Calm down, Meadow," Hazel said. "Start from the beginning."

-"I was on wide patrol, when I spotted a large group of weasels. I tracked them from a distance, and they're heading in the direction of this warren. I had to try to warn you, I was lucky to make it here before they did."

The rabbits whispered to each other. Heather was the first to speak audibly.

-"These must be the same weasels who attacked me and the other Efrafans a few days ago."

-"We killed some of them during the battle, but not all of them," Moss added. "The survivors are coming back for more bloodshed."

-"Savage brutes," Bigwig said. "We'll have to make a plan of defense..."

-"There's no time for any careful planning," Meadow said, "they could arrive any moment now. You need to decide right now if you evacuate, or if you stay and fight."

-"We fight," Hazel instantly decided. "But anyone who wishes to run is free to do."

-"With Redstone destroyed, there's nowhere to run to anyway," Violet said. At this, Hickory, who was sitting nearby, started to cry; everyone, except Marigold, was too busy worrying about the weasels to notice. Bigwig took a spot in the middle of the burrow to address the others.

-"Everyone in the owsla, go above ground, we're going to need you. Keep in mind that weasels are too strong for a single rabbit to take on alone, so please pair up. Those of you who aren't as strong or confident, make groups of three, just in case."

-"Well, I can kill a weasel alone, without any partner." Flyairth said as she hopped above ground. "It wouldn't be the first time."

-"Me too," Spartina said.

Bigwig was about to object, but soon realized that there was no point in it. Flyairth was the largest rabbit in the warren, and it wasn't really surprising that she had killed weasels alone in the past. Having seen Spartina take on the fox the previous day, he also trusted her in her abilities. Several other rabbits followed the two does above ground. As Nelthilta hopped towards the tunnel, however, she was held back by Blackberry.

-"Let me go!" she whined. "I want to kill some weasels."

-"You can't," Blackberry said. "Even if the weasels don't eat you, you would still die of exhaustion, in your current state. You should go to your burrow instead."

Nelthilta looked at the doe sharply, and sighed, before hopping towards the burrow as ordered. The next rabbit in line was Moss.

-"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Bigwig asked. "After all you've been through..."

-"I know these weasels, you don't. If you want to stand a chance, you need every rabbit you can get."

-"I suppose you're right...but if any of your other Efrafans don't feel up to the task, you don't have to."

-"I'm coming," Heather said.

-"No, you're not," Moss said, turning towards his mate. "Think of the kittens."

-"I don't want you to be out there alone."

-"I'll keep an eye on him," Avens said.

-"If I don't make it..." Moss started to say, but Heather cut him off.

-"You will. And if you don't, we'll get Campion to revive you again."

-"I don't think it works that way. If I don't make it...just know that I love you."

Moss nuzzled her, then went to rejoin Leo, Rake and the others above ground.

Meanwhile, Strawberry was about to hop above ground, when he heard two familiar voices arguing behind him.

-"I don't fancy being a weasel's silflay..."

-"Don't you realize how dire the situation is, Dandelion? The rest of the owsla is already out there, and we're not accomplishing anything. We're in grave danger of becoming useless."

-"Oh, that's terrible, Hawkbit! What do we do?"

-"We must go and fight the weasels. We have no other choice."

-"It is time for us to heroically sacrifice ourselves for the good of the warren!"

-"Eh, skip the drama, this isn't a tale of El-ahrairah, this is real life. Shall we go now?"

Strawberry shook his head. He too, soon after arriving at Watership Down, had been worried about being useless, but he soon realized that he had nothing to worry about. Hawkbit and Dandelion had been with Hazel from the start; they should know better.

-"I'm coming with you two," he said.

-"You sure you want to do this?" Dandelion asked.

-"If you seriously think I'm going to let you two fools fight a weasel alone, you're mistaken. Come on, let's go."

As she watched the others go above ground, Blackberry hesitated. After her trip to Redstone, she wasn't sure how useful she would be to the others in defeating the weasels. But staying idle under such circumstances would be even worse, so she hopped above ground.

-"Meh, I'm coming too," Violet said, following Blackberry. "If I can save a few rabbits' lives, that would be great. If I lose my own, oh well..."

Soon, the Honeycomb was nearly empty. Most rabbits had gone above ground to help with the battle; those who would not be able to fight, like Primrose, her kittens, Nelthilta and Groundsel, had retreated to their burrows. Hazel and Fiver were the last two rabbits remaining.

-"I'll be going out too," Hazel said. "But first, I have to ask, did you have any visions, Fiver?"

-"Visions don't always come. I'm afraid I can't help you."

-"It's all right. If we all die above ground, please help those still underground escape through the caverns, and then to Buttercup's warren."

-"I hope it won't come to that, but if it does, I'll do my best."

-"Thanks Fiver. Love you so much."

-"Love you too, Hazel. Stay safe."

As Hazel made his way above ground, he encountered Silver in the tunnel.

-"Hazel-rah. You're coming to fight with us?"

-"Yes."

-"Would you do my the honour...of being my partner, sir, for this fight?"

-"I don't mind." Hazel had no logical reason to refuse: Bigwig had said to pair up, and Silver seemed like a capable rabbit.

Above ground, Bigwig stood in front of the group, scanning the crowd. It seemed nearly all the rabbits were present, and most of them had already paired up. When he noticed a small rabbit in the back of the group, however, he frowned.

-"Pipkin, go back underground now."

-"But Bigwig..." Pipkin was about to protest, but the owsla captain refused to listen.

-"I know you have good intentions, Pipkin, but this is a dangerous battle. You're not ready for this yet. Same goes for you, Nyreem."

Grumbling, the two small rabbits went back underground.

Hannah walked outside, carrying her magic pebble. The current situation was one of extreme danger, and the warren would need some otherworldly help to survive.

-"Ye woodit stan a cance! Alloo meh to uz meegeec!

E caall e grea sheef, lvin n da moontans

E deemen is faite, pleez gv meh tha stwenff

E know, e be yo slav, al theh teyme

Da poossbilty zat sould do th ting n the sheenin woose

SAVE THE RABBITS AND KILL THE WEASELS!"

She fell silent for a moment, before realizing that she had forgotten to mention something.

-"ALSO SAVE THE NON-RABBIT CREATURES WHO AREN'T WEASELS! KILL THE WEASELS!"

-"Shut up," Bigwig ordered. "How do you expect us to hear the weasels when you're screaming like that?"

-"Do ye juss realiz zat I juss made sure you all going to sooveeve? If it wasn fo meh, ye wil al be daed tomorrah!"

-"Yeah, as if a bunch of mispronounced words would save us..."

-"Ye of leetle fait! Soo ungreetefel! Ah will use me magic pebble to make ye vanish! Poof! Vanish!"

Bigwig rolled his eyes, and looked in the distance. He couldn't see the weasels yet, but he could smell them in the wind. They were close, the attack was imminent.