Chapter 34: Magic Powers of Overanalysis.

""That was awesome," Seth told Kendra.

"You're psychotic," Kendra replied."

-Brandon Mull, Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague

The river had many twists and turns that carried Vilthuril for a long time. She let the stream carry her without resisting, simply enjoying the feeling of peace that came with it.

However, the stream gradually seemed to be slowing down, and the end approached. As she got closer, she could see that the river led to a large lake of light. The current kept slowing down, until it finally stopped as she reached the lake; it seemed as if the feeling of peace and happiness was at its strongest.

Suddenly, the vision ended, and Vilthuril's mind was sent back to reality. She violently shook her head, attempting to fully regain her senses, before finally opening her eyes. Her trip in the river had been so pleasant; why did it have to end so brutally?

She turned around; several rabbits, all those who had survived the hrududu accident, had been following her. All of them looked exhausted, and Nyreem was asleep on Flyairth's back.

-"Hey welcome back!" Bluebell said, smirking. "How was your trip to the other world?"

-"Does anyone have any idea where we are?" Vilthuril asked. "The last thing I remember is telling you all about a river. There isn't any river here."

-"You said something about feeling the river in your mind," Hyzenthlay said. "I could feel something, but then you wandered away, so we followed you."

-"We tried on a few occasions to get you to snap out of that trance you were in," Thethuthinnang added, "but it was just impossible. You kept wandering, and we kept following."

-"Bluebell kept joking the entire time," Strawberry said. "I don't know how we would have managed to keep going for so long without him."

-"I...think I understand," Vilthuril said, "but I still can't recognize this place. Why did the river lead me here?"

Vilthuril looked around her. They were at the bottom of a large hill, at the top of which stood a lone beech tree.

-"I can't recognize it either," Flyairth said in agreement, "but it seems like a good place to dig a new warren."

-"I don't feel like digging," Bluebell said. "I'm tired, and I don't think I could handle it."

-"We're all tired," Hyzenthlay said, "but if we stay above ground, we're bound to attract elil."

-"But we've been wandering all day, and did we meet any elil? No! Only the hawk that took Violet," Nelthilta objected.

-"We were lucky, but our luck may not hold much longer," Blackberry explained. "I'm just as tired as any of you, but we have to get underground."

-"In that case," Flyairth said, "we should simply dig a few scrapes for now. This will allow us to be safe for the moment, and once we have rested, then we can do some serious digging."

-"I guess you make a valid point," Bluebell said. "But bucks can't dig."

-"Yes they can," Strawberry said. "If we're to survive here, all of us will have to dig."

At the top of the Down, several rabbits were at silflay. Clover had taken Cornflower to the edge of the Down to contemplate the view, although the latter felt rather nervous about this, afraid that elil might sneak up on them. Pipkin was out on a patrol around the Down with the rest of the Junior Owsla.

Fiver was calmly nibbling a dandelion, thinking about the previous night's dreams. He understood more clearly what Silverweed had told him, about being manipulated. He had identified the creature responsible; it felt profoundly liberating, and he could now take the proper course of action.

He glanced at the view, and saw several creatures at the bottom of the Down. He moved closer to the edge, and managed to see that they were rabbits. He stared at them for a while.

They were friendly; he could feel that. But he did not know who they were, or why they were there. Hazel probably would have been able to handle the situation perfectly, but he wasn't there. Fiver had been left in charge or the warren, so it was his responsibility to make sure these other rabbits were to be invited to the warren and, if they chose to stay there, feel welcome there.

"Why did Hazel leave me, of all rabbits, in charge?" Fiver thought. "I have absolutely no experience in such matters; I might end up doing more harm than good. I don't have much of a choice though, so I'll have to do my best."

Fiver started to make his way towards the bottom of the Down to greet the rabbits. Most of them were scratching at the ground, doing some light digging, while the others were lying further away, probably asleep.

Fiver thought of how he could notify these rabbits of his presence without scaring them. However, this proved to be unnecessary, as one of the rabbits soon poked her head out of the small hole she was digging and stared at him. Fiver stared back, admiring her sleek grey fur, and the white line between the eyes, experiencing something unlike anything he had ever felt before.

-"Why did you stop digging, Vilthuril?" Flyairth asked, before suddenly noticing Fiver. "Hey, who are you? What are you doing here?"

Fiver snapped out of his trance as he heard this. He turned to Flyairth, who was looking at him defensively.

-"Uh...I'm Fiver, and I come from the warren at the top."

-"There's a warren at the top of the hill?"

-"...yes. You're all welcome to join if you want."

-"Why do you want us to join?"

-"I'm just inviting you to stay if you want. Travellers are always welcome to stay at Watership Down. You don't have to if you don't want to, of course, but it would save you the trouble of digging your own burrows."

-"How do we know you're telling the truth? For all we know, your warren may be..."

-"I think he's telling the truth," Hyzenthlay said. "He has nothing to gain by lying to us, as we would be bound to discover the truth sooner or later."

-"Hyzenthlay's right," Vilthuril said. "There's a reason the river led me here, it must be because of the warren here."

-"What river?" Fiver asked. "There isn't any river close by."

-"Not a river of water, but another type of river, one that can only be felt in one's mind. I've been following one for a while, and it led us here."

Fiver recalled his dream; the river in his dream and the one Vilthuril had followed were most likely the same.

-"That sounds fascinating, although I don't fully understand it myself." Fiver chuckled. "Anyway, as I was saying, you're all free to come to the warren if you want, we would be glad to have you, but don't feel obligated if you don't want to."

-"We'll come with you," Hyzenthlay said.

Fiver nodded, and soon started the ascent of the Down, with the others following him. He led them through the warren's main entrance, until they finally reached the Honeycomb.

-"You can all rest here if you wish," he explained. "Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you."

-"Thank you for your kindness," Hyzenthlay said.

-"We always try to make other rabbits feel welcome here at Watership Down," Fiver said, as he walked out of the Honeycomb, leaving the new arrivals to rest quietly.