AUTHOR'S NOTE: thank you TheRanger101 for the review. I'm glad you liked the previous chapter. However, I'm afraid the cliffhanger won't be resolved until next week's chapter...

Chapter 61: The Long Wait.

"Bewilderment, doubt, and a feeling of hopeless [sic] had overcame [sic] them then, and overcame them now."

-Infinite Light, The Four Warrens

Bigwig slowly made his way above ground. It was morning, half a day after his and Hazel's return to Watership Down after their failed mission to find Blackberry and Primrose. The previous evening, he was not yet ready to admit defeat. However, since then, he had thought things over more clearly, and had come to the conclusion that continuing the search would be pointless. Either the two does were dead, or they had intentionally concealed their whereabouts so they couldn't be found. He could see Hazel further away, sitting on the edge of the Down, staring in the distance. He approached his Chief.

-"How are you feeling, this morning, Hazel?"

Hazel did not flinch, but kept staring in the distance.

-"I'm waiting."

-"What are you waiting for?"

-"Primrose and Blackberry."

Bigwig was taken aback by this response. Last night, Hazel was convinced the does was dead, and now he was waiting for them. He could only find one possible explanation for this.

-"Hazel, you mustn't give up on life. They wouldn't want that."

-"Who says I'm giving up on life?"

-"But didn't you say you..."

-"They'll be back. Tonight."

Bigwig sighed. No two rabbits grieved the same way, but Hazel's coping mechanism was quite unusual. Bigwig would have to keep a close eye on him, to make sure he still ate and took care of himself. He hopped away to silflay, and sat next to Fiver.

-"It's really sad, the way your older brother is feeling, isn't it?" he said.

-"He'll probably be all right, when tonight comes," Fiver replied.

-"You mean they really WILL come back?"

-"Most likely. Meadow is gone searching for them and everything seems to point towards success."

-"Oh, right, Meadow. You met her?"

-"She's a great rabbit."

-"But how do you know she will find them? Is it one of your visions or something?"

-"Silverweed told me."

-"Silverweed? Isn't that the crazy poet from Cowslip's warren?"

-"Yes, it's him. He joined the warren last night."

-"From what I've seen last night, he wasn't the only one who joined. Are the others from Cowslip's warren too?" Bigwig seemed to be growing aggressive.

-"Bigwig, calm down. He's the only one from there, and he's quite harmless."

-"Harmless? You call him harmless? Don't you remember what happened to me at his warren, how I almost died in the wire?"

-"I remember everything, Bigwig, but Silverweed wants to start a new life. Like Hickory, Marigold and all the others at Redstone."

-"I'll have to discuss this with Hazel. What about the others? Who are they, and what are they doing here?"

-"They came here after their old warren was destroyed."

-"So many warrens getting destroyed...what was it this time?"

-"They didn't say."

-"That's besides the point. What are they like?"

-"They seem like a good bunch."

-"Have they been causing any trouble?"

-"Most of them have been pretty harmless."

-"Most of them?"

-"Hawkbit and Dandelion have been complaining about one of them. I didn't get to fully investigate the matter yet."

-"Those two really like to complain, don't they? Speaking of which, I should probably go talk to Pipkin, to see how he handled owsla business in my absence."

-"See you later Bigwig."

With that, Bigwig hopped away. Now that the captain was gone, Fiver hopped over to Hazel. The two rabbits spent a while sitting next to each other.

-"The waiting is hard," Hazel finally said.

-"I can see why, Hazel," Fiver replied. "But you won't have to wait long now. Less than one day left."

-"I know, Fiver but...I feel so powerless. Meadow will bring them back, and there's no way I can help."

-"What you need is something to keep you busy while you wait. They should return tonight, so there's no point in staying here all day waiting."

-"What else is there to do?"

-"Like I said last night, several rabbits joined the warren while you were gone. You said you wanted to meet them, and I have a feeling that Bigwig might cause trouble."

-"Good old Bigwig...are there many?"

-"Hrair. Bucks and does."

-"What do you think of them?"

-"I didn't have any bad feelings or visions about them. They seem like a good bunch."

-"That's good news. I'll go and meet them. I just hope that..."

-"You have nothing to worry about, Hazel. Everything will be all right."

Hazel remained silent for a few moments, before turning around and starting to walk towards the warren, with Fiver following him. Just as he was about to enter the warren, however, he heard some steps in the grass. He didn't stop to think; he turned around and ran towards the source of the noise.

-"Primrose! You're ba-" He abruptly stopped as he realized that the rabbit was not Primrose, but another doe, and she was holding several flowers in her mouth. "Oh, sorry Flora, I mistook you for someone else."

-"Don't worry about it," Flora replied, dropping the flowers in front of her. "Do you know where I can find Clover?"

-"She's at silflay with Blackberry and Thethuthinnang on the other side of the tree," Fiver explained.

-"Thank you."

With that, Flora hopped away.

-"Are you ready to go underground now, Hazel?" Fiver asked.

-"Yes. Let's go."

As they entered the warren, however, they were immediately tacked by the kittens.

-"Father, where have you been?"

-"We missed you!"

-"Where's mother?"

-"Why are you two so quiet?"

-"Yeah, you're definitely keeping secrets!"

-"Has he told you any secrets, uncle Fiver?"

Flora, meanwhile, hopped over to the spot Fiver had indicated. Like he had said, Thethuthinnang and Blackberry were present alongside Clover. She debated whether to present her gift to Clover right now, or wait until she was alone. However, she was unable to reach a decision before Clover noticed her presence.

-"Hey Flora, how's it going?"

She would have to do it now. Waiting could only make the situation even more awkward.

-"Clover, these are for you."

Flora dropped the flowers in front of Clover. It was an elaborate bouquet, with daisies, roses and cornflowers, as well as a four-leaf clover in the middle.

-"For me?"

Flora nodded.

-"They're...they're beautiful," Clover continued. "Thank you."

-"Pretty flowers for a pretty bun."

Clover hopped closer to Flora and nuzzled her.

-"I really appreciate these."

-"Thank you."

-"So...want to play tail tag?"

-"Sure!"

With that, the two does hopped away. Blackberry looked at Thethuthinnang in confusion.

-"What just happened?"

-"They're going to play tail tag. It's a fun game, I used to play that all the time with Hyzenthlay back at the old warren."

-"Last time I played that game, it was with Bluebell. He said that if he were to win, his prize would be a kiss from me. He lost, but he STILL tried to kiss me."