Story World of the Ancients

scorpiodragon · Dec 4, 2020

So, this is where I will post short stories, original novels and fanfiction. Each will be categorized by the title and then subsequent chapters underneath each title. Some may have been published already and out of print, others not published yet. All copyright of said works belongs to me. Darker stories and poetry can be found on my blog Quills of the Abyss.

Other Links:
Scorpio Art Improvement-Where I post traditional and digital drawings as well as paintings. People may see my horrible drawings and progress.
Battle the Ocean-Where I post poetry or songs that I write.
World of the Ancients-Where I post stories, be they original short stories, fandom stories, one-shots and original books.
Lightning Abyss-A personal online journal.

scorpiodragon · Dec 4, 2020

This is for short stories I have written. Some were written in middle school and high school while most were written as an adult.

I. Uninvited Guests

scorpiodragon · Dec 4, 2020

This is for one-shots written by myself. They will be categorized by fandom.

Pokemon:

I. Journey's End
II.

Harry Potter:

I. Crimson Mistakes

Little House on the Prairie
I. The Auction

scorpiodragon · Dec 4, 2020

This is for fanfiction. These are also categorized by fandom. There will also be a section here for crossovers and crossovers will be listed.

Harry Potter:

__________________

Watership Down:
Blood Dawn
1. Campion-Rah
2. Message to Hazel-Rah
3. Alliance
4. Vleflain
5. Vision
6. Shining Wire Warren
7. Sunstone
8. Four Warrens
9. Death of a Seer
10. Brimstone
11. Meetings
12. Home
13. Training
14. Messenger
15. Spies
16. Seers of the Alliance
17. Among the Enemy
18. Kittens
19. Connection
20. Frith and Shingetsu
21. Shadow Land
22. Chiefs and Seers
23. Moonlight and Darkness
24. Reunion
25. New Chief
26. Master and Servant
27. Moonfell
28. Rabbits of Sadness
29. Nightdusk
30. Fire Moon
31. Prisoner
32. Seer of Nightdusk
33. Salvation
34. Warrior's Past
35. Bright Star
36. Dusk Moon
37. Discussion with Survivors
38. Heir
39. Arrival
40. Return of the Alliance
41. Night Warning
42. Haven
43. Ether
44. Chaos
45. Land of Dreams

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Crossovers:

scorpiodragon · Dec 4, 2020

Hello and we are starting off with a one-shot concerning Pokemon chronicling my thoughts on Ash being an idiot and one of his attempts at saving Pikachu becomes tragic.

Author Note: So this based on Episode 3 When Worlds Collide of Diamond & Pearl series of Pokémon. I am not sure what disease Pikachu had, maybe Huntington's Disease which kills slowly over time, affecting cognitive function and neurological status. Ash will not be returning back to life but I figure that his pokemon would have been released into the wild to either be caught by other trainers or live their lives in the wild as free pokemon, never taking another human master. I had to watch this episode a few times to get the dialogue & actions leading up to what follows the explosion and then my imagination went from there.
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"Pikachu! Hey Ash!" Hands cupped on either side of his mouth, smoke furled from the destroyed robot, no signs of Brock's young friend or his Pikachu in the rubble. How could he survive that?! No, he's Ash. He can beat this. The blue haired trainer stared in worried silence at the wreckage that had blown up when Ash had foolishly jumped on top of the robot's arm to rescue Pikachu after Team Rocket had tried taking the Electric Mouse Pokémon again, as they had tried countless times before.

"Pikachu!"

"Piplup!" Beside the blue-haired girl stood a blue penguin with white undersides, calling out for his friend.

"Dawn come on! We have to get him out of there!"

"Right," said the girl known as Dawn. "No need to worry," she said as she rushed forward with Piplup at her side.

"Aipom!" The purple and beige colored Long Tail Pokémon that had been caught when Ash had been doing the Battle Frontier in Kanto and snuck aboard the boat Ash was taking to Sinnoh, rushed forward alongside the two humans and the Piplup, calling out for her master while Starly hung back and watched, not because he didn't want to help, but because he was unable to be of any help like the others with having wings instead of arms and hands. "Aipoooommmm!" Aipom shouted in a long, drawn out cry, doing her best to help with removing the rubble with her weak arms, a trait of her species for they tended to rely more on their tails in both evolutionary stages.

Even with Brock and Dawn working together, the former gym leader was worried for his friend. He wasn't sure how Ash had survived all the electrical attacks by Pikachu during their previous journeys together but feared this might be the end of his friend and his reckless behavior. Though Brock admired Ash's love for Pikachu, sometimes it went beyond loving and went into obsessive, though the older boy never said much concerning his opinions on Ash's constantly leaving his old Pokémon behind at Professor Oak's lab. He knew the hot-headed teenager always seemed to find a way to get into trouble on their various journeys and wouldn't listen to him. Often on such journeys, Brock felt like he had to be the voice of reason to Ash and his younger companions as well as being the one to look out for both his traveling companions and the Pokémon everyone had. Though he didn't mind it too much, having experience raising his younger siblings after his parents disappeared, it was frustrating when he wanted to learn what he could to become a Pokémon Breeder.

"Starly, go find Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny…go find someone," said Brock.

"Starly," Starly cried and spread his wings, heading off for the closest settlement, which was Sandgem Town where they had just come from. Starly finally reached Sandgem Town after flying a short distance and looked for the Pokémon Center. "Starly! Star, Starly!" Starly dove down towards an auburn-haired individual with an Umbreon sitting outside Professor Rowan's laboratory, not that the Starly knew it.

"Umbre?" Umbreon questioned, looking up at Starly as it came down towards them.

"Star! Starly, Star!"

"Umbreon," said Umbreon before turning to its trainer. "Umbreon, Umbre, Eon," said Umbreon.

"What's up Umbreon?" questioned the strange figure as he looked up from his journal where he contained field notes of his time as a researcher. As he did, he spotted Starly on the ground. "Hey, you hurt little one?"

"Star," said Starly as he shook his head. "Starly!" He pointed with his wing back the way he had come. Gary got to his feet and called into the lab for Professor Rowan.

"Professor Rowan, I think something is wrong somewhere. This Starly just showed up out of nowhere." Gary picked up the Starly and held it to him.

The Sinnoh Professor walked out of his lab and looked at his young assistant, then at the Starly. "Hmmmm. We'll take the jeep," he said and went inside to get his keys as the auburn-haired man went to the vehicle and got in, Umbreon hopping in the backseat. Professor Rown came out a couple minutes with his keys and locked the lab up before heading to the jeep and getting in. "Starly, lead the way to the problem," said Professor Rowan.

"Star!" Starly turned around and wheeled back the way he had come, Professor Rowan put the jeep into drive and followed the regional bird of Sinnoh.

Meanwhile, back at the downed robot, someone was watching from the trees, and making no move to help. A trainer with cold black eyes and purple hair stood within the trees, watching the entire situation before him play out, a scowl on his face. Hailing from Veilstone City, he had recently returned to Sinnoh after competing within the Kanto, Johto and Hoenn regions. "Ash!" Brock and Dawn continued to work fervently to get thee rubble off their traveling companion. It was a difficult and tedious process for they had to be careful not to shift the weight of the pieces onto the teen that acted like a little kid, but after making do with their hands, they managed to uncover both Ash and Pikachu. However, neither was moving.

"Ash! Pikachu!" Brock bent down to check Ash's body, but it wasn't moving. "Dawn, check Pikachu," said Brock, "but be careful. He sometimes shocks people and could be internally injured. Don't turn him over or you could make his injuries worse."

"Okay," said Dawn nervously as she knelt by Pikachu, hesitantly resting a hand on Pikachu's body. There was no rising of the body which would signify life, no beating of the heart. She could see there were some burns and wounds on Pikachu from the explosion. "Brock…Pikachu's not breathing," she said. "I don't feel a heartbeat either."

Brock was looking over Ash, not wanting to turn the younger boy over in case there were any internal injuries, like he had advised Dawn not to do with Pikachu. He glanced over at Pikachu to see the Pokémon was in bad shape and then looked at Ash. "Ash! Ash can you hear me? It's Brock," Brock said, putting a hand near Ash's nose to check for breath. His friend did not stir, and Brock did not feel any air coming from him. "Ash come on!" He turned his head and pressed his ear to Ash's chest to try to find his heartbeat…only for it to be eerily still. "Ash…" said Brock, his normally stoic voice breaking as he lifted his head, knowing there was nothing he could do for his friend. He was…

A screech of tires and a cloud of dust. The opening and slamming of doors. These two things got the attention of both Brock and Dawn as they turned to see a jeep had pulled to a stop and two figures got out. "Hey Brock!"

"Gary! I didn't know you were here."

"Yeah, Professor Rowan is letting me study under him as his assistant," said Gary. "Where's Ashy Boy?"

"Professor Rowan! Some people claiming, they were from a bad group called Team Rocket tried stealing Pikachu!"

"Team Rocket was here?"

"Who are you?" Dawn questioned.

Gary waved his hand in dismissal and hurried over to Brock, stopping short when he saw Ash's lifeless form. "Ash…you idiot," he said, Umbreon having followed its master out and Starly having alighted on the roof of the jeep. "Come on Ash…quit fooling around," said Gary. He raised a hand and smacked Ash across the face to wake him up, the teen finding it difficult to believe his old rival and childhood friend was dead over a stupid robot. Like Brock, Gary had a difficult time believing it. He looked up as Professor Rowan came to his side and removed Ash's body from the rubble.

Laying the boy's body on the ground, Professor Rowan examined Ash's body. Wounds from the rubble that he must have gotten from the explosion and old scars caused the Professor to frown deeply. There were burn marks and he could see a skull fracture on the back of Ash's head when he carefully turned the boy onto his side. Like Brock had assumed, there were no signs of life. Brock recalled Aipom to her pokeball. "We'll take him to the hospital in Jubilife City," said Professor Rowan as he headed back to his jeep. Brock, Dawn and Gary followed the professor and Ash's body was set on the laps of Brock and Dawn after they got into the back while Gary got into the passenger seat while recalling Umbreon. Starly flew in through an open window and sat in Gary's lap as the jeep started and Professor Rowan headed down Route 202 which connected the first city of Sinnoh with Sandgem Town.

It was silent as the group headed to Jubilife City, nobody taking notice of the Pokémon frolicking about on either side of the road. They didn't look at the Starly, Bidoof, Kricketot and Shinx that made the route their home. The winding and twisting road went through fields until it approached the largest city in Sinnoh, skyscrapers rising around them as Professor Rowan sped along the streets and came to a screeching halt in front of the hospital. Professor Rowan opened the driver door and got out, as Gary jumped from the other side and rushed into the hospital to tell the nurses there was an injured and lifeless boy in the Professor's jeep.

Nurses and a doctor headed out to take Ash's lifeless form from Professor Rowan as another nurse directed the Pikachu to be taken to the Jubilife City Pokémon Center. While Gary took Pikachu and rushed with Brock to the Pokémon Center, Dawn was left with Professor Rowan who turned to her and demanded to know what had happened. However, the novice trainer appeared to be in shock at the boy's lifeless form that was set upon a gurney and whisked away. "Team Rocket had cornered Pikachu and I when were trying to get back to its trainer in a robot. Pikachu used a weird move where it became covered in electricity and ran at the robot…"

"Hmmm. I believe that move was called Volt Tackle," said Professor Rowan.

"Oh. Well, Pikachu was getting tired, so I had Piplup use Bubble Beam, but those goons grabbed Pikachu. Pikachu tried using an attack on the robot as it was lifted into the air and Piplup used Bubble Beam again before getting smacked aside but rushed at them again to try to help Pikachu. Then there was a voice behind me and a command to use Swift on the robot. I heard the other boy say 'Ash' and he shouted at Team Rocket. When they tried attacking him, after they said their stupid moto, he dodged the first attack and climbed up a tree before leaping onto the robot's arm. Team Rocket tried getting Ash off, but they punched a hole in the robot, and it exploded."

"And this boy was buried beneath the rubble with his Pikachu?"

"Yes sir," Dawn said. "Professor…people…people can't die on their journey, can they?"

Professor Rowan looked at the girl before giving her an answer she didn't want to hear, but it was the truth. "Yes, young lady. People and Pokémon can die when on a Pokémon journey or be injured. Pokémon can also die of old age, just like humans. Children, however, are innocent and want to believe they and Pokémon are invulnerable so none think to question the lifecycle of Pokémon or the dangers of going on such a journey, but it is a rite of passage for children all over the world. Everything has a season to be born and die, however most do not willingly go into trouble or are followed by idiots."

The nurses and doctors rushed Ash into a room where they began cutting his clothes off, pulling skin back from the explosion and heat that melted his clothes to his body. Beneath his clothing, they could see fresh and old wounds as well as scars on his body that seemed evident of being struck by lightning. It appeared that the numerous times that Pikachu had electrocuted Ash had potentially done something to his nerves, but he had never been looked at. "This poor boy," one nurse said as she peered down at the boy. "He's small for a teenager and these injuries…it looks like he's been through a war."

"I'm more concerned about how he came to look like this," said the head doctor. "I will go ask Professor Rowan how his happened as the boy was brought in by him." He removed the six pokeballs from Ash's belt and opened them one-by-one to reveal only a purple and beige monkey.

"Aipom?" Aipom questioned. Seeing Ash, she rushed over to her trainer's still form, tears pricking her eyes and falling down her cheeks. "Aipom! Aipom!"

"Hmm….an Aipom," said Doctor Hawthorn. He recalled the Aipom into its pokeball and then handed it to a nurse. "Nurse Abigail, please take this Pokémon and these other pokeballs with you and see if you can discover the other Pokémon this boy has on him. "Scan them. Perhaps that will give us an idea of where the boy comes from so we can contact his parents to let them know their son is in the hospital."

"Yes sir," said a red-haired nurse with scarlet hair as she took the pokeballs and shrank them, hurrying from the examination room. Doctor Hawthorn then grabbed a camera from the nearby table and began taking pictures of Ash's injuries for evidence in the event of a criminal trial or abuse case. "Luxray," he called to a Pokémon curled up within a corner. "Please give a light shock to this boy and see if you can get his vitals started."

"Ray," said Luxray as she padded forward and jumped onto the bed, placing her tail on the boy's chest over his heart and blue lightning appeared around its body before traveling into the boy's heart. Despite the move Spark being used, there was no rhythm of the chest to indicate the attack had worked. Hooked up to a monitor for breathing and another monitor for his heart, they brought a machine in to check for brain waves and intubated the boy to try to get him to breathe while they ran testing and a nurse stayed at the boy's side in hope that he would wake up or show some form of activity.

"Luxray, come with me," said Doctor Hawthorn and they headed out to the waiting room to find Professor Rowan and a young trainer sitting there with a Piplup in her arms. "Professor Rowan. My name is Doctor Hawthorn and I am treating the young man you brought in. Can you tell me what happened or who the boy is? We may need to contact his parents."

"He's going to be okay isn't he?" Dawn questioned as she looked up at the doctor.

Doctor Hawthorn turned to the young girl, who looked a couple years older than his own daughter. "I'm afraid that cannot be discussed with people who are not his family young lady," said Doctor Hawthorn, which caused the young girl's face to fall. "Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere private. Please, come to my office," said the doctor, leading the professor away.

"Oh Arceus…please let Ash be okay," said Dawn.

Meanwhile, the purple-haired stranger, who had been watching the scene and the near kidnapping of the electric mouse Pokémon from Kanto, walked towards the robot and examined the pieces of rubble that were lying haphazardly but close together with them being moved to get that stupid trainer out. His eyes were still cold, despite watching the explosion and frantic rescue of a fellow trainer, the rocks and earth underneath the general explosion being splattered with crimson. "How pathetic," he said before turning and continuing his journey, his destination being Oreburgh City to compete for the Coal Badge.

While Ash was being monitored, Pikachu had been rushed to a Pokemon Center where Brock and Gary had called for Nurse Joy, giving her the injured and still form of Pikachu though the grim look on Nurse Joy's face was a telling factor that not all was well. Nevertheless, the nurse hurried into the back with Pikachu in her arms to try to help it. The pair headed towards a couple of seats in the waiting room. For once, Brock did not try to flirt with Nurse Joy, understanding this was a serious situation. "So, never thought we would meet like this again," said Gary.

"Yeah," said Brock.

"So, what have you been up to since we last saw each other in Johto?" questioned Gary.

"I've been taking care of the Pewter Gym, though my brother Forrest is striving to become a gym leader like I was," said Brock. "When I'm not traveling with Ash that is, but I still want to be a top Pokémon breeder. That's why I go on these journeys, to learn more about Pokémon in different regions and techniques for taking care of them."

"Mmmmhmmm," said Gary. "I think you'll be a great breeder Brock. You care about Pokemon and know a lot about them."

"Thanks Gary," said Brock, smiling at his friend's former rival. His smile faded soon after though as he voiced a concern that had been on his mind for some time. "You know…I haven't said anything…but there's something wrong with Ash."

"Oh?" questioned Gary.

"Yeah," said Brock. "When I first met Ash, I was fifteen and taking care of my siblings and the Pewter Gym in my dad's absence after he abandoned us along with my mom," said Brock. "Misty was twelve when I met her but even though are all growing up, Ash still thinks he's ten-years-old."

"I see," said Gary, closing his eyes and pondering what he heard. "That's a problem. I wonder if Mrs. Ketchum knows how her son is acting when he's on the road?"

"I doubt it," said Brock. "Can you imagine Ash telling his mom anything but good stuff? Besides, he never seems to stay than a few days at most before going off on another journey."

"True," said Gary. "I think Mrs. Ketchum acts more like a big sister to Ash than a mother really. I heard she had him kind of young and her husband abandoned them both, leaving her to raise her son on her own. He hasn't been back to Pallet Town for all these years and Mrs. Ketchum doesn't talk about him. I only know this from Gramps."

The pair sat in silence until a nurse ran into the Pokémon Center with some pokeballs in her arms, rushing towards the counter. "Nurse Joy! I need you…"

Brock stood up and turned towards the woman who seemed frantic, noting that she was pretty, even in her current state of panic. "Miss? Nurse Joy is in the back, tending to my friend's injured Pikachu, but I would be happy to help. I'm studying to be a Pokémon Breeder."

"Can you look over these Pokémon?" questioned the woman. "I'm Abigail Hope, a nurse at Jubilife General and we just got a patient in who is in bad shape. I was asked to bring these Pokémon into the Pokémon Center and see if they could be healed or see if anyone knew the region the boy belonged to."

Brock stared at the pokeballs, spotting the lightning marking on Pikachu's pokeball. "Ash…" he whispered.

"What?" Abigail questioned, a quizzical look appearing on her face.

"Miss, was the patient a boy in his teens with black hair and dressed in a blue t-shirt and blue jeans?"

"Yes…"

"That's my friend, Ash Ketchum. He's from Pallet Town in the Kanto region," said Brock. "My name is Brock Harrison and I'm the former gym leader of the Pewter City Gym, also of Kanto. Ash was attacked by a gang called Team Rocket and got injured in the attack. How is he?"

"I'm afraid I can't…"

Gary stood; hearing Brock speak to the nurse. "Please miss. We're Ash's friends and need to know so we can tell Mrs. Ketchum."

Nurse Abigail hesitated but she was relieved that she could report to Doctor Hawthorn that she had found the name of the teenager lying on death's doorstep, if he wasn't there already. "He is in pretty bad shape. We're running tests on him but the doctor's Luxray was unable to start his heart up. What happened?"

"He was trapped under a robot that exploded when people from our native region tried stealing his Pikachu," said Brock.

"Oh my," said Nurse Abigail. She handed the pokeballs to Brock, the young man watching as she disappeared back out of the Pokémon Center, presumably to go back to this Doctor Hawthorn to tell him what she had found out.

"He's coding…"

"Doctor the EEG reports no signs of brain activity…"

"Doctor Hawthorn! The boy's name is Ash Ketchum and he comes from Kanto! I spoke with someone wh…"

"I know Abigail. Luxray use Spark full power."

"Luxraaaaaay!" Blue electricity hit the boy's body, causing it to seize up from the bed, but the monitors remained flatlined.

"Still nothing doctor."

Back at the Pokémon Center, the emergency room light over the ER went off and Nurse Joy came out of the back. Pikachu was not with her. Brock and Gary turned to the nurse as she came over to them. "I'm sorry but Pikachu…I was unable to save it. It's gone."

Silence met her words as Gary turned and walked off, the doors opening and closing as he left. "How?" Brock questioned.

"I'm afraid that the explosion caused blunt trauma to Pikachu when it hit the ground," said Nurse Joy, "but it seems it was suffering from a rare genetic disease that only affects the Pichu line. I'm afraid there was nothing I could do, even if I had spotted it in an earlier examination. The trauma to Pikachu's body suffered from the explosion and slamming into the ground didn't help matters and only ended its life faster. I can't say if it felt any pain when it died or not. Would…would you like to view the body?"

"No," said Brock. He turned and headed towards the hospital to check on Ash. He met Dawn and told her about Pikachu's death, the blue-haired girl's eyes filling with tears that fell furiously to her lap as Piplup looked down at the floor. Professor Rowan came back from the cafeteria with a tea for Dawn, his other hand holding a coffee. Around them was a flurry of activity as he asked about Ash and Dawn said there had been no word. That all changed five minutes later when Doctor Hawthorn came out looking grim.

"We…"

Gary was the one to tell Mrs. Ketchum, the young man making his way back to the Pokémon Center to call the cheerful woman after he heard about Ash's death through telephone. He found her at his grandfather's lab and helping some Pokémon so asked for both adults. "Gary! What a pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting you to call until you had some news on…"

"Gramps! I didn't call for a pleasant chat. This concerns you as well Mrs. Ketchum."

"Oh?"

"Mrs. Ketchum…Ash…Ash is dead."

scorpiodragon · Dec 5, 2020

Summary: After coming across a dying Draco and escorting him to the hospital wing, Severus Snape comes back to take Harry to the Headmaster's office for his crime. There Harry faces an unlikely consequence for his foolish actions.
Takes Place: 6th Year
Snape Flavor: Canon Snape
Categories: Teacher Snape > Professor Snape
Main Characters: Severus & Harry, Draco
Genre: Angst, Canon
Tags: Hospitalization
Warnings: Violence

Author Note: This was born of my wondering what it would be like if Harry had been expelled in sixth year for casting Sectumsempra on Draco Malfoy. Cross-posted upon Potions and Snitches under moonterra and fanfiction.net under moonfeather58
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Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing as he stood there in the sixth-floor bathroom. Malfoy was standing in front of a cracked mirror, head bowed and clutching the sink. "No...don't. Tell me what's wrong," said Moaning Myrtle from one of the cubicles in the bathroom.

"Nobody can help me. If I don't do it...he'll kill me," said Draco. "I don't have a choice." Nobody understood how much pressure he was under with his mission and things being tense at home, what with the Dark Lord having taken over Malfoy Manor as his personal base and living there since his resurrection at the end of fourth year. He stood there crying, unaware that he was being watched as he turned on the sink and splashed some water on his face to mask that he had been crying. Tears dripped down into the grimy basin that the Slytherin sixth year cried into and when he looked up again at his reflection, he realized he wasn't alone, for there was Potter...Saint Potter...watching him. Draco felt an instinctive grip of fear that encompassed his very soul. How much had Potter heard? If Potter knew what he had been ordered to do...there would be hell to pay at the Dark Lord's wand should word get out or he failed, his mission.

Malfoy wheeled around, drawing his wind and Harry instinctively pulled out his own. He couldn't be sure how long Potter had been standing there watching him or how much he had overheard, but the Gryffindor had to be silenced. His fear for his life and the desperation to escape harm from the monster living in his home. "I know what you did Malfoy. You cursed Katie, didn't you?"

"Leave me alone Potter," said Malfoy. "You don't understand anything."

Harry's eyes narrowed behind his glasses; anger visible in his posture. "You hurt Katie Bell! What did she ever do to you?"

"Just leave Potter," said Malfoy.

"No! You need to confess to what you did Malfoy!"

"Don't!" said Moaning Myrtle as she saw Draco cast a hex at Harry. "Please stop!"

Draco's curse missed Harry, crashing into the trashcan behind him and sent it to the ground, spilling trash onto the floor. "Filpendo!" A jet of yellow light erupted from Harry's wand as he finished the wand movement for the knockback jinx, a jinx which shattered the sink Draco had been standing in front of as the Slytherin threw himself to the side to prevent crashing into the mirror and wall behind him. The jinx hit the pipe, causing the bathroom to flood with water and shatter the sink which broke off in chunks, crashing to the floor. Draco's fearful reflection stared back at him as he picked himself up and he turned, a red light coming from his wand.

"Anteoculatia!" As the light hit Harry's head, he felt his scalp begin to itch and as he turned to the mirror, he saw antlers growing from his head. Draco's next spell barely missed Harry, crashing into a lamp beside him on the wall. Harry made a movement with his wand, thinking of Levicorpus, missing a hex to his face Draco fired.

"No, no stop!" Moaning Myrtle's voice echoed around the room as Harry tried the Leg-Locker jinx which smashed into the wall behind Draco, even as a jinx from Malfoy exploded a second bin behind him. "Stop! STOP!" The cistern beneath Myrtle exploded, sending more water into the bathroom along with the sink that Harry had hit earlier in their unexpected duel. Harry waved his wand widely from the floor as Harry slipped in the water. Harry waved his wand widely from the ground as Draco began to say a spell, the Gryffindor saying the first spell that came to mind, a spell he had been wondering about and wanting to try out for some time.

"Cruci-"

"SECTUMSEMPRA!"

The spell hit Draco's stunned and anger-twisted face, slicing into his face and chest with a white light the only sign the spell had been cast. Malfoy gasped and staggered back a few steps, falling to the water-logged floor, his wand falling from his limp right hand.

"No..." said Harry as he stared in horror at Draco's bleeding form. "No...I didn't..."

Harry staggered to his feet and made his way towards Draco, watching in horror as his nemesis since the first day on the Hogwarts Express, bled out before him. Within the water pooling onto the floor, Myrtle let out a deafening scream which was unable to mask the Slytherin Prince's own screams of pain, Harry catching sight of the antlers on his head again.

"MURDER! MURDER IN THE BATHROOM! MURDER!"

The door banged open and Harry raised his head to see Professor Snape hurrying into the bathroom, Madam Hooch standing in the doorway and watching her colleague rush to a fallen student. Shoving Harry roughly aside, Severus looked down at Draco as he screamed in pain and then at Moaning Myrtle. "Go," he said, and the ghostly girl flew out of the bathroom. Severus didn't care if the ghost told everyone of the crime Potter had done for, he next glanced down at Draco and knelt at his side. Madam Hooch came into the bathroom as Harry watched Severus speaking an incantation under his breath that sounded like a song, moving his wand across Draco's face and chest. Harry watched as the blood seemed to ease, barely aware that he too was soaked in blood and water from Draco's stained shirt which pooled underneath the pale skinned boy.

"Severus..."

"Rolanda, I need to take Draco to the Hospital Wing," said Severus. "Keep Potter here," he said. He looked down at Draco as the blood flow eased and he wiped the residue blood from the boy. "We need to get you to the hospital wing. There might be some permanent scarring but maybe we can avoid even that with luck," said Severus as he picked the boy up in his arms.

"Of course," said Madam Hooch as she narrowed her own eyes at Harry, Severus sweeping out of the bathroom as quickly as possible, holding his student carefully in his arms. When Severus was gone, she shook her head and tutted in disappointment. "Honestly Potter, what would make you want to use a dark curse against another student? I thought you had more sense!"

"I didn't mean to do it! I didn't mean for it to happen!"

"Nobody ever means for these things to happen," said Rolanda. "But that is no excuse for what you did. You'll be lucky if you aren't expelled or thrown in Azkaban for this stunt."

"I was defending myself!" Yet Harry was scared. He hadn't thought of the repercussions of this duel and it was against the school rules to duel in the corridors or anywhere else, not that it stopped students from doing so. Besides, Malfoy was a Death Eater and probably served the man who killed his parents. Dumbledore won't let you get expelled or thrown in Azkaban. The thought frightened him enough to try running for it, slipping and staggering through the water.

A jet of light his back and sent him to the floor, Harry losing his grip on his wand. "Expelliarmus," said Madam Hooch, the wand flying out of Harry's reach and into the flying instructor's hand.

Snape returned ten minutes later and looked down on the fallen boy with a sneer on his face. "What happened?" he questioned Hooch.

"Potter attempted to run for it when I said he would be lucky to escape Azkaban or expulsion."

"Just like a Potter to shirk his responsibility and punishment, not thinking about anyone but himself," sneered Severus. "Rolanda, please inform Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster that Potter and I will be up at his office shortly."

"Of course, Severus," said Hooch, the woman then turning and leaving for the Headmaster's office. When she was gone, Severus turned to Harry, the boy's wand being taken with Hooch when she left to speak to the Headmaster.

"Well, well, well. Who would have thought Saint Potter would be capable of using a dark curse on another student?" The Potions Master looked like Christmas had come early. "Where did you learn that spell? Who taught you it?"

"I didn't mean to do that! I didn't know what the spell did!"

"A likely story," sneered Severus. "Now, where did you learn that spell?"

"I read it in-in a library book."

"Liar," said Severus. "We'll prove that you're not lying when we go to the Gryffindor common room to retrieve your bag."

Harry's face paled and he shrank back from his hated professor as the man stalked towards him, robes billowing around him and bent to pick up Draco's wand before grabbing the Gryffindor's arm and marching him up to the seventh floor, taking the passage that he had taken down to the sixth floor. Harry was surprised that the professor knew of the passage but was too frightened to say anything, his mind going to the tattered copy of Advanced Potions Making that was in his bag with his other schoolbooks. "Professor...please..."

"Shut it Potter," said Snape. "The Headmaster won't be able to help you now." When they got to Gryffindor Tower, Snape spoke the password to the Fat Lady who was talking with Violet and a wizened man. "Quid Agis," he said, and the portrait swung open. Even when they were inside the Gryffindor Tower, Snape escorted Harry upstairs to the sixth-year boy's dorm. "As I don't trust you not to hide something...accio Potter's school bag

The schoolbag flew from the bed towards Snape's outstretched hand. After putting his wand in the hidden holster on his arm, he rifled through the brat's bookbag, turning out the contents onto the boy's bed. "Is this all of your books?" he questioned Potter.

"Yes sir," spat Harry with as much vengeance as he could muster into his tone, which wasn't a hard thing to do. He watched as the professor rifled through the books of all his classes and then took Potter back to the common room, where the portrait opened to reveal a breathless Hermione and Ron who had raced to the common room upon hearing the rumor that Harry had murdered Malfoy.

"Professor don't!"

"Don't tell me what to do Miss Granger, unless you'd like house points taken from Gryffindor," said Snape. "So...not only have you attacked a fellow student without provocation, but I see you've been cheating in your Potions class as well," hissed Severus.

"What are you talking about?" Ron questioned. "That Potions book is the best thing to happen to Harry."

"Be quiet Weasley unless you want detention. I'd expect cheating out of someone like Longbottom but you Miss Granger, I would have thought you had more sense to inform a Professor that Potter was cheating and had a book that didn't belong to him."

Hermione's face flushed crimson at the admonition from her professor. "Now get out of my way," said Professor Snape, dragging Harry with him and telling the Fat Lady to not open to the common room. He wouldn't put it past the youngest Weasley to try hexing him to stop Potter from facing punishment.

The walk to the Headmaster's office was tense and silent, the man scared by the fact that the boy had his old potions textbook and had dared to practice a spell that he had written for enemies. Severus hoped that the Headmaster would not let this go unpunished, as he had done when Severus had nearly been killed by Lupin in his fifth year. Potter Senior was probably rolling in his grave at his son using a dark spell. The thought, ironic as it was, gave him a hint of pleasure. If only he could see the look on Potter Senior's face.

"Toffee Eclairs," said Snape when they reached the gargoyle who leapt aside, revealing the circular staircase which they stepped upon. When they reached the landing at the stairs, Snape knocked on the door and then entered, dragging Harry with him and practically throwing him in a waiting chair, Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch seated within the Headmaster's office and there was Dumbledore whose eyes were not twinkling. Instead, the Headmaster was angrier than Harry had ever seen him before and there was a cold disappointment in his eyes that made Harry's gut twist itself into knots, his face flooding pink with shame.

He looked to Professor McGonagall who had a stern look on her face. "What were you thinking you stupid boy?" she hissed at Harry. "Attacking another student...nearly murdering him going by Rolanda's words?"

"It was an accident. I didn't mean for it to happen! Headmaster you..."

"I'm sorry to say Harry that I am deeply disappointed in you," said the Headmaster. "Attacking another student is grounds for dismissal from the school. In your case, for nearly killing Malfoy, you could face Azkaban and expulsion."

"I think you have your priorities messed up Albus," said Hooch, to which Albus nodded.

"Perhaps Rolanda," said Albus. He looked at Severus, gesturing for the man to take a seat. "Severus, how is young Malfoy."

"Like you care," said Snape.

"Severus, please. I care about all my students," said Albus, folding his hands together as he set his arms on his desk.

"Mr. Malfoy is being taken care of by Poppy, but he may suffer permanent scarring despite my efforts at healing him," said Severus. "I managed to stop the bleeding, but I cannot speak to how well he will heal."

"But I didn't..."

"Mr. Potter. I must ask you to be silent until I get the facts from Madam Hooch and Professor Snape," said Albus. "Severus, do you know what spell Mr. Potter used to curse Mr. Malfoy?"

Harry looked at his Potions professor who paled at the question. "It seems, he used a spell of my own invention."

"Your own invention Severus?" Minerva questioned her colleague.

"Explain," said Dumbledore.

Severus set his battered old Potions textbook on the Headmaster's desk. "That's mine!" Harry shouted as he saw the professor put his textbook that had helped him get through his sixth-year potions class.

"Don't be stupid Potter. This is my old Potions textbook."

"You're..."

"Yes Potter. I'm the Half-Blood Prince."

Harry's eyes widened in horror, his face turning white, as the Headmaster took the old potions textbook and began rifling through the pages, seeing the words This Book Belongs to the Half-Blood Prince written on the inside cover page. As he flipped through the textbook, the Headmaster saw more of Severus's notes scrawled in the margins of his textbook, notes on different potions and also spells, some with notes written over the spells. "You invented these?"

"I did," said Severus and Harry could hear the pride in the man's voice though he was horrified that he had been using Snape's textbook throughout his entire year. "As I just learned, not only does it seem he used a foolish spell he knew nothing about on another student, but he has also been cheating throughout his entire sixth-year Potions class. I thought it was suspicious how he was able to suddenly get O's in his class when he couldn't accomplish that in the five previous years."

Harry was sure there was a tense silence in the room from the other three adults who stared at him in surprise, each wearing disbelieving looks on their faces. "Potter why would you do something like attack a fellow student?" questioned Minerva.

"He was up to something," said Harry. "I know he cursed Katie Bell and I confronted him about it."

"So, you admit your misdeed," said Snape.

"Severus," said Dumbledore. "Harry, it isn't up to you to solve the world's problems."

"Yes, it is," said Harry. "Who else was going to get to the truth? Nobody else seemed interested that Malfoy's probably a Death Eater and cursed Katie."

"You have no proof that Mr. Malfoy is a Death Eater or harmed Miss Bell. Even she doesn't remember who attacked her and I was there when she was questioned," said Dumbledore. "Mr. Potter...Harry...what made you try out a spell you didn't know on another student?"

"I'd been trying out some other spells in there during the week," said Harry, as if that made everything better. "There's this really cool spell that grows someone's toenails really fast."

None of the adults could believe what they were hearing, least of all the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress. The Potters were supposed to be a light family and the Boy-Who-Lived had cast a dark hex. Of course, none of them knew that Harry had attempted to cast the torture curse after Sirius's death. "Harry, you're talking about using spells you don't know the effects of, just because they're fun."

"They didn't hurt anybody."

"Until today," said Snape. "When you ended up using a spell you knew nothing about on another student. Headmaster, this cannot be and should not be swept under the rug. Lucius Malfoy will have a field day if the boy is not punished and he used a dark spell, a spell of my own invention yes, but a dark spell, nonetheless. The traditional purebloods will not stand for the Boy-Who-Lived, let alone a half-blood attacking one of their own and getting off Scott free."

"You can't expel me. Professor...I didn't mean for it happen. I didn't know that was what the spell would do!"

"Yet you used it anyway and nearly cost the life of a student," said the Headmaster. "Let alone a member of the board of governors. However, you are not as at fault here as Severus is."

"Sir?" questioned Harry.

"Albus?"

"Severus, even though Harry used a spell he knew nothing about on Mr. Malfoy, this also wouldn't have happened if he hadn't gotten his hands on your old textbook or you hadn't made spells in your old textbook. However, I cannot punish you for the past, but I am afraid I have to punish you now. Harry, how did you get this book?"

"Professor Slughorn said there were a couple of Potions textbooks in the cupboard and I ended up getting this copy," said Harry. "I thought it was useful for helping me get by in Potions class the entire year and just did as the notes suggested but Hermione said it wasn't fair because I wasn't learning on my own. She wanted me to turn the book in, but I refused."

"That was a foolish thing to do," said Dumbledore. "You should have known better after your second year and the events with the Chamber and Miss Weasley."

Harry flushed, not having thought about that. The Headmaster turned to Severus. "Severus, did you know that your old textbook was in that cupboard in the Potions classroom?"

"No," said Severus with a shake of his head. "I certainly wouldn't expect a student to attempt trying spells he knew nothing about either, even if they had gotten their hands on it but I'll take it my home so nobody can use those spells again or put it in the Prince vault."

"That would be best Severus however, the Ministry will likely want to perform a full investigation. When did you arrive on the scene?"

"I was patrolling with Rolanda when we heard Moaning Myrtle screaming about a murder in the bathroom on the sixth floor. I stormed in and Potter was kneeling at Draco's side. I shoved him out of the way and told Rolanda to keep Potter there as I didn't think he wouldn't try to run."

"Did he try to run?"

"He did," said Rolanda. "When I told him, he could face Azkaban or expulsion from Hogwarts, he tried to run and I cast a stunning spell at him," she said. "Severus took young Malfoy to the hospital wing and returned ten minutes later, telling me to find you and Minerva."

"Severus, do you have Mr. Malfoy's wand?"

"I do," said Severus.

"May I see it?"

Rolanda had already handed over Harry's wand and the Headmaster put the two wands together before uttering a spell. "Prior Incantato." The spells the two wands had used emerged from the wand from the most recent, images coming from both wands before them. It was there that they discovered Draco had nearly performed the second unforgivable curse and the Headmaster sighed. Things had just grown more complicated. There would be no avoiding Azkaban for young Mr. Malfoy, even if he hadn't gotten the chance to cast the curse. That he had attempted it was a lifetime sentence in Azkaban.

The Headmaster frowned to himself and leaned back into his chair before pulling out his wand and waving it at a cabinet, causing a bowl to float towards the table. Harry recognized it as a pensive, a place where one could view memories. "Now Harry, I am going to take your memory and view it with Minerva, Severus and Rolanda. I am afraid I will have to bind you to make sure you do not try to escape," said Albus, looking sorry that he had to do so. "Just think about the memory and I will extract a copy of it. Incarcerous," he said, and ropes sprang out of his wand, binding Harry to his chair. Harry was stunned but focused on the memory, it still being fresh in his mind, and watched as a silver thread was taken from his temple and put into the pensieve, the four adults then touching the liquid surface and vanishing from view. Around him, the portraits of the former Heads were muttering and listening intently to the conversation had below them. What was going to happen to him? Surely, they couldn't fault him for casting a dark spell at a future Death Eater, if Malfoy wasn't one already and he had nearly been hit with the Cruciatus curse!

Within the pensieve, the four adults watched the duel between Harry and Draco take place, Severus snorting as he saw Draco cast the antler hex on Potter. Yet, he sobered up as Draco attempted the torture curse and then Potter used his own spell on the boy. The duel ended shortly after, ending with Harry seeing Professor Snape coming into the bathroom. With the end of the memory, they were tossed out into the Headmaster's office where Harry was struggling with the ropes around him. "Mr. Potter I am afraid that you have gone beyond the allowances I have allowed you. An investigation will need to be made into this duel, but I have no choice. For nearly killing a student, even if you didn't know what the spell would do, I have no choice but to expel you from Hogwarts."

"No...you can't!"

"I can and you have given me no choice," said the Headmaster. "As I have no choice but to inform the Ministry of Magic of this crime and the crime of Mr. Malfoy attempting to use an Unforgivable." He looked at Severus sadly. "Would you like to inform the Malfoys about their son's arrest and injury? I need to go to the ministry to speak to Fudge."

"Yes. Lucius has been a good friend of mine and might take it better if it came from me," said Severus getting to his feet. "Will I be punished for the boy getting ahold of my old textbook? You know plenty of people would like to see me in Azkaban."

"Mr. Potter also faces Azkaban for attempted murder," said Minerva sadly.

"Yes Minerva, but there is nothing I can do to stop it from happening. It is up to a trial."

"We know how much of a farce of a trial it was in his fifth summer," said Minerva. "The purebloods will crucify him. Can't you do something Albus?"

"No," said Dumbledore gravely. He took the wands of the two boys and looked to Fawkes. "Fawkes, please take me to the Ministry of Magic."

The phoenix nodded his head and flew over to Albus, clutching his shoulder and leaving in a plume of flames. Minerva stood and flicked her wand, unbinding Potter from the chair. "Professor McGonagall...can't you do something?"

"No Mr. Potter and I'm not sure I want to. You betrayed my trust by using a dark spell but also betrayed my trust by allowing you into Professor Slughorn's Potions class this year. I'm afraid you will never become an Auror now."

"But..."

"Didn't you hear her and the Headmaster you foolish boy? You threw your life away the moment you ended up casting a dark hex at a pureblood, let alone the son of a man who has a lot of power in the Ministry," said Severus snappishly. He strode to the fireplace and grabbed some flood powder from a pot on the mantle before throwing it into the fire, shouting Malfoy Manor and disappeared in a swirl of green flames.

"Rolanda can you please check on Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes. What will you do with Potter?"

"As he is no longer a student, I think it is probably best to return him to his relatives."

"Perhaps we should wait for the Minister of Magic to arrive here along with Aurors."

"Hmmm. Very well," said Minerva. As Rolanda left, the Deputy Headmistress sighed. "I'm sorry Potter...but you must face the consequences of your actions." Harry could do nothing but stare at his professor in shock as his life came tumbling down around him. Five minutes later, the fire swirled green and Snape came out with a pale woman who had blond hair and a man with white-blond hair and an arrogant air about him. The Malfoy Lord sneered down at the boy who had attacked his son. "Where is Draco Severus?"

"Hospital wing," said Severus. He glared at Harry and led the Malfoys towards the Hospital Wing. Twenty minutes after the Headmaster had left, the man appeared through the green flames along with four Aurors and the Minister of Magic.

"Arrest him," came Fudge's voice, the two Aurors stepping forward and one slapping handcuffs on the Boy-Who-Lived. Harry felt the magic-suppressing cuffs being put on his wrists, securing his hands behind his back. "Where is young Malfoy Dumbledore?"

"The hospital wing," said Dumbledore. "But he needs to heal before he can be taken into custody."

"Well, I'll leave Tonks and Williamson here to watch the other prisoner. Shacklebolt, you and Savage take the prisoner to a holding cell in the Ministry. I trust the boy has been expelled Dumbledore?"

"He has," said Dumbledore. "I expelled him before I went to see you about this incident."

"Good," said Fudge, smiling nastily and Harry wanted nothing but to wipe that smile off the man's face. Harry felt himself hauled to his feet and marched towards the fireplace where Shacklebolt, a tall balding and dark-skinned man grabbing some floo powder and shouting their destination. Harry felt himself whisked away in a whirl of green flames and his view of the Headmaster's office vanished...never to be seen again.

scorpiodragon · Dec 6, 2020

I wrote this short story when I was in eighth grade during English class. ©2001 It was based on a black and white picture of a staircase. We had to look at a picture and use it as a basis for a short story.

___________________________________________________________________

He found himself at the bottom of the stairs. Where was he? How did he get there? He blinked at the bright light that a nearby lamp cast. Then in a rush it all came back to him. The police. The gun on the bed. The body of the girl on the floor. The blood staining the carpet a crimson red. He had run for his life.

He stood and stretched his arms above his head. Sighing he walked into the kitchen and got out a Coke and a sandwich from the previous night. He sat down at the table. The sun was shining through the window warming his back and casting a warm golden light on the kitchen floor. He was sixteen years old. His name was Victor. He had come to this house to hide out. He had wanted to be a writer. Instead he was a killer.

Victor opened the Coke and took a sip. He pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the floor. He threw the can in the trash and walked upstairs to his bedroom. The house he lived in was abandoned. He took a shower and let the hot water turn his back red. When the water finally ran cold he got out and wrapped a towel around his waist before going into the bedroom and pulling on a new change of clothes.

Victor collapsed on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. That girl that kept running through his head every night wasn’t the first person he had killed. There were other people who haunted his dreams and even his waking days, people who he had killed after he had run away from home at fourteen. He sank into a deep sleep.

It was sunset when he woke up. Victor walked over to the dresser and pulled out his .40 Glock. He stared at it and ran his fingers over the shiny black barrel. He glanced out the window at the distant horizon and decided he’d go for a walk. Victor slipped the gun in the waistband of his jeans and walked outside.

As he was walking along thoughts of his sister pushed into the front of his mind. Anna had been ten years old when she had died at the hands of his father. Victor brushed the tears from his eyes and continued walking. But no matter what he did the images continued to flood his mind of that fateful day.

He had been sitting up in his bedroom working on fractions when he heard the unmistakable sound of his father’s footsteps on the stairs. He had been beaten the previous night for not coming home on time for dinner. His mother had been drinking since she had a miscarriage when he was nine. And his father had become different after he had lost his job as a director and they had been forced to leave their home in Las Vegas, Nevada and drive halfway across the country to Fort Worth, Indiana.

He heard a scream from his sister’s room. Victor had run towards her but his father had locked the door. Terrified Victor had pounded on the door but his father hadn’t opened it. He had listened to his sister’s terrified cries for help and her pleas for mercy. Five hours later the door had opened and his father smiled and walked past him. Victor had rushed through the doorway and found his sister raped and dead on the bed. Anna had been so full of life.

Victor blamed himself for his sister’s death. He kept thinking he should have taken her away from the abuse and she would have been safe. Shortly after he had turned fourteen Victor had run away from home and started killing. Victor looked up and saw that he had come to an old factory on the outskirts of town. He fingered the gun.

No it’s not worth it. The cops won’t find me here and I don’t want to run away again. Oh Anna I’m so sorry.

Victor turned around and walked home. A loud sound jerked him from his thoughts. Without thinking he whipped the gun out and fired a shot. He heard a yelp and slowly walked toward the intruder. There was a dog lying on the ground. Victor knelt by the dog and placed his hand on the dog’s head. He could see that the bullet had punctured the dog’s lungs. He put the gun to the dog’s head and fired another shot. Instantly the dog went limp. Its eyes closed.

Victor wiped the blood off his shirt and hurried home. As he approached he saw that all the lights were on and the blinds were going up and down by themselves. Funny. I was sure I turned the lights off. It’s almost like a haunted house. He blinked his eyes and at once everything stopped.

A cold chill went through Victor’s spine. He rubbed his eyes and went into the house. He threw the shirt in the washer and then collapsed on the couch. Victor shut his eyes and pulled the gun out. He let it fall to the floor.

“Victor help me! Daddy no! Don’t hurt me! Daddy please!” Anna screamed.

Victor found himself back in his old house shouting and pounding on his sister’s bedroom door. He struggled desperately to get the door open but it wouldn’t budge. He could hear his father laughing and heard the unmistakable sounds of his father raping his sister. “Anna! No daddy don’t hurt her! Anna hang on!”

His throat was hoarse from crying and screaming. His hands were getting sore from pounding on the door. Victor struggled to stay awake but exhaustion took over and he fell asleep. He woke up five hours later. He couldn’t hear anything from his sister’s room. His father came out and cuffed him roughly across the head before heading downstairs. Victor ran into Anna’s room and saw her broken body lying on the bed. There was a pool of blood on the sheets.

“ANNA!”

He sat up with a cry. Victor looked and saw it was morning. He was covered in a cold sweat. He must have rolled off the couch in the middle of the night. His voice was hoarse. Victor started the washer again and poured himself a cup of coffee. He started the water to take a bath. It was just a dream. That’s all it was. Victor turned off the water and climbed in the tub. An hour later Victor got out and threw his shirt in the dryer. Victor put some money in his pocket and went out to get some breakfast. He ate his breakfast and then went for a walk. The sun warmed his back.

He thought back to the girl he had murdered. He hadn’t meant to kill her. He had been hiding out in the girl’s house when she had come into her bedroom and opened the door. She had started screaming and he had snapped. The gun had fired and she had fallen to the floor. Shocked Victor dropped the gun on the bed and knelt down by the dead girl. He had felt for a pulse and had found none. Terrified he heard the sound of police sirens in the distance and had jumped out the window and took off. He’d been in hiding ever since.

He was watching television when he heard a sound. He shut the television off and looked around. His eyes found a small door in the wall. He had never gone near the door because he wasn’t sure if it was safe or why it was there. On a whim he started walking towards the door and crawled inside. It was dark.

Suddenly the door shut with a loud bang. Victor turned around and tried pushing open the door to no avail. Guess the only way out is forward. Victor started crawling on his hands and knees in the pitch blackness. It was some time before he felt a draft and felt dirt under his hands.

I must be underground now. But where does this tunnel lead? Victor saw a flickering light in the distance and soon came to an earthen passage where he could stand up. Brushing the dirt off his knees he grabbed a torch and started walking. As the tunnel wound its way downward he lost all sense of time.

Finally he heard a voice and thought he saw a young child sitting on the path in front of him. “Hello?” He called out. The child didn’t answer and instead continued to draw in the dirt. As he approached the child turned and ran off into the darkness. “Wait!” He shouted but his voice was lost in the depths of the tunnel.

He lowered the torch to peer down at the drawing. It was of a skull with a rose through the top with thorns protruding out of the mouth. He felt another shiver of fear but continued walking. Presently he came to a door and opened it. There was a shorter passage that instantly came to a dead end. He turned around and saw another tunnel on his left. It was too narrow to walk through.

Victor set the torch down and began to crawl. Presently he came to another door and opened it. Inside was a circular room made of stones with strange intricate drawings on the walls. For reasons he couldn’t comprehend being in the room gave him a sense of foreboding.

“Is anyone here?”

Silence. It seemed like the silence lasted an eternity before he heard a couple of voices. He peered into the corners and screamed as the figures appeared out of midair. Other supernatural beings were appearing all around him. They formed a tight circle and he was startled that he could see through them. At once the temperature in the room plummeted to below freezing despite the torches in the room.

“What are you?!” He cried.

They continued to stare blankly at him. Finally a man stepped forward and there was sadness in his eyes.

“Hello Victor. We’ve been expecting you.”

“Who are you? How do you know my name?”

“My name is Manner. I am one of the people you killed. We are ghosts.”

“There’s no such thing as ghosts. Let me out!” He screamed and ran for the door.

“NO! Not until you hear us out.” Manner nodded to a few of the others and they grabbed him and threw him back into the middle of the circle. Victor’s eyes were wild with fright.

“This isn’t real. I’m dreaming.”

“No you are not dreaming. We’ve been wondering when you would go through the door. We cannot rest until you die or turn yourself into the police. We have been wandering the world for three years and came here to think of a way to get you. When we saw the door and went through the tunnel we knew this was the perfect place to put our plan into motion.”

“What plan? What is this place?”

“You are standing in an old ritual sacrifice chamber. Witches used to practice devil worshiping here. These designs on the walls are symbols of their alliance to the devil. Our plan is to either kill you or make you see the horrors that you did to us.”

“How do you plan to do that?”

“Well there’s someone you might remember. Bess come here a minute child.”

As he stared a young girl appeared in front of him. There was a hole in her chest and he realized that it was the girl he had accidently killed. She gazed at him with reproach in her eyes.

“NO! It… It can’t be!”

“Yes Victor I’m here as well. Did you think that a child who is killed doesn’t stay on Earth? How silly of you to think that. Why did you kill me?”

“I didn’t mean to kill you. It was an accident. I swear to God it was an accident.”

“Was it an accident when you killed all these other people?”

“I was scared. I didn’t want to go home. I couldn’t live with myself after what happened to Anna.”

“That’s no excuse!” Bess shouted.

All at once all the murders he had committed started acting out in front of him. Victor screamed and tried to turn away but his feet were frozen to the floor. It was like someone was possessing him and he didn’t have control over his own body.

“NO! God please forgive me. I never meant to kill any of you. Let me go!”

With a wild dash he ran for the door and crashed through it. The ghosts pursued him. The door at the end of the short passage flew open as he approached and he ran down the path his feet pounding on the dirt. When he glanced down he saw that the floor was littered with human bones. “NO!” He cried and ran on.

His heart was beating hard in his chest. He didn’t dare look behind him but the images he had been forced to watch flashed across his eyes. He heard the voices behind him getting fainter. Victor fell out of the passage into the living room and ran out of the house. As he turned to look back the house burst into flames and disappeared. Victor was half mad. Slipping on the rain soaked sidewalk he flew into the police station and confessed to everything he had done.

scorpiodragon · Mar 12, 2021

This is the prologue to chapter 3 of my novel Locked In. It can be found on my writing blog if you want to read it in its entirety.

Synopsis: “It is not life that binds us to Allah. It is not death that takes us but Allah. To all of our sufferings and joys comes hope from Allah. But to be able to hear the word of Allah is something many will never hear because they are too blinded by the world’s charm and too deaf except to their own lusts.”

The war on Islam has taken a new turn. Persecuted for years the world has announced a public a public attack on Islam. As Muslims are rounded up and thrown into camps around the world it is now America’s turn. By order of a secret society know as the Devil’s Thorn, all American born and American converted Muslims are to be rounded up and thrown into relocation camps unless they renounce Islam. Parasa is taken from her husband’s home along with her four children and find themselves locked away in a camp. Her name is taken from her along with her citizenship. Known as Prisoner 135908Q, she, along with the other people in the camp are treated like animals and forced to practice Islam in secret. Everywhere Muslims are rounded up, hunted by order of the Devil’s Thorn. They have already ordered a few countries to take care of the growing “Muslim problem”. With the help from a compassionate soldier, some prisoners manage to flee to the mountains and set up a community there but the war has just begun. Now on the run will these courageous people be silence forever?

I am Prisoner 135908Q.
I am a Muslim though that name is probably foreign to most people now.
In 2015 our imprisonment began though the persecution started much earlier.
I used to be an American citizen until my citizenship was stripped from me.
I was taken from my husband’s home along with my four children while he was at work.
I do not know where we are as the camps are kept secret from the public.
We are not even safe in Muslim countries anymore.
I do not know how long we will be imprisoned here; probably until we die.
I do not know if my husband is even still alive.
We are treated like animals and denied basic human rights because of our faith.
We struggle to practice our religion in secret for the punishment is dire if it is made public.
I know many will not believe my story but it is true.

“Mr. President there is a boy who is requesting for you to see him.”

“Who is it?”

“He told me to give you this.”

President Fitzgerald took the note. As he glanced at the seal his hands trembled. Shaking, he took out a letter opener from his desk and slit the envelope open. He turned the envelope upside down and a letter fell onto his desk. He slowly picked the letter up and unfolded it, revealing the insignia of the most powerful secret society in the world. His eyes grew wide as he scanned the contents.

President Fitzgerald. We request a meeting with you. Send your reply back with our messenger and we will be in touch. Do not tell anyone of this meeting or death will come to you and your family.

President Fitzgerald knew who the person was that had brought him the letter. He was known by the name of Black Hawk. He also knew the group who had put him into power by assassinating all of his rivals for the presidential office. It was the Devil’s Thorn. The Devil’s Thorn was a group of men and women who sought to control the world. They had been thought to be dead until a family had resurfaced three centuries ago and continued the legacy of their forefathers. They did away with people who they didn’t approve of. They were responsible for putting people who would be of use to them in the Oval Office and sometimes used the CIA to turn innocent people into killing machines through the use of mind control. Not even the CIA knew who was part of the Devil’s Thorn. They stayed in the shadows and out of sight, surfacing only to control the new President in power.

“Send him in.”

The young teenage boy came inside. He carried the ruby and diamond laden sword of the Devil’s Thorn and motioned to the President to stand. With swift fluidity he drew the sword across the President’s neck and pressed the letter against the President’s throat. Then he quickly wiped the sword, placed it at his side, took the letter and waited.

“What does the Devil’s Thorn want of me?”

“I do not question my masters. I only carry out their orders.

“What time will you be at the meeting point?”

“Seven thirty in the evening.”

“I will tell them.”

He went to the window, threw it open and dropped lightly to the ground before vanishing from view. President Fitzgerald looked down at the ground and went to his room to clean up the blood. It had been a shallow cut, yet deep enough to nick a vein. He would be kept alive until the next Presidential Election. Towards sunset he dressed in his best clothes and then went in an unmarked car to the meeting place. There he walked a ways into the woods and took a few steps to the left. A group of snarling dogs circled him and the young teenage boy appeared along with five other members of the slaves of the Devil’s Thorn. They were the messengers of the Devil’s Thorn.

As he stared at the dogs not daring to move, a guard appeared and raised his gun. The boy turned to the guard and shook his head. “This is President Fitzgerald Draco. Lower your gun and let me take him to the meeting place.”

“Very well Black Hawk.” Draco lowered his gun and stepped aside.

“Heel Killer!” The boy shouted to the biggest dog. Hesitating, the animal continued snarling at him but as one they turned and left. “Our masters wish to see you. Follow me.” The boy turned and walked away. As the others followed him, so did the President.

They walked for a while and then the boy knelt on the ground before a flickering fire. “My masters and ladies, the President has come as promised.”

“Leave us then Black Hawk. Go back to your post,” an elderly man said.

“Lord Liquistor…we are hungry. We haven’t eaten anything in two days.”

“Do you dare question the word of Lord Liquistor or of the Devil’s Thorn?” A man questioned. There was silence as they all turned to stare at Black Hawk.

“Forgive me Lord Liquistor. I meant no disrespect to the Devil’s Thorn.”

“Then take the leftover scraps that the dogs will not eat.”

“Thank you my Lord.”

The President watched Black Hawk leave. Then he turned toward the Devil’s Thorn. In the shadows were guards posted at various entrances to the meeting place. He knew the Devil’s Thorn lived together in a huge castle upon the banks of the river Jezebella which flowed down from Yellow Smoke Mountain.
Many of the guards were protecting the home of the Devil’s Thorn. Anyone who got within a mile of that place was killed on sight. Dressed in blue robes made of silk, laden with rubies and sapphires, the ladies of the Devil’s Thorn sat on one side while the men of the Devil’s Thorn, clad in forest green and red robes
with crystal beads woven in, sat on the other.

“What do you wish me to do?” President Fitzgerald asked.

“Do you remember September 11th?”

“How could anyone forget? Those skiving Muslims.”

“Indeed. Well we have been trying to get rid of the American ones for years. So we have come up with a plan.”

“What is it?”

“We want you to declare the American Muslims as traitors and bring them back to the USA…even their children.”

“But their children have done nothing wrong!”

“SILENCE!”

“Forgive me, but why bring the children? Are they also to be labeled traitors?”

“Yes. It is the only way we can get rid of them from this soil and eventually from the world. We are already working with the Queen of Great Britain and the Presidents of Russia, France, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands to dispose of their Muslim populations.”

“What do you wish to do with them?”

“Bring them back to America. Deny them their basic rights and take away their citizenship. Then throw them in the camps that President Regan had built and have some fun with them.”

“Even my son?”

“Your son is a traitor to this country. Anyone who renounces Islam will be granted pardon and set free. Now leave us and do as you are told, or we will make it known that you had raped a nine-year-old girl when you were twenty-five years old.”

“I’ll do it.”

“We thought you might.”

Dawood turn up the volume,” I said to my husband.

It was just after Dhur prayer. We, Dawood, my husband and I, Parasa; with our three sons, Daboor, Rahmat, and Ijaz; and our daughter, Sabura were gathered in the living room. Daboor was eleven, Rahmat was eight, Ijaz was five, and Sabura was two. We were sitting on the couch in the living room around the television. Dawood turned up the television and we watched the USA president’s speech.

On behalf of the United States of America, I firmly believe it is time to eradicate Islam from American soil. I have sent FBI and CIA people to go to all the countries where American Muslims are living to bring them back to the United States. I will give them the choice of renouncing Islam and keeping their American citizenship or staying Muslim and being relocated to safe houses in the USA for their protection.

Even though Muslims lived all around the world some Muslims wore different types of clothing depending on their geographic location. It was common in the Middle East for women to wear the Abaya; a long robe that covered women from head to toe. All women and girls who had attained puberty wore the Hijab; a scarf that covered their hair, neck and ears. Men in the Middle East wore the Thobe; a long white robe; which was common among Saudi men in particular. Some women wore the Niqab; a veil that covered the face. Jilbabs were like the Abaya, except the Jilbab was a long coat.

“Mommy are we going to be taken to America?” Ijaz asked me.

“No Ijaz. Insha Allah we’ll be protected and stay here in Bahrain with your father.”

“Don’t worry Ijaz. I’ll protect you all.” Dawood said.

We went back to eating our lunch. We were eating a Greek salad, chicken with rice, dates, and water. I was secretly worried that we would be taken from Bahrain. I knew what had happened to the Japanese Americans on the West Coast during World War II and was afraid that it would happen again to the Muslims. Ever since September 11th, 2001, the world had been on a secret quest to eliminate Islam from the face of the Earth. Even though I was a Lebanese American, as my parents had moved to America shortly before my birth, I had faced lots of prejudice growing up in America. People just didn’t understand, or maybe they refused to understand that Muslims were human beings as well. Not all of us were terrorists.

“Parasa what’s wrong?” Dawood asked me.

“I’m afraid Dawood. What if the American CIA come to Bahrain and takes us back to America? I’m not stupid. I know what they will do to us if they take all the American Muslims back to America. I don’t want the children to grow up in relocation camps.”

“Insha Allah nothing will happen. Have faith in Allah.”

“I know Dawood. I do have faith in Allah. I am just so scared.”

“God willing everything will be okay. Maybe you should go lay down. I’ll watch the kids while you sleep.”

I went to our room and lay on the bed but I couldn’t get to sleep. My mind was a jumble. I knew of the persecution I had faced growing up in America. I knew what my family had gone through after September 11th. Our shop had been broken into. A swastika had been sprayed on our mosque. My mother had been pulled over and assaulted by a police officer. When she had gone to the police department to report it, they had thrown the case out. They chose instead to believe the police officer over my mother. My parents had fled Lebanon and come to America thinking they would have freedom in America. However, that freedom had been nothing like what they had thought.

During school I had been harassed by my classmates. I had been called a Sand I'm uncultured and been told I was a terrorist. Even my teachers overlooked the bullying I had to endure. I have come to realize that the freedoms Americans preach so highly about only apply to non-Muslim Americans. Muslims do not matter to anyone in the world. It does not matter if we are killed, so long as Islam does not spread.

In France they practiced sterilization on Muslim women. In the United Kingdom they had a law limiting the number of Muslim children to four. Muslims were forced to hide their other children in attics and secret rooms in order to avoid jail time. In Australia, Muslims were tattooed with the crescent moon on their right hands and their passports were stamped with the crescent moon and star.

New Zealand had rounded up all the Muslims in their country and thrown them into a camp that was ten miles long and had quarantined them behind barbed wire fences with mine fields on the outside. Watch towers were posted and anyone who tried to get away was either shot or blown up. They were denied healthcare and their food supply was limited.

*****

A few days later as I was making lunch for the four of us, Dawood was at work. There was a knock at the door. Before I could get to the door it burst open and a group of men came in with machine guns drawn. Dawood had been forced to get a dog and a gun in order to protect us while he was at work. Just a couple of days ago a family of ten had been taken. Not even in Muslim countries were we safe anymore. The Muslim countries were no match for America and Europe so they chose instead to not fight as the CIA and FBI kidnapped American citizens from their lands.

“Does Parasa Kaheel live here?”

“I am her,” I replied.

“Take them,” he said to a group of men.

One of the men reached for me, and Abdel, our dog, flew at the man, his teeth bared. There was a shot and he fell to the ground with a bullet in his head. The man grabbed me by the arm and threw me into the wall. I heard the screaming of my children as the men burst into their rooms and dragged them into the living room. They rounded us up and pointed their machine guns at us.

“You are all under arrest for being traitors to America,” the leader said.

“We will never leave Islam!” Daboor shouted this as he stared at the men who had come to take his wife and children from him, people that proclaimed themselves Americans, at least how they acted with each other and the general arrogance they carried.

“Brave words for a child but…fruitless are your words and it is fruitless to escape. Come quietly and no harm will come to you.”

He motioned to the group and we were shoved outside, and down the steps to a black cargo van with tinted glass windows. Inside was a family of seven, a Syrian American Muslim family. Like me, they had come to Bahrain thinking they would be safe. They were a family consisting of a husband and his wife, along with their four daughters, and two sons. We were chained to the rungs that had been built into the floor and the men sat in front of us, their guns pointed at our heads. Ijaz and Sabura started crying.

“If you don’t shut those brats up I’ll shut them up forever,” one of the men said.

“Ijaz and Sabura please don’t cry. Dawood will find us. He’ll rescue us.”

“No one is going to rescue us Parasa,” the woman, Haleema, said to me. “We have been in this van for two days now without food or water.”

In my heart I knew it was true. Dawood didn’t get off work until 6:00 PM and he took twenty-five minutes to half an hour depending on traffic to get from his job, across the King Fahd Causeway, and to Bahrain. He would come home expecting to find dinner ready and instead we would be gone. It would probably take him a while to realize we were gone because he wouldn’t think that we were kidnapped and we were not coming back. I did not know how long it would take for that realization to sink in. “Allah please help us. Protect your slaves who strive in your service and way from harm.” I uttered a short prayer to the Lord of the Worlds.

We drove for some time before stopping at another house. A family of ten was hustled into the van and chained just like we were. By this time the van was crowded. But I knew the CIA or possibly the FBI, I wasn’t sure which the men were, did not care about our safety. My children fell asleep as the van drove on. I don’t know how long we drove before the van turned off the main road and across the bridge to Qatar. But suddenly the van stopped and I could see the beginning of the dawn rays appearing in the sky. The men got out and grabbed us. I saw another group of twenty men standing there waiting. Then I peered into the fog and saw a black jet sitting on a small tarmac.

“Move along!” The men shouted as they pulled us out of the van.

We were hustled along the path and saw a couple of other families huddled together. We were shoved into that group and then were directed towards the plane. I could the engines roaring. One of the children tried to make a break for it. A man from our group raised his gun and shot the child. He fell to the ground dead. His mother screamed and tried to run after him but her husband grabbed her and held her to him. “It’s too late Haleema. It’s too late for him.” The man comforted his wife.

“Get moving!” The men shouted again.

We shuffled along and were hooded before we entered the plane. I heard the click of handcuffs and felt one of the men grab my hands and cuff them behind my back. We were shoved into the plane and I heard the sound of a door opening. We were packed into a large cage and the door shut behind us. The men removed our hoods but kept the handcuffs on.

“Where are you taking us?” One of the women cried.

“To America to be tried for being traitors. If you agree to leave Islam you will be spared.”

“We’ll never leave Islam!” One of the men shouted.

“Well then enjoy your days in the camps,” he replied.

There was a small window. I looked outside and saw the trees buzzing past us as the plane gathered speed and rose into the air. I did not know where these camps were. Neither did anyone else in the cage apparently. The men were laughing amongst themselves and enjoying breakfast. I heard Daboor’s stomach growl with hunger. We fell to our knees as one and struggled to pray the dawn prayer. But it was difficult as you can imagine with being handcuffed and there being so many people. I did not know of the horror we would soon face. None of us did.

“Mommy where are we going? Where’s daddy?” Came the innocent questions from the children.

“We are going to America and Daddy is at work.” I replied.

I looked at my children and then around me at the other families in the cage. We were packed like sardines, unable to move. I could hear the other families crying and talking softly to each other. We had no idea where we were going.

“Are we going to be killed like that boy back in Qatar?” Rahmat asked me.

“God willing no.”

“Where’s Daddy? Why hasn’t he come for us? Did the Americans kill him too?” Sabura asked.

“I do not know Sabura.”

“I’m scared.” Ijaz said to me.

“I know. I’m scared too. But we need to stay strong and keep our faith in Allah.”

The day seemed to go on forever. We struggled to pray the four other prayers. By evening I was exhausted. My children had fallen asleep next to me. We had eaten nothing all day. I looked at the other adults sitting on the floor.

“Are you okay Parasa?” Haleema asked me.

“No. I have a feeling what is going to happen to us. But I don’t want to let my children know of it.”

“I was always afraid something like this would happen. Ever since September 11th I’ve been waiting and watching for this day to come. I am surprised it didn’t happen earlier.”

“I think the Americans were waiting for the right moment and the right reason to punish us.”

“But the majority of Muslims are not terrorists. We have done nothing wrong.”

“I know that. But to the Americans, all Muslims are evil.”

“That was my fifth son who was killed today. He was only seven years old.”

“Insha Allah he is in Heaven now.”

“I hope so.”

We fell silent after that. I must have dozed off because suddenly I heard the plane touchdown. The screeching of wheels on the tarmac alerted all of us awake. We gazed warily at our kidnappers and watched as they quickly jumped to their feet. The family near the front of the cage tried cringing back as the men approached us but it was impossible due to the cramped conditions and lack of space.

The children were staring wide eyed as the men pulled out blindfolds and chains. I saw then that there were shackles on the bottom and top of the chains. Were we to be shackled to each other like common dogs?

“Everybody up! We’re going to blindfold you and chain you to each other so you don’t escape.” One of the men said through clenched teeth.

One by one we were pulled out of the cage and quickly shackled to each other. A few of my brethren tested the shackles to see if we could break them but they were too tight to get out of. Men, women, and children were shackled to each other like common beasts and we were surrounded by our captors. They threw blindfolds over us and then gave the orders for us to move out. I felt the tug of the chain and moved forward. Some of us were crying and the women were wailing. We were herded out of the plane and onto the tarmac. I could hear the sound of planes taking off and landing. The engines of the airplane we had just departed were still roaring. Was it possible they were going to arrest more Muslims as soon as they got rid of us? Would we be killed? Would we be made into slaves?

I was scared for my life but more scared for my children. “Allah please protect my children from harm. Whatever happens to me I will endure it. But please protect my children.”

I heard the sound of a truck and we were shoved inside the back of it. I could hear the murmured voices of the people. Then I heard the sound of a gun cocking. I shrank back in fear.

“Are you alright? I know this isn’t much but I managed to get some food for you all.” It was the voice of one of our kidnappers.

I felt something warm in my hands and passed it around. There was silence as we ate the bread, our only food in two days. For some of us it was the first meal in days. The man sighed and put the safety back on his gun. Then I felt my blindfold being lifted. I blinked at the darkness and looked around. The man had removed the rest of the blindfolds from the others.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Private Willard Collins.”

“Why are we here? Where are we going?”

“You are being tried as traitors to America for being followers of Islam. I am not allowed to tell you where you are going.”

“What is so wrong about being Muslim?” Another man asked.

“According to the USA President, your people are killing innocents and this is retribution for the attacks on September 11th 2001.”

“But we had nothing to do with that!” A few people cried.

“That is the order of the President of America.”

“Private Collins!” A man shouted.

“Yes Sir?” Private Collins asked.

“Quit conversing with the enemy.”

“But Major Ronnel…”

“Silence Private or you’ll be tried in military court as soon as this mission is finished!”

“Yes Sir.”

I did not know of the exact location of our “relocation”. None of us did.

“Mommy I’m still hungry.” Rahmat said to me.

“I know Rahmat. We are all still hungry.”

Someone began speaking in Arabic. I recognized the Sura he was reciting. It was Sura 114. As one we began reciting it and then when it was finished began reciting more Suras of the Qur’an. It passed the time and made us forget our suffering for a little while. Anything was better than wondering about where we were going.

I fell asleep again. Hours turned into days and sometime later the truck turned down a dirt road and bounced over a couple of rickety one lane bridges. We could hear the dirt and rocks as we drove down various roads. We were starving and had been unable to pray. Hours went by and finally the truck stopped. A few seconds later the truck started driving again and then came to a full stop. The doors of the truck flew open and we blinked at the bright light. We saw some cars parked behind the truck and men climbed out.

“Welcome traitors to your new home.”

“Everyone out!”

One of the men came to the door and pulled on the beginning of the chain that shackled us together. “Keep moving!” The other men circled us as we filed out of the truck and blinked our eyes at the sunlight. I did not know what sort of fate we were going to endure in this camp. We moved along slowly in single file and gazed around us. There were small houses inside the barbed wire fences that surrounded us. We saw the heavy gates close behind us. I noticed a small mess hall in the center of the camp and a small building near the gates. It was to this building that we walked to. There were guards patrolling the perimeter of the camp and I could see towers at all four corners and two towers beside the gate with armed men stationed there.

The wailing of the men, women, and children was something I would never forget. There was so much despair in the camp. I did not see any type of medical facility anywhere. Were we destined to die if we became ill? I could see a woman posted at the door to the building we were heading to with a clipboard in her hands. As I looked up at the building I could see two words above the door; Processing Center. I could hear screaming from inside the building. What types of tortures were we about to face?

“Parasa family. One adult and four children,” a man said to the woman.

“Uncuff them from the group and show them inside,” the woman replied. I could sense there was no sympathy in her voice.

We were uncuffed from the chain and shoved through the doorway. I glanced warily around me at the American flag on the wall behind the desk. I could see the picture of President Fitzgerald. The man looked up from the brim of his glasses at us.

“Are you the Parasa family?”

“Yes.” My voice was shaking from fear.

“Take the girl first.” He said to another man.

“Where are you taking her?!” I shouted at him as the other man uncuffed Sabura and dragged her down a hallway. I tried to follow but was hit across the back of the head with a gun and fell to my knees. One by one my children were hustled down the hallway. Then it was my turn. As I was dragged down the dark hallway to the fifth door on the left I was shoved in and was strapped into a barber chair, the kind that appears in old Western movies.

“What is going on?! Where are my children?” I screamed.

“You will see them soon enough. As soon as we give you a number.”

“No! I cannot get a tattoo. That is against my religion,” I pleaded with the woman but she did not waver.

“Hold her!” She commanded the men who had brought me into the room. They grabbed me and held me down as the woman dipped the needle into the ink and then plunged it into the skin on my arm. I screamed and pleaded as the pain shot through my body. After twenty minutes the procedure was done. There was a number and the crescent moon and star.

I was hustled out and down the hall. We took a left and I was shoved into a room where I was reunited with my children. I could see they were crying and saw that they too had the same tattoos I had, only with my name tattooed onto their left hands. We were given a change of clothes and a couple of blankets. “Get your clothes off and then hop into the shower.”

I was aware of the men as they stared at us while we undressed. I could hear the wolf howls as the men looked over my body and color rose to my face. I tried to cover myself as best I could in order to preserve some type of dignity. Then we were paraded down the hallway and into the showers. We huddled there, naked and ashamed as the water came down from the shower heads above us. At least they are not gassing us like the Nazis did to the Jews during the Holocaust.

We filed through another set of double doors and changed into our clothes. A man shot a gun into the air as we huddled together crying and wailing our despair. “Welcome to your new home.” The man said. “I am Director Hannibal. You are all here because you are traitors to this beautiful land, America. If you renounce Islam now we will grant you a pardon and you will be set free. Anyone who doesn’t will be forced to endure the rest of their lives here.” No one made a sound. “Very well. I must commend you for your steadfastness in faith. But that will be of no help to you. Here are the rules of your new home.

“You will not be allowed to leave the camp. Anyone who tries will be shot on sight or blown up by the hidden mines surrounding the camp. Lights are out by sunset. You will not be allowed to pray or do any of your other religious practices. If you are caught you will be severely punished by whipping, death or other punishments. Breakfast is at 7:00 AM, lunch at noon, and dinner at 5:00 PM. No one is allowed second helpings. If anyone is caught stealing they will be flogged in public and forced to a term of no more than seventy days in solitary confinement.”

We were forced to walk outside and were handed off to one man per family where we were shown our new home. Number 10 was on the door. “Memorize your number well.” The man said to us. We went into our home and stared at the bare ground and a small mattress in the corner. There was a toilet and a sink against the wall. We fell to our knees and cried for what we had lost. “Mommy what is going on?” Ijaz asked me.

“We are prisoners of America,” I replied. “But as long as we stay true to Allah we will be safe.”

There was a knock on the door and I opened it. A young woman was standing there.

“Salaam Alaykum. Peace be upon you.”

“Walaykum Salaam. And peace be upon you,” I replied.

“Dinner is in a couple of minutes so you’d best get to the mess hall if you want to eat.”

“Thank you.”

She looked inside and her eyes were sad. “My children will be happy to make some new friends.”

“How old are they?”

“My children are aged twelve, ten, seven, five-year-old twin girls, along with a three-year-old, and a two year old and a one month old baby.”

“That is a lot of children.”

“Yes it is. Come we must hurry if we want to eat.”

“Of course. Daboor, Rahmat, Ijaz, Sabura. Come.”

We walked to the mess hall and managed to squeeze inside. We took our pitiful meal of bread, tomato soup and an apple with a glass of water and tried to eat while standing up. Then we were ordered outside for an inspection before we filed back to our homes and I fell into a horrible and dreamless sleep.

scorpiodragon · Mar 16, 2021

This is my first and second fanfics I wrote, in the Watership Down series based on the book. These are combined into one book to make things easy.

Synopsis:

Campion has led his survivors back to Efrafa where he becomes chief. Will Hazel, Groundsel and Campion finally form an alliance and have peace for the three warrens? Is Woundwort really dead or will a new evil arise to take away everything these three warrens have striven for? A foe arises from shadows bent on destroying all who wronged him. A warren is born in the aftermath of death and sorrow. Slowly the alliance picks itself up from the mess at Brimstone and seeks to go on. A rabbit born with an ability that has been outlawed is exiled from its home and is forced to wander the world until it is ensnared by a dangerous foe. The alliance is in danger again and if they don't accept help from the exiled then they may find themselves on the brink of death.

Chapter One: Campion-Rah

“Run!” cried Campion, stamping. “Run for your lives!”
He tore through them and was gone over the down. Not knowing what he meant or where to run, they turned one way and another. Five bolted down the opened run and a few more into the wood. But almost before they had begun to scatter, into their midst bounded a great black dog, snapping, biting and chasing hither and thither like a fox in a chicken run.
Woundwort alone stood his ground. As the rest fled in all directions he remained where he was, bristling and snarling, bloody-fanged and bloody-clawed. The dog, coming suddenly upon him face to face among the rough tussocks, recoiled a moment, startled and confused. Then it sprang forward; and even as they ran, his Owsla could hear the General’s raging cry, “Come back you fools! Dogs aren’t dangerous! Come back and fight!”
Campion, Vervain and five other rabbits crouched under a clump of nettles as the dog tore up and down the down looking for more victims. After digging up the rabbit that had gotten cut with glass the dog took its prize and vanished back the way it had come. Campion and Vervain agreed that they needed to leave this horrible place at once and head for home. They gathered ten rabbits with them plus the five that had been cowering under the nettles with them and preceded the long journey home.
They wandered slowly and wearily down the belt. Their spirits and hearts were broken. Their leader was dead and they had lost a battle against an enemy warren. They had failed to bring their does back to Efrafa. Never before had Efrafa lost a battle. They were convinced that the outsiders had set the dog upon them.
“Captain Campion what is going to happen to us? What’s going to happen to Efrafa?”
Campion looked at the promising young buck. He was in the Neck Mark. A white rabbit with black spots named Flax. “Everything will be alright Flax. We Efrafans are strong. We’ll survive when other warrens would normally fall.”
Campion and Vervain were the only Owsla Captains with the group of survivors. They had no idea where Groundsel had gone or if he was even still alive. That night they dug scrapes in an open field but were too disheartened to set up a watch. Up and down the belt the word spread that the Efrafan Owsla and General Woundwort had been defeated. The Thousand began to creep in on the rabbits. A cat from a neighboring farm snatched young Mallow before he had a chance to turn and run. Three rabbits strayed too far and were lost, probably killed by any of the Thousand that Lord Frith had blessed to hunt the children of El-ahrairah. The rest bolted into the woods and found cover under bushes.
They didn’t sleep much that night for they were scared. It was hard to believe that any Owsla member of Efrafa would be scared but they were. Campion and Vervain led the rabbits home but they were repeatedly attacked by elil. Vervain was carried off by a hawk and none of the rabbits there thought it much of loss and spared no tears for the most hated officer in Efrafa.
Three days after the battle with Watership Down Campion and a group of six rabbits passed through the sentries as the Off Fore Mark was above ground for afternoon silflay. The Mark raised their heads and looked at Campion and the surviving rabbits in curiosity before beginning to whisper among themselves. Campion went down to the Council Room with his survivors and reported the news to the Council.
By evening silflay news had spread throughout the warren that General Woundwort was dead and they had lost the battle at Watership Down. The entire warren was relieved at the news that their mad leader along with Captain Vervain was dead. But now the question was who would become the new chief and would anything change for the lower rabbits in Efrafa?
The surviving rabbits were relieved of all duties until they had recovered fully including Captain Campion. Two weeks after the Efrafa/Watership Down battle the Council summoned Campion to the Council Room.
“Campion you were General Woundwort’s best captain of Owsla. You’re also an excellent tracker and loyally served General Woundwort. We would like you to be the new chief of Efrafa.”
Campion puffed out his chest in pride. “Thank you.”
“Raindrop!” He called to the young doe who had informed him that he had been wanted in the Council Room.
“Yes Campion-rah?”
“Please go each of the Mark Captains and have them spread the word that I am the new chief of Efrafa. Then tell the Owsla and Mark Captains to come up above ground and wait for me.”
“Yes sir Campion-rah.” Raindrop scuttled back down the tunnel.
Campion went above ground and ordered the Right Flank Mark below ground. The rabbits quickly obeyed the Captain as they didn’t want to be punished. “Falun stay above ground please.”
“Yes sir.”
Falun watched his mark go down to their burrows and then nibbled at the grass while waiting for the rest of the Owsla and Mark Captains to come up. He had heard that Campion was now the chief of Efrafa and hoped that it would mean good things for the warren and the rabbits lives there. Woundwort’s system had been flawed. They were already facing overcrowding issues because there were too many does in the warren compared to bucks. With the overcrowding the does had been reabsorbing kittens into their bodies. It was a complete mess.
The rest of the Owsla and remaining Mark Captains came above ground and sat at attention before Campion-rah. The sentries remained at their posts making sure no rabbits escaped and elil didn’t come into the warren.
“I’m sure by now you have all heard that I was elected by the Council to become the new chief of Efrafa.”
The rabbits nodded and stamped in applause. Campion waited for the applause to stop before continuing.
“I remember what Efrafa was like before General Woundwort came and killed off our chief. We were a small warren. The marks, Owslafa and Council hadn’t come into being until after the General’s arrival. For three years he ruled our warren under an iron paw. The result is what we see before us today.
“Woundwort was a tyrant. I’m ashamed to say that I loyally followed his orders and obeyed him. I would have followed him to the Black Rabbit of Inle and I know I speak for all of the Owsla and Mark Captains in that regard. I believe that changes are in order and I would like everyone’s cooperation concerning building a new future for Efrafa.”
The rabbits nodded their agreement.
“For starters the marking will stop. The warren will also expand so we are not as overcrowded. A wide patrol needs to be sent out to look for a suitable place far from man. Tunnels will connect the expansion back to the main part of Efrafa.
“All rabbits in Efrafa are free to go throughout the burrows as they wish. They no longer need permission to do so. As for the Council I want them driven out. If they don’t leave then kill them. It’s mainly their fault that General Woundwort succeeded in the destruction of our warren. Last I want a messenger sent to Hazel and his warren to inform them that I am now chief and see if he will seek an alliance with me.”
“Campion-rah when do you want the messenger and wide patrol sent out?” Chervil asked.
“Three days from now. “
Campion dismissed the Owsla and his Mark Captains before going back down to his burrow and lying down. He hoped that Hazel would accept him as chief and help establish an alliance with Efrafa. Perhaps if he gave some of his rabbits to Hazel in return for some of Hazel’s rabbits then everything would be at peace.

scorpiodragon · Mar 23, 2021

The rabbit chosen for delivering Campion-rah’s message was a young buck named Shadow. He was in the Fore Mark. The young buck had been picked by Campion-rah to inform Hazel-rah that he had been made chief rabbit and that he was asking for an alliance between their warrens. Shadow had also been instructed by Campion-rah to search for any rabbits that may have been taken prisoner by Hazel and his band of outsiders.It had been three days since Campion-rah had become chief of Efrafa. The marking had been outlawed by pain of death. Rabbits from different marks could freely mingle with each other. Owsla no longer were able to bully their way into a doe. A wide patrol had been sent out to scout for room to expand the warren. The Council had been killed for refusing to leave the warren. The marks decided to stick to going above ground at certain times in order not to attract attention from man. Shadow journeyed for five days. He was careful to avoid attracting the attention of elil. At evening silflay he appeared on the bottom of the hill of Watership Down. Pausing for breath he made the slow climb up the hill to the beech tree Campion-rah had said marked the entrance to Watership Down. As Shadow crested the hill he was suddenly surrounded by six rabbits. “Who are you?” A silver rabbit demanded.
“My name is Shadow sir. I’m here to see Hazel-rah.”
“What business does a hlessil have with Hazel-rah?”
“Please sir I come from Efrafa. Campion-rah sent me.”
The rabbits looked at each other. “Acorn go get Hazel-rah and the Efrafan rabbits and bring them above ground,” the silver rabbit said.
“Sure Silver.” The lean brown buck dashed down a hole and vanished underground. Shadow sat there staring at the rabbits that surrounded him. The silver rabbit had said something about Efrafan rabbits. Was it possible that rabbits had survived the dog’s slaughter on his people? Shadow didn’t have to wait long. The rabbit named Acorn came back above ground followed by a rabbit with tufted fur on his head, a lean cream colored rabbit and five rabbits he recognized as belonging to Efrafa.
“You said that Campion sent you?” The cream colored rabbit asked Shadow.
“Sir are you Hazel-rah?”
“Yes. What did Campion send you here for?”
“Sir Campion-rah wanted to inform you that he has been made chief of Efrafa. He asked if you would like to make an alliance with our warren and to look for any rabbits from our people that may have been taken prisoner during the Watership Down and Efrafan war.”
“Groundsel do you know this rabbit?”
“What mark are you?”
“Shadow of the Fore Mark sir. Campion-rah says to bring any Efrafans that are held prisoner here home to Efrafa.”
Groundsel and Hazel looked at each other. “So Campion has been made chief. He is certainly the best rabbit for the job. If you don’t mind Hazel-rah we’d like to go home.”
“Certainly Groundsel. Shadow inform Campion-rah that before I can agree to make an alliance with him I need to see the changes he has made in Efrafa for myself.”
“Yes sir.”
Groundsel called his rabbits to attention and they began making their journey home.
“Do you think Campion will make any changes to Efrafa Hazel?” The rabbit with the tuft of fur on his head asked his chief.
“I don’t know Bigwig but that’s why I want to see Efrafa under Campion’s leadership before I make the decision to put our warrens in an alliance.” Groundsel and his rabbits fresh from two weeks at Watership Down had begun to see that life could be different than in Efrafa. The rabbits on Watership Down appeared happy and free unlike the bunch of gloomy souls in their warren. Groundsel had been one of the few Owsla members who had hated General Woundwort. They made good time and made it home in three days without a single loss.They passed the sentries and Shadow went down to Campion-rah’s burrow to inform him of the return of Groundsel and his rabbits along with Hazel-rah’s message. Campion went up above ground to meet his fellow Efrafans.
“Campion-rah. It’s good to be home,” Groundsel said to his old friend.“It’s good to have you home. Were there any others with you?”
“No sir. Just the five of us.”
“Why did you stay in Watership Down for so long? Were you held prisoner?”
“No. We weren’t sure what home would be like with the General gone and we wanted to examine Hazel and his warren. They seem more peaceful than we are.”
Campion nodded in agreement. “I’ve been making changes to Efrafa. The Council have been killed.”
“Good.” Campion informed them of the new rules of Efrafa and they agreed with their chief that it would be better to follow the new rules and usher in a new age for Efrafa. The wide patrol appeared shortly thereafter and Captain Thornberry stopped while the other rabbits went down to their burrows. “Did you find anything useful?”
“Sir I believe that it’s possible to make another warren halfway between Efrafa and Watership Down. We could send half our rabbits there and get Hazel-rah to send half of his rabbits to this new warren as well so the new warren would be half Efrafa and half Watership Down. That would be easier than risking detection by expanding beyond the boundaries of Efrafa.”
“Is this warren anywhere near man?
”“No sir.”
“I think that might work. Groundsel how would you like to be chief of this new warren?”
“Well I don’t know Campion. I’m not sure I’m the leader type.”
“I wasn’t sure about it either Groundsel and I’m sure Hazel wasn’t sure of being the leader either of his own warren when they escaped Sandleford.”
“Let’s sit down with Hazel-rah and discuss it.” Campion nodded and they quietly walked around the perimeter of Efrafa lost in their own thoughts.
Notes:

So to summarize Efrafa:
1. Campion is the new chief.
2. The Council have been killed.
3. Wide patrols are kept
4. Marks are kept.
5. Mark Captains and Officers cannot force themselves on does from other marks or their own marks.
6. Mark rabbits can visit friends in other marks.
7. Marks have decided to continue to go above ground in rotations to keep man from discovering them.
8. Efrafa is going to be expanded a bit to prevent overcrowding.

scorpiodragon · May 26, 2021

Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, and Blackavar made the journey from Watership Down to Efrafa. Strawberry had been sent ahead to inform Campion of his desire to meet in Efrafa and talk about building an alliance between the two warrens. As they approached Efrafa they were halted by Captain Thornberry with his wide patrol that just returned from scouting the boundary of Efrafa near the Iron Road.
“Hazel-rah we have to report to Campion-rah but you and your friends are welcome to stay above ground and silflay. The Near Hind Mark won’t bother you. A messenger will be sent above ground to let you know when our chief is ready for you.”
“If I may can I talk to the rabbits here?” Hazel asked the red buck.
“Certainly.”
They watched Captain Thornberry go below ground with his patrol. “Blackavar quit shaking. You’re driving me nuts.” Bigwig said to the black buck he had rescued from Efrafa.”
“Sorry Captain Bigwig. I’m just scared to be back at my old warren. Too many bad memories.”
“Fiver do you see anything?”
“No Hazel,” the smaller brown rabbit said to his older brother.
The four Watership Down rabbits noticed that the sentries were still in place along the perimeter of the warren. “I thought Campion made changes to the warren?” Bigwig asked. “Doesn’t look like any changes were made. These rabbits are still prisoners here.”
“Be patient Bigwig. Let’s talk to the rabbits here and wait for our audience with Campion before jumping to conclusions. In the meantime we have to find Strawberry.”
A two year old gray doe named Mist hopped forward. “Blackavar is that you?”
“Mist! I’m glad to see that you’re okay.”
“Oh thank Frith! I had hoped that you would have survived the battle between our warren and Watership Down.”
“Efrafa may be my home warren but Watership Down is my home now Mist.”
“Of course.” Mist hopped up to Blackavar and nuzzled him with her nose.
“Hazel-rah, Captain Bigwig, Fiver this is Mist. She’s a friend of mine from my old mark.”
The rabbit smiled at Mist and Blackavar. “I think the doe’s more than just friends with the young chap,” Bigwig said to Fiver and Hazel. The other two rabbits nodded chuckling to themselves. It was obvious with the way Blackavar was behaving that this doe meant something more to him besides being friends.
“Would it be alright if you talk with us for a bit before Campion sees us?” Hazel asked.
Mist looked at an officer who was patrolling the mark. He nodded at her before proceeding on with his patrol. “Yes sir. What do you want to know?”
“Why are these rabbits still held in marks with sentries guarding them?” Bigwig asked.
“You’re the rabbit who took the does and Blackavar weren’t you?” She asked him. She remembered seeing him once when he had been led around the marks while he was a probationary Captain under General Woundwort.
“Yes I was.”
“Campion-rah has started implementing changes to Efrafa. Officers and Captains can’t breed with any doe this wish anymore so buck and does are allowed to breed with who they want. Campion-rah had the Council killed. The marking of hlessil and kittens has stopped under Campion-rah’s orders and we can now mingle freely with the other marks without getting permission from that Mark’s Captain or Officer but we prefer to stick to our own marks as it is what we know. All the rabbits are now equal under Campion-rah’s leadership and punishments are inflicted on Officers and Captains who bully the lesser rabbits of the warren.”
“But why do you still have sentries posted?”
“The sentries are for our protection. They watch for elil now. The Thousand heard that General Woundwort was dead and started attacking our warren. The Off Fore Mark lost Officer Wheatstock to a fox while on patrol. All the rabbits here made the agreement to continue coming up one mark at a time so we don’t attract the attention of man.”
A silver rabbit with white tipped ears poked its head out of a burrow and after speaking with Officer Swift came above ground and made its way over to Hazel and the others. “Campion-rah says he’ll see you now sir. Follow me.”
Hazel and his rabbits followed the silver rabbit with white tipped ears down various runs to the Council Room. Campion and Groundsel were sitting in the burrow waiting for Hazel to arrive. “Thank you Thistle. You can go now.”
“Yes sir.” Thistle turned and went back to his own burrow in the Off Fore Mark.
“Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, Blackavar nice to see you.”
“Pleasure to see you too Campion. Where is Strawberry?”
“Strawberry is with the Neck Mark at the moment. I’ll have someone go fetch him when you are ready to leave.”
“I’m sorry to hear that you lost an Officer on one of your wide patrols Campion.”
“Before the General fell we were a formidable warren as any rabbit here could attest to. Though we are all grateful for you bringing that dog and killing the General so we can begin to usher in a new dawn for Efrafa and hopefully establish peace between our two warrens it has made us easy prey for the Thousand. They seem to appear out of nowhere to hunt my people. That’s why we still have the sentries posted though now they aren’t keeping the rabbits prisoner.”
“Bigwig and Blackavar mentioned before that the marks are kept separate from each other. Is this still the case?”
“Yes. That is one rule I kept after I had the Council killed. With the mark burrows kept separate from each other it will stop the spread of disease in our warren.”
“Do the rabbits accept these changes?” Fiver asked.
Campion looked at the young rabbit. “Yes they do. I can’t rebuild our warren in a day. It will take time for us to get used to the General’s demise. Some of the rabbits still cower before the Officers and Captains. The Owslafa have been disbanded as well.”
“Well that’s something good anyway,” Bigwig muttered. Campion ignored Bigwig’s remark.
“Hazel I have a proposition for you. One of my Captains was sent out on wide patrol to scout for a place far from man to build an expansion to Efrafa since we’ve been having troubles with the does reabsorbing kittens due the overcrowding issue. He informed me that he found a good spot away from man that is halfway between our warrens. I’ve already asked Groundsel here to be chief of this new warren and thought that we could both send half our rabbits to this new warren and together our three warrens could form an alliance.”
“Have you been to this place yet?” Hazel asked Campion and Groundsel.
The two rabbits shook their heads. “No we were waiting to see what you think about the idea.”
“Can we talk about this for a bit and can you send us Strawberry?” Hazel asked.
“Certainly. Yew!” Campion called.
A tan colored rabbit came into the warren. “Yes Campion-rah?”
“Go to the Neck Mark and find the rabbit that came in a couple days ago and bring him here.”
“Yes Campion-rah.” Yew vanished down the run in the direction of the Neck Mark burrows.
Campion and Groundsel left Hazel and his friends to talk among themselves. Strawberry came in a few moments later. The rabbits from Watership Down inspected him and all breathed a sigh of relief. He was unmarked.
“I don’t see why you’re worried Hazel-rah. Campion is doing his best to lead his people.”
“I supposed. Still it’s hard to get over the fact that he was one of the rabbits who attempted to kill us.”
“He was only following Woundwort Hazel-rah. You can’t hold that against him. A Captain or Officer of Owsla follows their chief to the Shadow Land if they think it will protect their chief from harm.”
“Spoken like a true Owsla member,” Bigwig said nodding appreciatively.
“Well I am part of Watership Down’s Owsla,” Strawberry sniffed.
“What do you think about sending some Watership Down rabbits to this new warren that Groundsel will be chief of Hazel?” Bigwig asked his friend and leader.
“I think it might be a good idea. We are getting a bit overcrowded and that isn’t good for any rabbit.”
“Do you think Groundsel will make a good chief?”
“I think so. We could also send a couple of rabbits to live in Efrafa and advise Campion as well as sending a couple to be Groundsel’s advisers.”
“What rabbits do we send here and with Groundsel to his warren though?” Fiver asked.
“Hazel-rah I’d be happy to stay here and advise Campion.”
“Are you sure Strawberry?” Hazel asked the orange colored buck.
“Yeah. I’ve been getting to know some of the rabbits in the Neck Mark where I’ve been staying and enjoy talking to them.”
“Well alright Strawberry you can stay here. Now we just need to send another rabbit here.”
“We need to get Campion’s and Groundsel’s opinions first on this Hazel.”
“You’re right Bigwig. If Campion agrees to have you Strawberry than you may stay here. Though we’ll certainly miss you.”
“I’d like to take Mist with us if you don’t mind Hazel-rah,” Blackavar spoke up.
“If Campion will give us Mist then we’ll take her back to Watership with us.”
Campion and Groundsel had been sitting outside the Council Room talking to themselves quietly when Blackavar poked his head out and said that Hazel-rah was ready to talk to them. The two Efrafans hopped into the Council Room and looked patiently at Hazel and his rabbits.
“Campion we’ve talked it over and agreed to give half our rabbits to Groundsel at his new warren. We would also like to give you two of our rabbits to be your advisers in the reshaping of Efrafa as well as give two advisers to you Groundsel for the same purpose. Strawberry here as already asked to stay here and we have said that if you’ll have him then we agree. Blackavar here would also like to take Mist home to Watership Down with him.”
“If Mist wants to go then she is free to leave with you. Thank you Hazel. Does this mean that you agree to have an alliance with us?”
“Yes Campion it does. And as soon as Groundsel gets his warren dug we’ll expand our alliance to him as well. Three warrens connected will be good against enemies.”
“I agree with that,” Campion said. “Stay here for the time being. There should be some empty burrows in the Near Hind Mark that you can bed down in. Strawberry you’re welcome to return to the Neck Mark.”
“Thank you Campion-rah,” Strawberry said before going back to the burrow he was sharing with a pretty doe named Ghost.
“Blackavar I want to say that I’m sorry for how you were treated under General Woundwort,” Campion said to the black rabbit before him.
“Thank you sir but you were only following orders.”
“Still it was wrong of us to do to you. I’ll have Mist sent to your burrow. Where will you be staying in Efrafa?”
“I think in the burrow that we came down,” Hazel said.
“That would be the Fore Mark then. Right I’ll have Mist sent over then.”
“Thank you Campion.” Hazel and his rabbits left the Council Room and went to an empty burrow. A few moments later Mist came running into the burrow and crashed into Blackavar sending them both rolling along the floor before they picked themselves up. Fiver, Bigwig and Hazel laughed at the two rabbits in love and settled down for a nice sleep.

scorpiodragon · Jul 27, 2021

Groundsel, Campion and Hazel along with Bigwig, Fiver, and Blackavar went with Captain Thornberry to the place where he had said the new warren would lie. It was a meadow surrounded by a forest. A line of bushes covered the eastern side of the meadow. They splashed through a small brook on their way to the bushes. There was a small bank near a copse. There they halted. “If I may make a suggestion Groundsel,” Bigwig said.

“I trust your judgment Bigwig.”

“I recommend digging some entrances to your warren behind the bushes. That will give you some cover from elil. In Sandleford we had some burrows that were in the forest bordering our warren as well as a few escape tunnels and holes. That’s how Captain Holly and Bluebell got out.” Groundsel examined the bushes closely and nodded. “

Yes that sounds like a good idea Bigwig.” There were horses five hundred yards off and while it was clear that there may be men passing that way who would come to look at the hoses all the rabbits would have to do would be to bolt down the holes and remain there until the men had passed. It equally looked like the meadow wasn’t in danger of being plowed by man for commercial or residential purposes. All in all it seemed like a good place for a warren to be born. Winter was coming and there was no possible way that the rabbits would be able to start a warren until springtime of the following year. The rabbits dug some scrapes and bedded down for the night. They didn’t see the weasel that was approaching downwind of them.

“Long ears make good meal tonight,” the weasel said to itself licking its fangs.

Fiver started up and saw the flash of eyes in the darkness. “Elil!” He shouted stamping the ground. The other rabbits jumped up and attacked the weasel. Cursing the weasel fled back the way it had come.

“That ought to show him,” Bigwig said.

“I don’t fancy being in a place with weasels and stoats roaming around Hazel.”

“You’ll be alright your warren is dug and you’re all safely underground Groundsel.” Groundsel and Campion returned to Efrafa and Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig and Blackavar returned to Watership Down where they waited for the long winter to pass. There were quite a few pregnant does that would be going to Groundsel’s warren that he had named Vleflain along with a lot of pregnant does from Efrafa as well as some bucks to dig the new warren. The rabbits were anxious to get started on their new home. At last spring came and Groundsel, Willow who was Groundsel’s mate, and Officer Thistle went to Vleflain and waited for the Watership Down rabbits that would begin a new life to arrive. A few days after Captain Avens led a small party of does to Vleflain. Two more groups followed Captain Avens’s group which had a mixture of bucks and does. The eager does instinctively began work on digging the new warren. The bucks helped by making sure the internal runs were linked together and took turns outside watching for elil. Hazel sent Bluebell to be an adviser to Campion and live in Efrafa. Sunflower and Nightshade were sent to be advisers to Groundsel in Vleflain and thereafter remained in that warren. Watership Down was at a more comfortable level for the rabbits there which made everyone happy. Aside from Bluebell all the rabbits that had traveled to Watership Down with Hazel after their escape from Sandleford were still alive and lived at Watership Down. A week ago a rabbit named Stonecrop had been nearly killed by some of Hazel’s rabbits because he smelled like man. He was an escaped hutch rabbit who had been wandering the downs for some time. When Fiver had a vision that Stonecrop would be accepted at Vleflain Hazel, Bigwig and Stonecrop had gone to see if Fiver’s vision would come true. They halted and sat back on their haunches sniffing the breeze and hearing squeals of terror. “Something’s wrong. Something bad,” Bigwig said to Hazel. Hazel, Bigwig and Stonecrop ran to the warren and halted as they saw a group of stoats roaming the meadow. Rabbits were fleeing in all directions without any thought except to save their own lives. Groundsel was running with them, caught up in the panic that prey feels when being cornered by a predator.

“Look there’s Groundsel running like a silly nitwit with the rest. We’ve got to put a stop to this Hazel.” Hazel nodded and Bigwig charged forward and put himself in Groundsel’s path. Groundsel was blinded by fear and didn’t see Bigwig standing there. He ran into Bigwig and knocked him off his feet. Bigwig jumped quickly to his feet and pinned Groundsel to the ground. “Get a hold of yourself Groundsel-rah! What is going on?”

“Stoats! An entire family came up from the copse and began attacking!”

“Groundsel you’re the chief of Vleflain! You have to stay strong and pull your warren together!” Bigwig said.

Stonecrop started running towards one of the stoats. “Stonecrop what are you doing? Get back here!” Hazel ordered.

“They won’t touch me Hazel.”

“Embleer Frith!” Bigwig cursed when he saw Stonecrop running straight towards a stoat. He turned and began running to tackle Stonecrop when he stopped in his tracks.

The stoat turned towards the scent and saw the rabbit coming towards him, his jaws salivating. Then he recoiled in horror. “MAN!” The stoat fell back and as the breeze shifted the scent of man appeared. The other stoats took up the cry in their shrill shrieking voices. “MAN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! MAN!” The few rabbits who had managed to avoid the stoats attack while above ground turned and stared at Stonecrop with wonder. Even Groundsel looked at Stonecrop in shock. A few rabbits came up from the warren and clustered around Stonecrop.

“Who are you?” Groundsel asked.

“Groundsel-rah this is Stonecrop. He’s an escaped hutch rabbit. We understand if you don’t want someone like him living here…”

“Mind? Mind? Of course you’re welcome to stay here!” He looked at his rabbits and they stamped in approval. “If you agree to go around the burrows once a week you can live here as long as you like.” Stonecrop smiled and thanked Groundsel for allowing him to stay. Bigwig and Hazel talked with Groundsel. He had positioned his Owsla in the burrows near the entrances to the warren as they would be the first line of defense against an attack. Thistle had been made a Captain in the Vleflain Owsla. Groundsel didn’t allow his rabbits to be marked and allowed Hazel and Bigwig to stay as his guests for a few days before they headed home.

“I guess Fiver was right after all," said Bigwig to Hazel as they left Vleflain.

“He always is Bigwig.”

scorpiodragon · Jul 28, 2021

Pineneedles, Walnut, Sunflower, Nightshade, Birch, and Apple are my own creations.

Hazel settled for reports on Efrafa and Vleflain from Kehaar. If Campion or Groundsel needed anything Watership Down was happy to help. So far things had gone well for both Efrafa and Vleflain. Since Stonecrop had joined Vleflain Groundsel reported that Vleflain’s elil troubles had pretty much disappeared though Campion was having trouble. Campion’s Owsla was training harder than ever to fight the elil and drive them off out of their warren and out of the boundaries of Efrafa altogether. One bright and sunny day that summer Hazel, Bigwig and Fiver were sitting in the grass under the beech tree nibbling at the grass. Hyzenthlay had given birth to three kittens named Hawthorn, Marigold, and Dogwood. Blackavar was happy to report that Mist was pregnant with his kittens and was looking forward to being a father. Fiver’s doe had given birth to four kittens a week ago. Everything was peaceful at all three warrens. “Ohhhh,” Fiver moaned and fell to his side shivering.“What’s wrong with you now Fiver?” Bigwig asked.“Fiver? Fiver! Answer me!” Hazel begged his little brother.An enemy comes out of the darkness with a sadness met long ago. A friend thought dead will surface though whether he is friend or foe is yet to be known. Darkness falls and chokes the out the light. Darkness falls and blood shall run. Fiver shuddered once more and lay still with his eyes closed.

“What was that about Hazel?” Bigwig asked staring at Fiver.

“I don’t know Bigwig. An enemy comes out of the darkness. Well the only enemy we have is Woundwort but he’s dead.”

“Nobody saw his body Hazel-rah. For all we know he could still be out there and madder than ever before. But what is this talk of a friend thought dead will surface?”

“I don’t know Bigwig. I just don’t know. I think we need to warn Groundsel and Campion to be careful and on the alert.”

“Agreed Hazel. I can send out a couple of Owsla members to each warren to let them know to be careful until we have more information.”

“Do that Bigwig. As Captain of Owsla I leave that up to you. The sooner Campion and Groundsel get the message the better prepared we’ll be.” Bigwig turned and went down into the warren to call on some Owsla members to go to Efrafa and Vleflain right away. Hazel stayed by his brother’s side until he stopped shivering and opened his eyes. Fiver sat up and shook his head before looking at Hazel.

“What did I say?”

“‘An enemy comes out of the darkness with a sadness met long ago. A friend thought dead will surface though whether he is friend or foe is yet to be known. Darkness falls and chokes the out the light. Darkness falls and blood shall run.’”

“What does it mean Hazel?”

“I think it means that war will return to the down and Watership, Efrafa, and Vleflain will be in danger Fiver.” The two brothers saw four Owsla members disappear down the hill. Bigwig came up to sit next to them. “Just when we thought we were finally free of war now we face it again. It seems we never get any peace at all.” The Owsla members-Silver, Hawkbit, Captain Holly, and Walnut-ran as fast as they could to Vleflain. Captain Holly and Walnut stayed only a day at Vleflain before running on to Efrafa. A wide patrol stopped them but seeing that they were Watership rabbits took them down to Campion-rah’s burrow.

“Campion-rah!” An officer said.

“What is it Birch?”

“Sir two rabbits from Watership Down have come and say its urgent that they speak with you.”

“Very well send them in.”Campion sat and listened closely to what Captain Holly and Walnut said to them. He had seen Fiver only twice before-once when they had been captured by a wide patrol and the second time when Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver and Blackavar had come to check up on him and Efrafa after Woundwort’s downfall. “So Fiver is a seer?” Campion asked looking from one rabbit to another. He had heard of seers but had never met one before. Woundwort had thought them to be nothing but trouble makers and any rabbit who claimed to be a seer had been left beyond the borders of Efrafa for the elil.

“Yes Campion-rah,” Captain Holly said to the Efrafan chief and former Efrafan Captain of Owsla. “Fiver’s visions have never been wrong.”

Campion thought about this for a while before nodding. “Right. I’ll have the security on the warren tightened. Avens!”

“Yes sir?”

“Tell the sentries to tighten up on the marks. Make sure no rabbit leaves the boundaries of Efrafa. Double the patrols and make sure they watch each other’s backs. It appears we may be in for another war.”

“Yes sir.” Avens turned and began passing the message along to the Mark Captains and Owsla.At Vleflain Silver and Hawkbit gave Groundsel the same report. Groundsel and a few other rabbits sat listening to them saying that Fiver was a seer and that his visions had never been wrong. As proof of their claim they told Groundsel of the flood that Fiver had predicted at their old warren, his feeling that there was darkness hanging over the Warren of the Shining Wire, and the destruction of Sandleford by man that had caused them to flee their old warren and seek a new home on Watership Down. Groundsel wasn’t sure what to make of their tale but he trusted Hazel and Bigwig and agreed to do as they asked. “Thank Hazel and Bigwig for me will you? Stay the night as my guests and go home tomorrow.”

Silver and Hawkbit nodded and went to go visit their old friends Stonecrop, Sunflower and Nightshade and see how they were faring at Vleflain. All three rabbits reported that they had settled in nicely and Groundsel-rah was more than happy for their advice. They introduced them to Groundsel-rah’s two Efrafan advisers-Apple and Pineneedles that Campion had sent over. After Stonecrop had single handily saved Vleflain from the stoats he had gained some friends among the Vleflain rabbits and was no longer feared by the warren.

“Run! Run for your lives!” cried Campion, stamping. He tore through them and was gone over the down. Not knowing what he meant or where to run, they turned one way and another. Five bolted down the opened run and a few more into the wood. But almost before they had begun to scatter, into their midst bounded a great black dog, snapping, biting and chasing hither and thither like a fox in a chicken run.Woundwort alone stood his ground. As the rest fled in all directions he remained where he was, bristling and snarling, bloody-fanged and bloody-clawed. The dog stopped confused for a moment before dog and rabbit leaped at each other…The rabbit opened his eye and jumped to his feet snarling. He shook his head to rid himself of the dream he had been having for the past moon. No it wasn’t a dream. It was a memory. A horrible memory. He cried out in agony and pain as he felt a sharp pain in his left hind leg. For a moment he was scared. Scared that he would die out here alone. He had already two close calls with elil. Another whimper of pain burst from his mouth. He hated weakness. Weakness was for fools and the old and sick. A rabbit showing weakness was just asking for elil to kill him or a younger rabbit to overthrow them and take over their warren. No he must not show any weakness if he was to get revenge on everyone who had wronged him. The rabbit crawled for days until he saw rabbit tracks leading off to the east. He pushed himself to his paws and limped along the trail, flinching and crying out as pain shot through his leg and up into his body. As he appeared out of the forest he saw some rabbits eating grass and flayrah. He noticed with annoyance that none of the rabbits appeared to be on watch for elil. What type of fools are these that care nothing for discipline and order?

A lean brown rabbit noticed him and came over. “Hello friend. Stay and rest until you are better. You’re safe here from man and elil. And you’ll have all the flayrah you can eat in the winter.”

“What type of rabbits are you?”

“Such a fine day isn’t it? But it looks like it is going to rain. I hate the rain. You’re more than welcome to come underground and seek shelter.”

The wounded rabbit stared. He sniffed the brown rabbit before him. It appeared well fed and healthy but there was something wrong with this rabbit and the other rabbits before him. He tried again.“Why are there no guards posted watching for elil or man?”

“We are safe here. In time you will see. My name is Cowslip. What is your name?”

The rabbit paused for a moment while he tried to understand why this rabbit wasn’t answering his questions. There will be time for that later. First I need to recover and get better. Then I can see what these rabbits are made of. Though they don’t look as if they even know how to fight which may be a problem. “My name… my name is Woundwort.”

scorpiodragon · Aug 3, 2021

Woundwort got shakily to his feet and followed the rabbit underground where he whispered something to a big brown buck and then hopped away. He had noticed during his limping that there were bushes scattered all around the warren. As he followed the buck he had been handed off to he tried asking questions but the rabbits in this place seemed to avoid anything asking “How?”, “Why?”, or “Where?” Very strange rabbits. Most of this warren appears empty. But they don’t smell of sickness or disease so why are there are so few? “We have plenty of empty burrows. You’re free to choose any one that suits your fancy.”

“What about flayrah?”

“Come to the burrow that you were in before and flayrah will be there.”

“Is Cowslip your chief?”

“Oh no we don’t have a chief. No need for a chief. Well must be going now.” The rabbit hopped on down the run. Woundwort was more puzzled than ever and he wasn’t usually puzzled by rabbits. So they didn’t have a chief? Well that made things easier for him to take control of this warren. But first he had to get better and discover more about this place and these rabbits. Though he wasn’t sure he could amass them into an army. As the days passed his leg got better and Cowslip invited him to help fetch flayrah. Woundwort was annoyed. He was the one who ordered slaves to fetch flayrah. He had made friends with a couple of young bucks named Twinleaf and Fern. Over the past few days he realized that perhaps he had been wrong to control a warren by force and if it wouldn’t be better to make friends with the rabbits and get them to like him. It was worth trying. If he failed… well then he could always kill anyone who disagreed with him like he had in Efrafa. Twinleaf and Fern were brothers from the same litter. They were very close but didn’t like the way they had essentially become man’s ‘pets’. Of course they couldn’t come right out and say it because Cowslip drove off any rabbit that was unsatisfied with the way things was done. He wasn’t unlike General Woundwort in a way. “How come I never get any questions answered except from the two of you?” He asked as they were nibbling on some carrots they had taken from the flayrah pile two hundred yards north of the warren.

Twinleaf and Fern stopped eating and glanced up to look around. “Because they’re mindless beasts. Silverweed, our seer, has gone into the minds of the rabbits here and made them forget who they are supposed to be. It’s man that gives us the flayrah and protects us from elil.”

Woundwort spat out the carrot and rubbed a paw across his face. “Why do you not speak up about it?”

“Cowslip won’t allow it. Our warren is full of sadness and has a dark secret. In return for protecting us from elil man sets snares along the entire length of the bushes. The rules of the warren are that any rabbit that is taken by the Black Rabbit is never spoken of again. It’s as if they never existed.”

“How do you know about this?”

“Everyone does,” Twinleaf said. “We watched our marli get snagged by a snare when we were only kittens. We knew to stay away from the bushes after that especially when Cowslip refused to help her.”

“A rabbit I met earlier mentioned that this warren has no chief.”

“Yes that is true. But Cowslip pretty much runs the warren.” “If you want to take over we’ll help you. If you want to leave we’ll help you. We were driven out when we saved another rabbit from the shining wire when we were six months old. That rabbit sadly died but we came back hoping that Cowslip had died and we could teach the others how to be like real rabbits again. But Cowslip seems to cheat death,” Fern said. They lowered their ears at this statement.

“What if I were to kill Cowslip then?” “Oh would you?! That would be so grand!” Twinleaf shouted. “But you will need to get control of Silverweed in order to change the rabbits. Even then years of mind control may not be able to be erased from the rest of the warren.”

“Cowslip would do nothing and nobody else would either. We’re the only two who know how to fight.” “You seem a lot better Woundwort,” Fern said peering at the rabbit’s leg.

“Yes thanks to the two of you.” The three rabbits continued finishing the flayrah. As they went along they heard a squeal coming from nearby. Woundwort dashed through the bushes as Twinleaf and Fern looked at each other before running after him. They spotted a buck caught in the wire. “Quit struggling you fool and I’ll get you loose,” Woundwort ordered the struggling rabbit. “Fern! Get over here and hold him down. Twinleaf help me dig out this peg that’s buried in the ground.” The two brothers sprang into action. Fern bit the rabbit’s ear to keep him still while Twinleaf and Woundwort worked quickly to free the helpless rabbit. Twinleaf bit through the peg and it snapped in two. Woundwort gripped the wire in his teeth and lifted it over the buck’s head. He coughed and there was blood coming out of his mouth and nose but he seemed okay. The three had gotten to the rabbit in time. “Th… thank you,” the rabbit said looking from Woundwort to Fern to Twinleaf. “What’s your name?” Twinleaf asked the rabbit.

“Sky,” the rabbit said shaking his head. “I know you two. Twinleaf and Fern. But who are you?” He asked Woundwort.

“Woundwort. Former leader of Efrafa.” Sky looked puzzled at this but Twinleaf and Fern had told Woundwort that most of the warren had no knowledge of other warrens except for their own.

“What can I do to repay you?”

“Serve me and I’ll let you live.”

“I’ll go anywhere with you as long as it’s away from here.”

Woundwort smiled. “I’m going to kill Cowslip. Meanwhile find Silverweed and hold him for me until I’m there to convince him to come over to my side.” The three rabbits nodded and they went back through the bushes. The other rabbits stared at Sky in horror. They had heard the squealing so they knew the wires had gotten him. They were grateful because it meant they could live another day though there was always a chance that the wires would take them in the end. But how could Sky have survived? This made no sense to the rabbits of Shining Wire Warren.

“What did you do?!” Cowslip cried dashing forward. “This fool is supposed to be dead! They’re all supposed to die so that I can live!” Cowslip turned his head to look at Twinleaf and Fern. “Didn’t I banish you from this warren two years ago?”

“We came back last summer. We have been sheltered by the few rabbits of this pathetic excuse for a warren that you and Silverweed haven’t been able to control.” As Fern spoke seven other rabbits broke from the group of rabbits still staring at Sky and bowed before Woundwort before turning to stand behind him. Well maybe this won’t be so hard after all, Woundwort thought.

Sky, Twinleaf and Fern then ran through the group of rabbits and went underground to look for Silverweed. Cowslip let out a howl of rage and ran at Woundwort who rose up on his back legs and brought his weight down on the rabbit before him. Cowslip squealed and tried shouting for help but the other rabbits were kept at bay by Woundwort’s rabbits which technically wasn’t even needed since they didn’t know how to fight. Woundwort used his weight to crush Cowslip under him until the weaker rabbit quit struggling and lay still. Woundwort sat back and tore out Cowslip's throat and calmly looked at the remaining rabbits. “Keep those rabbits surrounded. I’m going underground to deal with Silverweed.” The seven rabbits stood where they were while their new leader went underground to deal with Cowslip’s seer. Twinleaf, Fern and Sky had found Silverweed and dragged him back to the main chamber that was littered with tree roots in the roof. A bloody-clawed and bloody-toothed Woundwort came down the run and stood before the white rabbit with black tipped ears. “You’re Silverweed are you?”

“Yes General Woundwort. And I know who you are.” Woundwort was shocked but then he figured that was a trait of seers. Fiver had known information about him that he hadn’t told anyone so it must have been a talent among all mystics and seers. Having a seer might be good for his new warren. “Will you join me Silverweed? Or would you rather stay here and risk the Black Rabbit taking you like the rest of these fools?”

Silverweed looked at Woundwort and then nodded. “Yes I think I will join you.”

“Good. What about the fools who haven’t joined me? Can you do anything about them?”

“No I’m afraid not General. It’s better to leave them here since they would just get in the way of your plan to take back Efrafa and destroy Watership Down for good.” Woundwort was disappointed.

“Sir?” A rabbit came through the run to his left and cowered before the hulking rabbit before her. “Might I make a suggestion?”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Harmony sir. The rabbits that Silverweed can’t fix might be better use for digging our new warren. I mean unless we’re going to remain here.”

“No of course we aren’t going to remain here idiot! But I like your idea. Silverweed will these rabbits follow me?”

“I fixed them long ago to follow each succeeding leader of the Shining Wire Warren though I’m not sure if they will follow you to a different warren.”

Woundwort thought about this for a few minutes. “We’ll take six of them with us to be used as slaves. The rest we’ll acquire from other warrens on the way.”

“What about the others Woundwort?” Twinleaf asked his friend.

“Leave them here to rot. Silverweed I’ll leave it to you to pick out the slaves. Sky, Twinleaf and Fern you will be my new Captains of Owsla. If you have does that aren’t as stupid as the rest of the rabbits here and they’re willing to serve me then they can come as well.” Woundwort turned back to Harmony and studied her. He had to admit she was pretty. She had white fur and blue eyes. He felt a stirring in his heart that wasn’t caused by his desire for power and war. It was a strange feeling and one he feared.

Silverweed said “You love her don’t you?” Woundwort looked startled but he had to admit he wouldn’t mind taking her for his doe. He could either force her to love him or he could do something out of his character and try to court her.

“Harmony you stick close to me and stay with us.” Then he took Silverweed down a run to an empty burrow. “I think I might love her.”

“But you’re afraid that she will reject you because of your looks and your past?” Silverweed asked him gently. “Harmony may be a doe but she isn’t that cruel as to reject you. I can see into your heart and read your feelings about her. You’re afraid that if you love someone then they will vanish from you forever like your mother. So to avoid loving someone only to lose them you control rabbits out of fear instead of listening to them and treating them well like a chief should be. You worry that if you treat them with respect then they won’t blindly follow you like if you make them fear you and enslave them. And yet you ask me to change these rabbits here so you can form an army. You fight with your weight, your claws and teeth and while that makes those around you fear you it doesn’t make them love or respect you. If you are going to win Harmony and the hearts of your people you need to show them that you care about them and will listen to them. You need to make friends with them as you have done with Twinleaf and Fern. General Woundwort if you truly want peace then you need to give up this war and start over with rabbits who love you, respect you and want you to be a leader. I can see in your heart that you have the power to change. You are just afraid of changing.” Silverweed left to go pick out the slaves he knew wouldn’t give Woundwort any trouble leaving Woundwort alone to think over what Silverweed had said to him. The seer appeared wiser than many rabbits half his age. Perhaps it was time to start over as Silverweed had said and create a warren where he was respected and not hated by every rabbit in his warren. Woundwort went above ground and noticed his followers along with Harmony, Twinleaf, his doe Rainbow, Fern, his doe Daisy, Sky, his doe Amber, Silverweed and the six slaves Silverweed had picked out waiting for him.

“Move out!” As one the group of rabbits swung to the south and began the search for a new home and, possibly for Woundwort, a new warren based on respect and love. Woundwort went above ground and noticed his followers along with Harmony, Twinleaf, his doe Rainbow, Fern, his doe Daisy, Sky, his doe Amber, Silverweed and the six slaves Silverweed had picked out waiting for him. “Move out!” As one the group of rabbits swung to the south and began the search for a new home and, possibly for Woundwort, a new warren based on respect and love.

scorpiodragon · Aug 4, 2021

Woundwort led his rabbits on for days in search of a new warren, picking up prisoners from other warrens along their journey. He had thought about what Silverweed had said before they had left Shining Wire Warren and begun the journey for a new home. When a fox had attacked a doe and her kittens Woundwort had leapt onto the animal and killed it while his rabbits watched. When a young buck named Thorn cut his foot open on a rock Woundwort slowed his rabbits pace so that Thorn could keep up. Woundwort noticed that doing these acts of kindness made him feel good and he noticed that his rabbits began to respect him including the prisoners he had taken by force from other warrens.Days slid into weeks that slid into months as they searched for a home of their own where they could start over. During this time Woundwort had formed officers and corporals in his Owsla and trained his rabbits how to fight. To his surprise Harmony began to take a liking to him as Silverweed had said she would. This pleased him and made him the happiest he had ever been in his life. Lying next to Harmony beneath a thorn bush Woundwort slept, his peaceful breathing causing his body to rise and fall. His dream was of Harmony and snuggled next to her were four newborn kittens while he stood over her smiling at his family. A smile appeared on his face as he dreamed when it was suddenly interrupted by a voice.“Woundwort. The threads of darkness are lifting from your soul but I see that there is still evil inside you. You will have a battle with your enemies and you will lose. However due to the kindness and respect you are gathering from your new rabbits and the love you are showing Harmony I have a gift for you.”

“Who are you?”

"Prince Rainbow. Lord Frith is not pleased about the violence you forced on the rabbits in Efrafa and that is why he had you defeated on Watership Down. But you did those rabbits in Shining Wire Warren a favor by killing Cowslip. They are slowly relearning the ways of El-ahrairah and how to be wild rabbits. Lord Frith sees that you have some goodness inside you. Therefore he is allowing me to restore your sight in your blind eye and remove some scars from your body. I have seen your dream Woundwort and whether that comes to pass depends if you can let go of your hatred and anger. I will visit you again when the time is right.” A black mist covered him as he cowered before Prince Rainbow and then was gone.

“AHH!” Woundwort shouted jerking his head up. He blinked his eyes and then blinked them again. His vision was hazy at first and then it cleared and he realized that he could see! “So seeing Prince Rainbow and getting my eyesight back was real?”

Harmony looked at him and placed a paw on Woundwort’s. “What is it Woundwort?”

“Harmony I think I saw Prince Rainbow in a dream.”

“What did he say?” Seeing Prince Rainbow in a dream meant that good things would happen or that the rabbit was blessed.

“He gave me back my sight in my left eye and healed some scars on my body. He said I had the power to change from bad to good and that I would again fight my enemies and lose. He said Lord Frith is angry with me because of how I ruled Efrafa but that I did the rabbits of Shining Wire Warren some good by killing Cowslip.”

“Then trust in Prince Rainbow’s message Woundwort and he will lead you right.” Woundwort nuzzled Harmony and crawled out from under the bush with Harmony beside him. Mayberry and Stone, two rabbits that he had sent out to scout for a possible home two days ago, were nibbling on grass.

“Mayberry and Stone I’m glad to see you both arrived back in one piece.”

“Thank you Woundwort-rah,” they said. “We think we have found a likely location for the warren. Would you and Harmony like to come see?”

Woundwort turned to Harmony. “What do you think my dear?"

“Yes I’d love to see what has Mayberry and Stone so mysterious about.”

“Twinleaf,” Woundwort called as they passed the young buck.

“Yes Woundwort?”

“You’re in charge until we return. Make sure everyone stays close to the thorn bushes and use them for cover in case of danger.”

“Don’t worry Woundwort I’ll watch over everyone.”

Woundwort nodded and the four rabbits began the two day trek to what had captured Mayberry and Stone’s interest. They went through a small wood and swam a river before coming at last to what had attracted Mayberry and Stone. Before them stood a circle of stones.“What type of thing is that?” Woundwort asked.

“I think it’s a man thing sir. But there is no scent of man here.”

“Then why bring us to this place if man built it?”

“Sir it was Prince Rainbow who showed us this place.”

Woundwort looked startled. “What did you say?”

Stone swallowed the lump in his throat but continued. “We were sleeping in the forest when Prince Rainbow appeared to us. The light that surrounded us woke us up before it dissipated and we saw a rabbit of many different colors standing before us. We just knew it was Prince Rainbow.” Woundwort wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t just seen Prince Rainbow in a dream. He nodded his head for Stone to continue.“We asked who he was and he said he was Prince Rainbow and that he was sent by Lord Frith to guide us to a place for a new warren. He showed us the path to take and then appeared before us when we reached this stone circle. He said the stone circle was built by man in the past and has lain forgotten but the stones were built to align with Lord Frith during spring and that man used to worship Lord Frith and nature itself here. There’s some type of magic that protects this man made creation from decaying. Prince Rainbow said that if we build a warren here then elil and enemy rabbits will never be able to harm us.”

Woundwort looked at Mayberry. “Do you have anything to add to Stone’s statement?”

Mayberry shook his head. “Nothing sir except that I think we should take Prince Rainbow’s advice. Prince Rainbow said that man hasn’t been here in centuries so we don’t have to worry about man. At afternoon silflay yesterday we were eating and heard a hawk’s cry. We looked up and saw a hawk come diving from the sky but then it appeared to have hit something and it fell like a stone before managing to beat its wings and fly away.”

“Did you see what it hit?”

“No sir that’s the strange thing. We felt a strange vibration in the ground beneath us and the air in front of us seemed to simmer as the hawk hit it. I think that whatever magic man gave to this place is protecting us from harm.”

Woundwort shook his head baffled at what he had just heard. But he figured it was best not to question Prince Rainbow. He could possibly lose Harmony if he didn’t trust Lord Frith’s messenger.

“How far does this ‘magic’ extend?”

“It extends for about 30 yards in all directions. We’ve spent the last day testing the limits of the magical boundary.”

Woundwort did some quick thinking. If this magic extended thirty yards in all directions then they would have one hundred five yards of safety as long as they stayed within the magical boundaries. This would mean that there would be plenty of space to build up a new warren and there wouldn’t be the overcrowding issues like there had been in Efrafa.

“Okay let’s go and get the others and bring them here to start digging the warren. This warren will be known as Sunstone. Is that agreeable with you three?”

“Yes sir I think that suits the place perfectly,” Mayberry said and Harmony and Stone nodded.

Four days later Woundwort’s rabbits reached the beginning of the magical boundary surrounding Sunstone. The rabbits stared in amazement at the stone circle and as they passed through the invisible magical barrier that surrounded their new warren their fear and worry fell away. They clustered together in the stone circle and watched in shock as a glowing white light appeared in front of them and then slowly faded to reveal a rabbit of different colors. “Greetings Sunstone rabbits. Do not be afraid for I am Prince Rainbow. I am sure you noticed that your fears and worry slipped away as you passed through the magical barrier that protects this place. This is tied to magic that the ancient men who built this place and will protect you as long as you remain within the confines of the barrier. No elil, enemy rabbits or man will be able to harm. As a further protection from man, the magical barrier makes man unable to see this place or any of you within this barrier. However you will not be protected when outside the magical barrier which means elil, enemy rabbits and man can see and harm you. The magical barrier also has healing properties if you are part of this warren. So do not worry and be happy. I promise that Sunstone will live long.” With a flash of light Prince Rainbow was gone and the rabbits stood speechless. After a few seconds the does set to work digging the warren.

By silent agreement they agreed not to dig any holes in the circle of stones. They also found out that digging the warren did not harm the magic that permeated through the very air and ground at all. Rather the magic adjusted itself so that the inside of the warren was protected as well. The bucks worked to make sure the runs were interlocked together and took over for the does so they could rest and go above ground for silflay. A month passed before the warren was finished and the rabbits could move underground. Woundwort called his rabbits together in the chamber that was underneath the stone circle. This chamber was big enough to house all the Sunstone rabbits for many generations to come. “I have decided I don’t want to be called Woundwort anymore. My name is now Lightstone.”

“Lightstone-rah! Lightstone-rah!” The rabbits cheered their chief. They thought it was a good name for a rabbit that had been blessed by Prince Rainbow and had saved them from Cowslip. Lightstone waited for their cheering to subside before continuing.

“I saw Prince Rainbow in a dream six days ago. He told me I would have a battle against my enemies and I believe those enemies are from a warren known as Watership Down.” The rabbits growled in anger. “He also informed me that I would lose the battle and that I still have evil in my heart but also that I have some goodness. I have come to realize since my defeat on Watership Down and almost being killed by the dog that was set upon my old warren that I have been wrong to force rabbits to obey by fear. I was full of anger and hate and let that cloud my judgment and cause my old warren to hate me and wish for my death in secret.

“I used to love war and death. What a fool I have been,” he shook his head. The Sunstone rabbits remained silent as they listened to their chief speak. “But as Harmony accepted me despite what I had done, with Silverweed’s talk we had after I saw Harmony and felt the first stirrings of love for her, and as I gained your respect and made friends with Twinleaf and Fern I realized that there is another way to live. A rabbit who runs a warren by fear is no leader. A rabbit who has rabbits that follow him out of love and respect, who has rabbits that would lay down their lives to protect their chief, who will listen to his rabbits when they are afraid, is a great leader and I hope that I can be that leader for you all.”

Sunstone was full of voices as the rabbits cheered their chief’s speech and stamped in applause. They were a bit troubled that they would go to war with Watership Down but if that made Lightstone-rah see the error of his ways and destroy the darkness inside him then they were okay with that. Along their journey Lightstone-rah had opened up to his rabbits about the way he was before being almost killed by the dog that the Watership rabbits had set upon him and of how he had ruled his old warren with an iron paw. Yet they also saw how gentle and loving he was towards Harmony and how he had behaved towards the kittens and hurt rabbits on their journey. Yes Lightstone was slowly changing but there would be one more hurdle he would need to pass to make the evil and darkness leave his being for good.

scorpiodragon · Sep 11, 2021

Sunstone prospered well. Ten does were pregnant and there were a few Owsla members whose does had given birth. Lightstone had decided that marking rabbits was a bad idea so Sunstone lived free. He quickly saw a huge difference in the overall happiness of Sunstone compared to when he had ruled Efrafa. In Efrafa the rabbits had been timid and fearful. No laughter sounded in his old warren and in Sunstone laughter, games, and storytelling was everywhere. Sunstone rabbits looked out for each other on patrols and took care of each other. Lightstone didn’t allow his Owsla to bully their way onto does. Any mistreatment towards kittens or the old and sick earned lifetime banishment from Sunstone. He had only needed to banish a couple of rabbits for this. One had killed a newborn buck and the other had bullied and attacked a poor deaf rabbit. The rabbits of Sunstone got the message after the second banishment and life resumed its normalcy. Five months had passed since Efrafa had been defeated and Lightstone decided that now was the perfect time to attack Watership Down for setting the dog on him and nearly killing him. Though he had to admit grudgingly to himself that if he hadn’t lost at Watership Down then he wouldn’t have met Harmony and Sunstone would never have been created. Leaving six of his Owsla to watch over things Lightstone led the remaining twenty on the Watership Down attack.

At Vleflain, Efrafa and Watership Down things were peaceful for the rabbits. They kept up a constant watch for any attack that might come after them after Fiver’s vision five months ago but so far nothing had come of it. The rabbits began to think that perhaps this was one vision that wouldn’t come true. Groundsel and Campion had finally gotten comfortable being chiefs of their respective warrens and Campion had recently begun introducing and training Groundsel and Hazel in wide patrols. Mist had given birth to seven kittens; five bucks and two does. The bucks were named Swift, Thorn, Ember, Frost and Vine and the does were Dusk and Pearl. They were all healthy. Blackavar was overjoyed at being a father and Bigwig had recently allowed him to join the Watership Owsla because both Bigwig and Hazel recognized Blackavar’s natural talent for tracking. Fiver and Vilthuril had two bucks and two does. They were Storm, Spot, Ivy and Star. Spot was a seer like his father. He always knew about things before the other rabbits did. Vleflain was used as a meeting point for Groundsel, Hazel and Campion since Vleflain was halfway between Watership and Efrafa. At sunset silflay on Watership Down a white rabbit appeared on top of the hill where he had climbed up on the western side. The rabbits looked up at this stranger as it wandered over to the main entrance to the warren that lay between the roots of the beech tree. A couple of rabbits quickly blocked the strange rabbit’s path causing it to stop in its tracks. Then another rabbit ran underground to get Hazel, Bigwig and Holly.

“Hazel-rah! Captain Bigwig! Captain Holly!” The rabbit shouted as he went through the warren looking for his chief or one of the Captains of Owsla. Hazel, Bigwig and Holly were trying to bring Fiver out of one of his visions. Fiver squealed and his eyes rolled into the back of his head as his body jerked and twitched madly.

White as snow he comes seeking to destroy all before him. Eyes like embers he is not what he seems. Words like honey drip from his tongue but around him is a black cloud and there his power lies. Left for dead he seeks to destroy. In the midst of battle the tides will turn. An unlikely ally who comes to kill will unite to kill the real enemy. The three rabbits stood over their seer, friend and brother as he stopped twitching and his breathing became normal.

“Hazel-rah!” Hazel turned to the buck.

“What is it Sunset?”

“There’s a rabbit that suddenly appeared. He made for the entrance but was stopped by Silver and Buckthorn.”

“Has he said what he wants?” Hazel asked.

“No Hazel-rah. But there’s something odd about him. I think you should come aboveground and see for yourself.”

Fiver stirred and sat up. “I want to come too Hazel. I need to see this rabbit for myself.”

“Is it about your vision?”

Fiver shook his head. “I don’t know. But I feel as if the air is slowly being swept away.”

“Alright but stay behind Bigwig and Holly.” Fiver nodded and the five rabbits went above ground.

Fiver screamed as he stared at the rabbit. “Hazel! That’s the rabbit from my vision. I know it is,” he whispered so only Hazel, Bigwig and Holly could hear.

“Are you sure Fiver?” Bigwig asked looking from the terrified rabbit to the white one in front of him.

“Yes.” Sunset had moved to stand beside Silver. The Owsla had encircled the strange rabbit. If their chief was in danger this rabbit wouldn’t escape.

“Who are you?” Hazel asked the rabbit before him.

“You don’t remember me? No you won’t know me would you? My name is Blizzard. I was in Sandleford when man came and attacked like your brother predicted. Captain Holly and Bluebell left me to die when a badger jumped me and tore up my leg.” The rabbit winced in memory at the attack.

“This has nothing to do with Hazel. Blizzard, Bluebell and I had no idea that you would survive. We thought that you would lead elil to us and we’d never find Bigwig and the others. What are you doing here anyway and how did you find us?” There were ten Vleflains and fifteen Efrafans at Watership Down and they watched the interaction between the Watership rabbits and this stranger. “Blizzard I’m sorry that Bluebell and I left you,” Holly said trying to reason with the buck he had abandoned to die seasons ago. “But you had also inhaled too much poison and we couldn’t go chasing after you if you ran off. We’d already lost Toadflax that same night. Don’t take your anger out on these rabbits. They had nothing to do with what happened at Sandleford.”

“Yes they did! That rabbit and his brother are responsible!” Blizzard shouted pointing at Hazel.

“If anyone is responsible for the destruction of Sandleford it’s the Threarah. He should have listened to Fiver’s warning and moved the warren out before man destroyed it,” Bigwig said to Blizzard growling. Before Bigwig could throw himself at Blizzard they all turned to a rabbit stamping the ground in warning.

“Woundwort! He’s alive!” The rabbit screamed. The Watershipers, Vleflains and Efrafans stared in horror as the mad general came at them with new rabbits. It appeared to the Efrafan and the Vleflains who had been born in Efrafa that some of the scars Woundwort had sustained over his life were gone. The rabbits tore down the hill to meet Woundwort and his rabbits and the battle began. Efrafan, Vleflain and Watershiper fought together for the first time in history. The rabbits clawed and bit at each other. As Hazel and some other rabbits were about to attack a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of them knocking all the rabbits off their feet. Turning Efrafa, Vleflain, Watership Down and Sunstone looked with horror at the white rabbit whose eyes were the color of embers standing at the top of the hill with five dead Owsla members in front of him. The four warrens stood in shock as Blizzard raised a paw and the rabbits nearest to him saw that his paw was surrounded by lightning.

A black cloud surrounded Blizzard and he thrust this out in front of him while punching the nearest rabbit in the chest with his paw. The rabbit screamed and fell as he was consumed by a pure white heat that covered his entire body before laying still. “I told you that I would destroy you all! You’ll all pay for leaving me and causing the destruction of Sandleford Warren.”

“No you don’t!” Silver shouted and flung himself at Blizzard. Blizzard only increased the lightning surrounding his paw and sent a bolt towards Silver who screamed as the bolt of lightning burned into his heart. Silver fell never to move again.

“What manner of rabbit are you?” Holly shouted at Blizzard.

“I happen to be your worst enemy,” Blizzard said calmly. “Here’s something new for you all to watch.” Blizzard let the black cloud flow over the rabbits he had killed with his lightning, avoiding Silver, and closed his eyes as the hum of energy in his body quickened before lightning and fire swirled around his body. The rabbits stood there in horror unable to attack or even move. All thoughts of the battle were forgotten as they watched Blizzard be covered in the black cloud. When the cloud went back into Blizzard’s body they saw he had changed. His eyes were now blood red and his fur was midnight black with lighting and fire patterns covering his entire body. His pupils had changed so that they now resembled lightning bolts. The rabbits he had killed opened their eyes and clambered to their feet before going to stand around Blizzard. They too had been changed as the black cloud had touched them. Their fur had changed to midnight black with orange lightning bolt outlines covering their entire bodies and their eyes had turned to blood red. “Go underground and find me a kitten to raise as my successor,” Blizzard ordered his servants. One of the changed rabbits nodded and ran down to the tunnel to do his master’s bidding. The changed rabbits attacked any rabbit that came near their master. Blizzard turned towards Holly with a cruel smile on his face. “You die first.” He reared up on his back legs and smiled as a small fireball crackled with lightning and he flung the ball at Holly.

“No!” Lightstone shouted and tackled Holly out of the way as the lightning fireball hit him instead. The Sunstone rabbits cried out in anger and ran towards their chief. The rabbit that had gone down the tunnel emerged with Thorn in his mouth. Thorn squealed in pain. The rabbits saw that he had blood on his mouth and a few scratches that closed as they all watched.

“Marli! Parli!” Thorn screamed in fear. The rabbit dropped the young kitten and placed a paw on his back holding him down as Thorn struggled in vain to get free.

Blizzard hopped over to Thorn and gazed down at him. “I see that you will be a very strong rabbit. Very good,” he said to the rabbit that had snatched Thorn after fatally injuring Mist. “Grab him and let’s leave this place.” The four warrens moved to intercept Blizzard and his rabbits.

“Thorn!” Blackavar cried running at the rabbit that carried his helpless son.

Another changed rabbit blocked Blackavar’s path and snarled a warning, eyes flashing dangerously. He turned towards his master with a questioning look. Blizzard shook his head and the rabbit bit Blackavar in the shoulder as the two rabbits fought. The rabbit suddenly grabbed Blackavar by his neck and threw him into the tree. Blackavar screamed in pain as he heard the sickening crunch of his right back leg breaking. The rabbit turned and went running after his master as Thorn screamed “Marli! Parli! Help!”

Blizzard looked at the rabbits standing. “I’ll see you all again.” He raised his energy to maximum and shot his power behind him killing the rabbits ten feet all around him and knocking the others back down the hill before he and his servants vanished from view.

scorpiodragon · Oct 3, 2021

The rabbits slowly picked themselves up from the ground. Lightstone lay unmoving where he had fallen. It was Blackavar, squealing in pain, who hopped over on three legs to examine Silver. He shook his head sadly. “Silver’s dead.” The Watership rabbits stared in shock. They had gone through a lot of trouble to get to Watership Down and the battle of Efrafa without having lost a single rabbit and now a rabbit many of them had never met who Holly had confirmed was from Sandleford had just killed a dear friend and one of the Watership Owsla in addition to kidnapping the son of another Owsla member. “My heart has joined the Thousand for my friend stopped running today,” the rabbits said as they lowered their ears and bowed their heads to their fallen friend. Sunstone gathered around their chief protectively as the other rabbits turned on them.

“It’s Woundwort’s fault! That stupid dog couldn’t even kill him and save us all this trouble!” Acorn shouted. “Kehaar!” Hazel called up to the bird who had been at the farm snatching fish from the cat’s bowl.

“Yah? What ye need Hazel?” Kehaar called as he landed on the ground. He turned his head to look at Silver. “Yark! Silver dead? How dis happen?”

“Woundwort Kehaar! That’s what happened,” Hawkbit said.

“Woundwort? But that stinking bunny he dead no?” Kehaar turned and spotted Lighstone and flew up into the air screaming, “Yark! Yark! Yark! Evil bunny alive? Best kill him or he cause plenty trouble for you.”

“No it wasn’t Woundwort,” Fiver said speaking up. The rabbits turned to look at him. “It was another rabbit from our old warren that did this. I had a vision just before the rabbit came about him. He killed several rabbits. He was going to kill Holly but for some reason Woundwort pushed Holly out of the way and took the hit for him.” “That not possible. Woundwort not care for anyone but himself,” Kehaar said shaking his head.

“Parli!” A tiny voice cried. Dusk cowered in the hole looking for Blackavar and the rabbit who had taken her brother away. Spotting her parli she ran over to Blackavar sobbing.

“Mist!” Blackavar cried suddenly remembering his injured doe. He picked up his daughter by her neck and bolted down the tunnel with Hazel, Bigwig and Fiver following behind as he ran to his burrow.

“Lightstone by taking the hit for Holly you have proven to me and Lord Frith that you have indeed changed for the better. Your dream of being with Harmony and having a family will come true.”

“Thank you Prince Rainbow! This means everything to me!”

Prince Rainbow smiled. “Your Owsla is worried about you. Soon it will be time to wake up but I will remove the remaining scars from your body and the last lingering traces of evil and hate from your heart and soul.”

“Thank you so much!” Lightstone realized he was crying in happiness and joy. “But you said I would lose this battle. Did you foresee that Blizzard would come here?”

“Yes. It worked out for the best because without you trying to attack Watership Down and then the arrival of Blizzard you would have still been the same rabbit you were before meeting Harmony and founding Sunstone. There’s also the fact that you would have lost anyway due to three warrens have been united and will fight to protect each other. However I must warn you about Silverweed. You need to return to your warren and kill him. If not then he will poison your rabbits against you and will be sought after by Blizzard.”

“But what about a seer for Sunstone?”

“That rabbit will appear. I can’t give you too much information on your new seer but the rabbit will have sapphire eyes and a silver streak between its ears. Oh and take Mist to Sunstone. It’s the only way she’ll survive.”

“But what if the Watership Down rabbits don’t allow it?”

“Blackavar will. Anyway I will speak to everyone to tell them to avoid harming you.” smiled at Lightstone.

Mist!” Blackavar shouted after having dropped Dusk on the floor of their burrow and staring helplessly at his doe. Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig came in and stopped in horror. Mist’s ears had been torn to shreds and she was gasping for breath where the evil rabbit had bitten deep into her throat. Wounds covered her entire body. Blackavar looked around frantically for the rest of his kittens and relieved to see they were all okay aside from being scared. “Oh Mist!” Blackavar cried. Prince Rainbow suddenly appeared before them and turned towards Mist. Placing his front paws on her chest he let his power flow into her stopping the bleeding and her racing heart. Then he turned towards Blackavar. “Mist will need to go to Woundwort’s warren to be healed.”

“No!” Bigwig shouted. “Sorry Prince Rainbow but Woundwort is a killer and a slave driver.”

“Woundwort has changed. You all should have been able to realize that when he took the hit for Captain Holly. A mad rabbit wouldn’t have done that.”

“Prince Rainbow speaks the truth Bigwig. I sensed no darkness in his heart before the rabbits that came with him protectively surrounded him. They are the ones from Shining Wire Warren right?” Fiver asked looking at Prince Rainbow.

“Yes Fiver. However they are now part of a warren called Sunstone. It is this warren that Mist must go to if she is to survive.” Blackavar gazed at his doe and friend and nodded.

“Alright she’ll go. But I want her back here as soon as she is healed.”

“Blackavar I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“This rabbit is Prince Rainbow Bigwig. Frith’s messenger. I trust him. Fiver obviously trusts him as well,” glancing at the seer. “Mist is my mate and I will decide what happens concerning her. If you don’t like that then my family will all go and leave Watership Down forever.”

Prince Rainbow helped Mist stand to her feet and looked at Blackavar’s kittens that were staring in shock and wonder at the rainbow colored rabbit. “Don’t worry young ones. Your mother will be fine and back here soon.”

Lightstone opened his eyes. He saw his Owsla surrounding him. He shook his head as he heard voices. “Kill him! Down with Woundwort!” The rabbits cried. His Owsla bared their teeth and growled, tightening the circle around their chief. A Vleflain rabbit lunged at Lightstone but two Owsla broke from the circle and tackled the Vleflain, clawing at the rabbit. Another Vleflain tried to rush into the gap that was now exposed. One of the two Sunstone Owsla who had broken the circle turned and slammed into the rabbit before he could get close to Lightstone. The white rabbit pinned the Vleflain beneath him with his teeth in the rabbit’s shoulder. Lightstone groaned and four warrens looked at the rabbit. As they watched his fur changed to a pale gold with white tipped ears and white feet and the last remaining scars on his body vanished. Two of his Owsla lowered themselves and gently helped their chief to stand. When he was on his feet they leaned into their chief helping him stay on his feet. Lightstone looked the rabbit who was being attacked. “Frost. Odin. Let the rabbits up.” The two Owsla members sat back on their hind legs, allowing the Vleflains to scurry back to safety and retreat to their friends.

Prince Rainbow came up with Mist, Blackavar, Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig behind him. He shook his head at the fighting and spoke. “Vlefain, Watership and Efrafa pay attention because this will only be said once. This rabbit that two of your own have attacked for no reason,” he raised a paw as the rabbits began to speak, “is no longer the rabbit you knew him as. See how his Owsla has protected him when you would band together to destroy him? Do you not see the concern on each face of his Owsla? They would not do this for someone who they hated. If they hated their chief they wouldn’t have surrounded him and ran to him after Blizzard struck him. This rabbit has freed the Shining Wire Warren from Cowslip and a life of relying on man. He has learned what it means to love and have friends. The change of his fur wouldn’t have occurred if he was still evil and full of darkness.” The rabbits glared at Woundwort and his Owsla. Prince Rainbow led Mist over to the Sunstone Owsla. “This doe needs to be taken to Sunstone to be healed. Only your warren can heal her. Once she is healed I will bring her back home to Watership Down.” Lightstone nodded his agreement and after having two of his Owsla stay close to Mist in case she needed help walking they picked their way down the slope and set off for home. A few Efrafans, Watershipers and Vleflains who were still angry at Woundwort began charging after the Sunstone Owsla but Prince Rainbow erected a force field around the top of Watership Down. The charging rabbits ran headlong into the wall and were flung back towards the safety of Watership Down. “Any rabbit that attacks the rabbits of Sunstone, including their chief, will die on the spot. The Black Rabbit and I have a friendship and he’d gladly take any of you before your time. Hazel I suggest that you inform Campion and Groundsel of this threat and spread the word about Blizzard and his servants.” Prince Rainbow looked around at all the rabbits and vanished.

Blackberry stared as the strange wall that Prince Rainbow had erected disappeared. Hopping to the edge of the hill he noticed the rabbits of Sunstone, including Mist, had vanished from view. “I think we should do as Prince Rainbow says Hazel-rah. Campion and Groundsel need to be warned of Blizzard.”

“You’re right Blackberry and I think our visitors have overstayed their welcome,” Hazel said sternly glaring at the Efrafan and Vleflain rabbits. Hazel then turned to his own rabbits as the Efrafans and Vleflains took the hint and left and stared at them all. “I’m ashamed of every one of you. Poor Silver is dead and Thorn has been kidnapped by some evil rabbit who once resided in Sandleford who is set on destroying not just Watership Down but all four warrens-three of whom had nothing to do with Sandleford or the events that happened there-and all you can think of is attacking and killing innocent rabbits when there has been enough bloodshed today?” Hazel’s voice trailed off and he sighed. He suddenly appeared very old. “If we are going to combat this danger then we must work together. Yes that includes working with Woundwort and Sunstone,” he added as his rabbits uttered groans of protest. “Now come and help me fix our warren.”

In a flash of light the rabbits of Sunstone were back at their old warren. Prince Rainbow had transported them from Watership Down as he had been busy scolding Watership Down, Vleflain and Efrafa. The six Owsla members who had been left to watch over things looked up as Lightstone and all the Owsla passed through the magical barrier and their wounds were healed. “Lightstone-rah is that you?” Amber asked as she ran up to Sky and touched noses in greeting. Lightstone laughed. “Yes Amber. We lost like Prince Rainbow said and there was an attack by a rabbit named Blizzard. He killed a Watership Down Owsla officer and killed some other rabbits as well.” The rabbits gasped in horror. “He said he was going to destroy every rabbit for the events at Hazel’s old warren and then tried to kill Holly but I tackled Holly out of the way and took the hit instead. Prince Rainbow changed my fur and healed me.” Harmony ran to Lightstone and licked his face. “Hello Harmony,” Lightstone said smiling at his doe. “Prince Rainbow said that we will have kittens and be a family,” he whispered in her ear. Her eyes shone with joy as she smiled. “This is Mist. One of her kittens was kidnapped by one of Blizzard’s rabbits,” the rabbits again cried out in horror and growled in anger, “and Prince Rainbow told me to bring her here to Sunstone so she could fully heal. As such please be kind to her while she is with us.” The rabbits nodded.

“Now I’m sure you are wondering why I appear different. Prince Rainbow changed my fur and healed me from all the scars I have suffered both physically and mentally. He took the last threads of evil and darkness from me. This,” looking at his front paws, “is the result.”

“Lighstone-rah! Lightstone-rah!” The rabbits cheered.

Mist cried out in pain as she fell to the ground. Her wounds had opened up again. “Someone take her to the healer’s burrow and find Snowberry. She needs to be tended to at once.” Carefully two Owsla members set her on a third’s back and the rabbit set off at brisk run for Snowberry’s burrow. Snowberry was Sunstone’s healer. Once the Owsla member and Mist had gone underground Lightstone turned to look for Silverweed.

“Where’s Silverweed?”

“In his burrow Lightstone-rah,” Patch said coming over. “Is something wrong?”

“It appears I was wrong to let Silverweed come with us. Prince Rainbow told me that Silverweed will try to poison Sunstone against me and he will join Blizzard unless he is killed. I need volunteers to come with me to make sure he is killed and can’t risk harming us.” All the rabbits quickly volunteered. They had noticed that as soon as Lighstone-rah had left that Silverweed had been trying to take over. None of the rabbits would have it and had beaten Silverweed. They weren’t sure what Silverweed had said to let Lightstone-rah bring him to Sunstone from Shining Wire Warren but they knew that Silverweed was clever with words. He had probably said something to Lightstone-rah. The six remaining Owsla members along with the regular warren had taken turns keeping Silverweed locked in his burrow until their chief would come back. However they had been too late to save an elderly rabbit named Leafstone. Silverweed had killed Leafstone and a couple of kittens belonging to Officer Limestone.

“Lighstone-rah Silverweed killed two of Officer Limestone’s kittens and Leafstone.”

“What?! When did this happen?”

“A day after you left for Watership Down Lightstone-rah. He’s been locked in his burrow ever since with everyone taking shifts.”

“Has he escaped at all?”

“No Lighstone-rah. Thanks to your experience and training he hasn’t been able to even try. We have had to watch Limestone though. He nearly tore Silverweed to pieces before we pulled him off.”

“Thank you Breeze.” Lightstone was furious at himself for letting Silverweed live instead of killing him or leaving him behind at Shining Wire Warren. Two of the regular rabbits were on duty. They stared at Lightstone with suspicion until he informed them that he had been changed by Prince Rainbow. Nodding they stepped to either side so the rabbits could enter Silverweed’s burrow. Silverweed cocked his head as he saw the rabbits entering. They could see the scars on his body for Snowberry had refused to heal him at all after the attack on Limestone’s kittens. “Why did you agree so readily to come with me and leave your old warren?” Lightstone asked the seer.

“I had my own plans General. I hoped you would be killed at Watership Down so I could take over and shape this warren to my own design. These rabbits were supposed to stay under the influence of my mind. Instead with the killing of Cowslip you freed them from his grip. Cowslip and I were connected through blood.”

“What do you mean?”

“I happen to be Cowslip’s brother from a second litter. Because I was a seer he protected me. It’s a shame you didn’t die.” Lightstone shook his head. What a fool I have been. Turning they heard an enraged yell. Limestone barreled through the other rabbits and dove on Silverweed. He savagely tore open the wounds that had scarred over making Silverweed cry in pain as the large rabbit pinned him to the burrow floor. Then with a sickening rip Limestone tore out Silverweed’s throat. Silverweed may have been a seer but he was still just a regular rabbit. He didn’t stand a chance against the grieving Officer.

“Limestone!” Lightstone shouted at his officer.

Limestone didn’t let go of Silverweed’s dead body. He snarled and his eyes flashed angrily. A couple of Owsla members tackled Limestone and held him down as Lightstone looked at the mangled dead rabbit before him. He hopped over to the dead rabbit and brought down all his weight on Silverweed’s chest causing the bones over his heart to cave in and crush his heart. He tore out the muscles in Silverweed’s back legs and then sat back blood smeared on his mouth and dripping on the ground before him.

Prince Rainbow appeared then and looked calmly at the dead Silverweed. He picked up Silverweed. “This rabbit will be tortured by the Black Rabbit and his Owsla for his crimes against the rabbits of Sunstone and Shining Wire Warren. He won’t be troubling you anymore. “As for you,” turning to Limestone. “Your kittens are safe with the Black Rabbit. His Owsla protect them. So let go your anger as you have avenged their deaths.” The rabbits were surrounded by a yellow light and the blood that been on the floor of the burrow vanished along with Prince Rainbow and the dead Silverweed. Limestone groaned under the two rabbits pinning him. At a nod from Lightstone they let him up. “This will be the only time you are allowed to kill somebody within Sunstone. I’m sorry about your kittens.” Limestone nodded, the anger vanishing from his eyes. Then all the rabbits retired to their burrows for a well-deserved sleep.

scorpiodragon · Oct 4, 2021

Blizzard and his servants landed near some caves with a medium sized meadow. The rabbit that had been holding Thorn dropped him on the ground at Blizzard’s paws. Blizzard looked at the kitten before looking at his servants. “Start digging the warren in the caves.”

The rabbits hurried to do their master’s bidding. The change had made the formerly dead rabbits claws sharp enough to burrow through rock and Blizzard figured the caves would be the perfect warren for him and the young kitten who was cowering before him. Blizzard lied down in front of the kitten who was crying for his marli and parli.

“What’s your name little buck?”

“Thorn.”

“Your name doesn’t suit you. Do you know why I kidnapped you from Watership Down?”

“No.”

“I sense you will be a strong buck with proper training and nurturing and I need a successor to take over Brimstone if I’m to die. Not that I will die.” Blizzard chuckled at his last sentence. “I have plans for you little one as well as all four of those warrens who would gladly have torn each other apart. You should be thanking me for I spared your warren from being destroyed for now and saved you from death.”

“Marli and Parli will kill you for kidnapping me!” Thorn shouted at the rabbit before him.

“Your marli is already dead. My servant fatally and mortally wounded her before snatching you and your parli is no condition to come after me with his broken leg.”

Blizzard pinned Thorn to the ground with one paw while they waited for the other rabbits to finish digging the warren. Five hours passed as the sun began to set in the sky before the rabbits came out. One of the rabbits hopped over to Blizzard. “Master the warren is finished.”

“Good. Enjoy your silflay. My son is coming with me.”

“I’m not your son!” Thorn shouted.

“You will be soon once you’re changed.”

Thorn was terrified. He was surrounded by strange rabbits, his marli had been killed, his parli injured and he’d been kidnapped from his warren and his siblings. Thorn knew there was no way he could make it back to Watership Down as he was too young and he didn’t even know where they were.

“Why do you want to destroy rabbits?”

“I don’t want to destroy all rabbits. Just Watership Down and those other three warrens. Captain Holly left me to die after I was attacked by a badger instead of taking me with him, Bluebell and Pimpernel. Our warren had just been destroyed by man. They gassed the tunnels with poison and threw nets over the holes to keep any rabbits from getting out. Any rabbit that did escape was usually too full of the poison man had pumped into the runs and was shot by man or the boy who was with them. The runs were blocked with dead bodies. This is all Fiver and Hazel’s fault that Sandleford was destroyed. They and the rest of the Watership Down rabbits deserve to pay. Including any warrens in alliance with them.”

“You won’t get away with this! Hazel and the others will stop you!”

Blizzard laughed. “No I don’t think they will be able to. See I left them a surprise.”

“What surprise?” Thorn asked with fear in his voice.

“My power slipped into the warren when I blasted the ground and where I killed the rabbits that are with us. It will affect any rabbit it touches that has anger in their hearts and they will be automatically transported here to Brimstone to serve me.”

He picked Thorn up by his neck and carried him into Brimstone and through the runs into his burrow which was larger than the other burrows. There he dropped Thorn on the cave floor. “Now it’s time that I changed you.”

Blizzard let his power surround him. The black cloud hovered around his body and crackled with lightning. Thorn tried running around Blizzard but Blizzard sent the black cloud to block the entrance to his burrow trapping Thorn with him. “Once this touches you Thorn you’ll belong to me and won’t remember anything of your old life. I’ll make it painless for you.” Blizzard backed Thorn up against the cave wall and let the cloud and his power hover over and around the small kitten.

“No! Marli! Parli! Help!”

Blackavar winced in pain as Prince Rainbow rested his paws on his leg. A yellow light covered Prince Rainbow’s paws and seeped down into Blackavar’s injured leg and through his body healing the wound where the dark rabbit had bitten his shoulder. Cold spread through his body making him gasp for breath and then changed as heat spread through his body. Prince Rainbow sat back and watched Blackavar.

“You are lucky that you were only bitten by that rabbit. I’ve managed to heal both your leg and the wound. If I had gone any deeper than you would have been turned by Blizzard.”

Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig and Hyzenthlay watched Blackavar and Prince Rainbow. Prince Rainbow had appeared after they had fixed their warren and helped Honey, the Watership Down healer, heal the rabbits that had been injured in the attack before Blizzard had come. “Blackavar will need to rest for a week and then he should be as good as new.”

“Thank you Prince Rainbow,” Hazel said bowing his head to Frith’s messenger. The other three rabbits did the same. “I don’t know how we would have managed without you.”

“What about Mist? How is she?” Blackavar asked.

“Not doing well. The wounds on her took a far worse toll then I feared. She will need to remain at Sunstone for a long time. How long I can’t say. I have never seen this type of power before in all life. Sadly Lord Frith doesn’t know about this type of power either.”

The rabbits remained silent at Prince Rainbow’s words. “I have to go to Mist. I have to make sure she is okay.”

“No you have to stay here and look after your kittens while their mother is being healed. Besides you are in no shape to be going anywhere right now. Though your leg and the wound have been healed it’s best that you stay put for now. Get some rest Blackavar. Not many rabbits would have risked their lives like that.”

Prince Rainbow turned and left the burrow with the four Watership rabbits following him. “He will need to be guarded so that he doesn’t try anything foolish Hazel. Have your rabbits take shifts watching him to make sure he doesn’t leave Watership Down.”

Hazel nodded at Prince Rainbow’s orders. “I am not sure if this magic will affect the rabbits in any of your warrens so be careful. Have you heard from Campion and Groundsel?”

“Yes they plan on coming here to discuss what has happened and how we can deal with this threat to our survival.”

“Good. Now I must be off. I have other business to attend to for Lord Frith.”

“Of course Prince Rainbow. We will see you again?”

“Yes but I am not sure when.”

The rabbits nodded and Prince Rainbow disappeared. “What should do we Hazel-rah?” Bigwig asked.

“Follow Prince Rainbow’s advice I guess. Bigwig inform the Owsla that Blackavar must be guarded twenty-four seven for a week. Have them take shifts. It wouldn’t hurt to train some of the regular rabbits in guard duty as well. No rabbit is to leave Watership Down unless they’re sent on a message to Vleflain or Efrafa. You and Captain Holly might consider taking out some wide patrols like Campion has been teaching us to look for danger or any signs of Blizzard or those dark rabbits.”

“Yes Hazel-rah.” Bigwig went off to find Captain Holly and round up the Owsla. “Hyzenthlay gather the does with kittens and move them deeper into the warren where they’ll be safe. If Blizzard comes back use the escape tunnel and get the does and kittens out of Watership Down and start a new warren somewhere else.”

“But Hazel…”

“No Hyzenthlay. I won’t see Watership Down destroyed. If that rabbit kills us all then you need to take the does and kittens far away from here and flee this place.”

Hyzenthlay sighed and nodded at her mate and chief.

“Fiver do you know what’s going to happen us?”

“I don’t know Hazel. You know my visions don’t work like that and I can’t make them come to me. They just appear whenever there’s danger nearby.”

Hazel rubbed an ear and shook his head sadly. “Fiver I want you to lead Hyzenthlay and the others if we die.”

“Hazel I don’t have the ability to lead a warren. I’m just a seer.”

“You’re braver than you think Fiver. It might be good to have Campion and Groundsel dig escape runs as well so some of their rabbits can make it to safety as well. Then it will be a new warren of Efrafa, Vleflain and Watership Down.”

“What about Sunstone?”

“I don’t think anybody would like to have Sunstone rabbits among them. Though they did seem happy didn’t they?” Hazel asked referring to the former rabbits of Shining Wire Warren.

“Yes they did. I’m glad they found peace finally.”

“Hazel!” Bigwig shouted stopping before he plowed into Hazel and Fiver.

“What is it Bigwig? Did Blizzard come back?”

“No Hazel. Blackavar and the kittens are gone!”

scorpiodragon · Oct 9, 2021

“What do you mean Blackavar and the kittens are gone?!" Hazel shouted rushing past Bigwig to Blackavar and Mist’s burrow. He stopped in front of the burrow looking inside. There was no Blackavar and no kittens.
“I thought I said to put Owsla at Blackavar and Mist’s burrow?!” Hazel shouted at one of his Captains of Owsla.
“I was busy rounding up my Owsla. They still haven’t been given the orders you asked me to give them Hazel.”
“Where in Frith are they? What the hell was Blackavar thinking?”
“There’s only two things he would do Hazel,” Fiver said as his brother and Bigwig spun to look at him.
“What would that be old chap?” Bigwig asked the seer.
“Either gone after Blizzard and the rabbits who stole Thorn which I don’t think is likely as he wouldn’t put his kittens in danger or find Woundwort’s warren and go see Mist.”
“Hazel!” Dandelion called.
Hazel sighed. “We need to figure out where Blackavar disappeared with his kittens. Maybe… Fiver do you think you could contact Prince Rainbow?”
Fiver looked shocked but shook his head warily. “I don’t know Hazel. But I suppose I could try.”
“Well do it. We can’t have Blackavar doing something foolish.”
Hazel ran up the run to the Honeycomb where Dandelion was. “What is it Dandelion?”
“Groundsel and Campion have arrived.”
After hearing the attack on Watership Down by a rabbit named Blizzard from their respective warrens Campion had run to Vleflain with some of his Owsla and met Groundsel. They had agreed that they needed to speak to Hazel and see if they could offer their assistance in any way to the third warren of their alliance. Groundsel, Campion and some members of both the Efrafan and Vleflain Owsla had immediately set off for Watership Down and arrived just while the Watership rabbits were enjoying afternoon silflay. Yet Groundsel and Campion noticed that the Watershipers were staying closer to the burrows than they would normally have done and the Owsla was positioned around the beech tree that stood over the warren.
Groundsel and Campion allowed their rabbits to eat and then to help the Watershipers stand guard around the warren while they talked to Hazel. Seeing Dandelion Campion asked for Hazel and Dandelion had left them before underground to notify Hazel of the Efrafan and Vleflain chiefs’ arrival. Hazel came up and asked them to follow him to the Honeycomb.
“Hazel we heard what happened from our rabbits and came here to see if you needed help with anything,” Campion said while Groundsel nodded in agreement.
Hazel sighed. “I’m afraid we have a problem. Blackavar is missing as are his kittens. Fiver thinks Blackavar is trying to get to Mist who went to Sunstone.”
“Those rabbits the three warrens were attacking before Blizzard changed?” Groundsel asked the Watership Down chief.
“Yes. Prince Rainbow blocked a few of the rabbits from running after them and then they just vanished.”
“If Prince Rainbow helped those rabbits then he must have a reason,” Groundsel said.
“I guess we just trust in Prince Rainbow,” Hazel said. “We managed to fix our warren. Lucky whatever Blizzard used doesn’t seem to have destroyed the warren internally. Some of the burrows did cave in so we had to redo those burrows. But everything else seems fine.”
“What happened Hazel with this Blizzard fellow?”
“From what he said he was a rabbit of our old warren Sandleford. Apparently he had been poisoned by the gas man pumped into the warren but managed to escape the warren and man and met up with Captain Holly, Bluebell, Toadflax and Pimpernel. Toadflax had also gotten too much poison and he died that night. Holly, Bluebell Pimpernel and Blizzard continued on but a badger jumped Blizzard and tore into his leg. Holly, Bluebell and Pimpernel ran away from the badger. Holly said they were concerned that if they took Blizzard with them then he would attract elil from them and they figured he was a goner anyway due the ingestion of poison.
“We don’t know how Blizzard survived all those months or how he even managed to find Watership Down. Fiver was having a vision of a rabbit and we got word from Sunset that a rabbit was being barred from entering Watership Down by Silver and Buckthorn. By that time Fiver had recovered from his vision and Sunset, Fiver, Bigwig, Holly and myself went above ground and saw Blizzard who started ranting that Fiver and I were the ones responsible for the death of Sandleford.”
Campion and Groundsel shook their heads. “That’s ridiculous. No rabbit is responsible for what man does. Man only seeks to destroy all he touches. Sandleford was most likely destroyed because man thought you were in their way of whatever man wanted. No rabbit can predict that. Not even seers,” Campion said.
“Holly admitted that he knew Blizzard and Blizzard went insane saying Watership Down was going to pay for the destruction of Sandleford and leaving him to a badger. Then Woundwort came…”
“Woundwort!” Groundsel shouted in fear.
“Do you mean he’s alive Hazel?” Campion asked.
“Yes apparently he is and he has a new warren.”
“This is bad. The General won’t forgive us for allying with Watership Down and he’ll probably kill me for becoming chief of Efrafa.”
“Woundwort has changed Campion-rah and Groundsel-rah. You have nothing to fear from Woundwort. The threat to all four warrens is Blizzard and his rabbits,” Prince Rainbow said appearing before the three chiefs.
“Who is this Hazel?”
“I’m Prince Rainbow Campion. You have nothing to fear from me. I am here to help.”
“Prince Rainbow where is Blackavar and his kittens?” Hazel asked.
“Foolish Blackavar and his kittens are two miles from Watership Down. Blackavar means to go to Sunstone and find Mist.”
“What’s Sunstone?” Groundsel asked.
“Woundwort’s warren,” Hazel said.
“He’s Lightstone now. No longer evil thus no longer Woundwort.”
“We’ll have to catch Blackavar and his kittens before anything happens to them. Blackavar is no shape to be traveling.”
“I think he’ll be alright as long as he can see Mist.” Prince Rainbow sighed. “Send your rabbits after the kittens and I’ll take Blackavar to Sunstone and then bring him back to Watership Down.” Prince Rainbow chuckled to himself. “Mist will probably scold him for doing something so foolish as to put their kittens in danger.” Laughing he vanished in a flash of purple light.
Mist slowly opened her eyes and looked around her. A silver rabbit with a red streak of fur between her ears was pressing some herbs into a paste and turned as Mist stirred. “Ah you’re awake dear. Lightstone-rah asked that I take care of you until you are better.”
“Where am I?”
The black rabbit smiled. “You’re at Sunstone my dear. My name is Snowberry and I’m Sunstone’s healer. According to the Owsla member who brought you to my burrow he said that Prince Rainbow asked Lighstone-rah to bring you here to be taken care of until you are well enough to go home to Watership Down.” Snowberry carried the paste over to Mist and began spreading it on her wounds.
“What happened?”
“Lightstone-rah and the Owsla say that after three warrens attacked him and his rabbits this other rabbit attacked everybody. He took the hit for some rabbit named Holly and was knocked out for the remainder of the battle. He’s interrogating the Owsla that was with him about what happened right now. But the Owsla member who brought you here said that this strange rabbit killed some rabbits of Watership Down and then the dead rabbits came back to life only their fur and eyes had changed…” Snowberry shivered despite the fact that it wasn’t cold in Sunstone. “I guess this rabbit ordered one of the dead rabbits to go find him a successor and he took one of your kittens and then the entire group vanished. Lightstone-rah came too then and a couple of rabbits tried attacking him but Prince Rainbow helped Lightstone and the Sunstone Owsla escape and brought them along with you back here.”
“When can I leave and go home?”
“You’re not going anywhere until I can heal these injuries that were inflicted on you.”
The Sunstone Owsla sat before Lightstone and listened while their chief questioned them about the events on Watership Down.
“So this strange rabbit was supposedly from Sandleford?” Lightstone asked Burdock.
“Yes Lightstone-rah. That’s what Holly and the other Watershipers said. This rabbit killed a bunch of rabbits and then his fur changed. The dead rabbits came back to life and their fur had changed as well.”
“What else happened?” Lightstone asked.
“Well sir once these dead rabbits were changed and had come back to life they gathered around this Blizzard fellow and he told one of them to go underground and find him a successor. A few moments later the rabbit that had gone done underground came back up with a kitten in his mouth. A chocolate rabbit with scars on his body tried attacking the rabbit that held the kitten so…”
“Chocolate rabbit with scars?” Lightstone frowned as he tried to remember who that rabbit was. “That must have been Blackavar. He was an Efrafan prisoner who was punished for trying to flee Efrafa when I ruled. Continue Burdock.”
“Yes sir. Blackavar ran at the rabbit that had the kitten, we’re assuming it must have been Blackavar’s and another of these changed rabbits bit him in the shoulder and then threw him into the tree overlooking the warren and Blackavar broke his leg. Then the changed rabbits took the poor kitten and left. None of us could follow.”
“Why were you all surrounding me and attacking two of the rabbits?”
“They tried attacking you while you lay unconscious on the ground. That’s why Frost and Odin attacked those two rabbits. Those rabbits from the three warrens were trying to kill you Lightstone!” Twinleaf said to his friend and chief and the other rabbits nodded their heads in agreement.
“Prince Rainbow helped us get away. He said the other two warrens were Efrafa and some warren called Vleflain.”
“I see. Well we should be protected from Blizzard as long as we stay inside Sunstone. Thank you all for helping me.”
“It’s what an Owsla does Lightstone-rah,” Burdock said.
“We will defend Sunstone, Harmony and you with our lives,” Fern said and the other rabbits stamped in applause.
“Go above ground and silflay or go to sleep. I’m going to go check on our guest.”
The rabbits dispersed, some to go check on their does and get some sleep while others went above ground to feed.
Back at Watership Down Hazel was still talking to Campion and Groundsel. “I ordered Hyzenthlay to gather the does and kittens into the deeper burrows of the warren so they can escape and start a new warren somewhere else far away from here if Blizzard comes back. I think it might be a good idea if Efrafa and Vleflain do the same. That way if we die than our does and kittens live on and can start a new warren. Of course that decision is up to both of you.”
Groundsel and Campion looked at each other. “I think you’re right Hazel. Our warrens need to live on,” Campion said.
“It might be a good idea to dig an underground run linking all three warrens together so if it becomes necessary then they can all meet up underground somewhere and start a new life somewhere else while we try to hold off Blizzard and his rabbits.”
“Right. We’d better get started. Good day Hazel and we’re sorry for the way our rabbit behaved,” Campion said.
“They’ve already been disciplined for their actions,” Groundsel said.
The two chiefs turned and ran back up the run before calling their respective Owsla and vanished down the hill and into the horizon.
Prince Rainbow ran to where Blackavar and his kittens were in an abandoned badger den. “Blackavar I told you that you were NOT to leave Watership Down.”
“I have to see Mist and you can’t stop me!” Blackavar said braver then he felt.
“Actually I can stop you. I could call the Black Rabbit and have him take you right now but I won’t do that. You are lucky your remaining kittens haven’t gotten killed with your idiocy! If I take you to see Mist will you relax and go back to Watership Down to rest?”
“Yes.”
Prince Rainbow shook his head and sighed. “Alright but first these kittens are being returned home. They don’t need to see their marli in her condition.”
Prince Rainbow let a reddish orange light sweep around the kittens and set them down gently in Hazel and Hyzenthlay’s burrow where Fiver was waiting. “Kittens!” Fiver exclaimed checking them over. Hearing Fiver’s shout Bigwig and Hazel came back and saw the kittens in Hazel’s burrow.
“Blackavar has agreed to remain in Watership Down providing I take him to see Mist. He’ll be back in five minutes Fiver.”
“Thank you Prince Rainbow.”
Fiver turned and repeated the message to Hazel and Bigwig who sighed in relief. They escorted the kittens back to their burrow and Fiver stayed with them to watch over them until Blackavar came back.
Blackavar shut his eyes as Prince Rainbow picked Blackavar up by his neck and flew through the air to Sunstone. They passed through the magical barrier and Prince Rainbow set Blackavar on the grass. “You have five minutes with Mist. When those five minutes are up I will return you to Watership Down where you WILL STAY THERE!”
Blackavar nodded before heading to the entrance to Sunstone. He saw a strange circle of stones in the middle of the field and felt the ground and air around him vibrating softly. Fern looked up as he saw Prince Rainbow’s arrival with the scarred chocolate rabbit. He hopped up to Blackavar.
“You’re Blackavar?”
“Yes. Please I want to see Mist.”
Fern looked at Prince Rainbow who nodded. “Follow me.”
Fern led Blackavar to the eastern side of the warren and went down a run that led to Snowberry’s burrow. “Snowberry!” Fern called.
A golden rabbit poked her head out. “Snowberry isn’t here Captain Fern. What do you need?”
“This rabbit is the mate of Mist. He wants to see her and Prince Rainbow said it’s okay.”
The golden rabbit studied Blackavar and nodded. “Be quick about it Blackavar. Mist needs to rest.”
“Thank you umm…”
“Enya. I’m Snowberry’s apprentice healer.”
“Thank you Enya,” Blackavar said as he stepped past her and into the burrow. He saw Mist lying on a bed of grass and ran over to her.
“Blackavar!” Mist cried seeing her mate before her. “What… how did you get here?”
“Prince Rainbow brought me here. I took our kittens and left Watership Down in an attempt to find you. I had to make sure you were okay.”
“You did what?!” Mist screamed sitting up suddenly causing her to cry out as pain shot through her body. Enya came over and glared at Blackavar before gently pushing Mist back down on the bed. “How could you be so foolish Blackavar as to take our kittens out of Watership Down?! If I wasn’t injured I’d kill you myself!”
Blackavar hung his head and shuffled his front paws. “I know it was stupid. But they wanted to see you. Besides they are fine. Prince Rainbow transported them back to Watership Down.”
“What if they had been attacked by elil or that rabbit Blizzard. I’ve already lost Thorn. I won’t lose another of my kittens because my mate is so in love with me that he risks his children’s safety. I thought you knew better than that Blackavar. You’re an Owsla Officer! You KNOW how dangerous it is right now with some mad rabbit running loose. And this rabbit is worse than Woundwort ever was!”
Fern snickered behind a paw as he watched the Watership couple fight with each other. Enya shot him a look and turned back to Blackavar. “That’s enough Blackavar. Mist will never get better unless you let her rest. And she won’t get better if you do stupid stuff that risks your life and the lives of your kittens. Return to Watership Down and stay there.”
Fern approached at Enya’s words and took a meek Blackavar back out the burrow and through the warren before coming above ground near the main entrance. He left Blackavar with Prince Rainbow and went to check on Lightstone-rah and Harmony.
“Well are you satisfied Blackavar?”
“She’s still hurt. Will her wounds heal?”
“Between the magic that lies around and in Sunstone and Snowberry and Enya’s healing skills I think she will. However I’m not sure if she will be permanently scarred or not.”
“Will that rabbit get her?”
“No. I’m afraid I still haven’t found out anything about the powers that Blizzard has acquired. Come on I’ll take you back to Watership Down. You will stay there won’t you?” He asked turning to glare at the black buck.
“Yes.”
Prince Rainbow suddenly smiled. “I think we’ll go by the river that runs fifteen yards away from Sunstone. You may be interested in how you look.”
“What do you mean how I look?”
Prince Rainbow just smiled and led Blackavar to the river where the Sunstone rabbits drank. “Look in the water Blackavar,” Prince Rainbow said gently.
Blackavar looked and was shocked at what he saw. His scars had completely disappeared from his body. His ears were no longer torn to shreds but back in their correct position above his head. There was a silver streak of fur between his ears that went down to stopped just before it hit his nose and his fur was jet black where before he had been light chocolate. His eyes had also changed to neon green.
“These are the effects of being in Sunstone even for as short a period of time as you were. These changes will also gradually take over the rabbits of Sunstone for the better and change their eyes and fur color into shades different from normal rabbits.”
“Will it harm them?”
“No and it won’t harm you. Don’t be surprised if Mist comes back different than what she is right now. Now I’ll take you home to Watership Down.”
“You know you were right,” Blackavar said looking down as Prince Rainbow set him down on the bottom of the hill that led to Watership Down.
“How so?”
“Mist gave me the scolding of my life.”
Prince Rainbow laughed as he vanished leaving Blackavar to climb the hill alone.
“NOOO! Marli! Parli! Help me!” Thorn screamed, his voice suddenly cutting off as the black cloud crackling with lightning surrounded him. Blizzard fed more of his power into the cloud and watched as Thorn was covered and blocked from view by the cloud.
The black cloud dissipated before floating back into Blizzard’s body. Thorn’s fur and eyes had changed. His fur had darkened to vivid burgundy except for silver streaks along his body and his eyes had changed to violet with star pupils. The newly changed Thorn looked at Blizzard and hopped over to him. “Parli,” the kitten said curling up beside Blizzard on the nest of grass and fur.

“Welcome to the world little Thanatos.”

scorpiodragon · Oct 15, 2021

Mist had been slowly healing with Snowberry’s healing skills and the magic that flowed through Sunstone. She was able to hop around without any pain and the wounds on her body had disappeared. Her fur had changed to silver and her eyes had lightened to a pale blue. The rabbits of Sunstone took this in stride as they realized they too were slowly changing. Prince Rainbow appeared one day as she was eating with a friend she had made named Star. “I see you are well.”

“Yes Prince Rainbow. Thank you for bringing me here.”

“It is Lightstone you should thank Mist. He agreed to my orders that you be brought here for healing.”

“Star will you thank Lightstone for me?” Mist asked her friend.

“No need Mist. I was happy to have you,” Lightstone said as he came up behind her.

Mist turned and nodded to Lightstone. “I’m glad that you have changed from the days of Efrafa Lightstone-rah.”

“I was a fool then. Still everything worked out wonderfully.”

“It’s time to go home Mist. Blackavar and your family are waiting for you.” Prince Rainbow set Mist on his back and flew to Watership Down where he gently landed so Mist could scramble off his back. But she was knocked over by her kittens that had been waiting for their marli to return for days.

“Marli!” The kittens shouted crowding around Mist.

“Welcome back Mist. I see you have changed just as Blackavar,” Hazel said hopping over to greet her.

“Thank you Hazel-rah. I’m glad to be home. Where is Blackavar?”

“Out on patrol with Captain Holly, Pipkin, Dandelion and Fiver.”

“Have you all been?” Mist asked looking at her kittens with tears in her eyes. She was grateful to Watership Down for not allowing any more of her kittens to be killed or taken from her though she knew in her heart that it wasn’t their fault that Thorn had been kidnapped by Blizzard.

“Good marli,” the kittens said. They fell into step behind their mother as she went down to their burrow. She lay down and went to sleep as her kittens curled up behind her, their little bodies pressed against each other. Blackavar arrived back from patrol and reported to Hazel that they hadn’t seen any signs of Blizzard or his rabbits. They had seen a Vleflain wide patrol and had stopped to converse with them who also reported that neither Vleflain or Efrafa had seen any signs of strange activity. Hazel nodded and thanked Blackavar for his report, smiling as he watched Blackavar go down the run that led to his burrow.

“Mist! You’re home!” Blackavar shouted waking up his family. Mist was annoyed at being woken from her nap and at Blackavar for waking their kittens up.

“Any news of Thorn?”

“No Mist. He hasn’t been seen by Watership Down, Vleflain or Efrafa.”

“It’s been a month. Where could he possibly be?” Mist said crying as she buried her head against Blackavar’s chest. “I don’t know Mist. We can only hope that he is alive and okay.”

“With a mad rabbit like that I highly doubt Thorn is okay Blackavar.”

“Well let’s just hope he’s alive and will return soon.”

“Thanatos!” Blizzard called looking for his son. He turned to one of the Owsla. Blizzard had decided that Brimstone needed an Owlsa and had infected more rabbits. His warren was growing with the does and bucks he had been changing. “Where’s Thanatos?”

“Above ground master with Sunspot.”

“The story teller eh? Bring him down here.”

“Yes master.” The rabbit quickly ran through the warren and went above ground and over to Sunspot. “Thanatos your father wants you.”

“Ah do I have to go down Frostbane?”

“Master’s orders Thanatos.”

Thanatos rolled his eyes and pushed Frostbane to the ground as he went to the burrow he shared with his father. “Parli I was listening to Sunspot saying a story about the Black Rabbit.”

Blizzard smiled at his son. “You can listen to Sunspot later. Right now I need to tell you about our enemies.”

“Elil?”

“Not elil though elil are the enemies of all rabbits. Lord Frith created them to kill all rabbits as a way to punish El-ahrairah. I’m talking about four warrens. These warrens are Watership Down, Efrafa, Vleflain and Sunstone. They need to be destroyed.”

Thanatos nodded. He had heard briefly about these four warrens before. His father’s old warren had been destroyed by man at the hands of two rabbits named Hazel and Fiver. He had barely escaped with his life and been left for dead by an Owsla Captain named Holly. Then they had taken his marli from his father. Thanatos had been the only kitten his parli had managed to rescue. “Don’t worry Parli I won’t let you down. But how do the other three warrens tie into these Watership rabbits?”

“They are in alliance with Watership Down. Due to their alliance they will also be destroyed. They’re kidnappers and murders Thanatos. They killed your marli and pretended to be your marli and parli instead. It took me months to find you. Sadly I was too late to save your marli.”

“Don’t worry Parli. I won’t let you or marli down. I’ll kill all those warrens myself if need be.”

“Good. Together we can destroy these rabbits and avenge your marli and my mate. It’s time we began your training.”

scorpiodragon · Oct 24, 2021

Thanatos watched the opening of the prison run as two of the Owsla came out with a rabbit between them. The rabbit had recently been captured in a scouting party on another warren. Blizzard stood beside Thanatos as the rabbit was led out and shoved in front of them.
“Now Thanatos watch me.”
“Okay parli,” Thanatos said.
Blizzard looked at the rabbit with distaste and shot out a bolt of lightning at the rabbit. The rabbit screamed as it jerked in the arms of the two Owsla members who were holding it. Blizzard gave the rabbit a couple minutes of breathing room before he again shot lightning at the rabbit. Its screams filled the warren, echoing off the stone walls. The other rabbits in the prison run shivered from fear.
“Now you try Thanatos.”
Thanatos looked upon the prisoner who was being held roughly by the two Owsla members and closed his eyes as he felt the energy inside him. He focused on the energy and condensed it into a ball before smiling and shooting the ball of energy at the prisoner. The rabbit screamed and dropped to the ground. Its right flank was burned. Thanatos concentrated harder and sent a bigger ball of energy at the rabbit that threw the rabbit and the two Owsla members back into the wall.
“Very good Thanatos. But next time try not to harm the Owsla. They need to be in top shape for when we confront the enemy.”
“Yes Parli.”
“Not only will we need to focus on your energy you’ll also need to learn how to fight with your claws and teeth as well form and shoot lighting out of your paws. So you will have three training sessions a day. One with the Owsla who will teach you how to fight with claws and teeth and two with me to learn how to control your energy and learn how to form lightning from now on. Now I’ll let you go to the Owsla to train with them. Try not to kill any of the prisoners. They need to be kept alive for you to practice on.”
“Okay Parli.” Thanatos turned and hopped down the run to find the Owsla run so he could begin his training. Blizzard looked at the burned prisoner and the Owsla members. “Take this rabbit back to its cell.”
“Yes master,” the Owsla members said. They picked up the rabbit and dragged it back down the prison run before shoving it into its burrow with three other rabbits. Blizzard went back to his burrow and lay down. “I never thought I would enjoy having a kitten like Thanatos but he’s such an evil little buck and strong too. It may be a problem if he gets more powerful than I am. I don’t like it but I may have to end his life if he surpasses me in strength and power. He’s still a kitten so I have a while to see how he progresses.”
In the prison burrow where the rabbit had been returned the other three rabbits looked at the burn. Thankfully it wasn’t deep. “Thanatos is evil,” one of the rabbits said.
“That rabbit has been brainwashed and changed by Blizzard, Blueberry. He’s the real evil one.”
“Maybe Zornith but you have to admit that kitten has changed for the worse ever since Blizzard changed him.”
“Pox the wound should heal. But I’m more worried about you being shot with lighting twice and then thrown into the wall,” Moonstone said.
“I’ll be okay Moonstone. I must admit I didn’t see that blast coming. I didn’t think Thanatos would be that powerful in such a short time. It’s only been a couple of months since he was reborn.”
The other three rabbits nodded in agreement. Thanatos was evil and already exhibiting characteristics of Blizzard. Thanatos seemed to enjoy inflicting fear and pain on both the Owsla and the prisoners. Everyone in the prison run was as afraid of Thanatos as they were of Blizzard because both those rabbits brought pain to the run and its inhabitants.
“Shouldn’t we try to escape and warn one of these warrens about Blizzard’s plans?” Blueberry asked quietly.
“No. The last rabbit who tried was killed in front of the entire warren,” Moonstone reminded the doe. “The Brimstone Owsla is super-fast due to the changes Blizzard put upon them after he killed them. We’d never out run them.”
The four rabbits fell silent after that. They were from a warren known as Thornbush Warren. The entrance to the warren had been behind a thorn bush which is how it got its name. Their chief had turned them and seven other rabbits over but had been killed anyway along with the rest of the warren.
“The rabbits of Brimstone are strange. They all have strange powers,” Zornith said shaking her head sadly.
“I think that’s due to Blizzard,” Pox said. “Somehow when they were reborn as the evil rabbits they are now they inherited powers. It’s against nature. Only Prince Rainbow and the Black Rabbit should have any powers.”
“Not all of us are evil in Brimstone. Some of us have managed to fight the darkness that Blizzard has inflicted on the majority,” a voice said.
The rabbits flinched and looked cautiously out their burrow before relaxing as black rabbit with white spots came up to them. “Winterberry what are you doing in the prison run?” Pox asked the Owsla Officer.
“Coming to check on your wound Pox. Now the rest of you step aside so I can see how Pox is doing,” Winterberry ordered. He looked over the wound. “I’ll try to find Lummis and see if she can get down here to heal your wound for you Pox.”
“Where’s Pecan and Fuser?”
“On a scouting patrol with Blackstone and some other Brimstone Owsla members. Why?”
“We were thinking of trying to escape and warn one of those warrens Blizzard is always ranting about that he’s going to attack them.”
“I imagine those warrens already know and they’d probably kill any of us changed rabbits on sight. They don’t know that not all of us are evil.”
“Why is that?” Pox asked Winterberry.
“Why is what?”
“How come you, Blackstone, Pecan, Fuser, Lummis and a few others despite being changed aren’t evil?”
“It’s because we were gentle rabbits to begin with and we died to protect our warren.”
“Then what about the changed rabbits from Watership Down and two of the other warrens?”
“The way I understand it from Blizzard’s constant ranting is that those rabbits already had evil in their hearts. In a way Blizzard, without realizing it of course, did Watership and the other warrens a favor by killing them because they would have tried to overthrow their respective chiefs and bring darkness upon their warrens.”
“So they would have destroyed their warrens?”
Winterberry nodded. “It doesn’t make sense to us either. Anyway I have to go above ground. I’m on guard duty with Chaos.”
The four rabbits jerked in fear at the name. “Why are you on guard duty with that rabbit?” Blueberry asked, her voice shaking in fear.
“Blizzard’s orders. Nothing I can do about it. You all know that.”
The rabbits nodded. “Be safe Winterberry,” Moonstone called after the departing rabbit.

scorpiodragon · Nov 7, 2021

Blackstone ordered his party to lie down in the tall grass near an enemy warren. Blizzard wanted as many rabbits brought back to Brimstone so they could be used as either prisoners or turned by him so he could form a great army that would wipe out Watership Down, Vleflain, Efrafa and Sunstone. He shook his head sadly at the destruction Blizzard had brought to countless rabbits and Thanatos was no better. Those two rabbits made everyone’s lives hell in their warren. Try as the few rabbits that were good might they knew there was no way to escape Blizzard or Thanatos.
Blackstone, Fuser, Pecan, Vosper and Irondale spread out in a loose line as they watched the small warren. Blackstone and his patrol had come across this warren two days ago and been watching the warren before they attacked it. Vosper and Irondale were two evil rabbits so Blackstone and his friends had to be careful not to let any rabbits loyal to Blizzard find out that they weren’t evil.
“Fuser,” Blackstone called to his friend. “Yeah Blackstone?”
“Do you think you get to one of those warrens that Blizzard’s always talking about?”
“I don’t know. What if Irondale or Vosper report back to Blizzard?”
“Pecan and I can take care of them.”
“Alright. I’ll go tonight. But I may end up being killed. How am I supposed to keep those rabbits from killing me?”
“Take a prisoner with you. Then you can say you were merely running after a prisoner who was trying to escape on our journey home.”
“If we get caught we’ll be used as toys for Thanatos to hone his skills.”
The Brimstone Owsla watched the warren. As a couple of rabbits came closer to where they were the Brimstone Owsla struck and grabbed the rabbits by their necks before dragging them away into the bushes. The rabbits were pinned under two of the Owsla. One looked to be a doe of about six months and the other was a yearling buck. “Take the doe back to Brimstone Pecan and throw her in the prison run until Blizzard decides what to do with her. Vosper you go as well.”
“Right Irondale. Come on and don’t try to escape.” Vosper said. Vosper and Pecan shoved the doe between them and took her back to Brimstone. Captured does were either put in the prison run to be used as target practice or given to the Owsla and other changed rabbits to help the warren flourish. Their fate depended upon Blizzard and where he thought they were best suited for the benefit of the warren. The majority of the does were going to the Owsla and main part of the warren to help the warren expand. A consequence of pairing regular does and changed bucks was that the kittens would be born changed rabbits with the powers of their fathers. This saved Blizzard time since he didn’t have to change newborn kittens that would otherwise have died due to the changes inflicted upon them.
The buck got kicked in the face which knocked it out. “He won’t be waking up anytime soon,” Irondale said. “We’ll try to snatch some more rabbits before nightfall and start home tonight. Since there are only three of us we’ll have to make sure these rabbits don’t try to run.”
Blackstone, Fuser and Irondale continued watching the warren. They had counted only fifteen rabbits and had already captured two. “It must be a new warren. Or something killed off the majority of rabbits,” Blackstone said.
“Hopefully it isn’t the White Blindness,” Fuser said.
“No these rabbits smell healthy. It must be a new warren like Blackstone said,” Irondale said to Fuser.
The rabbits waited and caught six more rabbits before deciding to head home and report to Blizzard. A doe that appeared to be about four months old bolted as they were nearing a stream. “Runner!” Irondale shouted seeing the doe make a run for it. “We can afford to lose a buck but not a doe!”
“I’ll get her Irondale,” Fuser said and took off after the doe. Blackstone and Irondale quickly tightened the remaining five rabbits into a circle and herded them into the stream. Fuser spotted the doe making towards the forest. He caught up to her and pinned her beneath him.
“Be still and I won’t have to kill you,” Fuser whispered to the doe.
“Let me go!” The doe screamed struggling in vain to get out from under Fuser.
Fuser sat up on his back legs but kept one paw on the doe. “I don’t want to hurt you. I need you to help me get a message to a warren that’s far from here.”
“What do you need me for?”
“If you don’t want to end up in the prison run or become the doe for one of the Owsla of Brimstone you will listen to what I say and in return I can help you.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because my chief and master plans on attacking four innocent warrens soon and they need to be warned about how stronger Brimstone has gotten. I can’t go myself as they’ll kill me so I need a regular rabbit to take with me to one of these four warrens that are many days from here. In return I may just be able to convince my chief to let you be my doe. You’ll be safer with me as your mate than with most of the Owsla and the regular rabbits in the warren. It’s either that or you’ll be killed for trying to escape when I bring you to Brimstone and I will have to bring you to my warren.”
The doe quieted at the thought that she would be killed unless she agreed to help this strange rabbit and become his doe. She couldn’t imagine being a buck’s doe at four months old but she could see she didn’t have much choice. “Fine I’ll do it.”
“Good. If I let you up do you promise not to run?”
“Yes.”
Fuser looked at the doe intently before nodding and taking his paw off her. “What’s your name?”
“Monza.”
“Monza huh? My name’s Fuser. Get some sleep Monza. We leave at dawn.”
They passed the night in comfort but for the seven prisoners their night was anything but easy.
“Where’s Fuser?” Blizzard demanded. Thanatos looked at the new prisoners with interest. The rabbits flinched and cowered in Blizzard and Thanatos’s burrow as the young rabbit gazed upon them with malice shining in his eyes.
“A doe escaped master. Fuser ran after it,” Irondale said.
“What of this warren that these rabbits are from?”
“Fifteen rabbits total master. Eight have been captured,” Blackstone stated.
“Seven you mean since you let a doe run. It seems a punishment is in order then for your failure to control your prisoners.”
Blackstone, Pecan, Vosper and Irondale flinched at that. Though Vosper and Irondale were evil they didn’t fancy being punished by Blizzard or Thanatos. “Thanatos how do you feel about getting in some practice before bed?”
“Thank you parli!” Thanatos said smiling as he felt inside for the energy that lay in his body. He decided to try something different this time. Picking out the energy he formed them into separate balls and sat up as he fired the balls of energy at the rabbits cowering before him. He laughed in delight as all eleven rabbits were thrown backwards into the wall. Two of the rabbits screamed as they felt their legs break from the impact before all the rabbits slid down the wall and lay in a crumpled heap of bodies on the floor. Shutting his eyes he breathed slowly and let the energy flow back into him before concentrating on the lightning he had been practicing with his parli. Opening his eyes he threw bolts of lightning at rabbits making them scream in pain as the lightning burned their flanks and passed through their bodies. He was careful not to have the lightning go to any vital organs.
“Thanatos that’s enough,” Blizzard said placing a paw on the buck. Blizzard shouted for his Owsla. Seven rabbits quickly ran into the burrow and bowed before Blizzard and Thanatos, their noses wrinkling in disgust at the smell of burnt fur and flesh. “Take the bucks to the prison run. Distribute the does to any regular bucks that don’t have mates. Fetch Lummis and have her attend to my Owsla members.”
“Yes master,” Frostbane said before motioning to some of the Owsla to drag the bucks down to the prison run. “Oh and don’t let the prisoners be healed. They need to pay for that doe escaping. Make sure Lummis heals the does though.”
“Yes master,” the Owsla chorused before vanishing.
Blackstone woke up in his burrow. He screamed as he tried to get up only to find that his back right leg was broken. “Hold still Blackstone,” Lummis said pressing an herb concoction to the burn on Blackstone’s right flank. “Thanatos did this?”
“Yeah. Blizzard said we had to be punished for letting the doe escape. But it was part of a plan that I concocted with Fuser.”
“Where is Fuser?”
“Went after a doe that tried escaping. They’re on their way to one of those warrens that Blizzard wants to attack to warn them about how strong Blizzard is getting.”
“Are you mad Blackstone?!” Lummis shouted. “If Blizzard finds out he’ll have you and Fuser killed as well as that doe.”
“They have to be warned about Blizzard. Either way they won’t stand a chance. There’s no stopping him or Thanatos.”
Lummis shook her head sadly. Blackstone was right. There was no hope for the good rabbits and the prisoners of Brimstone. Unless Lord Frith delivered them from the jaws of the Shadow Land itself, then they would be slaves to Blizzard and Thanatos forever.
Fuser and Monza set out before dawn the next morning. They traveled for two weeks before they were surrounded by a group of Watership rabbits led by Captain Bigwig. The rabbits formed a wary but tight circle when they saw Fuser.
“It’s one of those rabbits Blizzard created!” Acorn shouted.
“Be careful of that rabbit. We’ll take them both back to Hazel-rah. Kehaar!” Bigwig shouted up into the sky.
“Yah Pigvig?”
“Get Groundsel, Campion and Lightstone and tell them to be here on the double.”
“Yah okay Mister Pigvig.” Kehaar turned and flew south to Vleflain.
“Come with us,” Bigwig ordered the two rabbits. He sent Acorn ahead to tell Hazel about the rabbits on the down. Hazel, Hyzenthlay and Fiver walked to the edge of the hill and watched Bigwig’s patrol escort the two rabbits up the slope. More rabbits came and gathered around Hazel, Hyzenthlay and Fiver as all watched the two rabbits stop before Hazel.
“Who are you?” Hazel asked the black rabbit before him.
“My name’s Fuser. This is Monza. I’m here to warn you about Blizzard.”
At Blizzard’s name a jet back buck suddenly jerked its head up and ran over to Fuser and Monza. “Did you say Blizzard?”
“Yes. Blizzard is my master and chief.”
“You were changed?” Hyzenthlay asked Fuser.
“Yes. Blizzard and his rabbits came and attacked my warren. Our chief betrayed us and sold us out. Blizzard killed him anyway. Then he took myself and a few friends hostage and slaughtered the rest of the warren. We were changed and became part of Blizzard’s Owsla. I came to warn you that Blizzard is getting stronger every day. Our warren is growing with the prisoners we’re sent on raids to capture. The rabbits we don’t capture as prisoners are destroyed.”
“How do we know you aren’t loyal to Blizzard?” Hazel asked.
“I know you won’t believe me which is why I brought Monza. She’s a doe we recently captured from a warren ten miles from Brimstone, that’s our warren. I brought her with me because I knew you would kill me otherwise. Not all of the reborn rabbits are evil Hazel.”
“How do you know my name?”
“Blizzard constantly rants about Watership Down and the other three warrens.”
“My son. He would have been a young kitten when he was taken three months ago. Where is he?” Blackavar asked.
This must be Thanatos’s real parli. I can’t tell him that his son has become evil.
“Dead. Blizzard killed him the same day he took him from Watership Down,” Fuser said.
The rabbits around him gasped in shock. “Only fifteen of us that were changed have remained good. The rest of the warren is evil like our master as they had evil already in their hearts. We aren’t enough to stand against Blizzard and the rest of Brimstone. I just came to warn you of Blizzard. Now I have to get going or else… well that doesn’t matter.”
“Wait. Did Thorn… did he suffer?” Blackavar asked Fuser.
“He died quickly,” Fuser said before he and Monza turned and began picking their way down the hill. A thick fog rolled in and when it passed Fuser and Monza were gone.
“Blackavar I’m sorry about Thorn.”
“I’ll kill him! I swear I’ll kill that blasted rabbit for murdering my son!” Blackavar shouted before turning and bolting underground to break the sad news to Mist and their kittens.
Campion, Groundsel and Lightstone immediately left their warrens and ran the entire way to Watership Down. They were breathing heavily when they crested the hill and collapsed in the grass. Hazel hopped over to them and waited for them to catch their breath before speaking. “Thank you three for coming so quickly.”
“No problem Hazel. What’s this about? Kehaar said that Bigwig and some of your rabbits captured one of Blizzard’s rabbits?”
“Yeah. They disappeared after they told us that Blizzard is getting stronger every day. They live in some warren called Brimstone but Fuser, he’s one of Blizzard’s rabbits, didn’t tell us much information about his warren. Apparently Blizzard has been sending his servants out to kidnap rabbits from other warrens and destroy these warrens to grow his own warren. And Thorn, Blackavar’s son that was kidnapped is dead.”
Lightstone, Campion and Groundsel looked at each other and shook their heads sadly. “Sorry to hear that Hazel,” Lightstone said.
“What do we do then?” Groundsel asked.
“Are the escape tunnels dug in your warrens?”
“Yes Vleflain and Efrafa are connected by a long underground tunnel and I have some Vleflains working on connecting Vleflain to Watership Down as we speak. It’s almost finished,” Groundsel said.
“What about you Lightstone?” Hazel asked.
“Nobody can harm Sunstone or any of my rabbits. It’s protected by Prince Rainbow and the magic ancient man put there long ago. Not even elil can harm us as long as we remain in the boundaries of our warren.”
“We’ll need to keep the does, kittens and the bucks that will be guarding them near the escape tunnels from now on. If war is soon to come then we must be prepared,” Hazel said looking at the three other chiefs who nodded their agreement. Then the four chiefs retired underground before beginning plans for attack the following day.
“You did well when you decided to spare Blackavar and Mist the fate of their son,” Prince Rainbow said.
“Was it you who created that fog that allowed us to escape?” Fuser asked as Monza gazed in fear at the rabbit before them.
“Yes. Because of your kindness I will protect you both when you return to Brimstone.”
“Thank you Prince Rainbow. What of Blackstone and Pecan?”
“They were hurt as were the other prisoners by Thanatos. I’m sad to say there is nothing anyone can do. He is beyond saving. Take care Fuser and Monza.”
Fuser and Monza made their way back to Brimstone. Thanatos was with the Owsla as Fuser and Monza arrived at Brimstone. “Don’t speak to Thanatos and keep your head down. Follow me,” Fuser whispered to Monza who nodded and did as she was ordered.
“Parli’s been wondering where you were,” Thanatos said hopping up to Fuser and Monza. “Is that the escaped prisoner you ran after a month ago?”
“Yes Thanatos. Where’s Blizzard so I can make my report?”
“In the prison run.” Thanatos watched Fuser and Monza as they went underground. Then he turned and ripped open the side of one of the Owsla members who was trying to attack him before going to the stream and washing the blood off his paws with a couple Owsla members escorting him.
Fuser led Monza down the runs and to the prison run where Blizzard was busy using some of the prisoners as target practice. There were already eight rabbits crumpled at his paws on the ground. Three more cowered in their burrow as they were dragged out by their ears by some of the Owsla.
“Master,” Fuser said bowing before Blizzard and using a paw to push Monza on the ground beside him. “I’ve returned with the prisoner who escaped a month ago.”
Blizzard turned his attention to his missing Owsla Officer and the doe before him. “What has kept you from returning home Fuser?” Blizzard asked icily.
“Master I was detained by some rabbits. A warren where the rabbits are pets of man.”
“A warren run by man? Oh yes I remember. I believe I came across that warren before during my travels when I was trying to find Watership Down. Run by a rabbit named Cowslip is it not?”
“Yes master. I would have returned with this doe sooner but I wanted to see if they would be fit to bring into your service.”
“And were they?”
“No master. They knew nothing of the ways of rabbits. They preferred a life of dying for man instead of behaving like true rabbits.”
“I see. Yes I do remember them being strange. They never answered any questions I asked of them.”
Fuser trembled as he hesitantly raised his head. Blizzard jerked his head and the crumpled rabbits were tossed back into their burrows. “What’s your name doe?”
“Monza.”
“Monza. How old are you?”
“Five months old master.”
Blizzard chuckled at the cowering doe before him. “So you have taught her that I am your master and chief while you have been away have you?”
“Yes. Master… I don’t have a doe and I would like permission to have this one.”
“I see. Alright you may have her.” Blizzard dismissed Fuser and Monza vanishing further down the prison run. Fuser quickly pushed Monza to her feet and led her out of the prison run and to the Owsla run where he led her into his burrow. “This is my… I mean our burrow. You’ll be safe here now that I’m your mate. The rabbits may be evil but they have enough respect to not move in on another buck’s doe. Just keep your head down and don’t anger Thanatos or Blizzard. If you do I can’t save you and neither can Prince Rainbow.”
Monza nodded and hopped over to the far wall where she collapsed and went to sleep. Fuser watched her for a while before leaving his burrow and going to find Winterberry, Pecan and Blackstone. He found the three of them in Blackstone’s burrow.
“Fuser you’re back!” Blackstone shouted.
“Yeah I am. And Monza, the doe I went after, is here as well. I managed to get Blizzard to let her be my mate.”
“Good then she should be safe with you as long as she doesn’t piss off Thanatos or Blizzard,” Pecan said.
“Did my plan work?” Blackstone asked lowering his voice.
“Yes. The four warrens know of Blizzard becoming stronger.”
“Good. Then let’s hope that Lord Frith helps us all.”

scorpiodragon · Nov 9, 2021

“I think we need to send a spy to Brimstone who can keep track of what’s happening at that warren and relay us information so we can be prepared for when Blizzard attacks.”
“Who Hazel?” Campion asked. The four chiefs were sitting in the Honeycomb talking about what to do about Blizzard and his warren.
“Someone that Blizzard hasn’t seen,” Hazel said.
“We need someone who is smart and will be able to play the part of a spy very well. What about Bigwig? He fooled us all at Efrafa,” Campion said looking at Groundsel and Lightstone who just smiled at the memory.
“No I don’t think so. I’m not playing spy again and besides Blizzard saw me when we came above ground after Fiver’s vision,” Bigwig said coming into the Honeycomb and joining the four chiefs. “It can’t be Holly or Blackavar either.”
“Who else besides Bigwig would be good for the job?” Groundsel asked.
“Campion-rah I can do it,” Birch spoke up.
“Are you sure Birch?” Campion asked.
“Yes Campion-rah I’m sure. I want to be of help. If that’s alright with Hazel, Lightstone and Groundsel?”
“Campion what can you tell us about Birch?” Hazel asked the Efrafan chief.
“He’s an officer in my Owsla. Very loyal to me as well as Efrafa, strong and smart.”
“Alright Birch you will act as spy for the alliance. Try to find out everything you can about Blizzard and the rabbits at Brimstone.”
“Alright Hazel-rah.” Birch turned and left the burrow.
Prince Rainbow was eating some clover as Birch came above ground. “You have volunteered to play spy Officer Birch?”
“Yes Prince Rainbow.”
“Do you realize that Blizzard will change you if he finds you to be useful to his warren and that it will be difficult to fight the darkness that he’ll want to put on you so he can control you?”
“Yes sir. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my chief.”
“Very well Birch. While you are there seek out the rabbits Winterberry, Pecan, Blackstone, and Fuser. These four rabbits are the main leaders who are trying to resist Blizzard. The prisoners in the prison run can be counted as allies as well for they were forcefully taken from their warrens or turned over by their dead chiefs. Fifteen rabbits have fought the darkness that Blizzard placed upon them. Fifteen against one hundred eighty-five rabbits if you don’t count the prisoners. If you slip up then they cannot be saved and neither can the alliance.”
“Thank you Prince Rainbow.”
Another rabbit ran up to Birch and Prince Rainbow. “I’m coming too.”
“What do you mean by you’re coming with me Zen?”
“You’ll need someone from your own warren to talk to in Brimstone.”
“Did Campion-rah and the others approve of this?”
“They did after Hazel suggested it would be easier for you not to slip up if you had a rabbit to help you with your mission.”
“I think it would help if you had a friend with you.” Prince Rainbow placed a paw on Zen’s heart and peered into his mind. After a few minutes of picking through Zen’s mind he withdrew his own mind and removed his paw. “Zen can be trusted. He’s a good rabbit and won’t betray the mission.”
Birch nodded and after receiving directions from Prince Rainbow the two spies set off for Brimstone. Two weeks later they arrived on the borders of Brimstone. They hesitated at the edge of the meadow as they saw black rabbits with different patterns on their bodies at silflay and on guard duty. One of the black rabbits moved from its post and came up to the two vagrants. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“”We don’t answer to you,” Zen said with disgust in his voice.
“Oh you don’t do you?” The rabbit said, raising a paw to cuff Birch.
“Irondale! Leave those rabbits alone,” Pecan said coming up to stand beside Irondale and gazing at the two rabbits. “You look to be strong bucks. I’ll take you to my master. If you’re lucky he won’t kill you.”
“Stay out of Irondale and Vosper’s way,” Pecan said to the two rabbits. “And whatever you don’t piss off my master or his son or we’ll all pay.” Pecan led the strangers to Blizzard and Thanatos’s burrow. “For the life of me I can’t understand why you would want to join Brimstone. Wait here and don’t move.”
Pecan hopped into the burrow and bowed before Thanatos. “Thanatos is your parli here?”
“What do you want Pecan?” Blizzard said looking up from where he had a doe pinned beneath him. Pecan tried to ignore the fact that Blizzard had forced the nine month old doe to be his mate before bowing. “Master two vagrants have arrived at Brimstone and say they wish to join the warren.”
“Where do they come from?”
“They refused to answer master. But they appear strong and smell healthy.”
Blizzard looked towards the entrance of his burrow with interest. “Send them in.” He ignored the doe that was whimpering in pain and rubbed his nose with his paws as Pecan called the strangers inside.
The two rabbits stepped inside the burrow and looked at the three rabbits before them. There was a young buck that had vivid burgundy fur with silver streaks along his body, a cream colored doe and a black rabbit the color of midnight with fire and lightning patterns on his body. The rabbit had blood red eyes and there seemed to be a cold darkness coming off of him. They shivered as they gazed at the rabbit.
Blizzard stared at the rabbits waiting. “Do you not know any respect?” Blizzard asked as the vivid burgundy rabbit hopped over to sit beside Blizzard. “It appears I’ll have to teach you respect myself then.”
Pecan reacted quickly by tackling both of the rabbits and called for help. Winterberry came in and seeing the situation quickly pinned Zen to the ground while Pecan held down Birch. “Master spare them! They have no idea about the laws and rules of Brimstone!”
Zen tried struggling to get out from under Winterberry who fastened his teeth into Zen’s ear making Zen squeal in pain. “Be quiet,” Winterberry hissed in Zen’s ear.
“Why are you defending rabbits you’ve never met before Pecan? Do you remember the last time you were punished for letting Monza escape?”
Pecan flinched and dug his claws into Birch while he flattened his ears against his head. Winterberry looked at his friend in fear and then back to Blizzard and Thanatos. “Master I just think that these rabbits may do good in the Owsla. It would be bad for them if they were harmed before they were changed.” Underneath him he felt Birch stiffen in fear.
“Be that as it may they need to be punished for showing me disrespect. Now both of you step aside unless you want to share their fate.”
Their ears pressed back against their heads, Winterberry and Pecan withdrew and backed off as Blizzard turned his gaze on the two rabbits before him. “The next time you come before me or Thanatos here,” looking at Thanatos before turning his gaze back on the two rabbits cowering before him, “I expect you to bow before us like the rest of the rabbits in this warren.” Thanatos smiled and paid attention as his parli contemplated the two rabbits. “However Pecan is right. If I decide to let you in my Owsla and it appears you would do well we can’t have you damaged too much. So…”
Pecan and Winterberry jerked as the two rabbits were thrown into wall by the force of their master’s power. The second rabbit squealed in pain as a burn appeared on its back. “Now let’s try this again. Who are you and why are you here?”
“My name… is Birch. That’s Zen,” Birch said between gritted teeth. His eyes were shut in pain as he struggled for breath. The force of being thrown into the wall had cracked his ribs.
“Birch and Zen. Where do you come from and why are you here? Think carefully because if you lie or don’t answer you’ll see what my son can do.”
“We were driven out of our warren,” Zen said between whimpers of pain. “Birch and I were Officers in our old warren but after our chief’s son died on a flayrah raid we were found at fault and exiled.”
Blizzard looked at the rabbits that despite their injuries remained on the ground. “I see. How did you hear of Brimstone then? And where is your warren?”
“Our warren is three months journey north east from here. We heard about Brimstone from hares we encountered on our journey. We thought it sounded like a good place to join if you’ll have us,” Birch said. He prayed that Blizzard and Thanatos would believe their story.
“You appear to be quite healthy for being on your own for three months. However did you survive all this time?” Thanatos asked.
“We’ve been living in a warren called Morndale that’s twenty miles from here to the north east. Sadly we were kicked out when we refused to worship the Black Rabbit.”
“Really? That’s an interesting tale and I’m not sure I believe you.” Blizzard was growing impatient now. “Thanatos…”
Birch and Zen screamed as the vivid burgundy rabbit shot lightning at them. Winterberry and Pecan watched in horror and sadness as the two rabbits were tortured by Thanatos for an entire hour. Finally Thanatos stopped and looked at the bleeding rabbits in pleasure as their eyes rolled in the backs of their heads and their breathing slowed.
“Now tell me the truth or do you want to see what my son and I can do together?”
“No stop! Okay we’re from a warren called Watership Down.”
Blizzard ran over to Zen and ordered Pecan and Winterberry to pick him up. He hung limply between their arms. “Watership Down did you say?”
“Yes. We ran away because Hazel was becoming a tyrant. He said he would be able to destroy a rabbit named Blizzard easily and that only fools would willingly join a warren like that. We decided to see if we could find you and join you. It’s better to be part of a strong warren then live in a warren run by fools,” Zen said.
“Is this true?” Blizzard asking looking at Birch who was struggling to breathe.
“Y… yes… i… it’s true.”
“Now that wasn’t so hard was it? If you had said that from the beginning you wouldn’t have had to be punished. Until I decide what to do with the two of you you’ll remain as you are. Take them to one of the burrows in the main part of the warren and send Lummis in to tend to their wounds. I want a guard posted on them at all times. They are not to leave the warren in case they change their mind and go back to Watership Down.”
“Yes master,” Winterberry said letting go of Zen and fastening his teeth on Birch’s neck before dragging the rabbit away with Pecan dragging Zen behind him. Birch and Zen were dragged along various runs before they were thrown into a burrow. Winterberry sent for Lummis and called two passing Owsla to guard the burrow where Birch and Zen were. Nodding the two rabbits positioned themselves at the entrance and Winterberry and Pecan went above ground where they found Blackstone and Fuser.
“Who are Blizzard and Thanatos torturing now?” Fuser asked.
“Two rabbits who say they’re from Watership Down. Blizzard was very interested in that but punished them because they didn’t bow to him and Thanatos and then they lied to him about where they came from,” Winterberry said.
“The poor fools. Coming to Brimstone and then lying about where they came from. What does Blizzard plan on doing with them?” Blackstone asked.
“I suggested they be put in the Owsla but Blizzard wants to see how well they do first.”
“The Owsla would be the best place for them. How bad are they hurt?” Fuser asked.
“Zen has a burn on his back and Birch can’t breathe due to cracked ribs from Blizzard throwing them into the wall of his burrow. They’re in the main part of the warren being guarded. Lummis should be there right now tending to them.”
“What do you think they’re doing here?”
“I don’t know. But I have to admit their either fools or else brave for daring to come here and offering to join Blizzard and Brimstone,” Winterberry said.
“Or perhaps they’re just both,” Blackstone said with a slight chuckle which the other rabbits nervously took up before they fell into silence as the sun finally set before the horizon.

scorpiodragon · Dec 17, 2021

L to R Seers of the Warren
Sunstone Seer-Moonblossom (black with silver streak between her ears) | female
Vleflain Seer-Pumpkin (brown with light blue eyes) | female
Watership Down Seer-Fiver | male
Efrafan Seer-Moneywort (white) |male

Frost, Twinleaf, Odin and Fern were on a wide patrol outside of Sunstone when they spotted a rabbit being attacked by a mother weasel and her young pup. The Owsla members ran into the foray and began attacking the mother weasel and her pup. They managed to fatally injure the mother weasel that took off but was unable to save her pup that fell to the Sunstone Owsla. This was something that Lightstone-rah had taught his Owsla the same attack tactics that he had taught his Efrafan Owsla when he had been Woundwort. His Owsla respected him more for his experience as a fighter and chief every day.

“Are you alright?” Frost asked the rabbit who was licking a cut on his front leg.

“I’ll be fine once the full moon rises. Thank you for saving me.”

“Odin, Captains Twinleaf and Fern look at this,” Frost called. The three Owsla members walked over and gazed at the rabbit in shock. It had emerald green eyes, a silver streak of fur between its ears and forest green vine patterns on its jet black body. “Come with us and we’ll take you to our warren,” Twinleaf said to the strange rabbit. Behind him he heard Frost and Odin speaking quietly to each other.

“This rabbit… it looks like Prince Rainbow’s description of the Sunstone seer to Lightstone-rah at the Battle of Watership Down,” Frost said.

Odin nodded and looked at the rabbit that was in front of them. Lightstone-rah had told them that if such a rabbit was found to bring it back to Sunstone so he could question it and see for himself it was the seer that Prince Rainbow had promised would come. All the Sunstone rabbits trusted Prince Rainbow for he had arranged for Lightstone to save them from Cowslip and Silverweed and a life of sadness at the Shining Wire Warren. Then Prince Rainbow had showed them Sunstone and protected Lightstone-rah when that mad rabbit had attacked Captain Holly of Watership Down. They would gladly give their lives for their chief and his doe.

The only other incident they had was when Odin spotted a fox lurking near a meadow. They pressed flat against the dirt and waited for the fox to leave before continuing home. Finally they made it home and took the rabbit down to Lightstone-rah in his burrow. “Lightstone-rah! We have someone we believe may be of importance to Sunstone,” Fern called. The Owsla positioned themselves around the possible seer and waited for Lightstone to come out.

Moneywort was above ground talking to Captain Avens. The Efrafan seer had come to Efrafa two moons ago and had proved very reliable to Campion-rah and the warren. He was a huge white rabbit who spent most of his time helping keep watch for elil on the perimeter of Efrafa and making friends with many of the rabbits of their warren.

“Do you sense anything about what is to happen to us?” Captain Avens asked Moneywort.

“No Avens I don’t. Not at the moment anyway. If I have a vision of something bad to happen then the entire warren will know and the message will be relayed to Fiver and Pumpkin as well. I have never heard of a rabbit like Blizzard before. It’s a mystery to me where he gets his power and from what I can see from conversing with Fiver and Pumpkin they have never heard of anything like this before either.”

“How is it you’re able to communicate with Fiver and Pumpkin telepathically?”

“It’s a trait we were given as seers of the alliance. Fiver and Pumpkin experienced this trait at the time they became aware of my presence three moons ago. It’s due to their directions that I was able to find Efrafa when it was in need. It’s the same thing with Pumpkin entering Vleflain six moons ago. Fiver sensed her and guided her to Vleflain where as I understand it she has been received warmly by Vleflain and Groundsel-rah.”

“I just don’t get how you can communicate when our warrens are so far away from each other.”

Moneywort shook his head. “All I know is it’s a gift given to seers by Lord Frith. We aren’t sure exactly how it works or how seers are chosen.”

At Vleflain Pumpkin was lying on the grass watching the clouds sail by overhead when her body stiffened and her eyes dimmed as she was suddenly tuned into Moneywort’s thoughts. She reached out with her mind over the telepathic link with one thought in her mind: The fourth has come. Stonecrop saw Pumpkin fall and ran to get Groundsel-rah.

Fiver was watching Hawthorn, Marigold and Dogwood when he suddenly received Pumpkin’s telepathic link. Jerking his head up in shock he staggered away from his nephews and niece and collapsed at the edge of the hill overlooking the down. His body jerked and his eyes lost their focus as his breathing became shallow. “Uncle Fiver!” Marigold screamed. Alerted by the kitten’s screams Bigwig and Hazel ran over to Fiver. “Fiver! Fiver!” Hazel shouted shaking his brother as the link that connected the three seers overcame him.

Moneywort’s eyes suddenly glazed over and he swayed before being caught by Avens.

The long awaited one has come to the fourth. Eyes like sapphires and full of moonlight the fourth is a stranger to this world but honest and pure of heart. Four will make a journey to a place not known on this plane and together the four will bring an end to the darkness.

Moneywort shuddered and his breathing returned to normal though his eyes remained glazed. Campion-rah came up to Avens and stared at the Efrafan seer. “What happened Avens?”

“I don’t know sir. We were just talking about seers and the telepathic link they share and then suddenly Moneywort fell and had a vision.”

“Telepathic link?”

“Yes sir. Moneywort said it’s a gift given to seers and the seers of the alliance are able to communicate telepathically even if they are far apart from each other. Sir do you think it’s possible that Fiver and Pumpkin had the exact same vision?”

“I don’t know but I think it is worth checking at Vleflain and Watership Down. Take Moneywort to his burrow and have someone stay with him so he can rest.”

“Yes sir,” Avens and Shadow carefully picked up Moneywort between them and carried him down to his burrow in the former Fore Mark.

“How is this possible sir?” Yew asked.

“I don’t know Yew. Perhaps this gift is something regular rabbits are forbidden to know about. Send a runner to Vleflain and check on Pumpkin and see if there’s been any news of this happening at Watership Down.”

“Yes sir.”

Pumpkin shuddered and sat up. Groundsel and Willow were beside their seer gazing at her with concern. “What happened Pumpkin?”

“I’m not sure Willow. I was just looking at the clouds and then got connected to Moneywort’s mind through the telepathic link we share and reached out to Fiver before I collapsed. I’ll be alright in a few moments Groundsel-rah. No need to worry.”

“I order you to go to your burrow and rest. Are you saying you were experiencing a vision?”

“I think so sir. My mind’s a big foggy at the moment but once the fog clears I’ll be able to tell you for certain.”

“Stonecrop please escort her to her burrow. Then have Kehaar fly to Watership Down and Robin fly to Efrafa to check on Fiver and Moneywort.”

Stonecrop nodded and led Pumpkin to her burrow before emerging to tell Kehaar and Scree to fly to Watership Down and Efrafa. The two birds took off on their respective missions. Pumpkin lay in her burrow and tried to relax. But the sudden vision and image… she shook her head and closed her eyes.Fiver was assaulted with a fleeting image that vanished before he could focus on it. He let out a scream of fear and then relaxed as the telepathic link faded and the vision of Moneywort’s vanished. The three seers had the vision at the same time. It was still something they were getting used to. “Fiver! Are you alright?” Bigwig asked. The Watership Owsla was at attention as they watched their seer, chief and one of their Captains. Other Owsla members positioned themselves at the top of the hill overlooking the down searching for danger.

Fiver shook his head to get the fog out of his mind and shivered. His eyes were still glazed over and his voice shook. “I… I think so. What happened?”

“Don’t you remember Fiver?” Hazel asked his brother.“I remember watching Hawthorn, Marigold and Dogwood when Pumpkin and Moneywort appeared over the telepathic link we share.” Fiver shook his head again. “I’m sure I’ll be fine after I rest.”

Hazel nodded. “Go on then. I’ll make sure nobody disturbs you.”Fiver nodded gratefully at Hazel and Bigwig and wandered off to his burrow he shared with Vilthuril and their kittens.

Bigwig looked up into the sky and suddenly saw Kehaar flying towards them. “What’s wrong Kehaar?” Bigwig asked the sea gull.

“Tha rabbit collapse at Vleflain. Groundsel send me and Scree to see Hazel and Campion to see about Fiver and Moneywort.”

“Moneywort and Pumpkin had the vision as well?” Hazel asked.“Pumpkin did. Groundsel just say to fly to Watership Down and Efrafa to check on Fiver and Moneywort. See if they have same experience as Pumpkin.”

“Fiver did. He’s in his burrow resting and isn’t able to talk to anyone right now. What about Pumpkin?”“Stonecrop take Pumpkin to her burrow. I saw them before Stonecrop gave me and Scree Groundsel’s order.”

“Thank you Kehaar,” Hazel said. “Get some rest and then go back and tell Groundsel that Fiver is resting and won’t be up for answering questions for a while.”

Kehaar walked over to his burrow settled down to sleep. “Have you ever seen anything like that before Hazel?”

“No Bigwig. There haven’t been any visions from any of them for a while. Why suddenly now? And why did it hit them so hard?”

“I don’t know Hazel. It’s strange. Hopefully they’ll be able to recover.”

“The seers of the alliance are strong Bigwig. I’m sure they will.”

“Screeeeee,” Scree said announcing his arrival at Efrafa as he landed on a tree branch and looked at the Efrafan rabbits as they scattered at the sight of the hawk.

Campion hopped over to Scree. “Scree is something wrong at Watership Down or Vleflain?”

“Vleflain seer collapse. Poor bunny taken to burrow. Groundsel send Kehaar and I to Watership and Efrafa to see about Fiver and Moneywort.”

The Efrafan rabbits who had bolted underground slowly came back up as they saw the hawk of Watership Down that Pipkin had befriended. Prince Rainbow had put a red ribbon around one of Scree’s legs so the alliance would know this hawk was a friend. Kehaar had been given a yellow ribbon that was around his leg as well. “Moneywort had a vision and collapsed. He’s in his burrow. Do you know what’s going on Scree?”

Scree shook his head. “Not know about strange bunnies and their gift. Nothing like it in hawk world.”

“Thank you Scree. Tell Groundsel that we thank him for wanting to check on us.”

Scree nodded, spread his wings and made his way back to Vleflain.“

Fiver and Pumpkin are you two okay?” Moneywort asked his friends as he slowly extended his mind over the telepathic link.

“I… I think so. What was that image I saw? I couldn’t see it clearly,” Pumpkin said.

“The image was fleeting in my mind but I saw it as well for an instant. What was it?” Fiver asked, his frustration apparent over the link.

“I don’t know. I’m sorry. You know we can’t control these visions. I didn’t mean for it to hurt either of you.”

"Don’t worry about it Moneywort. It’s good that we are connected telepathically. Makes it easier for us to communicate without anyone else knowing what we’re talking about,” Fiver said trying to calm the anxiety and worry of his Efrafan friend. “The fourth has come. What does that mean?” Pumpkin asked shaking her head to clear the fog that clouded her mind.

“I don’t know. But I didn’t sense any danger from the flash.”

"Should we tell them that we’ve been receiving flashes of Brimstone?” Fiver asked.

“No. It’s best we remain quiet for now. Otherwise we may be driven out. But we need to find the fourth. Perhaps the fourth can tell us.” Slowly Moneywort withdrew his mind and the telepathic link closed so the three seers could rest.

Lightstone hopped out of his burrow where a pregnant Harmony was sleeping. After several moons of trying she was finally pregnant with his kittens. He was excited but worried for his warren and his upcoming family due to the threat of Blizzard even though Sunstone would be safe from Blizzard. “What is it? Harmony is resting and doesn’t need anyone disturbing her,” Lightstone said casting a quick glance back at his burrow.

“Very sorry Lightstone-rah but we found this rabbit being attacked by a mother weasel and her pup and we noticed she resembles the description Prince Rainbow gave you,” Odin said.

Lightstone looked at the rabbit and his eyes widened in shock. Could this be the long awaited Sunstone seer? She certainly looks like the brief description I got though Prince Rainbow didn’t mention anything about her fur color or that she’d have a silver streak between her ears.

“Who are you and where do you come from?” Lightstone asked the doe.

“My name is Moonblossom and it is not for you to know right now where I come from Lightstone-rah. Only know that I mean you and your warren no harm and come as an act of faith in your time of need. You need not fear me nor any other rabbit at Sunstone for I come to help you. I am the seer of Sunstone that was spoken of many moons ago.”

Lightstone looked again at the doe before him. After his mistake with Silverweed he didn’t want to risk Sunstone again. Prince Rainbow is this the seer of Sunstone?

An image of the doe flashed in his mind before vanishing with the words: Do not fear her. The words I spoke to you that day at Watership Down are true. She will be a true friend to Sunstone.

Lightstone nodded. “Thank you for finally coming Moonblossom. Captain Twinleaf will explain the rules of Sunstone of which I expect you to follow them. Take her to a burrow.”

The Owsla nodded before they led her down the runs with Twinleaf explaining the rules of Sunstone and of the magic that protected them from elil and harm. “I want this burrow,” Moonblossom suddenly said.

Twinleaf looked and saw they were beside Silverweed’s old burrow.“Are you sure Moonblossom? This burrow belonged to another seer and…”

“Silverweed of Shining Wire Warren. Yes I know.” Moonblossom stared into the burrow and her eyes flashed midnight black as a light filled the burrow before diminishing. She turned back to Twinleaf and the other Owsla members, her eyes once again their normal color. “The evil has vanished. Please may I have this burrow Captain?”

Twinleaf looked at Fern, Frost and Odin and shrugged. “Alright if you want it you can have it,” Twinleaf said. “Welcome to Sunstone and may you be different from Silverweed.”

Moonblossom hopped into her burrow and watched as the four Owsla vanished up the run. Turning back to the burrow she inspected every inch of it from where she sat using the moonlight between her ears and nodded as she no longer sensed any anger and darkness that had permeated the burrow since Silverweed had claimed it for his own moons ago. Master I am in Sunstone.

Good. Do they know of whom you are my servant?

No Master. Only of my name and that I am their seer.

Did you face any difficulties at all on your way to the warren?

A weasel and her pup attacked me but the Owsla fatally injured the mother and killed the pup. The Owsla brought me to Sunstone and I cleansed Silverweed’s burrow after claiming it.

That is unfortunate that you were attacked. Your powers will be weak until the full moon in two days. What of the three?

They have sensed my presence master but do not know who I am or where I am.

Very good Moonblossom. Keep a low profile until they come to you. Serve Lightstone and Sunstone in any way you can without letting them know about you until the time is right.

Yes Master.

Story World of the Ancients

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