Chapter Thirty - One

Blood Brothers

The warren had a silent, secluded air and without rabbits as the evening sun cast its last rays over the beautiful land.

Most of the warren was sitting in the Honeycomb, here and there, making awkward but necessary chatter to help cast away their fears at Fiver’s prophecy. They were discussing things that usually everyone would have turned a blind eye to, in case it was none of their business or just didn’t bear thinking over.

“We have to go and talk to Hazel sometime,” Primrose said anxiously to Campion, Hawkbit and Blackberry as they lay in the corner. Their previous conversation fell away hopelessly, leaving a path for the inevitable matters.

“I’ve never seen him take a disaster like this before.” Blackberry shook her head in despair. The brown buck beside her nodded in quick agreement.

“It’s the worst we’ve heard yet, and none of us can see a way out of it,” Hawkbit pitched in.

“Primrose, you’re welcome to share our burrow tonight. Maybe it’s better if we all stay in large numbers,” Blackberry offered kindly.  “That is if you don’t mind?” she asked Campion.

“No, that will be fine.”

Primrose cast a glance over at the eight kittens that were cuddled up together, sensing their parents’ and friends’ fears.

“Thanks Blackberry and Campion, I think I will.”

“Feel free to come too, Hawkbit,” Campion said quickly as Hawkbit started his sarcastic mumbling.

“No thanks Campion, too many ear nibblers in one burrow for me.”

“Suit yourself,” Campion rose to his feet. “Kittens, come on now.”

He started to follow Primrose up the burrow but then stopped short when he noticed Blackberry wasn’t following.

“What is it?”

“It’s Fiver, he still hasn’t woken.” Blackberry stared worriedly in the direction of his burrow. Her ears rested uneasily against her back.

“Do you want to go and have a look before we settle down for the night?” Campion suggested, guessing her mood easily.

“Yeah, thanks,” Blackberry sighed in relief. “He is kind of like a brother to me as well.”

It wasn’t long before they arrived at Fiver’s burrow and heard Ivy’s low monotones, pleading desperately with Fiver to wake up.

Blackberry silently went over to her and tried to comfort her. “It’s just his mind protecting itself, he will wake up Ivy. Be strong for him.”

“You’re right Blackberry,” Ivy sniffed. “He’ll wake up because he has too, he’d better anyway.”

Ivy forced a smile. “I’d like to come back up with you now. I would’ve wanted to stay with him in case he wakes up but... I know he wouldn’t want me to sit here moping.”

Blackberry nodded at Campion to go on ahead of them. He left the two does, this was not an area he was familiar with and was quite happy to leave it.

He was just entering his burrow and noticing the cream rabbit missing when he heard his name being called softly.

He backed out of the passageway. “Primrose?” he asked imploringly.

“Hazel wants to see you,” she explained a little guiltily.

Campion ceased moving. “Hazel?”

“Yeah, I guess I couldn’t not go and see him,” Primrose said and looked at the ground half shamefully.

“Okay, I’m going now. Did he seem okay?” Campion looked back over his shoulder at Primrose.

“He seemed… better.”

“Hazel?” Campion entered the burrow and went to sit near the dark chestnut rabbit.

“Campion, sorry about knocking you over earlier…… I just had a bit much.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve suffered many worse injuries,” Campion chuckled lightly.

“Yeah……. Listen, do you want to do a quick night patrol with me?” Hazel suggested hopefully.

Campion guessed there was more to this than a late night stroll so he quickly agreed.

They wandered aimlessly over the down, appreciating more than usual the simple beauty of their home, from the spring flowers to the gleaming moon.

“Was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?” Campion probed gently. He was done pretending to be interested in nonexistent scents of danger.

“Yes,” Hazel sighed and stopped. “Do you think we should set off again? Like, to find another Watership Down somewhere?”

Campion had been expecting this but it hadn’t made the blow any easier. He had to think carefully what words to use.

“I’m sorry for putting you on the spot like this, I would have asked Fiver…. but Primrose told me he is still unconscious.”

“Hazel, I will help you to persuade the whole warren to leave with you, but I can’t go.”

“I was afraid you would say that, but you can’t stay here on your own, you’ll die.”

“It’s more than that, I’ve risked my life countless times for this warren and,” Campion said soberly. “Do you remember the day of the cave in as clearly as I do? You knew danger was imminent to your warren, and yet all your problems would have been solved if you had left. You didn’t.

Hazel listened intently and sighed heavily. Campion pressed on.

“Think of all we’ve been through here, the endless war with Woundwort, then Hemlock, Cowslip. There was also Walnut and Pebble, the weasels, not to mention all the trouble it took to get you all here. This is where your kittens were born, and mine,” Campion finished. “This warren is Watership Down, no other is the same.”

“I know you’re right Campion, it’s just I…… I hate being the leader sometimes, having to make all the decisions for everyone’s futures. I want every generation to enjoy the beauty, and at times, serenity of this place, but I love my friends and family more. I’ll do what I have to.”

Campion was about to reply when he heard someone approaching quite noisily in their direction. “Ears up Hazel, someone’s coming.”

“Hate to break up this cosy little chat, but we have a few things to discuss,” Hemlock’s voice pierced the night calm.

“Hemlock,” Campion gasped.

“You traitor! Yes, I found out about your plan to leave with that other excuse of a rabbit. It’s a pity the man didn’t get you as I had thought!”

“It’s not exactly the first time I’ve received a death threat in one form or another. Was there an actual reason you came here?” Campion replied, more confident than he felt when he saw three larger owsla rabbits come up behind Hemlock.

“You’re awfully cocky for someone about die,” Hemlock snapped back harshly.

“That’s a bit harsh now, I’m sure we could come to some agreement. What was it exactly you wanted with us?” Hazel spoke for the first time. Hazel, always the voice of reason.

“Where is your chief rabbit?” Hemlock replied back lazily.

“You’re speaking to him,” Hazel said calmly.

Hemlock blinked back as if waiting for the real answer, then did a small shrug. “Always knew you must have come from a warren of weirdos,” he said to Campion.

Hazel internally bristled. I am done with people making fun of me! He gave Campion a look to tell him he would fight alongside him.

“If you hand over the other three traitors as well as this one,” Hemlock nodded at Campion, “to be executed without a fight and surrender this warren to me, I’ll let you live.”

Hazel glanced quickly at Campion and then back at Hemlock. “I can’t do that I’m afraid. Nowhere near that.”

“Then both your blood shall be shed!”

“Oh, great what is it with Woundwort’s family?” Hazel muttered, exasperated.

“Can you see a way out of this one?” Campion whispered to Hazel as the owsla rabbits surrounded them.

“It’s ironic isn’t it? The last time I was having a similar conversation with Woundwort you were one of those guys.” Hazel indicated to the owsla.

“Hazel, this is so not the time to be weird,” Campion said, growling threateningly at a dark grey buck.

“I was just saying, if we are going to die we might as well have a last bit of fun,” Hazel said defensively. He had really no idea what he was talking about as his mind searched every knock and cranny for an inspiration or idea.

Campion turned his head to give Hazel a weird look but was blindsided on his left and knocked off his feet. He picked himself up from his fallen place of prickly bush thorns, more of an annoyance than a real injury.

Wincing, Campion looked over quickly to where Hazel was between two large dark brown rabbits.

“Hazel, to your right!” Campion shouted, seeing one of the browns try a sneaky move. He then decided he had better concentrate on his own fight with the grey as he had just missed a heavy blow to the head.

He heard Hemlock curse at someone and a cry of pain came from Hazel, he struggled to keep his mind on his own battle.

He quickly back stepped when the grey had flung himself forward at him, stumbling. Campion’s opponent fell onto all fours giving Campion the opportunity to give a mighty head butt sending the buck rolling down the hill.

Hazel was having his own problems, whenever he dodged a blow he stepped directly into another one,  it was a game of double cat and mouse.

Campion turned to try and help him, struggling to clear his blurry vision as he fought his light headiness. As effective as a head butt was, it had its drawbacks.

Hazel was lucky when one of his thrashing limbs hit home in the stomach of one of the browns and sent him into Campion who easily sent him over the edge to join his pal.

“I’ll get you this time!” an angry voice growled into the night.

“Dogwood?” Campion cried incredulously, recognising the voice. “Great, just Frithing great.”

It wasn’t hard to do the same thing to him as to the others when he presented Campion with a perfect opportunity.

Campion flung the weight off his back, but Dogwood was resistant and stubborn and did all he could to bring Campion down and over with him.

Hazel hastily helped Campion climb back up onto level ground. They both lay there panting desperately.

“Thanks, Hazel,” Campion said gratefully.

“Same to you,” Hazel returned.

“Yeah, haven’t lost our fighting touch, have we?” Campion smiled.

“I hope that if we present this as an excuse to avoid owsla training tomorrow, would Bigwig believe it?” Hazel suggested.

“I hope…” Campion began.

“You bunch of lazy incompetent…” Hemlock shouted out a lot of other profanities into the darkness.

Hazel and Campion jumped in shock as they remembered their troubles were not over.

“I’ll deal with them myself!” Hemlock cried, still talking to his owlsa that weren’t even there.

Campion picked himself off the ground with great effort and once again growled.

He felt a sharp, hot pain across his face like knives and realised that Hemlock had struck him with his claws.

Campion recoiled slightly, trying to maintain good vision by keeping the blood out of his eyes. It stung badly and crusted into his fur.

They paced round each other in the darkness in a deadly battle, no longer using their weight because they couldn’t see; it was only teeth and claws.

Campion felt a body soar over his head and recognised Hazel as he landed before him and kicked Hemlock with his hind legs.

Hemlock responded with a vicious growl and an almighty slash across Hazel’s left hind leg.

Hazel yelped and Campion winced from the sharp sound.

“Hazel?” he cried out desperately.

“I’m…. I’m alright. I think,” Hazel replied weakly.

“Wait,” Campion ordered Hemlock as he started to advance on him again. “You want to know about your son, Woundwort?”

This really stumped Hemlock and a vulnerable look flashed across his face.

“What do you know about my son?”

Campion used this opportunity to run over to Hazel and look at his wound.

“It’s pretty bad,” Campion tried to be confident. It was the blunt truth. The leg had been torn in the midst of the muscles, maybe resulting in a ligament injury. “Don’t worry, we’ll get out of this.”

Hemlock angrily repeated himself to Campion and if the brown rabbit didn’t watch his back he could follow his enemies over the edge.

Campion was about to fester a reply when he heard Bigwig’s familiar gait approach them.

“Campion, Hazel, what’s wrong?”

“Over here Bigwig!” Hazel shouted.

Both injured and uptight rabbits sighed in relief when Hemlock’s nerve finally broke. He realised he was outnumbered three to one and he scarpered.

“What in Frith’s name happened to you two?” Bigwig asked in shock. He peered down to look at the gushing blood in Hazel’s thigh.

“Bigwig, can you go and ask Blackberry to wait for us in one of the spare burrows, we have…. some injuries,” Campion said. His mate had pretty good skills when it came to blood and injuries.

Bigwig nodded, still in shock. He gave one last look, then sprinted.

Campion helped Hazel up onto three legs. “How bad is it?”

“It’s the leg that got shot, the wound must have reopened.” Hazel winced again as he tried to limp back to the warren.

“We’ll get Blackberry to have a look at it, we’re nearly there.” Campion cast his eyes back to the warren. “You should lie back down. If Hemlock comes back, he’ll have me to deal with.”

“Thank you, Campion.”

“No problem, we’re brothers remember?”