Chapter Thirteen
Christmas Special Part 1: Not Over Yet
It was Frith’s Eve on Watership Down, and all the rabbits were busy either collecting food such as carrots or fresh grass for the traditional feast or decorating the warren with holly and ivy to remind them of the story of Frith’s promise.
Hazel was preoccupied with deep thinking in his burrow; he thought of Fiver’s vision last night and pondered over what it meant. What could it mean?
“The lost brother was found, our ally, he betrayed his warren, he was always home bound.”
Hazel guessed what this meant but he had to be sure before he got excited. He got up and made his way to the Honeycomb.
It was crowded with animals of every kind, for the feast was soon to start. Hazel slipped over to where Campion and Blackberry were sorting out a pile of flayrah.
“Campion, can I talk to you?” Hazel asked timidly. Blackberry looked up curiously so Hazel caved and let her come too.
They were exiting the hall together when Hazel saw his younger brother chatting with Ivy.
“Fiver, join us will you?” Hazel said meaningfully.
Fiver nuzzled Ivy a brief farewell then followed the other three to Hazel’s burrow.
Campion and Blackberry dropped onto all fours and waited patiently for Hazel or Fiver to speak.
“Campion you were born in Efrafa weren’t you?” Hazel asked finally.
“Actually Hazel, I wasn’t. I only remember leaving a warren with my mother when I was about one moon old.” Campion looked confused at having been asked such a question.
Hazel told himself to remain calm, but his claws dug into the ground in suspense as he eyed Campion’s features. Campion stared back in silent confusion.
“And Campion, what was your mother called?”
“Am…Autumn.”
Hazel looked at Fiver cautiously, before stepping forward and sniffing Campion as if he had never come across his scent before.
“Hazel?” Campion asked, taken back.
“What happened to your father and mother?” Fiver finally spoke up.
“My mother fell to a homba, I never knew my father,” Campion answered quietly, painful memories being recalled. He sensed Blackberry listening too and he sighed his past was painful to recall.
He continued, “I travelled for a whole season until I found Efrafa and they took me in. I grew up and became an Owsla Captain, that’s all there is to my kittenhood.”
An awkward silence filled the burrow. Blackberry looked intently from one face to the other feeling the excitement. Campion just looked blankly ahead. Season after season he had tried to forget those months of solitude and grief. Hazel started to explain,
“Fiver and I weren’t born in the same litter. I came in the early winter, two circle of seasons ago now, and Fiver was born in the spring. Our other brothers and sisters left the warren as soon as they were old enough because they didn’t like the owsla’s authority over others. But I stayed with Fiver since he wasn’t strong enough to travel.” Hazel paused, then continued, “Our mother had left with one of my littermates as soon as we were weaned. One that hadn’t left at the earlier time and….it was a brown buck,” Hazel said finally.
“You mean to say…. that I’m your brother?” Campion asked unbelievingly. He was overwhelmed a glanced at his mate. She looked at him imploringly and said “Well? Are you?”
“Well, it looks like it and Fiver says so,” Hazel said uncertainly when it looked as if Campion wasn’t going to answer.
“Fiver?” Blackberry asked, still amazed.
Fiver looked around them slowly and focused on Campion’s face, then said slowly, “Yes, I think he is.”
The stunned silence was broken by a cream doe entering the burrow. “Hazel the feast should be starting.” Then she looked around in surprise at the small gathering. “Did I miss something?”
“Primrose, Campion is my lost brother I was telling you about it last night,” Hazel said.
“But he can’t be, he was born in Efrafa,” Primrose said, shaking her head.
“Why does everyone assume that?” Campion asked. “Woundwort did do a lot of raids on other warrens; I could have easily been from any of them.”
“Turns out he wasn’t.” Hazel shrugged to her.
“Hello brother,” Fiver joked.
“I can’t believe it……” Campion said quietly.
“Come on, I want to tell everyone at the feast,” Hazel said with excitement mounting, exiting the burrow.
Primrose and Fiver followed him, leaving Campion and Blackberry to their thoughts.
“To think that we were born in the same warren and grew up together and now we didn’t recognise each other.” Blackberry smiled, shaking her head.
“It’s a lot to take in,” Campion agreed.
They sat another moment in silence, both trying to recall memories from their kittenhood.
“We’d better get to this feast then, I’ve never had a proper Frithmas at Efrafa,” Campion said joyfully. He pushed the memories of the past to the back of his mind and focused on all he was living for at present.
There were many animals assembled in the Honeycomb, squirrels, birds, hedgehogs, bats, rats, water rats, voles, mice and the Redstone Rabbits.
Dandelion told the traditional tale of Frith’s blessing, which entranced all the animals, especially the rabbits as they relived the adventures of their lapin hero, El- Ahrairah.
Hazel then told everyone the meaning of Fiver’s vision and of their long lost brother that was found.
The feast began; all the animals were happily chatting and gossiping, reunited to celebrate this great feast.
After eating, Pipkin wanted to tell his version of Frith’s Blessing, so everyone settled down together to hear another tale.
Campion sighed in contentment, he was greatly enjoying his first real Frithmas, and everything was perfect. Over in the opposite corner Fiver felt the same, he couldn’t be happier. He had had no visions of danger and he had his dream mate beside him.
Blackberry sighed as she leaned her head on Campion’s shoulder while Pipkin’s voice filled the great chamber. Suddenly she flinched, and a small shiver ran through her.
“Blackberry?” Campion asked worriedly, twisting his head down to look at her.
“I…I don’t feel too well, my stomach… ouch!” Blackberry tried to keep the tears out of her eyes and gritted her teeth.
“Is it the kits?” Campion voice quickened. “Maybe you should go and see Primrose, she might know what’s wrong.”
“And so Frith’s warm rays melted all the snow and turned the world green again…..” Pipkin’s voice carried on.
Blackberry pulled her legs up from under her and rose. She whispered to Campion, “Don’t follow me.” She left and went in the direction of her burrow.
“What?” Campion said quickly, “Where are you going?”
He made to follow her, when his path was blocked by a snow white doe.
“Ivy, can you move, please?” Campion said, finding it hard to keep the annoyance and frustration out of his voice.
“Let her go, she wants to be on her own,” Ivy said, staring up defiantly at the large buck.
“I think what my mate and I do are our own business,” Campion said clearly showing his frustration now, he strained to look over Ivy into the dark burrow beyond.
It was evident that the conversation between the two, that had seemed quite loud to Campion, actually went unnoticed by the crowd around them as Pipkin’s story continued.
Fiver came over as he sensed the growing tension between his mate and Campion. “What’s wrong?”
“Fiver, can you please ask Ivy to move? She’s been in my way for quite a while now.”
“Blackberry went away to be on her own and she specifically asked Campion not to follow her, I’m just trying to respect her wishes,” Ivy put in calmly.
“Well maybe...” Fiver started, feeling awkward, he didn’t want to offend his new brother nor his mate.
He blinked slowly as he felt a vision approaching.
His vision vanished as quick as it had come and he sat up straight as a new image flashed before his eyes. He then smiled smugly and turned to Campion.
“Don’t worry, she just wants to be on her own while having her kittens. Just as any doe would.”
“What, you seen them?” Campion asked, his tone surprised.
Fiver laughed, “Yes three does and two bucks and they’ll all be fine, healthy kittens.”
“Well...” Campion was desperate to go and see them, but Fiver and Ivy insisted that he wait so as not to disturb her.
“Oh, alright then,” he admitted in defeat.
Pipkin’s story ended and Dandelion retook his place to tell them all the story of ‘Bigwig the Ice Rabbit’ with Bigwig himself present to assist him.
Though Campion had never heard the story before, he fidgeted and leaned his weight from paw to paw anxiously. Blackberry must be in pain, and she was all alone. He wasn’t even allowed to go and see her!
Dandelion’s story finished and the leftovers of the feast were shared out.
Rabbits can tell the time of day from the position of the sun in the sky, so they are also able to tell the time by the position of the moon though they do not count a beginning of a new day as we do. We use numbers and to us a new day starts at twelve, midnight, but to the rabbits a new day was at sunrise.
“Right I’m going out to watch for sunrise anyone care to join me?” Hazel asked after a particularly long tournament of Bobstones.
Everyone agreed and started to file above ground, chattering excitedly.
Campion waited silently until they had all gone and slipped into the runs, making his way to his burrow.
He eagerly hurried along, stopping before his sleeping quarters he pricked his ears as he heard the sound of rustling leaves and gentle squealing.
He entered the burrow and nuzzled Blackberry before looking proudly at the five squirming kittens.
“I was so worried,” Campion said, feeling a weight lighten. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m just very tired,” Blackberry assured him quietly. “And a bit sore, but I’ll be alright in a while.”
Campion studied her face to see if she was being truthful and wasn’t hiding her pain.
Satisfied he said, “Okay, I’ve always liked the name Iris, how about that for one of the does?”
“Yes that’s lovely, what about Rosa and Spring for the other two?”
“Perfect, but for the bucks…….. how about Swift? I’ve always loved that one.” Campion smiled to himself. He had never imagined himself doing this.
“And Ash? At Sandleford there were a lot of ash trees in the woods beside the warren, but of course you might already know that.”
Campion shook his head, “I don’t remember that much I only remember leaving and the journey that followed I suppose I was too young.”
“So we have our names.” Blackberry smiled widely.
“Iris, Rosa, Spring, Swift and Ash.” Campion said quietly.
Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig stood together at the edge of the down waiting for the sun to appear.
“It’s certainly been a more peaceful celebration this Frithmas,” Bigwig said, no doubt remembering his other adventure.
“Any visions Fiver? Let’s not make Bigwig speak too soon shall we?” Hazel joked.
“Nope, no bad visions,” Fiver said, smiling coyly.
“Wait, what do you mean no bad ones? Does that mean you have had a vision?” Bigwig asked, noticing Fiver’s hint.
Ivy came over just in time to hear Bigwig’s question. “You’ll see soon enough Bigwig.”
“Oy! What’s that supposed to mean?” But Fiver and Ivy had gone over to talk to the squirrels.
“No one ever tells me anything round here.” Bigwig sighed in exasperation.
“You? Look how much the chief rabbits knows!” Hazel exclaimed.