Chapter Eleven

Love's Trail

Fiver had felt anxious and restless after Hazel had left, a whole sunrise ago, but his attentions were soon pulled towards another direction, digging.

Holly had them all digging like the old days when they had first came to the warren because he was determined that they would all have suitable shelter.

Later that night, all the rabbits crammed into the scratched burrows, two to each. Fiver had trouble finding one. He finally came across a half empty burrow.

He cautiously stepped into the hole, and saw Ivy huddled in the back corner.  He felt embarrassed; he didn’t want to share a burrow with a doe that made him feel constantly nervous.

It turned out he had no choice, Ivy had already smelt him, and had shifted over to make room.

“Come on in Fiver,” Ivy said.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Fiver asked timidly.

“Of course not,” Ivy laughed.

Fiver awkwardly lay down to sleep against her warm side.  He lay rigid, his heart beat quickening, he sensed this was going to be a long night.

Hazel had lain down to sleep by Primrose’s side, they had decided to sleep in the Honeycomb that night. With his kittens cluttered around him, he was filled with relief that his mate and his children were okay, but he had sadness in his heart for the loss of Captain Broom.

He lay there thinking about what the next day would hold, he should try and find Skree, who had retired to live in the woods behind Watership Down, to send him to Holly, Fiver and the others to tell them it was safe to come home.

Blackberry entered the Honeycomb before passing through the run to make her way slowly above ground. Hazel lifted his head in surprise. Why was Blackberry up and about at this time of night?

He quietly distracted himself from his family and followed her. He reached the top of run and saw her nearby at a yarrow plant. She gripped the plant with her teeth and pulled, turned and went to go down the run again.

“Blackberry what are you doing?”

The grey doe jumped and dropped her load. “Oh Hazel! You scared me, I’m just gathering some herbs to bring Campion’s fever down, and he keeps slipping into unconsciousness and having flash backs.

“Blackberry, you are working too hard, a doe that is as far along with kittens as you would be resting all the time.”

“I have to Hazel, no one else knows what herbs will bring his fever down, and I don’t want too many others around him.” Blackberry bent down to pick up the yarrow with tired eyes.

“I’ll do it,” Hazel said, reaching the yarrow before her, and leading her back to her burrow.

Campion was awake, attempting to clean a particularly nasty slash on his back when Hazel and Blackberry walked in.

Campion saw the yarrow and sighed, “Blackberry, you shouldn’t be, I said I’ll get it. You should be resting.”

“So should you,” Blackberry disagreed.

“You both should,” Hazel cut across, sensing a half-hearted argument.

Blackberry had grown too tired to bicker anymore and lay down. It wasn’t long before she was still.

Campion sighed and looked up at Hazel. “This isn’t right; she is straining herself for me. What if there is some problem with the kittens or at birth because she didn’t get enough rest?”

“Campion, don’t panic. Blackberry’s tough, even though she may not look it. Anyway she’s due anytime now isn’t she?”

“All the more reason.” Campion nodded.

“Soon enough that you won’t have to worry about it for long. Soon enough that you’ll have a litter of gentle, squirming, little minnie you’s and you’ll see that there was nothing to worry about.”

Campion laughed quietly. “I’m hoping that they’ll have Blackberry in them too.”

“There’s something else you’re worried about isn’t there?” Hazel probed gently.

Campion looked slightly frustrated with himself. “I…. all my life, as in my life in Efrafa, was spent being taught how to fight, guard, lead wide patrols, obey orders and sometimes even kill. Nothing there could have ever prepared me for this….” Campion trailed off. “The officers and captains weren’t expected to have mates or kits, so I didn’t expect to either.”

Hazel smiled at him. “You don’t know what to do?”

Campion just nodded mutely, not meeting Hazel’s eyes.

“I don’t think it’s something you can be taught. It comes naturally Campion, even if it doesn’t feel like it now. Just remember this is Blackberry’s first time as well, you can help each other.”

Campion nodded again and thanked Hazel gratefully.

“Also, you’re doing fine with being in a relationship as it is, I wouldn’t doubt yourself yet.”

“I’ll see you both tomorrow,” Hazel finished before going back to join Primrose.

Blackberry peeked through her eyelashes at the rabbit beside her, he looked deep in thought.

Over thinking, Blackberry mused. She let her eyelids flutter close again, with slightly more to think about as well. She was glad Campion had gotten that off his chest and that Hazel had helped him overcome his fears. When the time came she would need him, because she was equally scared.

Fiver drifted in and out of sleep all night and was hugely relieved when he smelled the coming of morning.

He gently nudged Ivy. “Are you coming up to silflay?”

She flicked her ears and smiled. “Yep.”

They found that most of the rabbits were already up, and they went over to join Hawkbit and Dandelion.

“Any more visions Fiver?” Dandelion asked.

“No, nothing yet.”

“I hope we can go home now, I don’t fancy having to do more digging, I mean why don’t we just start digging another warren?” Hawkbit said sarcastically.

“Well you’ll be glad to know, that it’s safe to go home and we’re leaving as soon as Frith is properly raised,” Holly said, hopping over. “I’ve just spoken with Skree, he told me that message from Hazel.”

“What about my vision, is everyone okay?” Fiver asked.

“Hazel didn’t say,” Holly said bluntly.

“I’ll take sentry duty until we leave, it makes me nervous sitting around,” Strawberry said.

“Fiver, can I talk to you?” Ivy asked.

“Sure.” Fiver was filled with apprehension, what did Ivy want to talk to him about?