Previously on Watership Down

"Shh...", Hickory started, "Someone's coming".

They both fell silent. Sure enough, the sound of someone coming through the bushes at a high speed could be heard.

"He's coming Hickory! He's coming!!", panted a rabbit, bursting from cover and running up to them. His face was scratched, and his fur damaged from relentlessly dashing through the brambles, yet he seemed oblivious to any pain.

"Who, Flax? Who is!?", replied Hickory.

"Woundwort! It's Woundwort! He's coming for us!", spluttered Flax frantically.

"You and you. I don't care how you do it, but you have to keep them away from the warren for as long as possible. Leave false trails, anything! We just need some extra time.", Hickory started, talking to the group of rabbits.

"Marigold, you come with me. We'll go and find Hazel. As for the rest of you, Flax, you take command. If the worst happens and they do arrive, do whatever you can to keep them out of the warren!", he finished.

"Oh, don't leave Hickory. I've so been looking forward to meeting you after all this time.", came a voice.

"W... Woundwort!", stuttered Hickory, as the great bulk of the General towered over him. "Run, Marigold, Run!!"

*************

"No... this place... it... it cant... be here. Your warren... it's long... gone!", croaked Marigold through the blood in her throat, her strength quickly seeping from her. Cowslip paused before replying coldly.

"No Marigold. The Flayrah was gone. The rabbits were gone. The warren was gone. Even man may have gone. But the Shining Wires remain for all time and throughout all seasons. Now you can remain with them.", replied Cowslip, smiling sickly as Marigold made a vain attempt to stand up.

"You... can't.... just...l...leave it... like this.", choked Marigold, desperately struggling for breath.

"Sweet dreams, Marigold. Tomorrow is a world away, and there's only one rabbit waiting to welcome you.", he finished callously.

---

Deep in the burrows, on Watership Down

Fiver lay silent and still in his burrow as Hazel, Bigwig and several others stood nearby. Attempts to wake him had failed, so now the others could only wait anxiously for him to awake. A few hours had passed since Hazel and Bigwig had arrived back from the aborted trip to Redstone warren. By the time they had arrived back, Fiver had already fallen into his peaceful state, although tales from the other rabbits informed Hazel that prior to that he had been struggling wildly, and making bloodcurdling noises. The very thought of it made Hazel shiver.

Hazel looked over his shoulder at where Strawberry sat. He had already noticed how withdrawn and frightened the rabbit had looked earlier. Nothing had changed. Despite his longing to stay with Fiver, he moved across and sat down next to Strawberry.

"What is it Strawberry?", he asked.

"What, Hazel? I... I don't know what you mean.", replied Strawberry.

"There's something bothering you. I know there is.", continued Hazel.

"In The Warren of the Shining Wires, Cowslip forbade us to talk about it.", sighed Strawberry.

"You're free from that place now. You can say whatever you like now.", replied Hazel, before his voice dropped to a whisper, "Just so long as you remember that if you say anything about ol' Bigwig, he might cuff you for it.". Strawberry smiled slightly, before sighing.

"Seeing Fiver like that just brings back the memories. The way he was acting it...it... it was just like how any victim of the wires looked in their final moments.", he spoke, shivering towards the end of the sentence, "And just like before, there was nothing I could do to help."

"That wasn't your fault Strawberry. You were stopped by fear then and you were stopped by...", started Hazel, before pausing. It dawned on him that he never really knew what prevented Fiver awaking from his visions. "...by Frith this time.". Despite trying to appear optimistic in front of Strawberry, Hazel was clearly troubled. Hawkbit had mentioned something about snares earlier too. At that moment Fiver stirred.

"Fiver?", started Hazel, as himself and Strawberry ran across to where the others were gathered. Fiver blinked as he opened his eyes, before looking around him. "Are you okay?", continued Hazel.

"I think so.", replied Fiver, before shivering.

"What happened? What did you see?", asked Bigwig.

"Nothing, Bigwig. I couldn't see a thing. I could just feel a... a terrible pain but, oh I don't know.", replied Fiver hesitating, "It was almost as though it was something from the past.". Bigwig and Hazel looked at one another, but neither of them spoke.

Meanwhile, Just outside Efrafa

Vervain was busy digging underneath the barbed wire fence just beside Efrafa's main entrance. It was clear from his clumsy foot action that the only thing they were good for was running away at the slightest sniff of danger. Trying to clear some soil, he suddenly slid back again.

"Oh, I shouldn't be doing this. Digging is for the slaves.", he muttered to himself.

"Is something wrong Vervain?", asked another rabbit appearing from the cover of the forest.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!", screeched Vervain, jumping back in shock. "N..no nothing at all.", he continued, calming his speech down again to answer the question.

"What are you doing up here?", asked the other rabbit.

"Me? I...I was just checking the wire here.", replied Vervain.

"What's wrong with it?", continued the other rabbit.

"I don't think it looks too stable myself.", replied Vervain, before trying to hold back an evil smile, "I've tried talking to Campion-rah about it, but he just says I'm being silly."

"He's becoming a lot less concerned about safety lately. Elil attacking the warren, things collapsing. Perhaps there's something we don't know about.", replied the other rabbit, walking off.

"Yes", smiled Vervain, "Perhaps there is."

Just then one of the fenceposts on the barbed wire fence slid forward ever so slightly.

"And that looks just about ready too.", finished Vervain.

Watership Down

"I still don't think it's a good idea Hazel.", started Bigwig.

"Fiver insists on coming Bigwig. I suggested he stay here, but he still feels guilty about dragging us back in the first place.", replied Hazel.

Bigwig sighed. He hadn't been in any rush to go back to Redstone, but Fiver had been unusually insistent. Although Fiver didn't know why, he was sure there was some reason they needed to be there as soon as possible. It was only because of the rainclouds gathering overhead that Bigwig had persuaded him they should wait until the next morning.

"I suppose he'll be alright as long as we're both with him.", smiled Bigwig, still not entirely convinced.

"It's a shame about the weather though.", he continued, looking at the sky, "Frith was looking so promising this morning too."

"Everything can change before Frith sets in the sky Bigwig.", replied Hazel.

*************

Early afternoon in the forest, a short distance from Efrafa

By now the expected rain was lashing down on the earth. Vervain stopped briefly to shake the rain from his sodden fur. He looked around, the rain running down to the tip of the white tuft of fur on his muzzle, before dripping to the ground.

"Oh, there were plenty of bright, cheerful days General, but noooo, you had to pick the worst one of all!", he mumbled to himself.

Vervain paused, before instinctively swinging round, and laughing nervously. He could have sworn he heard the wind say, in a Woundwort-esque voice, 'What was that, Vervain?'.

"I suppose it's the last time I shall have to do this. Once I am the Supreme Captain of Owsla, I'll never have to work again. I can tell them what to do all day long! Then I'll show Campion. He won't...", he continued, trailing off into inaudible mumbling at the end, as he started to move again.

The scent of a fox in the distance caught his senses. By now well trained in leading elil down on the warren, Vervain began to leave his trail.

"There must be more of my scent on these trees than leaves now.", he continued to grumble to himself.

"More elil in the warren.... Parts of the it collapsing. Campion will be out of Efrafa by this moon!", he finished, before breaking into his beloved laugh.

"It's time to put the plan into action."

Soon, back on the outskirts of Efrafa

Vervain ran towards the section of the Efrafan embankment by the fence, which he'd destabilised earlier. It was simple; He'd run across it, the section would collapse, and everyone would come running out to see what the noise was, hopefully just in time for the fox to attack. His lies could fill in the rest. Vervain smiled as he leapt into the centre of it, expecting to jump straight off again to avoid the collapse. As he landed, however, he felt his paws sink into the mud. The heavy rainfall had turned the freshly disturbed earth to quicksand.

"No! This isn't any good!", he started, trying to pull his forepaws out.

"Let me go!", he continued, his voice becoming more frantic. Despite Vervain's best efforts, every move he made caused his feet to sink further.

"Help! Somebody please help!", he squealed, however there was no reply. He continued to sink helplessly into the mud.

"Oh no! I can't die of my own trap. It wouldn't be right.", he started muttering to himself, "This is all General Woundwort's fault. I...I could have been happy and peaceful here, but he wouldn't let me!"

"Hold on Vervain!", came Campion's voice from the entrance to the warren.

"Oh wonderful. Now I have to put up with him laughing at me too.", muttered Vervain to himself. He struggled to turn his head to look at Campion. Campion was searching frantically for any solid ground onto which to step, cautiously trying patches of the mud with one paw before pulling it back. Eventually he crawled along one of the large tree roots of Efrafa's main tree.

"Grab hold of my paw!", he shouted, stretching out to Vervain.

"How, stupid!? I can't move my paws to grab hold of anything!", snapped back Vervain. Without answering, Campion managed to grab hold of the scruff of Vervain's neck. Vervain winced in pain, as Campion mustered every ounce of strength to pull him free. As soon as the first of Vervain's front paws cleared the mud, Campion jumped. He leapt down from the tree to the bottom of the embankment, pulling Vervain out of the mud with him.

Campion managed to stay standing on solid ground for a few seconds, before collapsing next to the muddy Vervain, both of them gasping for breath.

"Y...you saved my... life.", panted Vervain, his voice full of disbelief.

"Please... don't remind me... Vervain.", replied Campion.

"B... but why? You should hate me!", squeaked Vervain.

"We may not see eye to eye on everything Vervain, but it doesn't change the fact that you're a rabbit of this warren. You're one of us, and always will be.", replied Campion, standing up. As Campion looked in the opposite direction, Vervain stared at him. For once he genuinely didn't know what to say. For all Vervain worshipped the General, Woundwort had never once accepted him as an equal, nor said a single kind word about him.

"I still don't know what caused this to collapse. It's stood up to worse rain than this before.", sighed Campion, looking at the pile of mud. Vervain's pawprints had already washed away under the heavy rain.

"C... Campion-rah.", started Vervain nervously, before hesitating, "There's something I think you need to know.", he continued.

"What's going on out here, sir!", interrupted Moss, emerging from the warren entrance with several other rabbits.

"A section of the outer wall collapsed with the rain. Don't worry, we'll be fine now.", replied Campion.

"Hey, I know about this section. It's been unstable for days, but you wouldn't do anything about it.", added one of the other rabbits.

"What!? That's silly. If there'd been a problem, I'd have known about it, and fixed it. This was caused by the rain, right Vervain?", replied Campion. He paused waiting for a reply, but none came.

"Right, Vervain?", he repeated, turning to face the black rabbit next to him. Vervain paused before replying.

"I... it's been like this for ages, but you wouldn't do anything about it! Thanks to you, the Black Rabbit of Inlé nearly took me.", replied Vervain. Despite in his heart being less convinced than he had ever been about what he was now doing, externally he looked more convincing than ever.

"I should have let him take you, you filthy flea-bitten excuse for a rabbit!", growled Campion, before trying to lunge at Vervain. Vervain cowered to the ground and whimpered, as Campion found himself held back by 3 of his Owsla.

"Now he's even attacking me for no reason!", squeaked Vervain.

"He's gone mad with power!", shouted one of the other rabbits. Several other rabbits made noises in agreement.

"Now hold on a tick, mates!", shouted Moss, turning round to face all of them, "A tiny bit of mud falls in due to the rain. Now you're gonna believe Vervain, the snivelling coward who lies at any chance, over honest Campion, who has kept the warren safe from elil? It don't sound too clever to me!"

The group started muttering to one another again. "Captain Moss is right you know.", Vervain managed to overhear them say, causing him to growl under his breath.

"Elil! Elil!", came a sudden screech from the woods.

Everyone looked at the source of the noise, just in time to see one of the former slaves come running out.

"A homba! There was a homba near the edge of the woods.", he panted, calming as he joined the large group of rabbits.

"Not again! We haven't seen any sign of them for seasons, then in the last few moons they've all come at once.", replied Mudwort.

"You see, it... it's all Campion's doing!", continued Vervain, although no one seemed to listen.

"Is it heading this way?", asked Campion.

"I managed to lose him, but I think he's picked up the trail of rabbits.", came the reply. Vervain growled to himself, as this wasn't going to plan. The fox should have been here by now. He would have to think of something else now.

"Moss, assemble the Owsla. We'll drive this one away. It might put others off from attacking.", decided Campion, as the other rabbits let go of him, "I'll deal with you later, Vervain."

*************

Late Afternoon, in the woodland

Moss led a group of seven rabbits as they crept stealthily through the forest.

"What are we to do when we find it?", asked one of the rabbits.

"We're gonna ambush him mate. So long as we surprise him, he won't stand a chance.", replied Moss

"What if he surprises us?", asked another of the rabbits.

"Then we...", started Moss, before he was interrupted by the fox jumping out of the cover of a nearby bush, "Scatter!!!".

Before he'd even finished the word, the rabbits had already dispersed in different directions. Moss wasn't one to wait around himself, and charged straight through the woodland, never daring to look behind him.

Meanwhile back at Watership Down

Hazel and Fiver laughed as they returned to the Honeycomb, wet through from the rain. No doubt they'd been telling humourous tales of what Bigwig would call bravery, but everyone else referred to as stupidity.

"He'll do some strange things to protect the warren, won't he.", smiled Fiver

"Frith couldn't figure out what our Bigwig is going to do next sometimes. Sometimes I don't think Bigwig even knows.", replied Hazel cheerfully.

"Here, did I hear someone mention my name?", asked Bigwig, appearing suddenly from one of the side burrows.

"Oh...er... yes.", started Hazel, caught off guard by the captain, "We were just...um... saying how wonderfully Honeysuckle seems to be settling into the Owsla under your careful eye.". Bigwig smiled inwardly to himself. He could tell they'd been joking affectionately about his sometimes crazy ideas, but took comfort in seeing them improvise an excuse.

"She's got a right spirit about her, has that one. I haven't seen anyone this keen since... well, ever!", he replied.

Hazel was about to reply when Kehaar interrupted.

"Brrrrr!", he shivered, shaking rainwater out of his feathers as he entered the Honeycomb.

"Where have you been in this horrible weather?", asked Hazel.

"I asked him to have a quick fly over Redstone and Efrafa, just to make sure nothing is out of place.", replied Bigwig.

"I fly ya. Is plenty rain out there Bigwig.", started Kehaar.

"Sorry about that Kehaar. I didn't realise it was going to turn so bad.", replied Bigwig, brushing his fur against Kehaar's wet feathers to help dry him, "So, did you find anything?"

"I fly high over Redstone. I no see too good, but it look quiet. Nobody out.", started Kehaar, rewarding Bigwig's kindness by raising his left wing and soaking the captain with the shower of water dripping from it.

"That's hardly surprising, with rain like this.", replied Hazel.

"I then fly over Efrafa. See one rabbit just out of warren, but no see more.", finished Kehaar.

"Good work Kehaar.", replied Bigwig, wringing the water out of the long fur around his neck, "It makes me feel a little more relaxed n..". He never managed to finish the sentence, as Fiver interrupted him.

"Ooooohhh!", he groaned, his eyes glazing over once more.

"Fiver?", replied Bigwig, turning round.

"Is another veesion, ya?", started Kehaar.

"The danger is not what you would expect to find, the one who lives amongst you has revenge on his mind!", groaned Fiver.

"Fiver?! Fiver!", shouted Hazel, catching his brother as he fainted. There was a moment of eery silence, before Bigwig finally spoke.

"I've just lost that relaxed feeling."

Soon...

Moss stopped, crouched in a ditch out of sight, and sniffed the air. He'd lost the fox, but he was sure someone else was nearby. It didn't feel like Elil, however something about it made him feel uneasy. As he comtemplated his next move, he suddenly heard movement from above him. He dived out of the way, as a rock fell from the top of the ditch. Although the rock missed him, he landed awkwardly on his hind leg in a thorny bush.

"Yearghhh!", he yelped, temporarily forgetting to remain silent. He looked up again at where the rock had been to see Vervain standing and smiling evilly.

"What in Frith's name did you do that for, mate?", he started.

"Oh, sorry Moss. I must have... er... slipped.", replied Vervain. Moss stood up, wobbling on his hurt leg.

"Here, help me get back to the warren will you. I can't walk properly now.", replied Moss.

"No time, I'm afraid.", smiled Vervain, turning to run.

"What?! There's a fox on the loose though. You can't just leave me like this.", shouted Moss.

"Idiot! Can't you work it out!? I know there's a fox on the loose. With any luck he's following me here!", snorted Vervain.

"You backclawing...", started Moss, before being interrupted by the sound of movement coming through the bushes. Without hesitating any longer, Vervain leapt across the ditch, as Moss slowly crawled out nearby.

"We'll see who is the better Captain now.... mate!", shouted Vervain. Laughing, he disappeared into the cover of the forest, just as the fox appeared from the cover on the other side of the ditch. As he ran, he smiled. The screams of terror reminded him so much of the days of Efrafa, and the glorious rule of the General.

*************

Back at Efrafa, late evening

The rain had finally stopped, and the sky had cleared. Frith was almost disappearing over the horizon, and the first stars were appearing above as the Efrafan Owsla returned.

"What happened?", asked Campion, running out with several other rabbits to meet the tired Owsla.

"It's Moss, sir!", started one of the returning officers.

"No!", replied Campion, picking up on the solemn look on their faces.

"The Homba got him, sir.", continued.

"B.. but how. He's one of the cleverest rabbits, and fastest runners we have!", replied Campion.

"He must have been hurt.", suggested Mudwort.

Campion paused briefly, hanging his head, before beginning to speak in a slow and saddened voice. Campion was never an emotional rabbit, however he could feel the tears pricking the corner of his left eye now. Moss had been a great friend under the rule of Woundwort; one of the few members of the Owsla who disliked what the General had done. He'd also stood by Campion over every decision he had made as new chief of Efrafa.

"My heart has joined the thousand, for my friend sto...", he started to speak.

"He's been hurt for a long time. Injured his back leg digging last moon.", interrupted Vervain suddenly, shocking many of the assembled rabbits.

"Campion knew about it too!", he continued.

"What!? That's rediculous Ver...", started Campion, before Vervain interrupted.

"Captain Moss was one of the best rabbits I knew. Campion sent him to the Black Rabbit of Inlé, just like he's going to do to all of us.", shouted Vervain.

"Get him!", shouted Mudwort. Perhaps blinded by their grief, the rabbits didn't hesitate to think about what Vervain was saying, and attacked.

"Kill him!", added another.

"You can't be serious! Moss was a friend!", shouted Campion, before he was knocked to the ground by one of the Owsla.

"No one would put their friend in danger, Campion. No one!", growled one of the other bucks.

"This is all a lie. You're all listening to Vervain!", continued Campion.

"We've seen it with our own eyes Campion. You're no chief rabbit! You sent one of our bravest captains to his death.", replied Mudwort, drawing his claw across Campion's shoulder.

Campion winced in pain, before stepping back from them. He looked around to find himself cornered, as the Owsla slowly advanced on him. He quickly looked behind him. The only way out was through the softened mud he had pulled Vervain from earlier.

"You won't get away with this Vervain!", shouted Campion over the crowd of rabbits at Vervain, who remained in the background smiling.

"Charge!!", shouted Mudwort.

Without hesitating any longer, Campion leapt onto the mud, and tried to run. He felt his hind legs pull into the mud, however his front ones settled on the solid surface of the collapsed fencepost. Using that to his advantage, he pulled his hind legs free, before leaping for the top of the bank. His front paws found solid ground, whilst the force of his jump sent the loose fencepost to the bottom of the Efrafan embankment.

"He's getting away!", shouted Vervain, as the other officers jumped back to avoid the barbed wire attached to the fencepost hitting the ground, "Get after him!"

"Let him go. He's caused us enough misery today. He knows what'll happen if he dares show his tail around here again!", finished Mudwort. Vervain growled to himself, as the other rabbits headed for the entrance. They suddenly found their path blocked by a bluegrey doe.

"What's going on out here?", asked Blackberry, appearing in the entrance way. The other rabbits all stopped, "Where's Campion?".

"Oh, Campion won't be a problem round here anymore Blackberry.", replied Vervain.

"What have you done to him Vervain!", she screeched at him.

"I haven't done anything. He couldn't face the shame of what he'd done to poor Captain Moss, so he ran, like all cowards.", replied Vervain, feigning sadness as he talked of Moss.

"You're a liar! Campion would never abandon the warren!", Blackberry barked back at him.

"Believe what you like Blackberry, but everyone else knows the truth. It was them who decided he was no longer fit to be chief.", replied Vervain.

Blackberry ran out, causing Vervain to cower. Much to his relief, she ran past him and headed for the edge of the Efrafan valley.

"I'll get you for this Vervain. I'll find Campion!", she screeched over her shoulder.

"Why does everyone want to get me? What have I done?", muttered Vervain to himself.

"You're not going anywhere!", came a loud voice as she reached the top of the bank. Blackberry squealed and jumped backwards.

"No, no! It can't be!", she started.

"I...it's the General!", shouted Mudwort from the entrance to the warren. All around the warren, the Redstone rabbits emerged from the cover of the bushes, with Woundwort and Cowslip in the centre.

"W... what's going on. H... he's dead!", stuttered one of the Efrafan rabbits.

"H...he must have been brought back by the Black Rabbit of Inlé!", shivered another.

"Advance!", shouted Woundwort.

"What do we do?", whispered one of the Efrafan bucks.

"Do we fight him?", replied the other. None of the Efrafans spoke or moved as Woundwort moved closer to them. Eventually, when he was only a Bobstones throw away, Blackberry spoke.

"What have you done with Campion, Woundwort?", she growled.

"What has Campion done with you all?", replied Woundwort. Nobody else dared to speak.

"Look at what you've become. You couldn't fight a mouse, let alone defend a warren.", he continued, "Efrafa has become weak! You've all become weak without me!".

"We don't need you Woundwort. Our chief makes sure the warren is safe from all danger!", replied Mudwort.

"Really? I thought you'd killed your chief, just like he tried to kill you all.", continued Woundwort.

"Campion has left Efrafa yes, but...", started Mudwort.

"He's.... left? You mean you didn't kill him!?", growled Woundwort, glaring threateningly at Vervain.

"er... sir...", started Vervain.

"Pah, it's not important! He's still gone and left! You don't have anyone to help bring order to this mess. Only I can save you all.", snorted Woundwort.

"Vervain is our chief now!", added one of the other bucks.

"Huh!?", squeaked Vervain.

"Really Vervain?", questioned Woundwort bringing his face closer to Vervain, who unsurprisingly cowered back.

"No! No, Sir! It's not true!", he squeaked.

"If you are, then I'll have to kill you first.", continued Woundwort. Vervain could only manage a strange squeak.

Just then, movement was heard from the woodland behind Efrafa's main entrance. Vervain seized the chance to bury himself in the crowd of rabbits. Woundwort wasn't interested in Vervain though. He sniffed the air.

"Homba! Along the edge of the woodland.", he whispered.

"Witness the true power of Woundwort!", he then shouted, charging up the embankment towards the forest.

"He's mad!", whispered Mudwort, as a struggle could be heard from the cover.

"Some said I was mad. Is anybody really mad though, or is it just an illusion, to pull the cover over our senses, taking us into a world of delusions?", spoke Cowslip.

Several of the Efrafans stared blankly at Cowslip.

Words of, "What in Frith's name was that supposed to mean?", resonated throughout the Efrafan group. Perhaps someone would have asked, were it not for Woundwort jumping back down into the valley at that point, his face covered with someone else's blood.

"The homba won't be bothering us again!", he shouted calmly, barely out of breath.

"All hail General Woundwort! His glory is ours!", shouted Vervain, crawling on the floor. He glanced out of the corner of his eye to see if any other Efrafans were following his example. They weren't!

"With my return to the warren, we'll be strong once more!", shouted Woundwort, standing up on his hind legs.

"No, Woundwort! We've seen freedom now. We'll never trade our freedom for safety again!", shouted back one of the bucks.

"Did I mention, you don't have a choice in this?", continued Woundwort.

"Attack!", he shouted. Although the few rabbits of Cowslip began to move forward, the rest of his army from Redstone remained still. Woundwort turned round.

"Do I have to repeat myself?", he growled.

"No Woundwort. We'll never listen to you. We will always fight you!", replied one of the Redstoners. Woundwort sighed before replying.

"Somehow, that doesn't worry me.", he spoke, recalling how pathetic they had been in defending their own warren. "I don't need you anyway. I've been in Efrafa before. I know can take you all on! Come on, Who will dare to challenge me!?", he shouted.

Nobody answered, however 3 of the Efrafan Owsla lunged forward, pinning Woundwort to the ground. For a brief second Woundwort appeared to struggle, before throwing them back, narrowly missing Vervain as he did so. Vervain just squeaked.

"Anyone who wants to argue will die. Those who respect me will live in safety!", he shouted angrilly, as the 3 rabbits struggled to their feet.

Woundwort stared at the group, waiting for someone else to challenge him. Eventually one of them slowly stepped forward. He dropped to the ground in front of the General.

"My chief. I am forever at your service.", he grumbled. Vervain smiled as he saw several other officers follow his example.

"No, you can't! Think of what Campion did to break the warren free of his rule.", screeched Blackberry.

"Campion has gone Blackberry! Live with it!", shouted Vervain.

"Take her underground!", shouted Woundwort. "And take this pathetic bunch of traitors with you!", he shouted, indicating towards the Redstone rabbits. At that, several of them tried to turn and run, however Cowslip's rabbits were able to head them off, ready for the loyal Efrafans to grab them. Woundwort watched as one by one everyone disappeared underground, leaving only himself and Cowslip in the open.

"Vervain!!", shouted the General, as Vervain tried to quietly sneak in with the rest. Vervain stopped and fearfully turned his head. "I want a word with you.", continued Woundwort.

"Y...yes sir!", replied Vervain, pinning his ears back and staying low to the ground as he approached Woundwort.

"I thought I told you I wanted rid of Campion. That meant I wanted him dead Vervain!", growled Woundwort.

"I...I...I tried sir. H...he managed to escape.", stuttered Vervain.

"It's not important now though.", replied Woundwort, much to Vervain's relief. "Ready the army. We shall invade Hazel's Warren!".

"What, now? Are you sure that's wise sir?", asked Vervain.

"Are you questioning my judgement?", growled Woundwort.

"N... no, of course not General. I... I just thought you should make sure they won't betray you first. You saw what those Redstone rabbits were like.", whimpered Vervain.

"That is because those rabbits still believed they could stop me. The Efrafan rabbits know I am unstoppable. Although they won't admit it, they also want me here, as I am all that keeps this place together.", shouted Woundwort, before pausing to think. "Also if Campion has escaped, he may be able to warn Hazel and his Outsiders, so we can waste no time."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that General.", smiled Woundwort, "The way Campion's shoulder was when he left here, he won't be able to get anywhere fast. I wouldn't be surprised to find he's already met with the Black Rabbit."

Woundwort paused to think again.

"An extra moon to think and train, can bring many seasons of loyalty and gain, General.", added Cowslip.

"Very well. We shall go with Cowslip's plan instead. We attack the Outsiders Warren at dawn. Until then, we train. I want this Owsla as loyal and strong as I remember it by then!", finished Woundwort, heading for the entrance. Cowslip followed shortly afterwards, leaving only Vervain standing outside.

"C... Cowslip's plan? B... But it was my idea!", squeaked Vervain, although nobody heard him. Still grumbling, he followed the others indoors.