Previously on Watership Down...

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

"Vervain, explain yourself!", thundered Woundwort

"I've found a way into the heart of their warren, General", replied Vervain timidly

"Sorry, sir. These mad rabbits can get a bit stroppy!", interrupted Corporal Moss, as two rabbits grabbed Vervain

"Hazel and his outsiders are at your mercy, general. I can give them to you!", he screeched, as he was dragged away

"Hold! I will hear him....", interrupted Woundwort

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

"I saw a darkness on the land. It was as if the black rabbit of Inlé touched me. I was so cold, so afraid!", shivered Fiver

"It's alright lad, its over!", spoke Bigwig

"No, its just beginning!", replied Fiver

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

"It should work. If we dig under the hanging rock, we can bring it down to block this narrow passage!", explained Blackberry

"Oh... hello! You're..", she continued, setting her eyes upon Campion

"Campion, this is Blackberry. She's our digging genius!", explained Hazel

"I've heard stories about your bravery Captain Campion. It's an honour to meet you at last!", spoke Blackberry, besotted by him

"The honour is all mine Blackberry!", replied Campion

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

"Surrender Hazel. Maybe I'll let some of your warren live!", shouted Woundwort

"We stand or fall here Woundwort!", replied Hazel

"Then you will die! ATTACK!!!", continued Woundwort, lunging at Hazel

"Ha Haaaar!!", shouted Bigwig, charging at Woundwort

"There is only Woundwort! Witness the truth!", he replied before attacking Bigwig

"Nooo!", interrupted Campion, knocking Woundwort away

"See! See! I told you sir! I knew it all along! He's a traitor to Efrafa!", screeched Vervain, as Campion and the Watership Rabbits retreated

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

"Get them out of there!", screeched Blackberry, as the rock began to move

"Campion!", shouted Woundwort

"Yes sir!", replied Campion, instantly turning around

"You betrayed me Campion! I'll tear you apart!", shouted Woundwort, as the rock above them began to collapse

"General!!", shouted Campion, pushing Woundwort to safety

"Campion!", screeched Blackberry, with tears in her eyes, as the rock came crashing down

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

"We'll see Frith rise tomorrow, because Campion gave his life for us today!", spoke Hazel

"What do we do Hazel?", asked Fiver

"What our ancestors did before us. We go on, Fiver. We go on...."

---

Frith was high in the sky. Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig were lying on the down, watching over the young rabbits.

"Cant catch me!", laughed Periwinkle

"Just you wait. I was once appointed runner to Elahrairah!", spoke Pipkin Triumphantly

"Really?", asked Primrose's children Periwinkle and Bushthorn in astonishment

"Well, once Frith said to Ela....", started Pipkin

"Listen to him! He's becoming worse than Dandelion these days, eh Hazel.", laughed Bigwig

There was no reply

"Hazel!", shouted Bigwig

"Wh..what?", replied Hazel

"You weren't even listening were you? Forget it!", sighed Bigwig

"Im sorry Bigwig. I just cant help worrying about Blackberry.", started Hazel

"She hasnt eaten in 3 frith-rises.", continued Fiver

"She must have become really attached to Campion in the short time they knew each other!", sighed Bigwig

"I dont see how! All seems a bit stupid if you ask me!", interrupted Hawkbit, poking his head out of the burrow

"Do you make a habit of saying the worst things at the worse possible times, Hawkbit?", snarled Hazel

"I.. I.. was just saying...", Hawkbit stuttered, before quickly disappearing underground again

"Primrose and Hannah are trying to talk to her again now.", finished Fiver

Meanwhile, underground

Primrose stuck her head around the entrance to one of the back-burrows. As expected, Blackberry was still lying cowered in the corner

"We brought you something to eat.", started Hannah

There was a pause, before finally Blackberry whispered, "I'm not hungry"

"Its the best clover. Hawkbit and Fiver searched all over the down especially!", continued Primrose

There was no reply. Hannah looked at Primrose blankly

"Let me try!", whispered Primrose, before moving forward

"Are you not coming out. Frith's smiling especially bright today.", she suggested

"Whats the point? Everyday is just the same. A never-ending darkness created by hatred, that not even Frith can see through.", muttered Blackberry, before turning to face away

"Do you want to talk about it?", asked Primrose

Blackberry didnt reply. Primrose looked at Hannah for support. The mouse just shrugged her shoulders.

"You know where we are if you do! I'll leave the clover here.", finished Primrose, as the two of them backed off. Blackberry remained silent.

Back above ground

"...and then Elahrairah said to me...", continued Pipkin, whilst the bewildered kittens listened attentively

"Any luck, Primrose?", asked Hazel, as she emerged accompanied by Hannah and Hawkbit

"No, she just keeps repeating the same line about darkness that frith cannot see through.", replied Primrose

"It's going to take time for her to get over it.", replied Hazel

"But she has to eat Hazel, and she didnt even touch the clover.", replied Primrose

"Well, I guess we'll have to find something better.", decided Hazel

"Better? That was the best stuff on the down.", scoffed Hawkbit

"Well, perhaps we need to look further than the down.", suggested Hazel

"Here we go. Whats the plan this time, eh?", asked Bigwig

"We raid Nuthanger. Bring back some fresh flayrah for her.", suggested Hazel

"I thought we had to stay close to home, because Woundwort is probably looking for the down overland.", pointed out Hawkbit

"We have to do this, for Blackbery. We owe it to her, as she's done so much for the down.", decided Hazel

"Agreed. The farm it is then.", finished Bigwig

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

Soon, on the outskirts of Nuthanger

Hazel, Bigwig, Hawkbit and Fiver arrived at a stone wall, with barbed wire on top, surrounding Nuthanger. Kehaar circled overhead, before landing when everyone else stopped.

"This is new, Hazel!", remarked Bigwig

"What?", replied Hazel

"There's normally a hole in this wall for us to pass through.", replied Bigwig, pointing at some recently replaced stones

Fiver sniffed them, then shivered

"Man did this alright.", he spoke

"Is it safe to climb over?", asked Hazel

Fiver sniffed, then shivered again.

"No. It smells of shining wires.", replied Fiver, at which Bigwig cringed

"We'll just have to find another way in. Kehaar, fly around, and see what you can find!", decided Hazel

"Yah Hayzel!", replied Kehaar, taking off

"In the meantime, lets have a look round here. Come on...", decided Hazel, moving off along the perimeter of the wall

"Wait, Hazel!", shouted Hawkbit

"What is it?", came the reply

"Over there.", replied Hawkbit, pointing at a nearby carrot

They all ran across to it.

"Odd.", remarked Bigwig

"It shows that there must be some way to get into the farm.", pointed out Hazel

"We may not have to.", replied Hawkbit, pointing at a lettuce a few feet away

"And there's a beetroot, and another carrot!", he continued, following a trail

"But none of these are really fresh flayrah. We have to get into nuthanger for that. Lets leave them alone, and go for the farm.", replied Bigwig

"Well, maybe we should follow it, and see if we can find anything better. It cant all be bad.", suggested Hazel

"I agree with Bigwig on this one. Something's not quite right about it.", shivered Fiver

"Is it dangerous?", asked Hazel

"I... I'm not sure.", sighed Fiver

"Chances are if it was dangerous, you'd know for certain. Come on, lets follow it.", decided Hazel

"You know my visions arent always right.", pointed out Fiver

"You've never missed any major danger yet.", replied Hazel, as they moved off

"I suppose", sighed Fiver, doubtfully

They followed the trail as it led them away from Nuthanger. As they went they picked up each vegetable, and looked at it. Most were no use, but every so often they came across a lettuce or carrot which seemed fresher than the others.

"I wonder how long this goes on for. Perhaps it leads all the way to Frith.", suggested Hawkbit

"I'd guess it ends there.", replied Hazel, pointing at a small pile of flayrah

"Ha Ha! This is it. What are we waiting for lads!", shouted Bigwig

"Wait, we dont know everything's safe yet!", replied Hazel

"Everthing smells safe enough to me, and you cant fool an owsla nose.", finished Bigwig, before he ran to the pile with Hawkbit

"I suppose we cant argue with that.", spoke Hazel to Fiver

"We can, and should. There's something evil about this whole area, I just dont know what it is.", replied Fiver, looking around nervously

"Well, we cant see, smell or hear anything. Perhaps you're sensing danger which wont arrive until this moon, hence we should get in and out quickly.", suggested Hazel, heading to join the others

"Do you even know where we are?", asked Fiver

Hazel stopped. In following the trail, no-one had thought to check exactly where they were going.

"Bigwig?", shouted Hazel

"What!?", mumbled Bigwig, with a mouthful of cabbage

"Do you know where we are?", asked Hazel

"Weren't you keeping track?", replied Bigwig

"Oh great. We're lost! It's all over!", sighed Hawkbit, cowering on the ground

"Dont worry about it Hawkbit. We can simply wait around for a while. We havent gone that far, so Im sure Kehaar wont take long to find us.", replied Hazel

"Also we know where our tracks are, so we can simply follow them back.", continued Bigwig

"As long as we dont stray too far from them.", continued Fiver

Before anyone could speak, they were interrupted by a gun firing and just missing Hazel

"Scatter!!", shouted Bigwig, at which they all headed for cover

After a few minutes they all managed to regroup under the cover of a bush

"That was close. Lets all make sure we dont let it happen again!", decided Hazel

"Again! We're not going back for more. Lets just make do with what little flayrah we have, and go home.", replied Fiver

"er... you seem to be forgetting the obvious. We dont know where home is. We dont even have any tracks to follow anymore.", continued Hawkbit

"Well, we're safe here for now.", finished Hazel, as another gunshot was heard, before turning to face Bigwig

Bigwig was cowered in fear at the sight of a silver wire.

"K...keep it away from me.", he stuttered

"Shining wires. Oh, thats all we need. We're lost! There's Man on the outside, and wires on the inside. Face it, we're done for!", sighed Hawkbit

"Perhaps not. I think I may have some idea where we are.", replied Hazel

"You do? Well perhaps you could tell the rest of us.", retorted Hawkbit sarcastically

"Where's the only place we know of where there are shining wires?", asked Hazel

"Cowslip's Warren, but there are shining wires in more places than just that you know!", replied Bigwig, still shivering at the sight of the snare

"Well, its better than nothing.", replied Hazel

"But if it was Cowslip's, surely we would recognise the area.", replied Bigwig

"Perhaps we're on the other side of the warren. We never did spend much time exploring!", finished Hazel

"Well, wherever it is, we need to get out of here quickly as possible.", pointed out Fiver

"We'll have to make a run for it.", decided Hazel

"How. The mans still there.", replied Bigwig

"If this is Cowslip's, there'll be a river nearby. Once we get into the river, it should be too difficult for him to follow.", replied Hazel

"And what if this isn't Cowslip's?", asked Hawkbit. Hazel looked at Fiver for advice

"I can see nothing to suggest it isnt.... then again, theres nothing to suggest it is!", replied Fiver

Hazel paused, whilst everyone prepared to run.

"NOW!!", he shouted, as they all leaped out into the open, and bolted in the suspected direction of the river.

As they ran, they could hear the gun firing after them

"Yipes! Why do they always pick on me!", sighed Hazel, as a gunshot hit a rock near him

"There's the river. You were right Hazel!", shouted Bigwig, as a gunshot just missed him

"We're not going to make it!", replied Hazel

The man lined up to take another shot, but at that moment Kehaar's shrill cry was heard.

"It's Kehaar. He's destracting him!", shouted Hazel, as the man started firing blindly at the gull instead

"Let's get into the river!", shouted Bigwig, making a long dive for the water

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

Soon, further downstream

"I hope Kehaar's alright!", sighed Hazel, as they climbed out onto the riverbank

"Hey, that gull's made of tough stuff! He'll be fine!", replied Bigwig, shaking his wet fur

"Perhap's we should go back and look.", suggested Hazel

"You look for wat?", screeched Kehaar, suddenly appearing from nowhere

"Kehaar! You made it!", shouted Fiver

"You think I not. The firesticks no match for Kehar-har-har!", screeched Kehaar

"Not exactly one of our more successful raids was it?", sighed Hawkbit, looking at the one lettuce, and two carrots they'd managed to keep hold of

"If it helps Blackberry, its been worth it!", replied Bigwig

"Go on Kehaar. You go ahead with the Flayrah.", decided Hazel

Kehaar, with some difficulty, picked up the flayrah, and took off

"See you back at down, yah!", screeched Kehaar, as he flew off

"You sure will!", Hazel called after him

"Come on lets go home!", he continued, as Frith lay low in the orange evening sky