4th Water

Episode 4.1 - The Unwanted Darkness

Disclaimers:

The Watership Down series belongs to Alltime and Decode Entertainment. The original characters were the work of Richard Adams, however, many of the characters in the series were changed, and these belong to Alltime/Decode. I am just borrowing the characters for this fansite, and I mean no-one any harm by this. I am in no way connected with any of the companies mentioned above.

This is supposed to be a fanfic fourth series, continuing on from my Virtual 3rd series, rather than continuing from the official series 3. It is in no way supposed to detract from the official third series. When I originally planned out my third series, I never knew of the existance of the official one. As it has never, and doesn't look as though it ever will be, aired in the UK, I decided to write an alternative series, continuing on from where series 2 (The Homecoming) left off. By the time I started 4th Water, I had an idea of what happens in some of the official third series, hence some of it (but not all) has been planned to try and avoid sounding too similar.

All characters are completely fictitious and any resemblance to any persons either living or dead is purely coincidental. If anyone has any problems with this episode, they are advised to contact the webmaster on [email protected].

 

Writer's notes:

I promised June the 25th at the latest, and I meant it. At long last, I finally begin the next series. Thanks to everyone for being so patient over this. =;)

I should warn everyone now, I'm likely to be a little rusty after all this time. How will this affect the writing? Well, I don't know yet. There's only one way to find out...

The episode itself takes place all in the night immediately following Woundwort's all out attack on the warren. I know things seem very slow this week, but it will pick up somewhat in the future.


Previously on Watership Down

Hazel sighed, before beginning to speak to Blackberry

"It's Campion. Fiver thinks he might still be alive.", started Hazel

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

"Any sign of Kehaar yet?", asked Hazel, bounding with Bigwig into Kehaar's burrow, where Hannah was sat

"No. Hasn't been back all night.", replied Hannah

"But he hasn't been seen since he was in Efrafa. Perhaps they've caught him.", suggested Hazel

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

"We surround the warren in 4 groups. We can leave no escape for the outsiders.", started Woundwort

"Moss, Vervain and Bindweed. You will lead the other 3 marks. I will lead the fourth. We will crush that warren!", he shouted, at which the assembled Efrafan army cheered

"Today will be a glorious day for war. A glorious day for Efrafa!", he continued, arousing more cheering from the army

"Everyone move out! We attack just after ni-Frith!", he finished

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

"Haaazzelll!!", came a voice from the bottom of the down

Primrose ran to join them

"That sounded like...", she started, before a brown rabbit crawled from the bush and collapsed to the ground

"...Campion!", she finished

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

"Woundwort's going to attack. He knows where to find the warren overland!", choked Campion, his voice showing signs of the suffering he'd endured over the past season

"Impossible!", replied Bigwig

"Vervain tracked you back last moon. I saw the whole thing from the caverns. Woundwort had this all planned. I managed to follow Vervain's tracks to find you.", continued Campion

"The Darkness comes to take us all....", started Fiver

"...again!", muttered Hawkbit under his breath

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

The Watership rabbits cleared a small forest, arriving at a waterfall.

"Are you sure you know where we are?", asked Hawkbit

"Yes, this river feeds the canal near Redstone. We just have to cross it, then move down towards the warren.", replied Bigwig

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

"It's the Efrafans! Run!", shouted Hazel, before Woundwort emerged with some more officers

"There is no running this time Hazel. This time we'll finish you for good.", shouted Woundwort, as the Efrafans surrounded the Watership rabbits

"ATTACK!!!", he continued

Woundwort drew his claws across Bigwig's face.

"There's none of my Owsla to help you this time Bigwig.", shouted Woundwort

"But I'll deal with you later. Your chief will be the first to fall.", he continued, throwing Bigwig aside as though he weren't even there

"Hazel!", shouted Bigwig, catching a brief glimpse of his plight, before being pinned down by Efrafan officers again

"This is for the ultimate glory of Efrafa.", shouted Woundwort, standing up on his hind legs and preparing to strike

"Noooo!!", shouted Primrose, appearing from nowhere, and diving at him

"Primrose!", shouted Hazel, as her and Woundwort tumbled into the river

Hazel grabbed her, as the current tried to pull her over the waterfall. Woundwort held on to her hind legs, causing her to wince at the sheer weight pulling on her

"It's no good...", screeched Primrose, as Hazel began to lose his grip on them

"... I love you...", she finished, as her paw slipped free from Hazel's

At that moment Bigwig arrived and desperately tried to grab her as she slipped away, but it was too late. Both Primrose and Woundwort disappeared over the edge of the Waterfall.


Down by the river

Bigwig and Hawkbit emerged from the cover of the woodland to look out upon the river. The sky was clear, the moonlight coating the land in a shimmering white glow. The only sound to be heard was the gentle rushing of the water.

"Everything's quiet tonight, lad.", spoke Bigwig

"A little too quiet if you ask me. Where's the sound of the owls? This near-silence is deafening.", replied Hawkbit

"Are you complaining?", asked Bigwig

"No, no. I'm just not used to the quiet that's all. With you in the warren, we never have a moments peac...", continued Hawkbit, as Bigwig's face changed to an angry expression

"er... w...what I mean is...er... I like to know where the elil is.", he finished, quickly changing his speech

"Hmmm....", grumbled Bigwig suspiciously

"Well, I'm sure they'll be out. Let's move quietly.", he continued, turning away

"Oh, well that just made me feel a whole lot better.", muttered Hawkbit, looking around nervously, as Bigwig began to sniff near the riverbank

"Any trace of Hazel then?", he continued

"Nothing. The water must have destroyed any tracks there were. But he must be close, lad. He can't just have disappeared.", replied Bigwig

"Let's follow the river, and see if we can pick up his scent downstream.", he continued

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

In the burrows

Blackberry awoke suddenly from a light sleep, as a cold chill blew through the warren.

"Campion?", she whispered to the bedraggled Captain next to her. She had hoped for a response but once again none came. Campion still lay motionless, every breath sounding weaker than the last

Blackberry looked about. Despite the darkness in the warren, she could almost make out another shadow moving across the wall, darker than any before

"Keep fighting it, Campion. You're strong. You've always been strong.", she whispered, the tears pricking her eyes

Campion stirred, as the shadow appeared to move closer to him

"Go away! Leave him alone!", she screached through the darkness, jumping about

"You can't ha...", she continued, before Gooseberry interrupted her

"Blackberry! Calm down!", he shouted

Blackberry fell silent

"What's going on?", asked Dandelion, joining them

Blackberry paused to look around her, but saw nothing

"There's someone else close.", she replied

"Someone else?", questioned Gooseberry

"It's the Black Rabbit. I know it's the Black Rabbit.", she continued, at which Dandelion whimpered

"If I can keep him away for the night, I'm sure Campion will be fine.", she continued. Gooseberry paused to look around, before replying

"Do you want me to get Bluebella to stay with you?", he asked

Blackberry paused for a moment before replying.

"No, this is something we have to do alone.", she finished, as Dandelion had already turned to run

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

The Woodland

Hazel wandered aimlessly in the woodland near the river, hoping to discover some trace of Primrose, but finding nothing.

"A bit late for you to be walking around in the open, isn't it?", spoke Drumlin popping his head out from underground

Hazel looked at the mole, but didn't reply. Instead he ran back towards the river bank

"The elil will get you, you know.", he shouted after him

Hazel stopped by the river, and peered into the water. The moonlight glimmered off the surface, bouncing back a broken reflection

"Oh Primrose, I know you're out here somewhere. But where?", he muttered, looking up at the nightsky

At that moment, he heard the sound of a branch snap nearby. Despite his usual cautious nature, he ran across eagerly to where the noise had come from.

"Primrose? Is that you?", he whispered, peering towards the undergrowth

He paused, waiting for a reply, but none came

Hazel sighed, his head lowering, and began to move away again. As he did, he heard the sound of a fox growl from the brambles nearby. Immediately, instinct took over, and he bolted.

"A homba. Wonderful, just wonderful.", he muttered, with an almost-Hawkbit undertone, as he ran. He glanced back over his shoulder to see the fox close behind

Meanwhile, nearby

"A pointless waste of time this has turned out to be.", muttered Hawkbit to Bigwig

"We'll find him.", replied Bigwig

"We're never going to find him without Frith in the sky.", argued Hawkbit. He was about to continue, when Bigwig interrupted

"Quiet.", he whispered, "Someone's coming."

The two of them crouched down for cover. Just then Hazel burst past nearby, the fox following close behind

"See I told you we'd find him.", whispered Bigwig

"Oh, of course. Well let's just hop on out there, and say hello shall we?", retorted Hawkbit

Hazel looked back over his shoulder again, possibly distracted by the faint sound of a rabbit being cuffed from somewhere nearby

"Wait!", he shouted suddenly, pulling to a stop

"What's the point anymore?", he continued, turning to face the approaching fox

The fox, clearly surprised by the sudden change of attitude by the rabbit, stopped too, trying to figure out if Hazel had something planned

"Giving up so easily, Longears. How nice.", she slyly remarked, cautiously circling him from a few metres away

"What is he doing?", asked Bigwig

"I dunno, but it sounds to me like a plan.", replied Hawkbit

"er... yes. Here I am! All yours!", Hazel replied to the fox

"Doesn't sound like much of a plan to me.", whispered Bigwig to Hawkbit

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

The Warren

Blackberry, who despite her best efforts had began to doze again, was suddenly awakened by a low groan. She looked around for a minute, before setting her eyes upon the Efrafan Captain

"Campion?", she whispered

"Are you awake?", she continued, nuzzling him

"Blackberry? I... is that you.", he struggled to answer, lifting his head slightly

"You're alive. I told everyone you'd live.", she answered, a youthful joy returning to her voice.

Campion tried to lift his head higher, but fatigue caused him to fall back to the ground.

"Take it easy Campion.", spoke Blackberry

He sighed before speaking

"You have to leave me Blackberry. For your own sake.", he spoke

"What? Never!", she replied, quite taken aback by what the captain had said

"The Black Rabbit is coming for me. I can hear his voice.", continued Campion

"Well he can't have you!", replied Blackberry, an insane possessiveness now taking over her voice

"You have to leave me. Or he'll take you as well.", continued Campion

"Whatever it takes, I won't let him take you away from me. If that means I have to come with you, then so be it.", replied Blackberry

"You can't stop the Black Rabbit Of Inlé, Blackberry. No rabbit can. It's just like no rabbit can ever stop Woundwort.", sighed Campion, with an almost resigned tone in his voice

"But we did stop Woundwort, because we believed.", pointed out Blackberry, lifting Campions head off the ground with hers

"What?", replied Campion in shock

"Woundwort is dead. We beat him back. We can stop the Black Rabbit too, if only you have faith.", she replied

Campion stared deeply at the burrow walls, before sighing one last time, and lapsing back into unconsciousness

Blackberry, suddenly feeling much more alone, shivered before looking across at the back wall of the burrow. Once again, a strange shadow was passing over it. Was it real, or just her imagination? She wasn't going to wait to find out

"Go away! Leave him alone!", she screeched, putting her fore legs on the wall. What exactly she hoped it would achieve was unclear, however it seemed to do the trick. The shadow once again dispersed

"No. I wont let anyone take you.", she finished, settling down next to Campion again

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

Back to the Forest

The fox continued to circle Hazel, unsure of what exactly the rabbit was up to. Instinct told her to attack, yet something didn't seem right and held her back

"Hello. I'm waiting.", spoke Hazel

The fox paused again before speaking

"Let's make things simple Longears. You run, I catch you. Is that too hard to understand?", snarled the fox

Hazel took a step nearer

"Well maybe I'm tired of running. Perhaps it's time to stop. Running only leads to disaster!", he shouted

"He's gone Frithing mad Hawkbit.", whispered Bigwig

"Looks like your training has finally got through to someone then.", replied Hawkbit

"I don't have time for the sarcasm now Hawkbit. Just do as I say.", finished Bigwig

The fox stopped on the spot, considering whether to attack

"OH FOR FRITH'S SAKE JUST KILL ME!!", shouted Hazel

At that, the fox finally ran at him. Hazel crouched down, eyes closed, but refused to move from the spot. At the last minute, Bigwig and Hawkbit emerged from the bushes

"Rah!!!", shouted Bigwig, as they charged at the fox from the side. Hazel didn't move

Shaken, the fox jumped straight back to her feet. She paused for a moment, comtemplating whether this mad rabbit was all part of some big plan, before deciding it wasn't worth the risk, and disappearing into the night.

Bigwig paused for a minute to catch his breath, before starting to speak

"What are you playing at, Hazel?", he shouted

Hazel lifted his head from his paws

"Hmm. She's gone! Nice.", replied Hazel

"You just nearly got us all killed by a fox, and that's all you can say.", squeaked Hawkbit

"I didn't ask you to interfere. I had the situation under control.", replied Hazel

"It didn't look like it from where I was standing, chum.", argued Bigwig

"Well, perhaps you should go stand elsewhere.", muttered Hazel, turning away

"Look. I've just risked my life for your stupidity. A bit of gratitude wouldn't go amiss....", started Bigwig, before Hawkbit interrupted him

"Let me try and talk to him.", he whispered to Bigwig

"You? Talk to someone?", came the reply

"Just give me a moment.", continued Hawkbit

Bigwig sighed.

"Fine. Although I don't see what you can do.", he finished, retreating from the others

"Hazel?", started Hawkbit, walking up to him

Hazel didn't reply, instead looking up towards the stars

"There just isn't really any point is there. Working so hard for something, when any day Frith chooses, it can all be taken away from you.", sighed Hazel

"You can't keep blaming yourself Hazel. The Black Rabbit comes for all us eventually, no matter what we do.", replied Hawkbit

"But it is my fault. It's all my fault.", continued Hazel, turning to face him

"I don't see how you figure that one out.", answered Hawkbit

"It's my fault for bringing Primrose out of Efrafa. It's my fault Woundwort was even at war with our warren in the first place. If I'd never brought everyone to the down, we wouldn't be in this mess.", sighed Hazel

"If, Hazel, If! You made Primrose happy. All those seasons in Efrafa, she never had a life. Bringing her out of there gave her that back. Even if it was just for a few seasons, it was a few seasons of happiness, rather than an eternity of misery. By leading us to the Down, you made us all happy. Just look how things would have ended up had we stayed at Sandleford.", replied Hawkbit

Hazel paused before looking back at the stars

"And look at Gillia, Snowdrop, Periwinkle and the others. Primrose still lives in them. We haven't lost her, so in Frith's name, don't let us lose you.", finished Hawkbit

"Does me not being there make a difference?", asked Hazel

"We need you Hazel. Now that Woundwort's gone, we need someone to build a bridge between the warrens. We need someone sensible to keep mad old Bigwig in check...", continued Hawkbit

"I heard that!", came a voice from nearby, as Hazel smiled

"... and most of all, we need someone we know we can trust.", finished Hawkbit

Hazel paused to try and think of something to say, as Hawkbit put his paw on his shoulder.

"Come back to the Down with us, Hazel. Come back home.", he spoke

Hazel sighed

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

Early Morning

Frith appeared above the horizon casting his glow down upon the kittens bounding about on the down. It was a beautiful morning full of life, far removed from the events of the previous day

Blackberry slowly opened her eyes. She blinked, before looking around. The burrow was empty

"Campion?", she muttered, but there was no reply

"Campion!?", she continued, her voice becoming more frantic

She jumped up and ran into The Honeycomb

"He's gone. Campions gone! The Black Rabbit took him. Oh, I failed.", she shouted

"The Black Rabbit didn't take him. He's outside at early silflay. It looks as though he's going to be alright Blackberry.", replied Gooseberry

"He seemed almost as bright as ever. Shouted something about 'never losing faith' before going out.", continued Hannah

Without waiting for them to say anything more, Blackberry ran towards the entrance.

"Campion.", she shouted, spying the Efrafan captain from just outside the warren

"Ah, Blackberry. You're awake at last.", he replied

"Awake? I was never asleep. I told you I'd stay up all night.", she replied

"Where is everyone though? I haven't seen Hazel, Primrose or Bigwig at all yet.", he finished. Gooseberry, who had followed and was now standing at the entrance himself, swallowed hard.

"Ah there's Bigwig and Hazel now.", he continued, indicating towards Hazel, Bigwig and Hawkbit, who had just appeared over the edge of the Down. He started to head towards them, with a renewed spring in his step

"Wait!", interrupted Blackberry, at which Campion stopped

"There's something else you need to know.", she continued

The kittens ran across cheerfully to Hazel.

"Father's back! Father's back!", chanted Periwinkle

"Teach us to be more like El-ahrairah.", continued Gillia, as they all danced around him. Hazel tried to keep a straight face.

"I need to talk to you all about something.", he started

"We'll leave you to it.", finished Bigwig, heading towards the warren with Hawkbit

He looked back from the warren entrance, as Hazel sat down with the rest of his family around him, the sunlight catching every hair in their youthful fur, and began to talk.

THE END


It's back. It could just be me, but something seems different about my writing this time. I can assure everyone though, it was still me (Entei-rah) who wrote it. Oh, and just before everyone starts shouting at me, I haven't forgotten about Kehaar. =;)

Thoughts and Opinions always welcome =:) - Guestbook / email

 

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