Chapter Six
Fiver's Idea
Hazel shivered in his burrow, even though his three kittens and his mate were all huddled around him. It is going to be a long, hard winter, he thought wryly. He carefully stepped over the other rabbits and made his way into the centre of the warren. He found Fiver sitting in the middle of the Honeycomb combing his fur with a preoccupied air around him.
“Hello Fiver, what are you doing up here?” Hazel asked with interest. “It’s quite cold; shouldn’t you be keeping warm in your burrow?”
“Amm I was thinking a bit about the way the warren has so few does and I...” Fiver cut straight to the point.
“You want to go and see if we can find any does?” Hazel smiled.
“Yes,” Fiver said, relieved that he didn’t have to struggle with words anymore.
“Well I suppose we could hold a meeting and see what the others think,” Hazel said, laughing at his younger brother’s shyness.
“Hazel, don’t tell them I suggested it will you?”
“Of course not Fiver, but you do know when you have a mate you’re going to get a lot of teasing for the first season or two?”
Fiver looked shocked. “I would have thought everyone would have been a lot more mature than that.”
Hazel sighed. “One would think that yes, but since the battle against Woundwort was won they have…….let loose.”
“Like doing what? I haven’t noticed anything…”
“Oh you know, mostly Hawkbit, Dandelion and Strawberry getting up to their old selves.”
“But Campion and Blackberry are fairly new together and they haven’t been getting any teasing.”
“No one would dare to Fiver! Except Bigwig of course. Sometimes I just think he does it so he can have an excuse to fight with someone, he claims we have all have become too tame now that the enemy is gone.”
The rabbits yawned in the large hall, but were excitedly anticipating the revelation of the subject of the meeting.
“Today I have called you all here to discuss once again the small number of does in the warren. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in accompanying Fiver and I on an expedition beyond Darkhaven to search for some. Be aware it will be a long journey and we should return just in time for Frithmas.”
After a small amount of chattering amongst themselves the rabbits paws’ went up, each rabbit was eager for an adventure.
“I’ll take Bigwig, Spartina, Hawkbit, Fiver, Dandelion, Strawberry and Holly, sorry Pipkin but this may be dangerous.”
Hazel hopped down. “We’ll leave at sundown, but where is Campion? I thought he’d want to come.”
“He’s with Blackberry helping her expand their burrow for the kits,” Hawkbit said. “Jolly glad I’m not him right now.”
“I’ll go talk to him now, Fiver please organise everybody. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Campion? Blackberry?”Hazel asked.
“In here Hazel,” Campion’s voice echoed from his and Blackberry’s burrow.
Hazel entered the large, airy burrow. There were scattered piles of fresh soil along the walls. Campion was rubbing the soil and mud off his whiskers and Blackberry was patting down the soil on the floor with her powerful hind legs to make it hard and firm and suitable to walk on.
“Hello Hazel,” Blackberry smiled turning to face him and grinning when she saw Campion attempting to get the muck out of his ears.
“I’m not very good at this,” Campion said trying to shake the muck off his back. “I’ve never done it before.”
“You’ll get better with practise, we were all like that at the beginning, us bucks I mean, definitely not Blackberry!” Hazel said hastily. “She needs your help.”
Blackberry had nestled into the bedding in the corner of the burrow and was looking very tired and exhausted.
“I’m nearly done,” Campion looked around, sensing the large area above with his ears. “Was there something in particular you wanted Hazel?”
“Oh yes, some of us are leaving the warren to go and find some does further on and I was wandering whether you would like to come along?”
“Thanks Hazel but I better not, our kittens are due soon and Blackberry wouldn’t be able to cope on her own.”
“That’s fine. I suppose I didn’t really think you were going to leave, but until I’m back you’re chief.”
“Thanks Hazel,” Campion said in surprise.
Hazel exited the burrow and went to join the other adventurers in preparation for their journey.
Campion sighed and went back to digging.
Fiver stepped nervously outside; a strong wind was blowing causing him to crouch down for warmth.
“Oh, lovely day for an adventure,” Hawkbit grumbled going over to join the band of rabbits.
Strawberry shook the frost from his chestnut fur, “Yeah we could have picked a better time of year for it.”
“Any visions yet Fiver?” Bigwig asked.
“No I think we’re ok.”
“Right let’s try and get some distance covered before nightfall. If we’re lucky we might reach Darkhaven and will be able to take shelter there,” Hazel said hopefully then started off carefully down the steep, icy hill.
Strawberry smirked as Hawkbit tripped and fell into Dandelion, who turned around with annoyance.
Strawberry laughed, “You should be more careful Hawkbit you’re awfully clumsy!”
Hawkbit just looked at him, speechless as Strawberry’s laughter rang around the down. Bigwig turned around with a sigh.
“Why did you choose them Hazel?”
By evening silflay the wind had turned into a gale force blizzard and the rabbits found it hard to stay on the ground, the deep snow had covered all the grass and so it was hard to find anything to eat.
Campion took his leadership seriously and was standing sentry over the eight silflying rabbits.
“What do you say we eat underground this evening?”Campion shouted over the wind.
The rabbits were quick to agree and filed underground. The flayrah in the store wasn’t very fresh, but it was better than standing outside in the storm.
After having his full, Campion picked up a carrot to bring to Blackberry in the burrow.
The storm outside showed no signs of weakening as it beat mercilessly against the large beech and shook the warren underneath.
Blackberry left her meal for a moment to listen to the roaring winds, she hoped Hazel and the others had shelter and they would return home soon.
Campion spoke, “I wonder where Hazel got that notion that we needed other does at this moment?”
“There are only four.” Blackberry pointed out.
“But in the midst of winter?”
“That’s our warren Campion,” Blackberry smiled radiantly. “Not known for our sense, anyway things are getting too ordinary around here.”
“There goes my chances at a peaceful life,” Campion said sarcastically.
She laid her head down on the nest and snuggled closer to Campion’s warm body.