Chapter Twenty Six

Home at Last

Campion finally stopped running when he recognised the smell of a nearby river.

He stretched and breathed in the warm, fresh air of spring, clean from the pungent smell of man which he hadn’t realised he had actually grown accustomed to over the weeks.

He neared the water’s edge and looked up and down its lengths, surveying its depth and the flow of the current.

Unknown to him this was the River Enborne, the river which the Sandleford rabbits had crossed about a year and a half ago.

Still feeling buoyant he climbed readily into the water, swimming with ease to the other side and enjoying the feel of the cool current against his overheated fur.

He sighed with relief when he realised that the water had helped wash away the scent of man from his fur, now there was only a very faint smell.

Campion glanced at Frith to check the time, it was nearing sunset and he decided to find a place to rest soon, turning back to the looming horizon he continued on.

Blackberry limped up the hill behind her kittens, forcing a smile every time someone from the warren came rushing down to greet her and welcome her home.

“Marli where’s parli? Is he still undercover in that enemy warren?” Iris asked.

“Am, yes he might be for another long while,” Blackberry replied quietly.

“Blackberry, do you want to come with us to escort the junior owsla to their overnight challenge?” Bigwig suggested when everyone was settled on the down.

“I would Bigwig, but my leg is causing me bother and I should rest it,” Blackberry said reluctantly. “What is it anyway?”

“The junior owsla are going to spend a night above ground outside Nuthanger, and I’m going to supervise them,” Pipkin said proudly.

Blackberry looked over Pipkin’s shoulder at Hazel with a questioning look.

Hazel indicated to himself and Bigwig and then motioned for her to not say a word.

“Sure Pipkin, good luck, I’m sure you’ll lead the junior owsla to success,” Blackberry encouraged, taking the hint from Hazel.

“Oh I can’t wait, I can’t wait!” Pipkin chanted excitedly.

“Looks like you won’t have to, Hazel and Bigwig are ready for you, off you go!” Fiver laughed.

All the rabbits left with Hazel and the others to see how the junior owsla would get on with their challenge.

“Are you sure you don’t want Ivy and I to stay and keep you company?” Fiver suggested timidly again.

“Yes, we wouldn’t mind at all,” Ivy pitched in, as if afraid to leave her on her own in case she was about to run off again.

“You two go! I’ll be fine, actually I might enjoy the peace and quiet,” Blackberry said.

This only seemed to have a negative effect on the other two and they continued to glance worriedly at her.

“Seriously I’m not about to run off first chance I get!” Blackberry said, gaining annoyance.

“Okay, okay we’re going,” Ivy gave in.

“Good.” Blackberry smiled in relief at being left on her own. “Tell the kits that I’ll see them in the morning.”

This seemed to reassure Fiver and Ivy enough for them to depart after the others.

Blackberry watched Frith sink lower in the sky and thought to herself, I know Campion’s gone, but I have to continue, our kittens need me and Campion wouldn’t want me to be miserable and mop around.

As Blackberry was watching the sky she saw an approaching figure that landed quietly beside her.

“Hello Keharr,” Blackberry greeted.

“You home Blackberry,” Keharr cried happily.

“Yes Keharr, I guess my decision before was rash. So how have things been?” Blackberry sat up.

“All as usual… well except,” Keharr finished awkwardly.

“It’s okay Keharr, I just wish someone would talk to me outright about it and stop cutting off around me.”

“I ‘eave you to think, I away to find garbage,” Keharr said, turning and taking off clumsily into the sky.

Blackberry smiled at his attempt at tactfulness and resumed her watch in the red sky.

Campion had snatched only a quick silflay at the river bank, he had wanted to return home quickly.

It wasn’t long before he had reached the foot of the down; it was nearly fu- inle.

Campion stood staring at it for a while, enjoying the deep excitement he felt, and as he started to climb the down he had to prevent himself from running to the top.

He glanced around the down and saw no one, he sniffed around the burrows and was perturbed to find that it was completely empty, though someone had been here lately.

He stopped and sat on his haunches at the entrance to the warren, he felt very confused, what had happened to everyone?

He lay down and sighed, deciding to wait for the morning then search more thoroughly.

He was staring across the down thoughtfully, was it his imagination or was there a dark silvery shape opposite him?

His curiosity got the better of him and he made his way over, half cautiously, half eagerly.

A familiar scent filled his nostrils and his restraint broke as he ran over and his heart melted when he seen what he waited moons to see.

He quietly lay down beside her and felt her heart beat through his fur, warming his whole being. He smiled to himself when he imagined her reaction in the morning, he was pretty sure the whole warren thought he was dead.

Closing his eyes he sighed happily, for the first time he felt as if everything was going to go back to normal.

 “Right, the rest of you head for home, Bigwig and I will stay here just in case,” Hazel said.

It was fu- inle and the junior owsla had had no trouble sleeping above ground so far, though they were unaware of Hazel and Bigwig watching them.

“Look Hazel, it’s Keharr,” Fiver said glancing up at the sky.

“Keharr, what are you doing down here this late?” Hazel asked.

“Keharr, think Blackberry need some time on her own,” Keharr replied. “So I steal some garbage from Nuthanger.”

“Hmm you don’t think she will run off again do you Hazel?” Bigwig mused.

Fiver shivered as Hazel and Bigwig talked, and a warm tingle shot up his spine. “A broken heart, it will heal, though the bright light will pale.”

Fiver shivered a final time and then glanced up to look at Hazel and Bigwig, they looked worried.

“Okay what did I say this time?” Fiver sighed dramatically.

“I’m most worried about the bit ‘though the bright light will pale’,” Hazel fretted.

“Listen Fiver, maybe you and the others had better wait until morning, when we can all go back together, in case there is danger at home.” Bigwig took charge.

“Yes, Bigwig’s probably right, Fiver,” Hazel agreed.

“Okay then, until the morning.” Fiver lay down beside Hazel and Bigwig.

Blackberry shivered violently as the growls of the fighting rabbits filled the night. “Campion!” she called desperately.

Campion was pinned down and couldn’t move. “Go!” he had shouted back.

Blackberry felt the tear in her heart as she picked up Swift and ran away into the darkness.

The scene changed and she was outside the Honeycomb, listening intently to Fiver telling Hazel what had happened after she had left Shadowsky.  “It's Campion, the hunters had shot him, he was terribly hurt so we decided to stay for a few days, until… until the men came back and took Campion away."

Blackberry woke, tears streaming down her face. Her mind had woken her because it knew she couldn’t handle the pain again. She had been a fool to pretend she was over Campion’s death, how could she have been, how could she have ever be?

“Blackberry?”

She started at the voice and the heat she felt at her side. Angry and embarrassed she turned her face in the opposite direction to hide her expression.

“Fiver, I told you to go on with the others. Really, I said I wasn’t go to run away, I’m still here aren’t I?”

“Blackberry, why are you crying? I’m so sorry,” Campion said quietly, realising what he had done to her. He nudged her side hesitantly.

Blackberry froze and the breath caught in her throat, oh great, I knew I shouldn’t have slept above ground in the open on my own. A sitting meal for elil, oh well, if this is what it’s like being dead I can deal with it as long as he’s here with me.

But the paw on hers felt real enough and as she opened her eyes and saw him, outlined by the moonlight, she blinked away the tears and moved closer to him to feel his heat and make sure he was there, really there.

She remained speechless, afraid that if she spoke it would shatter the moment and Campion would disappear as if he was air.

“Blackberry, say something,” Campion said anxiously.

“You’re…. you’re here,” she whispered finally.

“To stay,” Campion replied confidently. “Did you really think I would leave you forever?”

“I love you,” she whispered.

“It would be s disappointment if I came home and you didn’t… I love you too.” Campion returned her shaky smile.

They were both content to leave the explanations until the morning, and fell asleep under the moon.