Chapter Forty – One

The Good and Evil Part Two

Hazel sat back on his haunches and stared at Fiver, unsure. When he spoke again his voice was slightly pained. “And she won’t leave it?”

Fiver shook his head quickly and cast his eyes over his shoulder to look into the dark burrow behind.

“I’m pretty sure she is injured too.” Fiver looked uncomfortable. “There is a lot of blood.”

Hazel made to step forward towards Fiver but Blackberry quickly intervened, guessing his intentions.

“Let me go in, a buck wouldn’t help at this point, sorry Hazel.”

Fiver agreed with her hastily and stepped to the side letting the titanium coloured doe see his mate.

Soft murmurings reached the bucks’ ears outside the burrow as Blackberry tried to tear the mother away from her premature baby.

“She’ll never come,” Fiver whispered hoarsely. “She’ll stay with him even if it means her death.”

“A buck?” Hazel asked quietly. “If only we could bring him with her, but he’ll die if moved won’t he?”

Fiver nodded and directed his eyes to the floor so that Campion and Hazel couldn’t see the tears shining in them. “It wasn’t meant to be like this; surely Frith wouldn’t allow new life to be born to be immediately killed?”

Hazel smiled sadly and his thoughts returned to the fire, how much closer had it gotten? Had the others reached safety?

He lifted his head to speak his musings over with Campion but was surprised to find the brown rabbit absent.

“Campion... Campion!”

His fatigue made his legs heavy like stone as he ran to reach above ground, he had to make it. That much was vital. Fiver, Ivy and their new child were not meant to die this way, not while he was on the earth among them. Only he could save them now and Campion knew it was up to himself to reach that one rabbit.

Campion’s stride shortened an inch as they earth beneath his paws grew soft and moist. He was forced to pull up when the marshy ground made it a difficult pathway. In frustration he sighed as he saw the obstacle ahead of him, what was this? Some sort of test?

In the descending slope the ceiling had given way yet again, though it had also released with it a flood of water that had swept away the soil on the floor.  Since it had already been weakened by the extra load of the fallen earth it flowed along with the water to leave no way through….except to swim.

His fear increased as he realised the possible outcomes. If he was to swim under the pile of soil in hope of reaching the opposite side he might not find it and he would drown, there was also the possibility of the soil above the pool of water dropping in on him if he interrupted its balance.

For a moment he considered turning back and to go above ground the way that would bring him to the main entrance to the warren, avoiding the tunnel with the fall in of course. But deep inside he knew there was no more time for hesitating, he had to go this way or no way at all. If Shadow wants me to live, I will. If not…

Without thinking anymore he plunged headfirst into the small gap. The water froze all his senses and stung at his fur. Knowing using his sight wouldn’t make much difference in this pitch dark world he swam blindly in the direction which he hoped was forward. His chest became tight as his frantic movement reduced his oxygen faster and he felt a small bead of panic well up inside him.

Suddenly he felt consciousness start to slip. No! This isn’t right, I’m not that low on air! But his fighting had never been more futile. I’m finally going to die.

Campion was cold, so very cold. Not awfully comfortable either, the hard, packed soil rubbed against his stomach. He warily opened his eye and was not surprised to see Shadow standing before him. He was still in the descending escape tunnel, but on the other end of the treacherous pool of water.

“Are you alright?” Shadow asked.

Campion was tired, sore, cold and drenched, and definitely not in a good mood so he couldn’t help snapping at the black buck, “Shouldn’t you already know?”

Shadow paused, not quite in shock but more in wonder. “I can read your mind to a certain extent but I can’t tell how you are physically feeling. Are you hurt?”

Campion continued to watch the rabbit he thought he had known as he sat up and tested his muscles. “All accounted for. Why did you black me out?”

Shadow looked at him in wonder again. “You knew?”

“I don’t think I’m that weak.”

“You were heading for a blocked side, you would have drowned.”

“Them how did you get me out?”

“I have my ways.”

“And you saved me why?”

“Someone had to come and fetch me.” Shadow shrugged.

Campion said incredulously, “But you could read my mind, you knew what was wrong!”

 “I only know because you told me, but before you decide to tell me I have no right to know.”

“Okay, enough of this, can you help?”

“Of course I can, and I will.”

“The fire is still halted?”

“That’s to be expected, yes?”

“Enough riddles please, my head is already sore.”

Shadow turned to the blocked soil and said firmly to Campion, “Close your eye for a second.”

“Why?” Campion asked suspiciously.

“I’m not going to hurt you so you don’t have to be wary, but you can’t witness what I’m about to do.”

Campion was about to question that statement then sighing, he closed his eye.

He heard a sharp, metallic noise that he guessed was the pack of soil that had been blocking the tunnel of water was being shifted, but how he didn’t know.

Shadow cleared his throat expectantly and looked at Campion, assessing his reaction.

Campion hopped slowly over to the edge of the floor and narrowed his eye to look at the neatly cleared spot. He sat back and looked at Shadow. “Are we going then?”

“You feel comfortable?”

Campion averted his gaze, hesitating then looked back. “Being honest I can’t say I am looking forward to going into the water again but…..”

“Why do you need to come?” Shadow lent his head to the side.

“To show you where…” Campion started. He shrugged. “You may know where it is already but I want to be there.”

“After you then.”

Grumbling to himself Campion crawled on his stomach to the very edge and with a heavy sigh slid under.

The chestnut rabbit fidgeted nervously and glanced from the burrow entrance back to the other tunnels repeatedly.

He paused his searching eyes as Blackberry stepped remorsefully out of the burrow to face him and Fiver.

She didn’t have to say a word, her eyes were enough.

“Blackberry, you did what you could, you have to get above ground now.”

Blackberry nodded and strained to look past Hazel, Hazel just caught her eyes sadly.

“He left.”

“Without me? And while his brother was in danger?”

“Apparently so, fear does strange things to rabbits.”

“Not Campion, there’s something else,” Blackberry said, shaking her head.

Hazel shrugged and went over to Fiver and said timidly, “Are you coming now?”

“You know I’m not.”

Hazel’s face creased in worry, “There is no point in all three of you dying in here.”

Fiver flinched as Hazel’s words set in. “He is my responsibility just as much as Ivy’s.”

“Fiver! No one is going to judge your parenting skills if you save your own life!”

“Hazel?”

Hazel swung around at the voice. “Campion! I thought you had left.”

“I had,” Campion answered and hopped forward. “To get help.”

Blackberry interrupted, “From who? And why are you soaking wet?”

“Long story, Shadow is here to get Ivy and the kitten to come up.”

Shadow went over purposefully to Fiver and put his paw on his shoulder and started talking to him.

Campion shook his coat in an attempt to try and dry it out, and then looked worriedly at Blackberry.

“How are you? Is your illness getting any worse?”

“In the panic of everything I forgot about it actually. I can hold on a while longer.”

Campion nodded and lay down to wait and see what Shadow had in store to get Ivy and the kitten up.

Shadow’s whispers became audible and Campion and Blackberry strained their ears.

“You’re not going to like what I am about to do Fiver, but you have to trust me.”

Fiver was trembling and nodded his tear stained face. “Anything you can do Shadow. Anything!”

“Campion?” Shadow asked. “Lead Hazel and Blackberry back the way we came, Hazel would hold us up if he waits with us.”

“Why don’t we go the easier way?” Campion asked, surprised.

“The men are there.”

Blackberry gasped and hung her head.

“What does that mean?” Campion said quickly.

Shadow paused, then said rapidly, “Nothing yet but you three have to get going now! Fiver, Ivy, the kit and I will be up soon.”

Without further delay, they disappeared down the burrow, casting a doubtful look behind.

“Where are we going?” Hazel panted, leaning even more into Campion’s shoulder.

“You know? The way we came here?” Campion asked worriedly.  Why did Hazel not remember?

Hazel dropped his four feet to the ground and twisted his head round to his leg. Stretching his neck, he attempted in vain to lick his wound.

Campion and Blackberry helped the fallen rabbit to stand. “We have to keep going,” Blackberry comforted.

Campion twitched his ears as he heard the steady thud of paws behind him. It was Shadow, he was holding a small, hairless kit in his mouth. And Fiver was struggling with the weight of a white doe on his back.

“Fiver?” Blackberry shouted desperately. “What happened to Ivy?”

“Shadow put her to sleep, it’s the only way she would come.”

“But… but the kit… won’t it die when moved?” Blackberry questioned slowly. “And he put her… to sleep?”

“It will be fine,” Shadow mumbled, trying not to drop the small buck. “Keep moving!”

……

Shadow pulled up gracefully at the familiar tunnel blockage. Campion sighed in depression and looked back in distaste at Blackberry. “Shadow can’t you?......”

“No Campion, I can’t do everything.”

“Then why did you save me?”

“You were guaranteed to die, that’s why, everyone here has a fair chance.”

“A fair chance?! The kit?”

“Wait we have to go under that?” Fiver interrupted.

“That’s what I’m gathering from this argument Fiver,” Blackberry said worriedly.

“Hazel won’t make it either!” Fiver exclaimed. “And Ivy? She can’t very well swim by herself at the moment.”

Shadow looked frustrated and huffed impatiently. “Hazel and Ivy can make it; they just need some support swimming.”

“And the kit?” Fiver challenged.

“ Carry him. We have to take this route Fiver.”

“He’s right Fiver, just trust him,” Campion urged quickly. “I’ll go with Hazel.”

Fiver slid Ivy to the ground and gripped the scruff of her neck gently, he hoped fervently that he had the strength to get them both through.

Campion nodded encouragingly, despite not feeling the slightest bit happy about this himself.

“Blackberry?” Fiver said out of the side of his mouth. “Can you bring the kit please?”

Campion and Hazel went first, then Blackberry and the kit leaving Shadow, Fiver and Ivy remaining.

“Help me please Shadow,” Fiver panted as he slid Ivy nearer.

Shadow took her other side and gave the signal to proceed.

Feeling dread, Fiver jumped headfirst into the water, and keeping a tight hold on Ivy, he swam blindly forward.