Redeemed
Joxer sat back in his throne, admiring the grandeur of his personal burrow. It was larger than most, to accommodate for his girth and potential guests, and it was made all the more impressive by the thick gnarled bark of the tree it was built against. The tree was special to King Joxer. He reached out a paw from where he sat and ran his nails delicately across the surface of the trunk, being careful not to mar its ancient surface. When he had first stumbled upon the wild patch of brambles growing haphazardly around the tree, he had known this was the place for his future warren. The tree itself reached high up into the sky, towering over the other trees nearby. It was what allowed the brambles to grow so large and so wide. His tree was so vast that it choked out any other trees nearby, leaving a clearing all the way around its trunk as far as its branches extended. This gave room for the hardy brambles to stake their claim and so they grew and grew, wrapping around the bark and then continuing to expand out into the vacated space left by the trees shadow. Brambles did not need all that sun anyway, and now with his maintenance crew tending to them, the brambles were thicker and healthier than ever, providing both shelter and food for his rabbits. Yes, he was proud of his warren and his tree. It was why he chose to build his throne up against its thick trunk. Like the tree, Joxer was vast and powerful, he would be around long after others faded away and he would protect those that chose to grow around him.
He next turned to admire his throne. Like his crown he had spent time weaving and guiding the vines into the right position. he did not trust any other rabbit to make these things for him. The crown on his head was fastened by his own paws and he would not have his throne be any other way. The throne had taken time and massive amounts of patience. It was a large undertaking and though Uzo and Maze and others had offered to help, begged him to let them serve their king, he had declined them all. There were some things Kings needed to do on their own, and this was one of them. His throne would be his alone, like his crown, like his future staff he had planned as his next project. The brambles were yet again giving of themselves, not only food and protection, but also art and power. He had spent an entire season slowly building his massive throne up against the bark. It was sturdy, and shone, with only the brightest, thickets brambles used. He had kept thorns on all the outward facing parts to make it even more impressive and intimidating and it worked. Once a month he allowed a rabbit from the maintenance crew to shine and polish the throne room, paying special care to the throne itself. He smiled widely at all he had accomplished and all the future plans he had. Yes, it was good to be king.
wc: 532
