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Bracken looked upon the rabbits that came forward carefully. Knowing that many eyes were upon him, the chief finally drew himself up into a more dignified and confident pose like the leader he usually was. He was neither excited or for this raid, but he had to at least put up a good front so as not to cause worry.

It was then that he decided to speak. "I commend those of you who are brave enough to go on this venture." He inwardly cringed at his own words. "Its been some time since we have had a raid, or a wide patrol for that matter. The man's dwelling place is frought with danger, and I pray that Frith will keep you all safe and bring success. I myself will not be going. Cocklebur shall be your leader, and will give you instructions."

However, it was then that the kitten caught Bracken's eye. "But you do have to be at least of Outskirter age to go." That was something he would not allow. It was too dangerous for kittens to be going. Where was this kit's marli?

Cocklebur nodded, figuring the kitten would take the hint and return to his marli. "Very well, then. I will be splitting everyone into two groups. One led by myself and the other by Ginkgo." He huffed slightly and scanned over the lot of them. He then pointed his paw at various rabbits as he spouted off their names. "Badassi, Cowslip, Saxifrage, Sequoia, Raven, Althea, Blackthorn, Foxfleet, Tangleweed, Harebell... you're all with me. The rest of you will go with Ginkgo."

The captain did swell with a bit of pride at seeing his own offspring attending the raid. Some he placed with his own group and some with Ginkgo's. He then leaned towards the small Owsla, whispering so that only he could hear. "Anything happens to my kittens and I'll rip your eye out." He then straightened up again as if nothing happened.

Watching as the large female took her position, Blackthorn felt himself relax just a fraction. Yes... he had already planned for the worst, and had taken steps even before the rest of the warren had truly known about the raid. Nodding faintly to himself as Althea settled down, apparently with her brood, he turned and watched more hopefuls and other owsla members join the circle. The sudden small flash through the gathering crowd got his attention and he peered past the many-huge mass of furry bodies at what appeared to be a kitten.. headed directly into the center of the group!

Wrinkling his brow he watched the youngster a moment, making a note of him. Who ever told him he was allowed to go probably should have thought more carefully, not that it was his responsibility to what the kitten's parents said.. but it was his responsibility to watch out for those going on the raid, and the presence of one so young was just trouble waiting to happen. Sighing he flicked an ear back, before turning to Badassi as the grey buck sidled up to him through the crowd.

"Morning.. one would certainly hope so.. but.." Nodding to where the pale brown kitten sat right dead-center of the gathering, he shook his head faintly. "There are more than two we will be needing to watch today." Glancing at Ginkgo and Cocklebur again his frown remained. As much as he understood the excitement present, he did wonder how the gravity of what was going on could escape several of the hopefuls. And the fact that Bracken-rah seemed less than pleased should have had heads turning and tongue wagging, but as yet, few had seemed to notice.

As Bracken-rah started to speak the dark owsla quieted. Nodding faintly as the Chief reminded them all of the age limit he was grateful that one issue had already been addressed. It was just a shame none of the rest of his worries could be so easily delt with. Turning to Cocklebur as the Captain gave them their groups, he smirked faintly at Badassi, pleased he would have more than one pair of eyes aiding him.

Falcon looked up and start to hop away but then quickly turned and jumped into some tall grass that was nearby. He was going to be damned if he wasn't going to be able to show his stuff. He was going to go and he was going to help where he could. He would just have to be even more careful than he had originally thought.

He sat there and waited, he knew he couldn't go with the Captain's group that would just be asking to be caught. He would have to go with the other group and hope they didn't notice him until it was too late to do anything about it. So he sat there very patiently and waited for the group to start to leave so he could follow.

Badassi sat back on his haunches and ran his paws over his chest as he listened to what Bracken and Cocklebur announced. Fortunately, the kitten had been pointed out. He couldn't possibly go.

"We will have to keep our wits about us, certainly."

Falili's heart sank just a little to hear her name wasn't called out by her father, though once again the emotion didn't reach her eyes or face. So she was estranged from her parents today, this was rather a large responsibility in her own right. She would have to be extra certain to keep from bad word spreading to them from this Gingko fellow. And the best way to avoid this, of course, was to not give them any reason to need to.
However, Crow was now the only other here that she really recognized, and made his way over to him for the time being.

"Looks like we're on our own, huh?" She whispered with a small, dark chuckle. "It rather feels nice to not have Mother's eyes on us." With that she looked to the autumn colored owsla in charge of their group. "I do hope all goes well today, don't you, brother?"

And so it was done. Harebell had been chosen and planted on a team, just like that. She had been almost expecting it to be harder than that, to be turned away. She had been partway counting on that, but now she had no choice.
Well. She could stay. . . But what good would that do her? Fate had chosen her path, she may as well stick it through and see where it lead her. Who knows, maybe she'll learn a little more about where she'd rather be in life. Maybe the adventure would call to her.

Self discovery can often be a dangerous thing, however. And as their great chief mentioned, this trip will be filled with many dangers. And their was no one here that she knew well. Oakvale had decided long in advance to have nothing to do with it, and Sparrow. . . Well. There was no way he'd go anywhere near anywhere that could possibly be dangerous. It's amazing alone that he sit on such an obvious rock all the time.

At the very last, she hoped most to find a comrade out've this. This raid would require some heavy teamwork, after all.

Saxifrage nodded to the much larger Taxus. "First, but not last." He grinned at the bigger rabbit, and the big splotchy black and white one. Taxus might be competition, but at least Cowslip didn't have camouflage on his side.

As Bracken-rah gave his speech to the raiders, Saxifrage perked his ears up smartly, and practically hopped with joy at being called on to go with Captain Cocklebur's party. Quite a few of that party were large rabbits--huge, even. His small size could be an advantage, then. Or possibly speed.

The spotty black and white buck was among Cocklebur's party, but not Taxus. "Good luck, eh?

Hoi, hoi u embleer Hrair,
M'saion ulé hraka vair!"

Her ears shot up as the chief spoke, and she nodded gratefully as he sent the kitten back to his marli. What a mess that would've been for sure. There wasn't more time to think on it though, as Cocklebur then spoke and rattled off the names. With a quick thump of her hind leg in acknowledgment to the command, she nodded sharply. So this was it.

She looked to her kittens one more time before lifting her gaze to glare at Ginkgo. She waited, her look intense with a warning. If anything were to happen to either one of her babies going with him she'd tear that buck apart.

Turning back to her three, she nudged each one in turn.

"Best of luck you three. Don't take risks you don't need to, keep your wits about you, listen to what the others are saying, and don't forget your surroundings. You'll all do fine."

It was as motherly as she could manage. Sitting up once more, she prodded Crow in the direction their group was headed and didn't look back. It was only after her goodbyes did she nod at Cowslip and was glad he was coming along in their group. Looking over them, it seemed like a rather solid gathering. She would just have to trust Cocklebur's decision on the other group as well.

She looked over her shoulder at Bracken-rah and worried. Something just wasn't right.