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Faili absorbed the great marli's words, nodding in understanding. "I won't let you down, Ma!" She replied with a small thump, as Althea once did before to show her own acknowledgement, before hopping off towards the group with her brother, excited to see what would happen next.

Raven sat up proudly and smiled up at her marli as Bracken announced that Cocklebur would be in charge of this raid. While she may not have known him personally, she knew him to be strong and brave, and felt confident that he would be a grand leader and would make all the right choices.

Then, as Cocklebur chose the members for his group her heart skipped a beat and Raven had to do her best to remain calm as he chose her and her marli to be on his team. What a fine group this would be! Not only would she get to work alongside the two strongest Owlsa officers, but it would also give her the perfect opportunity to get to know Cocklebur better and spend time with him without any of her siblings getting in the way.

Keeping herself as composed as possible in her overly excited state, Raven nodded at her marli’s words, “Yes, of course. I will not disappoint you by doing anything foolish” and with that, she made her way over to Cocklebur and sat beside him, ready to do whatever was asked of her.




Foxtail bounced animatedly in place, “Ginkgo? Oh I must be with Ginkgo then” he shuffled his way through the crowd to sit closer to the owlsa officer he knew to be Ginkgo and bowed his head to him politely, before resuming his bouncing in place, his nose twitching like crazy, “I’m in your group sir, oh it’s so exiting isn’t it? I’m excited! Are you excited? I hope everything goes well. Do you think it will? I think it will. I’ll do my best to not let you down sir!”

Fledgestone had perked up when Bracken-rah started his speech, listening intently. Only on occasion did he glance to those beside him, eager to see who was controlling what, and who he would fall under when assigned. That answer came quickly and with an eager grin, he moved onto his paws, standing with his head high. Being under the Captains team was reassuring. No doubt the other Owsla would have made great leaders, but there was something in the fact that he was now under the command of Cocklebur that gave him just that much more satisfaction. Not only did it seem safer, but at least now he had the chance to prove himself. His eyes followed along the others that had been called out, approaching them with bright eyes.



Inle'arn had reacted much the same, perking up with Bracken-rah's words. A satisfactory smile flashed across her features for but a moment when he had come to her same conclusion and had dismissed the kitten from their ranks, knowing full well how impractical having a kitten would be in such a dangerous event. A raid was nothing to fool about. The serious doe was fully aware of the consequences, but she needed to go. There was no particular reason, nothing she could point at and blame, but something within her gave her the gumption to attempt this mission.
Having heard Cocklebur call out his followers, she immediately looked to her own leader, Ginko, and allowed her one good eye to look him briefly over. Rather small for an Owsla, wasn't he? She didn't mind any, who was she to judge? No one here had questioned her own ability even when her serious nature was more a mask well suited to her features. There was a reason she had called herself Inle'arn.
Standing, she moved toward the group, silently ready to go.

Despite the way he held himself, the furrow on Bracken's brow still remained. He watched as the party was divided, grimly. Feeling Althea's eyes on him, he looked towards here and merely gave a nod. She should be able to hold her own at least. He had become quite fond of her, for the large doe was a trustworthy and capable member of the Owsla.

Cocklebur glanced down at Raven briefly, and smirked a little. Yet, he retained his ridged composure. He'd had nothing to do with the upbringing of his kittens. The captain had kept his distance and had been busy anyhow. He didn't even know if they knew who he was. Still, he was all business as the rabbits divided themselves into their respective groups. When it was done, he nodded approvingly.

"Good. Stay sharp, keep up, and I certainly don't want to hear any complaining! Let's go."

With that, Cocklebur gave a curt nod to Ginkgo before turning his eyes on his chief for the final approval to head out. He was a bit taken back by the look the chief gave him. For just that instant, you could almost see sparks fly for theglares that were passed between chief and captain.

Cocklebur couldn't help but think that Bracken's eyes were still as intense as ever.

Bracken then gave his nod of consent. "Be cunning and full of tricks. May El-ahrairah guide you all."

With that, Cocklebur turned and lead the way while descending the down and bounding towards the farm.

Since she was looking back, Althea picked out a pregnant doe pushing her way through the crowd. First a kitten, and now this? What next, a bird? She looked up at the thought just to be on the safe side of things.

When her head came back down she saw that the soon-to-be marli had her forehead pressed to Cowslip's. Oh. Well that explained that. At least she wasn't going to try and force herself along for the raid.

She wasn't sure what to make of this feeling now though. Never before had she thought about putting one's self before the warren, but she wondered what would happen to that doe and her kittens if that spotted buck never returned. She wasn't liking what motherhood had done to her ways of thinking.

Blackthorn glanced over at the Chief, his own frown still on his brow, and likely to remain there until they all returned from the raid. Knowing of the buck's worries, and feeling the heavy weight of his responsibility, Blackthorn gave his nose one last swipe before turning his attention to Cocklebur. While he didn;'t trust the captain as far as he could throw him, he was his Captain, and Blackthorn was an owsla of merit and honor. He would not let anything happen to his squad if he could prevent it, and unfortunately, that ment he would be watching out for his captain also. Even Cocklebur didn't have eyes in the back of his head.... and it was them against all the elil that lived out beyond the Down.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, the owsla stood up on his hinds and looked over the group as Bracken-rah finished his farewell to them. "Alright, everyone together. Follow Cocklebur." His voice commanding yet calm the owsla stood as those rabbits in the party started to stream past him and head down the hill towards the farm, all following the Captain.

Frith watch over us. He preyed silently before nodding to Badassi and leaping forwards, following the group down the hill as rear guard.