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 Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:50 am
 Cottonwood was up for his mid-day silflay. He was slowly learning all the wording that the rabbits in this warren used. Having been brought up on a farm, most the rabbits there had had no idea who El-ahrairah even was, much less his antics. Finding himself a nice piece of hidden dandelion sprouts, Cotton began munching away.
This was how he spent most of his mid-days. Other times, when he wasn't so hungry, he'd go down below and share stories with the kittens, or listen to stories told by the warrens already prominent storytellers. It was refreshing to hear about their past, hear the stories told. Parts of him though, however small, missed the safety of the farm. There he hadn't had to worry about anything. Even the cats knew to leave him alone. Here, he was a nobody, with constant threats from above and the surrounding areas. The area's one saving grace was the hill that it was planted on. One could see till the end of the world if he tried.
So sitting there, enjoying the silflay, he was shocked when a smell he once knew wafted into his nostrils. He was sure it was a mistake, but it didn't stop him from raising his head and looking around to see where it could be coming from. Could it possibly be?
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:02 pm
 Cowslip was positive that life in the wild had been made for one such as he. Sure, his pelt did stand out much more than the wild rabbits and he had to be extra vigilant, but he loved every moment spent foraging for his own food and pitting himself against the other rabbits in sport and play.
He certainly enjoyed it much more than his old hutch life, even though there was little safety to be had out in the open, like so.
The only thing he really found himself missing was the companionship of his fellow hutch rabbits. He had made his escape long after another rabbit did and none would leave with him, leaving him to wander on his own for a good long while before Watership Down entered his life. Since his arrival he had made friends, but had faced a good bit of skepticism regarding his ability to survive in the harsh reality that was the life of a wild rabbit. He was doing well, but that skepticism would probably remain until he proved other wise.
The buck had been busy watching over the small kitten, Wren, that had come under his care. Now he was taking a much needed break as he shifted himself out of the warren and into the soft, warm grasses. No Elil seemed to be about, that he determined after taking a good long look around his surroundings.
He settled down to munching away at the fresh shoots.
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:31 pm
There it was again. That scent! It just had to be him... Cowslip here, after all this time! Of all his other hutch friends, cowslip had always wanted out of the box as well. If they hadn't been in separate crates that night, he would have taken him with him, as it was, he had just barely escaped himself.
Finally, the winds shifted and he turned to see exactly where his spotted friend was sitting, quietly enjoying his food. Cottonwood was so excited, he nearly ran right up to him, but then remembered where he was. Hopping casually, muscles tense, he moved up to Cowslip. Being behind him, it was no wonder that he didn't smell him. Instead of scaring the poor guy, Cotton hopped up to his side and grinned down at him.
"Hey there stranger." Cotton said, waiting anxiously to see if the bunny recognized him.
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:36 pm
A spotted ear swiveled at the sounds of an approaching rabbit. The wind was not in his favor, so the scent wasn't obvious to him, but the sound of the bulk of the rabbit, as well as the lengthened paces told him that it was friend and not homba or pfeffa.
He also dismissed the fact that this other rabbit might be coming to converse with him. The steps sounded too large to be Wren or Kalei and too small to be Althea, who would of been to busy to want to wander over for a random chat. Besides, he had been told to report to the owsla, not the other way around. He simply deduced that the approaching rabbit must of been heading either towards the warren or towards another rabbit. He paid little to no attention to the oncomer, merely tilted his ear in acknowledgement.
So he was quite surprised to hear a voice and paused mid-bite, leaving the tender young shoots for later.
He stiffened and his pale eyes widened, then he turned his hefty frame to face the fluffy rabbit he had not seen in so long, not since the other had managed to escape the barn.
"Cotton?" Was all he could force out, as he had made peace with the fact that his friend had either found another warren far off or had stopped running (which seemed to happen to many escapees, seeing as they were in more danger, what with their past lifestyle). He was happy, which was plain to see, but there was no hiding the shock and surprise in his eyes and movements.
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:20 am
Cottonwood grinned at the surprised look on his old friend's face. He'd been in the warren all this time, right under his nose and not even known. That fact worried him a little, wondering if the warren was growing too large. It was a fleeting thought, so it was quickly out of his mind.
"You bet your furry bottom!" He said cheerfully. It was so good to see an old friend! He hadn't made many new ones in the warren, and kept mostly to his stories or on the edge of the crowd. He had so many questions though that he wasn't quite sure where to begin. For instance, when had Cowslip gotten here, how had he escaped, were there others he had gotten to come? All of these were questions floating around his fuzzy head, and he wanted to ask them all at the same time.
Flinging his head so that his eyes were clear of hair, he grinned. "So how is it that you've come to be here?! Did you bring any of the others?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:48 am
Cowslip broke into a wide grin as his pale eyes traced over the equally pale form of the rabbit he had been such good friends with, back when he was an outskirter. Frith certainly worked in odd ways at times and for that, Cowslip was immensly thankful.
"Ran right out of the hutch at food time, doncha know." He smirked as he recalled the rather harrowing event. He had been so determined to find his freedom at the time. Would he do it again if he had to? Certainly.
But it was easy to notice a shift in his mood at Cottonwood's second question.
"No, just me. None of the others would make the run. What about you, though? What happened once you escaped?" He couldn't help but to be curious about the events that had happened to his good, old friend.
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:42 am
Cottonwood frowned. " My escape was a bit painful. After i escaped the confines of the farm i wandered for days. I was scared half to death, attacked by elil, and just when i thought that i wouldn't make it, i smelled this warren here. I was fortunate enough to be accepted, being an outsider. It's been a hard struggle becoming one of them, but i think i'm finally accepted. Though some of the doe's seem put off with my furry exterior." he laughed.
It was hard to recount his long journey. To be sure it was the most frightening time of his life, and to revisit such an event always sent him into fits of worry. What if he had to do that again? What if the warren got to big and half of them had to go off on their own? It wasn't a prospect that he took to lightly, the warren was getting overly crowded.
"How about you? Was your journey much the same? Or were you lucky enough to make it here in one piece without any unhappy circumstances?"
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:12 am
"It certainly wasn't like flayrah, that's for sure." The spotted buck sighed quietly as he listened to Cottonwood recount how his journey had gone. His own certainly had been trying. Much of it had been suppressed, he had tried to push it out of his mind as soon as he had arrived to the safety of the warren.
"With luck, I wasn't caught by any of the Thousand, but that didn't keep them from trying. I was fortunate not to gain any injuries or scars, really." He gave his friend a light smile as he spoke.
"So, you been happy, here?"
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 11:20 am
Cottonwood shrugged a bit. "I've been happy enough. I've made a few friends, but mostly i've kept to myself. It's been a difficult time fitting in to the warren. I think i'm just now beginning to be comfortable with the life. It's so much different than the hutch! But i'm not complaining, i'd pick this life over the other any time."
It was true. While he hadn't been mistreated on the farm, he hadn't been treated very well either. And on occassion, their friends would be taken from them, never to return, so he had lived with a sort of dread that it would be him next one day to never come back. He was glad he'd escaped, and glad that he had found such a wonderful place as this.
"How about you? How have things gone for you?"
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:34 pm
"Well enough..." He offered a small grin to his old, fluffy friend. He doubted he would ever see him again, yet here he was. Frith worked in odd ways, that was for sure. He wasn't about to complain, that was for sure, and he thanked the sun and the stars that he found a familiar, friendly face.
"This pelt certainly makes me stand out, but I'm learning to fit in, I think. I can't smell the stench of the farm any more, which is a huge improvement. I love the flay here, even if it isn't flayrah all the time. There's nothing like finding your own food, huh?"
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 3:33 am
Nodding, Cotton knew exactly what his old hutch mate meant. It was liberating being able to come and go as they pleased, eat and drink when they pleased. He'd grown accustomed to sleeping underground, even if it did irk him that it dirtied his coat. It just meant some very precious moments preening himself before taking off to go frolic around.
" I never thought i could be so happy in a place. There doesn't seem to be one problem with this warren. Besides too many does to chase after. " He gave Cowslip a wink. He hadn't chased after too many does this year, and certainly had no kittens on the way. He figured that next hear he'd put himself up for Owsla, and then he'd have the ladies coming to him..... or so that was the dream. The reality was he'd probably do the exact same thing that he did this year and look for a love mate. He wasn't one to particularly scout around and play the field.
"So how fared you this season? Should i expect little spotted kittens running around anywhere?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:23 am
Cottonwood munched on some grass, waiting for a reply. He was so content today! It was so nice to see a familiar face. He wouldn't admit to it, but the warren, some of it's members did get under his skin with their lack of enthusiasm for a human raised rabbit.
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:50 pm
"None this season, I'm afraid." He gave the fluffy, white furred creature a wry grin as he munched a fresh shoot of grass.
"Though I do plan on putting myself out and about a little more next season. What good am I if I can't contribute to this place? You and I, my friend, will have our work cut out for us in trying to prove our worth, what with being hutch-raised. I think I'm doing well enough..." His voice trailed off and he tested the air with his nose for a moment.
He considered the females he had tried with, though none of them bore his offspring. He had to be doing well if an Owsla considered mating with him, and the other females, too.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:43 am
Cottonwood nodded somberly. He was well aware that his coat was a deterant to any prospective mates. While he had some colour in him, the white fluffyness wasn't exactly practical. "Aye, i agree. Though i do think i'm going to try and get into the Owsla. Perhaps my chances will be better once i'm a part of it." The buck hoped he was right. He'd longed to fit in more with the Warren, and thought this the perfect opportunity for him to.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:41 pm
"Those are your thoughts, too? Well, best of luck." Cowslip turned his silver gaze back to his fluffy compadre, once again praising Frith, for he was glad his friend had actually made it thus far. It was better than he expected, for when he had reached this place he had considered Cottonwood deceased. How glad he was to know he had been wrong was almost impossible to put into Lapine words.
"Maybe we can both do it, to prove to them." He half closed his eyes as he enjoyed a refreshing breeze, it seemed to help settle his thoughts and, though he would of seen any other spry young buck as competition for a place amongst the owsla, he still saw Cottonwood as a friend and, possibly, they could help each other prepare. He was unsure if these thoughts were naive or impractical, but he did not want something like that coming between the friendship of two bucks who had already survived something that would of killed most hutch rabbits.
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