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 Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:42 pm
 The morning after Cocklebur and Bracken had their discussion, the chief was making his way through the tunnels of the Owsla wing of the warren. There was one in particular that he was looking for, one that he was confident in. What happened the night before weighed heavily on his mind, and he needed to speak to someone about it. Someone that he knew he could trust. Sometimes it was hard to tell where one's loyalties lie, and it was clear that very soon lines would be drawn.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:49 am
 Blackthorn had been out all night, oh it hadn't been anything major, just lots of little things all happening right after one another that conspired to keep the dark-hued officer up all night long. He half wondered if it hadn't been some kind of punishment sent from Frith for his accidental destruction of that clover patch two days ago. Shaking his head, the officer picked his way quietly down the tunnels, ears finally at rest as he relaxed in the relative safety of the warren.
Haulting at the mouth of the tunnel that would eventually lead to his personal den, the black buck suddenly paused, ears lifting to attention as he peered further down the borrow, amber eyes searching the darkness, utterly sure he had heard a familiar set of footsteps.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:09 pm
Meandering through the tunnel, Bracken caught the scent of the rabbit he was looking for, and was soon in sight.
"Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you, Blackthorn."
Sidling up to the Owsla, the chief looked up one tunnel and down another. "I would like to speak with you in my burrow if you have a moment."
He then turned and started to amble back the way he had came, casting a glance over his shoulder at the Owsla. "It is of upmost importance."
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:53 am
Drawing himself up as his leader approched Blackthorn nodded in greeting, wondering at Bracken-rah's words even as he replied. "Of course, Sir." Head tilting he dropped back to all fours and padded after his Captain. Such a summons wasn't al that strange, he suposed, though there was something about Bracken-rah's manner of late that had him worried, along with the general air inside the warren and most especially the Owsla burrows.... There was a restlessness that he didn't like.
Following his Captain back to Bracken-rah's den, the owsla office shifted all thoughts and worries to one side, choosing to wait for the situation to explain itself before he started jumping to conclusions about the nature of what his Captain wanted him for.
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:31 pm
The chief led the Owsla member back to his own burrow and went inside, expecting Blackthorn to follow. Once he had, Bracken turned around to face him with a weary expression. He kept his voice low and quiet so as not to draw any unwanted eavesdroppers in the tunnel.
"Cocklebur came to speak with me last night. He was pushing the issue of the Owsla going on a raid again. I allowed it."
However, it was clear that Bracken wasn't exactly approving of this as he heaved a long sigh.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:13 am
The dark-toned officer followed close behind his Chief, pausing at the entrance of the den to glance back up the tunnel, ears pricking as he habitually checked the security of the area. After a moemnt he ducked inside and padded over to sit before Bracken-rah, at attention and alert despite the tiredness that had griped him earlier.
As his chief spoke, the officer couldn't help but twitch an ear, hardly surprised by Cocklebur's action. Truely, there was just something about the Captain recently had made Blackthorn's fur stand on end, and whatever it was, was getting stronger.
"Is that wise, Sir?" He asked softly, more as a prompt for Bracken-rah to continue than any real questioning of the Chief's descision. It was obvious the other male was regretting it, the real question was, what could he do and what did Bracken-rah need from him.
Pausing a moment the owsla officer studied the floor of the burrow, turning over the recent events in his mind. Yes, there was certainly something going on.... he would stake his position in the burrow on it, and he knew the Captain was involved. Frowning, nose twitching, he smoothed back an ear, mind busy with the pathwork of rumours and hints he had been picking up, trying to fit them together with the raid that was now planned. "The owsla is not ready for a full patrol yet..." He mused mostly to himself. There was something there... something.. If only he could work it out! Growing frustrated by the block in his head he looked back up at his Chief, bright amber eyes serious and concerned. "Sir.. where is the raid taking place?"
If.. they went there.. there could be some real trouble...
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:26 am
"I am fully aware of that!" Bracken snapped.
Instantly regretting his harsh reply, the chief sighed and lifted a leg to scratch at his tattered ear. "Of course it is not wise. It is most certainly against my better judgement."
Blackthorn of course would then wonder why he would allow such a thing, and for good reason. Other than Cocklebur's means of provoking. "I've known this sort of thing was only inevitable, and I believe my efforts at stalling it are now useless."
Blue eyes then looked at the officer intently. "I think you know as well as I were this raid will be taking place."
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:04 pm
The dark officer didn't react to the harsh bark of his Chief, having expected it truthfully. Nodding faintly at Bracken-rah's words the owsla officer rubbed a paw over his chest thoughtfully, ears flicking back as even now he kept one sense trained on the warren outside.
"Yes.. I believe I do, Sir." He replied, looking back up at the Chief. "May I request permission to accompany them on this raid, Sir? It might be wise to keep an eye on.... those accompanying the owsla." He nearly said 'keep and eye on Cocklebur', but even though he had suspicions, he was not in a position to verbally voice doubts against his own Captain, though he was positive Bracken-rah would know what he ment despite his careful words.
He was not there to rock the boat between the two bucks, but to serve Bracken-rah and the warren as best as he was able, and to prevent harm coming to his fellow warren-mates.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:26 pm
Bracken looked visibly pleased as soon as Blackthorn voiced his request to go on the raid. He chuckled softly, although it was a bit hollow... not his usual merry sound when he was amused.
"That was the reason I asked to speak with you, actually."
He heaved another sigh and nodded his head, "Go and take any others you see fit to. If someone gets hurt, I want to know about it, and how it happened."
The chief couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He hated these feelings and hoped that it was just mere paranoia, because he certainly did not want to be right in this case.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:38 pm
Blackthorn bobbed his head, knowing this as not going to be a leasure outing in the least, and Bracken-rah's concerns had now joined his, confirming what he had been suspecting for some time now. Things were about to change in the warren, and it wasn't going to be for the better either...
Nodding more firmly he pulled himself up a little. "Thank you, Sir. And most certainly, I will watch out for any trouble. I have a couple of officers in mind already..." Those two, yes... he knew they were trustworthy. And he was fairly certain they would agree to accompany him on his damage-control mission.
Taking one step back he paused and looked at his chief. "I will look after them, Sir." The dark buck murmured softly, knowing there was little he could do to ease their Chief's worries. Finally the officer turned and slipped quietly from Bracken's burrow, hopping back the way they had come, and away from his own... intent on finding and gaining the agreement of the two owsla he knew he wanted with him, all tiredness forgotten.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:04 pm
Things were about to change, and Bracken suspected that it would be a pretty ugly affair indeed.
The chief rabbit nodded as well. "Good. And make sure you take care of yourself as well." Last thing he wanted was for anyone, including his Owsla, to get hurt or killed on this crazy mission. He trusted that Blackthorn would do well and take the matter seriously. He was a trustworthy rabbit and Bracken had every confidence in him.
The dark buck's final words of assurance brought another nod. "I know you will."
He then watched as the officer took his leave and left him in the burrow alone once more. It was there that Bracken simply sat and thought to himself.
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