|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:45 pm
It was well into the day when the group of surviving rabbits returned from the botched raid. Frith was disappearing behind the hills, and Bracken still sat where he had been when the group had departed. Several other rabbits were also anxiously awaiting their return.
The two groups had converged just outside the farm and Cocklebur had done a count of those remaining. Four bucks were confirmed dead, and a doe was missing. Deciding it was too dangerous to wait on the missing doe, Cocklebur moved the group back up the down and to the warren.
Bracken's good ear stood up as he saw them coming, but he waited patiently on the crest of the hill for the report that was sure to come.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:07 pm
This time, the seer had stepped down from his rocky habbitation, and joined the welcoming party up on the down. He already knew of the deaths, but no names or numbers were given. Though he never mentioned to a soul about it. He could sense by looking around that many were nervous to see who'd make it back, and he couldn't help but find himself wishing that Harebell was amongst those returning. She was much like a daughter to him and Oakvale, who had shared efforts in raising her from a kitten.
Speaking of the other buck, Oakvale had decided "he had business" to attend to, and had made himself absent from the procedings. Truth was he didn't want to know if Harebell hadn't returned, only to know she was back, if she was. Sparrow Accepted this, his eyes scanning over the groups as the rabbits slowly came into view.
But he had a far worse feeling deep down. Something that even Zorn-rah had nothing to do with, and as per usual he started to cringe and shiver, lowering himself down to the floor, doing his best to not start up and ruin the celebration.
Faili was still coughing and spluttering, but was getting better. She could feel it. Though her body ached from desiring rest, still partially starved for oxygen, she pressed on, mostly glad to be anywhere close to her mother and sister once again. It seemed none of them had been killed, though her sister had come off quite quite a nasty scratch from a Pfeffa. She was just more than glad none of her family had been added to the death count.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:37 pm
Bramblebur was so happy to be returning home, but not without an edge of loss. Four bucks were killed and one doe was missing. He was glad to see than none of the outskirters were killed, a bit worse for wear, yes, but they were alive. The buck was looking forward to crawling into his burrow and sleeping. His patience with Cocklebur was already thin to begin with, but his suggesting the raid was infuriating. Bram huffed under his breath as the group made its way up the down.
His nerves felt frayed, but he intended to sleep that off. The large buck walked towards the back to make sure no one fell too far behind. Bramblebur kept his expression neutral and his stride steady. He looked around to each member of the owsla who had gone and those who on their way back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:39 pm
 Blackthorn had stayed near the back of the procession of rabbits. Keeping an eye on the four new hutch rabbits, and on those few straglers who bore wounds slowing them down, or had simply not been as fit as the majority of the rest. He had another reason however. Hoping that by the time he pulled himself up to the warren, the rest would have greetinged friends and family, and moved off to settle back in their burrows, or recount tales... He needed to see Bracken-rah to give his report, and soon. He feared for the warren, feared what would happen now they were back and the full tally of their losses was revealed.
Weary and stressed from his concernes, the dark officer loaped along slowly, amber eyes picking out the tall figure of their Chief.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:44 pm
 Rowanberry looked no worse for wear than he had done heading out that same morning. There was a tense air about him that hadn't been there when they left, but to someone not familiar with the buck he looked as if whatever had happened down there hadn't moved him at all. There was a time and place to mourn for those no longer running, but this was not the time, not yet in his opinion.
The return trip had been slow since they had slow outskirters, hutch rabbits and injured comrades among them, and he was actually feeling fairly well rested by the time they started to reach familiar grounds. The Chief didn't seem to have moved at all since they left and for a fleeting moment he wondered if Bracken-rah had predicted this sad return.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:01 pm
Badassi had opted to bring up the rear, as the bulky gray rabbit often did. He wanted to keep a close eye on the new hutch rabbits, but also because he felt more comfortable sticking near Blackthorn. He wasn't afraid, but he was certain the other buck would have his back if something were to go wrong. He knew he would do the same for him, for sure.
It was clear from his slow lope that he was, indeed, exhausted and longed to return to the spacious burrow he had made for himself near the entrance of the warren. His tattered ears flicked backwards and he heaved a sigh, heart heavy from the losses they had suffered.
Ginkgo shifted himself wearily alongside the group, offering words of encouragement, though he himself appeared to be down. The raid had been a disaster and everyone knew it. It would be only natural for a buck to mourn the loss of four, possibly five rabbits... Right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:35 pm
Raven stayed close to her Parli’s side as they returned to the Warren. She just couldn’t feel more proud of him or herself right now. In her eyes the raid went rather well considering, and a few casualties were a small price to pay. There would be no convincing her that Cocklebur had anything to do with them, luckily she didn’t hear any of the Owsla talking or she might have alerted Cocklebur about it.
She was a little uneasy about the captain’s idea to bring the hutch rabbits back to the down though; they were simply just a nuisance in her opinion, and definitely not worth the trouble.
Foxtail scurried up the hill towards the warren, completely out of breath but grinning from ear to ear at making it back alive. With a quick nod to the chief he settled himself down amongst the other rabbits and found himself a nice clump of clover to nibble on to settle his nerves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:04 pm
Bramblebur nodded to those owsla who returned with the group before moving to sit several paces away from Bracken-rah. Scratching at his side before settling, the striped buck looked tired, but the firm set of his brow showed that his business was not yet finished.
The raid to search for flay-rah had resulted in only a small amount of flay-rah, four confirmed dead bucks, one missing doe, two pregnant does left without mate, four liberated hutch rabbits, and a handful of injuries to adults and outskirters alike. Flicking an ear, he shot a pointed look in Cocklebur and Ginkgo's directions. He far from pleased with his Captain and the dark buck's Lackey-elect. The risk had been far greater than the reward.
Shaking himself, he skimmed the skies before looking to Bracken-rah, brow knit and ears pricked forward. The striped buck wasn't looking forward to the reaction to the report that was going to come.
Once everything was settled here, he mulled over the idea of visiting Ninebark. A friendly face would be most welcome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:09 pm
U'tuhlroo had many reasons to be thankful for the flay-rah in her mouth on the way back. It was at least something to show for the whole ordeal, and it meant she had an excuse not to talk very much. The fact that they had lost the Owsla officers in charge of one of the raid groups had really shaken her. The scent of blood and stink of elil seemed to have started the downward spiral that ended in so much panic, pain and confusion. She could tell herself that he had it coming with that pale coat of his, but she wasn't sure she really believed that. If he had made Owsla despite the colour of his fur he must have been quite the buck. And the other rabbit that had died while they were fleeing... He had just dropped down mid leap, as if bitten by some sinister invisible elil. She couldn't wrap her head around what, if anything, he had done wrong. A disturbing thought indeed.
As more and more rabbits started to gather on the down she looked around for friendly faces. She couldn't find Cowslip, but it was easy to pick out Althea in the crowd. She might have seen him? U'tuhlroo worked her way closer to the Owsla and put the flay-rah down.
"Cowslip?" she croaked, "Is he..."
She couldn't finish the sentence, not daring to put words to her fears.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:31 pm
Glancing over to Badassi, he was grateful for the other officer's pressence. A friendly face in a crowd that he wasn't sure was entirly loyal to their chief.. Oh, most he suspected would defend the warren and Bracken-rah's right to his position, but there was c ertainly an element.. no doubt engineared, or at least encouraged by Cocklebur, would would not mind seeing the kind of unrest the owsla was supposed to prevent.
Nodding faintly to the grey buck at his side he glanced over to where he could see Bramblebur moving towards the Chief. He still had not heard all that had haoppened within Ginko's group, the few coments he had over heard on the trip back had been uncertain, guesses most of them, as rabbits tried to work out what had gone on themselves. Still, he would find out soon enough when they all reported to Bracken-rah.
Finally he made it up as the last of the rabbits who had gone on the raid met with those that had stayed behind. Glancing at Badassi, letting the other buck know silently where he was off too, he weaved his way to Bracken-rah's side, plopping down juts behind the Chief and licked at a bloodied paw. He would wait until the appropriate time before interupting the brown buck, content to sit in the background for the time being.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:22 pm
Bracken held himself straight as he looked over the ragged group. He already knew there were a few missing. The Chief didn't so much as acknowledge Blackthorn and Bramblebur as the sat near him, instead his gaze leveled on the approaching Cocklebur.
"Well?" Bracken asked in a flat tone, well aware of the somber attitude of the returning rabbits.
Cocklebur kept a straight face as per usual when Bracken addressed him. Ginkgo had apprised him of what had happened with his group. "Four have stopped running, and a doe is missing."
Despite knowing it wouldn't be good news, Bracken balked. "Four... perhaps even five?" A mixture of emotions contorted the chief's face, anger and sorrow being predominant. "What is the meaning of this, captain! So much life lost and all you have to show is a little flayrah and..." Bracken glanced towards the gleaming white hutch rabbits... "Them?!"
Cocklebur huffed indignantly, straightening himself up. "Are you going to blame me for things that are out of my control, sir?"
"Don't patronize me, Cocklebur" Bracken seethed, glowering up at the tall form of the Owsla Captain. "You knew full well of the consequences this raid could have!"
"And you did not? Don't tell me you're so foolish as to not be aware of the risks yourself, Bracken-rah. If you were so concerned, why did you allow us to go? If you knew this would happen, you could have stopped it." Cocklebur glowered back at the chief.
Bracken furrowed his brow, knowing that this was futile. Pointing paws at each other would do little good now.
"I want to speak to each of the Owsla that went on this raid, one at a time. Starting with you, Blackthorn. In my burrow."
Bracken began to hop off, before stopping and looking back at the white rabbits. The chief sighed, trying to control his emotions. "Bramblebur, see that our new friends are made comfortable, also." With that he disappeared into the run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:09 pm
Sparrow could clearly hear the convosation between the two highest ranked in the warren, and he whimpered slightly. But then his eyes met a flash of white, and he sat bolt upright in both tharn and shock. He couldn't help it, he had to start, but what could he do, he found his back legs fused to the grass they were laid upon. He even considered the possibility of Zorn-rah holding his feet to silence him.
"It's them. Th-the runners of Inle-roo!" He gasped, probably audible for others to hear, yet no one payed any real heed to him. He was just a crazy fool, why should they listen to a word that came out've his voice.
And for once, they were more than likely right. Sparrow was just assuming things, and he was quite the superstitious one. The last time new rabbits had appeared, they looked like the elil, and they brought the foggy death.
And now there were 4 more, white as the snow with eyes as red as blood. They weren't natural, and neither was their message that they sent to Sparrow's head.
"It's an omen, and omen!" He cried out, running around in circles, unable to control himself.
One of the four rabbits Sparrow was currently cursing looked up at the commotion, her ears twitching at the strange words. With a tilt of her head, she slowed up a little, wondering if this really was a good idea. The small one was making a lot of noise over something she couldn't even understand. She wasn't so keep on leaving the hutch, but her farli and sisters seemed to wish to go with the persuasion of this much larger rabbit, who was now arguing with an even larger rabbit.
This just wasn't going well, was it? She could feel it in her bones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:51 pm
Yarrow took a small lope towards the small, freaking-out one, curious. Were all wild rabbits this strange?
She was also not keen on leaving the hutch. I was warm and safe from the dog and elements there. Plus she couldn't fathom why a rabbit would want to live in the cold, dark ground? Well, at least she wasn't alone.
She moved to her farli and sisters. "This is very exciting, isn't it, Fafa?" she asked him, smiling. "I wonder where we'll get to live? Do you think they have any straw?" she fondly licked her dad's left ear, smiling at him gently.
She had never been exposed or uneasy, kept either in the small fenced-in corral or her hutch. So she had no real fear out here, yet. It was more of a curious 'what am i supposed to do' feeling in her head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:53 pm
Oddly enough, for the first time Ginkgo didn't look just angry, he looked almost forlorn. Was that even possible? It would of been difficult to guess just what was on the brown and cream buck's mind, as he almost never showed that much emotion for anyone. Let alone actually show pity for anyone.
But he sat beside Cocklebur faithfully, as a good lacky always does, and narrowed his golden eyes to slits as Bracken tried to pin the blame for the disastrous raid on the Captain alone.
Great. They would all be meeting with him. Alone. That was just lovely.
Now it was time for the most dangerous, toughest portion of his life. The buck had always admired Cocklebur thus far for his drive and determination, as well as for how smart and crafty the Captain was. He was in that position for a reason, after all, and it was all too obvious he really ought to of been the chief.
Faaaaar too obvious.
His ears flattened backwards as he took in each word Bracken and Cocklebur spoke, but he was always at attention.
Badassi nodded to Blackthorn, but remained rooted to the spot as the buck went to sit alongside Bracken. Tension was thick in the air as the Chief and the Captain spoke. He could practically see sparks bouncing off the pair and it caused his gray pelt to bristle.
This certainly wasn't good at all.
And they would each have to speak to Bracken. That wasn't a problem. In fact, he looked forward to giving the Chief his report, though the events had been grisly and disheartening. The truth needed to be told and it was all to clear to him that Cocklebur had a paw in what happened.
His ears flattened, too, as Sparrow had an outburst. Damned, why did that freak have to be here right now?
"Yes, it is very exciting, dear." The grizzled old rabbit spoke quietly to one of his three daughters, his voice low as he tried to focus most of his attention on the conversation that was transpiring between rabbits.
He had the distinct feeling he and his daughters weren't exactly welcome, what with the glances they had been receiving thus far. It would do him well to stay on top of warren politics as much as possible, though he was not naive enough to think everything would go swimmingly. There was much to learn about warren life and customs, on top of the dangers of predators. This was an entire new world to them and he was already chilled to the bone with worry for his three offspring.
"Something tells me there won't be much straw, love. But never fear, the four of us will be fine. Do me a favor, Yarrow, for these old ears aren't as sharp as they once were. Listen and absorb all the information you can and tell it to me once we are settled? I'd rather not miss anything important. That's a good girl."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:36 pm
Sparrow had barely began to tire when he froze once again, that old taunting voice approaching to calm him for once, or was he.
Ah my, young one. You are far to easily excited.
The large lop sat beside the frozen runt, looking over the returning rabbits.
But I must say your eyes are getting better. They see a bigger picture, but you're looking at the forest now, not the trees. You are correct, they bring an omen. But they are not your enemies. You should try and keep it that way.
A small whimper emitted from the younger, more lively buck, as he lay on the ground and covered his head. "What should i do, what should i do..?" He whined, unable to decide.
Your words, though questionable, have effects, little bird. Maybe you should stop chirping and do what you feel is best.
Sparrow shivered to himself, watching the ghostly seer walk away, back to his rock, before looking back down at the foreigners, then at the others around them, skeptical of them as he was.
With a hesitant sigh, he slowly rose and began descending the hill, past Bracken and to the parli of the hutchlings.
He stopped merely an ear's length from them, in mid step, unsure if he really wanted to get close. Choosing not to, he put down his raised paw, before lowering his head in respect; his own strange way of greeting others, before getting up and looking away.
"It'd be best if you didn't know me. . ." He muttered quietly. "But your arrival has brought a great danger. I don't know what. . . But.. Be carefull. . ." He told them, quietly. He knew if they spoke of it to anyone else they'd just tell them he was being silly, but. . . A feeling in his stomach told him that he should be warning them of something. Even if they didn't listen.
Chamomile crept forward, sniffing at the strange rabbit that was just moments ago going nuts on the hill, only to start talking to himself, then change his tone completely. However, her curiosity seemed too much for Sparrow, and he cringed visibly.
"Be carefull.." He whimpered again, glancing at the chief and the captain, before darting away back to the shelter of the crowds, who naturally mostly avoided him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
