Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Richard Adams for writing Watership Down, the book that inspired me to write Fjordvang. I also want to thank Hildur and Ross Jackson for inviting my parents and I to live with them at Fjordvang, their farm in Denmark. The setting of this story. And I thank my parents for all their support, encouragement, and for letting me home school so that I had enough free time to write. I'm also very thankful to my dear friend Karen Moawad who really helped to get the ball rolling. And last but not least I want to thank Sunseed for offering to publish my book.
It was a beautiful day and the sun was just starting to poke its head over the horizon. A slight breeze rustled the grass as the rabbits emerged from their burrows to silflay. The rabbits' warren had been built in one of the many bronze-age burial mounds that were strewn all across the countryside. Most of the rabbits preferred to stay near the warren, but two lone rabbits ran off to eat on the most distant of seven mounds that occupied the field. When they were quite stuffed the two friends, Threar-hain and Inlehy, went to the top of the mound and sat looking out toward the fjord.
"Inlehy, have you ever wondered what it's like by the sea? I know I certainly have."
"No, what a strange thing to wonder about. Why do you wish to know what life is like by the sea? Are you not content with living here? Please dismiss these foolish thoughts from your head before you get any ideas."
"Oh stop it, I don't need a lecture from you about what to think and what not to think. A doe has a right to an imagination doesn't she. Besides, I wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. Just because I imagine what it would be like visiting somewhere else doesn't mean I want to live somewhere else. Stop jumping to conclusions."
"I guess I was, wasn't I. I'm sorry I was so rude Threar-hain. It's just that I'd hate to lose you; you're such a good friend."
"Well have little fear of that, for the last thing I want to do is leave my best friend all by herself and lonely. "
"I wouldn't exactly be all by myself. After all I do have Cowslip, my mate, and my kittens. But I'd definitely be the loneliest rabbit alive."
"If we were separated, I would feel the same way; but since we're together now how about playing a game of Bob-stones with me when we get back?" With that Threar-hain ran down the mound toward the warren.
"I'd love to," Inlehy called back as she tore across the field after her friend.
By the time Threar-hain and Inlehy came out again to silflay it was ni-frith. They had both brought their kittens to feed and were talking while they watched their young eat and play .
"You and Cowslip must be very pleased. You have the perfect children. I would not be surprised in the least if one of them grew up to be a member of the Owsla or maybe even Rah!" stated Threar-hain with just a touch of envy.
"Your kittens are just as extraordinary. I can not find a single flaw in them. They are strong, smart, and extremely courteous."
"Mother, mother, come quickly. I've found some flayrah!" exclaimed Inlehy's youngest, Sayn. He excitedly beckoned to his mother and ran off in the direction of the lettuce and carrots that had been thrown into the field to decompose. Inlehy ran after her son toward the unexpected but pleasant feast. Sayn quickly reached his destination and promptly sat down to feed.
As was a common thing for Threar-hain to do, she was looking off in the direction of the sea, day-dreaming about going on an adventure. Then, without warning, she spun around and thumped a warning signal that would have convinced the dead that it was the end of the world!
"Sayn, Inlehy, get away! Get away now! There is a homba!"
Hidden within the pile of goodies was a fox. It had gone unnoticed because the smells of the lettuce and carrots had been stronger than its own scent. It had not planned on attacking so soon but when Threar-hain sounded the alarm it went for the nearest rabbit, Sayn, trying to grab him and rip the life out of him. "Oh to break its little neck, to feel the warm blood gush out of its body and over mine, the thrill of the hunt and the triumph of the kill. Soon all of these will be mine to feel," thought the fox growing more excited by the minute.
Everyone dashed underground. Panic and confusion ran rampant through the whole warren. No one knew how the fox could have gotten so close without being noticed.
The only ones left outside were Threar-hain, Inlehy, and Sayn. Inlehy was tearing across the field toward the warren. She wanted to look back to see where Sayn was, but the terror of the fox had overwhelmed all of her senses except the sense of survival at all costs.
Just outside the entrance to her burrow, Threar-hain stood completely tharn. At the entrance to the passageway her kittens and Roo-berry, her mate, were trying desperately to get her to come in, but she would not move.
Out in the field Sayn was running for his life with the fox nipping at his heels. He was running like it was the end of the world and sadly for him it probably would be soon. Sayn started to weaken, the hard run for survival was already taking its toll. He was too young to go on like that for long. Without warning little Sayn fell, a panting, exhausted mass, too weary to move. With lightning reflexes the fox grabbed him in his mouth. Like a kitten with a piece of yarn the fox threw Sayn in the air, batted him around, and chewed on him. When the fox was fully satisfied that its prey was dead, it set down to enjoy a hard-earned meal of warm rabbit meat.
Inside a passage Inlehy wept uncontrollably. Even though Sayn had been her youngest, he had shown the most promise of all the kittens in her litter. She felt like a bad mother for running away to let her son die at the hands of a fox. Then she thought, "Why am I doing this to myself? There is nothing I could have done. I should be glad that I am still alive. If it hadn't been for Threar-hain sounding the alarm when she did, I probably would have befallen the same awful fate of my son. I must go and thank her."
When Inlehy found Threar-hain, she was still tharn. So Inlehy decided to go out to her son. The fox had gone and had left the body of Sayn behind (at least what was left). When Inlehy was certain that it was safe to leave the protection of the passage, she went out to say good-bye to her son.
Sayn was a bloody mass with no resemblance to a rabbit. This so grieved Inlehy that she started to lick the blood from her son's body. She continued this until all of the blood was gone, and then she dug a hole and pushed Sayn in so that he would not be eaten by any elil. She then returned to the warren to see if she could be of any assistance to her friend Threar-hain.
Threar -hain was just starting to recover when Inlehy returned.
"Threar-hain, how are you? We were worried that you would stay tharn forever. How did you know about the homba? I am ever so grateful to you for saving my life and only wish that my son's life had been spared as well."
"I am fine, sadly finer than you. I cannot tell you how I knew of the homba; if I could I would. I am so sorry," was Threar-hain's somber reply.
Inlehy didn't know what to do about her friend's words. She figured the best thing to do would be to leave Threar-hain alone. This resolved, she left Threar-hain's company to go think in her own burrow.
"Permission to see Hawthornrah, please. It's an emergency," Threar-hain told the two members of the Owsla guarding the entrance to the chief rabbit's burrow.
The smaller one went in to ask and then returned and beckoned Threar-hain saying, "I'd make it short; he doesn't like to be disturbed by does when it's not mating season."
She walked hastily through the labyrinth of tunnels. She had been here a few times before and knew the way.
"So, what is this emergency that is so important that you had to disturb my fu inlé meal?" asked Hawthornrah when she got there.
"I have seen a vision. I have been visited by Frith and El-ahrairah. I must tell the whole warren what they told me," she replied.
"First you must tell me."
Threar-hain told all about her visions and, after careful consideration, Hawthornrah decided that it was in the best interest of the warren to let Threar-hain tell all of the other rabbits what El-ahrairah and Frith had told her.
Because their warren had been built in one of the bronze-age burial mounds, they used the actual burial chamber as a meeting place. It was into this chamber that Hawthornrah told all the rabbits to come and listen to what Threar-hain had to say.
"Good friends, fellow rabbits, I have some tragic news. Today, when the homba came, I was not really tharn but in a trance. It was El-ahrairah that warned me of the presence of the fox, not a super-sensitive nose. Once I had sent out the warning, Frith came to me. He talked of how he would zorn the warren. He said, 'Your kind is doing too well and has not been good. You are very clever tricksters but I have come up with an enemy even you can't escape. I am going to do this to you because the elil are complaining that you are too clever and that they are starving. This is how you will be punished. In that fox is a disease that will spread through your home and kill everyone. But this is a special disease; it does not hurt anything other than rabbits. It also makes its victims crazy. The rabbits that are affected will see things as they aren't. For example, they would think that the entrance to their own burrow was the gapping mouth of a fox, so they'd run away from that and into what they thought was their burrow but was really the fox.'
"This saddened me so, and in my heart I began to cry." This was also true for all the other rabbits and some were even wondering if it was really worth it to sit around and wait for the end. "Then El-ahrairah returned," she continued. "He told me that there was a cure and also that eating dandelions once you had come down with the sickness would slow down the disease. He showed me what the flower looks like and where to find it, but not how to get there. Hawthornrah has given me permission to lead an expedition since I am the only one that knows what to look for. To everyone that is interested in coming, I will explain the best I can what we are trying to find. Will all those that want to come please stay. Everyone else may go."
There was considerable noise as most of the rabbits left to think and talk with their friends about this strange disease that might put an end to their lives.
About fifteen rabbits were left. Threar-hain went through them, picking the four that she thought would be the best for the job. Rosehip and Thethu-nildro were the names of the two does that she picked. The two bucks were called Zenbeetle and Filbert.
"The rest of you," Threar-hain told the rabbits that she had not picked, "I want to be in charge of getting dandelions to the sick ones. If one of you becomes ill, then everyone else must find a replacement. I am very sorry that I did not pick any of you; it's nothing personal. I just think you would all be more help here."
Threar-hain explained what they would be looking for to the group that was going and then she told everyone to go home. Only Inlehy stayed in the meeting hall with Threar-hain.
"Why didn't you pick me to go with you? I'm a lot more experienced than some of the does and bucks you picked," complained Inlehy.
"If I could tell you I would but I have been forbade to tell. I wish that I did not have to be so secretive, but I must. Please forgive me," pleaded Threar-hain.
"If I must forgive you, then I will, but as soon as you can tell me these things, there are a lot of questions that I want answered," replied Inlehy
"I will do that. Could you please help Roo-berry take care of the kittens. I don't know if he will be able to do it by himself."
"Of course I'll help him. Take care and good-bye. I'll think of you always."
"Good-bye, I'll miss you too."
Threar-hain and Inlehy finished their sad good-byes and left the meeting place. Threar-hain went to her burrow to say good-bye to her mate and kittens. She then went and got the other four rabbits. They all set off to get the cure to the disease before it was too late.
It would still be a few hours before the sun came up as the group of rabbits set out across the mist-covered fields. All the mist was making just about everyone very jumpy. The rabbits would leap away from shadows and run from the wind. The mist was also making it hard for Threar-hain to keep track of everyone.
Filbert was almost left behind when he bolted up a burial mound toward the warren with his imagination hot on his heels. Fortunately Zenbeetle went after him and playfully told him that if he ran away from any more shadows then Zenbeetle would hold him down so that the shadow could eat him. This made everyone laugh, and Filbert was so embarrassed at what a fool he had been that he almost turned bright red; the only reason that he didn't is the fact that rabbits can't turn red.
The rest of the trip across the field was uneventful. Soon the mist had risen, along with everyone's spirits.
At the edge of the field they came to a winding old dirt road. Across the road they saw a hilly landscape covered in luscious short grass and trees. They eagerly crossed the road into the seeming paradise. They leaped and frolicked in the warm sunshine without a thought of why they were there.
"Let's go down there," called Rosehip as she ran down the hill that they had been playing on. In her joy she quite forgot to be careful, lost her balance and went toppling head over heels.
Everyone watched her in dismay, but when she reached the bottom of the hill she came out laughing.
"Come on everyone; it's fun," she called up at the others.
"I don't know about anyone else," replied Thethu-nildro, "but I, for one, will just take your word for it and find a different way down."
"I agree," stated Threar-hain. "Besides, we're here for a reason and that reason is not to come home in a hundred pieces."
With that all the rabbits realized that Threar-hain was right. They were here to find the flower that would save their warren. They couldn't just waste the time away while their families and friends got sick and died. The warren was depending on them to save everyone. Besides some of them might have the disease. If they weren't careful and wasted their time they might all die and then there would be no hope for any of the rabbits from or in the warren.
"I think I see an easier way down than Rosehip's," shouted Thethu-nildro as she ran across the top of the hill and down one side of it onto the top of a smaller hill. From there she ran down one side to a few feet from where Rosehip was sitting.
While the rest of the rabbits followed her example, Zenbeetle went over and sat by his sister. She sat ignoring him with a look of truth, realization, anger, self-shame, and pity all twisted together on her face.
"Why so glum?" Zenbeetle asked.
There was no reply, so he tried again.
"What's the matter, I know something's wrong. Please tell me why you're so sad. I know you don't want to talk about it, but you'll feel better if you do. If you really don't want to talk, I understand; but it doesn't do you any good to keep your feelings all bottled up."
Still no answer. Zenbeetle decided to just let his sister sit and think. He then went to join the rest of the group making a mental note to make sure that Rosehip didn't get left behind.
The sun was already finished with more than half of its journey for the day. They had wasted so much time that day, and they had made terrible progress. Threar-hain was hoping for at least twice as far tomorrow, but today they would only go until they found a good place to spend the night. They decided to go back over the little hill and down the other side.
Zenbeetle was about to go and get Rosehip, but she was already there completely recovered from her let down.
It wasn't long before they found a little cavern to sleep in. It was well sheltered from the wind and other things. Even if they were found by elil it was very unlikely that the elil would be able to get to them. Just to be on the safe side, they posted a guard to keep watch and warn everyone if there was any danger.
Filbert was awakened by a huge pair of brown eyes looking straight at him. He was so shocked that he forgot to sound the alarm and just sat staring into the giant eyes. They were yellow with slanted, deep-brown pupils. Cautiously Filbert peered around the eyes to look at the rest of the creature. Never in his life had he been confronted with such a large animal. It stood on four slim but sturdy legs that looked like they could hold their owner in one place during a hurricane. The jet black legs were tipped with wicked-looking little pointed hooves. On top of these sinister legs was a body like a storm cloud. It was gray and puffy with little pieces of dung and dirt hanging off of it. The face that possessed the eyes boring into Filbert's head was long and the same color as the beast's legs. Huge ears stuck out of the top of its head, throwing a shadow over the petrified rabbit as he gazed at the nasty yellow teeth in the monster's open mouth. Finally he could stand the animal's presence no more. Filbert went sprinting across the field in the opposite direction of the other rabbits. He knew that he would be no match for the immense creature that he had just been staring at. The only thing he could do was to lure the animal away from the others so that they could continue the mission and save the warren.
After a couple yards, Filbert was starting to wonder why he was still alive. To find out what the situation was he snuck a quick glance over his shoulder. There was the beast who had terrified Filbert running as fast as it could the other way!
"Heeheehee hoho haahaahaahaa," chortled Filbert uncontrollably. "That big old monster's afraid of me. Twitch a whisker an' it'll think the world's crashing down onto its head. Haahaahaahaa."
Filbert walked back to the cavern to find the rabbits up and at silflay. He was feeling so immensely proud of himself for his brave deed that he forgot to look where he was going and bumped right into Threar-hain.
"May I ask you where you went while you were supposed to be on guard duty this morning?"
"I was putting my life on the line to save everyone from a monstrous animal that lives in these parts. It snuck up on me. Then it tried to scare me with its razor sharp hooves, its big yellow teeth, and its poisonous breath, but I stood my ground and scared it away. And do you want to know how I scared it away? I scared it away by running away from it. Haahaahaahaa, it was so funny. I tried to lure the beast away by making it chase me and it ran the other way like the Black Rabbit of Inlé was on its heels."
"Well I'm glad, heehee, that we're safe now. Haahaahaahaahaa."
It was soon time to go, and all the rabbits hurried to finish what they were doing and gathered to hear what the plans for the day were.
"Today we want to cover as much distance as is possible. Yesterday our progress was very poor. If we continue to walk as slow and take so many breaks, there will be no one left alive for us to give the flower to by the time we return to the warren. In my opinion, and I think you will all agree, we should continue in the direction of the water and then decide whether we should go up or down the beach. I think we should stay near the water because in my vision the flower we are looking for was growing by the sea," Threar-hain addressed the assembled rabbits.
There were no objections or other options presented, so the rabbits set off at once in the direction of the fjord. Their journey through the sheeps' home was uneventful. They only saw a few sheep, who all ran away at the slightest move of any of the rabbits. The rabbits progress was so swift that it wasn't even ni-frith by the time they reached the shore.
"How should we decide in which direction to go?" Rosehip asked Threar-hain.
"Our two most skilled Bob-stones players will have a tournament. Each one will sit with their back to one side of the beach. If they win, then we will go that way."
"I know who should do it," offered Rosehip. "Thethu-nildro and Zenbeetle they're the best Bob-stones players I know of in the whole wide world."
"An excellent suggestion, you took the words right out of my mouth."
"I hope not Threar-hain; that wouldn't be very pleasant," giggled Rosehip.
"You goof. But enough, we mustn't dilly-dally any longer. Filbert, you and Rosehip go fetch some rocks or sticks. Anything will do. We want to start this game as soon as possible," Threar-hain commanded after she ever so gently cuffed Rosehip.
The playing pieces were quickly found and the game began. It was a long and tense game as Thethu-nildro on the left and Zenbeetle on the right battled it out to determine the right direction to go. In the end Zenbeetle triumphed and they all set out toward the South.
It was nearly dark, and they were still pressing on. They had decided to continue for as long as they could and then try to find a shelter in the dark. They were passing by an old ruin when Threar-hain happened to see an elderly hedgehog who was collecting roots for its supper. Seeing the opportunity for directions she stopped to talk with it.
"Do you know where we can find a rare, purple wild orchid, mister Yona? " asked Threar-hain politely
"Why yes, I do young lady. But why, pray tell, are you looking for this majestic flower?"
"The lord Frith has sent a curse to my home and my friends' homes. Through means I wish not to speak about, he wants to destroy our warren. We search for this flower because El-ahrairah told me it was our only hope of survival."
"You are very brave child. Come, bring your friends and stay the night with me. After supper I will tell you where to find what you seek."
Threar-hain gathered the others, and they were then led to a cozy but spacious burrow nestled in between numerous large stones from the foundation of an old house. Once inside they were told to sit and relax while dinner was found. This they eagerly did for they were all exhausted from the long days travel. Before long the elderly hedgehog had returned with enough roots and greenstuff to feed their whole warren for a winter! Everything was delicious but there was so much to eat that when they were all done and close to exploding there were about twice as many left leftovers as there had been food eaten!
When all the left-over food had been cleared away and everyone was contentedly digesting, Threar-hain asked the hedgehog to tell them where they could find the flower they were searching for.
"Ah yes, the flower. It really is a beautiful flower and tasty too. I can remember when I was a wee little thing, not even as tall as my knee, and my brothers and sisters and I would go and dine on those flowers for hours. Those were happy days. "
"I don't mean to intrude in your reverie but are we going in the right direction?" asked Zenbeetle.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I am old and am growing quite forgetful. No, you're going in the opposite direction you want to go. If you travel swiftly with few stops you can probably make the journey to where the flowers grow in one day," the old hedgehog told them.
"Is there anything we should look out for?" questioned Threar-hain practically.
"Well there aren't really any terrible dangers. There are the sheep who look terrifying but are much more scared of you than you are of them. Then there is the coo-coo who lives right by the flowers. He will swoop at you and try to scare you, but he is only dangerous to the very young, very old, and the injured. The last thing you should look out for are the cows that live with the flowers. They are even more scary looking than the sheep but will ignore you completely. That doesn't seem so bad and it isn't as long as you watch what you're doing. I had a brother once that was careless and got trodden on by one of those monsters. He was killed instantly. There was nothing we could do about it. We learned a valuable lesson, but it came at a horrible price."
"Thank you ever so much, Mister Yona. We are forever in debt to you. If it hadn't been for you we would never be able to find the flower and our warren would perish," Threar-hain solemnly stated.
"Oh please, it was the least I could do. I know what it's like to lose loved ones. Now everyone go to sleep. You have a long day ahead of you," chuckled the elderly hedgehog.
The moon hadn't even risen by the time every rabbit was sound asleep, snuggled up close in a big pile of warm fur. Nearby in his usual sleeping spot the hedgehog sat muttering to himself.
"The poor young 'uns. They've been through so much, and there is still so much left for them to go through. They are brave beyond their years. If I knew that my friends' and family's lives' depended on me, I don't think I would have been able to last this long without going crazy with despair. They don't seem to realize how much they have at stake. Oh well, bless their little hearts. I hope they find the flower and that they all return home safe and in time to save their warren."
In the morning they had a quick silflay and then thanked their host once more for his kindness.
"Thank you again, Mister Yona. I hope that you have many happy seasons," Threar-hain said on behalf of all the rabbits.
"You are welcome my friends. If you are ever in the neighborhood again, please don't hesitate to stop by. Good luck. May El-ahrairah be with you!"
With this done they set out. It was not yet dawn and there was a sadness shared by all that made the dark air feel heavy and forbidding. They all wished that they didn't have to leave their new found friend so soon. They knew that they couldn't stay, for their warren was depending on them, but they still wished they could.
But even the saddest rabbit could not help but feeling a small degree of happiness. At last they weren't just guessing in which direction to go! They would have the flower by the end of the day! And these small fragments of pleasure grew, eating and pushing away their grief until every rabbits' heart was about to explode with shear joy. Their sadness set aside, they began to leap and jump down the beach, kicking up sand in their wake.
They were making extremely good progress. The sun had just risen by the time they got to the sheeps' home. This they passed by in fits of laughter.
"Heehehe, do you remember when BRAVE Filbert saved us all from those terrible, ferocious beasts that live in there? Hohoho haahaha, that was so, teehehe hahaha, funny. Hohoho," Thethu-nildro asked Zenbeetle roaring uncontrollably.
"H-h-how could I forget. Ah hahahahahaha," he replied falling to the ground with laughter.
"Come on you guys," Threar-hain yelled back at them from up ahead. "I know that we've made good progress so far, but we're never going to get there if we sit around here all day laughing at the sheep. Besides I found something interesting over here."
With that the others all came running over to see. It was a strange circular object, about a foot in diameter and bright red in color. It would make feeble attempts to move toward the water, then stop, rest, and try again.
"I think I know what it is," said Threar-hain. "It's a creature that lives in the sea. Some how it got on land and now it doesn't have the strength to get back to its home in the water."
"Oh, that's awful. Can't we do something for it?" asked Rosehip.
"I'm afraid not. It might be dangerous, and we can't take that risk," Threar-hain told her.
"But how terrible to have to die all alone in a strange place," sobbed Rosehip.
"I really am sorry, but there is nothing we can do without risking our own lives, Rosehip. Now please forget you ever saw this and what ever you do, just don't touch it!" cautioned Threar-hain.
Quite put out by not being able to help the creature, Rosehip trailed to the end of the group to sulk. She walked very slowly until everyone else was far ahead. Then she ran back to the jellyfish that was stranded on the beach. She went into the small forest by the beach and found a stick, which she put in her mouth and used to try and get the stranded animal to its home. This didn't work.
"Who cares, I'm sure it won't hurt me. I'll just push it into the water and then run back to the others. They'll never know I was gone."
This decided, Rosehip walked up to the invertebrate and started pushing it with her nose.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH," screamed Rosehip.
The others came running to her as fast as they could, but they were not fast enough.
When Rosehip had tried to push the jellyfish, it thought that it was in danger. It then stung her. A stinger filled with deadly poison shot into her nose. Her nose quickly started to expand. The poison traveled swiftly through her body. It entered her brain and reeked havoc, turning off all her life functions one at a time until even if she did live she would be better off dead. Then it made its way into her heart. There it solidified in her veins, forcing her heart to stop beating. It was as if the poison had a brain of its own the way it brutally murdered Rosehip.
"It's all my fault. I should have kept a closer look on her. She was so young and had such a long life ahead of her. I never should have brought her with us. If she had stayed at home she might still have been alive now," wailed Threar-hain.
"You shouldn't blame yourself. She's gone now and there's nothing we can do about that. Sure there might have been things we could have done but we didn't do them. It doesn't help Rosehip if you beat yourself black and blue with guilt. I bet if she could she would say that it wasn't our fault, and that we should continue on our mission," Zenbeetle assured Threar-hain.
"I think that part of her is still here with her big brother," Threar-hain told Zenbeetle.
Sadly they buried the body and then set off again to find the flower.
It was nearly sunset and they had not reached the flower or met the coo-coo. They were starting to lose faith in the old hedgehog's words.
"That old hedgehog might have been lying, you know. After all he didn't tell us about that creature that killed Rosehip. And he said it was a day's journey to the flower, and we're not there yet. Besides, where is that coo-coo bird he told us about? Even if the flower was far enough away that we hadn't found it yet, we should have met the coo-coo," complained Filbert.
"Filbert, I'm ashamed of you. I just can't believe that you think that kind yona, who was nice enough to have us to dinner, let us sleep at his house, set us in the right direction when we were going wrong, and warn us of many dangers we might meet along the way, would lie to us about how to find the flower," stated Threar-hain totally aghast.
"Besides he said that if we traveled swiftly with few stops we might reach the flower today. It is true that we have been traveling at a good pace, but we've made quite a few stops, most of them long. It's my guess that we won't meet the coo-coo before night fall. And to explain why we were not warned about the jellyfish, he had probably never seen one of its kind so he couldn't warn us. I know that it's hard to lose a friend. I feel somewhat responsible, but Zenbeetle is right we can't blame ourselves or others. The damage is done and there is nothing we can do to change it. It's easy to lay the blame, but it doesn't solve the problem or lessen the grief. In fact it often has the opposite effect. Please dismiss all of the 'ifs' and 'could haves' from your mind and just mourn Rosehip's death and celebrate her life without any guilt or regret. Please, do this for Rosehip, me, and most of all for yourself."
"I suppose you're right, but that is so much easier said than done."
"Spoken with true wisdom."
As they walked and talked, the scenery to their left was changing. They were far too involved in their conversation to notice that they were no longer walking past fields and forests but past a swamp. The ground on the left side of the beach ranged from soggy to submerged. It quite looked like the ground would have fallen completely apart if it hadn't been for the numerous trees that somehow had managed to live in the bog.
"Don't you think we should find shelter soon? It looks as if the distance might be farther than the yona remembered," asked Thethu-nildro.
"If we don't meet the . . . ," Threar-hain was cut off in mid-sentence.
"COO-COO COO-COO" rang through the air accompanied by a loud swish causing the rabbits to bolt in twenty different directions. The swish was heard again and then a scream. In the dark light the rabbits could just make out a bird a little bit smaller than a crow with something in its talons that looked far too large for it to carry.
"Oh no," Threar-hain thought out loud "we've lost two friends in one day. It looks like this bird is much more dangerous than we were told. If only we had been prepared."
The air shook with laughter like thunder. "Oh man, your killing me. You can't be serious. Are these 'hole heads' that stupid? I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. Hohohoho I didn't know I was that good. That's a real hoot."
"What are you laughing at you savage beast? You just killed our friend and you think its funny. You've got a lot to learn about manners, Buster," retorted Threar-hain.
"Look around you Grass Guts. Are any of your friends missing?"
Threar-hain looked around at the other rabbits, which had by now gathered behind her. None were missing.
"I am grateful that we are all safe, but that was a very rude and uncalled-for trick you played on us."
"Even if it was mean, do you think that I really care? The only thing that matters is that it was entertaining for me."
"You know you have the biggest ego I've ever seen. You seem to think that you're the only thing that matters in the world."
"Aren't I?"
"No, you most definitely aren't. You should be ashamed of yourself, frightening healthy passersby and eating weak ones."
"Hey wait a minute, what did you say?"
"I said, I don't like to associate with birds that kill poor defenseless animals."
"Woe, let's get things straight here. I have never killed any animals in my life nor do I intend to. I love to scare passersby but I have never even dreamed of hurting a single hair on their hraka stuffed heads. I don't know where you got that idea but it is totally false. I don't mind if some animals fear me but I'm a completely honest trickster. Is that straight?"
" Completely. Now we must depart. Wish we could stay longer, but duty calls," Threar-hain retorted.
"Hey, you can't do that."
"Why not?"
"I-I-I-I'm not sure. But you can't do it any way."
"Sorry but that's not an adequate answer. We are still leaving."
"Only if you take me with you," the coo-coo protested.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because."
"You have to give me a better answer.
"It's just that I don't know if we should. You haven't been very polite to us. Besides, you would be miserable at our home. There would be nothing for you to do. You'd be bored out of your scull."
"Oh, but I wouldn't. And even if I was it would be worth it. It's so lonely here I can't stand it. I haven't had company for longer than I can remember. Please, please let me come," pleaded the coo-coo.
"I'm still not sure."
"Oh, please let him come, Threar-hain. He sounds so lonely. Besides, he could scare elil. I'm sure there are other useful things he could do too," pointed out Thethu-nildro.
"Yes, I suppose you are right. OK, you can come, but only if you will not desert us in a time of need and you promise to be helpful."
"You can depend on me," promised the coo-coo.
"Oh, by the way, what's your name?"
"Jorgen."
After the introductions were completed they set off again. Each animal was filled with hope. They all could feel their dreams and wishes coming true. The rabbits wanted nothing more than to have their warren safe and Jorgen's great sorrow was gone now that he finally had someone to keep him company.
"Look, Threar-hain, up ahead the forest stops. Maybe that's the field that contains the flower!" Thethu-nildro called over her shoulder from the front of the pack.
"Let's find out," returned Threar-hain as she trotted up to Thethu-nildro. "I'll race you there."
They ran neck and neck with everyone else, either running or flying after them. It wasn't long before they reached their destination.
Threar-hain and Thethu-nildro stopped stock-still in their tracks. Before them they saw the most beautiful sight they had ever seen. In front of them stood an intricately carved slab of granite. It was nearly a meter high with gently sloping sides that turned abruptly inward about five-sixths of the way up. They then met in a point at the center. A cross had been carved down the middle of the stone. Elaborate designs woven into the rock decorated the cross's arms. In each corner of the cross was a circle that spread out like a drop of rain in a puddle. Where the four arms of the cross met there was another circle. It was filled with designs that resembled the rolling waves of the sea during a fierce wind. Where the Cross did not cover the stone there were strange and exotic animals, most of which were hopelessly entangled with themselves or others of their kind. The animals were completely fascinated. "How had such a strange and wondrous stone come to rest in this field?" they thought. "What was its purpose?"
"We should look for a place to spend the night," said Threar-hain, severing the visual link between the animals and the stone.
"I guess that it's too dark to look for the flower, but we should look for it tomorrow," Filbert commented.
"Of course, and everyone should keep a look out for it while they are trying to find a good place for us to sleep," replied Threar-hain. Then to the whole party she called out, "Everyone spread out and look for a good, sheltered place to spend the night. Also keep an eye out for the flower. If you find it come and find me."
"I wonder where the beasts that the yona said lived here are?" puzzled Zenbeetle as he and Threar-hain set out to find a sleeping place.
"I was thinking that same thing. Maybe they left or died out. After all I don't think that he has been back here in a long time. Still we should keep alert in case they still live here," admitted Threar-hain
"Threar-hain, Threar-hain, come look," called Thethu-nildro from the stone they had first seen.
Threar-hain ran over to see what she wanted. When she got there she saw what Thethu-nildro was so excited about. At the back of the stone completely hidden from the front was a large patch of purple flowers, the flowers they had been looking for!
"WHOOOHOOO," yelled Threar-hain as she began to dance with joy. She was soon joined by the other rabbits, forming a circle of twirling, whirling, dancing, prancing, skipping, flipping, ecstatic, overjoyed rabbits. Even Jorgen joined in the dance, happy that his friends had reached their goal.
This continued till sunrise. The animals then put together little bundles of flowers to take back, and the rabbits each ate a little so that they wouldn't get sick. Even though they had gotten no sleep that night they were all so well refreshed from the joy of finding the flowers and of finally being able to go home that they set out for home as soon as everyone had a little bundle of flowers.
The trip home had been swift and uneventful, and now they were being welcomed home by a handful of rabbits, the ones that were well enough to not be in bed and under guard but were too sick to help.
"Where is Inlehy?" Threar-hain asked once a flower had been given to each of the rabbits present that hadn't already had one.
"She's in her burrow. I think that Cowslip is there with her. If I were you, I'd go quickly; she's pretty bad," answered one of the rabbits.
Threar-hain ran to Inlehy's burrow. All she could think about was "what if I'm too late?". Just as she was about to enter, a crazed rabbit ran out of the entrance of the burrow. It had blood shot eyes and foam was flowing from its mouth. All along its body its matted fur was stained with blood, as were its claws. It was charging head long toward Threar-hain, and in horror she realized who this terrifying beast was. It was Inlehy.
Threar-hain instantly realized what had happened. Inlehy was now in the last stage of the disease. It forced her to go outside where she would be easy prey for any elil that happened to pass by. Knowing this Threar-hain jumped into the center of the tunnel to block Inlehy's way.
Inlehy didn't stop; she didn't even slow down. Instead she whammed straight into Threar-hain with bone crushing force. Threar-hain was thrown onto her back, staggering for breath. Completely unaware of her friend's presence, Inlehy scrambled over Threar-hain, making deep gouges wherever she stepped. Overcome with pain but still determined to save her friend's life Threar-hain rolled over onto her stomach, grabbed Inlehy's hind leg, tripping her, and leaped onto Inlehy's back pinning her to the floor. Inlehy went rigid, and then she began to shake violently her face taunt with fear. Threar-hain could feel Inlehy's heart racing underneath her. Threar-hain tried to force the flower down Inlehy's throat but her jaws were locked shut. Knowing she could not do anymore for Inlehy by herself she called for help.
Minutes later Roo-berry and two other bucks came running down the tunnel to help. Before them they saw two blood covered does. Threar-hain was bent over Inlehy sobbing.
"It's too late," Threar-hain told them.
Roo-berry beckoned the two bucks to follow him as he left, knowing that Threar-hain would want to have some time to herself. Threar-hain just sat and cried.
"You know what the funny thing is?" Threar-hain asked Roo-berry one hot summer evening in the middle of July, two years later. "I knew she was going to die. I knew it from the moment that I went into the trance. But all through the journey I had hope that I'd come back in time to save her. In fact I convinced myself that that whole thing would turn out like a fairy tale, where everyone gets saved and no one gets hurt. Too bad life isn't like that."
They were sitting on top of the warren looking out to sea. Roo-berry nudged Threar-hain and she looked up from her sulking.
Up in the sky Jorgen and his mate were playfully playing tag.
"I'm so glad he found her," Roo-berry commented. "He said he was fine with our company, but I knew he needed someone of his own kind."
"I miss her," sobbed Threar-hain, ruining Roo-berry's attempt to distract her from the subject of Inlehy's death.
"We all do. But you've got to let it go. It's OK to mourn her death but not to blame yourself for it. Whenever someone dies you think it's your fault, but it's not," Roo-berry assured her. "Come on, let's go in. I'm tired."
"Thank you; I needed that. But I want to stay out a little bit longer. Will you stay with me?"
"Always."
Black Rabbit of Inlé The rabbit in charge of death and the after life.
Bob-stones A traditional game of rabbits. It is played with small stones, fragments of sticks or the like. Fundamentally it is a very simple kind of gambling, on the lines of "Odds or Evens." A "cast" of stones on the ground is covered by the player's paw. The opponent must then hazard some sort of surmise about its nature-e.g. , one or two, light or dark, rough or smooth.
El-ahrairah The rabbit folk hero. The name (Elil-hrair-rah) means "Enemies-Thousand-Prince" = the Prince with a Thousand Enemies.
Elil Enemies (of rabbits).
Flayrah Unusually good food, e.g. lettuce.
Fjordvang* The warren where Threar-hain lives.
Frith The sun, personified as a god of rabbits.
Fu Inlé After moonrise.
Hawthornrah* The chief of Fjordvang.
Homba A fox. (Plural hombil.)
Hraka Droppings, excreta.
Inlehy* "Shinning Moon," the name of a doe.
Ni-Frith Noon.
Owsla The strongest rabbits in a warren, the ruling clique.
Rah A prince, leader or chief rabbit, usually used as a suffix, e.g. Threarah = Lord Threar
Roo-berry* "Little Berry," the name of a Threar-hain's mate.
Sayn Groundsel. Also the name of a kitten.
Silflay To go above ground to feed. Literally, to feed outside. Also used as a noun.
Tharn Stupefied, distraught, hypnotized with fear. But can also in certain contexts, mean "looking foolish," or again "heartbroken," or "forlorn.
Thethu-nildro* "The Movement of the Blackbird," the name of a doe.
Threar-hain* "Tree Song," the name of a doe.
Yona A hedgehog. (Plural, yonil.)
Zenbeetle* "Dew Beetle," the name of a buck.
Zorn Destroy, murder. Denotes a catastrophe
* Adapted by the author.