Watership Down - Blueberry's Tale, Chapter 8

By Skipai (c) 2009-Present

Chapter 8 - The River

Authors Note: This is a clean fanfiction story written in the Watership Down universe. There are some scenes of natural violence, ie. predators hunting prey. Watership Down is copyrighted to Richard Adams. All world, references etc is copyrighted to Richard Adams.

This story was written during Nanowrimo 2005 and comprises of twenty chapters, however for the time being I'm only uploading the first chapter to see whether or not there is any interest for a clean fanfiction story posted on here by readers and of course this will be quite different to my usual written works on here.

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Captain Hawk, Blueberry and Balm were tearing across the field as they could hear behind them the sound of the hedge being torn apart as the fox went through, followed by the hounds and then jumping over, came the men on their horses. Hearing the frightening noise behind him, Captain Hawk growled. "I really, really hate it when you're right about there being danger."

Blueberry panted heavily as he replied back. "Hey, I wasn't the one that said he wanted a homba to chase us!" He looked back and then jumped as he ran a bit quicker. "Mind you, if this is how your wishes work, then I have to say their very bad form of co-operating, since you brought dogs and men on er...?"

Hawk replied back. "Horses, I heard about them once in a story, which you should've remembered, right?" Blueberry frowned. "I think I have more important things to think about now than some story."

Balm looked back as he shouted. "Could we please have this discussion at some other time when we don't have an army of elil chasing us!" All three of them shut up now as they forgot about slowing down at the next hedge and tore through it quickly, feeling some of the branches scratching them.

Blueberry frowned. "We have to warn the others, have to get across the river." He looked back to seeing the hounds come through the hedge after the fox. "We never get them out of the field in time, those will tear us apart in no time at all." He turned his head back to the front and saw Bracken-Rah with two other officers as he shouted. "Get back and gather all the rabbits to the edge of the riverbank. We have to cross it, no time to escape anywhere else!"

Bracken-Rah turned and fled quickly shouting at the top of his voice to get to the river bank edge as Blueberry, Hawk and Balm crashed through the hedge and turned to the does quickly. "Come on, unless you want to die." Captain Hawk growled, pushing the does down the hill towards the water.

Bracken-Rah turned around to see at the top of the hill the homba come panting into the field before it collapsed near one of the does that squealed and ran for it, full pelt as she jumped into the river without even realising it. The next instant, the hounds were through the hedge as they all went to attacking the fox, some of them noticing the rabbits and seeing that they couldn't get at the fox, began to run their way.

Blueberry and Hawk arrived where the others were and shouted at once. "Into the river if you want to live!" Barging a few does into the water as they took one last look in horror as two does were grabbed. Hawk went to where Bracken-Rah was and pushed him in before jumping himself. Blueberry noticed Carbi and ran to him. "Come on, you're not being left behind." Biting him hard on the ear to bring Carbi from his tharn-ness, he guided the small buck to the river and pushed him in as he jumped barely escaping the snapping teeth of the hounds.

Blueberry was lost to the dark water that was flowing all around him, his ears filling up quickly as he could feel water rushing over his body. Opening his eyes, he saw Carbi a bit ahead of him in the murky water trying to swim to the other side. Kicking out, Blueberry made for where the small buck was and reached him. Feeling his lungs bursting with fire, he bit hold of his back, feeling Carbi kick out, scratching him slightly and made for the surface.

Breaking he let go and spluttered. "Carbi, it's me, stop kicking me dammit!" Pushing Carbi to the bank, both rabbits got hold of a shallow ledge. Climbing out, they pulled themselves out of the water and collapsed onto the grassy ground. Panting heavily, Blueberry closed his eyes but woke up again quickly. Forcing himself up, he grabbed hold of the unconscious Carbi and pulled him under some undergrowth before passing out completely.

Blueberry woke up with a start at the middle of the night by the sound of an owl hooting overhead. Looking to where Carbi was, he noticed that he was still sleeping and got up, still feeling damp all over and smelling of river water. While waiting for Carbi to wake up, Blueberry set to his task of grooming himself while wondering just who else survived but more importantly where had they gone. He stopped for a moment and looked at Carbi before sighing to himself. "Well, looks like we down to just two, you and me, Carbi. For however long that will be..."

It was nearly dawn before Carbi woke up from his ordeal and Blueberry spoke. "Well, you okay, I have to admit you have sharp teeth and claws." He looked out of the bush that he had managed to pull Carbi in before. "So, how are you feeling?"

Carbi stretched on his side before getting up. "Like something hit me quite a lot of times." He looked about before asking. "Where are the others?" Blueberry sighed. "It's just you and me, maybe they came out of the river before us?" He looked back. "I think we should head back this way along the river and see if we can find anyone else." He turned his way to the way the water was running and shook it. "I don't think anyone would survive long going that way. Are you ready to move?"

Nodding his head, Carbi got up as they both headed out of the bush, walking along the river bank. After a while, Carbi spoke out to break the silence. "We're not doing so well are we since the day you won that bobstone contest?"

"Well, if you're going to start with blaming me, then go right ahead. I did get to the farm and all." Blueberry muttered. "Nothing has gone right from that day onwards and now we're out here walking along the bank without knowing who else is where." He frowned. "You're going to do exactly what I say without question, I be damned if I am going to lose you as well. Understood?"

Carbi nodded his head. "So looks like you're the leader now then?" He saw Blueberry frown as he carried on quickly. "I am sure you know what to do given the circumstances."

Blueberry just kept on frowning but he relaxed after coming to a conclusion in his head. "You know, you're right. I be able to do anything." He thought to himself and nodded again as they carried on their way.

The journey had it's hassles, for one there came a boat with a man in that Blueberry had to quickly find a place up the embankment so that they were well hidden. A dog was on the other side of the river, playing with a smaller man while two larger ones were sitting on coloured ground with the rich smell of food and flayrah.

It was quite late in the evening when they arrived back at the point that they had noticed the same field that they had fled that morning. Sitting down at the edge of the bank, Blueberry shook his head. "Great, this is just great, no one at all." Carbi looked over and muttered. "Is there anyone over there?!"

Blueberry blinked and cuffed Carbi on the head. "Sure, shout. Bring elil to us, who's to say that the dogs and man are waiting over there in hiding for us?" He looked about for a moment and then walked over to a bush. He nodded to Carbi to come over to him. "Right, I want you to wait here. I am going to swim over and check if anyone made it back over there." He went to go but stopped. "Stay here and keep quiet."

Moving to the bank edge again, Blueberry hopped into the water and swam across much easier this time around as he knew what he was doing. Making it across the river a bit further down from where he left, he climbed out onto the field that he was that morning and began to walk up again towards the bush with the scrapes.

Moving his body lower, he could smell another rabbit but there was also the bad smell of hound, man. He could also smell homba and rabbit blood faintly in the air. Carefully he edged his way slowly to the bush and poked his head in. There lying on it's side, breathing shallow was a rabbit, covered in scratches. Moving closer, Blueberry came around and blinked in shock as he jumped back. "Captain Sando!"

Blueberry was looking at Captain Sando who was looking none for the worse as Blueberry nudged him slightly. "Sir, it is Blueberry here, sir. What happened, sir?" He looked as he saw the Captain open his eyes slightly and coughed.

"Blueberry?" He blinked again but didn't get up. "Ah, I found you then, how many survived?" He looked at the face of Blueberry and coughed. "Only you?" Blueberry shook his head. "No, Carbi is on the other side. Bracken-Rah, Captain Hawk and the others I have no idea where they are. We had to flee into the river, I'm not sure how many survived, if at all?"

Captain Sando didn't move but replied, his voice weak. "I see, then all is lost then, our warren will not be able to carry on, it is what Frith wanted." Blueberry frowned but removed it quickly. "What happened to you back at the warren?"

"I was trapped in the warren with a ferret behind me. The whole place was dark, thick with smoke as we fought but the ferret must've been weak from the smoke as it couldn't get the killing blow. But it did do damage. It just collapsed and never got up again." Captain Sando coughed as he shivered. "So cold..." He paused for a moment and carried on. "I had to dig my way out of the rear run, the air was so hot and stifling, I thought that my time had come but I managed to break free. Whether man was still there or not, I just wanted to breathe in fresh air. There was no one up on top, not even any rabbits but I could smell the dead smell in the air."

Blueberry nodded his head as he laid himself down on the ground. "How did you follow this place?" Captain Sando replied back. "I followed the tracks that were left, hid behind when I heard man chase a fox. I didn't know that they were heading your way until I got here but now that you told me what happened." He stopped talking and shivered. "Blueberry, try and find another warren for you and Carbi to move in, don't let yourselves die out." He coughed again as he spoke for the last time. "Make sure Copse Warren is remembered.." Shuddering, Captain Sando went still and limp.

Placing a paw on the side of Captain Sando, Blueberry looked down and spoke quietly. "My heart has joined the thousand, for my friend stopped running today." He remained quietly for a moment and then spoke again. "I promise you Captain that nothing will come to harm to me or Carbi."

Blueberry spent time in digging out a hole in the middle of the bush before he pushed Captain Sando into it. It was only a shallow hole which he began to push the dirt back over the form in silence. From time to time he came out of the bush to check up on Carbi before finishing the task. Eventually he slowly walked out of the bush and made his way back to the bank's edge. Giving one last look behind him, he made his way back across the river.

Climbing out of the river, Blueberry shook himself, shaking off the water droplets in waves before heading over to where Carbi was hiding in the bush. Sniffing about slightly, he ventured in and stopped. "Hawk, what in Frith...?" He blinked and looked at Carbi who was lying next to the unconscious rabbit. "Carbi, what is going on?" Blueberry sat down in confusion looking from one to the other.

Carbi replied back. "I went for a little walk while you were over on the other side of the river." He saw Blueberry frown at him but he carried on talking. "He was further up the hill in the hedge, not looking too well, exhausted really. All I managed to get out of him was that he didn't see anyone else but was glad that he had finally found someone again."

Blueberry laid down on the ground and nodded his head. "Okay, but do what I say next time around, something could've happened to you?" He looked at Captain Hawk for a moment and sighed. "Well, if he could find us, maybe others had managed to survive."

Carbi didn't say anything on that but he did speak up. "So what did you find on the other side of the river?" Blueberry looked in the direction of where the sound of water could be heard before he turned his head back again and replied. "I saw Captain Sando and I know what happened to the warren." Carbi blinked and nearly jumped up. "Can I go over and see him. Blueberry shook his head. "No, there's no point in going over, he's stopped running. I tell you what happened in the morning, sleep for now, I'll wake you up later."

Carbi woke up the next morning and looked at Blueberry still awake and looking out to the river. He hopped over to him and coughed. "So, when was it that you were supposed to wake me up?" Blueberry just shrugged before Carbi frowned. "You've been up all night haven't you?"

Blueberry replied. "I didn't get tired so there wasn't any point in waking you up." He changed the subject quickly. "So how is Hawk?" Carbi turned to face him. "He's still asleep, did he wake up during the night?" Blueberry shooked his head back. "No, you two slept without any sound."

"Well, it's a lot better than you snoring." Hawk said as he opened an eye, turning it around to look at Carbi. "And you need to make sure someone is asleep or not, considering you pretend you're not that good at detecting it." Getting up, he stretched. "So anyone came during the night?"

Blueberry laughed. "Well, you weren't listening when I was just talking then. No one else has come." He swallowed. "Sir." Captain Hawk hopped over to where Blueberry was and he looked out to the river. "You think anyone else survived?"

Carbi came up alongside them to hear what they were talking about better. "No I don't but then I have been wrong from time to time." Blueberry said. But we just don't know and I don't want to stay here, we haven't moved far away from this place yet and being chased by man twice in so many days isn't on. I don't want it to be the first." He looked down to stare at the blade of grass and continued in a low voice. "I hope that they are okay but they may have been washed so far down the stream that they would never find us again." He swallowed. "I hate to say this but I think it's time to move on."

Carbi coughed as he gasped out. "What? We can't leave our friends. We have to stay here!" He hopped around and faced the other two with pleading eyes. "We just can't leave them behind."

"I don't want to leave them behind." Blueberry said right back at Carbi. "But just look at us, we've been moving about little bit here and there and getting into trouble and we're just down to three. I made a promise last night that I would get you to a safe place and staying here to wait for anyone isn't going to work, we don't know if they're alive or not. And even if they were, we don't know if they have moved on themselves. We can't stay out in the open, elil will find and kill us."

Hawk spoke up now as he looked at Carbi. "Blueberry is right, we have to move on and find a place. Do you really want to risk another episode of a homba chasing us again while we stay here?"

Carbi thought for a moment and looked down onto the ground. "Okay, I just going to miss them that's all." He looked up again. "Okay, so where are we going to head?" Hawk looked at Blueberry with an ear raised a bit higher than the other. "You know, he does ask a good question there? Where do we head?"

Keeping quiet for a few minutes, Blueberry hopped out of the bush followed by the other two as he looked about. "I say we move along the bank for a bit and head this way against the flow of the river, then head away from it. What do you think Hawk?"

Hawk looked up the river as he thought and nodded his head. "It's a good a plan as any, we have to make good progress and find a place to stay by nightfall though." He turned his head back to Carbi. "Okay to go?" He saw Carbi nod as they began to move along the bank.

Hawk looked at Blueberry. "So what did happen last night?" Carbi blinked as they carried on moving onwards as Blueberry thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll tell you what happened to me and Carbi while you can tell us what happened to you."

Thinking back for a moment, Blueberry began to retell the tale. "I didn't jump into the water at first, I saw Carbi hiding halfway in and out of a bush, completely tharn. I wasn't prepared to leave him to the fate of the dogs teeth and claws so I er." He stopped as Carbi spoke up. "He bit me! He bit me quite hard in fact!"

Blueberry smiled a bit in the way that rabbits do which isn't much. "Well, you know you weren't exactly with us and I had to resort to drastic measures but it worked and you're here so stop complaining." He paused for a moment and then continued. "Anyways, we ended up in the river which took us quiet a fair bit down before I could get him." He looked at Carbi then continued. "To the bank and out, he was fighting all the way. We slowly made our way back up to where we were on the other side of the bank and I decided to go over and take a look." He stopped talking, then stopped walking completely.

"What is it?" Hawk asked as he stopped a few paces ahead of Blueberry and had turned around. Carbi looked away and began to nibble on some grass stems as Blueberry swallowed. "I saw Captain Sando last night." Blueberry began. "He was hurt, really bad."