Watership Down - Blueberry's Tale, Chapter 15

By Skipai (c) 2009-Present

Chapter 15 - Making plans and being attacked.

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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Blueberry got up onto his feet as he turned around, glaring at the dark figure outside of the burrow. "And just who is giving me that order?" He felt Carbi move behind him as he kept on staring out into the run. "And you better have someone else with you as I won't get past me either."

The dark figure didn't move but he flicked an ear and scratched at it as though what Blueberry had said wasn't that important. The rabbit looked about one way and then the other before heading into the burrow while Blueberry backed away, feeling Carbi press up against his rear. Blueberry growled. "That's far enough, answer my question."

"You know, you really shouldn't speak loudly around here." Bigwig said as he sat down with a frown. "You... Hang on, you have fur on your head?" Blueberry just blinked as Bigwig shrugged. "Well, it's not important, anyways. What in Frith's name were you talking aloud like that?"

Carbi popped his head out from the side of Blueberry and then hid again as Blueberry replied back. "Well, yes. We didn't expect anyone to actually come here, a mistake I assure you but who are you and why are you here? I suppose you want to take us both to see Woundwort now?"

Bigwig replied back quietly. "Well, I would if I liked him, but I don't." He turned around and looked outside again in the run before coming back in as he sat down, lowering his voice. "I am not going to send you to anyone or report you." He frowned. "You have enough skill into getting into trouble yourself."

"Now, just you list..." Blueberry started to speak but Bigwig cut him off. "No, you listen to me for a moment and keep quiet, young one." Blueberry went quiet and listened as Bigwig continued. "I don't know if I can trust you two yet."

Blueberry butted in. "Well the feeling is mutual there." He saw Bigwig lift a paw up and press it against Blueberry's nose. "What did I tell you to do, keep quiet." He frowned and checked outside again before coming back in. Speaking quietly he muttered. "Sheesh, young buck, you know nothing at the moment. Now I know you were in the owsla at your old warren but I would've expected someone to at least follow orders. Nod if you will follow this one and keep quiet?"

Blueberry gave a nod and Bigwig carried on. "I've decided to trust you but if you break it, I'll kill you. Nod again if you understand, same goes for the rabbit behind you." Blueberry nodded as Carbi looked out and nodded as well. Bigwig removed his paw and sat comfortably again. "I've come from another warren, not far from here, although I won't tell you were it is. After listening to your conversation for a bit outside of the burrow I decided to come in and offer you that chance if you want to leave." He paused before adding with a frown. "Although, if you do decide to, then you do what I say without question and right now you will keep quiet and act like you actually like this place, got it?"

Blueberry looked at Bigwig before swallowing. "Right, yes I got it." He looked at Carbi who was slowly coming back out again before adding. "So you're the new one that they picked up earlier today?" He saw Bigwig nod as he continued on. "So you're a..?"

Bigwig replied. "Captain, which means you call me sir." Blueberry nodded again. "Sorry, yes sir. I was only trying to calm down Carbi here who hasn't exactly..." He paused as he turned his view from behind Bigwig. "Someone is coming."

Bigwig went into a change as Hawk and Cnicus was walking down the run towards their burrow. As they both arrived, Cnicus looked at Bigwig for a moment and bowed his head. "Sir?" Bigwig nodded back as he explained. "Don't mind me, I was just checking on the officers so I know who is who." He looked at Hawk who was just sitting there. "And you are?"

Hawk replied back again. "Hawk, sir." He looked to where Blueberry was and then back at Bigwig. Cnicus coughed. "Sir, may I get back to my duties?" He saw Bigwig nod and turned to leave as Hawk made his way into the burrow, frowning as he looked away from Bigwig at Blueberry.

"What's up?" Blueberry asked which brought about a even more sterner frown from Hawk as Blueberry looked at him. "It's okay, I explain later." Looking at Bigwig at the same time that Hawk gave a look.

Bigwig looked back as he looked down the run and moved his head so that he was facing into the burrow again. "It's okay, Cnicus has left. I'll keep a watch out here and if anyone asks, I'll just say I am still finding out about you two."

Hawk turned to face Blueberry as he gave a questionable look but didn't get anything back from him. "Blueberry, I've had it in this place." He said quietly but with anger in his voice. "I had to kill a doe for thinking about escaping from this place."

Blueberry blinked as Bigwig lifted up a ear before speaking quietly himself as he came back into the burrow, which was now crowded. "Right, I say this before as I told him." Bigwig looked at Blueberry. "I am here to help, come from another warren and if you want out then that can be arranged."

Blueberry blinked. "How?" Hawk looked at Bigwig and muttered. "You really are stupid, Blueberry. He could be from the owslafa, tricking us." Bigwig frowned as he replied back. "If I was, do you think that you three wouldn't have been killed yet?"

Blueberry muttered. "He does have a point there, Hawk. He's okay, I don't know how or why but he's okay." He turned to Carbi and looked at him before Carbi added. "I trust him, we need all the help to get away from here."

Bigwig made a face as he muttered. "Now, if we got that out of the way, I would advise you to keep quiet on these matters. Maybe you didn't listen to the tour but they have spies everywhere, which was confirmed when I talked to someone as well."

Hawk eventually nodded. "Fine but whatever is planned, make it soon, I don't fancy killing another for no good reason apart from being free." He lay down slowly in the corner of the burrow and went quiet again. Blueberry turned his head towards him and nodded. "Okay, but I think we should carry on and see what Bigwig here has planned and be more careful."

Bigwig got up and smiled. "That's the first thing I have actually heard you lot say that made sense. I'll let you know what's happening soon." He turned and left, leaving the three rabbits on there own, as Blueberry settled down. "Let's try and get some rest for I have no doubt we have a lot to do."

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A few days later, the mark was back up again for another silflay session. Blueberry was placed elsewhere this time as he was alone for the first time. Arrowroot was nearby as they carried on to watching the goings on within the mark as Captain Chervil came up to Blueberry. "Do you have anything to report?"

Blueberry replied. "Nothing sir, everything has been quiet on both fronts." He looked at the rabbit's silflaying before looking about. "I think even Hyzenthlay has calmed down somewhat over the last few days."

Captain Chervil looked around until he could spot Hyzenthlay and he gave a frown. "Maybe, she's becoming a bit too sure of herself these days." Chervil turned his head back around to face Blueberry again. "So I want her watched more, she is up to something, this is only the calm before the storm. Don't let her put you into a false sense of security."

Blueberry nodded his head. "Yes sir, I won't let that happen." He paused before adding. "Was there anything else you wanted me for?" Captain Chervil nodded his head. "Yes, the General would like to have a word with you again, if you will follow me." He turned his head to Arrowroot, nodded his head as he saw Arrowroot nod back and both then left.

Following Captain Chervil, Blueberry moved up to where the Crixia was and saw that Woundwort was there alongside some other rabbits. Coming to a stop, Blueberry nodded his head to the larger rabbit. "You asked to see me sir?"

Woundwort replied back. "Yes, I like to know how you are coping now here?" Blueberry replied back. "As good as can be expected sir. Has there been any complaints that says I am not adjusting?"

Blueberry blinked slightly as Woundwort didn't reply straight away. "I was told you and the little rabbit, Carbi were having a slight discussion a few nights ago in your burrow with raised voices. What can you tell me about it?"

"Well, sir. Carbi hasn't settled in that much and I suppose me and Hawk haven't been helping him that much to adjust to his life here, what with our duties and all." Blueberry looked down. "I apologise for that sir."

Woundwort frowned for a moment. "Well, that is a thing for you and Hawk to sort out." He turned his head to Captain Chervil. "Make sure that Carbi settles down in your own judgement captain." He went silent as he moved his head back to Blueberry. "And next time I would remind you not to wake anyone up in the burrows and causing any unrest within that area of the mark."

Captain Chervil led Blueberry away as he kept quiet until they were away from Woundwort and then spoke. "I am going to have you and Hawk on and off, so one of you will be with Carbi at all times. However, I have to point out that you may as well know that you probably have someone on the owslafa keeping an eye on you now." He frowned slightly. "Of which annoys me really as it puts pressure on the rest of us that work hard to keep the mark running without any hitches to annoy the General."

Blueberry nodded his head back as he replied. "I remember that, sir." They remained silent as they carried on back to where the mark was silflaying as both lifted up their ears as they heard a loud noise coming from the other side. Captain Chervil muttered. "Oh what is going on now? Come on, follow me." He ran across the grass alongside Blueberry as they made it to the fence and stopped as they looked out to where they could see Bigwig sitting close by a large seagull.

Captain Chervil blinked as he saw the seagull wave its wings, making a lot of noise as he frowned. "What on frith is he doing?" Blueberry blinked as he saw Bigwig move towards it but couldn't hear anything at all as he replied back. "I have no idea sir, can't hear a thing." After a few moments, the bird flew up and away as Bigwig made his way back to the mark. Captain Chervil turned his head to Blueberry. "We have to go and report this. Well, I will as I am sure that Arrowroot will need your help to get the mark in with Captain Avens. You go and do that while I'll go and report this."

Arrowroot blinked as he saw Blueberry arrive back at his station again and looked out to where the rabbits were silflaying or digging to burrow hraka in one area. "So, everything went okay?" Blueberry turned his head to Arrowroot and replied back. "Oh he wanted to know how we were settling down in the warren." Arrowroot looked and shook his head. "Well, hopefully it won't be too long before you are settled in, you have a patrol eventually to go out with, Woundwort always likes to see how you cope in those situations."

Blueberry nodded as he saw Captain Chervil and Avens give the signal for the mark to go back underground. Hopping slightly forwards, Blueberry scanned the area and saw one rabbit trying to hide in the grass. Giving a sigh, he hopped over and frowned. "Come on, get back down below. What's your name anyways?"

Tacca frowned back at Blueberry. "What's it to you?" Blueberry gave the buck a hard cuff. "What's it to me? Listen, do you always speak to an officer like that, give me your name now?"

Tacca got up as he replied back. "Tacca sir. Are you going to report me to the council?" Blueberry shook his head. "No, not this time but you get down below." He paused before adding loudly. "Now!"

Tacca got up and frowned, muttering as he hopped away. "Oh you treat others like dirt but when it comes to Carbi, spoilt brat that he is." Blueberry was about to run after Tacca but he stopped and looked about again as he thought he heard something. By the time his head went back again, Tacca had gone.

Blueberry made his way back to the hole and stopped, picking up some grass in his mouth as he made his way into the warren again. He didn't look at Blackavar as he passed him with other thoughts on his mind as he made his way back to the burrow.

As Blueberry came to the run where his burrow was, he blinked with grass still in his muzzle as he heard loud shouting coming from down the road and could hear Tacca's voice ringing out. "You little spoilt brat, living with the owsla. Who do you think you are? I've lived here all my life and I don't get special treatment!"

The next sound Blueberry heard was the sound of Carbi squeal. Running along the run, he skidded and barged right into the burrow, grass flying everywhere as he opened his mouth and headbutted Tacca into the wall hard. Tacca's body dropped down onto the floor as Blueberry stood over him, teeth bared. "Listen you and get this into your thick head." Blueberry placed a paw against Tacca's side and growled. "If you ever lay a paw on Carbi again, I'll kill you, you got that?!"

Tacca panted as he squirmed under Blueberry's paw. "Yes, yes I got it." He turned his head to look at Carbi cowering in the corner of the burrow. "Nice to have friends in high places isn't..." He didn't finish as he yelped from Blueberry cuffing him hard on the head. "You don't listen do you?" He turned around and started to kick Tacca out of the burrow. "Now get out of my sight this instant, before I will report you to the council."

Blueberry saw Tacca scramble onto his feet before running off. Blueberry turned his head around and moved over to where Carbi was and sat down next to him. "What happened?" He asked softly, nuzzling Carbi on the side before licking at the wound.

Carbi shivered before replying. "Blueberry, I want to leave this place. A few rabbits here are jealous because I am with you and Hawk and they don't know any owsla to get favours from. I thought he was going to kill me." He looked at the entrance to the burrow and shuddered. "I really want to leave, I didn't do anything to them."

Blueberry frowned as he looked in the direction as well for a second and returned to his grooming. "Shush, don't speak of it again, we have to be careful." He was speaking very quietly while tending to the wound. Carbi blinked as he looked out to the side of Blueberry and spoke. "Bigwig's here."

Bigwig came into the burrow as he looked at Carbi, blinking. "What happened to him?" Blueberry frowned. "I caught Tacca beating him up all because of some stupid jealously of Carbi here living with some owsla officers." Blueberry looked down. "I'll kill him if he ever touches him again." He moved his head towards Bigwig and gave a frown. "I thought you said last time to be careful? What were you doing with that bird today?"

Carbi blinked. "Bird, what bird?" Bigwig smiled. "Never you mind, I was trying to impress the General that's all." He turned his head and saw a rabbit move past. "I don't think I did exactly impress him. So are you going to report Tacca?"

Blueberry shook his head. "No, not this time, I decided I'd rather deal with him myself, but I have no doubt I would have to report him on the matter though." Blueberry saw Bigwig move to look outside of the burrow before turning his head back again as he spoke in a whisper. "It's for tomorrow evening, that's when we're going, I won't say how but just be ready." Without saying another word, he turned and left.

Carbi relaxed a bit more as Blueberry went back to attend to his small scratches. "Okay, that should be it." He said as he finished, getting up to pick up the grass that had spilled onto the burrow floor and brought them to Carbi. "Now, eat that up. I haven't been able to keep an eye on you and after what I have seen, I don't know if you've eaten or not yet." Blueberry laid down on the other side of the burrow, watching Carbi slowly eat the blades of grass quietly.

After a short while Hawk slipped into the burrow, Blueberry nodded his head. "Oh, you're back." Hawk nodded and checked on Carbi sniffing him slightly for a moment before he moved his head back with a frown. "Okay, what happened?"

Blueberry yawned again as he got up to have a stretch. "I caught Tacca attacking Carbi all because he was jealous that Carbi was getting special treatment from us." He frowned as he spoke the next part. "Something to do about living in a burrow with two owsla officers and that makes it right for them to get angry and try to beat him so that they can get in instead." Blueberry could hear Hawk was scraping claws into the dirt as he frowned. "Now don't do anything, I have it covered but stick to Carbi all the time from now on." Blueberry remained standing as he looked at Carbi sleeping. "It would seem that accidents happen if you're in the way, even for non owsla. So how was your duty?"

Hawk replied back. "Quiet, nothing much to do apart from staying outside and seeing if any elil come our way but to be honest, there wasn't anything that would come near this place or know anything about it. I know though that there is talk about some patrol that is about to head out in a day or two to find some other band of rabbits moving across the countryside." Hawk sighed. "It doesn't stop here, they just keep on picking up any unsuspecting hlessi." He paused. "Besides I am evening duty tonight so came here to get some rest."

Blueberry blinked and pondered for a moment. "I see, well, we do have something to talk about before someone wonders where I am." He lowered his voice as he explained. "We're being watched by the council, Bigwig has a plan and it's happening today at evening silfay, do not speak of this again. We don't know who is coming or not. Okay?" He saw Hawk and shook his head. "You're on duty so it looks like me and Carbi can go but I don't know what to do about you however."

Hawk nodded his head before he replied back after a short while. "You do what needs to be done. If you can get away then do so. I think of something, don't you worry." Blueberry shook his head. "No, it doesn't seem right, we've been together since things went tharn and I ain't going to leave you." Hawk frowned as he replied back. "No, it put too much risk on the plan if I am on duty and ran as well. Just do me a favour and think of something to get me out of here after you make sure Carbi is safe, okay?"

Blueberry got up and nodded. "Okay, that I promise, I best head off though, not sure what they have planned for me today but I'll let you know later." He turned to Carbi. "Don't keep him awake too long, he's been up all night." After that, he turned and left the burrow.

Blueberry headed down the run and turning around to head down another, Blueberry could see Arrowroot talking to Captain Chervil and Captain Campion. He hopped over to where they were and nodded his head. "Good morning Arrowroot, sirs." Blueberry said as he sat down.

Captain Campion gave Blueberry a look before nodding his head and then hopped off. Captain Chervil looked at Blueberry himself as he spoke to him. "I had an interesting talk with Tacca last night about you Blueberry. He said that you were beating him up for no reason at all." He paused. "What can you tell me about?"

Blueberry frowned. "Sir, I found Tacca attacking Carbi on my way back from duty. I wasn't going to put up with it, he was abusive and bad talked me, so I cuffed him a bit, that's all." He looked from Arrowroot to Captain Chervil who looked back.

Captain Chervil nodded his head. "Ah, thought as much, you have to watch Tacca, he's one of those nasty rabbits. That and Arrowroot was nearby and he heard everything that was going on before he followed Tacca to bring him to me. He's been banned from silflaying today." He started to move as Blueberry followed alongside him.

"Woundwort is looking for good officers to help him go on a patrol in a day or two in search of the rabbits that have been known to be moving across the countryside." Captain Chervil spoke. "He has asked Bigwig to go with him but he's looking for others to go along as well. He's left me to decide on which other officer to put in from this mark. I was thinking on either you or Hawk, see if we can get either of you some experience in the wide patrol." Captain Chervil paused as he added. "That and Captain Campion has been taking a bit of interest with you since hearing how you dealt with Tacca. You're to report for owsla training this morning after the mark has silflay for some fight training." Blueberry nodded his head back. "Yes sir." He carried on his way with the other two, wondering on what the owsla training would be like.

Blueberry could see quite a lot of rabbits around in one of the mark fields that didn't have a mark up on top at this time. He looked about and saw quite a few different officers from various marks. Captain Chervil and Arrowroot hopped a bit ahead as Blueberry slowed down a bit to look about a bit more and frowned as he saw Vervain once again back into the fold. Blueberry decided to hop over to him as he nodded his head. "I see that you're back with us again?"

Vervain frowned at Blueberry with a nod. "I did my punishment, though I will be keeping an eye on you though." Blueberry nodded as he walked off. "Be my guest, it's not as though I have anything to hide." He saw Campion and Woundwort arrive and Blueberry hopped over to where Arrowroot was and sat down.

Woundwort looked over at the rabbits as he turned his head to Campion who nodded and hopped forward. "Right, this is officer fighting training. I want you all to find a partner to spar against. After the General has picked three officers to go against him you will..." Blueberry turned to face Arrowroot. "Where's Bigwig?" Arrowroot replied back quietly. "He was on duty last night so he won't have to do this. But shush, you get us into trouble."

Going quiet, Blueberry listened to Campion talk a bit more before Woundwort picked out the three biggest rabbits that there was and headed off with them to one part of the field. The rest started to pick each other into pairs as Captain Chervil nudged Blueberry. "Right, you with me, I want to see exactly what your old warren owsla really taught you."

Blueberry walked alongside Captain Chervil as he saw that Vervain had picked out Arrowroot before he turned his attention back to where Captain Chervil was looking at him. Blueberry started to walk around Chervil as he spoke. "So, how many times does this go on?"

Captain Chervil frowned back. "Do you always have to talk?" He leapt forwards as he gave a swipe at Blueberry but found that he had only hit thin air as Blueberry had moved to the side as he replied back. "Why? Can't I talk as well as fight?"

Frowning, Captain Chervil caught blueberry in a reverse back kick that sent him flying over until he was lying on the ground and replied back. "No, it leaves you open for attack. Get up." He stood there as he watched Blueberry slowly get up again, looking a bit winded from the kick. "You still have a lot to learn, young one, especially if you want to get far in this owsla."

Blueberry frowned and ran up to where Captain Chervil was, seeing him move to the side, Blueberry changed his direction and caught the captain on the side, sending him over followed by a few cuffs to the head as he hopped away just barely missing the strong back legs again from Chervil.

Getting up, Captain Chervil smiled. "My, you have learnt something at least, usually it takes new officers a few goes to work out how to put me down without getting hit back." He lunged at Blueberry as he caught him square on the head hard and watched Blueberry fall down to the ground. "But you have still much to learn." He looked and stepped back, leaving Blueberry lying on the ground.

After a short while, Blueberry finally opened his eyes and saw Captain Chervil looking at him from a small distance, most of the other rabbits had finished and were just sitting down on the ground as he turned his head back to Captain Chervil who was just starting to speak. "Ah, you're awake. Sorry about that, didn't realise I was hitting you that hard. You're okay though, right?"

Getting up slowly, he felt his head banging before he nodded his head. "I be okay in a while." He shook his head to get rid of the ringing noise from his ears as he sat down. "I suppose this puts a bad mark on myself for being knocked out?"

Captain Chervil just sat there quietly for a moment. "That depends on the answer to the next question, doesn't it?" Blueberry blinked as he slowly got up onto his feet a bit shakily but steadied himself. "And that would be?" He asked as he stood there as steady as he could make right now.

"Are you willing to carry on and do that over and over again to perfect your skills?" Captain Chervil asked. Blueberry nodded his head slowly. "If it means that one day I can improve to better myself, then yes. I won't quit because I got knocked out." He saw Captain Chervil nod with approval. "Then your probation period is over, you're a full officer in the mark." He turned to go and looked back. "Come on, you can get some rest, I will inform Campion and Woundwort of your answer."