I let out a long yawn; I'd been on sentry duty since the moon was highest in the sky, and had been on patrol for an hour before that. Lieutenant Bugloss liked to use up my energy as much as possible, using the excuse that 'the youngest officer was the most able', and because of my inexperience, my ability had to be put to good use doing all the jobs that the older rabbits were unable to carry out. I'd been traipsing through round the fields near Efrafa, with nothing of importance to be seen but the birds, and the occasional man tending to his crops. As soon as I'd returned, Bugloss had sent me to Efrafa's main entrance. “Sit here,” he'd said, “and stay here. Let me or any other officers know if you see something odd.”
'Let any other officers know.' The very phrase leaked out how much Bugloss tried to undermine me. It was stupid; I was a Captain, promoted straight to the rank because I, the valiant Captain Blackthorn, was one of three rabbits who could beat the General Sundew in single combat; the other two were long gone, killed an age ago by the General himself. An act of revenge, I supposed. Even though Sundew was blind now, and losing his strength by the day, he still kept his wits about him, and his four other senses were honed to perfection. I supposed that was why he was still Chief; any other rabbit his age would have retired by now, but Sundew clung to his position as though it was the one thing that gave him life.
At my side was Corporal Daffodil, a simple fellow, with muscle and size that made up for his complete lack of intellect. He was a favourite of Bugloss' – the Lieutenant liked to keep him around as a bodyguard, and often paired him with me whenever I went on patrol or sentry duty. A warning, perhaps? 'Do anything out of line and I'll set my huge, walking wall of muscle on you?' I would have loved to find out. To be truthful, I couldn't understand why my mother's cousin would dislike me so much. I was the only rabbit he was generically cruel to. Any other rabbit, even the lesser ones of the Mark, would be faced with a charming smile and manners that would please a fox. With me, it was only a mocking grin and harsh orders. It could, of course, be jealousy. General Sundew, Bugloss' own father, had overlooked him in favour of me, and completely pushed him aside to train me. The General had even hinted at having me succeed him, which, as one would imagine, didn't sit well with the Lieutenant.
And then there was Woundwort.
He had come to Efrafa a mess, terrified and squealing incoherent words and phrases. After he'd finally calmed down, Sundew had received him in his own burrow and heard the young rabbit out. He was slightly older than myself, but where I was muscle and brawn, Woundwort was only plumpness and long, sleek fur. I almost pitied the young fellow; Sundew had told me that Woundwort's mother had been killed by a weasel, and his father had been lost during the destruction of his own warren. It was devastating, and justified his fear and sad, detached nature, but I didn't trust him. There was something about his closeness to the General that made me wonder just what really ran through his head.
“I wonder about the other rabbits out there.”
I whipped his head to the right, where Daffodil was sat with a longing expression on his face. My brows furrowed. “What do you mean, Corporal?”
“I mean,” the the larger buck murmured, “that I wonder what goes on outside of Efrafa, sir. If there's rabbits out there that live differently to the way we do. You know?”
“I know what you mean, Daffodil,” I sighed. “But I imagine that other warrens aren't as... structured as our own. Efrafa's organisation and Mark system was the idea of all the past Generals who led Efrafa. I think that maybe some rabbits adopted the idea, though not all.” When I turned to look at Daffodil again, the other rabbit wore an expression of utter puzzlement. With a sigh of frustration, I turned my head back. “Nevermind.”
After a moment, I looked at Daffodil once more. “Why do you ask, Corporal?”
“Dunno, sir,” Daffodil said nonchalantly. “It's just since Woundwort got here, y'know? He comes from that place, Darkhaven I think. I was just thinking about the way they run things. The Lieutenant must be thinking the same thing. He spends a lot of time with the little feller. Asking him things and the like.”
“Does he, now?” I turned away, eyes narrowed. This could mean trouble. Bugloss taking interest in a young, impressionable and vulnerable buck? Frith above, what I wouldn't give to find out what Bugloss' methods were. Could he be plotting? Could he be trying to turn Efrafa's newest addition against me? Or could it just be that my mother's cousin was taking an interest in him, mentoring him or teaching him? I couldn't know for sure.
“To be honest, sir, Bugloss scares me.” This made me look at Daffodil in wonder. And all this time I thought all this following around and favouritism was just because Daffodil looked up to Bugloss? How wrong I was.
“How so, Corporal?” I tried to make my tone more gentle, so that he didn't feel pressured. He turned round to look at me with sorrowful eyes.
“Well, sir, it's just that he's always so cruel to me, forcing me about and such,” Daffodil said, almost whimpering. “He threatens me and calls me names, sir, and I follow him because he threatens to kill my mother if he doesn't do what he says. He's not like it with anyone else, sir, believe me.”
I dared not say anything. There was a part of me that believed it was a trap, a ploy to get me to confide in Daffodil, maybe so that Bugloss could... I couldn't even imagine. Then I shook myself; I was being far too paranoid. Instead of remaining silent, I gave the Corporal a look. “Well, wait it out. I'll talk to the General about it. Just... don't let him hear you say that, you hear?”
“Yes, sir.” Daffodil cast his eyes forward again. “I hear you.”
“Good.” I too looked forward. A minute passed, then a thought crossed my mind. “Daffodil, can I ask you something?”
“Anything, sir,” Daffodil smiled, puffing out his chest.
“Would you wait here for a few minutes, just while I go and run an errand?” I looked around, to make sure that no one was in sight. “I promise, it'll only be a few minutes.”
“Of course, sir.” Daffodil scratched his ear lazily, then turned away.
I smiled inwardly and bounded back inside the warren. Behind me, storm clouds were beginning to form, and I could just hear the faint pattering of raindrops on the dusty ground outside. I really didn't envy Daffodil now. The sound faded as I neared the General's burrow, and I could just see one of his personal guards, a brusque, sturdy buck the younger officers called the Old Badger. He looked my way as I hopped up to him.
“What's your business here then, Captain Blackthorn?” Old Badger narrowed his eyes and got to his feet, examining me. “Aren't you supposed to be on sentry duty until dawn?”
“I am, sir,” I confirmed, bowing my head, “but I have a situation on my paws that can only be shared with the General, and it's rather important.” This was partly truth.
“Oh, I'm sure it is, Captain,” he growled, “but unfortunately for you, you've come at a bad time. Lieutenant Bugloss and the newly promoted Corporal Woundwort are in there, discussing a private matter.”
This, as one might imagine, was quite annoying. “Very well then,” I said firmly, sitting down beside the Old Badger, “I'll wait here until they're done.”
“Oh, that won't be necessary, Blackthorn.” A voice from inside the burrow, cold and chilling, crept in through my ears. I shuddered inwardly and leapt up, puzzled. The voice was all too familiar, and I gasped when I saw who it was.
Well, it wasn't who it was that shocked me. It was the sight behind him.
Lieutenant Bugloss stepped out of the warren, Woundwort padding behind him with a look of sadistic glee. Both of them wore monstrous expressions, and blood was spattered all over their fur, mainly on their lips, lining their jaws and throats, and a lot of it was already drying on their paws. I took a step back, fighting for breath, and shook my head. “The General --”
“- Is no longer with us, Blackthorn.” Bugloss chuckled without humour. “Oh, and you've been demoted, on account of me being promoted to General.”
Frozen with horror, I looked behind him into the burrow. I could see a limp, lifeless shape on the ground, the walls of the burrow painted with red stains. I gagged, holding down my terror with sheer will, and glared at my mother's cousin. “Murderer.”
“You didn't see it coming? Oh, I pity you, Blackthorn.” Bugloss' grin faded, and he turned to the Old Badger. “Sorry about this, mate.” And with that, he leaped onto the officer. I turned away as soon as I heard the distinctive snap, and a hiss of, “Get him.”
I dashed away, heart pounding in my chest, only to hear the paw-steps of rabbits behind me. I made it out to be Woundwort – who else? He was plump, yes, and seemed to be quite slow, and so I paced myself, believing that I could easily outrun him.
But then I saw Daffodil, bounding down the run with a snarl forming on his lips. He leaped for me as soon as he was within range, but I dashed aside at the last minute. Even so, I felt claws sink into one of my hind legs and rake down it, leaving four, searing scores through the flesh. I cried out, but didn't stop. I was probably in shock from what I'd seen, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I made it out of the warren and past the line of bushes before I felt my pain catching up to me. The small droplets of rain were turning into sheets, and weighing me down more with every second.
I heard shouts and cries from behind me, and dragged myself forward another few steps. I didn't know whether it was rain or blood that was trailing down my hind leg and onto my feet. It was probably both. I heard the rustling of the undergrowth just a few rabbit-lengths away, and groaned as I heard voices. I whipped round, a snarl planted firmly on my face, determined to stand my ground at any cost.
I saw Bugloss first, followed by Daffodil. They waited before Woundwort bounded through, grinning. Frith above, how I hated them all. How easily I had been fooled. I spat on the ground at their feet before turning around again and trying to dash away, but no sooner than I had I turned round, I felt a large shape – probably Daffodil – leap onto my back and pin me to the ground, claws digging into my shoulders and forcing me to remain still.
“Not a smart move, Blackthorn.” I could hear Woundwort's voice, growing ever closer. It was little more than a low growl, barely audible over the rain and the rumbling thunder in the distance. He came up from behind me and stood directly before me, glaring with a ferocity that made me grimace. “I would have thought you would have more sense than that.”
“I would have thought you'd have more sense than to believe I'd go down so easily, Corporal,” I spat back, eyes narrowed to match the older rabbit's glare.
“Enough tormenting him, Woundwort,” I heard Bugloss chuckle from where I couldn't see him. “Let us kill him now, and get this over with. The less rabbits who know what you did, the better.”
Woundwort considered this, then grinned. “Very well. Let's see how well General Sundew's legendary nephew can fight.” And with that, he danced away, while Daffodil released his grip. I turned to face them, and saw Bugloss moving towards me. Daffodil was at my side, grinning. Weighing up my options, I decided to face the larger foe first.
I leaped straight at Daffodil, who reared up and, to my surprise, was quick enough to knock me over and come crashing down on me at the last second. Fighting for breath beneath his weight, I drew my hind legs up to try and scrape at his soft, undefended underbelly, while he drew his head down to try and bite at my throat. Without thinking, I drew my front paws up and drove my claws straight into his neck. I felt him gag, and noticed a few drops of blood spatter my forehead, but the weight looming over me grew limp and I pushed myself up, knocking Daffodil aside. He was still alive, no doubt, but he was surely weak now.
I had no time to think before another weight crashed into my side, knocking the breath out of me as quickly as I had regained it. I was bowled over, but leaped straight back up, only to feel a single claw hook into my back and tear a deep line through it. I kicked up some mud behind me in an attempt to deter my attacker, but it was to no avail. I felt him jump onto my back, and I jumped forwards, kicking to try and throw him off. His hold on me loosened, but his claws once again dug into me, and I felt them run all the way from my shoulder to my back before my attacker let go.
Whirling around was a bad thing to do. I felt a sharp pain run from beneath my right eye to the space just above the other, in a red rift coursing over my face. I cried out, but the attacker didn't care. He leaped forwards while I, blinded by pain and blood, was vulnerable. I felt teeth tear into my right cheek, ripping the skin and fur off in a single, brutal bite. I heard a cruel laugh before I was free again.
Bugloss was standing in front of me, totally untouched. I felt tears trail down my cheeks, and the bite wound stung with an anger that made me tense up. The adrenaline was back, and I spat on the ground before readying myself to leap at Bugloss. The older rabbit chucked at me, spitting curses and insults at me. I'll bet he didn't even see me coming. I swept my foreleg at his jaw with all the might I could muster. I heard a cracking sound, and felt bone give way beneath my strike. A howl of pain rang in my ears, and I landed again, my paw practically screaming in agony. I hardly dared to look up, but when I did, I saw Bugloss' jaw hanging at a strange angle, his face contorted into a mask of extreme pain. He lashed out at me with both front paws, but I dodged and dove at his chest, sinking my teeth into his throat and not releasing him until I felt his struggling cease.
When it was over, I turned around.
Woundwort was looking at me, horror and rage evident in his eyes. I searched around for Daffodil, and saw him lying limp on the ground, blood pooling at his throat and trickling from the corners of his mouth in rivulets. My last remaining opponent let out a terrible roar and charged at me. He looked soft and weak, but he was still fresh, while I, though once strong, was now a wreck. I didn't know how I was still standing, to tell the truth.
As he reached me, I saw his paw draw upwards, and then rake down my throat and at my chest in a single swipe. White-hot pain tore at my neck, but I barely felt it. My limbs flailing, I tried in vain to swipe at his face, his body – anywhere I could. It was only after I heard him laugh that I realised there was no point.
“Weakling,” he taunted. “You failed your uncle, you failed your warren. How sad you must feel, how pathetic, knowing that your valiant efforts were all for naught.”
This was it. I could die here, without trying, or I could try one last time to avenge my uncle. I suppose my mind was already made up. I dashed round to Woundwort's side and with all my mustered strength, attempted to bowl him over. He barely stumbled, but this was a window of opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I aimed, hardly stopping to think, and grabbed his muzzle and the back of his neck, holding him in place so that I could bite down. I heard a squeal of agony as I drove both my teeth down, and after blood started to warm my lips, I fell backward and simply gave up.
When I opened my eyes, I saw him on the ground, clutching at his eye and crying out. Blood gushed over his paw and down his foreleg, and I couldn't help but feel mild satisfaction.
“You!” He pointed his bloodied paw at me, revealing the horror beneath that I had wrought on his face. “Get away from here! Never return, or I swear by the Black Rabbit I will tear out your heart!”
I obliged.
I never returned there, and despite the fact that through some miracle my wounds were healed, I never forgot that night. I would be haunted forever, constantly being brought back to the time when Efrafa, mighty Efrafa, was, albeit indirectly, destroyed in a single night.