Three days had past since the departure from Lienahlay. Lindri and Rush didn't say anything, but it appeared to them that, after leaving the heather, Gentian's physical condition was returning - he was eating more, too. How, though, such thoughts had left their mind. Rush, Gentian, Lindri, and a fourth buck - a lean sort called Deadnettle - were staring up at a great hill they sat in the shadow of.

After several long moments, Deadnettle brought to words the comparison they were all fighting to find. "It's... like a wall of grass."

And indeed, they'd never seen Watership Down before. "I smell rabbits," Gentian said. "Lindrithray, you stay here in this little bush-cluster with Deadnettle. I'll take Captain Rush and we'll climb this thing." He didn't wait for any response - the chief knew well that Lindri would not disappoint.

And before long, Gentian had a good start on Rush - the little otter buck was very quick. By the time they reached about three fourths of the way up, they stopped in a small cluster of thorn trees. Out in front, they saw several rabbits grazing - one had sat up but soon, having not found the source of a bit of sound, he relaxed. Gentian caught what these rabbits were saying.

"... I knew that Bigwig was keeping something a secret," one complained. "Now there's no cowslips left to eat."

"I think that's enough complaining, Hawkbit," another replied. The buck called Hawkbit scowled. 

"Yes, well, it's just a great shame that we didn't get any of the best plants because of it." Hawkbit turned to the buck. He had a darker face, and overall was a bit darker. 

"Do you suppose they're hostile?" Rush breathed to Gentian, who laid back an ear.

"How long have rabbits been elil?" he snorted. He gave Rush a wry look. Rush in turn looked away, clearly a bit embarassed by the response.

"Should we approach them?" Lindri asked. 

"Perhaps," replied Gentian. "But they may not really welcome us, hostile or not. After a-"

Suddenly his voice died in his throat as another pair of rabbits - two does - bounded down to the small group. One was lighter than the other - both had blue eyes. This doe had a sheen to her coat - sort of thing Gentian had seen once or twice from his own kind, but he couldn't be expected to know the word "Satin."  She was a lovely doe, but she was not the one who had gotten Gentian's attention.

His attention was reserved for the other doe: Darker brown than the satin-coated doe, greyer, too. Her eyes stood out more, pale and utterly majestic against the lightened fur around her eyes. Her coat faded to a fine lighter shade that reached up around her neck. This was the doe that immediately had Gentian's eyes locked upon her. "Rush," he suddenly whispered. "Go down to Deadnettle and bring him up here. I would like to feed with these rabbits - meet them. I want to know what they're like and who we are living below. Lindri, I want you to go out with me."

Rush immediately complied, thinking nothing of it. Gentian slowly nosed out of the bushes with Lindri close behind, and before long the rabbits on the hill noticed him. One buck - a very dark one with tattered ears - sat up for a moment and then hopped over. He was laced with scars, and towered over Gentian. Of course he wasn't overly concerned with Lindri at his side, but all the same, Gentian stopped and nodded in respect. "Good evening," he greeted. "My name is Chief Gentian. This is my Captain of Owsla, Lindrithray."

"Chief?" Inquired the buck. "I didn't think there was another warren nearby."

"Well, we live in the heather," Gentian told him, nodding in the direction. "And may I ask about your own warren? We took a patrol out on request of my captain. We found the warren up on this hill, and thought it would be prudent to find out more about them."

"Prudent - I agree," the buck said with a nod. He too had blue eyes, and it occured to Gentian that this buck and the two does were clearly from a related area - perhaps former wanderers from another warren. The buck broke in on Gentian's thoughts. "My name is Blackavar. I'm an Owsla member myself - over here is Blackberry - this buck here with the dark face - and those two silver bucks are Silver and Holly. Holly is more an honorary member of the owsla himself. Then there's Hawkbit." Blackavar led Gentian and Lindrithray into the group.

"I have two more rabbits coming up," Gentian warned him. "They will be called Rush and Deadnettle. And," he added suddenly, looking back at the does, "and what about that pair there?"

"Oh? Hyzenthlay and Thethuthinang," Blackavar told him. "Those two does are two of the most well-respected in the warren. Without them we'd never have gotten away from Efrafa."

"Efrafa - gotten away?" Gentian looked at him curiously as Deadnettle and Rush came up behind them. Blackavar told him the story, and Gentian watched as Thethuthinang fed all the while. 

At last, Lindrithray said, "Chief, the sun has set enough that I don't think we'll get home tonight." 

Gentian nodded. "Will your chief mind if we should stay for the evening?" he looked back at Blackavar.

He shook his head. "Hazel-rah wouldn't mind, I'd imagine," Blackavar told Gentian. "But allow me to go check."

Blackavar turned immediately and made his way up the hill. Soon he came back and nodded, leading the others back up the hill. The warren was under a beech tree and as Gentian made his way in, he was shocked to find the first place he ended up was a great central burrow. There were many runs and ridges, roots along the edges - he could see through a hole in the roof. There were a few rabbits in the hollow - one very large buck, with a great shock of fur about his ears, and nearby, a very small one. Gentian disregarded these two, and instead, he followed Blackavar to some empty burrows. 

As Gentian and his owsla bucks passed, Fiver watched silently before turning sharply toward Bigwig. "These are the bucks Hazel said would be staying, then," he said. "I don't like this, Bigwig. I think that we should send them home as soon as we can - in the morning at first light."

"Fiver," Bigwig turned to him, looking mildly startled. "That one - Gentian - isn't any bigger than you! Is it the black and white one that frightens you? What do you see wrong with them?"

"No, it's not him," Fiver replied. "It's definitely something about Gentian that worries me. It's not that he might be a great danger now... But if he stays too long, I think he will be a danger to us - and a danger to himself."