I've called you here to invite you to voice any concerns you may have.
[the rabbits are all silent, and then Sainfoin speaks up]
I... I feel like by sending us to search for the outsiders, we're risking lives. These are the rabbits who have a bird under their control. I mean, who knows what other kind of elil they might have power over?
Are you really concerned about the lives of your bucks, or are you concerned about your own life? Are you afraid, sergeant?
Maybe... maybe I am afraid.
[pushes Sainfoin to the ground; lividly] YOU DISGUST ME! IF YOU EXPIRE SERVING THIS WARREN, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER YOURSELF FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE GLORY OF SUCH A DEATH! Those of you not loyal to me invite outsiders to steal our does. Men to kill us and the elil to bring the white blindness. Those of you not loyal to me, hate Efrafa. Are you loyal, sergeant?
And what about you, Campion?
Good, I don't care if it takes one Frith or a thousand, you will find the outsiders who stole our does. And when you do, we will DESTROY THEIR WARREN AND LEAVE NO TRACE OF THEM ON THIS EARTH! And to those of you who tremble in the wake of birds, or foxes or any of the thousand enemies of rabbits, I say this: In Efrafa, we run from no Elil! We are the Elil!
The does have seen it, the bird who saved us is gone. They're exhausted and scared--
But they have to move on. They'll die if they stay here.
[Hazel looks at the does, who stare back at him, waiting for a response]
CClover
Speak from your heart, Hazel-rah.
My name is Hazel, and I am chief rabbit of your new home. I know that it will take time for me to earn your trust, and hopefully your friendship, but it is a privilege for me to do so, and to serve each and every one of you, both old and new. You have fought so hard to earn your freedom, but now, you must fight to keep it. Because the battle for liberty is one which has no end. And if we fall fighting, if we stop running, then at least we knew what it was like to run. I stand here, not asking you to follow me, but to follow each other. Let’s help raise each other to our strongest selves! Let’s go home.
HHawkbit
Hello, Strawberry. Dandelion and I have something to say. Well, I'm going to say it because he speaks about once a fortnight. But the thing is, we're both rather fond of you [chuckling] and, well, we'd appreciate it if you made a decision which of us you like.
SStrawberry
[pauses] Oh, Brambles, right. [hesitating] I'd forgotten about that. This is... Can I take some time to think about it?
HHawkbit
Of course, of course. But be quick [chuckling] because there are more does around now and, well, two eligible bucks like us are bound to get snapped up fast.
DDandelion
[after she leaves] Why did you say that last bit? You didn't say the last bit when we rehearsed it!
HHawkbit
I don't know, maybe I don't want to end up alone forever.
Hazel, we rally up anyone at silflay and take them down into the honeycomb at once.
Alright, Holly, go. Bigwig, go and tell Strawberry to collapse all the entrances for the wood run and the big root.
Wait, where are you going?
I'm going to buy us some time.
Is there anything I can do, Hazel?
Have you been able to make any sense of your visions? The hrududu, the ropes?
No, I don't know what any of it means.
Don't worry. Get back to the warren with the others and try to keep everyone calm.
[Hazel leaves to try to reason with Woundwort]
I am a friend of Thlayli, yes.
Ha! He's some chief rabbit. Sending you out here instead of coming himself. [darkly] We are going to destroy you.
I imagine you planned to take our warren by surprise, attack us at dawn, when we moved out to silflay. But you approached downwind and up here on the Downs, the wind is changeable. That’s what gave you away.
An inconvenience, nothing more. By closing off some of your tunnels, you're merely delaying the inevitable.
You should know that you won’t find it easy. You will leave with far fewer bucks. We should come to better terms. If we start a new warren in the belt of woods halfway between our two homes, we could share resources. Rabbits have enough enemies as it is, without fighting between us. You'd be seen as a leader of vision. You'd be seen as a leader of genius.
It, er, might be worth considering, sir.
It amuses me that you feel you're in a position to strike a deal. Let's see if you feel the same way after three days without food.
Tell your chief rabbit that I look forward to seeing him again. [Hazel leaves] Each of you take your bucks and cover one of the entrances. Nothing leaves this warren and lives.
The men say they heard a noise, a great wailing. You don't think that bird's back?
If you mention that bird one more time, I will destroy you. Campion, prepare to follow me in, but not too close, in case we're ambushed.
You dare disobey me? What kind of a soldier are you?
I'd rather be a good rabbit than a good soldier, sir.
Orchis, finish him. Sainfoin, come with me.
OCaptain Orchis
That's under the command of Captain Campion to join my Battalion.
All bucks under my command are dismissed.
OCaptain Orchis
Leave here and you'll be hunted down. [chucking] You'll be dead!
[threateningly] My rank equal you may be, Orchis, but my equal in combat you are not. I strongly advise you to step away from me.
BRBlack Rabbit of Inlé
We've spoken before. You've been tired recently, haven't you, old friend? Well, I can do something about that. I've come to ask you if you'd like to join my Owsla. We'd love to have you and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. [kits laughing in background] You needn't worry about them. [chuckles] They'll be all right, and thousands like them. If you'll come along, I'll show you what I mean.
I'd be honored. [dies peacefully and disappears with the Black Rabbit]
