Who Are You? | Bigwig x OC | A Watership Down Fanfic

Chapter 3: Lurking in the Dark

Bigwig's POV

I was walking with the group discussing about how we would free Keres and the other does.

 "If anyone's going to break into Efrafa, it should be me!" I said.

"It might be better to send someone less.. threatening, Thlayli." Hazel said trying not to offend me. 

"Someone who can pass themselves off as a storyteller, or an outskirter." Hazel said trying to save himself.

"I agree, this is an operation that will require subtlety and cunning." Blackberry pitched in.

I went in front of them. "But I'm a hot-head, right? Well, when I get out with all those does, you'll see how subtle and cunning Thlayli is." I said.

Blackberry sighed. "There's not exactly an abundance of options, Hazel. It can't be Bluebell or I because they'd recognize us. You can't go in because of your.." His voice trailed off trying to find the right words. 

"I've told you, my leg is fine." Hazel said. 

"We don't know how they'll take to an injured rabbit."

 Hazel looked down before raising his head. "Very well, Bigwig, infiltrate the warren by pretending to be a hlessi. Once inside, find Keres or Hyzenthlay, they can help you organize an escape that will take place tomorrow night."

Hawkbit scoffed. "Yeah, then as soon as they're out, the Efrafans will be all over them. How will they get away?" 

Above us, Kehaar began to yell and whoop.

"That's where our secret weapon comes in."  Hazel responded.

Above us he fell to the ground. Turning around he spoke. "No one commands the skies quite like Kehaar!" "That's what all the lady gulls say." He said staring off into the distance.

"Kehaar, tomorrow night at Frith Down, Bigwig will break out of this other warren with many others. We want you to provide support from above to make sure they can get away."

"Okay, alright I'll do it. I'll do it on one condition. Bluebell has to make up and epic story.. About me!" Everyone looked to Bluebell who seemed to almost break under the pressure. "how the amazing and super humble Kehaar saved the rabbits!" Bluebell slightly nodded.

"Bigwig, the rest of us will wait for you beneath the Iron Road. Does that all make.. F- fox." He said the last bit lowly as his voice trailed off.

"Fox?" I tried to make out the last word. 

"Fox! Everybody get to the bushes" Hazel urged and they all ran.

"I'll handle this." I said and charged at the fox. Before it could grab me in it's jaws I took a sharp turn and continued to try and loose it, or slow it down my moving from left to right. 

Continuing down, I ran through a large patrol of rabbits, they were Efrafans. I let out a chuckle at the fox had it's go at them.

I continued to run, I looked up in the sky and saw Kehaar. I followed him to an old harvest field. We went over the plan. 

"Right, remember the plan. Tomorrow night, as soon as I get out with the does, attack." 

"Uhm.. Maybe" 

"What? What do you mean 'Maybe'?" I asked

"Well, the thing is I've decided I'm going to nip to the big water for a bit. Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow."

"Oh no, no, no. Not hopefully. You will be back tomorrow."

"Alright plump rabbit, I will be back tomorrow." He flew away. "Maybe.." He said while still near.

"No! Wait!" I called. "I might come back. I might not."

"Damn you, you flying weasel!"

"You there! Stay where you are." Two bucks called.

I softly mumbled to myself that I had to keep calm.

Keres's POV

I was following behind Clover. We had just been marked, I think mine cut deep. Mostly because I mumbled some insults to the rabbit. We were now being escorted  to what they called the right hind mark. 

Clover saw all of the does laying there in the sun. She spoke up to them "Aren't you all hot lying there in the sun?"

"And what do you suggest we do about it hutch rabbit?" The same doe from earlier said.

She looked around for a moment before jumping onto the brick wall. "Excuse me the does and I are very warm and wondered if we could move in-" She was interrupted by a strong smack by the rabbit.

"Get out of here." He said. I rushed over to Clover. 

"You all right?" I asked and she nodded.

"It was worth a try, hutch rabbit."

"Don't talk to her, Thethuthinang." One of the does said.

"Are you Hyzenthlay?" Clover asked

"There's no doe here by that name."  I was starting to assume that doe was Hyzenthlay.

"Please. I know the rabbits from the other warren."

"I know Blackberry and Bluebell and Holly."

"She's lying!" One of the does spoke up

"No! You can trust me." Clover said,

I felt this was going nowhere.

The bucks started rushing around. "He coming above ground!"

"Look sharp!" Another one said.

"Get in line."

"Move!"

"Get in line." 

"Shh"

"Look sharp." 

"Shh, quickly" 

And then a large rabbit with more scars than there are stars in the sky came up.

All of us moved to see what all the commotion was about. A rabbit that was much larger than all of them. Looked straight at Clover and whispered something to the guard.

I was feeling weak but I went forward and placed a paw in front of Clover in a protective manner. The bucks just seemed to move back to their original positions casually. 

I moved away deciding it was safe.

But oh was I wrong, the second I left her side 2 bucks took her side and shoved her into the large brick building. "Clover!" I whispered moving over as far as I could without being yelled at. Great, I just lost my best friend.

I laid in a corner I held my head down with my eyes closed. "May Frith guide you, my friend along the meadows to the Rabbit Of Inle." (assuming a Hlessi has a different way of sending off a rabbit that dies.) 

"She'll be okay." I heard a voice say. I looked up and saw Hyzenthlay.

I just looked back down. 

"Don't worry. I have never seen a rabbit come here with that much hope. And most rabbits like that manage to escape." She continued. I nodded.

Time Skip

Clover was back. I heard the guards talking non-stop about something. I didn't bother to even hear what it was. The heat was starting to get to me after a while. 

I laid down breathing heavily. 

"As an officer you can request that any doe would join you in your burrow." A buck said.

"Except those two! No their out of bounds." The buck continued.

I heard someone mumble something.

"Keres." A familiar voice spoke out.

Instantly I got up and saw Bigwig. "Bigwig!" I said relief and an unfamiliar emotion flooded over me.

"Don't look up." Instantly, I put my head down.

"They're watching and they're already suspicious." He continued

"I've come to break you out but it has to be tonight."

"Tonight?" I echoed

"Be ready. Find a reason to get above ground. Tell Clover and the others."

I nodded. "The one in the middle there is Hyzenthlay. If we can convince her the rest will follow."

"Alright. Leave it with me." He said and left

"Thlayli she's out of bounds."

"I heard you the first time."

The rest of the conversation I tuned out

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