Watership down 2 - a new threat

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: A Search for a New Warren

The sights and sounds of London buzzed around the rabbits as they navigated through the vibrant streets. Their mission was clear: to find a new warren after the destruction of Sandleford. As they ventured deeper into the city, Mallow's heart raced with anticipation of what they might discover.

"Look at all the colors!" Periwinkle, the youngest daughter of Primrose and Hazel, exclaimed, her eyes wide as she chased a bright orange butterfly flitting among the flowers. "I want to catch it!"

"Periwinkle, stay close!" Bigwig barked, his authoritative voice cutting through the noise. "You can't just wander off here. There are dangers everywhere!"

"But it's so pretty!" she protested, momentarily frozen in her excitement.

Mallow rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile at his sister's enthusiasm. "Just be careful, Peri. We don't want to lose anyone," he added, glancing nervously around at the bustling humans.

As the group continued to move through the park, Fiver suddenly halted, his gaze distant. "Hazel," he said quietly, his voice filled with urgency, "I'm having a vision. I see... high lonely hills. That's where we need to go. It's our new home."

Hazel turned to Fiver, concern etched on his face. "High lonely hills? Are you sure?" He trusted his brother's instincts but felt the weight of uncertainty. The loss of Sandleford still weighed heavily on them, and the idea of finding a new place was daunting.

"They're out there," Fiver insisted, his eyes shimmering with conviction. "We must keep searching."

Meanwhile, the presence of Kehaar, the injured bird they had rescued earlier, stirred mixed feelings among the group. Some rabbits looked at him warily, still frightened by his size and the way he soared through the air. "He's just a bird," Blackberry said dismissively. "Not all birds are evil, you know. Kehaar has been helping us."

Hawkbit, however, was not convinced. "He's still a predator! What if he decides we're his next meal?" he snapped, crossing his arms defiantly.

Bigwig intervened, his patience wearing thin. "Hawkbit, this isn't the time for petty arguments. We have bigger problems to deal with."

The tension hung in the air when suddenly, Fiver staggered back, clutching his head. "Another vision," he gasped. "Something is coming... I can feel it. We need to move!"

Before anyone could react, a large dog appeared in the distance, sniffing the air as it began to make its way toward them. Panic erupted among the rabbits as they realized the danger closing in.

"Hazel, what do we do?" Mallow asked, his heart pounding.

Hazel quickly formulated a plan. "Bigwig, we need to draw the dog away! We'll use that log over there to distract it."

Bigwig nodded, determination in his eyes. "Let's do this!"

Together, they pushed the log toward the edge of a nearby ledge, hoping to lure the dog away from the group. As the log tumbled down, the dog immediately turned its attention to the movement, barking excitedly as it chased after the distraction.

"Now, let's go!" Hazel shouted, urging the others to follow.

As they darted to safety, they heard a loud crash behind them. The dog had reached the ledge just in time to see the log tumble over but somehow managed to leap clear of the falling debris. It landed safely, shaking its fur in confusion as it turned back toward the group.

"Did it survive?" Mallow gasped, looking back with a mix of relief and fear.

"Just keep moving!" Bigwig insisted, leading the way.

The group, now split into two smaller parties, made their way to the edge of a nearby river, where the current rushed swiftly past. "We need to find a way around," Hawkbit said, peering along the bank.

"We can't swim across," Dandelion added. "The current is too strong."

Fiver, still shaken but determined, led the charge along the riverbank, his mind racing with thoughts of the high lonely hills. "We must find a way to cross. The hills are waiting for us!"

As they searched for a safe passage, Mallow glanced back toward the city, realizing that this was only the beginning of their journey. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in their quest for a new home.