Watership down 2 - a new threat

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: The Chase

The barking of the dog grew louder, its footsteps pounding against the ground as it chased after them. Bigwig, adrenaline coursing through him, turned to the group, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "I can handle it! Just keep running!"

With that, he led the way, his powerful legs propelling him forward, each bound pushing him farther from the snapping jaws of the pursuing beast. Hazel and the others followed closely, hearts racing, fear pushing them to their limits.

"Stay together!" Hazel called out, glancing back to ensure everyone was keeping pace. He could see Fiver lagging slightly, his brother's slender form struggling to match the speed of the larger rabbits.

"Fiver!" Hazel shouted, feeling a surge of panic. "You've got to keep up!"

"I'm fine!" Fiver gasped, determination flooding his voice. "Just—just keep going!"

As they navigated through the underbrush, branches snagged at their fur, but the group pushed on, knowing that stopping could mean disaster. Bigwig led them toward a narrow gap between two trees, hoping it would provide a momentary reprieve from their relentless pursuer.

Just as they reached the opening, the dog barreled through the foliage, a mass of fur and teeth. Bigwig hurled himself into the gap, urging the others to follow quickly. "Go! Now!"

The group squeezed through, the branches scratching at their sides, and emerged on the other side, panting and gasping for breath. But the dog was not far behind, its growl reverberating through the woods.

"Run!" Hazel urged again, and they took off in the opposite direction, pushing deeper into the thicket.

As they ran, Bigwig could feel the churning in his stomach, a familiar discomfort that only intensified with each leap. "I swear, I can handle this," he grunted, trying to dismiss the gnawing sensation. "Just focus on getting away!"

"Just don't throw up on me!" Dandelion joked, albeit nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "We need all the help we can get!"

"Not helping!" Bigwig shot back, though he couldn't suppress a grin. The levity was short-lived as the sound of the dog's barking grew closer, snapping him back to reality.

Suddenly, Fiver stumbled slightly, his legs faltering. "Hazel, I—I see something!" he called out, his voice strained.

Hazel skidded to a halt, turning back to face Fiver. "What is it?"

Fiver squinted, trying to clear his mind. "A vision... it's blurry, but I see hills... high lonely hills... we need to get there! It's safe!"

"Safe?" Bigwig echoed incredulously, panic creeping into his voice. "We need to find safety now, not after we run a marathon!"

"Trust me!" Fiver insisted, his eyes wide. "If we can reach those hills, we'll have cover. The dog won't be able to follow us!"

"Then lead the way!" Hazel said, determination surging through him. "We follow Fiver!"

With renewed urgency, they took off, Fiver guiding them through the dense undergrowth, weaving between trees and bushes. The dog was relentless, its growls echoing behind them, but they pushed on, fueled by the knowledge that safety might just be ahead.

As they sprinted, the landscape began to change. The trees became sparser, and a steep hill rose up before them, silhouetted against the dimming sky.

"There!" Fiver pointed ahead, his breath ragged. "Up the hill!"

With no time to waste, they sprinted toward the base of the hill, the sounds of the dog growing fainter as they climbed. Each step felt like a victory, and Bigwig forced himself to ignore the discomfort in his stomach, focusing instead on the rush of adrenaline.

When they reached the top, they paused to catch their breath, looking back at the hill. The dog skidded to a halt below, confused and barking in frustration but unable to find a way up.

"We did it!" Dandelion exclaimed, laughter bubbling up despite their earlier fear.

Hazel glanced at Fiver, relief flooding his chest. "You did it, Fiver. You led us to safety."

Fiver smiled weakly, grateful for the support but still shaken from the experience. "Let's just hope this is the end of the chase."

Bigwig shook his head, forcing a chuckle despite the tension. "Yeah, let's just hope my stomach can handle this little adventure."

As they settled on the hill, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over their small group. For the moment, they were safe, but the threat still loomed in the back of their minds. They knew the journey was far from over, and their resolve to face whatever challenges lay ahead only grew stronger.