Watership down 2 - a new threat

Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Caught in the Act

Woundwort stalked through the dark hallways of his warren, his mind as sharp and calculating as ever. He was a leader who demanded loyalty, discipline, and unwavering dedication, so any sign of laziness or distraction grated on his nerves like claws on stone. As he turned a corner, he saw his assistant Mitch slouched against the wall, face bathed in the faint glow of his phone screen.

Woundwort's eyes narrowed as he observed Mitch tapping and snickering quietly to himself, completely oblivious to his leader's presence. The general's patience was thin as it was, and this was simply too much.

Woundwort cleared his throat loudly. "Mitch."

Mitch nearly dropped his phone, fumbling to lock it before looking up, eyes wide with guilt. "Uh, yes, General Woundwort?"

Woundwort folded his arms, looming over Mitch as he glanced down at the phone. "Just what, exactly, is so entertaining that you'd rather stare at a screen than do your job?"

Mitch shifted uneasily. "Oh, uh, nothing important, sir. Just... just a meme."

"A meme?" Woundwort's brow furrowed, unfamiliar with the term. His gaze fell back to Mitch with barely restrained irritation. "And what, pray tell, is this... hawk tuah?" he asked, mispronouncing the sound he'd heard in one of the videos playing on Mitch's phone.

Mitch hesitated, feeling Woundwort's intense glare like a physical weight. "It's... it's just a sound effect, General. Like when someone... um, spits, I guess."

Woundwort's expression darkened. "You're sitting here, wasting time with nonsense about spitting sounds and memes? This is the reason you've been slacking off?"

"No, no, sir! I was just, uh, taking a small break—just for a minute," Mitch stammered, trying to explain himself. "I—I didn't mean to waste time. It's just... everyone watches them, and I thought—"

"Enough!" Woundwort snapped. "This is no place for distractions. While you're busy with memes, the rest of us are working to keep our warren safe and strong."

Mitch nodded quickly, shoving his phone into his pocket. "Of course, General. It won't happen again."

Woundwort leaned in close, his voice low and menacing. "If I catch you slacking off one more time, Mitch, you'll find yourself outside this warren faster than you can say hawk tuah."

"Yes, sir!"