Aries: the White Rabbit (Watership Down fanfic)

Me, I'm Fabulous Baby

Hunter stood over his father's dead body as tears streamed down his face. Flaxenflare strolled into Shark Heart's warren to find his grieving son standing over his cold, lifeless, body. Flaxenflare sighed, "Hunter, no buck is worth your tears, now come with me" growled Flaxenflare harshly.

Hunter slowly nodded his head, "y-yes s-s-sir" he sobbed as Flaxenflare dragged Hunter away from his dead father.

Tigerlilly watched lovingly as Flaxenflare pulled poor Hunter along one of the burrows, leading outside. Tigerlilly had a crush on Flaxenflare since she first lay her dark brown eye's on him. Flaxenflare took Hunter back to the Owsla,

"Your late for practise, you little termite!" growled Flaxenflare as Riverjay slowly meandered into line with attitude,

"I'm not just late," said Riverjay, sticking his nose up in the air. His snobby attitude getting on Flaxenflare's nerves,

"No, you are a pain in the hide!" Snapped Flaxenflare, flinging Hunter in line with the other rabbits.

Riverjay laughed, "no silly. I'm fashionably late!... There is a big difference. Don't worry Flax, with some tender love and care, we can totally fix your, eh... Let's call it 'the before look' and change it into your 'after look'. When you look just fabulous!" Shouted Riverjay with a huge grin across his face.

By this time Flaxenflare was right in Riverjay's face, "oh, sir... We need to sort that throbbing vain of yours! It sticks out on your head, like a swallow's nest on a human home..." muttered Riverjay, quite disgusted by it.

Flaxenflare's vain got bigger and bigger. All the Owsla rabbits took cover,

"Watch out!" Shrieked Cottontail as he sprung out the way and into a nearby raspberry bush,

"He's going to explode!" Warned Rushbell as he hopped away as far as he could go.

Flaxenflare hissed, "Tarlock's Warren... Now" croaked Flaxenflare, his eyes narrowing to slits.

Riverjay was still standing there marvelling over his flawlessly shaped nails when Flaxenflare lost his temper,

"Now, Riverjay!" Screeched Flaxenflare.

Riverjay huffed and strutted down one of the burrows. Flaxenflare whipped his head around to the rest of the rabbits who were all back in line,

"Anyone else?!" Barked Flaxenflare.

The Owsla stood to attention, "no?!... Good, Cottontail!.... Morning report!" demanded Flaxenflare, watching as the silver and white patched rabbit gingerly sauntered up to the front. Cottontail faced the rest of the Owsla, as Flaxenflare circled him like a vulture spotting his next meal.

Riverjay plodded into Tarlock's warren for the fifth time that week. Tarlock walked out his warren as Riverjay was walking in, almost passing each other. Tarlock spotted the cream rabbit out the corner of his amber eyes.

Tarlock stopped and sighed, "Riverjay... You better be here because you are asking me to attend something" moaned Tarlock,

"Well, Flaxenflare asked if you could 'attend' my detention again..." said Riverjay without a care in the world.

Tarlock inhaled then exhaled, "what did you do or say this time?" Questioned Tarlock regrettably, putting his paw up to his face.

Riverjay looked at Tarlock, "well... All I said was that I could help him be beautiful... I know he can be absolutely fab... He won't let me help his situation. I was only trying to get along with him as you said... You did say that I should do something nice for him," told Riverjay with annoyance, starting to comb his shiny, clean, white, ears.

Tarlock slowly brought his paw down his face, "you were late again weren't you?..." muttered Tarlock solemnly, while turning to go back into his warren, followed closely by Riverjay,

"How did you know?!" Quizzed Riverjay, surprised.

Tarlock's silky, jet black coat shone in the bleak light that crept through the cracks in the walls. Tarlock sat down on his looking ledge that sat a few feet of the ground. Tarlock signalled Riverjay to sit with him. The cream rabbit accepted the invite and sat beside Tarlock. The glossy, black rabbit glanced at Riverjay,

"River... What do you want to do with your life?" Asked Tarlock with curiosity.

The cream rabbit thought for a moment, "I don't know... Maybe grooming services or something" thought Riverjay aloud.

Tarlock nodded along when Flaxenflare burst into Tarlock's warren,

"Sir... That, that... Rat! Has destroyed my Owsla... That termite can't do anything right. He does the wrong thing all the time! That rabbit is a total waste of fluff and valuable space!" Yelled Flaxenflare, pointing at Riverjay, who coward in fear of him.

Tarlock snarled and roared at Flaxenflare, "how dare you!... How dare you come into my warren in that manner, insulting one of my rabbits, frightening them. What do you have to say for yourself!?" Flaxenflare stood astonished at Tarlock because he had never, ever, yelled at any of the rabbits here in that manner.

Flaxenflare stood down, "I-I-I... Sorry, sir..." Muttered Flaxenflare, his head dropping to the ground.

Tarlock slowly started to calm down, "I am sorry Flax... I did not mean to yell at you like that. I hope I did not scare you... Anyway, I am hear by promoting you to the advanced Owsla... You will teach them to the highest possible level" announced Tarlock.

Flaxenflare stood gobsmacked, "you, you, you... Are giving me... A promotion?!" Asked Flaxenflare.

Tarlock nodded, "yes... Now off with you..." Ordered Tarlock.

Flaxenflare exited the warren, almost in tears of joy. Tarlock rolled his amber eyes, "you ok, kid?" Asked Tarlock softly.

Riverjay smiled, "yes, of course, I am... Thanks" replied Riverjay.

Tarlock stood up, "come, take a walk with me..." told Tarlock, walking to the warren exit.

Riverjay agreed and tagged on.

Rushbell, Cottontail and the rest of the Owsla watched Flaxenflare frolic about the green grass outside the warren. It was almost as if he was happy,

"I can't believe it, Cottontail... Is he smiling?" Asked Rushbell squinting at the small, far away shape of the old Owsla Captain.

Cottontail could not believe it either, "Is he dancing?... " Wondered Cottontail,

"Oh no... Did he finally get rid of Riverjay?" Questioned a young buck called Sonny (a small black, buck with two white front paws) his midnight blue eyes glistening against the sun.

"...Did he eat him?" Added Redstream, (a ginger rabbit with a trademark, white, raindrop shape on his head).

"Nahhh" answered the rest of the Owsla,

"Did Riverjay fall off a cliff and die a thousand deaths?" Suggested Ivy, combing his sand-coloured coat.

"Nahhh" answered the Owsla again, tipping their heads, trying to work out what Flaxenflare could be so happy about.

"Did his mate die?" Asked a tiny brown and black patched, buck called Foxglove.

The rabbits all turned around to face Foxglove then back around to face the happy Flaxenflare.

"Does he even have a mate?" Replied Cottontail,

"Not anymore!" Laughed Foxglove.