3. Pipkin’s Mission
After the story of Silverweed, Pipkin went off to bed, and fell asleep. He woke up next morning restless, and went out into the fresh, clean air, where he saw Bigwig, Hazel and Blackavar having silflay. Bounding over to the group of rabbits, he stuffed his nose in a pile of flayrah and munched thoughtfully. He then announced to Bigwig; “I’d like to go on an adventure today.”
“Slow down, little fella. We’ve just got rid of the enemy twice. No need to start another war.”
“But I’m bored, Bigwig.” Pipkin whined. Hazel appeared suddenly beside the grey tufty-haired rabbit.
“If you want activity, you can do some young Owsla training.” The rest of the Junior Owsla bounced out from behind Hazel at hopped around the sighing Pipkin.
“But I did that yesterday. And the day before that.” The young rabbits stopped and looked downcast.
“I thought you loved to train, lad!” Bigwig exclaimed. Blackavar came over to the huddle, and sat down next to Pipkin, and nosed him gently.
“I’ll train them.” He said. “I’ve been itchin’ to have a good run around. Being cooped up in that awful place Efrafa made my joints stiff.” The kindly black rabbit smiled at Campion, who had just come out of the warren with Blackberry, and the pair joined Bigwig, Pipkin and the others.
“What’s going on here? Blackberry inquired, and Hazel explained that Pipkin wanted to go looking for trouble, which set Pipkin off into a complaint stating that he wasn’t looking for trouble, but just wanted some fun, and then Bigwig nudged him and told him not to be so rude to his chief. Pipkin apologised.
“No need Pipkin, we’re just looking out for you and the warren. The last thing we’d want to know is to hear that you were taken by something.” Pipkin began to slink off dejectedly, but Campion stopped him.
“How about you take your Junior Owsla out on a little mission I have for you. I’ve been feeling a little tired lately.”
“You’re always tired, Campion,” A certain Dandelion said, through a mouthful of delicious greens.
“Yeah, what happened to your fighting spirit, eh?” remarked Hawkbit as he stuck his head out of a pile of the flayrah pile he shared with Dandelion. He began clawing at thin air viciously. “Yah, I could take you on any day! Look at these moves!” He promptly tripped on a stone and tumbled over head over tail.
“Hahahaha, I wouldn’t bet a bobstone on your chance Hawkbit!” mocked Strawberry, popping out from a mound in the down and ran off; chased by Hawkbit.
“Don’t listen to those fools,” Campion said jokingly. “The only good advice they’ll be able to give you is how to get into a heap of trouble.” He led Pipkin, Snowdrop, Mallow and Gilia (The Junior Owsla) off the down into the Orchard, where he told them the plan.
“So for once,” Pipkin panted, as he tore through the low canopy. “The plan is not to charge in and hope for the best?”
The breathless Campion called a halt, and when he had caught up with the young rabbits (which took an age) he answered Pipkin’s question.
“Is that what your elders have taught you to do?” he said, shocked. Pipkin was instantly embarrassed, but the headstrong Mallow joyfully confirmed Campion’s query.
“Oh, yes. Father says that it’s their only plan. If you can call it a - hey!” Mallow recoiled, holding his paw, whilst Pipkin smiled sheepishly.
“Now, then.” Chided Campion to Pipkin. “No need to be unkind. If that’s the case, then I guess you’ll have to learn a new technique.” He took them to the orchard where Bark the Badger lived, and was leading them across the needle-covered floor when Gilia began sniffing around. She stopped dead, and whispered to Campion.
“I- I think I can smell a- a weasel.” Campion called halt and smelt the air.
“You’re right. You’ve got a sharp nose for a young one. Now, keep low!” The five got on to the ground, and began to slink off as quietly as possible.
“Hey, what’s that growling noise?” Snowdrop said.
“What do you- ah!” Campion was halfway through his sentence when a smooth-furred brown nightmare jumped out at him from a bush, taking him down and rolling off down the edge of the embankment the group were standing on.. Pipkin and the Junior Owlsa stood in petrified shock as they watched the weasel and Campion batter each other. Finally, they came to a rest at the bottom of an apple tree with a bump.
Snowdrop screamed and Pipkin began to sprint down the hill. The vicious weasel had hurt his head in the fall, but Campion still hadn’t come round by the time he had come to. He raised his sharp claw and snarled, as frothy saliva dribbled down his ugly, famished features.
“No!” Pipkin cried, and in his rush tripped over forwards. He went head over tail, and as the weasel turned his head in wonder he was hit by the madly careering rabbit. Pipkin sat up and rubbed his head, and the Junior Owlsa joined him laughing and smiling.
“Good job Pipkin!” Gilia said, and then stared solemnly at the still form of the weasel.
“Now what will we do with him?”
“We go home.”
“Campion!” The youngsters cried, and hugged him gratefully.
“We thought we had lost you there.” Pipkin said thankfully.
“What happened? I thought that I was a goner. That weasel was ferocious, and he came out of nowhere.”
The four youngsters told him the story as they went off home.
“Well it was a lot more exciting than what I had planned for you.” Campion said as they went off back home.
OOC: Sooooorry if I took forever to post this next chapter I have been ill for ages
But I will be posting at least one chapter per week!
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