"A New Journey" (based on Watership Down)

The Great Valley Guardian · **Reply #120 on:** September 13, 2010, 05:40:32 PM

Mayberry scoffed at the metallic tube and slowly climbed in. She managed to turn around with little difficulty and sighed as she sat in the pipe. "It would seem your idea isn't as crazy as I thought it would be." she commented to Cinankhen. "There may be room for one more if you'd like to try." she said with a bored, and tired tone of voice.

Petrie. · **Reply #121 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:13:47 PM

Arvens just watched as everyone approached the tube thing he had checked out earlier. Now there was definitely no way he'd fit with so many other creatures going in. Not that he minded. The night air would be fine. Rankin didn't want to go in either, so if nothing else they could swap guard duty what remained of the night.

"Well, if you're not going in," said Arvens to Rankin, quietly, "what guard shift do you want....early or later? We can't both be resting at the same time."

Malte279 · **Reply #122 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:19:12 PM

Cinankhen nodded saying: "There's room for more than one though not enough for everyone of the group. We might have to take turns with some of us staying outside the tube." Looking at Mayberry he hastened to say: "Those who are not too tired that is."
Looking up at the sky he said more to himself than to anyone else: "Mostly clear sky. That's good. A ditch does not remain a save place when the rain is falling."
Cinankhen then looked back where they had come from to see if others from the group had also decided to give the tube a try or what else they might be up to.

Malte279 · **Reply #123 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:29:06 PM

Overhearing what Arvens asked Cinankhen said: "I don't mind staying out of the tube for a while either. More than one will not fit in and I..." he seemed a bit at a loss for words for a moment plucking one of his ears, "...am not too fond of crowded spaces. I had some rest during the day and don't think I would get any soon either."
Suddenly his face seemed to brighten up distinctly when he said: "There may be time for storytelling for those who won't get any rest soon."

Myrkin · **Reply #124 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:53:39 PM

"I can help you with guard duty" Neltita proposed, looking at Arvens. Despite travelling through woods for a long time she didn't fell too tired. "It won't hurt to have one more pair of eyes and ears to watch for Elils"

Thyme had been inspecting the tube Mayberry was in, when he overheard disscusion about sentry duty. He was really tired and he dreamed of nothing but sleeping through the rest of the night. On the other hand, he felt he should do something useful for the group and so he said:

"I will help too, but could I take later shift? I could really use some sleep before doing guard duty."

Malte279 · **Reply #125 on:** September 13, 2010, 07:24:51 PM

A little smile curled Cinankhen's mouth for a moment. "It seems like many are not too eager for rest. The ground is open on both sides of the ditch. Elil will be easy to spot on the ground while we won't be seen so long we stay in the ditch. It's the owls we need to worry about. Of them you are save only in the tube. But there is rarely safety anyway so I guess we can only take our chance and keep our heads down."

Rocky · **Reply #126 on:** September 14, 2010, 12:07:18 AM

"What are Elil?" Nostradamus and Winston both asked as they stayed low. "And who or what are Frith and El-ahrairah?" Nostradamus asked the group as he flinched from the rain. " On second thought that pipe sounds good as he and Winston headed towards it. "So anyone else coming?" He asked as he and Winston crawled into the drain.

Campion1 · **Reply #127 on:** September 14, 2010, 12:22:01 AM

Rankin kept his head low and answered Arvens

"I'll take the early shift, as I had said a while ago."

Petrie. · **Reply #128 on:** September 16, 2010, 08:55:30 PM

Arvens nodded, "I figured you might, and you'll be here until sunrise, which isn't as far off as anyone thinks. We've talked a good portion of the night away. You slept when you could sometimes at Thornbrush so daytime drowsing won't be so bad."

He turned to the group that seemed to suddenly not be so tired. "We don't need everyone on guard duty," he announced, "have one other stay up with Rankin here and the rest sleep and then we change shifts." He followed the odd couple into the drain, "There is enough room in here, despite it being a bit tight. I checked earlier. Come on or none of us will sleep at all."

The Great Valley Guardian · **Reply #129 on:** September 18, 2010, 07:02:16 AM

Mayberry had waited moments after crawling into the drainage pipe to see if any of the other bucks needed her help or advice, and upon realizing they were busy talking about guard duty her body finally forced her mind to shut down and she almost immediately fell into a deep, soundless sleep with her heartbeat echoing off the large metal tube.

Myrkin · **Reply #130 on:** September 18, 2010, 06:31:50 PM

"Alright. Wake me up when it's my turn" Thyme said, before lying down in a drain and trying to make himself comfortable in there. After a short moment he was sleeping deeply.

Neltita joined Rankin outside of the drain, "I will help Rankin watch for predators. You go rest." she said with a smile and tone of voice, that quite resembled that of mother sending her kittens to sleep. She stood up and looked around to see, if anything is moving near the drain. Neltita then lowered herself back to the ground.

Malte279 · **Reply #131 on:** September 19, 2010, 06:20:23 PM

Cinankhen cast a look at the tube and then at the clear sky. At last he approached Rankin and Neltita but same as before he maintained a certain distance.
He sounded almost a little embarrassed when he said: "Well, perhaps it is time to get to know each other a little better. It sure looks like quite a few rabbits have left their warrens of lately..." Cinankhen gave a sound that was probably supposed to be a little laugh or chuckle but sounded strangely out of tone. "What got you on your ways?" he asked looking alternately at Rankin and Neltita while cocking his head.

Myrkin · **Reply #132 on:** September 20, 2010, 06:38:46 PM

Neltita looked at Cinankhen with curiosity. He always kept his distance from other rabbits. Was it caused by simple caution, was he afraid of them? Or maybe he didn't want to become attached to any of them in any way, so he wouldn't have trouble with leaving them behind if it was necessary? She will have to ask him about it, but first...

"Well... Me and Thyme come from a warren that was struck by disease..." she said, then added reassuringly "Don't worry, we are not sick, even though many others were infected. We managed to survive with few other rabbits, but we... split up and then we've found you."

Malte279 · **Reply #133 on:** September 21, 2010, 03:48:13 AM

Cinankhen cowered low laying his ears close to his body.
"The white blindness?" he asked.

Myrkin · **Reply #134 on:** September 21, 2010, 09:19:48 AM

"Yes. It was white blindness" Neltita answered with a nod. She didn't want to talk more about it, so she asked "What about you, Cinankhen? Where do you come from?"

Campion1 · **Reply #135 on:** September 21, 2010, 11:50:19 AM

Rankin was sitting by closely and listening. I didn't think Arvens would let it happen. He's a nice buck then, I guess.

"That's a good question, Cinankhen." Rankin acknowledged curiously "What's the story on you? I guess you'll be helping with guard duty?"

Malte279 · **Reply #136 on:** September 21, 2010, 01:57:11 PM

"Mind the sky in particular", said Cinankhen. "Elil on the ground will be easy to spot on the open fields. The owls are what we need to worry about most. I'll stay out here."
Cinankhen did not continue, but the silence became embarrassing after a few moments so he responded to the other question:
"I've been a hlessi for a long time. One sees more of Frith's world if one goes see it. One also may be spared some of what comes with life or... in the warrens."
For a moment Cinankhen's eyes seemed to get out of focus, but the next moment he shook his head fiercely and brushed over his face with a paw as if to wipe something away.
"Nothing!" he said looking a little embarrassed. He chuckled and grinned as if a joke had been made on his expense.
"What about you?" he asked looking at Rankin. "You don't look like the kind that was given a hard time in a warren easily. Why are you here?"

Campion1 · **Reply #137 on:** September 21, 2010, 06:56:10 PM

Rankin hesitated. He didn't want to have to lie to more people, but it was necessary for survival.

"An... Elil attack confused my home warren that I killed an owsla member. They kicked me out." Rankin hoped he didn't get choked up delivering that statement.

Malte279 · **Reply #138 on:** September 21, 2010, 07:00:49 PM

Cinankhen looked at Rankin wide eyed. He opened his mouth to say something but then seemed to have second thoughts and closed his mouth again.

Campion1 · **Reply #139 on:** September 21, 2010, 07:18:40 PM

Rankin looked at cinankhen with a curious look on his face.

"What? Have a question or something?" Rankin asked