"A New Journey" (based on Watership Down)

Campion1 · **Reply #220 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:34:14 AM

"You think so...?" Rankin whispered, and inched up a little closer near Cinankhen. He peered slightly over the hole. "Well, if that's one, then there's many more. So much for a rush.."

The Great Valley Guardian · **Reply #221 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:43:16 PM

Mayberry grinned at the prospect of getting to fight again. She slowly hopped forward and asked, "So if the black rabbit of Inle really is following, then I say we give him and whatever else he decides to show us a proper beating!"

Myrkin · **Reply #222 on:** February 11, 2011, 06:18:48 AM

Whitetail observed the rabbits intently. It looked like one of them tripped on something, Whitetail didn't see it clearly, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that longears' attention wasn't focused on watching out for predators and weasel was going to use that occasion for an attack. He started crawling swiftly towards one od the rabbits, brown buck, while at the same time he kept a wary eye on others, especially those two that formed a back of the group and who seemed like quite a fighters...

Once Whitetail was very close to his intended prey, he stopped for a second or two, tensing all his body. He had to get this one right. He had to at least injure that one, so the rest would have to slow down or leave one of their own behind...

It was time.

Weasel lunged at Rankin, plunging his claws into rabbit's fur and trying to bite him in the neck...

Campion1 · **Reply #223 on:** February 14, 2011, 03:56:07 AM

All at once, Rankin felt himself being violently pounced and forced to the ground, something jumping onto his back and letting its sharp claws cut into his sides and teeth latch almost around his neck. He let out a cry of pain, but this time because it was more fierce and determined then the abuse he received before. He turned his head quickly to see that is was the rumored weasel. Rankin was not tharn however, and, despite his new injuries, had adrenaline pumping through his body in this familiar circumstance, feeling stronger then he did hrair seconds ago, and he attempted to jump the weighty weasel off him, trying to stave off the adversaries grip, and counter attack by rolling on his back ripping at its white underbelly with his hindclaws

Malte279 · **Reply #224 on:** February 14, 2011, 02:22:45 PM

Cinankhen uttered a loud scream but it was impossible to tell if it was a warning cry, a sound of fright or some kind of shrill battle cry. His eyes flickered to both sides and he cowered low as if ready to pounce, but he remained where he was eyeing the fight between Rankin and his attacker.

Myrkin · **Reply #225 on:** February 14, 2011, 06:56:35 PM

That rabbit was clearly a fighter, Whitetail had to admit it, but this buck would have to do better than just jumping to make him release his grip... Ouch! His prey was more creative that he thought, as it rolled on its back forcing Whitetail to the ground. The impact was quite painful and the rabbit used Whitetail's shock to attack him! However, that weasel wouldn't had survived so long, if he hadn't been able to fight back against tougher preys. He scratched his adversary with his claws and then he bit strongly one of rabbit's paws. Whitetail was sure that after that this rabbit won't be moving so fast in near future...

Campion1 · **Reply #226 on:** February 15, 2011, 01:32:41 AM

"Hraka!" Rankin exclaimed hatefully out loud at his enemy. The weasel scratched at Rankin, but clearly more power from it was put into biting Rankin's hindpaws with it's sharp teeth, which with the pain he was feeling now he could tell was used to kill before. At this point he knew he had no other choice but to fight as fleeing was out of the question now that his feet were damaged. Feeling no other alternative, Rankin tried to shake his paw out of the weasel's maw, and deliver a forceful kick, hopefully hitting directly at it's skull or it's muzzle. If any of that worked to his advantage and knocked the weasel away, he thought, he would get back up and hold his ground. It wasn't until a fellow rabbit caught his vision again that he remembered he had help nearby.

"Cinankhen!!"

Malte279 · **Reply #227 on:** February 15, 2011, 06:35:42 AM

The little rabbit cut a grimace as if he physically feeling the the claws of the weasel. He twitched in a way that looked as if part of him wanted to run one way and another part another way. But when the two fighters suddenly appeared right in front of him he squezed his eyes shut, lowered his head and pounced forward hitting the thin body of the weasel draging it away from Rankin with the unexpected impact. However, when after the pounce Cinankhen hit the ground he didn't leap up or do anything that one would expect anyone in a fight to do. He remained lying there, twitching and shouting words nobody could really hear in the heat of the fight.

Myrkin · **Reply #228 on:** February 15, 2011, 08:04:59 AM

Whitetail hissed in pain from that impact. It was obvious that he had already lost the element of surprise and without it he was just endangering his own life by staying and fighting. Therefore, he took the best course of action: he run away. He run until he felt he was a safe distance away from rabbits. Then he stopped to rest and inspect his injuries. They weren't serious, but they were bleeding and the scent of blood could always bring some other predator, so Whitetail started licking his wounds to stop blood flowing. At the same time he was thinking about his fight with rabbits. He had managed to bite one of them in a paw, so it should slow them all, but he realized that if they won't leave that one behind, it will be very hard to hunt him down. Just two of these rabbits was enough to drive him off and now they will be extra alert. It would take all Whitetail's cleverness and skill at hunting to kill one of this grass-eating hopping-about long-eared creatures. It will be very difficult, but in the end it will be worthy of all the efforts. He remembered the time when he last had the taste of rabbit's meat: it was a long time ago, when he was a youngster. One day, mother brought the struggling Longear to den, so he Whitetail and his siblings could accustom to it's scent. Then she ripped it's throat, ending it's struggle, and letting her children eat it. What a feast that was! - Whitetail thought dreamily, then sighed. It will be very hard for him to catch one of them only by himself...

For the first time in his rather long life Whitetail wished there was some other weasel with him, who could help him in this hunting.

Campion1 · **Reply #229 on:** February 15, 2011, 01:41:17 PM

Rankin witnessed Cinankhen's banzai rescue, and was relieved and proud to see that it had worked when the weasel ran off back into the woods. Rankin was hurting on both his neck and sides, but the area of concern for him was his left hindpaw that was badly bit up all over. He wanted to get up, but any motion pained his leg. He figured now that with that attack, he would be the primary target for the weasel, and he knew he wouldn't be able to go along with the group.

He moved his head over and began to lick the wounds on the paw, and paid attention to his battle partner who saved him from the weasel.

"Cinankhen, are you OK?"

Malte279 · **Reply #230 on:** February 15, 2011, 01:47:20 PM

Cinankhen was lying on the side. He was clearly not injured. No claw or tooth of the weasel had even scratched him, but he was twitching and uttering some rather un-rabbitlike snarls and sounds that grew quieter only gradually as his twitching too ceased slowly.

Myrkin · **Reply #231 on:** February 15, 2011, 02:50:42 PM

Arvens was surprised by the attack and it lasted so short that he and other rabbits didn't have the time to react. Now he was cursing himself in mind for not being more watchful. He hopped to Rankin and Cinankhen.

"Are you alright?" he asked brown buck, looking at his wounded paw. That might be a serious problem for all of them, Arvens thought, if Rankin won't be able to march as quickly as others. Maybe they will have to... No! They will stay together no matter what. Arvens had already started feeling responsible for this little group of strangers who met each other just last night and was determined to keep them all alive... Former captain looked at Cinankhem, who aside from twitching seemed to be quite alright.

"You did a brave thing there, Cinankhen, pouncing weasel like that" Arvens gave him a well-deserved praise.

Campion1 · **Reply #232 on:** February 15, 2011, 03:06:57 PM

Rankin felt a bit more comfortable now within the company of Arvens, but uncertain of what will happen

"I owe him my life... I'm not sure it's worth fighting for now though. Are you going to leave me?" He asked arvens "Because I think that weasel is after me specifically now. I don't know for sure... Just a gut feeling."

Myrkin · **Reply #233 on:** February 15, 2011, 05:01:30 PM

"Rankin. Nobody is going to leave anyone behind. Not now, not ever," Arvens said calmly but firmly, looking into other's rabbit eyes. He really meant what he said. He felt like it was his fault that Rankin got injured in the first place and leaving him for the weasel to eat was not an option.

"Now... Clean this wound and try to get some rest before we march again," Arvens spoke.

Campion1 · **Reply #234 on:** February 15, 2011, 06:03:19 PM

Rankin couldn't believe a fellow buck was caring for him. Not only had one showed courage to save him from death, but another would stay with him in his time of need. It was unheard of for him, and something they would never practice in his previous warren.. unless it was absolutely necessary for the group.

"Arvens... Thank you."

He got back to tending his wound

Myrkin · **Reply #235 on:** February 17, 2011, 07:48:27 AM

Arvens didn't say anything to that, wondering what their next move should be. After a few moment, his thinking was interrupted by Thyme:

"So what's the plan, Arvens?" gray buck asked "Do we wait here, so Rankin's paw can heal or we move on?"

"I would like to set out soon, to put as much of a distance between us and that weasel as possible," Arvens answered, then he looked at Rankin "How do you think? Will you be able to march?"

Campion1 · **Reply #236 on:** February 17, 2011, 08:47:02 AM

Rankin felt a little guilt as they talked about their actions just based off of his injuries. He listened to Arvens question, and tried to stand up. It didn't hurt him as much as it did moments ago, and he would be able to come out ok from the other scratches and slashes that the weasel gave him, but his leg still hurt. He fixed most of his balence on his other three paws, and one them showed a little pain from the violence as well. he gave one limped hop, and thought...

"I agree with you arvens, I just don't think I'll be able to move as fast... Once we steer clear of the weasel though, I'd like to nurse this leg of mine." He sighed and continued "I would think that after this last attack, he might return with backup... We need to leave."

Myrkin · **Reply #237 on:** February 18, 2011, 12:48:56 PM

"Alright. Let's go th..." Arvens said, before he noticed that Cinankhen was still lying on his side "We are moving, Cinakhen... Cinankhen? Are you okay?"

Malte279 · **Reply #238 on:** February 18, 2011, 04:40:04 PM

Cinankhen was still twitching a little, and looked at Arvens with wide unfocused eyes, but his look gradually cleared as if he was weaking up from a deep sleep.

Campion1 · **Reply #239 on:** February 20, 2011, 11:11:15 AM

"Of course he's OK. It would take more than a spasm and a vision to hurt him." Rankin joked. He took a few limped hops very slowly. His hindpaw was really hurting, but he knew he had to leave..

"May we leave now? The sooner the better"