Return to the Warren (solo)

[Fleur]

Fleur and her group left the humans and returned to the forest. The little rabbit child had fallen asleep on her back as they made their way back to the warren. The warren was deep in the Foxatross woods. Far away from the wooden settlement of Aurion and safely tucked away underground beneath the trees. Behind her the old she wolf Mavis was lugging around the carcass of one of the doog’s from their hunt. The small group’s prize for saving the lives of those strange humans. The lynx taguel was helping the old she wolf by carrying the back legs of the creature. Meanwhile, the owl simply walked alongside Fleur in his demi-human form. Happy that he wasn’t going to get his hands or his feather’s dirty with the bloody mess that was the doog.

“I’m still upset the other one got away.” Mavis spoke with shades of annoyance in her breath.

“And I’m glad it did!” Hermie, the owl responded.

“Honestly how would we have even carried that thing back? You twhoo are struggling with just the one!” The owl responded with some curiosity in his voice. His brown wings fluttered lightly as he held his arms out to balance himself as he walked atop a fallen log.

“Grr. You fowl feathered welp. If you weren’t so puny then the three of us could have easily brought back two sets of game.” Mavis talked back. Fleur’s ears twitched slightly towards their bickering. The lynx rolled his eyes at the two of them. There were certain things that were universal among all tribes. One of these things was that the old and young would never truly see eye to eye with one another. But despite that rift between them both owl and wolf made a great pair in combat.

“Have you two forgotten that some of us cannot eat meat? The extra creature would be wasted upon me and the warren. Now had that been a Bael.. then I would have been upset.” Bael meat or bugs in general was one of the few proteins that the rabbits could eat. Fleur turned her head to look back at the three other Taguel with a small smile on her face.

“Your warren’s aversion to meat, means that there is more food for us!” The old wolf spoke again.

She returned her gaze back out towards the forest. Her encounter with the new humans left her thinking. She did not like how defensive they were. She did not like how one nearly hit her with an arrow. And despite the ivy haired one’s best efforts at diplomacy she was still left with doubts. The woods where her home, and those humans walked around as if they owned the place.

“Mavis please. Such gluttony is unbecoming of an old shrew like yourself.” The Owl chided, much to Mavis’ annoyance. The old wolf dropped her half of the doog to chase after the owl. Who quickly flew up to the higher branches and gave a laugh. The lynx nearly fell over with the sudden shift of weight. He was forced to transform and managed to he moved the doog carcass onto his back and continued to walk. It wasn’t long now until they passed the rabbit sentries and entered the territory of the warren. Fleur gave them a bit of a greeting before walking forward. A large maple tree that seemingly looked to be growing alone in a small clearing served as their landmark.

Fleur’s warren was a communal warren. One where rabbit taguel from all corners of Vinland could live in peace. It was something similar to a town or village but exclusive only to bunnies. A bit of a rarity among taguel, as they were one of the few who grew food. Their ancestors learned the trade from some native humans and they merely expanded upon it underground. Most rabbit taguel were vegetarian and there was only so much food they could gather from the woods. The rabbit farms consisted mostly of grasses, herbs, dark leafy greens, a few mild peppers, and some wild carrots. These farms weren't to the extremes like commercial farms of some humans. The rabbits simply grew was much as they needed to live with.

Despite, this calm lifestyle of farming, death was inevitable. Rabbits still died to things like old age, illness, hunters, monsters, and accidents. Fleur’s warren wasn't very large. It consisted of roughly of forty adults and many kids. Simply, because rabbits were born to the warren did not mean they had to remain. It wasn't uncommon for taguel to roam, searching for mates, searching for territory, or to find new sources of food. Fleur herself was one such case. She chose to leave the den and seek out a life for herself as a member of the Thousand Scales.

Rabbit taguel of all sizes, shapes, and colors were roaming around top side. Some were gathering leaves, branches, and twigs and dragging them underground. Other rabbits were busy digging out new holes into the warren. Some were hauling small wooden sleighs full of dirt out of the warren holes. Others were bringing in hollowed out gourds filled with either water or tree sap. Almost all of them turned their heads to stare out towards Fleur and her group as they made their way towards the main entrance of the den. Fleur and her group were not strangers to the warren as they frequently passed through the den. But the doog corpse the lynx carried was a bit of an oddity. The main entrance into the Warren consisted of one large unassuming hole into the ground.

But before they could do that several rabbits swarmed around them curious and eager to learn what had happened. But Fleur dismissed them and told them to return to their work she would explain later. Then she called out towards the tribe of the western rabbits. The western rabbits were the taguel who occupied the western end of the communal warren. Those whose warren was responsible for maintaining one of underground channels for fresh water. To those who cultivated moss and water rooted plants for the rabbits to use. Several rabbits emerged out from the western end of the den. Fleur pulled from her back one sleepy little rabbit taguel. The same rabbit that her group, and the strangers fought to defend.

Two adult rabbits went out to grab and hug the child. The mother had long ears that stuck up like Fleur’s. And the father had the same soft folded ears like the child. Both had green tribal markings on them similar to Fleur’s but of a different pattern. The mother wore a similar attire like Fleur’s except her top was longer to cover the belly. The father was in simple slacks made of plant fibers and covered in more fur. The little taguel stirred slightly in their grip but still remained asleep.

“I suggest you discipline him and those who were supposed to be watching him after he wakes. Had we not been there the little one would have been lunch for the corpse my companions carry.”

She watched as the mother held and hummed to the child. The mother gently stepped away from her mate and Fleur.

“I’m sorry to have to put you through that Fleur.” He apologized to her. Meanwhile, behind Fleur the Lynx, the She Wolf, and Owl started to reenact their heroics using the dead doog as some sort of ghastly meat puppet. It attracted a crowd of younger rabbits to sit and listen. Many of them had never seen a Doog up close and for good reason. Fleur’s ears twitched again in their direction her face shifting to a slightly annoyed expression.

“It’s alright we were simply doing our job. But there are other.. more pressing.. issues that need attention. I need to call a meeting of the warrens. In the meantime spread the word that the area beyond the southern grove of oak is off limits. We have.. unwanted visitors passing through.”

“Are they dangerous?” He asked.

“Yes. Extremely.” She spoke with seriousness in her voice. By now there was a loud crash behind her where the others were acting. And again Mavis shouting at the “ungrateful flying cretin”.

“Excuse me.” Fleur dismissed herself from the older rabbit’s presence and returned to her mates.

“Will you cut that out!” She shouted at them in the same manner a mother would shout at a bunch of unruly kids.

“The cook pits are over there.” Fleur pointed towards the eastern patch of the warren. There were large pits dug into the earth surrounded by stone in order to cook multiple things at once. Mostly it was used to roast nuts or berries collected from the woods. It was also used heat rocks to bring into the den for warmth.

“Ferris.” Fleur called and the Lynx stood up.

“Watch them.” Fleur pointed at the owl and wolf. The lynx nodded and followed after them. Ferris and Fleur have been together ever since she first joined the Thousand Scales. They had seen each other through many missions. Enough to form a bond of loyalty towards one another a bond a kin to that of family. Fleur’s family of rabbits even welcomed him as an honorary rabbit (provided he behaved) out of gratitude for looking after their own. And so Ferris was deemed responsible enough to handle the antics of the other two. Fleur herself went inside the warren off to find her family.

[Fleur]

And so she descended down into the tunnels of the underground. Candle lanterns hung in the various hallways underground. Secured into the walls by nails and hooks these lanterns provided some illumination within the dark earthy depths. Chopped logs and saplings lined certain places of the passages for support. Fleur followed down tunnels she had been through many times before. Her nose picked up on the scent of her den and of her family. Children are taught to memorize the tunnels and their varying directions. Just a bit further. She passed over the entrance into the tunnel that lead towards one of the storage areas.

She continued on wards until she reached the end of the southern patch of the den. Here, was home. She passed down the corridor and found herself staring down a wall with a wooden door. A small door to which Fleur had to crouch a bit in order to pass through without hurting herself. These tunnels were the perfect height for many other rabbits. Unfortunately, Fleur grew to be one of the taller members of her clan. Her ears were of the kind that stuck up, which made her taller than usual. The soft tips of her ears scraped lightly against the soft dirt of the ceiling above her. Home sweet home.

Her parents were the type of rabbits to build things. Among the warren their job was to make things. They would take the raw materials of the forest and turn it into things like chairs, tables, and clothes. They were the carpenters of the tunnels and rabbits from all corners of the warren would come to them for things. Father was one of the few taguel who learned how to use tools. A talent he learned from his father. And a talent he would pass off towards some of his kids. Mother knew how to turn grass into clothes and rugs. She also worked to tend one of the gardens. Something that Fleur had a passion for.

She knocked on the wooden door and waited. She could hear the shuffling of many feet from the other end of the wall and then the door opened. Fleur gave the rabbit a soft smile and a light wave with her fingers. The rabbit who opened the door was one of her brothers. A rabbit taguel with brown hair and white ears. His ears were folded like the rabbit boy that she helped to rescue. But the same style as Fleur’s own ears. The male rabbit twitched his nose towards Fleur and smiled.

“Hey! Fleur’s Home!” The rabbit turned his head back to yell at the other rabbits inside, before he rushed forward and gave his elder sister a hug. She hugged him back and was ushered inside. It had been a while since she last visited home. Not since last year where her and her work mates were forced to hide out in the warren in order to avoid a terrible storm. It wasn’t long before Fleur was hugged and tackled by a bunch of other rabbit taguel. She was so overcome with the warm bodies of her siblings that she was forced to the ground and landed with a thud. She couldn’t help but laugh which prompted the others to laugh too. She then proceeded to pull off the bunnies from her body and pull herself up off the floor. Only, to hit her head lightly at the tunnel ceiling. She sighed softly and crouched down. She mentally cursed the day her body officially became too tall for her own home.

Her three brothers gave a small chuckle at this. And the twin sisters whom were about 10-11 by now covered the other’s mouth in an effort to hide the other’s laugh. The twin girls were wearing green tropical like dresses. And the brothers had green pants that reached to their knees. All of them were adorned with various tribal markings on their arms and legs. However she noticed her brother Haldi, had all four of his limbs adorned with tribal marks signaling that he had taken a mate. Something that she had not seen last year.

The little children were holding her hand and jumping clamoring to hear a story about Fleur’s adventures outside the warren. She smiled softly at them and told them she would tell them a story later but right now she wanted to see her parents. The third brother gently led the two children away and Haldi guided Fleur to the work room. Chairs were lined up in a small pile in one corner, another corner had cut woods, another corner had vines growing into the wall, and another wall had a shelf full of tools. There were little holes in the walls that let sunlight in. Windows towards the outside. Fleur’s father was the first to greet her. A rabbit of a similar color and fur pattern like his daughter, but he was shorter, and his ears were folded back. He hugged her with impressive strength.

“Uhurk!”

Fleur’s father Clyde, had let go. Fleur wrapped her arms over her gut. Somethings.. never change. One would think after a lifetime of being on the receiving end of “Dad’s hugs” her body would have built up a tolerance to it. The carpenter rabbit had enough strength his his hug to rival a bear at least that what it felt like.

“It’s good to see you too Papa.” She spoke with a weak voice as she tried to recover the air she had lost.

“Fleur, You smell like your friends, are they here too?” He asked as he took a seat on a nearby stool. Fleur waited until she recovered enough before talking.

“Yes, Papa. They are currently cooking some meat outside. We might be staying here for the night. There are things in the southern path that need to be addressed. I must call a meeting into order.” She tilted her head up to look at him.

“Ah, Classic Fleur. Always so serious.” This made Fleur frown a bit.

“Papa. Please. This is important. And.. ah.. wait where’s Mama?” She asked. Her ears moved out towards the area where the rooms were hoping to hear the familiar footfall of her mother’s stepps.

“She’s recovering. We’ve had a new addition towards the family. You’ve a new sibling, a little sister. I have been here all morning fixing up the crib.” He smiled softly.

“Aha! That is great news! That makes us what now.. Five boys, and four girls?” She asked in a bit of a happier tone.

“Four and Four.. we lost Sam a few months ago. The ground shook.. The one of the north-eastern tunnels collapsed and took the lives of five children.” He looked down somberly.

“Papa.. ah.. I am so sorry.” Her memory of Sam was a bit hazy. He was four when she last saw him. He was fond of climbing over all sorts of things and had a chilled beet in his mouth as a pacifier. A tiny little rabbit with folded ears and white fur. She tilted her head downwards. But Clyde got up and patted his daughter on the back.

“Go on and see your mother.” He ordered. Fleur nodded and went off.

[Fleur]

The white haired woman walked through the underground halls until she came across a hole in the wall. A curtain made of ivy and adorned in assortment of flowers separated off this little hole in the wall from the others. Fleur rang the little bell made out of a hollowed out gourd to announce her presence and a voice from the inside told her to enter. Fleur went inside.

Inside was a large room, to the sides of it were tables and dressers filled with various things. In the center of the room was a large nest made of soft grass, rabbit fur, and bits of moss. On top of that was a hempen blanket to act like a bit of a barrier between the bodies on the bed and the grass below. On the bed was another rabbit taguel, illuminated in the dark hole by a few hanging lanterns. The rabbit laying there was of a lighter shade then Fleur, she was a bit rounder, and had a larger chest. But she had long curly locks of brown hair and fur lining her shoulders and hands. Warmth was the first thing Fleur thought of when she saw her mother. That and the many times she found herself comforted by those fuzzy arms. A woman who appeared to be in her late thirties. Little lines covered the ends of her face a cross between wrinkles of age and veins of her taguel heritage.

“Mama.” Fleur spoke in a hushed tone. The woman on the bed looked up at Fleur and motioned her over. Nestled in her arms was a little newborn baby. The tiniest and newest member of the family. Fleur hugged her mother lightly and gave her a kiss on her forehead. Then she sat down behind her mother and rested her chin on her mother's head. The baby in her arms was light brown skinned child wrapped in a red blanket. The child’s hair was almost honey in color. Little veins could be seen on the child’s forehead. Little brown ears were folded back atop her head.

“Papa had told me we had a new addition. She's so small with grandmama’s hair.” Fleur spoke softly. The older taguel, Bonnie, smiled softly.

“I'm surprised you remember my mother. You were only six when she passed. How have you been my little flower?” Bonnie spoke softly and with an accent that resembled those who lived by the sea. The seashell necklace around her neck a memento of her maternal den.

“I have been well Mama. We returned a child from the west tribe back to his den. Saved him from being eaten. Humans helped.. but they are different mother. I do not like them.” Fleur wrapped her arms around her mother’s shoulders and just sat there. Enjoying the shared warmth.

“Hmm. I’m sure i’ll hear about it soon enough.” Bonnie’s voice was soft but oddly somber. Fleur twitched her nose lightly.

“Mama.. I’m sorry about Sam. Father told me a moment ago. I remember he tried to make a nest of my hair last I was here. And that he had that beet in his mouth.” Her mouth twitched slightly towards a smile. Little Sam was quite the handful and he did look pretty humorous with the beet in his mouth. But she didn’t smile the death of a child was nothing to smile about.

“Aye. I miss him. But that is just one of the many prices we pay living underground my little flower. Remember when the tunnels to the east flooded three years ago?” She tilted her head up a bit and used Fleur’s chin to scratch an itch on her head.

“Yes Mama. I remember. We lost uncle Jack and his son to the flood.” Fleur closed her eyes and squeezed her mother’s shoulders lightly. Fleur was still learning the finer points of healing during that time. She remembered pulling out the bodies from the water and Jack’s mate begging Fleur to do something. But, Auntie.. I cannot help the dead. Her mind recalled those words. Auntie.. wasn’t quite the same after that.

“But let’s not dwell on the past hardships now my little flower. We have a new life to tend to. It’s been three days and I have not even thought of a name for this little one yet.” The baby in her arms let out a small yawn.

“Summer.” Fleur blurted out. It was the first thing she thought of when she saw the baby’s sunlight colored hair. Grandmama’s sun bleached hair. It was simple but sweet name that Fleur, hoped would bless the child with a life of brightness and joy. Bonnie was silent for a while, staring at the child in her arms.

“Perhaps A little sunshine is what we need after Sam’s death. Summer. Summer. Little Summer.. my little season of light..” There was a smile on Bonnie’s face as she repeated the name under her breath. Bonnie slowly got up. Fleur got up with her. Bonnie turned around gently and handed the little bundle over to Fleur. Fleur held the child in her long arms and slowly sat back down onto the bed of grass.

“I have been sitting there for a while, my little flower. Your mother needs a moment to stretch her legs answer nature’s call.” She spoke as she stretched her arms and legs for a bit. Fleur wasn’t paying attention, her gaze was fixed at the little creature in her arms. Fleur was oldest child out of her family so she had held each of her new siblings in her arms on multiple occasions. Every “first” holding was different. This one didn’t kick her in the chest like Haldi did. Summer didn’t poop on her like Hazel did or try to eat her hair like the twins did. She remembered Sam cried when she held him which hurt her ears. But no little Summer was sleeping soundly in her arms. This prompted a sly response from her mother.

“Look at that my little Flower. You look good with a child. Perhaps.. you might want to.. settle down...” Fleur looked up at her mother with a very flat neutral expression. Do we have to have this discussion EVERY time I come home.

“Mother please.” She spoke with a slightly annoyed tone. She knew her mother never really approved of her life outside the warren. A life that forced her to travel around Vinland. A life of fighting and dangers. But it was her life and she was going to live it the way she wanted to.

“I mean you’ve been with that cat for a while..” Bonnie teased.

“No. No. Stop right there. Don’t even finish that sentence. Ferris is family. Mother. Family. Not a mate. I see him the same way I see Haldi or Hazel. He is a brother.” She sighed softly. Bonnie shook her head a bit before walking off. The baby had opened it’s eyes at this point. A bit groggy from the nap. Unable to see. But it could smell, and Fleur smelled different than Bonnie.

“Hello little Summer. I’m your big sister Fleur.” She spoke to it in a soft tone. Oh.. you have little eyes of hazel. Just like Papa. She was gently rocking the child in her arms. The little bunny made no noise as it slowly drifted back to sleep.

[Fleur]

Fleur sat there talking gently to the little babe. This would probably be one of the few moments she would have with the child as a newborn. It might be a few months or a year until her next visit to the warren. Fleur will not be involved in the history of this child. Not in the same manner as she did with her other siblings. With the other siblings she was rooted at home tending to them as would any older sister. She would sit and teach them the ways of the warren, take them out into the forest to learn how to forage, how to avoid hunters, and what plants were safe to eat. But now that she was a member of the Scales, her job meant that she had to travel from place to place. To wherever she was to be called, to wherever she is needed, to other places of Vinland.

Little Summer would be tended to by the other siblings. Perhaps she would be told the story how the eldest sister named her. Or other stories of her heroics or comical failures. The taguel did recall a time where she tripped and fell into a mud pit in front of the others. They laughed but Fleur was stuck picking out mud and debris out of her hair for days. She brushed up a thumb against the baby’s cheek. When Bonnie finally returned, Fleur gave her the child and went on her way. She couldn’t get too attached. Not any more.

Fleur went ahead and helped herself to the pantry. A group of leafy greens hanging from baskets. She took a seat at the table and munched away. She’d have to go back out into the surface to check on the rest of her group soon. Her brother Haldi take a seat near her. Fleur turned to look at him and at the table. The thing looked so small but yet it managed to hold all the food it needed to feed them.

“So? You found a mate?” She approached and teased her younger brother with a pinch on the cheeks. Haldi had to swat her hand away. He was flushed with a bit of a red tint to his cheeks.

“Who’s the lucky taguel?” Fleur insisted.

“Canna, from the northern patch.” He spoke sheepishly.

Fleur stopped for a moment to recall the rabbit. She remembered the rabbit as a child. An average sized thin little rabbit. The child had reddish hair, that curled, and bright brown eyes. She also had a small gap in her front teeth. Fleur would call her a scrawny little thing. But that was several years ago. Like Fleur the child must be an adult taguel by now.

“I know that look. You still see her as that scrawny little thing. She was.. twelve when you last saw her. So, it’s understandable. But she grew up. She’s as tall as me now.” He scratched his head. Fleur blinked. Now that she thought about them all of their developments went through a very odd scrawny phase. A phase where limbs felt longer than they actually were. A phase where they were all really clumsy. Fleur especially since she was the tallest out of the bunch.

“Are you happy?” She asked.

“Mmh. I am. We pair bonded over the summer. A little after Sam’s death. Right now.. we are trying to decide where to stay. If she joins our end of the warren or if I go to hers… or if we choose to leave the warren and head into the cities. The bird who trades says nice things about Dawsbury.” He spoke to his sister with a bit of a smile. Fleur patted his bushy head.

“Good. I’m glad then. So long as you are happy with the union. If you are not, both of you are getting some sense kicked into you.” She spoke and the male rabbit laughed.

“Bird who trades? Oh, you mean the old crow man? The old buzzard still alive?” She asked before munching on another leafy green. Fleur offered some of it to Haldi.

“Yeah. The old bird’s black feathers are turnin grey. But he still flies by. He traded us some iron tools to help replace Dad’s old stone ones. We also bought some salt. I think we gave him cloth and food for it? It’s been a while. He’s got a son who helps him.” The rabbit took it and munched on it. Both of them liked to eat the bottom ends first then tuck in the leafy parts together into a roll.

“Mom’s going to convince you to stay.” She spoke and popped another sprig of courgette leaves.

“I know. I know. But.. I don't want to stay. Oh! The old man traded us new seeds. So the farm rabbits are making a topside garden. For peppers!” He spoke ecstatically.

“The warren hasn’t grown peppers in years. Not since Grandpapa.” She bit into the cucumber like plant and felt slightly disappointed when it wasn’t a pepper.

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’ll be sure to come by more often then. In the meantime. I’ve got to check on my bunch.” She sighed softly and made her way towards the door. She went ahead and made her way out of the den and back outside. It was evening time and by now most of the rabbits were returning to the underground. Back to their respective den holes to retire and prepare for the night. But not Fleur’s group of taguel. Her work mates were busy eating. The door corpse had been cooked to perfection and each was gorging on the meat. The owl waved Fleur over with one of his wings since his hands were busy. They did an impressive job with the doog. Cutting it up into sections and drying portions of it to become jerky. Fleur was worried though. Cooking smells tend to attract other predators. The sentries would have to be doubled for the night watch.

“I see you guys managed to cook it well. You do know the remains need to be disposed off further away from the dens. Also, we.. are going to aid with the night shift.” She spoke with a bit of a serious tone.

“What? Why?” The owl quipped. Fleur knew their full bellies would make it difficult to stay awake.

“You three are nocturnal. I'm not. You have full bellies and are worn. It will be an equal challenge for all of us to stay awake. Besides the smell of cooked meat might lure in hunters.” She continued on.

“Eh, rabbit's got a point. Wouldn't be the first time we've pulled an all nighter. It would be rude of us to dine and dash.” Mavis the wolf spoke.

“But dining and dashing sounds like fun!” The owl grumbled, before he was smacked in the head by Ferris’ hand.

“Show some manners. We are guests at this warren. If we have to work a bit harder to earn our keep.. then so be it.” The lynx scolded the young owl.

“I remember.. Red told you the same thing when I first brought you here. Bet the big guy is laughing at this wherever he is.” The rabbit had a soft smile on her face. The memory of the large Red Tail Hawk taguel brought a warm feeling to her chest. But the warm feeling diminished when she remembered the Hawk’s final moments among the living. She pushed the memory out and returned to the present.

“I shall speak to the sentries.” She spoke in a serious tone. And with that she went off back into the warren.

“That rabbit.. she sure knows how to suck the fun out of things. I was looking forward to an evening of preening my feathers.” The owl-man turned his head over to see his wings.

“She’s got a talent for dismissing fun. But.. it’s a needed talent. Hermie you haven’t been with us for very long… and you are still young. In our line of work... A distracted taguel.. is a dead taguel.” The lynx watched Fleur as she walked off. Then sighed softly as he started to get to work on disposing the remains of the food. There were special dens closest towards the varying entrances’ these were the sentry stations. Here the sentry rabbits would take turns with the guard duty. Usually, these taguel doubled as foragers. That is the taguel whom would go out of the boundaries of the warren to gather raw goods. Fleur spoke to them and agreed to have her group watch the southern end of warren.

The evening was spent on guard duty. The owl would survey the woods from the trees. The lynx and wolf would pace around the forest. Fleur took her place close to the entrance to ensure none of the others would step out. Ready to sound the alarm if need be. By dawn there was a changing of the guard and the four of them were able to retire to their prepared dens to sleep. The evening of the second day a rabbit meeting was called. Fleur spoke to each family and warned of the dangers of the new humans. As well as the need to forge new bolt holes and exit tunnels.

By the dawn of the third day the group had left the warren.

End thread.