Vervain's new life Part 7

"Daddy, daddy! Wake up!"

"Mmmmhf, doihaveto..."

"Yes! It's morning already! You promised I was allowed to go out today!"

"I did...?"

"Yeah! You did!"

"Did your mother say it was alright?"

"She said I should have been able to leave the burrow weeks ago! Now come on! Lets go!"

Vervain let out a small shucked as his son leaped from the top of his head and hopped out of the door. Red Oak was now four weeks old and growing fast. He had the jolly nature of his mother and silver tongue of his father. As he was growing, he started to even look like his father more and more every day. The small buck was as curious and eager to get outside as any other, but so far Vervain had kept him inside for protection. Not just because of the human and other elil, but also because of the possibility that Thorn was still hanging around the warren.

But last night Vervain had promised Red that he was allowed to go out for the first time. And the black rabbit knew there was no going back now. Still tired the buck got up and yawning widely he walked after his son.

Larch was already outside eating when Red finally hopped outside. Smiling at her son Larch got up to her back legs.

"Welcome to the world outside the burrow, sweetie."

Red's eyes were almost as wide open as his mouth. He looked up to the sky to see the blue roof and white clouds. He saw the bright green grass, many flowers, trees, near by pond... everything was so new and amazing to the young rabbit he could hardly hold himself from gasping.

Vervain walked beside his son and after seeing his wide eyes shining in wonder, he remembered the first time he had stepped outside his birth-burrow. He remembered the wonder and excitement in his heart, the very same Red must have felt in that very moment. He smiled.

"It's quite a sight, isn't it?" Vervain asked. Red was too stunned to answer with words and simply nodded.

"It is quite a beautiful world... but for a rabbit it is also a dangerous one." the black rabbit reminded his son.

"Indeed." Larch joined in. "Foxes, dogs, eagles, cats, humans. By the Black rabbit, even the others of our kind are against us."

"Yes. And thus, you must learn to be one of these things: runner, digger, or a listener." Vervain said.

Red looked up to his parents, ears up, knowing in his heart that this was important.

"If you are quick, you can outrun your enemies. If you can dig, you can hide from them. If you listen, you will learn and become smart enough to trick those who wish you harm." Vervain continued.

"You can learn all of these things, but it is easier to become just one of them." Larch said.

"Your mother is a excellent digger. I myself prefer running." Vervain explained. "You can be whatever you want."

Red seemed to think for a moment. Then he turned to his father and asked "Which is the best?"

"They are all just as effective. They have their goods and bads. Running gets you away from humans and other big creatures. But hawks and owls can still catch you." Vervain said.

"Digging will keep the flying and big enemies, but creatures like weasels and foxes are small enough to get into the burrows." Larch said.

"As for getting smarter and witty. You are able to outsmart many creatures like dogs and cats. But humans are not so easy and often outsmart you." Vervain continued."So whatever you pick, it is just as good and bad as the other." he said.

Red though for a moment again. Then he smiled and said: "Then I'm gonna be good in ALL of them!"

"Vervain! Larch!" a deep, calm voice called for the two rabbits and as the turned, they saw Pinecone making his way to them, followed by two smaller rabbits.

"Cone! Morning!" Larch declared happily smiling.

"Do me eyes deceive me, or has the little sprout finally been let outta the burrow?" Cone gasped as he saw Red Oak.

"Yeah, it looks like it's the time..." Vervain sighed.

"Oh, don't be so rough at yerself, the kits gotta leave their burrows one day!" Cone said, sitting down.

The two smaller bunnies peeked, giggling and smiling, behind his back, looking at Red. Red had seen Cone before. He had visited their burrow few times. But who were these two?

"Now Red, let unca-Cone introduce ye to me kids!" Cone said happily, and the two young rabbits hopped in front of him.

"Me son Thistle and me daughter Ivy!" Red looked at the two young rabbits confused. He had never seen any rabbits that looked so alike!

"Why are you two looking the same?" he asked, as innocent and any kit would.

Thistle and Ivy giggled. "We're twins!" said Thistle.

"What is a twin?" asked Red, looking at his parents.

"Twin is when more than one kits are born at the same time. Some looks alike, some don't." Larch explained.

"Daddy, can we go play with Red Oak?" Ivy asked, looking at Cone.

"Fine with me, what do ye two say?" Cone asked Vervaina and Larch.

The two looked at each other, Larch smiling happily, while Vervain had an unsure expression on his face.

Finally Vervain sighed. "Alright. But I trust you two to look after him. He is just out of burrow after all."

"We promise!" the twins said both at once.

"Come one Red! Lets play Elil!" Thistle said as the three hopped to the field.

"Yeah!" Red shouted happily. But soon he asked "What's playing?"

Vervain sighed as he watched the little rabbits hop further away. Larch leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Relax. We will look after them so they don't run too far." she said.

"I know dear..." Vervain said, still not sure if he liked this. He then turned to Cone.

"Any sight of her?" he asked.

"Not according to our guards." Cone said.

"We haven't had a whiff of her since she left! Me thinks she really did leave fer good!"

"I still don't want to believe that Thorn could do such a thing..." Larch said, holding her head against her mate's chest.

"I'm sorry I chased her away..." Vervain said, putting a paw around his mate.

"It wasn't your fault, dear. She had been like that for years. It was just bad luck you were the one she exploded on." Larch said, looking up to her mate, smiling.

"Ah don't think we hafta see her ever again..." Cone said as he turned to look at the kits.

They had explained Red what playing was, how to play Elil, and now the twins were chased by "The elil" Red. It was quite like human children playing tag. Laughter and cheers echoed in the valley, and Vervain felt like he could relax for a while.

As he, Larch and Cone were caught in a conversation, they didn't notice that the kids started to get further and further away from them while playing. When Vervain finally noticed that the laughter had faded, he panicked. He turned to see the valley, but there was no-one there.

"Red!?" He shouted, alarming Larch and Cone too.

No answer came.

"Scatter! Shout when you find them!" Vervain said, in a tone that neither Cone or Larch had heard him speak before. It was commanding, with a hint of fear in it. Larch knew how her mate felt like, and hoped deep in her heart that everything was alright.

"Red!?" Vervain shouted as he ran around. "Red!? Where are you!? Answer to me right away young buck!"

"I'm here daddy!"

After hearing Red's voice from close by, he sprinted towards it. "Red!"

"Hey daddy! I met a traveler who was looking for a place to stay! Can he stay with us?" Red asked right when he saw his father.

"Wha-?" Vervain let out, and only then he noticed a big red buck standing next to his son.