http://monkeybarrel.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
monkeybarrel.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
31_days2005-08-01 08:27 pm
monkeybarrel.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2005-08-01 08:27 pm
(August 1st)(Watership Down) Be indomitable, o my heart
Day/Theme: August 1st, Be indomitable, o my heart
Series：Watership Down
Rating: G
Notes: I am no Richard Adams, nor do I pretend to be.
The Black Rabbit stood out even in the darkest of burrows. His eyes, red and always bright, stared back unblinking until you looked away.
It was not fear that made Hazel look down. He did not fear his Lord. He was in fact very proud to serve in the Black Rabbit’s Owsla. He did not miss his old life, although he thought about it often- and about Fiver, and Bigwig, and all the others. His dreams were filled with summer morning silflays on the Down, or winter nights deep in the Honeycomb, listening to stories, some more familiar than others, as if he’s heard them before, heard them or lived them. He could not remember anymore what was story and what was real.
If he had been told when he was alive that he would be standing less than a burrow’s length from the Black Rabbit of Inle, he would have said, “Now’s that’s good story. Do you have another?”
But this was not a story; not a tale to tell to kittens to make them mind their mothers, nor a warning to young bucks who try to run too far too fast without checking the skies above them or the trees surrounding them.
The Black Rabbit, for all his power that he held, was not one of the thousand, but he was standing in front of him, standing and looking at him very expectantly.
Hazel bowed. “My Lord, I am honored by your visit.”
The Black Rabbit said nothing at first. He turned his head and surveyed the burrow, his eyes bright, glowing. “I came to see if you were having any difficulties settling in,” he turned to Hazel, “but it appears that you are already quite comfortable.”
“Yes, my Lord.” He nodded. “I am very comfortable here. Thank you, my Lord.” And he bowed again.
“...Yes,” said the Black Rabbit.
The burrow then grew a shade darker causing Hazel to look up. The Black Rabbit sat in front of him, his eyes closed.
A long moment passed. Hazel was at a loss. Was his Lord asleep? Right here in his burrow? Should he wake him? Or would that be…rude?
Well, it must be very tiring to be the Black Rabbit, he reasoned. And to do…all that he does. Surely, a few moments of rest here or there is very understandable, no, very necessary.
Hazel settled on that. But then, what should he do?
Well, he thought, I should do what any officer would do at this moment, right? I mean, Bigwig certainly wouldn’t just sit around and do nothing.
He moved cautiously, quietly so as not to disturb his Lord. When he reached the opening to the tunnel, he sat still and faced out, his senses directed at what could come down towards him.
You have nothing to worry, my Lord, he vowed to himself. I will guard this run until you wake. That I can do.
While he looked out, he did not notice two flame-colored slits staring at him. Nor could his instincts fight the heaviness of sleep that fell upon him, and his mind slipped into blackness.
He awoke later to find himself resting in the mouth of the tunnel. Behind him lay his burrow, empty.
“How did he...” Hazel looked around, but there was no sign of his Lord.
Had it been-
Like the summer silflays and the winter stories, could that have been just another dream?
Up through the tunnel, morning waited for him. He could smell it even down here. Through the earth, he could feel movement, other rabbits running up to meet the day. He followed their sounds, but slow at first, as if the dream still held him to his earlier post.
Even if it was only a dream, the feeling of failure weighed on him. With each step, the tunnel grew brighter, but his heart became heavier.
Under the light of the sun, he watched the others feed, lounge, and play. It was a relaxing sight, but he told himself to stay alert, to focus, but even with his ears to the wind, he did not notice someone sit next to him until the other spoke.
“Ready for another patrol?”
Hazel turned to see the Black Rabbit nibble on the grass.
“...My Lord?” After the initial surprise wore off, he turned away in shame. He was caught unaware again.
“It should be an interesting day,” said the Black Rabbit. He stood up and looked down at Hazel. His red eyes glowed bright even under the sun. “Are you prepared?”
Even with his misgivings, he could not refuse that gaze. He looked back and nodded. “Yes.” The Black Rabbit continued to stare back at him. “...or rather, I will be,” he added.
“Yes,” the Black Rabbit said. “I believe you will.”
Without another word, he turned away and ran down the hill, leaving Hazel to watch him cross the field. The others gathered around their Lord one by one until they ran as a group, one black form racing ahead.
Every part of his being pushed him to join, and with a leap, Hazel followed, the words of the Black Rabbit echoing with every bound.
Yes. I believe you will.
Series：Watership Down
Rating: G
Notes: I am no Richard Adams, nor do I pretend to be.
The Black Rabbit stood out even in the darkest of burrows. His eyes, red and always bright, stared back unblinking until you looked away.
It was not fear that made Hazel look down. He did not fear his Lord. He was in fact very proud to serve in the Black Rabbit’s Owsla. He did not miss his old life, although he thought about it often- and about Fiver, and Bigwig, and all the others. His dreams were filled with summer morning silflays on the Down, or winter nights deep in the Honeycomb, listening to stories, some more familiar than others, as if he’s heard them before, heard them or lived them. He could not remember anymore what was story and what was real.
If he had been told when he was alive that he would be standing less than a burrow’s length from the Black Rabbit of Inle, he would have said, “Now’s that’s good story. Do you have another?”
But this was not a story; not a tale to tell to kittens to make them mind their mothers, nor a warning to young bucks who try to run too far too fast without checking the skies above them or the trees surrounding them.
The Black Rabbit, for all his power that he held, was not one of the thousand, but he was standing in front of him, standing and looking at him very expectantly.
Hazel bowed. “My Lord, I am honored by your visit.”
The Black Rabbit said nothing at first. He turned his head and surveyed the burrow, his eyes bright, glowing. “I came to see if you were having any difficulties settling in,” he turned to Hazel, “but it appears that you are already quite comfortable.”
“Yes, my Lord.” He nodded. “I am very comfortable here. Thank you, my Lord.” And he bowed again.
“...Yes,” said the Black Rabbit.
The burrow then grew a shade darker causing Hazel to look up. The Black Rabbit sat in front of him, his eyes closed.
A long moment passed. Hazel was at a loss. Was his Lord asleep? Right here in his burrow? Should he wake him? Or would that be…rude?
Well, it must be very tiring to be the Black Rabbit, he reasoned. And to do…all that he does. Surely, a few moments of rest here or there is very understandable, no, very necessary.
Hazel settled on that. But then, what should he do?
Well, he thought, I should do what any officer would do at this moment, right? I mean, Bigwig certainly wouldn’t just sit around and do nothing.
He moved cautiously, quietly so as not to disturb his Lord. When he reached the opening to the tunnel, he sat still and faced out, his senses directed at what could come down towards him.
You have nothing to worry, my Lord, he vowed to himself. I will guard this run until you wake. That I can do.
While he looked out, he did not notice two flame-colored slits staring at him. Nor could his instincts fight the heaviness of sleep that fell upon him, and his mind slipped into blackness.
He awoke later to find himself resting in the mouth of the tunnel. Behind him lay his burrow, empty.
“How did he...” Hazel looked around, but there was no sign of his Lord.
Had it been-
Like the summer silflays and the winter stories, could that have been just another dream?
Up through the tunnel, morning waited for him. He could smell it even down here. Through the earth, he could feel movement, other rabbits running up to meet the day. He followed their sounds, but slow at first, as if the dream still held him to his earlier post.
Even if it was only a dream, the feeling of failure weighed on him. With each step, the tunnel grew brighter, but his heart became heavier.
Under the light of the sun, he watched the others feed, lounge, and play. It was a relaxing sight, but he told himself to stay alert, to focus, but even with his ears to the wind, he did not notice someone sit next to him until the other spoke.
“Ready for another patrol?”
Hazel turned to see the Black Rabbit nibble on the grass.
“...My Lord?” After the initial surprise wore off, he turned away in shame. He was caught unaware again.
“It should be an interesting day,” said the Black Rabbit. He stood up and looked down at Hazel. His red eyes glowed bright even under the sun. “Are you prepared?”
Even with his misgivings, he could not refuse that gaze. He looked back and nodded. “Yes.” The Black Rabbit continued to stare back at him. “...or rather, I will be,” he added.
“Yes,” the Black Rabbit said. “I believe you will.”
Without another word, he turned away and ran down the hill, leaving Hazel to watch him cross the field. The others gathered around their Lord one by one until they ran as a group, one black form racing ahead.
Every part of his being pushed him to join, and with a leap, Hazel followed, the words of the Black Rabbit echoing with every bound.
Yes. I believe you will.