Rusty nodded towards a strange red brick tower in the distance.

“That‘s where the Magia lives.” He said.

“Well they're not taking us that way, are they?” Snapped Arrow.

“Quiet, most of the colony is resting now.” Said the Watcher Master.

They were taken to a shallow burrow.

“Stay here, I’m going to find Magia Toboc and ask him what to do with you.” He said, leaving some Watchers there.

“What happens if they think we have the infection?” Asked Comet.

“They’ll exile us.” Said Arrow seriously.

“They can’t exile us, they need us to make the Master-Medallion.”

“Not anymore, we got the stuff back and have it all here. They just need to take it from us and then we’ll be expendable.” Said Rusty.

“You forgot they need Comet, so stop trying to make us give us, like you have since the beginning, traitor.” Said Arrow.

“Shh… enough with this accusing him of being a traitor or rebel. We’re already in enough trouble with the Magia and there’s ears everywhere here.” Said Blue, glancing at the Watchers who were looking at them curiously.

Arrow snorted.

A strange rabbit entered the burrow but Comet quickly realised it must be Magia Toboc, since he carried the Iron Emblem around his neck.

”Welcome to Iron Colony, we heard you were held up in Porcelain Colony.”

”Yes, the emblem diagram was stolen by rebel traitors then foxes came.” Said Arrow, neglecting to mention his role in that.

Comet wasn’t sure how much Toboc knew but they couldn’t waste anymore time being distrusted.

”Yes, but we’re here now and we’re eager to make up for lost time.” Said Comet.

“I’ve been told that you encountered infected rabbits, is that true?” He asked.

“Well yes, but we stayed well away from them.” Said Comet.

“We’ll need your satchel until we can be sure. The Fire Master will Master-Medallion with what you have in them.” He said.

They looked at each other uncertainly.

“We risked a lot this mission, it would be nice to see the end of it.”

“You will, when the Magia uses the Master-Medallion to unite the valley and drive out traitors like you.” He said.

They stared at him, wide eyed and unsure what to say.

“Don’t look so surprised, I heard what you did in Porcelain Colony. I can’t have you doing that here. Not that it matters, Janu and I have sent some of our Magia Council there to take back control of the colony, the hard part will be fixing the Porcelain Emblem in time.”

“In time for what?” Asked Arrow, angrily.

“You’ll see… Now give me your satchels, or I’ll take them from you.” He said, his Iron Emblem glowing.

Comet started taking off his satchel.

“What are you doing?” Asked Blue, the others shared his sentiments. They had expected him to fight the Iron Magia.

“I don’t want to be burnt alive.” Said Comet.

“Wise choice.”

“But I also know that you still need me, that Master-Medallion will be useless unless a hare energises it.”

“You’re right about that, which is why we’ll get you when it’s ready.” He said.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Arrow and Blue gave him their satchels too. Rusty refused and tried getting past Toboc, only to be knocked off his feet, writhing with pain.

Toboc removed his satchel and got the Watchers to carry the others. A moment after they left, a stone was rolled in front of the burrow. They were trapped.

Comet could see that Rusty had been burnt by the Iron emblem. He didn’t have anything that could soothe it other than lick it. Blue tried digging the ground but found it was solid stone underneath, like everything else in the colony.

“What’s your plan now? After the Magia makes the Master-Medallion, they’ll kill us, I’m sure.” Said Blue dramatically.

“Or exile us, which isn’t much better.” Said Arrow.

“Unless the rebels are able to destroy the Magia, the whole valley is doomed.” Said Rusty.

“Oh, so you know what the rebels' plans are then?” Asked Arrow.

“I don’t and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.” He said.

“There’s still hope for us yet, all we have to do is get the Master-Medallion, give it to Orion and use it against the Magia, remember? It is made of the most precious resources from that tunnel and Janu wanted us to return to him with Master-Medallion before I energised it. I think the Master-Medallion won’t work outside of a place of great power, like that tunnel, which used to be sacred to the colony.” Explained Comet.

“Wow, I remember when I used to be the confident one.” Said Blue.

“I guess it’s because I finally found something I’m good at and had to face my fears again and again.” He explained.

“I think that we have also been a pretty good influence.” Said Arrow.

“Certainly not you, at the start of this mission, it was all about getting attention.” Said Blue.

“None of that matters now the whole valley could be turned into something completely unrecognisable.” Said Arrow.

“All we can do is rest, and hope that things work out.” Said Rusty, lying down.

Comet couldn’t sleep. He watched the stone, waiting for it to move and eventually, it did.

Comet was escorted across the colony, and once he got over a small rise, he was stunned to see a huge pit of fire, burning brightly while rabbits put dead twigs and leaves into it.

Comet could see other pits of fire coming to life, casting long shadows.

“They must use iron stones to light them.” He muttered.

As they got closer, he saw the rabbits who’d been feeding the fire head up the north of the valley, into small crevices between the rocks while others went up to the large tree, overhanging a rock.

“Where is your warren?” Asked Comet, curious.

The Watcher initially seemed surprised that he was talking to him.

“We don’t have a warren, rabbits just live with their own little groups in whatever spaces there are. The ground is mostly too hard to dig. We do have a meeting hall, under the Iron tree.” He said.

“I don’t see the Fire Master anywhere, I thought he was meant to forge things.”

“He has, we’re approaching him now, so be quiet.”

Comet looked around, trying to identify the Fire Master, only to be taken right to Magia Toboc, wearing a strange headdress.

“You’re the Fire Master?” He asked.

“Of course, since the old one died, I took his place. The only thing I don’t like about the job is this silly headdress, they insist I wear it. It’ll be good when these traditions finally die out.” He said.

“Where’s the Master-Medallion?” He asked, ignoring his comment.

Toboc looked around briefly. “Here.” He said, pointing to the edge of the stone fire pit. He saw nothing. Then the medallion flickered and revealed itself.

“Gold illusion?” He questioned. The Medallion looked beautiful, made of the resources from every colony.

“Yes, it’s a pretty good way to keep it away from anyone who would want to steal it.” He said. “But with Orion ageing, we won’t be able to be the Master-Medallion for long as our pendants and emblems lose their power which is why you and Orion will energise it.”

“I know that, I also know this will need to be done in the sacred tunnel in Silver Colony. So you can’t keep me here or my friends.”

Toboc was surprised that he knew that. “Well yes, but you will be escorted by my rabbits, not your traitorous friends.”

“How about a compromise, you let me friends go with me, but we will go to Diamond Colony to get our name cleared.”

Toboc snorted with amusement. “If you go there, Master Coney will come to the same conclusion as me. We leaders are always talking to each other about what’s happening in our colonies, he won’t trust them.”

“Could we at least give it a try? I don’t think it’s very safe for us to go through Porcelain Colony right now anyway, with it being in a bit of chaos right now.”

Toboc shook his head. “Fine, you and those other rabbits may go to Diamond Colony. It will be amusing when you find yourself in the same situation as you do here. At least it will save me the trouble of having to kill them myself.”

“Great, thank you so much.” Said Comet excitedly.

“But you will be escorted right to the border, we’re not going to give you the opportunity to try running off and sneak past the Watchers.”

“Oh that’s fine.” Said Comet confidently. He hadn’t expected they would be able to avoid being seen coming in anyway.

Arrow, Rusty and Blue were pleasantly surprised to find themselves being released from their prison but they knew there must be some reason for it that benefited the Magia.

“What did you promise Toboc to get him to change his mind?” Asked Arrow when he saw Comet join them in the open burrow. They were forced to stay there until the Watchers arrived.

“Nothing, I just asked if we could go to Diamond Colony to clear our names… but Toboc thinks Master Coney will want to kill you too and he is making us travel there with Watchers.” Said Comet sheepishly.

“Well that doesn’t exactly fill me with hope and confidence.” Snorted Arrow.

“Yeah, I thought you had some genius plan to escape.” Whispered Blue.

“Look, I know it’s not the greatest situation but going there is better than staying here… the Watchers are coming, don’t say anything and just do what you're told.” Said Comet.

He wasn’t sure how long that would last with these stubborn rabbits but hopefully long enough to survive this.