The Watchers brought them across the border.
They were brought to a weeping willow, with an old row boat lent against it, beside the dried up river-bed and shallow pool.
They were about to enter the warren when a light grey and black rabbit emerged abruptly.
“What are these outsiders doing here? I’ve just organised a patrol to go out to check for wild rabbits, I don’t have time to stop and talk.” He blurted, ready for confrontation. Comet was a bit taken aback by attitude and was lost for words.
“You must be RiverCharm?” Said Blue, coming to the rescue. “I’m sure you must be busy, but if you are able to stop for a moment, you might be interested in the Master-Medallion we have here.”
RiverCharm finally looked at them properly.
”Oh, did the Magia send you here?” He asked. “Can I see the Master-Medallion?”
“In a moment, shouldn’t you be going to the north Silver Colony right now? It’s getting close to midnight.” Said Comet.
”I was thinking about going but it doesn’t seem worth my effort, the Magia promised that I would be made the leader of Silver Colony and would have a term of peace if I won, which sounds pretty good, but I’m not stupid enough to believe the Magia would keep their word. All they have done since they got here is lie.” Said RiverCharm. “Now, can I see the Master-Medallion.”
”You can if you come to trial. I don’t believe the Magia will keep their word either but with rebels and wild rabbits threatening to invade, the valley rabbits can’t be fighting against each other.”
”That’s great and all but if the Magia ends up in charge of a united Silver Colony, there won’t be any peace in the valley. They will use it to invade Copper and Gold Colony.” He said.
”Who says that the Magia will be in charge? We want a Silver Colony leader who isn’t controlled by the Magia to use a united Silver Colony to help drive out the Magia from the other colony’s.” Said Coemt.
”Ok, that sounds more like it, but how will you make sure the Magia keeps their word when I win?”
”Assuming you will win.” Mumbled Arrow.
”I will win. I’ve been training.” Said RiverCharm defensively, striking an attack pose.
“At the trial, a lot of rabbits will be there to witness it from your colony, Gold Colony and Iron Colony. We will have the numbers and many of those rabbits now know how to do magic.” Said Comet.
”Magic? Rabbits can’t do magic.” Said RiverCharm.
”They can, they just didn’t know how. Anyway, the Magia need this Master-Medallion to be energised before it’s any good to them. I can use this as a bargaining chip.” Said Comet.
RiverCharm looked at it then touched it. Comet was anxious.
”Wow, it’s beautiful. Ok. I’ll do this trial, sounds like it will be interesting regardless of who wins. I’ll have to tell FlintNose though, he really didn’t want me to do the trial. I’ll be there tonight, probably.” Said RiverCharm, laughing. “Do you want to stay here in the meantime?”
Comet thought for a moment. They were probably wanted in north Silver Colony but he needed to talk to Orion.
”We’ll go to north Silver Colony, I need to talk to someone.” He said.
RiverCharm shrugged and hopped away to meet his patrol group.
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”Master Coney has probably already told all the other Magia leaders to look out for us. We should just stay here.” Said Arrow.
“I’m hoping that if we show them the Master-Medallion, they should let us in and once we’re in Orion’s cave, they can’t risk attacking us.”
”I hope you’re right.” Said Blue.
They travelled to the wide ditch that divided the colony in two, but the main hurdle was the wall of broken shards and glass. The only way through and across was a little plank of wood with sharp objects either side of it.
Comet wasn’t exactly confident that the plank would support them as it creaked and groaned but they all managed to get across and squeeze through the dangerous objects.
The northern Watchers were startled and sounded the alarm then began encircling them, ready to attack.
“We’re here with the Master-Medallion, back off.” Ordered Arrow. Comet showed the Medallion.
They seemed confused about what to do now, a few of them raced towards the warren, to tell the Magia.
Comet knew they had to take the opportunity to escape and they made the mad dash to the cave.
They burst into the cave.
”Who’s there? What’s happening?” Called out Orion. “Oh, you’ve come back, Comet.”
He hopped up to Comet with an excitement he didn’t share.
”I’m so glad you’re alright, Nightwing lost track of you.” He said. Comet backed away, not eager to greet him.
”Look, I need you to be honest, and I want to know the truth, I am not a hare, am I?” He asked. Arrow and Blue looked on intensely.
”How did you know? Master Coney told me to never tell you.” He said.
”So you worked with Master Coney to lie to me from the start then?” Asked Comet.
”Yes, but I didn’t have a choice. You know I made a pact with the Magia when I was foolish enough to believe in them. They wanted me to find another hare to replace me, when I couldn’t do that, they decided to take the risk and trick a bunny into thinking he was a hare. I would never have chosen you if I knew what they would do to those rabbits…” He said, his voice tense.
”What rabbits?”
”Mossy and Stone, they poisoned them so you would agree to leave, they knew they would stop you coming.” He said.
Comet’s mind raced, all the convenient circumstances now made sense.
“Who poisoned them?” He demanded. “Was it either of you?” He glared at Arrow and Blue.
”No, no, I don’t know who did, but they weren’t Seekers from Porcelain Colony.” Said Blue.
Then Watchers burst into the cave, Orion hopped in front of them.
”What are you doing in my cave?”
”We know Comet and those other wanted rabbits are in here.” Said the Magia rabbit that was leading them.
”Where’s Janu?” Asked Orion.
”He’s planning for the trial and ceremony.” Said the Magia.
”So are we. You need Comet to energise the Master-Medallion as well. Janu knows that.”
”Very well, he must stay here until the trial starts. Watchers will be guarding the card entrance.” Said the Magia who promptly left.
“Better hope your plan works, otherwise we’ll be killed by the Magia after this is done.” Said Arrow.
”It has to work.” Said Comet.
”What is your plan?” Asked Orion.
”I’m not telling you, you’ll probably find a way to tell Janu.” Said Comet.
Orion looked ashamed then changed the subject, “After the trial, we will have to go to the sacred tunnel where we will have to energise the Master-Medallion while each colony’s emblem is placed into a special spot in the tunnel to channel all their energies to it.”
”How are they going to get all the emblems? They don’t have the Gold and Iron emblems.” Said Comet.
“They have not told me, but I’m sure they have something planned.” Said Orion.
”You know, I would not be surprised if they made some sort of chaos that gave them the chance to steal the emblems and take control, while making themselves look like the heroes.” Said Arrow.
“If that’s the case, then it probably has to do with the rebels and wild rabbits threatening to invade. I always wondered why they didn’t do more to drive them away.” Said Blue.
”Then, this whole trial must be a set up. I knew they weren’t going to keep their promise… but luck is on our side. Tonight, will be the end of the Magia, one way or another.” Said Comet.
They didn’t have to wait long until they were told to come out of the cave. They were marched across the log to the island.
They saw a huge crowd of rabbits from every colony. He didn’t see GoldWhisker or FlintNose. He figured they must have stayed in their own colony’s but he did see RiverCharm. He was arguing with SilverSkull.
Then Janu and Master Coney emerged from the fortress.
”Everyone, settle down. The trial will begin soon, can the leaders come to the fortress?” Said Janu calmly.
SilverSkull and RiverCharm went through the crowd, RiverCharm stuck his tongue out at SilverSkull who snorted. It was going to be a fierce fight.
Comet, Arrow and Blue silently positioned themselves amongst the crowd, all with their own silent hopes and fears.
Comet wished he hadn’t ended up in this situation, that Mossy and Stone had never been murdered and that he was still a blissfully naive bunny rabbit happily living with humans, but all that was over. Now, he just hoped that whatever happened, that his actions tonight will make the valley a better place.