They kept running, they could just see South Silver Colony, they were so close. But they could see rabbits chasing after them. They were already so tired from running, they had no energy to fight back.
“Go and hide in a shrub, I’ll talk to them.” Said Rusty. There was no time to protest and they dashed into the nearest shrub.
Once they were out of sight, Rusty turned around, “I have the Master-Medallion, you don’t need to invade this colony.”
”We need to stop the hare and the Seekers.” Said a rebel and the others quickly crowded around them. Everything seemed hazy, if they decided to attack, Comet knew he wouldn’t be able to defend them.
”They’re powerful fighters, it’s better to get them when it’s daylight. They can’t do anything for the Magia without the Master-Medallion anyway.” Said Rusty. “I know you must be exhausted from already fighting Gold Colony today.”
“He’s almost as good a diplomat as me.” Said Blue, muffled under the bush.
”Shh.” Said Comet.
“Those rebels are going to kill Rusty when they find out he lied to them.” Said Arrow in a whisper.
They didn’t say anything else or move until they were sure all the rebels had been driven out. They emerged from the bush to find Copper Colony rabbits trying to make sure everyone was accounted for.
“You’re right that Rusty won’t last long if we don’t help him.” Said Comet.
”What? You’re going to help him? He’s a rebel.” Said Arrow.
”He risked his life for us, he’s proven he can be trusted.” Said Blue. “But I don’t really like our odds against a whole horde of rebels.”
”We’ll give them what they want, the Master-Medallion, but not the one they want.” Said Comet proudly. Arrow and Blue looked at each other in confusion.
“See this gold stone?” He asked. He tied a string around it and pressed his paw to it. A moment later, it appeared to be identical to the Master-Medallion.
“Woah.” Said Blue excitedly.
Arrow held it up by the string, “it doesn’t feel as heavy as the real one.”
“No, but it should do the trick and convince them for a little while.”
“Let’s hope it convinces them permanently.” Said Blue.
“It won’t. The illusion will only last so long before it goes back to normal. But it’ll give the valley and Rusty a little more time.” Said Comet.
They travelled south and reached the edge of Copper Colony. This side of the valley was carved in a series of ramp-like ridges that went up and up. It was exposed red dirt, with some overgrown bushes that spilled from one ridge to the next. It was uncomfortably exposed.
They made the great leap from one ridge to the next.
“I can smell wild rabbits.” Said Blue.
”I don’t like how close we’re getting to the human burrows.”
”There’s human houses up there?” Asked Comet.
”Yes, beyond the road, valley-born rabbits call it the black river.” Said Arrow.
”Hopefully we don’t have to cross it.” Said Blue.
Finally, they got to the top of the valley, it was fairly flat, with dense bushes, grasses and some trees. They could smell the acidic smell of the black river. The unfamiliar sounds and smells put them all on edge.
“I don’t really know where a rabbit would live in a place like this.” Said Blue.
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”There are tunnels under parts of the road, that might be a good place to start.” Said Arrow.
They let Arrow take the lead and travelled slowly and low to the ground. A car suddenly raced across the road. They all froze in terror.
Comet recovered himself first. “It’s alright, they never leave the road. We’re safe.” He said, reassuring himself as much as Arrow and Blue.
Arrow kept moving until they reached a patch of long grass. Peering through, they could just see little brown rabbits hopping around. They were entering a drain under the road.
“I still can’t believe that the rebels are crazy enough to try using wild rabbits to destroy the valley.” Said Blue.
“After seeing what I’ve seen, it doesn’t shock me at all, I can’t see Rusty though.” He said Arrow.
“Ok, let’s approach them, we’re running out of time.” Said Comet, his mind was on the Master-Medallion illusion. He didn’t know how long it would last for.
They slowly emerged from the bushes, the wild rabbits saw them and seemed skittish. The rebels appeared, there seemed to be a lot of them, made up of rabbits from every colony.
“We’ve come for Rusty” Said Comet.
A rabbit came forward, and Comet remembered his name was Cricket. Some rabbits came out of the drain, dragging Rusty along with them.
“Did you get your friends to come save you, Rusty?” Asked Cricket. Rusty shook his head. He gave them a look that begged them to leave.
”No, we just don’t want him to be killed by you crazies.” Said Arrow.
Cricket snorted with amusement.
“I know you want the Master-Medallion, if you let Rusty come with us, we’ll give it to you.” Said Comet.
“Let’s see it then.” Said Cricket. Comet could sense he was going to grab it as soon as he could so as soon as he got it out of his satchel, he tossed it as far as he could. It landed into a bush and the rebels raced towards it.
”Hey, that’s mine.” Said Cricket. The rebels weren’t very disciplined.
Comet and the others charged at the rabbits who were still holding Rusty. They attacked them and briefly freed Rusty, who wouldn’t run away with them.
”What are you doing? You can’t give them the Master-Medallion.” He said.
”It’s ok, we’ll get it back.” Lied Blue.
”It’s too late for that.” Said Cricket, he emerged from the bush, the Master-Medallion around his neck. Arrow ears pricked. He heard something in the distance.
”We can’t let you go back to the valley to help the Magia take over.” He said.
”We aren’t, we’re going to protect the valley from them and from you.” Said Comet.
“The colony’s have proven they are too easy to be manipulated and controlled, they need to be destroyed so we can start again, can’t you see that?” Asked Cricket.
”If you don’t give up these plans, then it is you who will be destroyed.” Said Comet.
“I’m not afraid of the Magia or any colony leader, we are willing to risk our lives for this.” Said Cricket. He gave a look to the rebels either side of him, they were moving closer.
Comet pulled out a copper stone and tossed it to the ground, sending a jolt of energy out, scattering the rebels. Cricket shouted orders at them and Comet was separated from Arrow and Blue, who were forced to fight the rebels.
In the chaos, he lost sight of Rusty then saw him, the guards forcing towards the road. Rusty was fighting back as hard as he could. Comet could hear an ever increasing rumbling sound. He knew what they were trying to do.
He charged after them, he tried using an iron stone to drive back the rebels that were attacking him. But just as he had nearly caught up to Rusty and his attackers, he was tackled from behind and was pinned to the ground.
The rebels held Rusty as the car came into view, bearing down on them. At the last moment, they kicked him into the road while they raced away. Rusty didn’t have enough time to run away before the car ran him over and drove away.
They were all shocked and horrified but they didn’t have time to mourn, the rebels were still intent on attacking them. Comet spun around and pushed his attacker off of him, burning him with an iron stone.
The stone rolled into thick, dry grass. Soon, the smell of smoke filled the air, causing the rebels to lose their resolve to fight.
It gave Comet and his friends a much needed break, to race down the valley. Comet didn’t think about where they were going, he just wanted to get as far away from this place as he could.
They eventually ran into some rabbits. They blindly attacked because they were so on edge.
“Get some back up, tell these crazy rabbits are trying to get into Silver Colony.” Said the rabbit.
”Silver Colony? Everyone, stop and calm down. They aren’t rebels.” Said Comet.
It took Blue and Arrow a moment to withdraw from the fight and realise they weren’t fighting rebels again.
”We certainly aren’t rebels. Why did you charge at us and attack us?” Asked the rabbit which Comet now realised was a Watcher.
“We just ran away from some rebels, they killed Rusty.” Said Comet, still breathing hard. He looked back and was relieved to find out they hadn’t been followed.
He couldn’t see up the valley this far away but at least it looked like the fire in the grass hadn’t spread.
“I see you all look pretty shaken up but you clearly aren’t from this side of the valley. Why are you here?” He asked.
”We need to pass through to north Silver Colony for the trial.” Said Comet.
”Hmm, I don’t think RiverCharm is going to the trial.” Said one Watcher.
”What? Then we need to speak to him right away.” Said Comet
”I guess you can talk to him. RiverCharm will be excited to meet the Magia’s hare.” Said one Watcher. The other nodded.
Comet held his tongue and didn’t correct him. It was more important to get in and convince RiverCharm not to give up on the trial.