It wasn’t like there were any real gates to the warren. That would be a pain in the tail to handle, and kind of suspicious for the humans. Instead, Sandpaw called the largest entrances and exits the gates. It was because they were always guarded, and because in an emergency the other holes were able to be easily blocked allowing choke points for enemies.

When he arrived at the gates he found himself in front of a surly officer of the Legion. “Halt! Kit, what do you want?” The legion bunny said, glaring at him.

“Well, I need to get to the forest. I am on a mission for two elders.” Sandpaw said, a nervous twitch in his nose. “I need to retrieve a carrot for Elder Benjamman.”

“That old koot? Why should I allow you to do anything for him. Don’t you know that he tricks newbies into getting hurt. I should pressgang you into the legion if that’s your regard for your own life.” The older buck was angry, his fur ruffled and thumping loudly.

“B-but… I’m also gathering acorns for Mosscheek.”

“You are? Why didn’t you say so! That’s wonderful news. You should become a doctor, you have the body of one.” The bunny pawed at Sandpaw’s small shoulders. “I have to be honest, you don’t have the build to be a warrior in the tribe. Though we would train you if you wanted.

“I-I know, I want to join someone else.” He held off on saying that he was leaning towards the explorers given the older buns dislike. “So I may pass?”

“Sure. And can you make sure Herbcheek checks in on my youngest. He is sick, even though he has not earned his name. I love him deeply. I would be so sad for him to leave us.”

“I-I’ll say.” Sandpaw said, embarrassed as he hopped into the thorns and out into the woods. The woods held a musky mildew scent, and there was a cold air that blue through even though it was a hot day. It was the feeling that came from a cave where there was never any sunlight. Sandpaw didn’t know why he knew that, though burrows were cool as well, but it gave him a shiver down his spine.

The forest was shadow-filled, each nook and cranny seemed to hold some beast that was about to catch him. He couldn’t even get his paws to move, he was paralyzed. He knew rationally that he could do it, but his irrational brain held sway. He moved slowly, trying to look around every corner to see something. There wasn’t anything to see, and he finally made it to the edge of the woods with one paw. One step. Two steps. Three.

As he walked hurriedly through the woods, after an hour of cautious curiosity, Sandpaw noticed an odd pattern on the ground. There was a trail, a long one that wound from side to side like a rope being dragged. Sandpaw followed it hesitantly until he heard a loud caw from above. There was a crow, or perhaps a raven? It’s beak looked extra sharp.

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“What? What do you want? I’m minding my own business and you scare me half to death.”

“Better half to death than full death fool child. Don’t you see, you are about to wander into a snake’s lair. He will mesmerize you and eat you slowly. Is that the fate you seek?”

Sandpaw shook his head. “No, I do not.”

“Then walk on child, walk on and find what you seek. I beg of ya.”

The bird was more than odd, but she had sound advice, so Sandpaw did move forward. There were places to go, things to be. Or was it something to do? It was hard for him to think as he wandered around. His paws started to hurt after another hour. He whined as he moved. The lack of sunlight had killed the grass on the ground, so there were only ferns and weirder plants around, nothing that could sooth his cute paws.

“Why can I not have a place to rest.” He muttered to himself as he moved forward. It was slow going, and it was satisfying under everything else. He watched to see if there was anything strange around him. He watched, that is, until he found a log. As he climbed onto the log he observed a clearing, the only one he’d seen so far. It was filled with clover, the softest grasses, and everything he’d wanted to rest on for so long.

Walking forward as if in a trance he was only stopped by an interruption. “Stop, child.”

“What is it now?!” Sandpaw snapped, looking up at the raven once more. She was a raven, he’d been right before. She was regal, in her own right. Maybe it was the light shimmering on her feathers.

“Look at what’s in the field.” Sandpaw did, there was a deer family. A large father deer with an impressive six point rack, his mate, and a young fawn that was walking on its legs.

“What’s the problem? That looks like an ideal scene. Just so long as the deer aren't like… meat eating or something.”

“No, not these ones.” The bird shrugged. “No, the problem with the field is the flowers. They mesmerize you and keep you coming back. You will be enslaved to the plant, just like that so-called king of the forest.”

Looking closer Sandpaw saw the older deer push the fawn into a patch of flowers, softly but firmly. The little deer was confused, but then straightened, a new glimmer in it’s eyes. “Ah, perhaps not.” He continued onwards.

The next hour was calm, but he found what he was looking for at last. There it was, a clearing on a hill. The clearing didn’t have the odd flowers from the other one, instead it looked to be man made. There were two towers, one to the left and one to the right. To the left the tower was two miles away, while the right one was three.

He instantly found the plant he was looking for, it was an easy task for a forager like him, and he dug it out. The flowers white and the root was as well. It was scraggly, and maybe harrier than he expected, but he was sure it was what he wanted. “Now, how do I get this back?”

“I can help you.” It was that voice again. There the raven was, just on the edge of the darkness in the forest.

“Wha, why would you do that?”

“Oh, it’s simple. I have helped two times before, I will help you once more but only for a price. Do we have a deal?”

“I.. I suppose so. I don’t really have the strength to carry this big plant home.”

The raven nodded. “The deal has been struck. I will take my price when you return.” It swooped down, and disappeared in a flutter of shadow black feathers.

“Weird…”