Part Six: Flight or Fight?

Walter ran. He had to tell his father, whether his father wanted to hear it or not. Walter’s prediction had proved true, but he had not known that it would come true so soon. The birds were coming. They were coming to First Warren. They were coming to destroy the rabbits once and for all.

Walter charged into where his father was, much like earlier today, but with panicked urgency. His father looked up, and anger was plain on his face.

“How dare you come back here! What did I tell-”

“Father! The birds are coming! The birds are coming! Muster the army! We must defend the city!” urged Walter, talking quickly.

“No birds are coming, son, calm down.” said King Henaphiz, shocked at Prince Walter’s performance.

“Father, look outside to the east! See for yourself!”

King Henaphiz appeared unconvinced, but he nevertheless looked out his window pointing to the east. He gasped. Fear etched itself all over his face. He huddled his money bags to himself. 

“We must leave,” he whispered.

“What?” 

Louder the king repeated, “We must leave, my son. You, there!” A servant perked up. “Get my big cart and best pullers ready. Also get my best bodyguards.” The servant bowed and ran off, stumbling.

“What are you doing?” asked Walter.

“I’m fleeing, what does it look like?”

“You’re abandoning your people? You’re leaving at a time of great need? We must fight, father! There is no other way! If you flee, you’ll surely be caught! Stay, father! Stay and lead your people!”

“This is my way of leading.” the king mumbled as he grabbed as many bags of gold as he could. Then he hustled out of the room, leaving Walter horrified in his stead.

Walter regained himself when Jonathan Fletcher appeared with the rest of his guard. Walter had sent Junafur to get them, then charged her to hide in the depths of the palace with Oaken. He didn’t want her to get hurt.

“Sir, what are we to do?” asked Master Fletcher.

“We must first save the king, he’s trying to leave the city.”

Jonathan gasped, “Is he insane!?”

Walter didn’t answer, he indicated for them to follow him, then he ran to the gate, to try to stop his father.

When they got there, the gate was closing. NO! Too late again! Walter climbed to the top of the wall and he gasped. There was a bird far out ahead of the army, a terrible black hawk with a golden helmet and breastplate, and he was swooping on the king! The bird had an enormous black sickle and it sliced the cart filled with money bags in half in one clean stroke. 

“NOOO!!” shouted Walter and he would have jumped off of the wall if Fletcher wasn’t there to hold him back.

The bird swooped again, this time slicing King Henaphiz’s bodyguards. Walter grabbed a rope and started to go down the wall to his father. But it was too late. The huge raptor swooped, and the king’s scream split the air. Walter could do nothing but watch.

To Be Continued...