... Yeah. Hope y'all like it! Blessings, A. R. -----------------------------------------------------------      Laurel woke early the next morning, her heart pounding and her brow cold with sweat. She looked around her room, trying to calm her nerves. What’s wrong? She wondered, rubbing her bloodshot eyes.      Her night had been horrible. No matter what she did, she couldn’t fall asleep during the night. And when she did, it was a light sleep; uncomfortable, cold, and irritating.     Laurel stumbled out of bed and quickly smoothed her fur, though not taking care of anything else. She didn’t know what was wrong. But she could feel something was out of place. And she had to find out.      In the kitchen, her mom was finishing up some clean up and had a small breakfast on the table.      “Morning,” Laurel greeted, trying to shake the uneasiness from her heart.      Fern looked up at her daughter and gave her a small smile, but her eyes were clouded over.      “Mom, what’s wrong?” Laurel asked, coming to the kitchen and standing in front of her mother.      Fern frowned. “I’m worried. Patrick isn’t home yet.”      Something cold clutched Laurel’s heart as she remembered what Dylan had said almost two weeks ago. ‘Patrick might be moved.’      Would they really do it? If so, that would explain why Pat wasn’t home. But she couldn’t bear to tell her mom. Or she didn’t know how…      Fern shook her head suddenly, a determined light filling her eyes.      “We’ll wait another day; we could’ve messed up the schedule or something. If he isn’t back tomorrow, I’ll go ask the headmaster if something happened.”      Fern seemed satisfied with the resolution. But Laurel found herself shaking and she quickly sat down at the table, trying to hide the fact that she was nearly sick. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably and she felt like throwing up.      Looking at the food, Laurel paled. She stood up abruptly and headed towards the door, grabbing her prey mark.      “Laurel, where are you going?” Fern asked, coming out of the kitchen. She looked concerned.      Laurel drew a sharp breath. “Work… Brown has lots of new assignments and I better get there early so that I get my chores done.”      Fern gave her a puzzled look. “Without breakfast?”      “I cant eat right now… I don’t feel alright,” Laurel explained, wanting to run and run and run from all these terrible thoughts and feelings.      Fern sighed, her hands on her hips and giving her a exasperated look. “Laurel, what’s going on?”      Laurel felt her heart sink. No… not now! “Nothing. Brown just has a lot of things to be done.”      Fern furrowed her eyebrows. “Enough work that you’re coming home after dark?”      Laurel tensed. Is this really happening right now?      “Mom, you don’t understand-"      “Really?” She scoffed. Laurel’s blood began to boil.      “Or is there something else going on? A buck perhaps?”      Laurel felt like she would die. This was going horribly wrong!      “What makes you think that?” She asked in a quiet voice.      Fern rolled her eyes. “Laurel, I happen to work for an entitled rabbits family too. Rumors are within easy access.” Laurel’s eyes widened.      “This buck must be important to you if you keep staying out at night ‘working' as you call it. I wonder how the Administration doesn’t catch you after-" Fern froze, her face paling as she looked up at Laurel.      “Don’t tell me it’s that lieutenant. Please don’t tell me!”      Laurel was done. “I’m leaving.” She muttered, slamming the door behind her and running down the road.        Laurel tried to bottle up her anger as she approached Brown’s house. But as she entered into the kitchen, Laurel’s heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach.      All the servants were lined up in a stiff, quiet line as Brown examined them from the other side of the room. She froze, looking from her coworkers to her master.      Brown was in his uniform again, and he looked ready to go somewhere. He saw Laurel and his eyes brightened strangely.      “Evergreen, come with me.” And he headed down the hall towards his office.      Laurel gave her coworkers a pleading look, hoping they would explain, but they all looked just as helpless as her. Well, except Tori. When he met her gaze, he smirked and stood taller. What happened, she wondered as she left the kitchen after her master.      When she reached the office, Brown was setting things aside at his desk. He looked up and motioned her inside, leaning against the front of the desk.      Laurel shut the door behind her and curtsied, cautiously raising her head to see her master.      Brown had a stern but also excited look on his face. “Evergreen, I have news. I have been asked and accepted into Morbin’s war council, and will be called often to his palace to come up with plans in regard to the rebellion outside. I’ve also been granted the permission to bring a servant to be an aid. I want you.”      Laurel’s heart froze. She must’ve looked shocked, for Brown raised his eyebrows and began to chuckle at her.      “Yes, I chose you.” He repeated, crossing his arms in front of him.      Laurel drew a shaky breath. “S-Sir, may I ask w-why?” She asked in a hoarse whisper, trying to control her emotions.      Brown waved his hand dismissively at her, preparing a few more things on the desk.      “I’m able to choose whoever I want,  Evergreen. Let’s keep it at that.” He answered, turning back to face her.      “Now, let’s get going. We don’t want to be late on the first day.”        Laurel followed her master down the street, completely flabbergasted. This made no sense! Brown wanted her? Why? And what would this council even be about?      Laurel scolded herself. It’s about war, Laurel. Get it together!      She followed Brown further down the street and towards Longtreader Administration. She nearly screamed.      There was a massive hawk perched atop the building, looking around the district with dismal curiosity. He looked like he was bored.      Laurel noticed Brown walk slightly faster, like he was anxious to be going. Laurel swallowed down as much fear as she could and caught up to her master, glancing up at the predator above.      Brown burst through the door into HQ and continued to walk on through, paying no attention to anyone whatsoever. Well, except for Laurel.      “Keep up, Evergreen,” he barked, brushing past a few officers that were coming from the hallway. They looked just as surprised as Laurel. She kept her head down as she passed them, not wanting to cause any trouble on this very unusual day.      Brown opened a door and began to clamor up the stairs, his breathing like a rattling wind. Laurel slowed, wondering if she should offer some help. One part of her told her she should. He was a rabbit just like her. But another part said to leave him be. He was her master; she was a slave. He would probably tell her that she should keep her place anyways.      Brown finally reached the top of the stairs and pushed open a door, plenty of light filling the shadowed shaft they had just been in. Laurel ran up the remaining stairs and out into the light. She froze.      She was on top of Longtreader Administration. On top of the building with the massive hawk.      The bird turned towards them as they stepped further out onto the roof. Brown smiled when the bird made eye contact and began to chuckle.      “So, we meet again, Admiral!” He greeted, stepping forward.      The large bird made a strange clicking noise, and it took Laurel a moment to realize he was laughing.      “Indeed we do, Virgil! But tell me, why did His Excellency bother asking you back? You’re just an old pelt to him!”      Brown and the hawk laughed. Laurel realized that they must’ve been friends. Were they still?      Brown smiled and looked up at the bird and realized Admiral was looking at something else. He turned and saw Laurel, and he chuckled.      “Admiral, this is my servant of choice. She’s got fire enough in her blood to stand up for herself.”      Laurel didn’t know if she should take that as a compliment or a warning. She decided both.      The bird cocked his head, studying her. Laurel wanted to look away. She felt her heart waver and fought the urge to run away. But she forced herself to meet his beady gaze.      The bird blinked, then clicked his beak a few times.      “I didn’t know you were bringing an aid, Virgil.” He answered, hopping onto his other foot. Laurel tried to not stare at his talons. They made a horrid clicking noise when he moved. He had most likely shredded many living things with those claws.      Brown scowled. “I’m an old rabbit now, Admiral. It’s hard to move about and get information to others. I’m also doing something for a friend, and am trying to do two rabbits a favor." He explained, squinting down at the sixth district below.      The hawk bobbed his head, looking first at Brown, then at Laurel. She clenched her fists at her sides.      “A word of advice, little doe,” the hawk squeaked quietly. “In Morbin’s palace, there are many who want their own advancements. They do what they have to for their own good. Don’t get in anyone’s way, or you could be thrown in the midst of danger. And believe me when I say that there is a lot of it from within His Majesty’s palace."      The hawk looked at Brown, then back to Laurel. “Brown and I were a duo back in the early years. But when age caught up with him, he chose to retire and I was reassigned. I’ve been ridden by many a rabbit, but only Brown has been the fondest in my memory.”      Laurel noticed the few scars along his wings. She looked back at the bird as her fear dissipated slightly.      He gave her a nod. “Morbin has his own plans, and his many servants have their own. Do your best to stay out of their way, and stick close to Virgil here."      Brown huffed impatiently. “Admiral, are you done? She’s just a servant! With the way you’re talking to her, you’d think she was special or something.”      Laurel lowered her head to hide the crimson blush that burned her face.      The hawk flapped his wings a beat, settling back on his feet.      “Everyone needs some caution nowadays, Virgil. Even mere servants.” He hissed, ruffling his feathers.      Brown rolled his eyes and hobbled over to stand beside Admiral. Laurel noticed there was a type of saddle on his back.      Admiral helped Brown onto his back by lowering his head and once the old buck was safe on his back, he balanced on one foot, looking at Laurel.      “Ready?”      Laurel nodded. But really, she wasn’t. She had no idea how she would make it. After all, she was just a servant; nothing special, as Brown had said.      But then she remembered the Tunneler, and everyone else in the Resistance. They all had their own little battles to fight everyday. They all had something to contribute.      And so did she. She would contribute with material from Morbin's council.