Hope you guys like it! Lemme know if there is typos... ridiculous device thinks 'old' should be auto-corrected to 'kid' for some reason. 🙄😂 Blessings, A. R. -----------------------------------------------------------      When Admiral had asked Laurel, “ready,” she didn’t realize he was thinking of flying. And she realized now, as they started to fly, how strange and exhilarating it was.      The veteran hawk had grasped her securely in his talons and flapped his wings, rising high into the air. Laurel felt pure terror as she felt the wind push and fly against her as the hawk sailed through the sky towards Morbin’s palace.      Laurel was amazed as she watched Akolan disappear from her sight. She had never left that city before, the only home she had ever known. If she had been told a week before that she would be flying, she would’ve laughed. But now, she was soaring through the air.      A weight settled in her heart, besides that of being held tight in Admiral’s talons. What would she be doing? Would Brown send her somewhere with information and she end up getting lost? Or getting caught by someone? Perhaps meet a wolf?      Laurel clenched her jaw, looking ahead to see the deep green of the forest below, the sky clear and bright. Somehow she would make it. She didn’t know how; but she would.      There was no room for trial runs. You either got it right, or you didn’t. And Laurel didn’t have the time to do it more than once. She had to do her work right the first time. If she didn’t, who knew what Brown would do to her. Or anyone for that matter.        Admiral let out an ear-splitting screech and Laurel yanked on her ears, trying to block out the noise. Her ears rang and her head spun. When she looked up, she saw a sort of landing dock among one of the high trees and a sort of fortress built behind it. Was that Morbin’s palace? It seemed to lead back towards a cave of sorts, and birds of various kinds flew and circled down towards it.      Admiral started his own downward spiral and Laurel had to remind herself to breath. This was it. Her first day as an aid for Captain Virgil Brown in Morbin Blackhawk’s domain. And her first day going undercover for the Resistance.      As Admiral neared the dock, she heard Brown shouting something. She had no idea if he was talking to Admiral or her, and she held her breath.      Admiral flapped his wings backwards a moment, carefully releasing Laurel to the ground before landing, lowering his head to balance himself.      Laurel sat on the ground, trembling slightly as she looked wide eyed around the place she found herself in. It was busy here, out on this sort of hanger. There were many birds, but Laurel was amazed at all the rabbits. She had expected to see many of the Wrongtreader bucks from Akolan here, but she couldn’t recognize anyone.      They all went this way and that, some greeting each other warmly with a slap on the back, or a glare that could break ice.      “Evergreen!” A voice barked.      Laurel jumped to her feet and smoothed her skirt, looking up at her master. Brown was saying something to Admiral and hobbled towards her, looking stern. The hawk nodded his head towards her before hopping elsewhere to speak with another bird of considerable size.      Brown tightened his grip on his cane as he came up to Laurel.      “Its busier than I expected,” he muttered, starting towards the gaping hole of an entrance in the rock face. Laurel followed him until Brown stopped, turning to glare at her.      “I can’t tell you what to do when you’re trailing behind me like a cat!” He hissed, waiting impatiently for her to come astride. She quickly caught up to him and kept her head down, watching where the old buck was going and trying to avoid eye contact with anyone whatsoever. What Admiral had said earlier had stirred something within her, and she didn’t want to mess anything up.      “Everything here is going to be a zoo, so stay close; otherwise you could be taken elsewhere. I need the aid; Morbin can find servants elsewhere,” Brown mumbled, turning left down a long, dark corridor.      The hall was vast, and it gave off a chilly, eerie sense to Laurel. She wondered if others felt the same. A considerable amount of rabbits were walking down this tunnel as well, some talking with one another, others silent.      Laurel looked up as they passed under a torch and was shocked to see how high the roof was. It seemed to stretch farther and farther into the stone until it made a sort of dome.      She turned back and found that she had fallen behind and jogged to catch up to Brown. The old rabbit kept looking around, casting wary glances at some of the younger soldiers. Laurel wondered if he knew them. Perhaps he had trained some of them.      He must’ve recognized someone, for he stopped abruptly and made Laurel walk on his right, glaring at someone. Laurel tried to hide her confusion, but her curiosity got the better of her, and she realized why Brown had turned so sour.      Vitton.      He was practically marching down the hall, his chin up in the air and a dark glint in his eye. His own bucks followed him, trying their best to match their superior's movements. Laurel thought they all just looked like chickens.      Brown cleared his throat and Laurel turned to him. He gave her a stern look. “This is it, Evergreen. No turning back.” He whispered, not wanting anyone to overhear this strange conversation between a master and servant.      “Remember what I told you, and treat this like any other day at work. Just, no incidents.” He warned, his features softening for a minute. Laurel nodded, swallowing.      “Sir, when we enter the council, what should I do?”      Brown thought for a moment. “Don’t speak, for one. Second, just follow what the rest of us do. And third, stay behind me. And watch for any sign that I need aid; after all, that’s why you’re here, among other reasons,” He said with a grin.      Laurel didn’t know how to respond to this, and just nodded.      They continued down the hall and soon approached a massive door. It was made of timber, but had a dirty, old look to it. In the exact middle and at least thrice her height, was a scratched ‘M'.      Many rabbits stopped just in front of these doors, all lining up in quiet, orderly lines. Brown continually glanced around, shifting his weight onto his good leg as they waited.      Laurel inhaled as deeply as possible, looking down at her feet. So this is it. I’m in Morbin’s palace, and will somehow get information. But Melody is here, too; wont she have already gotten the information before me?      She shook her head. At least it would be valid, then. Do what you can.      Someone shouted above the muffled silence. “All hail His Majesty, King Morbin!”      The cry was taken up, but Laurel only mouthed the words. She would NEVER call Morbin king.      The large door was pushed open, and the lines of rabbits walked inside, bowing as soon as they crossed the threshold. Laurel followed Brown, not wanting to lose sight of her master. But when she crossed the threshold and bowed, she looked up and nearly passed out.      Morbin Blackhawk.        His sickle was in his crude talons, his tool for many sick events. He looked around, glaring at all the rabbits that scraped and bowed into the room.      All the rabbits took their places in straight lines throughout the room, all waiting at attention for the council to begin. Thankfully, Laurel and Brown were in the corner of the vast chamber, close to one of the small doorways that led into a smaller hallway. Most likely for servants, Laurel realized.      Everyone tried to be quiet as they entered Morbin’s throne room, but failed in the attempt. There was shuffling noises along with muttering.      Morbin rolled his eyes, but not many seemed to notice. Well, except for the veteran bucks that had served him before. Brown stiffened and flattened his ears, bracing. Laurel cocked her head, then saw Morbin inhaling deeply. She pulled her ears down just as the massive Hawk let out a blood curdling screech.      Silence fell like a cloak. The younger bucks who had been making such a racket winced and rubbed at their ears, looking sheepish and embarrassed. Brown smirked at their cluelessness.      Morbin looked around the room again, his gaze deliberate. “This is a war council, yes?” No one moved. Morbin hissed. “This isn’t playtime, rabbit scum! Who are you serving?” He demanded.      “Morbin Blackhawk!” Some seasoned soldiers answered. Morbin snarled.      “Then act like it! We have a pathetic rebellion outside that must be dealt with, and I want it done properly! We had thought the puny kingdom was blotted out all those years ago; but it seems there are a few stubborn holdouts. We need it taken care of!”      Everyone nodded, standing to attention.      Laurel remained as still as possible, not wanting to draw any attention to this side of the room. Alas, she would have no such luck. Out of the hallway came a tall, gallant grey buck with many medals on his chest. He had an air about him, one that said to mind your p's and q's to the extreme.      He shouldered past Laurel, not even seeing where she landed. Laurel caught herself against the wall and got back to her feet as quickly as possible. Brown turned as the buck entered the room and bowed, but when the buck continued on, he turned to Laurel and glared at her. Your only warning, his expression seemed to say. Laurel lowered her head and stood as far back as possible, her heart pounding against her chest.      The haughty buck continued to make his way towards Morbin’s throne, the many bucks parting away to allow him room. Laurel made note to stay as far away from this buck as possible in the future.      Morbin took notice of the buck and slouched back into his seat, ruffling his feathers slightly.      “Ah, ambassador Longtreader; I thought you would never show up, especially after last weeks incident.”      What incident?      The buck responded with cool civility. “I beg pardon, my lord. There was a matter I had to see to and it’s now cleared up.” He explained, bowing before finding his place to Morbin’s right.      Ambassador Longtreader?      Garten Longtreader.      Laurel shook. This was their traitor.      Morbin clicked his tongue. “Not all is cleared up, Garten. You have more matters to straighten, including your own idiocy in not finishing the job!” Morbin shrieked, knocking over the stand beside his throne. Laurel froze. What did Garten Longtreader do to cause such anger with Morbin? Rather, what did he NOT do?      Garten stiffened and looked up brazenly at the hawk, a dark determination in his eyes.      “We are in the process, are we not?” He answered.      Morbin screeched as he grasped his sickle and brought it down on the ground with such force that the sickle stuck firmly in the stone.      Laurel drew a shaky breath, looking up at the other rabbits who watched this spectacle. All were silent, but absolutely stunned.      Morbin glared at Garten. “Indeed we are!” He hissed, returning to his seat and glaring at the rest of the gathered rabbits.      “Captains, report!” Morbin bellowed, looking like a child who didn’t get his way.