If you guys find any typos, let me know; my brain is refusing to work. 🤦‍♀️ Also, I apologize if I'm not on much... had lots of stuff go down with siblings and things have been limited. Anyways, hope y'all like it! Blessings, A. R -----------------------------------------------------------      Laurel slumped on the bench back at Brown’s villa, the sky gradually fading to warm colors of sunset. It had been a long day.      The council was not what she had expected. After Morbin’s frustrating conversation with Garten, many reports were presented mostly by rabbits, and a few by a hawk or two. Thankfully there was no wolves. Well, not yet anyways.      A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped, looking up. It was Delta. She had a subdued look in her eyes as she looked around before leaning close.      “Lieutenant Walters is waiting out back for you.” Laurel’s eyes widened. Was everyone seriously watching them that much? It was so embarrassing to be thought of like that!      Laurel nodded, sighing and getting to her feet. “I better go see what he wants,” she said quietly, just wanting to go to bed.      As she exited through the door, she saw him leaning against a wall, his head down and arms crossed.      Laurel rubbed her eyes and approached him, wondering what he wanted.      He raised his head as she drew near and Laurel was surprised to see the exhaustion on his face.      “You look how I feel,” she mumbled, stopping and hugging herself, stifling a yawn.      Dylan managed to give her a smile, yawning himself. “Pretty much. Is it bad that I want to go to bed now?”      Laurel smirked. “Nope… I want to do that as well.” She paused, looking up at him. “Were you there today?”      Dylan chuckled. “Doesn’t my exhaustion explain that? Yes, I was.” But he frowned. “Its not going to be that easy-going as this progresses, Laurel. This was only the first day.”      Laurel scowled. “I know… Garten Longtreader ran into me and I’m sure Brown was ready to kill me then and there.”      Dylan’s eyes widened. “Garten Longtreader?”      Laurel nodded. “Morbin’s right hand buck. But what was the incident Morbin mentioned? That whole exchange was… well, a little chilly,” she muttered, thinking back to earlier in the day. It felt so hard to reach back that far in her fuzzy brain at the moment.      Dylan looked up at the sky, thinking. “To be honest, I’m not sure. The Commandant might know, but he wouldn’t share stuff like that unless it had something to do with us and our work. But give this a few weeks and you might learn what happened.”      Laurel nodded, looking back at the house. “Well, before I change my mind, let’s go to that meeting; otherwise I’m going straight home to bed.”      Dylan smiled. “Fine.”        For the full duration of the meeting, Laurel felt as if all her thoughts would shatter into unintelligible pieces. Everything she had heard from the council, the drama going on at home. Nothing made sense!      She looked up and tried to focus, locking her gaze on the Tunneler as he continued to share his caution with all the rabbits. Laurel wondered if he was only warning the younger bucks and does of the Resistance, like Harmony, Melody, and herself. After all, the Cause was full of different aged rabbits.      As she thought of this, her eyes wandered and she took notice of a grey buck sitting near the back, his eyes intent on the old rabbit at the head of the fire. Something about him…      “Before we end this meeting, I’d like to ask If any of you have some information that wasn’t shared with us yet tonight,” the Tunneler suggested, his sightless eyes roving about the quiet, dark room. No one said a word.      “Miss Evergreen, I understand you have a new position at work. Were you able to scrape up some news?” The Tunneler asked, realizing the only way to obtain anything from anyone would be to directly ask someone. Unfortunately, he called upon Laurel.      She felt her face burn as everyone turned to face her. Even Dylan turned towards her, eying her with curiosity. Thanks a lot, Dylan! She thought.      “Um, well… I heard plenty, but I’m not sure if any of it will help,” she stammered, scratching the back of her neck nervously.      The Tunneler smiled at her from across the room. “We’d like to hear whatever you’ve learned, Laurel; whether its old news or raw material. You wont be judged for what you share.”      Laurel felt her skin itch. Sure, that’s reassuring; Now I’m judging MYSELF! She wanted to mutter.      She glanced around the room in the tense silence, everyone watching her expectantly. This was the worst! Everyone was waiting on her. Great. Her gaze fell on the silver buck. To her surprise, he smiled warmly at her.      No contempt. No disgust. A calm assurance.      Trust.      Laurel inhaled before speaking. “Well, I heard that something is amiss between Morbin and Garten Longtreader,” she explained.      Some thought this amusing and began to chuckle. Others, not so much. Some frowned, others shot wary glances towards their friends. Even the older grey buck, who seemed so familiar and gentle, looked down at the floor; his face was suddenly filled with strange, conflicting emotions.      “Anything else, Laurel?” The old rabbit raised his voice above the muffled din. It was soon quiet.      “Apart from reports, no. Something about them maybe trying to infiltrate the Cause by maybe sending someone under cover, and perhaps creating an alliance with some holdouts.” She added, her confidence gradually building within her heart.      She no longer felt tired. She felt her heart beat getting faster and faster, excitement filling her so much that she thought she could scream. Her passion for the Cause was rekindled. She was ready to do more. To fight.      The Tunneler nodded his head and concluded the meeting with a blessing.      “May the leapers guide you all, and fight in your own ways.” And he lowered his hands, which had been held up for the end of his exhortation.      Many rabbits clustered in smaller groups, muttering and sharing their own news and gossip.      Laurel looked up and saw the grey rabbit, his back to the wall and his arms crossed. His eyes focused on something far away, very distant from this place. His face was twisted with fear, anger, and contempt.      Laurel didn’t know why or how, but she found herself approaching him. He looked up at her and managed to smile, his worried and conflicted expression disappearing for the present.      “Hello, Laurel. Thank you for sharing tonight,” he expressed, his smile welcoming and warm.      Laurel smiled back, wondering why he seemed so familiar to her. Had she seen him before? He seemed to remind her of her dad.      “You’re welcome; but I’m not sure I shared much that has any value.” She admitted, remembering with a scowl how she had almost landed in trouble earlier- figuratively and literally.      “It will have some value in the future, I’m sure.” The buck said, breaking into her thoughts. Laurel looked up at him and nodded, her mind still full of conflicting emotions.      The older buck studied her a moment. “Something else on your mind?” He asked.      Laurel shrugged. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk to him. She did. Something about him was comforting. She wanted to share her insecurities and worries. But it would be too much like talking with her father. Hers was gone; dead. This buck – whose name she didn’t even know- probably had kits of his own. How weird would it be talking about your fears with someone else’s dad?      “Yeah. But it doesn’t matter now. I’ve just had a long day,” she responded, looking back up at him.      “I can understand that,” he said, smiling at her. “But if you feel like you need to talk to someone, my wife and I would love to have you.” He offered, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing his Prey mark.     Laurel smiled. It was an odd invitation, but she didn’t feel worried about it. “Thank you.”      He nodded and tied his kerchief, ready to leave, before Laurel stopped him.      “Wait… if I do need to talk, where can I find you and your wife? I-I’m sorry, I don’t even know your name.” She finished lamely, feeling foolish at her rambling.      The buck smiled. “Our home is in the fourth district. As for my name, I am Whittle, and my wife is Sween. You’ll be able to find us.”      And with a slight bow, he was gone.