Jonathan:

The band of rabbits they had joined ended up at Halfwind Citadel. Jonathan settled in as best he could, joining the garrison there. Tawny stayed with him and helped take care of Jo while he worked or trained. In the evenings he came home to a happy Jo and meal made by Tawny. Though Tawny was being nice, and Jo was just being a kid something about this aggravated him. He had lost Lea, Jo had lost his mother, and yet Jo could go on like nothing happened and Tawny too.

It didn’t seem right. He never could forget about Lea or his brothers and their absence left a hole in his heart. One he thought could never be filled. Sometimes he envied Jo, his son was to young to know the pain or understand. But he was not, he felt it, the full weight of it. It settled on him and it was a burden, one he carried in his heart every day.

He walk turned down one of the many winding bramble tunnels of Halfwind. He was thinking of Lea and how much she would have liked the sunset. The color had been brilliant, vibrant, just like her. But like her it to had faded away. He rounded the corner looking down at the hard-packed dirt that made up the tunnel floor. Something bumped into him knocking him to the ground. Before he could recover, he felt something roll over his foot. He cried out as pain exploded in his foot and ran up his leg. It was intense and horrible. The cart, for now he saw that what it was stopped, the wheel still on his foot.

The rabbit looked at him and he waved his hand as he said, his teeth clenched in pain, “Move it! Its on my foot, please hurry!”

The rabbit’s eyes widened, and he moved the cart. Then came and knelt by Jonathan. “I’m so sorry. Anything I can do for you?”

“Just help me home, please,” Jonathan said, fighting the urge to scream. He wanted to yell at this rabbit, but he knew it was just as much his fault. The rabbit helped him slowly, but soon he couldn’t go any further and the rabbit went to get a doctor, or someone to help carry him.

Jonathan leaned against the dirt wall. Why? Why had he not been paying attention? He tried to move but moaned as the pain started throbbing. He couldn’t stand it and soon he blacked out.

When he woke Tawny told him his foot had been crushed and the doctor had done all he could, but he wouldn’t be able to put weight on it for many weeks. So, Jonathan endured. He played with Jo for those many weeks when he couldn’t move from his bed. His son was probably the only thing that kept him from going insane. But when Jo was put to bed he was left alone with his own thoughts. Thoughts of Lea and his brothers. Of what could have been and should have been. He found that he could not say the name Longtreader, could not think it without a boiling anger rising up inside. They were monsters, those Longtreaders, horrible bucks. He told Jo about them. He told Jo what they had done to his mother, and how horrible the Longtreaders were, but he didn’t tell Jo about his brothers. He didn’t know why but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Finally, he could move around on his foot and he went to report back for duty. He saw Captain Frye and waved him down. He limped as he walked toward his captain. Once he reached Captain Frye he saluted and said, “Jonathan Shanks reporting for duty, sir.”

Captain Frye looked at him then said, “You can’t fight anymore soldier, which means you need to find a new profession.”

“What do you mean? I use a bow, I’m an archer. I can still do something, surely?” Jonathan said, fear welling inside him, would this be taken from him too.

“No, soldier I’m sorry, your foot is crushed….” He interrupted, “Was crushed sir, its better now.”

“I’m sorry, Jonathan, but it’s still no,” Captain Frye said, his voice firm, but eyes gentle.

Jonathan nodded then turned away. Everything was gone. Lea, his brothers, his calling. Nothing left but little Jo who didn’t even understand what pain was. Who didn’t know how sad it made him feel every time he looked at him or said his name. No one knew the anguish he felt inside. No one ever could, he had lost so much, too much.

Two more chapters till the end...we have them all planned out! Hope you guys like this chapter and let us know what you think, please!