Here's the next chapter! :D I don't really have any comments this time but I will just say sorry in advance. :3
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The camp was an utter disaster. Most of the slaves stood around in shivering groups while the officers and a few bucks moved the bodies of the fallen to the edge of the clearing. She got a few looks from the soldiers as she trotted past, trying to close her mind to the horrible slaughter that had just occurred.
"Delia?" She called, turning around in a circle. She didn't even know where to start looking, remembering in her mind's eye how her cart group had scattered when the wolves first attacked. She cast a quick glance to the shadows under the trees where the fallen were being lined, but quickly looked away. She would search among the living before assuming she was dead.
Weezie found her where she would hope to find her- tending to the wounded.
"Delia!" She ran to her, a little surprised by just how relieved she was to see the grey doe she'd only just met.
"Weezie," Delia gasped, looking up from her work. She looked like she had been crying- actually, she was still crying. Weezie wasn't much of a hugger, but she could tell Delia was in need of one. She held out her arms and the doe fell into them, shaking and sobbing. The buck whose leg she had been wrapping sympathetically patted her back.
"It's alright now," Weezie said, wrapping her arms around her. "The wolves are gone, we're all gonna be safe."
"They were just everywhere! And I couldn't find you! And they killed so many and I heard you screaming-" Delia broke off, burying her sobs in Weezie's shoulder. Weezie was a little surprised, Delia had been worried about her? Multiple other rabbits she recognized from her cart were looking over with wonder and relief. She was touched.
"I just had to make sure Percy was safe. Delia, I'm sorry."
Delia nodded, getting herself back under control.
"I understand. I just- there are so many wounded from the attack. Would you- would you help me bandage them?"
Weezie nodded, getting to her feet.
"Of course. But first, Officer Silas has been injured pretty badly. I was sent by Officer Garrett to come and get you to take a look at him, I've already done the best I can do."
Delia nodded, wiping her tears off with one hand and accepting Weezie's with the other as she pulled her to her feet.
The next few hours went by in a blur. Looking back she could never remember what happened in the space of the rest of that night, only that it had happened. With the wolf attack over and the stress and terror gone with it, all that was left was a ringing emptiness that everyone in the camp seemed to feel. Weezie had never felt so exhausted in her entire life, an exhaustion that left her mind and body feeling like a bowl of overcooked pudding. The last time she had slept had been in her own bed she shared with Layra back home on the farm. She'd hardly eaten that day- just the bread crust for dinner and that far, far away breakfast her mother had made. It did not feel as though all this had happened in one day- her capture, her escape, meeting Whit and smuggling her and Percy onto the carts- it was almost a shock to realize she'd actually only met Percy that morning. It felt like it had been weeks ago Daggler and his band had knocked on their kitchen door.
She, Delia and a few other volunteers did what they could to care for the wounded survivors. Under the command Captain Garrett all able-bodied rabbits assisted in packing up camp and preparing to move on. By the time this was done the sun was beginning to rise in the sky, and in the grey light of dawn the carts began their rumble down the dirt road, leaving the sorrows and terrors of the night behind with their extinguished campfires and the unburied bodies of the fallen.
Weezie climbed into the seat beside Percy and laid her head down on his shoulder. She felt sorry for the poor bucks out pulling the carts, but she was so tired she didn't have much room to care. It wasn't long before she had drifted off, rocked to sleep by the jostling of the cart and Percy's even breathing.
Weezie woke with a start. She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, but it had been several hours at least judging by the golden sunlight seeping through the cracks in the canvas cover. Most of the other rabbits were still asleep, splayed out on the jostling wagon floor or propped against the wall on benches. The cart seemed emptier than it had been when they had first set out from First Warren, and the thought made her heart sick. She had been too exhausted to feel sorry for those the wolves had taken, but she was sickened to remember they had just left them behind- uncovered and unacknowledged. She hoped Garrett had a good reason for that. She still wondered why that had even happened. Weren't the wolves working for Morbin? Why would they attack and slaughter Morbin's slaves? Could it be possible not all of the wolves and birds were under Morbin's command?
Sitting up carefully so as to not wake Percy- which is something I probably don't have to worry about- she thought grimly, she took a better look around. Delia was asleep on the bench next to her, her brown and white striped head using Weezie's leg as a pillow. She thought briefly of squirming out from underneath her, but she had nowhere to go. Reaching past Percy, she pulled the canvas cover back to take a look outside.
The sun was shining down fiercely, casting harsh long shadows behind the rocks and evergreen trees. They were following a gravel road now, steadily climbing uphill. Weezie didn't like it- the stark absence of grass and shrubs. Tall patches of yellow grasses pushed their way up through the rocks and hard earth with pine trees clinging to the slopes that went up and up and up…
A wave of homesickness swept over her, nauseating her empty stomach. Oh, how she longed for the grassy glades back home. The marshy riverside of Go Forth that ran through their farmland. The cozy little farmhouse where mother would be making breakfast… she fiercely blinked back the tears and let the canvas fall shut. She wasn't going to cry, and she didn't want to look at that barren landscape anymore. She didn't need to cry. She had Percy and Delia, and the other slave rabbits here with her. They would stick together and fight through it together. Right?
Despite having had time to sleep she still was so weary. So very weary of it all. She was heartsick for her family, homesick for her farm, and so tired of trying not to show it. All these rabbits looking to her as a leader? The guards watching her closely for her attitude. And Percy just sleeping, always sleeping and not waking up. She just wanted to lay her head down and sleep as blissfully as he seemed to be; unaware of everything around her. But she knew she couldn't do that. She couldn't give up and become as empty and broken as the rabbits around her.
"Please wake up, Percy," she whispered softly. "I don't want to have to be brave." She squeezed her eyes shut, causing a few tears to run down her cheeks.
The cart suddenly stopped with a ****, jarring everyone awake and knocking several off their seats by the motion. Weezie had time to brace herself to keep her and Percy from falling off the bench, but poor Delia rolled from the seat and sat up looking dazed.
"What happened?" She said softly, widening her eyes in alarm.
"I don't know," Weezie said, looking out the window again. "But I think we've stopped."
Most of the rabbits got to their feet, helping their fellows up off the wagon bed. Weezie edged closer to Percy. Her anger of before had subsided and the familiar fear of uncertainty was creeping in. When they had left First Warren the goal was to be free before they reached the slave camp. But that was Percy's plan. Now she didn't know what to do or what to expect. She didn't like how helpless it made her feel.
"Maybe it's just another stop along the way?" Weezie suggested to the rabbits looking to her expectantly. They seemed to accept this answer, and looked as a group to the door as it swung open, causing them all to blink in the sudden light.
"Everyone out," an unfamiliar uniformed buck commanded. "Wake up anyone's who's still sleeping, I want everyone out."
Weezie didn't like this turn. She knew Percy wasn't waking up any time soon, but she knew she could get him out of the cart.
"Delia," she called quietly. "Would you help me lift him out?" The doe nodded and offered her assistance, the two succeeding in lifting the limp buck onto the dusty ground outside.
Despite the bright afternoon sun the air held a bitter edge to it, an occasional draft of wind ruffling the rabbit's fur. Weezie was warm underneath her dense grey curls, but she could see some of the smooth coated rabbits clutching their jackets closer to themselves as they stood exposed on the rocky slopes. The carts had been parked in a wide open place, but off to the edges Weezie could see dense pine forests fighting their way up the mountain side. She didn't like how open it was, the washed out blue sky seemed to be staring down, watching the rabbits closely. She readjusted her grip on Percy, wondering how long it would be until she could find someplace where he could lay down and get some proper rest.
A few uniformed bucks stood apart from the slaves, judgmentally squinting at them in the bright sunlight while shouting and organizing them into one large crowd. Off to the side a group of officers were holding a conversation, gesturing frequently to the new shipment of slaves. Weezie recognized a few of them as the bucks that had brought them here, and was relieved to see Silas awake and apparently well, standing in their midst.
At last, a large, squat brown buck stomped his way over, demanding the attention of the anxious slaves by his commanding demeanor. Weezie wondered if he was Overseer Morten. He definitely looked unpleasant enough to be the one in charge of this miserable slave camp.
"Welcome to the Red Bleaks. This is your new home. Don't try to run away," his eyes swept over the gathered crowd, adding on the last sentence with a weary condescending tone.
"You will do as you are told exactly when you are told to do it. I don't care what you've done to get yourself sent here but I want you to know this: First Warren was a life of freedom and luxury. You're not going to get away with misbehavior here."
There were a few nervous glances shared between the newcomers.
"There are a few rabbits here with medical training. You will step forward when I call your name and join Officer Silas. He will take you to your assignment." He gestured in Silas' direction, who gave a curt nod.
"Hempfast Docson," the brown buck continued, looking down at a paper held in his hand. The spotted buck responded to his name being called and trotted respectfully to behind Silas.
"Ridgette Cline, and Delia Book." He lowered the paper and looked over the rabbits as the two does made their way through the crowd. Delia gave Weezie's hand a squeeze before she left, Weezie giving her a sympathetic smile and an encouraging nod. She was disappointed that her medical experience from the last day wasn't enough to get her assigned along with Delia. Watching her walk away gave her a rueful twist in her stomach. She hoped they would see each other soon.
"I understand there was an attack on the way here. All rabbits unfit for work will be taken to the medhut for treatment. Everyone else is to come with me, no exceptions."
Weezie watched the injured rabbits that could still stand be directed to where Silas and the nurses stood. She wasn’t injured, but Percy definitely was, so she made her way edging through the crowd with him draped over her shoulder, hoping they had an actual doctor to look at all these poor rabbits.
Silas was giving instructions to the gathered rabbits, organizing them into lines of two for the march up the hill, his injured arm wrapped against his chest. He caught sight of Weezie, giving her a dry stare with his dark grey eyes. “Are you injured?” He asked with a slight tilt of the head. Weezie gave a moment’s pause to consider her words before answering.
“No sir, but Percy-” Silas cut her off. “If you are not injured you will go with Captain Jert and receive instructions for your stay here. You are not coming with us to medhut because of your injured friend. Allow me to repeat Captain Jert’s words, no exceptions.”
Weezie drew her mouth into a frown, trying to control the swell of emotions. She would not cry in front of Silas. She couldn't leave Percy. She'd promised Whit, promised him, promised herself. He needed her now just as much as she needed something, anything to cling to. She found herself wishing, longing, to have her mother here, or her sister, or just, to just be home again and not have to face this anymore. She couldn't give Percy up, if she did that, she'd be alone. Have to face this alone.
"I-" she looked to the ground, unable to hold his gaze anymore. The anxious injured rabbits looked between Weezie and Silas.
"Put the buck down girl, and go to your place." Colton said softly. She knew there was nothing for it. There was nowhere for her to go, she was stuck here now. This camp was her new reality, but Percy had been the last thing she had to hold on to- the last thing that had been giving her hope…She gulped down the heavy lump forming in her throat.
"Put him down, on the ground, and walk away."
Despite her willing them away, tears blurred her vision as she gently lowered Percy to the ground.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, choking on the tears.
"I'm sorry," she said it again, shoving her fist against her mouth in an attempt to stop her quivering lip.
"Your friend will be cared for along with the other injured slaves. Now go." Silas said mechanically, almost as if reciting a pre-written script. Weezie rubbed at her eyes as she got to her feet out of the dust.
"Yes, sir," she managed to choke out. Then she turned and ran, stumbling down the hillside, too devastated to look back.
the abandoned mine site? hmmmm.....