Sorry that I haven't posted much... had a crazy week. Also had my sister spoil EE for my friend... 😒😑🙄 I'm still not too happy with her. But anyways, here is chapter 6.

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CHAPTER 6

The silence strengthened over the next few minutes, and Heather wondered if she should say something, when the buck next to Emma stood from his seat. “Sire, if I may?” he asked with a bow. Smalls nodded. “First of all, we all are ever appreciative for what you have done for your people.” Heads nodded in agreement. Smalls smiled slightly. “Thank you…”

“Pilgrim. I am called the Pilgrim.” With another nod from the prince, the old buck continued. “Secondly, I have brought the future king a gift that I believe will aid in one of our recovery processes.” And with a flourish, he produced an elegant, black velvet purse and set it down noiselessly on the table. “Firstflower seeds.” He answered quietly, putting an end to the questions they all asked themselves. Emma’s jaw dropped.

“True Blue!” She exclaimed, her eyes wide and dancing. Heather cocked her head. Like aunt Jone's tonic? “That means we can treat everyone in the hospitals!” Emma added, a huge smile on her face. The Pilgrim nodded, smiling at the excited princess.

“Yes. The sooner they are planted, the sooner the hospitals be emptied.” Heather’s eyes widened. Truly??

She glanced at her father. He too wore the same expression as her: a bursting happiness as well as sorrowful pain. It would be great to have Firstflower growing in abundance, as it would help many of the injured to recover quickly. But with these thoughts came the reminder that Picket lay in a unawake-able sleep. A few tears rolled down her face, and she quickly swiped her sleeve across her face before anyone could notice.

But Father did. He subtly handed her a handkerchief and she wiped her eyes again. When she looked up, Smalls smiled at her and gave a slight nod. Then the conversation around her began to enter her ears and make sense. Someone had suggested that the seeds be planted first since it would begin the recovery with strong results.

“Which, I suppose, leads to our next dilemma: shall we rebuild First Warren, or perhaps look for a different location and have a fresh start?” Smalls asked. Heather pondered this. Leave the royal home of rabbit kind? Leave behind the home that Whitson himself built? Can, no; should we? Finally, a voice spoke. It was Maggie Weaver.

“I do believe we all are pulled in different directions over this. One being that this is your ancestors home, sire; the other, well: a fresh start.” A few heads nodded in agreement. Then, a new voice broke in. It was the buck who sat beside Heyward.

“Your Majesty, if I may?” he asked with a bow. Smalls nodded. “I am sorry, I don’t believe I know your name.” He apologized. The rabbit nodded. “Emerson Dann, sire; an engineer.” Heather grinned. He and Heyward will get along just fine!

“I believe, well, think, that we should do both: repair and move on. The place where Morbin fell along with other enemies, the Chasm of Death, will be a sobering reminder of yesterday’s victory. But with it being full of, well, their remains,” he shuddered as he said it, “I think we should stay far from it. My thoughts are that we repair what is still relatively intact on the outskirts of First Warren and build a new city for a fresh start. But that is only my thoughts.” He added quickly, sitting down and lowering his head to hide his embarrassment. Smalls nodded, pondering the buck's suggestion.

“I do like your idea, Master Dann. But I suppose that we should look at the pros and cons to both circumstances before we make any final decisions.” Everyone nodded.

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Hope you guys have a fantastic weekend! Ephesians 3:20-21

Blessings and Bear the Flame!

A. R.