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Description
Ash hated the night patrol, usually, but tonight he was grateful for the chance to speak with Birch alone. The large son of Hawkbit wasn't exactly his friend, but he obeyed Ash without hesitation. And that made him useful to the black buck. He waited until the moon had nearly reached its peak, long after all the other rabbits had fallen asleep, before turning to speak with the blonde male.
"This warren has been led by the weak for far too long, Birch."
Birch, who had been sitting with his back to the other buck, turned towards him in surprise, "What?"
"My father was right," Ash continued as though his companion had not spoken, "only the strong are destined for greatness in this world."
"I...I don't understand what you're getting at, Ash."
The son of Woundwort growled deep in his throat as he began to circle the other male, "Haven't you noticed how big our warren has gotten? How many kits are born each year? And yet Hazel refuses to enlarge our borders."
"Well," Birch paused, not liking the glint in Ash's crimson eyes, "Hazel-Ra says that the surrounding territories belong to other warrens."
"And so what?! Every kitting season, our numbers grow. Our burrow is nearly crammed full of bodies and yet Hazel does nothing to change it. He's become so lazy with his power that he's forgotten how to truly use it! Our people need a true leader!"
Birch raised an eyebrow, "Like you?"
"Of course! I was raised from kithood to lead the mightiest of warrens with the strongest of Owsla; made up of the fiercest and most loyal warriors!"
A shiver passed along the blonde buck's spine, "Efrafa is gone, Ash. You know this."
"I know Efrafa is gone," Ash's roar caused even the large Birch to back away in fear, "I'm not a fool! I'm not talking about Efrafa. I'm talking about Watership Down!"
"Watership Down?! But Watership Down already has a Chief. Hazel-Ra has led us well!"
"Hazel is nothing more than a sentimental old fool! He's led this warren long enough and has nothing to show for it!"
"What are you talking about," Birch exclaimed, "Hazel-Ra has created a safe haven for all rabbits! And do you honestly think everyone is going to follow you just because you tell them to? Hazel would certainly never step down."
A dark smirk crawled onto the larger male's face, "No...not willingly. But there are ways around that."
Birch was almost afraid to ask, "H-How?"
"Well...think of how easy it would be to slip down into the burrow and kill him," Ash's smile grew while Birch shrank away in horror, "smother him to leave no mark on his body! No one would suspect us. After all...we've been up top all night keeping watch!"
"Are you mad," Ash's epiphany subsided as his companion stared at him with wide eyes, "you can't kill Hazel-Ra!"
"Sure I can, Birch. And you're going to help me."
"No! No, I can't...I won't!"
"Yes, you will," Ash snarled, bearing down on the son of Hawkbit, "you will help me rid this warren of its weak leader, and then you will help ensure my rise to power. Whether you want to or not."
Suddenly, someone gasped. Both of the bucks turned in shock, finding themselves face to face with a familiar russet figure.

It was Gilia, the daughter of Hazel himself. And, judging from the horror in her citrine eyes, she had heard everything.

Story - Characters - Render ~

Watership Down ~ Richard Adams

Background ~ Screenshot from show

Description
Ash hated the night patrol, usually, but tonight he was grateful for the chance to speak with Birch alone. The large son of Hawkbit wasn't exactly his friend, but he obeyed Ash without hesitation. And that made him useful to the black buck. He waited until the moon had nearly reached its peak, long after all the other rabbits had fallen asleep, before turning to speak with the blonde male.
"This warren has been led by the weak for far too long, Birch."
Birch, who had been sitting with his back to the other buck, turned towards him in surprise, "What?"
"My father was right," Ash continued as though his companion had not spoken, "only the strong are destined for greatness in this world."
"I...I don't understand what you're getting at, Ash."
The son of Woundwort growled deep in his throat as he began to circle the other male, "Haven't you noticed how big our warren has gotten? How many kits are born each year? And yet Hazel refuses to enlarge our borders."
"Well," Birch paused, not liking the glint in Ash's crimson eyes, "Hazel-Ra says that the surrounding territories belong to other warrens."
"And so what?! Every kitting season, our numbers grow. Our burrow is nearly crammed full of bodies and yet Hazel does nothing to change it. He's become so lazy with his power that he's forgotten how to truly use it! Our people need a true leader!"
Birch raised an eyebrow, "Like you?"
"Of course! I was raised from kithood to lead the mightiest of warrens with the strongest of Owsla; made up of the fiercest and most loyal warriors!"
A shiver passed along the blonde buck's spine, "Efrafa is gone, Ash. You know this."
"I know Efrafa is gone," Ash's roar caused even the large Birch to back away in fear, "I'm not a fool! I'm not talking about Efrafa. I'm talking about Watership Down!"
"Watership Down?! But Watership Down already has a Chief. Hazel-Ra has led us well!"
"Hazel is nothing more than a sentimental old fool! He's led this warren long enough and has nothing to show for it!"
"What are you talking about," Birch exclaimed, "Hazel-Ra has created a safe haven for all rabbits! And do you honestly think everyone is going to follow you just because you tell them to? Hazel would certainly never step down."
A dark smirk crawled onto the larger male's face, "No...not willingly. But there are ways around that."
Birch was almost afraid to ask, "H-How?"
"Well...think of how easy it would be to slip down into the burrow and kill him," Ash's smile grew while Birch shrank away in horror, "smother him to leave no mark on his body! No one would suspect us. After all...we've been up top all night keeping watch!"
"Are you mad," Ash's epiphany subsided as his companion stared at him with wide eyes, "you can't kill Hazel-Ra!"
"Sure I can, Birch. And you're going to help me."
"No! No, I can't...I won't!"
"Yes, you will," Ash snarled, bearing down on the son of Hawkbit, "you will help me rid this warren of its weak leader, and then you will help ensure my rise to power. Whether you want to or not."
Suddenly, someone gasped. Both of the bucks turned in shock, finding themselves face to face with a familiar russet figure.

It was Gilia, the daughter of Hazel himself. And, judging from the horror in her citrine eyes, she had heard everything.

Story - Characters - Render ~

Watership Down ~ Richard Adams

Background ~ Screenshot from show