Comet woke up to Blue yelling in his face. He half leapt in terror.
“What are you doing?” He demanded.
“There’s foxes in the colony, you have to do something!”
“Why can’t the Magia?” He asked. “Are you sure they’re really foxes?”
“Yes, but if you don’t want to help, I’ll get the Magia.” He said.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhozLLY1tBu
As Blue raced out of the burrow, Comet started to feel a bit guilty. He was supposed to help bring peace and order to the valley. He knew how to use the powers of fortune now, he just needed to get his satchel from the treasury.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1OziiMrGE
When he came out to the central warren, everyone was scrambling for their lives and paid no attention to him. He slipped into the treasury, got his satchel then left again undetected.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2urgC0ky5s
He approached a tunnel to the surface and took a deep breath.
“What are you doing?” Said a voice. He turned around and saw it was Magia Nove. “You’re not leaving this warren. You could get killed out there.”
“If I don’t go and help, who will?” He asked.
“The best way for us to help is by being here in the warren and stopping the foxes from getting in.” He said.
“But what about the rabbits still on the surface? I could help bring them to the warren. I won’t fight the foxes.” He said. Janu didn’t look convinced. “I need to put Orion’s lessons into practice, otherwise who will know that I can help the valley?”
“Since you’re going to go anyway, I give you my permission… but do not put your life in danger. We need you.” He said.
“Thank you.” Comet replied before dashing through the tunnel. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3aAX9tNyT
On the surface, he saw a fox snapping at Arrow while other rabbits scattered in panic. The fox was more terrifying than Mossy and Stone had described it but they probably weren’t stupid enough to come this close to one.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraV8T7xNC3
Comet struggled to focus with fear flooding through him. He was sure he was going to see Arrow being mauled any moment now.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHUpKK3Fv9
With the Diamond Stone in his paw, he energised it then hurled it forcefully towards the fox.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h2cidhAmk
It emitted a painful noise and blinding light, starling the foxes.
“Come on!” He ordered Arrow who was half dazed. They began running before Arrow came to an abrupt stop.
“What are you looking for?”
“There was another fox, I didn’t see where it went.”
“Maybe it left, its red fur should be easy enough to spot.”
”I’m not so sure... I feel like we’re being watched.” Arrow muttered. A flash of orange fur briefly appeared in the twilight shadows.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT8q3CvES9
“Go, I’ll stay here.” Said Comet.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He said, sounding more confident than he was.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYRKzreJos
Comet quickly dashed through the colony, looking for any stray rabbits. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4JuLoHG01
He found none until he found some Watchers still at the Silver Colony border.
“There’s foxes in the colony, go underground.”
“We would get in serious trouble if we let them get into Silver Colony.” Said Minty bravely.
“Better to be in trouble than dead.” Said Comet. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF3oAHb9KP
Suddenly a fox sprung, Comet bolted then turned back to find poor Minty had been pounced on while the other Watchers fled towards the burrow, 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kyuvdsDp7
The fox grabbed him and after a short struggle, Minty stopped moving. The other fox came and they squabbled over their prey before heading off to eat in private.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CSNfw31H6
Comet felt queasy and let the Magia take control, their guards forcing the remaining rabbits on the surface into the warren.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqiGSgpZnl
Their fear quickly turned to anger, the colony demanding how the Magia had let them be attacked. They had promised to protect them.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJXa7tcreJ
Nove was overwhelmed, and held his emblem, a flash and the rabbits were subdued. He’d used the power of gold again.
“I know you don’t like me using this emblem, but you give me no choice, now listen. The foxes only came because these three disobeyed my orders and left the colony.” He said, glaring at Arrow and Blue. Rusty was nowhere to be seen.
“I was trying to find something stolen from us, if I’d known foxes were up there, I never would have known.”
“You went where you shouldn’t have, making you responsible. We will decide what to do with you after getting rid of those foxes. For now, take that one to the old burrows. He might cause trouble out here.” He said to the guards.
“What? You can’t do that to me! I’m on a mission from Master Coney himself. You can’t arrest me without speaking to him.” Shouted Arrow, thumping his back feet.
“I’ll speak to him afterwards. He’ll understand.” He said. The guards tried touching him and he shoved them off of him.
“You can’t make me!” He growled. “You will pay for this.” The rabbits looked on in amazement. They’d never seen anyone challenge Nove’s authority before.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88r7uhy0SY
But with a touch of his emblem, Nove subdued Arrow, who was led away without resistance. Blue cowered with guilt and the whole colony became anxious again.
”Don’t worry, Comet will find the foxes in the morning and drive them out with some volunteers.” He said expectantly. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6NCUHYoAt
After what they just saw, there unsurprisingly wasn’t any.
“I’m sure there’ll be some of you who change your mind in the morning.” He said, pressing his paw to his medallion again.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyAldUC9BR
Something about the way he just expected Comet to do as he said, after how he continuously manipulated this colony, made him angry.
”I’ll only do anything if you let the rabbits here take off their porcelain pendants, so you can’t control them anymore.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFr9wbBMMm
The rabbits murmured amongst each other. They hadn’t figured out how Nove was using the medallion on them yet. Some did as Comet suggested and started taking off their pendants. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SH8EgUPYj
“Put those back on, guards, arrest Comet! Arrest Blue too and Rusty! They are all traitors.” He said.
“You shouldn’t need to manipulate their minds to be a good leader.” Said Comet, backing away. He glanced over at Blue, he also had no intentions of obeying him.
”I am a good leader, I’m just stuck with a bad colony.” He said 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinHFVV58TS
“IvoryHeart would never have thought that.” Said Blue, furious.
”Well if IvoryHeart cares about you so much, why isn’t here?” Asked Nove.
”Isn’t he in his burrow?”
”No, in the chaos, he chose to run away, leaving his colony behind.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcZRVgsxi1
The colony was shocked but they still gathered around Blue and Comet, as bravely as they could.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you killed him, that would work out well for you.” Said Blue.
“If he’s dead, he’s only got himself to blame.” He said. “This colony is lucky to have me.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH4RAs3tpa
Blue’s ear went back, “I’ve only seen you bring bad luck. I know we shouldn’t have left the colony, but you said you can protect it, but you clearly can’t, you’re either too lazy or too selfish to ever put yourself in danger. I’ll show you what a real leader should look like.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqECRzZq6y
He leapt up at Nove but he was sent flying back by a bolt of copper energy. He was alive at least. Comet could see that he had every pendant on either side of the porcelain emblem. There wasn’t much hope in fighting him, even with their larger numbers.
“I thought you were meant to be a diplomat…” Said Nove.
”I am, but when diplomacy fails, sometimes you have to be creative.” Said Blue, breathing hard.
”Blue, there’s no point in trying.” Said Comet.
”This is my colony and I’m going fight for it. For my brother.” He said.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFt8GSEbSz
Comet was inspired by his courage. The other Magia’s wouldn’t be happy about this at all but they couldn’t leave Porcelain Colony under Nove’s control. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr06t5lyADR
While Nove was focused on Blue, Comet raced around the corner and slammed a diamond stone into his porcelain emblem. He cried out in shock and confusion. 79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASqp8nRtPk
The other rabbits joined the attack and Blue tried to fight but he struggled because of his injury.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIFtOaJyYq
Comet came over to him.
“The best thing we can do now is get Rusty and Arrow then leave. The sooner we get out of here, the better.”
”Will they be alright?” Asked Blue.
They looked over at the chaos, they couldn’t even see Nove.
”I think they’ll be fine. Whatever leader they get next has to be better than Nove.”
”It could always be worse.” Said a voice close behind them.
”Rusty?! Where have you been?”
“Avoiding the crazy Magia, now let’s get out of here.”
”Wait, we have to get Arrow.”
”Do we have to?” Asked Blue.
”Yes, he’s carrying stuff we need anyway.” He said.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl698Ualsp
”I’ll take you to the old burrows, follow me close because I’m not slowing down.” Said Blue.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXfudYkKpB
As they left the chaos of the central burrow, Comet couldn’t help but dread what they might have to face down in the depths of warren.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
