As the sun rose, the lake and the small island at its centre became clearer, though the sun's reflection off the water was dazzlingly bright. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHDMsZZkAE
Through the glare, Comet could just make out rabbits coming closer and closer, clearly curious but keeping their distance as they went about whatever it was they were doing.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ9zzR6bA2
“You can rest and eat while we assemble the colony, it always takes awhile to make them part from their roles even for a short while.” Said SilverSkull.
”You might as well get to know some rabbits, it will be a good way to get the colony to support you.” Said Janu.
”I do know some rabbits. Blue and Bone. Do you know where they are?”
”They will be eating with the Watchers over there.” He said, raising his paw towards a shadowy group of rabbits. “Be friendly but don’t tell them about your training.”
”Why not? I thought they couldn’t use powers of fortune.”
”They can’t… But your training is none of their business. It’s important you keep it to yourself, understand?” He said so seriously that Comet just nodded compliantly.
“I won’t.”
”Good. The assembly should start soon. You’ll see everyone heading towards the fortress on the island.” Said Janu and he and SilverSkull went on towards the warren.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLqfG2Jkoj
Now he couldn’t talk about his training, Comet wondered what exactly he could tell Blue and Bone about. He just hoped that Blue would want to talk about himself more. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp21TgwLwf
Comet shyly approached the group and there was a long awkward silence as the Silver Colony rabbits just stared at him.
”What are you all looking at?” Asked Blue, sticking his head up from over the large rabbits. He had a clump of grass in his mouth.
“Oh, there you are Comet, what have you been up to?”
”Nothing much,” He said nervously. “What about you?”
“Guarding the border, they need the extra eyes to check for wild rabbits.” He said self-importantly.
”What about the rabbits in the thicket? Did you tell the Magia about them?”
”Yes, Bone did.” He said, pointing to the black and white rabbit who was quietly listening to the conversation. “They’re planning to send us there to drive out the rebels. That’s going to be a tough mission.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyggjUo6lhJ
“I was thinking about what we saw yesterday.” Said Bone. “I think the rebels may have something to do with the increased activity of wild rabbits.”
Blue shook his head. “What do you think they did, herded them all there or something.”
”Well, maybe.” Said Bone though he sounded less certain. “I just don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
”Whatever the case, it’ll be good to finally get rid of them, the Magia had been trying so hard to stop their movement growing.” Said Blue.
“If they’re beyond the valley, what’s wrong with just leaving them alone?” Asked Comet, thinking of Mossy and Stone.
”They aren’t going to leave us alone, they want revenge. Who knows what they’re willing to do to achieve that.” Said Bone.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tB4K1Rfkw
Comet stared wide eyed. “But why would they do that? Is it because they hate magic?”
”For some maybe, but most of them are rabbits who have a problem with the way the Magia runs the colonies and have been secretly trying to infiltrate the colonies to get more rabbits to join them.” Said Bone.
“Yeah, one of them tried convincing me but I’m not great with secrecy and I may have accidentally said something../ and that rabbit got executed.” Said Blue.
“What?!” Said Comet in shock.
“Hey, I do feel kind of bad… but that’s just what the Magia does to rabbits that deserve it.” He said.
“Oh right…”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH1RZqVdh1
“Maybe once you master the powers of fortune you can help us fight them.” Said Bone. “Unless you still want to go back to the humans.”
“I’ve… decided to stay.” He said reluctantly. “But I still miss home.”
“You just need to make yourself at home here. The best way to do that is to meet new rabbits.” Said Blue and head butted him towards the group of silver rabbits who were quietly eating and listening.
“Hello, it’s time I introduce you to Comet, as you can see, he’s a hare. I found him and freed him from human slavery.” He said.
“We did.” Grumbled Bone, joining them.
“I wasn’t in slavery! You don’t have to introduce me to the colony, the Magia is going to do that at an assembly.” Said Comet.
“Welcome to the valley, I don’t mean to be nosy like a Porcelain Colony rabbit but we’ve heard rumours that you’re going to create the Master-Medallion.” Said a rabbit, with a silver key around his neck.
“I don’t think so, this is the first I’ve heard of such a thing.” Said Comet awkwardly.
“I told you not to ask him, Key.” Replied another rabbit.
“The Master-Medallion is a mythical relic that was destroyed long ago, some rabbits think that once it’s created the valley will be united and rabbits will have magic once again,” Explained Blue. “But It’s totally made up of course.” He added quickly.
“Even without that, I’m sure you’ll be a great successor to Orion.” Said Key, evidently embarrassed.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSzwyTNfy6
Before he could ask more questions, a silver rabbit approached, “The Magia is holding an assembly, the reserve Watchers and Seekers are invited to come. The rest of you will have to go to your appointed posts.”
Some of the rabbits who couldn’t come grumbled while Comet, Blue, Bone and some others began to head towards the lake
The island was clearly visible now and there was an odd circular ruined stone structure in the centre of it. The island itself seemed fairly small and was mostly covered with long grass and sandy soil. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3lq9yjt8e
“How are we supposed to get the island?” Asked Comet. He could see rabbits on the island already.
“Don’t worry. They won’t make you swim like the Silver Colony rabbits.” Said Blue, with a laugh.
Comet thought he was joking until he saw rabbits swimming and splashing around in the water. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3fTRMhoim
As they got closer, he could see they were young rabbits, following an older one. Two of them bumped into each other suddenly as one stopped to look at him.
“Hey!” One complained and they started arguing.
“You two stop that!” Said the older rabbit, turning around to see that half her group had stopped following her and Comet was staring at them, not hiding his shock.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1eJdurMhM
They all stopped and stared at him, making Comet retreat shyly.
“Sorry, I’ve just never seen rabbits swim before. It doesn’t look fun.”
“The rest of the colonies might think we’re crazy for it but they don’t have access to calm water like we do. Swimming is great, it keeps us strong and healthy.”
“Even rabbits so young?”
“Yes, they need to learn young. I teach all the learners to swim. My name is Brook by the way.”
“My name is Comet.”
“Well Comet, if you stay here, you should learn to swim, it’s a great skill.” She said. Comet wanted to turn down her offer politely and looked around for Blue and Bone but they must have already gotten to the island since they weren’t around anymore.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKY4lLVoUp
“He has more important things to worry about to learn than swimming.” Said Janu who had joined him. “He’ll go across the log.”
They parted ways and Comet thanked him for not making him swim.
“You don’t need to learn to swim to live here, I’ve lived here for some time now, never swam. No point in it.” He explained and he stopped at a large log, half submerged in water going from the bank to the island.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpWdkAzmBF
It was wet and muddy from rabbits travelling across it.
The Janu went first and quickly reached the other side.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRqKaNAB7T
“Come on, you’re holding the others up.” He called out.
He looked back to see other Magia rabbits, kits, senior rabbits and rabbits from other colonies waiting behind him.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPTbJchU0u
He groaned and tentatively took a step onto the log. It was more stable than he thought so he started moving along faster, feeling the pressure of the rabbits behind him.
He kept going then suddenly his body lurched, and he flailed wildly but he ended up plunging into the freezing cold water. He struggled to keep his head above the water and kept swallowing water. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4yNfweBbM
Brook saw him and she rushed over with her students back into the water and helped support him.
“Use your legs, keep calm.” She said. Her words were a murky blur as he struggled to keep his head above the water. He would have gone in circles had Brook not been there to lead him to the island.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWShSUrmlnT
Brook tried to help heave him up the bank, while some Silver rabbits on the island hauled him fully out of the water and dragged him up the bank.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYMZ18X33a
He was completely unconscious as SilverSkull and Janu came over in a panic, ordering a couple of rabbits to get Ruby.
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