Post 8 ; Chapters 36-38

The suspicious captain, Chervil

Chapter 36: Approaching Thunder

Outside of Efrafa warren, Bigwig tells Keharr that the others have to be ready at sunset. Keharr is also told that he has to attack the sentries if it comes to that. Bigwig then tells Hyzenthlay about the plan, and she tells her friend about the plan as well. The plan seems to be going well until Chervil sees Bigwig with Keharr, and tells Woundwort about it. Woundwort demands a talk with Bigwig about the issue.

Chapter 37: The Thunder Builds Up

Woundwort is suspicious of Bigwig because he says that one of the patrols saw him running away from the fox. Bigwig says that it was intentional of him to lead the fox to Woundwort's patrol. He also denies knowing the group of rabbits that escaped from Efrafa earlier. Also, he tells Woundwort that he was talking to the bird (Keharr) to try and impress Chervil. Woundwort believes him, and invites him on a Wide Patrol in a few days. He also tells Bigwig to watch out for Hyzenthlay because he is suspicious of her. After a few days the main group realizes that things aren't going accordingly to plan. Bigwig is also worried because he had told Hyzenthlay to be ready, and that they would be caught. He manages to tell Keharr indirectly to come back tonight. Lastly, he tells Blackavar to be ready to leave because he plans to take him.

Keharr attacks Woundwort just after the flash of lightning


Chapter 38: The Thunder Breaks

In the afternoon, Bigwig is woken up by Hyzenthlay because she says that one of the does was arrested for spilling the plan. He tells her to gather up the others quickly while he gets Blackavar. When he reaches Blackavar, he attacks fights one of the guards to get him free. He and the others start running off, and the rest of the patrols in Efrafa hear and spot them escaping. Woundwort gets wind of the escape, and eventually catches up to them. Outside, it is raining heavily, and Bigwig is wondering where Keharr is. Woundwort spots them and starts to attack. Just as that happens, a flash of lightning happens, freezing everyone, and gives time for Keharr to come in and attack. Some of the group appears, and helps them get down to the boat at the river. At the riverbank, the boat is waiting for them to leave, but some of the does won't go on until Bigwig tells them to. They all eventually get on board, and Hazel chews the rope, letting the boat free as they drift away from the danger of Woundwort and Efrafa.

Woundwort just barely misses the group escaping on the river

Questions/Comments

I wonder how Bigwig so easily tricked Chervil and Woundwort? If I were in their situation, I would think something is going on if I saw Bigwig talking to a huge bird. I would think something is obviously going on that Woundwort should have been more aware of. A rare mistake by him in my opinion.

Woundwort should have been even more aware after one of the does leaked the plan. That definitely should have set off a bad feeling about Bigwig, but instead interrogated the doe rather than question Bigwig. Maybe Woundwort isn't aware and smart as I thought he was before.

I now realize what the boat was for- a quick escape if the group was in danger. I feel silly how I wondered before how the rabbits would use the boat; it was obvious they were counting on the river's strong current to  drift them far away.

Lastly, I can't help but think that Bigwig and the others' escape was too easy. I think that they will run into Woundwort and his forces again in the future. Woundwort has a better understanding on how the group thinks and plans their actions out, and he will surely be looking for revenge after getting tricked.