In the Aftermath of Woundwart

Story by Tristan Hawthorne on SoFurry

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#7 of Up on the Down


This is a story based on an Anthropomorphic Post Apocalyptic Adaptation of Watership Down I'm working on, Compiled of the Book, Movie, and TV show.

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Hazel rubbed his forehead as he made his way down one of the runs. He had left Blackberry and Bigwig to argue amongst themselves, as it had gotten too late at night for him to continue mediate their bickering about what required more attention, defense, or infrastructure. Their argument had been nearly constant since the Sandleford escapees made it to the high hill and founded their new warren there, and as during the journey the others started looking to him as their Chief, he's had to deal with it since they arrived.

He figured he could have one night off from it, after the seasons they had stayed on the Down. Walking through the runs of the warren, he passed the doorway to the new room that his younger brother occupied with his peer Silverweed, still remembering when the newcomer asked to live with Fiver. It made sense he supposed. They had more in common with each other than with the rest of the Down. But he was starting to miss the presence of his younger brother. Looking in the open doorway momentarily, he saw the pair sitting cross-legged, facing one another on one of the cots, eyes closed. He figured they must be doing some sort of mental exercise, as Fiver had mentioned, last they spoke, that Silverweed was helping him with... what had Fiver called them? Mental abilities. He shook his head and continued on, remembering when they were just visions and insight. He made his way up and out the trapdoor in the old bar that made up the Lone Beech Tree and headed to the doorway. There was Captain Campion, supervising the last of the Owsla Training regiment in Bigwig's stead.

"Alright lads! That'll be enough for the day!" Campion called out across the group of Owsla assembled, "Fall in and get some rest. Night patrol, silflay and prepare for your watch!" At his command, the bucks of the Owsla started to disperse.

Nearby, Hawkbit grumbled and fought to regain his breath, paws on his knees, before he stood up and loosened his collar, "I don't see what all the fuss is about. Woundwort and his lot were taken care of what... a week ago now?" He looked to Dandelion, who was still in the paws on knees phase, "Is all this training really necessary?"

Strawberry walked by the other two nonchalantly, breathing normally, "Might be."

Hawkbit glowered, and then a rather looming presence distracted him from his moment. He slowly turned to find Captain Campion looking down at him.

The tall scarred buck looked down upon Hawkbit sternly, "Be that as it may, Hawkbit, you'll still follow orders while under my command, or shall I let Bigwig command your training sessions this week? After all, I'm sure you know how much more lenient he is than I..." Campion trailed off, repressing a smirk at the look on Hawkbit's face as he processed that information.

Hawkbit grumbled, and saluted, "Yessir... Erm.. sorry sir..." He turned and headed back towards the down, Dandelion soon close behind.

Campion sighed and looked along the curve of the high hill, then up to the horizon, whereupon Frith had nearly sat upon. He stopped and pondered. Who ruled him now? Was it Frith or Inle? Was he a being of the Light or the Darkness? It had been a week since his mission set forth by the Black Rabbit was completed, through Silverweed's use of what Hannah had called "The Magic", calling down his Master from the sky to smite those who sought to tarnish His name for their delusional quest for power. Silverweed had been all that remained on the battlefield, he was told later, for he had been left as a captive of the Darkhaven warren throughout the battle.

His unharmed ear swiveled and he knew a buck was approaching him from behind. He turned expecting a young Owsla officer, before an unexpected voice graced his ears.

"Good evening, Captain." Hazel spoke clearly. He stepped closer to the large scarred buck, eyes glancing around at the night patrol on Silflay in the waning light.

Campion hesitated for a moment, before he took on an official stance, remembering to keep up propriety. "Good evening Hazel." He stopped himself, "Erm... I mean Hazel-Rah." That moment of self correction caused his thought process to falter, before he continued. "All evening exercises complete, sir. I've just relieved the lads of their duties until tomorrow morning. All in all I wager they'll be able to take down a hraka in no time should they keep their discipline up." He finished his report to his Chief, standing a little too rigid, even for his own taste.

Hazel stood still as well, his mind split between the report he was taking in and the need to maintain a professional image. He flinched a little at the self-correction, but it had been hard to notice. He knew they must maintain a level of propriety. Bigwig and Blackberry broke the rule so often simply because they had grown up together at Sandleford, before Watership Down, before Hazel-Rah. "Very good, Captain. You too are relieved of duty for the night, unless you wish to join the Night Patrol." He gave a slight nod, before turning and starting back towards the entrance of the Down.

Captain Campion breathed deeply, just his Chieftain's scent enough to make his pulse race as he tried to keep up his level of professionalism. "Thank you, Sir. I'll take my leave for the evening. Even us Captains need our rest from time to time." He said in a slight joking manner.

At the doorway, Hazel grasped the frame with a paw, before turning to look back at Campion, "If you are not joining the patrol, I'd like a word."

Campion had been preparing to make one last round about the area to check on things before returning to the Down, when he heard Hazel's request. He looked to the smaller buck, his Chieftain, and nodded, "A word. Well..." His mind flickered through all the possible topics, but it strayed over many of the least professional ones, perhaps out of longing. "Yessir. Of course." Even though the rational part of his mind thought Hazel would be discussing Owsla training, he still moved to the other with a lightness of step that might have betrayed his feelings, were any of the Night Patrol watching.

Hazel waited for Campion to be alongside him, and began to walk, "You know... you needn't be so fervent in your correcting yourself with my title." He began, speaking softly as Campion matched his pace, staying abreast the smaller buck as they entered the large communal area, nicknamed the Honeycomb. "I would never punish for such a slight. I make no illusions that I am some Great Rabbit sent by El-Arairah himself to lead his people in his absence. Titles can warp perceptions. I am a simple buck. In my old warren of Sandleford..." He paused, trailing off. Was it really so long ago now? It couldn't have been more than a few seasons, possibly two years, but it seemed like a lifetime had passed. "I was of the lowest Caste, only my brother to care for and protect. Please, I don't want a title to go to my head. I don't want to be making more up to make myself grand..." He trailed off, remembering Woundwort, who insisted on calling himself General, whatever that meant. He assumed it meant that he was the General Captain, the captain of all captains of his Warren; Such a warlike society that had produced the buck alongside him.

Campion listened carefully to Hazel as he explained his thoughts on what, to Campion, was all part of the chain of command, a structure that was very clear in his mind from his upbringing. He took the comments to heart, all while another part of him marveled at the humility of the smaller buck, and thinking about, however humble Hazel was, he also carried himself in a noble manner, with the confidence and drive that marked him as Chieftain of the freest, most diverse, and most changing, warren Campion had ever seen. He knew that it had been Hazel behind the founding of Redstone, and the liberation of the Efrafan slaves, this simple buck who seemed too young, too small, and too inexperienced to have done the things he had done, to whom he would be eternally grateful. He nodded as the speech ended, the side of his face opposite Hazel turning into a soft smirk, "Ah, Sorry Hazel. But it is my responsibility to remain respectful to my chief while on duty. It's just how I am.... Sir." His smile crept around his muzzle to be more noticeable, the Captain joking a little, something he had been able to do more and more since he had taken residence at the Down.

Hazel smiled warmly, then looked away, towards his feet as they walked down one of the runs, toward Hazel's room. "But that isn't really what I wanted to talk to you about...."

Campion looked down at Hazel with his good eye, quirking a brow inquisitively. "Well then, may I ask what is?" He caught himself drawing his gaze over his Chief's body, before he concertedly pressed to eye contact, as Hazel looked back to him.

"You may, and in doing so, you have." Hazel spoke in a turn of phrase similar to Blackberry's own, throwing Campion slightly off guard, "As you know, there is a high population at the Down of late, after Redstone's destruction. Hickory and Marigold will be leading a group of rabbits to search for a site for a new warren within the week. I have heard that they wish you to come along with them, for protection."

"They want me?" Campion, already off guard, was stunned, and his face showed it. He would have thought Bigwig the obvious choice. He knew that his reputation was clean, another aspect of the Down he admired, the rabbits there able to look past past slights and to forgive misdeeds, but he himself wasn't quite used to being counted amongst them, a phase he hoped would pass in time. He nodded to Hazel, composing himself, "You can count on me, Hazel. I'm sure my appearance alone will suffice enough to scare off any elil that come our way..."He made light of his disfigured face and bodily scarring, marks from the event that ended one of the most pivotal battles in the Down's history, as his time with the comparatively carefree Watershippers had made him no longer mind his appearance.

Hazel smiled warmly, but there was some apprehension in it as Campion seemed so ready to go on this mission. He resisted the urge to shush the larger buck at his self-degradation, and sighed. "I am not so certain I want you to go..." He spoke as they neared the door to his room, one of the few doors in the Warren at the moment, so many having been used for defense during the latest battle. "I-I mean to say, you're still getting used to life on the Down.... And..." His facade of professionalism started to crack and crumble.

Campion watched Hazel intently and felt a swelling in his chest as he saw the confident, noble buck beside him start to fall apart, reaching a paw to the other's shoulder, "Hazel." He spoke low, although there was no one else in the run, as they arrived at the Chief's chamber. He looked into Hazel's eyes with his good eye, locking in his gaze. It had been a long time since their last secret meeting, when Campion had come to warn Watership Down of the dangers it faced, yet it was a night that was fresh in his memory as the events of the day prior. No words needed to be spoken in that moment, the two looking with barely contained longing to each other, before Campion broke the silence, "Shall we discuss this.... Elsewhere?"

Hazel felt as though his heart might burst from his chest, and looked into his room, large enough for two since until recently Fiver had lived there as well. He looked back up to the larger buck, his secret love, "Y-Yes... Yes that would be best..." He said softly, with the last remains of his propriety, motioning weakly with one paw and a tilt of his head that Campion should enter first.

Campion took one look around, to make sure they were really alone in the run, before he smiled and stepped into Hazel's private chamber. Part of him was confused and wondering why he was doing this, wondering how long they could keep up this affair of theirs. Part of him thought they could keep up the facade, and another thought it would be too hard on both of them. But all of that melted away as he turned to watch Hazel entering.

The younger, slighter buck closed the door and locked it, before he turned, and in the two steps he needed to take to reach Campion, his nobility and propriety finally fell away into that young buck who needed to be protected, who he had never been allowed to be, before his dalliances with Campion. Always he had to be strong for his brother, be strong for his friends, be strong for his Warren, but not with Campion. Campion could be strong for him, and that was something he knew now he had always needed. He guessed it was why he had sought out Bigwig as a friend when he was young. All pretenses had dropped, and Hazel now had his arms around Campion's torso, holding on tight, having the sence to remain silent, still knowing enough to maintain secrecy. As far as he knew, only Fiver and Silverweed knew of this, and he wanted to keep it that way for now.

And as Hazel fell into his embrace, Campion wrapped the smaller buck in his powerful arms, and held him securely, protectively. And they no longer stood as Cheiftain and Captain, but as lovers, protector and protected. He nuzzled softly at Hazel's cheek, taking in his scent deeply, letting out a low rumble in his broad chest, feeling as if he couldn't let go, "Oh Hazel..." He whispered, looking down to the other in the embrace, "I've been waiting for this for so long..."

Hazel breathed deeply of the large buck's earthy musk, built up from the day of running Owsla drills. He let out a soft churr in response to the baritone rumble from his lover's chest, nuzzling theron as the strong arms held him close, knowing he was safe in those arms. He nuzzled back at Campion's own, and looked up to the larger buck, "I have too, my Captain..." The term was no longer a title, but his endearment for the larger buck, in the tone in which he spoke, "That's why I'm afraid to let you go again..."

Campion's eye filled with a proud joy at Hazel's words, and he felt his chest swell up against him in the comforting hold. He nodded to his chief and nuzzled his forehead, kissing there softly before looking to the smaller buck again, "Hazel, I know we've all been through a lot these past weeks here, and I know... some have been lost." He spoke solemnly, reaching one large paw to pet Hazel's cheek as the kept eye contact. "But if you're afraid you might lose me again, take some comfort in knowing that not even the Black Rabbit of Inle could keep me from you. He tried... and failed once before. I'll be damned if I'm going to let it happen again now that we're free to do as we please." He smiled softly, feeling bliss in knowing Hazel cared for him so much, and trying to ease the other's fears. "To take on 'new ways of thinking' as you put it?" He chuckled, petting back Hazel's ears with his strong warm paw.

Hazel smiled softly in return, sniffling a little, his eyes watering slightly as Campion read him like a book, easing his fears one by one. He squeezed around the bigger buck's chest, "Just promise to me you won't let the scouting go too far... They'll want you to stay during the building, and I'll have to make... Diplomatic Visits..." He used an interesting euphemism, even though he knew as Chieftain it would be more literal than he acted.

"Shh, Hazel..." Campion hushed his Cheiftain lover some, not wanting him to worry so much about his wellbeing in the upcoming sojurn, "Don't worry. I'll do what I must for Hickory and his group." He said with an authoritative tone, one never taken in front of the other rabbits, but when it was just Hazel around, the more domineering side of the buck came out over rank. "But I promise you, nothing will prevent me from coming back to you... my love." With this Campion slowly leaned in and pressed his warm lips to Hazel's, locking him in a warm passion-filled kiss, sealing his final say on the matter to his chief.

The lithe buck murmured softly, and let go of his authority, his responsibility, and everything else that marked him as chieftain, a weight visibly falling away from his form as he put the rest of his trust into Campion. He blushed ever so deeply as the larger buck gave his word, looking up into his mismatched eyes, seeing only the inner beauty of his Captain as their lips met, his eyes closing as he kissed back passionately, a rich churr forming in his chest...

If there ever were a moment Campion felt true unconditional happiness, it was now, in these moments with his lover. There was something between them he'd never felt before with any other and he basked in the glow of their shared love for one another. Deeply he rumbled in the growing kiss, a soft moan escaping his throat, and only moving into Hazel as his large paws started to caress over the smaller buck.

Hazel churred deeply into the kiss, working his lips against those of the larger buck as he felt the large paws caressing over his shape, paws that could snap him in two, but where moving so gently over him.

Campion deepened the kiss, easing in his tongue as their passion grew, and could smell the mixed arousals of the two bucks in the air, knowing they'd soon have to shed their clothes as had they their outward personas. He ground his hips to Hazel firmly for now, rumbling deeper. His own scent was becoming more potent with every moment, feeling his trousers grow tight from the source.

Hazel felt the other buck's tongue enter his mouth, and started to suckle and rub his own tongue against it, his churrs becoming louder as he scented the need rising around the two bucks, his own need becoming apparent in the air now.

The tall scarred buck worked his paws tenderly over his love, and gradually started to undo the simple articles of clothing that adorned the humble chieftain, revealing his slender frame to the air of the chamber and letting more of his scent fill the air and their lungs. Campion soon held a much more naked buck in his arms, smiling softly.

Hazel blushed softy, closing his eyes as he felt his clothing being shed away from his form, not resisting at all. But once he was revealed fully, he raised his paws and started to work at Campion's own clothing. The rabbit soon felt his wrists encircled in the strong digits of the other, and looked up to Campion, who simply smiled and guided Hazel over and onto his bed. He watched as the larger buck began to shed his clothing in front of him, letting him watch his powerful frame be revealed, strong musculature showing through his scarred pelt.

Soon, they were both fully revealed to the other, and, unable to contain their arousal, fully erect as well. Campion rumbled with a smile as he gently eased Hazel onto his back, along the length of the bed, and spread his legs gently. Then he crawled up onto the bedding, kneeling between the spread legs of his secret love.

Had he been more aware of reality at this time, Hazel might have wondered if his bed could support the weight of the two bucks, but he was lost in a haze of longing and need for his Captain to mate him and protect him. He murred softly, eyes lidded yet locked into Campion's own as he felt strong paws stroking along his thighs and then grasp thereon. He gasped as the strong arms worked his rump and hips into the larger buck's lap.

Campion smiled softly, and used one firm paw to wrap his member up against Hazel's own, starting to stroke them together, even though Hazel's shaft was dwarfed by Campion's. He smirked and rumbled lustily as he saw his lover starting to pant and grasp at the bedding, knowing that he had made the right choice in foreplay, feeling his own shaft pulse and begin to leak pre, which he smeared all over both shafts.

Hazel closed his eyes and murmured at the wonderful sensations, slowly flexing his hips to grind his shaft to Campion's belly to belly. He felt the rumbling against him increase, and knew he was doing the right thing, continuing to work his hips slowly, even as the pair of shafts grew slicker and more lustrous from the combined buck's preseed.

The larger buck eyed the pair of shafts, before nodding with satisfaction at how slick they looked. Still stroking Hazel's shaft he eased his own away from it, and down below. With his other paw he gently adjusted the angle of the smaller buck's hips, then too his slickened shaft in his paw and angled it down to point at his love's supple pucker.

A soft gasp, an intake of air, and the slight buck felt the familiar, yet all too uncommon sensation of his rump being spread by his Captain's buckhood, even as the strong paws worked to ease him closer to the hips it was attached to. He writhed, and his rump flexed at the thick shaft as it worked in, the combined preseed sufficient lubrication as it pressed deeper, and he could feel more pre being released, as if to refresh said lubrication.

Campion closed his eye and let out a low pleasured groan, before his paws tugged Hazel all the way to meet his rump against his hips in this position, his large lungs full of their combined musks, which only added to the myriad sensations he felt, his paws now shifting along the other's frame, until he was easing the smaller buck upright, to be in an embracing position, sitting in his lap and on his member.

Hazel opened his eyes as his torso was lifted up and rotated, blushing before he wrapped his arms around the broad scarred chest of his love, panting hard as his body attempted to adjust to the sheer girth and depth that the bigger buck's arousal stretched his bowels to. He nuzzled tenderly into the chest before him, kissing at it every so often, feeling strong arms holding him and strong paws caressing over him.

Slowly, after a few moments of simple cuddles and caressing affections, Campion started to flex his rump and abs, moving his hips in this position, and starting to thrust slowly, tenderly, into Hazel. The smaller buck groaned aloud, his paws grasping at the larger's shoulder blades as pleasure traveled in waves back and forth across his body, each new one starting when his rump met lap.

Hazel murmured softly and flexed his rump a bit more firmly, trying to make sure that Campion was feeling as much pleasure giving to him as he was receiving from the slow deliberate strokes of the powerful buck. He could feel his own achingly hard arousal grinding into the flexing abs between them, feeling the musculature bulging against his member before every stroke inward. He groaned softly, and knew his peak was nearing him.

The smaller buck leaned in close to the good ear of his lover and whispered lustily, "I-I'm close, my Captain..." Without saying a word, he was pressed back down onto the bed, but without his arms being dislocated from their embrace, his form pinned under the much larger one as the thrusts began to come harder and faster, this new position allowing for more power and faster thrusts.

Campion growled in dominant passion, allowing himself to enter the home stretch towards his peak after Hazel's announcement. He wanted to get his lover off, and his hips started to slam more and more to the other's own, a wet slapping noise soon being heard, that he realized was his moist sac swatting against the upturned rump of his lover with every hilting stroke.

Hazel groaned, and could not take it anymore. He grasped onto Campion firmly and bit his lip to prevent himself crying out loud as his rump flexed spasmodically and his shaft released his flow across his lover's belly and chest. Three strokes of the girthy cock later, and it stayed hilted, the whole length convulsing, before hot thick seed rushed the young chieftain's bowels.

The lovers rode out their orgasms together, holding each other close, before they both came down into afterglow. Campion nuzzled softly at Hazel's muzzle and neck, and Hazel's breathing slowly became more calm. He could feel himself on the edge of sleep from the afterglow's calming effects. Campion felt this as well, and kissed his love softly, "Let us rest, now, my love..."

"Yes... my love..." Hazel murmured, before his breathing became low and steady, muzzle hanging open slightly. He had passed out. Campion smiled softly and kissed Hazel again, gently, before he closed his eye and settled in close, being his love's blanket for the night as he too fell asleep.

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