Cathy's Visit

First posted to alt.devilbunnies 14-20 April, 1999 in collaboration with Bryan "Brightspot" Hall.
©1999 by Scott Bernier and Bryan Hall
First HTML-ized 5 May, 1999 by Scott Bernier

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Cathy looked about wearily in the stretch of forest she was in. She'd travel over a half hour from the last warren with a bunmover terminal on paw. She knew she hadn't been followed. However, she knew she was being watched, so she knew that she must be close as she entered a small clearing. She hoped they got her message.

Cathy's passage through the forest did not go unnoticed. From the instant she stepped into the Volo Bog environs, she had been tracked by a still patchwork web of motion and thermal sensors that monitored her course and speed. When it became evident she was on a direct line for the old Volo Bog Warren, the roving security patrols went to a higher state of alert. Sniper teams were dispatched and mere moments later, the back of her furry head resided in no fewer than seven sets of crosshairs.

Once this fact had been verified, a scout was sent forward to speak with the lone intruder. Granted, it was a trifle risky to do for the sensor web certainly was by no means complete.. nor was it one hundred percent effective. However, it was the best they had at the moment, and so must be dealt with accordingly.

Nutcruncher watched the lone Devilbunny doe carefully for several moments before breaking cover. He (BristleFlicked) animatedly and took his modified paintball gun off his shoulder. A cut down version of a SplatMaster™ that fired .30 calibre high explosive paintballs (Paintball with fangs, Brightspot called it..) and confronted the intruder directly.

"HALT!" (demandchitter) A grey squirrel moved around a tree trunk and into her view. He had what looked like a small squirrel-sized gun aimed at her. Though she couldn't make out shapes easily in the thick canopy, she knew there had to be more then one. She did as she was told.

Nutcruncher (SurpriseFlicked), certainly not expecting such ready compliance. "I don't suppose you've a good explanation for being here, Ms...?"

"Catherine Blake," Cathy replied. "My sister, Callie, is expecting me." She remained still.

Nutcruncher chittered into a small headset for several seconds, eyes widening at the reply he received but a moment later. Though his firearm never wavered from it's aimpoint dead center on the doe's chest, he did relax slightly. "Wait here," (commandflick) "She will come up and identify you herself. If she can't, you'll not live long enough to take another step."

Five minutes passed by and a familiar calico doe hopped into the small clearing wearing a plain brown jumper. She looked at Cathy and blinked. Squealing with delight, she charged and bowled her off her paws in a huge (bunnyhug).

Nutcruncher (GrinFlicked) and safetied his weapon, knowing that the sniper teams were still following their progress. "I do believe that constitutes a positive identification, Callie?"

Finally, the two untangled themselves. Callie (gigglepoofed) and smiled brightly "Nutcruncher, everything is alright," Callie stated. "Since you've already met my sister go ahead of us and let everyone else know of her arrival. I'll escort her in from here."

The squirrel saluted and disappeared into the tree canopy. Callie turned again to her sister.

"What are you doing here? Why didn't you send me a message?"

"I did, sis', just yesterday. I sent another one this morning for I hadn't received a reply yet."

"Really?" (sighfluff) "Our equipment must be on the fritz again. We'll have to have a word with Sparks... Five will get you ten he cannibalized the receiving antennae array for something or other for the new Warren." she noticed the stitches on her sister's backside in an area of her pelt that had been trimmed down recently. (concernfluff) "What happened?"

"Long story. I'll fill you in as we move along...."

"Just one more..." Orchid plucket-out the last suture as Cathy winced slightly. "Don't know who sewed you up, but they did a fair job. The scar will be small. In the meantime, I want you to take it easy another week, healed or not, if you stress it too much, it could rip open. And I fully expect you down here in a day or so, young lady! I will NOT have you getting that infected while I'm MedBun here!"

Cathy (grinfluffled) and nodded as she hopped off the examination bed and left the warren's medical center. Orchid was proving to be everything Callie had said he was.. and more. A trifle envious of her sister, she hopped carefully out of the medbay to discover that Callie was waiting for her outside.

Cathy looked about. "Where's my backpack?"

"In our burrow, sis."

Cathy lowered her voice as she glanced about briefly. "Will it be safe there?"

Callie stared at Cathy. Cathy could read in her expression that Callie felt insulted. "Orchid is a member of the council. He is my mate, and I trust him with my life. After all, I DID leave Intelligence for him." (bristlefluff)

(WHOAHpooffootstomp) "Relax, Callie! You know I meant no insult by that.. but.. well.. (sighruffle) I don't know this place as you do."

Callie calmed, knowing the truth of the situation."You'd have a point, if we were in a normal warren. Treerunner's already seen your backpack and simply made sure that there's no explosives or other 'nasty' things. Standard proceedure for any visitor." (gigglefluff) "He wasn't too pleased that I hovered over him...come'on, we've got just enough time to get ready for dinner. We'll be dining with the council..." Callie led her down one of Volo Bog's tunnels towards her and Orchid's old quarters, making sure that she went nowhere near the transport station to the new Warren.

Callie and Cathy hopped into the council chamber. Callie wore the emerald and sapphire studded earbows that Orchid had given her. Cathy wore sky blue earbows which were striking against her brown and beige pelt (or so the Wynn Fashion Tips website stated they would). Introductions were made around the table and they were seated and served a tossed salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

"Why no uniform, Agent..."

Cathy looked down the table at the bun who asked and couldn't remember her name for a moment...then..."Pearl?" The bun nodded. "No bun told me this was going to be a formal occasion. AND I'm on medical leave visiting my sister." She looked to the other buns and squirrels present. "Would you relax more if I had worn my uniform? Personally, I find it rather uncomfortable. What I'm wearing right now," she wiggled her body and lightly batted one of the earbows, "is more then enough, as it seems to be the same with most of you." She got what she wanted as she observed a few physically relax.

Cathy giggled when a devilbunny buck lightly nipped Perl's neck, causing her to (BlushPoofle)

"You'll have to forgive Perl. Cathy. She gets like this when she's.. how do the humans say it.. knocked up?"

Perl (MockGROWLRuffled). "AHEM! That is /NOT/ polite terminology, you! Keep that up and you'll pay DEARLY for that tonight!"

The buck (FangyGrinned), and replied quietly.. "Promises, promises.."

This brought a round of loud and happy laughing, and several toasts to the up and coming litter, the first since the brutal attack that nearly destroyed them.

Treerunner, however, was a bit testy at the moment, having had received the latest data from the sensor nets.. or the lack thereof. That, and he did NOT like the orders that forbade him from THOROUGHLY examining Cathy's belongings when she entered. AND when he did finally get to check those belongings, Callie hovered over him like a vulture. This being so, he was a bit less than hospitable, and more paranoid than usual. "And so, Cathy.. you're here to check up on our Callie. Perhaps checking to see if she's the traitor your Command fears she's become?"

Silence fell across the room as swiftly as a bucket of water could douse a candleflame.

Cathy's eyes snapped from her food to glare at Treerunner. "You had BEST not," she replied in a quiet and cold tone, "have called my sister a traitor. If you did, I wouldn't care if you're head of security, I'll rip you apart so fast your tail won't have time to flick." She leaned forward ever so slightly. "I hope we're clear on that."

Treerunner glared at Cathy by means of reply, and was opening his muzzle to say something that probably would make matters worse when Brightspot interrupted.

In a surprisingly calm and cool voice, he looked over to Treerunner and Cathy. "Treerunner, you are quite out of line. Cathy is the guest of Callie, whom more than earned her place here by virtue of what she did in the Battle of the Warren. You will accord her full Diplomatic privilidges, is that clear?"

Treerunner broke his glare and (Semi-apologeticFlicked) to Brightspot. "Sorry, Brightspot. It won't happen again."

"I don't believe I'm the one that should be apologized to."

Treerunner turned, tail and ears drooping a bit. "I'm sorry, Cathy. I'm only doing my job.."

Cathy's fur was still a bit bristled, but she nodded her acceptance anyway. "Accepted, Treerunner.."

Brightspot wasn't through, however.. "And you, Cathy.. you are our guest here. I'll thank you NOT to go threatening my personnel. I assure you that while you are accorded Diplomatic Immunity, it is not carte blanche to go eating my security staff." This, he said with a chuckle, but there was a gleam in his eyes that quite bespoke his sincere desire that no further warnings were necessary.

Cathy quite took the hint. "I'm sorry, Treerunner. It's just that I'm quite defensive on my sister's behalf. She and I.. well, we've been through a lot together.

Treerunner (ApologeticFlicked) "Accepted, Cathy. I'm sorry."

Everyone had stopped eating and was now looking at her. She looked about at them.

(wellfluff) "Why not come out and say it? None of you trust me. I don't blame you. My CO doesn't trust any of you either. But my sister believes in you and I believe in her. That's good enough for me. Yes, my CO wanted me to look around, but I'm not going to bother. I know I won't learn anything new. If Callie's report had been any more thorough, we'd have had the combination to the small locker in the back of the kitchen." She pushed her plate forward and got up. "What's the point? I shouldn't have stayed for dinner. I should have just had the check-up, talked to Callie and left." She hopped towards the door.

Brightspot forestalled the exit by stating.. "04-21-71"

Cathy turned about and asked.. "Excuse me?"

Brightspot smiled softly. "The combination to the small locker in the back of the kitchen. It's 04-21-71. Inside you'll find various small arms and a satchel charge. I do apologize for our behaviour, Cathy. Please..finish your salad. Orchid has informed me that you've been wounded and that you need to take it easy." He looked about the table. "I have had about enough of this uncivil behaviour. We can and WILL extend her full CORTESY. IS THAT CLEAR?"

Everybun/one nodded assent.

"Excellent. Now then, Cathy. If you wish, Callie can take you on a tour of our facility, though I do wish that either Treerunner or his second accompany you. Some regions of this place are still a trifle unsafe, and our relations with the AoF aren't quite at the full disclosure stage yet. We, as does the AoF, wish to keep some things to ourselves."

*Yes, so I've noticed,* she thought to herself. *That's why you've kept me in the old warren.*

The rest of the supper consisted of simple small talk and other pleasantries. On the whole, the mood was very much lightened. Still, as soon as it was polite to do so, Cathy left the table citing fatigue from her wounds and her journey.

Callie followed her sister out and rushed to her side. "You're hiding something, sis'. What's wrong?"

Cathy paused. (sighfluff) "A few things, but it doesn't concern them. Only you..."

"If it concerns me, it may concern this warren." Callie nuzzled her in affection and guided her to their quarters.

Cathy pulled the earbows off and stretched slowly a moment gathering her thoughts. "Callie, Sugartail knows we're alive."

Callie gasped. Cathy filled in the details.

"...she pawed me the instructions, I leapt out and they sped off. Dad then arranged with Intelligence to send me from small Fudd outpost to outpost to provide hand-to-paw combat training. It's obvious he's trying to protect me by putting as much space between me and her as possible."

"What about..."

"She made no indication that she knows where you are, just that you live." Just then Orchid hopped in. "Good, the rest of what I have to say concerns you also brother."

Orchid's ears perked up ever so slightly.

"You're not going to like what I've got to say. I hope you're not waiting for Mom and Dad to come for a visit before you two seal your vows to one another. If tonight's dinner was any indication...but it goes well beyond that..." Cathy filled them in on the situation in Maine.

"...with the Fourier attack on the Bangor buns we no longer know who's in charge. I hope you don't intend to continue holding off the wedding waiting for Dad. There's no way he can leave with the situation the way it is in Maine at the moment. Sugartail could be working with the Bangor buns, or she could simply be working for her own gain."

"Sugartail?"

Callie nuzzled her mate. "You'll learn all the details when we tell the council. Come'on, this shouldn't wait."

Most of the council was still in the chamber discussing how things had gone sour that day with their guest when Orchid and company hopped in. Brightspot had evidently become slightly agitated, because he was pacing back and forth instead of sitting in his normal place. He was looking up at the Council, all of which had slightly poofed fur and downcast ears. He smiled, mood altering noticeably when Cathy et. al. came hopping in.

"Cathy has a lot to say that concerns our warren in one way or another," Callie stated. "May she speak?"

Brightspot chuckled and nodded. "By all means, Callie. I do believe the Council has heard enough of my rantings for the nonce, and would welcome a break." He (FangyGrinned) to Treerunner, who's tail was uncharacteristically still. "Am I correct in that assessment, Treerunner?"

Treerunner winced slightly and nodded.. "Oh, I don't think I'll argue the point, Mentat Brightspot.."

Brightspot nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent! Then shall we let our honoured guest speak."

Brightspot nodded and Cathy began her tale as she did with Callie telling about the encounter with Sugartail.

"Who is this Sugartail?" Brightspot inquired.

"She was my 'pet' db bunny back when I was a human girl. She had been training my family to be symps or possibly she had been training us for conversion. One day she convinced Callie and me to visit her warren. There, we were used as bait to attempt to capture Major Blake. It almost work. Before it was all over, my real parents were murdered, a murder attempt was made on Callie's Mom and brother, we," Cathy points to herself and Callie, "were infected with bunnyvirus without knowing about it, and Callie's dad nearly died buying time in our escape. Their warren commander was killed and Sugartail and her sisters took over."

"When he had recovered from his injuries," Callie picked-up the tale, "Dad had received a message from BerryBlossom, Sugartail's sister, inquiring about us. He stated flatly and plainly that we were dead and he vowed that if he ever got his paws on their mentat that she'd join us. Having proven himself honorable in battle against her former commander, she accepted his statement as truth. That was the fall before you visited Dad's base, Brightspot."

"How did they find out the truth?"

"You've got me," Cathy replied. "It could be that whoever is in charge in Bangor now got lucky in one of their recon missions. We've killed countless numbers of scoutbuns within 20 miles of home."

Brightspot perked-up, eyes flashing "Browny's no longer in charge?"

"Who knows. He may be in charge again. It seems he was removed from power soon after you were rescued, Brightspot. His successor was a bun by the name of Razorclaw. Dad tried to negotiate a prisioner exchange with that bun on a couple of occasions, but with little success. Then the Fouriers" (shudderfluff) "decided to establish an outpost up our way..." Cathy told them about Wade's battle the previous December. "...so you see, we have no clue who's in charge now. It could be Browny again, or somebun else. I doubt it's Browny for he was never a quiet bun and whoever's in charge now has remained silent."

Brightspot pondered this for a long moment.. eyes distant and unfocused. He sighs softly and shakes his head, saying to the Council at large.. "..And unto all things come an ending." Orchid sidled a bit closer, realizing that the past had briefly become the present. Brightspot smiled and shook his head slowly. "No worries, Orchid. I think it's high time I let go is all. No, Sunfall is well and truly gone. She lives here, now." He taps his forehead, then his chest. But that's for later. For now, it seems that the sister of our heroine needs our help, and help she shall have. Cathy, I don't think it's advisable that you travel this region alone. Misty is getting more active of late, and so I'll order a small guard for you if you wish. Also, the BunMover system around that warren have proven unreliable...thanks to our clandestine efforts. We'll help you find a way to get to where you need to be, if you so desire. At the very least, we can give you a few devices that'll help protect you."

Brightspot grinned. "And, Cathy.. if I can use you a bit, I'd appreciate it."

Cathy and Callie (blinkfluffed) and eyed the buck suspiciously. "What do you mean..?"

"Just tell the Fudds that we've got a bit of housecleaning to do. Misty is being a bit of a thorn in our sides.. and I think it's time we go take care of that little problem."

The entire Council (BLINKFluffled) wondering if their fearless leader threw a piston or something.. "But.. we don't have the resources for a full scale invasion...!" Treerunner cheeped in a shrill voice.

Brightspot chuckled. "I know. But trust me.. I've an idea."

Cathy retired late to the burrow she was sharing with Callie and Orchid. Brightspot had kept them up longer then she expected as he had layed out his plans. She would have a lot to place in her report to Fudd Intelligence. After using the small bathroom to the back of the burrow, she made her way to the side burrow that was to be her sleeping chamber while here. She hesitated at the doorway and turned back to Callie and Orchid who were snuggling down for the evening, having already turned-off the light in the main burrow.

"Orchid, Callie?" They turned to her. "Recall what I said earlier about those wedding/mating vows? It goes beyond the problems in Maine. If you truly care about your warren, you'll seal those vows as quickly as possible. A warren without kits is a dying warren...I can't believe that Pearl is the first pregnant doe here in nearly two years. If you want this warren to survive, there must be kits. Who better to set the pace then," (gigglefluff) "the 'Angel of Frith'." Cathy made her way to her sleeping hollow before either of them could respond. She settled down, falling asleep more quickly then she expected she'd be able to do.

The following day Cathy declined the offered tour and instead settled for sitting in one of the chambers and conversing with whoever was willing to talk. With permission, she spent part of the afternoon in one of the clearings near Volo Bog and munched on young maple tips as Callie suggested. They were excellent, something she had never tried before. Much to Treerunner's surprise, Cathy even offered to help test the recallibrated sensor net.

The mood at dinner that evening was much lighter and more open then the previous evening. As dinner wound to a close, Orchid tapped his glass to get everybun/one's attention.

Orchid raised his glass of Snapple™. "A toast to our honored guest, my sister-in-law, and future Auntie."

Cathy stared across to her sister in surprised silence. Everyone else looked to the two and cheered, raising their glasses in toast and then calling a second toast to the lucky soon-to-be new parents.

As the good wishers quieted down, Cathy finally found her voice. "I just talked to you last night..."

Callie (gigglefluffed). "And you read our thoughts. Our vows were sealed way back on that flight to Maine. The wedding would have simply been a 'formal' after-the-fact event. As for the kits..." she blushed a moment, "we've been trying on and off since returning from Maine. I tested positive this morning in Orchid's office."

There was more cheering that lead into a celebration that last most of the evening. At some point Cathy was pulled aside by several members of the council.

"We don't want to interfere with the festivities, Cathy," Pearl stated, "but we need to talk to you away from Orchid and Callie." She led her into an adjoining room with Brightspot, Treerunner, and a few other buns present.

"I apologize again for our behavior towards you, Cathy," Brightspot started. "You've more then proven your trust today and how well you could fit in here..."

"Could?" Cathy replied ears perking up ever so slightly.

"After much discussion we've come to a unanimous decision," he looked towards Treerunner who hesitated and then nodded in agreement. "We'd like you to stay with us if you like..."

Cathy was surprised into silence. She worked her muzzle but nothing came out. Finally, she found words. "I can't." She waved her paws for silence before any of them could respond. "It has nothing to do with how I had been treated yesterday, or for that matter today. I am envious of my sister and I couldn't think of a better place to be if I were to quit the Army of Fudd. Maybe someday I'll take you up on that offer, Brightspot," she turned and nodded to the others, "and other members of the Council, but I can't right now, even if I wanted to. Dad is still displeased over what Callie did.

"I simply can't take up your offer for the safety of your warren. Despite the information Callie gave to Intelligence, they consider it suspect because she resigned and choose to live here. How do you think they would react if a second Agent resigned in order to settle here? I love my sister too much to put her or her warren in that kind of danger."

Brightspot simply nodded and they all rejoined the celebration in the other room. None of them caught the small smile on Treerunner's muzzle or his tailflick of relief to Cathy's response.

"Are you sure you don't want any help or escorts?" Callie asked.

"I'll be alright." (besidesfluff) "I'll attract much less attention if I travel alone." Cathy (bunnyhugged) her sister. "You take care of yourself, I want to be able to visit my healthy nieces and nephews the next time I pass this way."

"You too."

Despite Brightspot's insistence, Cathy also passed on his offer of a few devices to make her travel easier, citing she'd be forced to turn them over to AoF Intelligence. She hopped off in the direction of a different warren with a bunmover as she had been directed to do.

End