Disclaimer: I don't own Watership Down. But wouldn't it be cool if I did?
Hyzenthlay was running. Three dogs, if she had estimated correctly, were on her trail, followed closely by a man. The barking of the dogs reached her ears and Hyzenthlay picked up the pace, scampering over dry ground and fallen leaves. The crunch of the leaves only alerted the dogs to her position, and from behind her Hyzenthlay could hear their paws slapping on the ground almost in unison as they followed their prey. The man, too, was running. His scent of burning white sticks and gasoline made her nose twitch angrily.
Breaking out of a jumble of trees Hyzenthlay took advantage of her small size to wiggle into a bush. Trying to catch her breath while the dogs broke through the trees, Hyznethlay's whole body lifted and fell with the rhythm of her heavy breathing.
As soon as she heard the dogs again she broke out into a run, heading deeper into the forest. But that proved to be a fateful mistake when she found herself in an area almost entirely devoid of shrubbery.
She turned to double back but found herself looking straight into the eyes of one of the dogs. For a second there was silence, as the hungry dog stared at the terrified rabbit. But then Hyzenthlay heard the man shout and at the same time a loud pop sounded and the ground next to her seemed to jump up. Hyzenthlay turned and ran faster than she ever had before, feeling the breath of the dog warm and moist on her hind legs.
Finding a hole in a tree she squeezed in and closed her eyes, praying to Frith and El-ahrairah that the dog would not find her. When she opened her eyes she was again staring into the eyes of the dog. Squeaking loudly, Hyzenthlay pressed up against the back of the tree as the dog pushed his jaws closer, his teeth sharp and glistening with saliva…
Hyzenthlay woke with a start and realized quickly it had been a dream; she was safe in the burrows of Efrafa. Looking around she saw Thethuthinnang and Nelthilta huddled next to her, along with about ten other does. The burrow was just big enough for eight, but thirteen had been squeezed in on General Woundwort's orders. Something about conserving space. A noise down the run caught Hyzenthlay's attention and her ears perked up.
"Please, sir, I don't-"
"Shut up, you embleer rebel!" Hyzenthlay heard a smack and a whimper and then all was quiet.
"Blackavar," she whispered sadly.
Hyzenthlay put her head down and closed her eyes, realizing anything, even being chased by dogs, was better than living in Efrafa. And as sleep claimed her, she found herself wishing she were back in that tree.