#it’s so melodramatic you are not campion vervain

[handfulofmuses]

Vervain scrutinized the trembling rabbit before him, rolling his eyes. Had they still been in Efrafa, the former captain would have reprimanded Silverweed for his ingratitude. An opportunity for recognition by the general for your skills was a rare treat. One of the greatest accolades an individual could receive.

Silverweed should consider himself lucky.

But Efrafa was gone. It lies in ruins, what remains is a shadow of its former glory.

It was pointless to stand up for his deranged general's role. Woundwort has lost his mind, that's the truth. Pah!

That's rich considering Woundwort declared him insane once. At least he never attacked humans or hrududus or allowed rabbits to suffer a grave fate at the hand of men.

It was futile to defy him. Vervain kept playing his role, ensuring his master's destiny. His life was devoted to him, a prisoner of his master's will, a victim of his own fate. If others are foolish enough to oppose him with the animosity that consumes him, that's their business. He experienced it himself - the destruction Woundwort brought was simply inevitable.

As Silverweed spoke of bright ideas and valuable contributions, Vervain quirked his head. Funny - Woundwort never recognized his potential. All that matters is brawn over brain.

Silverweed's thought was ignorant and innocent. Of course it was. Silverweed was not from Efrafa, so he had different experiences with that twisted rabbit.

“Hah. Don’t make me laugh, Silverweed. Leave? The only way to leave him is if he allows you to meet the Black Rabbit. It doesn’t matter whether he needs you or not. You are either with him or against him. Need I remind you of Redstone? He never had a use for those rabbits.“

"ah. valuable... yes..." silverweed repeats the words to himself, slowly. that's the whole reason he was here. the entire reason master woundwort— and cowslip before him— wanted him; to be used.

he trembles at the thought, at the reality of it all. those poor, helpless, rabbits of redstone. they died in that warren because of him. they lost their lives in exchange for his. he stood so they could not. they sought freedom from the shining wire, only to meet a more monstrous fate.

woundwort says he'd help them, so why didn't he? why did he use him and leave? it makes his heart pound and his stomach churn.

it was insidious.

"i wish i weren't." there's a rare hint of defiance in his voice as he speaks, "that i could be anything but valuable. just... another rabbit." a nobody. he thinks that would be a nice life to live.

"would you not want the same, vervain? you have all these bright ideas, surely you're valuable to master woundwort as well. but if you weren't then maybe he wouldn't need you, and maybe you could leave."