Bracken

Spoiler warningThis article contains detailed information about the *Duncton* series. Please read with caution if you do not want the story spoiled for you!

### Affiliation

* Duncton Wood
* Uffington

## Relationships

### Mate(s)

* Rebecca
* Rue (formerly)

### Offspring

* Beech
* Coltsfoot
* Pipple
* Comfrey
* Violet
* Tryfan
* Curlew
* Rose
* Beech

### Other family

* Burrhead (father)
* Aspen (mother)
* Root (brother)
* Wheatear (sister)

### Mentor

* Hulver
* Boswell
* Medlar

## Physical description

### Gender

Male

**Bracken**, a small mole, one of the two main protagonists of *Duncton Wood*.

## History

### Duncton Wood

#### Part One: Duncton Wood

Born in April among two other siblings, Bracken was given the name of the weakest in a litter of three. Burrhead, his father, was not very happy with what Aspen bore him, singling out Root for being the only 'useful' male of his children.

Bracken was often bullied and teased by his siblings; he struggled with getting only scraps in food, thus throughout his puphood, he was weak and sickly. However, Bracken was intelligent and could avoid danger and fights easily, such as charming his opponent or tricking them.

His mother would often be the support for Bracken after fights that would leave him in tears. Aspen was the mole that sparked Bracken's interest in stories and the Stone. Over time as he grew, he also developed an interest in the Ancient System, and throughout his exploring of Barrow Vale, he learned about the Elders, about Mandrake, and his daughter, Rebecca.

May moved into June; Bracken and his siblings had grown. They were nearly adult in size and they began to ignore Bracken, attack him, or push him out of the way. Burrhead and Aspen had thought that Bracken would have no chance against competing for a mate.

Through that month, however, Bracken was spending more time away from the burrow, thinking about a new home. As he could not compete with Root, his brother, he had to leave the Westside. And so, he made way for the slopes, where he met Hulver for the first time in an old tunnel.

Hulver and Bracken developed a friendship over time, and he told him about the Ancient System, of Uffington, of the White Moles, and of course, the scribemoles of Uffington. However, Hulver also told him that danger was to come when the Elder meeting arrived that June. He promises to Bracken, to show him the Ancient System as well. As the danger woke, Bracken's encounter with Rune would be the very start of it, for Bracken had realised that Rune had come to kill Hulver. There was little time. Hulver and Bracken had plans to go to the Stone that Midsummer Night, but before that night came, Hulver taught Bracken all he knew.

Bracken and Hulver continued their journey to the Stone clearing, with a few stops so Bracken could learn more from Hulver. He also learned the last part of the Midsummer ritual, just in case. When night fell, they walked to the Stone, and the plan commenced. Bracken was to impersonate Hulver and act as a ruse, so Hulver could say the words of the ritual in the night. However, after Bracken's trickery, Mandrake knew he had been fooled, and he and his henchmoles (Rune, Burrhead and Dogwood) ran back to the Stone. Bindle arrived on the scene, protecting Hulver, who had almost finished the ritual. Thus, by the end of it, Hulver was killed by Rune and Burrhead, and Bindle, seriously wounded by Mandrake. After a short moment with Bindle, Bracken had fled with Mandrake and his henchmoles at his tail. He was wounded by Mandrake and managing to escape him, he pulled himself the to Ancient System, where sometime later, Rose would find and heal him.

Eventually, Bracken awoke, thinking perhaps Rebecca the Healer had healed him, or perhaps, his own strength? Into August, he began to explore the Ancient System, and further in, he discovered Dark Sound for the first time, and also a Chamber; the Chamber of Dark Sound, along with the carved owl face, which terrified him and tore into his eardrums. Last, he finds an old, mole skeleton.

Rumours began surrounding the mysterious mole that was Bracken, as he moved into the Ancient System. He was named "The Stone Mole" by the Eastsiders, and the myth would exaggerate him into a large, fearless monster mole, killing any who would come near.

Back in the Chamber, he learned of the carved walls seeming to "speak" as he scratched across them and make a sound that could terrify a mole army. One day too, he saw Rue, a female on the slopes.

September came, and Bracken knew the layout of the Ancient System well. He too, no longer felt fear in the tunnels. Both Bracken and Rue almost met again, as he traced the tunnels of the Ancient System back to Hulver's old tunnels. However, after scratching the flint and making a horrible sound, and Rue, hearing it, fled the scene in fear.

When the rumours found their way to Mandrake, he, Rune and Rue (along with a henchmole) had set off to the Ancient System in search of the Stone Mole. After breaking the seal, they all saw the owl face; Mandrake was aggressive, Rune fascinated, and Rue, horrified. Bracken could very well hear the conversations happening nearby and when he, Rune and the henchmole left, Bracken met Rue for the first time. They introduced themselves, talked, and in time, would soon become mates. After the two moles had built a system, a storm came that September.

Beneath the Stone, Bracken sat, feeling angry at the Stone and angry with Hulver who led him to it. Nearby, Rebecca was sitting, and looking for a way back into the Duncton system. They exchanged names, and Bracken helped find a tunnel back in for her.

#### Part Two: Rebecca

As Cairn was mortally wounded and miraculously alive, Bracken saw him and came to help him after a while. Bracken brought Cairn to the Stone clearing, and the two began to talk, of the Stone, of Rebecca and what had happened to poor Cairn. Bracken obeyed his last request, which was to speak of Rebecca, not in what he knew, but what he felt. Then, he died, and Bracken had left to go to the Stone, and after, to the slopes to see Rue.

He returned to her, and after a while of giggling, playing, scratching, snarling and talking silly nonsense, the two mated. After waking from sleep, Bracken knew Rue would have wanted him gone so she could bear his litter, and thus, left her on the slopes. Bracken then journeyed back to the Ancient System, where he would explore the seventh tunnel.

After leaving Rue, Bracken continued exploring the Ancient System and its centre. He examines the mole skeleton and wonders the story behind it. From there, he moved into the seventh tunnel, which led into more tunnels, which he wandered down. By the eight entrance, he saw a root, which told him he was below the Stone clearing. Then, travelling on to the Chamber of Dark Sound and further to the eastern entrance of the Ancient System to eat, and then, bringing with him worms to store. Trying again, with the Dark Sound murmuring at him, he explored further into the Ancient System. After two hours of digging and pathfinding, he found his way back again to a familiar spot. The wandering down the tunnels continued on for five days, and to help him, he marked each tunnel accordingly, ones that continued on, and others that led to a dead-end. At last, he made it, and dug through the roots of one of the beaches that grew next to the Duncton Stone.

October came, and Bracken felt the need to see Rue. Originally, there were five, though as the fifth, Comfrey, was given to Rebecca, Bracken would visit the four remaining: Violet, Coltsfoot, Beech and Pipple. Along with the Ancient System and the newly found Chamber of Roots, he gave up trying to find a route through them.

November gave way to December; as Longest Night approached, and here, Bracken was contemplating the power of the Stone, wondering if its power really existed and whether he should have gone to Uffington instead.

As Longest Night had begun, Bracken stayed in his tunnels, away from the cheer and celebration of the moles nearby. However, he still moved to the Stone, wanting somemole to tell him of it, to explain their reverence of the Stone, though he lacked the courage to do so. When the moles had left, Bracken thought briefly of Hulver, and cried. Mekkins had appeared, and not happy with Bracken's attitude, the two readied for a fight, but Rebecca seemed to stop them, and with this, Bracken had begun to soothe Rebecca, and to truly love her. The three moles celebrated by themselves, singing and dancing, then after a feast in Bracken's burrow, Mekkins fell asleep, while Bracken and Rebecca spoke with each other, and then moved off into the Ancient System, exploring past where Bracken had lost his way, and finding their way below the very Stone, where they found another stone, nearby. A stillstone, it was, glimmering in the dark. Eventually, the two confessed their love as they were caressing each other, talking and laughing, then speaking finally of what their hearts yearned to say; of Rebecca's lost litter, Bracken's isolation in the Ancient System, Comfrey, and Cairn. Hours passed, and the two had left the Ancient System and returning to Mekkins, they too, fell asleep.

January came, and with it, a very angry Mandrake, declaring death to the Stone Mole. Violet was there, and in the shadows Bracken planned to save her from Mandrake. On and on through the Ancient System and into the Chamber of Dark Sound, then past the seventh entrance Mandrake ran, trying to find Bracken. Turning to face Mandrake, Bracken used the Dark Sound to make him appear stronger and more powerful than he was; before his anger and desire to kill Mandrake could get the the best of him, Violet stopped him. The original plan set in motion. Bracken ordered Violet away to run and hide where he'd meet her there soon. Luckily she recognised him and she obeyed. Soon too, Rune with his henchmoles and more, confronted Mandrake to kill him. With all the hustle and bustle, Bracken managed to slip away. Bracken and Violet made it to the wet surface, the sky grey. They escaped the eyes of a henchmole and backed in the tunnel to try for another exit. Bracken planned to go to Rebecca's hideaway in the eastern Marsh End.

The trek lasted for three days. Sometimes henchmoles would chase them but thanks to Bracken's ability to foresee route alternatives, they continued on to Curlew's burrows. Unknown to them, Rune abandoned Mandrake and joined in on the search for Bracken and Violet. Arriving, he sent Violet down the entrance that she should warn them that Bracken was there. Mekkins met her as she was hungry, seeing Bracken up the tunnel. Mekkins was planning to lead them to the Pastures where Rose was. Bracken didn't dare rest in concern about the henchmoles and Mekkins was unhappy. He commanded him to rest and send Curlew up as she knew what to do (though he wanted Rebecca and Bracken to have some much-needed time together). Comfrey was there too. Bracken got some much needed rest and Comfrey met Violet with a short conversation; Rebecca interfered and asked Violet what had happened.

Curlew warned them that henchmoles were coming and that Rebecca and Bracken had to leave. Mekkins joined them, telling them about an exit near the marshes. Bracken held authority and told them that he led the henchmoles here and that he'd lead them away. As well, he decided to leave Violet there with Rebecca, Mekkins and Comfrey who he said could go to the Pastures to Rose. The henchmoles came and Curlew tried her 'disease trick' on them. Rune himself sent the hesitant henchmole down past Curlew and on the way to Bracken, who was fleeing down the tunnel Curlew suggested, leading them away from the path Rebecca and the others took. He was headed toward the marsh. Days passed as Bracken had outrun them in the marsh and he survived on dry grass stems. He nearly died amongst the mud; he met two moles and in fear, he attacked the larger of the two at first, who asked his name. The two moles were Boswell and Mullion.

#### Part Three: Bracken

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#### Part Four: Siabod

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#### Part Five: The Seventh Stillstone

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## Relationships

This section is a stub and needs expansion.
## Quotes

> He's not so stupid as he sometimes seems, you know—he knows much more about the system than either of the other two—in fact he knows more than I do.
>
> — Aspen on Bracken's intelligence, *Duncton Wood*

## Trivia

* The name 'Bracken' is traditionally used in mole lore to name the weakest of a three-count litter.
* He also shares the name of the widespread and common fern.
* William wrote himself as Bracken.

## Gallery

Younger Bracken by Silent-SpectreOlder drawing of Bracken by Silent-SpectreAn illustration of Bracken, by Hallowed-TalonBracken warding off Rune, drawn by Hallowed-TalonBracken opposing Gelert by mollythemoleBracken and Rebecca found the seventh Stillstone by mollythemole
## Appearances

This section is a stub and needs expansion.
## References

1. ↑ Horwood, William. *Duncton Wood* (*The Duncton Chronicles* #1), p. 340. Kindle edition.
2. ↑ Horwood, William. *Duncton Wood* (*The Duncton Chronicles* #1), p. 13. Kindle edition.
3. ↑ Horwood, William. *Duncton Wood* (*The Duncton Chronicles* #1), p. 67. Kindle edition.
4. ↑ A Deluxe Edition of Duncton Wood by William Horwood