Rabbit Warriors: Bleached Moors

**Rabbit Warriors: Bleached Moors** is the fourth book in the *Rabbit Warriors* series. It focuses on the threat posed to the burrows when a mysterious sickness begins to take hold of the rabbits.

## Summary

After months of peace, the rabbit warriors are living comfortably within their burrows. But when rabbits from MoorBurrows are missing from the monthly gathering, suspicions and concern find their way into the hearts of the burrows once more.

Struggling to fight something that they've never seen before, the medicine rabbits know that if action isn't taken, it could mean the end for the burrows as they know them.

## Detailed plot summary

In StreamBurrows, the rabbits are discussing the approaching gathering. Amberlight is excited to be going to her first gathering as a newly-named warrior. She is talking about this to her best friend Bramblethorn, when Berrystar calls a burrow meeting. He announces that his sons, Littlekit and Palekit are ready to become apprentices, as well as Spiderleap and Frostfoot's son Toadkit. Palekit is apprenticed to Berrystar himself, whilst Bramblethorn mentors Toadkit. Amberlight is thrilled to receive Littlekit as her apprentice.

Later, Amberlight, Bramblethorn and their apprentices are on a patrol with Berrystar. They cross the river and continue along the MoorBurrows border, where they encounter the MoorBurrows medicine rabbit, Lightningstorm. He asks them if their medicine rabbits have any birch leaves to spare, as he is running low and desperately needs them. When Toadpaw questions why he can't just get the himself, Lightningstorm becomes nervous and gives a vague answer. Berrystar grants him passage to visit Hollystripe and Twigherb, and the patrol bids him farewell. Palepaw comments that Lightningstorm was acting strange, to which Bramblethorn tells him to be respectful of medicine rabbits. He adds that MoorBurrows rabbits are always aloof, so this is normal behaviour for them. This seems to satisfy Palepaw, but Toadpaw is unconvinced.

Days pass and it is the night of the monthly gathering. Amberlight and Littlepaw are both chosen to go. Littlepaw is very nervous, but Amberlight supports him and tells him she'll stay close. The rest of the burrow sets off to the meeting. Upon their arrival, they notice that ForestBurrows has already arrived. Amberlight points out some of the most important rabbits to Littlepaw, who is anxious about the crowd. As the evening drags on, everyone is waiting for MoorBurrows, but there has been no sign of them. Amberlight remembers Lightningstorm and wonders if his request had anything to do with it. Berrystar begins the gathering, saying that MoorBurrows may turn up halfway through. Despite this, the gathering passes without their appearance, and everyone is left wondering what is wrong.

It has been a few days since the gathering, and Amberlight and Littlepaw are out on a patrol gathering herbs for Hollystripe when Littlepaw comes across something startling. In a patch of the herbs they need is a dead bat. Upon closer inspection, Amberlight notices the white foam around its mouth and, not knowing what it is, warns Littlepaw to stay back. To herself, she finds it strange to see this bat out in the open. They end the patrol early and return to camp to inform Berrystar and Hollystripe of the incident. Everyone is concerned. Breezewhisker adds that he thinks it's weird that a bat has dropped dead right on a patch of herbs. Bramblethorn dismisses it as an odd coincidence, but Amberlight can see the doubt in his face.

One night Amberlight wakes up, feeling as if something is wrong. Being careful not to wake any of her burrowmates, she sneaks out and decides to check the immediate territory for intruders. As she creeps around she hears rustling and makes out the shape of a rabbit, but the darkness obscures their identity. She watches as the rabbit places something amongst a patch of herbs, but before she can confront them the rabbit takes off. Approaching the herbs, Amberlight is horrified to discover the corpse of a mouse with the same white foam from before in its mouth. Shaken and too concerned to track down the perpetrator, she returns to her burrow, planning to tell the others in the morning.

However, she is woken next by commotion outside. It turns out that Littlepaw has become ill with an unknown virus. Amberlight is unsettled as everything begins to add up. This reminds her of what she saw the previous night and she goes to report it. Berrystar calls a burrow meeting, informing everyone of the incident and instructing no rabbit to leave camp without at least two others. When Mudstrike points out the fact that the corpses are appearing in herbs only, Hollystripe offers to travel to MoorBurrows and ask if they are having the same problem. Twigherb says that he will go to ForestBurrows. They are to leave immediately with two warriors to accompany them, and Amberlight and Bramblethorn offer to go with Hollystripe.

Even as the three near the MoorBurrows camp, they see no rabbits and begin to fear the worst. They arrive at the camp to find a single guard stationed outside. The guard, Crowstrike, refuses to let them in for unspecified reasons. Hollystripe says that she needs to see Lightningstorm, and Crowstrike says that he'll bring him out. When they see Lightningstorm, he looks worse for wear and Hollystripe asks what's wrong. Lightningstorm vaguely mentions that rabbits are falling sick and he is exhausted. This prompts her to ask him about the corpses, to which he appears visibly unsettled. He is about to say something but Crowstrike interrupts him, saying he is needed in camp. He leaves apologetically, and the three are left with more questions than answers.

It doesn't get better when they arrive back home. Twigherb immediately explains that ForestBurrows encountered the same issue with the corpses. Hollystripe reports her findings, putting everyone on edge. Berrystar warns everyone not to touch any clumps of herbs that they may encounter, and definitely not to interact with any dead animals.

Over the coming days Littlepaw's condition worsens, and none of the medicine rabbits' remedies have worked. Distraught, the rabbits don't know what to do. At that moment Lightningstorm bursts into the camp, breathing heavily and looking disheveled. He explains that many of the MoorBurrows rabbits have fallen sick and are acting strangely, turning hostile and attempting to attack their burrowmates. After witnessing this Lightningstorm ran to get help. Some of the StreamBurrows rabbits are suspicious of him, concerned that he might have this sickness, but he assures them that he does not. Berrystar lets him stay in their camp until they figure out what to do. Before they can do anything else, there is a commotion from the medicine burrow. It all clicks into place in Amberlight's head as she remembers Littlepaw. They hear Twigherb shouting out in fear and pain before all falls quiet. Twigherb emerges with a clear bite mark on his leg. He explains that Littlepaw had suddenly flew into a frenzy, thrashing about and attempting to attack him. The rabbits fear for Twigherb's safety after Lightningstorm's explanation. Mudstrike proposes that the two rabbits be quarantined. Twigherb, despite his assault, is devoted to his job and is determined to cure Littlepaw. He agrees to stay with him, and suggests that the other rabbits stay in ForestBurrows in case of further incident.

Berrystar considers this and sends Spiderleap, Hazelfur, and Hollystripe to notify Leafstar. When they return, the rabbits start to travel, except for a few that stayed behind to guard the camp.