(no subject)
I am re-reading Watership Down for the godknowswhat time. I'm only on The Shining Wire at the moment, but in a sudden urge to draw skipped ahead some chapters to El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlé, one of my favourite chapters and one of the creepiest, and did a scene from that. The only reason I am doing this is, I am sure, because I'm avoiding doing any writing. It still is not working for me: I can only seem to write in clichés at the moment, and am hoping that reading something I enjoy will open up in me an interest to write my own story. Preferably with as few rabbits in as possible. (Well, now that I think about it...)
Er, yes, the picture.
"'You have some purpose, El-ahrairah,' said the Black Rabbit. 'What is it?'
'I have been in the pit, my lord,' answered El-ahrairah. 'I am infected with the white blindness and I am going to save my people by destroying the enemy.'
'El-ahrairah,' said the Black Rabbit, 'do you know how the white blindness is carried?'
A sudden misgiving seized upon El-ahrairah. He said nothing.
'It is carried by the fleas in rabbits' ears,' said the Black Rabbit. 'They pass from the ears of a sick rabbit to those of his companions. But El-ahrairah, you have no ears and fleas will not go into dock-leaves. You can neither catch nor carry the white blindness.'
Then at last El-ahrairah felt that his strength and courage were gone. He fell to the ground. He tried to move, but his back legs dragged along the rock and he could not get up. He scuffled and then lay still in the silence.
'El-ahrairah,' said the Black Rabbit at last. 'this is a cold warren: a bad place for the living and no place at all for warm hearts and brave spirits. You are a nuisance to me. Go home. I myself will save your people. Do not have the impertinence to ask me when. There is no time here. They are already saved.'"
- Watership Down, Chapter 31: El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlé, Richard Adams
Details:
El-ahrairah with his bloodied, dock-leaf ears after losing his real ones to the Black Rabbit in a bet.
The Black Rabbit and his shadow-Owsla.
I got lazy as soon as I finished colouring in El-ahrairah in this picture, as I think is obvious, but whatever, at least I attempted a background for a change.
Er, yes, the picture.
"'You have some purpose, El-ahrairah,' said the Black Rabbit. 'What is it?'
'I have been in the pit, my lord,' answered El-ahrairah. 'I am infected with the white blindness and I am going to save my people by destroying the enemy.'
'El-ahrairah,' said the Black Rabbit, 'do you know how the white blindness is carried?'
A sudden misgiving seized upon El-ahrairah. He said nothing.
'It is carried by the fleas in rabbits' ears,' said the Black Rabbit. 'They pass from the ears of a sick rabbit to those of his companions. But El-ahrairah, you have no ears and fleas will not go into dock-leaves. You can neither catch nor carry the white blindness.'
Then at last El-ahrairah felt that his strength and courage were gone. He fell to the ground. He tried to move, but his back legs dragged along the rock and he could not get up. He scuffled and then lay still in the silence.
'El-ahrairah,' said the Black Rabbit at last. 'this is a cold warren: a bad place for the living and no place at all for warm hearts and brave spirits. You are a nuisance to me. Go home. I myself will save your people. Do not have the impertinence to ask me when. There is no time here. They are already saved.'"
- Watership Down, Chapter 31: El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlé, Richard Adams
Details:
El-ahrairah with his bloodied, dock-leaf ears after losing his real ones to the Black Rabbit in a bet.
The Black Rabbit and his shadow-Owsla.
I got lazy as soon as I finished colouring in El-ahrairah in this picture, as I think is obvious, but whatever, at least I attempted a background for a change.