There is a great deal of animosity toward Smalls and Uncle Wilfred in particular. After a cool welcome from the warren’s guards, Lord Rake, the warren’s leader, welcomes the weary travelers.Īlthough given food and rooms in the warren, Heather senses that the other rabbits are wary of them. Uncle Wilfred carries Picket up Cloud Mountain on his back. Not only did it cause him to get distracted and fracture his foot, but now his injury may put the rest of them in danger.

When they stop to rest, Uncle Wilfred warns Picket that his attitude is a dangerous one. Instead of being grateful, Picket resents the heroic rabbit’s abilities and assurance. Picket trips on a rock and hurts his foot, but Smalls carries him to safety. The rabbits leave the boat and run toward Cloud Mountain, a refuge for rabbits. The town, however, is on fire and surrounded by wolves. They hope to find refuge as they decide what to do with the children. Uncle Wilfred and Smalls guide their boat toward Decker’s Landing, a town named for an old friend of theirs. They meet up with their uncle and set off to find safety. They finally manage to find an underground river, and a boat, and break through a rock wall to escape the creatures. As Picket and Smalls navigate the labyrinth of tunnels underground, trying to find a way out, they hear the sound of their enemies searching for them. He learns the rabbit’s name is Smalls, and he is Wilfred’s adopted son. Picket does not like the white rabbit’s condescending attitude. Uncle Wilfred cannot fit, but will meet up with them later. Picket and the white rabbit carry Heather into the tunnels. The gray rabbit introduces himself as the children’s Uncle Wilfred. Picket watches as the gray rabbit and another white rabbit fight the wolves, sending them fleeing in shame. As their leader pounces on her, she is pushed out of the wolf’s way and knocked unconscious by a gray rabbit. Heather hides Picket inside an underground mound, but she cannot fit within the tunnel.

Heather drags Picket to safety as several of the wolves turn to hunt them. Once they return home, they find their house in the elm tree has been lit on fire. The young rabbits are made to pick berries so their parents and the stranger can talk privately. She overhears the strange female rabbit tell her parents about someone named Morbin, who has sent wolves out to hunt for the Green Ember. In the morning, Heather is surprised that someone is already visiting them. One night, he tells them a true story about a great rabbit king named Jupiter, who brought peace and unity to the many rabbit warrens.Ī great fighter, he also protected them from fierce wolves and birds. Heather and her younger brother Picket are adolescent rabbits who have lived a sheltered life in Nick Hollow with their parents and younger brother, Jacks.

Green ember