Thumper crouched in the darkness of the old burrows, his black eyes fixed on the ancient root-runes carved into the earth walls. His hind leg tapped against the ground—soft at first, then harder, building into the rhythm he'd discovered last moon. The pattern was simple: three quick thumps, one long, two quick again. His mate was gone, buried beneath the oak where they'd shared countless dawns, but these strange markings promised something impossible. They whispered of making still hearts beat again. The runes showed him what he needed next. Thumper traced his paw over the scratches left by those who came before. A stone marker. Carved with symbols that called to the dead. He hopped through the warren tunnels, his feet drumming new patterns against packed earth. The other rabbits scattered when they heard his approach. They didn't understand. They feared his stomping now. But fear didn't matter. Only the knowledge mattered. Only bringing her back. He would find smooth stone and carve it himself if he had to. The tombstone would be his bridge between the living world and wherever she waited. His whisper came out quiet and determined. "Soon." Dawn light filtered through the tunnel entrance as Thumper emerged above ground. He needed more than just the tombstone. The root-runes spoke of water touched by moonlight, gathered and held. His paws carried him through the forest until he found it—a fountain in a clearing, its basin collecting rainwater that sparkled in the early sun. He approached and sniffed the edge. Perfect. When the moon rose full again, this water would fuel his ritual. He scratched marks into the soft earth nearby, claiming this place. The final piece waited deeper in Stagmire's heart. Thumper followed the drumming in his chest until he reached a massive tree structure, its wooden branches forming a natural chamber. The Arboreal Sanctuary. Here, the air felt different. Heavier. Ready. He stomped once, testing the rhythm against the hollow roots. The sound echoed back, darker and deeper than before. This was where he would perform the forbidden magic. This was where she would return to him. Thumper's whisper barely disturbed the silence. "I'm ready now."