Watership Down

In the realm of Lapine mythology, the creation story revolves around the god Frith, who brought forth a world where animals coexisted in harmony, subsisting on a diet of grass. As the rabbit population thrived, their insatiable appetite led to a scarcity of sustenance, prompting Frith to instruct El-Ahrairah, the prince of rabbits, to rein in his people's excesses. However, the prince was dismissive of Frith's warning, leading the deity to bestow unique gifts upon every animal, transforming some into predators to hunt the rabbits as a means of teaching El-Ahrairah a lesson. Satisfied that the rabbit prince had learned his lesson, Frith endowed the rabbits with the gifts of speed and cunning.

In the present, in a warren nestled near Sandleford, a rabbit named Fiver, gifted with prophetic insight, experiences an apocalyptic vision when he and his older brother Hazel stumble upon a mysterious signboard. Although they cannot decipher its message, Fiver's intuition warns him of impending doom. The two rabbits implore the chief to order an evacuation, but their plea falls on deaf ears; instead, the chief instructs Captain Holly, the head of the warren's Owsla police force, to prevent those attempting to flee from doing so. Undeterred, Fiver and Hazel manage to escape with a small group consisting of Bigwig, Blackberry, Pipkin, Dandelion, Silver, and Violet.

Their perilous journey takes them through treacherous terrain, where they narrowly evade various dangers. Tragedy strikes when Violet, the sole doe in their company, falls prey to a hawk's deadly strike. The remaining rabbits eventually meet Cowslip, a rabbit who invites them into his warren, where an abundance of vegetables left by a farmer provides sustenance for the group. Although initially grateful, Fiver becomes increasingly uneasy about the atmosphere and decides to leave, prompting Bigwig to follow suit and chastise Fiver for causing tension. A snare ensnares Bigwig, but his friends manage to free him, revealing that the farmer is deliberately feeding Cowslip's warren to lure rabbits into traps. The group resumes their journey.

As they continue on their path, the rabbits stumble upon Nuthanger Farm, which contains a hutch of domesticated does. Before they can liberate the females, the farm cat and dog chase them away. Later, Captain Holly reappears, recounting the destruction wrought by humans on Sandleford as well as his encounter with the ruthless "Efrafans," a group of vicious rabbits. Fiver finally finds solace in the vision he had foreseen – Watership Down, a hill where the group settles under Hazel's leadership.

As the sun dips below the horizon, Hazel and his companions form an unlikely alliance with Kehaar, a wounded black-headed seagull who embarks on a quest to find does. The night brings a heroic attempt by the rabbits to free their imprisoned sisters at Nuthanger Farm, but Hazel's valiant effort is marred when he falls, shot in the leg, and his friends are forced to retreat under the cover of darkness. Fiver follows an otherworldly vision leading him to his injured brother, while Kehaar returns to provide crucial intel on the overcrowded Efrafa warren, where does congregate in droves. Captain Holly paints a dire portrait of this totalitarian state, but Hazel's unwavering determination drives them towards the warren. Bigwig infiltrates Efrafa and rises through the ranks, earning the trust of General Woundwort and recruiting a band of potential escapees, including Blackavar and Hyzenthlay.

With Kehaar's guidance, these rebels use a makeshift raft to float down the river, navigating treacherous waters. As winter approaches, Kehaar departs for his homeland, leaving behind a promise of return in the coming year. Meanwhile, Efrafa's trackers finally stumble upon Watership Down, and Woundwort demands that all deserters be surrendered or face extinction. Faced with this ultimatum, Hazel and his companions fortify their warren, while Fiver slips into a mystical trance, foreseeing a dog named Bob roaming the woods.

The distraction proves timely, as Blackberry, Dandelion, and Hyzenthlay cleverly lure the Nuthanger Farm watchdog away from its post. As Efrafa's forces breach Watership Down's defenses, Woundwort confronts Bigwig alone, only to be thwarted by the valiant rabbit's ambush. The two enemies engage in a fierce standoff, which culminates with Bob arriving on the scene and sending Woundwort fleeing. Though his fate remains shrouded in mystery, it is clear that Woundwort has met his match.

Years later, an elderly Hazel receives a visit from the enigmatic Black Rabbit, inviting him to join his Owsla and promising Watership Down's eternal safety. Reassured by this prophecy, Hazel accepts and passes away peacefully. His spirit follows the Black Rabbit into the afterlife, where Frith's parting wisdom is once again heard on the wind: "El-Ahrairah is always there, waiting to lead you to your destiny."