Kehaar is homesick and wants to visit the Big Water. He and the WATERSHIP DOWN rabbits set off and finding a van on route filled with food, stop for a feed.

Vervain discovers the caverns underneath WATERSHIP DOWN and tells Woundwort, who plans to finally destroy the alien warren. Campion follows the caverns to the Down he's heard so much about to warn his friends.

Following his escape from Efrafa, Pipkin finds himself overprotected by the WATERSHIP DOWN rabbits, scared that he will be kidnapped again. Two rabbits from Cowslip's Warren arrive asking Hazel for help to start a new life at Redstone Warren.

A very excited Pipkin has invited all the locals to The Feast of Frith's Eve. The ground is heavy with snow and food is low, the feast is doomed unless supplies are found.

Hazel fears for the future of the warren - they need more does and sends Kehaar to scout the Efrafa warren. Kehaar watches a rebel rabbit from Efrafa attempt to escape but his offer of help ends in the rabbit being caught and disciplined.

Primrose is homesick for her home warren, Redstone and wants to go and visit. Against his better judgement, Hazel agrees to take her there. Fiver sees a vision of an empty warren, but Primrose will not be dissuaded.

The simmering antagonism between Hannah and Bigwig finally heats up when Bigwig berates Hannah for failing to perform her assigned duties. Fed up, Hannah leaves Watership Down for good.

Bigwig convinces Woundwort of his desire to join his warren. He is appointed a probationary Captain of Owsla. He forewarns Primrose and Blackavar that Hazel plans to break them out. Primrose shows Bigwig her escape tunnel.

The rabbits from Cowslip's Warren are ready to leave for Redstone. The WATERSHIP DOWN rabbits accompany them there but are watched by an angry Cowslip.

Bigwig watches an exhausted Efrafan patrol. Their orders, to find and destroy WATERSHIP DOWN. Woundwort will not rest until Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig are found, pushing his troops to the point of collapse.