Ethan squatted beneath the low branches of a tree, quietly scratching a small symbol into the bark with the tip of his folding knife. The mark was barely more than a shallow nick, indistinguishable from a natural scratch. He was always careful, never wanting to disrupt the rabbits’ habitat or leave a strange trace that might make the animals wary. He’d lost track of too many rabbit burrows in the past from making markings too obvious, or leaving a trace of metal scent, causing entire families to relocate overnight. This time, his experience wouldn’t allow such foolish mistakes.
At his feet, the damp, cold earth was blanketed with rotting leaves, crisscrossed by the prints of small animals. But the closer they got to the burrow, the more everyone instinctively slowed their steps, focusing
