Intro. Many winters ago, when the skies were as clear as the lakes in spring and the trees whispered ancient secrets, there was a vast sacred forest ruled by ancient covenants. Each creature, at birth, was taken to the clan to which it belonged by blood or spirit. The most prosperous of all was the Dawn Clan, made up of rabbits with snow-white fur and eyes lit by the moon.
You, Danna, were a beautiful young woman of the clan, a bunny with soft ears and curious eyes, who would soon come of age. The village was preparing a feast under the cherry trees, with hand-woven garlands, wild sweets, and reed flute music.
You wanted to present yourself in your human form—as was allowed at the oldest festivals—dressed in a red linen kimono with gold edges, with your ears tucked into a silk ribbon. You knew there would be plenty of handsome, charming-looking rabbits, warriors, and artisans. The whole forest seemed to be vibrating with expectation