That winter, Bugs Bunny became good friends with all the Corim animals. He and Gonff went on many expeditions together to Kotir, stealing all the best food and bringing it back to share with the other animals.

One day in spring, Bugs and Gonff were at the edge of the woods, looking at the castle in the distance.

"It's a good day for thieving, eh matey?" said Gonff.

"Ya got that right, Doc," responded Bugs. "I think today I'm gonna check out the produce section again, if ya know what I mean."

"As for me, I'll liberate some cheese and elderberry wine from the larders," Gonff chuckled.

"Well, we'd better get to it. No time like the present, Doc," said Bugs. He jumped into a hole in the ground and Gonff followed him.

Since arriving in Mossflower, Bugs had dug an intricate system of tunnels beneath Kotir. One tunnel led to a storeroom in the basement, while another ran below the vegetable garden. He had done all this without the knowledge of the vermin, who couldn't figure out where all their food kept disappearing to.

"You know, matey, ever since you started coming along with me, I've never been caught once," Gonff said as they crawled along. "These tunnels were a great idea."

They came to a fork in the tunnel. Bugs went one way and Gonff took the other. "Don't let 'em catch ya, Doc," Bugs called as they parted ways.

Once Bugs was underneath the garden, he reached up and started pulling carrots down from above, right under the noses of the weasels who were supposed to be guarding them. He could hear their confused shouts as the carrots seemingly vanished right in front of their eyes.

Bugs hurried along the passage with the carrots. Another successful day's work.

But when he poked his head out of the hole he'd come in by, he found a platoon of soldiers standing there waiting for him, with Tsarmina at their head.

Despite the danger, Bugs smiled impudently. "What's up, Doc?"

Tsarmina grabbed him by the ears and pulled him up out of the hole. "How dare you address the ruler of Kotir as 'Doc'?"

"Well, you ain't my ruler, that's for sure."

Tsarmina grinned wickedly. "So now we know who's been stealing from us all winter."

Bugs looked around at the guards with an air of injured innocence. "Me, steal? I beg your pardon, did you know the head cook gave me permission to borrow whatever I want? Actually, I was gonna return the favor by sendin' 'im some good recipes, cause I hear his cookin' leaves somethin' to be desired…"

Tsarmina touched Bugs' chin with the point of her sword. "Spare me your lies, hare. Where is your accomplice, the one they call Gonff the Thief?"

"Ya mean Gonff the Mousethief? Tubby little mouse, green shirt, always carries a pack on his back?"

"Yes, yes. Where is he?"

Bugs shrugged. "Nope. Doesn't ring a bell."

"You just described him perfectly!" Tsarmina brought her face close to Bugs'. He could see all her sharp teeth. "I know you never come here to steal without him."

"I DID come alone!" Bugs yelled. "I'm BY MYSELF!"

Gonff was coming down the passage toward the exit hole, laden with cheese and wine, when he heard Bugs yelling. He knew immediately that Bugs' shout was a message to him to stay hidden and not reveal himself.

"GET AWAY from me!" Bugs shouted, deliberately making some words louder than others. "I wanna GO HOME! GET your paws off me! HELP!" Gonff heard, "GET AWAY! GO HOME! GET HELP!" He realized Bugs was telling him not to try to rescue him and risk getting caught himself, but to go seek help from the Corim instead. So he backtracked until he came to a tunnel that led to a different escape hole in another part of Mossflower.

"Nobeast is going to help you," said Cludd, Tsarmina's weasel captain of the guard.

"A few days in the dungeons will wipe the smirk off his face," said Tsarmina.

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Martin paced around his cell. The broken sword handle hanging from his neck seemed to grow heavier with time. Lost in thought, he failed to hear the approach of guards bringing a prisoner to the cell door.

"Get the little devil in there quick. It'll be less trouble to feed two at once."

As the key turned in the lock, Martin ran to the door but was immediately bowled over by another figure which shot through the doorway straight in on top of him. Together they fell over backward as the cell door slammed shut again. The two prisoners lay still until the pawsteps of the guards retreated down the corridor.

Martin wriggled out from beneath his new cellmate. It was Bugs Bunny!

The realization that he was in prison did not seem to trouble Bugs unduly. He grinned jauntily at Martin. "What's up, Doc?" he asked.

Martin leaned against the wall. He could not help smiling at his odd cellmate. "My name's Martin the Warrior. What's yours?"

Bugs extended a paw. "Martin the Warrior, eh? Say, Doc, you're a fine, strong lookin' fella, even though ya could do with a bit o' fattening up. My name's Bugs Bunny."

Martin shook Bugs warmly by the paw. "Bugs Bunny. That's an interesting name."

"Well, Bugs is really only a nickname. My real name is George Washington Bunny!"

"You're kidding."

"Nope. I cannot tell a lie. But everyone just calls me Bugs."

"What did they throw you in here for, Bugs?" Martin asked.

They sat down together. "They caught me runnin' down their stocks o' carrots, y'see. But don't worry, Doc, they can't keep a Toon locked up for long. Just gimme a few minutes to get things organized an' we'll say bye-bye to this dump."