Tinker Bell was sitting on the seashell and acorn steps that led to her home, looking up at the sky and brainstorming ideas for more helpful creations, when a sudden movement in the distance made her look toward Needlepoint Meadow. A line of dust was rising from the ground, and the flowers were swaying.
Tinker Bell put down her notepad and pencil and rose into the air, flying languidly toward the field. When she realized they were sprinting thistles, she reacted in fear and could only be happy they were dashing away from Pixie Hollow.
"Vidia," Tinker Bell groaned. She turned and flew toward the neighborhood of the fast-flying talent guild.
When Vidia did not answer the door, Tinker Bell decided to try the Dust Depot. She let herself in to a dark and empty interior. Turning, she saw Terence walking by the Depot, so she closed the door and walked toward him. "Terence!"
He looked at her and smiled. "Hey, Tink."
"Do you know where Vidia might be?"
"Probably practicing her talent. I see Zephyr over there; she might be able to help you." Terence smiled again and walked away, obviously distracted by the binder in his hands. "Back to the A's. Arland, sick; Artemis, Mainland; Avery. Avery is available." He closed the binder and flew away.
Tinker Bell watched him go. "Okay! Good to see you!" she called. He didn't hear her. She sighed and began walking toward Zephyr.
"Hey! Zephyr!"
"Hey, Tink! I had an idea. I'm going to create a new game to add to the Four Seasons Festival this year. The fast-flying fairies will race from one end of Neverland to the other! And I'm designing the trophy right now, look at this..."
"Zephyr, can you help me? I'm looking for Vidia."
"Oh. Um, I think she went to Needlepoint Meadow to check on the sprinting thistle trap. Check this out, Tink. I'm going to get a sewing talent to put wings on the..." Zephyr's words ran out when she turned around and Tinker Bell was gone. Zephyr looked up to see a golden trail of pixie dust following her into the night.
-x-
Tinker Bell came to hover above Needlepoint Meadow. "Vidia!" she called. She remained hovering high in the air as she looked wildly around for Vidia. But her only response was a Scout's shrill, demanding whistle.
Looking down, Tinker Bell saw five dark figures swooping after the thistles. Feeling her heart pounding, Tinker Bell turned and flew back to Vidia's house, knocking on the door. Eventually, Vidia would find her there.
Unless...Unless Vidia already knew the thistles had escaped, and she had left Pixie Hollow for good.
Suddenly the door opened behind her and illuminated the porch in light. Tinker Bell turned to see a sleepy and grumpy Vidia looking at her, rubbing an eye. "What is it, Tink?"
Tinker Bell stood. "Vidia, the sprinting thistles are free! The Scouts are trying to catch them."
Vidia dropped her hand, putting it on the door knob. "Thanks for including me in that." She backed up, but Tinker Bell grabbed the door.
"That's all you're going to say?"
"You woke me up to tell me the Scouts are doing their job."
"Because you failed at yours!" Tinker Bell put her hands on her hips. "You should at least help them!"
"I'd just get in their way." Vidia started to close the door, then paused and opened it again. "What do you mean, I failed'? I succeed at everything."
"You're the one who built the trap so close to Pixie Hollow."
"I didn't build it anywhere near Pixie Hollow!" Vidia stepped outside and closed the door. "Follow me. I'll show you where the trap is," she grumbled as she flew off of the porch. Tinker Bell turned and followed her.
"Did you check on it today?"
"I don't need to check on it." Vidia rolled her eyes, annoyed by the slow pace Tinker Bell was setting. "Can you fly any faster than this?"
"Nope."
"You can now," Vidia answered, and grabbed her hand. The two of them were gone in an instant, reaching the thistle trap in no time. They landed and Tinker Bell wobbled unsteadily, lifting quickly off the ground.
"Please don't do that again."
Vidia walked a ways and turned, spreading out her hands. "Look. You can't even see Pixie Hollow from here."
Tinker Bell observed the location, which was basically the middle of nowhere. "What's your point? Those things can move...strange as it seems," she added under her breath.
Vidia turned and observed the lock, but it hadn't been opened. "Come here," she ordered. "Feel this. It's still done up."
Tinker Bell examined the lock as well. The gate had never been opened, yet inexplicably the trap was empty. The fairies walked in different directions along the trap and met each other at the opposite end, where they looked down to see the truth in the soil.
"It's been moved," Vidia announced, as she knelt and pointed to the imprint of where the trap had been for so long.
"How?"
"Something a lot bigger than a fairy was here."
Tinker Bell considered. "Cheese?"
"He's too chicken."
"Huh. I thought he was a mouse," Tinker Bell joked, and Vidia rolled her eyes again. Tinker Bell began looking around. "How do you think the Scouts are doing?"
"Well, as usual. Then again, the sprinting thistles are challenging," Vidia remarked, as she reflected upon her own attempts to capture them.
"I remember. Who would want those things free?"
The fairies exchanged a troubled glance. Alone together in the quiet night, Vidia continued exploring the trap.
"What about Fiona?"
"Who?"
"The lynx, in The Winter Woods. Could she have moved it?"
Vidia stood up, giving Tinker Bell a long look. "We're eighty miles out."
Tinker Bell didn't respond, but followed Vidia straight up, where they hovered high above the ground. The girls looked in multiple directions and at the same time, they turned around to observe the human houses not too far away.