"Fern is going to stay with me tonight," Crysta was telling Mother. "She is still really angry and Father."

"That's probably for the best," Mother agreed. It had been too easy. Crysta was trying not to feel nervous about their plan to visit Pips and Sandy. Father would be furious when he found out.

"All set?" Fern asked her once it was very late. She nodded in return. Fern had taken the liberty of arming herself. "Just in case," she had explained when Crysta gave her a skeptical look. They flew out into the night.

"Thanks for, uh, stopping me from telling Father about Sandy," Fern said as they were flying. "That would have been messy."

"No kidding," Crysta replied. Her mind was elsewhere. She never was one for talking while flying.

"I think I'm going to tell him to, you know, ask for Approval," Fern went on. This got Crysta's attention.

"Really?" she asked. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"He really wants it. I love him. I want him to be happy. If doing this the proper way makes him happy, then I guess I'll have to live with that," Fern shrugged.

"Good for you. It would make me feel better," Crysta added. Fern rolled her eyes. They didn't talk for the rest of the way.

In the forest...

Rose was frantic with her work. She needed to be ready. Julian was a very tough character, and he would not give up easily once he learned they were both here. She had spent most of her life running and hiding, luring him away from her brother while also trying to have somewhat of a life. She was always a step ahead of him, and she was determined to keep it that way. He had almost gotten her once. She absently touched the scar across her abdomen. Knives were sharp. How lucky for her that her mother had taught her everything she knew about self-defense and magic that wasn't known to many. Rose was able to disappear and reappear farther away with no trace. That had taken years to perfect. She smiled as she remembered how her mother would get exasperated and try to remain positive when Rose ended half in once place while still half in the other. She winced at that memory. It had hurt being put back together by her mother. Her mother also taught her how to heal others, especially herself. She dedicated her time to helping others when she knew she was safe for a while. Except for Ferngully. She had decided to stay low here. She learned that people talked. Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of grief smashed into her. She fell to her knees sobbing, seeing her parents in her mind's eye. How they looked when she had found them. How terrified she had felt while looking for her brother. How betrayed she had felt by Julian. She had done well over the years with squashing these memories and images, but sometimes, like tonight, it would all hit her without any warning. She had learned to get through this and carry on. If there was one thing she had learned from her father, it was that you have to carry on. She wiped her eyes roughly. Time to get up and carry on.

At the outskirts...

Pips was on watch. He was also very bored. Every noise made him start, and every time he would shake his head and call himself an idiot. He wished he knew what the hell was going on. He also wished Wil was there. Wilkea was very good at entertaining and keeping him awake. Half asleep, Pips heard a crashing sound. He was instantly awake, and went to rouse Sandy.

"Get up. There's something here," he hissed. Sandy stumbled to his feet and scrambled outside the tree. They listened for a moment.

"You go that way," Pips directed, "and I'll go this way. Holler if you're in trouble."

"Got it," Sandy yawned, heading in the opposite direction. Pips shook his head. Honestly, what good was Sandy if he was not fully awake? Ignoring this worrying thought, he carried on.

Crysta's home...

Batty was trying not to fret. He felt like something was wrong, but he wasn't sure what. He had listened to what felt like eternity to Lily talking to him about Zak. Batty didn't miss the human, and he felt she was better off without him. So as to not hurt her feelings, he pretended to listen and agree with what she said. Then she had said something that caught his interest and full attention.

"Sometimes..." she began. "I don't know. This is stupid. I mean...it's Wil."

"Wil?" Batty had perked his ears. This was new.

"Yea," she had said shyly. "I've been feeling something, but I don't know what or if it is serious."

"Feeling something for Wil?" Batty had repeated back to her feeling better.

"I think so. I mean, there was a moment, like, a while ago where I thought I felt something, but maybe that was just because I miss Zak."

"Zak is very different from Wil," Batty had pointed out.

"True," Lily had nodded. Batty had waited, but she wasn't giving him anything more.

"Maybe you should talk to Wil," Batty had prompted almost hopefully.

"Maybe I will," she had replied, making Batty feel ecstatic. He was smiling again now just thinking about it. He wondered if she had indeed gone to speak with him. He'd find out in the morning he guessed. His mind went back to his bad feeling. He flew over to check on Crysta and Fern. He didn't want to intrude, so he peeked through the window. They weren't there. There was nothing. No voices, no snores, no sounds of anything. Panicking, Batty went through his mind as to where they could have gone. He flew back to Crysta's home. He didn't want to blow the horn just yet. They might just be out gallivanting around like girls will do. He knew what he had to do. He flew out into the night in search of them.

Earlier in the night at Wil's home...

Wil was wondering how his boys were doing by themselves. He ruefully wished he had been told to go with them too. They always had such good times together despite the knowledge that something terrible could happen at any moment. He was examining the cut he had given himself earlier. It was still stinging horribly. Perhaps he should go see Lily and get it fixed. Almost as if she had been summoned by his own brain, Lily appeared in his doorway.

"Lil' Lily," Wil smiled. "How did you know I wanted to see you?" He thought he saw a blush on her cheeks, but he didn't think much of it.

"I guess I have very good intuition," she shrugged. "What did you want to see me about?" She was half hoping he was going to tell her he had felt something too. It would make her life a lot easier at this moment.

"My cut," he replied, showing it to her. "It seems to be pissed off and not leaving me alone. I tried what you suggested before, but maybe it just needs a woman's touch." Lily felt her face get hotter, if that was even possible. What was the matter with her?

"Let me see," she said, praying her voice wouldn't let her down. When Wil came closer, she felt her heart race. When his hand was in hers while she examined it, she thought she was going to explode. Lily was not sure why this was happening. She was waiting for Zak. He had promised to return. She had felt exactly like this with him, so why was she feeling it now with Wilkea of all people?

"Are you all right?" he asked, noticing her sweating.

"I'm f-fine," she managed to say. She cleared her throat hard. "Looks like you just need some more stuff on it," she told him, dropping his hand. "Nothing else I can do about it."

"You sure? I don't wanna put too much on then have an even bigger problem on my hands, literally," he grinned.

"I'm sure. You'll be fine," she was backing towards the door. This was a stupid idea.

"Well, I can always come see you right?" he smiled. She nodded and turned to go. "Hold up," he called after her. She peered around the doorway. "You came here. Was there something on your mind?" he asked.

"N-no. Nothing. Just wandering around and ended up...here," she said. Wil was puzzled. There was definitely something wrong with her.

"You're not pregnant too, are you?" he asked her worriedly.

"Goodness no!" she gasped.

"Good. It just seems that women come to me to tell me their baby secret. I was hoping that wasn't the case," he laughed.

"It's not. Good night, Wil," Lily said abruptly. Then she fled. Wil was left feeling like he missed something, but he wasn't sure what.

At the outskirts...

Pips had returned with no luck, even with a full moon to help him search. He was left to assume it was a larger animal that had made the noise. There was no sign of Sandy. Pips figured he was probably asleep somewhere. He again wished Wil was there instead. After a while of searching he couldn't find him, and that's when he began to worry.

"Sandy?!" he called as quietly as he could. No answer. He pulled out his knife, heart pounding. He'd never forgive himself if he had sent Sandy on his own to his death.

"Sandy!" he called again, a little louder.

And then it went black.