With thanks to Sineater for helping me with some tricky wording in places.

Virgil, Gordon and Alan came charging into the room, the eldest skidding to a halt at Scott's frown. The two youngest cannoned off him, landing on their butts.

'John? Scott? Everything alright?'

'We have a rescue, Virgil. Scott, you get going and I'll brief the others.'

Scott's frown didn't lift but his distracted 'FAB' was clear as he strode to his lamps. Virgil frowned again as John cleared his throat.

'Virgil, we have a rescue at Ashdown Forest in the south-east of England.'

'Ok, will we need Gordon and Alan?'

'Um…yeah, better had. I'll fill you all in when you're on your way'

The three boys looked at each other before running to their respective chutes, and it wasn't long before Two was on her way. John reappeared shortly.

'Ok, John. Fill us in.'

'We got a report of a child with a potential head injury from a falling branch, currently unconscious. And…..'

John's voice tailed off quietly.

'And what, John?'

'And there is a bear stuck in a tree.'

'A bear.'

'Yes, Virgil. A bear.'

There was sniggering from Alan and Gordon, and it was Gordon that piped up next.

'Next thing you'll be saying is that the bear's name is Pooh!'

The silence was telling.

'John?'

'Yes, Virgil.'

'Where exactly are we going?'

'You are going to the Hundred Acre Wood.'

'And who are we rescuing?'

'Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh.

'And are you sure that this is not a hoax?'

'Yes, EOS and I checked. The call came from Owl, who was informed by Piglet.'

There was absolutely nothing that anyone could think to say about that. Gordon cleared his throat meaningfully, frowning at Virgil, but the man shook his head. Now was not the time to question John's state of mind. Since when had that ever held Gordon back…

'EOS?'

'Yes, Gordon?'

'Has John hit his head recently? Also, what's the O2 mix on Five?'

'No, John has not had any physical injuries. The O2 mixture is at the correct levels.'

'Gordon! What the heck?'

'I'm trying to come up with a reason that you sound like you've lost ALL your marbles!'

Virgil cuffed him quite hard around his head as Alan sat there open-mouthed.

Before anything else could be said Scott's voice rang out.

'Approaching the coordinates now.'

'FAB, Scott. Keep the comms open.'

'FAB, Thunderbird Five. I'll let you know what I find.'

One settled into a hover over the coordinates John had supplied. It was a nice forest, a reasonable size and with the trees in their full glory. He may not have been much of a nature lover, but Scott had been a Rescue Scout, and he recognised the silver birch and pine trees.

'John, the canopy is quite full here, and I cannot see the ground. I'm going to jetpack down.'

'FAB, Thunderbird One.'

Scott leapt out his 'bird.

…

The sound was like nothing they had ever heard. There was a whooshing and a roaring, and Piglet fell to the ground, covering his head with his arms.

'W-W-W-Woozles!' he cried out in fear, trying to burrow under Christopher Robin's outstretched arm. He didn't get anywhere, and he was relieved when the noise settled down into a quieter roar. But when it didn't disappear he began to worry again.

Maybe it wasn't Woozles then, maybe it was a Heffalump. Not that that was any more comfort in that. There was no other sounds though, and he thought he better be a brave Piglet and make sure Pooh was alright. He wiggled out and brushed the leaves and heather from his scarf.

'P-P-Pooh!? Are you a-a-alright?'

Winnie the Pooh was clinging on to the tree , eyes scrunched tight and wishing he could cover his ears at the same time. The noise was deafening! But he needed to be brave for Piglet.

'I'm fine, Piglet. Are you alright down there?'

'I'm g-g-good, Pooh.'

'Did you hear the noise, Piglet?'

'Yes, P-P-Pooh. What d-d-do you think it is?'

'I thought it might be a Woozle, but it's a little quieter now.'

'M-M-Maybe it is, Pooh. Or a He-He-Heffalump.'

'Could be, Piglet.'

They each contemplated that thought. What would they do if it was either creature, especially with Christopher Robin out cold? Would Piglet have to be braver than he had ever been before and defend the boy?

As these thoughts occurred to them a new sound became manifest, a different kind of roaring. And a rustling in the treetops.

And a voice.

'This is International Rescue. Is anybody there?'

Piglet fainted.