Pooh sat there quietly. He didn't want to leave Honey Maple in this state. His mind was suddenly filled with memories of when Christopher Robin had passed away. "Please…" Pooh breathed. "Don't be dead."

Whirlwind moved his head closer. His large ears raised to listen. He backed away. "She'll be alright. Just...Don't move her or shake her. She'll wake up on her own." He turned to face Pooh. "As long as you keep your mouth shut."

Pooh nodded silently. Then, he soon realized something. "What happened? Where did everyone go? I thought portals go one way."

"Only with concentration." Whirlwind explained. His face went sour. Thanks to you and your friends, Hurricane lost focus! The portal was completely unstable. Everyone is no doubt being sent in different parts of the Hollow Realm!" His chest burned with anger. His fur stood on end.

This time, it was Pooh's turn to get angry. "You took Honey Maple's egg when her mama was sick! Then you attack us! Then, you kidnapped her in the desert!" His eyes began to brim with tears. He brushed his paws against his eyes. He sniffled. "Her mother and father were so worried about her. Now, thanks to you, they're sad all over again!" He cried. The ache in his heart was too great to ignore. "Why?! Why do all of you Hollow Realm people have to be so mean to her and her family?"

"Gurlafl?" A muffled cry got both of their attention. The duo looked down. Honey Maple was now awake. A little disoriented. She lifted her head slightly only to find to be in a dizzy spell. She laid down again. Her eyes focused on Pooh, concern filled them. Then, she started to cry.

Pooh knelt down. He gently picked her up. His paw rubbed her back gently. "There. There. Honey Maple. Don't cry. I'm right here. I'll get you back to momma." He hushed her a few times. Unaware of Whirlwind's scoff.

"Yeah? And how exactly are you going to do that?"

Pooh turned to him. His normally soft eyes turned hard. "Hmph! I'm going to find my friends and we'll find the river that'll take us back to the Golden Desert." With that, Pooh started walking. He walked up the hill. He saw miles upon miles of dead trees. Creaks and moans heard in the distance. His head turned left, then right. Nothing that would indicate where his friends are. He rubbed head. Think. Think. Think, he thought. Maybe if I...No...But what if...No, not that either. Pooh was so wrapped up in thought, he didn't realize that something walked up right next to him.

Without warning, a black, boney horse snatched Pooh. Fins flared out of her mane and tail. Her pale eyes focused on the the next step. She turned and head down the horse galloped deeper and deeper until they reached a pool of thick water. Dead fish bobbed in the water. An acrid smell hung in the air.

Pooh held Honey Maple tighter. "Um...Excuse me...But where-" He froze when he realized that he was slowly moved closer to the water. "Let me go!" Pooh began to swing one paw at the face. The moment it made impact on the skin, his paw was immediately stuck. He tried pulling it away, but it only got worse. His heart thundered in his chest. His breath hitched. A monster was going to drag him into the water and Honey Maple is still too small to fight back, let alone swim by herself. He looked at the baby dragon. For a bear of very little brain, he knew this wouldn't end well and the baby knows it too. Tears sprang in his eyes. "I'm sorry Honey Maple."

Just as all hope seems lost, Whirlwind roared and tackled from the side. The monstrous horse let go of Pooh. The bear fell down as his paw was suddenly free from the stickiness. Whirlwind tossed him onto his back and hissed. His wings flared out. His hind leg barely touching the ground. The chimera grunted in pain. Then, orange eyes were filled with rage and instinct. He dodged each time the horse let out a thunderous neigh. He slashed his talons along the flank. Attack upon attack, Whirlwind dodged until he found an opening. He seized the large fin at the base of the tail and threw the creature into a wall of briar. He breathed heavily. His squirrel head turned to Pooh.

Pooh couldn't register what had just happened. Did that Chimera just saved me? His thoughts were ripped away from a cry in the briars. He looked to see that the water creature was now struggling to get out of the thorns. Pooh froze for a moment. Then, he turned his eyes to Whirlwind who now laid on his stomach, back exposed.

Whirlwind just sighed. "What are ya waitn' for? Get on! I know a place we can hide for a bit until everything blows over." He quickly turned his head as soon as he heard a loud snap. "Hurry!"

Pooh froze for a moment. Then, he noticed Honey Maple blinking strangely. She seemed to have a problem in staying awake. As much as he didn't like Whirlwind, the chimera did save his life. He took a deep breath. Pooh ran as fast as he could and jumped onto his back. His paws settled Honey Maple. He lightly patted her face to get her to stay awake more. Then, he braced himself against the surprisingly soft fur as he was launched into the air again.

They were barely above the treeline until they reached a large tree that sat in a nearby dark pool of water. Whirlwind looked around. It's twisted limbs came across as a bird frozen in time. He lowered himself down slowly. It didn't take long for Pooh to get off and immediately take shelter inside the large hole of the tree. The Chimera looked up to see that the wind was picking up. He limped over to a larger spot in the tree.

Pooh looked to see Honey Maple. Her eyes were a little alert. To his relief, she shook her head to keep awake. Pooh sighed. He laid back against the wood. Relief and fear clouded everything. The bear was almost eaten before he could protect her. He turned to Whirlwind, who laid his head on his talons. "Um...Thank you...What was that thing?"

"Kelpie." Whirlwind answered. "They live around these parts. I don't know why, but they need to drown their meal. Thankfully, we're safe here. They have turf wars for water so they never both go after trees. Only when they get injured. I know no one ever uses this tree."

Pooh tilted his head. Honey Maple followed suit. "Do you come here?"

Whirlwind looked at him. "What makes you say that?"

"Well...From what I saw between you and Hurricane, you seem like someone that's picked on a lot. So...um...I figured you hide from bullies."

Whirlwind glanced away. He fiddled with his talons. "Yeah...I was the runt." He shook himself. "Wait a minute! Why do you care?! You were just mad at me earlier."

"But you saved me and Honey Maple from that Kelpie. So, you can't be all that bad."

Whirlwind groaned. "You can be so hopeless. You know that." He snorted. "Fine. I'll tell you a bit about my past and we'll call it a night!"

Pooh went silent. He just simply nodded.

Whirlwind sighed. "When you're born here, you have to be strong immediately. The weak are never approved here. So, I was always the clumsy one. A runt. Everyone picked on me. Hurricane too, but everyone feared him. My big mouth was always gave me trouble. Even when I tried to fight off a few dragons, they would just toss me around."

"Is that why you said dragons are obnoxious? Because they were some who were mean to you?"

Whirlwind nodded. He flinched when Honey Maple suddenly curled up to him. "Then, one day...Hurricane got his head stuck in a tree while he tried to swipe food from some Goblins. His horns were still growing and some Chimeras needed to rub their horn or they would drive them 's how he got stuck. I helped thanks to my talons. Hurricane didn't take it well. I went to this tree. Next thing I knew, Hurricane started to be a little nicer to me. He still hits me but he doesn't call names like 'puzzle'."

Pooh shook his head. "I'm sorry everyone was so mean to you. Maybe when this all over, you could come back to the Hundred Acer Woods with me and my friends. I could even talk to King Moonsoul. Once he hears what you did, he wouldn't hurt you."

"It's not that easy." Whirlwind turned his gaze to the rain. "I'm a Chimera. I don't have any place in this world. Plus, going against the Dark dream king would mean trouble. A trip to the void."

Pooh stood up. "I won't let that happen! It's not fair that you didn't get a say in anything! You shouldn't be forced into things you don't want to do! I mean, sure it's hard, but living in a place where you get hurt all the time is no way to live."

"Aww...Isn't that cute. A bear caring for a Chimera."

The group jumped. They all gazed in fear to see the Kelpie that they had been running away from had found their hiding spot. Blood oozed from where the skin tore from the briars. She huffed heavily. Her legs gave way. Her eyes fluttered. "I've always wondered who would be hanging around my pond."

Pooh looked a bit concerned. True, this creature did try to eat him. But she didn't deserve those wounds. He grabbed Honey Maple when she got too close to the large teeth. He backed away as much as he could with Whirlwind coming between them despite his injured leg. His ears soon buzzed with Honey Maple's crying. Pooh hugged her. Tears stung his eyes.

"Pooh…."

Pooh looked up. Whirlwind was staring at him with sorrowful eyes. "I'm sorry...for dragging you here…" The Chimera's breathing started to hitch.

"No...NO! NO! What do I do?" He began to pound his head. "THINK! THINK! THINK!" He kept thinking and thinking until an idea came to him. "Maybe if I sing, I can calm Honey Maple down." Pooh took a deep breath. He soon began to sing:

"Calm down, my dearest friend. You've been through so much. And this day comes to an end. Wipe your tears away for I am here to stay. The moon has come to say hello. It's here to soothe your sorrow. I promise tomorrow will be better. Lend me your...um...claw and we'll stay together. Friends forever." As he finished the last note, Honey Maple soon stopped crying. She nestled into his red sweater. A light began to glow around them. Butterflies began to swirl around them. The tree turned gold in the glowing light.

After what felt like forever, Pooh soon woke up to laying against something soft. He looked up to see that his head was against the surprisingly soft fur of Whirlwind. Honey Maple curled up right next to his tummy. He smiled weakly as he stroked her. His tummy rumbled. He groaned. Oh bother, he thought. After all that excitement, I forgot to eat something. I guess I should look around. He tried to get up but his limbs refused to move. Pooh tried again and again. Nothing.

He soon realized his makeshift pillow was starting to move. Whirlwind blinked. His teeth were a bit pointed but he had molars of an average squirrel. The chimera yawned and stretched. Wings flared out. He was halfway up Pooh's head slid off with a thump. He looked down. "Pooh? What happened? All I remember you singing and…" His orange eyes widened with realization. "Did you just perform light magic?!"

Pooh thought for a moment. "All I could remember was trying to make Honey Maple happy. Then, those butterflies came out of nowhere." He moved his head. "I think I might've down light magic before, but isn't it tricky?"

"It is."

Pooh gasped and swung his head to see the Kelpie. She no longer wore the deep gashes she had earlier. Her skin was still shiny black. Fins popped out of her body. Her eyes held less malice. They seem to be almost kiddy. Her mouth is golden with honey. "I've only heard that light magic is hard because no one knew what tactic to use. Even when they had a few words to their spells, those who faced me could barely pull off a glow. Rumors even spoke that they could heal and revive those that were sick and injured."

"I-it must've worked." Pooh said. "You two look so much better now."

Whirlwind lifted and set down his hind leg cautiously. It didn't hurt. "You're right. You must be really talented."

"Or just lucky." The Kelpie said. "Whatever the reason, I at least have to thank you for giving me some food from these trees." She licked her mouth. "Especially this sticky stuff. I haven't had a full stomach in a long time!" She softly whinnied.

"Oh!" Pooh laughed. "That's honey! It's something that I like too. What to share, um...What's your name?"

The Kelpie blinked for a moment. She tilted her head. A face filled with clear confusion. "That's a first. No one ever asked for my name unless it's to curse me out. Uh...The name's Onyx. Had been tossed around from one herd to the next."

"That's a pretty name." Pooh smiled. "Nice to meet you. Though, I do wish you didn't try to eat me before we had proper introduction."

Onyx laughed. "Normally I had to think fast. Food is short here as you probably saw. I don't mind being alone though." She was about to answer his question when she heard a strange growl. She jumped back in fright. "What was that?!" The Kelpie whipped her head frantically.

Pooh laughed. "That was my tummy. I just didn't eat." He laughed again when Honey Maple opened her mouth. "She didn't have a chance either."

Whirlwind was nervous. He quickly pulled out the honeycombs that were hidden deep within the tree. His talons went sticky with the golden liquid. He shuddered. Whirlwind handed them the combs. A sweet smell hit his nose. Curious, he licked the honey. It was just as sweet. The sensation gave him more relief than he could dream of. He went back up to grab some more. He pulled out a large pile and began to nosh on the combs. Suddenly, Onyx tried to snatch some right from under him. The two hissed. A snap or two.

Pooh and Honey Maple looked at each other. "I think it's a good time for everyone to learn the meaning of sharing."

That's it for this chapter. Just a little moment with Whirlwind and Pooh. Pretty soon, I'm going to go with Piglet. Stay tuned and review!