Her head throbbing, Eleanor awakened and slowly looked around her new surroundings. The quaint log cabin had various animal pelts hanging up and strewn on the ground, with a soft animal skin blanket covering the bed she was laying in. A large iron cauldron was boiling and bubbling on the hearth with the distinct smell of porridge and meat. The delicious smell made Eleanor's stomach rumble, and she tried lifting herself up enough to get a better view. "Ugh… where am I? Hello? Is anyone here?"

The young man, a grizzly bear, emerged from around the corner, surprised to see she was awake, and smiled at her. He wore an outfit like Eleanor's, but in Lincoln green, a raccoon skin cap, and thickly scarred rabbit fur lined boots. At first, she was wary of him, but as he bent down to her level, she found that he wasn't more than a few years older than she was.

"I'm glad you're awake! The men who tried to handle you must have given you quite a headache. I'm Treeward Pine, but you may call me Pine if you want."

"Eleanor. It's genuinely nice to meet you," she replied, shaking his hand. "Is Spitfire alright?"

"Spitfire? Oh, your horse. Yes, she is doing well in my stable out back."

Breathing a sigh of relief, she tried to get up from the bed, but Pine gently stopped her.

"You really must rest. Those barbarians bruised you more than you know. Perhaps some porridge and meat would help you feel better?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you."

Pine returned with an earthenware bowl filled to the brim with porridge and meat, and as Eleanor took small bites, she asked about the furs. He explained, between larger bites, that he hunted different animals to make a living, and the furs were sold at different towns for profit.

"So, how long have you lived here?"

"All of my life, really. My mother and father lived here also, but they were taken to debtor's prison. The trapping business was slow that year, so we couldn't sell enough furs to pay our taxes. I waited for a while for them to come back, but they never did."

Eleanor sighed; her brows creased. "That must have been hard for you, with both of your parents gone."

"It was, but I've managed to get by and take over the business."

"Speaking of family matters," Pine continued after swallowing a mouthful of porridge, "what about your family?"

"I'm an orphan. I don't remember much about my mother, but right about now I'm searching for my father. He could remember me, but I'm not certain."

"Maybe I know your father. Do you know his name?"

Eleanor hesitated before answering him. "I think my father is Rob O' the Hedge."

Pine stared at her for a moment, then burst into chuckles. "Now I know you hurt your head. Sorry to tell you, but as far as I know Rob O' and Mari-An didn't have many children. If they did, I would've known about it."

Eleanor clutched the locket around her neck tightly. "If he's not my father, then why is his picture in my locket?"

Pine came over and looked at her locket. "Hmm. Maybe that locket was stolen. May I see it?"

"Yes, but please be careful with it. It's the only clue I have."

Handing it over to him, Pine opened the locket carefully and examined the pictures, then handed it back with a smile as Eleanor placed it around her neck. "That's him, alright. I'd know his face anywhere. You know, I remember Mari-An wearing something like that; it might have been hers after all."

"Does that mean you can help me find him?" Eleanor asked, her eyes hopeful.

"Erm, usually, we don't find him. He finds us."

"I'm guessing he gets into trouble?"

"Yup, we never know what he's been dragged into."

Eleanor sighed in exasperation and was finally able to get up from the bed. "We'd better leave as soon as possible, then."

"You might want an extra set of clothes in case yours wear out," Pine suggested.

Eleanor looked down at herself and shook her head. "I don't own an extra set, and these are new enough."

"Ready whenever you are, Piney!" a new voice called from outside of the cabin.

Pine turned and looked at Eleanor, confused. "Did you say that?"

"No, I didn't. I promise."

"If you didn't say it, then who did?"

The voice coughed, hacked, then laughed. "Oh my son. Don't you recognize an old friend when he comes to call? Ah-ha-ha!"

"Wait a minute, that can't be. I'd recognize that laughter anywhere." Pine walked to the doorway and peeked through the peephole, his smile widening. "It's ol' Friar South I'm hearing!"

"Yessir, that it is. Let me in son; I'm afraid this is not a laughing matter."

Pine let Friar South, an elderly owl, inside and pulled up a chair for him. "What's happened, Father?"

"One of our old friends, that rascal Gilligan Greenbriar, is in prison again."

"What for this time? Killing the King's deer?"

"Yes, but this time it was one of the choice deer that graces his table."

"Why was he arrested for killing one deer?" Eleanor asked.

Friar South nodded in her direction, as to answer her question. "He has been imprisoned before for minor offences, including killing the king's deer on accident. The guards that arrested him this time, however, weren't as kindly to him and treated him as a criminal due to his record. In all honesty, Gilligan is not as much a criminal as they say. He has done great things for a number of poorer citizens and had allied with the English crown."

"And he would never kill an innocent person, even by accident," Pine added with a grunt.

"Well, we should free Mr. Greenbriar from prison as soon as possible. I would like to meet him," Eleanor said as she threw on her provisions.

"If we're all agreed, let us journey forth to the prison!" South exclaimed heroically before having a small coughing fit. Heading to the barn to mount Spitfire, Pine hoisted a saddle onto her back and fastened it, then thought it over.

"Eleanor, you and Friar South are pretty light, so I'll just walk beside Spitfire for now." Nodding, the three new friends headed towards the prison to rescue Gilligan Greenbriar.