A bluebird was flying through the forest as fast as she could. She knew she couldn't go back to Wirt, at least not yet, or alone.
The Unknown was a mysterious place for every citizen, creature, and whatever else you could possibly imagine living within it. But there was one such item that held all of the answers that one might need. The Tome of the Unknown.
Beatrice had heard stories of the book from her family, but whether or not it was real, a legend, or a myth altogether, she knew that it was one of the few things that held the possibility of a better Unknown at this moment. With two Beasts roaming around the Unknown, one could not be just careful anymore, but prepared. She stopped as soon as she felt safe and put down the scissors and stretched out her wings.
"This all better be worth it." She said.

The Woodsman kept running through the the forest. Ironic how one who knew such woods, now feared what it contained. As he kept running, he came across a dirt road that split into two paths, one around the woods, and the other to a tavern. The Woodsman decided it was best to take refuge in there. When he got to the door, he pushed it open with full force and whatever everyone was doing inside stopped and looked at the Woodsman.
"It's the Woodsman."
"Where is his dark lantern?"
"What is he doing here?"
These were among some of the whispers he heard from everyone as they saw him.
"Well sweetie, what brings you round these parts?" The tavernkeeper asked in her sweet accented voice, which completely contrasted the Woodsman's own raspy one.
"You aren't safe anymore." He said. He tried to look at everyone in the tavern, only to have them look at him in worry.
"Why is that?" The Butcher asked.
"Because the Beast has a new victim!" The Woodsman yelled to emphasize.
"Hey! You can panic as much as you want, but you will not raise your voice and disturb the peace in my tavern." The tavernkeeper exclaimed to keep the peace and quiet in her tavern. "Now, how's about you get youself a soft drink and you can tell us all bout that news you got." She said.
The Woodsman took a seat next to the tailor.
"It's always bad news for me." The tailor whined as he sobbed. The Woodsman just looked at him, with annoyance. Everyone had gathered around the Woodsman in order to hear his story.
"The Beast has taken a new apprentice. A boy in a red hat, the Beast tricked him into becoming his servant to save his younger brother, but I fear it was in vain." He explained.
"You mean the Pilgrim?" The master asked. "A short boy who told us that you gave him directions on how to get home. He was lost more than ever." He said accusingly. "How do we know you didn't lead him to the Beast?" He asked.
"I'd watch my accusations if I were you, or else someone will start swingin'" The Woodsman warned.
"Hey! No roughhousing in my tavern, I already have enough to clean without you two clods to add to my work. You will behave in my tavern or get out." She reminded one last time. The Woodsman and the master glared at each other before the Woodsman continued to explain.
"That boy...is not human anymore. He is burdened with keeping the lantern lit, and the Beast disappeared in the trees." The Woodsman recalled.
"This is worst than a metaphor." The tailor sobbed.
"What of the youngest brother?" The midwife asked. The Woodsman sighed.
"I don't know, he disappeared along with a frog and talking bluebird." He said.
Suddenly, the door to the tavern opened again. This time a redheaded girl with a blue dress stepped in. She looked determined.
"I need help." She said as she looked around. The tavernkeeper approached her kindly as she swept the floors.
"Hey there sweetie whatch-" She began,
"Woah!" Out of instinct, the girl jerked away defensively from the tavernkeeper. Everyone looked at her as of she grew a second head. "Don't hit me with your broom!" The girl warned.
"Don't be silly darling, I only hit animals that bring good and bad luck in my tavern." The tavernkeeper explained. The girl looked at her hands and remembered she was human.
"Oh, right. Sorry." She said.
"Now who are you?" The tavernkeeper asked.
"My name is Beatrice, and I need help. My friend has just given himself up to the Beast, and I need to set him free." She said.
"But I just came from watching a boy turn himself over to the Beast, I didn't see you there." The Woodsman explained.
"I was there! I just...you didn't see me." Beatrice thought carefully about this, if she went around saying she was a bird turned human, people might accuse her of witchcraft, or worst, working for the Beast. The Woodsman recognized her voice and decided to keep quiet. "I need to know if anyone here knows anything about the Tome of the Unknown." Everyone just looked at her for a moment before bursting out laughing. This angered and embarrassed Beatrice as her cheeks became red. "I'm serious!" She yelled, but it sounded like a whine to everyone else. The tavernkeeper and the Woodsman were the only ones who weren't laughing.
"Tome of the Unknown huh? What, you're also going to look for the stork that drops babies in chimneys at night?" The baker mocked.
"Listen here ginger snaps, we don't know what it you're tryna pull here, but if you wanna scam us, take tips from the Highwayman." The apprentice jeered. The Highwayman stayed silent. Beatrice bit her lip in anger.
"Hey! Stop that! I'm trying to save my friend and by extension you all!" She yelled as she teared up, everyone still laughing at her.
"Enough!" The tavernkeeper yelled, and the whole tavern got quiet. "This girl just asked an serious question and you all just mock her?!" She asked sarcastically, her face showing anger.
"We just havin fun." The Butcher. "We all know the Tome's just a fairy tale." He said trying to justify his mocking.
"There are two beasts out there that turn people into edelwood and you want to talk about fairy tales?!" The Woodsman asked as he slammed his fist on the table. Beatrice nodded at them to thank them for their support.
"Look here, I heard the Tome has everything that has been forgotten, there's a good chance we can learn something about the Beast, and how to save my friend." Beatrice said. She bit her lip as she thought about losing both Wirt and Greg to the Beast. "I want to help them, and I'm sure everyone in this room has someone else they'd do it for." She said and everyone in the tavern looked at someone else as confirmation. "I just want to save him." She said honestly, trying to hold back her tears. The tavernkeeper put her hand on Beatrice's left shoulder and the Woodsman's on her right one.
"Don't worry." The Woodsman said. "We will." The tavernkeeper confirmed. "There is a small cottage in the woods that is said to have the Tome. But I'd be careful if I were you. There is a girl who eats the bodies of her victims, and an old beastly woman who commands her." She informed Beatrice.
"Then that's where I'll go." She said.
"No alone you're not." The Woodsman said. "I will help you out with you burden." He smiled fatherly at her.
"Then it's settled." Beatrice said confidently.