Another month had passed since the rats had left, and Elizabeth still hadn't come to terms with the fact. Her children were healthy, their lives peaceful, but she was torn between staying with their routine, or packing up and moving to Thorn Valley, to be with the friends she missed so dearly. Her children had asked more than once when they could leave, but she had always been too distracted to reply. She watched them from her perch on the house, hearing their laughter, smiling when she saw them.

Thank God they're all right, she thought, staring at the sky. There were no clouds in sight, the hue a deep and even blue. She knew they'd have to leave eventually, but couldn't decide which time would be right. It was already spring, nearly summer, with most of the animals having already left for the woods. She figured she didn't want to go because of what had happened, because she now knew her husband's secret. She found herself wondering why he hadn't wanted to tell her, why he had lied to her about half of his life.

I was afraid you would leave me…his voice echoed in her mind, making her cry. She suddenly felt like she was betraying him. But then there was a soft touch to her tears, and they instantly stopped. You aren't betraying me, he told her. A warmth in her heart made her think of his smile. You're allowing your heart to guide you. Elizabeth closed her eyes, seeing his face in a cloud of mist.

"Jonathan…" her voice was a whisper. But before she could touch him he vanished, the cry of a hawk breaking through her thoughts. She screaming, watching its shadow fall, a smaller one leaping from its back. She'd just dropped to the ground when the bird returned, screeching horribly. Only this time a rope dangled from it, and the smaller form leapt up and grasped it tightly, his other hand wrapped around her eldest son's wrist. Martin was fighting, tears streaming from his eyes. He cried out for her, knowing there was nothing she could do. The other three came running, watching the creature vanish, their eyes wide with horror.

"Mommy!" Cynthia tugged at her mother's arm. "Martin kidnapped!"

Elizabeth didn't reply. She was too busy watching the sky, fighting tears of her own. The four of them stared until the bird had vanished, Teresa's voice breaking the silence.

"I'm telling Justin," she turned to the house, motioning for the others to follow her. Mrs. Brisby came to her senses once they had gone, wishing it were just a bad dream. She bit her lip, feeling pain. She was anything but asleep.

"Children," seconds later she stood in the doorway, her face set. "I'm going to look for your brother. Stay here."

"But…mommy…" Cynthia tried going to her, but Timothy held her back. She gazed with wide brown eyes at her mother, forced to watch as the mouse disappeared, unable to shake the feeling that they'd never see her again.

(****)

Elizabeth moved quickly through the undergrowth, watching for signs of that giant bird. It had flown east, toward the river, the opposite direction of the rats' new settlement. All the while she looked, she found herself wondering who had taken her son, what the motive could possibly be. Try as she might, she couldn't think of anybody, stranger or otherwise, who'd want to hurt her; anyone alive, that is.

This is impossible, she told herself, shoving aside a wide leaf. But it wasn't the kidnapper she wondered at. Her jaw dropped when she saw that she'd already reached the river, even though she'd only been going a few minutes. She wandered cautiously to the bank, the entire time watching for trouble. She was about to turn away when something caught her eye, something green floating in the azure waters. She grabbed a twig, catching the thing in its branches. A gasp fell from her lips when she saw what it was: a small scrap of Martin's shirt. The realization sent ice through her veins, her body shaking, nearly convulsing.

No…she thought. The cloth fell from nerveless fingers. She backed slowly away. No…this can't be happening! Her breath suddenly heavy, she whipped around, running headlong into the forest, failing to blink the tears from her eyes. So it was true. Her eldest child had just been kidnapped, and as much as she wanted to, she knew there was nothing she could do.

Oh dear God…

(****)

Meanwhile, Teresa was busy trying to decide what to write. She didn't know how to word his letter to Justin, the rat she'd heard about so much in the past few weeks. She wasn't even sure the creature existed, but was willing to try anything if it meant finding her brother. She scratched at her ear, hearing Cynthia cry in the other room, Timothy all but failing to calm her. From the sound of his voice, the boy was barely keeping back sobs of his own.

How do I do this? She let the pencil fall from her hand, running her claws through her hair. She had no idea how the rats would react, or if they would just ignore the note altogether. She figured they wouldn't, after all her parents had done for them, but there was always a possibility. I'll just be straight about it. She took the pen back up, carefully scrawling even words across the page.

'-Justin, I know you probably didn't expect to hear from us, but we need your help!' she stopped to stare at it, barely resisting the urge to crumble the page and toss it aside. 'Martin's been kidnapped, and we need you to help us find him!' she stopped again, adding as an afterthought, 'I'm afraid this is just the beginning, so please hurry!' She didn't sign her name, figuring they would know who had sent it. She rolled it into a tight tube, tying it with dark blue thread. The only thing she needed now was a way to send it. Her eyes shifted to the small crystal she'd found the day before, and a thoughtful smile crossed her lips. That could work…

She grasped it, flashing it in the sun as she walked outside. She was hoping to catch the attention of her mother's friend Jeremy, a scatterbrained crow who lived near the farm. The bird came by every few days, asking if he could do anything for them, if he could take them anywhere. He and his wife, Tiffany, lived in a tree at the farm's northern edge, and were expecting their first brood. From what she knew, he wasn't allowed anywhere near the nest until they hatched, unless he learned to calm himself down.

He is getting better, though, the mouse admitted silently. She looked up as a shadow passed over her, taking a small piece of charcoal from her pocket. She then settled in an old log, hastily scribbling another line of text: 'By the time you get this, I fear I might have been taken too.' She signed her name this time, rolling the letter back up. She glanced in all directions before going on, dashing to every hiding place she could find. After another hour she reached the tall grass, and felt safe enough to move more freely. She could see Jeremy's tree, but something compelled her to venture to the thresher Ages had lived in. It felt as though the rusted shell were a portal, drawing her into an unknown world. She'd almost reached the thresh hold when she stopped, shaking her head fiercely.

Knock it off! She turned and dashed from it, heading straight for the tall oak. You wanna get captured too? She stopped at the tree, hiding in a knothole at the base while she caught her breath. Again she peered around before emerging, making sure she hadn't been followed. She looked up, seeing the nest in the higher branches, grasping the note with her teeth before climbing.

(****)

"Children, where's you're sister?" Elizabeth was worried. Teresa had been gone for almost three hours. Timothy looked up from the book he'd been reading, gently moving a sleeping Cynthia from his lap.

"She went to find Jeremy," he said, standing up. He'd grown greatly in the weeks since his illness, and was almost as tall as his mother. "She wrote a letter for Justin, to tell him what's going on."

"I'm back!" As if on cue, Teresa jogged back into the living room. "I gave it to Jeremy," she said, not seeing Elizabeth. "He's already on his way."

Cynthia stirred in her sleep, but didn't wake up. Timothy brought the girl to their room, putting her to bed. He returned in time to see Elizabeth scolding her daughter.

"You should have told me," the mouse said angrily. "You're brother's already been taken…I don't want you to be as well!"

"I know, and I'm sorry," Teresa bowed her head, staring at her feet. "I just wanted to help."

"I know you did, sweetie," Mrs. Brisby's mood changed quickly. "But it's not safe out there." Then she sighed. "I'm afraid you'll have to stay inside for today, and you'll have to help me with the dishes after supper."

"Yes, mother," Teresa moved to the kitchen, sitting at the table and burying her face in her arms.

I originally had Tim write the note, but it sounded like something Teresa would say (and besides, Timothy always writes the letters), so I switched it up.