Willow had just dropped into the Palistrom groves, and found Hunter sitting at a workbench. He was whittling away at another potential Palisman, though it wasn't clear yet what it would be. She knew well not to sneak up on her boyfriend while he was holding a sharp object, despite his growing peace of mind, so made her presence known before gently throwing her arms around his waist.

"Hey, Hun."

"Hey, babe."

The witch pressed her body against Hunter's back and kissed him on the cheek. "Gonna be done soon? My dads were hoping that you could join us for dinner."

"Yeah, in a minute." Despite his girlfriend's presence, the young man remained concentrated on his handiwork with a twinkle in his eye. Willow looked down at the workbench and noticed a little wooden bird.

"Wow, this looks great! You've come along way since Dell took you under his wing." She directed her attention to the bird. "You're gonna make a witchling very happy someday."

"Actually," Hunter chuckled, "this one's...for me."

Willow's own eyes lit up a she looked back at him. "Really?"

"Yeah," Hunter nodded. "I think I'm finally ready."

"Hunter, that's great!" Willow gave him a squeeze around the waist and brushed her cheek against his. "I am so happy for you!"

"Thanks. It'll be nice not needing to borrow a staff just to play Flyer Derby, and...I think it's what Flap would have wanted for me."

Willow hummed in agreement and rested her head on his shoulder to watch him work. "Is that why you're carving another bird?"

"Actually, the bird shape was already there before I started."

"Really?"

Hunter nodded. "Dell was going through his attic with Gwendolyn the other day, and they found a block of Palistrom wood buried among some really old garments. There wasn't much carved into it yet, just the head and basic outline of a bird. He brought it here to show me, I looked in its eye, and...It's as if there was someone trapped inside hoping be set free, and something inside me that needed to let them out. Once I got Dell's permission, my hands did the rest."

"Have you had that feeling before?"

"Not that intensely. I've been inspired to carve specific Palismen before, but I never felt a connection like this. Maybe it's that part of Flapjack still inside me trying to say this one's...special."

And in that moment, as Hunter finished smoothing the figure's back, it started to glow. There was a flash, and the couple had to shut their eyes. Willow had to back up and adjust her glasses. Next thing they knew, the little wooden bird was now a living breathing blue jay. The little bird blinked at Hunter, then flapped its wings while chirping happily.

"Hi." The young man smiled as he cupped the Palisman in his hands, and the twinkle in his eyes became tears of joy. "Welcome to the world, Waffles."

"Waffles?" Willow giggled.

"Don't look at me," said Hunter, as the bird perched on his shoulder. "The name was her idea."

"And I think it's a great name." The witch then directed her attention to Waffles. "Take good care of him, you beautiful bird. He means the world to me."

The blue jay gave her a wink and a chirp before turning into a staff that landed in Hunter's hands. With a grin, he looked at his new staff and then to his girlfriend. "Well, your dads are probably waiting for us. Race you there?"

"Oh, you're on!"

Willow summoned Clover and her own staff appeared. The pair looked at each other and simultaneously took off out of the groves, making their way across the sky back to Bonesborough as the sun set.