Cole took Mrs. Brisby by the hand and she looked his way as he did her.

"We'll just walk in and do it one baby step at a time.", he said as he took a step forward.

"Really?", Jeremy asked.

"Really, really.", Cole answered as he looked the crow's way.

Mrs. Brisby was still scared, but as she felt Cole's hand holding hers, she remembered Auntie Shrew's words and the thought of Timmy's life made her determined.

"Timothy.", she told herself as she followed Cole into the hollow, "Remember Timothy."

Cole and Mrs. Brisby entered and the place as dark and dreary with more cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and walls. Cole then sneezed and a cloud of dust blew forward.

"Excuse me.", he said a little embarrassed, "This place is messing with my sinuses."

After a little more walking, Mrs. Brisby let go of Cole's hand and stumbled toward a cobweb that held a few bones which fell apart before falling down a large shaft that Cole must have thought was the rest of the tree which made his stomach churn.

"That's a long drop.", he said a bit nervous as he watched the cobweb remains and bones fall into the darkness, "If we had fallen, that would've been bad."

Mrs. Brisby then gasped as a moth suddenly fluttered out and into their faces.

"Hey, shoo!", Cole snapped flapping his hands about, "Shoo!"

The moth did so and out the entrance while Mrs. Brisby was a bit unnerved. Cole then sighed to regain himself before turning to her again.

"Okay, moving on.", he said walking forward again and noticing more cobwebs hanging over the place like drapes, "Geez, this place is equivalent to Shelob's lair."

Mrs. Brisby looked curious.

"Who?", she asked.

Cole thought fast again as to explain without revealing too much.

"A mammoth spider who devours all who enter her lair.", he told her.

Mrs. Brisby shuddered, but Cole and her kept going unaware that a large spider had dropped from the ceiling and onto the ground before it started creeping towards them with its mandibles dripping and not taking its eyes off them. It got to them in a large chamber where the duo had paused where Cole turned around and saw it. For a moment or two, he actually thought that it actually was Shelob herself! He was about to scream when a large taloned foot suddenly rose up and squashed the spider into a mess of limp legs, crushed mandibles and dripping insides. Even so, it was loud enough for Mrs. Brisby to turn around and see it.

"Ahh!", she gasped.

"Well, that is going to come back and haunt me.", Cole stated just as surprised as Mrs. Brisby, "I wonder if-"

He didn't finish cause he and Mrs. Brisby started looking up to what Cole could make out to be an owl's head turned upside down. The eyes opened revealing glowing eyes with no pupils which frightened Mrs. Brisby and Cole. The head that the eyes belonged to suddenly turned right side up with a creak as if it would break. Once the head was upright, underneath it opened up to reveal a pair of large wings draped in cobwebs and a body covered with feathers while the head had something of long draping whiskers from the top of its beak to its feet. Cole's eyes fell to the ground where he saw a couple of large taloned feet walk toward them while making small holes as they went before returning his gaze to the face as it focused on him and Mrs. Brisby telling Cole that this indeed was the Great Owl.

"Why have you come?", the owl asked sounding like a firm grandfather.

/

Cole almost lost his nerve as Mrs. Brisby shuddered, but he knew he had to be brave.

"Forgive our intrusion, your greatness.", Cole said trying not to sound scared, "But Mrs. Brisby here is in terrible trouble."

Mrs. Brisby cautiously looked up at the owl who had not taken his gaze off them and tried to explain as well.

"My son's life is in great danger.", she added.

At that moment, a moth fluttered about and Cole observed as the owl suddenly watched the moth for a moment before snapping it out of the air with his beak and clipping a couple wing parts off as he ate it which drifted to the ground like petals. Mrs. Brisby flinched, but then spoke again.

"The plow has come early this year."

"Move your family.", the owl said as if it were obvious.

He then flapped his wings for a minute as if to loosen them which made a slight gust which vibrated the cobwebs and shook small bones from the ceiling.

"Yes, I would move, but Timothy has pneumonia.", Mrs. Brisby said to the owl, "He can't even get out of bed."

The owl paused for a moment before speaking.

"You must move to a place where it'll be safe from the plow."

Mrs. Brisby looked desperate.

"Please, there must be another way."

"I don't think there is one.", Cole stated.

The Great Owl seemed to hear him, but didn't look concerned.

"Your friend speaks the truth.", he said before turning as if to leave, "I must bid you good evening, Mrs…"

"Mrs. Brisby.", Mrs. Brisby said as if to answer him.

The Great Owl suddenly turned back to her.

"Brisby?", he asked before lowering his face close to hers, "Mrs. Jonathan Brisby?"

Cole almost toppled over with Mrs. Brisby, but luckily, they both only landed on their backsides. Even so, Mrs. Brisby didn't stay silent.

"Yes, he was my husband.", she told him, "But how do you know?"

The Great Owl retreated his face away, but kept an eye on them.

"That is not important.", he answered, "I will say this. His name is not unknown in these woods."

Cole suddenly felt less scared and stood up again.

"Sir, there must be something we can do to help save Mrs. Brisby's son.", he said to the Great Owl.

"I'll do anything to save Timothy.", Mrs. Brisby added, "Anything."

The owl paused as if pondering.

"There is a way.", he said turning back to them, "Go to the rats."

"But I don't know any rats.", Mrs. Brisby objected.

"In the rosebush.", The Great Owl answered back.

Cole suddenly looked thoughtful.

"You know, there was a rosebush by the farmhouse when we left."

/

The Great Owl suddenly pointed toward the entrance with a wing for a moment.

"Go there.", he said, "Ask for Nicodemus."

He waved his head back which brought his whiskers close to Cole and Mrs. Brisby who avoided them.

"Nicodemus?", Mrs. Brisby questioned, "But how can they help?"

"They must move your house to the lee of the stone.", the Great Owl told her.

"No rat can move my house.", Mrs. Brisby answered, "It's…"

"Hey!", Cole said to her cutting Mrs. Brisby's talk short, "Nothing is impossible and I'm sure these rats will have some method of moving your house to safety."

The Great Owl looked impressed.

"You speak truthfully Mr…"

"Cole.", Cole answered, "Though I doubt that anyone would know me."

The Great Owl lifted an eyebrow which Cole just noticed.

"Cole?", he asked before looking a curiously at Cole's neck and seeing the bare twain that was draped around it, "I will say this about you. Your name is not unknown as Jonathan Brisby's is though it may not be known yet."

Cole was puzzled, but Mrs. Brisby's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"I don't understand, but I will do as you say."

"And I'll be with her every step of the way.", Cole added.

The Great Owl then started moving again.

"It is night.", he said, "I must go."

He started walking forward while Cole moved Mrs. Brisby and himself out of the way so he could pass. As they did, Cole noticed something in a cobweb not far from them. Mrs. Brisby followed the owl while Cole investigated the glimmer and saw what looked like a little sapphire amulet without a chain. Before he knew what he was thinking, Cole tucked the amulet on his necklace and hid it under his shirt before rejoining Mrs. Brisby just in time for the Great Owl to look back at them.

"Remember, the lee of the stone.", he said before heading out to the open branch, opening his wings and pausing, "And Cole, take care."

And before anyone could say anything, the Great Owl took flight and was soon flying away as Cole and Mrs. Brisby came out where Jeremy joined them.

"So, what did he say?", he asked.

Cole observed the owl leaving until he became a silhouette against the full moon before growing smaller and soon seen no more as Mrs. Brisby spoke.

"He said to go to the rats."

"Rats?", Jeremy asked, "What rats?"

Mrs. Brisby didn't answer him but repeated what the Great Owl said.

"The lee of the stone."

Cole looked to Jeremy.

Jeremy, could you fly us back?"

Jeremy nodded as Cole pulled Mrs. Brisby back on ignoring her objections and soon they were flying back to the farm in the night sky. As they flew, Cole took the moment to run his hand over the new amulet under his shirt.

"Why do I have a feeling I've seen this before?", he found himself thinking before taking his hand off it so he can hold on to Jeremy better.

/

Cole and Mrs. Brisby had returned to the Brisby house a bit later to find the children all still up.

"What are you doing up?", Cole asked as he and Mrs. Brisby came in.

"Martin caused trouble again.", Teresa reported.

Martin looked her way coldly.

"Blabbermouth.", he sneered.

Cynthia was cowering nearby as Cole marched in and held Martin back as he tried to make an attack on his sister and Mrs. Brisby came in looking at Martin firmly.

"That will be enough.", Cole told Martin firmly, "Now take a breath and apologize to your sisters for your trouble or heaven help me I will make sure the plow goes over you. Understand?"

That made Martin to calm down and look apologetic as he looked to his mother.

"Sorry Mom.", he said.

Mrs. Brisby sighed as she remained firm.

"How's Timothy?", she asked.

"He's sleeping.", Cynthia answered as she came out, "He's been sleeping all day."

Cole was slightly impressed that Timmy could sleep through what the plow was doing, but then again, he couldn't leave bed so what else could he do? He then loosened his grip on Martin and turned to Mrs. Brisby.

"Now, shall we just head to bed to put this all behind us?", he suggested.

Mrs. Brisby looked worried.

"What about the tractor?", she asked, "Farmer Fitzgibbons will have it fixed by tomorrow and-"

"Not necessarily.", Cole stated cutting Mrs. Brisby off, "To repair a fuel line will take time and that we can use."

Mrs. Brisby felt a little better as Cole escorted the older children to their room where he helped them into bed.

"One of these days Martin, that arrogance of yours will be your undoing.", Cole mused.

Martin seemed moved, but said nothing as Cole tucked him in.

"Cole, is everything going to be okay?", Teresa asked.

Cole could hear the worry in her voice, but tried to remain optimistic.

"I'm sure it will.", Cole told her as he helped tuck her in, "We just…need to have hope."

Cynthia was already in bed, but Cole helped tuck her in as well.

"My dad used to do this with us.", she said before she sniffed and got tears in her eyes, "I miss him still."

"I know.", Cole told her gently, "But I'll tell you a secret, if you truly love someone, you never lose them at all. For they will always be with you as long as you remember the times you shared with them."

"Like when he took us out into the field to play?", Cynthia asked looking better already.

Cole nodded as he wiped her eyes.

"And all the fun that came with it."

/

As Cole dimmed the light, an idea came to him and he suddenly started singing the lullaby Mrs. Brisby sang to Timothy when she gave him the medicine Mr. Ages had given her.

"Dream by night, wish by day, love begins this way. Night's a friend with love to send each new day. Bless your heart, bless your soul, let your dreams come true. Future songs and flying dreams wait for you. Love it seems made flying dreams, so hearts could soar. Heaven sent, these wings were meant to prove once more that love is the key."

Cole could see the children drifting off to sleep and even Martin seemed moved.

"Cole?", he asked.

Cole paused as he looked Martin's way.

"Yeah?"

Martin looked curious.

"Did you and Mom go see the Great Owl?", he asked.

Cole sighed, but smiled as he knew he had to tell.

"We did.", he stated, "In a forest not far away from here."

Teresa and Cynthia were still up and they gasped along with Martin.

"You did?", Teresa asked.

"What did he say?", Cynthia asked also.

Cole smiled.

"He said that we need to look for help that is nearby.", he said, "Help that will move your house to the lee of the stone."

"The lee of the stone?", Martin asked, "What's that?"

"He didn't say.", Cole informed, "But that's enough for tonight."

"But what did he mean by it?", Martin asked.

"Now, now, now.", Cole said, "There will be answers tomorrow, but for now, you must sleep."

Martin sighed as he and his sisters settled in and once Cole softly closed the door, he went to get the blankets and pillow Mrs. Brisby had given him the night before. He was just setting up his bed when Mrs. Brisby came into the room.

"Are the children alright?", she asked.

"The children are in bed and drifting off to sleep.", Cole told her, "Does Martin cause trouble often?"

Mrs. Brisby sighed.

"I just hope he learns to behave."

"So do I.", Cole said to her, "Those who think themselves above others often lead themselves into terrible situations."

Mrs. Brisby looked more at ease.

"Well, good-night Cole.", she said before she headed off to her own room.

"Good-night Mrs. Brisby.", Cole responded.

Cole then settled into his bed before taking out his new amulet he found in the Great Owl's home and looked over it in the firelight.

"Why have this?", he asked before he put it back under his shirt and drifted off to sleep.

(A/N: I'd like to thank Ashoriotrey for the suggestion used here.)