Cole saw Nicodemus' face materialize in the light and his heart skipped a beat.
"It is good that you've come."
"Nicodemus, is everything alright?", Cole asked growing anxious.
Nicodemus looked a bit serious.
"Timothy Brisby will need you to help guide and protect him. Can you do that for me?"
Cole took a breath and then nodded.
"You have my word.", he answered.
Nicodemus nodded as his image faded along with the light leaving the medallion as it was when Cole had arrived.
"Well, may as well try and find the Brisby family.", he said to himself, "I wonder how they're doing right now?"
He was about to head out when a breeze brushed his back making him pause and see some of the dew on a blade of grass drip into words and he came closer to get a better view.
"A journey to save what was thought to be lost. Never lose hope or you will know the cost.", Cole read as the dew dripped away erasing the words and leaving him bewildered, "What that mean?"
He chose to forget about it and headed towards the forest when he heard voices being called out. They started off faintly, but got louder as Cole headed deeper into the brush and bumped into something large and metal.
"What the?", he asked.
After taking a pause, he looked and saw it was some kind of trap ment for catching rats and he made his way around to the front just as he heard a voice call out.
"Martin!"
Cole turned and ducked into some grass to see a young mouse in light tan fur and wearing a blue shirt come running out looking a bit scared and running towards the trap.
"Stop!", Cole screamed as he jumped out.
Luckily, he grabbed the mouse's arm and held him back just in time before he fell into the trap. The mouse looked his way firmly.
"Hey, what the-", he started before pausing and seeing Cole's face and medallion and his expression melted into a look of curiosity, "Cole? Is that you?"
Cole smiled as he released the mouse's arm showing that the mouse was right before looking curious himself.
"And you are, who?", he asked.
"I'm Timmy.", the mouse answered, "Timothy Brisby."
"No, not the Timothy Brisby.", Cole said in awe, "The mouse his mother and I saved from the plow while he was under the weather?"
Timmy looked a bit interested as Cole led him away from the trap.
"Man, last time I saw you, you were still in bed.", Cole said cheerfully, "Recovered well, I see."
Timmy looked more confused. Cole was talking to him like he was some kind of relative happy to see his favorite family member.
"So, you still live in Farmer Fitzgibbon's field?", Cole asked.
"No, we moved again shortly after I got well.", Timmy answered finding himself talking, "We live near the forest though Mom still insists on living near our former home."
Cole looked at Timmy and placed a hand on his shoulder showing support.
/
At that moment, another mouse with light gray fur and wearing a dark brown shirt showed up looking a bit bewildered.
"Timmy, where did you go?", he asked firmly, "I keep telling you to-"
He paused when he saw Cole's medallion and changed tones from a firm one to a more curious one, "Cole?"
Cole blushed.
"Guilty as charged.", he answered, "And if I remember, you're Martin, right?"
Martin sighed as he joined the duo as they walked on through the forest though Timmy now looked a little down.
"It was our last race together, and I was going to ruin it.", he sighed.
Cole looked his way with a raised eyebrow.
"In what way?", he asked.
Martin however looked apologetic and looked to his brother.
"No Timmy, I should've made sure you were okay.", he said, "I shouldn't have made a big deal about it, Hero."
Timmy looked uncomfortable.
"Don't call me that, Martin.", he said, "You're the hero type, not me. Nicodemus should have chosen you."
Martin looked firm.
"For once, you're right. I'm older and stronger than you. If Thorn Valley wanted Jonathan Brisby's son, why did they choose the runt?"
Cole looked his way firmly.
"Martin, be nice."
Timmy only seemed to get more depressed.
"It's true.", he said miserably, "I mess up everything."
Martin suddenly looked apologetic again.
"Look, I'm sorry Timmy.", he said trying to sound supportive, "You'll do great. Really, and with Cole here, you have to be."
Cole rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Well, I may have fought off a crazed rat who wanted Nicodemus dead, but I do my best."
Martin then looked eager.
"Hey, wait a minute. I got something for you.", he said to his brother before pulling out a slingshot and handing it over, "Here. A going-away present."
Timmy looked interested right away.
"Golly, thanks.", he said as he accepted it and looked to Martin, "Teach me."
Cole raised an eyebrow again.
"This should be good.", he muttered.
"You said something, Cole?", Martin asked.
Cole thought fast.
"I was just…thinking of a good place to…practice."
Martin looked a bit thoughtful for a moment before speaking.
"We can practice near home. We're almost there."
/
Cole observed as Martin picked up a small pebble and aimed at a couple of acorns hanging high above before letting go and sending the pebble soaring up until it hit the acorns making one fall to the ground below.
"Not bad.", Cole stated, "Maybe I should give it a try."
Martin didn't seem to hear him as Timmy looked in awe as Martin handed the slingshot over.
"Just set your sights, concentrate on the target, and let it rip.", Martin coached.
Timmy loaded the slingshot, but got pretty shaken as he tried to take aim.
"Come on, Timmy.", Martin urged sounding supportive, "You can do this."
Timmy seemed to relax a bit as he started to aim.
"Aim a little higher now.", Martin coached.
Timmy lifted the slingshot upward a bit.
"And fire.", Martin stated.
Timmy let go, but it was the hand that was holding the slingshot base which snapped back, smacked him on the head and made him fall down. Cole was a little concerned while Martin chuckled jokingly.
"That's using your head, Hero.", he said before picking up the slingshot and handing it over, "I know you're trying. Just remember, some try, Brisby's do."
Timmy seemed unsure, but Cole put a hand on the young mouse's shoulder to show support.
"You'll get it.", he insisted, "Practice makes better."
Timmy seemed more at ease as he took aim again only with Martin beside him as if assisting him.
"I can do this.", Timmy said to himself as he aimed at the hanging acorn.
"Yes, positive thinking.", Cole insisted, "Now let it fly."
Timmy let go and this time it was the right hand as the rock flew up into the air and hit the acorn dead center and making it fall to the ground as well.
"Well done.", Cole said smiling.
Timmy looked awestruck as Martin looked amused too.
"I did it.", he said eagerly, "I actually did it."
Cole then pointed in another tree where more acorns were.
"Again."
Timmy loaded another pebble and then took aim again as Cole and Martin looked on. Timmy let it fly again, but this time, it barely grazed any acorns as the rock kept flying outward.
"I missed.", Timmy said looking as if his bravado was quickly being replaced with doubt.
"Shake it off.", Cole answered smiling, "Try again."
Timmy's doubt faded faster than ice in hot water and tried again. This time, Timmy was able to hit another acorn down.
"You keep this up, and you'll be as good as me.", Martin said though Cole sensed some distain behind the words.
Cole chose to ignore it and observed as Timmy and Martin got into a playful game of seeing who could knock down the most acorns before a voice above reached their ears.
"Timmy!"
Timmy was in the middle of aiming when he heard his name and accidentally shot upward and the rock rocketed past the acorns and still going high.
/
Cole, Martin, and Timmy hurried to the nearby pond where Cole saw Mrs. Brisby though she looked a bit older than his last visit and wore spectacles while a couple girl mice Cole guessed were Teresa and Cynthia with Auntie Shrew among them. Mrs. Brisby turned and saw Cole approaching with Martin and Timmy though Cynthia and Teresa both looked surprised.
"Mom, look, it's Cole!", Cynthia said excitedly.
Auntie Shrew looked a bit firm as the approaching trio came up.
"Well, I hope you're not reconsidering asking Mrs. Brisby for her hand.", she said to Cole.
Cole frowned.
"Madam, I have no intention of replacing Mrs. Brisby's departed husband.", he answered, "I just wanted to come by and say hello."
Auntie Shrew took a few moments to calm down as Cole's words seem to be true to her, but before anyone else could talk, Cole heard screaming above them.
"Prepare for a water landing!"
Cole looked up just in time to see Jeremy spiral down from above and splash into the pond before vanishing under it.
"Oh my, are you okay, Jeremy?", Cynthia called out.
Jeremy was up gasping before he laid upon the surface floating.
"I'm okay.", he wheezed, "No problem."
As Jeremy made his way to shore, another crow that Cole guessed was Jeremy's mate flew down and landed gently on the shore while giving a firm look.
"What's the big idea?", she snapped sharply, "Hurling pebbles at us when we came for Timmy?"
Timmy looked apologetic as he didn't mean to get anyone hurt, but before any blame could be made, Jeremy had come ashore.
"Aw Ellie, it's okay.", Jeremy assured her, "The white zone is for the loading and unloading of passengers only."
"We're really sorry Mame.", Cole said to Ellie, "We were practicing with a slingshot, and I guess we got a little carried away."
Ellie looked less firm as she saw her mate was okay and could see that Cole ment what he said.
"Just try being a little more careful next time, okay?", she asked in a more friendly tone.
Cole saw Mrs. Brisby lead Timmy to a stump and hoist him on to it.
"Now son, you listen to your teachers Justin and Mr. Ages.", she said to him, "Okay?"
"Okay, but-", Timmy started to say.
"And what do you do if you're ever really in trouble?", Mrs. Brisby asked further cutting her son off.
"Run, what else?", Teresa answered.
She, Cynthia, and Martin all shared a laugh among themselves, but it was cut short when their mother looked their way firmly. Still, Timmy answered his mother.
"I'm supposed to find the Great Owl, like you did.", he said, "But-"
"That's my boy.", Mrs. Brisby said kissing his forehead.
Cole looked to see Martin observe, but the look on his face told Cole that he resented how Timmy was being treated.
/
"But Mom, I don't want to go.", Timmy objected as he and his mother hugged.
"Timmy, we all know what your father meant to the rats of Thorn Valley.", Mrs. Brisby said to Timmy.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah.", Martin said stepping forward, "He helped them get away from NIHM. Pop was a real hero."
As firm as Martin's tone was, Mrs. Brisby took it in good humor.
"That's right, and-"
"I know.", Timmy said as Cole guessed he had heard all of this before, "You want me to be like him, but-"
Martin came forward and seemed to want to end the discussion.
"But nothing.", he said firmly as he placed the slingshot into Timmy's hands, "Okay Hero, let's saddle up."
He then turned to Jeremy and Ellie.
"Okay Jeremy and Ellie, time to make tracks."
Jeremy was on his feet in a heartbeat.
"That's why we're here.", he said excitedly as he got to the stump Timmy was on, "So, let's hit the road. Well, when I say road, I mean, ha, that highway in the sky, actually."
Cole rolled his eyes as he saw Jeremy hadn't lost his tone and then he remembered something.
"Hey Mrs. Brisby, maybe I should go also."
Mrs. Brisby turned to Cole curiously.
"You?", Auntie Shrew asked.
Cole looked determined.
"Of course.", he answered, "Timmy is going to need all the help he can. I can help him with his training. Be his mentor in a way."
Mrs. Brisby looked unsure, but she chose to let Cole go as well after Timmy and Martin shared a hug good-bye and he got on Ellie as Timmy got on Jeremy.
"Are you sure you know the way Jeremy?", Mrs. Brisby asked.
"Piece of cake Mrs. B.", Jeremy answered enthusiastically, "Thorn Valley is, uh… you know."
"South by south by south.", Ellie reminded.
"Right.", Jeremy said as if to show he knew what Ellie ment, "As the crow flies."
As Jeremy started off like a plane taking off, Ellie did the same as Cole looked back at the family.
"Not to worry Mrs. Brisby.", he called back, "I'll make sure he writes to you when he can."
Cole turned just in time to see Jeremy start to fall over a hill, but he soon was flying upward into the clouds with Ellie and Cole soon catching up. As they left the ground far behind, Cole held on to the medallion around his neck and held on to Ellie's feathers as to not fall off. Cole tucked the medallion under his shirt as he noticed that he and Ellie were flying close to Jeremy though Timmy still looked nervous and homesick. Cole felt pretty bad for him as he recalled the time he moved from his original home in Idaho to Alaska. He had found a way to ease his pain, and now he had to help Timmy do the same, but how?
(A/N: I'd like to thank LORfan2187 for the suggestion used here.)