Abigail.
When are you gonna learn to come when you're called?
There you are.
I'll have you know that when I was a furling, I couldn't wait to get to Cornelius's class.
Yes, Daddy.
At least he's taught you to behave. I'm glad you've stopped climbing trees.
Yes, Daddy.
- See you later. Love you. - Me too, Abigail.
Mom, they won't give me a chance for breakfast.
Well, you'll just have to be quicker, Roland.
I'm not Roland, Mother. I'm Russell.
No, you couldn't be Russell. He's at furling class.
Class?
Hold on. Almost done.
Mama, Cornelius has a big surprise planned for today and you're making me late.
Now hold still, Edgar. I'm almost finished.
- Don't I even get a goodbye kiss? - No time. I'll kiss you when I get back.
Guess what? You're never gonna guess, I betcha.
Uncle Cornelius said I could go with you, but, as you're late,
he's probably forgotten all about it and I'll never get to see what the big surprise is.
What took you so long?
- My dad. - My mother.
No breakfast.
Come on. We'd better hurry.
If Uncle Cornelius asks, tell him it isn't my fault you're late.
Good. He's busy.
Think he'll notice we're late?
Where's Cornel...
- He's experimenting. - On the big surprise, I betcha.
I love surprises. Let's have a look.
Don't take another step.
Furlings, prepare to be amazed.
It's really flying.
It's coming this way.
Well? What do you have to say?
- Sorry we're late? - No. About this.
My life's work. The flapper-wingamathing.
Of course, this is only a test model.
One day, I shall build it full size.
- It's wonderful, Cornelius. - Russell, your mouth is hanging open.
I wanna fly it next. Please.
Don't be silly. You'll crash it.
Correct, Abigail. It's far too delicate for furlings.
I didn't mean me.
Let's have another go, shall we?
Oh, dear. Furlings!
- I'll get it! - No, Russell.
No, furlings. That's delicate.
My books!
Abigail, not that!
Catastrophe.
Catch it, Uncle Cornelius.
- Look! I think it's slowing down. - It's going that way.
I got it.
[GRAVITY]
Uncle Cornelius, your mouth is hanging open.
Great hulk!
Look what you've done.
Sorry, Cornelius.
Well, furlings, there are times when we of science must learn to accept...
setbacks.
Looks like one of those times, doesn't it?
I guess we wrecked the big surprise.
No. You wrecked months and months of work.
The big surprise is awaiting us on our ramble.
Give me strength.
Now, let's hurry along before we have any more setbacks.
- Step lively, furlings. - Wait for us.
Left, right, left, right.
- I'm ready. - Come on, you guys. Hurry.
Michelle, not that way.
That area is off limits.
- Why, Uncle Cornelius? - That's not our lesson for today.
Come along, furlings.
Today is plant day.
We'll learn how everything we need grows right here in Dapplewood.
Now, what is this, furlings?
I know. A willow, Cornelius.
Correct.
And did you know its bark can be used to cure rheumatism?
Uncle Cornelius, what's rumourtism?
Rheu-ma-tism, Michelle.
I know. Rheumatism makes your bones hurt when the weather gets damp.
Correct again.
Now, as we get further along the trail,
- notice the vegetation. - Mr Smarty-pants.
Give that back.
Over here.
Furlings.
We shall go home right now, if you are not going to take this ramble seriously.
Please, Cornelius.
- We promise to be good. - Come along, then.
We've lots to see.
- I'll lead the way. - You always lead.
Not so fast, Abigail.
What do you think you're doing?
You've been leading long enough. Now it's my turn.
Forget it. You don't know where I'm going.
But I know where I'm going.
Wait for us.
Russell, where have you led us?
I don't know.
This ground isn't normal. It's hard.
And it smells kinda funny.
Furlings, get away from there!
Get out of the road this instant.
Furlings!
Move!
Russell, you are one lucky hedgehog.
It's rare that a furling survives an encounter with...
- A monster? - That is a good name for it.
- What was it really, Cornelius? - Where did it come from?
No more questions. I want you to forget this place.
- When will we see it? - Are we there yet?
Yes. I believe this is the right trail.
Ready, furlings?
Here's the big surprise.
A boat!
- Are we going to ride in it? - Of course. Get in.
- I get to steer. - Don't be silly, Russell.
- You'd just sink us. - Would not.
- Gimme a chance. - You two settle down.
Everyone will get a chance.
Hop in, Edgar.
Now, in you go.
Great hulk.
All right. Abigail, Russell, you paddle first.
No, no.
Stop, stop.
No. We'll never get anywhere that way.
Now, together.
Stroke and stroke.
Good. Stroke. So much better.
[POISON GAS]
Gas! I've gotta get help.
Great. You're gonna lose my paddle too.
- I don't like this. - This is fun.
- Furlings, for the last time... - Move over.
Swim for shore, furlings.
Abigail, your performance out there could have cost us our lives.
And as for the rest of you, in all my years I've never had a more undisciplined...
What's the matter, Cornelius?
Something's wrong.
The woods are far too still. We must hurry home.
- But we're all wet. - Now, furlings.
Dear heaven. Not here.
What's happened? Where is everyone?
- Mommy? Daddy? - Michelle! No!
We must stop her. It's not safe.
Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?
Michelle! Wait!
Hello?
Mommy, is that you?
Wait, Michelle! It's dangerous.
No, furlings! There's a deadly gas in there.
- But what about Michelle? - Just a moment. I'll think of something.
- We're not waiting. - Cover your mouth!
Don't breathe the gas.
Abigail, for once, I'm glad you didn't listen to me.
We must get her to higher ground. Quickly, furlings. To my house.
- Did you find your mother? - No.
Just her apron.
Then we're the only ones left.
I was in such a hurry this morning...
I never kissed my mother goodbye.
Tell me there's good news.
Can we stay with you tonight?
Of course.
What happened to our home, Cornelius?
I had hoped you'd be a little older before we had this lesson.
A long time ago, when I was a furling,
I lived far away in a place called Willowbrook.
It was winter, during our bedtime story,
when we heard the sound.
Mother and Father told us to run.
I was the first to the door, and that's when I saw them.
Humans.
We got out.
But Mother and Father,
they didn't.
There was nothing I could do for my mother or father.
But there is something you can do for Michelle.
- Us, Cornelius? - I need special plants.
Eyebright to soothe the burns on her eyes.
And her lungs are badly damaged, so you must collect plenty of lungwort.
- But everything in our meadow is dead. - Then you must find another.
- Another meadow? - There's no choice.
You only have two days' time.
The herbs must be applied before the moon waxes full,
or it will be too late for Michelle.
- You're coming with us, right? - I wish I could, but I dare not leave her side.
- We'll be by ourselves? - No. You'll have each other.
You'll want an early start. Now get some sleep.
And if you dream, dream of better times for Michelle
and Dapplewood.
- Is the pack full yet? - I have more room in my pockets.
This isn't a picnic.
Here, pack something useful.
Boy, I'm already working up an appetite.
Think we should take this?
- Well, I'm ready. Let's go. - Wait.
I feel like we're forgetting something, and I'd hate to be unprepared.
Is this what you're thinking of, Edgar?
Cornelius! Your map!
It will take you to the edge of Dapplewood Forest.
Then you will be on your own.
Now, I want you to stay together.
The only other thing I can give you is this warning.
Avoid the humans and try to work together.
Good luck, my furlings.
Michelle is counting on you.
Wait, Abigail. Haven't we come far enough for one day?
Edgar, look at the moon. Cornelius said to get those plants to Michelle before it's full.
We have to travel as far as we can tonight.
But it's not safe out there.
There's no cover.
OK. If it makes you feel better,
we'll run for that tree, catch our breath, and plan the next move from there.
Ready? Let's go.
Hold on.
- I gotta stop. - Russell, we can't rest now.
Easy for you to say. You're not carrying our supplies.
Well, I will. Hand 'em over.
Abigail, not so loud.
Help!
I'm gonna...
- Climb? - We can't dig our way up.
Can you see her yet?
Good thing you're a slow climber.
Hurry! Let's get outta here.
There! Under that log.
That was close.
Shoo! Go away.
Edgar, are you all right?
That's it, Abigail. That's the last time I'm gonna let you get us into trouble.
- From now on, I'm gonna do... - You're right, Edgar.
I was wrong.
Thanks for coming to my rescue.
What about me? I broke your fall.
You too, Russell.
Well, now that that's settled,
our only problem is that we're hopelessly lost.
Don't worry. If anyone can get us on the right trail, you can, Edgar.
What about our food? Most of it got dumped out all over the heath.
You'll find more, Russell. That's never been a problem for you.
That's true.
After all we've gone through, the worst has gotta be over.
I sure hope so.
You know, Abigail, sometimes I wish I was brave,
like you.
You are. Good night.
Hey, maybe they know where a meadow is.
Brothers and sisters.
It is indeed a sad day.
One of our flock has crossed over to a better place.
Excuse me?
- My friends and I are lost... - Say no more, child.
We too are lost, lost in our grief.
- Amen, Brother Phineas. - But verily, verily,
the end that comes to us all has come too soon to one of our feathered brothers,
who has been brought down by an evil scourge.
Evil.
And by what name do we call this scourge?
Yellow dragons.
Yellow dragons have drained our marsh
and turned our nestin' ground into a muddy graveyard.
- What's he squawkin' about? - Someone's died.
So, brethren,
step forward and pay your last respects to our dearly departed
Bosworth.
Goodbye, Mother.
Bosworth. My son.
Wait. It doesn't have to be that way.
No? Is there a ray of hope?
There is a ray of hope. Brothers and sisters, we can save Bosworth.
Hallelujah.
Russell, you find us a couple of branches. And Abigail, we'll use the twine you packed.
Bosworth, you're back.
He's back.
There's gonna be some celebratin' today.
- I hope you plan on staying. - Sure.
- Will there be any food other than worms? - Sorry, we can't stay.
We only have until tonight to find a meadow.
On a pilgrimage, eh? There's a glorious meadow just yonder.
But you have to walk among the yellow dragons.
That's the second time you've mentioned the yellow dragons.
- Are they as terrible as they sound? - Worse.
They are huge monsters that breathe fire and brimstone.
We can take care of ourselves, thank you.
Yeah, well, after what you did for Bosworth, I truly believe you can.
If you are strong of heart, the only path lies that way,
across a cursed ground over which my flock will not even fly.
It's the yellow dragons!
Russell, now's no time to get all balled up.
Maybe he didn't wanna eat us up after all.
No, but that one does.
Suck in your stomach, Russell.
Wiggle harder.
I'm drowning. Help!
Edgar, get up.
Look at this place.
- Gives me the creeps. - We're only underground.
Yeah, and you're a mole, right?
Think of this as home, only stinky.
We're not helping Michelle by just standing around. We've gotta get moving.
Listen. What's that noise?
Now where are we?
I don't know. None of this is on the map.
It's all over. We'll never find our way now.
Don't say that, Abigail. Michelle's counting on us.
Maybe if we climb that hill, we can start over.
Boy, we could be anyplace.
The meadow!
We made it.
Now all we need is the eyebright and the...
Thanks, pal.
Why'd you take that? Come on. You give that back to me.
Are you all right, Edgar?
Gee, and I thought meals were outta control at my house.
I saw it first.
You mice are all the same. Greedy little cowards.
How are we gonna get anybody to help us find the herbs?
Maybe these guys won't be so grouchy after they eat.
We can't wait that long.
Let go! What's the big idea?
Hey, just what do you think you're...
Gosh, I hope I didn't hurt you when you threw me down.
Hurt me? No. I'm fine.
You're not from around here, are you?
Now the truth comes out. They're just here to steal our food.
No, we're just looking for lungwort and eyebright.
- Liar. - It's true.
We need the herbs to help a sick badger back home.
More lies. Why would a mole, a mouse and a hedgehog
wanna help a foul-smelling, worm-eating, good-for-nothing badger?
Michelle's none of those things. She's our friend.
We've come too far to be stopped now.
Step aside.
Russell, Abigail, are we doing this together or not?
Wait for us.
- I'm proud of you, Edgar. - Look at all the eyebright.
For all the good it'll do ya, I'd like to see you get the lungwort.
No one in Oakdale's ever been able to reach it.
But I'll bet you three can.
That's right. We've already got a plan.
Right, Edgar?
Just like a hedgehog! Big mouth and no brains.
Don't listen to Waggs. He just likes to pick fights.
Wait a minute. I know how to get up there.
We'll use Cornelius's flapper-wingamathing.
Russell, good thinking. We'll fly to the top of the cliff.
- You don't really mean fly? - You heard 'em, Willy.
They'll flap their little paws and fly like birdies.
Laugh all you want. We'll show you.
It looks like it really might work.
To your stations.
Crank the winder-uppers.
We're flying.
They did it! They really did it!
I'm locking the wings.
We're on full glide. Edgar, get ready to grab the lungwort.
Don't worry, Edgar. I'll do it.
- Be careful, Abigail. - Yeah, the wind's picking up.
- Oh, no! - What?
Russell, do something.
I've got my hands full. You've gotta save her.
Hang on, Abigail. I'm coming.
I can't hold on.
Is everyone all right?
Yeah.
I guess we have to try again.
It's no use now. The lungwort's gone.
- We've failed. - No, we haven't.
Look! We got it.
- We got it? - They got it.
You were so brave, Edgar.
Look. The land of the yellow dragons.
Won't Cornelius be excited to see where we've been?
Abigail, you're standing in my light.
It's not Abigail. Look.
Hold on!
Where are we?
Right where we wanna be.
Look! The willow from our ramble.
We're home!
Come on.
My furlings, you're back.
- Did you get the herbs? - Yes. How is Michelle?
I'm afraid she's slipping away. I must administer the herbs immediately.
- Any sign of our parents, Cornelius? - None. I'm sorry.
- What was that? - Let's see.
Someone's outside.
Cornelius, come here, quick.
Not again.
- It's the gas. - We can still get away.
Out the back.
This way.
There you go, little fella.
In all my years, I...
I've never...
All right. Good. This area's cleaned up.
- Here you go, Edgar. - Thank goodness.
This way, Cornelius.
- Where are you leading me, furlings? - Someplace safe.
Did we make it in time, Cornelius?
We'll know in the morning.
Whatever happens, you've done your best.
Oh, my dear Michelle.
We were too late.
No, my furlings. You did everything possible.
Everything possible.
My dear Michelle.
Mama? Papa?
Uncle Cornelius?
- Why do you look so sad? - My goodness!
- You're all better. - Michelle, my child. You're all right.
Of course I'm all right. I just had a long nap.
Hey, what's that?
Great hulk!
My flapper-wingamathing.
- Yes, we built it. - You built it?
But how did it get here?
- We flew it. - Magnificent!
No, stupendous!
You three,
you have changed so much these past few days.
I hardly recognize you. You're no longer my furlings.
You've grown up.
Look, Uncle Cornelius.
Where were you?
- Mama took us deep in the forest. - Until it was safe.
Daddy!
Daddy, I missed you so much.
Uncle Cornelius, all the mommies and daddies are coming back.
Not all, my dear.
I'll never be able to replace your mommy and daddy,
but I'll do my best.
Mama?
When we ran from the gas I was worried sick about you.
Did you forget your scarf somewhere?
No, Mama. This is what I forgot.
I guess nothing will ever be the same again. Will it, Uncle Cornelius?
Well, my dear,
if we all work as hard to save Dapplewood as your three friends worked to save you,
it will be.