Gretel! That conniving minx! Jillian seethed. "Listen," she told the kids. "You don't want to be left behind with these people." She tried to grab Goose's arm but the girl shrieked and pulled away.

If that wasn't enough, she cried, "NO!" This brought the attention of everyone in the tent.

"Stop that!" Jackson snapped, snatching at Jillian's arm. "You want to bring the siblings down on us?"

"Don't yell at her!" Robinson pushed his way towards them. Jillian watched with wide eyes as the two began to argue fiercely.

Jillian turned in a circle in the crowded space, trying to decide what to do. She was developing a throbbing headache, making it hard to think. Rosie soon wormed his way next to her, his eyes full of concern.

"You okay?" he asked her. Well, Jillian concluded that's what he said. Everyone was making too much noise and Rosie didn't raise his voice.

She nodded, rubbing her forehead. Rosie put his mouth to her ear to speak. "I think Goose and Al should stay," he said clearly.

"WHAT?!"

Rosie didn't look like he was joking. He was never joking. "We are going into the Wilds. Think about it. We could die in there and you want to bring two kids with us?"

A horrible twisting sensation filled Jillian's body. Her fear of the Wilds resurfaced. She wished she didn't have to enter them. And how could she leave the children behind? She had hoped that they would all be together but that had already been proved to not be possible. Rosie was right, as he usually was.

Kneeling next to Goose and Al, she gave them both a hug. "I have to leave now," Jillian told them, a lump developing in her throat.

"Where are you going?" Al asked. "Are you coming back?"

"I..." Jillian hesitated. She didn't want to lie but they were too young to understand what was going on. "I'll try to visit if I can. If not, Gretel will take care of you." She gritted her teeth as she forced the words out.

The children relaxed at her words and went back to playing. Jillian nudged Robinson to get his attention.

"Come on. We're leaving." She headed for the entrance.

The pirate was in shock. "But what about-."

"Just come on." She couldn't look at him. "They're not coming with us."

Jillian bravely pulled aside the tent flap and stepped out. The others followed her, slightly dumbfounded.

Jackson ran up to her. "Jillian, I know a secret exit out of here."

"Why does this place have a secret exit?" Robinson asked suspiciously, overhearing. "And why do you know about it?"

Jackson didn't miss a beat. "I wanted to be able to walk around the forest without the twins knowing. Gave me time to practice my magic."

Jillian had been thinking they'd have to scale the wall, so this was better than she expected. "Who cares why he knows?" she asked, annoyed. "Let's just go!"

It was nearing the middle of the day so they party couldn't exactly sneak in and out of the shadows. After gaining the directions to the exit from Jackson, the group split up. It would look less strange to see pairs walking together than a group of seven marching across the camp.

Robinson wasn't exactly subtle that he wanted Jillian to go with him. He practically made her trip with the force he used to pull her towards him. She didn't mind all that much. She appreciated that he tried to protect her by keeping her close. Though Jillian knew she could take care of herself, it was nice to know someone cared.

"I don't trust him," Robinson said, as they walked through the camp.

"Why?"

"Don't you think everything is working out a little too conveniently?"

Jillian wrinkled her brow. "No, I don't."

The pirate raised an eyebrow, but said nothing else.

She was irritated. Jackson had been nothing but helpful and understanding. Things were going great. Robinson was just being negative.

They continued to walk in silence.

After reaching the exit, which was just a cleverly disguised hole, they waited for the others to arrive. Soon, only Sparky and Rosie were unaccounted for.

"Do you think they got caught?" Jillian whispered.

Jackson scanned the camp. "I don't see anything out of the ordinary. But we can't stay here. Someone's bound to spot us."

Robinson rose. "I'm going to go look for them."

Jillian lunged and grabbed the hem of his jacket. "No! We need to wait."

"But they could be in trouble!" Smalls argued.

A few tense seconds passed and the remaining crew members emerged from the camp. They had doubled back to grab everyone's bags from the tents.

Jackson crossed his arms almost smugly. "See? I knew there was nothing wrong."

Robinson glared at him.

Rosie retrieved his map and compass. After examining them, he led the group north. The Wilds grew ever closer. Jillian shivered. It seemed to swallow the horizon as all they could see was dark trees and wood as far as the eye could see.

They paused at the edge. No one wanted to be the first. Then Robinson bravely stepped forward. "Come on," he called. "Onward!"