The Dangerous Journey
By:SnowPuppy
One afternoon Moonwatcher was in his room reading all of the memories 
he and 
his sister had shared in his Memory Book.
Now that I look back at it, we didn't have a whole lot of memories. I 
just 
wish she could've lived longer, so I would know more about her. Thought 
Moonwatcher, flipping through the pages in his Memory Book.
Then Kay-Si came into the room.
"Moonwatcher, honey, Molly-Ca is on the phone and she wants to speak 
with 
you." Kay-Si said.
"Okay." Said Moonwatcher, taking the phone from his mother.
"I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything, sweety." Said Kay-Si to 
Moonwatcher, then she walked out.
"Hello, Molly?" Moonwatcher said over the phone.
"Moonwatcher! Moonwatcher! I need to tell you of something very 
important!" 
Molly-Ca said with most panic.
"What is it, Molly? Whats wrong?" Moonwatcher asked, soon noticing the 
panic 
in Molly-Ca's voice.
"It's my younger sister, Zoey-Ca! She's missing!" Said Molly-Ca 
frightfully.
"She's missing?! When..? Where..? How..?" Asked Moonwatcher, stunned at 
what 
he was hearing.
"That's what we're trying to figure out! And my mother is worried to 
death! 
We were hoping that she had just gone over to your place." Said 
Molly-Ca, not 
stopping to take a breath.
"No, she isn't here. Try to calm down, Molly. I'm sure she's okay. 
She's a 
smart echidna." Said Moonwatcher, trying to make Molly-Ca feel better.
"Moonwatcher, I CANT calm down! Because we think we know where she is, 
and 
it's so awful!" Said Molly-Ca, her voice trembling with fear.
"Where?!" Moonwatcher wanted to know.
"We think she might be lost in the woods. You know, those dark and 
dangerous 
woods our parents would never let us go into?" Said Molly-Ca.
"Yeah..." Said Moonwatcher.
"Well, a couple of nights ago, Zoey-Ca broke one of mom's favorite 
vases. You 
know, the one she's always telling us that it "costed a fortune"? Well 
she 
broke that, by accident, and she got in trouble by my mother. And also, 
she 
accidently spilled juice all over my mother's new carpeting. And she 
got in 
trouble for that. Mom called her a troublemaker, and then she started 
to cry 
and said that she was going to run away into the woods. That got her in 
trouble even more. Well, I think she HAS ran away into the woods!" Said 
Molly-Ca with most fear. 
"Dont worry, Molly-Ca, I'll find her." Said Moonwatcher to Molly-Ca.
"But Moonwatcher, your parents, they wont let you go into those woods! 
It's 
way too dangerous!" Said Molly-Ca.
"Yes, but I must save  your sister, Molly. She is in danger. I will 
just have 
to find a way to go out without our parents knowing. After all, it's 
not 
going to help anything by just waiting for her to return. We have to do 
something about it!" Said Moonwatcher.
"Moonwatcher, your right. And, I'm going to help you look for her." 
Said 
Molly-Ca.
"But Molly---!" Started Moonwatcher.
"No buts. I'm coming along with you. She's my sister!" Said Molly-Ca.
"Okay. I guess we got to do this. Lets meet at the entrance of the 
woods, 
right now. Maybe the woods wont be so dark and dangerous at this time 
of the 
day." Said Moonwatcher.
"Okay. Bye." Said Molly-Ca.
"Bye." Said Moonwatcher, putting down the phone.
Moonwatcher shut his Memory Book and put it back down on his desk. Then 
he 
went out of his room and into the kitchen. 
"So, what did Molly say to you? Is she doing good?"  Asked Kay-Si, 
noticing 
Moonwatcher coming into the room.
"Um, yeah, she's doing great. She and Zoey-Ca are having a wonderful 
time, 
uh, playing checkers. Yeah, that's it, they're playing checkers!" Said 
Moonwatcher, he didn't want his mother to know about missing Zoey-Ca.
"Playing checkers?  Thats.. uh, wonderful, hon." Said Kay-Si, who 
didn't 
believe any of what Moonwatcher just got through saying.
"Okay, so I guess I will just head out for a bit." Said Moonwatcher, 
grabbing 
four ripe oranges from the bowl of oranges Kay-Si had sat down on the 
kitchen 
table.
"Where are you going with all those oranges?" Kay-Si wanted to know.
"Um, me, Molly-Ca, and Zoey-Ca are going to be outside, we are having a 
picnic. We are each bringing something. I'm bringing oranges." Said 
Moonwatcher, thinking up a fast excuse.
"But I thought you said Molly-Ca and Zoey-Ca were playing checkers?" 
Said 
Kay-Si confusingly.
"They were. But now we are having a picnic. Thats what Molly-Ca called 
me 
about, a picnic!" Said Moonwatcher.
"Then why are you taking four oranges? Shouldn't you only be taking 
three?" 
Asked Kay-Si.
"Well, we wanted to have an extra one just in case anybody wanted 
another 
orange." Said Moonwatcher.
"Okay..." Said Kay-Si.
"Thanks! Bye, mom!" Said Moonwatcher.
"Okay, be back before dark!" Kay-Si shouted back at him.
Why do I get the feeling not a word he said was the truth?  Thought 
Kay-Si.
Moonwatcher ran outside and headed for the woods. He was careful not to 
drop 
an orange;if he and Molly-Ca were going to be searching in the woods 
for 
Zoey-Ca for a long time, they were going to be hungry.
"Molly-Ca! Molly-Ca! There you are!" Said Moonwatcher, running up to 
the 
worried echidna.
"I was wondering when you'd get here." Said Molly-Ca.
"How'd you get out of your house without your parents knowing?" 
Moonwatcher 
asked Molly-Ca.
"Well, my parents are too worried about Zoey-Ca to notice I was 
leaving. 
How'd you get out?" Said Molly-Ca.
"I told my mom we were having a picnic. And my dad is out because of 
guard 
duty." Said Moonwatcher.
"But I thought you helped your dad guard the island." Said Molly-Ca 
confusingly.
"I do! But I'm taking my break right now." Said Moonwatcher.
"Oh. What a break! Going into those woods certainly isn't a break 
anyone 
would look forward to." Said Molly-Ca.
"Yeah I know. But we got to do this! If Zoey-Ca is in there, she's in 
alot of 
danger!" Said Moonwatcher.
"Yeah, I know. Hey! Waitaminute! Did you say your dad was on guard 
duty?" 
Said Molly-Ca, with fear in her voice again.
"Yeah, so?" Said Moonwatcher.
"Well, that means he's out here! And he could find us going into the 
woods! 
We'd both be in lots of trouble!" Said Molly-Ca fearfully.
"Not if we are careful. Now come on. We're wasting time standing out 
here." 
Said Moonwatcher.
"Yeah.. time to go in those woods." Said Molly-Ca frightfully.
They both quietly went into the woods. Even though it was daytime, the 
woods 
were darker than ever. It was even hard to see anything. Moonwatcher 
looked 
around. The whole woods were full of miles and miles of trees. Anyone 
could 
get lost easily in these woods. But Moonwatcher knew they had to stop 
sometime;the island wasn't THAT big.
Moonwatcher soon realized that he and Molly-Ca had to stay close 
together or 
they might lose each other. 
"Molly, stay close. I dont want you to get lost." Said Moonwatcher, but 
he 
looked everywhere, and Molly-Ca was no where in sight.
Oh no, I already lost her! Now I not only got to find Zoey-Ca, but I 
got to 
find Molly-Ca as well. Thought Moonwatcher.
Meanwhile, in another part of the woods, Molly-Ca was looking for 
Moonwatcher.
"Moonwatcher? Where are you?!" She said.
She shivered. She was freezing cold. The leaves crunched below her as 
she 
walked. She looked everywhere in the woods, but neither one of the 
people she 
was looking for were found.
It was so dark in the woods, that it was hard to tell if it was still 
daytime 
or not. 
But way, way deep in the woods, Zoey-Ca was sitting on the ground, and 
she 
was crying.
"I miss mom and dad. I even miss Molly-Ca! I wish I had never ran away. 
Now 
I'm lost and I'll probably never see home again." Said Zoey-Ca to 
herself, 
through her sobs.
But Zoey-Ca didn't know that right now she was in more danger than 
ever. A 
wolf had spotted her. And the wolf thought that Zoey-Ca would be the 
perfect 
lunch.
Finally, Zoey-Ca noticed the wolf's breathing behind her. She turned 
around 
and saw the wolf. She screamed and ran as fast as she could. But one 
thing 
was good;all that running had led her out of the woods. But soon 
Zoey-Ca felt 
nothing below her feet. She was frightened as she noticed she had ran 
right 
off of the island! She grabbed the edge of the island and tryed to pull 
herself up.
But her small hands were slipping. She tryed to hold on. Then she heard 
a 
voice call to her.
"Grab my hand, I'll help you up!"
She reached her hand out and she would've fallen if she hadn't been 
pulled up.
She fell on her hands and knees, onto the ground. She was breathing 
hardly. 
Then she looked up at who had rescued her.
It was Steppenwolf! He was the one that had saved her from falling.
"Th-thank you." She said.
"Hey, aren't you Moonwatcher's girlfriend's sister?" Asked Steppenwolf.
"Yeah, I'm Zoey-Ca." Replied Zoey-Ca.
"You could've fell off. You better be more careful. After all, I'm not 
always 
going to be in the right place at the right time to rescue you." Said 
Steppenwolf.
"I know. I'll try to be more careful next time." Said Zoey-Ca.
"What are you doing near the edge of the island anyway?" Asked 
Steppenwolf.
"Well.. um... I, uh.. I got lost in the woods back there, and a big 
wolf was 
chasing me so I didn't know where I was going." Admitted Zoey-Ca.
"The woods? Why were you even in there?" Steppenwolf asked her.
"Well, I got in trouble by my parents, and I thought they didn't like 
me, so 
I ran away.. and the woods seemed like a perfect place to run away to 
at the 
time." Said Zoey-Ca, admitting everything.
Steppenwolf talked to her about what she had just done, and then he 
took her 
home. Her parents were so glad to see her again.
"Oh thank you, mistair guardian! Thank you! Thank you!" Said Jessie-Ca, 
hugging her daughter tightly.
"No problem, ma'am. Just doing my job." Said Steppenwolf.
"Well, if you happen to spot another echidna at the edge of the island, 
let 
us know." Said Jessie-Ca.
"Another...?" Said Steppenwolf.
"Yes, we have found out that our other daughter, Molly-Ca, is missing 
too. I 
haven't seen her since this morning. She usually doesn't stay out this 
long." 
Said Jessie-Ca frightfully.
"Well, I'll do all that I can." Said Steppenwolf.
Meanwhile, back in the woods, Moonwatcher was still searching for 
Molly-Ca 
and her sister Zoey-Ca.
"Molly! Zoey!" He shouted.
"Moonwatcher?" He heard someone say.
"Molly, is that you?" Asked Moonwatcher, quickly recognizing Molly-Ca's 
voice.
"Moonwatcher!" Said Molly-Ca, running out to him.
"Are you alright, Molly-Ca?" Moonwatcher asked her.
"A bit frightened, but yes, I'm fine." Replied Molly-Ca.
"Good. You look like your outta breath. What happened?" Moonwatcher 
wanted to 
know.
"It was.. a wolf. It was.. chasing.. me." Replied Molly-Ca weakly.
"A wolf?! Is it still back there?!" Moonwatcher asked.
"I dont know." Replied Molly-Ca.
"Okay, well maybe we better get out of this area, just to be on the 
safe 
side." Said Moonwatcher.
"Okay." Said Molly-Ca.
They then walked a different direction, so maybe the wolf would get 
confused 
and it wouldn't chase them.
"Any sign of Zoey-Ca?" Moonwatcher asked.
"No, no sign of her. I didn't see her anywhere." Said Molly-Ca.
"Maybe she's not in the woods after all, Molly. Maybe she went 
somewhere's 
else... I mean the woods isn't exactly the perfect place to run to." 
Said 
Moonwatcher.
"Maybe your right. Maybe we should look somewhere's else." Said 
Molly-Ca.
"Yes... but one problem, Molly." Said Moonwatcher.
"What's that?" Asked Molly-Ca.
"I dont think we are going to be getting out of here anytime soon. 
We're... 
lost. Lost in the woods. I have no idea which way is the right way!" 
Said 
Moonwatcher.
"Oh my gosh your right! What if we're in here for weeks, or months, or 
longer? Those four oranges wont last us THAT long!!" Said Molly-Ca with 
tears 
in her eyes.
"Well, we are just going to have to eat half an orange each each day. 
It's 
the only way we'll survive. Because I dont think that any of these 
trees are 
fruit trees." Said Moonwatcher.
"But what if we are stuck here longer?!" Molly-Ca said with most panic.
"Then I dont know what to tell you, Molly." Said Moonwatcher.
They both looked at the millions of trees surrounding them, and they 
had 
doubt that they would ever make it out of here. What they didn't know, 
is 
that it was getting darker, and later. It was 7:30PM. 
Way back at their house, Kay-Si was getting worried. Moonwatcher hasn't 
been 
gone this long, not since that time he ran away(see the story "The 
Young 
Guardian" for more information!), she just didn't know what to do. When 
Steppenwolf got back in, Kay-Si ran up to him.
"What's wrong?" He asked her, soon noticing the worried expression on 
her 
face.
"Moonwatcher hasn't got back yet! And it's awfully late!" Said Kay-Si 
frightfully.
"That's strange, his friend Molly-Ca is missing, too." Said 
Steppenwolf.
"Moonwatcher said that he, Molly-Ca, and Zoey-Ca were all going out for 
a 
picnic." Said Kay-Si.
"That can't be so, Kay-Si. I found Zoey-Ca hanging on the edge of the 
island 
for dear life. She told me she ran away into the woods when her parents 
got 
angry with her. She didn't say anything about a picnic." Said 
Steppenwolf 
confusingly.
"Waitaminute, it all makes sence now!" Said Kay-Si suddenly.
"What?" Steppenwolf wanted to know.
"I bet they've gone into the woods, too! To look for Zoey-Ca, probably! 
Where 
else could they be?" Said Kay-Si.
"Well we've had long talks with Moonwatcher about how dangerous those 
woods 
are, and I suppose Molly-Ca's parents did the same. But what you said 
does 
make sence, and it's where we should start looking." Said Steppenwolf 
to 
Kay-Si.
Steppenwolf and Kay-Si agreed that the woods was where they'd begin 
looking 
for the two lost teenagers, Moonwatcher and Molly-Ca.
Meanwhile, back in the woods, Moonwatcher and Molly-Ca were sitting 
down 
putting their backs against a rock. 
"Here's part of an orange, Molly-Ca." Said Moonwatcher, handing 
Molly-Ca a 
piece of the ripe orange.
"Thanks." She replied.
It began to get colder, and so Moonwatcher and Molly-Ca decided to go 
to 
sleep right where they were, even if it was freezing cold.
Steppenwolf and Kay-Si had already entered the woods, and they were 
searching 
for their son and his friend. Moonwatcher and Molly-Ca were not very 
far away 
from where they were at, and so they were able to hear them. Atleast, 
Molly-Ca heard them.
"Moonwatcher! It sounds like your parents! They've come to rescue us! 
Come 
on!" Said Molly-Ca, shaking Moonwatcher awake.
"I'm up, I'm up." Said Moonwatcher tiredly.
Molly-Ca then ran ahead, thinking Moonwatcher was following her. But 
Moonwatcher wasn't;he had fallen back asleep.
"Mr. and Mrs.Echidna! We're here, and fine." Said Molly-Ca, running up 
to 
Steppenwolf and Kay-Si.
"Molly-Ca! Thank goodness your safe. Where's Moonwatcher?" Kay-Si said.
"Oh he's right-- he was! He was right behind me! Oh, he must've fallen 
back 
asleep!" Said Molly-Ca.
"That's okay, just lead us to the place you saw Moonwatcher last." Said 
Steppenwolf.
"Okay." Said Molly-Ca.
Molly-Ca turned around and looked. All she saw were trees. 
"What's the matter, Molly-Ca?" Kay-Si asked.
"I forgot which way it was." Said Molly-Ca.
"That's alright. Kay-Si, take Molly-Ca to her house. I'll find 
Moonwatcher." 
Said Steppenwolf.
It took awhile for Kay-Si to, but she agreed. She took Molly-Ca home, 
and her 
parents were more than happy to see her.
"Molly, darling! Dont you ever do that again, you hear me?!" Said 
Jessie-Ca, 
hugging and kissing her daughter.
"Molly-Ca! There you are!" Said Zoey-Ca, rushing into the room.
"Zoey-Ca! Your okay!" Said Molly-Ca happily.
"'Course I'm okay!" Said Zoey-Ca.
"Oh, first your husband brought Zoey-Ca home, and now you bring my 
other 
daughter home! How can I ever thank you and your wonderful family?!" 
Said 
Jessie-Ca happily.
"It's no problem at all." Said Kay-Si.
"Yes, we owe you for that!" Said Loren, Zoey-Ca and Molly-Ca's father.
"Loren? Officier Loren? I remember you! Remember a long time ago, when 
Moonwatcher was lost?" Said Kay-Si.
"Oh yeah! Now I remember! Your the wife of the guardian!" Said Loren.
"How come I never see you anymore?" Kay-Si asked.
"Well, I retired, about two years ago." Replied Loren.
"Oh, I see." Said Kay-Si.
"Oh my gosh! That reminds me!" Said Molly-Ca frightfully.
"What is it, darling?" Asked Jessie-Ca.
"It's Moonwatcher! He's lost in the woods, still!" Said Molly-Ca, 
panicking.
"Dont worry, Molly. I'm sure Steppenwolf will find him." Kay-Si 
reassured 
Molly-Ca.
"Well, we better go and help him. After all, you found both of our 
children. 
We should repay you by doing the same for you." Said Loren.
"You dont have to." Said Kay-Si.
But they did. Loren and Jessie-Ca went out to help Steppenwolf search 
for his 
son.
"Moonwatcher is lost?" Zoey-Ca asked, worried.
"Yes, but I'm sure with all those people searching for him, he will be 
found 
in no time." Said Kay-Si, but she really wasn't sure herself.
"Okay, why dont we do something to take our minds off him?" Asked 
Zoey-Ca.
"What are you talking about? Why would we wanna do that?! Dont you care 
about 
him?!" Asked Kay-Si angrily.
"I do! I didn't mean it like it sounded, Mrs.Echidna! I meant why dont 
we do 
something to take our minds off of it, so we wont worry as much!" Said 
Zoey-Ca upsettingly.
"Oh.. sorry for yelling at you, sweety." Said Kay-Si.
"That's okay. If I was in your position I'd probably think the same 
thing." 
Admitted Zoey-Ca.
After that, they all went in the living room and drank hot chocolate, 
trying 
not to worry about Moonwatcher. But Kay-Si just couldn't help but worry 
about 
her only son, she was so afraid of what might of happened to him.
But then the door opened. They all got up from their seats. It was 
Jessie-Ca, 
Loren, Steppenwolf, and... Moonwatcher!
Kay-Si rushed out to them.
"Thank goodness your safe!" Said Kay-Si.
"Mom!" Said Moonwatcher, running up to his mom.
"If it wasn't for Jessie-Ca and Loren, I dont think Moonwatcher would 
have 
ever been found. They have helped me find Moonwatcher and bring him 
back 
safely." Said Steppenwolf.
"I told you we would repay you for what you and your husband has done 
for us, 
Mrs.Echidna." Said Loren.
"Yes and you have. Thanks so much." Said Kay-Si happily.
After that, Steppenwolf, Kay-Si, and Moonwatcher said goodbye to the 
Bils 
family, and headed home. It had been a long night, and they were all 
getting 
pretty sleepy. And they all were glad that they were finally home 
again, 
espicially Moonwatcher.
THE END