A short while later, Tinker Bell was hard at work in her teapot home. Using thorn scissors, she snipped a thick green leaf into pieces. Nearby, two bugs turned a spinning wheel to make thread. Tink carefully stitched the pieces of the leaf together to make a warm winter coat. Then she started to make snow boots. She hammered and cobbled until they were just right. She even added her signature pom-poms to the toes. When she was done, she tucked fuzzy earmuffs and woolly gloves into her satchel, along with the Wingology book. She looked at herself in the mirror.

Not bad! she thought. She was ready for winter!

Smiling, she turned to fly off on her adventure…and fell flat on her face!

“Agh!” Tinker Bell grunted. She’d forgotten that with her warm coat on, she couldn’t flap her wings.

Luckily, with the plan she had in mind to get to the Winter Woods, something else would be doing the flying for her!

Outside Tinkers’ Nook, Tinker Bell cautiously peeked out from behind a bunch of leaves. She saw Fairy Mary and the other fairies hard at work in the basket depot. Slipping her hood over her head, Tinker Bell quietly tiptoed into the workshop.

“Stand by with the pulley,” Fairy Mary was instructing the tinkers in a loud voice. “It’s this season’s final pickup, so let’s make it our best.”

Tink hid behind a large bin and spied on her friends Clank and Bobble. They were testing out the basket they had just made.

“Okay, Clanky!” Bobble shouted from inside the basket.

Clank pulled down on a large lever, and the bottom of the basket opened up. Bobble fell through it and onto the ground with a loud thump!

“Snowflake release system working!” Clank declared. He smiled proudly

Bobble rubbed his head. “Maybe you should be the test snowflake for a while,” he mumbled.

Without a sound, Tink pulled a small thorn grappling hook attached to a rope out of her satchel. Quickly, she tossed the hook toward the top of the basket. It caught hold. Pleased with herself, Tink began to climb up and into the basket. She was so close to getting a ride to the Winter Woods!

“Tink?” Clank suddenly called.

Uh-oh, Tinker Bell thought. She’d been caught!

“We already checked that basket,” Bobble called up, confused. He thought Tinker Bell was helping them prepare for the final pickup.

“R-right, uh…” Tinker Bell stammered as she slowly lowered herself back to the ground. She had to think fast.

Clank looked Tink up and down curiously. “Why are you dressed all cozy?”

Tinker Bell sighed. It was no use trying to lie to her friends. “I’m going to the Winter Woods,” she said.

Clank and Bobble gasped.

“The Winter Woods!” Bobble cried.

“Shhh!” Tinker Bell looked around for Fairy Mary. Thankfully, the head tinker fairy was busy on the other side of the factory, counting the last batch of baskets.

“The Winter Woods?” Bobble whispered.

Tinker Bell was about to explain when suddenly a loud horn sounded.

“Places, everyone!” Fairy Mary called.

“The snowy owls!” Tinker Bell gasped, her heart beating fast. “They’re here!”

“Start the pulley!” Fairy Mary ordered.

The baskets that the tinker fairies had been making all day started to move along the rope up to the delivery tower. Tinker Bell didn’t have time to think. It was now or never.

“Bye,” she whispered to Clank and Bobble. Before they could stop her, Tink hoisted herself into a moving basket and began rising into the air.

“Tink, wait!” Clank cried, sounding worried. He looked over at Bobble, and the two friends flew after her.

The pulley was carrying baskets up to meet the snowy owls as they swooped down. Tinker Bell’s basket was nearing the top.

“You can’t cross the border, Miss Bell,” Bobble whispered urgently over the rim. “Your wings—”

“Don’t worry,” Tinker Bell said. “They’re in my coat.”

“Does this have to do with the sparkling?” Clank asked.

“Yes,” Tink answered. “And there’s somebody in winter who can tell me what it means.”

“Clank? Bobble?” Fairy Mary’s voice echoed from down below. “Is there something wrong with that basket?”

“Wh-what? Oh, um…” Bobble stammered. He shot Tink a nervous glance. She looked at him pleadingly. They couldn’t give her away now!

“Tink,” Bobble begged one last time.

“I just have to do this,” Tinker Bell whispered.

Bobble turned back to Fairy Mary. “Uh, no. Everything is, uh, fine,” he said.

“We’re just sad to see it go,” Clank added. He patted the side of the basket. “Pretty basket.”

Fairy Mary rolled her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “Oh, honestly!” she said. “Let it go!”

Clank and Bobble released their hold on the basket, and one by one the snowy owls swooped down to collect the deliveries. Tinker Bell peeked over the edge. Her basket was next for pickup!

Just then, the young owl from the previous day came into view. He was assigned to collect Tinker Bell’s basket.

“Oh, that’s the new one,” Fairy Mary said to Clank and Bobble.

Tink’s friends gulped. A new owl wouldn’t be as steady when picking up a heavy basket as the other, more experienced owls. They hoped the bird wouldn’t drop Tinker Bell!

A moment later, the young owl flew past and grabbed the handles of Tinker Bell’s basket. He wobbled a little. Then he flapped his wings hard, trying to keep up with his brothers.

Tinker Bell smiled. They were on their way…

…and heading straight for a wall! Panicking, Tinker Bell crouched against the side of the basket and braced for impact. But at the last second, the determined little owl gained enough momentum to lift the basket up and over the wall. They just missed it.

Back on the ground, Clank and Bobble let out a sigh of relief. That was close!

Tinker Bell sneaked a look back at her friends one last time, then she quickly ducked down.

“Excellent work, everyone,” Fairy Mary praised the tinkers in the depot. “They’re off to the cold of winter.” She looked around. “Well, that’s that until next year.”

As Fairy Mary left, Clank and Bobble continued watching Tinker Bell’s basket disappear over the horizon.

“Stay warm, Miss Bell,” Bobble whispered softly.