“Look out!” a voice called.

Tinker Bell, Clank, and Bobble all turned at the same time. Fawn, an animal fairy, was chasing a bunny as it scampered through the basket depot.

“Runaway bunny!” Fawn exclaimed.

The rabbit bounded through the workshop, scattering reeds and supplies everywhere. Baskets went flying through the air!

In a flash, Tinker Bell zipped over and used her special lasso to grab hold of the renegade bunny.

“Gotcha!” Tinker Bell declared proudly. The bunny wriggled its nose. It was not happy to have been caught.

“Thanks, Tink,” Fawn panted, flying up next to her.

“No problem,” Tink replied.

Fawn reached over and tried to calm the bunny down. “Come on, little guy,” she said. “It’s still a long way to the Winter Woods.”

Tinker Bell’s eyes lit up. “Oh! You’re taking the animals today?” she asked.

Fawn sighed. “Trying to,” she said. “It’s time for them to cross the border. But this little guy’s a handful.”

Tink fluttered her wings excitedly. This was her chance to see the Winter Woods up close! “Hey, uh…how about if I help?” she asked, her eyes shining.

A short while later, Tinker Bell and Fawn were racing through the Autumn Forest with the animals. Fawn was guiding several weasels, a few bunnies, and a marmot. Tink was trying to steer the youngest bunny by using her tinkered lasso as a leash. But the rabbit was so fast that she kept bouncing along behind it instead.

“Slow down!” Tinker Bell yelled. “Whoa!”

Fawn looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Need some help?” she asked.

“Nope,” Tinker Bell said. “Doing fine!”

Finally, they reached the border between the Autumn Forest and the Winter Woods. Tinker Bell was just settling her bunny down when she looked up and saw the border for the first time. She gasped. It was amazing! A wide chasm separated the two seasons, and a thin curtain of soft, shimmering snow fell down the center, marking the divide. Down at the bottom of the trench, a rushing stream babbled on the autumn side. But once it reached the winter side, the water froze solid. A long bridge connected the two seasons. Half of it was a log, and the other half was ice.

“Wow,” Tinker Bell whispered.

The bunny beside her trembled nervously.

“Awww,” Fawn said, patting the bunny’s side. “Don’t be scared, little fellow. We’ll let the weasels go first.”

Fawn guided the weasels to the bridge as Tinker Bell watched curiously.

“So how far do we take the animals in?” Tink asked.

“Uh, Tink, we don’t cross the border,” Fawn replied. “We just help the animals.”

Tinker Bell raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “But I thought animal fairies got to cross with the animals?”

Fawn shook her head. “Tink, it’s freezing over there,” she explained. “Besides, no warm fairies are allowed in the Winter Woods. Just like winter fairies aren’t allowed over here.”

Tinker Bell looked at the beautiful falling snow. “Who made up that rule?” she asked, disappointed.

“I think it was the Lord of Winter,” Fawn replied. Then she turned back to the weasels. “All right, guys,” she said encouragingly. “You ready?”

The weasels chattered their agreement. Then they skipped up the log. One at a time, they leapt over into winter. As they crossed the border, each of the weasels’ coats magically turned from brown to white!

“Wow!” Tinker Bell exclaimed.

Fawn smiled. “Pretty great, huh? They get their winter coats to protect them from the cold.”

Next, three baby bunnies hopped up to the bridge. They bounded over the border, and their fur also quickly transformed from brown into brilliant white.

Fawn flew over to Tinker Bell’s bunny. “Go on, now,” she said gently. “Follow your brothers.”

The bunny’s ears perked up. He didn’t seem as afraid now that the other animals had all crossed. He hopped to the edge of the bridge and stretched out his ears until they just reached across the border. The tips turned white! Then he spun around and wiggled his tail on the winter side. It turned white, too!

Tinker Bell giggled. “Bye-bye!” she called as the bunny finally hopped all the way into winter. Tink fluttered closer to the curtain of falling snow. What was it like over there? she wondered. Had any fairy ever tried to cross?

Behind her, Fawn was wrestling with a very sleepy marmot. It was his turn to go. But he was already starting to hibernate, right there in the Autumn Forest.

“Oh, no,” Fawn groaned when the marmot let out a loud snore. “No hibernating yet. You do that in winter!” She nudged him toward the log bridge. “Come on. Wake up!”

Meanwhile, Tinker Bell was scanning the crisp, white snow that stretched far out on the other side of the border. It shimmered and sparkled in the winter sunlight. Tinker Bell couldn’t help it. She just had to see what winter was like!

Remembering what the bunny had done, she reached her hand over the border. Then she quickly drew it back. Nothing! She glanced over her shoulder to see if Fawn was watching. But her friend was distracted by the sleepy marmot. Now was Tinker Bell’s chance!

Gaining confidence, Tink leaned over the border and stuck her nose across. “Oooh,” she said, feeling the tingle of cold air. Her nose was chilly. But it didn’t hurt at all.

With a deep breath, Tinker Bell jumped over the border! Instantly, the frosty air surrounded her. Tink shivered. But the snow was magnificent! Tiny flakes swirled everywhere, glistening like pixie dust. Tink opened her mouth and let one land right on her tongue. It was deliciously cold.

Suddenly, Tinker Bell felt a very strange sensation in her wings. She turned around and gasped. Her wings were sparkling! They shimmered with a brilliant burst of colorful light she had never seen before. She could even see all their delicate patterns illuminated. What was causing them to shine so brightly?

As if from far away, Tink heard a baby’s laugh. It was very soft. But the sound echoed in her ears.

“Tink?” Fawn’s call was distant and faint.

Tinker Bell’s wings stopped sparkling.

“Tinker Bell!” Fawn cried.

“Wha—?” Before Tink knew what was happening, a lasso sailed over her head and tightened around her waist.

“Aaagh!” she yelled as Fawn yanked her back past the border into autumn.

“Tink!” Fawn exclaimed. “I told you we’re not allowed to cross.” She brushed her hand against her friend’s wing. “Your wings!” she gasped.

Tinker Bell’s eyes shone. “I know!” she cried. “They were sparkling!”

“They’re freezing,” Fawn said. “We’d better get you to a healing-talent fairy.”

Tinker Bell tried to protest. But Fawn dragged her away from the border. “Come on!” she cried. Fawn knew that Tinker Bell’s wings were in great danger. They had to get help—and fast!