Fawn raced through the Autumn Forest, bursting into a clearing—and screeched to a halt.

The tower there was done, but Gruff was gone.

The scouts arrived at the tower to find no one there.

Nyx studied the structure. “Just like the other two. Just like the drawing.”

Fury kneeled at the edge of the woods and discovered a broken branch. Fresh sap remained on the raw break. She pointed to a trail of more snapped twigs.

“It’s headed toward summer,” Chase told the others.

The scouts took off, following the beast’s trail.

The scouts continued to fly through the forest. From behind a tree, Fawn watched them fly toward the Summer Forest, then she took off in the opposite direction.

Nyx didn’t go with the others. She stood by the rock tower, looking at a map of Pixie Hollow. She’d already drawn Xs for towers one and two in spring and summer. She made an X for tower three in autumn. She knew the next one had to be in winter.

On the other side of Pixie Hollow, Tink flew low over the Winter Woods snow.

“Gruff?” she called.

The green sky was all around her. Lightning sparks bounced off the rocks of a new tower.

“Gruff! There you are! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Tink said.

The NeverBeast rose from behind a snowbank, but there was something different about him now. He was more intense. His nostrils flared.

He took a step toward Tink. She took a step back, saying, “Gruff, it’s me, Tink. Fawn’s friend. The scouts are coming for you! You have to hide.”

It didn’t seem like he recognized her.

Another strike of lightning zigzagged across the sky, followed by a huge crash of thunder. Tink was afraid.

She saw a bolt of lightning reflected in Gruff’s eyes. Suddenly, he lunged at Tink, swatting her hard with his tail. Tinker Bell tumbled through the air. She hit the ground hard and crumpled into a heap.

Fawn arrived in the Winter Woods to find Tinker Bell unmoving on the ground. She rushed quickly to her. “Tink! Tink?” She turned to Gruff. “What did you do?”

Gruff growled.

A lightning bolt crackled in the sky. Right before Fawn’s eyes, Gruff transformed. Horns grew out of his head. A hump formed on his back. He was now exactly like the image from Nyx’s parchment.

Fawn was horrified. “No!” Gruff was a monster.

She threw herself protectively over Tink until the thunder died down. When she glanced back up, Gruff was gone again.