For a moment, Roo looked ready to scream. He turned his attention away from Kanga, once more unable to look her in the eye. Tigger stepped forward, sword raised towards the Thesaurus and a hand held open to Roo.

“Let’s go Roo. It’s time to end this.”

Roo’s breathing was still unsteady. His eyes were becoming red as he furrowed his brow and sneered.

“It is time to end this Tigger.” He rubbed his eyes. “I didn’t expect you to show up here, but I can’t change my plan.”

From the door behind Kanga and Tigger, a pack of Woozles appeared. Each one made a clicking noise once they saw that they had been seen. Tigger stepped between Kanga and the Woozles and backed towards the wall.

“This place was my home.” Roo walked to the door, holding the lantern. “If anyone was going to cause it’s final downfall, I wanted it to be me.”

Reaching the door, Roo turned to them. The Thesaurus joined him as Kanga and Tigger moved closer to the windows. With one longing look, Roo sighed and tried to take the same calm demeanor his mother had while talking to him.

“Everyone was going to die anyway.” Roo dropped the lantern. It shattered on a crumpled rug by the door and sparked a flame that ran to the torn down tapestry. He ran down the stairs with his troops close by.

The flames were spreading fast and quickly engulfed the doorway. Tigger moved Kanga closer to the windows as she kept her eyes on the spot Roo had been. Her mind was deep in thought, almost not seeing the fire and smoke filling the room. On reaching a window that had been damaged from the Heffalumps first attack, Tigger first took a moment to feel the cold breeze and then looked to the drop below.

“Do you trust me?” He asked Kanga, pulling her from her thoughts.

“A silly question Sir Tigger. I place my life in your hands every waking day and I always will.”

Tigger took this in and nodded. He sheathed his sword and pulled Kanga close.

“It’s always an honor.”

Kanga looked to Tigger, shocked by his sudden candor.

“Now please, hold on tight.”

Lifting Kanga into his arms, Tigger leaped from the window.