In middle of the night, the air was crisp and warm from a summer's day. In a clearing, a group of creatures were resting. There was a bird with purple feathers, perched on a branch, and snoozing silently. There was a buck laying on the lush grass, with a blond wolf curled up beside him. Finally, there was a large bear, who was resting against a tree. However, there was a force threatening the peaceful environment, as a huge shadow swept past, rustling the trees.

The bear's eyes shot open, and he looked up fearfully, before changing shape.

Thompson approached his friends, and spoke in an urgent voice. "Guys! Something just flew past!"

His friends woke up with a jolt. They then transformed, and groaned in annoyance.

"Thompson, what the heck?" Nate complained, sitting up, while Lee still laid beside him.

"Yeah, it's like the middle of the night," Tambry agreed, after easily jumping off from the branch.

"I'm telling you, I heard something," Thompson said, fearfully. "Maybe, it's a monster? we should tell Wendy."

Nate rubbed the bridge of his nose, seeming to have enough. "Thompson! We are not going to disturb Wendy, because you think there's a monster. It's probably nothing--"

An inhuman shriek pierced the air, and the same shadow from before flew overhead. The group stared up at the monstrous shape blocking the moon, before it disappeared.

There was pause, then Thompson asked. "So, we're telling Wendy?"

"Yep," His friends agreed, simultaneously.

❇❇❇

Will was worried.

Specifically, he was worried about Bill. The blond had been acting strange lately.

For one thing, Bill was acting fidgety, even by Will's levels. When the blue haired boy attempted to get close to his brother, Bill would flinch away like Will was on fire. It was also noted, that Bill had dark rings around his eyes from a lack of sleep. What Will found most concerning, was that Bill was more quiet than usual. The blue haired boy was stumped about how he could help his brother, so one morning, he met up with Dipper and Mabel when they joined him in the kitchen.

"Jeez, I wonder what got Bill so worked up," Mabel wondered, after Will explained his dilemma.

Dipper's eyes lit up with concern, then he asked. "Has anything happened lately, that might've caused him to act like this?"

Will hesitated. Bill has yet to tell the Pine twins about the paper, and Will wasn't sure whether he should tell them or not. Recalling the paper, Will was then reminded of Bill admitting that he had been suspicious of him. Was Bill still cautious of him, was that why he was acting so weird? But, didn't the blond confirm that he knew Will would never hurt him, why would he change his mind now?

"Will?"

Will blinked, then quickly said. "No...not any that I can think of."

Dipper looked at him thoughtfully, but thankfully didn't ask anymore questions. Still, his brow creased with worry.

The blue haired boy knew he had to tell the Guardians sooner or later, this was pretty important information. Would Bill be angry at him, if he decided to tell them? No matter how Will looked at it, the letter was given to Bill, and it was his secret to tell. But, what if the blond decided to keep his mouth shut? Will would just have to be patient with his brother, and if Bill continued to avoid telling their friends the truth, Will would have to do it for him.

With that decided, Will paid attention, as Mabel suggested. "It's obvious, that Bill is only stressed out," She pointed out. "What he needs, is a dose of enlightenment. What is Bill's favorite thing to do when he's upset?"

"Sticking his arms in fork drawers," Will replied.

Dipper regarded him confusion. "Why--"

"Don't ask."

"How about something...that's not totally sociopathic," Mabel said, gingerly. "Like sightseeing, or listening to music, or--"

"Baa!"

The three turned to the sound, and saw Gompers walk in, while nudging forward a food bowl with his nose.

"Oh! Sorry Gompers, I completely forgot to feed you," Will said, then hurried towards one of cabinets.

Mabel rubbed her chin thoughtfully, as Will took out a box of kibble, and poured some of the contents into Gompers's bowl. Then suddenly, she gasped.

"I got it!" She exclaimed. "Some studies show that quality time with pets lower stress levels. Bill needs to spend some time with Gompers here."

Will looked uncertain, while Gompers ate. "I don't know, Gompers only seems to make Bill anxious."

"Then, this might help them bond a little," Mabel countered. "Also, it can't hurt to try."

Will was thinking this plan through, when the said blond walked into the kitchen. Bill looked at the Guardians in confusion.

"When did you guys get here--"

Mabel quickly picked up Gompers, and tossed him towards Bill. "GOAT!"

Gompers bleated in distress, and Bill screamed, when the creature hit him square in the chest. Bill fell onto his back, with Gompers laying on his torso.

"Shooting Star! Why did you throw an animal at me!?" Bill shouted, pushing Gompers off.

Mabel turned to Will with a grin, like she just proved a point. "See? He's already beginning to act like himself again."

Will sighed.

Meanwhile, Dipper walked forward, and extended a hand to the blond. Bill hesitated, then reached out and gripped the Guardian's hand, before the brunette helped him up. Bill spent a couple of seconds, looking shyly at their intertwined hands, before pulling back.

Dipper looked at him in concern. "Bill, your brother has been telling us about your behavior lately. Is there anything you want to tell us about?"

Will felt a twist in his gut, when Bill avoided his gaze. He began to notice how often the blond would ignore him, and it scared him. Maybe, the problem originated from Will after all?

"Nothing's happening, Pine Tree," Bill responded, tiredly.

Dipper looked unconvinced. "You look exhausted, have you been sleeping at all?"

"I agree with Dipper, you look like a vampire," Mabel said, then added. "And not the hot kind, by the way."

Bill scratched the top of his head in irritation, and moved towards the fridge and opened it. "I'm fine," He said, taking out an apple.

Dipper furrowed his brow in frustration. Will knew the Guardian was about to snap, so he quickly moved towards Bill.

"We're only worried, Bill," Will said.

When the blond didn't turn to him, Will gently placed a hand on his shoulder. That might've been a mistake. Out of nowhere, Bill dropped his apple and his whole body spasmed under his touch, and the blond whirled around. Will gasped, when Bill grabbed his wrist, and faced him with wide frantic eyes.

There was a pause, as everyone stared at the blond. Will winced, when Bill's grip tightened around his wrist.

"Bill...you're hurting me."

Like that, Bill's eyes widened in realization, he quickly released his brother. Will could only gaze at him in worry, as a flash of shame covered the blond's face.

"I'm sorry," Bill said, softly.

Before Will could say anything more, another person entered the kitchen. It was Wendy, and she had a familiar look on her face. It was her unmistakable guess who's gonna be bait! face.

"Guys, I just got a message from my friends," The redhead said. "Turns out, there's this flying monster around their part of the woods. I'll need your help to catch it. What do you say?"

The four silently agreed to forget what just occurred here, and Mabel put on her bright smile. "Of course, Wendy!"

"Sure," Dipper said, absentmindedly, as he glanced over at Bill.

Wendy nodded, then turned to the Cipher twins. "How about you two? And I promise you're not bait this time, we're just gonna scout around the forest."

Will looked over at Bill. The blond had turned a shade paler, and he definitely looked exhausted. True, Bill would need a bit of sunlight, but was monster-hunting really the way to do it? Bill looked tired enough just by walking into the kitchen. With this concern, Will decided what he had to do next.

"I'll go, Bill can stay here," He said.

Bill blinked, like he heard incorrectly. "Huh?"

"It'll do you some good to get some rest," Will pointed out. "And hey, while I'm gone, you can take care of Gompers."

Bill tossed a look at the goat, who was sniffing the apple that he had dropped. "Why do you hate me so?"

"Stop complaining," Will chastised. "And don't let him outside, okay?"

Bill rolled his eyes. "He's an animal, he deserves to be outside."

Mabel gasped, like Bill just said the most offensive thing ever. "Don't ever say that! Back when I had Waddles, the one time he went outside was when I accidentally left the inter-dimensional doggy door open, and then I never saw him again."

"Why did you say that, like it was a normal sentence?" Bill questioned.

Mabel huffed. "My point is, don't repeat my mistake," She said, then turned to her brother. "Right, Dipper?"

Dipper laughed nervously. "Right..."

"So, while Bill is goat-sitting, we'll be catching ourselves a monster," Wendy smiled, then started to walk out of the kitchen. "C'mon!"

Dipper and Mabel followed her out, while Will looked at his brother. He knew he made the right decision. All Bill needed right now was a distraction from all the craziness. The blond needed some space away from people...especially Will.

Will frowned. Even though it pained him, he needed to think about his brother's health, and him being near seemed to worsen Bill's mood. If distancing himself from the blond, somehow fixed the problem, so be it.

He sighed, and turned away. He hoped that Gompers served as a effective distraction.

"OK goat, give me back my apple," Bill snapped, then there was the sound of Gompers hissing and the blond screaming.

Will turned around, to see Bill rolling across the floor, trying to pry Gompers off his face.

"KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FIRE!"" Bill screamed at the top of his lungs.

Will sighed, before turning and walking out.