The SkyGrazer was being chased. A furious storm was closing in on the SkyGrazer. Soon enough, the ship was enveloped in a swirling, constricting storm, sending Harriet and Captain Libby hurtling across the deck until they disappeared down the sturdy, iron rungs of the ladder. Outside, lightning thrashed through the dark sky, striking the fold-lined main balloon. There was nothing else Harriet could do; she bolted back onto deck, trying her hardest to ignore Captain Libby’s yells to come back. 

Harriet was too late. Buffeted by the raging, blustery winds, the SkyGrazer tumbled down. Holding her breath, Harriet braced herself as the ground rushed up to meet the ship. Thud. The SkyGrazer landed surprisingly lightly, on soft earth, main balloon a crumpled heap. There was no way they could get back on course in time.

Captain Libby emerged from below deck, a look of relief on her face that Harriet was OK. Not long after, as Captain Libby inspected the balloon tear, Harriet finally took in her surroundings. They had landed in a calm, strangely peaceful forest clearing. 

While Captain Libby left in a search for materials to mend the ship, leaving strict instructions to stay near the SkyGrazer, Harriet wandered off to explore. Nearby, a group of squirrels were squabbling over the last, precious acorn, night began to fall. Harriet knew that Captain Libby would be back soon, so she pottered back in the direction of the SkyGrazer. With the silver glow of the moon, that was looking like a giant, glowing, silvery-white bowling ball, which casted greyish-black shadows everywhere, Harriet arrived back at the SkyGrazer just before Captain Libby came back.