Fables #49

Mowgli arrives by seaplane to the Alaskan wilderness. Once the pilot drops him off and as soon as he departs, Mowgli removes his shirt, his satchel, and leaves them behind in a cache within some tree branches. In his element at last, the boy raised by wolves lives off the land the way he was taught, hunting his own food, sleeping under the trees. It was rare that he'd get the opportunity to live wild in the forest these days. Mowgli enjoyed every moment.

Back at the Farm, Snow White confronts Mister North about the kids. She wanted to take control back. Now that they needed to practice staying in human form for a month, their grandfather's constant encouragement to change is only hurting their chance to leave the Farm. Mister North argues that she and the children should all just move in with him at his castle and leave the Mundane's world behind. But then he senses something. A change in the wind...

It was three days before Mowgli realized he wasn't alone. The wolves were watching, slowly surrounding him, until he had nowhere to go. They don't care that he speaks their language, and they will only accept him as one of them when his meat is inside their bellies. But before they strike, one of their own speaks out. A change in the wind; Their master wishes the human intruder brought to him alive. It takes two more days before Mowgli reaches the place the wolves wanted him to go. A log cabin far out in the middle of nowhere, which the pack tell him is where their master awaits, they are not allowed to go any further. Mowgli goes inside to find his quarry, the very man he spent over a year tracking and just missing, Bigby Wolf; slouched on the couch, with a beer, welcoming him to his home.
He knew Mowgli was chasing him, Bigby made the trail intentionally difficult to follow, hoping Mowgli would get the hint that he wanted to be left alone. He was done with Fabletown and everything to do with it. Mowgli delivers Prince Charming's message; that he found a way for Bigby, Snow, and the kids to live together happily without breaking any Fabletown laws. This piques Bigby's curiosity, but before he can ask for details, a woman enters the cabin. Bigby introduces her as his "current better half", Sarah Tanaraq, the one who's been looking after him in his depressive state. She's surprised someone else is here, having thought that the only other person who'd come all this way was the woman Bigby was trying so hard to forget.

A great windstorm blows through the Farm, which according to Boy Blue, started up as soon as Mister North and his attendants left. This troubles Snow, who worries about the effect their beloved grandfather's sudden departure will have on them, since they've already had to go on without their father.

Back in Alaska, Bigby and Mowgli talk outside. Sarah didn't know anything about his nature, Bigby assured, she only knew him as "Bigby Rawlins", a broken man with a woman and kids he's trying hard to forget. Then he asks Mowgli how he managed to track him. Mowgli admits anyone but him would have given up after losing his trail in Russia. After all, Bigby didn't take any planes or boats out. But Mowgli knew Bigby well enough to know that he could never stay in Russia for long, since he'd never been able to master the language back in his war days. And since he was a Fable, and a particularly special one, Mowgli guessed that Bigby swam all the way across the Bering Strait. Bigby confirms this, adding that since he never got tired or cold, it was an enjoyable swim. He needed time to consider Prince Charming's offer, so he lets Mowgli talk to Sarah to make sure she doesn't know anything she shouldn't, while he fetched water from the river for tonight's supper.
Sarah asked Mowgli if Bigby was returning with him. Mowgli said he hoped so but then apologized. Sarah told him not to worry, that she always knew her place in the relationship was temporary, being Bigby's rebound. Mowgli told her he wouldn't be interfering if he didn't need Bigby for an important -- he stopped himself again. Sarah caught it, though. "Mission". She always knew there was something dangerous about him, believing he was a government secret agent of some kind. She tells Mowgli to take him and go, turning away so he wouldn't see her tears.
Mowgli waits outside all throughout the night while Bigby says his goodbyes. When he comes out, they leave for home together.

In the Homelands, at his small cottage, Geppetto wanders outside with a lantern, thinking he heard something. But it may have just been a change in the wind.

Late that night, Snow comes down from her room after hearing a noise. She finds the disembodied head of Colin waiting for her. She asks if there was more trouble coming, but he smiles and assures her that he didn't sense anything, he only came to say goodbye. She wasn't going to need him anymore. Things are going to get better for her now, and he was ready to move along to whatever happens next.