♪ Who's gonna help when the danger overwhelms ♪
♪ And the mysteries are piled high? ♪
♪ Who's gonna be around, never gonna let you down ♪
♪ When you're on a wild ride?
♪ Your friends are always by your side ♪
♪ It's Craig of the Creek, he's gonna save the day ♪
♪ It's Craig of the Creek
♪♪
[ Pencil scribbling ]
♪♪
[ Giggles, snorts ] Cry, cry, cry, cry!
Cry emojiiiis!
Barf emoji! Haha!
Barf, barf, barf, barf, barf, barf, barf, barf,
barf, barf, baaaarf!
[ Thud ]
Ugh, Wildernessa.
Wildernessa!
Huh?
Hi! Hello! Do you need my help?
Oh, can I slay anything for you?
Shh, shh, shh, shh![ Sniffs ]
We're tracking a scent, an unfamiliar scent...
[ Thunk! ]...from an unfamiliar animal that I spotted in the creek.
Tracking down a wild beast? [ Gasps ]
Sounds like you need a warrior.
Capturing a wild animal?
Aren't you supposed to be a protectorof nature?
Craig, why am I not surprised you don't understand?
If this animal is not native to the creek, it's clearly lost
and must be returned to its natural habitat.
You really don't know anything about animals.
Nuh-unh! I know plenty.
Isn't that right, Mortimer?
[ Teeth clenched ] You were supposed to be my wingman.
Cheesesticks has lost the scent.
How am I going to track down this animal?
[ Cellphone chimes ]
Hmm...
Introducing keeper of tomes, master of tales --
[ Singsong voice ] Stacks!
And this is Wildernessa.
We know the same amount about animals.
It's a pleasure to meet you, Wildernessa.
Kelsey, why did you bring me to this graveyard of trees?
Stacks has read basically every book in here.
If anyone has information on your mystery animal, it's her.
Describe the creature. I'm up for a challenge.
Okay, it's got a long, furry body and tiny, stubby legs,
wide eyes, short claws, and it's about this long.
[ Zoom! ]
Stacks: Aha!
According to this, it sounds like you're describing a ferret,
a domestic relative of the European polecat.
They're also native to...
Both: ...the prairies of the Midwest!
Ha! I'm impressed that a tree-killer such as yourself
would be so knowledgeable about animals.
Stacks, will you accompany me
on this search-and-rescue expedition?
Oh, Stacks is pretty much just a library kid,
so I don't think she --I'll go with you!
What, really?
Perfect. Now let us leave this place.
I feel myself becoming more civilized with each passing second.
Pfft! Glad we're free of Wildernessa.
Wildernessa, wait!
Wait, wait, wait!
I was thinking I could come along, too. [ Chuckles ]
After all, six eyes are better than four.
That sounds like a great idea!
With Craig and JP, that would make 10 eyes.
What do you think, Wildernessa?
Sure, I guess, though I doubt Craig would be of any help.
I know tons about animals!Yeah, he knows some stuff.
That's why him and JP should go off on their own.
And I'll just go with you. Cool? Cool.
Okay, bye!
I'll show her who knows about animals.
So, according to this, the black-footed ferret's
natural prey are prairie dogs, but here, they might snack on
mice and voles that live near water.
I suggest we search along the bank of the creek -- aah!
[ Clatter ] Stacks! Are you all right?
I may not have considered how heavy these books would be.
[ Laughs ] [ Laughs ]
While you may have the cunning of a fox,
you have the grace of a newborn baby deer.
Wow, no one has ever called me that before.
[ Laughs ] That wasn't exactly a compliment.
Come on, I'll let you ride on Cheesesticks.
Wow, I've never met anyone so in tune with an animal before.
[ Chirps, groans ]
Oh, I mean besides you two.
[ Both groan ]
This is the perfect way to prove my animal know-how
to Wildernessa.
Okay, and how do you expect to lure a ferret here?
I lured youhere, didn't I?
[ Gasps ] You're right!
Also, I'm an expert on the world's most realistic
cartoon ferret, Slide the Ferret!
The perfect way to lure a ferret
is with Slide's favorite food, pastrami on rye.
All right, this trail of sandwiches will lead the ferret
right to our trap.
[ Clink! ]
Now all we do is wait.
[ Sniffing ]
You know, I -- I-I've never actually tried pastrami.
[ Chuckles ] Me neither.
A little nibble couldn't hurt, right?
[ Chomp! ]
Oh-oh-oh-ho-ho!
M-Maybe I should try it, you know,
just, like, a little bite.
[ Gargling ]
[ Groaning ]
Can't believe we ate the whole trail.
Okay, I got another plan.
Hmm...
It's a burrow and some fresh footprints!
[ Thud ]
Everyone, keep your eye out!
Pretty high chance of mushroom monsters in this area.
Hey, so what's the deal with the mask?
Stacks!
I'm so sorry, Wildernessa.
I'm sure whatever led you to wear that mask
was deeply personal, and you're --Sure, I'll you my backstory.
Really?
I was 5, still of the world of man
and very into teddy bears, especially Señor Miel,
who my abuela gave me for my birthday.
But then my parents brought home Cheesesticks,
who also had a fondness for ositos.
Cheesesticks tore Señor Miel to pieces, and when I saw his
fluffy insides strewn across the living room,
I realized for the first time that real animals are wild.
So I wear this mask to always remember that truth.
Whoa. Whoa.
So, [Gasps] why is he called Cheesesticks?
What's thatstory? Come on, give me the deets!
That's personal, Kelsey.
[ Tink! ]
I used to be obsessed with stuffed animals.
Los ponía en un círculo alrededor y les leía libros,
aunque no pudiera leer.
[ Laughs ] Yo los hacía pelear.
[ Groans ]
So, in the comics,
Slide the Ferret has a crush on Glide the Ferret.
She's a thieving scamp.
My plan -- to lure this ferret in
with a Glide the Ferret puppet.
Aww, cute!
But what if this ferret we're trying to catch
crushes on guy ferrets?
Good point.
[ High-pitched voice ] Cuuuute!
[ Gruff voice ] Huh, no ferret.
I think I know the problem.
These are only two types of ferrets.
The world is full of all sorts of ferrets!Yeah, you're right.
We should try to represent all ferrets.
Hmm, still no ferret.
[ Sniffs ]
Maybe we should have washed these socks.
[ Normal voice ] Oh, Wildernessa's gonna think
I'm an idiot.
Who cares what she thinks?
If we're gonna catch a ferret, we sure didn't do it
because we care what someone else thinks about us.
We should be doing it because we care about ferrets.
[ Cellphone chimes ]
Kelsaaaay!
♪♪
Stacks: Kelsey.
We found our wild beast!
[ Sniffs ]
We've got to act now.
We should soothe it by making the sounds
of its natural habitat -- the grasslands of the Midwest.Yeah.
I'll make the sounds of the winds whipping through the field.
Whew, whew, whew, whew, whew, whew, whoosh, whoooosh!
How about some birds? Squuuuawk, squawk!
And some crickets! Cree, cree! Cree, cree!
And the sounds of a gentle rain. Pff-shaaaw!
And now, the earthworms come out to play.
Aaaaa...Kelsey, wait!
...aaaaaaah! [Grunts] Gotcha!
Hey, ah, ah! Ah, ah, ah!
Ah, hoo, ha, hoo, ah, ah, ah!
[ Ferret squeaking ]Aah! Aah! Ooh! Ah!
-[ Hisses ] -Aah!
[ Gasps ] Quick! Cheesesticks, after it!
Stacks: Why did you do that?
We were going to catch the ferret,
and you ruined our Midwestern soundscape.
That's because you ruined my quest!
Wildernessa is supposed to be myfriend.
I brought her to you so you could help us,
but then you just took my spot on the quest.
Wildernessa was supposed to ask meon the adventure,
not youuuu.
Ooh, wait, I mean...
So I'm not allowed to go out on a quest?
Someone finally invites me, and I was supposed to say no?No, I-I just...
You share your innermost emojis with me,
but you never invite me out on adventures
because I'm just your book friend.
No, no, no! I-It's not like that! I-I --
I see it. Let's go, go, go!
Ta-da!
It took all my building know-how,
but I constructed an exact replica of the final level
from "Slide the Ferret 3."
He won't be able to resist running up these loops and hoops
and right into this shoe-box,
trapping him safely and humanely.
Craig, you've outdone yourself this time.
It's time for...
Creek Zone, Act 1!
There it goes!
No! [Grunts] You get back here and do the course!
[ Panting ]Slide: Come on, Craig.
Huh? Catch me, and you'll prove Wildernessa wrong.
♪♪
Aaaaaaaaaaah!
I got you, buddy.
-JP! -Let's get him!
[ Grunts ]JP, look out!
Avenge me-eeeee!
Ah! Mm!
♪♪
Oh-aah!
♪♪
Ha! Got him.
Looks like you do know a thing or two about animals,
but barely.
Thanks, but I only did this because I like ferrets.
Hmm, looks like this little fella belongs to Elder Mark.
You up for another journey, Stacks?
Uh, I better not.
Like all good books, I should probably
return to the library.Stacks, wait.
I-I shouldn't have said that back there.
I didn't realize I was being so selfish until I said it.
You're more than just a book friend.
Those crying emojis -- those are real tears.
Barfing emojis -- real barfs.
And the heart emojis -- they're real hearts.
You're really, really special to me.
Yeah, well...
you're special to me, too.
Barf emoji? [ Laughs ]
Barf emoji.
So, shall we return this little fella to his home?
Hey, I caught him.
If Elder Mark is giving a reward,
I should get a fair share.Yeah.
And I'm a little helicopter.
Onward?
Onward!
♪ When it's time to go to bed
♪ I know I don't have to feel alone ♪
♪ 'Cause I'll see you tomorrow
♪ At the creek
Just like I drew it.