Roz carries the hungry gosling through the forest, and the animals, curious about why the feared “monster” has a hatchling, briefly overcome their fear. After Roz explains her problem, a frog, a squirrel, and a magpie direct Roz toward the beaver pond in search of help.

At the pond, Roz finds an old gray goose. Roz cheerfully asks for help, but the goose becomes suspicious when Roz admits that a terrible accident killed the gosling’s family and that Roz caused it. Roz explains that Roz does not eat anything, and the goose concludes the gosling must have belonged to another flock because no one in the goose’s flock is missing.

Roz asks the goose to take the gosling, but the goose refuses and says that because the accident was Roz’s fault, Roz must make things right. When the gosling calls Roz “Mama,” the goose tells Roz that Roz must act like the gosling’s mother if Roz wants the gosling to survive. Roz accepts that mothering will require feeding, sheltering, protecting, teaching, loving, and preparing the gosling for life.

The goose instructs Roz to feed the gosling mashed grass, and the gosling eats his first bites. The goose introduces herself as Loudwing and asks for the gosling’s name. After inspecting the tiny hatchling, Loudwing warns that the gosling is a runt and may not survive, especially with Roz as his mother, but suggests the name Brightbill because of his unusually bright bill. Roz accepts the name.

Roz decides that she and Brightbill will live near the pond so Brightbill can be close to other geese. Loudwing corrects Roz’s plan to live in a tree, explaining that a gosling must live on the ground. Loudwing then sends Roz to Mr. Beaver for help building a large home and advises Roz to be friendly, adding that Mr. Beaver owes Loudwing a favor.