M.K. held the pod in her lap as she and Ronin sat atop their bird as it hopped from branch to branch. They would briefly fly through the forest, and then land on a branch to survey the path ahead. Nod landed awkwardly next to them.
M.K. gestured to Nod. “Why is he even with us?” she asked Ronin. “He’s not helping.”
Ronin turned to her. “Well, when he’s not being an idiot, he’s a pretty decent flier. Could be one of the best. Plus, his father was my friend. So I do what I can. Many leaves, one tree.”
“What does that mean?” asked M.K.
“We’re all individuals, but part of a community,” Ronin explained.
“Maybe you’re part of it. But I’m kind of on my own,” M.K. said sadly.
“No one’s on their own,” Ronin said. He pointed to Nod. “Not even him.”
Moments later, the small group flew down and perched near a massive, old oak tree. It was hollow, thick, grand, and welcoming, as if its branches seemed to be trying to embrace the whole forest. Huge numbers of Jinn filed into the entrance of the giant tree.
“Wow, this Nim Galuu seems very popular,” said M.K.
“I thought this was a secret mission!” Grub said, a bit upset. “How many people did the queen tell about this?”
“Everyone’s worried,” said Ronin, “so they’ve come to Nim’s.”
“So he’s like the wise old man of the forest?” M.K asked.
“More like the crazy uncle,” responded Nod.
M.K. looked at him curiously as she, Nod, Ronin, Mub, and Grub entered the tree.
Inside, the Jinn were very worried.
“I hear the ceremony was attacked!”
“I hear the Boggans are taking over the forest! It’s gonna be bad!”
“Nim Galuu will know what to do!” cried one of the Jinn.
Just then, a band began to play some mysterious music. A shadowy figure shrouded in fog rose from below. It was Nim Galuu, a caterpillar with a magician’s flair. He was the go-to guy for reassurance, revelations, and a great party.
“Prepare to see your worries disappear!” exclaimed Nim. He waved his hand, making a moth disappear. “I know rumors have been flying!” He raised another hand, and the moth flew from his sleeve. Magic! “But the truth is never as bad as it seems. I have just returned from . . . the Rings of Knowledge!”
The crowd ooohed.
“Where every memory, every event that ever happened in the forest is recorded in these scrolls.” He waved his hands and, magically, scrolls appeared in them. Just as he looked like he was about to read from one of them, he cued the band and they picked up the tempo as he sang:
Listen party poopers, I’ve got something to say.
Dry your weeping eyes, we’re gonna be OK.
So you don’t have to worry about a doggone thing.
The Rings of Knowledge know everything.
The scrolls never lie and, honey, neither does Nim.
It’s right here in my hands all six of them.
So tuck your little fears and put them right into bed.
It says right here that the queen has . . .
Nim unfurled the scroll and read the word “disappeared” to himself.
Nim started to sweat. He did not want his guests to know she had disappeared. The music vamped, waiting for him to get to his big finale . . . and the crowd started to get restless, wondering what was going on.
The backup singers started singing, “Dry your weeping eyes, we’re gonna be fine.”
With the crowd distracted, Nim ran backstage. There he saw Ronin. “Ronin, did you hear about the queen? This is terrible!”
“I know—,” said Ronin.
But Nim interrupted him and continued, “We gotta do something. We gotta keep everyone from freaking out.”
“Yes,” Ronin replied. “That’s why—”
But before Ronin could finish his sentence, Nim continued, “We gotta make sure the royal pod is safe . . . far away and . . .”
Just then, Nim saw the pod in M.K.’s arms.
“What did you bring it here for?!” said Nim.
M.K. and Ronin looked at each other. “The queen’s last words to me were ‘bring the pod to Nim Galuu,’” M.K. said.
“Did she say anything else? Specific instructions? Maybe a note?” asked Nim.
“Those were her LAST WORDS before she disappeared. I thought you were magic?” said M.K.
“Magic might be stretching it,” he replied. “I’m charismatic. Possibly charming.”
Perking up, M.K. flat out asked, “Do you know what to do with the pod or not?”
“Not a clue,” replied Nim. M.K. shot him a look and he continued, “But I do know where to look it up. Follow me!”
Nim led the group down a tunnel lit only by glowworms. They emerged into a vast space deep within the tree. All around were ancient rings stuffed with scrolls.
“The Rings of Knowledge!” Grub exclaimed. “Is everything that happens really recorded here?”
“Oh, yeah,” answered Nim.
“And you’ve read them all?” asked M.K.
“I’ve skimmed them,” Nim said with a shrug.
“So is this event being recorded?” Grub asked.
“Of course,” answered Nim.
“Is this?” asked Grub, this time making a silly, stretchy face.
This went on for a while until Nim tuned out the snail and continued looking for the scroll. “Blooming a pod . . . got to go way back for that.”
When Nim finally found the right scroll, he unwound it and scanned it. “Okay, let’s see. Pod, care of . . . must keep moist . . . oh, here we go. Well, the good news is, once the queen chooses it, it’s going to bloom no matter what.”
Everyone thought that was great news.
“But,” interrupted Nim, “it has to open tonight, in the light of the full moon, when it’s at its highest peak. Mentions it a bunch of times.”
“What happens if it blooms out of the moonlight?” asked Grub.
Nim read down the scroll to the jagged bottom edge. “Unclear. The last part’s missing. Termites have been a problem.” Then he brightened. “So, here I thought we were doomed! Celebration, anyone?”
Everyone left, except M.K.
“Wait,” she said to Nim, who stopped to listen. “This is going to sound weird, but I’m not from this world. I thought maybe something in these scrolls could tell me how to get home.”
“The scrolls don’t tell us the future,” Nim said. “They only guide us with the knowledge of the past. Oh! That’s a great line . . .”
“So you can’t help me?” asked M.K.
“I didn’t say that,” replied Nim. He handed her an old, dusty scroll.
She unrolled it partway and found it covered in an ancient script. “I can’t read this,” M.K. told him.
“It’s just dusty,” said Nim, with a twinkle in his eye. “Blow it off.”
So M.K. blew on the scroll, and a big cloud of dust flew off, transforming into an image—an image of Queen Tara!
“It’s you!” M.K. cried.
M.K. was astonished at the figure of Tara standing in front of her.
“Come closer,” the queen beckoned.
Suddenly, a giant shadow hovered over them. M.K. turned to discover a giant-sized version of herself!
“It’s a memory,” M.K. realized. The memory of when she first stumbled upon this world of the Jinn.
“If you can hear me now, it means you got to Nim’s,” said the queen. “Today’s not going the way I planned. The pod needs you.”
“You don’t understand,” M.K. said desperately. “I have to get home. This has nothing to do with me.”
“You’re here for a reason,” Queen Tara said. “Maybe you don’t see the connections yet, but just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there. I know you’re scared, but stay with the pod. Be with it when it blooms. And then, you’ll get back what you’ve given.”
The wind picked up, and the image of the queen began to fade again.
“Well, THAT was intense!” Nim exclaimed.
M.K. smiled to herself. “There’s a way to get home. I have to be with the pod when it blooms, and that’s tonight. Thank you!”
Nim smiled back. “I’m glad you were paying attention, because she started talking and woo . . .” He kept talking, but M.K. wasn’t listening. She was filled with hope—finally.
When Ronin heard the news, he sprang into action. He pulled Nod aside and gave him very specific instructions: “We’re not done until the pod blooms. I’m sending word to the Leafmen, so I need you to stay here and keep an eye on the pod.”
A short while later, Ronin and Nim stood in the treetop with a group of fireflies.
“Let the Leafmen know that the pod is safe, and we’re going to bloom it here,” Ronin instructed.
Nim looked at the fireflies. “You heard him. Go tell ’em, boys!”
The fireflies launched into the sky to deliver their messages to the Leafmen.
Down below, Nod noticed M.K. returning from the Rings of Knowledge. He approached her. “Look, I’m thinking I didn’t make the best first impression.”
M.K. smiled. “It’s okay. I’ve never had a guy fight a mouse for me before.”
Relieved, Nod smiled, too. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“Not exactly,” replied M.K. “But I have some time before I go back. Anything I should do?”
Nod grinned again. “You should give me a second chance.”
M.K. agreed and held out her hand. “Deal.” And to her surprise, Nod pulled her out of the window.
Once outside, Nod held a finger to his lips and pointed to a few moving shapes. They were barely visible through the thick fog. When it did clear, M.K. was stunned to see the shapes were actually a herd of deer. From her perspective, they were gigantic.
“Whoa,” she said, astounded.
The deer passed by the pair, beautifully and slowly, before drifting back into the fog.
Nod smiled at her. “Put your arms around me,” he told her. And soon they rode a deer’s antlers while it wandered in the forest. They had no idea that in just a few moments, Mandrake would make his attack.