“What did the queen say to you?” Ronin asked M.K.

M.K. furrowed her eyebrows. “Something about glue. Or a canoe.”

“Nim Galuu,” Ronin said.

“The scrollkeeper?” asked Ronin’s lieutenant, thinking of the wise man of that name.

Ronin thought for a minute and then gave instructions to his lieutenant. “I’ll take the pod to Nim’s. Mandrake will be looking for a cluster, not a Leafman traveling alone. You and the others go back to Moonhaven. Keep everyone safe.”

As the other Leafmen took off, M.K. turned to Ronin. “Who are you people? Is this some kind of reenactment or something?” She spotted a jumbo-sized honeybee pass by. “That’s a big bug.”

“It’s about average, actually,” Ronin said.

M.K. laughed. “Then I’m tiny?” She looked around and then the truth dawned on her. “Oh no. Oh no. No, no, no!”

“Look, I’m not sure why the queen brought you here either,” said Ronin. “But she gave you that pod, so you’re going to have to come with me.” He reached for her, but she pulled away.

“Make me big,” said M.K.

“Excuse me?” said Ronin.

“I’m not going anywhere until you make me big again!” insisted M.K.

“I don’t do magic. Talk to Nim Galuu about that. He might know something,” said Ronin. He tried to grab the pod from her, but Mub stepped in his way.

“Whoa, whoa, not so fast, soldier boy,” said Mub. “You do not yank on a pod!”

M.K. couldn’t believe her ears. “Talking snails!”

“Actually, he’s a snail, I’m a slug,” Mub clarified. “No shell over here, baby. It just slows me down.”

Grub piped up. “We are the official pod caretakers, sir.”

“It can’t survive without us,” said Mub.

“We keep it moist,” said Grub.

“Moist is what we do!” Mub added proudly.

“You’re kidding,” said Ronin.

Mub and Grub didn’t say a word.

“You’re not kidding?” Ronin sighed. “Fine.”

Ronin turned to M.K. and said, “Better get on the bird. Good seats are going fast.”

“Bird,” said M.K., as she caught sight of their mode of transportation. “Of course.” She climbed aboard the bird, wondering if the day could possibly get any weirder.