From far away, it looked just like a flock of birds swooping around trees, happily flitting through the forest. But a closer look would reveal that a race was underway!

A sparrow rocketed past with Nod aboard. He piloted the bird skillfully, moving up through a pack of other birds, each with a jockey aboard. They all jostled, bumped, and snapped with their beaks during the dangerous race. Lining the branches were shady-looking Jinn, who were placing bets.

A couple of rough jockeys pulled up to Nod.

Nod shouted, “I’m telling you this is where I belong!”

“You belong in the back of the pack,” yelled one of the jockeys.

“I mean racing—the best man wins, no other rules. Nobody telling you what to do,” Nod shouted.

Another jockey cried out, “You talk too much. And you’re not winning this race!”

Nod just smiled, then shouted, “Sorry, can’t hear you, going too fast!” And he darted ahead.

“Final lap!” called the announcer.

One of the racers caught up to Nod. “You know what will happen if you win?”

“Yeah,” said Nod. “You’ll lose.”

With that, Nod pulled ahead and won the race. The crowd cheered.

Unfortunately, as soon as the race was over, Nod found himself getting roughed up by a couple of nasty jockeys. A frowning, toad-like Jinn named Bufo watched.

“Nod, you know I like you,” began Bufo.

“I like you, too,” Nod said.

“And yet, you don’t do what we agreed,” said Bufo. “We agreed that you would lose, but then you won.”

“I can’t help it if I’m fast,” replied Nod. “If you want me to lose, you’ve got to give me some better competition.”

Bufo smiled. Sort of. “I admire your independent spirit, Nod. I’ll miss that.” He turned to one of his men. “Feed him to something. A snake would be good.”

Nod’s eyes grew wide. He didn’t really want to be some animal’s lunch.

“Nah, snakes just swallow you whole,” said a voice.

It was Ronin!

“Now, if you put him in a hornet’s nest, that’s a show!” Ronin said, his sword drawn.

Bufo rolled his eyes. “Oh, look. It’s Ronin, defender of the weak. Pooper of parties. Here to ruin the fun.”

“I didn’t ruin all of it,” corrected Ronin. “I let you hit him.”

“Twice,” Nod added.

Ronin motioned to Bufo. “Hop along now, little froggy.”

Bufo and his men did just that. They all knew they were no match for Ronin.

Once they were gone, Nod immediately tried to get the upper hand. “Are you here to beg me to come back? Because I’m not going to do it. You said some very mean things.”

“I didn’t come for you,” Ronin said. “The Boggans attacked, and the pod is in great danger.”

Nod froze. “Ronin, I’m sorry. I should have been there.”

“This isn’t about you. I’m just here to get birds,” said Ronin. “If we don’t get the pod to Nim Galuu’s, the forest will die.”

In that instant, Nod finally wanted to help. It was time for him to grow up and take on some responsibility. “Let me grab my saddle.”

“What? No, I didn’t ask for help,” said Ronin.

“Really? Because it sounds like you could use a rider with my—”

“Ability to absorb punches?” finished Ronin. “The situation’s desperate. Let’s not make it hopeless.”

Just then, M.K. yelled. Ronin and Nod turned to see her upside down in slime and tangled in the bird’s reins. Ronin and Nod looked at one another and instantly agreed that Nod would come along on the journey.

A few minutes later, the group was on the move. Ronin steered his hummingbird with Mub and Grub riding with him. Behind them was a sparrow with Nod and M.K., who wore the pod like a backpack.

Nod looked back at M.K., instead of in front of him. “Hey, I’m Nod, by the way.”

“Hi,” replied M.K. “Could you just face the way the bird’s driving?”

“Don’t worry, she practically flies herself,” said Nod.

Ronin’s stern voice interrupted them. “Nod, perch your bird.”

In front of them was a vast meadow, laid to waste. Dead trees, brown grass, and ashen earth covered the once-fertile ground.

“What did that?” asked M.K.

“Mandrake,” said Ronin. “He’s on the march for Moonhaven. This is what the entire forest will look like unless this pod blooms.”

M.K. looked at the pod, now fully appreciating the importance of what they were doing.

Above, a lone starling circled the sky, a Boggan mounted on it.

“We have to go around,” Ronin said, pulling his bird’s reins.

“Just for one scout?” asked Nod. He just wanted to go through the meadow.

“Ever see just one Boggan?” Ronin pointed out.

Nod ignored Ronin’s warning and flew out into the meadow.

Drawing the attention of the camouflaged Boggans, the meadow then exploded with starlings, rising from the underbrush, a Boggan mounted on every one. Nod and Ronin pulled back on their birds’ reins and then dove toward the ground.

As soon as the group hit the ground, they hopped off their birds and led them on foot under the cover of the brush. Ronin shepherded them toward the safety of a hollow log.

Just then, a starling dive-bombed Nod and M.K., cutting them off from the others. The Boggan on the bird’s back shrieked.

It was M.K.’s first glimpse of a Boggan up close, and she was paralyzed with fear. The Boggan aimed an arrow. Was this the end for M.K.?