M.K. and Nod were walking in the forest, with a spritely little girl that was four skipping and giggling between them holding their hands. They smiled as she let go and ran off to look at some mushrooms. Four years after M.K. had graduated high school Nod had asked her to marry him. She had said yes and soon after they married they had a little girl with a strange gift. The power of the forest.
Around M.K.'s neck was a crystal the same color as her hoodie with a book in the center attached to a thread that only had enough length to have the gem hang slightly under her collarbone. Nod had one that was a light brown with a sword and bow and arrow in the center that was wrapped around his neck several times. Their daughter had one that was pure green with a fully bloomed lotus flower in the center, too long for her toddler body.
The necklaces weren't ordinary accessories. They were given to them by the queen and gave them the power to shrink to the size of a Leafman or Stomper. They meant to head to Moonhaven, but something happened that stopped them. The forest suddenly became dark but they thought that a cloud was blocking the sun. But after shrinking their daughter was clinging to Nod's leg in fear. That's when Ronin came.
He had arrived on his bird in full armor, a look of worry in his eyes. "You need to get out of here," he said as he dismounted. "What?" Nod said as he tried to calm the little girl that was starting to hurt his leg. "The Bogans are back," he said, and M.K. had to clutch her husbands arm to keep from falling. Before Ronin could explain, a wave of darkness was headed towards them, a blood curling shriek following.
The little girl screamed in terror as Ronin left to fight while Nod and M.K became big and started to run, their daughter in her mother's arms, clinging for dear life. The forest felt her fear and tried to hold off the darkness till they were in a safe place. "Mommy! Daddy!" the girl screamed, as it looked like the darkness was chasing her. The adults couldn't respond because they were trying to run to keep her safe.
Even after they reached their home the little girl still shook in fear, wanting to know what that was.
My mother and grandfather had always told me stories of these two inch tall people called the Leafmen since I was born. I believed in them for a while and would always go out into the forest with my mother and father to look for them. At least... I think I was with my father. I don't remember him. My mom says he was around when I was younger but had to leave for work for a while. Like for the rest of my life.
He never came back, and my mother says nothing more about him. Nether does my grandpa. Hi, I'm Lotus Flower. Friends and family call me Lotus or L.F. And when I said use to believe in the Leafmen, I meant it. I haven't looked for them or believed in them since I was, like, seven. My mom and grandpa still talk about them, but I just zone out. I'm fourteen for crying out loud! I don't have time for fairy tales.
I live in the forest in my grandfather's house in my mom's old room. My mother doesn't allow me in in her room like when I was a toddler anymore and whenever she goes into the forest alone she tells me not to follow. I feel like my whole life has been a secret. The only thing I remember about my dad was his callused yet soft hands and he had a reckless behavior. I think.
My mom always seemed to have dreams of memories, so says my granddad. Whenever she has them she looked like she had cried in her sleep or was in shock. I use to ask her but gave up after ten tries. Like I said, my life is one big secret made of other smaller secrets. I don't know which secret is bigger, who my dad is, where he is, what my mom and grandpa are hiding, or me. I think I'm a secret.
Science says that you inherit at least half of who your parents are and the rest is up to you on how their personalities are suppose to be used or how you make them into your own personality and what to add. But I've only known my mother and even she's half a secret to me. Maybe it wasn't science, maybe it was my own opinion. But anyway, I don't know my dad, my mother hides things... So who am I?
I am currently in my small room at my desk, my right hand drawing even though I wasn't thinking or really looking at my work, while my left petted a sunflower in a pot I had put on my desk a while back. There's a knock at my door but I don't look up. "Come in," I said. The door opened to reveal my mother in her normal clothes, a small smile on her face.
I had always wanted my mothers looks. Her red hair in a perfect pony tail with perfect bangs, faint freckles on me, her pale skin, her pine green eyes, her nose, even her clothes. But I wasn't that similar to her. I had her nose and eyes, but I had hair as brown as rich, moist soil, and it was long and curly with a swept to the left and a braid. As for my skin, I had a tan look with only a few freckles.
As for my clothes, I have a pink shirt on under a green jacket with a pair of purple pants on. I wore some boots because I went out into the forest a lot and the only accessory I have on is my necklace that I never take off. My mom says that my dad gave it to me when I was born. I never take it off because I thought that if I always wear it, then maybe my father would come back. Silly, right? But I still do it.
I remember that my mom is in the room so I got out of my thoughts and watch her sit on my bed. From where she is she looked at my drawing then back to me. "That's the best you've done all week," she said. I knew she was trying to create small talk but it never works with me. "Thanks," I say, going back to the drawing.
I only really saw my work after I finished it, but my hand knew that my drawing was finished because it couldn't think of anything else. Since I didn't know my parents personalities I don't have one. My friends think I have the habits of speaking what I think, talking about nature, getting good grades. But I think that these weren't a part of me, just things I do. Anything that seems like a talent, I don't know if they're a part of who I am.
Since I was done with the drawing I pinned it onto my mini billboard hanging over my desk. It had pictures of me when I was little, some "A+", some awards, and former drawings. The one I had just finished was of a big rock in the forest surrounded by water and had moss growing on it. I never knew where my mind got these ideas. It couldn't have been a dream, because I barely dream. And it couldn't be my imagination, because I don't have one yet.
My mother seemed to stare at that picture and I took the time to look at her. She was an adult but still dressed and looked like a teenager, but she also looked incomplete. She soon noticed that I was staring at her and turned to me but I just turned back to my desk, where a new piece of paper waited to be used. It was early in the morning for the last day of school. Probably why mom was in my room.
I went to school in the city, even though I hated it. The city was a place where they took nature for granted. That was the one thing I was sure that I liked, nature. Mom looked like she was about to say something, but there was a honk coming from outside that meant Larry was here with his cab to take me to school. I picked up my backpack, walked past my mother, and left the room.
Downstairs my grandfather was in his study writing some notes down beside the picture of a beetle he had caught yesterday. Ozzie got up from his dog bed and ran to lick me goodbye. I laughed as he kissed me and Grandpa wished me a good day at school. Mom came down in time as I opened the door to kiss my forehead goodbye. Saying goodbye, I opened the door to the cabs backseat.
When the door was fully closed and I was buckled, Larry drove off. I sighed as I watched the forest zoom by. I wish I knew who I was. And I also want to know more about my father and for my mother to stop hiding secrets. As Larry turned on the radio, I looked ahead, to the city that I would be free of for three months.
Nod flew down on his bird at the entrance of the palace. He dismounted and walked to the entrance, the plants moving to clear the way for him. He entered a room full of flowers and took off his helmet and kneeled. On a platform the queen had just finished talking to a woman before turning to him. "What do you have to report?" she asked as she walked down the steps to meet him.
"The Bogans have taken another part of the forest," Nod answered, still kneeling. "At this rate they'll reach us before the unexpected Pod Ceremony. Do we really have to do it?" The queen smiled at the Leafman and walked to a flower bud. "You know we have to. It's the only way," she said as she touched the bud, making it bloom.
"But-" "But nothing, Nod," the queen said gently as she stepped in front of him. "You knew the day would come. You will have to meet with her. Even if the outcome will be... intense. Understand?" The queen walked towards a door as Nod answered. "Yes, Your Majesty." The queen nodded and left the room, leaving Nod alone.
The last class of the day had just ended as I walked to my locker hugging my science notebook, math textbook, and sketch book to my chest. As I turned the nob to my locker, my friend Pam walked up to me. "Major boy drama," she says. I rolled my eyes and prepared for the gossip Pam would give me today. She knew I didn't really do anything with it, but she needs at least one person to tell.
Sometimes I wished I was like Pam. Perfectly curled blonde hair, sea blue eyes, pale skin, the ability to pull of a purple dress and tights, and to walk in heals without tripping. She was so bubbly and exciting that I wanted to be just like her, a total party girl.
As she spoke, we walked out of the building towards the cab with Larry in it. Before I got in, Pam asked me something. "So when's your party?" "The tenth of next month," I reminded her. That was the date of my birthday. "Kay. Text ya later," she said as I smiled goodbye and closed the door. "Good day?" Larry asked me, looking at me through the rearview mirror. "More or less," I answer with a shrug.
As he drove I told Lar about the plans for my birthday. I say to him that the cake would be red velvet with chocolate filling and frosting with ice-cream served with it. In the center would be a big, fully bloomed lotus flower with my candle stuck in its pollen. There would be pink, green, and white streamers hanging overhead. He gave his opinion that it would be great if they saved him a slice of cake.
When we arrived at my house I say goodbye to him and walk up the steps and enter the house. My mother was there in the hallway with one hand fingering he own necklace. "Put your stuff away and meet me in the forest," she said as she went around me and left. I shrugged as I went upstairs to my room and threw my bag on my bed.
I hurried to the forest but a few storm clouds came overhead. "Well, that's just great," I said as I continued to move through the forest, calling out for my mom. "Come on, Mom," I said annoyed as I heard thunder overhead. Something moving fast caught my eye as I stopped to catch my breath. I saw three, no, seven humming birds flying around me.
I get scared at the thought of me being lost came to me. The map, I think as I reach into my messenger bag I always bring hen I go into the forest. I pull out a mini map of the forest my grandpa gave me and opened it, only to have it blown out of my hands. "Nooooo!" I groan as the hummingbirds continued to fly around my and I try to shoo them away.
A drop of rain hits my head and I looked up to see that water would soon start pouring down. I spot a hole in a nearby tree and wish that I was small enough to stay in it till the rain cleared. Suddenly I a queasy feeling takes over me as my necklace starts to glow and drags me around. My feet are lifted off the grond and I scream as things fly around me and the forest becomes bigger.
I feel myself fall and my back hits the ground and I give it my all to not throw-up. I hear several thuds and as my vision blurs I see at least eight figures above me. Then my whole world goes dark.