Chapter Seven
I hadn't really given much thought to what I was wearing, but now that Nim had brought it up (ever so subtly: "You were wearing this the last time I saw you! This won't do!") I realized that I couldn't live in this hoody forever. It was already getting pretty dirty, what with running around a forest and riding birds and whatnot. To remedy the situation, Nim called in his personal seamstress, who, joy upon joys, was the biggest spider I have ever seen in my life. Living life the size of a quarter had upsides, but also a massive downside; Miss Nancy was twice my height and just one of her fangs was as long as my hands, finger tips to wrist.
Nod noticed the look of deathly horror on my face, and assured me that I was in no danger (after laughing a considerable amount after learning that Stompers were deathly afraid of spiders.) 'They're some of the most polite creatures you'll ever meet,' he told me, but I still wasn't convinced.
After taking my measurements, she scampered off to retrieve the needed materials, and I turned to face my entourage with a face like I'd just confronted a ghost.
"You're really telling me that, even though Stompers are so huge, they're afraid of SPIDERS!? Of all the things to be afraid of, spiders?" He just couldn't get over it, even when I 'playfully' punched his arm.
"Nancy couldn't hurt any forest folk, even if her life depended on it," Nim assured me. "And she's the best seamstress I've ever met. Quickest, too. I wouldn't be surprised if she walked through that door right-"
"Finished!" Miss Nancy came scampering back through the door way, several of her legs occupied with little bundles of what MK assumed was her new clothes. "As I was making these dear, I thought to myself, Nancy, you make too many green clothes! Too many! And with your hair, dear, green is just so played out." She reached a leg (arm?) out and brushed at a stray lock of my red hair, as if admiring it. "So I thought, why not red? I know it's a risk with ginger hair, but I think, with your complexion, you can pull it off!" Taking one of the bundles and unwrapping it, she revealed a shining red jacket, obviously spider's silk, with golden trim and small, intricate embroidery at the hem.
"This…it's amazing," I said, too much in awe of the delicate handiwork, and the speed at which it was produced, to care that she was a spider anymore.
"Why, thank you, dear! It's nice to be appreciated for your work, you know! Lord knows Nim doesn't appreciate me enough." She gave the glowworm a sly smile, and Nim mock-pouted.
"I'll buy ya a new nest," he said, jokingly. "Ten new nests! A hundred! I appreciate ya, Nancy, I really do!"
"We'll see," she said, laughing, and handed me the other bundles. I started to unwrap them myself, revealing simple brown leggings and a white undershirt. The simplicity of the other clothes didn't matter; the jacket was really the only thing that needed admiration. She also handed me a pair of simple brown boots, and as I stood, admiring the garments, Nod and Ronin sat, unaware that I was merely waiting for them to leave to get changed. Nancy scuttled off with Nim as he went to 'gather and prep the crowd', and still they sat. Men.
"Ahem." I cleared my throat awkwardly, and rocked back and forth on my heels. Realization hit both of them simultaneously, and they both stood up, heading for the doorway. Ronin turned the corner right away, but Nod lingered, staring at me with a goofy smile. He only lingered a moment, though, as Ronin's hand fell on his shoulder and pulled him out of the doorway after him. I let out a small laugh; he was such a doofus sometimes. Slipping out of my hoody and skirt, I quickly changed into the clothing I'd been made, and only as I was slipping the jacket over my shoulders did I realize how perfect everything fit. That Nancy was no joke; she really was the best seamstress.
"Ready yet?" Nod called as I was slipping on my boots.
"Yeah, you can come back in now," I called back, and I straightened up just as the two of them appeared in the doorway. "What do you think?" I said, shoving my hands in the little pockets of the jacket. "Did she do an awesome job, or did she do an awesome job?"
"You look amazing," Nod said, same goofy grin adorning his face.
"Miss Nancy was right, red does suit you," Ronin said, walking over and leaning down to inspect the intricate embroidery. I was about to thank him, but just then, a burst of applause floated through the tree and into our little holding room. So the announcement had been made. That meant it was my cue.
The archive moths had been flitting about over our heads for a while now, from room to room, back and forth, but three specific moths floated to my side then, and tugged on my sleeve, beckoning me in the direction of the main balcony.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," I said, somewhat dismally, and shot a worried look to Nod.
"Knock 'em dead!" He winked at me, but I couldn't even muster up a nervous laugh in response. All I could do was attempt to swallow the lump in my throat and make my way down the passageway, into the open. I halted just behind the curtain of lichen, hesitating for just a tad too long. My insides were churning and I just wanted to close my eyes and block everything out; obviously that wasn't going to happen. Seeing my silhouette through the lichen, Nim stuck one of his arms through and, grabbing my hand, pulled me through. Dumbfounded, I stumbled into the public eye, and my appearance was met by an eruption of applause.
"Here she is, folks! You know 'er, you love 'er, she's the girl with enough guts to take on a horde of Boggans AND win; I give you MK!" Stepping back, the glowworm motioned for me to step up to the front of the balcony and address the crowd. Smiling nervously and shuffling forward, I was a little overwhelmed by the noise. I really was missed, I guessed. I suppose I didn't realize just how much I'd done for them, and how much they appreciated me for it. But I wasn't even able to speak until a good two minutes had passed and the cheering died down.
"Uh, hey," I finally said, voice shaking slightly. I realized I'd have to shout to be heard; Forest Folk didn't have microphones, which I should have guessed already. My stammered greeting was met with good natured laughter, though, and a few 'hey's from the crowd in reply. "I, uh, I know you've all been wondering where I'd gone, after that night, and, uh," I paused, wiping my hands on my leggings, as they'd grown sweaty from the nerves. "I just wanted to say, sorry, for disappearing like that. I just needed time to think, I guess. One day, you think you're looking at a forest full of plants and the next you're the size of a pea and realize you're actually surrounded by a bunch of little people!" This elicited more laughs, and my nerves started to calm. This wasn't so bad.
"Are you back for good!?" a lone voice from the crowd called out, and was followed by a bunch of 'yeah!'s and 'Are you?'s
"Yes," I answered, nodding once, and again, it was met by raucous applause. Smiling behind me, Nim stepped forward and called for the band to start playing again, and only then did Nod emerge from the lichen curtain.
"You're such a natural public speaker," he said, smirking at me as he walked up. The audience was back to their party, and only a few eyes still lingered on the balcony. "You should do it as a living."
"Shut up!" Taking his helmet from under his arm, I shoved it on his head and pushed it over his eyes, and we both broke into laughter.
"Hey! Jeez, this is what I get for giving you a compliment? I'd better never insult you, I might not live to tell the tale!" Tipping it up just enough to peek at me from under the rim, he smiled that crooked, cocky smile of his, and I just couldn't resist. I knew I was still in plain sight, but I leaned forward then, and pecked his lips.
"Whoa whoa whoa, hey!" I really wasn't aware that slugs could move that fast, but it was quite sudden that Mub's voice broke the kiss up, and spinning around, I saw him and Grub make their way up the side of the center tree trunk and onto the balcony. Slithering over to get right inbetween Nod and I, he stretched up to stare Nod right in the face with his stalky eyeballs. "What do you think YOU'RE doing, huh Leafboy?"
"That's leaf- ahem, LeafMAN to you!" He was so caught off guard, that his reply was weak and feeble at first, but clearing his throat, he stood a little taller and tried to stare the slug down as he finished his reply.
"Ooo, what a big man, mackin' on another man's girl!" he said, and I had to stifle my giggle. "What, you think she's interested in THAT," he motioned to Nod, "when she could have aaaalll this?" Swiveling around, his scowl melted into a smile as he turned to me. "Is he botherin' you, MK? Cuz, I'mma 'bout to show this boy what happens, when you mess with Mub the slug, and his main squeeze!"
"Pardon my compatriot, he's a still a little compromised from the stress of the battle." Grub came up, at a slower pace, and nodded in greeting to us. "It's good to have you back, MK. I was so worried. And…" Leaning in, he held up a hand and whispered, "I haven't gotten Mub to shut up about you since the battle."
"Way to back me up, Grub," Mub mumbled, and at this I had to laugh; I had definitely missed these two. "So, baby girl, what kept you so long? I was startin' to get worried!"
"Like I said, I just had to sort through…everything." I shrugged; there really wasn't an adequate way to explain everything that had gone on in my head during my absence. Mub raised an eyebrow, not entirely buying it, but I was thankful when he didn't push the matter too much.
"Well, next time you got something on your mind, you come to me."
"I'm sure she'll keep that in mind," Nod interjected, and smirked at the nasty look Mub shot him. Narrowing his beady little eyes, the slug pointed to his eyes, then at Nod and back again; I supposed this was a universal 'I'm watching you' signal, seeing as even Stompers did it. As Grub caught his companions' attention with a query about something or other, Nod took my hand and tugged me towards the edge of the balcony. "C'mon, while he's distracted! Since our last dance was sort of interrupted by…everyone, you owe me another one!"
"I'm not sure that's how it works," I said, half-joking, but I knew that wouldn't convince him. Stepping up onto the railing, he helped me up, and just as we leapt off, into the crowd below, I heard Mub, who'd slithered to the railing to see, yell: "Stealing a dude's girl while he isn't looking! That's low, bro! That's low!"
"Man, he is delusional," Nod muttered after we landed, pulling me close so as not to be jostled by the crowd.
"Delusional, but adorable," I corrected, chuckling to myself.
"Yeah, well, he DOES have good taste in women." This would have been really cute of him to say, had he not coupled it with the cheesiest eyebrow waggle I'd ever seen.
"Ug!" Shoving him away playfully, he took hold of my hands and pulled me in again. "You're such a weirdo!"
"Yeah, but I'm your weirdo."
"I guess you are."