Epic return ch 2
Sorry it took a while. Thanks so much for reading, favoriting, following, and/or reviewing! This chapter is dedicated to you awesome people! Sorry it's a bit short but there is more to come!
Chapter 2: missing things
By the time they arrived at Moonhaven, Clover had given Jack a run down on everything that had happened since last summer. MK marveled once again at how quickly Jack was able to take everything in.
Upon landing everyone was quick to realize that the whole palace was in a panic.
"What's going on?" Nod asked a passing leafman.
"Sir, Jinn and leafmen have been disappearing, Queen Anne has ordered all remaining leafmen to meet in the throne room, sir." He answered after a salute to Nod.
"Right, come on MK." Nod pulled MK along with him, Clover and Jack followed after them. Soon they were in the throne room. As soon as the young queen saw Nod and MK she rushed over and hugged MK tightly.
"I'm so glad you're here." She said.
"It's good to see you." MK returned the hug. After Queen Anne finished hugging MK she faced Nod and the others, who all bowed, although it took Jack a second to register that this young flower person was a queen.
"You may rise." Anne said, remembering her etiquette classes.
"Your majesty, I heard what happened, has there been any new developments?" Nod asked.
"Just people disappearing. At first we thought it was boggins but there wasn't any rot left behind, just massive spiderwebs." Anne explained.
"Webs?" Clover asked.
"Where's Ronin?" MK asked.
"He's right here." Ronin said walking through the doors. He swept the queen a bow before launching into his report.
"Any sign of my mom?" Anne asked once he was done.
"I'm afraid none yet your majesty but we won't stop the search." Ronin said as gently as he could. The young queen bit her lip, wringing her hands in worry.
"It'll be ok." MK comforted, pulling Anne into a side hug.
"My queen, you've been up all night fretting. Please, if not for your own sake, then for the sake of the forest, please go rest. I will personally alert you to any new information we uncover." Ronin urged the young queen. Queen Anne nodded her consent and allowed Clover to escort her to her room. On their way out you could hear Clover talking to the queen about getting a nice cup of tea.
"What was that for?" Nod asked.
"So she doesn't cause the whole forest to collapse." Ronin replied.
"How long has this been happening?" Jack asked.
"Who're you?" Ronin asked, just noticing him.
"This is my cousin, Jack" MK introduced.
"An honor I'm sure." Jack offered his hand.
"Likewise." Ronin said stiffly, shaking Jack's hand, "This has been going on since yesterday. First it was a bird lost by a rookie leafman, next were a few Jinn coming back from Nim Galuu's, a few leafmen, and now entire patrols and villages."
"Any ideas on who's behind it?" Nod asked.
"This is all new to me. Perhaps we can find some information at Nim Galuu's." Ronin said.
"What does glue have to do with this?" Jack whispered to MK.
"Nim Galuu, he's the keeper of the rings of knowledge." MK whispered back.
"Like a wise old man of the forest?" Jack asked.
"More like the crazy uncle." MK said, earning a smile from Nod.
"You better get your cousin back to your world before we get to Nim's." Ronin said as they headed back to stables.
"Oh yeah, um about that… a spider kinda stole my key, so we're stuck here." MK said embarrassedly.
"Oh that's just perfect, next you'll tell me boggins are swarming the forest." Ronin groaned.
"Boggins?" Jack asked.
"The creepy creatures that try to turn the forest into mulch." MK explained.
"Enough talking, get on." Ronin said as he mounted a hummingbird.
"Who do I go with?" Jack asked.
"You stay here." Ronin said simply.
"But I can help." Jack argued.
"Any training as a fighter?" Ronin asked.
"I've taken fencing lessons since I was seven." Jack offered.
"Fine. MK get a bird, since he's your cousin he can ride with you." Ronin directed. Nod moaned inwardly, he'd been hoping to have MK ride with him but Ronin was a spoilsport. At least Mub isn't here. They took off to Nim Galuu's tree in a whir of wings.
"So your boyfriend doesn't seem to like me." Jack said as they flew.
"He's just getting use to you." MK said, "not to mention I think he may have felt threatened when you came in behind me."
"Oh that again. Just because we don't look that similar people assume we're a couple instead of cousins. You remember what my mom says about assumptions?"
"When you assume some thing you make a donkey out of you and me. How could I forget?" MK laughed.
"Duck!" Nod suddenly shouted. MK directed her hummingbird down just in time to avoid being trapped in a massive spider's web.
"Wo!" Jack said, snapping a photo of the monstrous web.
"That was too close." Nod said.
"Keep your eyes peeled for more.…" Ronin stopped suddenly as a Jinn village came into view. The whole place looked like something out of a nightmare. Windows were smashed, doors broken down, and everything was coated with spiderwebs.
"Who could have done this?" MK asked.
"That's what we need to find out." Ronin said.
"I saw something." Nod alerted them. A shadow moved out of a doorway, a hairy leg became visible. Ronin readied an arrow and let it fly. A black and white striped spider jumped out of the way of the arrow. Soon the whole village was swarming with spiders. One stood apart from the rest, this one had spider legs but the torso of a human. He pointed to them and let out a few loud clicking sounds. The spiders all looked towards the birds.
"I think it's time to go!" Nod shouted as a volley of arrows was launched at them. With a quick barrel roll MK guided her bird over the village. A passing bee was not so fortunate as arrows whizzed past it. No arrow pierced the bee but it fell just the same. Ronin noticed the glint on the bee's body as he flew by.
"There are webs attached to the arrows!" He called to Nod who was right behind him. Nod gave a nod to show that he heard as he kept up his evasive maneuvers. They finally made it past the spiders and continued on their way.
"Why didn't we fight them?" Jack asked.
"We're out numbered and had no idea what we're up against do you really think heading straight into a battle is the best thing to do?" Ronin and Nod said at the same time.
"Oh crud, I'm becoming you!" Nod said. MK just laughed at them as they neared Nim's tree.