So I apologize for not meeting my Friday update deadline as I promised. FFnet was giving me some weird server error all day and it was very annoying because I was looking forward to seeing your responses to the next chapter. I've already gotten some very nice reviews, so thank you for that! It's very uplifting. It's always much more fun when I'm not the only one getting enjoyment out of it!

Here you get to learn a little bit more about the war and the characters' backgrounds. There are a lot of allusions to Irish mythology in this fic (including the title of the story!). The forest magic is called the Draíochta, which is literally just "magic" in Irish-Gaelic. So they call it The Magic. Fancy.

Chapter 3. The Draíochta

"You have to admit, that's a legitimate reason," Nod was saying to the intense Leafman general.

MK swayed where she stood. Nod had given a decent attempt to explain her situation, but there were too many blanks to fill in, so she ended up stepping in anyway. Telling the story all over again came as yet another reality check, slapping her in the face with even more confirmation that all the crazy events of the day really, actually happened.

"You still could have come and found me or had someone let me know."

"If you had just talked to Asteria, it would have saved you a lot of worrying!"

MK squeezed her eyes shut. Her limbs felt numb and a faint tremor ran through her body. The sound of Nod's and Ronin's voices rattled on her skull, and the dormant headache sprang back with a throb of pain.

"Boys, will you two quit your bickering? You're distressing MK," the Queen said, stepping forward. She touched MK on the forehead gently, and a soothing coolness washed over her like waves on the beach. The vines around them hummed softly, their glow intensifying slightly, until the Queen retracted her hand, and MK's headache faded with the spell.

"How did you do that?" she asked, placing a hand to her head. The world seemed to have been cleared of a fog.

"The Draíochta," Queen Tara replied. "The magic that runs through this land and this wood."

"We have healers who have great knowledge of herbal remedies and simple spells, but only the Queen can harness the power of the Draíochta to heal," Ronin said. He seemed to carry an air of pride as he explained. "No wound is too much for such a magic."

The Queen gave him a look of affectionate exasperation. "I don't harness it, Ronin, you know that. I only borrow what the forest has to give." She turned back to MK. "Speaking of which, I felt a fluctuation earlier today—a powerful one. Could that have been you?" She sauntered around the hall, making the vines curl and bend as she pondered.

"It might explain the storm," Ronin said. "There was quite a gale before the Boggans struck."

"You're probably right." The Queen paused in the center of a crowd of willowy buds.

"Can you change me back?" MK asked. If the Queen could use the Draíochta, perhaps she could reverse its effects.

Queen Tara faced her with a sympathetic gaze. "I'm afraid not, dear child. The Draíochta acted of its own accord in doing this to you. Though I am the one with the deepest connection to it, that doesn't mean I always understand its reasoning. It has a mind of its own." She touched MK's shoulder and smiled. "However, I have faith that it brought you here for a reason. You have a purpose here, MK. I have a feeling you'll do something important."

"Yes, but good important or bad important? I'm still of the mind that her being here is exactly what it looks like: a freak accident," Ronin said, arms folded. "I think our best option is to try and find out how to get her back to the way she was, and I think she agrees with me."

MK nodded. "How long do you think that will take? I don't want to be away from my dad for too long."

Ronin turned to the Queen expectantly. When at last she answered, she spoke carefully and softly. "I'm not entirely certain that it's possible to get you back the way you are. If I'm right that the Draíochta has done this to you, the only way to change you is by the will of the Draíochta itself."

MK gaped at the Queen. She swept her gaze over their uncomfortable faces. Nod fidgeted as though he wanted to leap out of the way of an impending explosion.

"What the hell? Is this a normal thing? Some freaky forest magic shrinks random people for giggles?" MK tried to keep her voice level, but it was hard not to fly off the handle when the apparent reason for all the insanity she'd endured was because some zany, sentient magic wanted to screw around with her in particular.

The Queen grimaced. "I would rather say that it chose you for something. It was not to mock you."

"But what I'm saying is I didn't choose this." MK rested her face in her hands. It wasn't fair. She was only trying to move forward from life without Mom. "Nothing but setbacks," she whispered.

A gentle hand rested on her arm and she looked up to see Queen Tara standing before her.

"I know you're scared and upset," said the Queen, "but please stay strong. We'll do everything we can to help you get home."

MK forced the tension out of herself, relaxing her posture. "Thank you," she said, putting on a small smile. A ripple of unease passed, hidden beneath her expression of calm. It was hard to trust that the Queen would be willing to defy the will of their Draíochta, considering the faith she had in it. Their assistance might prove to be more of a hindrance than a help.

"I think I had better go and find a place to stay while I'm here, before it gets too late," MK told them.

The Queen's eyes widened. "Of course, we will set up a place for you. You didn't think we would let you wander alone in the night without shelter, did you?" She motioned for her assistants. "They will take you to your quarters and show you around Moonhaven."

MK nodded her gratitude.

"Wait, your majesty," Ronin said, stepping toward them. "We can't have her wandering around unsupervised. She might get lost or enter forbidden areas."

"Makes it sound like I'm an infant," MK muttered. Ronin heard and gave her an exasperated look.

"In a way you are. If what you and Nod said is true, then you have no idea of your way around the forest," said Ronin.

"Have Nod do it," the Queen suggested. MK saw the young Leafman jolt to a start out of the corner of her eye.

Ronin raised an eyebrow. "He can barely keep an eye on himself."

"But he's the most well acquainted with MK. And besides, from what you were ranting about to me earlier, I don't think you'll be wanting him on the front lines any time soon," Queen Tara said with a grin.

Nod sagged visibly. "Wait, are you serious?" He shot Ronin a look. "I'm being punished for having a legitimate reason for scaring you?"

"I am very serious! Not a word, Nod! Not one word to me! You can't mean to say there was no one who could have passed on a message."

The two resumed their bickering, leaving MK to stare at them in confusion. Queen Tara leaned in conspiratorially.

"Ronin has attempted to act as Nod's surrogate father, ever since Nod's real father died in battle," she told MK.

"Oh, is that why Nod can back-sass him like that?"

The Queen let out a musical chuckle. "It's hard when you've got a teenage son who's also your ranking subordinate. It makes them want to defy your authority twice over."

MK turned the knowledge of Nod's late father over in her mind. A twinge of guilt pinched at her. She had acted like she was the only one between them who understood loss. She glanced up when Nod approached.

"Looks like you're stuck with me," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Don't worry, I'll be a cool babysitter. No curfew or rules or anything." He flinched when Ronin smacked him lightly behind the head. "Ow! Okay, there are some rules!"

A thistle-topped lady in waiting beckoned for MK to follow her. MK turned back toward Nod. "What rules?"

Nod was already following Ronin out through the main entrance. "I'll tell you in the morning. See you then!" He gave a gallant wave, and MK rolled her eyes before jogging after the thistle lady.

MK soon came to realize the Queen's inner sanctum was only a small portion of the citadel that made up the entirety of Moonhaven. Okay, so a babysitter is slightly necessary, she thought, marveling at the scale of everything. It made her wonder how big the place would have looked if she'd been normal sized. They crossed over multiple bridges, fashioned by entwined reeds and vines, everything glowing in shades of pleasant lilac and blue.

MK ran a hand over the glistening railings and felt a tingle course up through her fingers. It brought back the sensation of background song she had felt atop the hill—though stronger this time—and she realized she must have been feeling the life-magic that coursed through the veins of the forest. Fireflies hovered in the air all around the multiple spires that sheltered the people of Moonhaven. Peace washed over her briefly. It wasn't her home, but it was beautiful.

The thistle lady set MK in a strange, woven bower, lined with feather down and lavender petals. MK thanked the lady and nestled into the pile. A dense leafy curtain folded across the entrance, allowing only a sliver of light through. It was strange not having a blanket, but MK couldn't deny that it was very comfortable, and the scent of lavender quickly lulled her into a deep sleep.

"There's one important thing you've got to remember." Nod glanced at her. "Hey! Wake up!"

MK yawned in response. "Yeah, something important, got it."

He shook his head. "I'm being serious for once. We're kinda in the middle of a war. This is for your safety."

She squinted at him as the too-bright sun glared down on her. "A war? Seriously? With who?"

"You remember those guys I was chasing the first day we met?" Nod asked. "They're the Boggans, and they're not our friends."

"Why are you at war with them?"

Nod shrugged, twirling his sword around and sending the reflected sunlight scattering. "They attacked us. According to Ronin, they were fairly easy to manage, until they united under their current leader Mandrake. That guy led a sudden, mass invasion, pushing us far back into our own territory. No one really knows why he did it, but we weren't about to take that lying down."

"It's always the other guy's fault," MK muttered. "Have you ever tried finding out?"

Nod snorted. "No way. Mandrake hates us on principle. There's no way he'd give us any time to talk things over."

MK pursed her lips at him, but let it go. No sense trying to get involved in someone else's politics if she was planning to get out of there as soon as possible anyway. "Okay, just tell me what I need to watch out for," she said.

"The borderlands, for one," Nod said, finally fixing his sword to his belt. "And the Wrathwood in general."

"Okay, that's great and all, but I'm not from around here. What are those?" MK asked, hands on her hips.

Nod shot her a grin. "Wrathwood looks like the exact opposite of here. Trust me, you'll know when you see it." He whistled for Maia.

MK glared at his back. "That sure is specific. I thought the point was that I shouldn't be near enough to see it."

The hummingbird descended, casting a stark shadow against the brilliance of the sun. Nod patted the bird, who trilled at him in greeting. "You get the point. It's a wasteland. The borderlands is kind of the grey area. That's the territory that keeps getting taken and reclaimed over and over. It looks as run down as it is."

MK rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'll just tag along with you if you're going to be a lousy guide."

Nod gave her a loose shrug. "Hey, we're stuck with each other anyway, since Ronin is being all paranoid about letting me get back out in the field." He adjusted Maia's saddle. "Not like I care either way," he muttered.

"What do you mean?" MK asked, making her way to his side.

"I don't know. This whole war. It doesn't feel like my fight." He looked at her conspiratorially. "Don't tell Ronin I said that. I would get an earful. Responsibility and all that. It's just not my thing."

"Your thing is not being responsible?" MK pursed her lips. "Sounds to me like you just don't want to work hard."

Nod laughed and swung his way up onto Maia's back. "Hard work is way overrated if you ask me. I mean all this fuss that Ronin works up? Really not worth it in my book. I'd rather be racing in the Neutral than risking my life in a war between all the old people."

MK clambered up behind him. "Maybe not everything is about what you want."

"Tch, you sound just like Ronin," Nod said.

"Maybe Ronin has a point," retorted MK. She barely had time to grab onto Nod's waist before Maia shot into the air. "Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you on a whirlwind tour. If you're going to be here a while, you might as well get to know your way around."

MK gave a last minute scan of the landing field before Maia lifted off. I really hope I'm not here for a while.

She had to admit yet again, the Brightwood was a beautiful place. The sunlight there reflected at odd angles and scattered in brilliant, prismatic color, filtering soft and gold through the broad green leaves of the trees. In the area surrounding Moonhaven, all living things seemed to have a strange inner glow to it, saturating the color of every plant and flower.

Nod showed her the clover gardens and even let her sample some clover honey wine that the garden's caretaker handed out. The sticky sweet nectar warmed her, and MK wondered if the Draíochta lingered in the drink too.

"We're called the Jinn," Nod explained. "Children of the sun, shepherds of growth, the works."

They were sitting on a branch high up in the canopies, gazing out at the treetops that extended for miles. Nod pointed to a dark patch off in the distance.

"There, that's the borderlands and the Wrathwood," he said.

The wall of green stopped almost on a hard line, breaking away into dead branches and drab brown.

"Whoa, I see what you mean. It really is drastic," MK admitted.

He shot her a smirk. "I told you, you would know it when you saw it."

"Queen Tara told me your father died there," MK said, after an extended silence. Nod's smile fell away, and he stared distantly at the trees below.

"Yeah. It was one of the first battles in the war." He fiddled with the tassel on the hilt of his blade. "Ronin saw the whole thing. It was Mandrake who did it. That's partly why Ronin gets so uptight about the war and me being in it. He won't forgive them for what they did to my dad."

"I'm sorry," MK said softly.

Nod gave a wry smile. "Honestly, I think Ronin was more traumatized by it. He and Ronin grew up best friends. The story is that he died saving Ronin's life."

"Still, it must have been hard. My parents separated when I was young because my dad was getting too obsessed with his work. Even though you barely know them, you still feel their absence." A bitterness washed over her. In a way, she knew what it felt like to lose both of them. When she moved back to Oak Bridge, it felt like a second chance, like she was getting her dad back, only to be dragged away in some strange forest adventure.

"I guess so. I still have my mom, at least. Ronin was never very good at trying to be my dad," Nod said with a chuckle.

MK watched him carefully. He said everything with a mocking tone, but always with that distant look in his eyes, lost in memory and doubt.

"What about your mom?" he asked suddenly. "I only hear you talking about your dad really."

MK paused to think over her answer. Did she really want to go there? Even a year later, it still felt like a fresh wound.

"Did something happen? You said you were angry with your dad for a long time, but now you're back with him." When she didn't answer, he pressed, "Look, I don't know anything about Stomper parenting. Is this a normal thing to go back and forth between parents? Or did she want you to make up with him?"

"She died, all right?" MK snapped.

He jerked back. "Whoa, sorry. Didn't mean to pry."

She only rolled her eyes at his silence. MK turned her memories over in her head. With Nod, there was no previous baggage between them. Once she left, they wouldn't see each other again either, and she wouldn't have to worry about him getting tired of her sadness. If anything, he might understand.

"She was really sick," MK said finally. Nod perked up at the sound of her voice.

"Back where I come from, I was…a healer I suppose. So I understood her pain more than most people would. She fought really hard for a long time, but eventually the sickness spread too much and she died." MK swallowed hard, feeling her eyes burning. Her grief usually hung like a dull noise in the background, but when she had to look at it in the face again, it rose up in a scream, the same as it had when everything was still raw and bleeding.

She took a deep breath before continuing. "Afterward, my work became really difficult for me. It was harder and harder to watch people suffer from similar illness. And every time someone died, all I could see was my mom again. And when I watched their families cry, all I could see was myself." A hot tear slid down her face, and MK rubbed it away. "It got too hard. So I left."

Nod said nothing—only tipped his head in understanding, and MK let go of a breath of relief. Back in New York, the overcrowding sympathy drove her away the most. Everyone surrounding her, willing her to get better, offering everything, when maybe what she needed was to not be okay for a while.

The walking on eggshells, the silences that fell when she was near, the way they talked so gently—too gently—around her, only served as an acute reminder that she'd lost something precious.

What's wrong? they asked. How can we help? What will make you better?

Bringing my mom back, she always replied silently, bitterly, and sent them away.

Nod stood, bringing MK out of her reverie. "We've been hanging out here for a while. We better get back before Ronin freaks out again and tries to ground me even more."

MK smirked. "In his defense, you don't exactly help your case."

Nod grimaced. "Hey! You knew me for like, a day. Don't judge!"

"Right, as if I couldn't infer from context."

He leaped onto Maia and took off the branch, hovering in front of her. "Are you sure you want to antagonize your ride home?"

"Fine, ride away into the sunset. I can walk." She planted her hands on her hips and stared him down.

"You're bluffing," he said, but he fidgeted.

MK shrugged and started walking down the branch, making her way toward the thick tree trunk. Nod spurred Maia forward and headed her off.

"All right, all right, you got me. Get on," he said, shaking his head in amusement.

Despite his concern for Ronin's wrath, he still made a stop at another flower garden to treat her to nectar cakes, which MK had to admit were just the right amount of sweet to be delicious.

Chapter 4: Wrathwood will come out 4/25 and exciting things will happen!

Excerpt:

By the time she reached the end of the branch, she decided it would be worth the time and effort to brave the crowd and find Nod, or else get drunk enough to fall asleep in some chair in the warmth of the main hall. MK stepped forward to head back to Nim's hollow. She made it halfway back down the branch when a sudden wind surged through the treetops and swept her clear off the branch. MK tumbled, screaming into the night.