Epic return ch 1

Chapter 1: return of the stomper and new friends.

Nod was looking off into the distance, his mind a thousand miles away. It was a good thing hummingbirds could fly themselves or else he would've crashed into a tree by now.

"Nod, what cha thinkin' about?" The newest rookie of Nod's patrol asked. Yes you read right, Nod had been promoted to a patrol leader. The new recruit was a girl, quite a bit younger than himself, with blonde hair cut in a bob and bright blue eyes.

"Nothing." He dismissed her question.

"If it's nothing then I'm a boggin." She said, flying her hummingbird up next to him. She scrutinized him closely, so closely that it made Nod uncomfortable. He couldn't even remember the girl's name, now she was getting a bit too close for comfort.

"Could you… back up a bit?" He asked nicely. The girl smiled mischievously and leaned back.

"You're thinking of a girl, aren't you?" She teased. Nod blushed, grateful that the rest of his patrol had the day off as he gave this newbie a tour of the forest.

"I knew it!" She giggled, "so if its not to much trouble, what's her name, do I know her?"

"I don't think you'd know her, she's not from around here." Nod said vaguely.

"Then where's she from?" The girl pushed. She kept pestering until Nod landed his bird on a branch, the girl following right behind him.

"If I tell you will you stop pestering me with so many questions?" He finally gave up, annoyed.

"Yes, I promise!" The girls eyes grew big and pleading.

"You remember last summer, the whole boggin attack and how Queen Tara was killed?" He asked, looking up at the leaves.

"Yes, a stomper was shrunk by the queen, became the pod keeper, and helped defeat Mandrake." The girl said smiling pleasantly, then she face palmed herself and muttered something under her breath.

"Well, she's the girl I'm thinking about, her name is MK." Nod smiled, knowing that the girl had already put two and two together.

"Seriously?" She asked.

"Yep." Nod smirked.

"I did hear rumors that you had met her and all that but I had no idea you two where a couple! How long have you been together?" She said, her eyes growing bigger in excitement.

"We've been together about a year now." Nod said, thinking back to when they had first met. She had been pretty, even when she was hanging upside down from a saddle.

"Can I meet her?" She asked excitedly.

"Wait, what?" Nod almost fell off his bird at her question.

"Can I meet her?" The girl said a lot slower.

"I don't know…" Nod started.

"Please! Please please please please please please please please please please!" The girl pleaded again.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt." Nod said, really wanting to see MK again anyway, plus it would stop miss chatterbox from doing that again.

"Awesome!" The girl cheered.

They took off again and flew until Nod spotted the special camera Professor Bomba had installed for him and MK to talk face to face. They landed their birds and walked to it. It didn't take long for MK to appear on the screen.

"Hey Nod." She smiled.

"Hi MK, I've got someone here that wants to meet you." Nod gestured for the girl to step forward into the camera's line of sight. The girl's expression was something between excitement and a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look.

"Hi, what's your name?" MK asked kindly.

"I… I'm Clover," She said, "I'm a big fan of yours!"

"Oh… really?" MK asked in surprise.

"Yeah, I've heard your story from Nim Galuu a million times and its just amazing!" Clover said, excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet," I can't believe I'm talking to you! I mean you are practically my inspiration for becoming a leaf woman!…"

Nod took the chance as Clover took a breath from her ramblings to interrupt, "So how have you been MK?"

"I'm doing good, how's the forest?" She asked, relieved that Clover had stopped talking.

"Everything's quiet here, besides the birds and animals of course." Nod smiled as a butterfly fluttered past his head. Clover became distracted by said butterfly and followed it over to where it had landed on the tree.

"So, how'd you meet her?" MK asked, pointing in the direction Clover had gone.

"She's the newest addition to my patrol. A real rookie, she keeps making all the mistakes I made when I was first made a leaf man." Nod smiled as a memory of himself getting stuck in tree sap his first day came to mind. He'd been showing off for a couple of rookie leaf women when he'd fallen off his bird and into the golden sap, every time he'd tried to get out of it on his own he'd just get more stuck and more humiliated. Ronin had finally helped him out of the mess, after making him promise to polish all the saddles after the patrol that day.

"Not all of the same ones right?" MK's voice broke through Nod's memory.

"Well, she hasn't gotten stuck in tree sap yet." Nod joked, he'd already told MK all of his stories, from his childhood up to when he had met her, and she had done the same. They didn't hide anything from each other, unless it was a surprise party or something.

"Oh Nod." MK laughed then she sat up and looked toward to door. Nod thought he heard a guy's voice when MK turned back to the screen, "Sorry Nod, I've got to go. See you later tonight." She blew him a kiss then shut the monitor off.

"That was weird." Nod muttered.

"I'll say." Clover said, she had gotten bored with the butterfly and had been heading back over when she'd heard the last part of the brief conversation.

"Come on, let's finish the patrol then head back." Nod directed as he mounted his hummingbird.

"So do you know who that voice was?" Clover asked, flying along side him.

"Umm no… not really. It was to deep to be her dad's… and why am I discussing this with you?" Nod looked at the blonde irritatedly.

"I don't know. I'm just saying if I had a boyfriend and he and I where talking and then a strange girl comes over and talked with him then I'd feel threatened. But that's just the opinion I got from my six older sisters." She shrugged. Nod rolled his eyes but inside he was wondering who that guy was. Clover was rattling on about her older sister, Marigold, had gone through such an experience and it had turned out that the guy had been cheating on both girls so they dumped him.

"You know, we've finished our patrol for the day. Why don't you go to Nim Galuu's tree and celebrate your first day with some berry juice?" Nod said, trying to get the girl at least to change the subject.

"But it's been so fun being out here under the open sky, and getting to know the territory, and…" Clover said before Nod cut her off.

"Tell Nim to put it on my tab." He said.

"Since you put it that way, bye Nod!" She directed her hummingbird toward Nim's tree but called back over her shoulder before she got too far away, "See you tomorrow!"

"Rookies." Nod rolled his eyes before turning his bird towards MK's house. He couldn't help his curiosity and Clover's story had made him paranoid. So to put both to rest, Nod decided to see what was going on. It only took him a few minutes to get there and when he did he was vastly surprised by what he saw, he just wished he could hear what was being said beyond the glass.

"Jackson!" MK cried as she was swung around by a tall man in a leather jacket, he had black hair, tan skin and green eyes.

"How's my favorite cousin?" Jackson asked, setting MK down and ruffling her hair.

"I'm doing fine." She laughed as she swatted away his hand.

"I thought I heard a familiar voice, Jackson how're you doing?" Professor Bomba said as he came downstairs and gave his nephew a handshake.

"I prefer Jack and I'm doing great, Uncle Bomba. How about you? Any luck with your research?" Jack pulled him into a bro-hug.

"Oh, more than you'd know. More than you'd know." Bomba said after awkwardly returning the hug, he changed the subject, "MK would you mind helping Jack with his bags? I need to make a few tweaks to the new monitors."

"Ok Dad." MK said, grabbing one of Jack's bags from the floor, it was square with a strap you could throw over your shoulder to make it easier to carry.

"Actually I'll take care of that one." Jack said, taking the bag from her.

"What's in it?" MK asked, eyeing it suspiciously.

"You remember all those family reunions, how I always wanted to be a photographer?" He hinted as he picked up another bag, leaving one for MK.

"No way! You really did it?" She gasped in delight.

"You are looking at the new nature photographer of Oak's photography. It's actually in a small town not to far from here. I don't have enough for an apartment but your dad said I could stay here until then." Jack said as he lugged a larger suitcase up the stairs. MK grabbed the last one and hauled it up behind her.

"Who's that?" Clover asked from behind Nod. Even though she had whispered it Nod still jumped a foot, atleast a foot by leaf men standard, in the air.

"What are you doing here?" Nod asked.

"Please, my sisters have pulled the how-about-you-go-somewhere-else -and-leave-me-alone trick a thousand times. I'm blond, not stupid." Clover rolled her eyes at his shocked/angry tone, noticing slow movement she redirected her attention to the window, "Hey they're back."

"Shush." Nod said, looking back inside.

Once Jack's stuff was in the guest room they went back downstairs to find Ozzie tossing around his stuffed boggin toy. Upon seeing the two teens he dropped his toy and started running circles around then.

"Hey Ozzie." Jack scratched the one eyed pug behind the ears. The playful pug rolled over the best he could to get his belly rubbed.

"I'm surprised he's still around. Ever since he got attacked by something my dad said he might not make it. But he's always been a miracle dog." MK said, bending down to scratch Ozzie's belly too.

"Yep, he's one lucky dog." Jackson said, "hey what's that?" He asked suddenly standing up and heading to the window.

Nod ducked to the side so he couldn't be easily seen but could still see into the window, pulling Clover to the side as he did. The recruit was too curious for her own good.

Before Jack got there, however, he slipped on Ozzie's toy.

"What the…" Jack said, sitting up and rubbing his head. MK went over and picked up the toy. "What the heck is that thing?"

"Just a toy I made for Ozzie. He loves it, watch. Ozzie!" MK called to the dog and tossed him the toy. He snatched it out of the air and started thrashing it around, his little tail wagging happily.

"Is that a boggin?" Clover asked, peaking over the windowsill again.

"No, it's a toy MK made." Nod said irritatedly. Jack laughed as MK helped him up.

"Well, I've got to go. I've got big plans for tonight. Try not to trip on Ozzie while I'm gone." MK said, heading up the stairs once more.

"Oh, big plans huh? Has my dorky cousin found a guy?" Jack smirked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" MK teased.

"Whatever, I think I'll go take some pictures. You know what they say, professionals always practice." Jack said with a wink.

Out on the window Nod ground his teeth in an attempt not to shout in jealous anger. For all he knew the guy was flirting with MK.

"Ya know that guy is kinda cute." Clover said.

"Don't even go there." Nod growled

"Who says that?" MK asked.

"I do." Jack smirked again, heading to the back door. MK rolled her eyes as she laughed at her cousin.

"Get down." Hissed Nod, once again pulling Clover out of view.

Jack didn't notice, he was to busy taking a close up of a bumble bee on a dandy lion. After a few moments MK came outside in a black skirt that reached her knees, a pair of black legging went down the rest of her leg, and a red top with bell sleeves. A faux red rose in her hair and black boots completed her outfit.

"Nice, but I thought you hate wearing skirts?" Jack asked, snapping a few pictures of her.

"Cut it out, I use to but they've grown on me, and he's taking me somewhere really nice." MK said, trying to snatch Jack's camera. He held it out of her reach however.

"Crud." Nod muttered.

"What? Gonna be late, for a very special date? Hey that rhymed!" Clover chuckled before ducking up a tree to where her bird was waiting. Nod quickly followed after her and they both flew off back to Moonhaven.

"Jack, could you give me a hand for a minute." Prof. Bomba called.

"Sure. See ya MK, have fun on your date." He teased before heading inside to help.

"See ya." MK called back and headed into the forest.

"Soooooo where you taking her?" Clover teased in a sing-song way as they flew.

"Like I would tell you." Nod smirked back.

"That reminds me, since she's so big and you're so small, how are you guys gonna go on this date?" She pestered.

"The Queen made MK a special gateway out of an old house that got smashed by a tree, there's another gateway that's our size next to it, when MK uses the key the Queen made her and passes through the gateway she shrinks and comes out the small door next to it." Nod explained.

"What if the door gets left open?"

"It has a spell that makes it close once the person who used the key goes through the door."

"What if another person… I don't know, trips and falls in behind the other person?"

"Then they shrink down too." Nod was starting to get annoyed again.

"Why haven't you gone through?"

"Who says I haven't?" In truth Nod had gone through once. It had been a weird experience, like going to the moon except he'd felt heavy instead of light.

"What was it like?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow." Nod said and spurred his bird on. After he made sure he lost Clover, Nod made his way to the gateway. Once there he pulled out a small knife and a little piece of wood to whittle while he waited.

MK reached the gateway in less than ten minutes. After scanning the area to make sure no one was there she took out her key and unlocked the door, remembering to pull her key out as soon as the door was open. As she opened it a warm tingly feeling spread through her, the same feeling she always got when using the magic doorway. Stepping forward she was suddenly pushed through the doorway, her key flying from her hand as she fell to the ground on the other side. What ever had pushed her over landed on top of her, knocking the breath out of her. She heard a moan as the person sat up. While she struggled to get her breath, MK was aware that the weight on her back was suddenly gone. Turning over onto her back and looking up she saw Nod offering her his hand.

"Are you ok, MK?" Nod asked, concern etched in his eyes.

"I'm fine." She said standing up with his help. As soon as she was stable Nod turned around and grabbed… Jack?… by the collar of his jacket.

"Who are you?" Nod growled.

"Nod, let go of him. Jackson what are you doing here?" MK said, placing a calming hand on Nod's shoulder. Nod released his grip but gave Jack a little shove as he did. Jack staggered back and fell on his butt. He glared at Nod as he got up and brushed himself off, explaining himself as he did.

"I saw a hummingbird and was trying to take its picture but it wouldn't hold still. Next thing I know I'm in the woods getting spooked by a deer or something and then Mr. Green over there was hauling me off of you. Sorry about that by the way."

"It's ok, no harm done." MK said.

"Where are we anyway?" Jack asked looking around for the first time. His eyes suddenly sprang wide open, and his jaw all but hit the ground. A butterfly fluttered past. "That's a big bug." Jack said, snapping a picture.

"Actually its about average." Nod said, still glaring at Jack.

"And you are?" Jack asked glaring back at Nod.

"Oh… Jack, this is Nod, my boyfriend. Nod this is my cousin, Jackson." MK introduced, noting the hostile looks they where giving each other.

"This is the guy you were coming out here to meet?" Jack laughed, his mood lightening considerably. MK was slightly surprised that he wasn't as freaked about getting shrunk as she had been, then again Jack was faster at adapting to situations than her.

Nod had relaxed a great deal, even letting a smile appear. He thought to himself "They're related. Thank goodness." Then he said aloud as he offered his hand for a shake, "nice to meet you, Jackson."

"Call me Jack." Jack said returning the handshake. MK smiled, but it quickly turned into a frown as she remembered the currently missing key.

"Oh crud, Nod I lost my key." She said, turning to look for it.

"Don't worry, it shouldn't have fallen far." Nod said, helping her look through the moss. Jack joined in the search too.

"Found it!" Jack called but as he reached for it, a small white spider, about the size of a stomper sized dime, scurried over and snatched it up in its pincers.

"Hey, give that here." Jack said, trying to take the key. The spider scurried away from him, darting between his legs.

"Don't let it get away!" Nod called as it scurried past MK. MK grabbed a twig, which to her was the size of a baseball bat, and swung it at the creature. The arachnid nimbly avoided the blow and scuttled away from her. Nod drew his sword and leapt to impale the beast when a second spider shot a string of silk that caught around his ankle, tripping the leaf man before he reached his target. The spider that had the key let out a hiss and scurried away into a tunnel, which was previously hidden by undergrowth.

"Great, now what are we gonna do?" MK huffed, getting down on her knees to look into the tunnel after the spider.

"We need to report this to the Queen. Come on." Nod said, before whistling high pitched bird call. Not long later his hummingbird fluttered down from its place in the tree.

"Wow." Jack said, snapping a picture of the creature.

"I don't think my bird can fly three people." Nod said.

"Then how are we suppose to get to Moonhaven?" MK asked.

"You can say please." Clover said, landing her own bird next to Nod's.

"How'd you… never mind, do you think you could fly him to Moonhaven without breaking both your necks?" Nod said, glaring slightly at the small blonde.

"You bet, I could even do it backwards." Clover giggled.

"Nod, are you sure about her?" MK whispered as she watched Jack mount the humming bird.

"She's one of the best, when she's focused." Nod replied. MK wasn't reassured as they took off.

"This is amazing!" Jack called, snapping photos as they flew.

"What is that thing?" Clover asked, entranced by the black box.

"It's a camera, kinda like an instant portrait maker." Jack explained, guessing that these people dressed in green didn't have modern technology.

"That's so cool!" Clover said.

"So who are you?" Jack asked.

"Clover, land." Nod called out suddenly. They quickly perched their birds as they waited for a crow to fly by. It didn't have a mount, so they proceeded.

"I'm Clover, leaf woman in training. Mr bossy up there with your cousin is my patrol leader, Nod."

"Less talking, more flying." Nod called back to her.

"She certainly is a chatty one." MK commented.

"You have no idea." Nod groaned.