Epic by Annie Auerbach Page A

flew to another camera. “Dad, look at me! I’m right here. Just check your cameras!”
    That camera shut down, as well.
    When the last camera turned off, M.K. was distraught. “Dad, please! I need you!”
    But Bomba was shutting down all of his equipment, giving up his life’s work. He shoved stuff into boxes, only stopping when something caught his eye. A red pushpin on his forest map had been moved. Now it was stuck in the actual location of Moonhaven. Bomba looked hard, trying to make sense of it.
    Meanwhile, out in the darkness, M.K. felt very alone. She looked back at the moon, seeing the swarming bats, feeling like she failed.
    Thwack!
    Apparently she wasn’t alone! A Boggan and his arrows bore down on her. She took off through the woods aboard her bird.
    â€œI am so over Boggans,” she muttered. She ripped an acorn from a tree and hurled it at him. It whacked him across the face, but it didn’t deter him. It just made him angrier.
    The Boggan hovered over her and drew his bow. M.K. winced, preparing for the kill shot when—
    Chomp! The Boggan was gone!
    M.K. turned to see Ozzy shaking the Boggan in his mouth. “Ozzy!” Then she looked up and happily yelled, “Dad!”
    In full expedition gear, Bomba headed through the woods, clutching the map. Ozzy ran circles around him, barking excitedly. When Bomba stopped to get his bearings, a bird stopped in front of his face, startling him. He reached for it, and M.K. jumped off the bird and landed in his hand.
    â€œDon’t faint!” M.K. said slowly and loudly.
    â€œI won’t,” Bomba replied.
    â€œHow did you find me?” asked M.K.
    Bomba held up the red pushpin and smiled. “I got your message!”
    â€œYou were right. They’re real,” M.K. told him.
    The bats shrieked overhead, reminding M.K. of the important business at hand.
    â€œAnd they need your help!” called M.K. “Follow me!”
    She jumped back on her bird and led Bomba to Moonhaven. Hopefully, they weren’t too late!

B omba stood outside Moonhaven, his eyes wide with wonder.
    â€œIt’s all real,” he said, amazed. “It’s really here.”
    M.K. hovered in front of him, trying to get his attention. “Dad! The bats—we have to get them away from the moon!”
    But Bomba was too captivated by Moonhaven. “It’s so beautiful.”
    M.K. knew time was running out. She jumped into Bomba’s pocket and pulled out his mp3 player. She scrolled through his playlist until she found what she was looking for: “bat calls.”
    â€œOh, you want me to play the frequencies that attract the bats?” he asked.
    M.K. jumped on the play button. Out came a noise that sounded like a high-pitched screech to humans, but to Jinn-sized creatures, it sounded like a low thrumming. It began to attract the attention of the bats. They flew toward the sound; they flew toward Bomba and opened up the moonlight!
    With Leafman-like agility, M.K. sprang out of Bomba’s hand and aboard her bird again. “I’ll find you, Dad,” she called out to him as the bats swarmed her father.
    Inside the royal chamber, another battle began brewing. Mandrake had burst into the room on his grackle. A stream of arrows was unleashed, but Mandrake swung his club and batted them away. The Leafmen kept attacking, but Mandrake struck the floor with his club, sending blight to take them down.
    Mandrake looked up to see Nim, with Mub behind him, protecting the pod.
    â€œThis must be the delivery room,” he said, chuckling wickedly.
    â€œWhoa, boy, are you lost!” Nim said, trying to lighten the mood. “Down the hall, make a left, and—”
    Mandrake shoved Nim and the slug out of the way and reached for the pod. “My dark prince. Come to Daddy.”
    But the pod’s tendrils shrank from his touch.
    Then Ronin stepped out of the shadows. “I don’t think it likes