When the Kids find themselves at a pass blocked by the Shadow Boxer, they have no choice but to find another way around. However, an encounter with a shadow boxing troupe and a pair of special gloves leads Vinka to take on the Shadow Boxer at his own game, winning them not just the right to pass, but one of the eight special stones.

The Kids make camp for the night at the base of a spooky hill, and are surprised to find their food missing. Keile blames it on a Nhuka, a cheeky little humbugger that lives in places just like that - but Vinka follows Keile and discovers that he is taking the food. A Trapper arrives and gives the Kids plans for a Nhuka trap, but the only thing it traps is him! Keile confesses to taking the food, and as the Kids leave the camp site, Keile is shocked to see Vinka wave to her friend on the hill - the Nhuka!

The Kids meet an old Aunty who just can't stop making damper and talking! When Keile gets stuck with her because he is too polite to leave while she is still talking, the Kids have to come up with a plan. Lali gets the others to collect bush lollies which she puts in a jar and shakes, turning them into powder. They then sneak the powder into the Aunty's damper mix, making the damper sticky, gluing her mouth shut and allowing Keile and the Kids to make a polite escape.

While Hudson and Em are picking bush lollies, their friends are captured by some bigger kids who take their cart and compass. Hudson and Em try to rescue them but the Others keep returning, brought back by the compass. Hudson confronts the Others, offering them the bush lollies, and they eat too many, making themselves sick. When the Kids discover the Others are trying to get back to the school they give them directions. Then, as the Kids leave, they encounter an old friend - Noodles!

Vinka is sick. She needs rest and food. While the rest of the Kids set up camp, Hudson, Samara and Keile go on ahead. They enter an old town, deserted except for two brothers who haven't spoken for years. The Kids tell them about Vinka and the brothers agree she needs some of their roo tail stew, but they can't make it, because that's what they argued about. Hudson tricks them into making it, and the brothers make up. The Kids take the stew back to Vinka and it works, but when they return to the town they find the brothers gone, but one of the special stones in their place.