Chapter 11

Panther Cap's eyes had stopped glowing. He looked around, and crawled down from the tree, complete fine.

Fur Foot and the others ran to Panther Cap.

"Are you alright?" said Beauty Stem. "What happened?"

"I'm... fine." said Panther Cap.

Mistle Toad walked up slowly to Panther Cap and asked, "What did it say?"

"It said..." Panther Cap thought for a moment. "It will always point to the next thunder tree."

"Huh?" said Fur Foot.

"Look!" said Mistle Toad as he pointed to the tree. An acorn had fallen off of the tree, and onto the floor.

Puff Ball stared for a moment. "Great. An acorn. Amazing. Next thing you know, the sky is falling."

"To be fair," said Elf Cup. "I think it kinda did. All that lightning and all..."

As they were talking, Panther Cap slowly walked toward the acorn. He stood right in front of it, wondering if this lone acorn was the gift the thunder tree had spawned.

Mistle Toad ended the toadlets' bickering. "Everyone, look!"

Panther Cap slowly reached toward the acorn. As he touched it, a small white light surrounded it. The brown acorn had turned a pale brown, with a slightly purple top, swirled, a brownish-purple swirl patter across the acorn, and a little round amethyst (a purple gem) on top of the acorn.

"Wow." whispered the little boy.

"OK, I'm more lost now than I was in the forest." said Shaggy Mane. "WHAT is going on?"

Mistle Toad walked up to the little boy. "You have the pointer now, called 'Jewel Cap.' Use it well. When you spin it, it will point to the next thunder tree."

Panther Cap slowly looked up at the wise man.

"Use it well, and use the thunder trees' wisdom well. They will guide you to the doorway called the Fairy Ring, where you will find the realm known as Toad Hollow."

Panther Cap understood. He stared at the acorn, or "pointer" known as Jewel Cap. With that little acorn, he would find his way to a safe haven for his brothers and sisters.

"And with that," said Mistle Toad to the other kids. "I must be off!"

"Wait," said Fur Foot sadly. "You can't leave us!"

"Yeah!" said Oyster. "We can't make it on our own!"

Mistle Toad put his hand on the little Oyster's shoulder. "I have many others in the forest I must help. But I am sure you will see me again, as my adventures are partially made up of guiding other people to their destinations."

"Fur Foot." said Mistle Toad.

"I know," whispered Fur Foot. "You want your Ridged Tooth back, right?"

"No." said Mistle Toad. "I gave that to you because you have the qualities of being a leader. I saw that in you the moment I looked into your eyes when we were in the rat's cave. You are a leader. You must keep Ridged Tooth. You're in for a world you've never imagined possible, and the toadlets need a leader."

"But-!" Fur Foot stuttered. "I don't know how!"

"Then practice." said Mistle Toad. "Give yourself a second in command. Find other toads to lead to the Hollow. Use your skills well. For you do have them, even if you have not unlocked them."

Fur Foot looked at the other toadlets. They all looked at him in agreement with Mistle Toad. They looked up to him as a leader, and they knew he had the right heart.

"Uh..." whispered Fur Foot. "OK..."

Mistle Toad put his hand on Fur Foot's shoulder. "Young lad, there are no 'uh's' about it. You are a leader. And your brothers and sisters have faith in you." He paused for a moment to let Fur Foot regain confidence. "Listen to Panther Cap, Fur Foot. He is your greatest hope. He will guide you to Toad Hollow, and you will be safe there."

Fur Foot turned around to look at Panther Cap, who then nodded at him and smiled. It was clear. Fur Foot would lead the group, and Panther Cap would lead them to Toad Hollow.

Fur Foot turned around to Mistle Toad... who had disappeared.

…...

Fur Foot and the others watched Panther Cap, who stood in front of them.

Panther Cap stared at his acorn. "He called it a 'pointer.' Jewel Cap's supposed to tell me where to go."

"Which way, Panther Cap?" asked Fur Foot.

Panther Cap looked at the acorn with a purple jewel. He dropped it on the floor. Nothing really happened. But it seemed to be pointing towards a specific direction, as if it was adjusting itself. Panther Cap then took it, and spun it on the ground like a top. Soon, it stopped a little to the left.

To confirm that was the way to go, Panther Cap spun it again. The same result.

"That way!" exclaimed the boy.

"Alright. Let's go!" said Fur Foot as he walked away. Beauty Stem didn't walk, though.

"Uh," said Oyster. "Beauty Stem?"

"Huh?" Beauty Stem jumped. "Oh. Yeah, let's go."

Fur Foot turned to his sister. "You OK, Beauty Stem?"

"I don't know." said the girl. "I just keep thinking of those poor toads who turned into toadstool, and the ones who had their souls taken away. I wish I could've helped them."

"Me, too." said Elf Cup.

"I think we all wish that." said Puff Ball.

"Then why don't we?" said Panther Cap, happily. Everyone stared at him. Again. "Why don't we help other toadlets get to Toad Hollow? And teach them how to fend for themselves and share our knowledge?"

"Panther Cap," said Fur Foot. "That's very nice, but we should worry about each other. Huh?"

Panther Cap stared angrily at Fur Foot. He was serious.

"We do." said the little boy.

Fur Foot understood. He'd rather help others reach toad hollow than get there himself. And he expected his own siblings to do the same.

"Alright." said Fur Foot, smiling. He then faced the rest of the group. "If we can't get to Toad Hollow, we'll see others do so. We'll protect toadlets everywhere. Who's with me?"

"I am!" shouted Beauty Stem, cheerfully.

"Alright!" said Elf Cup.

"Sounds exciting!" shouted Shaggy Mane, gripping his vine.

"I'm in." said Puff Ball.

"I'm even more in!" said Oyster.

"It sounds dangerous, but it's not like we can completely avoid it." said Slippery Jack.

"Oh boy!" shouted Panther Cap. "Let's go!"

Oyster thought for a moment. "I guess this makes us a... toad patrol?"

"I guess so!" Fur Foot chuckled. "Alright, Toad Patrol! uh-" he stopped himself from "uh-ing." There was no "uh" about it. "Hop to it!"

As they walked, Panther Cap thought for a moment. "You know?"

"Yeah?" said Fur Foot.

"I never asked the thunder tree what the Jewel Haven was." Panther said, sadly.

"Maybe we'll find out from Mistle Toad." said Fur Foot.

"Maybe." whispered Panther Cap. "I hope we find out. Because the name 'Jewel Haven' makes me happy."