And a second chapter. I just want to say, shoutout to the 3 people to who read the first chapter within an hour of it being posted. Whoever you are, thank you. It really made me happy to know that some people like my writing and don't just like my stories for the Reality that they're in. I hope you continue to enjoy this!
A boy was walking the streets at night, humming a tune to himself as he explored a bit. He leaned into a car to try and find something, then pulled back out to keep looking. He leaned into another car and pressed the eject button on it's dashboard, and got a music tape in return. "Come to papa!" He grabbed it, then reached into his pocket to grab a music player. He started to pop it in when he looked up and noticed something far, far above. "Whoa." In front of the moon was a long abandoned soda truck on an old electric cable tower. The kid put the tape into his player, then slipped his headphones on. He turned it on, then started making his way to the tower, bobbing his head to the beat. When he got there, he started climbing up one bar at a time. As he approached the truck, he took a moment to sit on a cross section to rest for a few moments. He leaned backwards to hang by his legs, lost in the music. He soon swung himself back up and resumed climbing. He soon got into the truck and saw its cargo. "Nice!" He pulled himself in and quickly opened up one of the boxes to reveal cases upon cases of soda. He started grabbing packs and putting them in his backpack. Nearby, a Mega Mute was lumbering in his direction, but he ignored it as the music pucked up. "Hm?" He started nodding his head to it, in time with the footsteps shaking the ground. Outside, the Mega took a few more steps, before brushing its foot past the truck, sending it spinning at incredibly fast rates. The boy inside was swept to the back by the forces behind it, screaming. When it slowed, he was dropped back to the bottom of the truck, which was now leaning dangerously to the side. He picked himself up. "Whoa, that beat is fire!" He readjusted his headphones and took a running leap out the back of the truck as it grinded against the tower before falling. The kid effortlessly grabbed a rung as the truck fell a good 200 feet before crashing to the ground. The kid's backpack landed near it before he slid down one of the support legs. He walked over to it, still listening to his music, and grabbed a can of soda. "We're drinking bubbly tonight!" He opened the can, and got absolutely drenched by the drink as it erupted out of the can. The force knocked his headphones off with ease, stopping him from listening to it further. He swished around what he had gotten in his mouth, then swallowed. "Ahh." He then heard something crying in the distance, and reached down for his backpack. "Hang on, Dave. I'm coming, ya big baby." He slung his backpack on and started walking.
Fear of humans, fear of what they'll do
Fear of others, no matter where you go
Taken from your home, forever lost
One light in the distance,
But oh so far away,
Run towards the light,
Away from your fear
"Maybe, they're in here!" Jamack opened a closet door, looking for the group. He sighed. "Not in this closet." He closed it. "But, maybe they're, in here!" He opened the closet again, then rubbed the bump on his head. "Man, what was in that poison?" He closed the door again. "Maybe they're in here!" He opened it again, and the small one piped up.
"Uh, Jamack, you've checked that closet, like, six times."
"I did?" Asked Jamack as he closed the closet again. "Huh." He looked at the closet again. "Maybe they're in here." He opened it again, then all three of the frogs looked upstairs as they heard some crying. "Huh? Wait, there was a baby?"
Kipo was doing her best to calm down the grub, doing everything she had heard of that calmed down babies, but it kept sniffling and crying. Mandu suddenly began squealing at the door, and she looked over at Wolf. "Wolf, the lock!" She whispered. Atom readied his sword.
"If only that would keep them out." He whispered. Wolf quickly and quietly got over to the door and pressed the lock button on it. She stood to the side as the knob began rattling as someone tried to turn it. Atom put himself between Kipo and the door as a tongue began to slither under the door and towards the knob, wrapping around it to open it, just as someone opened the front door.
"Dave! I'm home!" Called the kid. All three frogs turned to him in surprise.
"A hum" started Jamack, trying to turn to the kid but getting stuck by his tongue. He released the door handle and brought it back in, then started down the stairs. "A human?" The kid looked around a bit, obviously nervous. Then, he gasped as he came up with an idea.
"I am so glad you frogs are here!" He said, stepping in a bit. "You've gotta help me!" He leaned over a bit and spread his arms to sell it. "I fell into this whole bush of, uh, uh, Explosion Berries!"
"Hm, Explosion Berries?" Asked Jamack. Kipo carefully opened the upstairs door to peek down, letting the trio look. "I guess that could be a thing. I can't remember." Jamack rubbed his bump again as the kid did some sleight of hand to grab a can of soda and stick it in his sleeve.
"Oh, it is definitely a real thing. A-and contagious! If just one drop of their juice gets on your skin, BOOM!" Jamack turned to the other two frogs.
"Ok, have you guys heard of this?"
"Boom boom!" Continued the kid, drawing their attention again. He brought his hands up. "Oh, I feel a warmth." He fell to his knees. "I don't have much, time." He sneakily opened up the can, spraying the soda all over the place and especially on the frogs as he rolled around. "It's happening! Oh, the horror!" The three frogs made a mad dash for the door to get out of there.
"Explosion Berries are real!" Exclaimed Jamack as he ran.
"Explosion Berries!" Yelled the big frog. The kid maneuvered himself out the door a little.
"Wait, wait! Don't leave me!" He added some sobs to ensure it had the intended effect, then dropped his head onto the ground. Kipo opened the door all the way and rushed down with the grub and Mandu to check up on him. Atom looked at Wolf, then made his way down too.
"Oh no, are you okay?!" Asked Kipo. The kid rolled over and laughed.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He took a drink from the can. "Explosion Berry?" Kipo looked at the can, then back up to him as Atom walked up.
"That was impressive!" She remarked. "I fully believed Explosion Berries were a thing!"
"Not half bad acting, if I do say so myself." Said Atom, holding out a hand for the kid. Wolf walked up.
"I know those frogs." She said. "We need to keep moving, if we don't want to die." The kid laughed.
"Well, she seems like a lot of fun." He took another drink of soda, then grabbed Atom's hand and got back up.
"Same thing I said about her." He said. "But if Wolf's right, like she had been so far, we need to move. Now." He sheathed his sword, then turned to Wolf. She sighed, then started moving.
"Let's go." The group began following her, Kipo and Atom grabbing the bikes as they left. They began walking down the street when the kid pulled out another can and took the grub from Kipo.
"Hey, thanks for watching my buddy." He said as he shook up the can. He put it to the grub's mouth and opened it, filling its cheeks to capacity with soda. The grub swallowed it and he threw away the can before grabbing another one. "He just needed his formula." He repeated the process.
"So, he's your, grub, baby?" Asked Kipo as he grabbed another can and did the same thing.
"Dave? Oh, no. We go way back!" He tossed Dave to Kipo and she barely caught him, letting go of the bike and letting it fall onto Atom, nearly knocking him off balance before he grabbed it and put it back upright. The kid took off his backpack. "Kinda look out for each other." He reached into it, and looked at Wolf. "Whohow! Is that a Deathstalker tail? I have never actually seen one in person. Can I touch it?" He reached his hand out a bit and Wolf began spinning her staff. She pointed it right at the guy as he leaned back, the tip less than an inch from his nose.
"Be my guest."
"On second thought," started the guy as he backed away, "I'm, I'm, I'm good." As he backed away, he looked at Atom and saw the hilt of his sword. "Is that, a sword?" Atom looked at him, then reached back to pull it out as Kipo thought about something.
"What? This? Yeah, what about it?" The kid muffled a laugh.
"I thought you looked old school, but that old school?" He laughed again, and Atom huffed, putting his sword away.
"Laugh all you want about it, but it's saved me multiple times. Never underestimate a good sword." Kipo realized something, and looked at the kid.
"Wait a minute, how can you go way back when he's just a" she was interrupted by Dave suddenly getting larger and getting encased in a cocoon. She and Wolf looked at each other as Atom looked over her shoulder. The cocoon suddenly split apart, revealing a bug. He suddenly opened his eyes and started babbling. Kipo dropped him and gasped. "I did not see that coming!" The kid grabbed Dave and lifted him upright, before putting him a bit further ahead.
"Sit tight. There's more." Dave waddled forward a bit, babbling nonstop, before he suddenly stopped and fell forward, before being covered by another cocoon. It ripped apart as a larger bug came out of it and turned to the group. Kipo looked around the entire group.
"What is that?!"
"His body is going through some changes." Said the kid. "It's completely natural."
"Heck of an accelerated life cycle." Remarked Atom. Dave kicked away the empty cocoon and looked at him.
"Hey! Quit talking about me in front of strangers!"
"Raging hormones." Said the kid.
"Why are you embarrassing me?" Asked Dave, before he suddenly stopped again and shed that skin, becoming yet a bigger bug. Kipo gasped as Atom turned away.
"I've seen some stuff in my time, but that takes the cake for least appealing."
"Whoo-hoo!" Said Dave as he stepped out of the shell. "I'm out of my awkward stage." He kicked it away. "It doesn't do me any favors." Wolf just looked at him questioningly as Kipo stared with her mouth wide open. Atom turned back.
"That is definitely not something I want to learn the specifics of." Wolf glanced at Kipo, then elbowed her.
"Hey, my arm grew in short!" Complained Dave, looking at his right two arms. "Did someone here mess with my cocoon?" He glared at Wolf. "Was it you? You give off a vibe."
"I can make your other arms match the stub, if you want." She threatened back. The kid stepped forward.
"Hey! We're all fellow travelers here, all right?" He gently grabbed Wolf's staff and lifted it up, and she eventually put it up herself. "I'm Benson." He gestured over to Dave. "You've already met Dave."
"Charmed." Said Dave, lifting a piece of shell that didn't come off before throwing it away.
"Travelers?" Asked Kipo. "So, you're from the surface too?" She looked between Wolf, Atom, and Benson. "Third human I've met on top. Mind blown!" She gestured to her head, and Wolf put a hand in front of her.
"Kipo, don't say anything more." She looked back at Dave. "He's a Mute." She glared at Benson. "And he's a friend of Mute." Atom sighed.
"And you need to calm down a little. Aside from the frogs and the Mega Bunny, none of the Mute we've seen are dangerous." Benson looked between him and Kipo.
"Are you from one of those, hole cities?" Asked Benson. He looked at Dave. "Dave, what are they called?"
"Burrows." The two looked at Kipo and Atom again. "You burrow people?"
"I am from a burrow!" Said Kipo, without thinking. Atom sighed.
"I will neither confirm nor deny anything about that." Wolf facepalmed.
"What did I just say?" Benson walked over to Kipo and Atom.
"Wild guess, top of my head, I don't know." He wrapped an arm around Kipo's shoulders. "You're lost, and need to get home."
"How'd you know?" Asked Kipo. "You're good."
"Too good." Sighed Atom. He thought to himself for a minute. "Is the storyline so obvious that anybody can read her?" Benson started walking her forward.
"Wolf and Atom are helping me." She said, looking at each of them in turn. "We have to get over a mountain of skyscrapers first." Wolf facepalmed again.
"Sure, just tell complete strangers everything!" She said, frustrated and aggravated. Atom leaned over to her.
"Believe me or not, those two will become traveling companions by tomorrow." He whispered.
"What?" Replied Wolf.
"You mean Skyscraper Ridge?" Dave asked Kipo. "Oh, it's a good thing you found us!" Mandu walked up to him and growled. He chuckled nervously and quickly climbed a broken wall to get away. "Nice piggy." He sat at the top.
"You know, Dave's right." Said Benson, stopping and letting go of Kipo before turning around to face her. "Nobody gets over Skyscraper Ridge." He leaned next to Dave. "Not without experienced guides." Kipo smiled, then looked back at Wolf for a moment before looking back at Benson. "We've been over the ridge, what is it Dave, ten times now?"
"More like 12." He replied. The two looked back at Kipo.
"Tell you what, we'll take you over the ridge in exchange for," Benson seemed to ponder for a moment, "I don't know. Dave, what should we do it for?"
"The Deathstalker Tail and that Sword."
"Yeah, the Tail and Sword." Wolf grabbed Kipo and turned her to face her. Atom leaned in as well.
"Not a chance." Said Wolf. "They're trying to hustle us." Kipo leaned back, then looked at Dave and Benson to see Benson grab a clump of goop off of Dave and toss it away. She looked back at Atom and Wolf.
"I'm not against giving them my sword. I've got more where this came from. But I know that she won't give up her staff just by looking at her." Kipo thought it through for a few moments.
"Oh, what do you think, Mandu?" Mandu snorted and walked over to Wolf, before sitting next to her. Atom sighed.
"I'm inclined to go with the majority here." Wolf looked at him, then at Mandu, then back to Kipo.
"Ok, it's settled." She looked at Benson and Dave. "You both need to leave."
"Why should we?" Asked Dave. Wolf smiled and spun her staff.
"Because you're not the one holding the Deathstalker." Atom drew his sword again, and held it up defensively.
"Or the sword." Benson and Dave looked at each other.
"All right, we can take a hint." Said Benson as the two began to leave. Kipo watched them go for a bit before looking back at Wolf, who was starting to walk in the other direction.
"You coming?" Atom handed Kipo one of the bikes, then put away his sword before following Wolf. He leaned over to her.
"Mark my words." He whispered.
"As if." She replied. Kipo looked away for a moment, before grabbing her bike and following. The trio walked for a bit before finding a suitable place to camp for the night. They got in and Wolf set up her trap as quickly as possible. She turned to Kipo.
"Listen up, you need to stop telling people about yourself." She sternly said.
"But, they were so nice," she defended.
"No! They were acting the part." Wolf laid down on her side and wrapped herself in her pelt. "Good night!" She put her staff next to her. Kipo looked at Atom, who looked back and sighed.
"I know you wanted to befriend them, but it's not the right time." He said. He pulled off his sheath and put it next to him before laying down and turning away from her. Kipo, in turn, laid down. Atom pulled out Leo. "What'd you think of them?" He whispered.
"I feel like you're right about them." Whispered Leo. "By the end of tomorrow, if they aren't traveling with us, I'd be surprised."
"I know." Atom sighed, then rolled over to look up. "Have we found why we're here yet?"
"Not yet." Leo hopped onto Atom's chest and turned to him. "Perhaps we should consider that we're not here for a reason. I mean, anything is possible."
"I know, but the pattern suggests otherwise." Kipo suddenly jolted up.
"Seriously, who do you keep talking to? I know that one of those voices isn't you!" Atom just looked at her, and sighed.
"It's my friend Leo," he started.
"Leo the lion?" Asked Kipo, interrupting. "You mean you're talking to the stars? That's kinda weird, but also cool! So, you're just having a conversation with yourself?" Atom looked around for a moment, trying to decide how to respond.
"Uh, yeah, something like that." He quickly turned over, hiding Leo again. "An old friend of mine, actually. I'd, rather not talk about it." Kipo gasped, and frowned. Atom grabbed Leo and stuffed him in his pocket as fast as he could, worried about Kipo suddenly coming over to him. She was silent for a few moments.
"Oh." She laid down again. "I see. You lost someone important when you were younger, right? I understand." She stayed silent after that, and Atom let out his held breath.
"Close one." He whispered to himself. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Wolf yawned as she woke up, and reached to the side a bit to grab her staff, but opened her eyes immediately and jumped up, yelling. "Stalkie!" Atom bolted awake and looked around.
"Who's attacking?!" Kipo slowly opened her eyes, moaning a bit.
"Huh?" She looked at Wolf. "Didn't you say shouting was bad? Ringing the dinner bell?" She laid her head back down, falling back asleep.
"They got our bikes too?!" Asked Wolf as she looked around. Kipo started snoring as Wolf groaned, exasperated.
"You okay?" Atom reached back to scratch his neck, and noticed that something was missing of his as well. "Wait, where's my sword?"
"I just don't understand how these two con artists got past my traaaap!" As Wolf was complaining, a rope suddenly snapped up and lifted her by the ankle, sending a can of soda right at her, which got opened and sprayed all over her. As she swung back, another can came down, and the cycle repeated a few more times. Atom just looked at her for a few moments, before struggling to contain a laugh. Wolf just glared at him.
"Laugh, and you die." Her glare told Atom everything he needed to, and he quickly turned around to try and control himself.
"Five more minutes, dad?" Mumbled Kipo as she rolled over. Atom turned back around, composed.
"Shall I wake her up?" Wolf glared at him.
The group was atop a hill, looking down across the ruined city. "They seemed nice." Said Kipo, defensively. "And they were so helpful." She was sitting on the front of another bike with Mandu in a basket and Wolf in the seat. Atom was next to them, on another salvaged bike. Kipo groaned. "I can't believe I fell for it!"
"The past is the past, and the future is the future." Said Atom. "Learn from your mistakes." Down below, Benson and Dave were riding a bike with Stalky and Atom's sword on their backs. They were laughing, and Wolf's eyes widened at the sight. "If you want, you can say 'I told you soooo!'" Wolf started down the hill, pedalling as fast as she possibly could. Atom kicked off, trying to catch up, but she was way too fast. Wolf's bike jumped on a rock, making Kipo yell out. At the bottom of the hill, they broke through a brick wall right behind Benson and Dave, and Wolf made a very sharp, very quick turn towards them. Atom finally go onto the road to see them speeding off.
"Wait up!" He started pedalling after them. Up ahead, Benson and Dave were singing to a song that Benson had playing in his headphones.
"Day by day" they sang, "we're reaching higher and higher!" Suddenly, Wolf rammed into them, knocking them off balance and knocking off Benson's headphones. They jumped down a hill with Wolf, Kipo and Mandu right on their tails, Kipo screaming the entire time. Atom wasn't too far behind, but was only keeping up, not catching up. Wolf glared at Benson and Dave hard enough to burn holes in their heads. The two looked back at her.
"Look, it was nothing personal." Said Benson. "It's a Deathstalker and a Sword!"
"You shoulda guarded it better!" Added Dave. Benson pulled Stalkie off his back.
"Here, have it back." Wolf suddenly lunged for it and snagged it from Benson's hand. She suddenly jumped off the bike and swung it at them, which Dave caught in his hands to stop it from hitting Benson. Wolf pulled it back as she landed back on the bike, and Dave held on.
"Look," Wolf looked at him, "we can really help you get over Skyscraper Ridge! We weren't lying. And this time, we'll do it on the hououououou" Wolf began shaking Stalkie to try and get Dave off of it as Atom finally caught up to them, running low on breath.
"Wolf, are you seeing this?" Asked Kipo. "I'm totally riding a bike!" A tongue suddenly wrapped around her and pulled her off. Everybody looked back to see that it was Jamack that had grabbed her.
"Hang on, I got you!" Called Benson. He drifted to the side and slowed down towards Kipo. As he did, Dave jumped off of Stalkie and onto Benson's backpack. Benson got next to Kipo and began tugging as Atom slowed down to help. Jamack nearly fell off the car, but caught himself and pulled harder to compensate. Atom got next to them as Benson let go of the handlebars to pull at Jamack's tongue. Atom grabbed onto one side of the handlebars to keep them steady. "I can't, get it!" Grunted Benson. He suddenly bit down on the tongue, making Jamack let go of Kipo and grab onto him and Dave.
"Benson!" Called Kipo as Dave got his feet on the bike, holding onto Benson for dear life. Atom slowed down a bit more, letting go of the handlebars of their bike as Kipo grabbed onto them, and instead grabbed Dave and held him securely.
"You're not going anywhere!" He said. "Hold onto him!"
"Wolf! Stab the tongue!" Called Kipo. Wolf slowed down on her bike, then leapt off.
"Yeah, get 'em!" Said Benson. Wolf swung down at the dragonfly pulling the car, stabbing it with Stalkie. The dragonfly suddenly stopped as it fell unconscious, making the car suddenly stop as well. This caused Atom to lose his grip on the handlebars and get pulled back towards Jamack with Benson and Dave. Wolf landed on the bike with Mandu, panting.
"If you wanna find your home, come with me!" She said. Kipo looked back at Benson, Dave, and Atom. The latter was trying to get away, but was tackled by the big frog and grabbed. Then, all three frogs gave chase after Kipo and Wolf.
"Hey! We have to go back for them!" Said Kipo, catching up to Wolf.
"No, we don't." Countered Wolf, pulling ahead. She pedalled faster, going up what looked like a hill, and Kipo gave one look back before following Wolf up. As they approached the peak of the hill, Wolf suddenly jumped off her bike and turned around, grabbing Stalkie as she did. "You might want to hang on to something." She slammed the blunt end of Stalkie on the ground, and the entire hill began to shake.
"The hill is moving." Said Kipo, shocked. "Wolf, the hill is moving!"
"It's not a hill!" Countered Wolf as a giant turtle head rose in front of them. Jamack slowed down as the big frog tossed Atom at the smaller one before charging at the Mega Turtle. It started lumbering forward as the big frog made a leap at its tail, and just missed. Jamack, Benson, Dave, and Atom just watched as the turtle left, looking at Kipo.
"Sorry." She said, looking back at the three. Wolf was glaring at them, until they got too far away to make out clearly. Atom sighed, then looked at Benson and Dave.
"You two are trouble." He said.
"Hey!" Yelled Dave. The big frog came back, and the small frog tossed Atom back at her. He went back into the car and grabbed some rope. He tied up Atom's hands first, then Benson's hands, then finally he tied up Dave entirely. All three were thrown in the car.
Wolf was watching behind them as the turtle continued to move, and Kipo slid down to her. "The frogs are never done." Said Wolf as Mandu slid down to join Kipo. "They won't stop looking for us."
"Why do they want people so bad?" Asked Kipo.
"I don't really know." Admitted Wolf. "But that's why there's hardly any of us left up here."
"That's why we should stick together." Said Kipo. "That's why we should be helping Atom, Benson and Dave. I mean," she took a breath, "if we could get to them." The turtle just continued walking without a care as to its passengers. Kipo glared at Wolf. "How could you do that? How could you just leave them behind?" Wolf glared back at her.
"Kipo, do you know how valuable you are? You could lead them to a whole city full of humans! Just be thankful we got away!" Kipo looked away.
"Thank you." She said, sarcastically. Then she realized something. "Wait, didn't those frogs say that Atom was a burrow person too?"
"He's not." Wolf stated bluntly.
"He's not?" Asked Kipo. Wolf sighed.
"You haven't lived up here." Continued Wolf. "You don't know what it's like."
"It's amazing." Said Kipo, disputing. "In just a day, I've seen enough wonders to fill a lifetime!" She looked back at Wolf. "I've also seen people being terrible to each other." Wolf stood up and looked at her, before jumping up the turtle's back.
"We need to eat." Kipo picked up Mandu as Wolf ran up to find something. She looked up and saw some fruit in the branches, and started climbing up, using Stalkie as a leverage point. "People being terrible?" She asked herself between swings. "I'm not being terrible!" She continued climbing up, soon getting to the fruit she had seen. She quickly grabbed an apple, clearly angry. "She doesn't know me." She prepared to take a bite when suddenly the tree shook, sending her off the branch and back to the ground. As she fell, Stalkie snagged something. Wolf slowly picked herself back up and looked to her right to see that Stalkie had gotten snagged on a bee hive. "Huh?" Some of the bees started coming out and making noises at her, very angrily. Wolf groaned. "Not today." She got up quickly and grabbed Stalkie before running away from the bees. As she ran, she passed Kipo, who was just watching off the back of the turtle.
"I don't get it." She mused. "They robbed us." Behind her, Wolf was swatting at the bees with Stalkie, trying to get them away. Kipo sighed. "But they also tried to help us. Then there's Atom, who was just trying to help all of us." She looked at Mandu. "Something about this just feels wrong." Wolf ran past them again, yelling and waving Stalkie around wildly. Mandu looked at her as she kept running.
"Wah! Get away!" Yelled Wolf. Mandu walked over to the bee's hive and picked it up, before going over near Wolf. She squealed, and the bees looked at her, stunned. Mandu began running, and the bees left Wolf alone. She dropped her scared stance, then refocused just as Kipo walked up to her.
"Wolf, I've decided!" She declared. "We're going back for Atom, Benson, and Dave! Up here, you do what you have to, and we have to do this." Mandu ran to the side of the turtle and threw the hive overboard, sending the bees away before running back, covered in bee stings. Wolf looked at her, then at Kipo.
"You're right."
"And I won't take no," started Kipo, having not processed what Wolf just said. "Wait what?"
"Those three aren't worth my spit, despite everything that's happened" said Wolf, looking at Mandu, "but up here, we should stick together." Kipo suddenly hugged her, stopping her in her tracks.
"You do care, even if you can't admit it." Said Kipo. "That's lesson one of people." Wolf was stunned into silence for a few moments, even as the turtle laid down.
"You're hugging me. Don't." Kipo sighed.
"Deal with it."
The dragonfly was moving again, bringing the car with it. "Look, we have two humans." Said the small frog. "That's pretty good. Let's call it a day and go home!" Jamack looked at him.
"Uh, I'm sorry. Pretty good?" He turned to the small frog. "You'd settle for pretty good, when we could have the burrow girl too and make the biggest score of our lives?" He turned his body away, crossing his arms. "And you call yourself a Mod Frog. Also," Jamack turned fully away, "your tie is uneven." The small frog looked at his tie and gasped. He looked to the bigger one, who looked away and scoffed before adjusting it. In the back of the car, Atom, Benson and Dave were tied up, unable to break free.
"Man that wolf girl!" Said Dave. "It really burns me. She could've helped us, and these ropes are really cuttin' off my circulation!"
"Oh, it burns you?" Asked Atom. "You're the ones who stole from us! I didn't do anything to make her mad at me."
"Yeah, that is fair." Said Benson. "We did take her Deathstalker and your sword."
"So?!" Asked Dave. "Everyone steals! That's just survival."
"Uh, no." Countered Atom.
"But turning her back on us like that goes against the code." Continued Dave.
"We, we have a code?" Asked Benson, clearly confused. Dave turned to him.
"The unwritten code that we never speak about! We both live by it. I thought you knew!"
"Anything in that code about untying knots?" Asked Benson. Atom sighed.
"If you're in a post-apocalypse world, the one thing you should know off the top of your head is how to tie and untie knots!" He took a deep breath, calming himself down. "Turn around, and let me try to get you loose." A sudden noise from ahead stopped that train of thought.
"Hang on." Said Dave. The three frogs looked ahead to see a very unexpected sight.
"Huh?" Asked Jamack. Before them was Kipo, who was standing next to a Stalkie spinning Wolf. She suddenly pointed it straight at the car, and the dragonfly squeaked a bit before suddenly turning around, stopping the car and nearly sending the frogs flying. Jamack got up first. "Oh yeah. The boss is gonna be so happy when we show her what we just found." He straightened his tie. The other two frogs got up.
"The burrow girl." Said the small one.
"I hate to disappoint you," said Wolf, "but you're gonna give us our three friends, and then we'll be on our way."
"You heard her." Added Kipo. "Hand them over."
"Harris, Kwat, they want us to have over their friends." Said Jamack.
"I think that's against company policy." Said Kwat, the big one.
"My coworker's a real stickler for the rules." Said Jamack. "Look, I totally get it. You all want to be together. So," he snapped his fingers, "I'll take all five of you!" Kwat pulled out her mace as Harris pulled out his bat. Jamack stepped down from the car, and Wolf glared at him, only for him to glare right back. Kwat and Harris just walked forward towards them, and Wolf held out Stalkie as a warning. The three frogs suddenly lunged at them, and Wolf lunged back. The two sides approached each other quickly, and collided in the middle.
Atom was working on the knot in Benson's rope, trying to untie him. "Almost, got, it," Wolf and Kipo suddenly being thrown into the car jostled all three of them, and Atom pulled the wrong part of the rope, making the knot even tighter. "Ugh! I was so close to getting it!"
"Welp, there goes our last hope of rescue." Said Benson.
"Next time, we pick smarter humans to rob." Added Dave. Kipo smiled at him and laughed nervously. The frog got in the car as it suddenly got in motion again, and the group tried to look around to see where they were heading. It was a decently long journey, but before too long they passed under a destroyed overpass, then started traveling on very large lily pads. The car came to a stop, and Harris got out as quickly as he could.
"I'm telling you, she smells awful!" He said. Everybody was suddenly thrown out of the car by Kwat as she got out.
"Humans have no sense of hygiene."
"You try cleaning yourself when you're being chased by frogs!" Countered Atom. Jamack got out of the car, laughing a bit.
"No, that's just the smell of how stinkin' rich we're all about to be," he closed the door and turned to face a larger group of frogs, "because we have two burrow people!" Kwat grabbed Kipo and Atom and dragged them over to Jamack. "That's right. If you ever wanted to see one in person," the other frogs gasped, "now's your chance." Kipo sat up on her knees and looked around as Atom shook his head. "We have two burrow people!" Kipo laughed nervously, before Wolf was thrown into her.
"Uh, whoever said I'm from a burrow?" Laughed Kipo. Jamack glared at her. "I hunt mega bunnies. Mmhm! I've been on the surface my whole life," she deepened her voice, "just surviving."
"Just, don't." Said Wolf. Jamack glared at Atom.
"I'm not from a burrow." He said. "End of story."
"Huh." Jamack turned to Harris, Benson, and Dave. "Yeah, it's obvious they're burrow people. But I'd rather have proof. If you can confirm it, you both go free. Dave and Benson looked at each other for a moment, before looking back at Jamack.
"Who? Kipo and Atom?" Asked Benson. "Those two are the baddest mega-bunny hunters ever."
"Yeah, they're legends." Added Dave. Kipo smiled at them as Wolf just looked at them shocked. Atom let out a relieved breath.
"Apology accepted, girl." Said Benson.
"Did it look like I apologized?!" Countered Wolf. Some flies started buzzing nearby, grabbing everybody's attention.
"Boss!" Said Jamack. The frogs parted to make a path for another frog that was riding on two flies. Another two were flying next to her. "You're back. I have a" the boss frog pushed past Jamack, mostly ignoring him.
"So, this is them?"
"A gift for you." Finished Jamack. The flies came to a stop, and the other two flew down to make a staircase for the boss. She walked down to look over Kipo, and held out her hand for something. One of the flies handed her some glasses, and she inspected Kipo.
"Skin, untouched by the sun." She held her hand out again and got a pencil, which she used to open Kipo's mouth. "Not a single tooth missing." She turned to Atom and put him upright before looking him over. "Hm. Not as untouched." She pried his mouth open and looked inside. "But not a single missing tooth." She pulled her hand back. "Well done, Jamack. These two are from burrows. Scarlemagne will pay handsomely for them." The boss frog stood up.
"Wait, what now?" Asked Dave. "Did she say who I think she said?!"
"Scarlemagne?" Asked Kipo. "W-who's Scarlemagne?"
"I'm just assuming bad news." Said Atom.
"Trust me, you don't want to know." Said Wolf. The ground shook a bit as something huge nearby took a step. The boss frog took a sniff of the air.
"Something smells funny."
"Oh, that?" Asked Kipo. Atom glanced at her, suddenly realizing something. "It's like we've been saying all along, we're mega bunny hunters. And right before Jamack grabbed us, we found a nest of babies." Wolf gave a cocky smile at the boss frog as Kipo pulled out a clump of fur and threw it towards the boss. "Their fur is so soft." The boss frog gasped, then looked up as a mega bunny roared.
"Jamack!" She yelled.
"That was the signal!" Said Wolf. "Where's our backup?!"
"Mandu! You're the backup!" Called Kipo. Mandu suddenly leapt from the water, holding Stalkie in her mouth, before spinning in the air and hitting both Harris and Kwat with it. Mandu landed hard, then threw Stalkie towards Wolf, who stood up and grabbed it before stabbing it into the ground, using the pointy end to cut the ropes binding her. She picked Stalkie up and again and freed Kipo and Atom in quick succession.
"Should've known you two would've come up with something as dangerous as that!" Said Atom. Kolf jumped towards Benson and Dave as the mega bunny took another step, making a giant wave in the water that knocked everybody into the water. Benson and Dave were the first ones up, having found a lily pad to cling onto. Kipo, Wolf, and Atom weren't far behind in getting their heads up, and all of them looked at the mega bunny to see the frogs attacking it. Atom swam over to the lily pad and helped Dave and Bensom up before he got on himself, then Wolf got up as Benson helped Kipo.
"We've gotta move, or we'll be bunny chow!" Called Wolf. Mandu got on quickly, and everybody started paddling on the sides, except Dave and Atom.
"Like, now!" Added Kipo. Atom looked at Dave.
"Hold onto me!" He said as he dipped his legs into the water behind the lily pad and began kicking. The lily pad started moving, but not very quickly.
"You enraged a 100 foot tall mom beat on purpose!" Yelled Dave. "What was your plan for after that?!" Kipo looked at him.
"I never thought that far ahead. I'm new at this!" Benson turned to her.
"Know what? We'd have done the same." He looked past Kipo. "Look out!"
"Human scum!" Yelled Jamack as he swung a bat at everybody, riding a dragonfly. Everyone managed to duck just in the nick of time. "You played me!" Jamack swung the dragonfly back around. "Actually, I'm impressed." As he drew in, Wolf stood up and spun Stalkie, before swiping at Jamack and knocking him off the dragonfly. He yelled as he was sent away into the water, before the mega bunny stomped near him. A wall of water slammed into the lily pad, pushing it away quickly as everybody hung onto it. Dave looked up to see the dragonfly Jamack was just on.
"Hang on, I speak a little dragonfly!" He stuck his stubs into his mouth and whistled, and the dragonfly came over quickly. The two had a quick conversation, and the dragonfly lowered down a bit. "All right, hop on!" Said Dave. He climbed on.
"My man!" Said Benson as he started getting on. Kipo stood up and grabbed Mandu before Benson helped her on. Atom jumped on behind them as Wolf tried to get on, but the dragonfly protested.
"What do you mean not her?!" Asked Dave. Atom looked at the dragonfly, and noticed a familiar bump.
"Uh, that's probably why." He pointed out. Kipo looked to the side.
"Uh, Dave!" Benson followed her glance to see the mega bunny shaking off the frogs, before taking another sniff of the air. It looked right at the group, and charged. Dave began speaking to the dragonfly again, trying to convince it as the mega bunny raced closer and closer. "He says he'll do it!" Kipo grabbed Wolf by the pelt as the dragonfly took off, narrowly escaping the mega rabbit's paw as it slammed down. Kipo pulled Wolf up as they passed over the boss frog, who was then sent away by the mega bunny as it gave chase. Everybody looked back for a moment before facing forward again, except Kipo and Atom.
"Are you seeing that too?" Asked Atom.
"Guys, what's faster, a bunny or a frog?!" Everybody else looked back again to see Jamack in the car from earlier, being held up by the flies and flying over the mega bunny.
"Burrow people!" He yelled. He started catching up, racing past the mega bunny as Wolf turned to Benson and Dave.
"There's only one way to shake him! Time to put your money where your mouth is, bug boy." Benson and Dave looked ahead to see a mountain of destroyed skyscrapers.
"Skyscraper ridge." They said simultaneously. Benson slipped his backpack off and started rummaging around in it.
"King of Pop?" He asked.
"No, Old School Hip-Hop." Said Dave.
"Wait, I've got the perfect song." Benson pulled out a tape and stuck it in his music player before turning it on. "See, this right here is why you need experienced guides, ok?" Dave turned the dragonfly towards an opening in the rubble, followed quickly by Jamack and the mega bunny. "We'll take the Easter Spur."
"We'll take the North Summit!" Said Dave at the same time. They both looked at each other and asked each other what they just called.
"Uh, guys," started Kipo. Jamack suddenly rammed into the dragonfly's tail, making it suddenly jump up in altitude as it entered the ruins. The mega bunny made another leap towards them as they flew in, spinning around the rubble. The mega bunny continued to give chase even as Jamack caught up again.
"Burrow people!" He called. Dave started steering the dragonfly per Benson's instruction.
"Go left! Go right! Ok, go right again!" Jamack continued to follow them closely. "Go up! Yeah yeah yeah! Go up, go up, go up! Right! Left! Uh, Up!" Benson looked back. "How is he still on our tail!?"
"Does it matter?" Asked Atom. "What you're doing isn't working!" He reached up and drew his sword from the sheath still on Benson's back. He looked back to see Jamack still following them closely, like he's done it before. He suddenly kicked the windshield out of his car and climbed onto the hood.
"Incoming!" Yelled Kipo as he shot his tongue out. The dragonfly spun under a beam of rubble, making Jamack grab it and get flung forward, before he bounced back on it and rammed into the group, grabbing Kipo off the dragonfly. They slammed back onto the car, and Jamack started steering with his foot.
"We're close to it, aren't we?" He asked. "Your home?" Kipo looked from side to side, worried. "Ah, I can already tell from your face. So let's make this easy. Just point me in the direction." Kipo just looked at him, then down to see the mega bunny still following, and catching up. "Ok, I'll sweeten the offer. You go free, and your people never learn it was you who betrayed them." Kipo looked around a bit more, before she held her hand out. Jamack smiled and laughed as he took her hand, thinking he had struck a deal. Then Kipo sat up, and put her hand on his back.
"You need to do some soul searching." She said. She removed her hand, and Jamack reached back to feel a clump of bunny fur.
"Huh?" He pulled it off as the mega bunny caught up. "What?" The mega bunny suddenly grabbed him by the suit and yanked him back. He screamed as the car rammed into a pile of rubble and smashed apart, sending Kipo flying. The dragonfly suddenly came up under her and caught her.
"Not bad, Burrow Girl." Said Atom, smiling at her.
"Please don't." She replied.
"Whoo-hoo!" Said Dave. "That was cold Kipo. Respect!" The mega bunny scratched through the top of the ruins, carrying Jamack.
"Don't wrinkle the suit!" He hollered before it dove down again. The dragonfly soared over the ruins, travelling quickly. Kipo watched ahead to point out where her home was, and soon saw the Clover.
"Over there!" She said. Atom looked at it.
"Huh, looks like a highway interchange. I guess it's kinda like a clover, in a way." Dave drove the dragonfly towards it, and landed. Everybody dismounted, and the dragonfly started flying away.
"What's a highway?" Asked Wolf. Dave suddenly stopped and grunted, before growing rapidly in size. His arms bulked out as a horn grew on his head, and within moments he was just barely shorter than Wolf. Everybody just kinda looked at him for a few moments, before wings suddenly sprouted from his back.
"That probably would've been helpful, like, five minutes ago." Quipped Banson.
"No kidding." Agreed Atom. "Another phase of his life cycle, right?"
"Anyone need a jar opened?" Asked Dave. "I got you covered." Kipo suddenly interrupted the conversation.
"Just so you know, no one in my burrow has ever seen a Mute before, besides a giant worm." Mandu snorted as Atom recoiled a bit. Kipo bent down and picked up Mandu. "But they'll get used to you pretty quick."
"Did you say, giant worm?" He asked.
"Yeah, why?" Asked Kipo. Atom backed up a bit.
"Uh, well, I don't, uh, like worms. It's a phobia. I'm, well, afraid of them." Benson turned to him.
"You're telling me that after all of that, a giant worm is what scares you?" He laughed. He then realized something. "Wait a minute. You're inviting us down there?"
"Yeah, don't you want to come?" Asked Kipo. "You always have a warm meal, you don't have to sleep with one eye open."
"Sign us up!" Agreed Dave, immediately.
"Bye bye, surface, I won't miss you!" Benson, Dave and Kipo started walking away, leaving Atom and Wolf.
"Told you." He said. Wolf scoffed as he started following them, before looking away.
"Everyone's probably still cleaning up from the attack." Said Kipo. "Wait till I tell my father about the Mutes we saw!" Wolf started walking away, and Kipo looked back at her. She stopped, along with Benson and Dave. Atom walked up to Benson and slipped his sheath off of him before putting it back on. "Where are you going?" Called Kipo.
"I promised to get you home." Said Wolf. "I never said I'd be your roommate." She paused for a moment, then continued walking.
"So, you're just gonna leave?" Asked Kipo. Atom put his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm a lone wolf." Called Wolf. Kipo was stunned into silence, then groaned and turned.
"Bah. Come on, we're almost home." She started heading through some bushes, followed by everyone else.
"Don't feel too down about it, Kipo." Said Atom. "Your story with her is far from over. Trust me." Kipo looked at him like he was crazy for a moment, then gave a small smile. She turned to the front again as they exited the bushes. She continued moving forward, pushing away branches and going through other foliage with everyone else not too far behind, but then suddenly stopped and gasped. Atom, Benson and Dave caught up, and took a look as well. In front of them was a giant hole, right in the middle of the clover.
"Kipo, I'm really sorry." Said Benson. Atom put his hand on her shoulder again.
"Whatever happens from here, we're here for you." Kipo rushed forward and slid into the hole and began looking around, pushing rubble away to try and find something, anything of her people. The rest of the group followed her a bit more cautiously, and just stood around for a bit watching her. Atom eventually started helping her move heavier chunks, while Benson and Dave just stayed back with Mandu, who oinked a bit.
"Man I knew this was too good to be true." Said Dave, disappointed.
"Uh, I see a lot of broken stuff, but no signs of any people." Mentioned Benson. Kipo suddenly gasped and looked at him.
"No signs of any people!" She started rushing off in another direction, and Atom looked at Benson and Dave.
"Are you sure you didn't live alone, Kipo?" Asked Benson. "I will not judge, ok?" Kipo didn't respond, and Atom turned to the direction she went.
"She has something she wants to see."
"I feel like, we should follow her." Said Benson. Atom started running after Kipo, followed by Benson and Dave, until they got to a massive, metal cube. Kipo walked up to it and pressed some buttons on a panel, and it began to open up. Looking inside revealed nothing, and Kipo smiled as everyone else walked up. She turned to Benson and walked up to him.
"Benson, you rule!" She suddenly kissed him on the cheek.
"Oh?! Wh-what'd I do?"
"No people!" Exclaimed Kipo. "Not even in the bunker! That's where we're supposed to hide if things ever get really bad."
"A bunker?" Asked Atom. "So if there's no signs of them anywhere here,"
They got away!" Finished Kipo. "My father, my friends, they got away somewhere." Kipo turned away from the bunker, and looked up. "And if they're somewhere, I can find them."
"Who said anything about just you?" Asked Atom.
"You're going to need help." Everybody turned to see Wolf sitting on some rubble. Kipo stepped forward.
"I thought you were a lone wolf. I'm home now, you did your job."
"You're not home." Countered Wolf. "My job's not over yet." Kipo smiled at her, and Wolf smiled back, then she looked away. Dave wrapped an arm around Kipo's shoulder.
"We'll help you too, Kipo. We got your back!"
"Totally!" Said Benson. "What should we do it for, Dave?" Mandu started attacking his legs. "Ow ow ow! Ok, we'll do it, for, like, food!" Mandu attacked him again. "Ok ok, for free, for free!" Atom laughed a bit at the sight, then looked at Kipo.
"As long as you need a traveling companion, I'm here." Dave looked at Mandu.
"Pig, you need to be pet. Come here, let me give you some love." He flew over to Mandu, who started running from him, squealing all the while, and ran into Stalkie, sending Wolf crashing to the ground. Dave, Benson, and Kipo laughed at the sight as Atom shook his head.
"What a crazy bunch. But hey, that's who I usually meet up with anyway." Leo poked his head out of Atom's pocket.
"Agreed." Benson stopped laughing and went over to Wolf to help her up, but she smacked away his hand and picked herself up off the ground. Benson put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in before walking back towards Kipo.
"Let go, or lose the arm." Threatened Wolf.
"Yes ma'am!" Said Benson, immediately putting his arm up. He put his arm back down as they got closer to the main group.
"You want me to pet you." Said Dave to Mandu, having finally caught her. "You want this love, admit it." Benson and Wolf walked over to them, and Benson laughed along with Dave at the situation.
"She likes you Dave." Said Benson. Kipo looked at them as Atom shrugged.
"I was right about one thing." He suddenly said. Kipo looked at him. "They became companions by today." Kipo smiled, before the sound of clanging metal interrupted them. Everybody looked up at the top of the pit to see a massive, bipedal cat hitting a chunk of rock with an axe. More cats began walking up, surrounding the entire side with fur and axes.
"Uh, guys?" Asked Kipo.
