Chapter 6
"Alright, toadlets! This is the last day we live in Goop Haven." said Fur Foot to the rest of the kids. "So, let's just look at it one more time before we leave."
The toadlets took one last look at their two week old home. It really was a nice home. Sure, there was the crevasse, but the overall aspects of the haven were that it was safe, cozy, and had an amazing view of the forest as it lie above a small cliff where no trees blocked its view.
And now, the toadlets had to leave their old home for a new future. It was obviously stressful, but they all knew in their hearts that happiness could be found elsewhere. And if nature is telling the toadlets to look for a happier future, they can find one.
"Well," Fur Foot said. "Let's hop to it."
"Why did we have to get up so early?" Puff Ball said. He was still very tired from the work from last night. He did all the heavy lifting. He was the biggest, and the strongest, so he was really tuckered. Obviously, he needed the most rest. But the most he could do was complain a little and let it go after he got a straight answer.
"Because the voice in Panther Cap's head told us to." said Fur Foot.
Straight.
"No." said Puff Ball, angrily.
"What?" said Fur Foot.
"No way we're really doing that."
"Look, it's all we have to go by." said Fur Foot. "Twins, do you have Panther Cap's path-find?"
"Stop calling us twins." The twins said in unison.
"Is it just me," Puff Ball whispered to Beauty Stem. "Or do they rehearse their twinsmanship?" Puff Ball didn't let very many things get in the way of his sarcasm.
"Puff Ball, Elf Cup, do you have the food?" said Fur Foot, with a more authoritative presence.
"Yep." Puff Ball noticed the dominance in Fur Foot's voice. He wasn't gonna act like a servant, though. "Right here."
"Beauty Stem, do you have the walking and hunting sticks?"
"Yes!" said Beauty Stem.
"Alright, so that's everything. And we have plenty of coil to secure the leaves?"
"I made sure of that!" said Shaggy Mane, taking pride in his knotting abilities. He figured out how to tie a knot when he left the deep wet.
"Then let's go! Panther Cap, which way?"
Panther Cap faced the dark trees in the forest. The entrance was coated with green light created by the sun shining through the trees which nearly blanketed the sun from shining into it. However, it was perfectly visible, and peaceful as well.
"Which way do we go?" Panther Cap said. Everything was silent. All Panther Cap could here was... that soft yet dominant voice telling him where to go. He turned around and faced his family. "It said we should head straight forward, and once we reach the Glittering Rock, we should take a left. After that, I'll sense where to go."
Heading into the forest, the toadlets stayed in an organized form. Fur Foot stayed in front with Panther Cap so that Panther Cap could lead the way without anyone getting lost.
The twins stayed in the center of the whole group, while the oldest toads surrounded them. The forest was familiar at first, but that didn't stop fear from creeping in.
"It's dark." said Slippery Jack. "Too dark..." Slippery Jack started shaking.
"Oh, come on, Jack!" said Oyster. "I can see just fine!"
"It shouldn't be long until we reach the trees." said Fur Foot. "That's as far as we've been before. And we're finally going to see what's beyond."
"And I think we're all still a little unprepared for that." said Beauty Stem. "But let's not let that stop us."
"Or, we could find another way." said Slippery Jack. Puff Ball stayed behind him. "We could lose sight of each other at any point, since the forest might get darker and darker until everything is pitch black!" Slippery Jack covered his eyes. Puff Ball crouched a little towards him. Slippery Jack started talking very quickly.
"I could lose this eye-hat on my head, and I won't see anyone. And then I hear screams. The screams of those that will never be heard from again, because their faces have been covered, and their fate has met with teeth that sleep in the darkness, awaiting a piece of meat whether to feed their hunger or pleasure or both... and then when I'm the last one, the voice starts breathing onto my back, it basks in it's own joy as it laughs inside watching me freeze, and shiver, and...
Puff Ball says "Feed me your eye-haaaat..."
"AAAAAAAAH!" Slippery Jack jumped onto a branch.
Puff ball and Oyster were laughing hysterically. "That's the funniest thing I've seen all week!" said Puff Ball.
"That was not funny!" said Jack. "I could've jumped out of my pants!"
"That would've been funnier!" shouted Oyster. And then a hand covered her face.
"MMMPH!" shouted Oyster.
"Mmph!" shouted Puff Ball. A hand covered his face as well.
"Do you guys seriously want to call a monster here?" whispered Fur Foot.
"I thought you were the monster!" whispered Oyster.
"Then don't blame me, blame Slippery Jack." said Fur Foot.
"Weeeee're almost to the trees. Maybe we'll see something nice there." said Panther Cap.
"Hopefully." said Fur Foot, taking his hand off of Oyster. "Slippery Jack, come down!"
After a little while of traveling through the trees, off the dirt path they were following, some of the toads were beginning to regret their decision. Even though they all woke up early, the forest did not brighten. As the day grew brighter, it seemed that the forest stayed the same... which means the forest would get darker as they went through if the daylight did not continue to get brighter.
What awaited beyond these tall trees? What could they find once they made their way through all of the trees? Well, once the exited the last few trees, they found...
