Chapter 10

"Toads, hurry!" shouted Fur Foot. "Who knows what could happen to them!?"

Everyone of the toads hurried as fast as they could, except for Slippery Jack and Oyster who were being carried by Mistle Toad. Mistle Toad hopped through the forest with great speed, leaping from branch to branch, rock to rock. Oyster loved it. Slippery Jack was scared of the ride.

Mistle Toad knew exactly where they were going. If a young boy hears mysterious whispers, he'll be drawn to the source. The thunder tree. A thunder tree would tell the toadlets where Toad Hollow is, and only Panther Cap could hear them. In other words, that little boy was the toadlets' only hope of survival.

Mistle Toad lead the way for the toadlets to follow. As the toadlets followed, Mistle Toad kept an extra watch on Fur Foot without his knowing. Fur Foot was clearly acting as the leader, but Mistle Toad was positive the rising of many confusing situations and new mysteries only lead to uncertainty and doubt.

Mistle Toad would be right, for Fur Foot lacked focus, and kept asking himself whether he was a worthy fit for his family's leader or not. Up until now, they were mostly focused on making a home, organizing the home, and avoiding the dangers of the forest by living on the outskirts. They had never prepared for a long-lasting adventure through the forest in search of a new home, facing the many dangers they had been trying to avoid.

Fur Foot nearly got his friends in danger of a rat, left the young ones outside in the open, and lost Panther Cap because he was following what the youngest and weakest member said about the whispers in his head. What next? What would Fur Foot do next? What mistakes awaited in the future?

He stumbled. He had tripped on nothing, and he fell over onto his hands. The nail known as Ridged Tooth in his hands fell to the ground, nearly cutting him. He had given up hope of being a leader.

"Fur Foot!" shouted Beauty Stem. "What's wrong?" She ran to his side. But he didn't pay attention.

"Young one!" Mistle Toad hopped to the side of the fallen toad. "You must hurry for your brothers!"

Fur Foot wouldn't listen. He couldn't listen. He was stuck. Lost in thought. As if something within his mind was the focus of his whole mind. Although his face had no emotion, sadness and confusion emitted from him. Lost, alone, trapped inside of himself like a caterpillar that could not leave its cocoon.

The other surrounding him tried to wake him from this horrific state. They shook him, shouted, nothing.

Then without warning, Fur Foot clenched his fists, shook his head, and raised his head.

"Let's go!" he shouted.

As he ran to his brothers, everyone stood and stared. What had gone on in his mind to bring him from utter depression to sheer confidence in a matter of seconds?

"Well? Let's go!"

Panther Cap stopped running. He was right in front of the tall, dead tree, and the source. Thunder tree. The whispers had paused. Panther Cap stared at the top. It lived up to its name. It was like lightning, dead and leafless, but somehow it was full of life, as if it was the tree equivalent to a wise elder.

Panther Cap stepped slowly towards it. The tree had side to him... "Come here."

As the storm grew closer, stronger, louder, Panther Cap walked to the tree in a mesmerized state. He knew. He knew the tree had something for him.

"Panther Caaap!" shouted Shaggy Mane from behind.

Panther Cap slowly climbed up the tree, unaware that his pupils turned from black to a dark blue. As he looked at the tree, he became more entranced in the magic the tree held, awaiting the gift it carried specifically for Panther Cap.

The storm grew stronger, and thunder screamed and lightning flashed upon the top, directly above the tree. Panther Cap stared as the tree shined in the lightning. For Panther Cap, it was a beauty. For Shaggy Mane, it was horrific, like something from a ghost story.

The lightning grew more powerful, and more abundant!

"Get out of there, Panther Cap!" screamed Shaggy Mane as he ran to get his little bro.

The others finally came.

"He's over there!" Slippery Jack shouted as he pointed to Panther Cap.

Mistle Toad looked at the sky. He knew what was going to happen, and Shaggy Mane couldn't be near if he wanted to ever move again. Mistle Toad ran to the tree with great speed, and grabbed Shaggy Mane.

"Get down!" shouted Mistle Toad. As he grabbed Shaggy Mane by the arm, he kicked himself off of the tree before...

The lightning struck the tree. Mistle Toad and Shaggy Mane watched as the lightning surrounded itself around the tree, quickly making its way down to the bottom... and to Panther Cap!"

"No! Panther Cap!" screamed Shaggy Mane.

"Wait!" said Mistle Toad, holding the boy back.

As Shaggy Mane watched, he noticed the tree was not hurt by the lightning. Neither was Panther Cap. The lightning went down to the tree, and was absorbed into the ground. And something else was absorbed into Panther Cap. His eyes glowed blue now. His pupils most of all. He was talking with the three through his mind.

He heard something. A beautiful whisper that gave him a gift.

The lightning had been completely absorbed into the ground. The lightning ended. The storm went away. Sunlight had filled the air once again through a cloudless sky. And from that lightning, an acorn grew on that dead tree.