Alright, chapter 4! I finished reading Marley and Me yesterday. If you haven't read this book, you need to! Especially if you are a dog lover! It's amazing!

Chapter 4

Army From the Black Lagoon

Megumi's father, Shinji, jerked Sayoran back inside. "Are you crazy?" He closed the door and lowered a wooden bar to lock it.

The five wore expressions of confusion.

"Giant toads?" Sayoran asked.

"Yes," Suki said. "Several years ago, giant toads began attacking the city. At first, the attacks were random and ineffective, but over the years, they have become organized, like an army. And, they've developed some sort of trident that delivers a deadly shock on contact."

"Do the citizens fight back?" Kurogane inquired.

"We try," Shinji explained, "but our weapons are no match for the tridents."

"It's safest to lock our doors and hidden until after the raid." Suki continued. "The toads themselves are weak on land and can't break down a door."

Suddenly Mokona and Moki sprang into the air, their eyes wide open. "There's a feather here!" They said in unison.

"Maybe one of Sakura's feathers is to blame for the toads' sudden acquisition of intelligence and size." Fai suggested.

"We have to get that feather back." Sayoran said with determination. " Otherwise those toads will overrun the city! I'll go tomorrow to see what I can find!"

"I'm coming with you." Kurogane said. "You shouldn't go it alone with you're eye."

"Me too!" Fai chimed in, raising his hand.

"And I'll go." Kyo offered.

"I can't ask you to fight for us." Sayoran said to her.

"That's the beauty of it!" She said with a wink. "You don't have to!"

"Watch your step." Sayoran muttered to the others.

The sky was gray and overcast, giving the land, fog, and water the same murky tint.

Fai twirled the broom he was using as a weapon. "It's so quiet out here."

Sayoran stopped. Fai was right. The only sounds he could here were the sound of marshwater and the sound of their own footsteps. "Something isn't right. Keep moving."

Kyo watched for any sign of danger. Fai walked up behind her. "Ky-o!" He said in a sing-song voice.

Kyo flinched.

"Ahhaha! Gotcha!" Fai laughed. "Anyway, I was wondering. I heard what you said to Kurogane and I think I could teach you a thing or two. It will be hard, since I won't actually use my magic, but I think we can handle it. What do you say?"

"Don't get your hopes up."

As she said this, the four came to a large lake in the middle of the marsh. Someone had left a good sized wooden row boat on the shore. It showed signs of slight neglect, but otherwise looked fine.

Mokona, who had been sitting on Fai's shoulder, pointed across the water. "The feather is somewhere over there."

"This would be the only way across." He said, motioning to the boat. "It looks very sturdy." He pushed it into the water.

Kyo looked cautiously at the boat. "I don't know…"

Sayoran and Kurogane stepped into the boat, followed by Fai, who looked back at the apprehensive Kyo standing on the shore. "Do you trust me?" He asked, holding out his hand to help her in as well.

Slowly, she placed her hand in his. "Um, alright. I'll trust you."

He helped her into the boat, then used one of the oars to push them away from the bank. He handed the other to Kyo. "I'm going to need some help."

Kyo took the oar, ready to help them accomplish their goal.

Mokona sat at the bow, directing them toward the feather. "More to the northwest."

Fai and Kyo maneuvered the boat in the direction Mokona indicated.

Kyo suddenly saw the water ripple out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head but saw nothing. She focused back on rowing, but suddenly saw something again. This time she only looked out of the corner of her eye, but saw enough to shrink back. She leaned in toward Sayoran and Kurogane. "We're being watched by toads!" She whispered in a panicky voice.

Kurogane looked out over the water. Several toads' eyes poked up out of the water. One blinked one of its eyes while keeping the other fixed on them. "Keep rowing." He whispered back.

Kyo looked at Fai. He appeared to be very relaxed. "I wish I could be that relaxed in the face of danger." She though jealously to herself. He didn't even seem to notice the toads.

"They're in front of us too!" Mokona shouted.

Kurogane threw his hand over Mokona's mouth. "Keep quiet, manju bun!"

"We're surrounded." Fai said in his calm demeanor.

The toads were emerging everywhere. Fai stopped rowing.

"What now?" Kyo asked nervously.

"We defend the boat." Sayoran said.

Fai started rowing again. Maybe they're just watching."

Kyo grabbed her oar. "I hope you're right."

The boat kept moving, and the toads began closing in. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a cacophony of croaks.

"They're not to happy about us being here!" Kyo warned.

Kurogane drew his sword and stabbed a toad that was trying to climb in the boat. "Get off!"

Fai grabbed his broom and handed his oar to Sayoran. He then shoved the bristles of the broom into another toad's eyes.

"Don't let their tridents touch you!" Mokona reminded them.

"There are too many of them!" Sayoran shouted over the loud croaking.

Fai looked directly into Kyo's eyes. "You have to do something. Now." He said, his tone completely serious.

She nodded. She stuck her hand into the water.

"What are you doing?!" Kurogane shouted, making a move to grab her wrist.

Fai stopped him. "Leave her alone. She might be our only way out."

Suddenly, the frogs croaks increased to a nearly deafening level as they began to disappear.

Fai took his oar from Sayoran. Kyo sat down with hers. The two pushed themselves to their limits, crossing the rest of the lake in record time.

As they hid the boat behind some reeds, Kyo looked out across the water. "They'll be back."

Kurogane looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't kill them."

Fai gave her a curious look. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but what did you do to them?"

"I shocked them with electricity."

"Well, you certainly proved that you can handle this!" The wizard laughed.

"Unlike some of us." Kurogane said pointedly to Fai.

"Everyone contributed." Sayoran said, breaking up the squabble. "Now, if we're going to find Sakura's feather, we're going to have to split up."

"Who will take Mokona?" Fai asked.

Suddenly, another voice chimed in. "I'll help!"

"Moki?!" Kyo exclaimed.

Moki jumped out of the pocket of Fai's coat.

"I told you to stay with Sakura!" She yelled. She turned her annoyed gaze at Fai. "Fai!"

"She begged me to let her come!" He said in defense. "And, look at it this way. Our Mokona problem is solved!"

Mokona hopped onto Sayoran's shoulder. "Let's go!"

Fai smiled at his annoyed partner.

Kyo caught the look. "No way am I partnering with you." She turned to see Sayoran, Kurogane, and Mokona already headed off in the opposite direction.

"Too late!" He laughed and dogged a blow from her oar.