Chapter 9: Enter Razzle

All of the kids went to hide in one of the bushes, not where the recent rustle was. Their eyes all peered out carefully as the rustling noise continued. Nick placed his hand on his ear to listen to the sound cautiously. It wasn't a big sound like a crash from the sky but it was quite…small according to him.

Toby felt the need to go up a tiny bit more but not too high. He didn't want to make the same mistake as he did last time. He kept his face over the edge of the bush and suddenly noticed…

"A lizard?"

Lucas turned around to hear what Toby was confused by. He peered out from the edge to notice a little greyish-green lizard running around on the spot.

"But what's a lizard doing around in the forests of Gorm?" asked a concerned Jessica. "It should be in a desert."

"Jess's right," explained Nick in agreement, clearing his throat. "Lizards like this one are usually found in desert terrain areas such as the oasis, Egypt and-"

Toby stood up from his spot with eagerness. "Relax! I'll make sure that he's put back safely!"

Nick rolled his eyes at his older brother. "Are you crazy!?" he whispered angrily. "You'll make it mad if you touch it!"

Lucas crossed his fingers in nervousness. "Please don't hurt it," he replied softly.

Toby gave Lucas a little wink. "I can master pets quite easily. I'm sure that I can manage it."

"Sure you do," groaned Jessica, trying to remember what happened last time Toby handled a pet.

Then, without making a sound, Toby crept quietly towards the little lizard, who was still looking around the forest. Toby knew that he can handle such a tiny creature but he wasn't sure when it would be the right way to do it. Still, Jessica was right. Sometimes he wished he took lessons from his brother on how to look after a pet because it happened at school MOST times.

When he finally reached the lizard, he knew he had to be careful at all times. Cautiously, he knelt down on both knees and tried out a way to hold it.

Lucas covered his eyes. "I can't watch this!"

Jessica watched on anxiously and Nick kept quiet for the time but worried as well for his older brother.

Soon, Toby's fingers almost touched the creature when…

The lizard looked up at him, his clear blue eyes almost widened. "I say! Who's that disturbing me?"

Toby almost fell back in shock. Did the lizard just…..talk?! No. It had to be impossible for a lizard to start talking. He wanted to make sure but he decided best not touch the lizard again. Instead he though of the only way possible to react.

"THE LIZARD TALKS! THE LIZARD TALKS!"

Everyone was just dumbfounded as Toby was running back towards the bush. As he fell over while running, Nick grabbed him back up.

"Seriously, Toby?" huffed Nick in frustration. "You got freaked out by a lizard?"

Toby shook himself from the branches and twigs that were stuck to him. "I'm not joking Nick! The lizard just SERIOUSLY talked!"

Jessica let out a small giggle. "You really think we believe that a lizard can talk?" she laughed.

"I hate to say it but yes. I can talk," a shrill voice suddenly said, surprising the kids.

The group swiftly spun around to find that the lizard was right in front of the bush they were hiding from. It was smaller than them since it was a size of a normal lizard but it looked really tiny among their eyes.

The lizard blinked at them for a second. So did the kids. Then everyone began to scream and panic, well expect for Nick, who was still scared but still calm inside.

"OK! You were right, Tobe! There is a talking lizard!"

The lizard stopped screaming and calmed down, taking slow breaths. "Phew, I guess the secret's out that you've found me."

"We're sorry for scaring you," reassured Lucas, kneeling down to the lizard's height as far as he could. "It was a bit of a shock to us that you can talk,"

"Well, we are in Gorm after all," added Nick. "There's expected to be at least something strange,"

"The boy with the glasses is right you know," answered the lizard. "You'll always find something strange in here,"

Toby sighed, then knelt down next to Lucas. "I guess I should own you an apology," he sincerely admitted. "I honestly didn't meant to frighten you,"

The lizard propped himself onto Toby's hand. To Toby's surprise, the lizard felt soft rather than the slimy bumpy kind. Sure, he can feel the tiny little bumps but they were only small. Toby felt kind relieved now he know that the lizard wasn't going to hurt him in any way.

The lizard raised a tiny hand. "Apology expected!" He did his hand in a little salute. "You wouldn't mind putting me down now?"

Toby looked at Nick, who nodded his head in agreement with the lizard. Toby himself nodded back at the lizard and carefully placed him back on the floor.

"If you don't mind me asking, can we ask for your name?" asked Jessica, curiously.

"Oh dear! How silly of me to forget!" the lizard straightened himself and brushed the dust from the floor. "You may call me Razzle and yes, I'm a lizard but that's all."

"Hello Razzle," smiled Nick, giving the tiny lizard a wave. "I'm Nick and the person you just startled is my older brother, Toby,"

Razzle bowed before both of the brothers. "Pleased to meet you both." He straightened up again when he looked at Jessica and Lucas. "And I guess you are their friends?"

Lucas nodded his head. "Yes. I'm Lucas and this is Jessica."

Jessica gave an adorable wave. "Hello!" she answered back.

"So, Razzle? What are you doing here in the Forest Area?" questioned Nick. His curiosity wanted to find out more about Gorm so maybe Razzle might has a few answers that he could place into his mind.

But all the little lizard did was slump himself on the floor. "Well, I noticed that all of the nations here in Gorm would be working on our latest problems that we have here but…"

"But?" Toby was a little confused by that. There had to be more answers to the mysterious world of Gorm but how can he convince a lizard to do so? Maybe the problems could lie within other nations or even worse…the weather problems.

"But what do you mean by problems in Gorm?"

Razzle's face fell into sadness which surprised the group. "It's…quite a bit of a long story. It's best if I explain it to all of you."