The loss of the stand had hit Hop Pop pretty hard. The old frog was thrown into a state of manic depression, doing whatever he could to feel useful around the house. Anne watched him fix and patch up every broken or misplaced stone on the house. She had helped of course, making sure Hop Pop didn't hurt himself from all of the work. Even giving some assistance when he was filing his taxes. Luckily they had enough money saved up to pay the mayor. With nothing left to do in the house, he started to work outside of the home. Trying the new seeds he had been talking about, making sure the cowapillars and Bessie were properly fed.
Hop Pop even helped teach Anne how to drive Bessie since she had no real experience with riding a live animal. Of course, she had to study a book thicker than one of the Mechanicus manuals Marcy tried to get her to read. At least the snail's history was more interesting. It didn't take long, a few supervised rides to the town and back on the long dirt road made for good practice.
On an off day, Hopediah confined himself to his room to wallow in the sadness. Anne, Polly, and Sprig tried their best to uplift his spirits, to no avail. It was something Hop Pop had to get through himself, so they let him be. Anne took this time to to help train Sprig how to shoot and work her laspistol while Polly worked on her new morningstar flail. Both had talent, they just needed some refinement.
"I don't get why I need to keep doing the same swing, I know how to use this!" Polly shouts as she whips the ball and chain about at an imaginary enemy.
"Practice makes perfect, it's what I had to do when I was a kid. Spent most of that time sparring with Sasha." Anne replied as she checked the battery packs. All she had to do was put them in the sun for most of the day and the advanced technology would recharge itself off the heat.
"She came down here with you too, right?" Sprig hesitantly answers after Anne tosses the power pack to him.
"Yeah, and many others. I pray she's doing alright. But, she is the toughest woman I know." Anne kneels down, helping Sprig by fixing his elbows to help steady his aim. His current target being an empty glass bottle.
"Well I can't wait to meet her!" Polly shouts as she swings the flail into a nearby fallen log. Splintering it instantly. "Our enemies will flee before us!"
"She does have that vibe about her." Anne chuckles, remembering the ever serious Sasha. "Alright Sprig, just breath out and squeeze the trigger."
Sprig had a look of utter concentration, eye squinted over the iron sights and yellow tongue hanging out from his lip. Following Anne's instructions, he takes a deep breath and pulls the trigger on the exhale. A beam of red hits the glass bottle, super heating it to the point it shatters to pieces. "Woohoo, did you see that!" Sprig cheers.
Anne celebrated with Sprig, but notices he's aiming the barrel of the laspistol directly at her. Fearing for her life, she points it out of the way before taking it back. "Okay, maybe we shouldn't have skipped the safety lessons."
Sprig bashfully rubs the back of his neck. "Sorry."
"Pft, we're perfectly safe!" Polly shouts as she's swinging the morningstar about her head. Proving she was more than dangerous to others when it slips out of her small webbed flipper. "Oops."
"Hey kids- Ah!" Unfortunately Hop Pop opens the side door to the house just as the spiked ball is flung in his direction. A quick hop out of the way and Hopediah dodges his fate with the weapon.
"Oh no, how could this have happened?" Polly tries to act her way out of taking responsibility, but Hop Pop wasn't buying it.
"Hop Pop, you, uh, feeling alright?" Sprig runs up to his grandfather. Quite surprised to see him out of the house and in actual clothes and not his boxers and tank top. Hop Pop even shaved!
"I'm fine boy, no need to fuss about me." He smiles. "Besides, 'bout time I put it all behind me and move on. So to start, who's up for a trip into town?"
"Best we take a break from training for today anyway." Anne slips her pistol back into it's holster. "You need something from the store?" She asks.
"Well, the pantry is lookin' a little empty on a few things. Best to resupply while we still got the funds. Plus, don't want folks to think I'm dead." Hop Pop picks Polly up under his arm.
"Can we pick out our own snacks?" Polly's eyes filled with hope.
"Frog yeah!" Hop Pop responds with a laugh. Earning cheers from the whole family as they get Bessie hooked up to her wagon and ride her into town.
Reaching the lovely town of Wartwood, the Plantars and Anne hitch Bessie onto a post outside of the Grub & Go. Anne had never actually been inside of the store before, the door usually locked with a closed sign hanging in the window. The frogs have gotten used to her and rather than fear they've taken to mocking her. Walking into Grub & Go, the store is filled with murmurs and whispers aimed at Anne.
"Alright, you kids grab what ya want. I gotta follow my list." Hop Pop pulls out a long list and grabs a cart, which is just the carcass of a bug on wheels. Sprig and Polly go charging down the aisle, most likely to get candy. Leaving Hop Pop and Anne behind. "Get yourself something too, Anne. Think you've earned it for lookin' after them when I was a mess."
"Hey, it's alright to be broken up about losing something. Just glad you're feeling better." Anne replies with a smile and a friendly pat on the old frog's shoulder. "But, I will take up that offer. That beetle jerky is too good to pass up." It took a while to navigate the aisles, but she manages to find her objective.
"There you are. Ooh, last one too." Just as she's about to grab the bag of jerky, a tongue snatches it out from the shelf. "Hey!" She shouts at the one holding the bag, local vagabond Wally. "I saw those first, Wally!"
"Snooze ya lose, scarecrow!" The one-eyed menace laughing as he hops away with his prize. Leaving Anne to groan in frustration.
"Hey!" A cart is pushed against the back of her legs. Turning around, Anne spots Sadie Croaker at the helm with her pet spider in the buggy. "Move your big behind, scarecrow! Croaker needs her cookies!"
Yes, Anne was taking up a lot of the small space between the shelves. But the disrespect made her grumble and move on out of the old frog's way. "My behind isn't big, I'm big! Technically it's to scale." Mumbling to herself in anger, she's too distracted to notice the wet floor before it was too late. Anne slips and falls face first on the floor of the store with a grunt.
"Hey scarecrow, didn't you see the sign?" The teen worker pointing to the wet floor sign off to the side. The rest of the frogs laugh at the clumsy human as she bites back the urge to lash out. Collecting herself, Anne storms out of the store. Content to spend the rest of the time with Bessie.
A half hour later and the Plantar Family approach with paper bags filled with various fruits, bug meat, and small items. Sprig has a bag filled with candied roaches clutched in his hand. "Hey Anne, what happened back there?"
"Nothing, I just slipped is all." Anne helps Hop Pop with the groceries while she vents. "Just, it's been nearly two months and the frogs here are still treat me like the town mutant. Would it kill them to be a little bit nicer? I'm a respected Rogue Trader for Terra's sake!" If they knew the power she could lord over them, they'd be singing a different tune.
"Just how these frogs are, Anne. You've seen the town motto already, gonna take a lot of convincing before they warm up to ya like we have." The elderly frog hands over the last paper bag before climbing up onto Bessie's saddle. "I know what'll cheer you up, some pill bug pancakes!"
Just the mention of Hop Pop's pancakes made Anne's mouth water. "Well, they are my favorite." The young woman didn't want to admit the food of Amphibia was starting to grow on her. Is this what the people of Catachan do for all of their meals? A thought to ponder for later.
Bessie lets out chirp and carries the family back through the town. What seemed to have passed by Anne's notice the first time was the stone statue of the altruistic Mayor Toadstool performing the noble deed of kissing an orphan pollywog held up by a child frog. She's seen many statues of great deeds performed by heroes of the Imperium, but this one felt a bit too vain.
"Huh, that statue's new." Hop Pop comments, even his eyebrow was raised in confusion at the sight.
"And tasteless." Sprig adds with Polly nodding in agreement.
Despite their want to put the bad piece of art behind them, Bessie is suddenly chirping frantically. Head and eye stalks swinging about to try and spot some unseen danger. "Hey, what's wrong, girl?" Anne is the first to hop off the saddle to clam down the snail. She had a soft spot for the noble creature after the lengthy reading session. The cause for the upset was drawing close as the heavy thuds of multiple legs grew louder. In the distance, Anne could spot the biggest arachnid she's ever seen and behind it was a wagon. Every frog either stayed clear of it's path or leapt out of the way as they narrowly avoided it. The spiked wheels and skull gave it a very menacing appearance.
The owners of the spider pulled into the square, a group of three burly figures hopping off. They're wider than any frog in town, their skin looking rough from what Anne could tell. Each one wearing either leather armor or scales for added protection. The red skinned horned one gives his neck a quick twist. "Ah, nothing like cracking your neck after a long drive. Ain't that right?" He asks, turning to the green skinned one with the long braided hair who grunts out a response.
Mayor Toadstool and his assistant Toadie burst out from City Hollow. "Oh good, you're here! Go on Toadie, give 'em the list." The small frog is too afraid to speak, silently and obediently handing a roll of parchment to the leader. "I do hope you can resolve this issue quickly." Squinting her eyes, Anne found they share a lot of similar traits with the mayor of Wartwood.
"It'll be done when it's done, Toadstool. Your town's been short before, but never by this much." A wide scowl dominates the red one's face as he eyes over the list. Snapping his fingers, the other two begin unloading their wagon.
"Hey Hop Pop, who are those three?" Anne asks her local source of Amphibia knowledge.
"Toads from Toad Tower. They rule over the entire valley for Newtopia and the king. Did I not mention this before?" Hop Pop takes out his trusty map of Frog Valley, pointing out the lone tower sitting at the North side.
"Big scary tower where the fiercest warriors of the valley live! Enforcing the laws placed on us from higher society." Sprig adds.
"Guess that's why Toadstool isn't living at the tower." Based on Anne's previous encounter, the mayor looks like he could crumple easily in any sort of engagement. "What are they doing here then? From what I can tell, you frogs deal with most problems on your own."
"Whatever it is, it probably isn't good. Best we steer clear of 'em since they're a rough and ruthless- Sprig, Polly?" Hop Pop peers to his sides to see he's now seated alone on the saddle. His ever curious grandchildren already walking up to the trio of toads. "Dang it, kids!"
"Don't worry, Hop Pop, I'll make sure they don't get into trouble." Anne follows after the frog and pollywog. Her back held straighter, head held higher. Dealing with unruly voidsmen on her ship was normal, Anne knew she had to come off strong to ward off any action from the toads.
"Hey there guys! So you're from Toad Tower, huh?" Sprig asks, Polly resting on top of his head.
"Sure are, runt." The red toad doesn't even look at Sprig. Too busy inspecting the iron hammer in his grip with a swing.
"It's uh, Sprig actually." He corrects, but the words don't seem to register to the soldier.
"Who you callin' a runt ya oversized millworm!" Ever the hot headed one, Polly hurls insults.
"You wanna say that again?" This gets the toad's attention. Resting the haft of the hammer over his shoulder, he stalks up and looms over the frog children. Before anything else can happen, a sword enters his vision. More finely crafted than anything made on Amphibia and the one holding it was glaring at him.
"Back off, they're under my protection." A stern voice used to control lessers comes from the tall, gangly beast. But the hammer wielding toad isn't intimidated in the slightest.
"Is that a challenge?" The green toad shouts, a grin on her face as she eyes up her opponent from head to toe. "Hm, I wonder what you taste like." Not waiting for a response, she charges at the creature. Hopping up high into the air and swinging her spiked club in a downward arc. The children scramble to get clear of the brawl, but the messy haired beast stands their ground. Blade cutting into wood, the toad's attack is blocked and quickly countered with a heavy handed punch to the face.
The leader steps to the side as his underling is launched into the wheel of their wagon. A red colored imprint of the fist resting perfectly between her eyes, which were wide with awe. "That, was awesome!" Cheering as she stands back up.
"Haha! You got some fire in you, creature. I can respect that." He rests the head of his hammer on the dirt road, showing he isn't a threat anymore to the beast.
"Come on kids," Hop Pop shouts from atop Bessie. "That's enough flirtin' with death! Lets head home." Sprig didn't need to be told twice, he hops back at full speed until him and Polly are back on top of Bessie. Anne lagging behind as she sheaths her sword, eyes never leaving the group of toads.
"Uh Anne, you doing okay?" Sprig asks his friend, concern clear on his face.
"Yeah, just surprised at how tough that toad was." Her hand sore from it's collision with the rock like skull. "They're like short orks, always looking for a fight."
"Why we do our best to just stay out of their way." States Hop Pop.
"I think this is a perfect opportunity to gain their trust."
"Say what?"
"Anne, are you crazy!" Sprig speaks up. "They're dangerous! Not to mention creepy." Peering over, the one toad that hasn't spoken just stands there. Body not moving an inch even as he breaths heavily through his fully enclosed helmet. "Why would you want to hang out with a bunch of smelly toads?"
"Okay, hear me out. You said they rule over the valley, right Hop Pop?" Anne asks, Hop Pop nodding to confirm. "That means they have a large garrison at the Tower, which means more eyes and ears. One of them has to have seen Marcy, Sasha or anyone else. If not, I can at least convince them to help look."
Hop Pop rubs at his chin in thought. Anne sounded certain of her plan, and he was confident she can take care of herself around the toads. "Well okay, but don't dally too long, Anne. I'll keep the kids with me, don't want them gettin' hurt."
"Don't worry, I've had enough of toads for the day." Sprig leans back on the saddle.
"I just want some pancakes already!" Polly yells, prompting her grandfather to snap Bessie's reins.
"Good luck, Anne!"
"Stay safe!"
"I'm eating your pancakes!"
Anne waves goodbye to her frog family as the snail drives out of town. It was strangely quiet now. The first time she's been without the Plantars or even Sprig since she was found in the woods. Steeling her resolve, she approaches the toads once more. "Hey, I never got a chance to ask your-"
"The name's Bog!" The red horned toad shoves a crate filled with an assortment of weapons into Anne's hands. "The silent one over there is Mire." True to his word, the helmet clad toad stays quiet. "And you've already met Fens." The green haired toad greeting Anne with a wink and a point.
"I'm Anne. I mean, it's Annelisa but I prefer if you just called me Anne." The crate isn't heavy in her hands, but she was annoyed it was thrust upon her. She didn't show it though. "So, what brings you guys to Wartwood?"
"We're tax collectors, Anne." Bog grabs an axe from the crate, looking over it's edge to check it's sharpness. "Every year around this time towns all over the valley send their taxes to Toad Tower. Your town came up short this year, too short. So we're here to collect." He checks between his sharp teeth in the reflection of the axe before tossing it back into the crate. "Say, we could use someone like you! Strong, intimidating, and inside knowledge of the town."
"Wait, really?" Anne was shocked her plan was going this smoothly.
"Yeah, it'll make the job a lot smoother than asking around where all these frogs live." Bog holds up the list given to him by Toadstool. "Judging by the list, we got a long day ahead of us."
It's true that during her stay here Anne has managed to pick up the names of most of the frogs who lived in Wartwood. Her earlier attempts to try and befriend the town by learning all she could about their work or habits might finally come in handy. "Well, if it's for the good of Amphibia."
Bog pulls out a silver badge just like the one him and the other toads wore across their shoulder. "That's the spirit!" He flicks the badge to Anne who manages to catch it after tossing the crate aside. "Best part about wearing that is everyone will have to treat you with respect!"
Anne pins the badge onto her coat. The official emblem of Amphibia, a long three toed amphibian foot, was affixed right next to the twin headed eagle of the Imperium of Man. "Alright, lets get to work."
Back at the Plantar Farm the frogs were relaxing after a large breakfast of pill bug pancakes. Polly was asleep in her bucket, an eye mask over her face as she took her post-meal nap. Hop Pop and Sprig were playing a game of Bogjump on the coffee table. The elder jumps his piece across four of Sprig's winning him the game. "Ha! Got yer last frog! I win!" Sprig can only sigh loudly. "Ya got somethin' on yer mind there, Sprig? Usually ya got more focus than this." He asks his grandson.
"Anne hasn't come back yet. She even missed out on pancakes! I just have a bad feeling about all of this, Hop Pop." The worried frog rests his head against the table and game board.
"Sure she'll be fine. Anne's an adult and can take care of herself after all." Hop Pop reassures.
Polly lifts up her eye mask to peek at her brother. "Yeah, you're just being paranoid like usual."
"I'm not being paranoid!" Despite his denial, Sprig is out of his seat and opening the window above the sofa.
"Boy, what are you doin'?" Hop Pop only noticed when the latch to the windows came undone.
"Nothing at all! Totally not gonna follow Anne around to make sure she's safe."
"That's all well and good, but can you at least use the front door!" The orange frog points to the perfectly functioning door. But Sprig's eyes just squint at Hop Pop.
"No."
Being a sticky little frog, Sprig crawls against the wall before exiting from the window. Determined to watch over his friend and her well being while the toads remain in Wartwood.
The ride on the spiked wagon of the toads wasn't all that uncomfortable. Anne couldn't fit in the seat along with Fens and Mire, not like she wanted to be. Instead she rode in the back of the wagon as it came to a secluded part of the swamp. Bog tugs on the reins of the spider, bringing it to a stop before the run down shack of a house. He takes out the list of tax dodgers and peers at the first name on the list that matches the name on the nearby mailbox. "Wally, yep this is it. See Anne, already making this job easier on us." The toad praises as they take positions by the door.
"Oh, uh, no problem at all. So, how does this work? Do we leave a notice on Wally's door to remind him what he owes or-" Bog answers her by swiftly launching himself into the door of the house. The wooden barrier flies off it's hinges and into the home from the powerful shoulder charge.
"Like that." The toads laugh as they enter to find Wally currently bathing himself.
"Jumpin' June bugs! What's all this about?" The one eyed frog shouts as he does his best to cover himself with his arms and scrubber.
"Wally, you still owe the town your taxes for the year." Says Anne, leaning down low enough to clear the doorway into the vagabond's home. "Just pay up and we'll be our of your hair."
"Rubbish!" Wally shouts, pointing the scrubber at the intruders in his home. "I may live in squalor, but I always pay my taxes!"
"The mayor's list says otherwise. And since you haven't paid, we'll be taking your stuff." Bog says with a chuckle, the malice clear in his voice.
Wally only whimpers as he's forced to consign his belongings, despite their questionable worth, to the tax collectors. But Anne quickly speaks up. "Wait, do we have to take his property? I'm sure he's just holding onto the money he owes somewhere. Well Wally, where is it?" She asks, but Wally's answer doesn't please the toads.
"I don't have anymore coppers! Not enough to pay for another set of taxes and still afford food!"
Bog grunts and snaps his clawed fingers. "Then your stuff it is." Fens snatches the scrubber from Wally's hand as Mire uses his entire body to clear a messy dish covered table into a sack. Anne was impressed with how quickly the toads went to work, tearing open cabinets and draws to take anything of value. Even a few lutes and Wally's concertina was added to the loot pile. Anne is snapped back to her senses when Bog tosses a bag of beetle jerky into her hands. The very same one she attempted to buy this morning. "Here you go, Anne. Little something extra for you."
"I'm not sure about all of this, Bog. Wouldn't it be easier to just give him more time?" Anne wasn't even sure if Wally's vast collection of dishware could be useful to Newtopia.
"Look, Anne. It's just the way we do things here in Amphibia. Whatever we send to Newtopia they take no problem. Plus, it's not like we enjoy it. Now who wants to race to the next house?" With Bogs quick explanation, he's out the door in a flash. Mire and Fens following while pushing the repossessed goods out the door. Leaving Anne alone with a crying Wally left in his wash tub.
Wally had been one of Anne's biggest antagonist in Wartwood, being the one who initially encountered her fist. Always throwing a rude comment and suspicious glares her way whenever she was in town with the Plantars. Now he's been reduced to a sad sight in an empty home. She was tempted to leave him, it was a common thing to see among the Hive Cities of the Imperium. But Anne had always spent her time in the presence of her family, never seeing her fellow humans reduced to such a state in person.
This close up, she only felt pity and remorse for the frog. While it was not her place to fight the system of Amphibia at the moment, she could at least help soften the blow. "Here, take it." Anne hands the bag of jerky back to Wally. It wasn't much, but it was something.
Wally's one eye wells up with more tears. "Thank you."
"Anne, come on!" Bog shouts from outside. Not wanting to ruin her chances with her potential allies, Anne rushes back to the wagon now carrying Wally's things.
While the wagon drives off with the toads and Anne, someone spies from the bushes with a handheld telescope. Sprig had managed to overhear everything, which isn't that hard when the toads liked to shout. "That's weird." He rubs his chin in thought. "Wally always pays his taxes." Sprig wasn't sure how he could, since he was just the local loon, but it's never been an issue in the past.
A rustle in the bushes catches Sprigs attention. He would have written it off as a stray animal, but animals can't talk. "Come on!" Animals definitely don't sound like the mayor. A stealthy approach and Sprig spots Toadstool and Toadie traveling among the foliage. The mayor holding a sack in his hand while his assistant carries an identical, larger sack on his back. "Hurry Toadie, while the townsfolk are occupied with the collectors!"
"Coming, sir!" The small frog does his best to lug the larger sack, nearly slipping off his back until he adjusts it. Unaware of the rip in the back letting free a small copper coin in the mud. Once they're gone, Sprig leaps out and snatches the coin up.
"A copper coin? The mayor? Bag with a hole?" The gears in his head start to turn, but Sprig needed more information before he could put the pieces fully together. "Another bad feeling. Better follow this one, sorry Anne." Pocketing the coin, Sprig begins to track Mayor Toadstool and Toadie through the trees and brush.
The rest of the tax collecting went the same as it did with Wally. Going to their homes or businesses and taking whatever the toads deemed sufficient for repossessing. With Anne and her two months worth of watching and collecting information on the town, there wasn't a single frog that escaped their gaze. Each one would say the same thing and deny they've missed the payment. It was hard for Anne to watch, so she did her best to leave at least something behind for them.
Ivy and Felicia, her mother, weren't safe from the ruthless attention of Bog, Fens, and Mire. The tea shop she owned was ransacked of various teas and fine frog china. Ivy wanted to fight them off, but her mother holds her back. The only thing Anne could save for the Sundew family was a single tea pot. Which was accepted in gratitude.
Inside Loggle's shop had always been a mystery to her. Anne had only seen him when Hop Pop managed to end up glued to him one time. He was a fine 'woodsmith' as he calls himself. The toads think so too and grab tables, desks, clocks, and even replacement limbs from his store. What really broke Loggle's heart was when his full sized wood statue of himself, more physically fit, was taken as payment. It wasn't much, but he accepted the lone cane Anne managed to sneak past the toads.
Even the elderly weren't spared as the Toad Tower collectors forced their way inside of Sadie Croaker's home. Mrs. Croaker had the largest cowapillar ranch this side of the Valley, so the inside of her home was filled with valuables. Her attempts to keep the toads away with her pet spider, Archie, are thwarted when Mire frightens the critter back to his bed. One that's promptly taken by the helmeted toad. Luckily he wasn't paying attention enough to notice Anne had switched out the pet bed with a vase.
Anne loads up the wagon with a barrel from the home of Chuck, the tulip gardener. They had gone through half the town, but there was still names left on the list. "I just don't see how this benefits anyone." She says out loud. Taking all they can from the working frogs would only cause them to fall behind again for next year if they can't recover.
"The law is the law, Anne. It's tough, but this kind of work needs to get done." Bog explains as he throws up a wooden crate on the wagon. Bog always had some excuse or explanation for Anne, it was starting to get on her nerves.
"Yeah!" Fens had taken a box from the pile and was eating handfuls of fire roasted fire ants. "Needs to get it done. Stuff, gotta get it done."
This made the young woman start to question if these three toads were even right for the job. "Alright, you're the enforcers here after all. So, who's next on the list?" With the last of the good secured, the tax collectors and Anne hop on the wagon.
Bog drives the spider forward as he digs out the list again. "Euh, some nut named Hopediah Plantar." Anne's blood runs cold at the name.
"Wait, no. There must be a mistake on that list. I know that frog, he's the most honest one in Wartwood!"
"Anne, the tower didn't get it's taxes, okay? And if we didn't get the money, then where is it?"
Elsewhere, Sprig was following up his investigation. The trail of coins made it easy to track the toad and frog through the forest and back into town. Leading him all the way to where he had first seen that terrible statue of the mayor. Only this time there's a curtain being used to hide it from view. The jingling of coins and the hushed tones of conversation coming from behind the tarp. Peeking under it, he catches Toadstool unloading the sack into the open hatch on the statue!
"It's flawless, Toadie. The perfect plan. Who would think to look for the missing taxes in plain sight? Increasing the rent at the market didn't line my pockets as much as I had hoped, but this'll do it!" The last of the coins fall into the hollowed out statue. Toadstool slams it shut, the hatch melding in perfectly so none could tell anything was amiss.
"Master stroke, sir!" Toadie gives his boss praise.
"Quickly now. Let's skedaddle before anyone notices!" Before Toadstool and Toadie could flee, a certain pink frog hops up on the statue.
"I knew something was up! You're the one who took the town's taxes!" Sprig accuses with a finger. "Everyone's going to be furious when they find out!"
"Well, then it's a good thing you're not gonna tell them!" Toadstool leaps up to snatch up the frog child. But he's not the fittest toad in the swamp, and misses when Sprig hops out of the way and uses Toadie as a spring board to clear the curtain.
"You're gonna have to catch me first!" Taunting them with a blown raspberry, Sprig hops away at full speed away from his pursuers.
"Get after him!" The mayor shouts, but slowly follows the best his portly body could allow.
Sprig needed to tell the town! Hopping through the streets, he found the homes and shops empty of any people. If he couldn't find them, he knew he could count on Hop Pop! Taking a quick turn, he left Toadstool and Toadie in the dust as he hops home.
Anne dread the ride through the farmland, even the weather matched her mood as darkened storm clouds rolled in. It wasn't hard to spot Hop Pop out in the front with Polly. A pitchfork in his hand moving some straw into Bessie's pen while the snail rest to the side of the house. Polly had a spade, pulling out some weeds from the potato field.
Spotting the spider drawn wagon, Hop Pop moves to greet them. "Uh, hey there! What brings you fine toads all the way out here?" Slime dripping from his forehead as the toads and Anne climb out of the wagon and cross the gate.
"You know why we're here, Hopediah. You either pay up those taxes with coppers or your belongings." Bog spoke as thunder rumbled from above.
"Say what? Hey, get away from there!" Mire was moving closer to the door to the house, but Hop Pop and Polly blocked the way with a raised pitchfork. "I paid those taxes in full, tell 'em Anne!"
Toad eyes are drawn on Anne, who gives a stern nod. "It's true, I even helped him with it. A calculation cogitator goes a long way." One of the many perks to her personal data-slate. The answer doesn't satisfy Bog.
"Anne, they all say they've paid! They're just trying to lie their way out of this, but do you know what doesn't lie? The list." Bog turns back to the farm, gazing at the home and land around it. "Now, what should we start with?"
"Well what about that thing?" Fens points to Bessie, the snail chirping at being mentioned.
Hop Pop can only gasp in horror at the idea of giving up Bessie to the tax collectors. "You stay away from her!"
"I'll bite your face off!" Polly gnashes her teeth and wields her spade threateningly. Regretting not bringing her flail to help garden at the moment.
"Ha! Like you can stop us. The snail should cover everything! Be grateful it's the only thing you're going to lose today. Mire, Fens, Anne, move out." A snap of Bog's finger and the other two toads move in around Bessie. Hop Pop's too far away to stop them! Fens is just about to grab the rein of the cringing snail until a voice calls out.
"Stop!" The rolling sound of thunder following the word that came from Anne's mouth. Everyone stopping and simply looking at the young woman now. "You keep your claws off that snail! Better yet," She leaves Bog's side and stands with the Plantars at the front of the house. "Get off our property!" Another thunder clap and a flash of lightning shake the heavens. Rain falls as tensions rise between Anne and Bog.
"Care to repeat that?" The toad leader asks through gritted teeth.
"I said get out of here, now!"
Anne was so focused on the toads, she didn't even notice the crowd forming around the fence of the Plantar farm until they started to talk among each other. Praise and admiration for standing up against the collectors. "I've had it with the way you treat these people! They've been working under your rule diligently for years, you can't just steal everything they own for one missed payment."
"You don't get it, Anne!" Bog shouts back. "This is how things are done! The frogs work, the toads collect. If there's no work, how can we do our jobs? The newts at the capital don't care how it's done, they want results and we give it to them." The red horned toad hefts his hammer across his shoulder, at the ready. "Besides, what can you do? You're just some sad lost creature!"
"Oh, there's a lot I can do." Anne pulls off the silver badge Bog had given her off her coat and draws her sword and laspistol out. Her plan to convince the garrison of Toad Tower gone with the wind, she needed to end this cruelty.
The red toad just tuts, shaking his head. "I'm disappointed Anne, guess you're not cut out for this kind of work after all."
"Good thing I'm more of the exploring type and not the governing type." She sneers back, leveling her laspistol and taking careful aim at Bog's head. What caught her off guard is when the toad leader dives to the side dodging the red lasbeam. He's quick, moving about to make it harder for Anne to draw a bead on him. It didn't help that there was a crowd of frogs that could get caught in the crossfire.
"Anne!" Hop Pop and Polly shout with their farming tools and charge in to help! But Mire uses his superior strength and height to hold Hop Pop in the air by the back of his coat and Polly in his clawed hand. Now out numbered, Anne turns in time to catch Fens' mace with her sword. "Round two!" The green toad shouts, pulling back from their stalemate to wildly swing at the human. The strikes are powerful, it takes all of Anne's strength to keep her sword still in her hand. A shout from behind alerts her in time to dodge to the side. The iron hammer of Bog missing her by inches before crushing Fens' foot.
Anne is about to blast a few new holes in the toad clutching her foot, but Bog is deceptively fast and more skilled then Fens. A quick spin and a swing from his hammer sends Anne's laspistol out of her grip. She has no time to retrieve the lost weapon, as Fens is already on her. The two toads work well in tandem, Fens' wild swings to occupy Anne's attention for Bog to try a heavy handed strike.
Bog and Mire were slowly tiring out Anne with each dodge and block she had to perform. Unable to get a counter attack in, they hadn't left an opening long enough to exploit. The rain wasn't helping and the toads seemed in their element. With Anne's sword low in an attempt to stab Fens, Bog struck the blade with his weapon. Finally disarming the human and leaving her defenseless. That didn't stop Anne from rearing her leg back to deliver a hard kick to Bog's chin with her boot, enough to launch him backward into the dirt. Fens took the opportunity to slam her spiked club into Anne's midsection. The carapace armor withstood the spikes, but the impact fractures a rib or two. Leaving Anne on her back in the mud in pain.
Bog, being a sturdy toad, recovers quickly. "Sorry creature, it's nothing personal." His hammer is lifted high in the air, but before the final blow is struck a wad of mud collides with his face. "What the?"
"Leave her alone!" Sprig had arrived just in the nick of time with slingshot in hand. His action emboldening the gathered townsfolk into a frenzy as they surround the toads. Now the toads were the ones outnumbered as angry fists and voices were raised louder than the rain and thunder.
"She's one of us!" Felicia shouts.
"You wanna mess with her, you gotta get through all of us!" Mrs. Croaker threatens, putting up her fists for a fight.
Mire's helmet opens, revealing the toad's small face as he lets out a shrill shriek of fear. Letting go of Hop Pop and Polly at the will of the angry mob.
"Sprig!" Anne coughs. "Where have you been, buddy?" The Plantars gather around Anne, helping her sit up despite the painful protest of her ribs.
"Sorry, was a bit busy following my bad feeling. But, it was worth it!" Just then, Mayor Toadstool and Toadie sprint out of the bushes. Both out of breath and doubling over from chasing the frog boy all the way from town. "Arrest that toad! He stole the town's money and was keeping it all for himself!"
Toadstool looks up from holding his knees as the town lets out a collective gasp. "Uh oh."
The heavy stormclouds blew away as quickly as they had arrived. Leaving the town of Wartwood with a few extra puddles to reflect the shining sun. The citizens and the tax collectors were all gathered around the statue of Toadstool. Anne's midsection was barren of her carapace and wrapped up firmly. She was going to be feeling sore for a while, but the chems in her medi-pack should speed up the process. Standing with her was Hop Pop and Polly for support while Sprig stood with the toads by the statue.
"If I may?" He asks Bog, holding his hands out for the iron hammer. Sprig is nearly crushed when it's given to him. "On second thought, you should do the honors!" Strain clear in his voice.
Bog rolls his eyes, taking back the hammer and smashing it into the stone rump of the statue. Revealing the piles of coins now spilling out onto the ground. Being made a fool of, he glares at Mayor Toadstool.
The gathered frogs also glare at the toad, already shouts of anger rising up. "People, people!" The mayor yells in an attempt to clam their rage. "I needed the money for my next campaign! Do you have any idea how much it costs to buy your love?" No one was buying it, instead they had started to throw vegetables, fruits, and farming tools at him. "As mayor, I hereby pardon myself of any wrongdoing. Good day!" He flees back to City Hollow with Toadie close behind.
"There," Anne speaks up. "That's where your tax money is. Now give back everything you took."
Bog grits his teeth. "Fine." He spits out, snapping his fingers as Fens and him gather up the fallen coins while Mire brings the wagon around.
Anne helps as best she can to return every last item to Wartwood. Of course, her frog family were there to lend a hand with anything too big her ribs couldn't handle. The Imperium and Amphibia have similarities, Anne admits. It was up to every citizen to perform their duty to keep mankind protected from the horrors of the galaxy. But when those at the top look out only for themselves and not their obligation, it's those at the bottom that pay the price. A sad truth she wished never touched this world. She'll leave it up to the citizens on what to do with Toadstool.
"You've got a lot of nerve, Anne. I'll give you that. Risking your life for a bunch of frogs." With the last of the possessions returned and the tax money on the wagon, Bog climbs on with Fens and Mire. "Don't think this is over yet, we'll be back and we won't be alone."
"Yeah yeah, enough threats. Go on, get!" Hop Pop shouts. The crack of the reins and the spider pulled wagon finally leaves Wartwood. Anne turns to find the whole town still gathered at the town gate despite already having their things.
"Hey, uh, Anne. We just wanna say..." Wally's eye is downcast as he tries to come up with the words.
"We wanna say we're sorry for before. Ya stood up to those jerks and that was mighty brave of ya!" Mrs. Croaker finishes with a bark from Archie.
"And you have our respect." Felicia adds, a smile across her face.
"Three cheers for Anne, the defender of Wartwood!" Wally shouts, the entire town cheering in a loud cacophony that scared birds from their nests.
"It's nothing, really." Anne can't help but crack a smile too. "Say, what were you all doing at the farm anyway?"
"Oh, we were gonna wait until you came back to thank you for letting us keep at least something when those brutes grabbed our things." Mrs. Croaker explains. "Good thing we did, might have turned out uglier."
"Well I appreciate it. Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's time for some pill bug pancakes."
Down the road, the jingling of coins from the back of the toad's wagon marked their mission a success. Bog was stewing with his thoughts as he kept his eyes glued to the road.
"Hey, we gonna tell the captain about that other creature we found?" Fens asked, leaning forward.
"Oh, we're gonna tell the captain everything." Bog responds with a wide grin. The toad had been unaware of Anne's plan to use them for information gathering on any other humans who fell on Amphibia, but he had gotten plenty of useful information out her. The creature locked up in the tower never spoke and their fighting prowess was great. A good match for the one here in Wartwood.