They group made it back to Wartwood, with Anne glad to be back in her "Home".
"It feels good to be back." Anne said before taking a deep whiff, taking in the air of her territory.
"I'm sure everyone else will be happy to see you too, Anne." Hop Pop said, fully rehydrated like Polly, Sprig, and Grime.
"Ah, it's nice to take a couple days to relax after that." Marcy said.
"I'm just glad we made sure the factory was shut down." Sasha said.
"I still think more Frobo's would've been cool." Polly muttered, crossing her arm nubs.
"I do too but too many could've been bad." Sprig said, being reasonable.
"Never thought I'd live to see the day Sprig was being responsible." Anne said.
"That must mean something bad is coming." Polly said, joking a bit.
"Not funny, sis." Sprig said.
"Yes it is." Polly said as she jumped in Frobo. "Come on, Frobo! Let's head home."
"I'm going to go check out my territory, see if someone's been there." Anne said.
"Again?" Marcy asked.
"You can't be too careful." Anne said.
"Besides, I need a calming run." Anne said, shifting into a wolf and running into town.
"Okay, so what about us?" Sasha asked, gesturing to herself and Grime.
"I suppose we'll have to calm down the town once they see you." Hop Pop said.
"Yeah, you did hold us prisoner last time you were here." Sprig said.
"Once again, that was just the job." Grim said to them.
"You still enjoyed it too much." Sprig said.
"Trust me, if you're this annoying all the time then I won't be doing that again."
"Good. Now, just wait here and we'll come back for you." Hop Pop said.
When people saw the wolf, they waved to her.
"Hey, Anne's back!"
"Hey Anne!"
"Good to see you!"
Anne just barked in response as she kept running through the town. It felt nice to be greeted with smiling faces and waving hands after a crazy journey. It helped relax her as she sniffed for any animal that tried to invade her home. She made sure the entire town was fine and didn't smell any animals.
'Everything is good. Time to head home.' Anne thought, turning forwards the Plantar family farm.
She made it home and walked over to a small water hole made for her. She started lapping it up.
'Nothing like a fresh drink of water while on patrol.' Anne thought, finding the water to be pretty good even if it's not from a glass.
Anne shifted back and walked into the house.
'I wonder if I should check on Maddie? She'll be happy to hear Marcy is back in town.' Anne thought.
First thing she did though, was sit on the couch and close her eyes.
"Aaaaaaaah." Anne released in relief, leaning back to relax on her favorite spot on the couch.
Not just to sight but also to take naps on when she was in wolf form.
"After that crazy adventure, I am ready to just sit back and relax."
"Us too, Anne." Sprig said as he walked into the house, after seeing Ivy of course.
"I wouldn't mind if we can just relax for a month before going back to Newtopia." Hop Pop said.
"No offense, but I do want to go home soon." Anne said.
"We know but still, let's just enjoy our down time for the moment." Hop Pop said, walking to the kitchen.
"Yeah. Besides, we still need to deal with Sasha and Grime staying here." Sprig reminded.
"Yeah, that's going to be a struggle."
"Where are they anyway?" Anne asked.
"Waiting outside the town for the signal to come in." Sprig said as he pointed to Hop Pop. "Hop Pop said he'd go tell them."
"I'm trying to figure out how to do this without causing panic."
"But what if someone notices them?" Anne asked.
"I'm sure they know how to hide, Anne." Hop Pop said.
"I hope so." Anne said.
"Where's Polly by the way?" Sprig asked.
Suddenly, the door opened as Polly came in with Frobo carrying her.
"Ah, it feels so good to be home!"
"How did we get here before you? You left before us." Sprig said to her.
"Did a quick detour to the market. I shared stores in exchange for snacks." Polly said.
"Of course you did." Anne said.
"Plus I looked for any paint for Frobo, I think he could use a cooler look." Polly said, patting he friend.
"As cool as that sounds, let's put a pin in that until after Sasha and Grime can come into town without a panic." Anne said to her.
"Yeah, so, any ideas on how to let the people know?"
"Hmmm, maybe say she's our prisoner?" Sprig asked.
"Our prisoner?" Anne asked him.
"Yeah. Like we ran into her on the way home and fought her again. You won and took her prisoner so she and Grime could face punishment from the king. It's a long shot but MAYBE it could work." Sprig said, making up a story.
"Uh, we'll keep that as a back up."
"Yeah, Sasha might kill you for that." Polly said.
"No more talks about killing!" Marcy said, walking in behind Polly and Frobo. "Just got back from visiting Maddie by the way, she says hi."
"Yeah, cool, hey, you're smart, any idea of what to do with Grime and Sasha?"
"Hmmm." Marcy said as she rubbed her chin, "Maybe just tell them the truth."
"Telling the truth? Do you not remember what I told you what they did?" Anne asked.
"I know but maybe telling the truth about why Sasha and Grime are here would help ease them more than a lie about them being your prisoners." Marcy said.
"She has a point, lying only leads to problems." Hop Pop said.
'Believe me, I know all too well.' Hop Pop thought, remembering how he lied and hide the calamity box.
Anne nodded.
"Yeah, he's right." Anne said.
"But how are we gonna do this? What if someone attacks them and it starts a whole riot?!" Polly shouted.
"Me and Anne can go, both of us there should keep things calm enough for us to explain." Marcy said, "Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"
'Why do people in the world keep fucking jinxing themselves?' Anne thought.
"Come on, let's go." Anne said
Getting up from the couch, Anne lead Marcy outside and headed back towards the outskirts where Sasha and Grime were still waiting.
"Okay, so here's what we're going to do." Anne said, "We're going to tell the people what you're doing here."
"Really? Are you trying to get us killed?" Grime asked.
"No, we're not. We're just trying to make sure everybody understands that you're not here to cause trouble." Marcy said.
"Which you aren't." Anne said, "And you won't, I'm giving you a second chance, but if you do betray my trust again... I will kill you."
"You've changed." Sasha said, "We all have."
"We know." Marcy and Anne said to her.
'I'm not that clumsy girl anymore.' Marcy thought.
'I'm not an Omega wolf anymore.' Anne thought.
Sasha felt her heart skip when Anne threatened to kill her, it made her think, but at the same time, she knew she had to take over Amphibia.
"I'll behave. I won't even fight back if they throw stuff at me or give me dirty looks." Sasha said holding up her flesh hand. "Swear to god on Earth and the gods or god of Amphibia."
"Good."
"Well, let's get this over with." Grime said as he stood up. "If they actually do throw stuff at us, I'll endure it too. And admire them for striking a toad without fear."
"Not much fear here, lot's of hatred."
"I stand by my comment." Grime said.
"Okay, let's get this dealt with." Anne said, "Because I am hungry and Hop Pop is making a big dinner."
"How big?" Sasha asked, feeling hungry herself.
"Big enough to feed about half my pack." Anne said.
Sasha's stomach growled, she hasn't eaten that much lately.
"Let's get this over with. I don't care if frogs throw rocks and maybe slime at me." Sasha said.
"It's mucus." Grime, Anne, and Marcy corrected.
"Whatever."
The group began the walk into town, Sasha and Grime holding firm expressions as the townsfolk began noticing them. Many seemed to glare at them, some mothers sent the children into the house. Others were slowly reaching for anything that resembled a weapon or large rocks close by to attack if necessary.
'I was right.' Grime thought, not reaching for his sword or dagger or the legendary hammer.
He and Sasha were just going to take their attack UNLESS they used blades.
"Okay, Marcy, can you get the town to gather in the town square?" Anne asked.
"Sure, Anne." Marcy said.
Marcy shifted and flew into the air.
"How long do you think this will take?" Sasha asked.
"Possibly a few minutes, longer if they want to hurt us." Grime said as they kept walking.
"Kay." Sasha said, sitting in the base.
'Still can't believe she got a statue here.' She thought, SOMEWHAT jealous of Anne.
Marcy flew and landed on Anne's shoulder.
"Caw!" Marcy said, making Anne nod.
"Thanks. Everyone should be here in a couple of minutes." Anne said to Sasha and Grime.
"You can understand her like that?" Grime asked.
"We have a system for this stuff. If I ask her to get something done, one caw means it's done, two caws means it's not finished." Anne said.
"Smart. Marcy's idea?" Sasha asked.
"We both came up with it actually. We even have one for when I'm a wolf." Anne said with a grin.
"Cool." Sasha said.
"Maybe we can come up with one for you." Anne suggested.
"Yeah, maybe." Sasha said with a smile.
"Alright, Boonchuy, what did you call everyone here for?" Mayor Toadstool said.
"And why are THEY here?" Toadie asked, glaring at Sasha and Grime as he held a branch.
"That's what I wanted to talk about." Anne said, "Unfortunately, I need them in order to get home, so they have to be with us for a bit. I wanted to warn the town that they would be here. Thankfully, they won't cause any trouble."
"How can you be so sure?" Mrs. Croaker asked.
"Because if they do, I will gut them alive." Anne said.
To make her point, Anne drew her sword a bit as she kept a watchful eye on Sasha. Sasha held her hands up, clearly not wanting to do something that would make her mad. This also showed off her metal arm, putting the frogs on guard again.
"Drop the gauntlet!" Toadstool shouted.
"That is no gauntlet. That is the lieutenant's new arm. Your wolf protector bit into her old arm so hard, she had to get it replaced." Grime explained.
"Everyone calm down!" Anne said.
"We're trying but we can't help it! Not after last time!" Wally said, spinning her accordion around like nunchucks.
"Again, I will make sure they cause no trouble." Anne said, "Trust me on this."
Marcy changed back to human as she put a hand on her heart.
"I'll also take full responsibility for Sasha too." Marcy said, "Between the two of us, we should keep them under control."
"With some added help from us." Hop Pop said as he, Sprig, and Polly walked through the crowd.
"Hop Pop, aren't you supposed to be making dinner?" Anne asked.
"About that-"
"Ah ah ah!" Anne said, putting a hand up, "We'll talk about that later."
"But it's a reasonable explanation. Besides the cooking can wait, needs to simmer." Hop Pop said.
"Okay, just, bring Sasha and Grime with you to the house, Marcy, go with them, I'll calm the town down." Anne said.
"Okay but are you sure?" Marcy asked.
"I can. Just go and make sure Hop Pop doesn't burn dinner, I'm not the only one hungry." Anne said, hearing Sasha's stomach growling.
Marcy saluted Anne.
"Aye aye, wolf captain. I've been meaning to try some recipes I learned in Newtopia anyway." Marcy said.
"You learned to cook in Newtopia?" Sasah asked in surprise.
"Well, I learn the recipes BUT I couldn't cook them." Marcy corrected.
"Just go." Anne said.
The group made their way back to the Plantars farm as Anne did her best to calm the town down since two of its worst enemies were going to be staying for who knows how long.
"Now listen, I am going to make sure that everything will be fine, it's just a few days and then we head to Newtopia and head home." Anne said, "Come on, Guys, do you think I would do anything to put you in danger?"
"No, but still, Boonchuy. These are dangerous people. That bear girl is like a monster! Even worse than a red mantis!" Toadstool said.
"I'm aware, in case you forgot, I already fought her." Anne said, "I can handle her."
"What if she has a deadly surprise in that metal arm of hers?" Wally asked.
"He's right. Who knows how tricked out that thing is." Ivy said.
"And that's something I will deal with."
"Marcy too but still, you guys may need an edge if she tries something." Maddie said, rubbing her chin. "I could make something JUST in case."
'Even if you say no.' Maddie thought.
"Uh, I know better than to say no, because you'll do it anyway." Anne said, "Just make sure whatever you make doesn't kill anything."
"I promise but the results might be different." Maddie said.
"Yeah... sure." Anne said, "Everyone can rest well, because I'm going to make sure nothing happens."
Her smile and confidence seemed to be enough to put them all at ease, getting the frogs of Wartwood to lower their weapons as they had complete trust in Anne.
"Okay, we good? Because I got to get back to the farm." Anne said.
"Yeah, we're good. Carry on with your business, people." Toadstool said to all of them.
Anne shifted into a wolf and ran to the farm. She was looking forward to the large meal Hop Pop was making, whether it be stew, roast, or a casserole. Or maybe all three, Anne was excited. Her mouth watered just thinking about it.
'I better hurry before Sasha eats most of it!' Anne thought, reaching the farm in record time.
She quickly changed back to a human and walked to the door, pushing it open to be greeted by the delicious smell.
"Oh, that smells good."
"Tastes good too." Sasha said, her mouth full of some of the food.
"Sasha, I said to wait!" Hop Pop scolded her.
Sasha just rolled her eyes, Bears eat a lot she can't help it, it's getting close to the point where she would start gaining weight for hibernation.
'Wait, does my hibernation cycle even apply here?' Sasha thought as Anne came to the table.
"So what's on the menu, Hop Pop?" Anne asked.
"Well we've got gumbo, fried mosquito, cricket legs, casserole-"
"How did you make all of this in such a short time?" Grime asked in surprise.
"Hehehe, chef's secret." Hop Pop said with a smirk.
"Now everyone dig in!"
Anne and Sasha graciously did, both grabbing a large cricket leg to start. The two devoured them.
"It's like having two Annes." Polly whispered, watching them eat.
"I was going to say two lieutenants." Grime whispered.
"This brings back old memories of an eating contest." Marcy said with a grin.
Two vicious predators in an eating contest, what could've gone wrong?
'I hope they don't reach for the same thing.' Marcy and Hop Pop thought, thinking they would getting into a fight for the food.
Nobody needed a mess made of the house. Thankfully it wouldn't come to that. After dinner was finished, Hop Pop showed Sasha and Grime to the couch where they would be sleeping.
"Sorry but it's all we have." He said as Grime sat in the couch.
"If is fine, Hopediah." The toad said with a nod.
"I spend months sleeping inside a basement with my parents, I can easily handle the couch." Sasha said.
"Months?" Hop Pop asked.
"It's what humans with bear spirits do. They eat large amounts of food before sleeping through the winter months. Sasha says it's "hibernation." Somewhat like Frost Day." Grime said.
"Well, technically I don't sleep the entire time, I just sleep through most of it." Sasha said, "I sleep like... 200 out of the 213 days."
"213 days?!" Hop Pop said in shock.
"Yeah, bears sleep like that every year." Sasha said with a nod.
"And the winter is when the wolves come out." Anne said with a smirk, "We're built for the cold."
"You say that about every season." Sasha said, rolling her eyes. "I get it. Wolves are the ultimate animal."
"And don't you forget it." Anne said.
"Well, unlike you two, I can fly, so I'm better." Marcy said.
"Just cause you can fly and look down in people doesn't mean you're better." Anne and Sasha said.
"Jealous." Marcy said with a smirk, "You guys don't understand how amazing it is to fly."
"Didn't your parents push you out of the nest?"
"A-a-all birds do that with their chicks!" Marcy said.
"And do all birds fail to fly four times?"
"I DID NOT FAIL FOUR TIMES!" Marcy shouted as her voice cracked, blushing brightly.
"Sure." Anne and Sasha said with smirks.
Marcy huffed as she stomped out of the house to go sleep in the Fwagon.
'She'll get over it in the morning.' They thought.
She stuck her head back in.
"I will not get over this by the way!"
"You will, bird brain!" Anne said.
"You're too sweet to hold a grudge." Sasha said.
Marcy let out a loud breath through clenched teeth. Marcy slammed the door and transformed, flying off to cool off with a couple of laps around town.
"She'll be fine."
"Yeah, it's not like any other birds fly over the town." Anne said with a shrug.
Anne went back to eating.
"You're still hungry?" Sasha asked.
"I like to get up early for patrols. I need all the strength I can get, plus I'm Thai. Eating food with bugs is sort of normal." Anne said, "Besides, don't act like you aren't devouring this as well."
"I won't but I at least want leftovers for if I get hungry at night." Sasha said to her.
"Don't worry. We've got plenty." Hop Pop said.
At least, he hoped they did, he tried to make as much as he could for the animals.
"Well, I for one think I've eaten enough. I'll turn in for the night." Grime said before laying on the couch.
"Yeah, I think they're going to be at this for a while." Sprig said.
"Yep. It should be fun until we head back to Newtopia." Polly said, hopping to her room.
"If that isn't the truth." Hop Pop said.
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