Choosing The Path

The five friends had left the small pocket forest and were on their way. "So, where to now?" Kaz asked. "I still have no idea," Skylar answered. "Seriously?" Spiritstrike whispered. "Now come on," Jinny said to her new friend, "This is all new to us, so give it some time."

"I'll give you time," Spiritstrike muttered coldly. "Oh, hold on," Kaz said, "I got something." "Let me guess," Skylar said, but to his amazement, Kaz managed to pull out a map of the area that they are in. "Well," Skylar said, "You have something useful to us." "Yes," Spiritstrike said. Clipper had agreed.

"Okay," Kaz said, getting ready to explain the details, "We have left this area, where we got stuck." "Yes, go on," Jinny said. "And now," Kaz said, "This area is the nearest town." "Then that's where we're going," Skylar declared.

"All right," Kaz said, "We just need to take this road." "Whatever you say," Spiritstrike said coldly, "Let's follow you." "Wait a minute," Kaz said, "Does it use the name of a classic song?" "Yes," Skylar said, "Let's get going." And the five friends set off on their way.

"What was the name of that song?" Kaz said, stopping, "I think it was called 'Follow the leader'. Yes." "You're right," Spiritstrike said, "Come on! Let's go!" "Oh, yes," Kaz replied, "Coming!"

On their way, however, they all stopped just before a long mud ditch in the middle of the road that they are on. They were all lucky to not run into it. "All right," Spiritstrike said, "This is where we had trouble."

"Now for a start," Kaz said, "Let's be more careful around mud." "Well, that's a good start," Jinny answered. "Yeah," Skylar agreed and Clipper had to agree for a moment. "Uh, Clipper?" Skylar asked his plane companion. "Wait," Spiritstrike said.

Then Spiritstrike and the others noticed a strange looking car on their left with an exposed engine and elongated tailpipes on his side. His name is Snot Rod and he is known for being a troublemaker. Right now, Snot Rod is facing the mud pool.

"Can we help you with something?" Spiritstrike asked Snot Rod in a stern tone. Snot Rod didn't answered. Instead, he just grinned at the mud path. "Uh oh," he muttered, "I'm allergic to mud." Then he began to sneeze.

"Uh, gesundheit?" Kaz said to Snot Rod. Then Snot Rod sneezed loudly and instantly sped through the muddy trail, thus splashing Skylar, Clipper, Kaz, Spiritstrike and Jinny in thick mud.

"Whoa!" they all groaned in surprised and disgust. "What on earth?!" Kaz exclaimed, "Not again!" "Well, so much for being careful around mud," Skylar said, spitting out some mud, "And too bad I forgot to put on my goggles!"

"It had happened again," Kaz said. "Yes," Jinny agreed, "Too bad that it had happened." "Yes," Spiritstrike growled. Even Clipper got covered in mud. He couldn't even spin his propeller. So, the little plane shook the mud off of him, well, sort of.

"That's one way to get cleaned," Jinny commented. But then, everyone had to laugh at their situation. Even Spiritstrike smiled. Well, sort of. "All right," Jinny said, "Come on, enough games.

"Well, come on then," Skylar said at last, "Lets get this mud washed off." "All right, where?" Kaz asked. "Let me find out," Skylar said, "We can't go into town like this, so, we're going to have to find something else."

"You're right," Jinny agreed. And the five friends set off on their way.

Clipper remained on his muddy companion for the rest of this trip. "Okay, we need to find some place," Jinny said.