the same thing. It was hard enough to navigate around their own world at their age; could they really travel around a different world altogether without the help of an adult? But the twins found reassurance in each other’s eyes; they knew that, through it all, they’d at least have each other.
“We really don’t have any other choice,” Alex said. “Thank you so much for all your help, Froggy. We would still be lost in the woods without you.”
Froggy smiled widely and nodded.
“Of course,” he said. “I should be thanking you. I rarely have an opportunity to feel so useful.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Alex asked. “A map is great and all, but a tour guide would be better.”
At first, Froggy’s smile grew with excitement as he was tempted by the idea. The thought of traveling out into the world and leaving his hole-in-the-ground home was so alluring, it was clear he could feel the temptation throughout his entire body. However, his fears and insecurities about the outside world seeing him and what he had become erased the opportunity from his mind.
“I can’t, children,” Froggy said with a heavy heart. “But I wish you the best.”
The twins were disappointed, but they understood. Itwas difficult for them even to go to school with just a small blemish on their faces; they couldn’t imagine the stress of facing the world as an enormous amphibian.
“It’s very important that you get out of the Dwarf Forests by sundown,” Froggy instructed. “Go to the path and travel south into the Corner Kingdom. It’s a few hours’ walk, but you’ll be safer there. Travel as quickly and quietly as you can. Promise me.”
The twins promised. Alex gave Froggy a big hug and kissed his cheek. Conner shook his hand and then wiped it on his pants.
“I hope we see each other again,” Alex told him.
“That would be lovely, but for your sakes, I hope we don’t,” Froggy said, and winked.
Conner clapped his hands. “All right, those items for the Wishing Spell aren’t gonna find themselves,” he said. “Let’s go.”
The twins pushed open the door and climbed up from inside the underground home. As they headed into the forest, Froggy waved good-bye until he was out of their sight. Soon, they were back on the dirt path they had landed on the previous day, and they headed south as they had been instructed.
It was very unnerving for the twins to be alone on the path now that they understood the dangers of the forest. They regretted not trying harder to persuade Froggy into coming with them. They jumped at every tiny sound the trees made.
Alex and Conner remained silent for the first hour or so as they walked, afraid that their voices would attract unwanted attention from some of the creatures Froggy had warned them about.
“We’re very brave,” Alex finally said to her brother, breaking the silence.
“Or very stupid,” Conner said.
The path curved through the forest, revealing new trees and bushes every few feet. After some time had passed, the twins could feel their nerves and tension calm. Their pace became slower and slower the more they walked, as they become more comfortable with being in the forest.
Conner let out a long sigh.
“What’s that for?” Alex asked him.
“I was just thinking,” Conner said. “Alice went to Wonderland after she fell into a rabbit hole. Dorothy’s whole house was scooped up by a tornado that dropped her off in Oz. The Narnia kids traveled through an old wardrobe… and we ended up in the fairy-tale world by
falling through a book
.”
“Where are you going with this, Conner?” Alex said.
“I’m just saying, it’s kind of lame compared to the others,” Conner said with another sigh. “I wonder if there’s a support group for people like us? You know, people who accidentally travel into other dimensions and whatnot.”
Alex was appalled.
“Do you not get how lucky we are?” she said. “Think about all the things
“We really don’t have any other choice,” Alex said. “Thank you so much for all your help, Froggy. We would still be lost in the woods without you.”
Froggy smiled widely and nodded.
“Of course,” he said. “I should be thanking you. I rarely have an opportunity to feel so useful.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Alex asked. “A map is great and all, but a tour guide would be better.”
At first, Froggy’s smile grew with excitement as he was tempted by the idea. The thought of traveling out into the world and leaving his hole-in-the-ground home was so alluring, it was clear he could feel the temptation throughout his entire body. However, his fears and insecurities about the outside world seeing him and what he had become erased the opportunity from his mind.
“I can’t, children,” Froggy said with a heavy heart. “But I wish you the best.”
The twins were disappointed, but they understood. Itwas difficult for them even to go to school with just a small blemish on their faces; they couldn’t imagine the stress of facing the world as an enormous amphibian.
“It’s very important that you get out of the Dwarf Forests by sundown,” Froggy instructed. “Go to the path and travel south into the Corner Kingdom. It’s a few hours’ walk, but you’ll be safer there. Travel as quickly and quietly as you can. Promise me.”
The twins promised. Alex gave Froggy a big hug and kissed his cheek. Conner shook his hand and then wiped it on his pants.
“I hope we see each other again,” Alex told him.
“That would be lovely, but for your sakes, I hope we don’t,” Froggy said, and winked.
Conner clapped his hands. “All right, those items for the Wishing Spell aren’t gonna find themselves,” he said. “Let’s go.”
The twins pushed open the door and climbed up from inside the underground home. As they headed into the forest, Froggy waved good-bye until he was out of their sight. Soon, they were back on the dirt path they had landed on the previous day, and they headed south as they had been instructed.
It was very unnerving for the twins to be alone on the path now that they understood the dangers of the forest. They regretted not trying harder to persuade Froggy into coming with them. They jumped at every tiny sound the trees made.
Alex and Conner remained silent for the first hour or so as they walked, afraid that their voices would attract unwanted attention from some of the creatures Froggy had warned them about.
“We’re very brave,” Alex finally said to her brother, breaking the silence.
“Or very stupid,” Conner said.
The path curved through the forest, revealing new trees and bushes every few feet. After some time had passed, the twins could feel their nerves and tension calm. Their pace became slower and slower the more they walked, as they become more comfortable with being in the forest.
Conner let out a long sigh.
“What’s that for?” Alex asked him.
“I was just thinking,” Conner said. “Alice went to Wonderland after she fell into a rabbit hole. Dorothy’s whole house was scooped up by a tornado that dropped her off in Oz. The Narnia kids traveled through an old wardrobe… and we ended up in the fairy-tale world by
falling through a book
.”
“Where are you going with this, Conner?” Alex said.
“I’m just saying, it’s kind of lame compared to the others,” Conner said with another sigh. “I wonder if there’s a support group for people like us? You know, people who accidentally travel into other dimensions and whatnot.”
Alex was appalled.
“Do you not get how lucky we are?” she said. “Think about all the things
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