Anne wanted to leave the valley, Hop Pop took us to the mountain pass to prove a point to her. When we arrived, a huge wall of ice was blocking the path. "Well, Anne, I didn't want to say I told you so." Hop Pop said. "Yes you did." Anne sighed. "Okay, you're right, I told you so." Hop Pop chuckled. Still gonna be a few weeks before that snowpack melts." "But we've waited so long, and getting out of this valley might help us find answers on how to get home." Anne groaned. "We will, Anne." I said. "I promise, but it's gonna take some time." "I know it stinks, but how about some careless misadventuring to take your mind off it?" Sprig suggested. "I think there's a creepy lagoon nearby." "Think we'll find some bloated remains?" Anne asked. "And while they're doing that, I'm gonna check out this scary forest." Polly said. "Oh no you don't, not by yourself." Hop Pop replied. "But, why not?" Polly groaned. "Because you're a Pollywog." Hop Pop explains. "You're too young to go off on your own." "But the other kids did!" Polly whined as Anne and Sprig hopped on Bessie and we left. "Who knew leeches could run so fast?" Anne asked. "Or had legs?" Sprig added. Polly moans as we stopped. "Why'd we stop?" I asked. "Snail trouble." Hop Pop replied. Bessie was looking tired. "Stranded, couldn't have picked a nicer day." Sprig said as it started to storm. "Dang it, it's too muddy for me to crawl under Bessie." Hop Pop complained. "Hey, I can fit under Bessie." Polly said. "No, you stay up there where it's safe." Hop Pop ordered. I was looking for something we could use to help Bessie when I found an inn. Just our luck. "Hey, look, there's a bed and breakfast just down the road!" I exclaimed. "Forget it!" Hop Pop snapped. "We're not spending coppers on lodging when we got a perfectly fine tent..." His tent blew away with the wind. "Alright, B&B it is, but no extras." Hop Pop covered Bessie with a blanket.

We walked into the inn and gasped. "Look at this place, so cozy." Sprig commented. "Welcome to the Dandy Lion B&B, I'm Teddy, this is my wife, Martha." The owner greeted. "Please, warm yourselves by the fire." Martha said. We didn't hesitate to sit at their fireplace. "Wow, haven't come across a species like you before." Anne said. "Same to you, dearie, we're horned bullfrogs." Martha explains. "Oh, so not from around these parts?" Hop Pop asked. "Yeah, we traveled here a long time ago and just fell in love with the area." Teddy explains. "So I take it you'll be needing some rooms?" "Just one, please, we'll all pile in." Hop Pop replied. "Oh, no need, we've got a couple of guests tonight, so the inn is mostly empty." Teddy said. "Five rooms for the price of one, what do you say?" Martha added. "Thanks, but, we only need four." Hop Pop replied. "Polly here'll be bunking with me." Polly groaned.

The night came and before we knew it, we were prepared for bed. I read my book for a while and I was out.

I woke up to Polly slapping my face. Other than Polly, the rest of us were tied up and over a fireplace. Apparently the owners of the inn were cannibals, which is an actual symbol of frog abuse here. "We gotta get outta here!" Polly shouted when I just realized, my hand was tied together with Anne's. I was in a panic. I was breathing heavy like someone who was claustrophobic. Sprig noticed my breathing patterns. "Rowena, are you alright?" Sprig asked. "Yup, never been better." I panicked. "Just feel kinda tight." "Really, I feel fine." Sprig replied. "You're in way over your head, sweetie." Martha grunted. "Yeah, what can a legless little tadpole like you do to stop us?" Teddy added. "You're right, I am just a little tadpole, and I'm not ready to be alone!" Polly exclaimed as she freed us and we escaped.

The drive back was exhausting, but I still can't believe that my hand was tied to Anne's. "Home sweet home." Sprig said as he kissed the ground and we rushed up to Hop Pop's room to sleep. This place has grown on me. The Plantar's are like a second family to me.