Of Trails and Snails | Chapter 9: The Frog Prince

Jack waited at the Achantina for Mia to change while Skye tended to Slinky. He nursed a tankard of dew between both hands, wondering when he should order their meals. This time, it wasn’t for lack of funds that he needed to make the drink last, but due to exhaustion. If he drank too fast, one of the other girls was likely to notice. And a lot of them looked particularly eager to join him. One lascivious girl held the key to the blue room and wiggled it between her fingers when his gaze reached her table.

“Oh! Jack! Sorry we took so long!” Mia caught his attention, and he shook his head.

“Hey, don’t worry abou— Woah.” Jack blinked as he realized Mia was wearing her new dress. “You look great, Mia.”

Scarlet had done a hell of a job in just one evening. The spider’s webs came together like a fine white yarn in a pattern that reminded Jack of a sundress. The top had spaghetti straps with tightly knit triangles covering her chest before a wave of fabric fell in delicate diamond patterns from her waist to just above the floor. Small oval and rectangular openings were woven inside the diamonds, revealing tiny glimpses of her skin between the knitting.

Mia blushed and smoothed the dress over her stomach. “You really think so?”

“Yeah. Absolutely.” The small segment he’d caught Scarlet working on the night before looked more like Xariir’s sash, but Mia’s dress had taken on a life of its own. It fit her to a T, and a rush that had nothing to do with darts or Xariir heated his skin. “Scarlet really made that dress perfectly for you.”

“Thanks, Jack! I think so, too.” Mia lightly shimmied her shoulders, and Jack’s yearning to feel her skin through the thin fabric doubled down.

Take the night off, he reminded himself.

“I’m just glad to be home,” Skye sighed. She’d returned to her black tank top and frayed skirt and looked just as exhausted as Jack felt. It was a wonder she’d found the motivation to put on all her belts. She leaned her chin into her palm and locked his gaze. “And that you’re in one piece.”

“That’s nice of you to say.” Jack laughed and waved Lina down. “Did Mia tell you we’ll be welcoming the frogs in tomorrow?”

Mia’s blush deepened, and she fingered one of the holes in her dress.

That’s a no.

Skye looked at Mia and gaped. “What about the turtle? Pomacea? Haliotis?”

“T-Trinity said the turtle will be here for two days.” Mia’s voice grew softer with every word she spoke. “That’s plenty of time for the froggies…”

“Plus, we have plenty of money for the trip—” Jack began.

“Then why the fuck are we greeting frogs?”

“Hey. I just meant that we have enough time, and we can afford it. Mia really wants to go, so we’ll go.”

Skye growled and scratched her forearm. “First Xariir, and now this.” Her chest heaved with a sigh, and she hid her face behind her hands. “Uayeb help you both…”

“You can stay home, Skye! I’m sure Jack and I can take care of it!” Mia offered quickly.

“No. Damn it. No,” Skye grumbled.

“If it isn’t my favorite customers!” Lina’s chipper tone overwhelmed the Party. “What can I get—?”

Skye’s hand shot from her face, catching Lina’s wrist in midair. A tiny, needle-like line shimmered between Lina’s forefinger and thumb.

“I-it’s not mine! It’s Isabelle’s!” Lina whined. She looked over her shoulder at the girl who held the blue room key. “She paid me a fortune to try!”

“Yeah. That sounds plausible.” Jack sighed. “She’s been eyeing me all night.”

“U-um, can you please tell Isabelle that Jack needs rest? Just for an evening?” Mia stammered.

“Yes, of course.” Lina lowered her arm, though Jack had to wonder if it was Skye forcing it down. “I’ll let her know right away.”

Skye narrowed her eyes. “The usual, Lina. No darts. No tips. Just food and dew.”

“R-right!” Lina slid the dart into her apron and bowed. “Coming right up.”

Skye turned her furious gaze to Jack. “Jack, just let me—”

“No.” She’d cut the whole tavern down if he’d let her.

She huffed a sigh of frustration and averted her stare. There was a long silence between the three. Mia looked between Skye, her dress, and Jack.

After their mugs of dew and food arrived, the tension diminished by a few centimeters. Jack relaxed into his chair and rubbed the back of his neck. “So. Tell me about the frogs.”

Mia’s face brightened. “Frogs lay many, many eggs. Most of them are unfertilized. Those are the ones that they give us in trade!”

“What about the legs?” Jack lifted one of the cooked frog legs from his plate.

Skye snorted, and Mia chewed her lower lip.

“Different frogs,” Skye said.

“Ah.” Jack tossed the leg into his mouth and crunched down.

“Y-yes. Um, anyway, the ones that give us eggs hibernate nearby. We store a lot of food safely in Lymnaea while they’re sleeping. That way, when they wake up, they don’t have to hunt for it.” Mia explained. “Snailgirls have always been there to welcome them back and give them their food!”

Jack shrugged. “Sounds easy enough.”

“It is! Usually the girls at the Guild Hall go, but I’ve always wanted to be there when they wake up!” Mia clasped her hands at her chest. “They’re just so cute!”

Skye murmured an unintelligible grunt.

“But they’re cute, Skye,” Jack teased.

“Shut up. Or I’ll tell Isabelle you changed your mind.”

Jack laughed. “Alright.”

Mia seemed unfazed by their exchange. “I can’t wait to see the froggies!”

---

There was no convincing Slinky to move the next morning, and a few snaps at Skye were enough to make her stop trying. So they went on foot, bringing a new map that Trinity supplied before they set out. Skye mumbled her frustrations with Slinky while Jack listened to Mia’s excited ramblings about the frogs. They’d packed away eight large jars of food between Mia and Skye’s satchels on their shells, and three more in a backpack for Jack. They weren’t heavy, but knowing there were at least forty very alive hand-sized weevils on his back was a little unsettling.

Eventually, the tall grasses gave way to a rocky riverbank, which seemed more like an ocean than a river. Jack could barely make out the other side from where they stood, and the dark, enormous shadows of fish swimming beneath the surface recalled images of krakens and other terrifying sea beasts.

“The froggies should be sleeping right around here!” Mia clapped her hands and scooted closer to the water’s edge. “They need to stay nice and moist while they sleep.”

“Don’t get too close to the water, Mia. The salmon are really at it today,” Skye cautioned.

“Mhm! I know!” She leaned forward and peeked around a small drop-off of earth beside the water. “Oh! I see a face!”

Jack pushed the picture of being swallowed whole by a fish and moved to stand beside her.

“Look! See?”

He followed Mia’s pointed finger to a cavern hidden behind a bundle of sticks and leaves. Anyone passing by likely would have assumed it was a branch that fell from one of the nearby trees. But a dark half-circle was carved into the dirt behind the leaves, and a black and yellow frog poked its nose out from behind it.

It croaked a noise that sounded like an alarm, then jumped into the water. A second frog followed. Then a third. Each one made the same sound as it dove into the river and swam to join them downstream.

Mia gasped and squealed. “Look at them swim! Look at their little legs!”

Jack chuckled, then looked between Mia and Skye. “Does one of us speak frog?”

“They know common, too. Same as the spiders.” Skye shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest. “They’re just frogs, Mia.”

“But they’re so shiny! And their colors are so pretty!” Mia countered. “Oh my goodness, one just yawned!”

“And you wanted to deny Mia this chance?” Jack returned to Skye’s side and elbowed her gently in the ribs.

Skye grunted and rolled her eyes, knocking his arm away with one hand.

The three frogs hopped out of the water. Each one was just a little larger than Scarlet, but their postures positioned them so that the tops of their noses reached hip-level. They arranged themselves with one frog in front and the other two flanking behind. They bowed their heads in unison to Jack’s group.

“Good morning, dear froggies!” Mia cried and bowed in return. “Lymnaea welcomes you back to the surface!”

The frog at the front of their triangle was the first to speak. His voice was low and calm, and the underlying croak came through more like gruff experience than an animal sound. “My ladies and lord, you are most kind to greet us.”

Frogs that speak like princes, huh? Jack brought a hand to his face, hoping to cover the grin before the frogs could see it.

“The honor is ours!” Mia beamed. “My name is Mia! And this is Skye, and this is Jack!”

“I am Springford. Huntinglow sits to my left, Marshledge to my right.”

“Is it just the three of you?” Skye asked.

“Our partners are still at rest. They will join us soon.”

“We’re not in any rush, really.” Mia reached behind her and snatched one of the packs from her shell, procuring two of the fruit fly jars. “We’ve brought plenty of food from the city.”

“Your clan is punctual and attentive as always, Lady Mia. If it is to your liking, we would break our fast alongside you.”

“Oh, yes! Please!” Mia smiled warmly at Jack. “I packed us lunch. Just in case.”

Jack looked pointedly at Skye.

“Well, we’re out here already. Why the hell not?” Skye sighed and lowered her voice. “Not like I can say no to that face, either.”

“Something the matter, Skye?” Jack teased, though he’d heard her loud and clear.

“Lunch time, Jack. Now.”

Mia passed around their glass bowls and set hers aside to open the first jar for the frogs. Springford looked at each of his companions.

“You should sup first, my liege,” Huntinglow said. “You must regain your strength.” Marshledge grunted his agreement.

“Very well.” Springford nodded to Mia, who tipped the jar and let the weevils fall to the ground. Springford’s tongue darted like lightning, snatching one weevil after the next in quick succession.

Jack watched with fascination. He struggled to think of a time when he’d actually seen a frog eat. Springford didn’t seem to chew, just grab one, swallow it, grab another. A part of him may have expected something a little more…noble, considering their speech. But he couldn’t blame a frog for being a frog.

Springford croaked a few sounds of satisfaction, then hopped behind his companions. “This year’s stock is very well-kept, Lady Mia. I would beg you to thank Lady Trinity for her hard work.”

“Of course! I would be happy to!” Mia opened the second jar, freed the weevils for Huntinglow and Marshledge, then grabbed the next pack on her shell. She snuck a giddy look at Jack, her eyes glittering with joy. Like a kid at a petting zoo.

As Jack and Skye ate, three more frogs swam to shore, joined by two smaller frogs who looked like miniature replicas of their parents. When Mia caught sight of them, she looked as if she was about to burst.

“Good morning, little ones!” Mia cried. “It’s so good to see you!”

“T-thank you, miss,” one replied, then yawned. Its voice was much higher-pitched than the elders.

The second one hopped right up to Mia and touched the hem of her dress. “Papa did not say how pretty snailgirls were!”

Mia clasped her hands over her mouth, and her cheeks turned a brilliant red. “Uayeb bless me! You are so sweet!” she managed behind her fingers.

“Mia, here.” Skye passed her packs forward one by one. “I’m sure they’re hungry, too.”

“Are you sure? You don’t want to feed them?”

“Nah. I’ll finish eating.” Skye grinned. “It’s more fun to watch you do it.”

Jack added his pack to the pile and sat in the grass nearby. Skye joined him, and they picked through their salads while Mia fed the frogs. While she talked to the babies and stroked their heads, Jack had a thought.

“Aren’t they poisonous?”

Skye snorted. “Mia’s not eating them. She’ll just wash her hands.”

“Huh. Gotcha.” He cleared his bowl and set it aside before drawing his knees to his chest. “Still upset that we’re here?”

“I’d rather be on a turtle to Haliotis, but no. I’m not upset.” She leaned back against her shell. “Mia does a lot for us, and you were right, an extra day won’t kill us.”

“See? You can be sweet when you try.”

Skye flicked the side of Jack’s head. “Don’t start with me.”

Jack laughed and rubbed away the sting of her nail. As he watched Mia open the last of the jars, he wondered out loud, “Will the Guild Hall be okay without us while we’re gone? It seems like the crane really messed things up.”

“They should be fine. We can tell Trinity we’re traveling, and she can find a few more hands to handle any Quests left. Besides, she has your precious spider to call on if shit gets out of hand.”

“Is that jealousy in your voice I hear?”

“Salt me, Jack.” She rolled her eyes. “She just rubbed me the wrong way. That’s all.”

“Alright.” Even if he thought Skye was lying, pushing the issue further wouldn’t get him the truth. “At least we know everyone’ll be eating well while we’re gone.”

“Thank the goddess Kris is back. Another day with Rachel’s burnt oakmoss would have killed me.”

“Even Mia was struggling with that one.” He chuckled and stretched. “I know we need honey, but is there enough time to have Sasha fix my vest?”

“We have plenty of money to just replace the damn thing. I’m sure she can fit one to you by tomorrow.”

“But consider the gambles we could make—”

“Gamble all our funds away, and your journey to the ocean will be a one-way trip.”

“I believe that when you say it.”

Mia gave the baby frogs a final pat on the head and bowed to the formation before leaving them to meet with Jack and Skye. “They said the eggs will be ready in a few weeks.” Excitement continued to glow on her cheeks. “I hope Trinity will let us do this again.”

“I’m sure she would if you asked her,” Jack said. “Was it everything you wanted?”

“Even better! Their colors are so beautiful, and they speak so well! And the babies!” Her shoulders vibrated with every detail. “Thank you for taking me! Both of you!”

“Just go easy on the dew tonight, and we’ll call it even.” Skye brushed a strand of Mia’s copper hair away from her face.

Mia blushed, but her smile never wavered. She playfully saluted Skye. “Aye-aye, Capitan!”

The frogs called their goodbyes—far louder than Jack expected them to be—and the Party watched them vanish into the grass.

They were just a few jars of honey and a new vest away from riding a turtle to Pomacea.

---

Skye’s suggestion to buy a new vest wasn’t as out of reach as Jack first thought. Trinity’s three Quests had left them all with more money than he’d ever seen since arriving in Molluscia, and just a fraction of it was plenty to cover the material and Sasha’s time.

The Achantina was blessedly slow that evening, and Isabelle was nowhere in sight.

“Keep an eye on Lina for me?” Jack murmured to Skye.

“Sure.”

Mia drank from her mug in measured sips, doing her best to keep her word, it seemed. “Are you still sleepy, Jack?”

“I just want to be completely awake tomorrow. How did the honey search go?”

“It was perfect!” Mia looked over her shoulder. “Here she comes now.”

Kris shuffled along the floor, her toned arms wrapped around multiple glass jars holding amber liquid. She set them all on the table at once, then brushed her hands on her stained, eggshell-colored apron.

“Seven jars of honeyed fruit for the two-legs.” She winked one golden eye at Jack. Her dark hair was cut short to her ears, and her bangs hung just below her chin. Outside of owning the Achantina and being the village’s best cook, she held the title of arm-wrestling champion and could throw a barrel of dew as if it were a pillow fight. Somehow, her shell always carried the scent of whatever she’d been cooking that day.

“Thanks, Kris. Something to look forward to on the turtle.” Jack lifted one of the jars and inspected it. Clusters of berries hovered inside the casing; their color hidden by the honey.

“You three be careful on the way to Pomacea, you hear me? The crane might be gone, but there are lotsa other beasties waking up out there.”

“We promise, Kris! We’ll be extra careful!” Mia tipped her mug toward the tavern owner in a toast.

“Skye wouldn’t let us die so easy,” Jack quipped.

“Depends on the day,” Skye countered.

“Hey, now. I’m not joking. We’ve suffered enough losses this cycle.”

Jack winced. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Kris.” He raised his mug beside Mia’s. “We’ll be back before you know it. Promise.”