Chapter Twenty - A Ribbiting Meeting

Chapter Twenty - A Ribbiting Meeting

I took a deep breath, raring to start talking to my new potential friends. I had so many things to say. Entire days of pent up talking ready to be unleashed. Instead, all that escaped my lips was a breathy giggle. I flushed, coughed into my closed fist, and tried again.

Hello! My name is Broccoli Bunch and I want to be your friend. Welcome to this forest, do you come here often? Whats it like being a frog person? Wait, no, was that racist? Specieist? Im sorry Ive never met someone who wasnt human before and I dont know how to act around you so if Im accidentally rude please tell me and Ill try to fix it!

I slapped a hand over my mouth and tried to think of ways to not embarrass myself any further when the frog-person--the grenoil?--with the more articulate armour spoke out. Hail, human, he said while raising an empty palm my way.

Do all humans speak zat much? the other grenoil said.

The ranger shook his head. Shush, Donat. Focusing back on me, he nodded his head and made a gesture with both arms that I couldnt decipher. We werent expecting to see a friendly face, human. What brings you to zese dark woods?

Im lost, I said, a little sheepishly. I kind of just ended up here and Ive been following this road to try and find people for a couple of days now. Then I found you, so I guess that plan worked out!

Indeed, the ranger agreed.

So is it just the two of you? Not that theres anything wrong with there being just two of you. Im all alone and thats... well its alright, I guess. But what I mean to ask is, are there even more people around here? A town or a city or a big gathering place of people? I have some things Id like to sell, and I want to learn more about this place. And I want to eat something that isnt honey. Oh, and I want to make even more friends.

The ranger raised one webbed hand and I stopped. I might have been talking a lot. You can come back to our camp with us, he said. Zere are others there zat might want to take a look at you.

Were going to bring it back with us? the fencer asked.

What are our other options? Let it leave and perhaps jeopardize ze expedition? Ranger said before shaking his big wide head. His hood didnt move much with the motions, which was a little strange.

Donat, get behind it. Ill take ze lead, the Ranger said.

Oh, Im being escorted! I said. So, do these woods belong to your people? Was I trespassing? Im sorry if thats the case.

So, the younger-looking grenoil was called Donat. I waved at him then started walking down the path which they had done a good job of clearing of brush. It was still uneven, with roots poking through the cobbles and making the large flat stones sit all crookedy across the path.

Zese woods belong to no kingdom, the ranger said. None that still stands. Now please be quiet, we dont need to attract trouble.

But I only found you two because you were talking so loud, I said.

Exactly.

I adjusted my gambeson and coat and tried to make myself presentable, then fired off a few small cleaning spells to make sure I was nice and neat. The ranger and Donat didnt seem to notice, or if they did they didnt mind.

Maybe I could help them clean up later too, their boots were all muddy and there was a certain smell to them that kind of hinted that they needed a bath. Not that I would say that to anyone, it was very rude.

We started walking and I was about to introduce myself when Donat started talking. So, uh, ze human, its a man human, right?

No, you idiot, its a female, the ranger said. Did you hatch yesterday. Look at ze lumps on its chest.

I zought zose were muscles, Donat said.

I looked down at my chest, then back around to stare at Donat.

Ah, chests are taboo with humans, right?

The ranger sighed. Just with ze female humans. Zey compete with each other to see who has ze biggest because it helps zem attract mates. Zey dont croon at each other. Well, some do, but its not ze same.

Weird. Donat was tilting his head from one side to the other, his entire upper body following the motion since he didnt really have much of a neck. Why are zey taboo? he asked me.

Its because... they just are. I crossed my arms and tried to find something to say to defend myself, and my chest, while the ranger ahead of me called out.

Oi zere! Were back.

I looked ahead of the Ranger and felt my grin growing huge. There were more frog-people! Some were sitting around a little clearing along the edge of the road while one of them was setting up a tent. Most were around a small campfire on which a cauldron was hanging off a rack. The wind shifted, and with it came the mouth-watering smell of some sort of stew.

One of the frog people was skinning a small critter off to one side. It looked icky, but the thought of eating some fresh meat pushed that aside for now.

These frog people werent humans, but they seemed cultured and nice enough. Their clothes had a professional look to them and were tailored to fit their non-human proportions, so they had to come from a place with tailor-frogs, which meant a larger community out there.

This is highly unprofessional! the samurai said.

Oh, stuff it, Leo, the twin-sword frog said. He gestured to a log not too far off to the side. Sit, friend, and be welcome at our fire. As long as you cause no harm, none shall befall you.

I mentally ohhed at how cool that greeting sounded even as I took off my backpack and set it on the ground next to me. Thank you for sharing your fire. Its been forever since Ive seen anyone. Meeting people who are friendly is really nice.

I can imagine, he said. You said you were Broccoli Bunch, yes? At my nod, he smiled then patted a webbed hand against his chest. I am Emeric. Ze fine wizard here is Arianne. You met Pierre, our ranger and scout. Ze young lady across from you is Valeria. Our friend at ze tents who likes your chest is Donat, and ze grumpy one is Leo.

My name is Leonard Chandnuit, the samurai said. He shifted the hilt of his big sword around and crouched down on a log next to Emeric. I will be keeping an eye on you, human. Know that I will not allow you to interfere with this partys business.

Okay, I said. My mind was reeling trying to keep all the names straight. Its a pleasure to meet you all. I might have a hard time with all of your names. I hope you dont mind.

Hey, its no problem, the frog girl across from me, Valerie said.

I fired off a few inspects on each of them in a hurry.

A relaxed Sword-Dancer, (level ??)

That was Emeric, of course. His class sounded really neat.

An amused Marsh Wizard, (level ??)

Arianne, whose full lips were curled up in a slight smile.

A hungry Fencer, (level ??)

That was Valerie, who was eyeing the stew the way a wolf might eye a steak.

And then I used Insight on Leonard.

A frigid Samurai of the Moonless Night, (Level ???)

Three question marks. Did that mean he was even stronger than all the others? That sort of made sense. He certainly felt that he deserved more respect. Maybe being a higher level earned people more honour and such by default? It was... sort of fair. More so than respecting someone because they were rich or born with the right family name.

Ah, youre all very strong, I said as I rooted around my bag and pulled out one of the wine bottles I had. I didnt know anything about wine, but I hoped that it was good. It had been aging for quite some time.

I handed the bottle to Arianne, my hand brushing against hers for just a moment. It was moist and kind of slippery, which was a weird but not uncomfortable feeling.

Would you mind if we Observed you? Emeric asked. Just as a precaution.

I froze. Is that like using Insight? I asked.

The wizard next to me laughed, it was a strange, gurgle-y sound. Insight is a variation of Observe and Inspect, yes, she said. Its a bit of a faux-pas to use zat sort of skill on someone without permission.

Oh no, I said before pressing my hands over my face. Im so sorry!

Emeric laughed it off, but Leonard next to him narrowed his eyes with suspicion. Its nothing, Emeric said.

Arianne looked at me, and then her eyes widened. Shes a Cinnamon Bun, level four, she said.

That earned me a bunch of looks. Is that bad? I asked.

How are you still alive? Valerie asked.

I had the impression that I was going to have to do some explaining.

***