Chapter 1: Departure (Day 2)

Bronk and Brack both look to Krav, then each other, then to the other frogs on the boat. Brack nods to the other frogs, and a couple of them leap effortlessly into the water, presumably to swim toward where Krav indicated. It doesn't take long before they're back and leaping back onto the boat, bobbing and clapping their skinny hands together. "True! Many fish! Is true!"

Brack turns to Krav, hands clasped together, and slowly approaches. "You... have saved many friends today. A good catch will make the birds happy, and we can be happy and free for a time. We have many thanks for you." It bobs its head several times and backs slowly away again.

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As decisions are made, the remaining members of the other party say their meager goodbyes, some of them wishing you well, others seeming ready to just get on with their mission. Everyone seems still a bit haunted by what it's taken just to get here, and is ready to put the island of the Shining City behind them.

The frog-people are surprisingly effective sailors, able to maneuver the simple craft with ease toward the southeast short of the lake. The journey to the other shore will take a few hours. Bronk and Brack remain with the boat helping to sail it as need be with a few other of their people, but are available for conversation as desired. It is just about midday, which means it will be late afternoon by the time you arrive. The sun will set a couple of hours after you make landfall. If all goes well.

Bronk turns to face Viani, head cocked in what you assume is a curious look. "When it is just friends, it is peaceful. Sometimes, far off," it says, waving a hand generally toward the whole of the shoreline, "we see other... maybe friends. But we worry they will be like the knife birds, and we stay away. We have never made words with friends like you before."

It drops its eyes for a moment. "Most days we look for the catch, we watch the eggs, we find food, we are friends. Is it different for other friends?"

Even though Viani isn't speaking all that fast, Bronk's eyes widen and dart back and forth as though it feels under attack. "I am sorry, friend... I do not... know these words. Money? Clothes?"

Bronk leans forward and looks more closely at Viani's clothes. "You mean that is not your..." Bronk struggles to find the right word. "Your skin?"

Bronk leans back away from the spinning coin, and its tongue suddenly darts out to snatch the shiny thing out of mid-air. The coin appears between its lips, and Bronk plucks it out to look at it more closely. Some of the other frog people nearby hop over to peer carefully at the object. "Like the catch? We give to the birds in exchange for freedom? But how does someone eat it? It is very hard."

Bronk reaches out then to pluck curiously at Viani's jacket. "How do you swim in this?"