The deeper Skysin traversed into Frosh, the more he understood why Mei Mei and Elaine spoke so fondly about it. The village was peaceful, a quiet place content with itself.
Wooden homes rested atop platforms overlooking the lake. Bridges crisscrossed between neighborhoods. Fishnets swaying gently in the breeze. Children jumped from docks into the clear water below, laughing as they splashed one another.
It was great.
But unfortunately for the speedster, he was surrounded by water. He deliberately kept his eyes forward. No looking left or right, and definitely not looking down.
A middle-aged phibian walked beside him, standing near seven feet tall. Skin tone is a mixture of green and orange; broad-shouldered, dressed in only a pair of compression shorts. And his name is Keron, the one who made a request to the Vale Guild.
"So what's the situation?" Skysin asked.
Keron sighed as he led Skysin along a boardwalk that followed the edge of the lake. "It started about two weeks ago. At first, it was only one or two of them. But now they're appearing almost every day."
Skysin nodded, "just hoggons?"
"Yes," Keron pointed toward the distant shoreline, where water turned into a marshy area surrounded by slender trees, similar to a snake coiling slightly. "The hoggons usually travel from Northern Vallorey to here during the summer season. But we're still in spring at the moment. They've been running around the marshes of the lake. And became more aggressive, much more. Almost scared. I believe something in Northen Vallorey frightened them."
Skysin crossed his arms, the sun glinting in his lazy violet eyes as Keron continued. "They've been attacking our brothers and sisters whenever we travel between villages or search for herbs. Thankfully, nobody has died…yet."
Skysin rubbed the back of his neck, "so you just wanna chase 'em off?"
Keron nodded, "if possible, yes. We'd rather avoid killing the hoggons. They've lived in this region just as long as the Phibians have. More if anything." Keron looked to the sky filled with clouds plastered in golden-orange light, "they may be beasts…but they're still living creatures."
Skysin blinked, not expecting an answer like that. Beasts are dangerous creatures. Of course, some are friendly and can even be bred as pets. But most are deadly. Yet hearing Keron's explanation made Skysin see just how kind the Phibians are. He respected it. Skysin smiled, "fair enough."
Keron relaxed a bit, eyeing Skysin, "you don't seem like most challengers who came to this region."
"Oh, I'm not a challenger." Skysin corrected, "I'm a rover."
"That explains it."
"What's that supposed to mean…"
Keron chuckled, "the last challenger who came here introduced himself by kicking a tree in half."
"…Cool way to show off."
"Very."
The two continued walking until the wooden path ended near the marshy shoreline. Keron stopped, "this is where the sightings occurred."
The area itself was quiet. Calm. The snake-like trees swayed with the wind. Birds perched on long vines and branches. The lake's clear water slowly altered into a green color, with blue speckles of pure chaos floating around the place.
Problem was, it was a tad too quiet. Skysin noticed that immediately, along with large hoofprints embedded in the mud. Very fresh, and a large number of them.
Skysin looked toward distant reeds; a faint grunt echoed deeper past them. He slowly stood, an eyebrow raised, "I think your hog problem is a little bigger than advertised."
Another grunt sounded, then several more. Reeds ahead began to shake chaotically. Not from one beast, but many.
The only problem was this terrain. Skysin's personal fear.
Keron watched as Skysin stood silently, staring across the marshlands. Thinking and planning and calculating about what was the best way to act.
A full minute passed.
Skysin snapped his fingers, "I got it!"
Keron was utterly concerned now, Skysin seemed a bit too excited from this revelation. Of whatever he was having.
A few moments later, Skysin returned. Shirt gone. Pants off. Shoes off his feet. Everything neatly hanging from a nearby branch. Skysin stood proudly in nothing but his drawers, hands sitting confidently on his hips.
Keron just stared, thinking if Skysin was either a true warrior or a complete idiot. "…Was this truly necessary…?"
Skysin nodded fervently, "desperate times call for desperate measures."
The wind blew as a bird chirped, or laughed, in the distance.
"…I see…" Keron replied.
Skysin dramatically pointed toward the marsh, "don't worry Keron! I'll let ya know when I'm done."
Keron glanced at the clothing. Back to Skysin, then back to the pile. He gave a curt nod, "…of course."
Skysin cracked his knuckles as he took a step forward. The mud squished beneath his feet and the boy visibly cringed. The very, very close water. Wet ground. Extremely questionable life choices Skysin was making right now.
But a mission was a mission.
Skysin took a deep breath, looking back up, "time to go hog huntin'."
Skysin took off in an instant, mud exploding behind him. Keron watched as Skysin's body disappeared faster than the blink of his own eyes.
"Wow…I couldn't see him move at all…"
Several hundred yards away, however, Skysin was having the time of his life.
Or pretending to.
His feet skimmed across patches of mud and shallow water with quickness, never staying in one place long enough to sink.
"SEE!!" Skysin shouted to himself, "I'm a genius!!"
Skysin sped through the area under a mere second, searching. Until he seen large tusks emerge, massive bodies following behind. Eight in total. Skysin came to a full stop, now on safer ground to not sink.
A full herd of Hoggons stared directly at him.
The largest snorted, aggressively.
Skysin grinned, "there you guys are."
The hoggon lowered its head, preparing to charge. When the leader did this, the seven others followed without hesitation.
The entire herd stampeded forward, and Skysin took off like a blue bullet.
*
Keron remained where he was, standing beside the shoreline. Nothing was happening, everything was calm, peaceful. Keron nodded, "perhaps he knows what he's doin—"
REEEEEEEEE
Keron was interrupted by the ferocious squeal of a hoggon. A flock of birds took off from the reeds.
Another squeal came. Then the next.
BOOOOOM
A pillar of ice erupted into the sky!
Keron's eye twitched as he watched in silence.
Villagers turned toward the horizon, watching another explosion of ice shoot to the sky. A mountain-sized spike briefly emerged above the trees before shattering into glistening fragments.
Children cheered and pointed.
"WHOA!!"
"What was that??"
"Is it snow??!"
More squeals and explosions let off. One resembled a giant hand before collapsing. Ice continued firing into the air like somebody was conducting a very aggressive weather experiment.
A younger phibian approached, "Keron…"
Keron spoke, flat, "yes?"
"Should we be worried?"
Keron watched as another formation exploded above the marsh, along with several hogs launching into the air. One spun like a pinwheel before disappearing behind a hill.
"Keron sighed, "I honestly don't know, little one."
**
Moments later, a blur shot through the wetlands.
Keron looked up as the younger phibian followed his gaze.
Skysin casually walked toward them, covered in mud, head to toe. His hair was a disaster. Face smeared brown. A few leaves stuck to his shoulder. Skysin grinned, giving a thumbs up, "mission complete!"
"Done?" Keron asked, as if trying to reassure himself, "you were gone for less than thirty seconds…"
Skysin shrugged, "sounds 'bout right." He sat his hands on his hips, keeping a proud smile as his teeth twinkled, "speeds my name. And speeds my game."
Both Keron and the young phibian merely watched in silence, "right…"
Skysin paused, looking down at himself, "you guys got a bath…?"
***
Later that evening, the people of Frosh Village were alive with celebration. Lanterns hung from docks, and music drifted across the broad lake. Families gathered around long wooden tables. The Hoggons that had terrorized the region for weeks had finally been dealt with.
With quickness, minus safety, for the most part. At least no one died, Phibian or Hoggon.
The feast had become a village-wide event. Plates of food covered every table. Fish, vegetables, and a diversity of delicious fruit.
Children ran between tables and groups, dancing with the music as they giggled. Several elderly phibians played instruments near the shoreline. The atmosphere was warm, comfortable, like a giant family.
Skysin sat among them, stuffing his face, "…okay!" He took a chomp out of fried fish, "this is actually really good." –Another bite— "Like, damn good!"
The phibians laughed as they watched the boy destroy his food.
Keron smiled, taking a sip of his drink, "thank you again for helping us, Skysin." His eyes looked towards the lake, watching small flickers of lights drift atop the water, "we appreciate it greatly."
Skysin waved it off, "meh, no worries. Nothin' I can't handle."
"Perhaps," Keron gave a gentle nod, "but it doesn't make us any less grateful."
The sincerity caught Skysin off guard. These people are really kind individuals. Skysin scratched the back of his head, "no problem."
Keron chuckled, setting his hand on Skysin's shoulder, grip firm "please, stay awhile. Enjoy the food. Enjoy Geyser."
Skysin looked around, taking in the scenery once more. The tranquility. His thoughts were to head back to Tayon City immediately. But the food…
"Sure," Skysin shrugged, "why not?"
The village cheered, people raising their food, glasses, or whatever they held in their hands.
Several children dragged Skysin away from his food.
"COME PLAY!!"
"Yeah C'MON!!"
"Wait wha'? I'M EATIN'!!"
Too late now. The children already kidnapped him.
Skysin didn't hate it, though. Sharing food with strangers, enjoying his time. It was nice. Even for someone who rarely sat still, it was a nice change of pace.