It was a beautiful day in Wartwood, as Shadow was seen packing camping gear and supplies upon Irohide, with Ivy and Maddie helping, tightening the straps that held the supplies in place. After strapping down the last of the supplies, he moved up front and gently rubbed his faithful snail's neck, earning a purr before Ironhide showed his appreciation by licking his owner.
"Hehe, that's a good boy there." Shadow smiled, patting the snail on the head.
"The last of the supplies are packed, Shadow!" Ivy declared, popping her head out from behind the snail.
"And we've got enough first aid kits too." Maddie added from atop the snail.
"Good work, girls." Shadow gave a thumbs up.
Just then, the door to his hut swung open, and Anne came running out with something in her hand, "Shadow! Look at this! I brought a bath bomb from home and didn't even know!" Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a bath bomb with bright pink, purple and blue colors with the label saying 'Peony Princess'. "Oh, yeah! Man, I can't wait to try this baby out!"
Looking at the bath bomb, Shadow hummed, "I assume it smells good?"
"Not just that; they help with damaged and dry skin!" Anne declared.
"Well, care to save some for me?" Shadow chuckled.
"I don't know. Bath bombs are one use only-" Anne made to say before noticing the camping supplies atop Ironhide. "Uh, you going somewhere?"
"Sure are!" Ivy declared with a smile. "We're heading to Camp Phlegmington, rough it outdoors and get filthy!"
"Our folks are okay with it, since we're going with Shadow." Maddie nodded.
"Wait, without me?" Anne said with mild surprise.
"Anne, I'm talking hardcore camping." Shadow explained. "When we camp, we camp hard, and there's no sense in you coming with and being miserable."
"Plus, we know you pretty much hate everything regarding nature with a burning passion." Ivy said before jumping in the saddle.
"You're soft, Anne." Maddie stated. "Like a defenseless baby."
"You should be glad that you're not like us." Shadow said.
Anne felt her heart ache upon hearing that. After all the time she had spent with the recluse, she'd thought he'd at least consider her family, yet she still feels like he's treating her like she's fragile. Not to mention he had been teaching her how to fight, she felt offended that he'd leave her out like this.
"That's ridiculous!" Anne scoffed. "Me, soft? Pfft!" She then hid her bath bomb behind her back. Just because I'm not one of you guys doesn't mean I can't have a good time with you guys." She then clapsed her hands together before pleading, "Take me with you. Please, please, please?"
Shadow raised a brow at this, "Are you sure? I wasn't kidding when I said 'rough'."
"And I wasn't kidding when I said you were soft." Maddie added.
"Super-sure." Anne declared confidently.
"Aw, come on, guys!" Ivy said. "If Anne says she can handle it, I say let in on the fun!"
"Well, if she's certain," Shadow seemed to consider it before shrugging. "Then I don't see why not. Hop on."
"Whoo whoo!" Anne cheered before climbing on top of Ironhide next to Ivy.
"Ivy, make sure you lather her up." Shadow said to the yellow frog girl.
Anne was confused before Ivy pulled up a large honey dipper covered in orange liquid, "We gotta lather you up with this, since you're coming with us. Only way to keep the ticks away!" She chuckled as she lathers the gunk across Anne's face. "There we go! Ooh! Missed a spot!"
While Ivy continued to cover her face with the gunk, Anne looked as though she was trying her best to not snap.
"Totally not regretting this."
Soon enough, the four made it to the campsite, where several other frogs had long since arrived, playing various games or setting up tents.
"Well, we're here." Shadow declared, stepping onto the ground.
"Finally, I can't wait to go fishing!" Ivy declared as she jumped off Ironhide.
"And I can't wait to tell scary stories." Maddie added with a creepy grin on her face.
"I just enjoy the peace and quiet." Shadow nodded. "A man can really hear themselves think." He heard his inner thoughts, 'Did you lock the door? Take security measures? WILL YOU DIE ALONE?!' He then cringed at his own thoughts. "Well, that went dark really quick."
"Hey, there's the Plantars!" Ivy pointed as the Plantars just arrived. "Hey guys!"
Sprig hopped down from Bessie, holding a blanket before approaching his friend, "Hey Ivy! Glad you could make it."
"I managed to convince my mom to let me go with Shadow." Ivy said.
"I can't wait to tell scary stories!" He then wraps the blanket around himself like a scary cloak.
"The more teen frogs running from deranged psychopaths, the better." Maddie nodded in agreement.
Polly hopped off Bessie before joining them, "I'm just happy to get off the farm! So much fresh air, and it's all mine!" She then inhales a large amount of air before letting it out, resulting in her to fly like a balloon before landing in Hop Pop's arms, the pollywog laughing.
"I personally love the peace and quiet." Hop Pop chimed in. "A frog can really hear themselves think out here." He then closed his eyes, his thoughts echoing in his mind. ' Did you leave the stove on? The front door unlocked? WILL YOU DIE ALONE?!" He then opened his eyes, cringing at the last thought. "Well, that was a mistake."
Anne, on the other hand, lightly waved a butterfly away in disgust, before jumping at the sight of a large horned beetle scuttle past her feet.
"Anne, are you sure you want to stay?" Shadow asked in concern. "You can just take Ironhide and head back home, if you need to."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Anne said, poking Shadow in the chest, determined to prove that she's not weak. "Here's a better idea. How about we stop questioning my decisions and get to camping together already? Who's with me?"
Everyone cheered in agreement.
The first activity the group did together was fishing, which Shadow was more than happy to do, as he found it relaxing and good for training reflex's. Everyone casted their fishing lines and waited patiently, Maddie being the one to real in first, pulling out a fish the size of her arm, then Ivy reeled in a fish the size of her head. Anne, however, was pulled in by a fish as big as her, the Thai girl desperately trying to swim to safety, screaming as the deadly fish chomped at her, before Shadow ran across the water and stabbed at it, killing it.
Crawling onto a lily pad, Anne managed to catch her breath before Shadow approached, giving her the fish, Anne realizing that it was he catch, Maddie and Ivy cheering from the side, before gasping at the sight of a shadow appearing from beneath the water.
"Oh boy."
A much larger fish emerged from underneath, the lily pad the two humans were standing on atop it's head, before it let out a roar, swimming back and forth to get the humans off, Anne holding on for dear life, while Shadow raised his sword over his head to strike, a massive grin on his face.
"We're eatin' good tonight!"
Later, everyone began setting up their tents, Shadow, Ivy and Maddie managed to set theirs up no problem. Anne, however, had some trouble, having never set up a tent in her life, her simple blanket with a stick fell apart, then suddenly, somehow, caught on fire, much to the shock of the girls.
"Come on, throw some dirt on it! Get some water!" Shadow shouted, splashing water on the fire, Anne, Maddie and Ivy throwing dirt on it to put the fire out.
Later, the four were walking through the woods, carrying buckets of water, while Anne seemed agitated, scratching her back.
"Everything alright, Anne?" Shadow asked.
"I don't know, do I have something on my back?" She asked as she showed her back to him.
Shadow, on the other hand, nearly gasped before reaching for his sword, "Don't freak out and try not to move."
Anne seemed confused before looking over her shoulder to see a giant spider clinging to her back.
"AAAAAAHHHH!" She screamed, throwing it off before running, the spider chasing after her, while Shadow chased the arachnid down with his sword.
That night, after a long day, everyone tried going to sleep, Anne still seeming upset over how the day went. Shadow tried to cheer her up by staying up to star gaze with her, hoping to see the smile he came to adore. And it seemed to work, but that moment was ruined when she went rolling down a hill they were on and into a rather large thorn bush.
"This might sting a bit." Shadow said, covered in several scratches from having to get Anne out of the thorn bushes during the night. He was now kneeling behind Anne with the back of her shirt rolled up, revealing several tick bites on her back as he spread some orange gunk over it.
"Ow, careful!" Anne cringed from the sting. "Pretty sure those ticks caused internal damage."
"Just making sure I get all of the marks, don't worry." Shadow assured, the Thai girl blushing as he tended to her tick bites.
Ivy was nearby watching the scene, having had enough of watching Anne torture herself, "Look, maybe you should call it quits and head back home."
"I second that." Maddie nodded. "And I'm sure Shadow here is getting tired of risking his life over and over just to see you miserable."
"Not exactly how I'd put it." Shadow frowned before sighing. "But they're right, just take Ironhide and head home, Anne." He then offered a smile. "And don't you worry about us; we'll be just fine without you."
The words 'without you' echoed in her mind, Anne becoming more determined than ever before standing up and shouting, "No! Look, I know it seems like I'm miserable, okay? But I'm not. It's just...It's just, uh..." She looked around, hoping to come up with a reason, before seeing a small frog child running around with a net, chasing a butterfly, while an adult frog laid back, relaxing, before smiling at an idea. "I'm not used to such easy camping."
Shadow tilted his head at this, just as confused as the others, "Easy?"
"Look around you." Anne went on, gesturing to all the frogs having fun. "Singing, butterflies, laughter. I guess I'm just used to something a little more... Extreme."
Suddenly, a frog roared as he jumped out of a bush behind Anne, scaring her as she jumped into Shadow's arms. The toad in question was muscular with dull green skin and several colored tattoos of insects, snakes, bones, and several other objects on his skin. In addition, he had bones of unknown animal in his shaggy, green beard. He had a hat similar to an Australian outback with a flipped-up side and band lined with teeth. His brownish-green shorts were ripped and a shirt similar to a hunting vest.
"Hey, Joe." Shadow greeted.
"Wait, you know him?" Anne asked before getting off her caretaker.
"He's an acquaintance that I sometimes camp with when it's just us." Shadow nodded. "Soggy Joe knows the best spots for meditation that help with increasing ones senses."
"Always a pleasure to see an enthusiast of the extreme." Soggy Joe declared before turning his attention to Anne. "So, this place ain't extreme enough for ya?"
Anne seemed unsure at first before regaining her confidence, "Uh, dang right it ain't."
Joe began chuckling before turning to hysterical laughter, the four looking to each other with mild concern.
"I can take you folks to a real campsite," The Australian-looking frog declared. "One where there ain't none of this kiddie stuff, like shelter or potable water." He then spat on the ground.
"Well, would a more extreme experience make you happy, Anne?" Shadow asked his female friend.
"Uh, yeah?" Anne said with slight unease.
"If Anne wants hard-core, we go hard-core." Ivy nodded. "Lead the way, Mr. Joe!"
"Excellent." Joe said before laughing like a maniac once more.
"Yeesh. Could you like, turn down the creep just a bit?" Anne asked.
"No!"
The day soon turned to evening, as the four followed Soggy Joe down a dark path, Shadow having his hand on the handle of his sword, his senses on high alert for any danger, and the skeleton of a frog holding a sign saying 'save yourself!' only made him more cautious.
Maddie looked over to the side, seeing several buckets in a small pond, silently glad that her sisters didn't come along.
Ivy looked to see a small snail sat on a stump, chirping happily, making her sigh happily at the sight, but a giant spider jumping down and snatching the poor snail within its jaws before vanishing within the trees above made her smile disappear, groaning in fear.
"We're here." Joe said as the group arrived at a muddy clearing, as Joe ran and jumped to the ground and tasted some of the dirt. "We bunk here for the night. And in the morning, if we're still alive..."
All three girls huddled against Shadow, quivering in fear with bated breath.
"I'll take you all out for pancakes." Joe finished.
All three girls soon relaxed, liking the sound of pancakes, Shadow nodding in agreement.
Eventually, camp was set up, as everyone sat around the campfire, everyone remaining silent before Soggy Joe asked, "Want to hear a tale?"
Anne looked uncomfortable, "Uh…"
"I'm good." Ivy said.
"I don't mind." Maddie said, Ivy and Anne groaning, while Shadow remained silent, sitting in his meditative pose.
"Gather 'round and hear ye the tale of the Mud Men. Born in the bowels of the bog itself, the mud creatures stalk the inky night, lusting to devour any frogs that might have wandered into their domain." Soggy Joe said before somehow sinking into the mud.
"Ten bucks says he doesn't come back up." Ivy said.
Suddenly, Joe popped out from beneath the mud behind them, startling them, "Just like us!" He then laughed before sitting down. "Ah, yes. The Mud Men only fear two things. Daylight and being clean. Holy honey thistle!"
"What? What is it, Joe?" Anne asked, frightened.
"Nature calls. Be right back." Joe said before going off into the woods.
Anne sighed before looking at her caretaker, the boy calmly meditating, "How are you so calm?"
"I've come out here enough times to get used to it." Shadow shrugged. "It also helps with your senses."
"Yeah, you mentioned that." Anne nodded. "But out here?"
"I thought you wanted it more extreme." Shadow said before opening a single eye to look at her. "Was I mistaken?"
"Wha…No!" Anne quickly denied, waving it off. "I'm loving this!"
"Then sit and meditate with me." Shadow suggested. "Sit behind me and we'll start strengthening your senses."
With little option, Anne sat behind him with her legs crossed, her back straight and closed her eyes.
"Steady your breathing." Shadow instructed. "Become one with nature. Hear and sense the environment around you."
Listening to instructions, Anne closed her eyes and focused, spreading her aura, as she sensed the movement within the environment. The branches moving from the with, the wind whistling, and the muddy footsteps…
…wait, muddy footsteps?
Focusing more, she saw several figures creeping through the swamp. Panicked, she opened her eyes.
"I saw something!" She declared. "The Mud Men are out there!"
"Seriously?" Ivy gasped.
"They're real?" Maddie asked.
"I saw them too." Shadow nodded, grabbing his sword.
Suddenly, a groan caught their attention, the kids turning to see Soggy Joe standing near a tree.
"Joe, we need to go!" Anne called out to the frog. "The Mud-"
Before she could finish, Joe fell forward into the dirt, revealing an ax buried in his back, making the girls scream and Shadow immediately draw his sword, as several creatures emerge from the mud, completely covered in mud and holding various weapons.
"It's the Mud Men!" Ivy yelled.
"And they're here for our delicious souls!" Maddie screamed with her.
"Girls, stay behind me!" Shadow commanded.
The girls didn't need to be told twice before getting behind the older boy, as he held his sword, ready to strike at the first Mud Man who dared to get close, before one lunged at him, the boy swinging horizontally, sending the attacker flying to the side. Another approached, only to be sent flying with a slash from Shadow's blade.
"Oh man, this is all my fault." Anne said, feeling guilty. "Ivy, Maddie, grab a torch!"
The two frog girls did as they were told, picking up a torch and holding them out in the hopes of keeping the Mud Men at bay, only for those torches to be put out by thrown mud by the cannibals.
"Could really use some sunlight right about now!" Ivy said.
"Or maybe some cleaning supplies." Maddie added.
Anne gasped when an idea came to her, "I have something even better! Take cover, everyone!" The girl frog girls did as they were told before Anne pulled out the bath bomb. "Peony Princess bath bomb! Good-bye, dear friend." She then ripped the tag off like it was a pin of a grenade before throwing it, the bath bomb landing in the mud.
Nothing happened.
"Well, guess we're dead." Maddie said.
"Uh-huh." Ivy said.
"Wait for it." Shadow smirked.
Suddenly, the bath bomb started fizzing, before it exploded, dousing the whole area in pink soap bubbles. When the bubbles soon cleared, everyone was squeaky clean. And the Mud Men…turned out to be nothing more than lanky frogs wearing loincloths. They screamed as they tried to cover themselves.
"The jig is up, boys!"
"Quickly, before she throws another one of those things!"
"Man, all I wanted to do today was get muddy and eat people."
Suddenly, Shadow appeared before them, blocking their escape, his eyes flickering between black and green, as though he was struggling to control his anger, his hand clenching the handle of his sword.
"I hope you plan on becoming contributing members of society." He said in a dark tone, his voice having an echo. "Otherwise, I'll personally make sure you're not a problem any longer."
The frogs screamed before running away, Shadow sheathing his blade, the girls cheering behind him.
"I can see your butt!" Ivy screamed after them.
Now calmed down, Shadow turned to Anne with a smile, "Well done, Anne. You really are used to extreme camping. I was wrong for doubting you."
At first, Anne seemed proud, but frowned before sighing, "Guys, I have a confession." She then sat on a log. "This extreme camping stuff is nonsense. I was miserable back there. I was just trying to cover it up."
"So, you dragged us to this horror show for no reason?" Maddie said.
"I wouldn't say no reason." Anne rubbed her arm with shame on her face.
"But why lie?" Shadow asked, sitting next to the Thai girl. "Why voluntarily be miserable?"
"I guess I've been feeling kind of left out lately." Anne said. "I'm not a frog. I'm not a Plantar. I'm not even close to your level, Shadow. Heck, I wasn't even invited on this trip." She looked up at Shadow to meet his eyes. "I really like being around you, Shadow, and the others, and I wanted to be with you, miserable or not."
Shadow seemed in thought before he pulled Anne into a hug, "I'll admit, I was worried for your safety, and was doing everything I could to prepare you for the world outside. Still, I feel like no matter how much I try, you're gonna get hurt." He then back up, meeting her eyes. "Still, that's no excuse to leave you out. Next time, I'll include you, Anne, even if I know you'll hate it."
"Thanks, Teach." Anne said with a smile before hugging the boy, taking in his warmth.
Ivy seemed tearful at this, "I don't know if it's the sweet-smelling toxins or the overwhelming emotions, but dang it, I'm a mess."
"This is getting to even me." Maddie admitted, her eyes looking to get watery.
Suddenly, a groan caught their attention, the four turning to see Soggy Joe's body stand up, his eyes rolled to the back of his head. The three girls screamed, while Shadow was ready to draw his sword, before Soggy Joe stretched his back, making the ax in his back pop out.
"Ooh-wee!" Joe laughed. "Good thing I wore my axe-proof vest, eh? So, what'd I miss?"
"Oh, pretty much everything." Anne said.
"Really?"
"Oh, Joe, there were these crazy cannibals." Ivy said.
"Wow."
"They tried to eat us." Shadow said.
"Oh, serious?"
"Yeah, actually, it turned out they were just frogs." Maddie said.
"Oh, no way."
"Wimpy little frogs covered in mud." Maddie added.
"Unbelievable."
"And then we ran, Shadow took out some of them, we tried to use torches, it was all a big thing. It was very dramatic." Anne said.
"Yeah? Oh? Keep going."
"Anne saved us with her bath bomb." Ivy said.
"Yeah, I smell it. It's great. Is that peony?"
"Yeah, that is peony." Anne nodded.
"Yeah, I have a nose for these things."
"So, that's pretty much it. You're all caught up." Shadow said.
"Oh, great."
There was a moment of silence, crickets could be heard chirping in the background, before Joe said, "So, you all want to get pancakes early?"
"Oh, yeah, that sounds great." Anne nodded.
"Let's get out of here." Shadow said
"I've always been more of a waffle girl, myself." Maddie said.
Upon returning home, the two humans were cleaning up, before Anne looked over to Shadow, who was washing dishes. She always appreciated how peaceful he looked, in comparison to the hunter or warrior fighting tooth and nail to ensure her safety. Looking into her bag, the music box wrapped in cloth in her hands, she decided it was time to share how she got dragged into this world.
Inhaling then exhaling, Anne picked up the box before approaching her caretaker, "Hey, Shadow? Can we talk?"
"Sure." Shadow nodded before drying his hands. "What's on your mind?"
"Can we sit?" Anne asked.
Nodding, the boy gestured to the dinning table, both humans sitting down.
"So, now that we've gotten to know each other," Anne said. "There's something I'd like to share with you."
"I see." Shadow nodded.
Taking and releasing one more breath, Anne made to undo the cloth, "This is how I got here."
She then unwrapped it, revealing the music box, "It's some kind of crazy music box or something. Have you seen anything like it before?"
Shadow remained silent. Deathly silent, almost, as he stared at the box, his eyes looking as though they threatened to pop out of his head, his face growing pale.
After what felt like an eternity of pregnant silence, Shadow finally asked, "Where did you get this?"
"From a thrift shop in my world." Anne explained. "I doubt you'd know what that is, but-"
"Why do you have this?"
Anne stopped when he interrupted, feeling his heart slow down from the look of dread on his face, "I…It was supposed to be a gift for my birthday, but-"
A raised hand from Shadow made her go quiet, Anne watching her caretaker, his hands shaking, the boy taking in a breath before letting it out, before he finally spoke.
"Sorry." He sighed, finally calming down. "It's just…I've heard stories about this box, but I just waved it off as a fairytale."
"Do you know anything about it?" Anne dared to ask.
Shadow looked at the box with critical eyes, Anne waiting for a reply.
"Sorry, but I do not." He sighed sadly.
Anne let out a breath of both relief at Shadow remaining calm as well as disappointment at his lack of knowledge, "Well, it was worth a shot."
Shadow looked at Anne, a sad look on her face, before he took her hand in his, "I promise... We will find a way to get you home."
Anne smiled at this, "Thanks, Shadow. That means a lot to me."
The two looked into each other's eyes for a moment, before Shadow stood up.
"Well, that's enough excitement for today." He said with a yawn, making for his room. "I think I'm gonna turn in."
"Good night, Shadow." Anne said, her face still red as she left for her room.
During the night, at the Plantar homestead, Hop Pop was getting ready for bed when he heard a knock at his studies door. Curious, the old frog walked up and opened the door, a pale Shadow standing before him.
"Shadow?" He said in surprise. "Everything alright?"
"I need to see your book." The boy stated.
Letting the boy in, Hop Pop watched him go to one of his shelves before pulling out one of the books before opening it on the desk, turning one page after another before stopping, his face paling at the page he was looking for.
"Why? Why now? Why her?"
On the page was the box, with five different colored gemstones, along with the words 'Danger!', 'Destroy!', and 'Beware!'. It was the box he had feared for so long, the box he thought he had gotten rid of five years ago.
It was the Calamity Box.