The Fourth Friend (An Amphibia Story)

Part 16: A Caravan Named Desire

Skylar's P.O.V

'Alright kids we're about to hit the dry swamp!' Hop Pop yells us. 'Here girls, you're gonna wanna hydrate' he hand Anne and I a bottle of water.

'That's ok dude. It's still a swamp, how dry could it be-'

She cut herself off as we found ourselves dying from the heat of the so called swamp.

'Gimme that water!' I yell, snatching the bottle from Sprig.

'Welcome to the dry swamp girls' Hop Pop chuckles at our mistake. 'Home to giant, frog eating sand worms, bandits, Vagabonds!' He lists off before pulling a scroll out of nowhere. 'You'd know of course if you'd ever read the classic play, Fear the Dry Swamp'

'Oh brother'

'Save us'

'He's gonna act'

'Oh frog'

Dramatic lighting seemed to appear as Hop Pop read out the same lines we'd heard him say a hundred times before.

'Hark. For I am homeless. I am friendless. I am the dry swamp!' He recited before the natural light returned. 'Y'know I was this close to getting the lead part once'

'Ya don't say'

'Uh huh'

'Yup! Before I was a farm frog your Hop Pop has dreams! Next life I suppose'

The ground beneath us rumbled slightly. Out of nowhere a shadow cast over all of us. We all turn to see the source and was met with the sight of a giant sand worm.

'AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!'

Anne, Sprig, Polly and I pop our heads back into the Fwagon as Hop Pop took off speeding. We came to a stop and were circled by a bunch of carts. We popped back out of the Fwagon again to see a figure with their face covered.

'Hey, thanks for your help out there'

'Don't mention it. Y'know you folks really shouldn't be out here on your own. Haven't you ever read Fear the Dry Swamp?'

'You know that play?' Hop Pop asks.

'Know it? Ha! I directed it. Renee Frodgers the name and managing this acting troop is my game' the lady says, throwing off her coat and standing in a dramatic pose.

'An acting troop? Here?' Hop Pop says in awe.

'Wow, what're the chances'

'Say, why don't you folks join our caravan? We could use the extra stage hands and you know what they say, safety in numbers' Renee suggests.

'WE'RE IN!' Hop Pop says almost too excitedly.

We hop out of the Fwagon and follow Renee into the caravan.

'Welcome to our humble operation!' She says, opening the doors to the first wagon.

We walk through the space and see frogs, newts and toads running around. Readying props, reciting lines and getting their costumes ready. We continue walking before stopping in front of a small frog boy.

'Hey, Francis! Show these youngsters to the kids wagon'

'As you wish madam. I am Francois, heir to House D'arncool' the boy said with his accent.

'He's method' Renee says, confusing us.

'Uh?'

'What?'

'Huh?'

'He's what?'

'It means he embodies a character on and off set, duh!' Hop Pop explains like it was the most obvious thing in the world.