The Fourth Friend (An Amphibia Story)

Part 21: Scavenger Hunt

Skylar's P.O.V

The day after our arrival in Newtopia Marcy had taken us all to one of her favourite restaurants. The Plantars, Anne, Marcy and I were all seated around an outside table looking at the burgers in front of us.

"Enjoy everyone! This place makes the best beetle burgers in lol of Newtopia!" Marcy says as we all dig in.

As we eat, Marcy pulls out her notebook and starts writing things down.

"What's that?" Polly asks in Marcy's direction.

"Oh just my journal. I like jotting down theories and observations. Y'know, all about indigenous fauna, medicinal techniques, customs and nuances of Amphibious species-based caste systems. Sometimes I even do drawings!" She explains, showing Polly a drawing she did of her.

"It looks just like me!" Polly says in awe.

"Wow! Anne, Sky, have you two been keeping a journal too?" Hop Pop asks us.

I shake my head no as my mouth was still full and I turn to Anne who had her back turned. She turns around and I saw that she had a straw coming out of each nostril.

"Look guys! I'm a straw-lrus! Like a walrus but with straws!"

I giggle at her antics while Sprig laughs out loud.

"What's a walrus?" He asked when he had stopped laughing.

"Who should I give the bill too?" The waiter asked as he approached the table. "Probably not you" he makes a reasonable assumption as he looks at Anne's appearance.

"Oh I'll take it! It's, oh, let me guess... 28 coppers?" Marcy guesses.

"Right you are" the waiter confirmed showing the bill that showed exactly 28 coppers.

"Wow! Can you two do math like that too?" Hop Pop asks us.

"Uh, you mean like with numbers and stuff?" Anne asks.

"Yeah no, math ain't our strong suit" I shake my head.

"Can you imagine if Marcy got stuck with us instead of Anne? We'd be set for life!"

"Hush Polly. Think those thoughts, don't say them" Hop Pop scalded but didn't really make it any better.

"Oh yeah? Well... LOOK OUT!" She called out, ducking as an arrow shot past our heads.

"Someone's trying to kill us!" Hop Pop claims, pointing to the arrow stuck in the wall.

"No, no, it's fine. It's just a message from the king" Marcy assured us, getting up to grab the scroll attached to the arrow. "Oh correction, it's a puzzle gram from the king"

"A what?" We all ask her.

"He's basically hidden clues around the city and when I collect them all, I get a message. Ah it's so fun!" She happily explains, showing us the message. "Ok. This first symbol is a tree, so we should head towards coral park. Now come on team, it's puzzle time!" She enthusiastically cheers.

"A puzzle tour of Newtopia! Count me in!" Sprig cheered, hopping out of his seat.

"Oh hell yeah! Me too!" I agree with him, standing up.

"Then lets go!" Marcy cheers as we all, minus Polly and Hop Pop, run off towards Newtopias coral park.

I stand next to Marcy as she leads us through the streets of Newtopia. I can hear Sprig behind me, marvelling at everything he sees.

"Aren't puzzles just the best?" Marcy asks me, still looking at the puzzle-gram. "It's so much more fun when you have to figure out what the message is. It's boring if they just give it to you. There's just no challenge that way. This is waaaaayyy better!" She rambles on as we walk.