From the very beginning it was all Toad's fault. A blundering, quick-talking thief, he was the one who cut a deal with the dangerous Edward P. Owl: track down the ingredients to the Seeking Solution, or else. Twenty-five thousand gorents, he'd said...
The Firefly cut through the foamy waves of the Blacken Sea, passing floating sheets of ice where big-bellied walruses lounged, content as beach-goers. Toad buried his red nose into his scarf, his rabbit-fur hat pressed low over his brow, and huddled close to Melena on a bench at the front deck. After learning about the figurehead, they often chose to sit there at the prow instead of below deck in order to check on whether or not the Firefly's lantern burned brighter.
"Why would anyone ever live here?" Toad grumbled. He'd never been so cold in his life, even with every bit of clothing he possessed on his back. The excitement of experiencing snow for the first time had long ago vanished and he wanted nothing more than to feel the hot sun on his face. Give him the sweltering Hickory summers any day.
"I think maybe you have to be born here to appreciate it," said Melena through chattering teeth. Hazel was once again burrowed inside Melena's coat. "What I wouldn't give for a hot bath!" she moaned.
Toad was about to say that Melena, who had Hazel's warm scales pressed against her stomach, didn't have any right complaining about the cold while she had her own personal heater, but Melena turned to him on the bench and said, "I keep forgetting. Have you asked Captain Morely about your father?"
"Yeah," said Toad, startled that Melena had thought of this. "Yeah, I did. First night on the ship. He doesn't know of Shark-Tooth Kent, but he thinks I should look to the south, wagers they might be there. God knows I would be," he added fervently.
Melena laughed. "Oh, I bet he's moored in some tropical lagoon, eating his weight in mangoes."
"With a parrot!" said Toad. "My dad's gotta have a parrot."
"Or a cute, little monkey!"
"Either way," said Toad, "first chance I get, I'm going south."
Smedley, who was taking his turn at the wheel, heard him and let out his bark of a laugh.
"Don't worry, landlubber," he called, "you'll be heading home soon enough."
"Really?" said Toad. "Why's that?"
In reply, Smedley pointed. Melena and Toad twisted on their bench, frowning in confusion, for the Blacken Sea was just as iron gray and endless as always, except ...
"Is that fog?" asked Melena, standing.
"Steam," said Smedley. "From the springs."
Melena spun back to Smedley, but Toad jumped to his feet, peering at the Firefly.
"Steam?" said Melena, startled. "From the springs? We're that close to Mirg?"
Toad tugged at Melena coat.
"D'you think the lantern's brighter?" he asked her.
Melena worried her lip. "No," she breathed; her eyes darted over the water. "I don't think so."
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