Master Of None

’Spiny toad

Unlike the swamp toads that live in the swamp lands, this toad has developed to survive in the deserts. The spines that it has all over its body are not large but instead very small. They are perfect to deter any predator from eating them or even attacking them since they will cause small pricks of pain. This, however, is not the main way for them to deter their prey. They are able to spit streams of sand mixed with their saliva at high speeds. This will defeat even their toughest predators, the giant red ants. The spiny toad adores the morning where the hot damp air is dense. It is able to absorb the moisture it needs to survive. The spiny toad is known for its tender meat which is often used as a delicacy in wandering desert tribes.’

”We are not fighting this one. It has long range attacks that deal a high damage.” Walker already backtracked on what he had said just a moment ago. He slowly and carefully explained what the all around appraisal had told him and how deadly this toad was despite the calm appearance it had. ”This is its favorite time of day. If we just walk around it with a wide distance we should be fine.” 

Su held tight to Walker’s arm. She looked at him and slowly shook her head no. He didn’t understand why until he glance at Alma. Behind her, another spiny toad had uncovered itself to bask in the humidity. All three of them were watching as another slowly uncovered itself. They had somehow walked right in to the middle of these spiny toads while they sleep and if they moved they would cause multiple attacks from all sides to destroy them. 

There was feast written on all of their faces. They knew well that they would have to wait until the dry air returned so that the spiny toads would bury themselves to sleep again. It could take hours of their precious travel time. However, there was a high possibility that they would all perish if they even attempted to leave from where they stood. 

There was a moment of hesitation when Alma’s eyes widened. She knew that if she suddenly spoke and blurted out her idea she would doom them. Yet, when she slowly spoke in a calm and peaceful tone, the spiny toads allowed it. They too were softly vibrating their chests to make the sand shift and potentially attract other spiny toads to them. Alma’s soft voice didn’t scare them. ”Walker, can you make it colder? There’s water in the air. Can you make it colder?” 

There was a flash of brilliance that crossed both Walker and Su’s faces. They knew exactly what Alma had thought of. These spiny toads had come up to bask in the humid air and warmth. Nut if Walker used his mana to manipulate the water in the air before the sun was too strong, he could cool it. That would in turn make the toads want to leave and crawls back in to the and. They liked the humidity, but not the cold or the dry heat. 

With that thought process, Walker could also heat up the air around them so that the humidity was lost. Yet, he knew if he did that then he would most likely harm them as well. The three were better prepared for the cold that they had survived in the night than for the intense heat that would make the spiny toads hide away. 

The change in mana caused the spiny toads to stop in an alert pose. They lowered their heads and scooped sand in to their mouths. Luckily, none of them focused on Walker or his companions. They instead searched around them only to find that nothing seemed to be out of place. Walker had not realized how poor their eyesight was due to living buried in the sand and rarely seeing proper sunlight. This was what helped them, the toads thought that the three were just odd shaped cacti in the desert. 

Feeling the mana change was not the end though. The spiny toads began to notice the entire area change in temperature. Their bodies soon shivered under the dramatic change they had not expected. Their only safe haven was the sand which they started to cover themselves. 

Walker was sweating, a drastic difference between the cold. To control the mana which was trying to escape him due to the rising heat was very hard. Not only this but he had to force it to do what it did not want to do naturally. Normally the water would evaporate and the water elemental mana would turn in to clouds in the sky. Now there were ice crystals appearing and falling from midair to the sand and creating strange sand infused snowflakes. 

Vibrant sunlight reflected through the ice crystals causing a myriad of colors and beauty to shine in the frosty sand. It was a beauty that they were sure no one had ever seen. With this happening, Walker activated the frost ring skill he had. It increased the strength of the cold at the cost of more mana. But it was worth it. The area had become sand and toad free yet again. 

”We run now.” Su kept her voice low. She was still wary of more spiny toads in the area even though she didn’t see anymore above ground. The three sprinted away. Leaving the cold behind for the heat. 

”I used a lot more mana than I should have but it seems that it worked. Alma, you are a genius.” Alma could only give a half smile while panting. They had avoided an odd trap of the desert by using Alma’s brilliant idea. Neither Walker nor Su would forget this moment. ”So, you thought you were useless before? I don’t get it.” Alma just managed a half laugh which lightened their mood before they looked at the closer leaning mage tower. 

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