Master Of None

’Brook frog eggs

The brook frog is a large frog known for eating water loving birds. They lay their eggs right before the ice sets in. The adults will hibernate by freezing their bodies in the bottom of streams or rivers. The eggs will hatch the moment the ice starts to melt leaving strange patches of ground without grass or other plant life. The floods will then push the hatches brook frog tadpoles in to streams and lakes. They are considered a delicacy if roasted. They are particularly loved by the birds that the brook frogs are known to eat.’

”That’s an odd cycle of life. When they are growing and young they are prey to birds. Then when they are adults they prey on birds.” Leon felt that this was an oddity he had yet to see. It was possible for some places in the ocean to have life cycles like this but that was how the ocean worked. Everything ate everything because there were rare times when food would not be available. 

”It works though. If the frogs have a good year then the birds will grow too much. If the birds have a good year then the frogs will grow too much. They keep themselves in check. Walker should get some so we can eat them later. We aren’t birds but I have a feeling that they will be better than you think.” Gil wouldn’t shy away from eating these eggs. He was a hunter and was used to such things. 

”I don’t know if I would eat those…they seem a little…slimy.” Just thinking about a frog and the slimy skin they normally had put Alma off of making this a meal. 

”I have no issues.” Midnight huffed in agreement with Neil. She would gladly eat whatever food she could while out. Especially since she was feeling hungrier more often due to her intensive flight training. 

”Then we will add a few to the meal later. And, I will make us something else too. I can’t say I will like these too.” Walker moved to grab some of the eggs and used one of his throwing needles to make sure they would not hatch under any circumstances. He felt a little bad but knew that this was the same that people did to chicken eggs. Now he could also store them away within his inventory for later. 

”I wonder what a brook frog looks like while hibernating. It freezes its body while it waits for the warm weather. I can’t imagine what that’s like.” As much as Gil tried, he couldn’t figure out how that worked. 

”I bet they have a skill that flows the mana through them. Then when the light and fire elemental mana from the sun mixes in their mana starts to retract. It would make sense because the different seasons’ mana affects us all.” There was a pause while Alma thought to the forests. ”The steel vine traps and other plants like that go dormant in the colder seasons as well. They react based on the sun and the warmth too.” 

Everyone was interested in this since it was different from place to place what monsters might react this way. It was a good way to decide when they would travel. If the colder months were safer then it might be better to travel the forests then. Many merchants would find this information very valuable. There was the fact that the elves were handling the majority of merchant activities in the forest though, so it was not very pressing right away. 

”Well, it’s good not to worry about the frogs right now. But I would like to know what land animals make tracks like this. I can track signs of fish and other monsters in the water. But here on land, I defer to you.” Leon was very good at spotting small tracks. Gil felt that his respect for Leon was growing by the minute. 

”I would say those are…hmm. You know, I’m not fully sure. They seem like they are monster tracks but also kind of…well…like a person’s foot.” This stumped Gil. ”It’s either that an animal and a person stepped on the same spot at the same time or there are weird monsters around.” 

”I don’t like the sound of that. If it’s not something we know then we need to be sure that we are able to handle the danger.” Walker prepared himself and changed the eternal orb in to its spear form. He felt that matching Leon’s spear would allow them to hold something at a distance while giving Neil and Gil a chance to attack. 

”I will make sure I am ready too. I have neglected my blue ivy lately. I also have a new skill I have been waiting to use. It costs almost no mana as long as it is a sunny day.” The seeds that Alma tossed on the ground grew up and wrapped her arms and legs. Soon they had covered most of her body in blue ivy armor. ”This is called ivy armor and it uses the mana from the sun to remain full. It can poison those that touch me, protect me, and I can use it to attack at mid range.” 

”Why didn’t you tell me you have a new skill? That’s so cool!” There was some jealousy in Gil’s voice but even more admiration. 

”I can’t give away all my secrets, you know. I would have trained it more before showing it off if I wasn’t coming with you out here.” There was a tinge of red on Alma’s face. She was embarrassed that so many people were looking at her in admiration. Her skill was really suited for her and would allow her to have a much larger battle capacity. Walker knew that it must have been a result of her leveling up after the battle in the oceans. 

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