Tantan, singing loudly and horribly: '' I'M SIIIINNGIIING IN THHEE RAAINN, JUUSTT SIINGIING IN THE RAAAINN, WHAAAT A GLORIOOUS- OUUUCH!!!!''''Consider yourself warned'', said Frego.
Tantan grimaced in a horror struck expression,''You didn't have to hit me with that!, You could have just told me to be quiet,'' said Tantan.
''I did,'' said Frego yawning, ''34 times. You know I don't usually resort to violence, but I'd like to keep my sanity,thank you very much, and there seemed to be no other way to bring you back from your trance.''
''What are you talking about?!, I know, you don't like the song.Maybe if I change the song, a little Queen perhaps,'' said Frego, a grin forming on his long green face.
'' It's not so much the song choice, as it is the voice. Tantan, your talents are simply too precious to be offered to the outside world with nothing in return, '' said Frego. ''I also fear that an angry mob might be forming beyond that clearing, who will become angrier still if they do not find a dying mule on this lily pad.''
''How could anyone possibly be under the impression that there's a dying mule here!'',said Tantan , shaking his head.
''Not, so much dying, rather complaining of labour pains,''mused Frego, chuckling silently.
But Tantan had stopped paying attention, as was now quickly rising on his hind legs. The muscles of his slim green figure, were tensed and alert, his head moved from side to side, nostrils following an invisible scent.
''Frego! Frego! can you smell that?'',cried Tantan his eyes blazing with excitement.
Frego had begun to pick up on Tantan's drift of enthusiasm. A mesmerising scent of honey had filled the air, and it was beginning to drive the little frogs' senses mad.
''Where is it coming from?!,'' moaned Tantan as he bounced up and down on the small lily pad.
''I ..don't..know'', said Frego looking around. ''Wait, Tantan...Tantan calm down!'' The bouncing had reached a frightening height, shaking the lily pad they were sitting on.
Frego had to jump up to keep himself from falling into the cold spring water.
''It's getting closer!'', cried Tantan, his head and body overcome with excitement, making him twitch and turn and bounce.
''Will you please, RELAX!, you look like a cat having convulsions ,''said Frego angrily.
And just as Frego was about to tumble into the depths of the blue beneath them, Tantan froze.
A rustling sound had erupted through the grass surrounding the small lake.
Later,it was clear that Tantan's sudden immobility had not been for nothing, the sound of human footsteps were enough to paralyse any of the small lake creatures.
And with the loud footsteps, that crunched through the green golden-stroked grass, the smell of honey became stronger.
Frego and Tantan both jumped,without thought, into the water. As if triggered by a switch,the sounds of crickets, birds and other lake creatures, that had filled the air just a moment ago, were silenced.
The sound came closer still, too close. Frego could hear,from beneath the water, the sound of nearing footsteps.His heart rate began to accelerate, but only one thought occupied his mind. ''Where is Tantan??!!'', thought Frego.
Frego Twisted and turned in the water, resting only when he found a small greenish figure submerged,in the shadow of a lilypad.
The sound was growing quieter now, more distant. ''Thank God'', thought Frego. Tantan had obviously picked up on the change in security, as he was slowly made his way, away from beneath the lily pad.
''Not now! Not now!,'' screamed Frego mentally, ''It's too early for that!...You can't come out now!''
However, Tantan seemed to be deaf to Frego's internal bellowing, and swam faster through the water, until finally stopping and bouncing on to a small rock.
Frego swam ferociously toward the rock upon which Tantan lay. Frego pulled his head up from beneath the water, ''You greedy idiot!, get down this instant!, what if the human sees you?'', yelled Frego.
''He won't see me,'' said Tantan, looking around. '' Oh look! There it is! There it is!'',sang Tantan.
Tantan was now looking at a large straw picnic basket that had been placed on the pebbled ground at the shore of the lake.
The afternoon sun, sent a radiance down on the basket that gave it a mysterious glow.
Finding the source of the honey brought alive a world of possibility in Tantan's head.
''Maybe the human's gone and left the basket,'' thought Tantan, ''Well, isn't that nice of it?''
Tantan was starting to lose control of his muscles. He was sliding, almost unknowingly, off the rock and towards the basket. He dived into the water, humming tunes of joy, and swam towards the shore.
''What are you DOING?'',yelled Frego after Tantan, ''Have you completely LOST YOUR MIND?''.
''Tantan! TANTAN! COME BACK!,'' screamed Frego.But it was too late. Tantan was now happily making his way out of the water, onto the shore.
''Yummy, Yummy, Yum!'' sang Tantan, as he approached the golden basket.
Tantan disregarded Frego's cries and hopped right into the picnic basket.
Frego watched Tantan jump into the basket, and became furious. ''I should just leave him there and let the human find him,''thought Frego. But despite himself ,Frego found that he was slowly making his way toward the shore.
Frego pulled his head out of the water ''Tantan! TANTAN! GET OUT NOW!'' yelled Frego.
Tantan was too deep in the basket to hear Frego.
Frego swam to the shore and hopped slowly towards the basket. As he approached the basket the smell of the honey grew stronger, drawing him closer, and more quickly, until he was in the basket with Tantan.
Frego found Tantan sitting in the shadow of a loaf of bread, covered in honey, with a dazed and delirious look on his face.
Frego raised an eyebrow as if to question the cause behind Tantan's present state of mind.
''The honey.. hahahaha!... tryyyyy the honeeey!'', said Tantan, giggling and hiccuping.
''The human's due back any-'',said Frego, but he had become distracted by the magnificent scent, and could barely form coherent thoughts. ''Maybe just one taste,''thought Frego hungrily.
Frego looked around to see a large transparent jar of honey. It kicked his salivary glands into action, but before he could even get close to the jar, the basket began to shake. The sudden frightening movements, pulled Tantan out of his daze, and he was overcome with fear. The entire contents of the basket had started moving, everything began to roll around and tumble over, each object threatening to crush the two little frogs.
''What's happening?'',asked Tantan. ''The human is back,'' answered Frego, as the two frogs jumped and leaped over various moving objects.
''WE'RE GOING TO DIE!! WE'RE GOING TO DIEE!', moaned Tantan.
''Quiet. We are not going to die,'' said Frego, saying it to himself more than to Tantan.
''Frego I'm sorry I didn't listen to you,'' said Tantan in a timid voice, avoiding Frego's eyes.
''Well, let's just add this event to the list of many other glorious events, when you didn't listen to me, and...'' said Frego sourly.
''where do u think it's taking us?'' asked Tantan.
''Could be anywhere,'' said Frego closing his eyes and preparing himself for the journey ahead, wondering whether he would ever be able to return to his favorite lilypad.
To be continued....
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