Once there was a toad. The toad lived in a marsh deep in the forest. One day, while toad was lying on a sun-rock warming himself, he was caught unaware by a raven, which clutched him tightly in its talons.

 

"Oh, woe is me" thought toad. "It is just my misfortune to be caught on a day like this."

 

The bird's talons would not have clenched if he had complained. Toad was petrified and didn't say another word.

 

The toad felt a bit of shock as the raven bobbed and flew through the air. Toad was frightened when the bird suddenly stopped and sat down.

 

“Oh no” thought toad, “It is over. It is all over, young Toad is no more.”

 

When nothing happened, he cautiously opened one eye and peeked through his little toad fingers. No, he was not dead, and the bird was high in the corner watching Toad without making a sound.

 

Transfixed by the bird’s stare, he jumped when the door burst open and in came a gray clad wizard. While the wizard was stoking the fire, the raven cawed. The wizard jerked up and bumped his head on the chimney.  

 

“OUCH!” he cried, rubbing his head. He turned around to see where the noise came from. “Oh, it's just you, Theodore!” He put the fire poker down. “What have you brought me this time?” He looked down at the toad on the table.

 

“Oh! Hello little one!” The wizard exclaimed. He picked up Toad and grinned, “Are you lost?” Theodore cawed.

 

“Yes, Theodore, I know he can’t speak.” He stopped and laughed, “neither can crows!” still laughing. When he finally stopped and wiped the tears from his eyes, he said to Theodore. “Good job, my bird! This is the last little friend that I need to make my Never Wart potion!” The wizard dropped Toad into a glass bowl filled with toads.

 

“No one will say that The Great Wizard Froggie couldn’t make a wart free potion!” He danced around the table to the fire and took out a dipper from the cauldron, sniffed and coughed out blue smoke.

 

“Note to self… Do not smell the boiling mixture!” then he fainted, his face green.

 

“Hey bud.” A deep voice came from below him.

 

“What?” Toad said

 

The voice below him say: “Get your flipper off my face.”

 

“OH sorry.” Toad tried to move, but the sudden movement of all the toads caused the bowl to tip and fall over onto the ground.

 

“Yay! We are free!” the other toads cried.

 

“But where are we?” peeped a little toad named lily. Every toad looked around, trying to figure out where they were. The sound of trickling water caught their attention. As they hopped toward the sound, the scenery changed.

 

The crowded trees grew further apart and bigger, moss covered the ground and brightly colored mushrooms grew all over. Finally, the toads reached the stream. The mushrooms along the stream were bright orange, yellow and red with blue, green, pink, and purple gills. Flying among these mushrooms flew little neon bugs. Unable to hemp himself, Orvis, a giant toad, flicked out his tongue and caught one. His face crinkled up, and he spat the bug out.

 

“Yuck!”

 

Hey! Cried a little voice, “why did you do that? Now I’m all covered in frog slobber!”

 

“I’m a toad” Orvis said confused.

 

“Frog, Toad same thing.” The voice piped back.

 

Toad looked closer at the tiny orange bug. “What are you? He asked innocently.

 

“What am I! I’m a pixie whadda ya think? Haven’t you ever seen one before?”

 

“No, not exactly” murmured toad.

 

“I’m sorry.” Said Orvis.

 

“Harrumph.” The pixie turned and folded him arms.

 

“Now pepper be nice.” Said another pixy who came up to him. “No one got hurt, did they?” she asked.

 

Grudgingly, he shook his head. “But frogs shouldn’t be hopping around sticking their tongues anywhere they please” pepper grumbled.

 

“Yes, but obviously, they are lost.” The other pixie said.

 

“And hungry” murmured Orvis.

 

“Where do you belong?” the little pink pixie asked toad.

 

: I live in a little marsh under a bridge. I don’t know where the rest belong, but they can live in my marsh!”

 

The pixie tilted her head, questioning. “How did you all get together then, so far away from your home?” more pixies gathered around for the story.

 

“Well…” toad began his story.

 

When the last toad told their story, all the pixies clapped.

 

“But your story is not finished” said one pixie.

 

“Yes, you need to make it home!” said another.

 

“There is a small marsh at the end of the stream.” Chimed in someone. “Maybe that is your marsh!”

 

The pixies got excited. “We can build you a raft to bring you home!” they cried.

 

The pixies got to work and son a raft cleverly made was floating in the tiny stream.

 

“I don’t know how to thank you.” Toad croaked to the pixies.

 

“Oh, it was nothing really, glad to help” pepper said, “but remember to try not to eat anyone else.

 

“Got it!” Orvis said.

 

All the toads piled on the raft and were sailing down the stream in a few moments. After a few minutes, they rounded a bend ant came into view of the marsh.

 

“Is this it?” asked Orvis.

 

“Yes! “Cried Toad. “Welcome to the marsh, everyone!” Toad jumped into the water and swam to the bridge and did a little toad dance.

 

“Geeze! What an interesting day!” he thought to himself as he snuggled down into the warm mud.