The vast tundra seemed to blur into endless miles of snow and ice. However, as Johan trudged further, he noticed a peculiar shift in the scenery. Trees, appearing like crystalline sculptures, marked the boundary of a clearing. At its heart was a pond, the surface of which glistened, reflecting the pale sunlight in myriad hues. But what truly captured Johan's attention was the figure that stood poised at the pond's center.
It was a toad, yet not like any he'd encountered before. Its posture was upright, its gaze steady. This wasn't a creature of instinct; there was cognition, an undeniable intelligence behind those luminescent eyes. 'A being of wisdom in such a desolate place,' Johan mused.
The toad's skin shimmered, resembling the pond's frozen surface, with patterns that seemed like intricate tales etched into its form. Johan paused at the pond's edge, sensing that a direct approach might be presumptuous. He needed to understand, to communicate.
