Kaela examined her charm, raising an eyebrow. "This is supposed to protect us?" she asked, skepticism clear in her voice. "It looks like something you'd find in a souvenir shop."
Croaksalot puffed out his chest, though it was a feeble attempt at confidence. "Don't underestimate Ribbiton magic!" he insisted. "These pearls have warded off curses for centuries... probably."
Azazel strapped his charm securely around his wrist. "Better safe than sorry," he said, flashing Kaela a grin. He turned to Croaksalot, who was visibly shaking. "You sure you want to come with us?" Azazel asked, concern softening his expression. "It's dangerous out there."
Croaksalot's wide eyes darted from the swamp to his friends and back again. He swallowed audibly, his throat making a loud glug noise. "My family needs me," he croaked, though his voice wavered. "Besides, someone has to keep you two entertained."
Shadow gave a low rumble of what could only be described as a chuckle. The big panther nuzzled Croaksalot gently, and the frog seemed to take a bit of comfort in the unexpected affection.
---
The swamp was even less inviting up close. The ground was a wet, sticky mess that made every step feel like a struggle, and the air was thick with the scent of decaying plants and stagnant water. Kaela pinched her nose in distaste. "This place smells like... like a combination of rotting garbage and an unwashed sock."
Azazel bit back a laugh. "I'm pretty sure that's an insult to rotting garbage."
Croaksalot hopped ahead, trying to lighten the mood. "Why did the frog take the bus to work?" he asked, his voice buoyant with forced cheer.
Kaela raised an eyebrow, half-expecting the worst. "Why?" she asked.
Croaksalot paused for dramatic effect. "Because his car got toad away!"
Azazel snorted, and even Shadow seemed to be trying not to roll his eyes. Kaela groaned, but a smile tugged at her lips. "That joke was... unbelievably bad," she said.
"Un-frog-gettable, you mean!" Croaksalot corrected, winking at her. Azazel couldn't help but chuckle, and for a moment, the oppressive atmosphere of the swamp felt a little lighter.
But the humor couldn't completely mask the tension that coiled in the air. Shadow, ever alert, moved silently beside Azazel, his muscles tensed and ears flicking at every sound. The swamp was alive with noises—splashing water, rustling reeds, and the distant croaks of unseen frogs. Yet something felt off.
---
After hours of trudging through muck, they came across a clearing dominated by a cavern entrance. The cavern was overgrown with gnarled vines and surrounded by clusters of glowing mushrooms that emitted an eerie blue light. The ground was littered with more of the shimmering swamp moss, and Azazel's grip on his sword tightened.
"This has to be the lair," Kaela whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the ominous sight. "Or at least, something's been living here."
Shadow stepped forward, his hackles raised and a low growl rumbling from deep in his chest. Azazel placed a hand on the panther's shoulder. "Stay sharp," he murmured. "We don't know what we're dealing with yet."
Croaksalot, clutching his own charm so tightly his webbed fingers turned pale, tried to look brave. "I-I'm sure it's just an abandoned cave," he stammered. "Nothing to worry about, right?"
Just as he spoke, a rustling came from the shadows, and the ground beneath them shifted. Without warning, swamp creatures lunged from the underbrush—creatures that looked like a cross between massive, slime-coated newts and twisted roots. Their eyes glowed an unnatural green, and they let out shrill, ear-piercing screeches.
---
"Get ready!" Azazel shouted, drawing his sword. The blade shimmered with the power of the Sky Serpent as he slashed at one of the creatures. The force of his swing sent it flying backward, but three more took its place.
Shadow launched himself at another creature, his powerful jaws clamping down on its slime-coated neck. The creature flailed, trying to shake the panther off, but Shadow held firm, wrestling it to the ground.
Kaela, meanwhile, conjured a stream of fire. "Eat this, swamp slime!" she yelled, sending a blast of flame toward the creatures. They screeched and recoiled, but the swamp's moisture made the flames less effective. Thinking quickly, Kaela changed tactics, casting a spell that created floating bubbles of magic. The enchanted bubbles ensnared the creatures, lifting them into the air and trapping them.
Croaksalot tried to stay out of the way, but one of the creatures lunged at him. He let out a terrified croak and flailed his tiny limbs. "Azazel! A little help here?!"
Azazel spun around, using his sword to slice through the creature before it could reach the terrified frog. "Stay close to us!" he shouted, his heart pounding. The battle was chaotic, with the creatures attacking from all directions. Azazel and Shadow fought with a synchronized rhythm, a blend of steel and shadow that kept the monsters at bay.
Kaela managed to trap the last creature in a particularly large bubble, and it floated helplessly above them. "I think... that's the last of them?" she said, panting.
Azazel wiped sweat from his brow, nodding. "For now," he replied, but he kept his sword ready. "Let's see if there's anything useful in this lair."
---
They cautiously approached the cavern entrance, Shadow still on high alert. Inside, the air was cool and damp, and the walls were covered in glowing moss and ancient carvings. Azazel ran his fingers over the carvings, his brow furrowing.
"These look like... stories," he murmured, tracing the shapes etched into the stone. The carvings depicted a creature that looked suspiciously like the supposed swamp monster, but it was surrounded by frogs bowing reverently. "It doesn't make sense," Azazel said, frowning. "This creature... it was revered, not feared."
Kaela stepped closer, squinting at the carvings. "Revered? Then what happened?" she asked.
Croaksalot hopped over, his wide eyes fixed on the images. "I've never heard of a monster that was once an ally," he whispered. "What could have happened to turn it against us?"
Shadow sniffed at the moss, growling softly. The carvings continued, showing a scene of conflict—frogs fleeing from the creature, betrayal written in every line of the ancient stone.
Kaela's eyes widened. "Maybe... maybe the creature was betrayed," she suggested, her voice thoughtful. "That would explain why it's targeting the frogs now. Revenge."
Azazel's jaw clenched. "Then we need to find a way to make peace—or stop it before more frogs disappear."
As if in response, a mournful, echoing wail drifted through the cavern, sending chills down their spines. Azazel tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the tension rise once more. Whatever awaited them deeper in the swamp, it was clear that this journey was far from over.