---
Azhara shrugged. "They smell like betrayal and mildew. I am not making taxonomic distinctions today."
Down below, the frogs screamed louder, clearly insulted. One hurled a boot. Another threw what looked suspiciously like an old sandwich.
Alka let out a noise of disgust and beat her wings harder.
"Let them shout," Naaro said coolly. "Their screams are no heavier than dust in the wind."
The wind carried them higher, and the angry toads became specks below. "You have to and you must marry our clan leader's daughter. We will find you and make you marry her forcefully. Remember it, Kai the ant."
After that bold statement, soon the Silence returned. And this time, it stayed. The group slowly relaxed.
Soon, the swamp warriors became nothing more than croaking specks on the ridge. Their banner flapped sadly in the breeze, still misspelled and poorly stitched.
A final croak echoed up. "You will regret this! Frog fate is forever!" And then they were gone.
