Kero awoke to the welcome shine of the rising sun filtering through the straw thatching of his roof, and he sprung from his hammock like a loaded spring. He was careful with his landing, ensuring that his feet's webbings were extended to mute as much noise as possible, and he waited patiently as he listened. In the calm of the morning, he could still hear the low rumble of his grandpa's snoring in the next room. Kero proceeded to tiptoe through his room, gathered some clothes that still smelled decent, and carefully dressed as he made his way for the front door. He gently took the knob in his hand, turned it, and pushed the door open before just as carefully shutting it behind him. He continued to tiptoe through the front yard, around the house, and towards the path that led into town. He was just about to make a bold sprint with a pair of window shutters opened wide.

  "And just where do you think you're going, young frog?"

  Kero cringed as he looked up into the wizened face of his grandfather. Mask may have been a half blind old coot, but Kero knew well enough that his ears were the best in all of Frogsmouth bay. It was the same thing every day ever since Kero had the legs to walk. No matter how quiet, how careful, how methodical he moved, somehow Mask still heard and was three steps ahead.

  "I was just gonna run into town for a few minutes." he croaked weakly.

  "More like you were gonna loaf around like a do-nothing." Mask huffed. "You've chores the same as anyone else on this island, young frog. You know that."

  Kero hung his head pitifully, and he dropped to his knees to beg.

  "Please, grandpa. Judah found this..."

  "I had a hunch he had something to do with it." Mask growled, cutting him off. "He's a good boy, but I don't like you wandering around with him. He's messed up in the head, and every time he always seems to get the both of you in trouble."

  "Please, Grandpa!" Kero continued to plead. "It'll just be for a few minutes. Besides, it is my birthday."

  There it was, just as Mask had anticipated. Kero was usually so ecstatic for when his birthday came, and he never failed to remind his grandfather how many days was left each and every hour of the given month. But this year Kero had been unusually silent. Whatever the cause was, it had to be something very big, and likely very dangerous. On the other hand, Kero was a good boy, and he always minded Mask's commands, albeit in roundabout or very technically ways. He seldom asked for much from the old soldier, so to cave in to the occasional plead and beg was usually not much of an ask. Mask sighed through his nose, and he pointed up to the sun.

  "You have until noon." he said. "The minute the sun touches the mountain top, you hop your little keister back to the house, understand? No sooner, no later. Birthday or not, you've still got chores, and I want them done right."

  Kero cheered in delight as he hopped over and hugged his grandpa's neck.

  "Love you, Grandpa! See you later!"

  Mask could only sigh and grin as he watched the young tree frog make a break for the path, silently wondering just what his boy was getting into.

  .......................................................................................................

  With the sun up and the wind-a-blowing, Frogsmouth Bay came alive as though by magic. The fishermen were already manning their boats as their wives weaved their nets. The town grocer was setting up some fresh produce as the butcher sharpened his cutlery. Antoine the albatross, the local mail carrier, was already filing his bag with various letters for the mainland, and he waved a wing a Kero hopped past.

  "Ahoy hoy, Kero!" he crowed with a big grin. "Off to a new adventure?"

  "You know it!" Kero croaked. "Anything for me? It is my birthday, you know."

  Antoine chortled in his throat while giving his head a small shake.

  "Greedy greedy. You wait till the evening party, ya little scamp. You'll have plenty then."

  Kero laughed as Antoine spread his wings and took off, showering Kero in loose feathers. He took one and threaded it through a loose patch in his vest before making for the road again. His next stop on his journey brought him by the Farnsworth household where Rima the badger maid was presently airing out some laundry. Tucked snuggly on her back was her son Markus, barely a month old, with fur as white as snow. At her feet, or rather nibbling on a toe, was her daughter Josephine of the same age. Ever the unflappable one, Rima took her charges in stride as she carefully secured her linens so that the wind would whip them dry.

  "Morning, Miss Rima!" Kero called from the fence.

  The badger turned her head, and she offered him a friendly smile.

  "And a good morning to you, Kero, and happy birthday."

  Kero grinned as he hopped over. Josephine, detecting new prey, relinquished her hold on Rima and started lizard crawling her way over to Kero. The frog effortlessly diverted her by grabbing her by the hips and hoisting her upside down. Josephine growled in protest, even taking a snap at Kero's face, but the young frog was well acquainted with the sprog and knew how to keep her at bay.

  "Still the spiciest of the two, aincha?" he jeered at the tot. "Guess you've been taking ugly lessons from your dad."

  "I heard that."

  Kero tilted his head as the enormous frame of Sherman Farnsworth, Rima's wolverine husband, exited the house. He was easily two heads taller than Rima and likely the largest beast in all of Frogsmouth Bay. He was a terrifying sight, but Kero knew he was truly a decent sort, deep down, though most folks still kept him at a distance. Sherman trudged over and reclaimed his child, Josephine nipping at his nose until her father wagged a claw in her face disapprovingly.

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  "No bite, Jo. No bite or no veal later."

  The tiny tot immediately went still, and when Sherman set her back down she scuttled back to the house with her tiny tail between her legs. Kero couldn't help but laugh, though it died in his throat when Sherman cast his gaze over him.

  "You're out and about kind of early," he observed. "What're you up to, boy?"

  Kero gulped, and he mustered up his most disarming smile as he put his hands behind his back and teetered on his heels.

  "Oh, nothing much," he chirped weakly. "Just going about my day. My birthday, you know."

  Sherman gave him the side eye, seeming to peer into Kero's soul and looking for anything ulterior in his motives. However, the gentle hand of his wife on his shoulder caused him to back off.

  "Now now," Rima tutted. "No need to be so extreme. I'm sure whatever he's up to, Kero will know to be responsible and mindful of the others on this island."

  It was her turn to fix Kero with a firm look, and Kero found he sweated even worse under her's.

  "Am I right, young man?" she asked.

  Kero nodded fervently, and he slowly made his way back out of the yard.

  "It was good seeing you all, but I gotta get going. Bye bye!"

  Kero quickly hopped the fence and raced up the road, making his way for the east side of the island. It was a more secluded spot sitting just beyond the border of the jungle that made up the inner part of the island. Sitting in wait was a formerly a massive frigate known as the Royal Pride that had been reshaped into a makeshift manor. Some time ago, it was but one of many ships that occupied the Felidae royal fleet, and at its helm was none other than Lord Leone, a lion admiral renowned for his immense strength and ability to take command in even the hairiest of circumstances. In the twilight of his career, the admiral had taken a cannonball to the face. Miraculously, most of his cranial structure had remained in tact as a testament of his strength, though his eyes had been smashed, rendering him blind and thus no longer fit for duty. As a show of respect, the ship he commanded was granted to him, and he had turned it into a home here on Frogsmouth Bay. It was actually the lord's house mate and former cabin boy Kero had come to see; a young white lion by the name of Judah. Without much searching, Kero found him lying in a hammock suspended between two palms near the rudder of the ship house. This was where Judah could always be found, no matter the time of day. He was without question the laziest son of a gun anyone on the island had ever known, but he was also the most insightful. Kero didn't know how he did it, but somehow Judah always seemed to know where to find the most interesting things, and today promised to be the teetotaler of them all.

  Kero approached the hammock where the lion slept, noting the straw hat that covered his face and the fishing pole currently clutched in his fist with a line that stretched all the way to a cliff that hung over the sea. On a dare, Kero inspected the other end of the line, spying the tiny red bobber sitting on the sea where the high tide had settled. Suddenly, it vanished, and the line went taut. He heard Judah snort, then growl, and suddenly the line began to retract. Kero got out of the way, and he could see that Judah was still asleep, but now his arm was angrily pulling on the line in a battle against whatever was on the hook. With a final yank, his prize came looming into view: a massive blue marlin whose pointed nose was aimed directly for Judah's covered face. Kero started to holler so as to wake his friend, only for a large shape to suddenly rush out of the boat house. A mighty paw struck the marlin dead center, killing it instantly and sending it careening into a nearby tree where it came to rest. The rush of movement blew the straw hat from Judah's head, its brim tickling his nose and making him sneeze. Still drowsy but very much awake, Judah sat up, and through bleary eyes he spotted Kero.

  "Morning, buddy," he yawned lazily as he got out of his hammock. "I had a lovely dream. I just caught the biggest fish I'd ever seen."

  “It was fixing to be a nightmare.” Kero said as he rushed to his friend’s side. “You were nearly shish-kabobed on a fish’s nose. Lucky thing the admiral is so awesome.”

  Indeed, there was no finer specimen than the great Admiral Lord Leon. At an imposing seven feet tall, he positively towered over any and all creature that called the island home. His body was scarred from tip to claw, and his old uniform had been ravaged from years of naval warfare. Even now, his old naval coat had been reduced to vague scraps, and it hung from his shoulders like an impromptu cloak that fluttered dramatically in the breeze. The only flaw was his now bandaged eyes, but even that only seemed emphasize his power and abilities. The old admiral gathered the fish one handed, and he tossed it to Judah, who caught it and subsequently was knocked over by the enormous catch.

  “Fishing a bit above your weight as usual, eh cabin boy?” Leon rumbled in a laugh.

  Judah grunted as he and Kero carefully removed the fish and set it on a little table nearby. Judah was already salivating as he thought over the potential dishes he could make with this fish. It was no secret that, next to a good nap, Judah’s all time favorite thing was fish. Freshwater, saltwater, crustacean, or seaweed wrapped: if it could be fished out of water, it was an ideal treat for the white haired beast.

  “Golly gee, lucky me!” he chirped giddily. “I think this is a new record! You could never find fishies like this back home. We’re gonna be eating good tonight, and that’s saying I don’t eat it all now in one bite.”

  “Hold on there, lad,” Leon huffed as he quickly pulled Judah back. “Leave the cleaning and the preparing to a professional. Besides, I think you’ve more pressing matters to deal with.”

  Judah offered the admiral a brief pout, but then he looked to Kero. The frog could almost hear the gears turning in the lion’s head before a burnt out lightbulb finally lit up as his brows lit up.

  “Oh, Kero, you’re here! Geez, I nearly forgot. Happy birthday, little buddy.”

  Kero grinned, and the two brushed their knuckles together in greeting.

  “It’s certainly shaping up to be an eventful one, seeing as my best, and only, friend was nearly deep-sixed by a fish. You said you had something to show me?”

  “Did I?” Judah asked, and then his brows jumped. “Oh yeah, I did! I’ve got a birthday present for ya, and you are going to absolutely love it! I just found it sitting on the jungle floor a couple months ago. Keeping it from you has been a massive chore.”

  “Hence why you forgot it after a nap.” Leon chuckled, earning him an ireful glare from his ward. “Still, I myself am curious of this present, seeing as you haven’t been too forthcoming of its nature, Judah. You know my position on secrets.”

  Judah visibly blanched, which was quite a sight for an already white haired lion. He offered a friendly chuckle, though he started to casually push Kero away.

  “Yep, those dirty little secrets. Wouldn’t it be nice if they just blew away with the morning breeze. Well, Kero’s got a long day ahead of him, so we can’t really tarry here long. I’ll catch you later admiral!”

  He and Kero started to run, only to stop dead in their tracks when the admiral gave a roar that rattled their bones and shook the ground. Both slowly turned back to see the admiral already tending to the fish.

  “Your grandfather will be expecting you back by noon, Kero. I’d hate to think you would be the only one not to attend your own birthday party tonight because he had to punish you.”

  Kero gulped. How was it grownups always seemed to have a shared mind, particularly when it came to things that would get him in trouble?

  “We’ll be back in time,” he promised. “See ya, admiral.”

  With that, the two boys made for the jungle trail, and the admiral was alone to inspect his fish. However, as he assembled his tools, he paused to feel the wind blowing through his mane. He sampled the air curiously, and he hummed a tune.

  “Jasmine on the wind? How queer.”