Wader the Frog
The shimmering portal deposited Wader into a dazzling world filled with vibrant, oversized plants and glowing streams. The air buzzed with an almost musical hum, and everywhere he looked, the land seemed alive and teeming with magic. This, without a doubt, was the Fecund Oasis.
Wader took a cautious step forward, but no sooner had he moved an inch when a loud tocsin—a clanging alarm bell—sounded overhead. Startled, Wader froze as a figure emerged from behind a towering flower.
“Who goes there?” the figure demanded. It was a squirrel-like creature with a bushy tail, wearing a red beret and carrying a clipboard. “I'm Mit Ochs, Oasis Snitch. State your business!”
“I-I'm Wader,” he stammered. “I'm here on a quest, guided by this scroll.” He held it up, the faintly glowing words visible in the strange light.
Mit Ochs squinted at the scroll and huffed. “Another adventurer? Do you know the cost of disturbing the Oasis? Tons of paperwork for me! Tons! And don't even get me started on last month's fiasco.”
Wader gulped. “I'm sorry, but I don't mean any harm. I just need to meet the CEO—the Chief Enchanter of Overgrowth.”
Mit Ochs's eyes narrowed, but before he could say more, a voice boomed from the largest tree in the clearing. “Let him pass, Mit. His journey is one of great importance.”
From the tree descended a regal-looking figure clad in flowing robes made of shimmering leaves. “I am McIntosh,” the figure announced, their voice calm but commanding. “The inmost guardian of the Oasis and the one you seek.”
Wader bowed low, feeling the weight of McIntosh's presence. “Thank you for allowing me to enter. I'm here to find the next step of my quest.”
McIntosh gestured for Wader to follow, leading him to a crystal-clear pool surrounded by strange, glowing fruit. “Your next challenge is to uncover the truth within yourself,” McIntosh said. “The pool will reflect your inmost fears and desires. Only by facing them will you be deemed worthy to continue.”
Wader hesitated, peering into the water. As he leaned closer, the surface rippled and revealed a vision of him standing alone, unsure of where to go. Then the image shifted, showing him surrounded by friends, triumphant at the end of his journey.
“What does this mean?” Wader asked, looking to McIntosh.
“It means the journey is as much about the companions you find as it is about your destination,” McIntosh explained. “Remember this as you move forward, for the Oasis will guide those who remain true to their hearts.”
As McIntosh spoke, the scroll in Wader's hands glowed once more, its words rearranging themselves to reveal a new riddle:
"An inch you take, a mile you'll gain,
But trust not whispers born of pain.
One month hence, the path will shift,
Hold true, and find your greatest gift."
Wader thanked McIntosh and turned to leave, ready for the next leg of his journey. Mit Ochs grumbled something about "snitches never getting appreciation" and scurried off into the foliage.