A Barancha Birthday

## Characters

* Clover
* Evergreen
* Shamrock
* Ivy
* Lavender
* Lillian
* Navy

## Author's Note

July twenty-first, three years now past,

Clover's fame rises, spreading fast.

Adventures with him, a joy to last,

Grateful to have him, my heart steadfast.

Known for journeys, he's touched many a soul,

Together we've conquered, reaching our goal.

Excitement brews, like a story untold,

With Clover, my companion bold.

Thrilled for what's next, the horizon wide,

Side by side, we'll stride with pride.

His popularity, a soaring tide,

With Clover, life's an endless ride.

Here's to many more adventures. Happy Birthday, Clover!

## Chapter One

For as long as they could remember, Clover had been rambling about a hidden treasure in the depths of Barancha Tropics. In between walks on their daily trails, he would tell tales of this waterfall to keep the group entertained. Over and over again, he explained what it looked like until it seemed fake. He would try to search for this waterfall on his own, but on his journeys, he could never locate the breathtaking sight.

So, as Clover's birthday approached, his three siblings - Evergreen, Shamrock, and Ivy - decided to fulfill his heartfelt wish. They had grown up listening to his passionate stories, watching the spark of adventure ignite in his eyes. It was high time they fulfilled his daydream, so they could see that radiant smile on his face as he discovered the location.

But, first, they would have to figure out if this place existed or not. Filled with determination, they decided to journey into the bustling town of Lush Wilds to seek advice from the Leaflets living there.

"We're going to be the best siblings ever!" Shamrock exclaimed, hopping and skipping with excitement.

"Absolutely!" Ivy chimed in, sharing his enthusiasm.

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves," Evergreen interjected, smirking as she unrolled a piece of paper held in her claws. It revealed a poorly drawn sketch of a waterfall surrounded by vibrant flowers and plants. "Why didn’t Ivy draw this? It looks like it was clumsily drawn by a hatchling.

Feeling the need to defend his artistic skills, Shamrock puffed out his chest proudly. "I can draw!" Shamrock proclaimed proudly. "I can draw just fine."

Ivy couldn't resist joining in on the playful banter, nudging Shamrock teasingly. "No, you can't!" Ivy retorted, bursting into laughter. "Let's hope the townsfolk can figure out what your masterpiece is.”

"Hey! It clearly resembles..." Shamrock paused, examining the drawing more closely. "Water and grass!"

Both Evergreen and Ivy couldn't contain their amusement, letting out snorts of laughter.

"Sure, it does," Evergreen remarked sarcastically. She quickly rolled up the parchment, securing it away with ease. She increased her pace, prompting her siblings to follow her.

"Well, we better get going," Evergreen declared, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency. "We don't have much time before Clover and Lavender return from their stroll!

As the trio delved deeper into the wilderness, they finally arrived at the heart of The Lush Wilds. The moment they set foot in the area, a captivating town and its vibrant trading posts came into view, where Leaflets of all ages engaged in lively commerce, trading and acquiring various materials. By the town lay a special area dedicated to exchanging items with other species of lizards, each seeking resources for their respective districts.

Evergreen urged her two younger brothers to stay close behind her as they ventured toward the crowded town. It was a sensory feast, with a symphony of sounds, an array of enticing scents, and the enchanting presence of countless Leaflets bustling about their business.

"Alright then, I'll go ask the Leaflets and show them the picture," Evergreen declared, casting a reassuring glance toward her younger siblings, Shamrock and Ivy. Shamrock, go and annoy people and tell them if they know of a waterfall somewhere. Ivy; you do the same.”

With an eager nod, Shamrock and Ivy intertwined their hands and set off with enthusiasm, venturing deeper into the bustling town. Evergreen could already hear Shamrock's loud voice resonating through the crowd, reaching her ears like a merry melody. He seemed to waste no time, as he had already engaged a curious lizard, likely asking about nearby waterfalls.

Meanwhile, with a hint of shyness, Ivy moved gracefully through the crowd, curiosity lighting up his eyes as he approached another Leaflet. Evergreen watched as Ivy delicately started a conversation, trying not to make the lizard leave too quickly.

With the scroll still clutched firmly in her hand, Evergreen approached a group of friendly-looking Leaflets, her heart fluttering with anticipation. She greeted them warmly, introducing herself.

"Hello fellow Leaflets," she began, her voice filled with curiosity. "I wonder if any of you might have come across a breathtaking waterfall in these beautiful lands. Specifically, Emerald Falls. It's said to be hidden somewhere within the tropics.”

The group exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by Evergreen's earnestness, but they shook their heads. One of the Leaflets with a long, flowing tail, spoke up, "Ah, Emerald Falls is indeed a wonder to behold. Many have spoken of its magnificence and the tranquility it offers.”

Evergreen piped up with excitement. “So does that mean you’ve seen it? Where is it?” She rushed, beginning to ask all the questions.

The lizard stopped in his tracks. “Oh, I’m sorry, madam, but. I have never seen it. Our Tropics are vast, and such secrets can remain hidden even from us locals."’

Evergreen immediately slumped down in disappointment as she folded the little scroll in her hands. “Ah. I understand. Well, thanks for the talk.”

“No worries!” The lizard said with a wink as he walked away with the group of Leaflets.

With a determined smile on her face, Evergreen took a deep breath, reminding herself that she still had many more Leaflets to talk to. She understood that the search for the waterfall might require patience.

As she scanned the bustling crowd, she caught glimpses of various green-colored scales, each belonging to a unique individual. Though she couldn't immediately spot Shamrock and Ivy, she trusted that they were as resourceful as she was, and they would find their way back to her eventually. Their bond as siblings was unshakable, and she knew they would always have each other's backs.

As the day went by, Evergreen approached various crowds of Leaflets, ranging from the small and unsuspecting hatchlings to elders who were rumored to possess powerful wisdom. Yet, despite their knowledge, the secret she sought remained hidden from all.

With each encounter, she found herself greeted with a range of reactions. Some lizards merely shook their heads in confusion, unable to comprehend what she was talking about. Others regarded her with doubtful glances, wondering if she spoke of a nonexistent realm that existed only in her imagination. A few simply turned away in silence, leaving her feeling disheartened and on the verge of giving up her search.

Just as Evergreen was about to find her siblings, Shamrock and Ivy found her first. The two of them approached her, their expressions mirroring her disappointment.

“The Leaflets did not know what we were talking about,” Shamrock said sadly, his head drooping in sadness.

Ivy chimed in with a calmer tone, "Yep, not even a single clue Leaflet knew. However, one of the Leaflets thought Shamrock was taunting her and started to squabble.”

Evergreen sighed. “Shamrock, what did I tell you about getting into people’s personal space?”

“It’s not my fault!” He piped up. “That rude leaflet said that I was talking crazy!”

Ivy interjected, trying to prove that Shamrock was up to no good. “Yeah, but you started it by pushing her over”

As Ivy was about to continue, a sudden and unexpected interruption pierced the air – a deep, crackling croak. Intrigued, the trio turned their heads in unison, their eyes drawn to the source of the peculiar noise. There, before them, stood a mesmerizing figure – a warm swamp-green and light green colored Leaflet with drooping scales. It appeared that he was standing by a gap in between two buildings.

"It sounds like he hasn't drunk water in days," Shamrock observed first, his concerned gaze lingering on the odd Leaflet. "I wonder who they are,” he pondered aloud.

The strange old Leaflet croaked once more, its raspy voice now even more pronounced. With an air of significance, it fixed its ancient gaze directly on the trio, their eyes locking in a magnetic connection. Then, with a deliberate yet gentle gesture, the Leaflet extended its hand toward them, urging them to come closer.

Shamrock turned his head to Evergreen, uncertainty etched across his face. "Should we go?" he asked.

Evergreen shrugged with a glimmer of curiosity in their eyes. "Eh, we don't have any other options, so why not?" she replied as they took the lead, starting to walk toward the odd Leaflet.

Shamrock and Ivy followed closely behind Evergreen, stepping cautiously. As they drew nearer, they approached the stooped figure that was hunched over and looked quite smaller than they expected. The Leaflet’s oversized cloak swayed gently in the breeze as he faced them with a smile. “I have what you are looking for.”

“You do?” Evergreen said with a raise of an eyebrow. “And where do you have it, exactly?”

The Leaflet turned and swiftly scurried deeper into the shadows, disappearing into what appeared to be a dead end. The Leaflet's actions were a clear sign that they were meant to follow them. Without hesitation, the trio set their feet into motion, following the path the Leaflet had taken. The alley seemed to twist and turn for a while, but then the lizards stopped at the end of the alley to see what the lizard wanted to show them.

The trio followed the ancient Leaflet to a dead end, where they discovered a wondrous collection of trinkets, each unique in its own way. An old wooden table, weathered and etched with splinters, stood in the center, adorned with an array of enchanting objects. Shimmering stones, delicate crystals, and carved wooden figurines were carefully arranged on their surface.

Beside the table, a rickety chair swayed lightly. By the chair were two bookshelves, not filled with books as expected, but instead filled with captivating items. Ancient maps, vials of vibrant powders, and tiny vases of dried herbs decorated the shelves, infusing the air with a delightful aroma.

Small candles adorned the tips of the table and the top of the bookshelves, casting a soft glow that illuminated the corner with an otherworldly light. The space felt like a place of ancient wisdom and hidden treasures.

The Leaflet settled into its designated chair with a gentle creak, his eyes focused intently on the collection of trinkets. The trio watched in fascination as the Leaflet rummaged through the items, searching for something specific.

With a determined gaze, he finally found what he was looking for, and a satisfied nod graced his expression as he retrieved the item. It was a small, weathered scroll, carrying an air of mystery about it. Carefully, he unraveled the scroll until its contents were fully revealed, then he turned it around to face the trio. "Is this what you were looking for?" he asked.

Evergreen’s eyes scanned its contents to double-check the information they sought. Her heart skipped a beat as she confirmed it was what they were looking for. "Yes!" she exclaimed with a gasp, unable to contain her excitement. "Yes, we're looking for Emerald Falls!"

"Pleasant," The Leaflet replied with an air of intrigue. "Now," he said, peering intently at the trio, "What do you have to offer?

Evergreen started to rummage through her bag. With confidence, she grabbed a handful of coins and placed them on the wooden table with a determined thud. "I think this will do," she said with a smile.

The old Leaflet gently pushed the coins back towards Evergreen, his expression remaining unchanged. "I don't accept coins," he croaked blankly.

Evergreen's shock was evident as she quickly grabbed the coins back, unable to comprehend the old Leaflet's refusal. "Why not?" she asked, taken aback.

"There are just too many coins... I deem them unuseful to accept," he replied.

Evergreen's determination to find a meaningful thing to offer was clear as she searched her pouch with a furrowed brow. Opening it and closing it multiple times, she rummaged through its contents, her fingers desperately seeking something other than coins to give to the Leaflet.

The Leaflet's laughter, though dry, carried a sense of warmth and understanding. "It's no big deal, curious ones," he said with a gentle chuckle. "I can accept something else."

"Yes! Anything else!" Evergreen eagerly piped up. "What do you want? I'll get it."

"I want luck," the Leaflet said, emphasizing the word "luck." "If you give me luck, I'll give you the map."

Evergreen couldn't help but exchange puzzled glances with her brothers as they observed the Leaflet's unusual request. His emphasis on wanting luck seemed strange and out of place. Shamrock's whispered remark only added to the confusion. "I think he's hallucinating," Shamrock whispered.

Evergreen was uncertain as she looked back at the lizard. Feeling somewhat perplexed, she mustered an awkward smile and said, "Sure… we can give you that." The lizard remained silent, simply opening his hand, waiting for her to fulfill his request.

Though it felt strange and surreal, Evergreen decided to play along. She knew that the Leaflet's well-being was important, and she didn't want to offend or upset him. She pretended to scoop up a pile of air with her hands and then dropped it into the lizard's open palm.

The Leaflet's face lit up with a radiant smile, and he closed his hand as if securing the "luck" within. He nodded in apparent satisfaction as if he had received a precious gift.

Evergreen's eyes widened in surprise as the Leaflet burst into cackling laughter. The genuine happiness he exhibited was contagious.
He warmly placed the scroll in Evergreen's hand, expressing his heartfelt appreciation, "Thank you, thank you! You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this."

Evergreen still looked perplexed as she looked at him. "Uh… you're welcome. But, I didn't get your name. What was it?" she asked politely.

“Call me Lillian," he croaked with a hint of playfulness. "Lillian's the name!" he added with a chuckle, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he caressed the air as if it were a cherished friend.

He continued to cackle loudly, radiating joy and warmth as he waddled back into the corner of his alley. "Come again soon, strangers," he called out, his parting words filled with genuine friendliness.

Evergreen didn’t take a second to thank him as she rushed out of the alley. She grabbed her two brothers by the shoulders and heaved them on, not allowing them to thank the odd Leaflet either. "Well… I guess we have the map now," she said uncomfortably. "Let's get back to our hut. Quickly."

Shamrock giggled. "That old hag must've had something wrong with his brain because we gave him nothing! Zero!" he exclaimed with amusement.

Evergreen agreed with Shamrock's playful remark. "Yep… he might be close to death soon," she said with a hint of humor.

She released her grip on her brothers as she chuckled along with him, finding amusement in Shamrock’s response. "Right, Ivy?" she asked, looking at her younger brother.

"Right..." Ivy responded, his tone somewhat quiet. He glanced back at the corner where they had encountered the peculiar Leaflet. A part of him couldn't help but wonder if they had indeed given him something unintentionally. His mind was filled with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty, questioning whether there was more to the encounter than they had initially perceived.

He quickly refocused his attention on walking away with his siblings, but his thoughts lingered on the old Leaflet. "I hope that he wasn't being literal..." he mumbled quietly to himself, unsure if Lillian’s request for luck was meant figuratively or if there was a deeper meaning behind it.

## Chapter Two

As the sun began to lower into the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the tranquil landscape, Evergreen, Shamrock, and Ivy found themselves strolling along a winding dirt path that led back to their hut. The surrounding trees swayed gently in the evening breeze as they made their way along the path.

As the trio drew nearer to their cozy sanctuary after their odd interaction with Lillian, the familiar thatched roof of their hut came into view. However, from another intersecting path, they saw Clover and Lavender holding each other's hands, merrily trotting towards the very same hut. Evergreen dashed towards the approaching lizards and waved her hand up in the air, motioning for them to stop.

"Clover! Lavender!" Evergreen exclaimed, her large claws swaying in the air to catch their attention. "Did you enjoy your stroll?"

"Hello, Evergreen!" Lavender greeted warmly, their soft smile radiating like the morning sun. "We had an absolutely awesome stroll, thank you for asking," they replied cheerfully.

"Yes, we did!" Clover chimed in, gesturing towards Lavender. They held a basket filled with goodies, and they shook it to create a soft rustling sound. "I had a great time with Lavender on the trail. We decided to venture into Barancha Fields and bought some delightful fruits from the Orange Leaflets!" he explained with a hint of excitement in his voice.

"How wonderful!" Evergreen exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight as she beheld the basket brimming with an array of luscious fruits. The sweet aroma wafted through the air.

“So, what did you do on your stroll, Evergreen?” Clover asked her. He playfully peered around Evergreen's pouch, eager to uncover any mementos she might have collected during her stroll. Little did he know that a hidden treasure lay concealed within her tightly packed pouch – the map that she had obtained just a while ago.

Evergreen's smile lit up as Clover mentioned her stroll. "Well... we might have prepared a delightful surprise for your birthday," she said with a smirk.

"Yes! An awesome surprise!" Shamrock and Ivy chimed in unison, their eyes shining with delight.

Clover's eyes widened, filled with wonder and excitement. "Really? That's awesome!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his curiosity. "What is it? Please, do tell!"

"Oh, I'm not telling you what it is," Evergreen teased, her chuckle carrying a playful hint of mystery. She could see Clover's curiosity growing even more.

"Oh, come on, Evergreen!" he said, pretending to pout. "You know I can't wait. Give me just a tiny hint!"

Evergreen playfully shook her head as she glanced at Shamrock and Ivy. Then, she turned her gaze back to Clover, a mischievous glint in her red eyes. "It's somewhere you've wanted to go for a long time," she replied with a knowing smile. "That's all you need to know for now."

"Ooh!" Clover exclaimed. "Let me go get the necessities, then!" With a burst of energy, Clover released Lavender's hand and darted towards the hut, his green scales glimmering in the fading daylight.

After Clover disappeared from sight, Evergreen let out a sigh of relief. Her eyes caught Lavender's, and she smiled.

"Did you get the final touches for the cake?" Evergreen asked them.

Lavender nodded with a smile. "The cake is cooling down inside the hut," they confirmed. "I made sure to prepare it with extra care, so it's going to be delicious!" It was obvious that they were eager to share the cake they had put so much love and effort into creating.

"You should probably pick it up before he finds it, Lavender," Shamrock suggested, his voice filled with amusement.

"Ah, good idea," Lavender agreed, their eyes glancing toward the hut. "I hope he went straight to his tools and hasn't gotten a glimpse of the cake yet."

Evergreen, Shamrock, Ivy, and Lavender made their way toward the hut where Clover had excitedly run off to retrieve his tools. As they approached, the sound of loud clamor filled their ears, the distinct noise of tools being dropped and banged against the ground. It was clear that Clover was thoroughly searching through his tools.

Lavender tiptoed over to the windowsill where the cake had been left to cool. With gentle hands, they carefully lifted the cake and placed it in her basket, making sure not to mess the decorations up in any way.

With a triumphant grin, Lavender returned to the group, holding the basket close to them. "Got it!" they chimed cheerfully.

"Well done, Lavender," Evergreen praised, her voice warm with admiration. "You truly are the master of surprise-keeping.”

"Thank you," they said, their voice humble. "It's all for Clover's special day."

"Where's my flashlight?!?" Clover yelled out from inside the hut with frustration.

"We didn't touch anything in there, Clover!" Evergreen exclaimed with concern. The four of them looked at each other.

"Hey, maybe he just forgot where he put it! Don't worry," Shamrock said, shrugging it off.

"You're right," Evergreen agreed. "Maybe he just misplaced it in his excitement."

Lavender nodded in agreement. "You know Clover, always getting caught up in the moment."

Clover's voice echoed through the hut once more. "My first aid kit is gone, too! Who rummaged through all my stuff?" he called out again.

Evergreen raised her voice again, trying to reassure him. "Clover, we didn't touch anything!" she called out sincerely.

"Are you SURE?" he replied quickly.

"We are SURE!" Evergreen called back sharply. Clover's groan rumbled in the distance in response to her confident reply.

Clover's frustration was evident in his voice as he insisted, "I'm POSITIVE someone rummaged through our stuff!" His anger seemed to grow, and he called out to all of them with urgency, "Come here! All of you!"

The concern in their eyes deepened as the four lizards walked towards the hut where Clover was. As they entered the hut, the wooden floor creaked under their steps as they made their way through.

They walked through the living room, with the gentle glow of a lantern casting shadows on the walls. They all could feel Clover's unease as they made their way to the last door of the hall.

Upon opening the door, they were met with the sight of a distressed Clover hunched over a big box, rummaging through its contents. The room was filled with an assortment of tools and belongings, all meticulously organized by Clover.

When their familiar footsteps reached the room, Clover's voice called out, "Come here! Come here and look!"

The four of them gathered around the boxes, their brows furrowed in concern as they noticed something unusual about them. Although the boxes appeared full, a sense of emptiness hung in the air. It was as if half of the items had vanished out of nowhere.

"Can you guys try to find a flashlight or first aid kit here? Anyone?" Clover's voice was tinged with worry as he spoke, hoping that one of them might find the missing items.

Evergreen, Lavender, Shamrock, and Ivy nodded in response, determined to help him. They began their search, carefully inspecting each box and item, their eyes scanning every corner. But, after all of their efforts looking, they could not find anything.

"Look, Clover," Shamrock started, putting his hands up in defense. "No one would rummage through your stuff. Not even me! I know you love your tools."

"It must have been a stray animal, then," Clover grumbled. "Maybe a raccoon stole them. Might have thought it was shiny and valuable for them to steal." He started to look all around the room for some sort of crack or hole in the room. "There must be a crack somewhere.."

Lavender went over to Clover and gently placed their hand on his shoulder. "Hey, hey! You shouldn't have to be so stressed right now. It's your birthday, remember?" they said with a reassuring smile.

"I know, I know!" Clover replied, his frustration easing as he affectionately patted Lavender's hand. "Fine. Let's try to salvage what we got and pack up with the rest of the items we have."

Clover stood up and led the way to another wall in the room where several bags and satchels were neatly arranged. "Here, guys, take one bag for each of you," he said, gesturing for all of them to choose. The group each selected a bag as Clover hurried back to the box.

Clover's excitement was clear as he swiftly rummaged through the box, carefully selecting the items he needed for their adventure. He skillfully threw the essentials behind his back so all of them could grab what they needed. The lizards watched quietly, observing Clover's eagerness to prepare for the journey ahead.

He grabbed water bottles to keep them hydrated, sturdy boots to protect their feet on the rugged terrain, and hiking sticks for added support during their trek. He packed sleeping bags to keep them warm at night, a fire starter to provide comfort in the chilly evenings, and a tent to shelter them.

Clover didn't stop there. He grabbed a compass to ensure they stayed on the right path, a water purification kit to have access to clean water, and an assortment of other useful tools, making sure they were well-equipped for any situation they might encounter.

The lizards exchanged glances, impressed by Clover's thoroughness. It was evident that he was passionate about being prepared for any adventure, no matter how big or small.

After finishing his packing spree, Clover headed over to a nearby shelf and gathered water and snacks for their journey. He looked back at the lizards with a playful grin. "Let's get packing now, shall we?" he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

The lizards nodded eagerly, happy to join in the preparations. They scampered over to their belongings and started packing their essentials as well.

Each member of the group grabbed the necessary items from their neatly packed bags and placed them securely into their brown pouches. Clover made sure his beloved tools were carefully stowed, while Evergreen double-checked her map and items. Lavender ensured the fruits and cake were safely stored, and Shamrock had his magnifying glass at the ready.

With the preparations complete, Clover let out a sigh of relief, feeling reassured by their thorough packing. However, he couldn't help but be concerned without having flashlights and first-aid kits.

"We might be fine now. Although, there are no flashlights or first-aid kits. I hope none of you get hurt," he said, his voice filled with care. The others nodded in agreement.

With a determined spirit, Clover swung his pouch over his shoulder, ready to lead the way. "Well then, let's get going!" he exclaimed, starting to walk out of the room. The rest of the group followed closely behind.

Ivy piped up quietly and whispered to Evergreen and Shamrock, "Hey, do you think that something happened to Clover? He usually gets every item he needs for his journeys. Nothing bad usually happens to him."

"It is strange," Evergreen replied softly, her brows furrowing with thought. "Clover is always well-prepared for his journeys. I can't remember a time when he didn't have everything he needed."

Shamrock glanced at Ivy with wide eyes, clearly surprised at what he said. "No way! He has tremendous luck!" he whispered a bit loudly. "Why would four-leaf clovers grow on him, anyways?" he wondered aloud.

With a subtle motion, he pointed towards Clover, drawing Ivy's attention to him. His back, wings, and some of his legs were adorned in a lush carpet of four-leaf clovers, their vibrant green hues contrasting against his scales.

Before Ivy could reply, Clover paused before opening the door, his eyes drawn to the familiar items on the rack before him. He reached for a hat and the lasso that was lying on the rack.

"I always remember to bring my dad's hat!" Clover announced proudly, his smile lighting up the room. With a graceful movement, he tipped the hat onto his head. "Besides, he would want to see where we are going today."

Lavender walked over and chuckled. "You always look mighty stylish in that hat," they said with a playful glint in their eyes.

Clover beamed at Lavender's compliment, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Thank you, Lavender!" he replied with a touch of pride in his voice. "My dad always said this hat brought him luck on his adventures, and I like to believe it brings me some too." He adjusted the hat on his head, wearing it with a sense of joy. The hat seemed to fit him perfectly.

With a confident push, Clover swung open the door, and before them lay a breathtaking sight - the vast wilderness of Barancha Tropics. Warm, orange light spilled through the open doorway, casting a silvery glow over the lush foliage and mysterious shadows that stretched far into the distance.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

## Chapter Three

The sun was now setting, casting a dark-orange hue over the Barancha Tropics as Clover, Lavender, Shamrock, Ivy, and Evergreen ventured into the tropics. As all the lizards took in their surroundings, it was clear that the day was about to end, as the fading light cast long, eerie shadows across the dense vegetation.

As Clover's gaze met the darkening orange sky, a sense of urgency filled his heart. He knew that their adventure had to continue before the sun completely vanished. “I hope we can get there before the sun completely disappears," he said with concern. The others nodded in agreement.

“Don’t worry, Clover,” Evergreen said hopefully. “We’re going to go there with no troubles!”

Clover smiled. “I hope.” He changed the conversation to the map. “Can you show me the map now? I need to know where we are going.”

Evergreen carefully retrieved the map from her pouch and gently placed it into Clover's eager claws. With a smile, she pointed to the top of the map, revealing the words "EMERALD FALLS" etched in beautiful, bold green letters.

"This is our destination!" she exclaimed, excitement gleaming in her eyes, eagerly awaiting Clover's reaction.

Clover's eyes widened as he studied the map. "Wow! We're really going there?" His face lit up with joy. "Evergreen, I've dreamt of visiting Emerald Falls for so long!"

Evergreen couldn't help but chuckle at his enthusiasm. "Well, duh! That’s why we got the map for you, you goofus." she teased, playfully poking him on the shoulder.

Clover's face beamed with gratitude. "Thank you so much for this, Evergreen."

"Of course, Clover. Anytime!" she replied, her excitement matching his own. "Now, let's not waste any more time. Adventure awaits us at Emerald Falls!"

As the group ventured deeper into the wilderness, they followed the path on the map, and it led them through the topics. The air was filled with the lively symphony of chirping birds, the gentle rustling of leaves, and the distant gurgling of a river.

Step by step, the group forged their way through the lush undergrowth, their feet gently crushing fallen leaves and twigs underfoot. Ivy took it upon himself to carefully brush aside the plants in their path, ensuring there were no hidden dangers.

"Let's be extra careful here. I don't want anyone getting hurt today," Ivy advised, his concern for their well-being evident in his tone.

Clover nodded, taking Ivy's warning to heart. "You're right, Ivy. Safety first! If only I had brought my first aid kit..." He grumbled, still regretting not bringing the kit along.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, their steps led them to a delightful surprise—a small clearing brightened by the glow of the setting sun, bathing the space in a soft, golden light.

In the center of the clearing, five distinct paths branched off in various directions, each with its own adventure and mystery to be discovered. The group gathered around Clover, who held the map in his hands, studying it with attention.

After a thoughtful pause, Clover figured out what path they were going on. "We're heading this way!" he declared, pointing confidently to a path that led off to the left.

They set off once more, and as they followed the path, they found themselves on a narrow and winding trail. The dense foliage seemed to close in around them, and the sounds of the forest grew more.

Clover's heart pounded with excitement as he breathed in the rich, earthy scent of the forest. "It's so good to be out here. I just know that today is going to be a wonderful day," he said, his voice filled with anticipation.

Evergreen abruptly halted Clover from taking another step. "Wait," she said, gently restraining him. "Take a closer look at the path."

Clover concentrated on the path ahead, his eyes peering at the narrowing trail that lay before them. The once clearly defined route now appeared to be covered with overgrowth, with plants and creatures blocking their progress. The trail had become more challenging than they had thought.

Clover chuckled good-naturedly. "You're scared of that? No worries! Hold the map for a second, will you?" He handed the map to Evergreen and rummaged through his bag until he found what he was looking for—a gleaming, finely crafted dagger.

"We'll just use this to clear the way. Easy peasy," Clover said, his confidence shining through.

The others watched as Clover expertly wielded the dagger, cutting through the thick vegetation and making way for the group. The path ahead was still challenging, but with Clover's help, they pressed on.

As the path grew narrower and more packed with plants, the group naturally fell into a formation that allowed them to move forward smoothly. Clover led the way at the front, his dagger still ready to clear any obstacles that might impede their progress. Right behind him was Lavender, ever watchful and attentive to their surroundings, ready to lend a hand if needed. In the middle of the line walked Evergreen, engaged in lively conversation with both Lavender and Clover. Meanwhile, Ivy and Shamrock formed the tail of the group. They remained focused on their own antics.

Shamrock became frustrated as Ivy's cautious nature slowed down their walking. "Come on, Ivy, you don't need to check every little thing," he groaned to him. Ivy was stopping every minute, checking if there were any dangerous plants around. "I trust Clover's instincts, and he'll lead us safely. We'll be just fine."

"Shh!" Ivy said as he continued on. "I just like to be safe, okay? If I weren't here, you might have been tangled in some roots or stuck in a log."

"I would not!" Shamrock retorted, his frustration growing. "I only venture off if it's something I find really interesting.”

"Sure, sure, Shamrock. I trust your judgment," he said with a playful smirk. "But hey, no worries. Just follow me. After all, I'm older than you and much wiser," he added teasingly.

“Ivy…” Shamrock said flatly. “You are older by a whole two minutes.

“SHHH!”

Shamrock grumbled as he trudged along the trail, his feet kicking up small clouds of dust with each step. He felt boredom gnawing at him. His light blue eyes wandered restlessly, taking in the nature around him. So much potential lay before him.

There were perfectly crisp twigs strewn on the ground, just waiting to be transformed into a makeshift slingshot. Swinging vines dangled invitingly from the branches above. The trees called out to him, their tall trunks seemed like a ladder to an elevated world, urging him to climb and explore the canopy.

Shamrock couldn't help but let out a sigh. He missed the days when it was just Clover and him exploring the great outdoors while Ivy and Evergreen stayed home, stuck in their books or writing.

The group pressed on, led by Clover, who effortlessly slashed through stray vines and leaves, creating a path that continued forward. Suddenly, Shamrock's keen eyes spotted a small opening by the side of the trail. He slowed his pace wanting to see what lay beyond.

Drawn by the allure of the mysterious sight, Shamrock approached the opening. And there it was, nestled within the embrace of the rainforest – a calm pond, its surface glistening like a mirror. He felt excited, as he hoped frogs inhabited it.

A gentle smile crept onto Shamrock's face as he realized that his hunch had been right. There, amidst the waters, he spotted movement – tiny ripples coming from the pond's edge. Frogs! His heart skipped a beat with delight. He had always cherished the company of these lively creatures.

Shamrock's excitement bubbled over, and he couldn't contain himself any longer. He urgently called out, "Clover, stop! Look over here!"

Clover turned his head to look at Shamrock. "What is it? Is it something dangerous?" he asked with concern.

"No, no, no!" he reassured with a grin. "It's just a beautiful pond! Nothing to worry about."

"Ah, I see. It does look lovely," he said, looking at the area for a second before he turned back to the path. "But we should keep moving and clear the way ahead."

Shamrock still stared at the pond. "Can we take a short break here, please?" he asked, his voice eager.

"Shamrock, we've only just started moving," Evergreen sighed, her voice tinged with irritation. "Do you want to get to the waterfall or not?"

Shamrock's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as he responded, "We have plenty of time! We can explore the waterfall later. We're supposed to have fun on this journey, aren't we?"

Lavender chimed in, adding their support as they playfully prodded Clover with their wing. "Shamrock's got a point, Clover. Let's think of it as a small, enjoyable stop."

“You know what? Sure.” Clover said with a smile. “My hand’s getting tired anyways."

With Clover's approval, Shamrock wasted no time. He sprinted towards the pond, his excitement contagious as he neared the water's edge. The sight that greeted him filled his heart with delight. Frogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors hopped and leaped around, creating a vibrant and lively scene.

Shamrock couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as he observed the playful creatures. Some were green like emerald leaves, while others boasted vibrant hues of blue, red, and yellow. Their merry croaks filled the air, creating a symphony of nature's own.

"You really trusted him? Really?" Ivy grumbled to himself, carefully stepping into the area. "There could be POISONOUS frogs, you know!"

Shamrock turned to Ivy, a big grin on his face. "What's wrong, Ivy? Aren't you a fan of frogs?" he teased playfully.

Ivy looked at his enthusiastic brother and sighed. "Fine, you win, Shamrock," he said with a small smile. "Just promise me you'll be careful and not get hurt!"

Shamrock chuckled, appreciating Ivy's concern. "I promise, Ivy. I'll watch my step," he assured him.

As Ivy joined him by the pond, he couldn't help but observe the frogs with interest. "They are quite fascinating, I must admit," he acknowledged, studying the frogs' unique colors and patterns.

Shamrock watched Clover and Lavender huddle together near the pond. "Yep! I wonder which one Clover's going to write down in his notebook," he pondered aloud.

Clover, with his brown, weathered notebook in hand and a pencil poised, carefully observed the frogs, seeking the perfect subject to write and sketch about. Lavender pointed out a particularly colorful frog perched on a lily pad.

Meanwhile, Evergreen had ventured off in another direction, her bow in hand as she scanned the surroundings for anything small to track down.

As he approached the pond, Shamrock's eyes lit up with delight. There they were, the adorable little frogs, hopping and splashing around in the pond. He couldn't resist getting closer to observe them up close. Ivy followed at a more cautious pace, his watchful eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential hazards.

Shamrock, however, was completely absorbed in the frog-filled wonderland. He crouched down near the water's edge, mesmerized by the amphibians. He could see green frogs with yellow spots, tiny brown ones blending with the mud, and even a striking blue frog with red eyes.

"Look!" Shamrock exclaimed as he pointed at a green frog resting on a lilypad. The frog appeared big, wrinkly, and had a yellow belly. "That one looks like Stinky!"

He began to imitate the croaking sounds of the frogs, hoping to get a response from the frog he was looking at. Surprisingly, the fat frog seemed to be amused by Shamrock's antics and croaked back in what appeared to be an approving manner. Shamrock couldn’t help but smile.

Ivy, amused by Shamrock's attempts to communicate with the frogs, suggested, "Let's see if the frog will follow us if we move along the pond's edge.”

Shamrock's face lit up with satisfaction as he noticed that Ivy was not very wary anymore. "Yes! What a great idea!" he exclaimed. With enthusiasm, Shamrock sprinted to the side of the pond, Ivy following closely behind.

Carefully walking along the edge, the two made sure not to disturb the waters. The frog, intrigued by their presence, hopped from one lily pad to another, trying to keep up with their movements.

As Shamrock's excitement got the better of him, he couldn't resist the urge to get closer to the playful frog. His heart was set on holding it and, in his whimsy, even placing a tiny hat on its head. However, he failed to consider the frog's reaction, unsure if it would remain calm or become startled. Carelessly, Shamrock ventured towards the slippery bank, not fully aware of the potential danger.

"Don't rush, Shamrock," Ivy cautioned, taking a cautious step towards him.

But it was too late. As Shamrock attempted to get nearer to the frog, his excitement clouded his judgment. His feet slipped on the slick surface, and he lost his balance, tumbling toward the water.

As Shamrock reached out to try to stop his fall, his actions startled the frog, causing it to leap away in a flash. The sudden movement with the slippery surface only worsened Shamrock's situation. He lost his footing completely and ended up splashing in a shallow part of the pond.

As the cold water surrounded him, Shamrock let out a soft groan, his eyes tightly shut in dismay. "That was a very bad idea," he mumbled, regretful of his impulsive actions.

As Ivy rushed to Shamrock's side, his fun attitude was quickly replaced by concern, and he extended a helping hand to him. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine, just a little soggy now. But at least I got a closer look at the frog!" he said with a smile.

Ivy continued to assist Shamrock, making sure he was steady on his feet. Clover, who had hurried over to them, looked concerned. "What happened? Are you two okay?" he asked, his worry evident in his voice.

"I just got drenched, that's all," Shamrock reassured with a chuckle, trying to shake off some of the water from his body. But when he stood up, there was a red mark on one of his knees, which was bleeding.

Clover looked at Shamrock's knee in terror. "You're hurt, Shamrock!" he exclaimed in a panicked voice. "Do you feel fine?"

"It's just a little scratch, Clover. I'll be fine," he said, trying to shrug off the concern.

However, when Lavender and Clover caught sight of the scratch on Shamrock's knee, their worry intensified. "We need Evergreen," Lavender said.

"Where did she run off to, anyway?" Clover asked.

Clover's question hung in the air for a moment, but he quickly decided not to wait around for an answer. "Nevermind, I'll find her," he declared.

Without any hesitation, Clover dashed into the dense bushes, the leaves rustling as he moved swiftly through the undergrowth. Clover began to shout her name out. Meanwhile, Shamrock remained calm and collected. He leaned against a nearby tree, watching over the path they had taken.

After a few moments that felt like an eternity, Clover reappeared, bringing Evergreen back with her. She walked back into the area clutching the dead bird she had successfully hunted.

“Really, Shamrock? You just had to get up to something while I was gone?” Evergreen said sharply.

“Yep..” Shamrock said with a chuckle.

“Just get on with it already,” Clover said with concern, grabbing the bird from Evergreen. “Find some items to wrap around his leg and hope that it won’t spread. Then, let’s get going.”

“Will do.” Evergreen nodded.

While Evergreen searched for items to wrap around Shamrock’s scratch, Clover and the rest of the group prepared to leave the pond. While they were, Clover was visibly frustrated. “I knew I should have brought the first-aid kit! Why did it even disappear?"

As Shamrock observed the scratch on his knee, he shrugged off any lingering discomfort. "I just got a bit unlucky, that's all," he thought to himself.

Shamrock looked up and scanned the pond's surface, hoping to spot the friendly frog he had earlier encountered. To his delight, he spotted the little amphibian resting on another lilypad, its eyes fixed on him.

The frog seemed to recognize Shamrock, blinking twice as if acknowledging their earlier interaction, before calmly closing its eyes again.

He smiled.

## Chapter Four

The crew of lizards continued their journey forward. After their last event, Evergreen carefully tended to Shamrock's scraped leg, but it appeared that he walked with a subtle but noticeable limp. Ivy stood by Shamrock's side, offering his sturdy support. Shamrock, despite the lingering ache in his leg, wore a contented grin.

"Wow. Just wow," Ivy muttered, striding down the path with an evident sense of frustration. "I WARNED Shamrock that we shouldn’t have gone there. I really did! And what's the result now? He's INJURED!"

"This is an ADVENTURE, Ivy!" Shamrock beckoned back to him. "It wouldn't be one if we didn't face a few challenges. Did you want a bland, uninspiring trip to the waterfall? Huh?"

"I'd surely prefer that," Ivy replied with a pout. It was clear that he wanted some distance from his brother due to how annoying he was acting, but he knew he had to aid him.

"We're nearly there," Clover interjected, turning back to address the two. "We just have to pass through some more areas, then everything will be alright! You can count on me."

“Fine!” The two said in unison.

"Do you know where we are going next?" Lavender questioned, their gaze shifting toward the map clutched in Clover's hand while he slashed through the foliage with the other.

"Absolutely," Clover confirmed, his attention still fixed on the plants. "We're almost there, just a bit farther."

As Clover continued, his determined swipes at the thick undergrowth yielded rewarding results. The once densely packed vegetation began to wind away, allowing the group to spread out freely. With each passing swipe, the feeling of being trapped in the lush green pathway began to fade. The path broadened before their eyes.

With one final, resolute swipe, the curtain of vegetation drew back entirely, an entirely different area to explore waiting beyond them.

"Well then," Clover declared with a satisfied grin. "We've certainly veered off the trail by now."

"Finally!" sighed Evergreen. "I've grown tired of those two bickering." She gestured to the back, where the exchanges between Ivy and Shamrock continued.

"But it was your idea to go there!" Ivy persisted.

"And you gave me your permission!" Shamrock shot back.

"Shamrock! Ivy!" Clover called out sternly. "That's enough. We've arrived."

"Ah, we've finally made it, have we?" Ivy exclaimed, a spark of happiness in his voice. "I can't wait to see!" With enthusiasm, Ivy darted towards Clover's position, quickly letting Shamrock slip from his grip. Reacting swiftly, Evergreen caught Shamrock, preventing him from stumbling, and gently guided him to join the rest of the group, all of whom were gathered together, their eyes fixed on what lay ahead.

Before the lizards, a breathtaking sight unfolded in the heart of the rainforest. As the scenery revealed itself, the vibrant green surroundings seemed to part, unveiling a fresh expanse that felt like a well-kept secret of the forest.

Amid this captivating scene, one distinct feature drew their attention. A delicate fog, light and graceful, drifted through the air, weaving an almost magical atmosphere across the landscape. But what truly caught their eyes were the tall, grey buildings that stood obscured by the fog.

"It looks quite.. odd," Lavender said with concern.

"Yep," Evergreen chimed in.

Clover's brow furrowed as he inspected the fog-shrouded area. "I knew where we were going, but I must admit, I didn’t know we were facing such a dense curtain of fog..."

A sigh escaped him. It was obvious that the path to the waterfall would demand more than just physical navigation; they would need to navigate their way through this veil of fog.

"Nevertheless, we can do this," Clover proclaimed, determination resonating in his voice as he fought to uphold his role as the group's morale booster.

"Let’s continue." His statement was met with nods of agreement, each member of the group falling into step behind him, ready to venture into the unknown foggy expanse.

The instant Clover's foot made contact with the ground of the new area, a sensation raced up his spine – a tingling chill that stirred his senses. The air around him felt strangely cold, an abrupt contrast to the lush warmth of the rainforest he had just crossed.

As he continued stepping forward, Clover couldn't shake off the feeling of something profoundly unusual unfolding. "This is very odd," he thought silently.

Peering through the fog, his eyes gradually adjusted to the obscured scene before him. The veil of fog had dimmed his view, but as it thinned, a scene came into focus. What lay ahead was a scene of desolation – remnants of what might have once been homes, now reduced to crumbling fragments of stone. Stone buildings, once proudly standing, had weathered down over time.

"It looks like somelizard used to live here," Clover observed.

"Perhaps by ancient lizards," Ivy agreed with him. “There’s no way someone would want to make a home in this thick fog.”

"I want to take a closer look at this," Clover whispered. He scurried over to the scattered fragments of stone, each piece holding a story of its own. He took measured steps, mindful of the uneven ground beneath his feet, as he approached one of the crumbled remnants.

Kneeling down, Clover positioned himself face-to-face with the fragment. With a gentle touch, Clover's fingers grazed the surface of the stone. As he brushed his hand across the surface, a flurry of stone particles was stirred into the air. The sudden burst caught him off guard, and he found himself coughing, the dusty remnants invading his senses.

"Yep," he confirmed mid-cough. "This area is very old." Casting a glance over his shoulder, he checked to see if the rest of the group had kept pace, and it appeared they had each been doing their own activities.

Shamrock had darted off and entered one of the old stone buildings, its structure teetering on the brink of collapse. "Haha, look at me!" he exclaimed, strutting around the home. "This is my humble abode.”

"Shamrock," Clover sighed wearily. "Be careful. It could crumble and come down on your head."

"Pssh, no worries, I'm not touching it!" Shamrock shot back.

Unaware of Clover's warning, Ivy hurriedly approached Shamrock from a distance with panic in his tone. "SHAMROCK, DON'T TOUCH THAT!"

In a swift motion, Ivy reached out and grabbed Shamrock from the back. Lost in his own world and oblivious to Ivy's presence, Shamrock let out a startled yelp, losing his balance and stumbling against the fragile wall of the building.

"Hey!" Shamrock protested as he flung Ivy off of him. "What was that for?" He hurriedly dashed out of the crumbling structure, Ivy following him. As they fled, a section of the building collapsed, the noise drawing the attention of the entire group.

"It's his fault," Shamrock declared, his finger pointing squarely at Ivy. "He scared me."

"What?!" Ivy started with disbelief. "Shamrock, you—"

With a sigh, Clover turned away from the two, his patience worn by their constant bickering. "They never learn," he muttered to himself. Stepping away from the beginning argument, he wandered until he located Lavender, who had chosen a sturdy-looking stone brick to rest on. They sat there with care, cradling their picnic basket securely between their claws.

"Are you alright?" Clover asked, his gaze drawn to the grip Lavender maintained on the basket.

"Absolutely!" Lavender responded cheerfully, turning to face him with a warm smile. “Although, I am scared of dropping it in the middle of all this haze. If I do, it would be too hard to find it.”

"Don't worry," Clover reassured. "I can guide you through the fog if you'd like."
"That sounds wonderful," Lavender replied, their smile growing as they gracefully accepted his offer. They reached out, intertwining their fingers with Clover's while still clutching the basket tightly. The firm grip on his hand remained.

Peering through the dense fog, Clover searched for the continuation of the path. Eventually spotting it, he beckoned to Lavender and began to guide them forward. A short while later, Shamrock and Ivy rejoined the group, followed by Evergreen, who seemed to have managed to stop the two quarreling lizards.

"You two really need to put an end to this," Evergreen's voice rang out as she came within earshot.

"I'll stop when he stops doing reckless things," Ivy grumbled defiantly. Not wanting to help Shamrock up again, Ivy left the task to Evergreen instead. He strode over to where Clover stood. "Let's just continue. I can't bear any more distractions."

"Agreed," Clover affirmed, nodding in agreement. "Let's continue on our way."

With the need to no longer slash through stubborn vines, as the thick undergrowth had vanished, Clover swiftly returned his dagger to its pouch. A fleeting wince crossed his face as he wished he had brought a flashlight to navigate through the shrouded fog. Guided by Lavender's reassuring grip, Clover took measured steps.

As they ventured further into the eerie landscape, an unsettling transformation began to unfold. The fog, once a delicate presence, began to swell and expand around them. Clover's surroundings blurred as the fog thickened. A sense of unease settled over him.

A note of alarm crept into Clover's voice as he exclaimed, "Oh, no..." His words trailed off. The world around him had transformed into a sea of white, and his ability to navigate was fading fast.

From somewhere within the fog, Shamrock's voice joined the chorus of uncertainty. "I can’t see!" Shamrock echoed. The fog had now engulfed them all, wrapping them in a shroud of fog that left them blind to their surroundings.

Clover's instinct for survival kicked in. He lifted his feet gingerly, as if stepping on fragile glass, and stretched his unoccupied arm into the air. His fingers danced through the fog, to attempt to feel for anything that was coming towards him. Carefully, he moved his arm, fingers grazing the unseen. He didn't dare to look back to verify if the others were similarly navigating the fog. From the corner of his eye, a vague outline caught his attention. It was Lavender, mirroring his gestures.

The tense silence was broken as Shamrock coughed. "Goodness…" he wheezed, his voice muffled by his discomfort. "This haze is making it hard to breathe."

Clover found himself at a loss for reassuring words. The situation was undeniably challenging, leaving him with no choice but to simply state, "We must keep going."

As they pushed ahead, Clover held onto the hope that conditions might improve, yet they took a turn for the worse. An eerie ringing noise pierced the air, a jarring echo that echoed within their ears. The sound looped, causing Clover to instinctively want to cover his ears to shield himself from the sharp sound. However, his hands were occupied with scanning for potential dangers and maintaining a firm grip on Lavender.

"What the hell is that noise?" Evergreen exclaimed with frustration.

"Just keep moving!" Clover commanded with stern urgency.

Clover quickened his stride. His desire to emerge from the fog's clutches pushed him forward. His careful walk turned into a determined run. The fog seemed to blur into a haze around him as he gained momentum, his heart racing in sync with his rapid breaths.

A few more steps and Clover's instincts guided him to a triumphant leap, propelling himself forward and out of the fog's grasp. As he opened his eyes, relief washed over him like a tide. The fog that had once blinded his vision had lessened to the point where he could finally see. The world around him came into focus, revealing a landscape that, while changed, was now within his sight.

"That was wild," Clover huffed, his breath still ragged from the sprint through the fog.

"Very," Lavender agreed, their own breaths coming in rapid bursts. They released his hand, taking a moment to catch their breath before they spoke.
Clover's attention shifted to the fog as Ivy emerged, followed by Evergreen and Shamrock. A sense of relief washed over him. All of them had made it through the ordeal unscathed.

As the lizards exchanged glances, a sudden, loud panging sound reverberated through the air again, catching them off guard. Clover blinked, his eyes registering wonky shapes and colors that danced in his vision. The aftermath of being enveloped in the fog was making itself known, distorting his perception in strange ways.

He looked around, and to his surprise, the landscape seemed to shift and morph into bizarre designs. Shapes and patterns that defied reality popped up in every direction, creating visions that were beyond his imagination. The fog had left an imprint on his senses, playing tricks on his vision and turning the world into a canvas of the uncanny.

"That fog did something to us," Clover muttered. However, his words seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the rest of the group was completely absorbed in their own altered reality. They appeared tired and dreamy, their movements sluggish as they waved their arms in various directions, muttering incomprehensible phrases.

A sense of urgency and panic welled up within Clover. He couldn't let them wander aimlessly in this altered state, where their perceptions were skewed and their surroundings transformed into a surreal wonderland. The need to keep them safe.

Clover propelled himself into action. He sprinted towards Evergreen, his legs carrying him with a speed born out of sheer concern. “Evergreen!” Clover yelled in her ear. “Snap out of it!”

Evergreen's gaze, though distant and unfocused, met Clover's with a dizzied expression. Her actions were erratic, as she pointed to a random tree and giggled goofily. "Look!" she exclaimed, her laughter tinged with an otherworldly quality. "He said he could teach me how to hunt down a biiig boar. Even bigger than a whale!"

"EVERGREEN!" He raised his voice to a yell, the stress evident as he called out her name with force. However, he recognized that aggression wasn't the solution. Yet, in the desperate hope of bringing her back, he did something he normally wouldn't – he slapped her on the cheek.

The impact seemed to startle Evergreen, her eyes closing momentarily. But to Clover's astonishment, she opened them again, this time with a sense of arrogance. "Hey!" she snapped, her tone defiant as she looked at him with irritation. "Now what was that for?"

His voice quickened as he urgently shared the truth. "The fog did something to us. You were hallucinating," he said, his words rushed but filled with concern. The second he explained it to her, he rushed over to Ivy.

"Ivy!" Clover's voice roared across the strange landscape, his urgency cutting through the fog as he directed his attention toward his drowsy friend. Ivy was seated, seemingly engrossed in observing his own claw.

"Shhh…" Ivy's response was drowsy and distant, his words carrying an air of distraction. "I'm reading here," he murmured, his expression one of tranquil detachment.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Ivy's hand and pulled him to his feet. Ivy's drowsy demeanor was no match for Clover's determination to snap him out of the hallucination's grip.

With Ivy now standing, Clover maintained his grip on Ivy's arm, guiding his brother's attention towards him. "SNAP. OUT. OF. IT!" he exclaimed in huffed breaths. He waved Ivy's arm in front of him, hoping to jolt him back to reality.

As Clover flailed Ivy's hand, Ivy blinked twice, his confusion evident in his expression. In a swift motion, Ivy grabbed Clover's hand, halting the flailing. "I wasn't in any trouble," Ivy stated matter-of-factly. "Why were you flailing my hand?"

Clover didn't linger to explain the situation to Ivy again. He knew he had to move quickly to check on Lavender. The urgency of the moment propelled him forward.

As Clover rushed over to where Lavender stood, he found them in a peculiar state. Despite their fixed appearance and closed eyes, there was an aura of tranquility about them, as if they were peacefully lost in thought. Clover hesitated to disturb them, even though he knew that they, too, were experiencing the effects of the disorienting environment.

Clover settled on a straightforward approach. Leaning in closer to Lavender, he whispered their name with a hint of urgency. "Lavender," he murmured softly into their ear, "wake up."

Suddenly, Lavender's eyes snapped open, and their reaction was far from serene. A startled scream erupted from them as if they had encountered an enormous spider. Startled, they flung the basket they held and leaped back. "CLOVER?"

"Whoa, whoa! I didn't do anything," Clover quickly reassured, his hands raised in a gesture of innocence.

"Clover, you scared me!" Lavender exclaimed, their gaze darting around in panic. It took them a moment to regain their composure. Once their breathing steadied, they questioned, "What on earth just happened?"

Clover's demeanor remained composed as he explained, "It was the fog. It had some sort of effect on all of us. But we've come out of it now."

"Well, that's a relief," Lavender sighed, placing their claws over their chest as if to calm their racing heart. Their eyes fluttered shut momentarily before opening again, only to realize something amiss. "Hold on a second... Where's my basket?" They scanned their surroundings, their treasured basket absent.

The realization of the missing basket sent a ripple of concern through the group. As Evergreen, Shamrock, and Ivy rejoined them, Ivy was quick to point out the basket's location as it tumbled into a nearby dip, seemingly headed toward an area that resembled a body of water, hinting at its potential to float away.

A growing sense of distress took hold of Lavender, who began to hyperventilate. The imminent loss of the cake they had worked so hard on weighed heavily on them, and tears threatened to well up. In the face of Lavender's distress, Clover sprang into action, seeking to comfort and reassure them.

"Stay calm," he urged gently. "This isn't your fault. Don't worry about retrieving it yourself. I'll take care of it."

"But it's meant to be a surprise! What if you accidentally open it?" Lavender's anxiety was clear as they voiced their concern. However, a quick look at Lavender revealed that they were in no condition to venture after the drifting basket.

"No," Clover insisted firmly. "You've already been through enough today. All of you, stay here. When I return, just call out, and I'll find my way back to you."

Shamrock, however, was not one to be left behind. Asserting himself boldly, he rushed to Clover's side. "I'm coming with you. I don't want to miss out on this!"

Clover let out a resigned sigh. He knew he couldn't convince Shamrock to stay. "Fine. But let's keep it swift." With that, Clover set off towards the basket's last known location, Shamrock at his side, their footsteps carrying them through the fog-shrouded landscape.

## Chapter Four

The crew of lizards continued their journey forward. After their last event, Evergreen carefully tended to Shamrock's scraped leg, but it appeared that he walked with a subtle but noticeable limp. Ivy stood by Shamrock's side, offering his sturdy support. Shamrock, despite the lingering ache in his leg, wore a contented grin.

"Wow. Just wow," Ivy muttered, striding down the path with an evident sense of frustration. "I WARNED Shamrock that we shouldn’t have gone there. I really did! And what's the result now? He's INJURED!"

"This is an ADVENTURE, Ivy!" Shamrock beckoned back to him. "It wouldn't be one if we didn't face a few challenges. Did you want a bland, uninspiring trip to the waterfall? Huh?"

"I'd surely prefer that," Ivy replied with a pout. It was clear that he wanted some distance from his brother due to how annoying he was acting, but he knew he had to aid him.

"We're nearly there," Clover interjected, turning back to address the two. "We just have to pass through some more areas, then everything will be alright! You can count on me."

“Fine!” The two said in unison.

"Do you know where we are going next?" Lavender questioned, their gaze shifting toward the map clutched in Clover's hand while he slashed through the foliage with the other.

"Absolutely," Clover confirmed, his attention still fixed on the plants. "We're almost there, just a bit farther."

As Clover continued, his determined swipes at the thick undergrowth yielded rewarding results. The once densely packed vegetation began to wind away, allowing the group to spread out freely. With each passing swipe, the feeling of being trapped in the lush green pathway began to fade. The path broadened before their eyes.

With one final, resolute swipe, the curtain of vegetation drew back entirely, an entirely different area to explore waiting beyond them.

"Well then," Clover declared with a satisfied grin. "We've certainly veered off the trail by now."

"Finally!" sighed Evergreen. "I've grown tired of those two bickering." She gestured to the back, where the exchanges between Ivy and Shamrock continued.

"But it was your idea to go there!" Ivy persisted.

"And you gave me your permission!" Shamrock shot back.

"Shamrock! Ivy!" Clover called out sternly. "That's enough. We've arrived."

"Ah, we've finally made it, have we?" Ivy exclaimed, a spark of happiness in his voice. "I can't wait to see!" With enthusiasm, Ivy darted towards Clover's position, quickly letting Shamrock slip from his grip. Reacting swiftly, Evergreen caught Shamrock, preventing him from stumbling, and gently guided him to join the rest of the group, all of whom were gathered together, their eyes fixed on what lay ahead.

Before the lizards, a breathtaking sight unfolded in the heart of the rainforest. As the scenery revealed itself, the vibrant green surroundings seemed to part, unveiling a fresh expanse that felt like a well-kept secret of the forest.

Amid this captivating scene, one distinct feature drew their attention. A delicate fog, light and graceful, drifted through the air, weaving an almost magical atmosphere across the landscape. But what truly caught their eyes were the tall, grey buildings that stood obscured by the fog.

"It looks quite.. odd," Lavender said with concern.

"Yep," Evergreen chimed in.

Clover's brow furrowed as he inspected the fog-shrouded area. "I knew where we were going, but I must admit, I didn’t know we were facing such a dense curtain of fog..."

A sigh escaped him. It was obvious that the path to the waterfall would demand more than just physical navigation; they would need to navigate their way through this veil of fog.

"Nevertheless, we can do this," Clover proclaimed, determination resonating in his voice as he fought to uphold his role as the group's morale booster.

"Let’s continue." His statement was met with nods of agreement, each member of the group falling into step behind him, ready to venture into the unknown foggy expanse.

The instant Clover's foot made contact with the ground of the new area, a sensation raced up his spine – a tingling chill that stirred his senses. The air around him felt strangely cold, an abrupt contrast to the lush warmth of the rainforest he had just crossed.

As he continued stepping forward, Clover couldn't shake off the feeling of something profoundly unusual unfolding. "This is very odd," he thought silently.

Peering through the fog, his eyes gradually adjusted to the obscured scene before him. The veil of fog had dimmed his view, but as it thinned, a scene came into focus. What lay ahead was a scene of desolation – remnants of what might have once been homes, now reduced to crumbling fragments of stone. Stone buildings, once proudly standing, had weathered down over time.

"It looks like somelizard used to live here," Clover observed.

"Perhaps by ancient lizards," Ivy agreed with him. “There’s no way someone would want to make a home in this thick fog.”

"I want to take a closer look at this," Clover whispered. He scurried over to the scattered fragments of stone, each piece holding a story of its own. He took measured steps, mindful of the uneven ground beneath his feet, as he approached one of the crumbled remnants.

Kneeling down, Clover positioned himself face-to-face with the fragment. With a gentle touch, Clover's fingers grazed the surface of the stone. As he brushed his hand across the surface, a flurry of stone particles was stirred into the air. The sudden burst caught him off guard, and he found himself coughing, the dusty remnants invading his senses.

"Yep," he confirmed mid-cough. "This area is very old." Casting a glance over his shoulder, he checked to see if the rest of the group had kept pace, and it appeared they had each been doing their own activities.

Shamrock had darted off and entered one of the old stone buildings, its structure teetering on the brink of collapse. "Haha, look at me!" he exclaimed, strutting around the home. "This is my humble abode.”

"Shamrock," Clover sighed wearily. "Be careful. It could crumble and come down on your head."

"Pssh, no worries, I'm not touching it!" Shamrock shot back.

Unaware of Clover's warning, Ivy hurriedly approached Shamrock from a distance with panic in his tone. "SHAMROCK, DON'T TOUCH THAT!"

In a swift motion, Ivy reached out and grabbed Shamrock from the back. Lost in his own world and oblivious to Ivy's presence, Shamrock let out a startled yelp, losing his balance and stumbling against the fragile wall of the building.

"Hey!" Shamrock protested as he flung Ivy off of him. "What was that for?" He hurriedly dashed out of the crumbling structure, Ivy following him. As they fled, a section of the building collapsed, the noise drawing the attention of the entire group.

"It's his fault," Shamrock declared, his finger pointing squarely at Ivy. "He scared me."

"What?!" Ivy started with disbelief. "Shamrock, you—"

With a sigh, Clover turned away from the two, his patience worn by their constant bickering. "They never learn," he muttered to himself. Stepping away from the beginning argument, he wandered until he located Lavender, who had chosen a sturdy-looking stone brick to rest on. They sat there with care, cradling their picnic basket securely between their claws.

"Are you alright?" Clover asked, his gaze drawn to the grip Lavender maintained on the basket.

"Absolutely!" Lavender responded cheerfully, turning to face him with a warm smile. “Although, I am scared of dropping it in the middle of all this haze. If I do, it would be too hard to find it.”

"Don't worry," Clover reassured. "I can guide you through the fog if you'd like."
"That sounds wonderful," Lavender replied, their smile growing as they gracefully accepted his offer. They reached out, intertwining their fingers with Clover's while still clutching the basket tightly. The firm grip on his hand remained.

Peering through the dense fog, Clover searched for the continuation of the path. Eventually spotting it, he beckoned to Lavender and began to guide them forward. A short while later, Shamrock and Ivy rejoined the group, followed by Evergreen, who seemed to have managed to stop the two quarreling lizards.

"You two really need to put an end to this," Evergreen's voice rang out as she came within earshot.

"I'll stop when he stops doing reckless things," Ivy grumbled defiantly. Not wanting to help Shamrock up again, Ivy left the task to Evergreen instead. He strode over to where Clover stood. "Let's just continue. I can't bear any more distractions."

"Agreed," Clover affirmed, nodding in agreement. "Let's continue on our way."

With the need to no longer slash through stubborn vines, as the thick undergrowth had vanished, Clover swiftly returned his dagger to its pouch. A fleeting wince crossed his face as he wished he had brought a flashlight to navigate through the shrouded fog. Guided by Lavender's reassuring grip, Clover took measured steps.

As they ventured further into the eerie landscape, an unsettling transformation began to unfold. The fog, once a delicate presence, began to swell and expand around them. Clover's surroundings blurred as the fog thickened. A sense of unease settled over him.

A note of alarm crept into Clover's voice as he exclaimed, "Oh, no..." His words trailed off. The world around him had transformed into a sea of white, and his ability to navigate was fading fast.

From somewhere within the fog, Shamrock's voice joined the chorus of uncertainty. "I can’t see!" Shamrock echoed. The fog had now engulfed them all, wrapping them in a shroud of fog that left them blind to their surroundings.

Clover's instinct for survival kicked in. He lifted his feet gingerly, as if stepping on fragile glass, and stretched his unoccupied arm into the air. His fingers danced through the fog, to attempt to feel for anything that was coming towards him. Carefully, he moved his arm, fingers grazing the unseen. He didn't dare to look back to verify if the others were similarly navigating the fog. From the corner of his eye, a vague outline caught his attention. It was Lavender, mirroring his gestures.

The tense silence was broken as Shamrock coughed. "Goodness…" he wheezed, his voice muffled by his discomfort. "This haze is making it hard to breathe."

Clover found himself at a loss for reassuring words. The situation was undeniably challenging, leaving him with no choice but to simply state, "We must keep going."

As they pushed ahead, Clover held onto the hope that conditions might improve, yet they took a turn for the worse. An eerie ringing noise pierced the air, a jarring echo that echoed within their ears. The sound looped, causing Clover to instinctively want to cover his ears to shield himself from the sharp sound. However, his hands were occupied with scanning for potential dangers and maintaining a firm grip on Lavender.

"What the hell is that noise?" Evergreen exclaimed with frustration.

"Just keep moving!" Clover commanded with stern urgency.

Clover quickened his stride. His desire to emerge from the fog's clutches pushed him forward. His careful walk turned into a determined run. The fog seemed to blur into a haze around him as he gained momentum, his heart racing in sync with his rapid breaths.

A few more steps and Clover's instincts guided him to a triumphant leap, propelling himself forward and out of the fog's grasp. As he opened his eyes, relief washed over him like a tide. The fog that had once blinded his vision had lessened to the point where he could finally see. The world around him came into focus, revealing a landscape that, while changed, was now within his sight.

"That was wild," Clover huffed, his breath still ragged from the sprint through the fog.

"Very," Lavender agreed, their own breaths coming in rapid bursts. They released his hand, taking a moment to catch their breath before they spoke.
Clover's attention shifted to the fog as Ivy emerged, followed by Evergreen and Shamrock. A sense of relief washed over him. All of them had made it through the ordeal unscathed.

As the lizards exchanged glances, a sudden, loud panging sound reverberated through the air again, catching them off guard. Clover blinked, his eyes registering wonky shapes and colors that danced in his vision. The aftermath of being enveloped in the fog was making itself known, distorting his perception in strange ways.

He looked around, and to his surprise, the landscape seemed to shift and morph into bizarre designs. Shapes and patterns that defied reality popped up in every direction, creating visions that were beyond his imagination. The fog had left an imprint on his senses, playing tricks on his vision and turning the world into a canvas of the uncanny.

"That fog did something to us," Clover muttered. However, his words seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the rest of the group was completely absorbed in their own altered reality. They appeared tired and dreamy, their movements sluggish as they waved their arms in various directions, muttering incomprehensible phrases.

A sense of urgency and panic welled up within Clover. He couldn't let them wander aimlessly in this altered state, where their perceptions were skewed and their surroundings transformed into a surreal wonderland. The need to keep them safe.

Clover propelled himself into action. He sprinted towards Evergreen, his legs carrying him with a speed born out of sheer concern. “Evergreen!” Clover yelled in her ear. “Snap out of it!”

Evergreen's gaze, though distant and unfocused, met Clover's with a dizzied expression. Her actions were erratic, as she pointed to a random tree and giggled goofily. "Look!" she exclaimed, her laughter tinged with an otherworldly quality. "He said he could teach me how to hunt down a biiig boar. Even bigger than a whale!"

"EVERGREEN!" He raised his voice to a yell, the stress evident as he called out her name with force. However, he recognized that aggression wasn't the solution. Yet, in the desperate hope of bringing her back, he did something he normally wouldn't – he slapped her on the cheek.

The impact seemed to startle Evergreen, her eyes closing momentarily. But to Clover's astonishment, she opened them again, this time with a sense of arrogance. "Hey!" she snapped, her tone defiant as she looked at him with irritation. "Now what was that for?"

His voice quickened as he urgently shared the truth. "The fog did something to us. You were hallucinating," he said, his words rushed but filled with concern. The second he explained it to her, he rushed over to Ivy.

"Ivy!" Clover's voice roared across the strange landscape, his urgency cutting through the fog as he directed his attention toward his drowsy friend. Ivy was seated, seemingly engrossed in observing his own claw.

"Shhh…" Ivy's response was drowsy and distant, his words carrying an air of distraction. "I'm reading here," he murmured, his expression one of tranquil detachment.

Without hesitation, he grabbed Ivy's hand and pulled him to his feet. Ivy's drowsy demeanor was no match for Clover's determination to snap him out of the hallucination's grip.

With Ivy now standing, Clover maintained his grip on Ivy's arm, guiding his brother's attention towards him. "SNAP. OUT. OF. IT!" he exclaimed in huffed breaths. He waved Ivy's arm in front of him, hoping to jolt him back to reality.

As Clover flailed Ivy's hand, Ivy blinked twice, his confusion evident in his expression. In a swift motion, Ivy grabbed Clover's hand, halting the flailing. "I wasn't in any trouble," Ivy stated matter-of-factly. "Why were you flailing my hand?"

Clover didn't linger to explain the situation to Ivy again. He knew he had to move quickly to check on Lavender. The urgency of the moment propelled him forward.

As Clover rushed over to where Lavender stood, he found them in a peculiar state. Despite their fixed appearance and closed eyes, there was an aura of tranquility about them, as if they were peacefully lost in thought. Clover hesitated to disturb them, even though he knew that they, too, were experiencing the effects of the disorienting environment.

Clover settled on a straightforward approach. Leaning in closer to Lavender, he whispered their name with a hint of urgency. "Lavender," he murmured softly into their ear, "wake up."

Suddenly, Lavender's eyes snapped open, and their reaction was far from serene. A startled scream erupted from them as if they had encountered an enormous spider. Startled, they flung the basket they held and leaped back. "CLOVER?"

"Whoa, whoa! I didn't do anything," Clover quickly reassured, his hands raised in a gesture of innocence.

"Clover, you scared me!" Lavender exclaimed, their gaze darting around in panic. It took them a moment to regain their composure. Once their breathing steadied, they questioned, "What on earth just happened?"

Clover's demeanor remained composed as he explained, "It was the fog. It had some sort of effect on all of us. But we've come out of it now."

"Well, that's a relief," Lavender sighed, placing their claws over their chest as if to calm their racing heart. Their eyes fluttered shut momentarily before opening again, only to realize something amiss. "Hold on a second... Where's my basket?" They scanned their surroundings, their treasured basket absent.

The realization of the missing basket sent a ripple of concern through the group. As Evergreen, Shamrock, and Ivy rejoined them, Ivy was quick to point out the basket's location as it tumbled into a nearby dip, seemingly headed toward an area that resembled a body of water, hinting at its potential to float away.

A growing sense of distress took hold of Lavender, who began to hyperventilate. The imminent loss of the cake they had worked so hard on weighed heavily on them, and tears threatened to well up. In the face of Lavender's distress, Clover sprang into action, seeking to comfort and reassure them.

"Stay calm," he urged gently. "This isn't your fault. Don't worry about retrieving it yourself. I'll take care of it."

"But it's meant to be a surprise! What if you accidentally open it?" Lavender's anxiety was clear as they voiced their concern. However, a quick look at Lavender revealed that they were in no condition to venture after the drifting basket.

"No," Clover insisted firmly. "You've already been through enough today. All of you, stay here. When I return, just call out, and I'll find my way back to you."

Shamrock, however, was not one to be left behind. Asserting himself boldly, he rushed to Clover's side. "I'm coming with you. I don't want to miss out on this!"

Clover let out a resigned sigh. He knew he couldn't convince Shamrock to stay. "Fine. But let's keep it swift." With that, Clover set off towards the basket's last known location, Shamrock at his side, their footsteps carrying them through the fog-shrouded landscape.

## Chapter Five

Clover quickened his pace through the swaying grass, each step echoing with a noticeable thump that startled a flutter of birds into the air, their wings creating brief shadows against the hazy environment. Upon reaching the tip of the ditch, he came to an abrupt pause, his breath a visible mist in the chilled air.

The grassy slope seemed uneven and uncertain, and he was aware of the need to maintain his balance as he gingerly made his way down, his boots sinking into the damp earth with each foothold.

The air grew colder and damper as he descended, a stark contrast to the warmth above. The stillness was broken by a snap of a twig breaking, signaling Shamrock's arrival as his form emerged from the haze, following the path Clover had taken.

Once he had successfully landed at the bottom of the ditch, he approached Clover. "So… where do you think the basket dropped?" Shamrock asked.

Clover's eyes scanned their surroundings, seeking any sign that could provide a clue to find the basket. Through the haze that dimmed his vision, a scene emerged before him – a pond bordered by twisted, gnarled trees decked with leaves long turned brown and lifeless. But it wasn't the landscape that drew Clover's attention; it was an item on the water's surface, something that didn't quite belong.

Clover pointed to the object in the pond. “Over there!" he exclaimed, his finger directing to a large, brown mass that floated on the surface. He took off towards the pond.

As he drew near, the sight before him unraveled. It was a rickety-looking boat, its wood chipped and uneven as it floated gently in the calm, murky water. Inside the boat, the handle of the basket was visible, but it was out of reach.

Clover knew he needed a plan, a way to retrieve the basket without walking into the pond's deep-green depths. His fingers dug into his bag, searching for his trusty companion – a long lasso. It had once belonged to his father and had been used for swinging between trees. Now, it would serve a different purpose – to help them pull the boat to shore.

Clover looked at the lasso. "Well, we can try this," he said with pride in his tone.

Shamrock, on the other hand, did something else. He walked over to a pile of rocks, his intentions clear that he had an alternate plan.

Clover swung the lasso in the air, his focus sharp as he attempted to snag the boat's tip. On his first attempt, the lasso barely grazed the boat before splashing into the water, leaving him with a sense of dissatisfaction. However, he wasn't one to give up easily. He adjusted his approach, tilting his body closer to the pond as he swung the rope again. Success! The lasso caught the boat's edge.

Shamrock took his stance, a pile of rocks in hand, and began throwing them at the boat's side. The impact of the rocks created a rhythmic pounding sound against the wood, causing the boat to shift and inch its way toward the surface.

Clover's arms ached as he reeled the boat in with each heave. He pulled with all his might, the boat slowly coming within their grasp. Shamrock's efforts continued to push the boat towards them, until finally, after their intense efforts, Clover managed to grab the rim of the boat, allowing them to bring it to the surface.

Clover's gaze settled on the picnic basket resting inside the boat, still unbroken despite it rolling away. A sigh of relief escaped him as he reached out to retrieve it. However, his attempt was abruptly interrupted by a sudden sound, a loud squeak that seemed to come out of nowhere.

"HEY!" The sharp voice cut through the air, causing Clover to startle. He withdrew his hands from the basket and glanced around, trying to find the source of the unexpected voice. He didn’t know someone was there.

A blue fin covered with moss broke through the water's surface, accompanied by the swift swish of a shark tail. Before him stood a petite-shaped Sharklet, their bold blue scales glistening with dampness from the murky waters. They looked very angry.

"Why are you stealing MY picnic basket?" the Sharklet demanded, their brow furrowed as they faced the leaflets.

Shamrock, never one to back down, responded defensively. "This is OUR picnic basket!"

The Sharklet's response was equally defensive. "Nuh-uh! I found it first! It dropped from the ground above, so I claimed it for my collection!"

Clover knew he needed to communicate calmly, despite his frustration. "Kind Sharklet, you must understand," he began quietly, "We were the ones who accidentally dropped it. We need it back."

“Don't just call me a Sharklet!” They said, swishing their tail. “My name is Navy! "But either way... Finders keepers!"

Clover continued to explain the situation flatly. "That's not how it works." He recognized that he was arguing with someone who seemed to be acting quite childish. Slowly, he reached his hands toward the basket again. "We'll take the basket and continue on our way, if you don't mind."

Navy wasn't about to relent. With a wet hand raised from the water, they slapped Clover's hand in a show of defiance. "NUH–UH!" they declared. "If you want it, we're going to have to play a game."

Clover let out a sigh. "Fine. Fine!" he yielded, his frustration rising. "What's the game?"

Navy's response was accompanied by a sharp, toothy grin. "Rock. Paper. Scissors."

Shamrock's excitement couldn't be contained. "Ooh, ooh!" he exclaimed, eagerly raising his hand. "I can do it! I'm the best at the game!"

Clover couldn't help but roll his eyes. "This is the most childish thing I've ever seen," he groaned. Nevertheless, he agreed, recognizing that Shamrock's confidence might work to their advantage in this situation.

Shamrock took his place opposite of Navy, both of them settling into a focused stance. As Navy swam in the water, Shamrock kneeled down to face them.

"Ready?" Navy asked.

"Ready," Shamrock assured.

The game began. Navy glided in the water with confidence, while Shamrock's steady gaze remained fixed. The challenge was set, and the stage was theirs.

With a quick nod, the game was underway. The suspense built as the moment grew. Shamrock's choice was clear: scissors. Across from him, Navy revealed their choice – rock.

“Ha! HAHA!” Navy couldn't contain their joy, their laughter echoing as they splashed playfully in the water. Shamrock ended up getting soaked in the midst of their victory celebration. "That's why I ALWAYS pick rock first!" Navy exclaimed.

"Hey!" Shamrock said with frustration. "It's the best of three."

Navy's response was filled with playful mischief. "A little trickster, huh? Fine. Winning multiple rounds can be way more fun."

With the second round beginning, the tension in the air heightened. Shamrock's choice remained consistent – rock. This time, though, Navy decided to counter with scissors.

"NO!" Navy's disappointed yowl echoed through the air, their excitement gone.

As the third round unfolded, Shamrock's selection remained unchanged – scissors. On the other hand, Navy's decision this time was paper.

"NO NO NO!" Navy's yowl of frustration rang out in disbelief.

A smile spread across Shamrock's face. "It looks like we'll be taking the basket then," he stated confidently.

Navy seemed to struggle to comprehend the situation before them. Their gaze wandered across the surroundings before settling once again on the picnic basket. Reacting swiftly, they extended their hand and swiped the basket, cradling it beneath their arm with a careful touch that kept it above the water's surface.

"Not yet!" Navy's response came slowly, as if they were attempting to come up with a reason to hold onto the basket. "That wasn't fair!"

Clover and Shamrock stood there, dumbfounded. They had just won the game of rock-paper-scissors fair and square, but Navy was not holding up their end of the deal. The picnic basket dangled from their claws.

"Wait a minute! We won that! You can't back out of it now!" Shamrock said in disbelief.

Clover's eyes narrowed. "Yeah! A deal's a deal!"

Navy chuckled. "Did I say that? Well, sometimes I change my mind.”

Shamrock clenched his fists. "This is ridiculous! We beat you fair and square!"

Navy looked at them with a smug face. "Oh, I know you did. But after looking at the dear basket..” Navy said, peering at the basket once more, “It’s a lot more valuable. I won’t just give it to you for a game!”

"Fine!" Clover huffed. “What else could you possibly want now?”

Navy's gaze roamed around momentarily before fixing on the bag nestled against Clover's back. "Give me something from there," they declared, a grin on their face.

Clover's expression twisted into a grimace as Navy brought up the idea. His bag contained items that he didn’t want to give to them so easily, but the need to regain the basket was more important. He made a plan to present Navy with a selection of seemingly worthless items.

"Alright, then. Let's see what's in there," Clover responded deliberately.

Clover lowered himself to the damp grass, placing his bag on the ground beside him. He began to rummage inside it, carefully looking through its contents. He started to pull out various items that he could acquire later very easily – a collection of small trinkets, a handful of snacks, and some spare leaves and vines that he had gathered during their journey.

"How about these?" Clover tried to sound interested in the items he was holding in order to make them seem more valuable. He held up one of the small trinkets, its surface catching the sunlight and causing it to glimmer. The trinket was diamond-shaped. "Take a look at this. It's quite shiny. I know you Sharklets like shiny things, ey?"

Navy cast a glance at the glimmering trinket, but it did not interest them. Swiftly, they propelled themselves out of the water, momentarily placing the picnic basket back on the boat. With curiosity, Navy began to examine the items one by one. They sniffed at the snacks with a confused expression, then promptly set them aside. They tossed the leaf dismissively while they wrapped the vine around their arm before throwing it once more.

"All this stuff is boring," Navy sighed. "Where’s the real stuff?"

Clover attempted to hide the fact that there were more valuable items in his bag. "Well, you know, those are my most valued items. I'm sure there's something you'd find interesting."

Navy caught on to Clover's poor attempt to hide his valuables. "Oh, come on now! Hand it over! Let's see what you're trying to keep secret."

Without arguing, he pushed the bag towards Navy. He knew he couldn’t come up with another lie fast enough. As Navy touched the exterior of the pouch, the sensation of various items in it became clear. "Nah," Navy remarked, "You were lying. There's still some stuff in here." Clover managed a weak smile in response, not knowing what else to do.

Navy extended their claws, still coated with a layer of moss and the residue of pond water, into the pouch. Clover watched in astonishment as Navy proceeded with this act, given that there were weapons within the pouch, which could potentially harm them.

Despite the potential risk, Navy continued searching in the bag until they found something interesting. With a measure of care, they grabbed the item in question, delicately drawing it from the depths of the pouch.

"Ah, yes! This seems very dandy," Navy commented, their attention captured by the item they had plucked from the pouch. Clover, however, gazed on in a state of horror. The object Navy held in their arms was none other than Clover's cherished lasso – an item that held deep sentimental value as a connection to his father.

"NO!" Clover exclaimed, his fear overriding his usual composure. He quickly corrected himself, speaking with measured words, "I mean, no. That's the one thing you should definitely not take from there."

Navy's gaze remained fixed on the lasso, their interest persistent. "Nah," they responded, "I want this. It seems like it would be quite useful”

"I'm willing to offer you anything else from my pouch if you just leave that alone," Clover's frustration had transformed into desperation. "Taking that lasso is not an option."

Navy's response carried a note of bargaining. "But you want the picnic basket, don't you? Well, I want this lasso. I won't back down."

Clover exchanged a glance with Shamrock, pointing his head towards the bag. Shamrock understood the unspoken message and began to discreetly slide the pouch towards himself, understanding what he had to do.

Clover rose to his feet. "If you won't hand it over willingly, I'll have no choice but to take it from you," he warned.

Navy responded with a hint of taunt. "I'd like to see you try!"

Clover continued to shift towards Navy, closing the gap between them. Noticing what Clover was doing, Navy swiftly retreated into the water, situating themselves at the edge of the shore. The subtle message was clear: any sudden move from Clover could result in the lasso falling into the murky waters below, potentially becoming stained and soaked. Clover hesitated, reluctant to risk the potential loss of his cherished possession, but he knew he had to try.

As Clover closed in on Navy, his hands reaching out towards the lasso, Navy's claws tightened their grip on the prized item. Their grin took on a playful, almost childlike quality, despite the tension of the situation. Clover was hesitant to use any force, not wanting to accidentally harm the Sharklet.

With a gentle tug, Clover attempted to reclaim the lasso, but Navy responded with unexpected strength, firmly defying the attempt. The force of Navy's pull caused the lasso to remain under their control.

"Is that the best you can do?" Navy laughed, their grip on the lasso unyielding. It was now clear that Navy had a level of strength that Clover had underestimated.

Clover smiled. "No, it isn't." Without warning, he lunged towards Navy, his fingers wrapping around the lasso with a fierce grip. The determination to keep his prized possession fueled his strength, and he was stubborn about not letting go.

Navy's struggle to control their hold on the lasso became increasingly apparent. Despite their resistance, Clover's determination seemed to be overpowering them. In a surprising turn of events, Navy resorted to a more unconventional method, clamping down on the lasso with their teeth. The sight left Clover with disgust at the unexpected tactic.

Turning around, Clover discovered Shamrock standing nearby, the dagger grasped in his hand. A surge of relief swept over Clover as he realized that Shamrock had understood his unspoken signal from earlier. Deciding to use the dagger, Clover released his grip on the lasso momentarily, prompting Navy to seize the opportunity and tighten their hold on the lasso.

As this happened, Shamrock strategically transferred the dagger into Clover's awaiting hand. Clover positioned the dagger, handling it with precision, and approached Navy with caution. He presented the blade in a way that Navy couldn't ignore, holding it close to their line of sight. In a hushed tone, Clover issued a warning, "It might be wise to release your grip on that lasso now."

The sight of the gleaming dagger caught Navy's attention, and their reaction was immediate. A small yelp escaped their mouth, and without hesitation, they released their grip on the lasso, letting it drop onto the shore. In response, they retreated into the water, submerging their face as if attempting to shield themselves from Clover's presence.

Clover couldn't help but scoff. "That's what I thought.”

With caution still lingering in the air, Clover gestured for Shamrock to retrieve the basket from the boat. While Shamrock did so, Clover gracefully retrieved his lasso from where Navy had dropped it. He held it in one hand, a sense of relief flooding over him as he felt the familiar weight and texture.

"It's been quite an unlucky day for me, almost losing my lasso." He thought silently.

With Shamrock successfully retrieving the picnic basket and returning to Clover's side, the tense atmosphere seemed to ease. A few bubbles emerged from the murky water, signaling Navy's return to the surface. Their expression looked sad, their round eyes reflecting regret.

Clover's triumphant tone rang out as he addressed Navy. "Now, what do you need to say?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," they admitted, their voice barely above a mumble. "I just wanted to add some things to my collection of trinkets..."

"You didn't think that through, did you?" Shamrock said with surprise. "Putting the basket in water would have made everything soggy, including the food."

"Wait," Navy asked with shock. "There was FOOD in the basket?"

"Obviously! Shamrock retorted. "Were you just after the basket itself?"

The moss-covered Sharklet's silent nod confirmed Shamrock's suspicions.

"Well, that's certainly interesting," Clover remarked, now knowing Navy's true intention. "But I'm glad that you apologized."

Navy raised their arms in a gesture of surrender. "Yep, I didn't want to end up hurt," they admitted. "But please, take your things... I didn't really need them anyway," they said with a tinge of sadness.

As Shamrock handed over the basket and received the lasso and dagger in exchange, Clover's grip on the basket was firm and reassuring. He gave the basket a slight shake, confirming that nothing inside of it spilled or broke. Meanwhile, Shamrock slipped back the two items back into Clover's bag.

"Well then," Clover announced, "let's get moving. I did promise this would be a quick trip." With a swift motion, he securely fastened the bag back over his shoulder as he led the way out of the area.

Shamrock couldn't help but chuckle as he cast a parting glance at Navy. After he did, he scampered after his brother, their footsteps marking their path back up to the original area they had been in. Clover helped Shamrock up the hill, as he still had trouble walking. The crackling of a fire and a mix of voices reached their ears, guiding them back as Clover waved his hand to signal his presence.

"We did it!" Clover's voice brimmed with pride as he announced their success. Glancing around, he spotted his family and partner gathered around a small fire, each savoring a portion of the bird Evergreen had managed to catch.

"Yes! Finally!" Lavender responded through a hurried mouthful of food. They swallowed quickly, setting aside their meal to walk over to Clover to reach for the basket. A slight shake confirmed that the contents were intact, prompting a relieved exhale from them.

Clover put his arm around Lavender's shoulders. "Don't worry. Everything's perfectly safe in there."

"You didn't peek inside, did you?" They asked cautiously. "I hope you didn't."

Clover chuckled. "Nope! None of us opened it."

A visible weight was lifted off Lavender's shoulders. "That's a relief," they admitted, their tone more at ease. "Thank you so much for recovering it."

Clover grinned warmly. "It's my duty to.”

Evergreen's gaze fell on Shamrock, who was unmistakably soaked from his encounter. It also appeared that some rock and dirt bits clung to him. "What happened to you?" she asked cautiously.

"I played rock paper scissors with a Sharklet," Shamrock explained with an impish grin. “And then we FOUGHT them!” He continued, his smile growing wider.

"HUH?!" Evergreen's response was immediate, her disbelief echoing in the air.

"I'll explain later," Clover chuckled, guiding Shamrock towards the cozy campfire to enjoy the cooked bird. The flames danced and crackled against the canvas of the dark orange evening sky.

## Chapter Six

"Damn, that Sharklet really *does* sound quite childish!" Evergreen remarked, facing Shamrock on the other side of the fire. "If I were there, I would have just snatched it from their slick hands and watched them cry," she added with a mischievous grin.

"I know, right?" Shamrock replied enthusiastically, relieved to have a lengthy conversation. While it was Shamrock who had told the entire group about what had happened while they were gone, Clover couldn't help but notice that Shamrock had added many false details to the story, portraying the two as fearless heroes instead of the struggling Leaflets who had been scared to walk into the murky water. However, not wanting to spoil Shamrock's enjoyment, Clover let him babble on with his daydreams.

Clover thought to himself, basking in the warmth of the fire. He reflected on how the trip so far had been full of unlucky events. Nevertheless, the group had managed to solve any problems that arose, making him a bit more cheery.

Lavender gently nudged him, directing his attention to the map spread out on his lap. "We've been taking a nice break here, but I think it's time to press on. What do you say we continue our journey?"

Clover's mind had been filled with the soothing fumes of the fire, and he hadn't realized just how long they had been resting. It felt like he had only sat down a minute ago. "Oh, yes!" he responded with a drowsy nod. "It's been peaceful, but you're right; we should continue on." With determination, he sat up and straightened his back.

"Alright, guys, let's get going!" Clover exclaimed with a triumphant cheer. The others responded with nods of agreement, promptly packing up their belongings and rising from the log stumps. Clover signaled to Ivy to tend to the fire before it grew too large. Although there wasn't much cause for concern, as the flames were already sputtering and turning to ash, Ivy quickly went to the task.

With the map opened, Clover led the way down the path. He couldn't help but let out a deep sigh of exhaustion, feeling like there was already so much on their plate. However, he knew he couldn't give up; after all, he was an esteemed adventurer. He was determined to find that waterfall, no matter how long it might take!

Clover's claws traced the portion of the map marked with a rock symbol. "Ah," he muttered, "I'm guessing the rock symbol could represent either a mountain or a cave." He secretly hoped it wouldn't turn out to be a mountain, as that would make for a more challenging journey.

"It seems we're heading into a rocky area," Clover mentioned to Lavender, who walked alongside him. "Do you have any idea what that rock symbol might mean?"

Lavender shrugged. "Don't look to me for answers; I'm not quite the explorer you are!" They examined the rock symbol on the map. "Regardless of what it is," Lavender said, "we'll have to find a way through it."

“Yep.” Clover mused in agreement. “We’ll see.”

As the group continued their journey, the path before them changed dramatically. The dense forest twisted and turned, with trees bunching together tightly before suddenly opening up again. Clover found himself puzzled by the odd pattern of the trees, but he didn't think about it for too long.

His mind was still clouded by the earlier encounter with the sneaky Sharklet and the lingering effects of the campfire's fumes. A heavy drowsiness had settled over him, and all he could think about was reaching the waterfall and enjoying a peaceful nap by its side.

After a while of walking, Clover noticed the path changing from its previous pattern. Instead of closing up again, it widened, and the trees did not close as before. This signaled that something important lay ahead. With growing interest, he walked forward, and at last, he reached the end of the tree-covered trail. Before him lay the entrance to a brown, rocky cave, seemed to go deep underground.

"What is it?" Shamrock asked with surprise as he noticed Clover standing there at the cave entrance. Clover just stood there, a sense of bewilderment washing over him as he wondered why the group had to venture into a cave to reach a waterfall. To him, it all seemed rather absurd.

"It's a... cave!" Clover responded cheerfully, doing his best not to sound too tired. "We just need to make our way through this, and we'll be almost there... I promise."

"You've been making that promise one too many times," Ivy chimed in, stepping out of the trail to gaze at the cavern's deep, dark depths. "Are you absolutely certain there's no shortcut?"

Clover craned his neck, scanning the surrounding forest for any signs of an alternative route or hidden passage, then glanced back at the map. The cave was the only obstacle standing in their way, and they had no choice but to enter it. "Nope, no shortcut," he said.

Evergreen gave Clover a reassuring bump on the shoulder. "It's just a cave, no worries! We can make it through this."

Clover's sharp look at her reminded him of his earlier concerns at the start of their adventure. "But to explore a cave, we need light. Do *you* remember where we put our flashlights?"

"Oh..." Evergreen chuckled. "I completely forgot about that." She gazed down at the dark cave, her expression mirroring Clover's as the realization sank in that, without light, they would be stumbling through pitch-black tunnels. "Let's just hope there's something down there to guide us."

Lavender started to walk to the cave entrance, their wings gently fluttering in the air. "We don't need to make a fuss. If we can't see, we can simply huddle together and move in small steps!"

Shamrock and Ivy hurried over to join Lavender, leaving Clover and Evergreen behind for a moment. Evergreen cast a sympathetic glance at Clover before making her way toward the cave entrance.

With a sigh, Clover gathered himself and followed her, appearing to be the last one to enter the cave. Fortunately, the rest of the group had waited for him, allowing him to take the lead.

As Clover's eyes gradually adjusted to the dim light within the cave, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. It reminded him vividly of the Wildclaw caves, with their labyrinthine tunnels and the numerous, vicious Wildclaws going about their business. Every time he entered an underground cave, he couldn't help but imagine that sight, which sent a shiver of fear and frustration down his spine.

"Just as I suspected... It's pitch black in here," Clover remarked, unable to see anything in the darkness. "Dear Dawn... How are we going to get through this?"

Clover noticed the outline of Lavender's head turning in a certain direction. "Wait... I think I saw something over there. It looked like it had light!"

"But how can you reach it?" Clover asked anxiously. "Lavender, if you just run off, we'll all get lost."

Lavender stood still for a moment, weighing their options, then nodded. "It'll be quick, I promise," they reassured. "Besides, I'm willing to bet there are only three or four paths in this cave in total." With that, they bolted out of Clover's view.

"Oh, dear," Clover sighed as he watched Lavender disappear into the darkness, feeling uncertain about what to do next. "Let's hope Lavender was right and that they won't get lost."

Evergreen took a sharp breath. "I guess..." She tried to sound confident, but her voice betrayed her doubts. "So, what should we do to catch up to them?"

Clover considered their options. "We'll do what we can. Let's try feeling the things beside us and see how many paths there really are."

The four of them spread out slightly, staying close enough to see each other's silhouettes. Clover ran his claws along the ashy, stone walls, trying to get a sense of the cave's structure. As he did so, he couldn't help but notice an odd texture, almost as if there was something written on the wall. Of course, he couldn't see anything in the darkness, so he didn't know what it might say. Still, he couldn't help but wish that it held some helpful information that could guide them on their journey.

"There aren't just three tunnels, there are five," Shamrock's voice finally broke the silence in the pitch-black cave. "And if I'm correct, I'm pretty sure that Lavender went through the fourth tunnel."

"How on earth could you possibly know that Lavender went through the fourth one?" Ivy asked with curiosity as he walked over to Shamrock.

"Come here," Shamrock beckoned to Ivy, who could only see him dimly. "Do you hear that whispering?"

Ivy stood for a moment, then nodded toward the fourth tunnel. "Yes, I hear it too!" Ivy exclaimed. "Clover, Evergreen, come over here and listen to this!"

Clover had his doubts about how a mere whispering sound could help them in this situation. He suspected that the sound might be nothing more than the flow of air. Nevertheless, he cautiously moved toward Shamrock and Ivy, with Evergreen gently urging him closer to the fourth tunnel. At first, Clover only heard the rush of wind, but he soon realized he was mistaken. Amidst the subtle sounds, he spotted a soft, soothing voice, and it appeared to be coming from a short distance away.

"Yes, it does sound like whispering!" Clover exclaimed with relief, now confident that Lavender was indeed in that tunnel.

Since they were so close, Clover extended his barely visible hand toward the pitch-black tunnel, inviting the others to follow him inside. As they entered the tunnel, Clover noticed that it was gradually sloping downward. With nothing to hold onto, he clutched his claws into the stone ground for support.

As the slope began to level out, Clover heaved a sigh of relief. With no need to cling to the ground anymore, he released his grip, causing him to stumble and briefly run into the flat ground. Eventually, he settled down, lying on the flat surface and gazing upward into the inky darkness that surrounded them.

As the group continued their journey down the tunnel, Clover became even more frustrated. "The whispering is gone, and I can't see any source of light. This is just perfect; now we're even MORE lost!"

Ivy turned towards Shamrock, his irritation clear in his voice. "This is why we should never listen to YOUR rules, Shamrock!"

Shamrock was taken aback by Ivy's accusation. "MY rules? You were the one who agreed with everything I said! It's your fault too."

Ivy snorted defensively. "Well, I thought you actually had a clever idea this time. I guess this just goes to show that I still can't trust you!"

The siblings' bickering once again echoed through the cave, leaving Clover lying on the floor, which seemed to grow warmer by the minute. It was odd; the ground had been fine earlier. Perplexed, Clover lifted his head and scanned the surroundings, trying to figure out what had changed.

Out of the corner of his eye, Clover spotted a faint green light. He sprang up from the ground with excitement, realizing that his sibling's instincts had been right; Lavender was here!

Clover began to sprint in the direction of the glowing light, calling out, "Lavender? Is that you?"

The green light steadily grew larger, and he could finally see again. There stood Lavender, their purple scales gleaming as they turned to greet him with a smile. It was them! "Clover, I found it!" Lavender exclaimed.

Clover's attention shifted to what Lavender held in their hand – a green mushroom that had a faint glow, the source of the light he had seen. He examined it with curiosity. "That looks... interesting!" Clover remarked, studying the mushroom. "But... let's not get it too close to you. Hopefully, it's not poisonous."

"Oh, it isn't," Lavender reassured with a chuckle. "Look around you, Clover!"

Clover, who was focused on Lavender, turned his attention to his surroundings. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the breathtaking scene that unfolded before him. Green mushrooms of various sizes and shapes sprouted in every direction, creating an otherworldly landscape within the damp cave. Another type of plant, vines adorned with glowing spores, intertwined with the mushrooms.

"It's... it's beautiful!" Clover exclaimed in awe.

"It really makes you want to sit here and look at it all day, huh?" Lavender said, sitting down on the damp ground without hesitation. They looked happy in this fine place, despite it not being the destination they were headed to.

Clover, however, couldn't shake the underlying fear that gnawed at him as he remained in the cave. He thought the opposite, half-expecting a Wildclaw to suddenly emerge from a hidden corner, ready to attack with a drawn sword. But he didn't want to distress Lavender with his concerns. "Yeah," he mumbled, choosing not to sit down alongside Lavender.

Evergreen made their way into the green-glowing cave with Shamrock and Ivy, their earlier squabble forgotten as they both marveled at the beautiful scene. Shamrock, feeling victorious, plopped down beside Lavender and couldn't resist saying, "I knew I was right!"

Lavender responded with a smile, "You certainly were. The cave won't be so dark now with these glowing green mushrooms to light our way."

"Yeah!" Clover chimed in eagerly, relieved to have an opportunity to move on from the cave quickly. "Everyone, grab a mushroom, and let's get going."

With a collective nod, the group rose to their feet and selected the largest mushrooms growing in the damp cave. Clover picked one up himself and examined it closely, wondering if it might be poisonous. He felt a bit concerned but decided that if the mushroom didn't affect him, he could store it in his bag and analyze it later if the glow was still there.

As Clover held the glowing mushroom high to examine his surroundings, he couldn't help but notice that the cave continued to slope deeper into the ground. The tunnel appeared relatively narrow, further adding to his unease.

His anxiety drove him to hurry into the tunnel, moving forward at a brisk pace. When he glanced back, he realized that the rest of the group was quite a distance behind him. However, he paid it little mind; his primary goal was to escape the cave, and he wanted to do so quickly.

Drawing a deep breath, Clover squeezed through the skinny tunnel, propelled himself onto the smooth rocky floor, and found himself in an area that emitted a faint, comforting chill, a stark contrast to the warm atmosphere he had encountered earlier.

With the green mushroom held high, he noticed three separate passageways leading ahead and markings on the cave walls. It turned out he had been right all along; there was writing on the walls!

Clover steadied himself and approached one corner of the cavern wall, gently pressing the glowing mushroom against the rocky surface. There, he found a sentence etched into the stone and read it aloud:

*"Three exits you may see,"*

*"But their destinations differ, you'll agree."*

*"One carries on the cave, safe and free,"*

*"While the other traps, a dangerous spree,"*

*"The third leads out, to safety, oh, plea,"*

*"Choose wisely, or troubles unimaginable may spree."*

"Choose wisely?" Clover thought to himself. Right now, he felt like he had no time for games. He couldn't shake the suspicion that this was just a cruel trick, a ploy designed to trap them further in this cave. In all his years of cave exploration, not once had he encountered a cave with three separate exits.

"Hey, all of you, come take a look at this!" he called out to the group, who were just emerging from the tunnel behind him. "It's some sort of puzzle," he explained with frustration.

"A puzzle?" Shamrock scoffed, displaying clear disinterest. "We don't have time for games or riddles. Let's just take our chances and see if any of these exits lead us to safety!"

"Oh, sure, as if our luck had been *mighty* grand on this trip," Ivy chimed in, shooting a knowing glance at Shamrock.

"I'd say our luck has been quite pleasant," Shamrock retorted with a confident grin. "Watch and learn, folks. I'm about to breeze out of this cave, easy peasy lemon squeezy!"

The group observed as Shamrock boldly strolled up to the three exits, his glowing mushroom held high. He chose the middle exit and disappeared into it. Just moments later, a disheartening sound of rocks scraping against each other sounded from that very exit, and Shamrock returned with a defeated expression.

"Nope," he groaned, shaking his head. "That was just a dead-end, the cave keeps going."

“That makes it even worse!” Evergreen interfered, her hand slightly quivering. “Now we can either go to the exit or plunge down into a deadly trap!”

"Don't worry, I've got this," Clover declared boldly. He held the glowing mushroom close, illuminating the three cave entrances. It was now clear that the middle one led to more of the rocky tunnels, but the two outer tunnels had an eerie and identical green glow.

Clover, however, noticed a subtle but crucial difference as he examined the green light. He turned his head to study it more closely, realizing that the shades of green emitted by the two tunnels were not identical. With his green, glowing mushroom as his guide, he directed its light towards the left tunnel. Moving cautiously towards it, he observed that the green light seamlessly blended with that of the surrounding cave. It was now apparent that this tunnel was a clever trap, using the lure of the green, glowing mushrooms' light to mimic the outside world.

Taking a deep breath, Clover was glad that he had figured the puzzle out. Without his discovery, he might have mistaken the left tunnel for the correct path. Instead, he confidently moved towards the right tunnel, which emitted a more distinct and vibrant green light, mixed with a subtle dark orange hue from the sky. Without a word to the rest of the group, he stepped inside, causing a collective gasp from all of them.

“No need to be scared, guys!” Clover chuckled. “This is the right way; we’re finally out of the cave!”

As the rest of the group followed Clover to the correct exit, Clover heard the collective sighs of relief from all of them. He took a deep, long breath, savoring the fresh, open expanse of green land that stretched out before him. He was no longer confined to the suffocating cave, and he felt a sense of hope that they were getting closer to the waterfall. The sound of rushing water filled the air, though he couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from.

Evergreen beamed at Clover, genuinely impressed. "You've got quite the knack for this, Clover! Thanks for letting us, you know, not die.”

Clover grinned in response. "You’re welcome!" he chuckled happily. "I've got a feeling there's only one way to go from here, and I'm certain it's the right way." With new determination and the group's trust in his instincts, they continued their journey.

Clover carefully retrieved the map from his pouch and gingerly unraveled it once more, a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he scanned its surface. He shifted his claws to the top of the map, eager to find out the next steps of their journey. However, as he peered at the markings, his gaze slowly transformed into a frustrated squint. His heart sank as he realized that the next set of directions on the map had been smeared and obscured, rendering them unreadable.

"The map has deceived us!" Clover exclaimed with a sudden yowl of frustration, his voice echoing in the air. "There's no more directions!"

## Chapter Seven

"WHAT?!?" Ivy's voice pierced the air, echoing alongside Clover's frantic yowls. "You've got to be kidding me... Please, I'm begging you, just tell me this is a twisted joke!”

Clover locked his alarmed gaze onto Ivy, who was now racing frantically in dizzying circles, his eyes darting manically in every direction. "Why in the hell would I choose this moment to joke?" He snapped at him.

"Oh, I—" Ivy's words came in breathless gasps as he continued to panic across the grassy clearing. "I DON'T KNOW!"

Shamrock joined Ivy in his stressed sprinting, his feet pounding the earth rhythmically. "This is a nightmare! What are we going to do now?"

Evergreen's eyes darted everywhere, but she remained glued to the ground, not a hint of stress in her attitude, just disappointment. "Maybe we should never have accepted that map from Lillian for free..."

"From *who*?" Clover's head whipped around to face Evergreen, his curiosity overtaking his anxiety. Evergreen's eyes widened in realization as she quickly covered her mouth with her claws.

"Thanks, Evergreen, you've just spilled the secret!" Ivy bitterly remarked at her.

Lavender repeated Clover's unfinished question. "From who, Evergreen?" Lavender pressed, her gaze fixed on Evergreen. "Clover and I assumed you'd purchased it from a normal store."

Evergreen, caught off guard and at a loss for words, began to stammer, "I, um—"

As Shamrock was about to say something, and as Ivy started to walk closer to Evergreen in defense, Clover realized that this wasn't the time to argue. Somehow, somewhere, his siblings had acquired the map for a good reason. For *him*.

"Everyone, STOP!" Clover's voice thundered, instantly silencing his family. He cast his gaze upward, to the unfamiliar sky, as he carefully put the map back into his pouch. “I don’t want to be lost for very long, so don’t argue and make this longer. Let’s start searching now.”

Evergreen nodded silently. “I’ll explain to you how we got it later,” she grumbled.

Without a clear trail on where to go, the group aimlessly continued forward. Clover scanned the surroundings, squinting and peering as best as he could, to try to find some sort of path to guide them. To his dismay, there was no path in sight. Miles after miles stretched with an abundance of plants and flowers. He sighed heavily as he trudged ahead, each step seemingly heavier than the last.

A swarm of thoughts flooded Clover's mind again. How did his siblings get the map? Who did they get it from? And, most importantly, why for free? Where were they supposed to go, and what could they do? He pressed a claw to his forehead as he wondered. So many things to think about, and he just wanted a peaceful adventure to his cherished waterfall.

Perhaps the waterfall didn't need to be found after all. Maybe it was so hidden, so locked away in the wilderness, that no one had ever laid eyes on it. Not once. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be much of a letdown if Clover turned back then and there, retracing his steps. After all, no one would even know he ventured to such a secluded place.

His thoughts bit back at him. Returning without reaching the waterfall sounded horrible. The entire purpose of his journey was fueled by his dream to reach the waterfall, and turning back now meant disappointment for everyone, including his friends. They would likely think he went on a daring adventure, only to realize that he retreated last second. He couldn't let that happen. He had to try, he had to find a way forward.

He thought about any possible way to find the route to the waterfall. After all, his father had shared loads of knowledge about the wilderness with him. He remembered one thing: when all hope seemed lost at night, follow the northern star, and it would guide you to your destination. However, the day wasn't dark enough to see the stars at that moment. It was dim, but certainly not dark.

Suddenly, an idea sprang to his mind. He remembered. He knew! He recalled a moment from when he was just ten, crouching down with his father inside a bush. They were lost and battered in mud, trying to find their way back home while his mom's desperate wails echoed through the forest. His father didn't follow the sound, since it seemed to echo in every direction, but instead traced a simple pathway: the clovers. Following this natural guide, they effortlessly found their way back home. He remembered his father nudging his head and remarking, "That's why I named you after the lucky leaf itself, son!"

Clover stopped dead in his tracks when he knew what to do. The group behind him stopped as well.

"What's the holdup?" Shamrock asked impatiently.

Clover turned to his family. "I have a solution. Just follow the scattered rows of clovers you see on the ground!"

"Really? Is that it?" Evergreen questioned. "If you had thought of that earlier, we wouldn't have panicked so much."

"I know, I know, but I forgot about it!" Clover admitted. "It's been a while since I've been truly lost in the wilderness." He was right; his childhood memories were tied to familiar places, and navigating the landscape around him was a new challenge.

He wasn't sure how or why following clovers was a good idea, but it just made sense in the tropics. Perhaps it was a navigation method created by Dawn. He clung to the idea, hoping that somehow these scattered clovers would guide him through the wilderness like they did before.

Shamrock shrugged. "I guess we can give it a try." As he spoke, he veered off the trail, scanning the ground for rows of clovers.

The group followed, each member scanning the ground for scattered clovers. Clover, drawn by the sound of rushing water, shifted off slightly in that direction. To his delight, he discovered clovers scattered among the lush green grass. Intrigued, he decided to follow the trail to see where it led.

His footsteps led him to an area with small trees and more blooming flowers.

However, his joy turned to disappointment when he realized it was a dead end, with the back of a mountain blocking his way. He turned back, determined to find another trail of clovers, but a sudden sound caught his attention.

Whirling around, he faced the source of the noise. A high-pitched screech echoed from a distance.

"I FOUND SOMETHING!" Lavender's distant scream reached his ears.

"Where? Where?" Clover shouted back, trying to retrace his steps to find his original location. He couldn't spot anyone, but he knew they had to be with Lavender.

"Over here!" Ivy's more distinct voice pierced the air, guiding Clover toward the source of the sound. Determined, he ran in that direction.

"Clover! You need to look at this!" Evergreen's urgent voice reached him a few seconds later, prompting Clover to increase his speed.

"I know, I know, I'm coming!" Clover yelled back, now hearing every one of their voices as clear as day. When the silhouettes of the group finally came into view, he skittered to a stop, heaving deep breaths. After taking a moment to gather himself, he straightened up, ready to see what had prompted the group's loud excitement.

His mouth gaped open as he laid eyes on the remarkable sight before him.

The group found themselves in the midst of a spacious, circular grassy expanse, surrounded by colossal mountains that reached toward the sky where Dawn lived. These towering peaks were decorated with enchanting waterfalls carved seamlessly into the mountains. They released streams of mesmerizingly clear blue water that gracefully glistened in the sunlight. The beauty of the scene was so dazzling that Clover couldn't resist the temptation to take a refreshing plunge into the waters.

Deep within those mountains lay the waterfall Clover was destined to discover—the Emerald Waterfall. As he marveled at the breathtaking scene, Lavender interrupted his thoughts.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Lavender said to Clover, who shook his head in realization, snapping out of his fascination.

“Yeah, it really is,” he replied. The sheer beauty of his surroundings briefly wiped away any doubts or regrets he had.

Evergreen, however, was less enchanted and more worried. She began trotting around the grassy plain. “But we’re still lost,” she pointed out. “Sure, we found out where the waterfall is, but where exactly is it among all these mountains?”

“You're right,” Clover admitted. “But isn't it a relief to at least know where we are?”

Evergreen snorted. “I don’t think we know where we are still. Do you even know the name of this place?”

Clover, at a loss for words, shook his head in frustration and reached for his map. His claws anxiously traced over it, desperately searching for any clue to guide them forward. The section he had scanned before remained blank, marked only by smudges that appeared to be from another lizard's claw.

In a last-ditch effort, he turned the map around, and his yellow eyes widened in surprise. On the back, there was something unexpected. It wasn't additional directions, but instead, were words accompanied by a couple of drawings depicting emeralds. The text read:

*If you'd only caught the spark and flipped the script right from the start,*

*You wouldn't be in such a frantic state with a pounding heart!*

*Seek the hill where liquid green gleams, where towering pines do line,*

*But heed this hint, the chosen path is where your steps align.*

*For on this peak, a trail awaits, leading to the crest so high,*

*The others, alas, will not reveal the secret in the sky.*

Clover grumbled. “What poet wrote *this* map?”

"He didn’t seem like a poet to me... Just a creep," Shamrock responded dismissively. Then, with sudden interest, he asked, "Why? Did you find something?”

Clover, despite being discomforted, nodded eagerly. He still didn’t know who Shamrock was talking about, and even without any detail, the lizard seemed disturbing. "Yes, I did!" He unfolded the map, revealing its hidden side to the group. "It’s just another hint, though."

"At least we have something," Lavender chimed in optimistically. "We can work with this!”

Clover handed the map to Lavender, who examined it while Clover surveyed the many mountains before them. A trail awaits… that meant someone had indeed been there, he thought. His gaze shifted back and forth, but the mountains offered no obvious trails, only stretches of grass and rocks extending to the summit.

“It says a trail awaits,” Lavender said, mirroring Clover's thoughts. “Do you see any trails, Clover?”

Clover shook his head. “I don’t…” he replied quickly, scanning the surroundings in vain. “Let’s continue and see if we can find anything else.”

Clover quickened his pace, heading closer to the barrier of mountains. It wasn’t long before he spotted it—a tall mountain with a rocky, grey path snaking up its side. And at the top, a distinct glint of green caught his eye.

“The waterfall!” Clover exclaimed rapidly, pointing towards the sight. “Hurry up, we need to get over there!” Without waiting, he sprinted towards the rocky path, leaving the rest of the group to catch up.

Clover ran with the joy of a hyperactive child as he raced towards the waterfall's location. He felt the thrill of accomplishment, knowing he had finally found the destination. Just one more challenge stood between him and the sight: climbing the mountain.

He skidded to a stop when his snout nearly touched the massive mountain that loomed overhead. Glancing back, he was pleasantly surprised to find his family keeping pace. Things were finally taking a turn for the better.

“It’s only up to the top of the mountain, and we’ll be finished,” Clover announced joyfully. “Let’s get to it!”

“A quick walk to the top? It should be no problem,” Shamrock responded, starting to ascend the rocky trail alongside Clover.

“You better believe it’s no problem,” Evergreen retorted. “I’m sick of everything going wrong when we expect it to be easy.”

“Sorry, sorry, just saying!” Shamrock chuckled, dragging his feet over the rocky terrain and increasing his pace. “Even though we had problems, it still was exciting either way.”

“It was exciting for you only, Shamrock…” Ivy muttered. “Do you think I was happy when you scraped your knee? When you had to run with Clover to get Lavender’s picnic basket?”

Shamrock laughed again, seemingly unfazed. “Eh... It gave me the thrill of excitement. I want to be one of those rough and tough explorers, like the ones that have scars everywhere! The ones on their eyes are the toughest. A scrape on the knee is nothing.”

“I would agree to disagree,” Clover said softly, touching his left eye, where the scar from the battle marked him.

“You shouldn’t be joking about stuff like that,” Lavender added with a chuckle, shading themselves from the sun with their wings. “Thousands of people fighting in the war would gladly trade places with you if you said that to them.”

“I’d gladly take their places,” Shamrock declared, stopping to pose with a fierce look. “I’d be the best at fighting!” The group chuckled, but Clover knew the true weight of Shamrock's words. He shook his head and smiled.

“He’s right in a way,” Clover commented. “Even though some parts were tough for us, we still got where we wanted to. And I’m *so* glad that we did.”

“Speaking of getting to where we want to, we’re almost there!” Evergreen remarked, gazing upward. The sound of rushing water became more audible. “Lavender, are you sure the cake hasn’t melted by now?”

“Trust me, it hasn't,” Lavender replied calmly, shaking the picnic basket. “I’ve made sure that it wouldn’t melt even if it was in there for a week.”

Clover's stomach growled. He *really* wanted a piece of cake.

✨🍀🎂🍀✨

Ten minutes passed, then twenty, and eventually, thirty. An entire hour later, the group trudged on, visibly drained from the long and hard trek. The exhausted lizards whipped out their water bottles and eagerly drained every last drop in a desperate attempt to quench their thirst. They were so very tired.

Clover remained at the front of the group, leading the way. Lavender carried Ivy on their back, while Evergreen hoisted Shamrock on her shoulders. It took a considerable amount of pleading and bargaining from the two Leaflets to be carried, and now they looked far less tired than the other two carrying them, who appeared as though they were lugging the heaviest sacks of flour.

Evergreen couldn't help but groan. “Can you please get off of me now? I’m not a donkey, you know.”

“Just a few more minutes? I can’t keep on walking any longer!” Shamrock protested dramatically, placing a hand to his forehead like a damsel in distress.

Realizing that Shamrock wouldn’t dismount on his own, Evergreen arched her back and flung him off. She made sure to do it in a way that wouldn't hurt him, but he still skidded on the rocks and let out a yelp.

“That’s what you get for being a little baby,” Evergreen remarked with a smirk.

“Ugh! I was just trying to have some fun…” Shamrock grumbled, dusting off his ankles. Without another word, he sprinted off with an impish smile, surpassing Clover. Evergreen groaned, realizing he had plenty of energy left.

“I’d like to get off too, if that’s okay,” Ivy said in a more calm tone, hopping down from Lavender’s back and continuing the trail. Clover couldn't help but wonder how Shamrock and Ivy, so different in behavior, were his younger brothers.

Ivy raced off toward Shamrock, and it seemed like a competition had sparked between them to see who could reach the top first. They looked joyous and thrilled, and Clover couldn't help but smile. Despite giving his family some complications, they didn’t mean any harm. They were younger, and they would learn.

“Thanks for taking care of their antics,” Clover empathetically said to Evergreen, nodding toward the direction where Shamrock and Ivy had disappeared.

“It wasn’t a choice, it was a need,” Evergreen responded matter-of-factly. “If I didn’t, they would be a mess right now.”

Clover knew Evergreen had a point, but he couldn’t help but think they wouldn’t be in as much of a mess as the three of them were. He, Evergreen, and Lavender appeared exhausted, barely limping along the trail. Clover longed to fling off his backpack and rest, but the waterfall was right there—just up ahead.

Suddenly, the sound of rushing water became even more clear. Clover halted his limping steps, straightened up, and looked upward to see their destination in clear view. His face lit up with excitement.

“We’re... We’re here!” Clover exclaimed breathlessly. “It’s just a few more steps, come on!”

This time, Clover was right. It was the last time he had to say they were almost there.

Suddenly jolting out of his tired attitude, he began racing towards the top, legs pumping with exhaustion and arms flailing with happiness. His breaths were long, hard, and loud, but he didn’t care. Nothing else mattered at that moment. All he wanted was to see it, the thing he had trekked so far to find.

It had been such a long time.

He remembered when he first started fantasizing about the waterfall as a mere teenager, just dabbling into the world of dangerous exploration. His parents had insisted he was too young and not ready to go on such adventures. Yet, he wondered about it daily, sketching down what he imagined it looked like in his notebook. He created a board, brainstorming how he would reach it when he was older. Excitedly, he would ramble to his sister about it, sensing her annoyance but excited to share his thoughts. When Shamrock and Ivy were born, he rambled about the waterfall to them, knowing they wouldn’t be annoyed since they were hatchlings, too young to understand.

Now, he was relieved that those ramblings had led him here. Without them, he doubted his siblings would have ever considered finding a map of the waterfall, and without them, he would have likely never visited it in his life.

He came to an abrupt and dusty stop at the top of the waterfall, the soles of his worn-out boots crunching on a scatter of pebbles. Drawing in breaths in ragged gasps, his exhales mixed with the sound of crashing water that surrounded him. The beautiful sound, undisturbed by the presence of any other Leaflet, echoed through the air.

Before him, the one and only Emerald Waterfall stood. It was a sight to behold.

The towering waterfall reached for the sky with a majestic aura. It was surrounded by an arrangement of light gray rocks and stones, each one carefully nestled in the ground. The water, as clear as crystal, had a faint greenish hue that sparkled in the sunlight.

Within the rocky terrain surrounding the waterfall, many plants poked out of the ground. Tall blades of grass stood and swayed with the breeze. Delicate, multicolored flowers released a sweet scent into the air, while minuscule clovers adorned the ground. In the light green basin formed by the waterfall, tiny fish darted and flipped in the water.

Clover, his face streaked with dust and fatigue, beamed with joy as he took in the breathtaking sight before him. It was a moment of pure happiness, a realization that he had finished his difficult and demanding journey.

He collapsed to the ground, and carefully, began to drop all his items to the floor. He untangled his backpack, unhooked his pouch, and wearily removed his hat. Then, he looked up in accomplishment.

"WE MADE IT!" Clover exclaimed with a proud yell, the sound echoing throughout the waterfall and the skies above.

## Epilogue

Stars began to twinkle in the night sky as Clover and his family settled into their beloved destination. Nestled beside the flowing, green-tinted waterfall, the group transformed the bare grassy area into a cozy picnic spot. A soft, white-and-red checkered blanket sprawled on the floor, and gentle, blue-flamed lamps lay on top of it, casting a warm glow. Sitting on the blanket were snacks and water bottles, untouched from their journey, with the centerpiece being the eagerly awaited picnic basket, placed snugly in the middle.

The family sank wearily onto the rug, gently rubbing their achy muscles and easing the stiffness from their backs. They were all relieved, sleepy, and starving, waiting to feast on the delicious picnic that awaited them. All around, backpacks, pouches, and other items were carelessly tossed aside, forming a sprawling heap of leather and materials on the chilly ground.

Ivy and Shamrock settled on one side of the rug, close to Evergreen, while Clover and Lavender took their places on the opposite end, their backs turned toward the waterfall. Clover, keeping his gaze fixed on the mesmerizing water, sensed a quiet accomplishment in its murmurs that seemed to call out his name. He had a cheerful smile plastered on his face ever since he stepped foot in the enchanting area, and although he was tired, his smile didn’t fade away.

The moment Lavender settled in comfortably and felt at ease, they shifted the picnic basket from the center to the side. Clover turned his head away from the waterfall, redirecting his attention to the basket. Lavender gripped the latch firmly to ask everyone, "Are you all ready to eat? It's cake time!"

All of them replied with happy sounds of agreement and a tired nod, too exhausted for any conversation. With interest, the family kept their drooping eyelids open as they observed Lavender opening the basket. The lid lifted, revealing the birthday cake that was made with so much love and effort for Clover. Lavender gently took out the cake, followed by a few candles and a small bag of tiny fruits. Looking up at the family, they awaited their response to the heartfelt creation.

It looked delicious. The cake, intricately shaped into a four-leaf clover, allowed each cake petal to be seen. The cake's color was a subtle, light green, complemented by a dark green frosting decorating the outside. Random dollops of green frosting were tastefully scattered across the cake. Positioned at the center was a small, brown fondant explorer hat. Encircling the cake were small words that read, "Happy Birthday, Clover!" On the two upper petals, Lavender quickly added just the right number of yellow candles.

Clover was the first one to react to the cake. Carefully touching the tip of his hat, he looked down at the fondant hat and said emphatically, “Is that supposed to be my father’s hat? That’s a beautiful touch, Lavender.”

Lavender smiled. “Yes, it is! I knew you’d like it.”

“I don’t just like it,” said Clover, looking up to face Lavender with a warm gaze, “I *love* it. Thank you so much for making this for me.”

Lavender continued to beam as they reached into the picnic basket to retrieve the cake cutter. Slowly and steadily, they cut the cake into five equal portions for everyone to share. Taking a couple of rainbow-colored, small paper plates from the basket, they placed a slice of cake on each plate. Lastly, they grabbed a couple of light green plastic forks and inserted them into the top of the green cake before handing the first slice to Clover, which had the fondant hat on it.

“Here’s the first slice for you, birthday boy,” Lavender responded with a chuckle. “You’re welcome, Clover!”

The rest of the family began to express their admiration for Lavender as soon as Clover started savoring the birthday cake. Its flavor was a delightful blend of vanilla and buttercream, and each bite felt like tasting a piece of fluffy heaven. Clover refrained himself from hastily gobbling down the cake, now taking slow, small bites as he observed the others enjoying their own slices.

"This has to be the best cake I've ever eaten," Shamrock declared between messy bites. "I never knew you could bake this well!"

"Yeah, how *did* you learn how to bake?" questioned Evergreen, who was swiftly devouring the cake. "I've never seen you do such a thing."

"Let's just say I learned how to bake from a dear friend of mine," Lavender replied sheepishly. "Do you know that striking Sharklet you've probably seen once, Blu? Well, he taught me when he asked me to make a cake for Citrus. He assumed I already knew how to bake, for reasons I'm not totally sure about. I did learn, though, and he was delighted with what I made."

“In his defense, you *do* seem like the type of lizard to bake a good cake,” Ivy said, shoving a bite of cake into his mouth as he stated it, then continued talking after he swallowed and pointed to them with his fork. “And you *are*!”

Another merry chuckle escaped Lavender; they seemed very, very happy. “Thank you guys,” they said in a quiet, cheerful voice, then began to eat their own cake.

“So,” Clover started, nibbling on the side of the fondant hat, “What were you saying about who you got the map from? I’d like to know now.”

Evergreen anxiously thumped her tail. “Well, about that..”

“He told us to call him Lillian,” Shamrock said, seemingly willing to spill the secret. “He was old, but he was rather short and super frail. He had a cloak that looked bigger than him, so to me, he looked like a stubby, wrinkly little toad.”

Clover raised an eyebrow. "He seems like a normal Leaflet. What was the deal with him? What did he do?"

"He was the one who gave it to us for free!" Ivy exclaimed. "I bet he gave it to us because he had too many things. He lived in between an alley with a lot of rustic trinkets."

"Yeah, no, that sounds shady," Lavender remarked. "And for free, too? Did you forget the dangers of accepting anything free from someone you don't know?"

The beating of Evergreen’s tail on the ground became more audible.

"You could've tried to give that lizard something, anything," Clover replied. "Unless it’s a well-thought-out gift given by someone you know, you should never accept anything free in turn."

Shamrock motioned with his arms in shock. "Well, did you expect us to pay a fortune for the map? No! Free is ten times better than pouring out your pockets for a measly map."

"So, you're telling me if the map was expensive, you wouldn't have gotten it for me because it was costly?" Clover said, irritably biting off a piece of the fondant hat. "Well, thanks for caring!"

"But we got it anyway!" Ivy pointed out. "Would you rather us pay for a free map and go on an exciting exploration, or pay for nothing and go nowhere?"

"I'd rather you didn't," Clover scoffed. "Now I know you didn't put one thought into getting this map for me, and you don't even have the audacity to buy it for more if it WAS for a worthy price."

Shamrock began spitting out sputters and stutters. He looked at Evergreen. "Do you hear what he's saying? Come on, defend me! You were the one that got it straight from him, anyways."

Clover turned to face Evergreen. "Yeah, what do you have to say for yourself, Evergreen?"

The restless beating of her tail stopped, and she sprung up from the ground automatically. "Fine! Fine! It was me. I got it. I bought it from Lillian."

She began to walk back and forth, her hands gesturing everywhere. "Shamrock and Ivy don't have a say in this. They didn't even have the money; I did!" A faint protest from Shamrock squeaked in the distance. "Don't get it twisted. If it was sold for a good and expensive price, I would have bought it. I had enough, too many coins, really, that I could have bought TWO of those maps!"

"So, what are you trying to say?" Lavender asked.

"I'm trying to say that I DIDN’T get it for FREE!"

The jumble of voices died down for a moment. The distant call of a bird echoed through the air.

"Of course, you got it for free!" Shamrock argued. "If you paid for it, why did you have the same amount of coins when you left?"

"Shamrock, let Evergreen explain," Clover urged, settling into a relaxed pose and giving her an understanding look. He knew she had all the details, as Ivy and Shamrock were likely too distracted. "Tell me what really happened."

Evergreen sighed. "Okay, it was free. I didn't pay anything. But what he asked for felt like something, even if it wasn't a physical thing."

Ignoring the earlier advice to stay silent, Shamrock continued. He stopped eating his cake, now firing off words quickly. "You can't seriously believe that the 'luck' he wanted was real?"

"Luck?" Lavender commented, their wings beating back and forth with interest. "Please, elaborate."

"But the luck isn't real-" Shamrock began to say, only to be cut off. Ivy playfully put his claws on Shamrock's snout, silencing him. Left squirming with pitiful interest, Shamrock wanted to say everything. Lavender nodded at Evergreen, encouraging her to continue.

"It was strange, really," Evergreen said, looking down at one of the clovers embedded in the ground, gently swaying in the air. She continued to pace back and forth. "He said he didn't want any of my money, even though I tried to give it to him. He asked for luck, so I just scooped up some air and gave it to him, thinking that was that, and he was probably a bit off in his mind or something. He was so happy when he got the air and waddled away while 'looking' at it."

"Oh," Clover muttered, also looking down at the many plants on the ground. Suddenly, everything made more sense—the missing exploration items, Shamrock's tripping, the fog, how they were lost. It all clicked. Usually, Clover had the best luck ever, conquering any land he explored. But he felt strange on this exploration, and he finally knew why. It wasn't fake. It was real. The luck was real, and Evergreen had given some of it to Lillian.

"That makes complete sense," Lavender said, echoing what Clover was thinking. "I mean, I'm one to believe in anything supernatural, since, either way, how do you think I can fly?" They demonstrated by flapping their wings. "That luck was probably real, Evergreen, and you just didn't know it."

Evergreen winced, seemingly understanding now. "You're right. I didn't know. I didn't know!"

"That's why I've been feeling so off on this journey," Clover said. "I knew it wasn't just me. I had the best attitude today. I still do. But something was missing, off, like it had been stolen from me." He prodded at the many shrubs and greenery growing from his back, twisting one of the vines. "We're a pretty lucky family, so without luck, everything could go wrong. And it did."

"I believe that too," Ivy spoke up, releasing his grip from Shamrock. "I've read many books about the topic of luck because, you know, our family. Our lucky names, and the lucky plants we grow on ourselves."

Evergreen groaned. "You guys are right, ugh! Why didn't I think of that?" She flopped down on the ground with a thump, pushing her hands into her eyes. "I'm quite dumb. I thought he was just joking, but I should have known. I should!" She raised her hands back up to face them. "Maybe I was just... I was just distracted. I didn't think about that. I just thought about you, Clover, and how badly you wanted that map."

Clover's gaze softened. He felt grateful that Evergreen cared for him. Sure, sometimes she didn't show it, but it was always in her heart. There was no doubting that. In some corner of his heart, he acknowledged that, free or not, he might have taken that map if he were in Evergreen's position. But the other part of him recognized the injustice of taking it for free. Finally, he decided it was for the greater good. Without this map, without Evergreen's choice, none of this would have ever happened. And he couldn't bear to think of that.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Clover stated. "You offered him the coins, so you didn't want it for free. But you took it anyway, out of care, and I applaud you for that." Clover shifted a little, facing Evergreen more clearly. "You care for a lot of people already, and I know you have a lot on your plate. You have to care for your girlfriend, our brothers, and be there for me sometimes, since you frequently visit me. You've done enough."

"Really?" Evergreen said in between soft sniffles. "Do you really think that I've given too much?"

"Yes," Clover said simply. "You've taken us all on an adventure because of your actions. I've loved this adventure, especially since I've gotten to visit this wonderful waterfall. Even though we did lose some luck, we still have it in ourselves. We pushed through. And that's what made the adventure worthwhile. Because, if you really think about it, it wouldn't be a story to tell without anything bad happening, wouldn't it?"

Evergreen broke into a smile and wiped her wet eyes with her arms. "Yes, you're right."

Clover gestured with his fork and smiled. "I'm sorry for thinking you took the map for free. I didn't know the whole story, and now that I do, I get that you took it for a good reason, even if it brought some difficulties for us."

Now feeling happier, Evergreen stopped her worried pacing and sat down to pick up her cake and fork. While sitting, she looked up and said, "It's okay, Clover," with a genuine smile. "I'm glad everything worked out."

After the apologies, silence filled the air once more. Shamrock wouldn't dare to speak. Now understanding what had happened, he nibbled on his cake silently but thoughtfully. All of them looked up at the now completely dark sky. Stars glimmered like bits of shining glass, while fireflies whizzed around the clearing, filling the black night sky with muted yellow and green glows. The serene silence and the surrounding nature were wonderful and relaxing, and they all savored it. The soft hum of the rushing water nearby whispered a quiet melody.

"It really is beautiful," Clover stated. "It was worth going through all of that just to see this remarkable sight."

Lavender nodded, now placing the plate to their side. "I agree. Going through a bit of fog and getting lost was a small price to pay for all of this."

Shamrock spoke up again. "Yeah, I would have scraped my leg a thousand times just to visit here again! It's so, so beautiful." He looked down at his leg, still bandaged. Judging by how he was bending it, it seemed like he was better, so he stripped off the wrapping and continued to gaze up at the night sky. "That feels better," he remarked.

"I'm not usually the one for risky adventures, but I have to admit, I enjoyed it this time," Ivy said. Clover had grown used to Ivy declining his invitations to explore, so he had expected Ivy to stay home due to the distance. Yet, he was pleasantly surprised that Ivy had come along this time. Clover knew it was because he and Shamrock cared for his special day. He smiled at the thought.

"Thank you, guys," Clover said appreciatively, "For preparing this birthday adventure just for me. I'm so happy to be here, especially with all of you. I can never thank you enough."

"It's no problem," Evergreen replied with a warm smile. "You deserve all of this, so we decided to give you the best birthday present: an adventure."

Clover beamed. "You guys always know what I want."

He turned his head back to look at the gleaming waterfall that he had dreamt about so much. It appeared even more ethereal in the night sky, its green glimmer harmonizing with the swirl of black and white that painted the heavens. Clover had the idea that if he could reach out and touch it at this moment, he might feel an amazing sense of accomplishment—an achievement for all that he had experienced.

Stepping away from Lavender, he walked to face the waterfall and gazed up at it. The beauty was hard to put into words; silence seemed like enough. It felt like the waterfall was smiling at him now, the spot where the water came from shaping and reshaping like a friendly grin while the water rushed down.

Reaching out to touch the cool water, he automatically felt the thrill of adventure in his veins. The water was as cool as ice, so refreshing that he could sit there and stay in the water's soothing embrace forever. But there was something more to it. Another feeling came over him, not adventure, pride, or joy he had already experienced. It was something else.

It was luck. Now, he had the energy to spring right up and start running across the rocky grass without the fear of tripping and falling. He now had the energy to wander through the prickliest of bushes and not get anything stuck in his scales. He had the feeling of immense luck, more extreme than ever before. He could feel the plants on his back rise up and then down, the minuscule clovers on him swerving with joy. It was as if his entire body had been waiting for luck to course through him again.

"There it is," Clover said suddenly. "The luck. Good luck! It's in the waterfall, and it was there all along."

His other family members moved closer to him, mimicking his action, extending one hand to feel the water drizzling from their claws. From the expressions on their faces, every single one of them enjoyed the experience and understood exactly how Clover was feeling. It was truly a rush of luck, yet none of them could explain how or why. It was just there.

"That's what we were here for all along," Evergreen said softly.

The group stood there for a little longer until the cold on their hands became too much to bear. With a gentle wipe, they shook away the water on their hands but savored the moment. All of them enjoyed the pleasant experience. Then, they moved towards one of the grassy areas and lay down there, close to one another, gazing up at the sky while they heard the rushing of the water nearby. They all held one another comfortably, almost like they were about to drift into a deep slumber.

They were all happy.

They all felt accomplished.

The warm feelings of love, accomplishment, and pride tugged at Clover's heart. He hadn't felt this proud in quite a while, and he was very proud that he was experiencing this fleeting feeling again. He wanted to stay in this exact spot forever, admiring the midnight sky and gleaming water with his family for centuries to come.

"This is truly the best birthday I have ever had in my life," said Clover, hugging each and every one of his family members. All of them smiled with gratitude.

Out of all his birthdays, none could compare to the joy of this particular day.

Out of all the things he had ever done in the tropics, this was his favorite.

It was truly a Brancha Birthday.

## Credits

Written by Catlovergirl2 from 7/23/2023 to 12/17/23.

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