Episode 6 - Frogs

## Forests

A white drawing on a black background of five tadpoles. Four are background images, while the center one has a red eye and sharp teeth. The image is framed in a white border.

### Author

William A. Wellman

Nolan walks unseen, Jonah meets the lord of the lake, and Percy goes for a swim. The theme of tonight’s episode is Frogs.

***Content Warnings:** Static, Body horror, suicide, violence, drowning, death + dying*

## Intro - No Arms

Nikignik speaks to the Dreamers about the life cycle of a frog. At first, you are a simple creature with no arms or legs. Your only thought is the fear of what will devour you from above or below. As you continue to survive, you grow new limbs - hands and feet. Your tail disappears and you are filled with the urge to breathe air. As you break the surface of the water, your cries join hundreds of others, all saying "Hello from the Hallowoods".

Nikignik is currently broadcasting from the floor of a pond. Above the water are signs of life signaling the arrival of spring. Around them are the remains of dreamers who sleep peacefully and wait. Swimming among the bones are tadpoles.

## Story One - At First Sight

Nolan is invisible and spends much of his time pondering this fact, along with the seeming impossibility of love for him when the fact that he is invisible causes him not to be trusted by those around him, as well as the irony of "love at first sight" for someone like him.

He has been walking a long time and wonders what his own body looks like. As he walks through mud and through a pond, he looks at the physical changes he creates - his footprints, splashes in the water. They're proof that he's real and that he exists. Although he often wished that he didn't exist, he's too afraid to try to change that. Walking and leaving people behind was much easier. Nolan thinks back to his childhood, when his mother told him that although invisibility would bring him many good things, it would also bring him many bad things and that he would not have an easy life.

Suddenly, something grabs Nolan by the ankle. He kicks it and is freed, but as he stumbles backwards an enormous figure rises from the marsh. It has scaly green skin, gills, fins, webbed feet, and glowing green eyes. Nolan stares at the stranger. The man is staring right at him, as if he can see Nolan. Nolan breathlessly asks if he can, and the man stops in his tracks, confused as to why Nolan isn't frightened.

Nolan says that he's not scared, only surprised since nothing has ever seen him before. The creature explains that he can see heat signatures and that Nolan burns very bright in his eyes. Nolan asks if the creature is going to kill him and the creature asks why he isn't running away - people always run when they see him. For Nolan, though, it has been quite the opposite. People run when they don't see him.

The creature asks if Nolan has any supplies and if he is hungry. Nolan says that he doesn't, since he wasn't exactly planning on making a return trip. The creature offers Nolan his hand and asks if Nolan would like to stay with him for a while. It has been a long time since he has talked with anyone. The creature introduces himself as Ricou and Nolan follows him into the marsh.

Nolan thinks of what his mother told him again. Yes, she told him, his life might not be easy. But it will be good. Look for the ones who understand you.

Nolan returns to the original thought of love at first sight, still unsure if it exists, but he is aware that he, at least, does exist.

### Interlude One - Flood Warning

Nikignik warns that there will be a flood warning in effect at Webequie First Nation from 8AM Thursday to 3PM Saturday. The rain may be painful and cause changes to behavior and physical body. Listeners should also be wary of the creatures that will follow the flooding.

## Story Two - Lolgmololg!

Jonah Duckworth has been captured by the froglins. They are taking him somewhere, although he doesn't know where due to the burlap sack over his head. They are chanting "Lolg-mo-lolg!" as they drag him through the forest. Jonah curses his own stupidity for getting caught by such stupid creatures and tries to distract himself with thoughts of things that he likes, such as Zelda's sandwiches. However, things that he doesn't like (falling through infinite void, standing in pools of his own blood, and froglins) keep making their way into his head.

Eventually the froglins remove the sack from his head. Although he is bigger than they are, Jonah can't exactly fight against all the makeshift spears pointed at him. Their leader, a large froglin with skulls and bones caked in mud on its head, appears. After a few more bellows of "Lolgmololg!" they begin to push Jonah towards a iron basket above a lake of black water.

As the froglins force him closer, Jonah attempts to threaten them with retribution from the Scoutpost, but they don't listen. The small iron cage is snapped over his head and his bonds are cut, cutting his arms and legs in the process. Jonah is unsteady with the weight of the cage on his shoulders and is suddenly yanked into the air as the froglins raise the chain that is attached to the cage.

Jonah is slowly lowered into the lake. Although he tries to swim, the metal cage is too heavy and grows heavier as more and more chain is lowered into the water. As he takes one last breath and sinks into the water, Jonah thinks he can hear dogs in the distance.

### Marketing - You Are Safe

Lady Ethel Mallory reassures the Dreamers that information and the truth are of the utmost importance at the Botulus Corporation. Some nasty rumors have been going around, maybe even spread to you by people who say they love you. Dreamers are safe in their Dreaming Boxes and they are loved. They need not think or worry about the outside world. There will never be an interruption in the Dreaming Box.

Dreamers are advised to ignore these rumors and report anyone who is linked to Valerie Maidstone or the Stonemaids at a Botco contact terminal.

### Story Two, Continued - Lolgmololg!

Under the water, Jonah struggles with the cage and the chain that is pulling him down into the depths. As he reaches the end of the chain, he realizes there is another creature under the water. It lazily drifts towards him and opens multiple sets of glowing green eyes. Jonah sees that it must be a catfish of epic proportions. He tries to hold still, but his lungs give out and he breathes in water.

Suddenly, he feels himself being pulled upwards again. However, the massive catfish flaps its tail as he rises and closes its maw around Jonah, who finds himself falling in the void again. As he falls, he sees a large shadow below him.

Jonah opens his eyes to find himself back in the froglin village, as if suddenly becoming aware that he was standing there. He sees two German Shepherds forcing back the froglins. He turns and sees two people. One is Hector, attempting to administer CPR. The second, the recipient of CPR, seems to be Jonah's own corpse.

Hector notices Jonah standing there, and Jonah nervously says that he can probably stop the CPR now. Hector pulls out a knife and asks if Jonah is a Sleeper. He responds that he doesn't think so. Hector puts his knife away and calls Jackie and Heidi. Jonah immediately notices that Heidi is Hallowed, with her wide, pale, almost green eyes and her lipless teeth. Hector asks if Jonah is Zelda's boy but gives no response when Jonah asks who he is in return. Instead, he starts running, yelling at Jonah to keep up.

The four of them escape the froglin village and run into the forest.

### Interlude Two - Miasmic Pools

Nikignik expresses their distaste for organic life, which comes into the world screaming or from eggs, bulbous and slimy. However, even awful creatures can be greater than the sum of their parts and the light that burns within is the closest thing anyone may have to a soul.

## Story Three - A Dance In The Dark

Percy is following Diggory through the forest. He feels bad since he hasn't spoken in a day, but he simply doesn't know what to say. He does, however, think that Diggory's new haircut looks good. Diggory sits down at a lake's edge and Percy descends to join him, not truly sitting as he would pass through the ground.

Diggory asks if Percy is okay. Percy says that he is and wonders why he feels so much more "transparent" when Diggory is looking at him. Diggory asks Percy why he is connected to the piano key. Percy looks at the wire that trails from his wrist to the piano key and wonders how much of it Diggory can see. Percy always sees the world as streaky and blurry, but Diggory appears saturated with deep shadows. They look back at Percy with perfect clarity.

Percy tells Diggory that he doesn't want to talk about how he was tied to the piano, and an uncomfortable silence follows. Percy asks Diggory what they do for fun. Diggory says they like to walk, or go in the water. Percy says that he never really liked swimming. Another uncomfortable silence follows and Percy feels a bit guilty. This is finally his chance to be around someone who isn't afraid of him, and he doesn't want to waste the opportunity.

After a moment, Percy rises from the lake shore and gestures towards the water. Diggory excitedly bounds into the water. Instead of floating or even attempting to swim, they sink to the bottom of the lake like a rock. Percy, unaffected by the water, follows them to the very bottom of the lake. Above them, Percy sees light from the stars and fireflies shining through the water.

Percy pities Diggory, who seems to have been alone their whole life and has now chosen a terrible companion. Maybe it would be best if Diggory left him behind. Instead, he asks if Diggory knows how to dance. When they say no, Percy intangibly clasps their hand and waist, takes the lead, and teaches Diggory how to dance.

## Outro - Frogs

Nikignik summarizes the similarities between the life of a frog and the lives of others. Everyone starts infinitesimally small, but then grow in new and surprising ways that create the people we are today. What is the difference between loss and heartbreak and growing a new pair of legs? We face these changes with courage until we are able to leap out of the water and into the sunlight. Nikignik patiently waits for you, no matter what stage of life you might be experiencing, in the Hallowoods.