As much as you like Mister Toad, you decide to leave him. You can feel a certain something magical in the air, and you want to look around. You can still see the meadow from where you are, but the forest seems to be calling you, wanting you to go deeper into its sanctuary.
Several beds of moss seem to almost form a natural path through the wood, so you follow along from patch to patch. Interesting looking insects are buzzing all around you. There are incredible dragonflies all about that have beautiful wings that manifest in all colors of the rainbow. Just up ahead, you can hear more toads croaking. You’re curious to see where the sound is coming from, so you follow the noises until you find yourself near a puddle of water perhaps thirty meters in diameter. There are frogs and toads everywhere here. Some are jumping into the water, and some are jumping out.
As you stand watching the amphibians play, something suddenly startles you. You can feel something wrapping around your ankle. You look down in surprise. There is a purple snake, perhaps four feet long, with yellow diamond patterns on its back wrapping itself around your leg. You feel like you should probably be fearful about this, but you’re not. This snake doesn’t seem particularly harmful to you. You think that maybe he just wants company.
“Hello Mister Snake,” you say.
“Helllllllll.... OH! Traveller,” the snake hisses back.
“Why are you wrapping yourself around my leg?” you ask.
“I thought I might get myself a freeeeeeeee ride,” the snake hisses back.
“A free ride where?” you ask.
“To wherever it is that you’re going,” the snake replies.
“I honestly don’t know where I’m going,” you tell the snake.
“Oh no?” says the snake. “You might decide to go off that way.”
The snake moves his head to indicate the direction he is implying. You look over. The thought hadn’t even crossed your mind that you might go in that particular direction, but you notice through a clearing of trees that there is actually a path in that direction.
“You can’t be comfortable wrapped around my leg like that,” you say. “Would you like a ride on my shoulders?”
“Much obliged,” the snake hisses back as you wrap him around your shoulders.
You make your way to the path and start travelling down it deeper into the woods.
“Where does this path lead Mister Snake?” you ask.
“It leadsssss to your dessss tination,” the snake answers you.
You follow the path for a while, and converse with the snake. He tells you all about how awful it is having everyone be afraid of him. You sympathize with him because he turns out to be the nicest snake you’ve ever met. Then again, he is also the only talking snake you’ve ever met. You begin to wonder if all talking snakes are this nice, and conclude that they probably aren’t.
Soon, just up ahead, you can see a large log cabin just off the trail. You wonder if there is anyone home. You walk up to the door, and knock a few times. No one answers, but the door creaks open.
“Thank you kindly for safe passage,” the snake says. “I’ll be off now. It’s impolite for a guest to bring a snake into a stranger’s home. I am very grateful for your conversation. We might just meet each other again in a different context.” The snake slides off your shoulders, and disappears into the woods. In front of you, the door is open, so you let yourself in to the house to see if anyone is home.