Two Into Wrong

Frogs! calls Pierre-Louis again.

Two common frogs are nearby. 

They are mainly nocturnal, so do not answer.

Belle comes out of the cottage.

Any luck? 

No, says Pierre-Louis. How crucial is it for these frogs to return to Australia?

The common frogs cannot help but hear the question. 

Crucial as! says Belle. Gaius says they're endangered.

The common frogs may be common, but they know what it means to be endangered.

Shall we tell them? says one common frog to another.

We should, says the other. After all, we frogs are brothers.

Not really, says the first one. 

Cousins, says the other.

You or me? says the first one.

I'll do it, says the other.

The other common frog hops out from low bushes.

Crah! The sun! It is bright!

There's one of them! says Pierre-Louis.

That's a common frog, says Belle. A local.

Rana temporania, says the common frog. 

I don't suppose you've seen a quiritatus or a knowlesi? asks Belle.

I may well have, says the rana temporania. What do they look like?

The quiritatus is light brown and slender, says Belle, with a white line down its side. And the knowlesi is light brown with a black stripe from its snout to its arm, and a half golden eye.

You should have mentioned that first, says the rani temporania. The half golden eye. They were here earlier.

Where did they go? asks Pierre-Louis. 

Under the fence, says the rana.

Belle runs across to the fence.

Nothing. Not even the pony.

Looks like we've lost them, says Pierre-Louis. Too bad.

Arthur's not going without them, says Belle.

Looks like he has, says Pierre-Louis.

Yes, there is Arthur, cycling away in the distance.

Rats! says Belle. Unless, maybe he found them.

She runs back inside.

I'm light brown, says the rana.

So what? says Pierre-Louis. I've no time for herpetology. 

Take me with you, says the rana.

No way Pierre-Louis is going to do that.

He dashes off to get his bike, and follow Arthur to the station.

He must not miss that train.

Wait! calls Belle. Arthur doesn't have them!

But I have! calls Pierre-Louis. Oops! I dropped one!

He does a quick u-turn and heads back to scoop up the rana.

Changed your mind? asks the rana.

Pierre-Louis waves the rana at Belle.

Belle gives him a thumbs-up.

She wouldn't have let me go otherwise, says Pierre-Louis.

He pedals fast, thinking only of catching up with Arthur and not missing the train.