Gaukosan was a fine looking frog, and he was rather popular in his large, jade pond. Others thought his closest friend was the Natterjack Toad, but it was in fact, the dragonfly, that wore an impressive monochrome exoskeleton. A creature as dashing as Gaukosan would not be in cahoots with a Natterjack, he gossiped far too much, where as the dragonfly, Denoir, was a much more worldly consort to keep.
The Natterjack toad would talk talk talk, and natter natter natter, as Gaukosan would swim elegantly across the pond, greeting everyone that he passed. He went about his business of catching flies on the end of his stretchy, sticky tongue and holding them in his mouth until his dear friend Denoir would swoop down. He’d spit out the flies in one perfect gooey bubble, and Denoir would suck them up in a shot before hovering down to Gaikosan’s ear and whispered his worldly secrets away.
The Natterjack watched their exchange and swam over clumsily to see what he could find out.
“What’s this one talking about today then?” he asked in his gruff, toady voice.
“One doesn’t have anything to say to you!” Denoir retorted with distaste.
“Oh go on! Tell me what you know..”
“None of your beeswax!” Denoir huffed adamantly.
“Beeswax?! You’re trading beeswax now! You must let me have some” The Natterjack’s greedy eyes widened.
Gaukosan exchanged a look with Denoir and they both simply replied “No.”
“Oh come on! I could do with an extra something, you always have something more than me, something more interesting, or more beautiful, or more moreish, you really are the most spectacular creature I have ever seen”.
Gaukosan rolled his eyes and looked up at Denoir whom was buzzing more than usual as he hovered. “My dear Denoir, I do apologise for this Toad, please, I’ll take it from here..”
Denoir’s wings were already lifting him higher. “Very good Gaukosan” he replied and shot the Natterjack the most despicable of looks before zipping away.
Gaukosan looked down at the Natterjack. “How dare you embarrass me in front of my friend! Asking for his worldliness indeed! Why don’t you get your own? And why do you have to pander so..”
“You know it’s too much work for me! It’s safer here in the pond, Denoir can go out and bring his worldly goods back. I don’t want to take the risk.” The Natterjack held his nose high in the air, and then added “We don’t need to work when you have Denoir, do we! Anyway, he thinks he’s so special doesn’t he, you think it too, there’s nothing good about being so good!” the toad spoke unapologetically.
“We! You sir, are nothing but a sick, sick, sycophant! You say things you don’t mean, simply to get what you can, and then spew such slander!” Gaukosan was outraged at the Natterjack’s audacity.
“Are you going to give me any of that beeswax or not?!” I could sell it off as honey, we’d make a killing you foolish frog!” The Natterjack had dropped his nice facade moments ago.
Gaukosan could not find it in himself to dignify the Natterjack with an answer, so he hopped away onto a lily pad, and took refuge in a flower to calm his fraught nerves.
From the flower, he observed pond life. Alas, soon enough he saw the Natterjack selling off his beeswax that he had left behind in a hurry, and then witnessed the Natterjack swallow the remainder with one, huge greedy gulp.
The frog pursed his lips, and then angrily stood up to put his hands on his hips, and then with his hands rolled into tight, little fists, he searched the water for shadows.
Now Carlos, was a very large, and rather frightening fish, and no one quite knew where he came from. He would ominously swim up near the surface of the pond, creating a creeping dark shadow that would cause the smaller creatures to flee. From time to time, someone would go missing from the pond, and although it was never mentioned, they all knew where the poor soul ended up.
The only creature that was fearless enough and quite frankly, open minded enough to talk to their scary neighbour was Gaukosan.
“Good day big fishhhh!” Gaukosan called out when he spotted the looming monster from his lily pad.
The giant fish swam up to the surface, breaking the water with his full, fish lips and revealing his speckled, fishy face.
“Carlos! How wonderful to see you! And what’s this I see, you’ve grown a moustache!”
“Gaukosan, good to see you too my small friend! Well I’m actually a cat fish, so from time to time, when I’m entering a phase of leisure, I grow my moustache, just for pleasure. Rather fetching don’t you say!” Even though Carlos was indeed taking some time out to contemplate other things than only the pond he lived in, his eyes still flitted around to check any potential tasty treats that may be loitering about.
“A cat fish you say! Well that’s much more exotic than a carp! Well you look just fine! Fine I tell you!” Gaukosan beamed.
“Thank you small chap! Right then! I have some contemplation to be getting on with, I want to try some new things in the new year, you know…” Carlos smiled and was just about to dive back to the depths of the pond when Gaukosan interrupted him.
“Actually! Carlos…I was wondering, if you might be interested in doing one small thing for me..” Gaukosan smiled a sly smile.
“Go on..” Carlos answered with his own wry smile.
“Well…I was wondering if you would be interested in trying a new delicacy, it’s rather irritating on my delicate system, but you sir! I think you’ll find it quite delectable.”
Carlos raised a slimy, tendril eyebrow, and thought for a second. “I suppose I will need something to keep me going before my time away from myself, tell me what this snack is will you.”
Gaukosan looked around sheepishly before answering “Honey toad.”
Carlos looked over at the Natterjack whom was pestering a pretty goldfish for a kiss. He smiled back at Gaukosan menacingly.
“Say no more my friend, say no more…” and with that, Carlos swam down a little deeper until out of sight.
That night, Gaukosan hopped out of sight himself, and made sure he collected all of his small frog children from the other lily pads as he went, carrying them off in his mouth.
The next morning he returned to the pond, and spat his still sleeping frog children out, each floating in their own sleeping bubbles. Denoir swooped down towards the final bubble as Gaukosan held out his hand defensively.
“Not that one Denoir! That’s my youngest! I’ll catch you someone else’s children later.”
“Off you hop now children, go and join your frog chorus” Gaokosan added as he shooed off his young frantically.
“Oh, sorry dear! How did the beeswax go? Did you make a pretty penny?”
“Oh I made a killing Denoir! An excellent day’s trade if I may say so” Gaukosan smiled to himself.
“Now, may I ride on your back and we can fly away to one of the places you told me about?”
Denoir smiled at his frog friend. “Hop on! The world is ours to take!”
“And mischief we will make!” Gaukosan sang out gleefully as he held on tightly to his dear friend, Denoir.
Fin.