Frogspawn Swamp in the quiet of the night

Description: Certainly the noisiest locale in the hinterlands, Frogspawn Marsh is named for the hundreds of frogs that congregate to spawn among the innumerable reeds and cattails. When summer arrives, the bog veritably crawls with the number of tadpoles that hatch into it and many a tadpole are crushed by unwary feet. Under the weight of winter snow, the bog freezes and resembles a flat, open field.

 

The swamp was an unexpected discovery—but as disgusting, noisy, and active as it was, Vasa was intrigued nevertheless. As of late, the rain had been unrelenting, and with this knowledge, she traveled somewhat carefully. Although she tended to be careless, there we some rare moments in which she moved with caution.  

It was forenoon as Vasa plowed through the calf-height mud, and rain fell from overhead. The frogs were active today, chattering much louder than anything else that she had ever heard. In an attempt to quiet their conversations, Vasa pinned her ears to her head; any other noises were drowned out by all the noise. 

Vasa suddenly stopped in-mid step, as she felt some squirming underfoot. The sensation was unexpected, and she nearly jumped out of her skin as she screamed in surprise.