Cricket Creek Bog dude, that story can go anywhere.

She grinned at his mention of dragons, all too willing to play along with his imaginary game. But before Sugar could contemplate what role to take or any other logistics, a sound distracted her, causing her little head to snap sideways. There was a flurry of movement near a tangle of brush growing in and around what looked like a big mud puddle. From all the way over here, Sugar couldn't be sure what she was looking at.

"Hey, what's that?" she said to her brother, glancing at him. She didn't wait for an answer before darting over to investigate, her pink nose wriggling.

When the ground softened beneath her feet and Sugar found herself walking in muck, she slowed to a stop. The thing moved again and she let out a small gasp. It was a rabbit, covered head to toe in mud, flopping about rather helplessly in the puddle of sludge. It appeared to be tangled in the scraggly roots of the nearby undergrowth as well as smothered in bog slime.