Cyril bunched up his pant legs and stepped into the bog next. “Come on.” He motioned to them. “There are a few types of Beasts in particular I want to show you.”

Barclay shivered as he waded into the water. It was frigid, but he was too determined to be a model student to turn back. And it was no grosser than the grimy mushroom caves in Dullshire.

“Even though the Sea is obviously known for the ocean itself, there are all sorts of animals and Beasts native to this Wilderland,” Cyril said. His eyes glimmered almost as brightly as the many medals pinned to his shirt. He clearly loved studying Beasts. “Some are land-dwellers who live on the islands. Others live in freshwater, like the lake on the Isle of Orn, the rivers, and the bogs.”

At this, something darted through the grass ahead of them.

“What was that?” Viola asked nervously.

Cecily crept forward. “I’m gonna catch it!”

Barclay squinted at the small furry creature crouched in the reeds. He made out two long ears—two very long ears, as tall as antlers. It must’ve been a rabbit sort of Beast.

“Croak!”

Suddenly Tadg let out a strangled shout. He flailed his arms then fell into the bog, splashing mud, once again, on Barclay’s coat. If Barclay was going to stay at the Sea for a while, then he’d better save up his kritters to buy a more waterproof wardrobe.

At the commotion, the rabbit Beast took off running—before Barclay even had a chance to sketch it.

“You scared it away,” Cecily complained.

“What happened?” Cyril asked Tadg. “Are you all right?”

Tadg scowled and stood up, his clothes dripping. On his shoulder perched the toad Beast. “It just comes out whenever it wants!” In response, the toad croaked defiantly.

“Ooh, you have a second Beast?” Hasu asked, peering at the toad. She reached forward to pet it, then wrenched her hand back. Dark purple bled up her fingertips. “Ow! It’s poisonous!”

“It won’t kill you. It just stings a bit,” Tadg assured her. “But the Beast is a menace. I’m not keeping it, whatever it is.”

Cyril studied the Beast, careful not to get too close. “Interesting that its poison Lore also affects you, the Keeper.” He pointed to the bottom of Tadg’s ear, where a splotch of purple bloomed that matched Hasu’s.

Tadg grimaced. “Yep. Fascinating.”

“I’ve never seen a Beast that— Hm, I wonder what the stone is on its forehead…. Maybe it’s— No, that doesn’t make any sense…,” Cyril murmured to himself, so fast he was hard to understand.

“There’s nothing in his dad’s book about it,” Viola said. “I already checked.”

“You should ask Orla,” Cyril told him.