The owner was amused by Annie's futile defiance of him. There was no escape in the basement and no way of communicating with anyone else anyway, unless she could somehow find a frog who was capable of helping her she was screwed! Soon she would be taken to her new home, a nice spacious tank which was currently sitting in the storeroom opposite Sophie's cage. Then all he needed to do was track down the dog girl. But whatever happened with Lucy, he already had two very expensive, exotic pets to sell for sure now.
Meanwhile Annie bounded quickly towards the room where she had last seen Laura and Lucy. Thankfully, they were still there.
"Hey Annie, got *croak* bored up there on your own?" Laura teased.
A breathless Annie launched into a series of urgent croaking noises.
"*arf* I can't understand a word you're saying" Lucy complained. But the look on Laura's face made it clear she could understand perfectly. That's right, she remembered...the horrible shop owner, the crystals, the auction. It all came back ti her, and she wasn't supposed to be a frog she was a....
By the time the thought entered her mind a fully human Laura was squatting on the floor in front of a relieved looking Annie.
"Don't worry Annie, I'll fix this" Laura promised as she rose to her feet. Annie croaked something in response. Though Laura could no longer understand the words the sentiment was clear enough.
Just then, footsteps could be heard aporoaching, on step at a time. Laura dived her naked self behind some boxes "Annie, Lucy hide!" she ordered.
Though she had no idea what was going on, Lucy scampered behind some junk at the other side of the room but Annie held firm
"What are you doing? Hide!" Laura hissed desperately at her friend. But Annie just turned to her friend and smiled. For now, she would have to take one for the team.
"There you are you little toad! Told you there was no escape!" The store owner taunted Annie as he arrived. She quickly jumped past him and back up the stairs, taking the evio owner away from her friends for now at least.