The faint light grew brighter as they moved forward.
Soon, the trees opened…
And they stopped.
In front of them was a large pond.
The water was dark and still.
In the middle of the pond stood an old temple.
Quiet.
Mysterious.
"That's it," Peggy said softly. "The medicine is there."
But something was wrong.
The surface of the water… moved.
Slowly.
Then they saw them.
Crocodiles.
Dozens of them.
Floating silently… their eyes closed.
Sleeping.
Kichy stepped back. "That's not a pond…"
"That's danger," Miku whispered.
Chikku looked at the water carefully. "If they wake… we won't get across."
Peggy held the map.
"There is no other path," she said.
They stood in silence.
Then…
Kichy's ears lifted.
"I can do it," he said.
Everyone looked at him.
"It's too risky," Peggy said.
Kichy shook his head.
"I'm fast," he said. "And light."
He looked at the still bodies of the crocodiles.
"I can jump… from one to another."
Miku stepped forward. "I'll come with you."
"No," Kichy said softly. "If more than one moves… they might wake."
Peggy looked at him.
"You don't have to do this alone," she said.
Kichy smiled.
"You trusted me," he said. "Now it's my turn."
There was a quiet moment.
Then Peggy nodded.
"Be careful."
Kichy stepped to the edge of the pond.
He took a deep breath.
The air was still.
The water was silent.
He jumped.
Soft.
He landed on the back of the first crocodile.
It did not move.
Kichy froze for a second.
Then…
Jump.
Second crocodile.
Still no movement.
Jump.
Third.
Fourth.
Each step was light.
Each move was careful.
His heart beat fast… but his body stayed calm.
Behind him, Peggy and the others watched without breathing.
One crocodile shifted slightly.
Kichy stopped.
Waited.
The water stilled again.
He moved.
Jump.
Jump.
Closer.
Closer to the temple.
Finally…
He reached the stone steps.
He climbed up quickly.
Inside the temple, it was quiet and cool.
A soft glow came from the center.
On a small stand… lay the medicine.
Kichy walked slowly toward it.
"This is for Grandma," he whispered.
He picked it up carefully.
Then turned back.
The journey was not over.
He stepped out again.
The crocodiles were still there.
Waiting.
Sleeping.
Kichy took another deep breath.
Jump.
One by one…
Back across.
Every step felt heavier now.
But he didn't stop.
Finally—
He leaped onto the ground.
Safe.
Everyone rushed toward him.
"You did it!" Miku said.
Peggy smiled, her eyes full of relief.
Kichy held out the medicine.
"For Grandma," he said.
Peggy gently took it.
"You were brave," she said.
Kichy's ears lifted happily.
"I didn't wake them," he said proudly.
Chikku smiled. "Perfect."
Behind them, the pond stayed silent.
The crocodiles never woke.
And in that quiet moment…
Kichy was no longer just the playful rabbit.
He was a hero.