When night fell, Leaper took the branch he used to hunt birds and mice, then swam to the other side and scouted out the new territory. Even as the head of the pond he didn't come here much; swimming with his one good leg was slow and cumbersome. He set out his web and took up position below a large lily pad. This was much more risky. If the bird saw him, it would snap him up as easily as it would eat a tadpole.

"What are you doing here?" Hopper floated over to Leaper. "Aren't you ...