Tadpoles are what you optionally encounter after filling up the bottle with water in order to 'light your way'. You are not required to talk to them and can safely ignore them.
Responses
1. "My dad is dead."
2. "My dad was eaten by a snake."
3. "You killed him." - After this response, they will break apart the tiles you are standing upon and make you fall into the water, drowned by them.
Fate
After you wash the red shoes in the water, the tadpoles will read, "Dead Tadpoles floating in water."
Illustrations
The tadpoles. Illustrated by Fummy.
The tadpoles in-game. (Bottom right of the water)
The tadpoles, after washing the Red Shoes.
Trivia
- It is heavily implied that Frog is their dad, which the player has to kill/sacrifice to the snake in order to progress. This is confirmed on the 3rd response of the tadpoles.