2
"Your Highness, we have searched for many years with no luck at all, surely, sir, there's no hope that we'll ever find her," informed a young general to the Throne Minister, His Highness, Brrr Lion.
Brrr shook his head, making his graying mane sway like waves along grassy plains. "No, General Lugar, I will not hear of it. You tell me the same thing every time. My patience in you is dwindling. Have you looked everywhere: Under every rock, every wet cave; every province outside Oz? The great desert Ev, Quox? Tell me sir, have you?"
General Lugar sighed, "No, Your Highness, we-"
"Then I suggest you quit wasting my time and go out and look again!" Brrr roared, then added as the General was leaving, "And don't come back until she is found!"
After Lugar left, Brrr went to his chambers. He paced, as most Lions do, thinking furiously. How could I allow this to happen? He thought. Why didn't I go with her? I could've saved her, and she'd be alive. A tear escaped his eye. He looked at the picture that he had framed the night she died. Brrr gently placed his paw on the glass. "My Ilianora," he whispered to himself, "I'm sorry to have failed you so."
. . .
Rain decided that stealth would be safer than out in the open. Of course, hiding her green skin would be tricky, but she figured if her grandmother could do it, then so could she. Surprisingly, it was easy to do. Rain tied a giant cape-her grandmother's-around herself and wore gloves on her hands. The real challenge was hiding her face, but she figured it out easily by putting a veil over it. Rain didn't know what to do with her broom, she decided to leave it behind since it would attract unwanted attention to her.
The EC was as amazing (and green) as she remembered. It appeared that Animals could work freely now. All thanks to Brrr, Rain reasoned. I wonder if he's-no, no questions. I will find out in due time. She continued on.
"Miss?" A voice asked.
Rain turned around, hoping that this Lioness didn't recognize her. "Yes, can I help you?" Rain asked, disguising her voice just in case.
"I don't know that you can, but I figured I might as well ask. Do you know if Brrr Lion is still Throne Minister?"
Rain puased. She had no clue, but something in her gut made her answer the Lioness. "I believe he is. Would you like me to escort you?"
The Lioness smiled, "No, but thanks. I really want to see His Highness privately." With a quick wag of her tail, the Lioness strolled down the path.
There was something vaguely familiar about that Lioness, Rain pondered. Why do I feel like I know her? She sighed and continued on her way when suddenly she tripped.
"What the hell?" Rain shouted almost to herself. She looked up angrily, trying to find whatever it was that made her trip. All she found was a little, green rice otter. She sat on her knees and crossed her arms. "Oh, so it was you. Watch where you're going next time." Rain stood up and suddenly the otter wrapped itself around her leg. "What the-" It suddenly hit her. "Tay?" She wondered aloud.
The rice otter slithered up to her shoulder, clicking happily.
Rain hugged her old friend. "Tay! You little devil you." Tay squirmed out from her grasp and scurried away, beckoning Rain to follow. "Hey! Come back!" She ran after him, dodging civilians and carts of food, trying to catch up to the critter.
Rain ran then dove after Tay as he snaked under a crack in the door. "Tay," she whispered. "Tay, come back here!" Suddenly, the door opened, and Rain saw two feet. She looked up slowly and saw the person's face. Rain felt herself trembling.
"Care to tell me why you were chasing my rice otter?" the girl said, leaning against the doorway.
"I. . .I . . .I'm sorry, Miss. It won't happen again." Rain tried her best to keep her voice level, but she couldn't believe who she was talking to.
"Get up before you collect fleas," the girl joked, helping Rain up.
Rain looked closer at the girl; she was trying to find answers. "Tip?" she said wonderingly.
The girl quickly shut the door, just in case anyone could hear; and it seemed she didn't want anybody to overhear. "Who are you?" she questioned.
She doesn't recognize me, Rain concluded.
"Who are you? I won't ask again." she repeated.
"Alright," Rain said, "but it will do me no good just to tell you my name; "I have to show you." Rain slowly removed her gloves, then she took off her veil.
The girl's eyes widened, her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh Oz," she gasped. "Rain?"
Rain smiled softly. "Yes, Tip, it's me." She couldn't control the tears that streamed down; she was so overcome to have found her former lover-of course, Tip was a boy then.
Tip ran to Rain, hugging her and crying herself. "Rain, where did you go? Why did you leave me? I thought I lost you."
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to leave, but I felt that I must."
"But I needed you. When you didn't reply to my invitations, I thought something terrible happened. I had something important to ask of you."
Rain smiled. "Well, I'm here now, ask away."
Tip nodded and placed a hand on Rain's wet, emerald cheek. She smiled, taking her other hand and intertwined her tan fingers with the green ones.
"Rain, I remember a long time ago-bear in mind, I was a boy then-I met a girl at St. Prowd's. We got along well together and developed a strong friendship that ultimately turned into something more." She blushed, caressing Rain's cheek with her thumb. "And I realized that I didn't want that to change-whether I became a girl or not."
Rain was trying to process this. "What are you saying?"
Tip moved her face closer to her green friend. "I'm saying that I. . .I love you, Rain." Without skipping a beat, she pulled Rain's face to hers, kissing her passionately, but also allowing Rain the opportunity to pull back if she so chose.
Rain didn't think of pulling back for a second. She wrapped her hands around Tip's waist, collecting every kiss as she did a long time ago, and-just as before-they slowly made their way to the bed.
