Chapter Two

Dorothy awoke with a start. Something was wrong. The air was thick on her lungs, in an almost unbearable way. And for just a moment, the world seemed to turn upside down, and shake, before it righted itself again and seemed to give a loud bellow from the depths of the very earth itself.

The girl got up quickly and dressed. She needed to find out what was happening. But before she could even get out the door her aunt's shrill voice stopped her short.

"Dorothy Gale, what are you up to now!"

Dorothy turned to see Aunt Em walking from the kitchen, with a stern look on her old wrinkled face.

Dorothy couldn't think of a reasonable answer to her aunt's question, so instead she asked another one.

"What's going on Auntie Em?"

The older woman's stern expression shifted for a moment, showing something Dorothy hadn't seen in three years.

Worry creased the old woman's face like a paper machete fold, and made her looked scared. Something was awfully wrong.

"Aunt Em? Please tell me what's wrong?"

"There's a storm comin', and the men are out trying to gather the livestock." Em answered quietly.

"This is my chance," Dorothy thought to herself. "At last I can go back to OZ; and see my dear friends again!"

"We've got to go help them," Dorothy said recovering from her momentary silence. "The job will be much faster with six people helping, opposed to four. Come on Aunt Em."

Dorothy reached for the door again, and was again stopped. But this time it was hand that held her back.

Dorothy turned to see her aunt's hand on her shoulder, and wondered why. Why didn't Aunt Em want to help the men?

"We are staying in this house Dorothy, until it's time to enter the cellar."

"But why?"

"Because," Aunt Em answered sharply. "The last time there was a storm, you were caught in it without shelter or safety, because you ran away from home. That will not be happening again Dorothy. Not again."

"But I'm not going to run away Aunt Em. I just want to help Uncle Henry before it's too late." Dorothy interjected quickly. "Hunk will watch me, and make sure I come back."

The old woman paused for a moment in thought. And Dorothy took advantage of it.

"Please Aunt Em, I want to help."

Aunt Em brought Dorothy into a tender hug, "I know you want to help child. But I can't bear the thought of losing you again. You almost died when you were in that coma." Aunt Em paused before continuing, "What kind of a guardian would I be if I let you get hurt twice?"

"I won't get hurt," Dorothy argued patiently. "Please let me go."

Aunt Em dropped her arms back down to her sides, and shook her head. "I've made up my mind Dorothy, and I'm not going to change it with badgering. Now please go eat your breakfast, and let's leave it at that."

Dorothy felt the tears prickle in her eyes, and knew what she had to do. If Aunt Em wouldn't give her permission, then she would have to leave without it.

"I can't leave it at that," Dorothy said between her tears. "This storm is my chance, and I can't miss it. Aunt Em, you have to understand."

"Dorothy, there is nothing waiting for you out there in that storm. And you will mind me."

The girl slowly back away from her aunt. "Everything is waiting for me, in that storm. I love you Aunt Em, but I can't stay here any longer. I have to go back."

And with that, Dorothy threw open the door, and ran out into the windy yard; leaving her frantic aunt calling after her, though the older woman's words were lost on the air currents, as Dorothy disappeared into the tall grass and out of sight.


Hunk Saker, heard the call from Aunt Em first.

At first it was distant, and unfamiliar, and then just as fast, it was troubling and everything seemed to stop. Even the rapid winds seemed to slow down temporarily.

"She's gone," Em yelled hysterically running up to the men, skirts in her hands. "Dorothy's gone! She went out looking for the storm Henry!"

Hunk turned instantly and began running, not waiting to hear more. He had to find Dorothy, before she did something reckless. The farmhand knew exactly where she would be. He just had to get there in time.

"Wait for me Dorothy," Hunk thought wildly running up past the corral, and fence posts to the tall grass, and the corn fields where the straw Scarecrow stood constant vigil. "Don't leave me."


Dorothy stood with her back to the farmhouse, and faced the open prairie. She could see the black funnel cloud making its way towards her and accelerating so swiftly, that in only a couple of minutes it would be upon her.

The girl looked around her, and back at the place where she had grown up, and almost faltered.

"What am I doing? My place is here, with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, and Hunk." She almost turned and ran back to the house; almost.

Dorothy cleared her mind, and tried to remain as thoughtless as possible. There was nothing left for her in Kansas anymore. Oz had changed her, and now there was no turning back.

The Cyclone was only about a mile away now, and continued at its hasty pursuit of all things living. Dorothy watched and waiting, and did something she hadn't felt like doing in a long time.

She smiled. And just as she was about to relax she heard a voice call to her from only a few feet away.

"Dorothy."

Dorothy turned to see Hunk Saker, standing behind her, his dark eyes anxious.

"Hunk," Dorothy began slowly. "I have to go."

Hunk looked back at the girl sadly, "I know."

Dorothy felt something inside her melt, though she had no idea what. Before Dorothy could ask Hunk what he meant, he had flung his arms around her in a tender hug.

"I know that you aren't happy here, so how can I ask you to stay."

Dorothy hugged Hunk back, and nuzzled into his shoulder. "I'll miss you Hunk."

Hunk pulled back from her, and Dorothy saw tears in his eyes.

"I'll miss you more."

And without another word, he was gone.

Dorothy turned back to the Cyclone, and didn't look back.