AN: Okay, I decided to post this bit and then get to meeting Scarecrow. :3 Promise the next chapter'll be more exciting ^^' Hope you enjoy :3 And thanks for all the reviews! :D I'm not revealing Scarecrow yet though.
"I dinnae expect tha'." Cutter said, and when Abby looked at him, she couldn't help but smile at the stunned look on his face at Jenny's kiss. Stephen was smiling warmly as well, and when he met Abby's gaze, she forced the smile to leave her face, biting her lip in thought as she shifted the artefact. She didn't need to remind Cutter that Jenny loved him, that was mean, as he was dead and she would have to move on... and she shouldn't care so much any way. She shouldn't have let Cutter so close to her own heart, nor Stephen. Their deaths had hurt, and she couldn't let that happen again.
"Right, well, what now?" Abby asked Cutter.
"I'd hazard a guess that you should go on your way, because the little ones are waking up and they'll not want you to leave once they find you here. Last time, Jessica here overslept because of them." Stephen said, when Cutter seemed to need a moment.
Jessica nodded.
"They mean well, but they don't really like to say 'bye." The girl said, smiling. "And I guess I'll have to look for treasure another day." She paused, then added, "watch out for the Lion. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too..." What lion? Was that a warning or a suggestion? And who were the 'little ones'? Abby was n't sure she was going to get any answers right now.
"Good bye Jessica." Stephen said softly, and Abby failed to rein in her curiosity about how they knew each other from before Stephen's death. Cutter finally shook himself out of his daze as Jessica faded, waving at them.
"Abby?" She raised her eyebrows at Cutter. "Stephen 'n I cannae go with yah." He told her, glancing at the younger man, who nodded.
"But if you need our help, trust me, we'll be there." Stephen added, eyes on Cutter. Abby fought down another smile.
"Right. So I've got to follow this path and get h- get to..." She paused. "Where exactly am I going?"
"You know." Stephen offered, grinning.
"This isn't 'Oz', guys." Abby said slowly. Both men shrugged.
"It may as well be. Dreamscape's not 'Emerald City', but we do have our own Wizard, so to speak." Abby rolled her eyes at that.
"So I'm going to Dreamscape to give the Artefact to this 'wizard', and he'll tell me how to wake up? And I have to avoid Helen on the way?" She wasn't sure whether to be amused to skeptical at this point, but decided to just go with it.
Cutter nodded.
"Off yah go now."
"Alright, alright."
"And stay on the path!"
TBC