In the early evening, in the Winkie Country, Anilozy in her region attire and apron, was cooking for her family while humming a light hearted tune. While her sister was cleaning around the house and her father patrolling for the return of their leader.
"He's coming back!" their father yelled at the top of the sentry tower at the gates of their town and not far from their home.
The girls and the other villagers rushed outside, to see their leader coming back with a black workhorse pulling a chariot.
Something is wrong! Those black workhorses were usually parading for the deaths and mounings! ….
"Oh no!" Anilozy suffocated with horror as she covered her mouth.
And the men, dreaded to see what they were about to see. Until the chariot came to an halt, in the middle of them all.
The Tin Man, their leader, did not dare to cross their gaze.
The Winkies approached and gasped once they saw two tiny coffins in the chariot.
The wives hugged their husbands and the mothers their kids as they restrained tears of fear and grief.
Only the families of the infected ones dared to approach.
A man climbed on board of the chariot to open the coffins. But he and the rest of the families wouldn't dare to open the coffins. Two of their children have died. But no one wanted to see which ones. But they have to know.
As soon as one coffin was opened a mother collapsed in a shriek of despair at the sight of her lifeless daughter while hugging the legs of her husband like she was drowning and he was her only life buoy. The man couldn't help at all, as he too was crying the loss of his daughter.
And for the second child, it wasn't much better. The mother tried to deny on the instant that it wasn't true before cracking up into grief.
And those whose children weren't theres cried in sympathy for the families but also dreading that the next ones could be their own children.
The Winkie on the chariot try to close one of the coffins but the mother grabbed the upper plank out of his grasp yelling:
"NO! HE ISN'T DEAD! HE ISN'T DEAD! LEAVE MY CHILD ALONE!"
But she was caught by other Winkies who took back the plank from her hands while she continued to wail.
"NOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…..! MY BABY NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!" before she broke in her husband's arms.
The Tin Man couldn't stand it, it was unbearable to watch! He broke into tears once more while covering his eyes. He was so shameful! So helpless!
Anilozy watched everything occurring from afar, griefing with her village and leader. Oz was passing through darkest time again! But this time, it seems that nobody could stop it!
She couldn't bear it! She quickly went to her leader for comfort! But as she approached, the Tin Man raised his hand and stopped her in her track from approaching him. The young Winkie lady froze as he repulsed her, until their tearful gaze met.
She could see how frail, unsure and insecure he had grown from the past hours. She cried again as she gently convinced him to let her approach.
She sat next to him and dried his eyes while he cracked under her gentle touch, who brought him so much memories from his past till now.
He wanted to talk, but his tears have rusted his mouth joints again. But thankfully, Anilozy understood his gestures and grabbed the oil can and passed some oil around the mouth joint.
"Thank you …..!" he whispered to her, before turning his back on her. "I'm sorry, …. it's not against you. It's just …. I don't know if you should build your hopes in me as you leader …. I'm doing a lousy job at keeping you all safe!"
The young Winkie lady understood. But still, he had to tell his people.
Gently, she puts her hand on his shoulder while whispering to him:
"You should talk to them… At least, you have to try!"
The Winkies leader froze before looking at her. Even though she cried, she tried to smile with reasurment.
He gave a small chuckle, he could expect Glinda to have told him that. But yet, that's what Glinda did earlier!
"You're right! ….. I'll talk to them!"
Slowly he rises up into the chariot and confronted his griefing people, who looked at him even though the tears rolled down their cheeks.
He took a deep breath before he spoke.
"Listen! Please!" he started before continuing. "What happened today is the most grave and unbearable situation. I …..I'm doing my best ….. but it appears that my best isn't enough … for what we're up against. And while I let you decide if you still want me or not as your leader …. know that….. I will still try to stop this situation to aggravate more than it already has! So, leader or not, I will still help you no matter what! I won't give up on you! I won't give up until I know each and everyone of you safe! You have my word!"
The Winkies didn't know how to respond to that. But he didn't imposed himself as their leader, they chose him to be their leader! And they knew that even with that, he was willing to help them through thick and thin! He was more than a leader! He was their savior and most trusted friend! And they should keep to treat him as such!
"Then how can we help too, my lord?" the Winkie asked who opened the coffins.
The Tin Man was a bit surprised and taken aback. He wouldn't have imagine that they still believed in him nor trusting him! Even though they were mourning, they looked up at him with hope. They wanted him to keep going. They wanted a hope that only he and his friends could provide them.
Even the families of the dead children wanted to still hold on to the thought that he could find a way out of the epidemy. They all wanted to believe it possible with him.
And with that, the Winkies leader gained back his confidence before instructing:
"The Emerald City is under quarantine for now on! Only creatures not made of flesh and the infected ones can enter! As for the flowers, we're still looking for the culprits of this epidemy! So this is why children, I want you to play with flowers you know to be harmless! And if you see any suspicious flowers or plants, then report it to me! And grown up children should look out for the younger children for great measure! And as soon as we found those flowers, we're eradicating them!"
The Winkies nodded in agreement to the plan.
The burying of the two coffins was held into a small ceremony, where once placed in the grounds, two tombstones with the image of Luurline carved or drawn raised above the two holes being closed up by the dirt of the Winkie land while the elder of the village and the families of the departed sang an anthem to the departed and that their souls may find happiness in the realm of light and fairies.
The Winkie leader didn't join the chant since he was unfamiliar with the lyrics (since he came from Munchkin Country), but still watched over the ceremony and mourned the children's death in silence and trying to cry less than before.
He kept watching Anilozy, for now, there was nothing to report about her, she was just joining her people's rituals.
But even then, the Winkie leader knew that she wasn't wicked as the Jester, heck, she wouldn't hurt a fly! But nonetheless, she had informations, he had to talk to her!
So as soon as the ceremony ended, he approached her.
"Anilozy?" he called.
The mentioned lady turned around to face him.
"May I have a talk with you … alone please?" he then asked.
Anilozy turned to her father who gave his permission by nodding to her before going toward her leader.
"Father!" exclaimed her sister to their father as her sister left "I do think our leader might have gotten to the charm of our Anilozy!"
her father chuckled, though he had to admit, it was time for his daughters to get a nice match and have families of their own. It would be nice if their leader was looking to his youngest with this attention, even though he wasn't sure of how it could work, but still, he was a nice man and she was the nicest girl he ever had alongside his oldest.
"Yes my lord?" asked the young Winkie lady as she approached the Tin man.
"I first wanted to thank you for earlier, …. I don't know if I could have managed this if I wasn't reminded!" he thanked sincerely.
"it was nothing really my lord." she chuckled. "I'm sure that you are willing the impossible for all of Oz! Even if it meant losing the trust of others onto you! I knew that you care very much!" she then said.
"oh that's so nice of you!" he complimented, before throwing and getting directly to the real subject. "But I'm not telling it as the main subject!"
The young Winkie lady throwned.
"Anilozy, your visits and attempts with Philisius are getting too noticeable to ignore! The king and I are starting to suspect you and your affiliation to this man! And, it seems that the both of you know about the epidemy!"
Anilozy just blushed a bright red before glancing down at the ground. Ashamed that her leader and the king misinterpreted her intentions. But she had to admit that she looks more of a suspect now than ever, especially with those Deadly Flowers on the loose, causing havoc wherever they bloomed!
"Anilozy!" he called for her attention again. "Know that i don't doubt and shall never doubt your kindness, and I'm ready to back you up in front of my friends doubts! But please … if you know what is happening to Oz, you should tell me! Please!" he then begged.
The young Winkie lady looked at him with hope and tiredness from keeping too much secrets, that with that simple glance she told the Tin Man that she trusted him and she was willing to tell.
She then looked in all the direction, just to be sure that other Winkies weren't listening nearby before facing her leader once again and telling him: "Come with me!"
And he followed her as she led him to a place she knew they wouldn't be bothered.
