Chapter 9: In the Western Domain

Jack did notice the country looked more yellow, but it was a wasteland. He would almost guess that this was a desert, had he not known about the desert that surrounded the country. He was surprised that nothing had happened yet. The Lion was definitely hyped about it.

"I'm so scared o' this wizard. I don' want to be a slave!"

"We shall not be enslaved, unless it is necessary. I will see to it."

The heat was making Jack tired again, but not like the unhealthily tired he got from the poppies. He and the lion stopped to take a nap.

Some time later, Nick shook them awake. "Wake up! We're being attacked!"

Jack looked up sleepily to see a pack of fierce wolves. "Mmmm," the Lion said. "That nap made me 'ungry!" With a loud roar, he charged at the wolves and started tearing them apart. Even at that, Jack could see he was outnumbered, and he started to fight alongside the Lion. Nick joined in, too. Together, they took care of all the wolves.

"Wonder what wolves are doing all the way out here?" Nick mused.

"They must have been sent," Jack replied. As he spoke, the sky darkened, but not with clouds.

"Crows!" the Scarecrow cried. "Everybody down!" The Scarecrow stood in his pose as Jack first saw him in the cornfield. The crows were reluctant to attack, but then the leader pointed out he was only made out of straw. As they flew down, Jack jumped up and hit every bird he could. Nick helped out. The Scarecrow grabbed birds flying his way and twisted their heads off. Soon, that danger was over.

Then, they heard an unearthly buzz. "Looks like bees," Nick observed. "Everybody cover yourselves in the Scarecrow's straw, and you should be safe." They did so. Nick stood in front of them. The bees tried to sting him, but the tin tore their stings from their bodies and rendered them harmless.

So our heroes continued on, wondering if the Wicked Wizard was done with them yet. Then, something unusual happened. It looked almost like the clouds were swooping together toward the heroes. It wasn't until they were too close that Jack realized what they were: the snow gorillas with wings. Leading them was a woman in a black dress with huge, bat wings. "There they are!" she pointed. "Get them!"

The winged snow flew down and attacked. "Talk to them," the Scarecrow said. "Perhaps they'll listen to you."

"Don't know gorilla!" the Scarecrow cried. It didn't seem reason would work anyway. They were already fiercely attacking the Lion.

Jack drew his sword to fight, but it did little good. They kept darting him, and he couldn't keep up without wings of his own. Suddenly, one winged gorilla grabbed the sword out of his hands. As Jack chased him, the woman in the lead grabbed him by the wrist and started to fly.

Jack looked helplessly as the winged gorillas pulled the Scarecrow completely apart and threw poor Nick into a valley of jagged rocks. Jack struggled, fearful of what they had planned to do to him.

The leading woman grinned mischievously at him. "Do not be afraid, little man. You do not have an immediate end. That is for the Wizard of the West to decide."