Disclaimer, you know
As the afternoon rolled around, dorothy and alex found themselves rowing down the construct's river with a picnic basket. As alex slowly rowed dorothy took the time to take in the beautiful landscape. It was lush and green. A place dorothy found ideal to relax. However, there was something gnawing at the back of her mind
"you know, there's something rather familiar about this place." Dorothy said as she looked around.
"yes, it does feel like that doesn't it, I wonder what mads based this place off." Alex said.
"well, that's the problem, it doesn't look like any place I've seen in Oz, or at home." Dorothy said sighing and leaning back in the boat.
"well, perhaps it's an amalgamation of both? I mean I don't know of any rivers near our town." Alex said.
"I know of one, but its rather far, off…" dorothy said trailing off.
"you don't have to go on." Alex said.
"thank you." Dorothy replied smiling.
"the willows look beautiful, even though this is more of a spring country side than a summer countryside, colors are too vibrant. Too bright for it." Alex said as they passed by some.
"that's a bit nitpicky isn't it?" Dorothy asked giggling.
"yep, but its true." Alex said as they came up to the bank.
Alex smiled, stood up, helped dorothy out of the boat and they both set up on the bank for their picnic. Has they spread out the blanket, dorothy looked around and smiled.
"it could do with some wildlife, maybe some birds and butterflies." Dorothy said smiling.
"I can do that you know, well sort of, creating wildlife in a construct is rather risky, creating life in general in a construct is rather risky." Madeline said as she appeared through a door that appeared in the hill side.
"ah, Maddie, how good of you to join us." Alex said.
"I'm here too, what's this you two have set up? A picnic?" jack asked coming in behind her.
"yes, care to join us?" dorothy asked tossing him a sandwich.
"you two did all this yourself?" Madeline asked sounding impressed.
"spent most of the morning doing so, I thought you'd have known." Dorothy said sounding a bit bothered.
"connection between us is weak here in the construct, most of the power that went into creating kinda blocks it, like radio interference." Madeline said smiling.
"I wasn't aware of that." Dorothy said.
"it's never come up before now." Alex and jack said in unison.
"besides, you'd have no real reason to know that." Madeline added.
"fair, anyways, Maddie, what were you saying about wildlife?" Dorothy asked.
"well, it's not just wildlife, but creating life in a construct in general can be dangerous, you have to make sure it's something that you can easily manage or control, like say, a rabbit, or a butterfly, because like regular objects, anything that leaves the construct becomes part of our world, create a monster capable of destruction, inside a construct, and somehow it got out, well you get the picture." Madeline said sitting down next to dorothy.
"so, can you demonstrate, I'm actually curious now?" Jack asked taking a bite from his sandwich.
Madeline smiled and took her wand from her sleeve. She waved it in the air until a ball of golden light began floating in front of them. She then set it down and put her hands up to it. immediately they began glowing with the same golden light which the orb seemed to take in. within a moment the light faded and flittering in front of them was a large monarch butterfly, which flutter off to a nearby wildflower.
"that was rather impressive, how come you can't do things like that outside, in say oz or something?" Alex asked.
"it requires a lot of magic outside a construct, and I'm not really that well trained in the art, and I don't know of anyone in Oz that can do it." Madeline said.
"anyways, why'd you two set up a picnic for four when you weren't aware of when mads or I would show up?" Jack asked curiously.
"We can be full of surprises too you know." Dorothy said smiling.
"anyways, I finished your guy's copy of the key, you know in case either of you just want to hide yourselves away for a while, have time to relax, away from Glinda's gaze." Madeline said taking the key from her pocket and placing it into Dorothy's hand.
"took her all of the rest of the day yesterday, all night, and most of the morning." Jack said.
"Maddie did you sleep at all?" dorothy asked, knowing that she already knew the answer.
"Nope, but you'd be surprised how little sleep I get." Madeline said smiling as she conjured up a cup of tea for herself.
"you know, considering how much of it you drink I'm surprised your garments aren't completely stained with it mads." Jack said sighing.
"why do you think I hardly wear white?" Madeline asked.
"because it's hard to keep clean?" dorothy suggested.
"well, mainly that, but I also think it's too bright a color in most shades." Madeline said.
"you know, Jack, you've gotten me into the habit of doing so, but why do you call her mads anyways, why not just Madeline, or Maddie, or hatter? Like everyone else?" Alex asked curiously.
"because it's easier to shout if we have to run." Jack said.
"why'd you'd start?" Dorothy asked.
"for the variety mainly." Alex said shrugging.
"I see." Dorothy said rolling her eyes.
"anyways, not long now till the wedding, Terrance and Alyssa seem to be very nervous." Jack said taking another sandwich.
"you would be too if you were getting married in less than 48 hours." Madeline said.
"good grief, that's right, tomorrow we have to get everything set up for the wedding, well everything that alex and I didn't take care of." Dorothy said.
"and of course, we did nothing that day, well jack did nothing, I was painting." Madeline said smiling.
"hey, I observed and that counts for something." Jack said.
"if by observe you mean, made the occasional remark and then completely nodded off, then no it doesn't." Alex said.
Jack grunted and continued to eat his sandwich in silence.
"Maddie, can I ask you about something?" Dorothy asked rummaging through the picnic basket and pulling out the large map, which had been neatly folded,
"the map? Oh, you want to know about that dark area I assume?" Madeline asked.
"yes." Dorothy and alex replied.
"that's an area of Oz that it's best to avoid, it's a large expanse of woods outside the university, I call the wild woods, but it has had many more names over the years." Madeline said.
"what's so bad about it?" Alex asked.
"honestly it's a bit of a wild card, you never know what dangerous creatures you may run into, but the creatures in that wood are not afraid to attempt to kill for food or what I imagine they call sport, and there's one other thing, the village isn't the only place where animals can take on an appearance like ours, dark magic has been done in that wood, powerful dark magic, and no one has ever been sure of the source." Madeline said shivering.
"you've been in there before I assume?" Alex asked.
"once, and I nearly didn't make it out, the creatures there, like I said, are ravenous, and you should never go there unless you're prepared for a fight, I had to deliver a hat to the heart of the woods, to a strict gentleman who has lived there since before it was the dark place it is now, nearly set upon but a bunch of ravenous foxes and stoats." Madeline said shivering.
"why doesn't he just leave?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"he doesn't want to, none of the animals' mess with him so he really doesn't have a reason to, most animals in Oz are nice, save for Kalidahs, and a few others, but the woods there, almost nothing good has ever come out of it." Madeline said shivering again.
"so, basic lesson of this conversation, avoid it at all costs?" alex asked.
"yes." Madeline said sternly.
They all ate in silence for several minutes before a thought popped into Dorothy's head.
"wait, that doesn't add up, were the wolves that the witch of the west created made in a construct then?" Dorothy asked changing the subject.
"no, those were more of an experiment gone right, but this isn't the time for horror stories." Madeline said.
"honestly the way you all describe them, they sound more like an experiment gone wrong." Alex said turning to her
"no, they were created intentionally, so I guess depending on perspective, it was an experiment gone right for the witch, and a disaster for the rest of Oz, when those wolves were released, they became the tribunal's main priority, to make sure no one got hurt, it was rare that someone would actually be attacked, but the tribunal was usually able to fix it." Madeline said.
"well failing to stop them all was the reason they were exiled wasn't it?" dorothy asked.
"well yes and no, the thing is, any of the wolves the tribunal managed to capture, they'd bring to their sanctuary, where supposedly they were rendered harmless, however every now and again one would return to a feral state and manage to escape, those were the rare instances where someone would usually be attacked, the last time someone was attacked, yes they survived but were left severely damaged, you two aren't aware of what those wolves are capable of, and I pray to Lurline you never have to find out." Madeline said shivering.
"you sound as if you're genuinely frightened of them." Alex said taking a large bite from his sandwich.
"I am, most of Oz is, the fact they are resurfacing and whispers on the winds of their locations is bothersome enough." Madeline said.
"besides any creation of the witch of the west is worrying enough." Dorothy said.
"quite right." Madeline said taking a sip from her cup
"wait a tick, sorry to bounce the subject back around but, did you say stoats? Aren't those a type of weasel?" Alex asked.
"yes but they're very particularly particular about the distinction, never confuse a stoat for a weasel, I should also mention, that the magic that transforms them allows them to keep most of their animalistic traits and they can transform back at will and you'll suddenly have hundreds attempt to pounce on you, and sure its easy to fight off a weasel or a stoat most of the time, foxes are a different problem all together, now can we please change the subject? Just thinking about that place is giving me the shivers." Madeline said.
"well, we were wondering what this landscape was based off?" Alex inquired.
"its sort of a mix, of Winkie country, and a memory I found while rooting through Dorothy's thoughts one night." Madeline said.
"I figured as much, I thought it looked familiar." Dorothy said sighing.
"yes, I merged the best parts of both, the house though, that was based off one I lived in for a time, with a few choice alterations." Madeline said smiling.
"so, what have the others been up to while we were here?" Alex asked curiously.
"mainly idle chat, nothing relatively productive, apart from eating though I didn't leave my room much to work on the key, to make it perfect." Madeline said sipping from her cup loudly
"that's not much of a surprise, I assume Alyssa and Terrance are still jittery?" alex asked.
"yep." Madeline said taking an apple from the basket.
"speaking of being jittery, has the scepter made any noises since we left?" dorothy asked curiously.
"if it had been. Neither of us noticed, Morris or Wendell might have but I can't call them from here." Madeline said.
"so, a construct really is a decent way to isolate one's self isn't it?" alex asked.
"and the conversation comes full circle once again." Jack said smiling.
"by the by, what time is it?" Jack asked turning to Madeline.
Madeline sighed and took out her watch.
"a bit passed two now, we should probably get things packed soon and get back into the city before Glinda starts fretting about us." Madeline said finishing her cup of tea.
They all nodded in agreement and started packing up the basket, which Madeline then took.
"so, do you two want to take the boat or shall we?" Dorothy asked.
"I would prefer it if you two did, as neither Jack or I are any good at rowing, besides, we don't need the key to get out, that's just you two." Madeline said smiling.
"I see, and when did you intend to tell us this?" alex asked curiously.
"it's not necessary, I just prefer to use the key." Madeline said.
Alex sighed and shook his head before turning to dorothy. She smiled and took his hand into her own.
"so, do you think you can teach me to row at some point?" dorothy asked curiously.
"if you'd like, it's not exactly easy." Alex said helping her into the boat.
"we'll meet you two at the house then." Madeline said as she and jack vanished
The two of them sighed as alex sat down and started rowing.
"perhaps after the festival, I don't think it'd be easy to teach you, even with the light of a blue moon over head." Alex said smiling.
"sounds like a plan." Dorothy said smiling back.
"by the way, have you made any plans for your birthday yet?" alex asked curiously.
"I completely gave up on that a while ago, you guys always manage to come up with some way to surprise me." Dorothy sighed.
"fair, I honestly can't help but feel like they've gone behind our backs again to go out of their way to do something for you." Alex said.
"honestly it wouldn't surprise me, they know I don't approve of them doing it, but it's not like I can stop them." Dorothy said sighing.
"isn't worth the effort." Alex said
"beg pardon? I disagree its so worth the effort." Dorothy said sarcastically.
The both shared a laugh for a minute before rowing on, eventually they made it back around.
"you know, once you know the way around it's the best way to travel." Dorothy said smiling.
"well not really, its just efficient for the construct." Madeline said offering dorothy and alex a bowl of walnuts.
"where'd you get those?" alex asked.
"three guesses and the first two don't count." Madeline said chuckling.
"ah." Alex said nodding.
As he and dorothy got out of the boat, alex took two in his hands and cracked them against each other before offer some to dorothy.
"no thanks, but where did you learn to do that?" dorothy asked curiously.
"it's a trick Liza taught me." Alex said.
"I thought she told you not to call her that?" Jack asked causing both dorothy and Madeline to giggle.
"okay now just about everyone has said that to me at this point, can't we just leave that matter alone?" alex asked.
"no." All three of the replied.
They all had a laugh at this before Madeline took her own key and placed it in the door of the house. Within seconds they were stepping out into her bedroom, the scepter floating idly in the corner that dorothy had left it in.
"Oh, there you guys are, I was wondering when she was going to retrieve you two." Came Alyssa's voice as she walked into the room.
"yes, and its been mildly uninteresting, do you need anything?" alex asked curiously.
"that's why I came looking for you two." She replied smiling.
Okay now that this mildly confusing chapter is done, I haven't quite decided whether or not to make the next one a two parter as well. I guess we'll see how long it turns out
