"Really? You found it?" Nessa's voice was high with excitement. In answer the Raven removed a round sphere of glass from within her cloak. It glinted in the lamplight. "How in Oz did you get this?"

"It was in Selky's desk," the hooded figure explained. "I don't know why she kept it there."

"You don't even realize how important this is," the brunette cried, setting the crystal ball on her desk.

"I thought only a sorceress with more power than Elphaba could watch her with a crystal ball."

"You seem well versed in magic," Nessa observed. "And you are correct. However the crystal ball will allow me to sense Elphaba's essence as if I'm near her. That's all I need to get into her head."

"I wouldn't underestimate her," the Raven warned. "Someone as powerful as Elphaba could do some serious damage to you."

"My sister wouldn't hurt me," the witch of the east assured her. "For all her fierceness her heart is made of gold; soft, moldable gold. She doesn't have it in her to hurt someone she loves."

"Yet you have no problem playing with her emotions."

"Being noble is a weakness," Nessa shrugged. "It's something I purged from my system long ago."

"I see."

"Tomorrow we begin marching into Quadling Country," the witch of the east informed her spy. "You gave Elphaba the map indicating we'd be moving towards Gillikin correct?"

"Yes," the Raven replied, stiffening imperceptibly. "But I'm not sure if she'll believe it. You know how suspicious she is."

"Whatever the case I want you ready when we set up camp near Qhoyre."

"Of course." Nessa didn't catch the sarcasm.

"Remind me, what are the names of the Liger Cubs living in the Emerald Palace?"

"Shay and Izo. Though I'd say that they aren't little enough to be called Cubs anymore."

"Are they close to Elphaba?"

"I believe she is fond of them."

"Good, you're dismissed."

***

Curyn had never felt so incredibly stupid. Why in Oz was she wandering into the Great Gillikin Forest? What did she hope to find? If Selky was still alive wouldn't she have just confronted her instead of leaving behind cryptic clues? Her friend had always been fond of word riddles but this wasn't something she'd joke about. The blonde clutched Selky's sword, strapped to her belt, and tried not to be frightened by the darkness of the forest. She'd grown up here, surrounded by plants and animals. Apparently Shiz made her soft.

A bird took off nearby in a flurry of feathers and Curyn bolted. She tripped over a log and landed on the smoldering remains of a campfire. Screeching at the burning pain the blonde jumped back and thudded to the ground in a very undignified manner. Her hands thrummed with pain. The skin was mottled with angry red marks. Curyn was sitting in a small clearing beside a simple canvas lean-to. A raven within a cat's eye had been painted on the pale sturdy fabric. So this was where Oz's elusive hero resided. It was odd going into the forest expecting (or rather, foolishly hoping) to find one person and instead locating another. But perhaps Selky was here too; perhaps the Raven had seen her.

Curyn's stomach grumbled then, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since dinner at Shiz two days ago. She wondered if the Raven had any food in her shelter. Feeling a good amount of guilt, but not enough to overrule her hunger, the blonde scooted forward in search of a snack. "You know stealing is a crime." The voice was low and menacing. Curyn leapt to her feet in a blaze of fear induced adrenaline.

"H..h..hello?" she stuttered. She tried to draw Selky's sword but cried out in pain when her burned hands touched the metal.

"You're not cooperating with my plan," the voice, presumably belonging to the Raven, growled.

"What plan?"

"The only reason I left that beautiful weapon in your possession was so you'd bring it to Elphaba and claim that her daughter was still alive."

"Is she still alive?" Curyn couldn't disguise the hope in her tone.

"No," the Raven replied. "But we want Elphaba to think that."

"We?" The blonde was really frightened now.

"Nessarose and I."

"B…but you're against Nessarose."

"That's what Oz is supposed to think," the Raven chuckled darkly. She sighed. "Enough talk though. It's clear that you are of no further use to me." There was a rustling in the forest and Curyn whimpered. She saw a flash of black and felt something sharp cut into her side. Immediately numbness flooded her body. All her muscles relaxed and she fell into the arms of someone behind her. Curyn's body convulsed gently; shuddering as it slumped to the ground. Her eyes dimmed and then slipped shut.

***

Shay had never had such a vivid dream. She saw Selky running through swampy, bog land. Reeds tore at her clothes and murky water frothed around her legs as she thrashed through it. There was a wet, squelching sound and suddenly the teenager was being pulled down into the sloppy mire. She struggled to pull her feet out of the deadly mud but it continued to drag her down. "Shay help!" Selky cried, looking right at the horrified Liger, who seemed unable to move. "Don't leave me; I'm still here!" Shay awoke with a scream already built in her throat.

"Izo," she whispered, shaking her brother awake.

"What?"

"Selky's still alive," Shay informed him.

"What do you mean?"

"I had a dream," the female told him. "She was sinking into a muddy swamp. I know it means something Izo; she'd trapped in Quadling Country."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes; this was the most vivid dream I've ever had. It just felt real."

"We've got to tell Mom and Dad then."

"No!" Shay nearly shouted. "We can't let them know. They'll tell us we're being silly." Her eyes burned into Izo's. "We've got to go now; by ourselves."

"Shay."

"Please Izo," the larger of the two Cubs begged. "It'll be an adventure. We've got to do it for Selky."

"Ok."

***

Nessarose grinned into her crystal ball. Even her limited magical abilities had no trouble watching the two Ligers as they slept. Shay's mind was so easy to toy with; it was almost too simple. Elphaba wouldn't be hard to overwhelm when she'd witnessed the horrific death of two young Cubs.

More cliffies!