Breena had to wonder if maybe her decision hadn't been a little rash as she was literally pulled away from the wagon by what seemed like an ocean of crop pickers. Yes she wanted to make sure everyone got to safety, but the pandemonium she was now a part of would have served as more than enough of a distraction for them to make their escape. And she had a feeling that she needed to get back to Elphaba. But turning around wasn't an option. She was just going to have to move with the momentum of the people around her until she could break free and then hope she would be able to find a horse to catch up with the others.
"Great Oz!"
"We're doomed!"
She frowned as everyone in front of her started pushing to go back the way they came. At first she didn't understand the change in mood but then she caught a glimpse of a Gale Force squad marching toward them. She wanted to tell everyone it would be all right, that the guards were trained to ask questions first and only use their fighting skills as a last resort, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. The Gale Force were viewed first and foremost as soldiers and as such struck fear in the heart of many an Ozian.
It didn't help that the guards stopped just short of the crowd and raised their guns either. Not that they would actually shoot. They were using classic crowd control methods.
And then they opened fire.
She flinched as the guns went off, mowing down several of the crop pickers at the very front of the group. What she was seeing barely had time to register before more guards rushed around their counterparts, drawing their swords as they attacked the crowd. She was close enough to the edge of the group to see the same thing was going on from all sides. The Gale Force were slaughtering the crop pickers.
Her stomach turned, almost making her lose the stew Betak had forced on her. This was all her fault. The Gale Force were there for her and the others, not the pickers. They were innocent bystanders in the grand scheme of getting Glinda out of the city safely. They were supposed to be heading out to farms to earn another day's pay, not paying the ultimate price for something they knew nothing about.
"Absentis!" She threw both of her hands out in front of her, letting her power flow. A group of sword wielders to her left met the spell head on, flying backward into the guards with guns. "Absentis!" She turned quickly, repeating the action to her right.
"What the hell are you?" One of the crop pickers stopped to stare at her in amazement.
Another grabbed his arm, shouting, "Who cares?!" before dragging him toward the break she had created in the Gale Force line.
Others quickly followed suit almost dragging her along with them. She somehow managed to escape the stampede, giving herself a second to regain her bearings before moving again. She had helped some of the pickers, but it wasn't enough. And she wasn't powerful enough to help all the others by herself. Maybe if she got Elphaba they could…
Her train of thought scattered when she saw him.
"Boq." She whispered his name through clinched teeth. On some level she knew he was the one who brought the Gale Force down on them, but part of her had hoped she was wrong. Not for her sake. There was certainly no love lost between the two of them. But Glinda and Lion both thought a lot of him. And nothing carried a worse sting than being betrayed by a friend.
"Agito!" Her spell missed him by inches, hitting a crop picker who was fist fighting with a guard instead. "Damn it." She was about to try again when someone grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Aren't you a pretty one?" Hot breath seared her cheek.
"She's all right I guess." Another man suddenly appeared in front of her. It shocked her to see he was a crop picker, not a guard. "I'm not sure where you got one of their uniforms, but I'm going to have to ask you to take it off." He smiled. "Right now."
Breena threw her head back, satisfied with the crunching noise she heard when her skull made contact with the man holding her. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to make him let go.
The man in front of her tsked. "Now why would you want to go and do a thing like that? You just made him mad."
His grip tightened, crushing her ribs. She resisted the urge to groan, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of knowing she was in pain.
"So you're a tough one huh?" The one in front of her smiled again. "Let's see how you like this." He drew his fist back.
She managed to move far enough to the right for his punch to skip off her shoulder and into the face of her captor. The impact threw whoever it was off balance, allowing her to finally pull free.
"Look what you made me do!"
Instinct had her ducking another punch as she and the other man were still staggering from the first one. It plowed into the unsteady man's face, sending him sprawling. She didn't give the pugilist a chance to try again. She ran at him, hitting him in the stomach with her shoulder as they both tumbled to the ground. She realized her mistake when he started laughing.
"How did you know I like it rough?" He rolled her onto her back, ripping the sleeve of her shirt in the process and hitting her for good measure. "Now be a good little girl and put up a struggle."
"My pleasure." Breena gestured with her hand. "Agito!" She put a little extra behind it this time, throwing the man into his friend, who was trying to get up. She stood slowly, gingerly touching her right cheek where he hit her. Maybe not all the crop pickers were as innocent as she thought.
"Not so fast."
An, "Are you kidding me," passed her lips as she found herself staring down the barrel of a rifle.
"Who are you?" The owner of the gun swallowed hard as he looked down at the men. "And which side are you on?"
"I don't have time for this." She grabbed the barrel, shoving it backward so the butt of the gun hit him in the face. She moved as the guard's finger reflexively pulled the trigger. The bullet whizzed past her and threw the crowd, taking out someone else in a Gale Force uniform near the edge of the forest.
She kept her grip on the gun as the guard fell, clutching his face. She made sure he wasn't going to get up again before handing the gun to the nearest crop picker. "Here. Try using this."
The man looked at the gun for a moment before nodding and disappearing into the crowd.
Breena searched the throng of people around her, trying to spot Boq. Something told her she needed to find him. She wasn't quite sure what she would do with him once she did, but she would think of something.
"There you are you bastard." She muttered as she finally saw him. He was a good thirty yards ahead of her. A space opened up in the people around her, allowing her to see Elphaba standing at the back of the wagon he was headed toward.
"Elphaba!" Breena yelled as loud as she could, wanting to alert her to Boq's presence so she could stop him. But there was too much noise for the green woman to hear her. She did, however, notice the dagger in the tin man's hand for the first time.
"Elphaba!" This time her yell was a warning. But she was still too far away for her voice to reach Elphaba or anyone else in the wagon. She started shoving her way through those around her, not paying attention to whether they were Gale Force or crop pickers. At this point it really didn't matter. She had to get to the wagon.
"Elphaba!" Her pulse quickened as she watched Boq getting closer to the seemingly oblivious witch. She was about to cast a spell to stop him when someone slammed into her, knocking her off her feet. She tried to right herself only to have someone trip over her, forcing her back to the ground. She untangled herself and looked toward the wagon in time to see Boq grab Elphaba's shoulder and turn her around.
"No." She watched him drive the dagger into Elphaba's chest as she scrambled to her feet. "No!"
The crowd closed in around her again, blocking her view. She tried to shove her way past them but wasn't having any luck. "Clarus!!" She made a sweeping motion with her arm, moving everyone between her and the wagon.
Her heart hammered in her chest when her actions revealed Boq on the ground and Elphaba was nowhere to be seen.
"Elphaba?" She sprinted to the wagon.
"Wake up!!" Glinda's desperate words split the air as she finally reached her destination. She practically threw herself into the back of the wagon her breath catching in her throat when she saw everyone huddled around Glinda, who had an unmoving Elphaba in her arms.
"No!" Lion threw himself at her, knocking them both out of the wagon. "I won't let anyone else get hurt! Do you hear me?! I won't!!"
The air rushed from her lungs as they hit the ground. "Lion." She managed to say his name but she couldn't avoid all the frantic punches he was throwing. "Lion, it's me." He landed one on her already tender cheek. "It's Breena!"
"Breena?" He looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time. "Oh Oz!" He quickly climbed off of her. "I'm sorry. I… I thought you were one of them." He swallowed hard. "Did I hurt you?"
She winced rather than answered as she climbed to her feet and started back into the wagon.
"Here." Lion sheepishly gave her a boost before following her.
"Breena!" Milynn looked up at her, tears staining her cheeks. "Are you all right?"
"Elly." Breena only had eyes for Elphaba as she went to her side. "Let me see her, Glinda." The blonde was too busy crying to hear her. "Glinda!" She hated how harsh her voice sounded but she had to get her attention. "Give her to me."
Milynn, Betak and the Lion moved to one side of the wagon as Glinda reluctantly let go of Elphaba. They all watched, transfixed as Breena lowered her to the floor and checked for a pulse.
"Is she…" Leto swallowed in a vain attempt to wet his suddenly dry throat as he looked down at the scene.
"No." Breena answered. "She's still alive. Barely, but she's still with us."
"Thank Oz!" Betak wiped at the tears on her face.
"We…" Glinda hiccupped on a sob. "We have to get her to a doctor."
"There's no time for that." Breena continued to stare at Elphaba. "No one in the city will touch her and she'll never last until we reach the underbelly."
"Then what are we gonna do?" The Lion looked at her anxiously.
"We're going to plan B."
"Plan B?" Betak frowned. "We have a plan B?"
"Leto?" Breena ignored her.
"We're boxed in right now." He sounded defeated. "That's why we're still here."
"I can fix that. How long will it take us to get to the cavern?"
Leto thought about it. "Ten, maybe fifteen minutes."
"That's too long." Breena ran her fingers through her hair. "I'll just have to get started before we get there."
"Get started?" Lion frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Something crazy." Milynn answered him. "You can't do it, Breena."
"I can and I will." Breena skirted around Glinda, who had a death grip on one of Elphaba's hands, to look out the front of the wagon.
"See." Leto gestured at the mess before them.
"Like I said, I can fix it." Breena closed her eyes. "Clarus." She started a sweeping motion with her arm. "Clarus!" Her eyes opened as her voice grew in intensity. "Clarus!!"
"Wow." Lion's eyes were huge as he watched everything in their way being moved as if by an invisible hand, leaving a space just wide enough for the wagon to pass through. "How in Oz did you do that?!"
Breena paid no attention to his question. "Can you find your way through some fog?"
Leto frowned as he clicked at the horses, sending them in motion. "Yeah. It might add some time to our trip, but it's a pretty straight shot to the cavern."
"Good." Breena waited until they had cleared what could only be termed as a battlefield and were on the road they would have taken to the farms before cupping her hands and looking skyward. "Nebulos."
A thick bank of fog rolled in, obscuring everything from sight.
"I wanted to even the playing field a little. Weapons don't do you much good when you can't see to use them." She supplied an explanation when she saw the questioning look stamped on Leto's brow. She used the side of the wagon to steady herself as it lurched, taking a second before going back to Elphaba's side.
"I was serious, Breena." Milynn tried to reason with her. "You can't do this. Her wound is too severe and you're too weak."
"We don't know that and no I'm not."
"Just look at her!" Milynn pointed at the downed witch. "And yes, you are! You look like Ozma warmed over!"
"I can't just let her die!" Breena snapped. "If I can heal her, even a little, I'm going to do it!"
"Heal her?" Glinda's voice was hopeful.
"Yes." Milynn sighed. "Part of Breena's magical abilities is healing people. But she has to draw off of her own energy to do it. Between all the glamouring she's been doing and the spells she's cast today, she's too weak." She returned her attention to Breena. "You're going to end up killing yourself."
Breena shrugged. "Then at least I'll have died for a good cause."
Glinda swallowed hard as she looked at her. "You could die?"
"No." Breena shook her head. "She's being dramatic."
"No I'm not! You've come close before!" Milynn had tears swimming in her eyes again. "Please just stop and think about this."
"I have. I know what I'm doing."
"What would Elphaba think about it?" Milynn tried a different tact.
"She would do the same for me if the tables were turned and you know it. We're wasting time discussing this." Breena looked at Betak. "I'm going to need your help."
Milynn turned toward her grandmother. "Don't you dare!"
Betak looked back and forth between her and Breena.
"She's done too much magic, Grandmother." Milynn tried to make the old woman see things her way. "You know what that does to her."
"Betak." Breena clinched her jaw, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I know I'm not strong enough to heal her completely, but at least I can give her a fighting chance. I can't just let her go."
"I'm sorry, Milynn." Betak pursed her lips. "Lion, don't let her interfere." She nodded toward her granddaughter.
"What?" He was all frowns again.
"Keep her back." Breena explained.
"All right." Lion put himself between Milynn and the others. "But what am I keeping her back from?"
"Me." Breena ran her hand through her hair again. "Betak, I need you to pull the dagger out when I ask you to."
"What? No!" Glinda shook her head. "She said we should leave it alone!"
"I can't help her if we do." Breena motioned for Betak to join her.
"No." Milynn tried to push Lion out of the way. "If you're going to do this, I'll help."
"Milynn…"
"I can't just sit here and watch." Milynn cut her off. "You're my best friend, Breena. I need to be here for you as much as you need to do this for Elphaba." She gestured helplessly with her hand. "Please."
Breena stared at her for a moment. "All right." She pointed. "But if you try to stop me or do anything to mess this up…"
"I won't. I promise."
"Then let's get started. We've wasted too much time as it is."
Lion moved aside, letting Milynn go to Breena's side.
"I need you to pull the dagger out but not until I say to." Breena grinned half heartedly. "And maybe catch me if I pass out."
Milynn returned her grin. "Don't you mean when? I've seen you do this a time or two, remember?"
"Can…" Glinda's voice cracked. "Can I stay where I am? I mean I'll move if I'm going to be in the way, but I'd rather not leave her."
"I think Elphaba needs to know you're here." Breena took a deep breath, closed her eyes and put her hands over Elphaba, willing away the fear that gripped her. "Pull it out."
Milynn quickly gripped the dagger handle, her heart skipping a beat when she couldn't get it to budge. She was about to tell Breena when Lion gripped her hand between his paws, their combined effort finally pulling the weapon free. Glinda whimpered as fresh blood poured from the now open wound. Milynn dropped the dagger, taking the blonde's free hand in her own to offer what comfort she could.
"Vivo vixi victum." Breena's voice was barely audible as she said the words, her brow creased in concentration. "Vivo vixi victum. Vivo vixi victum." Her muttering became a steady chant.
It seemed like nothing happened for an eternity. But the longer she chanted the quicker the words came. And the quicker the words came the more charged the air became with some unseen force.
"Look!" Lion pointed at Elphaba. "It's working."
He was right. The wound was steadily healing. But it was obviously taking a toll on Breena. A sheen of sweat covered her face and her arms were shaking.
"Breena?" Milynn frowned when her friend struggled to breath. "Breena, stop!"
"Vivo." Her brow creased. "Vixi." What little color was left in her cheeks leaked away. "Victum." Her body finally gave out as the wound closed, Milynn catching her before she could fall over on Elphaba.
At the same time Elphaba sucked in a deep breath, her eyes flying open as she exhaled. "Bree?" She managed to scratch out the name before her eyes rolled back in her head and her body went limp again.
"Elphie?" Glinda tightened her grip on the green hand. "Elphie?!"
"She just passed out." Betak squeezed the blonde's shoulder. "See? Her wound is healed."
Glinda smiled as she sniffled, relief washing over her. "You're right." She looked at Milynn, who had Breena in her arms. "How is she?"
"She's breathing." Milynn tightened her grip as Breena trembled. "That's about all I can say."
"We should be to the cavern in a few minutes." Leto spoke up from the front. "There are plenty of supplies there. We can get them a change of clothes and make them more comfortable."
"Until then, use this." Lion slipped his cloak off and used it to cover Breena.
"Thanks." Milynn gave him a grateful look.
"May I?" Betak started inspecting where Elphaba's wound had been.
"How long will they be unconscious?" Glinda kept her grip on Elphaba's hand as she watched the old woman.
"That's the tricky part." Betak answered. "It could be a few hours. It could be a few days. It all depends on them."
Glinda looked shocked. "A few days?"
Betak nodded. "They've both been through a lot. Their bodies need time to heal and recuperate."
"It doesn't really matter, I'll be right here whenever she wakes up." Glinda ran the back of her fingers down Elphaba's still pale cheek and whispered to her friend. "Do you hear me, Elphie? I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."