"Elphaba! Fiyero!" Boq called, sprinting towards the couple as fast as his short legs could carry him. Tripping over a rock the munchkin cart wheeled forward to sprawl beside the green girl and Winkie.
"What's wrong?" Elphaba wondered, trying not to laugh. "Is Crage Hall on fire?"
"No," Boq gasped, still out of breath. "I was over at the girl's dorm to ask Galinda…" He paused, blushing. "Well it doesn't matter why I was there. The point is I heard a very loud, unnatural sounding screech coming from the room your room."
"Oh sweet Oz," the green girl hissed, immediately making the connection. She jerked to her feet and set off towards Crage Hall, her legs pumping in an irritated march.
***
Boq and Fiyero arrived in the dorm room moments after Elphaba had almost blown the door off its hinges with a blast of green magic. They found her hunched over an open copy of New Moon, face twisted in anxious fury. "She is such an idiot!" the green girl ranted, wringing her hands anxiously.
"What happened?" the Winkie asked.
"Look!" Elphaba screeched, holding up the book before her. One page was dusted with a covering of pink glitter.
"She went in the book?" Fiyero guessed.
"Of course she went in the book!" the witch shrieked. "I don't know how she managed to do it but somehow…" Her words trailed off.
"What's going on?" Boq inquired, totally at a loss. Elphaba was too upset to answer. She whirled around the room like a hurricane, gathering several objects in her satchel.
"Galinda's trapped in a book," Fiyero explained.
"What do you mean she's trapped in a book?" the munchkin demanded, his look of puzzlement growing.
"Galinda used her magic to transport her into New Moon," the green girl snapped, finally coming to a halt. "And I'm going after her."
"Me too!" Fiyero exclaimed indignantly. "I'm not letting you go alone."
"I would also like to assist Miss Galinda," Boq informed them both.
"You two would just be a liability," Elphaba explained harshly. "I'd be distracted trying to keep you safe; you'd slow me down."
"I would not!" the Winkie grumbled.
"Neither would I," the munchkin piped up.
"Fine," the green girl sighed. "But if either of you cause any problems I'll…I'll…I'll turn you into a frog. That is not a hollow threat."
"But it would be so hard to kiss me as a frog," Fiyero teased. His attempt at humor was met with a black glare. Elphaba was not in the mood for jokes.
***
The thick, green forest surrounding the La Push reservation was silent but for the constant dripping sound. A moment later this eerie lack of sound was interrupted by a flash of green light and three figures. Elphaba was the first to struggle out of the undignified heap they had landed in. Angry as she was at Galinda's reckless actions the ferocity that currently possessed her stemmed from intense worry. It was only too easy for the green girl to remember how her blonde friend had laid in a coma for weeks after their encounter with Victoria. Reaching into her satchel Elphaba removed a worn leather book. "What's that?" Fiyero asked, coming up behind her.
"It's my own personal spellbook," the witch explained with a proud smile. "It contains every spell I've ever copied down from the library or stolen from Morrible's books."
"Are there any 'find Galinda' spells?" Boq wondered as her got to is feet. The munchkin's boyish eyes were full of worry for his longtime crush. Before anyone could answer a shriek tore through the woods. It was too high pitched to be anyone but…
"Galinda!" Boq cried, sprinting after the terrified noise with Elphaba and Fiyero close behind him. The trio of Ozians burst through an enormous clump of ferns to find a panicked blonde princess perched on a stump screaming. "What's wrong?" the munchkin demanded, rushing to her side. Unable to answer Galinda pointed one of her trembling fingers at a round squelchy looking blob on the forest floor.
"Sweet Oz!" Elphaba exclaimed, scooping up the terrifying creature in her hand. "It's just a frog."
"But it's all slimy," Galinda squeaked, recoiling in fright.
"You're a piece of work," the green girl muttered, releasing the amphibian a safe distance away from the girl it was terrorizing. "There, feel better?"
"Yes I do," Galinda replied, daintily stepping down from her log.
"Good!" Elphaba snapped, promptly smacking her friend. "So do I."
"Elphie," the blonde whimpered, her round puppy-dog eyes repentant. "I'm sorry I left without telling you but…"
"You shouldn't have come here," the green witch growled. "I told you not to."
"You aren't the boss of me," Galinda insisted. "I'm not a child."
"That's debatable," Elphaba snorted. The blonde wasn't sure if this was a jab at her petite stature or childish behavior. Whatever the case she was offended. A moment of silence stretched between the two girls. Both male Ozians didn't speak for fear of being backhanded. "I'm sorry," the green witch apologized sincerely. "I shouldn't have tried to boss you around and I shouldn't have gotten so upset."
"That's ok," Galinda allowed. "I shouldn't have disappeared without telling you."
"Why was there an explosion in your dorm anyway?" Boq wondered, relieved that the standoff was over.
"Her magic isn't as potent as mine," Elphaba explained, ever the know it all. "When she tried to use such a powerful spell, which I assume she got from Morrible." Galinda looked away sheepishly. "There was…magical backfire if you will."
"I see." Just then a colossal snarl shook the forest. There was the sound of crunching foliage and an enormous animal landed in a pile of leaves only a few feet from the Ozians. Elphaba whirled around and came face to face with a colossal black wolf.
Yay suspense!