'Lo all! Sorry I'm a bit late with this chapter, but I was a little busy. I had a party to go to last night and today my friend, our brothers and I were enlisted to sell 50-50 tickets at a marching band concert for six hours. It was actually more fun than it sounds. We sold over $2,500 worth of tickets and my brother, friend and I sang through the entire RENT soundtrack on the way home, much to the dismay of my friend's dad and brother. :P

Well anyways, I was trying to get this up before midnight so I would still technically be on time, but I seem to have missed by fifteen minutes. Ah well, enjoy the chapter anyway! It's not very eventful, but hopefully you'll still like it.

Fiyero awoke the next morning from the most comfortable sleep he'd had since he'd been captured. He supposed this was because he was pretty secure in the fact that the Witch, Elphaba now, was not going to hex him while he slept. Stretching and yawning, he rolled over to find the boulder that blocked his cavern still firmly in place. He supposed this meant that Elphaba was not yet awake.

Pulling himself up into a sitting position, Fiyero wondered if Elphaba would keep her word and bring him along to the Animal camp today. In truth he was actually rather excited about it. He'd never actually felt the need to know anything in his life before; he'd been perfectly happy coasting through with as little effort as possible. But suddenly this cause felt like something worth fighting for, and the feeling of doing something worthwhile with his time was one that was rather new but not at all unwelcome. He needed to find out as much as possible about the way these Animals lived and were treated. Sure he was shallow and self-absorbed, but he was not about to sit on the sidelines and watch other living creatures being put down for no apparent reason but for the fact that the Wizard needed an enemy.

Fiyero sat on the floor just thinking for a few minutes, a bad habit he found he was beginning to develop, before the boulder finally swung back and Elphaba entered. He twisted his neck to look up at her as she stepped in, a fresh bowl of fruit clutched in her right hand. Her expression was unreadable, and did not betray the conversation that had taken place the day before.

She moved across the cavern swiftly and replaced the empty plate from last night with the bowl of fruit. This time, Fiyero didn't scuttle out of the way as she passed, but rather just watched her with mild interest. At the moment he didn't feel so much like a prisoner rather than a pet waiting to be fed. She also didn't seem as cold and confident as she usually did. In fact, she seemed a bit uncomfortable around him, as if she couldn't act the same way now that she'd confided some of her secrets in him.

She turned to leave, and Fiyero spoke up, "Uh…you're still going to take me with you today right?"

She paused and answered without turning around, "I suppose I don't have much of a choice do I? Come on."

She continued along into the main section of the cave, Fiyero stumbling along behind her as he scrambled to his feet. He could see now that she was headed for her spellbook, and began to feel a bit apprehensive in spite of himself. He was still rather uncomfortable around Elphaba's magic, especially because he couldn't be sure of what was going to happen when she began to chant. Reluctantly, he stepped forward until he was standing only a few inches from Elphaba, who was now flipping through the large book on the table in front of her. After a few moments she stopped, read something over, and then turned to Fiyero with a nod.

Fiyero swallowed hard as Elphaba glanced at the page once more for reaffirmation and then began to chant. Fiyero squeezed his eyes shut, not quite sure what to expect. After a moment, he felt something like a rope wrap around his waste, and his eyes flew open. Though he could feel it, there was nothing there when he looked down, and the sensation vanished after a few moments. He looked up at Elphaba, awaiting an explanation.

Elphaba wasted no time in supplying one, "The spell I just cast has tied us together with invisible bonds. You cannot see or feel them, but if you get more than ten feet away from me at any given time you will begin to feel an uncomfortable tingling. The further away you get, the more painful an electric shock it will become until you get back into range once more. Don't even think of making a break for it."

Fiyero nodded, and scrambled to stay close to Elphaba as she moved toward the main entrance to the cave, afraid of receiving the shock she'd just described. He hadn't planned on making a break for it in the first place. After all, he wasn't quite sure how to get back to the Emerald City from here. He couldn't quite remember what direction he and his guards had taken when pursuing Elphaba, and she would easily recapture him in the time it would take for him to figure out where to go. Now, with this spell in place, he was even less willing to leave her side. After all, he wasn't an idiot. He knew that she was most certainly not bluffing about any unpleasant effects this spell would have.

Elphaba managed to roll back the boulder with a sweep of her hands, and Fiyero marveled at the ease with which she accomplished this task. It would have taken at least ten of his men to roll the huge rock aside. He supposed magic was a good deal stronger than brute force. He realized that there had probably been no chance of taking Elphaba into custody with the twenty-five men he'd had with him. A small army was most likely required to subdue the rather powerful woman. The thought unnerved Fiyero somewhat.

The two stepped out into the main cave, a place Fiyero had not seen since he'd been taken hostage. It felt rather strange to finally be able to leave the small living quarters after being cooped up for such along time. The two proceeded through the cave quickly, Fiyero desperately trying to stay close to Elphaba in the pitch blackness. Then, suddenly, he was completely blinded as they reached the mouth of the cave.

Squinting and shielding his eyes with his forearm, Fiyero got his first look at the outside world in four days. The dazzling sunlight was such a contrast from the dimly lit cave that it seemed to take his eyes forever to adjust. Once they had, he finally got a good look around, and found himself thinking that colors had never looked so vibrant. He hadn't realized just how much he'd missed just being part of the outside world.

However, he was not left with much time to dwell on this, for Elphaba had not even paused upon exiting the cave. Fiyero began to experience a slight tingling sensation, and immediately hurried to catch up to her before the symptoms became more severe. She didn't even seem to be paying him any mind as he fell into step just behind her. He felt rather like an awkward tag along.

The two continued on in silence, Fiyero twisting his head in every direction to take in the surrounding while Elphaba kept her gaze focused straight ahead. Fiyero had the unexpected urge to sing for joy, but he had the strangest feeling that Elphaba wouldn't hesitate to slap him if he so much as though about it. For this reason, he was content to simply amble along with a goofy smile on his face. Never again would he under appreciate the beauty of nature. He supposed nothing was really quite as cherished until you thought you'd never see it again.

It was after about ten minutes of walking that the Animal camp came into view. Just at the bottom of a sloping hill was a rather large group of tents in close proximity. As they drew closer, Fiyero could see Animals of every kind walking together and chatting amicably. They appeared happier and better natured than even the Ozians back at the Emerald City. Fiyero marveled at the sight.

Still, he thought it a bit odd that this settlement was completely out in the open like this. Turning to Elphaba, he said, "Is it really safe for them to be in plain sight like this? I would have thought they'd choose a more appropriate hide out for a band of rebel Animals."

Elphaba turned to acknowledge him for the first time since they'd left the cave together. She seemed to scoff as she replied, "Please, you think the Wizard doesn't know about this place? He's known we were here since this settlement first began. It's just that he wouldn't dare make a move because he knows that I'm involved with this group. He wouldn't touch this place unless he could get me out of the picture first."

Fiyero considered this for a moment, slightly outraged. The Wizard sent the Gale Forcers out with leads on rebellious Animal activity quite often, but the guards often found nothing when they reached their destination. Could it be true that the Wizard had known about this large colony for some time and had been sending the guards out on wild goose chases? Fiyero felt like he'd been wearing a blind fold that had suddenly been yanked off. He'd never even considered doubting the Wizard before, but now he didn't know what to believe.

As he and Elphaba entered the village, several heads turned in their direction. Fiyero began to feel uncomfortable as so many wary gazes fixed on him. As per usual, Elphaba seemed oblivious.

It wasn't long before a portly Sheep came racing up to them. She glanced quickly at Fiyero, obviously taking in his now tattered Gale Force uniform, before turning to Elphaba as if demanding an explanation.

"He's a visitor, Calla," Elphaba said bluntly. The Sheep didn't quite seem satisfied with this rather vague statement.

"It's not that I don't trust you Elphaba, but how can you be sure that he's not a threat? Where did he even come from?" she asked.

"Don't worry; I have a spell on him so he can't go anywhere. As for where he came from…well…he got too close to this place the other day and I had no choice but to keep him from returning to the Emerald City," she said sheepishly, as if she were a child about to be reprimanded. Fiyero thought this seemed rather odd coming from Elphaba. He assumed this Sheep was one of the more prominent figures in the running of this colony.

The Sheep looked incredulous, "He's one of the Wizard's men isn't he? Why on earth would you bring him here? Honestly, I thought you had more common sense than this!"

"Calla, he won't be a threat, I swear. I'll keep a close eye on him and make sure nothing happens. You know how careful I am when it comes to these sorts of things," Elphaba responded. Fiyero thought she sounded more like a child asking for a puppy rather than a woman trying to argue his innocence.

The Sheep's gaze seemed to soften a bit, "I know Elphaba, but you know I feel about outsiders, especially humans, and this man is one of our enemies. I won't press the matter, but I hope you have a logical reason for this. Just be careful,"

Elphaba nodded, "I always am." The Sheep seemed satisfied with this and, with one last dubious look in Fiyero's direction; she finally turned and walked away. She obviously trusted Elphaba's judgment enough to drop the argument.

After witnessing the scene, the other Animals seemed more at ease and returned to whatever they had been doing before the two visitors had arrived. Elphaba continued walking as though nothing had happened, still paying no attention to Fiyero, who was tagging along behind her like a small child. He, on the other hand, was still thinking about the encounter. He realized there was a question Elphaba had neglected to answer.

Gathering up his courage, he moved to fall into step beside her and asked, "You know, that Sheep had a point. I mean, you obviously have no reason to trust me, and I am one of the Wizard's men. Why would you bring me here?" It was true that he was grateful for the chance to see this Animal village, but if he was honest with himself it didn't make much sense that Elphaba had agreed to take him along.

She paused for a moment, as if thinking it over, before she turned to him and said slowly, "I honestly don't know." It wasn't a particular informative response, but the sincerity in the woman's eyes caught Fiyero slightly off guard. In that moment it was obvious to Fiyero that Elphaba was as confused by him as he was by her.

However, the woman held Fiyero's gaze for only a split-second, and the moment was over before Fiyero could completely comprehend what he had seen. Elphaba turned away and fixed her eyes on the path ahead once more, leaving a confused Fiyero stumbling along behind her.

Yeah, I know it's not the most interesting chapter thus far, but bear with me. Next chapter should be more eventful. Anyway, please leave a review if you read this. You guys have been completely awesome so far and I'm totally grateful. I'll try to get the next update up as soon as possible!

S.P.