Well hey, so this is kind of strange, because I never saw myself ever picking this thing up again. I'm actually kind of shocked that it's been four years since I last updated this story. I actually can't wrap my head around the fact that that much time has past. Last time I updated this thing I hadn't graduated high school, and now I'm graduating from college in May.

So anyway, what brought this on, you might ask. Well, last Saturday I actually saw Wicked for the first time in about 6 years. Actually I believe the last time I saw it was at some point when I was still working on this story. Afterwards I stumbled back over here and reread some of my old stories, which just added to the effect. Then the next day and I had 4 hours of free time and this just sort of happened.

So anyway, what are you going to be getting here, person who might actually still be reading this four years later? The answer to that is: at least five more chapters, because that's what I've managed to bang out over the course of the past week. I will promise no more and no less than that, because I'm currently on spring break and once school starts again on Monday I doubt this will be a priority. In fact you'll probably be getting them in fairly rapid succession, before I forget to post them.

OK I'm wrapping up I swear, but this bit is important. I've actually rewritten the entirety of this chapter. I straight up deleted the one I'd had here before. There are a couple of reasons for this, but the primary one is that I just really didn't like it. The chapter 19 I had before this was just way too convenient and relied far too heavily on coincidence and chance. Also, I honestly have no clue where I was going with it. So with this rewrite I'm taking it in another direction entirely. Will I ever actually finish this story? Your guess is as good as mine. I like to think one day when I am 85 or so I will finally be writing the epilogue or something, but for now here's the first of five new chapters.

Fiyero awoke with a start and immediately sensed that something was wrong. The last thing he remembered was passing out on the forest floor, but a quick survey of his surroundings told him that he was now lying on a sort of makeshift bed inside a small cave.

Shooting up into a sitting position, Fiyero began to look around frantically for some clue as to where he was or how he had gotten there. His first, incredibly hopeful, thought was that Elphaba had found him and somehow relocated him to her new hideout. However, he discarded those thoughts only moments later.

The cave in which he currently found himself was very much not Elphaba's style. The mouth was completely open, not concealed as the last one had been. Looking out through the opening, Fiyero could clearly see the trees of the forest, suggesting that it would not be hard to find this place should someone come looking for it.

Another glance around further confirmed Fiyero's suspicions. The cave was fairly dark, lit only by the moonlight coming in through the opening. It was not lit by magic, as he would have expected from one of Elphaba's hideouts. The large spell book and the other stacks of worn and tattered books he'd become accustomed to seeing at the other cave were also notably absent.

And then, Fiyero reminded himself, there was the most convincing evidence of all, and that was that Elphaba was so pissed off at him that she most likely would have left him to rot in the forest.

So it wasn't Elphaba's hideout he currently found himself in. This still begged the question of where he was, and how he had been moved there without being awakened.

Fiyero sat up farther and stretched, wincing as he felt the soreness in his muscles. His body was not used to the amount of strain he had placed on it the day before. His legs cried out in pain as he swung them over the side of the bed and got to his feet, but he pointedly ignored them.

Fiyero made another quick scan of the room and confirmed that he was the only one present. He also noted that the cave was hardly furnished. Save for the hard slab of grass-covered rock that served as a bed and another in the center of the room that most likely served as a makeshift table, it was devoid of furniture or decoration of any kind.

Fiyero suddenly became painfully aware of his still-present hunger when a growling sound from his own stomach startled him. It seemed he had two choices now. He could either wait for whoever lived in this cave to return, and hope that said person would know where he could find some food. It was either that or strike off on his own again, but given that he was significantly weakened and had no idea where he was or what direction to head in, Fiyero did not deem this the better option.

Resigned, he sat back down on the edge of the bed and let his head fall into his hands, questioning once again just how he'd managed to get himself into this situation. After a time Fiyero began to doze off again, but he was startled awake by the sound of footsteps from outside.

Whatever Fiyero had been expecting, it was certainly not the sight of a large Lion filling the mouth of the cave. For a moment Fiyero felt as though his body had gone into shock. His eyes darted around the room wildly, looking for a weapon or an alternate escape route. His fear soon passed however, when he noticed that the Lion's arms were laden with apples and pears. Fiyero's senses returned to him, and he realized that this Lion was an Animal and was therefore as civilized as any human being.

"Oh, y-you're awake," said the Lion, laying his bounty down on the stone table. His voice shook slightly, and Fiyero could swear that he saw the Animal's legs quivering.

Still reeling slightly from his earlier surprise, Fiyero responded, "Uh, yeah…. Where is this place? Is there a particular reason you've brought me here?"

The Lion still seemed slightly wary. He seemed to be keeping as much distance as he could between himself and Fiyero. Fiyero wasn't quite sure what to make of it. After a moment, the Lion answered, "I found you p-passed out in the woods back there. You looked as though you'd f-fainted or something, so I carried you back here. These woods aren't very safe at night, trust me, and you didn't seem very dangerous so…." He trailed off, as though he were now nervous about what Fiyero's reaction would be.

Fiyero was a bit taken aback by this information. He apparently hadn't realized what rough shape he'd been in. In truth, it was possible he owed the Lion for bringing him somewhere safer than the spot he'd chosen for his resting place. Smiling slightly, he said, "Oh, thanks then. I guess I really hadn't been thinking clearly last night. I owe you one."

Upon hearing Fiyero's words of gratitude, the Lion seemed to perk up slightly, and he visibly relaxed a little. "Oh shucks, it was nothing. I just happened to be passing by on my way home when I ran into you. I have to admit, you gave me a bit of a fright before I realized you were unconscious. I don't do so well in the dark…." trailing off again, he took an apple out of the pile on the table and offered it to Fiyero, who accepted it eagerly.

Fiyero didn't speak again until he'd made short work of the apple, and when he was finished he glanced expectantly toward the rest of the fruit still sitting on the table. The Lion followed his eyes and said, "Oh, help yourself. Please."

Fiyero didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed the nearest pear and settled back onto the bed. As he took a bite of it he said, "It's funny, I didn't realize Lions liked fruit."

The Lion smiled sheepishly, "Oh, well I'm not sure about other Lions, but I'm not much of a hunter myself."

Fiyero cocked his head slightly, "You don't know any other Lions? What about your family?"

The Lion looked down at his feet, "Oh, I never really knew my family. I've been on my own pretty much ever since I was a Cub."

"Really?" Fiyero said, finishing off his pear and reaching for another apple, "Why's that?"

The Lion seemed to grow nervous again, and his eyes darted from side to side as though he feared someone might be listening. Moving in closer to Fiyero, he whispered, "Have you ever heard of the Wicked Witch of the West?"

Fiyero's eyes shot up. He was suddenly very interested in what the Lion had to say. Wiping his mouth, he responded tentatively, "Yes, I suppose everyone has at this point."

The Lion nodded and continued, "Well, I don't remember this very well…but when I was younger I was kidnapped and imprisoned. These people…they killed my mother and they put me into this strange metal contraption that had bars all the way around. Like I said, I don't remember too many details, but I do very clearly remember a green woman. I somehow managed to escape from that place, and eventually I found my way here. I've been living here ever since. I've been too afraid to leave the forest."

"And this green woman you remember is the Wtich." Fiyero supplied, watching the Lion's face carefully.

"Well, I can only assume so," the Lion answered, "I don't get out much, but sometimes other people pass by and I can hear their conversations. I've heard talk of a powerful witch with strange green skin who goes around terrorizing innocent people." The Lion seemed to be frightening himself with his own words. After a moment he paused and changed the subject, saying, "B-But I've been rambling on about myself for too long, What about you? Why were you out in the forest alone so late at night?"

Fiyero, choosing his words carefully, said "I'm looking for a friend, someone I think might be in danger. In my haste I must have pushed myself too hard, and that's why I'd pretty much passed out by the time you found me."

"Danger?" the Lion repeated, his voice a mix of fear and awe, "You must be pretty courageous then."

"Oh, uh, yeah I guess so," Fiyero said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "But that means I really need to get going again. I do have to thank you for your hospitality. I don't know if I could have kept going if you hadn't run into me."

The Lion looked forlorn, "Oh, you're going already?"

Fiyero looked at him curiously, "You know, there are one or two well-established Animal camps in this area. Have you ever thought about going to one instead of living on your own like this?"

The Lion's eyes widened, "Oh, but I'd be too frightened to do that. I've heard that the types of Animals that live in those places are feral and dangerous."

Fiyero was taken aback at this. He had already suspected that the Lion was mostly cut off from his own kind by the way he had referred to Elphaba earlier, but he hadn't imagined that it ran this deep.

"Well I don't know about that. I've actually been to a couple of those camps myself, and I can tell you that everyone there was perfectly pleasant." Fiyero was lying a little bit, he knew. He wasn't exactly an expert on these matters, but from the one camp he had seen and Elphaba's testimonials he didn't feel as though he was stretching the truth too outrageously.

The Lion's ears perked up at this, "Really? You mean…well…are they others like me then?"

"Mostly," Fiyero replied, nodding. He added, "You know, one of those Animal camps is actually where I was headed next when you found me."

The Lion seemed intrigued, "Really? You don't well…I mean I wouldn't want to…"

Fiyero smirked, "If you'd like, you could come with me and see for yourself." Fiyero suddenly felt as though it was his duty to help this poor Lion. After all, it seemed the sort of thing Elphaba would do. In addition, it didn't hurt that the Lion's knowledge of the forest could come in handy in speeding his journey.

The Lion, however, still seemed unsure. Wringing his hands together, he asked, "Oh, and you're sure it's safe then?"

"Absolutely," Fiyero said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. This was not actually something he could guarantee, but he was trying to be as convincing as possible.

This seemed to be enough for the Lion. Though he was still shaking slightly, he nodded his head with as much conviction as he could muster. "Alright then, I suppose I could go with you. I admit I have always been curious to see one of these camps for myself," he said.

Fiyero smiled and responded, "Well I guess we should be on our way then."

And that's that for now, but like I said, I promise your there are at least four more to come after this. I have to say, I'm really surprised that this story has still been getting reviews from people asking me to update. You guys are really persistent, and maybe a bit too optimistic but hey, here we are right?

Anyway I hope you liked it. It's kind of odd to just pick up and start writing something you started 6 years ago. I don't even have the original story file on my computer anymore. But I have to admit this was kind of fun. What's up with this website too? Everything is so fancy now. All these buttons and features and stuff. In my day…

Okay for real though, see you at the next chapter.

S.P.