Chapter 12
I do not own anything from the Wizard of Oz, including the books.
Hey guys. Sorry for any grammatical errors in this chapter. I didn't have time to proofread, but please enjoy!
The trip over the mountains was uneventful, except when Tin Man rusted a few times from the snow. They were able to locate an abandoned cave, and spend the night there to wake up to find a blizzard the next morning. It did delay them for about a day, and Lion lead the way to clear the snow as they went along. Luckily, the paths were not too high on the mountain, so it was easy to travel. Once they descended Dorothy was able to start shedding some of the furs she wore. Even though the weather was freezing cold, she was still sweating from the travel up and then down.
She wanted to cry every moment at how bad she was missing Scarecrow, and the fact that the baby may never know his or her father. It broke her heart that what should be a celebration had to stay a secret. There was no way Tin Man or Lion would still let her travel with them to Aglas if they knew her condition. She knew they might notice something once they hit the jungle, but was hoping they would not.
It never ceased to amaze Dorothy how much Oz and this world was like her own, but this world was much more enchanting. She still could not get over the fact that she could actually communicate with animals and other creatures. It never ceases to amaze her that she could fall in love with a Scarecrow, marry him, and now she was having his baby. That one time he was king, and he was killed, and she possessed the magic to bring him back to life, and make him human again. Now, for months she has been without him. Her heart hurt over it. Maybe she should have accepted being queen...
Dorothy sighed to herself. There was no time now to look back with regret. She was a simple farm girl, and schoolteacher who just wanted a quiet life for herself and Fiyero.
She knew she could not handle being queen, and Scarecrow was just plain burned out. She liked doing things for herself, and Scarecrow did the same. The war really took a toll on him, and now he was a prisoner. She worried about his psyche, and once they got to him how he would be. Tin Man, Lion, and her discussed it in length. They were not only worried about his life, but his mental state. Tin Man said he would probably go back into war mode. Lion said he would be making plans for escape and decide on the best one. Dorothy agreed. Scarecrow was a planner. Even on the farm, he would plan out the day to the last detail of fixing a wire on the fence if needed. Dorothy was the same way, but not as detailed. She had her ways and brought all her knowledge back from Kansas with her. They had their disagreements, but in the end it all worked out.
The only fact that she knew was that she loved him more than life itself, and she could only pray he was still alive.
She would never, ever forgive Ozma for what she had done to them. She would have her revenge on the queen, somehow some way.
As they walked Dorothy thought of Toto, Auntie Em, and Uncle Henry. She missed them so much. However, she was not the same as she was with Scarecrow.
Tin Man spoke up bringing Dorothy out of her thoughts. "Oran said there is a farm after we get out of the jungle where horses are for sale. We will ride after that."
Dorothy nodded and looked ahead. She could see the beginnings of the thick, lush jungle forest ahead.
"I hope that place isn't a trap," Lion said with a slight growl.
"Me neither," Tin Man said.
"What about the jungle?" Dorothy asked. She could feel the humidity beginning to set in. She couldn't believe the sudden change in weather as they descended. She could see more mountains in the distance. They looked bare from what she could see. They were getting closer. After the jungle they had one more mountain pass, and then they would enter the lands of South Aglas.
They all stopped to rest, and Tin Man brought out the map. "From what Oran said this should be safe passage for us around the shape shifters," he said pointing to a trail on the map.
"Though we are pretty sure they are guarding the areas around it," Lion said.
Dorothy looked around, and up a hill. She could have sworn she had seen sudden movement.
Her eyes widened and she looked over at Lion who was looking towards that area with her.
Lion looked over at Tin Man and said, "We are not alone, Nick."
Tin Man looked up suddenly and around. "What do your animal eyes see?"
Lion looked around with his nose in the air. He stood on his hind legs, and his eyes searched the hills around them.
Dorothy reached for her gun, and cursed a little when she realized she no longer had it. She could have sworn the emerald was talking to her again. She gripped her knife in a defensive mode. She would now do anything to protect her child.
Lion turned to Tin Man and said, "Do what you were doing. Dorothy let go of your knife. The shape shifters are watching us, but will not attack."
Dorothy reluctantly let go of her knife. She wanted to cry out that she wanted to protect her child, but could not bring herself to say anything just yet.
She nodded and continued to look at the map with Tin Man, whose eyes shifted from hill to hill.
"Can they hear us?" Dorothy whispered to Tin Man.
He shook his head, and said, "I don't know the extent of their powers. Oran said he never experienced anything else except that they change."
Dorothy's eyes darted around. "Do you think we'll be safe?"
"They are very mistrusting from their time as slaves in Aglas. Oran said if we leave them alone, they will leave us alone," Tin Man said.
"Let's hope so," Dorothy said. Her hand immediately went to her belly as she looked around.
It did not get past Tin Man what Dorothy did, and his eyes narrowed in question.
"Are you alright, Dorothy?"
Dorothy kind of gasped, and then blushed. "Yes, Nick. I'm fine. Just tired, and worried."
He gave her a suspicious look, but did not say anything more.
Lion turned and said, "Are we going further or stopping now?"
Tin Man turned to him and asked, 'What do you think, General?"
"I have a better chance of getting Dorothy and I food in the wooded area," he said.
Tin Man nodded and asked Dorothy if she was ok to walk a little more. She agreed. She continued to look around. She could not blame the shape shifters for watching them. From what Oran had told them, those people had been through hell. She just hoped they would understand that they were friends and not foes. She stripped her furs and made sure to hide her belly. She put them in a bush for safe keeping till they came back. First, and foremost on her mind was her husband.
Lion went and explored first, and came back with an all clear. Dorothy had to smile. She still could not get over how her own cowardly Lion was now a great warrior.
"I am smelling animal scents. I believe the shape shifters were just here," Lion said.
"As usual, I will keep watch, you both rest," Nick said.
Dorothy nodded and grabbed her bag. She had a feeling she would not get much sleep tonight.
...
The two black panthers watched closely from the thick trees and vines from the jungle.
"Boren, the troops will be here by tomorrow. It is for them isn't it?"
The panther looked over at the other one. "Yes, Khali. I am confused as to why and what business the citizens of Oz have out here."
Khali looked over at her brother, and her eyes widened in realization. "Remember when the Aglas soldiers came through here before. They had a prisoner, and he was obviously very valuable, because Ordaran was with them. That has to be it!"
Boren frowned. "Then they are fools if they think they can rescue that person."
"What do you think we should do?" Khali asked.
Boren snorted a little. "Nothing. They are obviously not a danger to us. The Lion has not tried anything, so whatever their affairs are with Aglas are not our problem."
It was Khali's turn to frown. "Boren, the woman is with child."
Boren rolled his eyes. His sister was a softie when it came to that. "That is her problem. She chose this, let her live with the consequences."
"I noticed her two companions protect her. She must be important as well," Khali said.
Boren shrugged, and said telepathically. "If she is, that is fine. We will watch what they do from a distance."
"But..."Khali interjected.
"No, Khali. We do not need this again," Boren said.
"She does not look dangerous," Khali argued.
Boren growled at his sister who stepped back, but remained stubborn.
"If she is from Oz, I am pretty sure she practices magic. She may be a witch," Boren said.
"Oh come on. There was that story of the little girl who killed off the witches years ago. They were evil, she does not look like that," Khali said to her brother in their telepathic conversation.
"There is still that one. Glinda I think. Then there is the new Queen, she practices magic from what I've heard," Boren said.
"The metal man and the Lion have seen war, you can tell. The woman, she is different. I just can't explain it," Khali observed.
Boren was thinking the same thing.
He wanted to get a closer look at her, but did not dare. The Lion was still sniffing around the air as they settled near one of the creeks in the area. The metal man began a small fire, and the woman began to boil some water. The Lion was in the creek testing the fish to see if they were edible for them.
Boren wanted to laugh. They did not know this area, and they took precautions.
Boren tried to fight it, but he couldn't help but feel concerned over the woman. Aglas had sent the troops out, and they would come upon them soon. He wondered if he should warn them.
The woman sat down on a log and began to brush out her light auburn hair. As much as Boren wanted to look away he was drawn to the motions of what she was doing. He couldn't help but notice the sad look in her eyes, as she seemed to be thinking about something or maybe someone.
He wondered what her connection was to that prisoner Ordaran had brought through months ago. It had to be that. There was no other reason why these three people from Oz would be here.
The woman must have had a connection to the prisoner. He surmised she must have been carrying his child.
Boren hated that he could not take his eyes off of her. Her hair rested in waves on her shoulders, her skin was sun kissed, but not much. Her eyes were brown, but big and set right on her heart shaped face. Her lips were a dark pink, and full. She was beginning to get more curvaceous with her pregnancy, but she was still thin, as she was not showing too much.
He felt himself grow uncomfortable, and finally had to turn away. There was just something about her that was…different. He would have sworn she was not of this world.
Suddenly, one his scouts came up to Boren and Khali. The scout was a wolf.
"Boren, the Aglas soldiers are about a half day away," he said telepathically.
Khali turned to her brother and pleaded with him. "Boren…please."
Boren growled in his animal form. "Alright. I will warn her. I will do it alone."