(Sorry this update took a while; I've been running around busy with all sorts of nonsense. Thank you for the continuous support of this story, I love reading your reactions to everything! I hope you continue to enjoy it.)

~oz FIVE zo~

Elphaba heard a creak on the staircase above her. She groaned into the pile of torn pillows and blankets that made her bed and looked up. The blue heels crept their way down the steps of the basement to reach Elphaba's level. The sun was up, just barely, Elphaba felt a lurch in her stomach as she realized she'd slept in. She hopped to her feet and kicked a blanket back in place, reaching for a rag to tie over her mop of hair.

"Pardon me," Glinda's inevitable descent ended at the bottom step, "Miss… Miss Green Girl."

Elphaba studied her, her eyes were red and puffy, "If you need to call me something, call me Elphaba. Certainly don't call me 'miss'." She pondered over the state of the blonde girl; "I see you've met her this morning."

Glinda burst into tears, dropping herself to sit on the staircase, "She does not look well! She barely spoke to me, barely croaked out my name before shuffling off to study that book. She used to be so lovely."

Elphaba snorted so hard that Glinda's head snapped up, "Pardon me, why is this funny?"

Elphaba held back an eye roll; "Lovely does not describe her, even before she turned herself into that."

Glinda shook her head; "You just don't know her like I do. She used to tutor me in sorcery when I was very young, before she left. She always had kind words for me, I was her protégé."

"She executed my father on the steps of this mansion." Elphaba said flatly.

Glinda's whole body paused, her eyes gone wide like they had when she saw the interior for the first time. All she could manage was a small, "Oh."

Elphaba's temper flared up, "Where did you think the Governor of Munchkinland went after she decided to take over? Did you think he gave a tip of his hat and conceded his rule with no fight?"

Glinda glanced down into her pearly hands, "I suppose I never thought of that. So you are…"

"The Eminent Thropp, heir to the piles of cobwebs and mold above us. Look at all the good your Wizard's rule has done for me." She gave a mocking curtsey with her ragged dress for emphasis.

Struck speechless, Glinda could only fiddle nervously with her dress. Elphaba pushed past her to the top of the stairs, she had delayed the day long enough. At the top of the stairs she turned back to see the girl shaking before composing herself with a deep breath. Elphaba hated her. She hated the innocence in her eyes, the good and consequence free life she had lived before arriving here. She resented the silk skirts and the bespoke jewelry, the way the girl had learned to carry herself like a lady. Elphaba's calloused hands looked like that of a trolls when compared, the bags under her eyes and scars on her arms were more prevalent now with that ray of light standing near her.

The woman she now knew as Madame Morrible, though it was still odd to think of her as anything but the Witch, greeted her that morning. As she suspected the greeting was not pleasant. After the morning's chores had been completed she was sent running out of the house with a sizeable burn mark on her arm. It seemed she wouldn't be allowed any rest till all those ingredients were recovered.

She took the long way out of town again; it was best to avoid a visit to Nessa today. She didn't like to go too often, she preferred to keep her visits sparse to avoid suspicion. She had carried her sister out of the mansion on her back to hide her all those years ago and she wouldn't have all that hard work be for naught.

Reaching the woods was easy enough but her stomach was queasy at the sight of the foreboding branches. A hand reached into the pocket of her apron, she had remembered her knife today.

Wildflowers would continue to be her focus today but if she happened upon some sage that would be a nice surprise. She headed again for that clearing from the other day, the pear tree might have another fruit today.

"Hey!" A voice shouted from not too far away and she realized she had been stupid for returning to the same spot.

Fiyero jumped down from his station in the branches and rounded on her like he was sizing up his prey, "I was hoping I wouldn't see your face today."

"Why? Nervous you'll lose another fight?"

He scoffed, "Your skin caught me off guard, that wont happen again."

Her hand gripped the knife in her pocket, "Lets test that theory."

A roar in the distance froze the both of them. Monstrous paws pounded into the dirt of the clearing, a creature that looked almost like a bear and almost like a tiger stepped into view. Its fur was ragged and oily, its head hung so low from its hunched shoulders that its neck seemed broken off its spine. Teeth bared at the pair and eyes shone bright with a rabid hunger. This was one of the things Elphaba had heard stories about.

Fiyero's hand moved slowly into his quiver for an arrow. Elphaba's fingers welded themselves to the dull kitchen knife. The two stared at the beast, barely breathing. The beast stared back and Elphaba could see her doom in its eyes.

~oz FIVE zo~