Finley had gone off to into the forest of Oz, he told them he was going to make sure the coast was clear, he didn't specify what though, and when Bryson questioned him, he seemed uneasy. Something was going on here, and he was determined to find out. But for now, he'd leave it be. Finley had been gone for a while now and he and Dorothy were both getting bored of walking down the road, so she started to make conversation.

"So... what's Tennessee like, Bryson?"

He stopped studying the fascinating land to answer to her soft voice.

"Pardon?" He asked, attempting to mirror her kind of language.

"I asked what Tennesse's like." She confirmed sweetly.

"Oh. Well uh.. it's. it's nice... it's just... I'm not really where the nice... stuff is.." He clumisly replied, not putting much thought in to what he was saying, not while Dorothy Gale was walking with him, and making conversation with him.

She smiled, seeming amused at his awkward phrasing as she looked down and put both her hands behind her.

He admired her, there was something different about her, the way she moved, the way she spoke, carried herself, he supposed it could be a time gap thing.. but there was something else.

"You know, you're the first person I've met here that's from the same place as me. I suppose I can relate to you... though, it's really wonderful here, isn't it? I love the way it looks here. It fascinates me." She explained, wide eyed with a smile as she looked around, then back at him, she looked as if she wasn't sure if he would know what she meant, her smile a bit faded.

He grinned and nodded like a kid. "I know, right..." He wasn't sure she would find that kind of speach normal, but he went on regardless. "It's just... it's I love it, it's so different and colorful, it's beautiful."

She looked at him shockingly, but in a good way, flashing a radiant smile at him. "Finally someone else understands it, it's hard for people to get it." She explained.

"I know the feeling. You can't tell a lot of people or you'll get judged by most of them.."

"Exactly.. my aunt and uncle just say that I need to grow up and it's just immature, childish nonsense."

"My parents would say the exact same thing. Mostly my dad..." He trailed off.. looking away from her and deeply into the forest of Oz. Actually, he hadn't looked at her very much the entire walk, he knew if he looked for long he wouldn't be able to stop, but he couldn't help it and looked at her as he spoke, but not enough for her to notice.

"So... how long do you think it should take to get to the Emerald City?"

She shrugged and shook her head. "I can't quite say.. it'll proably be a while before we get there."

He almost didn't pay attention to her words, only the way she said them and how they sounded when they came out of her mouth, her doe eyes were deep pools of emotion, her little nose was adorable and her big kissable lips.

His mind wandered off for a bit until he heard Finley yelling in the distance, with the sound of his wings flapping.

"Guys.. guys!" He cried out.

"What is it?" asked Dorothy.

"I saw.. I saw.. Kalidahs!" He cried out.

Bryson knew what he was talking about and gulped in fear.

Dorothy turned to him. "Kalidahs are creatures with bodies like bears, heads like tigers, and so on.. they're not very pleasant I hear." Dorothy explained, unaware of the fact he already knew.

Bryson took a deep breath. "Yeah.. that.. doesn't sound very nice.."

"It's not! It's really, not good, it is very, very, bad, horrible, terrible, dreadful, awful, horrid, it is the total oppisote of postive!" He took a breath "It is-

"That's enough Finley.." Dorothy told him... "We better get going now.." She stated, obviously fearful of the creatures.

They all nodded in agreement and walked speedily, but as they started seeing the bushes moves and the sounds of the creatures, they started to run, Finley had a hard time so Bryson picked him up and put him on his shoulder.

"T-Thanks..." Finley said, out of breath.

Bryson didn't find it comfortable so he took Finley and scooped him in his arms instead. "No problem.." He replied, also out of breath.

As they ran they stopped and realized the yellow brick road came to an end, and it was now a cliff, it continued a few feet away but there was no way the could cross it, they would fall to their doom.

"Uh.. uh.. Finley.. you can fly... so uh.."

"I'm not gonna be able to carry you! Are you serious?! Look at small I am! I once carried this one guy, his name was Paul, and my Oz he was one of the skinniest, tiniest, munchkins you'll ever see and I couldn't last, so I doubt I'll be able to carry you!

"Really? "

"No, I just said that to try and convince you!" He admitted, throwing his arms up in defeat.

Bryson furrowed his eyebrows gave him a slightly amused look, then turned his head back and noticed that the noises of the creatures were getting closer to them.

"You're gonna have to wing it! Literally!"

Bryson scoffed at his own dumb joke and looked back. "Just hurry.. carry Dorothy first, I'm sure she's lighter than me."

"Are you sure? I'm not quite sure he'll have time to carry us both before they get here, and you need to get the Emerald City more than me..."

He admired her kindess but shook his head. "No, no, and we don't have time to argue, I'd feel guilty if you went first.. NOW GO!" He exclaimed.

Finley hesitated, but then heard them approaching the group.

He screamed in fear and started to pick Dorothy up, just barley managing to get her, Dorothy began to protest but she gave up as Finley slowly dragged her to the other side of the yellow brick road. Finley groaned and almost fell several times, he stopped flapping his wings for a few seconds every now and then, but he finally managed to lay her down on the other side. He then fell down and gasped for air.

"Oh Oz... that was.. not fun.." He managed to cry out.

Bryson looked back and gasped, now just a few feet away from four small Kalidahs. They weren't fully grown but they still looked fierece, there teeth could give the Lion a run for his money.

"Finley..." Bryson holored.

"FINLEY!" He yelled again.

Dorothy nudged Finley. "Get up, Finley, hurry!"

Finley got up. "Huh?!" He gave a shocked look as he noticed the creatures were starting to close in on Bryson and he sprinted off the cliff, flying rapidly as he swooped down to Bryson and took him away, just as the Kalidahs were about to strike.

He struggled even more with carrying Bryson, and as he slowly made his way to the other side the Kalidahs backed up and looked like they were going to jump over to them.

"Finley.. no pressure but ya might wanna step it up!" He told him as he looked at the creatures.

Finley flapped as fast as his little wings could carry him, but then two of the Kalidahs pounced into the air at them and started to bite at them, they all screamed and Finley started spinning in the air and they both tried to fight back but to no avail, one bit Finley hard on him, his suit almost shredded just from the one bite.

Bryson always hated heights, and he couldn't help but look down. He wasn't sure if he'd rather die by falling or being eaten. Either way, not a good way to go.

He wanted to try and push them off, but they could easily bite off his his hand clean off. Finley almost got to the other side, but was tugged back by the beasts, but then a rock was thrown at by the two Kalidahs.

They looked over and saw Dorothy had a few rocks with her and started throwing them at the monsters, careful not to harm Finley or Bryson as they ducked and let them hit the Kalidahs, who eventually couldn't take the pain and fell to their doom, but while doing so, they tried to bring Finley down with him, Bryson kicked at the Kalidahs, careful to not have his foot bitten, and they fell down, but the two other Kalidahs suddenly leaped out and swiped at Finley and Bryson, the surprise made Finley twirl around as Finley threw Bryson to the other side.

Finley then quickkly flew to the other side, the Kalidahs almost fell but then clung to the edge, their sharp claws digging into the yellow brick road, but Bryson intervened and smashed the rocks against the beasts and they fell to their death.

They all fell down from exhaustion and relief, breathing heavily.

"This is gonna be a long journey..." Bryson mumbled.