The sun started appearing more and more, and with it came somewhat warmer weather. Shiz's students leapt at the first signs of spring, immediately shedding their hats and scarves and gloves and pulling out their summer clothes. It was a little ridiculous, but after months of cold snow and rain, the risk seemed worth it.

Elphaba, taking advantage of the cloudless sky one day, slipped away from the main part of campus. She wandered, somewhat numbly, to the fields and trees that made up the far corners of Shiz. She didn't quite think of where she was going until she was there, kneeling down in front of a large tree, a smooth stone, and a jar of flames that had yet to go out.

She pulled the bag off her shoulder and hugged it, staring down at the makeshift memorial. For a long time she simply knelt there, silent. She wanted to say something, but no words came to mind. Instead she stared blankly at the stone until her vision started to blur.

The afternoon sun sank lower and lower until the campus was covered in shadows. Elphaba was just thinking that she would have to leave soon when she heard something rustling in the tree above her.

Elphaba jumped to her feet and tightened her grip on her bag, clutching it to her chest. She started to back away, her eyes straining to see in the dark, but she froze when she heard a voice.

"Wait."

Something moved in the lower branches, but all Elphaba could see was shadow. There was a soft clicking noise, then a glimpse of a bright, beady eye.

"Sorry, Fae. I didn't mean to scare you."

Elphaba's eyes widened, and she took a half step forward. "Peric?"

The shadow shifted, but all she could see was the gleaming eye. "I know it's been a while, but I came as soon as I could. We…heard about Dillamond." His beak clicked softly. "I'm sorry. He was a great scholar, and an even better Animal."

Elphaba nodded. "I can't see you. Come down."

"I can't," Peric said. "I can't stay long."

For the first time, Elphaba noticed that his voice was rougher. The glint in his eyes was a little brighter. She couldn't see, but she was sure that he would have a couple more scars than before. It had been only a few weeks since they last saw each other, but already she could tell how much he had changed.

The Resistance, she thought, a shiver crawling up her spine.

"Dillamond told me where you went," she said softly. "Are you…I mean…"

"Don't ask me anything I can't answer," Peric warned.

"Are you okay?"

There was a long pause, then… "Yes. It's not much of a home, but I found a place where I belong."

Elphaba pressed her lips together. Peric shifted again, still hidden in darkness. "What about you? Are you…?"

She thought of Dillamond, of the research that they didn't know what to do with, of Boq and Fiyero helping her, of Crope and Tibbett getting too curious, of Glinda staying at her side, curling up with her at night… "It could be worse."

He blinked slowly and tilted his head. "And…the research?"

"Are you asking as a friend, or as a…as your job?"

"Will you still answer if I say both?"

Elphaba hesitated. Of course the Resistance would want to know what had happened to Dillamond's projects. She looked around and, seeing only an empty campus, stepped closer to the tree.

"What I was working on, when we first met…I finished it. But it's no use to anyone unless we find someone to support it—preferably someone who isn't green or an Animal."

Peric blinked again. "They say…there was more. He had other projects…"

"I have a few of his ideas, but they're all brief—not anything close to what we were doing before. I'm working on them, but…"

He nodded. "They also say…and this time I'm only asking as a friend…that you were there, the night he…"

Elphaba closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe. "Yes."

His eyes darkened. "I'm sorry, Fae."

"Yeah."

He shifted again, shaking the branches. "I should go. But…just a word of advice: you don't have to do this alone."

Her head snapped up. "I won't let anyone else get hurt because of this."

Peric clicked his beak. "If there's one thing I've learned so far in the R…in the Emerald City, it's that working alone might be safer, but working together is always more successful."

Elphaba hugged the bag to her chest, feeling her chest tighten. Peric unfolded his wings.

"Be careful, Fae."

"You too," she whispered. She watched him leap from the branch and take off, still unable to see more than a shadowy figure. The Bird looped once over her head, then angled south and disappeared.

Just before she turned to leave, Elphaba looked over her shoulder at Dillamond's memorial. Glinda's fire gave off just enough light to gleam off the polished stone.

"I know you said I needed allies," she whispered out loud. "But…"

She bit her lip and turned away. She kept her head down all the way back to Crage Hall, desperately ignoring the fact that she could feel her resolve beginning to waver.

"Now class, who can tell me the greatest invention to come from Sir Lamren? Miss Pfannee?"

Pfannee sat up straight. "Sir Lamren created many useful things for hunting and trapping, but his greatest invention was the iron cage."

"An idea that's been around since before the Ozma Regime," Elphaba muttered under her breath. "But everyone thinks he's brilliant because he designed it specifically for animals." Glinda squeezed her knee under the table.

"Very good," Professor Nikidik went on. "Recently, many of Oz's engineers have worked to better the design of the cage. Who can tell me why?"

Again, Pfannee's hand shot into the air. "Two in one day," Tibbett muttered. "I'm impressed."

"Miss Pfannee?"

Pfannee smirked over at the green girl before answering. "So that the cages can hold Animals, instead of just animals."

"That's exactly right," Nikidik said. "In fact, the Wizard himself has recently funded a line of larger, stronger, more intricate cages that could hold up against even the most fearsome of Animals."

"Fearsome?" Elphaba scoffed. "What's so fearsome about someone trying to go about their everyday life in peace?"

"I do not appreciate outbursts in my class, Miss Elphaba," Nikidik said, glaring. "But since you're so curious about the matter… They don't have everyday lives. Not like we do."

"You're right," the green girl said. "Of course they don't. We've taken that away from them."

"It's for their own safety," said Pfannee.

"Oh, sure," Boq said, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, say someone takes away your job and your home and locks you in a cage. Would you call it safety then?"

"That point is irrelevant," Nikidik interjected, "Because Miss Pfannee is a human being, not an Animal."

"There's no difference!" Elphaba jumped to her feet. "Humans and Animals are both equally intelligent life forms. There is nothing that marks one better than the other!" She glared around the room. "Or are you all so blinded by appearances that you can't see that?"

The class was silent. "You're one to talk about appearances, Miss Elphaba," said Nikidik, his eyes glinting. Before the green girl could say a word, he waved his hand and walked back to his desk. "Class is dismissed for the day. Remember to read chapter sixty-two in your books."

Seething, Elphaba grabbed her bag and started shoving books in it as the class began to disperse.

"Seems funny, doesn't it?" Pfannee asked as she passed by their table. "The green bean and the midget are the only ones who care about those dumb Animals."

Boq lunged forward, but Fiyero and Crope each grabbed an arm and held him back. Glinda found Elphaba's hand and squeezed it. Pfannee glanced at their intertwined fingers and made a noise of disgust before walking away.

Elphaba tugged her hand away from Glinda's and stormed out of the room.

"Elphie, wait!" The blonde chased her out of the building, but Elphaba kept going.

"Leave me alone, Glinda."

"But—"

The green girl slipped into the crowd of people pouring onto the sidewalks. Boq came up just as Glinda lost sight of her.

"I'll try to talk to her," he said. "If…if you don't mind."

Glinda just sighed. "Go. You understand all of this more than I do."

He squeezed her shoulder, then disappeared into the crowd. The others appeared beside Glinda and watched him go. Fiyero put an arm around the blonde while Crope and Tibbett simply sat down.

"Don't worry, Miss Glinda," Crope said. "She'll come back soon."

Tibbett nodded sagely. "She always comes back for you."

Elphaba sat at the edge of the dock, one arm wrapped around the wooden pole, leaning out just far enough to see the water below her.

"Of all the places you would run off to," a voice said behind her, "This was the last one I expected."

"Maybe that's the point," she muttered, but she scooted over to make room. Boq moved to sit cross-legged beside her. He leaned back on his hands and gazed out over the lake.

"I'd say Nikidik and Pfannee are wrong, and they're just a couple of brainless fools…but I know that doesn't really help."

"They are brainless fools," the green girl said, "But most of Oz agrees with them."

Boq was silent for a while. He didn't look at her when he finally said, "We could change that, you know."

"You really think so?" Her voice was soft.

"I think…if there was ever a chance…it's this. It's you."

She shivered.

"Come on," Boq said, climbing to his feet. "We can't get anything done out here."

"The library doesn't always feel safe anymore," she mumbled, but she stood and followed him off the dock and back into campus.

"There's nothing she can do during the day," the Munchkin said. By some unspoken agreement, they turned down a less-traveled sidewalk and headed for the library.

"Maybe she's not the only thing we should worry about," Elphaba said, slowing down as they approached the front steps. The other three boys were lounging around, apparently waiting for them. At least Glinda's not with them, she thought as she resigned herself to what was coming.

"Miss Elphaba," Crope said, pushing himself off the wall. "We were wondering if you had a bit of time to spare."

"I don't," she said shortly. Boq hovered uncertainly by her side.

"Oh, but we'd love it if you could accompany us on a walk through campus," Tibbett said.

"I know what you're going to ask," she said. "And the answer is no. Shove off."

"Just hear them out, Elphie," said Fiyero.

"Stay out of it," she snapped. "You've already forced your way into this. What more do you want?"

"You could actually tell me something for once, instead of just sending me off to swipe books and lab materials for you."

Before she could respond, Crope wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her away from the library. The group wandered through campus until they were where no one could hear them. Elphaba twisted away and Crope let her go, crossing his arms over his chest.

"We're not pressing this matter because we want to hurt you, Elphie," said Tibbett.

"And I'm saying no because I don't want you to get hurt," she spat back.

"She's not kidding," Boq said. "This isn't just Elphaba being dramatic. It's truly dangerous."

"We know," Crope said, "And we want in."

"No."

Crope rubbed his forehead. "Look, we get it. You want to protect us. Thanks. But we're going to help whether you let us or not, so you might as well just tell us what's going on."

Fiyero frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "They have a point, Elphaba."

She glared at the ground, thoughts racing. Dillamond said she needed allies. Peric said she shouldn't do this alone. But Dillamond was dead and Peric was in the middle of an underground war.

"No one was supposed to know," she muttered through clenched teeth. "This was my problem. No one else's."

"You chose to help Dr. Dillamond," Boq said gently. "I chose to help you. So did Fiyero. If Crope and Tibbett are choosing this, can you really refuse them?"

She kept up her scowl, but said nothing.

"Besides," Crope said suddenly. "The more people you have on your side, the more people you have trying to keep the secret from Glinda."

The boys all turned toward her. If there was any way to convince her, it was this.

"How do I know you won't let her find out?" Elphaba asked. "If all of you managed to force your way into this, who's to say she won't do the same thing?"

"Because we want to protect her, too," Fiyero said.

"And because we're terrified of what you'd do if she found out," Tibbett added. The others nodded.

Her brow furrowed. "No matter what happens, this stays between us. Glinda doesn't find out. Morrible doesn't find out. No one finds out."

"Of course," Crope said.

"We wouldn't dream of telling," Tibbett agreed.

Elphaba glanced over at Boq, who gave her a slight, encouraging nod.

"Fine," she said.

And then she began to tell them everything.