That night, Liesl drifted into dreams once more, stepping onto the golden road that stretched between Wonderland and Oz. The world around her shimmered, a strange fusion of the two lands—fields of red poppies growing beneath the towering chessboard castles, the yellow brick road weaving through an endless hedge maze.
She was barefoot, her toes pressing into the warm earth, and her dress was neither Dorothy's nor Alice's but something between the two—blue gingham with a crisp white apron, the fabric flowing like a memory.
Coyote was at her side, his golden eyes watching everything with quiet knowing. He padded alongside her, silent and steady, his presence a tether to something greater than this dream.
Then, from the deep shadows of the forest ahead, she saw movement.
A great white wolf stepped forward, its fur luminous, its eyes the same warm brown Liesl had only ever known in one person.
She stopped in her tracks, breath catching in her throat.
"Emily..." she whispered.
The wolf—her mother—tilted its head ever so slightly, recognition shining in its gaze. There was no need for words; Liesl felt the truth settle deep inside her. Emily had never truly left.
She had been here all along, watching, waiting.
Coyote sat down beside Liesl, his ears flicking as if to say, Now you understand.
The white wolf stepped closer, and though Liesl had never seen a wolf up close in waking life, she felt no fear. She reached out, and Emily pressed her muzzle against her palm, warm breath ghosting over her fingers.
Tears welled in Liesl's eyes, but they did not fall.
"You've always been here," she said, voice thick with emotion.
The wolf huffed softly—a sound almost like a chuckle—and then, ever so gently, she leaned in and nuzzled Liesl's forehead. A mother's kiss, the same as when she had been a child.
The trees around them swayed, the golden road glowed brighter, and somewhere in the distance, a song began to play—a song Liesl had nearly forgotten, one her mother used to hum while brushing her hair.
Coyote let out a soft sigh, content.
Emily stepped back, looking at Liesl once more before turning toward the deep woods.
And though Liesl wanted to call out, to ask her to stay, she knew—this was how it was meant to be.
Emily would always be there. Watching. Guarding.
The White Wolf of the woke with the faintest trace of warmth against her skin, as if her mother's touch still lingered Liesl tiptoed down the hall, her heart still racing from the dream. The vision of her mother—the White Wolf—lingered in her mind, too vivid, too real to ignore. She hesitated for a moment outside Johnny's door, wondering if she should wait until morning.
But no. She needed to tell someone now. And Johnny… well, Johnny would listen.
Taking a breath, she knocked gently.
There was silence for a long moment. Then, the sound of shifting blankets, a muffled groan, and finally, Johnny's groggy voice:
"...Mmmh… yeah?"
Liesl pushed open the door just enough to peek inside. The room was dark, save for the pale moonlight streaming through the window. Johnny was still half-buried under the covers, his long hair loose around his face, eyes barely open.
"I had a dream," she whispered, stepping inside. "And it was—well, it was something."
Johnny blinked at her, then scrubbed a hand over his face. "Is it mornin'?"
"No."
"Then why are we talkin'?"
She crossed her arms. "Because I need to."
He sighed through his nose, but there was a hint of a smile. "Alright, alright. What happened?"
Liesl hesitated, then sat at the foot of his bed, curling her legs beneath her. "I saw my mother."
That woke him up a little more. His brows furrowed, and he propped himself up on one elbow. "You saw Emily?"
She nodded. "She was a white wolf. And I knew it was her—like, I felt it. She was watching over me. Over all of us."
Johnny studied her for a moment, his usual teasing tone absent. "A white wolf, huh?" He scratched the back of his head. "That… makes a lot of sense, actually."
Liesl tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"In my people's stories, the ones who watch over us, the ones who stay even after they're gone—they don't just vanish." He tapped his chest lightly. "They come back. Sometimes as birds, sometimes as the wind… and sometimes as wolves."
Liesl felt a shiver go down her spine. Not out of fear, but something else. Something like knowing.
Johnny yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Sounds like she's still with you. Still got her eyes on you, makin' sure you're doin' alright." He smirked sleepily. "Probably makin' sure you don't do anything too reckless, like wakin' folks up in the middle of the night."
Liesl rolled her eyes but smiled. "You're impossible."
Johnny gave her a lazy, lopsided grin. "And you're persistent. So what now?"
She thought about that for a moment.
Now? She wasn't sure. But knowing her mother was still there, in some way, watching over them like the White Wolf of the forest… it made everything feel a little lighter.
"I don't know yet," she admitted. "But I think I'll figure it out."
Johnny let his head fall back onto the pillow. "Well, do me a favor—figure it out after I get some sleep."
Liesl chuckled, getting up from the bed. "Goodnight, Johnny."
He waved a hand in the air, already half-asleep again. "Night, Wonderland."
She paused in the doorway, smiling to herself before slipping back to her own room.
In Liesl's dream, the golden road stretched endlessly before her, winding through an ever-changing landscape of emerald fields and misty forests. Coyote walked beside her, his amber eyes steady and knowing. Ahead, the figure of Emily shimmered into view, her long brunette hair cascading over her shoulders, her beauty mark barely visible in the soft glow of the dream. She smiled warmly at Liesl.
"You're learning, little one," Emily said, her voice carrying the warmth of a mother's love.
Liesl beamed, stepping forward. "What's it like? To be a wolf?" she asked eagerly.
Emily chuckled, an impish glint in her eyes. "It has its advantages," she said mysteriously. "For instance, you can play tricks on those who think they know everything."
Coyote, ever the silent observer, blinked at her. His expression remained unreadable, but there was a distinct sense of long-suffering patience radiating from him. Emily circled him playfully.
"Watch this," she whispered to Liesl.
Before Coyote could react, Emily transformed into her white wolf form in an instant, a flash of silver fur, and with an effortless pounce, she knocked him onto his side. Coyote let out the most undignified yelp Liesl had ever heard, legs flailing for a brief moment before he composed himself, rolling back onto his feet with an air of offended dignity. He stared at Emily, then at Liesl, as if to say, Can you believe this?
Liesl burst into laughter.
"Gotcha," Emily said smugly, wagging her tail as she padded around Coyote in circles.
Coyote exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his fur out, and then, without warning, he vanished. Not walked away—just gone, as if the very air had swallowed him up.
"Oh no, now you've done it," Liesl giggled.
Emily, still grinning, turned back to her human form and winked. "He'll come back. He always does."
At that moment, a gust of wind swept through the dream, carrying a whisper that made Liesl shiver—not out of fear, but anticipation. She looked back at Emily, who met her gaze with quiet reassurance.
"There are still things for you to learn, little one," Emily said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Liesl's face. "But you'll never be alone. Not as long as you remember."
Liesl felt a wave of warmth in her chest, a sense of deep belonging. She wanted to stay here forever. But as dreams do, the world around her blurred and faded…
And then, she woke up.