Dimensional Reality: Oz (Chapter 19)

  Dorothy took a deep breath and suddenly felt weary.  She sat down, rubbing at her sore legs.  Joseph handed her a small vial with a clear blue liquid in it.

  “Drink this.”

  Dorothy nodded and took the vial, swallowing its contents in one gulp.  She felt her weariness ease and she was able to look around and take in their surroundings.

  “What’s next?”

  “Come.  We’re moving with the main battle group to the prison.  Shaggy Man and Woot have scouted ahead and it is very possible this is one of their more important prisons.  That means that we could find some important Oz nobles within.”

  She nodded and held up her hand.  Joseph grasped her hand and pulled her to her feet.  They walked over to join the main battle group.  Nick Chopper was oiling his arm when they walked up.  He turned and smiled at them.  His scrap metal face was similar to a skeleton, making his grin a bit spooky.  Yet, to those who knew him took comfort in his warm and heartfelt smile.  He flexed his shoulder, nodded to himself and picked up his battle ax.

  “Ready?” he asked, doing a few lazy swings, working the oil in.

  They nodded and followed him in joining the main battle group.  A small squad stayed behind to salvage any supplies from the ambushed enemy.

  Once again, the Ozits moved silently though the forest, flitting from tree to tree, shadow to shadow.  Shaggy Man and Woot moved ahead of the group, scouting and ready to elimiate any advance guards.  The squads surrounded a clearing where they found a fort in usual morning rituals.  Black, foul smoke rose from cooking fires in the fort.  Dorothy saw Joseph and Poly talking together in low voices.  They seemed to reach an agreement, for an order was passed to be battle ready to charge on command soon.  Joseph walked over to her and spoke in a low voice.

  “I need to be at the front of the line.  I want you to stay between Jinjur and Nick.  No wandering off, no heroics.  By the numbers, okay?”

  Dorothy nodded, “Okay.”

  Joseph moved back to join Poly at the front of the line.  They sheathed their weapons and raised their hands.  They disappeared in a disappating glow, like the sun being shadowed by clouds.  Dorothy blinked and looked around.  Jinjur nudged her and pointed toward the fort’s entrance.  Dorothy saw Joseph and Poly standing in front the huge wooden gate.  She was able to hear muffled commotion coming from inside the fort.  Joseph and Poly raised their hands and pushed at the gate in one fast motion.  Dorothy’s jaw dropped as the gate exploded in a shower of fire and sparks.  She had been learning spells, but hadn’t gotten to anything that powerful, of that destructive force.  She had no time to muse over this though.  She saw that Joseph and Poly had already drawn their weapons, ready to meet the dark minions running toward them.  Jinjur shouted an order and with a fierce battle cry, the Ozits charged.

-Damien