There's No Place Like Home ch. 5

[Midge-14]

A/N: Phew! This chapter was very hard to write *collapses*

Previous Chapters:
1: Moving to Kansas
<A href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 9490">Part I</a>
<A href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 9498">Part II</a>
2: Taking Him Away
<A href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 9517">Part I</a>
<A href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... 9528">Part II</a>
<A href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... ?t=9542">3: Good Witches and Bad Witches</a>
<A href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... ?t=9646">4: The Yellow Brick Road</a>

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<center><b>CHAPTER V ? Glass Eyes</b></center>

??And so I says to her, lady, there are two facts I know for sure. One, I ain?t ever gonna work for you and two, that shade of green does not make you look healthy.?

Relena gasped, ?You said that to the witch!??

Scarecrow puffed out his chest and looked proud, ?Sure. I told you, she doesn?t scare me.?

?And what happened next??

?Welllll,? He scratched his straw hair sheepishly, ?She kinda tied me to the pole that you found me on and set me to the mercy of the crows.? Toto rolled his eyes and shook his head while Relena just smiled in amusement. As they walked on, Scarecrow continued to regale them with tales about his life in the fields before his imprisonment. His company melted the hours away until the grasslands around them began to house scattered clumps of trees and the dark green wall of a forest could be seen ahead of them. Scarecrow suddenly stopped and a look of consternation crossed his face. ?What is it?? Relena asked.

?I?m hungry.?

As if to punctuate his words; a loud rumbling echoed from his stomach and he patted it absently, ?I?m so hungry I could eat a dog!? He admitted forlornly. Toto growled and gave him a withering look. He grinned, lifting his hands up in mock defence. ?Joking, joking! Aren?t you hungry?? He turned to Relena. She hesitated, the urge to continue along their way dominating against the urge to stop and eat. ?Erm??

?Come on Relena!? He closed one eye and squinted at her through a mock picture frame he created with his index fingers and thumbs. ?You need food. If that waist of yours gets any thinner I?ll be filling <i>you</i> with straw!? She flushed at his words, ?But where are we going to find food??

?This baby here will take care of that,? He assured, pointing at his nose. He lifted his chin and sniffed the air experimentally. ?Why I do believe I smell something heavenly thataway!? He pointed and Relena laughed helplessly as he grabbed her hand and dragged her along, Toto scampering after them with a snort. Minutes later, Scarecrow paused again to sniff around. ?Hmm?Aha!? He pointed towards a tree standing to the left of the yellow brick road. ?Voila! Never doubt Scarecrow?s nose eh?? It was a large apple tree with huge shiny red apples hanging enticingly from its branches. It was odd, Relena noted, how it stood alone and separated from the other trees. What?s more, the ridges in the trunk curved in a particular way, grooving out to make, what suspiciously looked like, the ghostly features of a face. As Relena surveyed the tree closely, the branches quivered ever so slightly and she grabbed Scarecrow?s sleeve as he moved forward. <i>There was no wind</i>. ?I don?t think this is a good idea.?

?Why not?? He looked confused.

?Something?s weird about that tree,? Relena whispered.

?What?s wrong with it??

She stared at it dubiously ?It moved just a minute ago. Please don?t go near it.? Scarecrow looked at her for a moment and then broke out into a grin. ?You can?t seriously consider turning down those juicy looking apples? Relax, nothing?s wrong with the tree. I?ll be back before you can blink.? He strode forward confidently, leaned up and twisted a succulent looking apple from one of the lower branches. Rubbing it against his clothes, he held it up and observed the polished shine. ?See? There?s nothing to worry about.? He opened his mouth wide and leaned in to take a bite.

?Look out!? Relena grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him back roughly. Something thick whipped past his face, narrowly missing him, before he lost his footing and fell into a sitting position with Relena cushioning him. He blinked and looked up to see the tree peering at him with its grooves coming together to make an angry expression.

?Oi, whatcha think you?re doing??

?I was hungry?? Scarecrow replied innocently. The tree shook its branches at him in disbelief. ?Hungry he says! Well I never! How would you feel if I came along and started picking your apples??

Scarecrow raised his eyebrows, ?Erm?? He tilted his head back towards Relena and mouthed, My apples? She scrambled to her feet and helped him up. ?We?re very sorry.? She addressed the tree, ?I?m sure it?s not pleasant to have somebody pick your fruit without asking but we?ve come a long way and if you could spare a few??

The tree lifted its branches out of reach, ?Absolutely not!?

Relena stepped forward to entreat it but Scarecrow?s hand on her shoulder stopped her. ?Come away Relena, you don?t want any of <i>those</i> apples.? She gave him a puzzled expression and he winked. The tree?s grooves shifted to look at them suspiciously, ?What do you mean? You trying to say my apples don?t measure up??

Scarecrow crossed his arms casually, ?Well I bet they?re as sour as the tree they came from. I think you should be a lemon tree instead.?

Toto wuffed in delight and Relena put her hand over her mouth as the tree shook with indignation. ?Oh! Sour indeed! Why I oughta?? A branch was cocked back and let go. An apple came hurtling at them him its leafy confines, ?Take that!?

Scarecrow quickly manoeuvred out of the way and stuck his tongue out. ?Ha! You missed you wrinkled old prune!?

?I?ll show you!?

More apples came shooting out. Scarecrow weaved and jumped nimbly out of their way, his braid flying out behind him, and emitted cries of triumph. ?Apples!? He said gleefully, ?This is how you get apples. Help yourself!?

?You can?t do that! Hey!? The tree shook its branches at them. ?You tricked me!?

?Serves you right, sour grapes!? Scarecrow stuffed an apple in his mouth. Relena gingerly picked one up and was about to follow suit when Toto suddenly started barking loudly. Everyone, including the tree glanced in his direction and saw the dark patch spreading in the otherwise red-hued sky. It was moving terribly fast in their direction. Toto dashed over to Relena, barking in alarm, and she scooped him up into her arms. Beside her, Scarecrow was staring at the growing cloud, the cloth of his face bunching together into a frown. Seeing his joviality vanish so instantly made her anxious. ?What is it?? She asked.

?It?s him,? The tree croaked in terror behind them. ?Death follows him like the wind.? Toto whined and Scarecrow suddenly grabbed her arm. ?We need to go,? He said urgently. As soon as the words left his mouth, the sky darkened and the air filled with the beating of hundred of wings. The cawing echoed in Relena?s ears. ?Crows!? She gasped with realisation. Scarecrow stared upwards as the sky filled with them. ?And much worse,? He said grimly.

They descended like black rain and settled on the branches of the surrounding trees. Jackdaws, crows and ravens of various sizes, far more than the meagre few Relena had scattered from Scarecrow?s field. She felt dread build in the pit of her stomach as they watched her with their beady eyes silently. The lingering smell of carrion they brought with their numbers was overwhelming. The apple tree shuddered suddenly and moaned as a dark shape dropped down from its branches. The birds greeted it with a symphony of squawks and Scarecrow pulled Relena behind him. She peered over his shoulder to see a stranger wearing a long cloak covered with glossy black feathers shining darkly in the fading light. The face was hidden beneath a wide, circular mop of grey hair adorned with a black crown.

?Who dared set you free Scarecrow??

The voice was thin and stretched, sending chills along Relena?s spine. The hat-like hairstyle lifted to reveal a thin, angular face with a scar running down one cheek and a small moustache covered by a nose that was large and curved outwards like a beak. His slanted black eyes came to rest on Relena?s small form.

?Well there?s no point in hiding her now.?

?Leave her alone,? Scarecrow said desperately, ?Your beef is with me not her.?

?Untrue,? The stranger smiled. ?Hmm?yes; she fits the description. Well done.? He nodded towards the birds in the trees where, Relena was sure; the very raven that had recognised her must be hidden. He stepped forward, his cloak rustling against the ground. ?I should introduce myself,? He wheezed at Relena, ?I am known as G, king of the crows. You have stolen my scarecrow little miss.?

?I don?t see how he could belong to anyone left in a field like that to be tormented!? Relena shot back. G sniggered, ?He?s of a belonging that?s the prisoner kind. Anyone who ventures into my fields and releases my prisoners is not in a favourable position?? Scarecrow tensed and took a step back, pushing Relena with him. ??But seeing as her ladyship wants you intact, I?ll have to vent my fury elsewhere.?

?If you?re going to take her then you?ve got to get through me first,? Scarecrow asserted with a scowl.

G?s smile simply grew wider and looked even more hideous. ?That, my clueless sack of straw, was what I was hoping you?d say because you see; it?s you that I intend to vent my fury on.?

Relena barely registered what happened next. Scarecrow whirled and was pulling her close when a huge force enveloped them and she felt the brush of feathers against her face. Scarecrow?s grip suddenly loosened and she cried out. A thin but strong arm grabbed her waist and suddenly she was in G?s embrace. She struggled against him.

?I swear if you hurt her there?ll be hell to pay.? Scarecrow warned, clenching his fists. G gave him a distasteful look and flung Relena carelessly at the apple tree. ?Hold her,? He ordered and the branches of the tree wound around her tightly, its face a mask of grim obedience.

?You idiot,? G sneered ?You should be worrying about yourself. Always putting your mouth first but words didn?t save your friends and loved ones and they certainly won?t save you now.?

Scarecrow?s eyes flickered with pain briefly and G gave a crackly laugh, ?That?s right. Death comes to all but you doesn?t it? How does it feel Scarecrow; watching the others around you die while you remain alone in your field with only my crows for company??

?Pretty miserable,? Scarecrow admitted with a grin, ?I don?t know how I?ve survived this long; staring at their ugly mugs all day. You really do pass off as one of them G.?

G hissed through his teeth and rose up in anger, raising his arms. There was a tremendous flutter as the crows alighted from their branches and dove at Scarecrow. He put his arms up in defence against the swarm of snapping beaks. Relena cried out his name and struggled helplessly against the tree while Toto scrabbled furiously at its roots with his paws.

?Stop it you,? The tree complained, ?Keep still and the crow king will not unleash his anger on you.?

?Ha! This time I?m not tied up!? Scarecrow suddenly burst through the throng. ?Bring it on you feather-brained vultures!? He laughed with a mad glint in his eye. Relena stared at him agape as he pummelled crows left and right. He was doing quite well but there were so many that Relena knew he wouldn?t last for long out there.

?Toto!? She gasped, ?Leave me and help Scarecrow if you can!? The dog emitted a low growl and stubbornly continued to dig furiously. Ahead of her, Scarecrow smacked a raven and sent it flying into three others squawking in pain. Another bird grazed his arm, tearing his sleeve and making him wince. Through the mass of black bodies, G appeared behind him and flexed his fingers. ?Look out Scarecrow!? Relena screamed but the crows drowned out her voice. A long pole materialised in G?s fingers. Toto barked warningly but his voice too was lost in the chaos. A sharp flash on the end of the pole marked the appearance of a long, sharp blade that extended out. Scarecrow suddenly felt the presence behind him and turned around to see G swinging the huge scythe high above him. He blinked.

The scythe swung downwards?

?NOOO!? Relena screamed and strained against the tree with all her might. The ruby red slippers flashed and suddenly the area was illuminated with bright light. Scarecrow opened his eyes and was confronted with the sight of the scythe inches above him. G stood frozen with a look of shock on his face. ?Why?can?t?I?move?? He gritted his teeth. The scythe dropped from his hands and landed with a clang on the floor. Scarecrow picked it up slowly and gripped it tightly.

?Looks like you?re out of luck pal,? He said thoughtfully. G paled and tried to move but Scarecrow laughed, his face full of bitterness, ?You?ve no idea how much I?ve longed for this moment. You killed those closest to me while I could only watch helplessly but now the time has come to lay their souls to rest. Death comes to all but me did you say? I?ve never heard truer words describe the God of Death.? He swung the scythe and drew it forward in one clean sweep. The black feathered cloak crumpled to the floor, the body it covered exploding into black dust that drifted away with a sudden strong updraft as hundreds of crows took to the air with a mournful cry. The scythe disappeared from his hands and Scarecrow blinked rapidly as the brightness faded and the deep red of the sunset greeted his weary eyes.

?Relena!? He spun round. The tree had released her and she was sprawled on the floor, Toto licking her face gently and whining softly. Scarecrow dashed over and knelt beside her. To his relief, she stirred, opening her blue eyes with a groan. They widened when she saw him. ?Scarecrow! You?re all right!?

?Thanks to you!? He smiled, grabbing her into a hug, ?Whatever you did; it was amazing!?

?Me?? Relena said quizzically, ?I didn?t do anything.?

?You didn?t?? Scarecrow pulled back, confused.

She shook her head, ?I was so scared. I remember thinking that I couldn?t just let you die and desperately wanting something to stop the crow king.? She frowned and clutched her head, ?Then the bright light covered everything and?I don?t remember what happened after that.? She said apologetically.

?I dropped you,? The tree supplied. ?I was startled,? It said defensively when they looked at him. Scarecrow shrugged, ?Oh well, whatever it was I?m glad it worked in our favour.? He glanced up to see the crows flying high and aimlessly in random patterns devoid of any cohesion. Toto was staring up at them too and he gave a series of varied barks and started tugging Relena?s dress.

?I think Rover?s saying we need to get moving,? Scarecrow pulled Relena to her feet. ?I agree. I don?t wanna hang around till the crows get over the fact that G?s gone and come looking for us. We need to get out of the open.?

?Wuff,? Toto agreed and they hastened along towards the forest that loomed before them.

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Twilight settled as they reached the outskirts and tall cedar trees closed in around them. The thick canopy concealed them well enough but when the distant cry of birds came faintly to their ears from above the leafy shelter, they exchanged worried glances and wondered if they could be seen by searching eyes. Toto refused to stop and led them further in until Scarecrow eventually slumped by the side of the road and made the decision that they should rest for a while. Toto turned and tried to nudge him up.

?I?m tired,? Scarecrow complained. The little dog gave an exasperated growl and nudged him more roughly. ?Nope I?m not budging. Unlike you, I?ve just narrowly escaped an attempt on my life and, might I add, that I?m still hungry since our wonderful feast got cut short. As a result, my strength has diminished considerably within the last few yeowch!?

Toto grabbed his straw braid and yanked it, shutting him up successfully. Scarecrow narrowed his eyes, ?Oh that?s low, going for the braid.? He tried to swivel round and catch the captor of his long pigtail but Toto simply dodged his lousy attempts and yanked the braid harder. ?Hey!? Scarecrow protested, ?You?ll pull it off that way! Relena!? He wailed. ?I don?t like our mascot anymore, he?s being mean! Can we get another one??

Silence greeted his question.

<center>~~~+~~~</center>

Relena tilted her head. <i>There it was</i>. A silvery glint from between the trees up ahead. The moment her eyes had captured it, curiosity abandoned all caution as she left the yellow brick road and the squabbling pair behind. Her slippers crunched softly against the grass as she ventured forward, drawn like a moth to a flame. The trees parted at last and gave her access to a small clearing. Although the sky was still darkening, the moon was already visible through a gap in the canopy and light filtered down like a beam, illuminating the forest floor below. The sculpture of a man stood in the centre of the clearing. He was made of tin metal from head to toe and the moonlight reflected off him, creating the silver glint that had caught her attention. She approached slowly until she was standing before him, blue eyes wide with wonder.

He was tall and imposing, one leg slightly ahead of the other, as if he were poised to take a step forward. She stared up into his dull glass eyes; a deeper blue than her own and felt a tingling rise up from the bottom of her stomach up into her chest. Her breath caught and she couldn?t take her eyes off him. Compelled to discover whether he was real or not, she found herself reaching forward until her slim fingers touched the cold metal of his clenched fist. She drew her hand up his arm, marvelling at how smooth the metal felt under her fingertips. He was so detailed, she noted, as she reached up to unconsciously trace the thin line of his mouth above the hard, angled jaw that was bolted onto his face; the ridge of his sharp nose and the bars that made his thickly knitted eyebrows. Her fingers stilled as she met again those glass eyes and all of a sudden, she was breathing too loudly and this close, his frozen stare seemed to be directed right at her. She pulled away with a shiver and lowered her eyes. <i>What am I doing?</i>

The hairs on the back of her neck rose and the feeling of being watched stole over her. She glanced around the clearing warily but saw no one. Eyes burned intensely into her back and she spun round with a gasp but nobody was there except for the tin statue, which stood as motionless as before. She peered up at him. His eyes were still staring blankly but she couldn?t shake the feeling that he was looking at her. Could it be??

?There you are!?

Relena drew back sharply as Scarecrow stepped into the clearing with Toto. ?Ya shouldn?t disappear like that; poochy nearly had a heart attack.? Toto leapt into her arms and licked her face in relief. Scarecrow leaned his head to the side and raised his eyebrows at the metal figure, ?Hey, what?s this??

?I found him here like that,? Relena answered. Scarecrow looked him over and tapped him experimentally; the metal clanged dully in response. ?Not bad workmanship.?

?I can?t help feeling like he?s?staring at us,? Relena said uncertainly.

?Yeah, statues always make you feel like that.? Scarecrow stepped up and squinted at the statue?s face. Unlike Relena, he was the same height and had no problem looking closely. ?His eyes are made of glass, cool huh? A bit rusty around the edges though.? He stepped back, ?Hey, he looks rather angry don?t you think??

?And so very real,? Relena nodded.

?You?re telling me,? Scarecrow shuddered, ?I bet he?d have a hell of a temper if he were alive.?

?I wonder why someone would put him in the middle of a forest where no one will see.? Relena mused thoughtfully. Toto sat back on his haunches and stared at the statue with his green eye flickering in interest.

?Maybe he?s meant to scare people off,? Scarecrow suggested. ?Or disintegrate them with that angry gaze!? Relena stifled her laughter and gazed up at the statue?s stony expression. She became solemn and raised one hand to caress the curve of his cheek. ?Poor tin man, having to stand here and listen to us saying such things about him.?

Scarecrow raised an eyebrow, ?Tinman is it now?? He nudged her suggestively, ?I didn?t know you were already on a first name basis.?

?Cut it out you,? Relena slapped him playfully on the arm and he chuckled. Just then, an eerie howl echoed through the trees. Toto flattened his ears and a low growl rumbled out of his throat.

?Time to go,? Scarecrow muttered. Relena hesitated and looked up at the tinman as the others turned to leave, ?But what about??

?Come on Relena!? Scarecrow called over his shoulder. Relena was about to follow but that odd sensation washed over her again and she couldn?t bring herself to leave. Another howl sounded from a different direction but her feet wouldn?t move and there was a tension in the air, as if?something?wanted her to stay.

?Relena what are you doing?? Scarecrow grabbed her shoulders and hauled her away. ?We need to get back to the road.? She blinked in a daze and stumbled with him. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as the tinman and the clearing disappeared from view through the trees and felt her heart sink for some unknown reason.

Toto led them, winding his way until the familiar yellow glow of the road greeted them. Scarecrow frowned at the surrounding darkness of the woods. ?This is unknown territory for me now we?re out of the fields,? He said regretfully, ?So who knows what <i>that</i> was.? Toto whined and patted Relena?s foot with his paw as she stared in a daze, still lost in the clearing they had left behind. The waving of Scarecrow?s hand in front of her face woke her out of it.

?Relena? Are you all right??

?Yes,? She answered immediately, ?Let?s go.?

Feeling too exposed in the centre of the wide road, they stayed along its edge and were masked by the bushes. The howling came now and again from behind them and sent chills down Relena?s spine. <i>Wolves?</i> she guessed in despair. Her heart thudded in her chest and she hoped whatever animal it was, it was not in their pursuit.

Scarecrow stopped and she almost collided with him. ?Look, there.? He pointed where the road curved sharply to the right. On the bend, partially hidden by thick scrub, was a wooden cottage. They approached it carefully. It looked as forgotten as the tinman; from where they were standing they could see its broken window and the cracks in the timber where the thick brambles had penetrated. A loud baying from their right rudely reminded them of their current situation. They started and clutched each other in terror for it had sounded too close for comfort. Relena was the first to act and she instinctively pulled them into a clump of bushes filled with heavily scented purple flowers. Not long after, a large, dark grey wolf padded into sight and paused in front of the cottage, sniffing the ground . Another wolf with lighter fur loped out of the bushes and joined it.

?Mueller you idiot; there?s no human here. Your nose must be on the fritz.? The lighter wolf growled in annoyance.

?But I swear I smelled one Alex!? The darker wolf, Mueller, protested. Hidden from view by the dark green leaves of the bushes, Relena silently thanked the flowers for masking her smell.

?It was probably a stray scent from somewhere far,? Mueller said dejectedly. The other wolf, Alex, turned away and arched his back. The fur on his body bristled and began to shrink; his legs began to stretch out; his tail retracted inside his body and his snout flattened into his face. Relena clutched Scarecrow?s arm in fright at the transformation of the wolf into a tall, blond man with a square face and a cruel glint to his eyes. Mueller sighed and began a similar transformation although he changed into a man with dark skin and a sadistic grin that still looked incredibly predatory.

?I?ll tell you what it is; I?m bored, edgy and I want some fun,? Mueller complained. Alex sat down with his back resting against a tree. ?We?ve already paid a visit to Zero One today,? He reasoned.

?I?m bored with Zero One. There?s only so much fun you can have with a man made of tin. We taunt and he listens but can?t do anything about it. I still think we had it best when we first stole his oilcan from him while he was out.?

Relena stiffened; <i>they?re talking about the tinman</i>. She leaned forward almost inadvertently.

?Oh the look on his face!? Mueller slumped onto the grass clutching his sides in mirth. ?When he came after us and it started raining!? He guffawed. ?He finally caught up with us and before he could do anything he rusted solid. And that look is still on his face!? Alex chuckled and shook his head as he watched Mueller succumb to fits of wild laughter.

Relena parted her lips in shock as she realised what the shape shifters were saying. Had she come upon another oppressed individual just like Scarecrow? She exchanged a look with Toto and saw from his silent gaze that he had reached the same conclusion.

?Oh I?d oil all his joints just so we could do that again.? Mueller wiped away a tear and gasped for breath.

?Not going to happen,? Alex said sharply, ?He?s dangerous and unpredictable. The oilcan stays right here.?

<i>Right here?</i> Relena looked around desperately while trying to make as little movement as possible. Following Mueller?s gaze as he glanced at the cottage led her to spot the oilcan sitting on the sill of the cracked window.

?Besides,? Alex continued, ?We can have some new fun when the girl Lady Une is looking for shows up.?

Mueller made a face, ?If G doesn?t get to her before she reaches the forest.?

Alex snorted, ?Who G? Don?t make me laugh. He couldn?t catch his own mother if she flew past him! She?ll show up for sure and then we can have our fun.?

Relena stared at the oilcan, oblivious to the fact that she was the current topic of the conversation. Scarecrow and Toto were completely absorbed by it and didn?t notice Relena?s agitation. <i>How many more must suffer at the hands of the witch?</i> She thought dismally. <i>This lack of freedom, this domination?it just isn?t right</i>, her brows furrowed and her blue eyes glittered angrily.

Mueller grinned wickedly, ?What?s your plan??

?We let her go.?

?What, that?s it?? Mueller said incredulously.

Alex opened his eyes with a devilish grin. ?We let her go, she?ll run and we?ll give chase.?

?Ooo?that?s better,? Mueller laughed maniacally, ?She sounds like such a young, innocent thing this little girl?so tantalising?tempting?I could just sink my teeth??

?Easy Mueller,? Alex warned, ?Remember our orders? You can?t eat her or Lady Une will have our heads.?

?What?s the point of chasing her down then?? Mueller whined.

Alex laughed, his cruel eyes flashing with anticipation. ?It?s the thrill of the chase itself my friend. I want to smell her fear in the air; see the terror in her eyes; taste the sweat on her skin??

?Holy mother of all?? Scarecrow muttered under his breath, as he shut his ears to the sadistic desires they were hearing. ?Sheesh,? He whispered, shaking his head, ?It?s enough to give me nightmares. You really shouldn?t listen to this Relena,? He turned and found himself staring at empty space. ?Relena??

?And you say I?m the one with dark fantasies!? Mueller chortled. ?This is worse than the time I told you I had a craving for Munchkins.?

Scarecrow searched frantically with his eyes until he spotted the pale blue of her dress as she emerged from the bushes and crept towards the cottage. Toto constrained his whine to a small whimper and Scarecrow simply opened his mouth then closed it again. If the two men were to turn slightly then they would surely spot her behind them. <i>Relena, what are you doing!?</i> He glanced down at Toto helplessly then they started to move after her as quietly as possible. His straw rustled faintly against the leaves and he stilled momentarily, afraid that if he made a sound, he may alert the shape shifters of Relena?s position. Toto carried on moving forwards, gingerly picking his way among the undergrowth easily with his smaller body.

?At least my fantasies are possible,? Alex scoffed, ?You?d never get near enough to a Munchkin to eat it; Mr Goody-Two-Shoes Wizard would stop you. Besides, I bet you they?re too squishy to enjoy properly.?

Relena got to her knees and gathered her dress up so it wouldn?t rustle. She reached up the window sill of the cottage and her fingers curled around the thin handle of the oilcan. <i>Got it!</i> She took a breath and gently started to lower it down. She caught Toto?s eye as he moved towards her but everyone froze as Mueller?s raucous laughter filled the air.

?Squishy! That?s the funniest thing I ever heard,? He burst out.

Relena cushioned the oilcan to her chest and gave Toto a fiery look echoed by the hard determination in her eyes. <i>I?m going to free him</i>, she mouthed silently and Toto perked his ears up in reply. She turned and slipped through a gap in the bushes, disappearing into the greenery. Toto growled under his breath in frustration and set after her. He entered the bushes she had vanished through and, in his hurry, placed his paw upon a dried piece of twig. It snapped with a loud crack that was unmissable. The shape shifters rose to their feet, alert.

?What was that??

Scarecrow, who was still making his way slowly behind Toto, acted on impulse and threw himself out of the bushes with a cry. ?RUN!? He yelled, hoping Relena would hear him. To his relief, the shape shifters turned their backs to where Toto was hiding and focused their attention on him immediately. Their eyes narrowed.

?Heh heh, hi guys,? Scarecrow waved feebly. Mueller advanced on him, ?Who the hell are you??

?Oh I?m just your regular guy hanging around?? He was cut off by Alex. ?What did you say before?? The blond man demanded. ?It sounded like?run??

?Nah I was saying um err?fun!? Scarecrow blubbered, ?You two looked like you were having fun so I thought let?s join you?I gotta couple of jokes that?ll??

He faltered when Mueller grabbed his shirt and hauled him roughly off the ground, ?Shut up!? Toto jumped out of the bushes and positioned himself between Mueller and Scarecrow. The two men blinked in surprise at the sight of such a little dog snarling ferociously.

?Who else is out there?? Alex hissed.

?No one. It?s just me and my dog,? Scarecrow grinned with confidence. Alex shook his head disbelievingly and stalked around them, glancing at the surrounding bushes. His gaze landed on the cottage and took in the sight of the cracked window sill, the <i>empty</i> cracked window sill.

?The oilcan!? He roared and hairs split out across his body as he began his transformation. Toto bared his teeth and leapt forward at him but contacted with Mueller?s elbow as the dark man surged forward. Scarecrow caught the brown dog in his arms as Mueller began to transform, ?It?s the human!? He crowed in glee, sniffing the air with his lengthening snout. The two men plunged into the bushes after Relena with a howl, bending their backs and bringing their arms down to the ground as they transformed into forelegs.

?Oh good-looking,? Scarecrow said worriedly, ?Run as fast as you can.?

<center>~~~+~~~</center>

Stray branches scraped against her as she ran, heart pounding in her chest. The howl far behind urged her legs to freeze but she forced them on relentlessly. With her mind singly directed towards one goal, she avoided the windy path of the road and cut straight through the trees almost blindly. She almost missed the clearing but that silver glint between the trees had her swerving and she stumbled straight into it. The tinman stood there as before, waiting for her. Gasping for breath, she pointed the spout of the oilcan at one metal knee and administered it. Her hands were shaking too much and she missed, drops of oil spilling onto the grass and staining it black.

Another howl ripped through the air and she bit her lip, closing her eyes. <i>Steady Relena, you can do this</i>. She took a deep breath and quickly yet carefully applied oil to every joint she could find, standing back when she was finished.

The tinman didn?t move.

?I know you can hear me ?please,? She took hold of his arms and tried to shake him. He remained solid, unmoving. ?You have to move! There are wolf-men behind us. Move!? She begged, pounding her fist against his chest with a reverberating thump. Paws thundered on the ground not far behind her and she turned back to see the darker wolf between the trees, racing towards her with eyes gleaming madly.

?I?m coming for you sweetheart!? Mueller?s guttural voice screamed at her. The sight filled her with a fear she could not contain. ?Please move!? She cried, pressing herself against the tinman in fright as the dark wolf bounded into the clearing. ?You?re mine,? He licked his lips and revealed his sharp teeth in a snarl. Relena slid to the floor against the tinman?s legs and crossed her arms over her face with a scream as he leapt at her. The snarl was suddenly cut off with a sharp yelp of pain. Relena warily lifted her arms to take a look.

Mueller was dangling in the air; his tail and back legs thrashing feebly in front of her. His throat was held in a vice-like grip by a large tin hand attached to an extended tin arm.

And those glass eyes, now alive with an inner deep blue light, flashed dangerously.

<center><b>TBC</b></center>

<hr size="1">
Character equivalents:

<i>Dr G:</i> G, King of the Crows
<i>Alex & Mueller:</i> Shape shifters
<i>Heero:</i> Tinman

Yay! Heero?s back in the story, god I missed writing that guy *wipes tear* He's makes such a hawt tinman if I do say so myself

[Fate Lowe]

I lov this story. At one time I was goin' to write a story like this but now I'm glad that I didn't. You have done a much better job than I could ever have done. Especially with that hidden character. Nice touch Midge. Keep up the good work. Can't wait for the next chapter.