Dorothy Gale [Emerald City] (toseethewizard) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-04-10 21:05:00 |
|
|||
Except to go to work, Dorothy rarely left the apartment without Toto by her side. She hated that she had to keep him on a leash, but that was the law in town. Toto hated it too, but she was pretty sure he understood it was necessary. He trotted by her side, the leash slack between them, unless he caught sight of a squirrel or some other little creature. “Okay, boy,” Dorothy said when they reached the park, and she was able to let him off the chain. She tossed a ball for him to chase, and stepped back to avoid the spray of dust and dirt from his feet when he took off. He brought her the ball, and dropped it in her hand when she held it out, and she wasted no time throwing it again. *** Thalia wasn't a big fan of dogs. She used to be. But after being ripped apart by hellhounds, she tended to be wary of anything from the canine family. Especially big dogs. Like the German Shepherd barrelling towards her at the moment. Somehow, Thalia managed to refrain from frying it with lightning. Or even stabbing it to death. She did, however, jump out of the way with an inelegant yelp. “Whoa, watch it dude.” *** Dorothy was right behind Toto, and one word from her had the dog doubling back to her side. His eyes were focused on the ball, which had come to a stop not far from where Thalia stood. “Sorry,” Dorothy said apologetically. She had no idea what Thalia’s experience with dogs was, but she could tell the woman was uncomfortable with Toto so close. “Stay,” she told him, the word combined with a hand signal. The dog gave a long-suffering sort of sigh, and lay down with his head on his paws. “Good boy,” Dorothy told him. She fetched the ball and rolled it to Toto. “He gets a little enthusiastic sometimes, she said, turning her attention to Thalia.. “I hope he didn’t scare you too badly?” *** “I wasn't scared,” Thalia said, even though her heart was hammering in her chest and sparks gatherers just under her fingers. Children of Zeus didn't get scared, thank you very much. They were badass. “Just wanted to make sure he didn't run me over. He's bigger than some kids I know.” *** “He is,” Dorothy nodded. “But he’s gentle. And trained well.” He was a police dog, he was trained to stop on a dime. And to attack when commanded to do so. Dorothy was careful not to give any such command. Ever. “And obsessed with his ball,” she added with a glance at the dog. “But I promise, he won’t move unless and until I tell him to.” *** “Uh huh.” Thalia looked dubious, but she decided to give the dog and his owner the benefit of the doubt. She didn't want to be that person who let one little life-ending trauma to dictate the rest of her life. “I mean, you don't have to stop his fun time on my account.” The dog did look pretty happy to be just lying there, though. Which was fine with Thalia. *** “”He’s content just to be outside, honestly.” He had his ball, he was happy. “I’m Dorothy, by the way.” Maybe this young woman could become a friend. Dorothy was desperately in need of friends. She had talked to a few people, but she had yet to make any solid connections with people. Maybe she wouldn’t feel so homesick, if she had a friend to talk to once in a while. *** And Thalia was a friendly sort, whose friends had been sent back at one time or another. She had Luke and Darcy of course, but she’d always done better with lots of people to talk to and hang out with. This girl didn’t seem so bad, big dog notwithstanding. “Thalia,” she said, offering her hand. “Are you new here? ‘Cause I don’t think I’ve met you, and I feel like I’ve met everyone at one time or another.” *** “I’ve been here a couple of weeks,” Dorothy nodded. “About three months, actually.” Had it really been that long? It both seemed like only a few weeks, and years, at the same time. But it had been mid January when she arrived, and now it was heading toward mid April. “So, a little while, I guess. But not very long at all in the grand scheme of things. I saw where people were talking about being her three years or more a while back.” *** “Yeah, I’m one of them,” Thalia said, raising her hand. Three years. She knew she'd been here that long, but sometimes it was still hard to believe. “It's been pretty peaceful, for the most part.” And now that the dog was quiet and still, Thalia was able to relax a bit more. “What do you think of it so far?” *** “It’s a lot less hectic than Oz,” she said. “That’s where I was before I came here. In Oz. This place is more like home, though.” Because Oz was not home. She was actually glad to be out of there, she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t end up dead. Especially since she’d caused East’s death, and now had the witch’s elements on her hands. Whatever that meant. She glanced down at her hands, but the elements weren’t visible. They only showed when they were activated, and that seemed to be only when Dorothy was upset or scared to death. She didn’t even know how it worked. For all she knew, the elements were only active in Oz, they hadn’t made an appearance here in Madison Valley at all. She sighed and glanced up, looking at Thalia. “I’m from Kansas. There was a tornado, and I got sucked up in it, landed in a place called Oz. Very strange place. And now I’m here, and I have to say I’d rather be here, if I can’t go home.” *** “Whoa, you’re Dorothy? That Dorothy?” Thalia had put it together as soon as she’d mentioned Oz. But that giant German Shepherd there? Was that supposed to be Toto? Because Warner Brothers and Judy Garland had lied to her if he was. “Wow. I mean, we get a lot of people here, but I haven’t seen anyone from Oz yet.” She had, however, given coffee advice to Anakin Skywalker, and that was pretty damn cool too. *** Dorothy ran a hand through her hair. Her curls were a bit wild, and running her hand through did nothing to tame them. “Yeah. I mean, I’ve read the stories. So...I guess so. But I mean, it’s not really like that.” Not even close. There were no little people, other than the children. She hadn’t seen a tin man or a cowardly lion, though she supposed Lucas could qualify as a scarecrow, considering she found him strung up like that… “So I’m not sure. I mean, it’s really weird to think about.” That was an understatement! *** “Yeah, I know what you mean. What’s in the stories don’t actually reflect what really happened,” Thalia said. She knew that well enough; she’d met enough figures of myth and legend to know different they could be from the stories. “For example…” she pointed to the resting German Shepherd. “That’s supposed to be a small dog.” *** Dorothy also glanced at Toto. “He’s a police dog. When the tornado hit, I took shelter in a police car. He’s not even my dog, but he went to Oz with me, and then he showed up here, so...he’s mine now, I guess. Or maybe I’m his.” She shrugged and Toto gave a soft whuffle, The dog rolled onto his side and stretched out, entirely comfortable. “Toto is the word for ‘dog’ in Munja’kin. I didn’t know what else to call him, so he became Toto.” It doesn’t really fit, but he responds to it, so I guess he accepts it as his name.” *** Thalia whistled. “Wow, next you’ll be telling me you didn’t really sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. My childhood, it is ruined.” She spoke with great equanimity about it, though. Her childhood had been ruined long before this. That was the life of a demigod. “Bet you’re happy to be back in some kind of recognizable earth, huh?” *** Dorothy laughed at that. “No, and you wouldn’t want me to. My singing voice is...well, it’s not melodious at all. And I never said ‘there’s no place like home’ either.’ And instead of killing the witch by dropping a house on her, Dorothy had tricked her into shooting herself with the police issue gun she’d found in the car when she landed in oz. There were no ruby slippers, either, just the elements on, or in, her hands. “But yes. I am. Oz is a strange place. Not exactly friendly to outsiders.” She was very glad to be back on earth, such as it was. It wasn’t home, but it would do. For now. *** “Yeah, there’s something to be said for running water and lattes,” Thalia agreed. “This place is small and boring, but as long as there are no monsters hiding around the corner wanting to chew my face off, I’m good with it.” She said it as casually as she said anything else, because to her, monsters were a fact of life. *** “Amen to that.” Dorothy wasn’t used to monsters in the shadows, but her trip to Oz had opened her eyes to some unpleasantries. She didn’t care to relive any of that, ever again. “I should probably get moving,” she said, after a moment. “Let me get this boy some expercise and get him home.” She smiled a warm, friendly smile. “It was nice to meet you. Maybe we could meet up for lunch, or something, sometime?” *** “Yeah, sure.” Thalia gave the other woman a friendly smile. Dorothy was cool, even though her dog was...big. “Just holler on the network. My schedule’s weird but I can make things work.” *** “Will do,” Dorothy said with a smile. She leaned down to grab Toto’s ball. She threw it for him and watched as he bounded after it. “Take care, Thalia,” she said. “I’ll be in touch.” She headed off them, not exactly running but walking pretty fast toward Toto. ***FIN*** |