"You... you don't suppose there are monsters in here?" Daria asked nervously.
"Monsters?" Isaac repeated. "No... but there could be wild lions."
"And tigers." Taylor added.
"And bears." Isaac continued.
"Oh my." Daria said.
"Lions and tigers and bears." Isaac and Taylor said.
"Oh my."
"Lions and tigers and bears." They all said together.
"Oh my." added Daria.
"Lions and tigers and bears."
"Oh my."
"Lions and -"
They were cut off by a tremendous roar. Of course by now they had scared themselves silly and ran for cover behind the trees.
And then out on the path jumped a ferocious lion. And the lion had spotted Toby. The lion growled and started chasing Toby.
Daria was very upset at seeing this lion chase her dog, and jumped out from behind her tree, picked up Toby and hit the lion on the nose. To everyone's surprise, the lion began to cry.
"How could you, scaring my dog like that, you big bully." She scolded it.
"I'm sorry." The lion wailed. "But you didn't need to hit me. You hurt my nose."
"Oh well..." Daria was a little taken back.
But the lion had turned to Taylor and Isaac.
"Am I bleeding?" the lion asked.
"No." Taylor answered.
"Why you're nothing but a big coward." Daria observed.
"Yes, yes I am." The lion sniffed. "I can't help it."
Daria was beginning to feel sorry for the lion.
"I'm Daria and this is Toby, Taylor and Isaac. We're off to see the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City to see if he can send me home, give Taylor a brain and give Isaac a heart."
"What does Toby want?"
"Oh, he's my dog. He'll be coming home with me."
"Oh... do you suppose this Wizard could give me courage?"
"Well, if he can give us what we want, then he should be able to give you what you want." Taylor observed.
"Oh goody, goody!" the lion said happily.
"What's your name?" Isaac asked.
"I'm Zac. Can we go now? Huh? Please, please, please, please?"
"Yep, let's go." Daria said.