2/2

2/2 The flying monkeys matter because that attack succeeds. They interrupt the quest and help turn the Witch's threat into control over Dorothy's immediate circumstances. These creatures have a direct effect on where the story goes next. Their role here is collective rather than centered on a named monkey's personal journey. They give the Witch an aerial fighting force that can reach the travelers and take prisoners. That makes them part of an organized pursuit, with consequences beyond a fight the group can simply finish and leave behind.