Entering Wonderland

Entering Wonderland -- Part 2

       I grimaced as I landed with a thud. A stone path glittered in front of me, a gate that stretched far beyond stood at the end of it, foreboding and looming far above my small figure. Just past the gate stood a series of steps and still past them were mushrooms, fungi, blood red and violet. I looked up in awe, and, as I spun around to search behind me, I found gardens of flowers. It was when the flowers spoke that polietly enough, I said that I had to go. My heart hammered in her chest as I walked away, leaving the roses and tulips far behind. At last I  came to the crest of a hill, climbed it, and ran up the steps.

        My laces weren't tied, my hair still matted and dirty. As I ran I missed a step, my shoes clicking on every other before I tumbled. My cheek scraped the ground, and my eyes shut. It was much warmer here, but still, a fog flew over a few of the trees. As I picked herself up, a laugh, clear and sweet tinkled through the leaves. 

        Settled on the branches was a Cheshire cat, long black fur and a smile full of teeth accented her sharp green eyes. I looked up at her, eyes flashing dangerously. Her lips curved into a frown.

        "Was that you laughing at me just now?" Annoyed, I raised an eyebrow. 

        "Why? Does it bother you little girl?" The cat, equally confident pushed out a paw for her to shake. I did not take it. 

        "My name is Alice, in case it wasn't clear. I'm not sure where I am. And, to answer you're question, it does bother me. It's terribly rude!" I turned away. The cat did not look bothered in the least. She did not speak, but leapt from the tree and rushed away. Exasperated, I sighed. I had not walked two feet when she tripped, once again slamming into the dirt. The same laugh tinkled through the branches. Irked, I began to get angry. 

        "You're terribly rude! And, like I said, I don't want to be bothered with you!" 
        "Then..." the cat appeared, smiling her toothy grin. "You'd better help me out," she had a way of influencing one, and enthralled, I felt the annoyance drain out of me, replaced with the yearning for adventure.