Hatter's Revenge (rewriting - read at own risk)

Ch. 11: The Glass Plain

The next three days were spent traveling the desert, heading toward the south and the Sea of Tears. As they walked, Mad couldn't help but think that Wonderland's desert was what Hell would look like if all the fires were put out.

At the end of the third day, they stopped early at the edge of the Glass Plain. Mad looked at the sun and judged they'd stopped two hours earlier than usual.

Alice also noticed and said, "Why are we stopping so early?"

Mad looked down to hide his smile. He knew Alice was tired. They all were, but her determination and strength were something to be admired.

The Viso looked at her, his eyes twinkling with the same admiration Mad felt. He beckoned her forward and gestured out toward the horizon when she stepped up next to him.

"This is Wonderland's Glass Plain. Beautiful isn't it?" the Viso asked, eyes on Alice.

Alice and Mad both looked at the Plain, and he had to admit that the sun sparking off the multi-colored ground was striking.

"Yes," Alice answered. "Why is it like this?"

The Viso looked at a pocket watch. "Watch."

"Yes. We can see it's a watch," Mad said dryly. He grinned when Alice tried to stifle a laugh.

The Viso just raised an eyebrow and pointed to the Glass Plain. "Look," he said with unnecessary emphasis.

They stood in silence, eyes trained on the distance. Then, without warning, a column of blue fire, bright in the dusky light erupted, flames licking at the sky. Almost immediately another followed and another. The columns were all different colors, the flames blue and red, green and purple.

Mad watched Alice from the corner of his eye, trying to stop a smile when her face lit up at each new color.

"Why are the flames different colors?" Alice asked, eyes still glued to the light show in front of her.

"Different minerals in the ground. The heat from the flames has turned the sand into glass," the Viso answered, and Mad wasn't sure that he appreciated the way he was looking at Alice.

The Viso turned to him then. "There is only one time it is safe to cross. It's—"

"Right after the sun sets. I know," Mad said rather briskly. He ground his teeth a little as he realized that yet another thing Tamsus had taught him was managing to help him.

"Yes," the Viso said, his dark eyes catching how Mad's jaw tightened. "So until then, I thought it best to rest and gather our strength. We will need to move quickly if we want to reach the other side before the fires burn again."

Mad didn't really think he got a vote as the Eights and Asiri set out a meal. As Mad sat a little away from the camp and ate, still watching the fires, he thought again of Tamsus. Mad highly doubted that they'd managed to evade him, even if they weren't going to the Small Mountains.

The sun was sinking steadily when Alice sat down next to him. She offered him a drink of water, which he took, then they both sat quietly watching the fires.

"My favorite are the red ones," she said, just as one shot towards the sky.

Mad smiled a little but shook his head. "Not mine. I like the blue ones."

Alice looked at him then. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't like red."

"Why?" Alice asked again, looking back at the fires.

"Curious little thing aren't you? I just don't like red. I've seen too much of it." Shaking his head again, his smile faded away and he took another small sip of water.