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

Ch. 22: Leaving Again

Their trip back across the desert was far less eventful and certainly less bloody than their first trip, though there was a definite weight that settled over the group as they traveled nearer to the Dark Forest.

Mad could practically taste the fight that awaited him. It was sweet with a bitter kick at the end and Mad knew the others could sense there was something wrong. But he could do nothing to ease their minds, so he just tried to ignore the heavy atmosphere as best he could.

Alice and Cheshire were constantly sending Mad these little concerned looks that grated slightly against his nerves. He couldn't tell what was worse though. The fact that those two kept looking at him, or the fact that Killian and Dinah wouldn't look at him at all.

Mad woke up early their last morning in the desert. He knew they would reach the boundary river by noon at the latest. He wasn't sure what had woken him.

The sky was a pale grey streaked through with soft orange and clear yellow and Mad could just barely see the last remnants of dull stars in the south. He stood up quietly to find the others still asleep, but he didn't wake them just yet.

Mad took a small moment to just watch them. To enjoy how peaceful they looked.

Mad felt rather peaceful himself. He was no longer plagued by nightmares. In fact, he didn't dream at all, or, if he did, they were unmemorable. He hadn't heard Gene in a long time either.

Mad inhaled deeply, the early morning air cool and sweet. He had an idea as to why he was so at peace though it didn't necessarily make an awful lot of sense. Mad smiled a little, watching the sun come up. He had given up on the fact that anything had to make sense a long time ago.

He was peaceful, because he had finally just acknowledged the fact that he wanted to fight.

Mad had spent so long being at war that he didn't know how to do anything else, and it was a relief to just admit it. It was surprising how much havoc denial could cause a person. Mad had spent a long time pretending that there wasn't a fight waving a red flag right in front of his face. Or, he had spent a long time avoiding it, and that cut at his pride.

He was going back to war, so his mind didn't have to come up with things for him to fight. Mad was finding peace in the middle of the storm.

Mad watched as the sun banished the lingering night, then woke the others. The only thing he was actually dreading was when they reached the forest. Then, he'd have to tell Alice and Cheshire.

Mad knew that would be the hardest part of all of this.

The sun was directly overhead when they reached the forest. After they crossed the river, Mad stopped.

This was it.

"Mad?" Alice asked when she noticed his hesitation.

Mad turned to Chesh then and, making his voice as commanding as he knew how to, said, "Cheshire. You are going with Alice. You are going to keep them safe."

Chesh's ears immediately flattened and he showed his teeth, but he was pinned down by Mad's order. Mad hadn't given him the chance to argue. He knew that wasn't fair, but he wasn't going to risk Cheshire following him into this battle.

"What are you talking about Mad?" Alice asked, her eyes very wide and very blue. Mad stood in front of her and kissed her forehead gently. Her skin was cold despite the day's warmth.

"I'm not going with you," Mad explained softly.

"Then... where are you going?" Alice asked, her voice suddenly scared and sounding very young.