A/N: This is not a sequel or prequel to my other story. It is completely fresh and unrelated. And I own nothing from Alice in Wonderland.
Intro
In a lonely cottage, in the land of Snud, between Marmoreal and Witzend, lived a father and his daughter.
The father was a hatter, who had taken up raising his child all on his own once his wife died on the Horenvendoush day, eight years before. His name was Tarrant.
The daughter, who was a seven year old, spunky and bright little girl, never even got a chance to know her mother. Her name was Cailin.
All though Tarrant and Cailin were very close to each other, as far as a good relationship, there were still some things that Tarrant did wrong. He was overly protective, sometimes moody, unjust, and un-understanding. But is was hard, being a parent all on his own, without any experience, and being so young at that. He did not have his loving wife to take the ride of learning to be a parent with. And just the sadness of losing his wife only two weeks after their child was born, was a scar never to heal completely. That was a large portion of the problem.
...
Cailin stepped out of the cottage one fresh, early spring morning. She smelled the air. It was clean and delicious. "Oh, what a lovely morning!" she said.
She looked down at the pathway toward the mail box. She knew her father was still asleep, so she walked out on the trail.
The birds were tweeting and the gees were calling. It was that time of year, that the birds returned from their winter home. One bird came and landed on Cailin's shoulder. "Hello, bird!" she exclaimed.
"Hello, Little Girl," said the bird.
"Have you enjoyed your trip back home?"
"Yes, very. Only not during the rain. But it is always worth it, once I am back here at Snud."
Cailin giggled. "Well, do you want something to eat?"
"Oh, please? That would be wonderful!"
"Well, then," Cailin looked back at the cottage. Then she walked, with the bird, quietly to the porch. She opened the door. Still no sign of her father being awake. Cailin looked at the bird. "Shhhh..." she said.
The bird remained silent. Cailin tip toed into the kitchen. Then she climbed up to the cupboard. She opened it, and reached for a bag wheat. Then she took some into her hand and held it out to the bird. "Here you are," she whispered.
"Thank you, most kindly," the bird whispered back, and she began nipping at the wheat with her beak.
When the bird had finished, the two walked back out the the lively world. "So, what is your name?" Cailin asked.
"My name is Bonnie," the bird said. "And you?"
"Cailin is my name," she said, with a smile.
"Cailin. What a pretty name."
"Thank you! So is yours!"
"Do you want to come to the creek with me? There are some deer down there. They would love to meat you, Lovely Girl."
Cailin hesitated. She looked back at the cottage to see if her father was awake yet. There was no sign of him, but she knew that he would never permit that. "Um...I don't think my father will let me..." she said.
The bird looked at the woods that lead to the creek. "Are you sure? It is not far," she said.
"Well,..." Cailin looked toward the woods too. She really wanted to go, but she did not want to disobey, nor did she want to make her father angry. "Maybe,...some other time...But I don't think I will be allowed."
"Could you ask your pap to come with you?"
"I suppose I could, but I don't think he would really want to."
"Why not?"
"He never wants to leave the cottage. He only leaves sometimes, to get things from the market and have tea parties with his friends. But not very often."
Just then, there was a voice behind them. "Cailin!"
Cailin, startled, looked back to find her father standing on the porch.
"Cailin, what are you doing out here?" he said, with an urgency in his voice.
"I wasn't going to leave, Father! I just wanted to walk around! The morning was so beautiful! I wanted to be a part of it!" Cailin said, in a panicked voice.
Tarrant was upset. Not angry, just upset. He understood why his daughter wanted to go out, but he happened to not approve of it. On the other hand, he knew it was ridiculous to not approve of it. Which was why he was not going to be so hard on her. After all, she was only in the yard.
Tarrant rubbed his face, tiredly. "Cailin..." he said, in a tired tone. "Just...stay close by. And next time, tell me when you are going to go out side."
"But, you were asleep, Father."
"I don't care. Wake me up, but I need to know when you are out side."
"Okay..." she said quietly.
"Good girl," he said. Then he turned and went back into the cottage.
Cailin was sad. The bird was too. "Why doesn't he want you to leave? It's not like you are never coming back," the bird said.
Cailin sighed. "I don't know. He never lets me do anything," she said, in a disappointed tone.
"Sorry about that. It must get awfully boring not being allowed to do anything."
Cailin shook her head 'yes.' The expression of upset, was all over her face. "Maybe when I am eight he will let me..." she said, in a hopeful tone.
"Let's hope that."
Just then, the cottage door opened again. Tarrant came out once again. "Cailin!" he called.
She looked back. "Yes, Father?"
"Uh...why don't you come inside now...? It might rain..." he said, in an unsure tone.
Cailin looked at the sky. There was not a cloud in sight, and the sun was shining brightly. "But, it doesn't look like it will rain..." she said sadly.
"Well, I know it looks like that, Darling. But in Underland, you never know. It can be sunshine one moment and storming the next."
Cailin sighed. She began walking toward the cottage sadly. "Good bye, Bonnie," she said.
"Good bye, Cailin. I will come see you again," she assured.
"You will?" Cailin's face lit up.
"Yes, of course!"
"Oh, Good! I would love that! Maybe tomorrow?"
"Maybe. I will ask my parents. I am sure they will let me."
"Come, Cailin," Tarrant said.
Cailin continued back to the cottage. "Good bye!" she called.
"Tootleoo!" called the bird, and she flew away.
...
Cailin walked back inside the cottage. She went up to her lonely room, and looked out the window. She saw birds flying from tree to tree. Squirrels chasing one another and rabbits hopping along.
How Cailin wished that she could be a part of all the happy life out side. How she wanted to lay in the fresh green grass, and pick pretty flowers. She wanted to skip with the deer, and hop with the bunnies.
What a shame that she missed out.