Rumors of Trouble

Author: Own Fox, Crone & The Oyster.

Fox looked around the room at the members of the court. It was mostly Suits: Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds, Spades and the White Rabbit. One Suit, a Spade, was at her side. Her heart was pounding quickly and her mind was racing. After the past couple of years frequenting the casinos that had been opened for the people of Wonderland, the tea shops and speaking with various members of the queen's court: she was about to be introduced to the King of Hearts. If all went well she might stand a chance crossing the invisible line into the inner circle of the court. "Please let all go well so I can report to Dodo and then go home to check on Crone." she thought. Only this morning Fox had walked in on the old women during a coughing fit. Only after yelling for Hatter was she able to get Crone to admit that she had been having coughing fits for about a week. Both of them were worried that her health might be failing.

The doors opened and the King of Hearts walked into the room, escorted by several more Suits. "My lord." she said, curtsying. She was glad that she had chosen a modest dress that started red before eventually fading to black the closer it got to the floor.

"And this is?" he asked.

"Cardinal. She's been frequenting the casinos, tea shops and social circles for several years." the Spade explained.

"Why have you come to the Heart's Casino?" the King asked.

"My uncle worked in the labs until the Queen had him executed after he had displeased her five years ago. I am his only surviving relation and I wished to attempt my luck in the Queen's Casino." she lied. He watched her as she lowered her eyes respectfully and added, "My lord."

"I will speak with the Queen and have word sent to you at a later date." he said finally.

The red head curtsied and whispered, "Thank you, my lord. I await the Queen's word." No sooner did she take five steps than a Club appeared at the king's side. '

"Forgive me, my lord, but I have news." he said.

"Yes?" he asked.

"There is a rumor, just a rumor for the moment, that an Oyster may have slipped through the Looking Glass and is now loose in the city." the Suit said.

Fox stepped out of one of the casino's back door and quickly slipped into an alley. Glancing around, she pulled out her bag from where she had hidden it and changed into street clothes. Her dress was deposited on top of the food she had gathered earlier in the day and she tossed the bag over her shoulder. Her pace was quick as her mind raced. "An Oyster loose in the city after somehow slipping through the Looking Glass. If we can find the Oyster before the Suits, then that's one more person for our cause." she thought. Sending a quick look around her, she knocked on a light blue door. The slide window opened and she said, "I'm here to return a library book. It's a work of Edwin and Morcar."

A raspy voice on the other side replied, "How does the little crocodile improve his shining tail?"

"He pours water of the Nile over every golden scale." she said quickly. The door swung open and Duck pulled her into the bus like elevator.

"Hello." she muttered, as the elevator gave a jerk and began it's descent. A moment later the door opened and Owl appeared, shotgun in hand. "You two know I'm only here to report to Dodo." she said, as she felt Duck press another shotgun to her shoulder.

"Let me get this straight, you were introduced to the King of Hearts."

"Yes, Dodo." Fox muttered and added under her breath, "You idiot."

Dodo glared at her and snarled, "And what, exactly, did you tell him?"

"That my uncle worked in the labs until five years ago when the Queen had him behead after he had displeased her. I am supposively the man's only living relative and wanted to see how I would fair in the casino." she explained.

"What name?" he growled.

"Cardinal. I'm not stupid enough to use my real name." she told him.

He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Now what did you come to report?"

"As I was leaving a Suit told the King that an Oyster may have slipped through the Looking Glass and is now loose in the city." she smirked.

"You came here to report a rumor!" he snapped.

"I doubt it's a rumor and if we can find the Oyster that's one more to our cause." she reminded him. His palm collided with her cheek and she hissed in pain.

"You want us to investigate a rumor!" he bellowed.

She pulled a dagger from her boot and snarled, "I can promise you it is not a rumor and if you ever slap me again I will cut off your balls and let Hatter break your jaw."

Owl touched Fox's quickly reddening cheek and whispered, "You should let the medics look at that before it swells too much."

"I'll be fine. I've had worse, Owl." she told her.

The woman shuddered and said, "But we don't want Hatter coming after Dodo."

"He won't." she assured her. She reached into her bag and pulled out some food. "Take this downstairs, pass it out among the refugees and medics." she told them, pulling two small bags. She handing one to each of them and whispered, "Keep it for yourselves." They nodded and stuffed the bags in their coats.

"The medics will want to see you, Fox, see if that scar's faded." Owl told her.

"It hasn't and I've had no trouble. Besides they're busy with Dodo." she said with a smirk. Hidden in her boot was her dagger and a bloody piece of clothe. To remind Dodo of what he had done, she had cut him twice across his right cheek. Duck saw her out and she headed home.

Many hours later a complicated code of knocks echoed through the house. Fox cracked the door open to let Hatter in.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be gone for a while this time." he whispered.

"Long story." she told him. His eyes narrowed as he gently touched her swollen and red cheek before he began to look for any bruises or cuts. "It's alright. There's nothing else." she said.

"Who?" he asked.

"Dodo." she admited. His eyes narrowed further and he headed for the door. Her arms slid around his waist and she said, "No. I've already marked him and told him that next time: I'm going to cut off his balls and going to let you break his jaw." He smirked knowing that he would enjoy breaking Dodo's jaw in at least one place later.

"Why were you in the Great Library?" he whispered.

"Reporting. Come sit down and I'll explain over dinner."

Hatter stared at Fox after she finished explaining.

"You don't think it's a rumor?" he asked.

"No, it's not likely someone slipped through the Looking Glass without a Suit knowing, but odder things have happened. And I've got this feeling that there is an Oyster out there loose somewhere in the city." she told him.

He sighed and said, "Holy shit, this is crazy."

"I know that, love, but regardless it's worth looking into and it'll help raise all of the refugee's spirits." she reminded him. Hatter nodded slowly.