Cloud emptied the tiny bottle in one gulp, the liquid tasted ghastly, like butterscotch and dog food at the same time (not that Cloud had ever eaten dog food) for a few long moments he thought he would toss it all up, but it staid down. He closed his eyes as they were swimming most horribly, he felt a rush of cool air and sighed at how good it felt. When he finally opened his eyes he saw that the hall was a whole lot bigger than before, he squinted at the harsh light. The doors were a whole lot bigger than before, towering many feet higher than him. The only door that was his size was door that had previously been to small "That's odd" commented Cloud to himself. He walked over and tried the knob, it was locked "Not like I would go in there any way" he grumbled. He turned to look at another door again when a large bucket of water spilled on his head, he sputtered as the water drenched his clothes and made little rivers on the floor "Who did that!" he yelled, but no body was there and the only thing he heard was the tittering from the windows above him. Thoroughly angry and miserable he tried to wring out his clothes to get the extra water out. He noticed a hall going somewhere to the left, thinking he had nothing to lose, Cloud/Alice wandered down the long dark hallway.
About five minuets later he found himself in a forest much like the one past the tiny door; there were butterflies, and flowers, and joy, and joyness. Cloud/Alice went over to a tree to lean on as a wave of nausea hit him and almost tripped over a bundle of something that looked alive, it twitched and unrolled and he saw it was a mouse…..person. It yawned "Have I been sleeping long Mad Hatter" it said in a quiet voice and rolled over. She was cute, with brown hair pulled back by a pink bow and brown ears; she looked like a ten year old girl. Her dress was a little rumpled where she had been sleeping on it, and her nose was all muddy from sleeping in the dirt. When she looked up she made a double take at Cloud/Alice and started giggling, Cloud was annoyed "Can you please help me find a way out of here?" he asked huffily, the mouse was still laughing when it fell back to sleep suddenly. Cloud kicked her a few times and, when she didn't wake again, plopped down beside her and sighed "I wish my cat where here" he said. With that the mouse girl let out a shriek that almost made his eyeballs pop out and scrambled away from him, tripping over her own feet, and then huddled in a little ball muttering to herself. Cloud/Alice had not anticipated this reaction and he was greatly alarmed "Do you not like cats?" he asked, trying to make small talk. The girl mouse shuddered "To tell you why I don't like….kitties" she shivered "I would have to tell you my sad story, and I don't have time" she sniffed and turned back to him, her eyes grew wide as saucers when she saw his clothes "Are you….wet?" she gasped, "Why yes, indeed I am wet. Thank you for pointing that out to me" he said sarcastically. But the poor mouse wasn't listening; she was pacing about, mumbling about how it would not do. Cloud was about to ask her what she meant when she grabbed his arm and started dragging him through the forest "Where are we going!" he asked alarmed, "We are going to see if some of my friends can help us" she said, determination in her voice, Cloud decided not to push her for further details. They jogged through the forest and soon enough they came to a clearing, all sorts of cute furry animals were there, playing and walking around in a cute furry animal way. After a few moments a squirrel saw them and sent up a chatter "Look at what Dormouse has everyone!" it squeaked. All the forest animals crowded around, "Is it some sort of bird?" asked a fox, "It's not a bird, it doesn't have any feathers" Injected a badger. "It has the funniest gangly legs" "And it only has fur on the top of its head!" "Look at those really long fingers" "I know…..I think it's a bat!" "A naked mole rat is more like it!" "I think" said a chipmunk "That this creature is a frog". "A frog!" all the creatures yelled "It's a frog!", "Actually, I'm a human" said Cloud, "A what?" they asked, "A…hu...man" he repeated, just a little slower so they could get it. All the animals stared at him blankly "Moving on" said the Dormouse "Do you see something strange about him?" all the animals stared at him for a moment. "He's wet!" shrieked a rat, the animals gasped, "What's wrong with being wet" Cloud asked, "It's against the law" "She'll have your head clean off" "It's against the rules it is" "Just like Bernie" "Poor Bernie" "He was such a nice gecko…". "Enough!" yelled the Dormouse; everyone went quiet "We need to get him dry, so I propose a Caucus Race©" everyone cheered, "What's a Caucus Race©?" asked Cloud, the Dormouse sighed "You can't explain it you just….do it, now GO!" and with that everyone started running in all directions, pushing and shoving and making Cloud follow along. When it seemed like hours and his clothes were thoroughly dry, all the animals plopped down in a heap "Wasn't*gasp*that*wheeze* great?" a lark asked, clutching her side. Cloud thought it was the most ridicules thing he had ever done, though not as ridicules as wearing a dress. A squirrel suddenly sat up "Who won?" it asked in a quivering voice, "We all won!" replied the Dormouse to mush cheering "We need prizes" , they all looked at Cloud expectantly. "I don't have anything on me" he said, all the little forest animals hung their heads dejectedly "But maybe the Dormouse could tell us a story" they all cheered again. The Dormouse blushed "O.k., I will tell you my long and sad tail" she settled herself "It was a long time ago when my mother went out into the forest. And the barn cat was a prowling and a prowling. And my poor mother was scurry scurry scurry, and the prowling and the prowling……YOUR NOT PAYING ATTENTION!" Cloud, who had been staring off into space was jolted back by the Dormouse's shriek "No I wasn't" he said. The Dormouse started to sniff "Yes you were. You insult me! I will not be insulted any longer!" and with that she stormed off. All the animals gave him a death glare and all moved into the shadows until no one was left.