"Alright, that's it, we're going!" Alice said.
She had just barely caught Hatter before he'd hit the ground, having fainted for the second time that week.
He'd been slowly declining for the past month, and she couldn't take it anymore. It seemed like there were constant issues. The most recent one was that he was exhausted always. No amount of sleep or rest seemed to cure it long term. And of course, there was the problem with smells. Certain smells would set him off without warning, and he'd find himself running for a water closet or a bush or whatever was available to be sick in.
Others had noticed it. Mallymkun, in particular, was very concerned, while Chess was somewhat worried, somewhat amused by his friend's predicament. He'd made a comment that Hatter was acting very similar to a woman with child, and that had set the March Hare off on a tangent about babies and children and whether or not the child would be mad like Hatter was. This, in turn, caused Hatter's mood to sour, and he'd promptly slapped the March Hare in the face.
He'd never raised a hand to his friends before, and it left everyone stunned.
And that came to the worst of the symptoms: the mood swings.
Hatter was by nature moody, but it was terrible as of late. He'd go from happy to sad to angry several times each day, and it was entirely unpredictable. In fact, after smacking his friend, he'd begun to cry and had apologized several times, which only frightening the hare more.
Hatter's eyes fluttered open as Alice held him in her arms.
"I'm sorry?" He asked, unsure of what she'd said. "I was unconscious for most of that."
"I said that we're going to see Mirana today. This is the second time you've fainted, not to mention the other problems. Something is off and she'll help us figure out what it is."
Hatter groaned.
"I'm much too tired for such a trip, Alice," he began.
"Then I'll ask her to join us here."
"Alice…" His eyes began to tear up again. "Please don't do this."
"I'm not sure why you're so afraid of her, but you'll have to deal with it. I won't lose you."
"...Alright," Hatter agreed.
Alice smiled.
"Good. Now, stand up. You're quite heavy, you know."