Althea's screams continued as she fell deeper and deeper. She saw how the willow tree's roots grew, how they tangled, and how big the hole was. Though her screaming came to a halt as she realized how sore her throat had become. It was only then did she realize that she was falling quite slowly. Pieces of dirt from where she fell was falling faster then her and she wondered if her aunt was the cause for all the clumps coming down around her and sometimes on her. Her eyes scanned the sides around her, they were slowly twisting as the roots ran upwards into the dark void. As she turned to look below her, she saw nothing but darkness at the bottom.
A few minutes passed and she began to narrow her eyes in confusement. Grandfather clocks started to rise up as well as a few pocket watches. Their faces were all different and extravagant in their own ways. The ticks could be heard as a pocket watch went passed her ear. The second hands were all moving and they all had various times. The clock closest to her was older and more intricate then the rest and it's hands were close to the top. A couple seconds before noon. She watched as the second hand went closer and closer to its destination and soon a cheerful ring came up and it started to chime. Being so close to it, she took the song rather loudly and cupped her ears until the clock went farther away from her. She released a sigh and looked down as she realized the darkness was now bright and a look of checkerboard tiles were vaguely seen.
"How peculiar," Althea muttered to herself and blinked as she felt the gravity change and get heavier. She was now falling faster then she did when was pushed in. "Not again!"
Her voice echoed below her until she couldn't hear it no more. She managed to turn herself in midair into a sitting position and looked around a bit hastily. She was trying to find something to hang onto, though she knew the consequences it could give her, burnt palms and possibly even a dislocated shoulder but there wasn't anything she could grab she saw the floor getting closer and closer, she closed her eyes ready to make contact with it. Though after a bit she felt she landed on something soft, and not anything that could possibly break bone after falling that fast. Althea slowly opened her one eye to see that she landed on a rather large and comfy, red chair. It's arms were curled out and it was studded with gold details.
"How…..the….-" Althea muttered a bit and began to look around her.
"Hello there!" Came a voice from below, Althea bent down to look at where it came from and saw a rather small female with skin a pale white color. The only color on her body was the soft pink blush on her cheeks and the red like lipstick she wore.
"Uh...hi…" She said as the chair gently swayed until its clawed feet touched the ground, letting the two girls see eye to eye. "Not to be rude or anything, but who are you?"She asked.
The girl blinked before realizing she didn't say her name," Oh, i'm sorry. My name is Buni McTwisp, at your service,"She said as she curtsied before Althea. It was only then did she realize that the girl had floppy white bunny ears that matched her hair.
Althea's eyes widened and she started to back up and point. "Y..y..you have rabbit ears...," She mumbled.
Buni blinked before reaching and gently taking a hold of her ears, "These things?" She asked before chuckling, "I was born with these, you silly."
Althea blinked before stepping closer to her once again. "How is that possible?" She asked as she started to move around her, studying the ears and the tail she found until she saw the girls face was in view once more.
Buni shrugged before turning her back to her and headed to a series of doors in the background. Something the fallen girl didn't notice until she started to follow the stranger. "So tell me stranger, what is your name and how did you get here?" She asked before she got onto her knees and squeezed her head through a small doorway.
The girl watched as she saw the stranger fully pulled herself through the small doorway. Her face contorted in a way of confusion and a bit of amazement. Though the stranger put her face against it as she looked at her, waiting for her answer.
Althea was slowly started to get back onto her feet as she tried to follow. "I'm Althea Liddle...Oomph.." She muttered as she tried to get through. Though her shoulders were to gib and she couldn't get past it. She couldn't follow Buni so she sat down and folded her legs. Her eyes still on the small doorway.
Buni peeked her eye through and she blinked. "You can't get through?" She asked.
With a sigh and a nod, Althea placed her head in her hand and looked at the strange girl. "Yeah, I'm too big, but how did you go through?" She asked with a raised brow.
"Well I can shift my height a bit, but not by much, but I know how you can get through here, "Buni answered her.
She blinked,"You can? You do? How, then?" She asked rather quickly, curiosity sparked in her eyes as she looked around a bit before returning her gaze to the doorway.
"Ok, calm down, no need to get your knickers in a twist, on that table behind you there is a small bottle. Just drink that but-" Buni began as she pointed her finger through the doorway and towards a rather intricate looking side table. It was round and had many details and the wood was a golden honey-like brown. Though she tried to warn her but Althea was already up and heading towards it.
"Oh! You mean this drink?" She asked as she had gotten up to inspect the furniture piece behind her. Seeing if there was anything else on it, but only seeing a small bottle with mysterious light blue liquid. Around the neck of the bottle was a pretty lacy white ribbon all nicely tied and into a bow. Hanging below it was a small tag with a cursive description saying: Drink Me.
"Yeah, that one but-" Buni continued to try and explain to her but to no avail.
"Ok," Althea said as she started to drink it. Slowly at first before tilting her head to get most of the liquid in.
"You shouldn't drink it all the way," The rabbit girl finally explained only to sigh as she saw the empty bottle being placed onto the table top. "I tried to warn you…"she sighed.
Turning to the girl, Althea blinked. "Warn me? About what?" She asked in utter confusement. Her eyes then widened as she felt a weird feeling in her stomach and her bones tingled. She then saw herself beginning to shrink, and fast. The girl squeaked.
"What's happening to me!" She asked as her body had shrunk tremendously and she was about the size of a small mouse.
Buni reached her hand through the open door and picked her up gently by the clothes, like how a mother cat would pick up her small kitten. She then pulled her through the doorway and to her face where she looked her eye to eye.
"That drink makes people shrink, but you're not supposed to drink it all or it would shrink you to this size. I tried to warn you," Buni remarked as she gently scolded Althea. She slowly placed her down onto a flower that was nearby. "Your clothes are a bit too big, but at least you had enough time to cover yourself with a napkin that you had in your pocket before I pulled you away. You are lucky that I had some doll clothes in my pocket if such a case happened." Althea nodded as she watched the girl reach into a pocket to take out a pretty blue dress that was with ruffles and a bit of lace.
"Thank you," Althea said as she quickly put it on and twirled. "I can't believe it but it's a perfect fit," She chuckled.
Buni nodded,"Good."
The fallen girl then started to rub the back of her neck a bit sheepishly, "By any chance...is there a way to get me back to normal?" She asked.
The rabbit girl nodded, "Yeah, though only Absalom knows," She answered as she picked up Althea once again before placing her onto her shoulder.
"Absalom?"She asked in confusion and sat on the girl's shirt. Her hands clenched onto the fabric, trying not to fall off as Buni started to stand up. A bit of a bumpy ride it was.
"He is one of the Underland's wisest men..though he hasn't been seen in years. Only his daughter knows where he is and it's hard to find her. She always travels…" Buni began before turning to look at her new friend, only to see her passed out and barely on her shoulder.
"Althea!"
