Chapter four

"Are we there yet," Cheshire whined for the tenth time in the last five minutes. "No," Mad replied calmly though Alice could see he was squinting his eyes in annoyance Cheshire seemed to still have that effect on people. Alice once again heard Cheshire sigh, and , pout ,and huff as he trudged along behind them as if it truly was a burden to walk for a few more minutes to Caterpillar's house.

Through the silence Alice found herself drifting in and out of reality and reliving old memories. She remembered how Cheshire had looked back when she was small, and blushed, she thought of how she'd been in love with him from first sight. She'd fallen into Wonderland by mistake after tumbling into her mother's looking glass. The fall had been shorter back then and instead of stone she'd fallen in blue and purple grass and had been surrounded by black and white roses.

But the beauty around her was meaningless all she had focused on was the slender creature lying in the tall, wild grass propping himself up on his elbows to look at the swirling sky, that was like a painting unable to stop moving. It was a pallet of colors, shades so much brighter and appealing to the sight that the ones of her world were pathetic and dim in comparison. Alice then remembered crawling over on her hands and knees as quietly as a six year old could manage so she could view the stranger in his ethereal beauty.

Cheshire's eyes had stayed glued to the ever changing scheme of colors that was the sky even when Alice was close enough to see the tiny brown freckles and rain droplets that riddled his skin, he even smelled like a summer storm. His eyelids fluttered close and she could see thick rouge red eye shadow and each distinct lash. Even though she was close enough to see all this she crept even closer till she had near crawled on top of him! Right when her face was an inch from his, his eyes popped open again and flashed green at her. Caught off guard Alice yelped and fell back skinning her elbow.

"Are you alright," he said rolling onto his stomach and grinning deviously at her. Even though her arm hurt she nodded her head. He sighed in relief and the tone of his voice lowered. "My name is The Cheshire Cat what's yours oh so curious munchkin," he asked playfully. "It's, Alice," she had replied jaded at being called a munchkin. "Oh, may I still call you munchkin," he had asked tilting his head to the left. Even flat on her butt Alice still managed to stomp her foot. "I'm not a munchkin," she cried and felt her eyes get filmy and herself hiccup. Cheshire's smile died. "It's ok don't cry," his words were soft and wispy like a cool breeze on her face. Her heart froze when he brushed away the one tiny droplet that had leaked from her eye.

"Everyone at home calls me a munchkin, even my friends," she whispered softly, wondering why he had the power to make her feel so at ease. "It's not fun is it," he asked quietly gazing at her. She shook her back and forth as if to erase bad memories of being teased and taunted. "Don't worry, people won't tease you here, not in this place. "What is this place?" he smirked softly. "This is wonderland," he said and sat up and shook stray, forgotten rain droplets from his hair, the rain Alice noticed had been hot and had melted pieces of the sky with it making the droplets a kaleidoscope of swirling colors blending together, and Cheshire had smiled.

"ARE WE THERE YET?" Cheshire cried in an obnoxiously shrill voice. "YES," Mad screamed fully dragging Alice away from her memory of earlier days before Cheshire had become pessimistic and sarcastic, back when he still smiled with warmth. Alice looked up to see a mushroom the size of a two story house , and heard what sounded like a drunken person singing the alphabet inside.

The trio looked at each other and decided that the, who is going in first dilemma would be solved by a game of rock paper scissors. Mad the unlucky one stomped up to the door with Cheshire and Alice in tow and shoved it open. But remembering how dangerously unpredictable Caterpillar was threw Cheshire in first. With a squeal of surprise at being so suddenly air born Cheshire crashed with a heavy thud into a recliner and ended up being flung back into the couch across from it and getting the wind knocked out of himself.

"Well Cheshire is it safe," Mad said peeking around the rounded door frame. Cheshire only managed to suck in some air and end up practically choking to death on dust and pot fumes. "It seems to be come along Alice up stairs," just as they began walking up Chess still gasping Mad turned around to smile at Cheshire. "Oh and Cheshire I'm touched you decided to spare your own safety to go in fist and look out for me and Alice," Mad wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye while Cheshire could only manage at the moment to flip him off.

Treading gracefully around piles upon piles of Caterpillar's crap Mad and Alice starting walking towards where the sounds and smells were loudest, the bedroom. Mad pushed on the door gently at first but soon found something was blocking it, Alice felt Cheshire's presence instantly beside her though she hadn't him come up the stairs. "Need some help," Cheshire asked sing song and sarcastically. Mad evil eyed him, "I bet you that you can't get the door open without breaking a sweat so stop being such an ass pain," Mad said leaning against a wall. "Bet I can," Cheshire replied grinning. Mad waved his hands in the direction of the door.

Cheshire knocked softly. "Caterpillar," he called. "Yes," Caterpillar replied from inside the room. "It's the hookah man," Cheshire said. From inside the room Alice and the rest could hear someone running to the door and who should yank it open with a grin on his face by Caterpillar himself. The moment he saw Cheshire though the grin faded he looked everywhere left to right, up and down, and even behind a smiling Cheshire before relising there was no hookah man. He stared at Cheshire with a sucked up look on his face. "That's just wrong you know that," he said.

"Yeah I know," Cheshire said and smirked. "But I did get you something," Cheshire waved a baggie up colorful weeds at least that's what they looked like to Alice in Caterpillar's face. Caterpillar squeaked with joy and threw his arms around Cheshire only long enough to snatch the bag from Cheshire. "Won't you come in," he said to them all after examining the weeds more closely.

Alice instantly noticed that Caterpillar obviously had pack rat tendencies because things of all kinds lay everywhere. Plastic spoons, hats, random tie dyed shirts and battered jeans lays strewn every which way. Though his room was a mess Caterpillar, he was a sight to behold. His skin was blue tinged and tattooed was only a few shades lighter than an albino, had a dusty quality to it, and his hair was blond and dreadlocked.

"Um go on sit down anywhere", he said and plopped down on his bed and started fiddling with a rather large hookah. Alice took at seat on an old mahogany chest while the guys sank down into a couple of bean bags on the floor. After a few minutes of silence Caterpillar seemed to be becoming nervous. "Is there anything you particularly want he said looking out the window at the already fading orange sun? Cheshire sat up. "We need your help," Cheshire said looking at Caterpillar. "With what," he said in a suspicious voice. "We need your help in destroying the Queen," Cheshire said staring at Caterpillar.

Caterpillar laughed nervously. "Ha ha hilarious now quit trying to mess with my head. "This is no joke we need you Caterpillar you know where everything is in Wonderland from the forgotten ruins of what it used be before it got bigger and the creatures moved on and forgot about it, to the safe havens and spots where the Queen's spies can't even think to tread," Cheshire didn't blink once as he said these words, and the tone of his voice scared Alice it was even to mono tone and tired for the Cheshire she knew now. Caterpillar himself, Cheshire's partner in crime was silent, silent for so long Cheshire looked as if he was about to give up.

"When do we leave," Caterpillar whispered so quietly Alice and the rest barley heard. Cheshire grinned wickedly.