Chapter Ten - The Jubjub Bird

Alice was the first one to spot the smoke on the horizon. She had woken in the early hours of the morning from a bad dream and perched on a fallen log to read through more of Hatter's sketchbook. It was just before sunrise when she looked out and noticed a heavy, dark cloud in the distance, and the higher the sun got the more ominous it looked. When she recognised it as smoke she reached out and woke Rory, who was the closest to her.

"Rory, do you see that?" she asked, pointing out at the horizon.

"Hmm?" he replied, sitting up and rubbing his eyes sleepily. He squinted out into the sunrise and then frowned, shielding his eyes for a better look. "It looks like smoke."

"Could it be a fire, maybe?" she asked.

"Possibly," he said. "I'm not sure."

"That's where Hatter will be," she said resolutely. The Suit glanced up at her with his brow furrowed. "He's always right in the middle of trouble, and that cloud of smoke looks an awful lot like trouble."

There was the smallest trace of a smile on Rory's face as he stood up and dusted off his trousers. "Sounds like someone else I know. Well, the sun's up, we should start moving," he said. "Hopefully, we can make some good headway before dark. There's no saying what's out in that grass."

Alice regarded the open plains suspiciously as Rory woke Charlie. In the morning sunlight, the grasses were a rich blend of sea-foam green and pale periwinkle, and they rippled like ocean waves despite the fact that there was no breeze. Her gaze moved on to the trail of charcoal-coloured smoke lingering on the skyline. There was no telling where it was coming from since she couldn't see anything but hills and grass. Was there a city out there somewhere beyond the hills? A town of refugees from the Hearts' reign, hidden away in the wildlands? Perhaps even an entire civilisation? A civilisation that wanted Hatter...

"Lady Alice," Rory said, drawing her attention. While she'd been staring, the men had saddled up the horses and cleared away the camp. Rory was sitting atop the sand-coloured stallion, offering out his hand to help her up. She clambered up behind him and settled into her seat, and then nodded to Charlie.

"Onward!" the knight declared and flicked the reins. The horses trotted into the tall grasses a bit hesitantly, but once they had gotten started they seemed to enjoy the openness. While the horses raced along far more quickly than they'd been able to move in the forest, the men debated about the cause of the smoke.

"Could be a wildfire," said Rory. "We had those storms a few days ago, could've been the lightning."

"That is not the smoke of a fire," Charlie protested, shaking his head so the chainmail around his head jingled. "There is earth in that smoke. I would know that smoke anywhere; that is the discharge of siege weapons."

"Can't be," Rory argued. "Who would have siege weapons out here, and who are they attacking?"

"Are you questioning my judgment?" Charlie puffed up, his cheeks turning red at the imagined offence.

"I'm saying this is all ridiculous," Rory said. "Wouldn't we know if there was a group of people out here with siege weapons? Wouldn't they have tried to attack the city by now if they're so organised?"

"Maybe they aren't," Alice interjected. "They could be fighting amongst themselves." Both men fell silent as they considered this information and then, by silent consent, they spurred the horses on even faster.

It was nearing midday by the time they slowed their pace again and Charlie gestured off toward the left. "This direction," he said.

"We're heading toward that," Alice reminded him, pointing to the thin traces of grey still clinging to the undersides of the clouds.

"There is a river not far this way," Charlie explained. "Come, we must hasten!"

Alice and Rory exchanged confused glances as he nudged Gawain into a trot again. "It wouldn't hurt to be near water," the Suit said diplomatically. "We need to water the horses anyway, and if there's any game to hunt here it will be close to the water sources." Alice nodded grudgingly, but as their horse followed the knight's she kept an eye on where the smoke had come from so she wouldn't lose their bearings even as the sky slowly cleared.

The river appeared as a faint rift between the rows of grass, then gradually expanded into a wide grey and blue track. It was several yards across and so deep that Alice couldn't see the bottom from her perch on the stallion's back. The current was heading toward the forest, and ahead of them, it cut through the field as far as the horizon to disappear among the shallow hills. As best she could tell, it was flowing in from the same general place as the smoke.

"If there are people out there, they'll probably have set up shop close to the water," Rory said and glanced back over his shoulder to nod at her reassuringly. "Looks like it's heading right to where the smoke was. This could lead us straight to Hatter."

The three of them rode close to the water's edge where the shore was smoother and free of grass, and the horses seemed to be encouraged by the river because it renewed their enthusiasm. The humans, on the other hand, were on edge. All of them knew that being out in the open made them easy targets for whatever might be lurking in the grass, whether it be people or monsters. It didn't help that the scenery hardly changed no matter how long they'd been riding, with only the sun's progress to mark the fact that it had been hours instead of minutes.

"How big is this place?" Alice finally asked in exasperation, looking back to the forest for a sign of how far they'd come. It was further away than she expected since it felt like they'd hardly moved.

"It goes on to the horizons and further. I believe I already told you that," Charlie responded.

Alice resisted the urge to point out that that was hardly a definable measurement, knowing it wouldn't really do much good. "We've got to be getting close to where the smoke came from, though, right?" she asked instead.

Rory made an indistinct hum and shrugged. "Best guess? We're about halfway there." Alice cursed under her breath and let her head drop against the back of Rory's shoulder. "We should stop soon to water the horses and get a bit of a rest. Just a short one," he added at Alice's indignant noise. "But if trouble comes, we won't be any good stiff and sore and starving, will we?"

"Ahead there, where we will be shielded by the hills," Charlie said decisively. "It will provide us with an adequate view of any encroachers."

Another half-hour of riding brought them to the shallow bowl between two hills, where the river pooled into a broad eddy among the grass. They dismounted gingerly and Alice took the opportunity to stretch her legs. She checked that the men were preoccupied with the horses and then jogged up the further hill for a better look.

The fields continued to spread out to the horizon, nothing more than sweeping hills of pastel grass. There was nothing to break the monotony, not even trees or boulders. It seemed like the hills might be taller further ahead, but even that she couldn't be sure of with nothing to judge them against. She huffed and watched the swaying blue-green stalks, wondering just where in that great expanse Hatter was at.

"Charlie!" she called down to the knight. "You're sure we're still going the right way?"

"Of course I am," Charlie responded assuredly, puffing himself up slightly.

Alice nodded, accepting that as good enough, and turned back to look out across the landscape. She was determined to find something, anything, to give them a better sense of bearings. The smoke had long since faded away into the clouds, which were nothing more than indistinct feathery streaks across the skyline. She couldn't help but notice that the sky was bluer here than in the city proper. Like most things in Wonderland, if this place weren't so irritating, it would be rather beautiful.

A harsh cry cut the air and made Alice duck her head on reflex, looking around for the source of the noise. Behind her, she heard the rasp of Charlie drawing his sword, and Rory called for her to come back down. The flat, coarse note sounded again and she suddenly recognised it. Tilting her head back, she quickly spotted the speck of black against the pale sky, wheeling in great circles above the river a few miles ahead.

"It's just a bird," she said, pointing upward. "A crow or something. Maybe a raven..." She trailed off as the familiar word triggered in her mind, and when the bird shrieked again she let out a breathy laugh. "Why's a raven like a writing desk," she murmured to herself. "I figured it out."

"Alice!" Rory had jogged up the hill and he promptly grabbed her by the elbow. "Get down here. We can't be seen."

"What? It's a bird," she said in confusion as he dragged her along beside him back down to where Charlie was half-crouched in the grass. The horses shuffled about behind him, snorting and straining against the reins tied to a thick snarl of reeds in the riverbed.

"That is no ordinary bird, Alice-of-Legend," the knight said solemnly, pulling his chainmail cap up over his head. "That is the Jubjub Bird."

"The what?" Alice echoed.

"Trust me, not the sort of bird you want as a pet," Rory said, checking the clip in his gun with a frown. "Mean buggers. Can eat a man whole, they can."

Alice stared skyward again in surprise. "But it's so tiny."

"It is distant," Charlie corrected her. "Far, far up in the clouds."

Rory knelt in the grass, tugging Alice down with him so that the greenery was taller than they were. "Looks like it's hunting," he remarked grimly. "Looking for something to snack on."

"No, it has already found prey," said Charlie. "See how it circles in the sky? It is watching something." The three of them watched the steadily circling bird as it continued to screech above its target, but several minutes passed and it never descended.

"Why hasn't it attacked?" Alice asked uncertainly. "What's it waiting for?"

"Probably waiting for whatever it is to move," Rory said. "They're hunters. Not like crows, they don't eat what's already dead. They like the chase."

Alice frowned and glanced downriver although the grass wouldn't let her see more than a foot in any direction. "So there's some poor thing just sitting up there?" The men exchanged dark looks and checked their weapons again. "What if they're not dead? What if it's a person? We've got to do something."

"There's nothing we can do," Rory said gently. "If the Jub isn't chasing after it that means whatever it is, it's already dead."

The Jubjub bird pinwheeled twice more, and then let out a furious scream. It dove downward – Rory and Charlie both lifted their weapons expectantly – and swooped toward the river far ahead of them. The closer it got the more Alice cowered back. The Jubjub must have been miles in the air because the thing was enormous. With a wingspan like a private aeroplane, the bird was covered in scarlet and black feathers and had a curved beak the length of Alice's arm. After it had pulled out of the dive it performed a graceful twist in the air and circled again.

"What's it doing?" Alice asked while the horses continued to struggle for freedom.

"Provoking the prey," Charlie said.

"It thinks it's just playing dead, so it's trying to scare it by diving," Rory explained. "That way if it runs then it's a good target." He stood into a crouch and hurried over to the horses, trying to calm them. They kept snorting fretfully, stamping in the water with loud splashes.

The Jubjub let out a furious high-pitched shriek that made the hairs on Alice's neck stand on end. The palomino let out a terrified whinny and reared, his flailing front legs sending Rory staggering backwards. Alice immediately looked skyward and saw that the Jubjub had cut across the clouds in a wide arc and was now heading directly toward them.

"Damn horse is going to get us killed!" Rory snarled, trying to get close enough to calm the horse but it was no good. A wild kick connected with Rory's shoulder and sent him sprawling. At the same moment, Gawain bucked and added to the chaos.

"Cut him loose!" Alice said. When both of the men looked at her in confusion she stood up and jerked Charlie's sword from his grip. Running over, she swung the blade and split the palomino's reins. The lighter horse baulked and then took off running, heading for the forest. Alice stared upward, praying that it worked.

The Jubjub soared passed them and continued upriver, making a throaty gurgling noise that sounded oddly triumphant. As the horse and bird raced into the distance, the three humans let out simultaneous breaths of relief.

"Good thinking," Rory commented, sitting up and rubbing his arm. "That was a bit too close for comfort."

"Only now we only have one horse," Alice pointed out grimly, rubbing Gawain's neck to soothe him. The stallion huffed but he had settled down to simply shuffling around instead of trying to break free. "And half of our supplies were on him."

"But we are still yet alive," Charlie cut in. He groaned painfully as he straightened up from his crouch but then reached over and patted her shoulder fondly. "Because of you." Alice gave him a small, grateful smile.

"We should get a move on before that thing comes back," Rory said, climbing awkwardly to his feet with his left arm cradled against his chest.

"Are you okay?" Alice asked.

"Just clipped me," Rory said. He rolled his arm experimentally and then stooped to pick up his gun where it had fallen. "Let's go. If we're lucky, the horse will keep the Jub distracted for a while. It can run almost as fast as that thing can fly, so that should buy us some time."

"Lady Alice-of-Legend, you should take the horse," said Charlie.

Alice snorted and shook her head. "Don't even start. I'll walk with both of you." Before they could argue, she pulled Hatter's hat further down on her brow and started up the hill. She distinctly heard Rory chuckle before the sounds of the men following behind reached her ears.

"Oi, Alice, ease up!" Rory called when she'd just about reached the top of the hill. She paused and glanced back curiously. "I'll take the lead, you hang back with Charlie. Just in case whatever that bird was hunting isn't friendly."

"I believe it is my duty to lead this quest," Charlie interjected.

"Well someone needs to protect Lady Alice," Rory pointed out as he checked his gun again. Charlie's indignant expression faltered and after a moment's consideration, he seemed pacified by his new job. "I'll scout ahead, and you two follow. Whatever happens, Charlie, keep her safe." Alice wanted very much to remind them both that she was perfectly capable of defending herself, but Rory had already turned and started down the other side of the hill.

They moved more slowly now that they were walking instead of riding, but they still managed to maintain a decent pace for a while. After a couple miles Charlie had started panting slightly and Alice was about to suggest that they take a rest when Rory suddenly lifted his hand for them to stop. "There's something up ahead," he hissed from atop the next low rise.

"The Jubjub bird's prey," Charlie guessed, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Rory held his gun at the ready and crept forward over the crest of the hill. Alice hurried up after him in a low crouch even while Charlie whispered for her to stop. At the top, she peered through the grass down to where Rory was heading. There was a sloped embankment alongside the river ahead, a semi-circle of loose silt mostly deprived of grass, and she could just make out something large and white lying there. She frowned and squinted, and then realisation made her blood run cold.

"It's a person!" she called back to Charlie and then took off running. Please don't be... Please, don't let it be... She bolted passed Rory, ignoring his startled yell, and then burst through into the cleared spot. It was most definitely a human, stretched out and still halfway in the river. Clad all in clothes that might once have been white and lying in its stomach, she couldn't make out a face but somehow she still knew.

"Hatter!" she choked out, dropping down on the marshy ground beside his prone body. Seizing him by the shoulder, she rolled him over onto his back and then flinched back with a gasp. It was her Hatter, but he looked horrible. Scratches and bruises covered his visible skin, which was sickeningly pale beneath the streaks of dirt and blood. The left shoulder of his shirt was stained a menacing scarlet, as were several other patches of clothing. His lips were faintly blue and he wasn't moving. "God, Hatter, wake up," she pleaded, reaching up and cupping his cheek.

"Alice!" Rory stepped into the clearing and then froze in shock.

"Help me!" Alice shouted and he immediately put away his gun, coming to kneel opposite her. They grabbed Hatter by the arms and tugged him up out of the freezing river. Once he was a safe distance from the water they laid him out and Alice knelt beside his head, combing his damp hair off his face. "C'mon Hatter," she begged, aware that there were tears in her eyes. She barely registered the clattering of Charlie finally catching up with them.

"Heartbeat, but he's not breathing," Rory said, ear pressed to Hatter's chest.

Alice tipped Hatter's chin up and covered his mouth with her own. Drawing up the extensive first aid courses she'd taken before starting at the dojo, she pinched his nose and forced two quick breaths into him. "C'mon Hatter," she whispered as Rory checked his breathing again. "Don't leave me, not like this." She sucked in a deep breath and then transferred that one to Hatter as well.

Halfway through the second breath, she felt Hatter seize and he coughed a spray of water into her mouth. She jerked back and Rory hastily tipped Hatter onto his side as he choked out a mouthful of murky water. It took several rasping coughs before his body slumped back onto the sand.

"Hatter," Alice said, leaning in to brush a thumb across his cheek as soon as he was properly laying down again.

Hatter's eyes - oddly enough once again lined in black - opened just enough for her to see a strip of that molten brown, and when his gaze landed on her his cracked lips curved up in a smile. "Alice," he breathed, voice hoarse and weak. "Knew you'd fin' me." Then with a sigh, he relaxed his head back and closed his eyes.