Chapter 2

When Alice awoke, she was very aware of her head. She could feel a huge gash on the top of her head, and felt warm blood just at the point of drying onto her skull. She glanced about, only seeing black ground. She attempted pushing herself up with her skinny arms, and they folded under her, causing her to smash her cheek on the hard ground. She groaned softly, and rolled over on her back. She was looking up to a red forest, and lying in black grass.

She pushed up with her arms again, and it was successful. Alice was sitting now, glancing around the strange red and black surrounding. She saw no creature in sight. Alice didn't remember this red forest. Well maybe, I never saw every part of Wonderland, Alice thought. She stood up, now, and looked around again. It was so strange.

She began moving forward, very slowly. Her steps were so light, so soundless. But yet somehow, it disturbed something. Alice froze in her tiny tracks, breathing hard, when the red trees and bushes rustled. Alice's blue eyes scanned the area, and saw a purple blob of fur, breathing heavily too, staring out at her from beside a tree.

"Ex… excuse me…" Alice muttered. She broke her statue stance, and stepped softly towards the furry purple creature. She kept moving, so silently and gracefully. The creature came out, too, standing up. It was about Alice's height, standing upright, with light brown fuzzy legs. It had no arms, and its body was also its face; just a ball of purple fur. It had giant green eyes, looking extremely scared.

That's when Alice recognized what the thing was. It was one of those Mome Rathes, only it had grown to Alice's height. But it was acting strange. Before, in Wonderland, the Mome Rathes had helped lead her to a path. Well of course, after that she had cried because she was lost, and was barely around the Mome Rathes, but they at least tried to help her.

"Um… Mr. Mome Rath… can you help me? I want to find Wonderland."

The creature just stared at her. Alice moved forward slightly, and the Mome Rath did the same. Then Alice realized that it was copying her. It was doing everything that she was. She decided to test her theory.

Alice stuck her left leg out in front of her, and the Mome Rath did the same, but with its right leg. Their feet were touching. It was like standing in front of a mirror.

"Okay, Mr. Mome Rath. I've had enough. I need some directions, please." She set her foot down, and he copied. She backed up, and so did he.

"Excuse me, sir, but I would like some help, please," Alice said a bitterly. She crossed her arms. The Mome Rath hopped on a tree branch, and crossed it legs, giving the impression of copying Alice's arm-crossing.

Alice scoffed. "Look, sir, I would really like for you to help me."

The Mome Rath just sat on the branch staring at her.

Alice threw her arms to her side angrily, and stomped off. "I swear, some people can be so rude," she said to herself.

The Mome Rath leapt down, landed near Alice, and began stomping next to her.

She stopped, and turned towards it. It followed her action.

"Stop it!" she yelled.

It moved its face forward, acting angry.

"I'm really not in the mood, sir!" She screamed at him, and stomped her right foot.

The Mome Rath stomped its foot, too.

Unaware of her actions now, Alice leapt towards the creature, attempting to tackle it to the ground. However, the Mome Rath jumped towards her, also, and their bodies collided in the air. Alice fell over, smashing her head on the hard, black earth, and sharp pains shot up through her skull.

She sat up with her hand over her wound, and felt blood trickling back out of it. She pulled her hand away and brought it to her eyes, seeing blood blanket from her palm to her fingertips. It dripped off the edge of her hand, to form a tiny puddle on her dress. She moved her gaze to the creature, and began breathing hard through her nose, furious.

"What the hell is your problem, you stupid purple freak!?" She jumped to her feet, and began speed-walking away. In another moment, she was back on the ground, face in the black grass. The Mome Rath had tackled her, and held her face in place with its large, gripping feet. The talon-like toes began squeezing her small head, causing more blood to ooze from her gash.

Alice threw her hands up, grasping its legs, and flung it off of her. She pushed herself up again, and took off running. She was sprinting as fast as she could, dodging the red trees, and heard a whistling noise next to her. The Mome Rath had flown past her with its long legs, and was now standing a few yards in front of her. She pursued further, and when she reached the creature, standing ready for her, she leapt over it, and landed on her butt.

Alice hopped back to her feet, with her bottom aching, and just ran anyways. She couldn't tell if the Mome Rath was following her tracks or not, but decided it would be best to just get as far away from it as possible. As she ran, her left shoe came unstrapped, and flew off her foot. Running with one shoe on caused Alice to be unbalanced, and she tripped.

Then Alice just sat there, catching her breath. She didn't realize how fast she was running, and how out-of-breath she had become. She dragged herself a few feet, and leaned against a tree, closing her eyes. Alice sat there for a couple minutes, almost falling asleep against the tree. She flicked her eyes open then, and spun her head around. She saw no Mome Rath coming towards her, so she closed her eyes again.

Every few minutes, Alice would open her eyes, then close them again. She seemed a little paranoid now, after that strange Mome Rath attack. After a while, though, Alice slipped away to a blank sleep.