Taking in the first breath of fresh air since she could remember, Caroline stepped out into the forest. When she turned back the tunnel and the door were gone and all that surrounded her were trees.

"Well that's just great, back where I started." But this was definitely not England. Wonderland. That's what the door had said.

Beware the Hatter.

Caroline didn't know why his parting words were sticking with her but she would remember them. Now all she had to do was find the queen, how hard could it be? Looking around she tried to find any sign of which direction she should head. Each way just revealed more trees. Her only saving grace was that the door had left her on a road. There were no signs or indications of which way she should travel, the only thing that gave any hint were tracks on the road. At first it seemed like hoof prints but there was something strange about them. The front sets were almost like bird talons and the back resembled a paw print. Caroline quickly came to terms that whatever Wonderland was, it was going to hold many surprises. The strange tracks seemed like her only option so shrugging her shoulders she began in their direction.

Pulling the pin out of her hair she let it fall around her shoulders. Keeping her hair in place while falling had been too much of a task and who cared what she looked like while she walked alone through a forest. Which way had that rabbit gone? Maybe whatever left those tracks had eaten him. Serves him right for leading a poor girl into an enchanted world she couldn't leave. Caroline knew that she had no one to blame but herself. Elena's mocking voice flowed through her head as she remembered their conversation from before. Why did she crave adventure? Elena; if she was here then what were people going to think back at home. Her mother would be sick with worry; her father was probably off gallivanting with one of his friends. His actions were not discussable in polite company but her mother never kept secrets from her.

While lost in thought Caroline had completely ignored a sound coming closer. When she finally snapped out of it she darted for a tree and pressed her back to the bark hoping that the mass of the trunk would hide her. What if it would eat her just like it had the rabbit? She could hear it moving closer and then a light chirping like a bird. A very large bird. She heard the snap and assumed it was a beak. A razor sharp beak. When it was close enough that she could hear breathing she held her own breath. Pressing her back even closer to the tree Caroline hoped she was undetectable.

"Where are your manners Alexander? Did you even chew that sparrow?"

The male voice made Caroline's heart stopped and she dared peak around the tree. Standing in the middle of the road was a young gentleman with dark features and a string of small dead birds hanging from his side. Shocking Caroline even more was the "Alexander" the man was talking to. With a bird's head that rose above the young man's, the creature had a long body that ended with his feline tail that whipped back and forth. So that was what had made the tracks she had seen earlier. Tucked to its back were grey wings but there was no mistaking their huge size.

Sir.

Her voice had left her and Caroline felt frozen in spot. The man seemed harmless enough but the creature at his side whose beak could sever her neck nailed her to the spot.

What if this is your only chance? What if he doesn't come back?

"Sir…"

Both looked over to her tree but she had still yet to step around. A piercing screech came from behind her and she closed her eyes expecting his talons to rip through the tree and her.

"Alexander! That is enough," the man's stern voice silenced the bird immediately and Caroline took a stuttered breath. "It's alright child, you can show yourself. Alexander will behave."

Still weary Caroline only dared to peak her head from around the tree. Taking a closer look the man was very handsome and she peered through her curls at his strong jaw line. He tucked the string of birds into a bag on what looked to be a makeshift saddle on his companion's side and wiped his hands on his pants. "Please don't be afraid. He was just saying 'hello', in the only way he can."

Alexander cocked his head to the side to get a better look at her and blinked. It would have been cute had he not been a silent killer. "You could come and meet him and learn for yourself."

Straightening her shoulders and trying to hide her fear she came around the tree. With one foot in front of the other she proudly walked up to both of them and hoped they couldn't see her shaking. You can do this. You can do this.

"Stay still and let him come to you."

Freezing, she stared Alexander directly in the eye and waited. He took large steps towards her and cocked his head once again. Breathing so closely that he could blow the hair off her face, Alexander lightly tapped her chin with his beak. Not daring to move with him so close to her throat, Caroline once again forgot to breathe. The man chuckled to himself and eyed her with a strange pleasure. Before she realized that he had even moved his head, Alexander's beak nipped at her pocket.

"What are you doing?!" Jumping back she startled Alexander and he flew back as well outstretching his wings and knocking her to the ground.

"Whoa, now big boy. It's alright, you should know better than to mouth off to a lady." After calming the bird, the man turned to her with an outstretched hand. "Again, I'm sorry about his behavior. "I know he looks big but he's actually still quite young…and impulsive. I apologize for knocking you down, that was not my intention."

Caroline grasped his hand and came to her feet. The sound of his voice was calming and reassuring and she felt the only comfort since she had fallen through the hole. "I'm just glad that I've met someone human other than me."

He laughed at her statement but Caroline didn't understand what the joke was. "Things are not always what they appear in Wonderland, my dear. Would it be rude to ask your name?"

"It's Caroline; will you please return the same courtesy?"

Looking down and smiling to himself he returned eye contact and with a smile in his voice replied, "I'm Elijah."