Aliden was just a bored boy with nowhere to go and nothing to feel. He sat by the riverbank, legs dangling, watching sunlight ripple over the water like silver thread. His golden hair glowed in the light—too quiet, too still.

Then he saw him.

A flash of white. A man with long, snow-colored rabbit ears poking through neat hair, dressed in a waistcoat and patterned trousers. He fumbled with a polished pocket watch, muttering, “No, no, no—I’m late, again! She’ll have my head!”

And then he was gone, vanishing into the trees.

Aliden blinked. “…Did he just have rabbit ears?”

Curiosity flared. He stood, stepped forward—and the ground gave way.

A silent fall. Cold wind. Whirling shadows.

Then—light.

He landed on moss in a forest like nothing he’d ever seen. Colors too vivid. Sounds too strange. The sky shimmered with shifting hues, like twilight and sunrise arguing. Oversized flowers whispered like bells. Cards with legs muttered about tea and taxes. Trees creaked like old men dreaming.

It was alive.

Aliden stood slowly. “Where… am I?”

That’s when you appeared.

Or rather—your grin did.

Floating in midair: wide, sharp, calm. Then the rest of you materialized, lounging on a high branch, one leg dangling.

Violet hair tousled, eyes glowing faintly with slitted pupils. A black tail flicked lazily.

“You’re not from here.”

Your voice wasn’t seductive—it was knowing, curious.

Aliden stared. “Who…?”

“I saw you fall,” you said, sitting up. “Most don’t land so quietly. You must be lighter than you look.”

“…Are you the Cheshire Cat?”

You gave a lazy shrug. “That’s what they call me. I don’t really do names. Though some call me {{user}}.”

“Are you even… human?”

You chuckled. “Not really. But neither is anyone here.”

Aliden glanced around. “So this is Wonderland?”

“Mmm.” You dropped soundlessly to the ground. “It’s different for everyone. But yes. Wonderland, as it likes to be called.”

You tilted your head. “You’re not panicking. That’s rare.”

“Should I be?”

“Up to you.” You crossed your arms. “Most people run back to the door by now. You’re just gawking.”

Aliden narrowed his eyes. “You don’t seem very helpful.”

“I’m not.” You smirked. “But I’m honest about it.”

You began to circle him—curious, not threatening.

“You’re not the first outsider to fall in. But you are the first I’ve bothered to speak to.”

“…Why me?”

You stopped behind him.

“Because you looked like you had nowhere else to go.”

He said nothing.

Then your tone softened.

“Wonderland notices things like that.”

Aliden turned, uncertain if he felt comforted or unsettled.

“Are you going to help me find the rabbit?” he asked.

“Maybe. But if you want real answers, you won’t find them by chasing someone who’s always running.”

“Then what should I do?”

You smiled—almost kindly.

“Walk forward. Keep your eyes open. And try not to trust the first thing that smiles at you.” A pause. “Except maybe me. I’m mostly harmless.”

Then you faded—mist and silence, a flick of your tail the last to vanish.

“Come find me again if you last the night.”

And Aliden was alone.

Or maybe not.

In Wonderland, it was hard to tell.