((Let me know if you want/need more input from me, hun.
))
The path was easier to descend than she thought it might be. It wasn't nearly as steep or uneven as it appeared, but then, perhaps most of the things she was seeing were not what they appeared. Even the mysterious Cheshire cat seemed to be on her side despite the very creepy way he appeared and disappeared from her life. As she grew closer to the bottom of the cliff side, it was easier to make out the figures at the table. They didn't appear to be looking for anyone--just having a rather raucous party for three people.
The closer she got, the more interesting their features became. It seemed that the three of them were in constant motion, animated in a very colorful way. The man's hat immediately caught her attention. The mark looked familiar, but she couldn't quite say what it was. Either way, she knew that he had to be the hatter in this dream world of hers. Who else would he be? The other two, then, would be the March hare, and the door mouse. The liquid, if things were traditional in this dream of hers, was probably tea of some kind.
As she came closer, her suspicions were confirmed by the hatter's clear voice. But it seemed as though something wasn't quite right about this party. Best to not question it for now, she thought. The last thing she needed was to get tangled up in logic. She had a mission--to get home before the queen found and killed her. Perhaps these gentlemen could help her. But...were they drunk? It was kind of hard to tell.
The mousey young man seemed to freeze in terror at the sight of her as she finally reached the bottom of the path. Alice had never inspired terror in another human being as long as she could remember. That she made this person nervous was...odd. Still, it seemed this world was more dangerous than she had originally though, so she tried to smile reassuringly and pushed some of her blonde hair behind her ear.
The buxom young thing was well aware of their intense gaze and it effectively shut down her powers of speech for a moment. They were making her far more nervous than she really ought to be. Finally, the man in the hat broke the silence. He was very charming, pleasant in demeanor, despite the teasing.
Here was another man who thought he knew her. She certainly didn't remember him, and it seemed cruel to correct him when he was so happy, but she could hardly let him go on like this. "Yes, my name
is Alice," she began, carefully, "But I'm afraid you have me confused for someone else. I don't know who you are...I'm sorry." she frowned here and looked at each of them in apology. "You all seem like such nice people. I'm just trying to find my way home," she said, taking a few steps toward the man with the hat, as he was the closest and the one who seemed to be most pleased with her appearance. "I'm not really sure where to go, though." The trouble was the same as it had been when she'd stumbled across Absolem. Still, she had learned to trust in others and stay calm--not to panic--from her time with him. And the Cheshire Cat had taught her to keep moving.
"I don't suppose you might know a way to get there?" It never occurred to her in her dream-like denial that they wouldn't know where her home was, much less how to get her there, if she had never told them about it. Then again, she really didn't have anyone else to turn to at the moment--the Cheshire Cat had already declared that he wouldn't help until he was good and ready, and that there would be a price when she asked. Absolem was currently in a cocoon from what Alice understood, and these people seemed like they were nice enough--if not a bit hyperactive. Maybe they would help her if she played her cards right.