ETTING   OME   O   LFANDRA

---

Anton's Journey chapter 8 - Off the Path

For a time, neither Anton nor mouse spoke. The moment hung in the air like a dream, only with more nightmarish qualities, bearing in mind the corpses and Anton’s bloodied hands. Then, the moment was broken.
“Damnation. You’ll bring damnation to us all!” Squealed mouse, with more than a hint of anger in his voice.
“Show a little respect rodent,” snarled Anton, “I just saved your flea-bitten skin.”
“I’ll show respect when I choose, and I don’t have fleas. You don’t understand anything about this world yet still, do you?”
“Nope. But I know the difference between right and wrong.”
“Such invalid concepts.”
Anton sighed. “I grow tired of hearing how Wonderland does not obey the rules. I know that already, save your breath.”
“You don’t save your breath. You’ll spend it futilely and kill us all in the process.”
“What are you so afraid of Mouse? Do you fear getting anywhere close in the heart of another individual?”
“You know nothing of my fears, nor anything. Things may have been bad, but you had to make them worse.”
“By saving your life? I should have let those two kill you like the mouse you are. You killed that Dodo! And why? Because he talked to me. You’re no better than the tyrant that ordered you executed in the first place.”
“The Red Queen? Now there’s a bitch if ever there was one. But it’s not her we’re scared of.”
Anton nodded. “Ah yes, I’ve met…her.”
“And still alive?” Mouse chuckled, which looked most peculiar for a mouse to do. “You must interest her.”
“And you’re still alive too.” Anton said, leaning closer. “Perhaps you interest me.”
Mouse blanched.
“So… what will you do now Mouse? Return to run around that rock?”
He saw the sorrow flicker across mouse’s eyes then. “No… I cannot return. I don’t know what I’ll do now. Whatever little life was left to me is now in tatters.” But as soon as this flicker of heart showed, it was gone, replaced by spitting anger. “And it’s all because of you! I have to live my life as an enemy of the state, because of a mangy wolf who’s lost and can’t find his way home!”
“Then help me find my way home. How do I escape from this place?”
Mouse laughed bitterly. “If I knew that, do you think I would still be here? The only escape to be found here is by death.”
“I don’t accept that.”
“Accept it.”
“No!”
“Yes!”
Anton growled. “I grow tired of these games. Suit yourself, live your life in the hiding and shadow of that you fear. You cannot help me, I see that now. What use is a mouse.” Anton turned to leave. “Where will you go eh? Who will protect you?”
“Protect me? You’re the fool who needs protecting,” You killed two soldiers of the red queen. How do you plan on fighting off a whole army of them?
“I’ll manage.”
“No, you wont last long. You do not know the ways of Wonderland.”
“Are you saying that you do?”
Mouse bristled. “Don’t brush me the wrong way wolf. I’ll accompany you, but only because it suits my purpose.
Anton grinned.

The marsh that they had started out in had quickly turned into swamp. Anton noted mentally that another fact about Wonderland, was that it changed it’s scenery dramatically. The going was slow through the cold, damp ground, and occasionally they had to wade through water, which was also cold. Anton would always pause before wading in, observing any signs of hostile creatures waiting beneath the surface. So far, he’d been disappointed, but Mouse didn’t seem concerned.
The rodent was surprisingly quick. Damn, were all creatures in Wonderland born with infinite energy? It was hardly fair. But Anton had stamina, and was able to last until Mouse ran out of breath first. Once they had reached the next bit of ‘dry’ ground, Mouse rested panting against a fallen tree, which was rotting into the swamp. Anton followed suit, his chest rising and falling deeply in the moist air.
“You know where you’re going?” Anton queried, “Your manner is none too confident. Several times we’ve had to backtrack and start again.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve been this deep… I was kept prisoner at that accursed rock you know. But all I know is to avoid the main path. There’ll be card guards swarming all over it.”
Anton nodded sagely. “True. But you’ve still given me no indication as to where we are going.”
“We’re going to see someone who will know of a way out, if anyone does.”
“Hm, let me guess.”
“I shouldn’t bother. We’re going to see Caterpillar.”
“Ah. I thought as much. So we’re going there now?”
“No.”
“But you said we were going to see him?”
“Yes.”
“But we’re not going there now?”
“No.”
“So who are we going to see now?”
“Mock Turtle.
“Who?”
“Mock Turtle. He knows where Caterpillar lives these days. I however do not.”
“You might have just said that in the first place you know.”
Mouse grinned, it’s two long pointed yellow teeth showing. “Come on. I’m sure we’re nearly there.”
“We’d better be.” Anton said, following his unlikely companion down a slope into the murkey waters again. “I’ve done too much walking these past few days.”
Mouse however did not respond.
He was gone, snatched beneath the surface.