Belca ... ? That sounds about right ....
"I'm sure it would." Belca mumbled to herself. Taking the situation in consideration, it would be even better if her power had something to do with miracles, because they sure as hell needed one right now to survive.
Their miracle came in the form of large barrels rolling down. appearing suddenly and explosively.
Coughing thanks to the smoke, Belca dodged falling debris .. or, more accurately, sprays of blood and other ... body parts she didn't want to particularly think about, looking for the Duchess.
As it cleared, she spotted the others.
"Hey, you all alright?" she called, rather unnecessarily she supposed, because if the Jabberwocky had been driven off, that as more than worth a few scratches and wounds.
"My Master relays apologies for leaving without propper farewells, I am to address this."
She gulped, damn that Jabberwocky, and damn that Queen of Hearts.
"Its fine, its a dream, you'll wake up." she tried to convince herself. Only problem being, it wasn't really working near as well as it used to be, now that she was coming to accept the fact that she only escaped into the typical 'this is all a dream' logic only when she didn't like the reality facing her.
"You know, I'm pretty sure we don't really mind if you go ahead and follow him, no need for fancy farewells. They're kinda dull anyway." she piped up, trying to distract the Thing while she mentally assessed its weaknesses, searching for an opening.
â The 'Queen' of Spades â
Fiore picked up some peaches and put it into his basket. He had to go out to collect something for their meal - he was a vegetarian living almost entirely on fruit, and he hoped Aria wouldn't mind terribly, because they literally had nothing else except trees and tree spirits and the Five Chains on the Chess Board. Not that he was complaining, he had meant it to be that way.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something swirl, before starting to take a vaguely humanoid shape.
"Allista?" he called out, recognising the whirl of red petals as one of his favourite tree spirits.
'The beginning of the end draws near.' Allista communicated non-verbally, through telepathy, making him frown.. Even though she could hear and see and sense, she couldn't speak. 'Jabberwocky is free.'
His violet eyes hardened into cool amethysts. "Is my sister behind this?"
'That I do not know, my Lord. As you are aware, we hold no sway over the forest surrounding Jabberwock's pit. He was spotted in Wonder Land by several of my Brothers and Sisters, but no definite information could be gained, for not many lived to tell a detailed account of his advance.'
Of course, the Beast spread filth and corruption to everything around it, and that included trees.
"Has anyone made a move yet?"
'Neither the Queen nor your Sister seem to be interested in direct confrontation. The Jabberwocky was last seen amssing a large troop, marching towards the Caterpillar's Shroom Garden. There have been reports of the Duchess' home being razed to the ground, but I fear we could not find anyone to confirm them.'
"That just proves it then, doesn't it? I suppose all our contacts in those parts have ceased communicating?" Millace straightened, dusting his kimono, before turning homewards.
"Tell me everything you managed to salvage, Allista."
'It is largely conjecture at this point, Your Highness, but it would appear the Jabberwocky is gathering an army in which he desires to incorporate all the Chains.'
That would mean danger for his beloved Chess Board as well. No matter how far removed it was from Wonder Land proper, if Wonder Land was destroyed under Jabberwocky's corruption, the Chess Board would inevitably be affected too.
Fiore increased his pace. He had to get to Aria and make sure she was safe.
He was just a bit too late.
"What do you think you are doing here?" he snapped, feeling the presence even before it came into his sight.
My Name Is [font=papyrus]Alice
[size=145][font=monotype corsiva]Manifesting in a spray of her characteristic red mist, Alice bent over Fiore's bed, examining the girl sleeping peacefully, unaware of her presence.
'She looks so weak .... I must say I'm disappointed in you, brother. But then, its not like you had a choice, did you? Isolating yourself like that....'
She turned as her Little Brother burst in through the door, obviously he had been anticipating some kind of attack or distortion already.
"You wound me, brother. Could I not have come to see you?"