<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">'Hmmm. You glow.'</span></span>The caterpillar spoke before crawling back up to the mushroom. He curled around his device and raised his pipe to his lips. This time he didn't watch her leave. He wasn't expecting her to return this time.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">'You look hopeful'</span>Cheshire spoke as he appeared before the caterpillar in a burst of blue smoke. He lay on his fat belly before the insect, his eyes wide and colorful as he grinned up at the large bug.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">'You don't.'</span></span>The caterpillar mumbled with it's mouth full of pipe,<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">'You saw the flying man, yet you refused to help them.'</span></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">'I couldn't do that. I'm one of the few weapons we have left against the flying man.'</span>The cat replied simply as he flopped onto his back and scratched his chest.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">'He almost killed Alice.'</span></span>The caterpillar grunted at him.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">'I'm aware, but what good in believing her to be a hero if we won't let her do heroic things?'</span>Cheshire asked. The question seemed to make the caterpillar freeze up for a moment before it coughed a cloud of purple mist.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">'She's not ready to see the sickness yet.'</span></span>The caterpillar muttered.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">'She'll have to be soon. It's the only reason the big reds are on his side right now.'</span>Cheshire replied before rolling onto his stomach again and stretching out,<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">'We need her to be ready to find the cure. Whether it be alongside the brain, the portrait, the glow and the child or alone.'</span>He spoke before vanishing in a puff of smoke, leaving the caterpillar to smoke on his pipe.<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">A few minutes later</span></strong></div><br/>'She went out by herself so she'll either be fine, dead or crazy when she returns.' Ms Vander spoke as Casey walked back through the door way. To her the journey would feel like it had only lasted mere seconds, she had just stepped through the mist and found herself outside the doorway, but to them Casey had been gone for an hour or two.<br/>'Or she could be right there' Alistair spoke as he pointed behind Ms Vander who stood before the doorway. She turned on the spot and stared at the girl in surprise for a moment before poking her in the shoulder.<br/>'She's definitely there.' Ms Vander called back to them. Alistair was now standing but still had bandages wrapped around his head. Ryan was sat next to Lulu, who seemed to be nursing her arm in a sling. She had a nasty blue bruise on the side of her head, but the way she smiled at Casey made it look like it was just a scratch.<br/>'Don't you ever do that again!' Ms Vander snapped at Casey and childishly poked her in the shoulder a few times. She looked like she was trying to be authoritative but the paint and mud marks all over her face made her look as threatening as a mouse in a dress.