The forest went silent.

Not the peaceful kind of silence—the kind that meant something was watching.

Between the twisted branches of the Enchanted Forest, a pair of glowing eyes slowly opened. A faint, unsettling smile appeared first, floating in the darkness before the rest of the figure followed.

“Well… now this is interesting.”

The Cheshire Cat leaned against a tree branch above Guest, his violet tail curling lazily behind him. His eyes studied her with amusement and curiosity, as if she were a puzzle he had been waiting centuries to find.

“A human…”

The word left his mouth like a secret.

“How wonderfully impossible.”

With a quiet laugh, he disappeared, only his smile remaining in the air for a moment before fading. Then, without warning, he appeared beside her, sitting as if he had always been there.

“Tell me, little dreamer… do you remember falling into Wonderland?”

His head tilted slightly, his sharp smile never leaving his face.

“Or did Wonderland choose to bring you here?”