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	“[i]She[/i] is a topic to be discussed in detail within closed walls,” Drust answered unhelpfully, the malice in his voice making Elayra look to him uneasily. He gave a content nod at Ghent winning the fight. “Good… Fighting, not allowed?” he scoffed. “Have they no classes in the schools here to teach such subjects?”
	The two seemed to tense further as they entered the alleyways, most sporting lights and others bathed in the night. Elayra found herself inching a bit closer to Drust when the darkness surrounded them. The dark was one of the few things she hated more than cats. 
	When they stopped at a door, its color just discernible in the shadows, the two Wonderlanders scanned the alleyway as Ghent brandished a key and explained what a shrink was. Drust reached up and gripped the hilt of his Katana, his gaze diligently scanning the alleyway.
	Elayra and Drust waited a moment before light pooled through the open door into the alleyway.
	Elayra sighed heavily, glad to have more light. The two turned and followed Ghent inside. They looked around at the shelves and boxes, ever cautious, but noticed nothing exceptionally odd or out of place as Ghent closed the door behind him.
	“This will do.” Drust nodded, then removed his hood. 
	Glad for the chance to rest, Elayra went to the back wall, placed her pack and bow on the floor, then sunk beside her possessions, her sword and quiver clicking against the flooring as she adjusted them. Settled, she leaned her back against the boxes, her well-worn and dusty boots sticking out of the bottom of her dress.  
	Drust remained by the door, leaning against the wall beside it. Finally in good lighting, he looked Ghent over. 
	“I shall start at the beginning,” he began, his hard gaze still on Ghent. Should the boy speak, Drust would raise a hand to silence him. “I’m sure you have many questions. But it’s in your best interest to not interrupt.”
	“Trust him on that one.” Elayra watched her guardian carefully, debating on if she should get up so there was less space she would have to cross if the Curse flared up.
	“[i]What did I just say?[/i]” Drust hissed, glaring threateningly at her interruption, the black, webbed lines near his eyes pulsing slightly.
	She raised her hands beside her in a mix of an apology and surrender.
	With no little effort, he snorted, took a breath, then looked back to Ghent. “A little over fourteen years ago, Wonderland lived in a time of peace and prosperity. The White Queen ruled over most of the land, with your father, Hatter Madrail, at her side. But there was an evil not even the Oracles foresaw.” His voice and face darkened.
	Elayra pulled her feet toward her, prepared to intercede, though her tired body begged her to stay where she was. But her precautions yet proved unnecessary.
	Drust leaned against the wall and crossed his arms tightly over his chest, disgust and hatred in his voice as he continued. “A power known as the Red Sorceress rose from nowhere. How she escaped her prison remains a mystery, but escape she did. Her attack on Wonderland came swiftly. The White Queen and Madrail knew it was only a matter of time before she and her followers would come for the heart of Wonderland: the Queen and Heart Castle. 
	“They immediately began to make preparations to fend her off and secure Wonderland’s future. But she attacked before they were completed. Even with the White Queen, Madrail, and the Tweedles on our side, the Sorceress infiltrated the castle. Fearing they couldn’t defeat her, they tasked me with getting two young residents of the castle to safety: Elayra, and you.”
	Drust looked to the corner of the room, and took another deep breath, his neck twitching. “I was to bring you both to Earth, to teach and train you until you were ready to return to Wonderland and reclaim it from the Sorceress. We made it to Harrow Hollow Hill, but as soon as you had jumped into the portal, we were ambushed.” His head twitched again, and Elayra got to her feet.
	Drust spared her only a quick glance. “Some of the Sorceress’ higher-ranked scouts had managed to follow us,” he continued bitterly, his eyes narrowing a fraction and hands clenching. “They cut us off from the portal. There were too many of them, and I couldn’t risk them getting Elayra. At that time, the portals were strong enough to prevent the likes of them from entering, so with you presumably safe, we fled. I had planned on returning once the scouts were gone, but the Sorceress enacted the Curse before we could.” An angered snarl pulled at Drust’s nose and mouth, his head twitching yet again.
	“The Curse turned Wonderland into a wasteland,” Elayra picked up the story, her voice slow and cautious, her eyes locking with Drust’s.
 	He looked ready to snap at her, but apparently thought better of it. He pushed forcefully from the wall, making Elayra reach for her sword, but he strode to the opposite side of the storeroom with heavy steps.
	Glad her guardian had had sense enough to distance himself, she angled her body so both he and Ghent were in her sight.
	“Among other things, it closed off the portals, and turned even docile creatures into bloodthirsty monsters. There was no way we could get to you. But at least we’re all alive,” she directed the last more toward Drust than Ghent. “So, that’s pretty much it,” she finished with a shrug, as if they had simply told him a bedtime story, not a vital snippet of the past. “Jumping to this morning, Drust found out the portal to Earth’s opened for a time, we came to find you, and now here we are.”
	She looked fully to Ghent, watching and waiting for his reaction to it all.