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As the White Rabbit tended to the inquiries of the others, Rhys was busy contemplating the possible motivations of the malicious monarch.  

[i][color=007236] If this queen supposedly rules over Wonderland with nigh-absolute authority, why would she bother abducting children from the 'real' world? What reward does she reap for reaching across reality for the minds of kids? I sincerely doubt that these abductions are a mere show of power to the other shadows... So what pray tell, is her scheme?[/color][/i]

With no real conclusions to show for his pondering, Rhys shoved thoughts of the Queen's machinations onto the back-burner of his subconscious. Perhaps this was a mystery that he would unravel in time, especially seeing as there was currently no feasible means of escape from this strange and outlandish world. Once he'd turned his focus back to the group, Rhys's gaze was met by a much more... caricatured version of the White Rabbit asking. No, [i]pleading[/i] for the groups assistance. This admittedly confused the boy for a short moment prior to the Rabbit discarding the childish charade and getting on with his explanations once again. 

It wasn't long before Rhys was handed a pocketwatch by the shadow, much like everyone else in the sanctuary. He almost immediately began examining the exterior of the watch as the Rabbit carried on, running his fingers over every ornate detail and intricacy of the object. It was not unlike one he owned back in the UK, albeit his was silver rather than gold. His father had entrusted it to his only promising son that he had left... Rhys shook himself as he discarded that memory for the time being, for now was not the time to allow his thoughts to be so easily hijacked. These... Chronovokers, the Rabbit called them, were evidently the method by which they were meant to utilize their supposed potential. All the device required was the resolve of it's wielder, in all honesty it sounded far too good to be true. Though a device operated solely on willpower was certainly not the most absurd thing he'd borne witness to today.

[color=007236][i]...And finally the naysayers start to come around.[/i][/color] He thought to himself as the other members in the group of humans began to side with the Rabbit. Perhaps this group would be able to overcome their divisions for the sake of survival. Yet tragedy had other things planned. Without warning, the child of the group was suddenly enveloped by a maelstrom of writhing black, and just as quickly as the child was swallowed did the pair vanish. The sudden disappearance left Rhys with a grim thought gnawing at the back of his mind.

[color=007236][i] Please tell me that he's not...[/i][/color] 

Much to his dismay the White Rabbit broke his hopes once more, though this Rabbit was far less... refined than he was before. The child couldn't control his emotions and so they utterly devoured him. So long as he kept his composure, he'd be fine. It certainly was not easy though, as that made it twice today that Rhys had witnessed meaningless death, deaths that they were all powerless to stop. All of it was so bitterly unfair.

As Rhys warred with himself as to not allow his emotions to boil over, the ringleader of the shadow rebellion made his entrance. His explanations were thankfully far less cryptic than Peter's had been, and the Hatter seemed almost amicable at that. Though a certain vocal member of the group utterly failed to reciprocate said amicability, and was swiftly angering the surrounding shadows. Rhys was about to step in and attempt to remedy the situation, yet the Hatter beat him to it and wordlessly pacified the shadows. The Hatter went on and explained all manner of things, including their first task before handing out strange orbs to the group. 

Rhys pocketed the Chronovoker swiftly and looked over the orb before obediently shattering it in his hands. The crystalline shards and powder swirling around him for a brief moment before settling and materializing into a reflex bow and quiver that slung itself over his shoulder without any effort on his part. In his mind it made perfect sense to Rhys why he'd receive a bow, and so he was quite pleased. The limbs of the weapon were made of an ebony wood that had silver trappings, and the string itself donned a white colour. Examining the quiver and arrows for a moment, Rhys found that they shared a similar colour scheme to his bow, the majority of the quiver and the arrows haft's were black whilst the arrowheads and plumage along with minor parts of the quiver were argent in colour. Most notably, one of the silvered bindings on the quiver had the numeral VIII engraved into it, a questionable detail to be sure.

[color=007236][i]Only one thing to do now I suppose...[/i][/color] Rhys thought to himself as he almost unconsciously walked back towards the rabbit hole that had brought him here. Swallowing his courage once more, Rhys plunged himself into the cavernous maw and emerged in the forest with the others, managing to not clumsily fall on his face this time. He reached for one of the arrows in his quiver and nocked it as he spoke in a hushed voice. [color=007236]"The more time we spend out here, the more likely it is that we'll find ourselves outmatched or surrounded. Or both perhaps. So let us be quick about this."[/color]

[@The Jest][@Avant][@EchoicChamber][@CronicCrystalis][@Crimmy][@Petulant][@Duoya][@rebthewriter][@Etranger][@Suku][@Windstormugly]