s the guard raised his ax, something fell out of the trees above and landed in the crowd with a grunt. Several of the soldiers were flung to the ground. Sabrina craned her neck to get a better look at the chaos and was surprised to find an enormous striped cat fighting the cards. It was nearly as big as she was, and had a bushy tail and a big mouth full of teeth. It swatted men left and right with its oversize paws, and despite its fierce assault, a clever, almost happy smile stretched across its face. His attack was accompanied by a high-pitched whistle, which signaled more bizarre creatures to rush into the melée. Soon a giant puppy and an odd bird with an enormous beak were fighting by the cat’s side.
The card soldiers were befuddled. They jabbed their swords at the odd collection of animals. “Shoo! Shoo, you flea-bitten curses.”
The animals held their ground. The puppy charged at the men and sent them flailing into the woods. The unusual bird slammed its hard beak into the heads of villains. From the Queen’s party, the White Rabbit ran out to join them.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Queen bellowed.
“We’re busting out!” the White Rabbit said, swinging his pocket watch threateningly. The Queen fell back in shock, and the rabbit turned his attention to the hooded guard. “If you know what’s good for you . . .”
The guard set down his ax and ran, allowing the rabbit to untie Sabrina.
“Allow me to propose a deal,” the creature said as it hopped over to untie Daphne. “In exchange for saving your lives, you will allow us to accompany you out of this book.”
“What?”
“A simple business transaction, child. When you come upon the next door, you will allow my companions and me to join you with the intended goal of leaving the Book of Everafter. Do we have a deal?”
Sabrina was too distracted by the fighting to think clearly, but the little furry animal persisted.
“What say you?” the rabbit cried as it cut the bindings on Puck’s hands.
The rabbit was so busy talking, he didn’t notice a soldier rushing at him with a sword aimed at his chest. The giant cat leaped in the soldier’s way, forcing him to stop in his tracks. He swung his weapon hard and fast at the feline’s neck but just before it landed its deadly blow, the cat’s body disappeared, leaving only his big, toothy grin behind.
“He’s the Cheshire Cat,” Daphne said, biting her palm.
The Cheshire Cat reappeared and grabbed the soldier’s legs with its mouth. He dragged the distressed man up a tree to the highest branches and drove a sharp one right through its card body. It didn’t seem to hurt the soldier, but it did leave him helpless, kicking and struggling to free himself. A moment later, the cat fell from the tree, only to land on all fours. He shook out his coat and smiled.
Meanwhile, the puppy took several of the villains in its mouth and wrenched them around violently before dropping them on the ground, dizzy and battered. The bird, whom Sabrina would later learn was a long-extinct dodo, knocked many of the men out with a swift clunk of its rock-hard head.
The White Rabbit mostly just barked commands and warned the others of approaching attacks. It wasn’t long before the big animals had wiped out a majority of the Queen’s army. Those who were still able fled into the woods, along with the Queen and the King and their flock of courtiers.
“Quick work,” the dodo squawked.
“And not a scratch on us,” the puppy said, before his attention turned to catching his own tail.
“Just as I predicted,” the White Rabbit bragged. He stepped over some of the unconscious soldiers, bouncing on one’s head before he reached the children. He bowed in respect. “Allow me to introduce myself.”
“No need,” Sabrina said, unable to hide her disgust. “We know who you are.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You’re the White Rabbit and a member of the Scarlet Hand,” Sabrina said.
“The Scarlet what?” the rabbit said.
“You’re part of Mirror’s army,” Puck explained.
The rabbit turned to his friends and then reached up and felt his head. “Was I struck in the chaos? I’m having some trouble understanding this conversation. Children, I have never met any of you, ever. I’m sure I would remember. I don’t know any ‘Mirror,’ nor have I ever counted myself amongst any army—certainly not a scarlet one.”
“He’s not lying,” Daphne said, frowning. “We’ve never met him. This isn’t our White Rabbit. This is the fake one from this stupid book.”
Puck rolled his eyes. “All this real-world or storybook-world talk is giving me a headache. The only question that matters is: Can I roast him for dinner or not?”
“No,” Sabrina said, finally understanding her sister’s explanation. “Daphne’s right. He’s not a villain. None of them are.”