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"Fruit?!" n0ms happily bounced to the tree and studied its branches, running a hand across it. Instead she found that a cat was nearby and she wiggled her ears and tail in an excited manner. "Oh you're a cat like me but a real cat aren't you?!" She shouted at it. Her words were ignored as it continued and she blinked at it.

"Oh, yes please I like riddles!" n0ms was terrible at riddles bu she always liked to hear them. Usually she had someone else around to explain them to her but if she tried to dwell on the fact she was alone it would drive her into a depression and she didn't want that in the least. Bouncing in place she turned her head to listen as best as she could.

"Find but never lose..." n0ms tilted her head back and forth. Weren't there many things that fit that riddle? It came to her pretty quickly and she turned around to it, wiggling around. "It's your butt!" She said with another grin. "Cause when you sit on it you can't see it, but it's really always there!" n0ms looked back to the cat with expectant eyes. It was right, right?

Sadly no. She blinked at the cat again and frowned a bit. Sure a shadow worked but it wasn't as clever (not to mention she would have never thought of it). Shaking her head in disagreement she pouted her cheeks. "I still think it's your butt, but if you say so." She relented and her tail shook behind her in excitement. A riddle? A n0ms riddle?

"OOOOOOO~!"

After the insanity with the jabberwock, NotStupid halfheartedly composed himself and continued wandering for what seemed like eons. Nothing was different. Everything was the same droll, depressing scenery that had been around since he 'logged in'.

Eventually his legs stopped moving, and his eyes glanced upwards with hopes that there might be some break in the canopy.

There wasn't.

There was, however, a talking smile. He thought it was the tree at first, but it became quite clear that it wasn't when the smile was joined with a body of a cat.

This seemed familiar somehow. "A game within a game? That seems redundant." Nots sighed, though he didn't disagree. "Okay, fine."

3: "What can I hide but always find?"

One could see the brow of Nots furrow as he contemplated, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Uh. Father's naughty magazines?" Mama always seemed to find them. Logical conclusion.

(( GERK. Didn't mean to roll. Ignore this. >__>; ))

At last, on that space above the tree, just at the very nook, above one of the signs, to the left over on the overhanging branch, appears a very smug half-invisible cat.

"You may call me a Cheshire cat," it begins, fading in and out of sight at random will, "but just one of many. We reside here you see. This is a nice place, and we so very much do enjoy a good riddle. Let us play a small game, if you will so indulge me. I'll give you something nice of course in return. All right, here goes the riddle."

"What has three legs but only uses one?" She repeated, blinking hard. This was going to be a major problem.

Ah, she hadn't heard this one. Shrugging her shoulder, she popped of some random answer. "A table?"

"The answer is a death, but I'm sure you don't need me to explain that one." It smiles.

Huh. That made zero sense.

Some time later she came back and was fully confident. She'd done her research, found herself a nice, hard riddle. Hopefully it stumped him and she was able to move forward with this quest.

"I'm back, Cheshire, with a new riddle."

[Enter]

He'd left the caterpillar behind, wings now tucked against his body, an unspoken prize. Perhaps he'd been trying to deny what he was when he started. Who knew, really... He examined the cards he'd collected so far, all for defense... What was that about? It didn't make much sense...

WhiteCat looked up, suddenly aware he wasn't sure where he was. He turned around a bit, trying to figure out just where he WAS, which was hard, given the trees all looked the same. As he turned again, he noticed a tree that was different, sagging and bent out of shape. As he walked up to it, he swore it spoke. "Have you come for a story?"

The boy gave a start, backing up a bit, as a cat appeared. "You're a cat!"

The cat specified about what KIND of cat he was, and how there were many, and... Riddle. His ears lifted as he listened, blue eyes shining with wonder and joy. A RIDDLE... "You had me at riddle! Ask me your riddle, Cheshire Cat, for I am a SPHINX! We are all ABOUT riddles!" Or at least, his mother's side.

The cat grinned and asked his riddle, "What turns around and around and around, but quite rather slowly?"

[Attempt 2]

The cat gave a yawn, waving a paw. "Sunlight. Alternately, wind." Its eyes narrow in delight. "Riddles are my nature of course I would guess right. I guess it is still too early for you, too early indeed."

WhiteCat glared. Riddles were the cat's nature... Riddles were HIS nature! He was NOT going to be out-riddled by this cat! "Then put your tail where your mouth is! Ask me another riddle!"

The cat takes a long, long time, and finally chances a guess. They are wrong, and their tail curls a little more. "A surprising twist, but I love surprises. You are quite the clever one, and for that, you deserve a small prize. Just this time, of course, just once."

A chest appeared before WhiteCat, and he looked down at it. When he looked up, the Cheshire Cat as gone. He frowned, then bent down, opening the chest. Inside was a card, and a little note that said "You have gained a level!" He chuckled a bit to himself, unable to keep from smiling, as he pocketed both, stood, and left the area.

[Exit]