Sophie completely froze, unsure of what to do as a chin rested on her shoulder.

Interlocked fingers carefully deposited the keys back into her pocket as whoever was holding her spoke again, "So sorry I was late."

The ginger opened her mouth to start in on the rapid fire slew of questions that were bouncing around her head, but the soldier with the horrible mustache spoke first.

"Hey! Hey lady, we're busy here! Unless..." he glanced at his friend, "she wants to join us?"

She felt the woman, she now knew, tense behind her. 

Were the soldiers real–nevermind. That statement essentially told her everything she needed to know. She should have expected nothing less.

"Oh, are you really? To me, it seemed that you were just leaving?" Her low, smooth voice replied evenly.

The hatter could feel her smirk against her cheek as a long elegant hand reached forward. The wrist flicked, and the soldiers immediately straightened, eyes widening in pure, unfiltered terror.

A finger twirled in a small circle and they turned, then a point sent them marching down the alley the way she had come.

"Hey! We were just talking!"

"What the hell?"

"How did that bitch do that?!"

"My apologies again, they are beyond entitled because they think this damn war means they're owed something...not like they chose to become soldiers, but that may be a conversation we may have at another time."

Sophie swallowed hard as her hand was released and heels clicked, the warmth surrounding her shifting to the side.

She finally was able to see the woman, and sweet saints above, she was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid her eyes on.

Damn, she needed to get a hold of herself.

Golden, russet brown skin positively glowed under the rays of the afternoon sun. Deep brown eyes found hers, and she could see the little smile parting her lips flashing in further supposed mirth. Dark curls tumbled over her left shoulder, slipping down the front of her low white shirt and tickling the belt of her leather pants.

"Where to? I'll be your escort this evening." The same hand that sent the soldiers off extended back to her with a tilt of her head.

"Oh...oh I um...I was visiting my sister I was...heading back to my shop..." Sophie fumbled her words as she tried to explain, amber gaze falling to ring laden fingers.

"Mmm, getting home. Let's make sure you get there?" Her answer was laced with a chuckle, palm sliding over hers to slide their fingers together again.

She flushed so dark it physically called her pain as her hand was guided to rest over her elbow, the only relief the small breeze as they began to walk.

"You really do not have to trouble yourself, I..." the ginger began to start feeling like a burden.

"It's my pleasure sweetheart. And now I'll need you to keep looking forward for me alright? I'm afraid we're being followed." The woman casually flicked her gaze back briefly, hand shifting to squeeze hers assuringly.

"...is it the soldiers?" Sophie questioned lowly as their pace picked up a bit.

"I'm afraid you're involved now, I'm terribly sorry about that. Keep looking ahead, good girl." She replied so calmly if slightly terrified her as the rounded the corner and came towards the last bit of alley, a brick wall a few yards away stopping them.

And then they were running, her other hand being engulfed by hers as the wall so quickly approached it was almost inconceivable.

Her scream caught in her throat as they launched into the air, "hold on tight, I've got you."

Sophie screwed her eyes closed in sheer terror, squeezing onto the fingers interlaced with hers for dear life.

There was a sickening squelching sound from somewhere below that turned her stomach, the sound so vile it curled her toes.

It was then she realized that they had not landed yet, her legs swinging through the air as the sounds of the Ingary markets drifted up and filled the space around them.

They couldn't be...there was no damn way they were just standing in the sky. There was no damn way.

"Open those pretty eyes my darling, I need you to do what I do okay?" The voice so close to her ear made her instantly comply, eyes snapping open.

She felt her heart skip as she glanced around, and sure enough...

They still were in the air and she was WALKING.

"That's it, now relax your legs and walk like normal. Can we do that? I'll take you right home." Her voice was gentle, encouraging the tension to melt away a little.

"...how...how?" The whisper barely managed to escape, and she laughed.

"Let's focus on returning you to your shop, and maybe then I can explain hm?" She bargained, releasing on of her hands to slip over her lower back and wrap around her waist.

Sophie slowly took a step in time with her, stunned that they were simply just trapezing over the entire town and somehow no one seemed to notice.

"This...this is amazing." Her fear began to melt as they started to walk together in earnest, a smile creeping over her lips before she realized it was even coming.

"Isn't it? I happen to think this may be the second best sight I've taken in today." She teasingly squeezed her side lightly, and she shifted too red for comfort.

The hatter could tell by how purely hot her face felt, even though the air was cool where they stood.

"The shop is um...the shop is right there, please." The hand that was recently freed pointed to the left.

A small, light green door surrounded by brick and large windows stood out among the seas of greys and browns, making it rather easy to spot.

She had asked her father for that color, so she supposed it was her own little welcome now.

"I should have known." They began to slowly descend at that, towards the small balcony that stood over the window on the right.

Her room.

It was almost like going down a long flight of stairs, and the next thing she knew her boots met the railing.

She was carefully guided down, the woman standing tall on the railing as she leaned forward to kiss the top of her hand.

"I'll draw them away, you just stay here safe and sound for me sweetheart."

Sophie managed to stammer out an, "okay", and nod, heart leaping as she pressed another featherlight kiss to her knuckles.

"That's my girl." She chuckled and jumped backwards, disappearing from view so quickly it left her wondering if she was there in the first place.

The ginger gasped and dashed forward, frantically scanning the street for any sign of her.

But there was none.

When she turned, however, there were three black feathers and a scorched heel print on the wood of the little deck.