I could hear her before I saw her. Behind me panting from the exercise of catching up to me. This means there is only a matter of time before everyone realizes I am gone longer than usual. I felt her breathing on my back, heat penetrated my scalp cocooning me in warmth. 3, 2, 1, I jumped up into the air as my greatest friend came running under me.

    I landed square on her back, like many times before. Her black feathers tickled my legs, soft, warm, comforting. Her tail brushed side to side, so long that it moved past her head, clearing anything that laid ahead. "Mad, I am sorry girl." I pet her side, hearing her chirp of approval and started to run faster. She and I were bound to our souls, it is rumored that only the craziest can tame the creatures of Mad. I never thought that was true, they just wanted to be free, to be themselves, to be accepted. Once you understand that the Mad creatures are easily bond with. But people get one thing wrong you can never tame a Mad creature. As they can never tame you. 

     With Mad by my side, I can knew I could make it to the Mushroom forest before anyone could find me. I would have taken her immediately but that would have raised too many suspicions. So I ran and hopped Mad would instinctively know it was time for me to be free as well. Freedom that starts with the Mushroom Forest. 

    I could smell the forest before I saw it. The thick tobacco smell, mixed with sweetness, and an almost undetectable scent of sleeping powder.

   I have been training for this forest since I was five and my dad first told me the story of Alice. From that day on I have breathed in sleeping powder, building immunity and once I got Mad I asked her to do the same. This is how I plan to surpass my family, with talent no one else has mastered, breathing toxic air.  Not only that but stock up on the sleeping powder to us on anyone that interferes. 

     From the distance, I heard the sirens indicating my absence. I smiled because it was too late. I was already in the Mushroom Forest. 

     My first real taste of freedom was as refreshing as it was toxic.