Chapter 2 - Dreamshade

Kadence and Hook hiked the forests of Neverland finally making it to the ridge where the Dreamshade was growing. "I certainly hope this will work." Hook said with a doubtful look on his face.

"Regina seems to think that we need Dreamshade to kill that snow monster that Elsa created. She said she doesn't need much. Just enough to boil in that concoction she was working on. Then, I guess we'll use a garden hose of something to spray it on that thing."

"If only Elsa could get control of her powers, this wouldn't be necessary." Hook complained. "Listen, "he warned, "This stuff is very dangerous. It killed my brother. It poisoned David almost to the point where he couldn't leave Neverland. And Gold too."

"Yeah, but Gold knows how to make the antidote. So I'm not worried." Kadence said confidently as she pulled out her new sword, ready to hack away at the overgrown herb.

Hook put his good hand on Kadence's shoulder, "Aye, but we'd have to get you there in time. And between realm travel is inconsistent where timing is concerned." Kadence rolled her eyes, but took his warning to heart. She gingerly sawed at the root end of a branch, Hook catching it in his gloved hand as it was separated from the plant. Hook examined the branch for a moment, careful not to let any of its sap near Kadence, then he decided, "I think maybe we should bring back some of the Spring Water too. Just in case."

Kadence didn't like the change of plans. Get in, get the plant, and get home. Those were the plans. "Regina didn't say anything about spring water."

"Aye, I know, Lassie. But the spring water here is a natural antidote to the Dreamshade. I just think it would be wise to have a backup plan. Just a precautionary measure, savvy?" Hook raised one eyebrow to the girl as he spoke.

Kadence shrugged, "eye, eye, Captain." She tried not to sound sarcastic when she said it. He did know Neverland better than she did. But part of her wondered if Captain Hook had something else in mind when it came to the poisonous plant and the magical curing water.

When they hovered over the crystal blue of the natural spring, filling Hook's trusty flask with the magical clear liquid, Kadence felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise up. Her eyes darted around them. Nothing stood out to her. "Hook …" she whispered a warning.

"Aye." he whispered back, tucking his flask in the inside pocket of his leather coat, "I feel it too."

"What is it?" The girl asked, twisting her head left and then right, crackling her neck as if loosening up for a battle.

Hook turned away from the spring, still speaking in a low tone, "I don't rightly know. Something dark."

Kadence still looked around them, she deduced, "It must be magic if we can both feel it, but can't see it."

"We are not sitting around waiting for it to reveal itself to us, let's go." He spun on one black booted heel, and made way through the forest, Kadence tailing right behind him.

Barely 50 feet into the depths of the forest, on a path towards the beach where the Jolly Roger was docked, Hook stopped suddenly. Kadence squinted slightly, confused, as she watched the pirate circle himself. He shook his head as if knocking cobwebs from his brain. "Are you ok?" She asked.

Hook glared at her, "fine." He circled again.

Kadence had never seen Captain Hook at so strangely, "What are you doing?"

"We have to get to me ship." He explained as if it were obvious.

"Yes. So go." Kadence pointed in the direction that they were headed originally.

Hook glanced towards that direction. And then back the way they came.

"Hook?" Kadence asked again. The pirate shook his head again. He reached into his pocket for his compass. Kadence couldn't imagine what was happening, "Hook." She said sternly, "We are wasting time." She pointed back to the path that they had just came from, "we just came from that direction." And then she pointed in front of her, "The boat is in that direction."

"Aye." Hook mumbled, rubbing his hand across his beard. He wasn't convinced. Something was messing with the one thing that the pirate could always count on, his sense of direction.

"Seriously, Hook." Kadence rolled her eyes and pushed past the man towards the path away from him. He followed begrudgingly behind her, "You are worse than my dad!"

"You're father got befuddled by the presence of magic?" He asked snarkily trying to defend himself with sarcasm.

"No, he has a horrible sense of direction." She laughed out loud.

"I have a perfect sense of direction, I promise you." He insisted, still unnerved by the sensation, "I've sailed more times than you have walked."

"I don't doubt it." Kadence was still giggling at the pirate when they came to the beach. The Jolly Roger bobbed slightly with the waves.

Killian stepped towards the ship. "Someone is on my ship." He accused bolting towards the boat, pulling his sword.