Tiger Lilly never felt that she belonged with the people of her village, she was different from the other girls, instead of weaving and making blankets, most of her time learning from the medicine man, Falling Tree.
The man was more beautiful than the women in the village and he preferred to wear dresses to the pants that the men usually wore, his hair was worn in long braids down his back and the trinkets he had weaved into his long locks and pierced ears jingled as he walked. Tiger Lilly figured that because they were both odd, the managed to become friends.
The closest thing to friends her age that Tiger Lilly had was a brave named Silver Fish and a girl named Shell. Silver Fish was a poor excuse of a brave, he was barely strong enough to draw back the string on a bow and was too scrawny and in poor physical shape. But what he lacked in looks and strength he made up for in cleverness and humor.
One day when Silver Fish was hunting with the other braves, the boys pushed him into a river where he nearly drowned before Tiger Lilly managed to yank him to shore. She had agreed to teach him how to swim so long as he would teach her how to read the stars. A strange friendship was formed.
Shell was the most beautiful girl in the village, she was also the perfect example of what a woman should be; obedient, kind, gentle, lovely, and a good cook. However, she was also sickly. Falling Tree had to prepare a medicine for her once a week or else she would fall ill. Tiger Lilly figured that since the two of them were as different as the sun and the moon, they were drawn to one another.
Tiger Lilly was odd in her own way. She was vengeful, unafraid to get someone back for the cruel things that they had done. She was also dark, preferring the macabre and baroque to the perfect and living. Crows were her favorite animal and she wore their feathers in her long dark hair.
She was not beautiful in the traditional way, but she was striking. Her body had yet to develop the curves that most girls her age gain; however, she was lithe with more lean muscle than soft curves. Her face was angular instead of soft and round, with high cheek bones and a sharp chin. She had eyes so dark that they were almost black framed by long dark lashes and heavy eyebrows.
The people of the village mostly avoided her, so you can guess her surprise when she awoke one night to find Peter Pan outside of the village.
She had awoken to the sound of beautiful music playing, curiosity got the best of her and she rose from her sleeping skins and followed the sound.
Peter was waiting for her, perched in one of the trees playing the hypnotic and wonderful tune.
She crossed her arms when she saw him. She did not expect to ever see Peter Pan again, in fact she really did not want to. Even though the two of them had struck a bargain she had no desire to form a friendship with him after all he had done to the people in her village.
She could hear the cries of the Lost Boys that had been stolen by the shadow, and bore witness to the torturous things they did to both human and animal alike.
"To what do I owe the honor?" she inquired bitterly.
"The pleasure is all mine, princess. I figured you would come, this pipe is special and only certain people can hear the music you know." He explained as he placed the pipe back inside the pouch on his leg.
"Well I guess that just makes me special. What do you want, Pan?" she asked.
"Merely to invite you to a party celebrating my survival of dream shade. After all, you are the reason and you would be our honorary guest."
Tiger Lilly looked at the boy thoughtfully. She was curious about the Lost Boys, she didn't know anything about them. Or Peter.
"I'll come…if you promise that I will return safely and in one piece to my bed before the sun is up." Tiger Lilly stated simply.
Peter chuckled. "Way to take the fun out of everything"
She glared at him. "Well, lead the way" she said simply.
Peter smiled before taking her hand and leading her deep into the forest.j
Tiger Lilly made sure to pay attention to the many twists and turns that Peter Pan made during the trek towards the compound. She heard the boys before she saw them, the sound of sticks beating together along with the cries of the boys as they danced around a fire.
She couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face. They reminded her of the young braves during one of the celebrations that her tribe had. Dancing around a fire and playing music loudly together.
The boys all stopped when they saw Peter, and gazed wide eyed at Tiger Lilly.
"Boys, this is Princess Tiger Lilly. She is the reason that I am still alive today." Peter introduced taking her hand and holding it proudly above her head.
The boys cheered and soon began dancing and beating their sticks together again.
Peter dragged Tiger Lilly into the circle and the two began to dance with the boys. Tiger Lilly instantly joined in. Dancing was one of her favorite things to do, and she found herself forgetting all of her troubles letting loose and twirling to the beat of the sticks and drums.
She noticed Peter watching her, and she couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her face. The boys in the village had that same look when she danced. She twirled and clapped her hands together, stomping her feet and dancing the way that her mother had taught her.
At sunrise, Tiger Lilly bid the Lost Boys good bye and began the walk back to her village. She couldn't help the smile on her face, for the first time in a long time she felt as if she belonged somewhere.
And Peter Pan wasn't that bad, in fact he had been a lot of fun to dance and celebrate with. Maybe, there was more to the heartless and shadowless boy then meets the eye.
When she arrived back in the village she all but collapsed onto her sleeping mat, her feet tired and her eyes stinging from the smoke of the fire. She knew that she should wake up and do her chores, but she didn't care. For the first time in a long time she had had fun with children her own age and she wasn't afraid to admit it or skip one day of chores.
She fell asleep to the sound of drums and the feel of Peter's eyes on her as she danced.