4. Newfound Friends
"I've rested enough," Neal said to his newfound group of friends.
A day had passed since he'd been found.
"We should get going if we're going to find a portal back to Storybrooke," he said.
"And what makes you think there are any to be found," Aurora asked. "Portals are rare I this land. They're not as easy to come by as they used to be."
"She's right," said Mulan. "It was hard enough to find one to send Emma and Snow back."
"I'll find a way," Neal answered. "I always do."
Neal began walking away into the woods leaving the others behind.
"So what do we do," Aurora asked when Neal was slightly out of sight and it was just the four of them.
"We can't just leave him alone," said Philip. "He doesn't know this world like we do."
"We've done our job," said Mulan. "He's better. We should let him go."
"Mulan!" Aurora said her name disapprovingly.
Mulan looked at her. "Need I remind you the trouble we last found ourselves in when we helped strangers from Storybrooke? Cora stole your heart because of them."
Aurora placed a hand to her chest and Philip wrapped an arm around her.
"You got it back for me," Aurora said trying to make it come off like no big deal but failing.
"Either way," said Mulan, "Why risk our lives when we don't have to?"
"We risk our lives every day just by being out here," Aurora shot back. "At least there are better odds if we stick together. Like Philip said, Neal doesn't know the land like we do."
Pocahontas was the first to sigh. "Meeko, come." The little creature climbed onto her back. "Neal, wait," she called out and followed.
By the time she caught up he was fifty yards ahead of the others.
Neal turned to his right where Pocahontas and her tiny friend walked beside him.
"Want your bandages back or something," he teased.
"Funny but no," she said to him. "You shouldn't be out here alone."
"I'll be all right," Neal replied.
"Doubtful," Mulan said from behind followed by Aurora and Philip. "You don't know these woods the way we do.
Neal continued walking forward. "You'd be surprised by what I know."
And that was the end of their conversation. Neal had seen the looks on the faces of his friends but he wasn't ready to expand on exactly how much he knew.
