Chapter Seven

The Cree Bird

"What is it?" Tootles asked. Slightly peered through the telescope examining the object flying toward them.

"It's a large rainbow bird. Quite ugly too." He looked closer and nodded. They thought it was a green bird. But it was Cree. She was wearing a Tie-dye T-shirt and blue plaid pajama Capri pants so from far away she looked rainbow and apparently like a bird.

"Give me it!" Nibs yelled as he grabbed the telescope from Slightly. Keeping a strong hold on it, he fought back.

"No! When Peter's gone, I'm in charge!" Remembering the boys released their holds on it and Slightly peered through it again. Cree had flown closer making quite the progress without Peter there to help her. "It's coming closer." He told them. Tink burst in front of the telescope making her light brighter blinding Slightly. "My God, I've gone blind!" He screamed throwing the telescope down and pressing his hands against his eyes as the rest of the boys laughed at him.

"I'm blind. I've gone blind. I'm blind." Curly teased prancing around in a circle making everyone laugh harder.

"Hello Tink!" The Twins, Yuffie and Luffie, giggled. "Any news of Cinderella?" Tink flew over to Tootles whispering into his ear silencing everyone. Now Tinker Bell was not all bad. Sometimes they were all good. But fairies are so small they only have room for one feeling at a time.

"Tink says the bird's called a . . . 'Cree.'" He repeated. "And Peter wants us to–." He gasped looking at Tink watching her reenact shooting Cree with an arrow. "–shoot it down."

"Well," Slightly said taking out his bow and arrows, "we have our orders. Shoot the Cree bird."

"Aye, aye!" The boys agreed taking out their bows and arrows.

"Ready?" Slightly asked as they all hooked their arrows on their bows. "Aim!" They aimed their arrows at Cree carefully waiting for the signal. "Fire!" Tink waved her little hands at Cree.

"Bye-bye!" She squealed smiling.

"Three, two, one!" Cree spiraled down unconscious to the ground immediately after she was hit. Tootles whooped in victory.

"I got it! I got it!" He yelled. Shouting, they all ran over to the place where she fell weaving in and out of trees on the way. Tootles arrived first stopping abruptly looking at her in horror. Slowly, one by one, the boys arrived walking up behind Tootles.

"That is no bird." Slightly observed looking at her.

"That's a lady." The twins told everyone as they looked at Tootles. "And Tootles–"

"Tootles has killed her!" They boys murmured quietly.

"Ha!" They jumped, turning around to see Peter. They quickly scrambled in front of Cree hiding her. "I'm back! Great news. I know what happened to Cinderella." Peter said gleefully taking out his dagger. "She defeated the pirates. There was stabbing, slicing, torturing, bleeding and they lived happily ever after." He reported triumphantly.

"Well, that's a relief I must say." Slightly observed. Nodding, the boys agreed.

"Greater news! I have brought you she that told of Cinderella. She is to tell us stories! She is–!" Peter stopped as he saw Cree lying there lifeless

"Dead. Tragic." Slightly reported as Peter knelt beside her. The boys followed his example and knelt as well.

"Awful. Good shot though." Peter observed taking the arrow out of Cree's chest examining it. "Whose arrow?" Tootles stepped forward.

"Mine, Peter. Strike, Peter. Strike true." Peter shook his head

"No. You didn't do it on purpose. I can tell." Tootles sighed in relief.

"We thought she was a bird–!" Tootles was cut off by Cree moaning not unconscious but asleep. Peter leaned over her. "The Cree lives!" Peter searched her trying to find out how she could have survived. Around her neck was a necklace. That necklace had an acorn attached. Peter smiled as he held it in his hands,

"It's my kiss. My kiss saved her." He examined it noticing there was a hole in it from the arrow.

"I remember kisses. Let me see it." Peter handed over the necklace to Slightly. Nodding in approval, Slightly gave it back. "Aye, that is a kiss. A powerful thing. Let's carry her to the house." He suggested.

"Hands." They held out their hands palms up as Peter observed them.

"They're a bit dirty." Slightly noticed. "She must stay here and die."

"No!" Peter yelled making Slightly flinch.

"Oh, how could have I thought of that? Stupid." He laughed weakly as Peter glared at him. "Ahem. Sorry."

"We'll build a house around her." Peter suggested. Agreeing, the boys cheered as they ran into the jungle. "With a chimney! And a door knocker! And windows!" He suggested calling after them, motioning for the twins to stay behind. They ran up to him smiling.

"Yuffie? Luffie?" They nodded. "What really happened?"

"Slightly thought she was a bird." Yuffie explained.

"So Tinker Bell told us you wanted us to–." Luffie stopped looking at Yuffie.

"–shoot her down." They finished together. They waved and ran away to join the others and help them build the house for Cree.

"Tinker Bell? Oh, Tinker Bell?" Peter called. Reluctantly, Tink flew down to him from her hiding spot. "Was it you Tink?" He asked as he looked over at Cree. Glowing red and growing horns, Tink nodded evilly. "Than I am your friend no more!" Peter grabbed her and threw her into the jungle not wanting to lay eyes on her again.