Click. Complete. Boo-freakin-yah!


Chapter 8: The Footrace

"Attennnnnnnnnnn—shun!"

Sunlight dappled Slightly's fox hood in amber and gold. Importantly, Slightly waved for Peter and Wendy's attention.

"Welcome to the billionth footrace between Pan and Mother: score currently stands Pan 1 – "

Peter stretched his arms and waved as the Lost Boys cheered.

"—and Mother…" Slightly continued with an apologetic look to Peter, "…some number so high I lost count."

"Because you can only count to three!" jeered Curly, John, and the Twins.

Wendy cocked her head disapprovingly in their direction. "Boys." she reprimanded. "Behave."

"Sorrrrrrrrrrry." chorused the boys.

"Path is a standard race course." Slightly continued with an imperial glace at his brothers. "Designed by our very own Tinkerbell! Take a bow Tink!"

Tinkerbell bowed, curtsied, pirouetted, and backflipped in the applause.

"Okay, okay!" Slightly grumbled as Peter and Wendy laughed. "Okay, don't hog the spotlight! Remember I'm in charge. Ehem – anyway, the course – "

—Tinkerbell mimed as Slightly spoke –

"…the course runs through the jungle, past the cove, and onto the beach. Last night, Cubby drew a line in the sand to mark the finish. Right? Right Cubby?"

"Oh…um…" Cubby tapped his pudgy chin. "…pretty sure?"

"Cubby!"

"Boys!" Wendy called as Cubby was ganged by a storm of toy tomahawks. "B—"

Wendy winced. A spasm knifed across her ribs.

"Hey!" Peter shouted, flying into the tussle. "Blockheads!"

Discretely as she could, Wendy massaged the scar through her nightgown. It was tender. The scar was knotted, still healing. Wendy worriedly bit her lip - she still had trouble breathing sometimes.

"Hey. You okay?"

Wendy looked up. Peter face was full of concern. His arms where full of toy tomahawks.

"Fine." Wendy lied. Smiling, she pretended to smooth wrinkles from her gown. "Perfectly fine."

Peter raised an eye brow. He dumped the toy tomahawks in a bushy shrub. "You sure?"

"Never better."

"Because we don't have to race." Peter reached for Wendy's injured side. "I can beat you any other time."

Wendy swerved. Lifting her skirt from the forest floor, she readied at the start. "Why Peter Pan." she smiled, "I do believe you are afraid of me."

Peter grinned. Bouncing his knees, he crouched at the line. "I hope you're ready Little Mother!" Swiftly, Peter wove his hand under Wendy's arm. He rubbed her scar. "Because you are going to loose!"

Scooting from Peter's hand, Wendy tried to ignore the lingering pain. "Oh no I won't."

"Slightly!" The Lost Boy's wined. "Come on! Start the race!"

"Put a sock in it! I'm about to start! But first I have a message from Mother – "Slightly said, holding up a homemade flag. "She requests that no one cheats. Especially Pan."

"Puh." Peter grinned, ruffling Wendy's forehead. "Girls."

Wendy smiled, pushing his hand away. "Boys."

"Are you ready?" Slightly asked, raising the flag. "On your marrrrrrrrrk…"

Wendy breathed deep. Experimentally she twisted, testing the scar.

"Get seeeeeeeeeeeeeet…"

She looked to the side. Peter's mouth was grim.

"Wendy." he said as Slightly opened his mouth. "Don't hurt yoursel– "

"GO!"

Go!

Wendy didn't wait for Peter to finish his sentence. Side already cramping, she burst into the forest.

It was a terrible race. No matter how hard she ran, Wendy trailed Peter all the way. By the time they reached the forest clearing, Wendy's entire body was begging for rest.

Just a little more! Wendy urged her buzzing mind and screaming lungs. Wheezing, she ran in stride with Peter. Her chest was burning, her side was on fire.

Then, she saw the finish line! It was filled with seawater, but dug deep into the sand. Gasping for breath, Wendy sprinted. She exploded forward with every last ounce of strength, ready to collapse over the finish line!

"Peter!"

"Scouts honor!" Peter whooped, seizing Wendy and yanking her away from the finish. "I cheat!"

Sweat dripping from his bangs, Peter perched Wendy on his hip. Enjoying every last one of Wendy's protests, he skipped along the finish line.

"Peter!" Wendy swung, her head and feet hanging over the sand. Breath regained, she grappled at Peter's feet. "Peter Pan! Put me down!"

"Put ya down?" Peter laughed, extended a pointed toe over the finish line. "Over here?"

"Peter!"

"Orrrrrrr? Over here?"

Peter spun in circles. He twirled faster and faster before screeching to a halt and standing Wendy upright. Smiling, he watched Wendy wobble harmlessly toward what she thought was the finish line.

"That's the ocean!" Peter called cheerfully as Wendy dropped dizzily in the sand. "Finish line is this way! Ohhhhhhhhhhh, I'm about to step over the line!"

"You are horrid!" Wendy retaliated. Giggling she fell back into the sand. Delirious with happiness and exhaustion she spoke into the cloudless sky. "You are horrid and a cheater, Peter Pa – "

BANG!

"MATES! IT'S PAN!"

Wendy sat up.

Pirates!

A row of cutlasses jabbed into the sky. "AVAST!"

Wendy didn't need Peter to tell her to run. Kicking up sand, she sprinted through the gun fire and into the forest.

"Wendy!"

Peter flashed in blurs through the trees. Wendy caught fleeting glimpses pirates all around her as Peter reached for her hand. "Wendy! Take my – AH!"

"Peter! No!"

Wendy buckled as Peter landed on her shoulders. Shielding her face, Wendy tripped as a fishing het exploded into her eyes. Several times the world turned upside-down, rocketing Peter and Wendy head over heels as they crashed to the forest floor.

"Ahoy! It worked!" screamed a pirate in the distance. Peter and Wendy clawed at the fishing net as the pirates cheered. "Avast maties! Avast ye scrogs! Go and fish them out! Find Pan! Bring him to Hook! Kill the girl!"

"Wendy!" Peter's face pinched against the ropes as he strained against the fishing net. "Wendy my dagger! There! By that stump!"

Wendy turned. Braiding an arm through the tangled net, she reached for the dagger. Gasping, she stretched her fingers. Her nail nicked the hilt. "Almost. I can't almost reach it."

"Wendy." Peter's voice dropped. Urgently, he wriggled against the net. "Wendy. Get your arm back inside the net!"

"But I'm almost there." Wendy breathed, sweating in concentration. Her finger tipped over the dagger. A shadow fell over her arm. "Almost – AH!"

A foot pinned down her wrist.

Wendy looked up.

Billy Jukes.

"No! Get off of her! Leave her alone!" Peter thrashed against the net. Choking he pulled the ropes taut as Billy Jukes knelt by Wendy, angling the dagger in his hands. "I'm the one you want! Not her!"

"Pan for Hook." Billy Jukes murmured, staring into Wendy's eyes. "Kill the girl."

"No!" Peter lunged, groping through the rope like a puppet. "Wendy, hold on!"

"Aye Wendy." Billy Jukes hissed, placing the dagger at Wendy's throat. "Hold on."

Wendy gazed at Billy Jukes. Then, pulse throbbing against the knife, she closed her eyes.

Swick.

Wendy opened her eyes. The net snapped apart, freeing her eyes and face. Suddenly Billy Jukes was there. Hacking the net into pieces, he hauled Wendy to her feet.

"I want you to go away." Billy Jukes growled, forcing the dagger into her hands. He glanced over his shoulder. Trees bowed as the pirate's approached. Quickly, Billy Jukes ripped away the ropes clinging to Wendy's gown. "I untied you. You do the rest."

Hatefully, the pirate glanced at Peter. Then his dark, intense eyes rest on Wendy. "Then I want you to go away. And never come back."

Wendy clutched the dagger to her chest. "Billy Jukes…"

"MATES!" Billy Jukes shouted, backing into the forest. He glared until Wendy was shielded by the Neverland jungle. "They've dodged the net! Escaped! Avast! Back to the shore!"

That night, Wendy told a different story. An adventure. So teeming was it with pirates, deathly footraces, rescues, escapes, secretes, brave Peter Pans, and unexpected endings that it was quite late before Wendy finally settled down for bed.

Peter Pan was waiting for her.

"Wendy?" Peter asked, smoothing a blanket over her scar.

Wendy smiled, gripping his hand in gratitude. "Yes Peter?"

"Wendy? Was that mercy?"

Wendy paused. Drifting into sleep, she started to dream.

"Yes Peter." she whispered, dreaming of a pirate boy that was very scared and very far away from his home. "That was mercy."


sultal's note: Two days - one short story! Guys I hoped you enjoyed this - it was a challenge to write by the deadlines but I am SO pumped it actually happened. Thanks heavens for small miracles...

PLUS, I think I am not afraid of writing Peter/Wendy cute scenes anymore!.They actually have chemistry and I had a blast writing them.

On to my other stories! Expect updates this weekend!
enjoy the nice weather!

keep writing.