Hey guys! New chapter! I hope you like it. From here on out, a lot of things are going to be happening and hopefully it'll become clear to you guys as I go on.
I start school next week, so updates might be a little slow, but I'll try and get back to my usually weekly update. No promises though.
Enjoy!
Chapter 8
Raid
"Please stay still." Danielle quietly begged the deer before her as she notched her arrow on her bow. It was about 20 yards away, but she knew it'd take a miracle to hit it with her luck. She was out hunting on her own today. A lot of the boys were making fun of her, saying she was helpless without them. Then she said she could and they dared her to go out and comeback with a kill. So she was out there like an idiot trying to do just that, except she was failing miserably. She'd been going at this for about two hours now and so far only found a squirrel and a possum. Everything else probably heard her coming a mile away. Not that it really mattered, even if they didn't, she couldn't even hit them with her arrows. Peter had mainly focused on her sword skills rather than her marksmanship, so needless to say she was a tad rusty with a bow.
Danielle knelt down silently as she could to take aim at the first large stage she has seen all day. Again, she snapped another twig by accident, but thankfully the animal didn't seem to hear her. Holding her breath she lined up her arrow at the creatures head. When she finally convinced herself that she was aiming it right, she released the arrow, but it lacked the force to reach the deer. Instead it hit the ground right next to it and spooked the animal off.
"God Damn it!" Danielle groaned, hitting a nearby tree with her fist, which was a mistake because now her hand hurt. Then she suddenly heard a clapping noise behind her.
"Well done." A voice chuckled. It was Peter. Danielle rolled her eyes, she didn't even need to look back at him to see the mocking smirk on his face, she could hear it, "At this rate you'll be a master hunter in about," He walked into her line of vision and pretended to count his fingers, "A hundred years. Give or take a few decades."
Danielle gazed up at him annoyed, "Can I help you?"
"Oh Princess." Peter rolled his eyes and chuckled, "I think we know the better question here is: Can I help you? I heard about your little spout with the boys this morning and I am here to offer my assistance."
"Thanks, but no Thanks." Danielle stood up and walked over to where the deer had been and collected her arrow, "I think I can manage on my own."
"Clearly." Peter cocked a brow, "I mean, you only missed the stage by what? Five yards?"
"One!" She took up the arrow and pointed it at the smug bastard, "And I will have you know, I am getting better."
"You know." Peter strode down next to her and pushed aside the arrow with his hand, "I could teach you. I've lived on this island far longer than any of the boys. I've become a rather skilled bowman."
"No. I said I could get it on my own and that's what I am going to do." She turned up her chin and turned away, "Now if you excuse me, I have a deer to find."
Peter rolled his eyes, "I'm sorry to ask this, Princess, but even if some miracle happened and you were to actually kill such a creature- How exactly do you plan to carry it back home?"
"I'll figure out something." She replied quickly and started to walk off. Peter rolled his eyes; the girl was stubborn as a mule. He just sat back as the girl tracked down the deer again and watched her miss, just as he suspected she would,.
"Want my help now?" He smirked.
Danielle shot him a glare, "NO!"
Peter cocked a brow.
She looked away, "Maybe."
Peter tilted his head back and smirked, as if waiting for her to say more.
"Damn it, Peter! I'm not gonna beg. Now are you gonna show me how to shoot this thing or not?"
The immortal teen laughed, "Very well then, come here." He curled his pointing finger at himself and motioned her over.
Reluctantly, the lost girl did as he asked and stood right next to him.
"You see that rabbit there?" he pointed down next to the base of a far off tree.
"Yeah." She nodded.
"We're gonna aim for that." He smirked down at her, "Now take your stance."
"Okay." She notched an arrow and pulled back the string. "What now?"
"Put down your elbow," He placed a hand on her arm, "But a little bit. Good."
"Anything else?"
"Bring your hand to the corner of your mouth." He whispered, Danielle could fell his lips brushing against the shell on her ear.
She froze. "W-What are you doing?"
"Teaching you how to shoot a bow." He murmured against her hair, "Now relax." He griped her hand gently over the bow. He smirked when he hear her breath hitch at his touch, "Take a deep breath."
She nodded, trying to keep her mind focused on the task at hand, but Peter was getting way to close for comfort. Danielle couldn't tell if the boy was being sincere or if he was doing this on purpose. She assumed the latter, but her suspicions would have to wait till they were finished. She really wanted to prove those boys wrong and come back with something.
"And release." He whispered and Danielle did just that.
She let the arrow fly and to her amazement, it hit the rabbit! She actually shot the rabbit! And in one try, no less!
"Perfect." Peter smiled.
"Oh my God," her jaw dropped.
"There are no gods in Neverland." He smirked, "Just me."
Danielle rolled her eyes, "Ha, Funny."
"I thought so," he quipped.
"Yeah? Well do you know what I think?" She turned to him to make a witty remark, but once their eyes met, she froze.
His eyes bore into hers. Danielle couldn't quite read his gaze, it was conflicting. His usual smirk was gone and in its place was a rather somber expression, yet it was filled with curiosity and admiration. If that made any sense.
"Yes." He spoke in a low, soft voice. "Tell me, Princess. What do you think?"
"I-I…Ah…" Danielle quickly looked down. She could feel her ears starting to burn. A part of her suddenly felt like she wanted to kiss him and she couldn't understand why! God, she needed to pull herself together! Sure, she always thought Peter was good looking, but never anything more than that! It wasn't like she liked him or anything. She didn't. Really…. Not one bit. Okay fine, maybe a little, but not enough to make her tongue tied like this! That's just crazy!
"Yes?" The corner of Peter's lip turned up ever so slightly, but he gaze stayed intense, like the next thing she said would mean life or death to him.
"I ah-" Danielle closed her mouth and shook her head. Then suddenly she backed away and looked him in the eye with guarded face, "Nothing. Um…" She put on a shy smile, "Thank you. For helping me shoot my bow."
Peter looked down at her with something that vaguely resembled hurt, but it was only for a second. So the lost girl just assumed she imagined it. "Right." He smirked, but his lips don't quite reach his eyes, "No problem. Can't have my lost girl running around without knowing how to hunt. What would the others think of me?"
"Like you care." She chuckled and walked over to pick up the rabbit. "Honestly Peter," She continued, "You're-" She turned around to see an arrow flying at her, but just as it was about to hit her, Peter flashed over and caught it in his grasp. The arrow head was only about an inch away from her heart. She could clearly see the black gunk that had been painted all over its tip. It was laced with Dreamshade poison.
"What the hell?" Her gasped and looked up in the direction of where the arrow had came from. She saw a man off in the distance. He was from the Piccaninny Tribe, his face was pinted with red and blue and he seemed to look rather hostile.
"Peter?" She looked up at him and saw the boy had a very dangerous expression on his face. He looked like he was about to charge at the man, but then they saw the woods ruffle behind him. Peter's eyes widen a bit as he pushed Danielle behind him.
"Shit." He muttered. He realized that they were more coming. The man notched another arrow, ready to fire at them again, but with a quick blast of Peter's magic, the man was knocked into a tree and rendered unconscious. "Come on!" He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her away from the scene. The two were quickly printing back to the camp.
"Peter! What's going on?" Danielle cried, but he ignored her question and just kept pulling her along.
Once they were back in their territory, Peter called his sentries with a whistle. They all came running over as fast as they could, "What's going on?" One asked.
Peter looked at them quickly, "The Indians. They're coming to attack. Come on! We have to get back to camp!" He ordered quickly, "Sound the battle horns!" They boys quickly complied and followed them home. Each of them sounded off their horns as they ran.
Many of the boys from all around their hide out came running to the camp, Pan quickly explained the situation to them and started barking out orders for their defense. Danielle could see the hurt and confused look on Felix's face from the other side of the crowd. She could only imagine what was going through the poor boys head.
Once Peter withed with the boys, he looked to the twins and handed Danielle over to them, "Take her to my quarters. Now! And stay down there with her till this is over."
"What?" All three of them looked up at Pan with a disbelieving look.
"Peter!" Danielle Shouted, "What are you talking about? I'm going to fight!"
"So are we!"
"No you are not!" Peter shouted at them. All three of them fell silent at the force of his voice. They could tell by his expression that he didn't have any patients for back talk right now, not ever from his lost girl. "You two are taking her down to my place and you are going to stay there until I say it's okay to come out! There will be no arguing here."
"But Pete-" Danielle started again, but he quickly cut her off.
"Enough!" He roared at her. The poor girl started trembling under his gaze, "Now go!" He turned around and started helping the other boys prepare for the tribe.
Danielle wanted to keep on pushing, but with one look from Jack, she decided otherwise. Peter gave them an order and they had to follow, regardless how they felt about it. That was one of Pan's rules and you never break any of Pan's rules.
A sword quickly appeared in Peter's hand as he took his stance in the front of his boys. Each one of them was armed with their hand made weapons. The Piccaninny Tribe was already there with their leader them at their front. It was Tigerlily. Her face was covered in red and blue war paint, but Peter could tell it was her and sadly, so could Felix.
"Pan!" She screamed. Her face was twisted into a vicious scowl.
"I'm right her, girl." The immortal boy frowned, "No need to shout." He stepped forward and glared at the girl. He was beyond angry, but he knew the tribe would never risk his wrath unless they had a good reason. So he held himself together, "Care to tell me what this is about?"
"You evil, manipulative, heartless bastard!" She growled, "I knew you were a devil, but I never believed you would come and attack without warning! You owed my People that much you damn coward!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Peter narrowed his eyes.
"Oh don't play innocent now!" She spat and started pacing, "You sent your shadows on us! Those demons killed half my people, including my family!" For a second Peter thought the girl might break into tears, but she stayed strong and spread her arms out towards her people, "We are the only ones left."
Peter pushed his brows together in confusion, but said nothing.
"And now I have come to make you pay." She growled, "Either you hand yourself over willingly. Or we will kill you and everyone one here who chooses to defend you." Her eyes scanned over the crowd of lost boys till they landed on Felix. She locked eyes with the boy and her expression hardened, "Everyone."
Peter looked back and looked at his friend's eyes, and as he guessed, it gave nothing away. A part of Peter wished he had sent the boy down with Danielle during this crisis and spared him the pain of being part of this fight. However it was too late to have any of his boys leave now, especially Felix. If any of them back out now they would be considered cowards and traitors among the lost boys and they would look weak. No, he needed to stay. The blond boy may have had feeling for the Indian girl, but his loyalties still lay with Pan. It always would.
"Tigerlily." Peter step forward, turning his gaze back on the girl, "I don't know who attacked you village, but I can promise you it wasn't me."
"Right." She sneered.
"I always keep my promises don't I? I'm being truthful with you right now, Girl." He replied sincerely, "It wasn't me. Why would I come after your tribe? Like you said before, I had no reason to."
The girl scoffed, "Peter, I don't pretend know how your twisted little brain works. If I did, my family would still be alive."
"Tigerlily. I'm serious."
"And so am I!" She glared, stomping forward, "Tell me Pan, if you didn't send the shadows after us, then who did? Hm? Cause last I checked, you were the only one on the island with that kind of power!"
Peter fell silent for a second, considering her word. Then he finally replied, "I am. But I am telling you, It wasn't me."
Tigerlily shook her head and let out a humorless laugh, "Oh Peter… Peter. Peter. Peter." She turned to the boys with a frown, "You're tell me you are the only one that can pull off an attack like that, but you weren't the one that did. Well Peter. You're lying about one of those things, but you know what? I don't care. Cause all I want-" She took her spear and raised it in the air, "Is your head on a steak. Piccaninny!"
"Tigerlily!" Peter shouted, trying to give the girl one last chance, "I'm warning you! Don't!"
"Get him!" She yelled and her people launched at them.
"Attack!" Peter cried out and the lost boys surged forward with their leader and met the tribe in battle. It was absolute chaos. Arrows were flying everywhere, people were shouting at one another with curses and pleas for help, but Peter paid no heed to any of them. All he had on his mind was survival.
The immortal boy dodged the blows of his enemies and was slicing them down at every turn he could. Unfortunately he and his boys couldn't handle everything. Some of the tribesmen were able to push past and lay waste to their camp and somehow a fire broke out. However Peter had no time to worry about that because now he had come face to face with the leader of the raid, Tigerlily.
She glared at him at first, but then something odd happened. Her lips turned upward into a cruel grin. Peter had known the girl for a long time and he had never seen her make an expression like that before. She wouldn't, especially during something like this. She laughed at his confusion, the fire danced in her eyes, "Hello Peter. Long time, no see." Peter's brows pushed together, her voice was off. Instead of the usual tribal accent that she had like the rest of her people, she sounded a bit like him. "Tell me, did you miss me?" Tigerlily's eyes turned purple.
Peter's eyes widen, "What the hell are you doing here!?" He shouted.
"What?" She smirked, "I a guy visit his old protégé every once in a while? I heard about you new little friend on the island. I must say, she is very pretty. Just like that Wendy-girl." Peter growled and was about to charge at the girl, but then suddenly she stabbed herself through the stomach.
"No!" Peter shouted.
"And look now. You killed this girl." She clicked her tongue. "How will your dear friend, Felix, ever forgive you? Not that you could care of course. You would need a heart for that."
"You bastard!" he shook his head in disbelief.
The girl smirked one last time, then suddenly her eyes turned back to normal and she winced in pain. She looked down at the knife in her stomach and clutched at its hilt. "What..?" She began looking around at the battle and saw most her kinsmen were dead and getting slaughter by his boys. Peter almost felt bad for the girl. She looked at him, confused and scared and breathed out, "Pan? What's… going on?" But before he could even answer her, she fell into his arms, limp and unmoving. She was dead.
