Chapter 14: Nib's Tale of White Rat
It truly was crowded in the underground home, even though it was substantially larger than the old one, twelve boys and one young man did barely fit.
Charles had been quite upset with the leaf-clad boy. So insolent and possessive of Wendy, not to mention obviously rude towards his person. "Tell me, Nathan", he said to Nibs after all had settled into their own nooks and where engrossed in rowdy conversations. "What is going on?"
"Where do you wish me to begin?" Nibs replied with a slight chuckle.
"Where ever Wendy's connection with the boy begins."
"Oh...I really doubt I am of authority to tell of such a thing."
"Then, simply tell me of whatever you are of authority to tell."
Nibs bit his lower lip and shifted his eyes to the side. "Well...it is quite a story...and you must promise to believe it all..."
Charles chuckled lightly. "Well..." he sighed. "I was abducted by pirates, tossed into the cellar of a flying ship...and I believe just flew with the assistance of a pixie..."
"Fairy" Nibs corrected. "Tink is a fairy...not a pixie. She's quite particular about that."
"Fairy then," he said and shook his head lightly with a smile on his lips. "I think I am willing to believe anything you say, otherwise, I would have to admit to the loss of my sanity."
"I suppose so." Nibs said, smiling wistfully.
"So...go ahead...but first, what do you prefer, "Nibs" or Nathan?"
"Either one will do really...mother and father allowed us to keep our names, but when we where legally placed under their care, they gave us proper ones of our own choosing...so...like I said....either one will do."
"All right then, Nathan ...wh..."
"No..." Nibs quickly interrupted. "I take that back...call me Nibs."
Charles snickered. "Nibs then...proceed."
And so, Nibs told Charles most of what he could remember. He started with his most earliest – if he could even get the order of events correct – memory, which was of how Tink and Peter had brought each one of them to Neverland, like so many others they were sure, although those had gone before their own arrival. He told him of Wendy's alluring bed-time stories and how Peter Pan would go to her window in search of them almost every night, until the day that he not only brought them a story, but the story-teller herself and her two brothers. He mentioned that he truly was not aware how long Wendy and the boys stayed on the island, but he was sure it was quite a while, for the memories of majestic adventures were plenty, even if most had already been claimed by Neverland's spell. He told him of the evil villainy of Hook, and recited the events of their final battle with grand accuracy, but with his greatest effort to omit much of the more delicate details, such as Wendy's hidden kiss.
"So...what is this place?" Charles asked when it was obvious that Nib's tale was done. "Neverland?"
"It is a child's paradise!" Nibs quickly retorted.
"But where are we, exactly?"
"Aww...that is a mystery even to me and I have lived here for years! The best I can tell you is...we are in the second star to the right and straight on till morning..."
Charles sighed in confusion, although such description did extend the smile on his face, as if he himself remembered that detail from time untold. "What does that mean?"
Nibs smiled mischievously. "We are...in the celestial heavens...my good Charles. And if you were to ask me to draw you a map...I could not...you see...only a few know the way...that would be the man in the sun and the Fay themselves, and they are particular as to who they show the path to. Without guidance from either one, one would simply roam the skies for eternity, searching for the star."
Charles shook his head lightly. "This is all too confusing."
"Oh...but truly it is not. It is only confusing for those that do think about it much. Why ask? Why know? Why not just enjoy?"
Charles shrugged. "That could make sense, I guess."
"Truly it does."
Charles turned to look around the room. Twelve boys, laughing, jumping, yelling and tumbling. Surely he could see the allure of such a place for any child, and yet, Wendy had chosen to leave and take her brothers with her. His respect and admiration for the girl grew larger at the thought, but then his other more troubling thought emerged again in his mind. He was well aware of his true feelings for the lovely Wendy Darling since the first day he laid eyes on her, sitting so poised and refined on the park bench, but with every inch of her body twitching inconspicuously to join her brothers in play. He knew since that day, that she was the only one for him, but once he got to know the emotion behind every glimmer in her eyes, he saw the ghost of another grasping still to her longing heart. It was this Peter Pan who still held her deepest soul and now, he had taken her away, into privacy amongst the night. His Wendy was in the company of another, the one she most likely, truly loved. Something between jealousy for the boy's possession and mourning for his all too short love affair echoed through his hollowed chest. This churn of dark emotions engulfed his whole, and he did not know weather he was to fight for her with the edge of a blade or completely denounce his own future with her, for how could he ever live knowing that his love would never love him whole?
"Charles" Nibs interrupted his somber thoughts. The marked seriousness in his tone alerted Charles to an importance to be heard and so he looked to the boy with intrigue. "Wendy is...important to us...each one of us. You are quite lucky she is obviously fond of you...otherwise, you would have been tarred and feathered by your second visit to our home."
Charles sighed. "Believe me, Nibs, I know." He looked down to the ground and mustered the proper courage to ask his query. "This, Pan... he loves her, right?"
Nibs puffed a breath of air, making the wild strands of hair before his eyes jerk upwards and away from his face. "That is...what I am of no authority to tell...remember?"
He chuckled. "That is as good as a yes answer." Why should he even ask? Knowing in completeness would only further burden his thoughts.
Nibs sighed and remained quiet, an ambiguous comment forming in his mind. "You know...I've come to understand a few things since we left, four years ago. Things we really could not know back then." He looked back to Charles, bewildered sadness evident in his eyes. "There is nothing like the feel of being alone and forgotten."
The deepness in his words grasped all of Charles' attention. "Forgotten?"
Nibs nodded and glanced into space before he began again. "There was another...long ago...I had forgotten all about him...except his name...Mouse. Pale chap...with lightest blond hair and these bucked teeth. I use to call him White Rat...when we played with the Indian children. I remember...when he asked Peter if he could go back home to his mother. Peter pretended like he did not care, and even took him home himself. But he cared. My guess is that he did so every time. He cared because he knew...he would be forgotten again."
Charles looked at Nibs' face, his features contorted by a profound sadness that he still could not completely understand. He furrowed his brow as Nibs' words rippled through his mind, trying to uncover what it was that Nibs was truly saying. "I see."
"Uh huh. You see." Nibs sucked on his lower lip and his gaze into absence became more intense. "Those of us, who left, and those of you...who never came...we are not forgotten, because we stay with those that will remember us; those who care for us and we care for them. Peter doesn't, but he deserves to be remembered too, at least, for a little while. Do you not agree?"
Charles eyes rounded somewhat, as he heard the plea hidden in Nibs' comments. So Peter Pan could never be remembered completely. He would always be forgotten. He would always be alone. Even if Wendy glanced his way and brushed her hand against his, she would never stay. She would forget as well? He looked at Nibs for a moment and sighed deeply before turning his gaze back down to the floor below his bent knees, and conceded with a slight nod of his head. "I would guess so."
Nibs smiled peacefully and patted Charles on the shoulder. "You are a good man...I am glad we never got to tar and feather you."
Charles chuckled. "I heard those ridiculous stories...Such blatant embellishments."
"Oh no..." Nibs smiled mischievously. "They were all truths. Trust me." He said as he leaned in closer. "You are truly a LUCKY man."
He looked at the boy's whimsy smile for a terrified moment and then laughed whole-heartedly.
Hours passed, and sleep pulled at the boys' eyelids, making them drop into slumber wherever they sat. It struck Charles as odd that Nibs had confided so much in him, but still he was thankful he had. At least now, he felt that he was accepted by at least one of her brothers; a foot in the door.
He, however, did not allow himself to sleep, not that he even thought he could, for he was anxiously waiting for Wendy and Peter's return, and every minute that passed, he grew even more restless. Sure, he had conceded to allow Peter any moments Wendy could and would give him, but still, he could not help feeling that horrible heat of jealousy that clutched the bottom of his heart. Nibs had obviously omitted part of the telling, such as on the final battle, where Peter seemed to have lost completely but suddenly regained his will and strength. He would not have noted the absence of verse here or there, except that Nibs was not all that great at excluding them, for he would start to say something, and quickly shake his head and start anew.
Finally, he heard a door open from the tunnel to his right, and turned to look to it, awaiting their descent, but it was only Peter that entered the room, and no Wendy.
Charles looked directly to his face, waiting for him to speak or even acknowledge him, but the boy kept his gaze down, obviously ignoring him with such telling loathing for him in his absent amber gaze.
Charles sighed and rolled his eyes. Fine, if the boy was not to speak to him, than he would just have to come straight out and ask. "Where is Wendy?"
Peter walked across the room, floating over any slumbering bodies. "You still here?" Peter replied coldly and still avoiding direct confrontation.
"Yes" Charles answered with as much grace as he could muster. "But do not fret. We shall all leave you be, as soon as Wendy says she is ready to do so."
"Wendy is not with you, Peter?" Michael asked as he rubbed the sleep away from his eyes and lifted his head up from the ground.
"No." he said as he placed his sword in the weapons pail and moved towards his private quarters.
"Well...where is she?" Charles pressed on and stood up from his post against the wall.
"I do not know. I do not care." Peter said, still avoiding looking in Charles' general direction. "Why not go search for her yourself? I know she would much rather you find her than anyone else."
Charles was appalled and deeply disturbed. The boy had left his Wendy stranded out in a strange land, all alone, and in the dead of night! And he was quite sure he had heard rain just a couple of hours after they had gone off on their own. "You mean to say that you deserted her in the forest at night?!"
Peter finally gave in and tossed his head back as he spun around on his heals. "Yes...I....did!" He exclaimed with disdain dripping from every spoken syllable, and glared at the man with vicious eyes. His palms itched to grasp around the handle of his dagger and pull it from his holster to slice his neck straight across.
"What is going on?" Kip asked as the two's raising voice woke all up, and sleeping bodies where now fidgeting and stretching into consciousness.
"Wendy is missing." Charles quickly stated.
"She is not." Peter stated with scaling irritability. "She'll be back when she feels like coming back."
"Well that is simply not good enough for me! A lady should..."
"Wendy is not just a lady!" Peter intrusively interrupted him. "...she is quite capable of handling herself. She always did very well in those woods."
"But never so late at night did she venture into them, Peter." Tootles slowly and quietly argued.
"If you all wish to treat Wendy like a ninny and rush to her unnecessary rescue than do so! I will be in my quarters...resting. You need not even bother waking me when you go home." He announced and shoved his way through the animal hide with such great force that it almost fell from its place on the wall.
The boys gasped silently and looked to each other. Since when did Peter not jump with glee at the opportunity to play hero? Especially when the one needing a hero was Wendy?
Charles glared with shaking eyes at the animal hide. He was by then to say the least, infuriated with Peter Pan. He had so much he would have liked to scream out to the boy. Such things that might have actually warranted a slid to his throat. But he did not say them for good judgment quickly overcame his violent mouth. He breathed his anger into subjugation and turned to grasp the rest's attention. "I will search for her. Any other gentleman among you who will help?"
All her brother's quickly volunteered for they truly feared for her safety. The others were slower to respond, for they sensed Peter was at odds with the girl, but then again, whenever Peter was at odds, it was best to stay clear from his sights, lest he'd feel like forcing you into an abrupt sword fight to ease his troubled mind.
Curly walked to the weapons pail and began passing out swords and daggers, for never should a lost boy or lost but now found boy, be caught out on the island without steel. They took off, some in flight, some on foot, but all scattered in different directions. Almost instantly, as they stepped out into the surface, all noticed the odd gloom in the waking morning. No happy sun rays kissed the skies and no fresh dew dressed the leaves and grass. This was definitely, not a good sign.
Only Tinkerbell remained in the home with Peter, and Snowchime would have done so as well, except that Tink had ordered her to accompany the boys. With all gone, Tink ventured into Peter's snug little cave room, and found the boy lying on his clothed bed. With his front facing the wall, he was desperately trying to pretend to be asleep.
She inched closely to his head and chimed in concern, asking him if he felt ill, and reaching her hands out to feel for an elevated heat from his flushed skin.
"No Tink, I am not ill. I do not get ill, remember?" was his morose response. "Just go away. I am tired."
Tinkerbell retracted her hands before they made contact unto his skin. She knew it was not a physical hurt that plagued the boy, for she had heard the storms of the night, and she had heard the disdain in his hostile discussion with Charles. She had quite a good idea as to what was wrong, but she needed him to speak of it first, so she tried again, chiming for an explanation for his sudden spell of exhaust.
"Tink!" He cried out, lifting his head slightly, before dropping it again. "I do not wish to talk!"
Tink sighed with trouble in the breath she let out. He was one to have fits of anger, but always, they were quickly followed by bursts of mischief onto anyone nearest, so she waited for a word of prank from him, but none followed. She huffed in fury, as she thought of Wendy's stupidity for actually telling Peter of Charles.
There was nothing to do but let him wade out of his depression, and she hoped that it would be as quick as all his other times. She hovered over to his chimed that all would be better as soon as all who did not belong in Neverland would leave.
Peter remained quiet, with only a slight fidget of his shoulders. She pleaded for him to confide in her, telling him that she was his trusted little fairy, and that it was not good to keep anger sealed up...for that was such a grown up thing to do.
Peter remained quiet, and then he slowly pulled his knees up against his chest, cradling himself into his arms. After a long pause, he finally said, in a fleeting voice "She found husband, Tink." He tucked his chin in, muffling his words even more. "Charles is husband." The last word, said with a hint of sob.
Now Tinkerbell was truly upset! That foolish girl had disobeyed her and actually told Peter exactly what she had expressed she should not! She would have kicked herself if she could, for having given Wendy such liberty and opportunity to do so. She should have acted on her first instinct and sent the girl back straight home...or at least shoved enough pumperberries in her mouth to swell her tongue and render it useless for her entire stay. She tried to console Peter, by reminding him that it was bound to happen and that he knew what she was to do when returning to London. Once she tried the truth, and failed, she tried a lie and told him to not fret, for it was just one stupid girl and he would eventually forget her anyway.
She was still in mid loathing for her own carelessness and Wendy's loose tongue, when Peter finally spoke again, but this time, the muffled sobs shattered her tiny angry heart. "No...Tink" he said and sniffed quietly "...it was not just any stupid girl. It was my Wendy."
Charles trudged along through the thick vines and protruding shrubbery. The boys found it easier to fly about amongst the tree tops, searching down upon the ground, but Charles preferred to keep his feet on land, for he had only managed to fly earlier with much of the fairy's assistance.
They searched for hours, circling the island many a time, and bumping into one another every now and then. Upon the fifth or so time that Charles met up with John, the two decided to take a moment and rest beneath the shade.
"I can not believe the boy left her alone!" Charles cried as he tapped the back of his head against the trees' thick trunk. "What was going through his mind?"
John sighed. "He meant no harm. He is just not at times. Besides, he was right. Wendy knows these woods very well. "
Charles huffed, his gaze resting on a dark cave peeking out through the trees before them. "Still, that Hook and his pirates are about. They could easily ambush her! Do not forget that it was she who they had come for in the first place."
John nodded in agreement, as Charles rambled on about how Wendy could be in hell's danger at the moment due to Peter's carelessness. But the older boy quickly silenced when he noticed John's nods where all in automatic reply, for his eyes kept searching amongst the shrubbery.
"I doubt she would just be lingering about here, rest your eyes for a bit longer. We'll pick up the search in a moment."
John turned to Charles and smiled forcefully. "Right."
They sat for a few more minutes, resting their soles and Charles strived to close his eyes and get a quick nap, for his eyes were bloodshot with sleeplessness, but it would not happen. Finally, he gave up and told John he would now continue his search. Once he disappeared into the shrubbery again, John got up and searched around him as he fiddled with his shirt collar and cuffs. Once he saw no prying eyes, he took a step back and turned around to the east, with each step slightly more rushed than the last one. It had been long nights of restless dreams since he was last in Neverland. Images of chocolate eyes and red war paint hovered in his thoughts. A tickle on his lips and a warmth of hands on his cheeks. Now that Charles was safe, and all were out rummaging through the forest for Wendy, he allowed his boyish desires to posses him and off he went in search of his sister, following in the path to the Piccaninnies encampment.
"Miss Darling"
Bill Jukes stood guard at the door as Smee walked into the chamber, its extravagance only second to the Captain's quarters. He carried in his arms, a crimson floor length gown, velvet in texture and rich appearance. He walked towards the bed, where Wendy sat upon the mattress with both feet firmly planted on the ground and both hands clasped onto her lap, her eyes resting onto the wooden floor.
"The captain says you are to wear this for dinner. He expects you to accompany him in his chambers."
Wendy turned and glared at the dress draped over the first mate's extended arms. "I am fine as I am. Besides, since when does a Captain dine with his prisoners?" She looked up into his ever flushed face, creased with untold years of piracy and service to a belligerent master.
Smee smirked and cocked his head to the side. "Lassy, I doubt he thinks otherwise." He placed the dress upon the chair to his right. "It is not a request, Miss. 'Tis an order, and around here, we obey Captain James Hook's orders. You shall know that in time."
Wendy stared into his playfully innocent eyes, flickers of a kinder man than a pirate evident in their colored rim. "I do not plan to stay here long enough to learn that lesson. Your captain should know that."
Smee chuckled with amusement, and walked back towards the door, but halted right at the doorway and without turning, said "You know, there are worthier beings on this bloody island, to which that kiss of yours could have been granted to."
Wendy looked up in a startled fit, her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted, but just as she flashed her gaze up towards the first mate, the door closed behind him, and the skeleton keys jiggled in the lock.
Thank you for reading.