Maybe we should have flown back, I thought as we were still walking through the trees half an hour later. Even as I thought it, I knew I would rather walk for a full day than take a flying adventure with Pan again. My legs had definitely gotten tired after that long workout though.

Not paying attention to where I was walking, I almost yelped as Peter spoke up. "Stop," he commanded. In doing so, I realized I was about to walk into a giant thorn bush.

"You have rose bushes on this island?" I asked confused. I wasn't aware that roses grew in tropical climates.

"No, this is Dreamshade. There is a poison that covers the entire plant," he explained. "Even the tiniest prick is fatal. The poison spreads through your body until it reaches your heart."

"Poison plant. Got it," I said grimly. Of course there had to be poisonous plants on the island, and I hadn't thought to ask about any before I went traipsing through it earlier today. Barely sparing me a glance, Peter carried on through the trees on whatever path we were on to get back to camp. However, this time I kept my eyes peeled for any signs of the Dreamshade plant.

Twenty minutes later and we finally broke through to the small clearing with the fire pit in it from the previous night. I hadn't realized I was getting cold until I stood next to the fire. Probably a side effect of walking with the Ice Man for an extended period of time, I joked with myself.

Noticing Jack sitting by himself, I made my way over to him. I wouldn't consider him a friend necessarily, but he was the only person who had been nice to me at all the entire time. If you also ignore the one time last night Pan was genuine with you and when he made Jack find a bandage cloth, part of me tried to reason.

Shaking my head slightly to get that thought out of my head, I took a seat next to Jack. "Hey," I smiled at him.

"Hello," he said with the same kindness I received last night. "Where have you been this morning?"

"I went to a beach to run laps for a while," I told him. "Running helps me think."

"I can understand that. I know it sounds horrible, but sharpening and fixing the bows and arrows can be relaxing for me," he said laughing at himself.

"It's not so crazy," I reassured him. It felt nice to have a semi-normal conversation with someone rather than being stuck with my thoughts.

"How's your cut?" Jack asked looking down at my hand. Truth be told, I hadn't thought about it since yesterday; it still stood as a reminder as the truth of this whole place.

I tried picking the knot out with my fingers, but I was having a difficult time because of how tight it was tied. "Here, let me help," Jack said. I was about to protest and keep going when he laid his large hand on top of mine. "Please," he said.

Sighing, but nodding my head I pulled down my right hand and extended my left hand to him. Despite his hands being large and calloused, he gently pried apart the knot until the whole bandage was off. The small cut was barely visible at this point.

"Thanks," I told him. He smiled and nodded his response, looking behind him for his bag to place the cloth in. Taking this time to look around, I noticed Pan just staring at the two of us with no emotion on his face. To be honest, him with no expression worried me more than anytime I had seen a troubling gleam in his eyes or when he circled me.

At our eyes meeting, he snapped out of it and stood up on one of the logs. "Boys!" he called to the group. "It's time to go on trap checks. Everyone is coming except Alex and Colin. You two are to stay here with Kim." Once he was finished, he stepped down off the log.

As the other boys were gathering whatever supplies were necessary for a "trap check", I walked over to Peter to question him. "Are you seriously leaving me behind to babysit?" I asked.

"Do you really want to go?" Peter asked after barking out a laugh. Seeing I had no response, he sneered at me. "I thought not. And no, you are not staying here to babysit. On the contrary, they are being kept behind to watch you."

I was fuming, but he brushed past me before I could say anything. He and the boys going on the trip headed out on the other side of the fire where I was from. While the rest of them ignored me, Jack gave me a small wave which I returned. I shot Peter one last glare into the back of his head and then they were all gone.

Turning to see who Alex and Colin were, I quickly noticed two twelve year olds looking through a sword pile. Great, I thought. Just what I wanted. To be left behind with children.