Hi all-I am so overwhelmed by all the support, thank you. Pretty much you dudes rock.
Ok, lots of you have been asking for Mr. Pan. So without further ado...
Chapter 29: Codfish
"If one of you blockheads doesn't speak up, heads are going to roll!"
The line of Lost Boys trembled like leaves in the wind. Eyes on fire, Peter stomped in front of them, burning each boy with a midnight glare.
"I'm going to ask you all one more time," Peter leaned forward, teeth bared "Where is Wendy?"
Slightly groaned. Grudgingly, he stepped forward. "Pan," he began, "we've been looking since the pirate atta—"
"Not what I asked!" Peter barked, sending Slightly skipping back, "I want to know where Wendy is! Now!"
Michael started to cry. Peter rounded on him. "Michael! Up and front!"
"I don't know where she is!" Michael sobbed, holding Teddy under his chin, "But I miss Wendy! John said—"
"John?" Peter snapped, eyes flickering down the line. A quick head count revealed a missing top hat. "Slightly, where's John?"
"He went fishing with a girl!" crooned Curly, "On purpose! John and Tigerlily sittin' in a tree—"
"Curly!" Slightly hissed as Nibs yanked Curly's hood over his head, "Not the best time, Dummy!"
"Fishing?" Peter glowered, "When?"
Slightly jumped forward, eager to redeem himself. "Last night, Pan!" Peter's eyes narrowed as Slightly finished weakly, "…but…he…never came back. And he never said where he was going…yeah."
Peter clenched his fists. It was clear he'd dug himself into a dead end.
"All right, Men," he finally said. The Lost Boys stood erect, "We have to find Wendy. She may be in trouble."
Slightly held Michael's head against his thigh as the little boy whimpered. Peter glanced at Michael, but did not address the tears. Swallowing hard, the boy forced himself to stay calm and in command.
"Comb the Island! Curly, Cubby, search Blindman's Bluff. Nibs: Indian camp. Talk to the chief. Twins, you two cover Pegleg Point to Cannibal Cove. Slightly, take Tootles and Mikey to Crocodile Creek: and be careful!
"Right, Pan!"
"We'll make sure Mother gets home!"
"Make sure you do!" Peter shouted as the Lost Boys scattered, "Find her!"
Peter shook his head, speaking quietly to himself, "Please…find her…Tink!
The pixie drifted before the boy's nose, hands on her hips.
"Go organize the fairies," Peter said, lifting off the ground, "have them look in the deepest, darkest part of the jungle for Wendy while I check Mermaid Lagoo—Tink! Tink get back here!"
Swinging her tiny fists, Tinkebell chimed angrily as Peter snatched her wings.
"Stop that talk!" Peter shook the pixie, sprinkling magical dust everywhere, "Wendy would never run away!...It doesn't matter what I said, I know Wendy! She needs me!...Oh come on, don't say things like that! Tinkerbell—please."
Huffing like a blow fish, the pixie blew fairy dust into Peter's eyes.
"Tink!" Peter warned.
Throwing up her arms in exasperation, the pixie clanged like a broken bell as she buzzed into the forest.
"Thank you!" Peter grumbled after her golden trail. Taking one last look at Hangman's Tree, Peter was thunderstruck at how empty and lonely the dead tree seemed without Wendy inside it.
"I'm coming Wendy," whispered Peter, knuckles white, "I'll bring you home, even if you did run away from me."
The treetops skimmed beneath Peter's chest as he hurried through the air. As Mermaid Lagoon rushed toward him, Peter scanned the vista. Cupping both hands over his mouth, the boy called Wendy's name. So loudly did he call, that Peter failed to notice the shouts coming from the forest floor.
ZING!
Peter swerved as an arrow zipped under his armpit. "What the—?"
ZING! ZING! Two more arrows pocketed the air around him, but not close enough for Peter to consider them dangerous. Just annoying.
Running down the side of a great oak, Peter dove into the forest and tackled the perpetrator. Arrows, quiver, and bow sprayed over the underbrush as Peter and the archer tumbled.
Skidding to a halt, Peter dug his knees into the archer's stomach and slashed out his dagger. A strong hand caught his wrist.
"Hold!" Black Antler kicked Peter off his stomach and sprung to his feet, "Wait!"
Breathing hard, Peter slowly lowered the dagger. Flicking the blade into his sheath, the boy glared at the brave. "I usually kill people that shoot at me."
Black Antler straightened his jerkin. "I meant no harm, Little Eagle. You were flying too fast to hear my call."
"What do you want?" Peter asked coldly. He knew that Black Antler was friendly with Wendy, and he despised the brave for it. "Quick!"
Ignoring Peter's harshness, Black Antler spoke urgently, "Wendy is not safe."
Anger seared through Peter's body and his blood boiled. "Where is she?" Peter demanded, advancing dangerously and reaching for his dagger.
Black Antler glared. "We don't know. Princess Tigerlily was fishing with one of your Lost Boys and hooked a dying merman that said Wendy's name—"
"—merman?" Peter's insides clenched as Tigerlily and John crashed through the underbrush, "That codfish! I knew it!"
"Pan! Pan!" Wheezing, John bent over his knees. Tigerlily stood beside him, anxious but unwinded. "Pan, its Wendy! I think my sister's in terrible trouble!"
"So I hear," Peter growled, "John whatsa matter with you? Why didn't you tell Slightly last night?"
Wiping his forehead, John tried to explain their predicament but Black Antler interrupted with uncommon discord, "Why weren't you around last night, Little Eagle?"
"Indeed," John huffed, bolstered by Black Anter's audacity, "You said that you were going to find Wendy after the pirate attack!"
"I did! And you better shut your trap Jo—"
"Then why didn't she come back?"
"And who knows how long she has been missing, Little Eagle!"
"It's not my fault you Pit Heads! She left—"
"And you let her? Good heavens, there are wild animals in the woods!"
"And pirates!"
"And quick sand!"
"I'm warning both of y—"
"STOP IT!"
The three boys ducked as Tigerlily pitched the golden sapphire comb at their heads.
"Good Goddess!" The little Indian Princess stomped her foot so hard, wood toads leapt for cover, "Do you three keep your brains in your bottoms?"
Both Black Antler's and Peter's mouths hit the floor. Flabbergasted, John managed a proud smiled, "Princess!"
"You be quiet!" Tigerlily ordered, "And sit still before I stick you all like porcupines!"
John slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Now…" Tigerlily blew a puff of hot air, "Stop arguing and get on with the hunt! Black Anter—you spent all night healing the merman. Did he say anything else that John and I did not hear before he escaped?"
Monitoring the princess like she was a rattlesnake, Black Antler shook his head. "I am sorry, Princess. The merman swam off once his fin was restored. I could not catch him in the dark."
"What did he say?" Peter asked tersely. Tigerlily frowned, but Peter was much too heated to be intimidated.
"He said Wendy's name, multiple times," John said, scratching his head, "…and I believe 'thank you for not killing me' was also part of the conversation."
"He was gouged very badly," Black Antler added, rubbing both hands against his thighs, "there was blood everywhere and his neck was too bruised to speak above a whisper. But after we unhinged the hook, he twisted into the water and disappeared."
"Which direction?"
Black Antler shook his head. "Little Eagle, he could have changed directions a hundred times underwater. But…" Black Antler conceded under Peter's scowl, "…at first he went toward the serpent in the stars."
"South?"
"Yes," Tigerlily spoke darkly, "Mermaid Lagoon."
Peter rubbed his jaw. "Mermaid Lagoon…Mermaid…" The boy looked down as his toe brushed against the sapphire comb. Picking it up, Peter rotated the comb contemplatively, as if Wendy's whereabouts where encrypted in the gold metal.
Without warning, Peter stood.
"I'm going to Mermaid Lagoon," the boy announced, sticking the comb under his vine belt, "the mermaids said they saw that merman dealing with Hook's pirates! If anyone can help find Wendy, the mermaids ca—"
Tigerlily scoffed. Black Antler looked dubious.
"What?" Peter's patience was running thin, "If you have something else to say, Princess, then say it!"
Tigerlily's mouth curled in disgust. "I would not trust the mermaids if my life depended on it."
"Or…" Black Antler placed a hand on Tigerlily's shoulder, "if another's life depended on it."
John exchanged confused glances with Peter. "I realize that you ladies aren't fond of the mermaids, but it seems to me this is our only lead to find my sister. Besides, haven't the mermaids always been cordial?"
Tigerlily looked like she'd swallowed a slug. Also grimacing, Black Antler looked bluntly at John, "Get your head out of the clouds Owl Eyes."
"I beg your pardon!"
"That's enough!" Kicking off the ground, Peter flew into the air. "John's right, the mermaids are Wendy's only chance and I'm going to find out what they know!"
Tigerlily shook her head violently, "Don't you listen. Little Eagle?"
"No!" Peter snapped, grasping a tree branch, "I'm going to Mermaid Lagoon and you can't stop me. If the mermaids are right, that merman may have pulled Hook into this."
The very thought of his little Wendy Bird at Hook's mercy made Peter blind with rage. Turning, Peter flew into the treetops.
"Rally the Lost Boys!" Peter yelled over his shoulder and wind streamed down, "get ready for a fight!"
The early morning light was watered down to a diluted yellow, but Peter could see the mermaids clearly as he blazed into Mermaid Lagoon. The lagoon still stank of smoke and gunpowder but the mermaids had managed to nicely rearrange the splintered rocks and nurture the coral beds back to life.
"Look!" Elated squeals greeted the boy, "It's Peter! Yoooooo hooooo! Yooooo hoooo!"
"Girls!" Peter swooped onto the tallest pink rock to ensure he would be heard, "Girls, I need your help!"
The boy waited for the splashing and giggling to stop. "Oh yes, yes!" the mermaids chirped, patting their hair and batting their eyelashes, "anything for you Peter!"
"Whatever you need," the redhead mermaid leaned dreamily against the pink rock, "I'd just adore to help you personally. What does Peter need?"
Gratified that his idea was working, Peter crouched down, "I need you to help me find Wendy!"
The smile disappeared. Reclining slightly, the mermaid swished her red hair between her fingers. "Who?" she asked innocently.
"Wendy!" Peter repeated impatiently, "Wendy! You know Wendy!"
"Do I?" The redhead glanced at her sisters. Peter noticed vaguely that the blonde, normally so fussy about her complexion, was covered in splotchy pink welts. "No…no, I don't think we know who you are talking about, Peter."
"Wendy!" Peter slammed his fist against the rock, "You've swam with her! She's a pretty girl with beautiful hair, beautiful eyes, and a beautiful smile—"
"Oh no Peter!" The redhead hissed like a rabid animal, "No we haven't seen that ugly girl!"
"Don't call her that!" Pouncing off the rock, Peter grabbed as the redhead swam away, "Wendy is not ugly and I need to find her! Wait! You said there was a merma—"
"Don't ask us such things!" snarled the mermaids, disappearing into the water, "We do not care about the dratted human girl! We hope she is sleeping in the crocodiles stomach! We only care for Peter Pan!"
"Wait! Get back here!" Peter fluttered desperately over the water. "Come back!" he yelled, slapping the ripples left by the submerged mermaids, "Come back! Come back! I need your help! Come back!"
"Frustrating, isn't it?"
Peter spun about.
"You!"
Curled over a fractured rock was Brine. Body bruised and jaw firm, the merman stared darkly as Peter charged.
As Peter reached for Brine's neck, the merman seized a conch shell and flung it at the boy.
"Come closer," Brine warned hoarsely, "I'll drown you before you kill me."
"Where is Wendy!" Peter shouted, pointing his dagger, "What have you done with her?"
Brine's silver eyes flashed. "I tried to save her, which is more than you ever did."
"What?" Peter advanced, knife arched behind his head, "I've been protecting her from you!"
"I'm not trying to hurt her!" Brine growled, his gills twitching painfully, "I didn't mean...I couldn't stop...it's just…it's just…"
"It's just, what?" Peter yelled. Brine dodged, but Peter caught him under the chin. Yanking back, Peter pressed the tip of his dagger against the merman's cheek, "Tell me where she is! NOW!"
Choking, Brine bucked and writhed. But Peter did not release the merman until Brine grabbed the blade. Surprised, Peter flinched, giving Brine the leeway to dip into the lagoon.
"I don't have Wendy!" Brine spit, his bleeding palm spreading across the water, "The pirates handed her over to the sea witch!"
"Hook!" Peter stabbed at Brine, "Then you are a pirate spy! You let them capture Wendy!"
"I tied to save her!" Brine's cheeks burned blue and his voice boomed like thunder. "Are you blind? This is not the first time trouble as found Wendy! Neverland is not kind to those with kind hearts! She has needed someone to protect her and now, when it is too late, you expect to finally play hero?"
Brine didn't bother to stop the tears. "I have been the one to chase away Wendy's fears and hold her close! Wendy needs me! And I am going to save her!"
Brine dove. Peter followed, but the merman was too swift. Reacting with a pointless display of rage, Peter ripped the sapphire comb from his belt and threw it at the merman's ripples. With a small plunk, the comb sunk into the ocean.
Shaking, Peter screamed. Breathing hard, the boy squeezed his hair between his hands, trying to stop the storm in his head.
Hook. The merman had said Hook.
"Codfish…"
