Title: The Forever Dance
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Three - First Contact
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TinkerBell flitted above the trees, her glow dipping and diving among the branches as she approached the edge of the forest. She was glad that Peter was back, she was not glad that he wasn't alone. Since the Darling children had returned to their world, taking along the last of the Lost Boys, Neverland had been a quiet, and relatively uneventful place. The pirates had settled into a peaceful routine, occasionally carousing with their former protagonist, the Indians, who also traded goods with the small group of ex-buccaneers. For the most part, the pirates stayed on the shore, near the remains of the Jolly Roger, the hulk firmly settled on the sandy bottom of one of the many lagoons along the coastline. It was within an easy walk of the Indian village and the two disparate groups managed to exist peaceably side-by-side in the years since Hooks watery demise. The fairies had kept largely to themselves, their woods once more their own, with only the occasional party of humans tramping through the overgrown trails to disturb the peace. Of Peter, TinkerBell was the only one to see him inbetween his frequent trips back and forth from London, her fits of bad temper at his flitting about falling on deaf ears as Peter continued, to Tinkerbells way of thinking, to moon after the dratted Wendy girl. Tink had also noticed that Peter wasn't entirely the same, either in face or form but she wasn't unduly concerned, having lived around boys most of her fairy life and seen them at nearly all stages from babies to young men, Peter's growth spurt was nothing unusual to her way of thinking. What she wasn't happy about was that Peter had brought the Wendy creature back to Neverland. Tink only hoped it was a temporary and short lived visit - very short lived, if Tink had anything to say about it.
Darting out from the shelter of the trees, TinkerBell pulled up short, her wing-beats holding her suspended in the air as she stared at the ship anchored in the bay. It seemed to exude menace, its black painted sides relieved only by a blood red water line, its sails also black, a large white crescent moon painted on the mainsail, the curved image skewered with a stiletto blade. Tink could see crew moving about the decks and up in the rigging, the shouts of the bosun extolling them to greater efforts as they reefed the sails and clambered about the spars on the ratlines. Down against the hull, Tink spotted a couple of dark heads as Mermaids investigated the newcomer to Neverland's shores. A man pouring a slop bucket over the side shouted and pointed at the figures in the water, but before anyone could join him by the rail, the Mermaids had dived out of sight, only waves left to mark their presence. Tink giggled to herself as the crewman tried to explain what he'd seen. From the reactions of the other men, it was clear they didn't believe him, but another figure approached the man at the rail and seemed to be questioning him closely. Tink couldn't see the persons face, but they were tall and thin and the men appeared deferential as the person issued orders. Shrugging, Tink turned to leave the scene, eager to find Peter and tell him about the new arrivals. With a last glimpse over her shoulder, Tink flew back among the trees and disappeared from sight.
On the rail of the Moonshadow, Captain Moon lowered the long telescope she'd held to her eye, hardly daring to believe what she'd just seen. First the crewman had reported seeing what he thought were two mermaids in the water, then a bright ball of light had been spotted at the edge of the forest, apparently floating freely then flying away to be swallowed up by the trees.
"What have you brought us to, James?" Lilliana mused to herself, lowering the telescope and staring at the lush jungle that bordered the crystal lagoon that was to be their berth for the night.
"She's all squared away Cap'n." Mister Surry reported.
"Good.....get the boats lowered, I want to go ashore."
"Aye, Aye sir," Surry turned his back and bellowed at the crew on the deck. "Look alive lads, Cap'n is going ashore, get the boats over the side!"
Ignoring the bustle of men around her, Lilliana stared thoughtfully over the bay, the blue sky with its cargo of cottonwool clouds reflected in the glassy waters below her. She could see shoals of fish darting under the ship, promising good eating and plenty of catches for the Moonshadow's hungry fishing nets. Raucous bird calls from the jungle also indicated a thriving wildlife, enough to supplement the diet of the crew, long starved of fresh meat. Along the bay a waterfall could be seen tumbling down a cliff face, a small rainbow rising from the mist at the base. It was almost idyllic.
Well aware that paradise often hid perils behind its lush greenery and tropical plenty, Captain Moon armed herself to the teeth, her crew as well, so that the jolly boats resembled more of a boarding party than an exploratory jaunt. Lilliana stood in the prow of the lead boat, her booted foot on the rail as her men labored to row the boats as quickly as possible to shore, minimising the possibility of attack by ambush, if an enemy existed. Once they broached the low surf, the Captain leapt out of the boat and waded the few strides needed to get her onto the sand, her men behind her. Once on dry land they spread out in a well rehearsed formation, the Captain at the centre, her men searching the jungle for any sign of an enemy.
Only the drone of insects and the puff of a warm wind greeted them, their keen eyes finding no hidden menace along the tranquil shoreline.
"All clear, Cap'n!"
"Deploy the men, Mister Trent.....and signal the ship."
Content that for the moment they were the only people on the beach, Lilliana relaxed - fractionally. Pulling off her plumed hat, she turned her face up to the warm sun, relishing its heat after the stormy seas and icy chill of only a few days before. A touch on her arm drew her attention. Paolo was standing just behind her, as heavily armed as any of the other men, his teeth bared in a grin as he pointed to something in the jungle. Turning her head, she saw what had caught his interest. A heavily laden banana palm was leaning at an angle from the edge of the forest, its yellow burden almost touching the ground as it groaned under the weight of the ripe fruit.
Receiving a nod from his Captain, Paolo bounded over to the palm and pulled his machete from his belt, slashing the stalk and freeing the massive bundle of banana's. Heaving it onto his shoulders, he carried it back to Lilliana and reverently laid it at her feet. Breaking one off, he lifted it up and presented it to her like it was a gold trophy and she the Conqueror. Only the laughing glint in his eye belied the impression, Captain Moon taking the fruit and grinning back at him before peeling the skin and breaking the fruit in two, handing Paolo one half as he rose to his feet.
"Hmmmmmmmm fresh fruit......a treat Paolo."
Having given the Captain the first of the fruit, Paolo lifted the bunch and carried it to where the other crewmen waited, the men eagerly taking the prize and sharing it between them.
Lilliana brushed her hands together to free them of their sweet stickiness, Paolo coming up to stand beside her as she continued her perusal of the beach and the jungle beyond.
"What do you think.....should we camp here, on the beach...or broach the forest and find somewhere in there?" She pointed towards the dense foliage. Paolo shrugged, lifting his hands, his lips curved in a crooked half smile. Lilliana grimaced wryly, regarding the handsome youth with regret.
"As a cabin boy, you are without peer, but as a counsellor.....you leave a lot to be desired!"
Unfazed, Paolo pointed out the driftwood piled up beyond the high tide line, pantomiming the building of a fire. Then he pointed to the jungle and made motions like insects coming down and biting him on the arm. Lilliana laughed.
"You're probably right, the beach it is then. We can explore the rest tomorrow."
Turning her back on the trees, Captain Moon gave her orders to the crew. With Paolo at her back, she walked down the beach towards the waterfall, leaving her crew to set up the camp on the beach.
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Tink fizzed her way through the forest, finding the clearing with the Stitch bird trees, a quick search of the nearest needed before finding the one with Peter inside. To her disgust he was asleep, curled up with the horrid Wendy girl, the two of them wrapped up together in a tangle of arms and legs, one hardly divisible from the other. Swearing volubly, Tink flew down and buzzed around Peter's head, her tinkling shouts barely discernible above the insects droning in the afternoon sun. Finally she resorted to tugging at the sun bleached curls, Peter reaching up to bat her away after a particularly hard tug.
She chittered at him again, glad when his eyes peeled open and he blinked up at her, grinning sleepily.
"Whatchawant?" He slurred, his eyes closing again, his body snuggling further into the bed and the arms of the girls beside him. Tink stamped her foot in exasperation.
As if just realising where he was and who he was with, Peter opened his eyes again, this time blinking hard to clear them, his body tensing in alarm as he came to the realisation that he was holding Wendy firmly entwined within his arms and legs, hers threaded through his just like vines grown together. Afraid that if Wendy awoke to find him so close, she's want to go home, Peter tried to extricate himself, but found the more he tried to wrest himself out of the tight embrace, the more Wendy snuggled into him, her arms holding him to her. Confounded, Peter gave up, revelling in the feel of her pliant, softly curved body against his.
Tink gave a snort of disgust, darting down this time to grab a handful of Wendy's hair and pulling with spiteful force.
"Tink NO!"
Peter's cry came too late, the fairy darting out of his reach as Wendy awoke with a jerk, her body tensing as she found herself in an intimate embrace with Peter Pan.
Lifting her head, she came nose to nose with an anxious looking Peter, his eyes dark with apprehension. Tink was hovering directly above her head, looking down with glee as Wendy frowned up at the fairy.
"I see Tink is a welcoming as ever."
"Er.......yeah.......um......Wendy?"
"Hmmmmmmm."
"I just woke up too.......I didn't......we didn't...." Peter tailed off, blushing bright crimson when Wendy turned her eyes back to his.
Blinking, Wendy smiled shyly, before gently untangling herself from Peter and clambering out of the bed, taking her time smoothing down her rumpled nightdress before turning to glance at Peter over her shoulder.
"I know we didn't....but it was a nice way to wake up."
Dumbfounded, Peter could only gape at her while he scrambled to get out of the disordered bunk, his blush fading only slightly.
Tink decided that she had had enough of being ignored. Flying down, she nipped Peter on the ear to get his attention, then started to tell him about the strange ship in the bay. Rubbing his ear, Peter listened, occasionally firing questions at the fairy and listening intently to her replies before turning to fill Wendy in on the details.
"Do you want to go and see this ship?" Wendy asked, not at all eager to re-acquaint herself with a ship load of sailors, pirates or otherwise.
"We don't have to meet them.....just spy on the ship," said Peter, a glint in his eye as excitement at the prospect of new blood to torment fired his nerves, his body already tense with expectation. Feeling his tension, Wendy swallowed her misgivings and followed him out of the Stitch bird house, Tink buzzing around their heads. Before they left, Peter took Wendy to the stream that ran not far from the tree, where they ate a belated breakfast of fresh fruit and cool water. Once refreshed, Peter took hold of Wendy's hand and lifted them into the air, Tink flying just ahead, leading the way.
As the trees started to thin, Peter took them up into the canopy, finding a densely foliaged tree with a wide branch where they could set down without being seen from below or beyond. They overlooked a white sandy beach, the tide now well down, exposing the scattering of rocks and coral and leaving behind pools that sparkled like opals in the sun. Further along the beach they saw a group of sailors pitching tents above the high-water mark, other gathering together timber to fuel a fire started downwind of the encampment. Out on the bay the black ship wallowed in the slight swell, her sails now tight against the spars, her anchor chain taught against the outgoing current.
Peter, Wendy and Tink all sat in the fork of the tree, high above the beach. Peter took out his telescope and pointed it towards the ship, raking it from stem to stern before passing it to Wendy who gave it a similar inspection. Tink amused herself with a spiders web, twanging the silken threads to entice the spider out before it realised there was no prey and went back into its hide-e-hole when Tink repeated the game all over again.
"She's not as big as the Jolly Roger, or as heavily armoured." Wendy observed, counting the gun ports.
"Then it won't take so long to dispatch the crew this time, or its Captain," hissed Peter, a grin lighting up his face as he contemplated the fun he'd have with the new arrivals.
Wendy passed the telescope back to him with a grimace at his apparent delight in the prospect of renewed hostilities with an enemy.
Peter leaned forward to train the telescope on the people working on the beach, his gaze roaming over the men, seeing them working diligently to raise the tents and organise the camp for the night. After a few moments that got boring so he swivelled and caught sight of two figures walking back along the beach. As he focused the lens he gave an involuntary gasp, jerking the scope from his eyes, his body tense.
"What is it Peter? What's wrong?"
Tink had given up tormenting the spider and hovered around Peter's head, chittering to him as he remained silent, not answering Wendy's questions.
Raising the glass once more, he focused on the pair on the beach, his brows pulling together in a frown as he watched them saunter back towards the camp. The taller of the pair looked disturbingly like his former enemy, James Hook, but it was only a superficial likeness with the person having long wavy black hair and a broadbrim, plumed hat. Despite the masculine clothes and many armaments secured around her body, Peter easily deduced that it was a woman, her shape and walk unmistakably feminine. She appeared confident and assured as she strode along the sand, but it was when she threw back her head to laugh at something her companion did that afforded Peter the first look at her face. Again he was forced to suck in his breath suddenly before regaining his concentration to take another look at the woman. From a distance it was hard to see many details, but he was sure that she was no youngster, her face carrying too many lines for a youth, but despite that, or maybe because of them she was still beautiful, her face animated and alive, her brows and eyelashes as dark as her hair, her wide mouth a bright slash of scarlet as she laughed again at something. As the pair approached the camp, a man came towards her and Peter saw her stance change from one of relaxed enjoyment to rigid command, her hand coming to rest on the cutlass at her side. The man that approached her was asking her something and she carelessly waved her hand to indicate acceptance before passing him by, her companion-bodyguard by her side.
So this was the Captain on the ship. A woman.
A chair had been set up in the shade of a palm and the woman sat down in it, as if royalty sitting on a throne, while her crew worked around her. Her servant obtained a drink for her and a bowl of food, not eating himself while she ate her fill, oblivious of the men around her.
Wendy had remained quiet during his long observation of the people on the beach, her instincts screaming that something wasn't right but not sure enough to question Peter too closely. When he finally dropped the telescope from his eye, Wendy took it from him and scanned the beach herself.
"It that the Captain, sitting in the chair?" She asked at last, but received only a grunt in reply. "He look's.....strange," she finally offered, only to have Peter snort and snatch the telescope back.
"He's a she!"
"What?"
"Under that hat is a woman. She must be something fierce to have all those men under her rule."
Surprised at Peter's sneering tone, Wendy bridled. "And what if the Captain is a woman? I suppose women can't be pirates and captains the same as men?"
"Don't be silly....."Peter started to retort before remembering that Wendy herself had once nurtured an inclination to become a pirate when she was only a girl, Hook offering her the position of storyteller on his ship, her name to be Red-handed Jill. Now, seeing Wendy's set face, he felt anger well up inside.
"Woman or not, she's Captain to that rabble....which makes her the enemy."
"Oh you're impossible.....you don't know what they're here for, it could be just to resupply the ship and sail away again. They could be quite peaceful."
"You didn't look to closely then....look again. Everyone of those supposedly peaceful men are clothed in a small armories worth of guns, knives and swords. Not exactly a peaceful way to approach an apparently deserted island."
"Well of course they're going to be cautious, who wouldn't be....there could be cannibals....or savages....lurking in the jungle."
"Or Indians, or pirates or Lost Boys....." Peter continued, still scowling down at the beach.
Exasperated, Wendy huffed to herself. "Then what are you going to do?"
"Watch them....see what they do. See if they are as peaceable as you think they are." Settling himself once more, Peter raised the telescope and spied on the people below. Wendy sat with her back to the trunk, her arms folded over her chest as she fumed.
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After an hour, Wendy and Tink were heartily bored, the sun starting to set over the horizon, the beach below now lit with a blazing fire, the ship moored in the bay twinkling with lights as the onboard crew prepared for another night on ship.
Wendy was feeling cramped and uncomfortable. As the sky above her blazed with the colours of sunset, she sighed heavily, drawing Peter's attention away from the camp below.
Seeing her drooping mouth, Peter smiled wryly, collapsing the telescope down and turning towards her.
"Not exactly how I planned to spend your first day in Neverland." He offered in way of apology, his eyes begging her forgiveness.
Too bored to be civil, Wendy sniffed and turned her head away, her chin lifting.
Seeing that his cajoling wasn't working, Peter bit his bottom lip before leaning over, invading her personal space as he always did.
"I'll make it up to you Wendy.....how about I take you to see the opening of the Moon Lily?"
Only slightly mollified, Wendy turned to regard the urchin boy, her lips twitching as she responded to his irrepressible grin.
"Moon Lily?"
"We'll have to hurry....it only opens for a short time, just after sunset. Come with me Wendy....the perfume is delicious."
Biting her lip, Wendy relaxed her stiff shoulders, unable to resist Peter when he used all his wheedling charm. Nodding, she barely had time to get to her feet before Peter grabbed her hand and hauled her off the branch, Wendy almost shrieking as they plummeted out of the tree before leveling off and streaking through the forest. Tink had been taking a nap and was almost left behind, her ball of light darting after the other two, her bell-like voice admonishing Peter for his rude departure without waking her.
They flew through the darkening trees as the sky above them performed its evening change of costume, the clouds painted in every shade of pink and orange, the suns last gift before leaving the sky. At length they arrived in a small glade, the ground covered with raised mounds of moss that looked like huge green boulders. Peter threaded his way through the soft mossy rocks, Wendy close behind. As they reached near the edge of the roughly circular glade Wendy saw a large clump of some plant, its long leaves silvery in colour, at its centre a thick stalk with the withered remains of a flower hanging off it.
Disappointed, Wendy made no comment, sure that it was dead.
To her surprise, Peter didn't appear at all put off by the plants appearance, pulling her down to a low mound, the moss soft and dry like a firm cushion as she sat down beside him.
"Watch......it won't be long now," Peter told her, his voice laced with excitement.
Wendy stared at the strange stalk, convinced it was quite dead. The light around them was fading when she saw the first hint that the withered leaves were very much alive. Before her incredulous gaze, the petals started to grow, expanding and filling, the wrinkles and pleats flattening out and falling away from the centre. Peter was grinning now, darting looks from Wendy's face and open mouth, to the plant slowly unfolding before them. Minutes passed and more of the plant came alive, the first petals now flat and shiny, spread around the base of the flower, the inner folds just starting to unwind, revealing the stamen. Where before the dead-looking leaves had been grey and lifeless, they were now a bright yellow, the older leaves darker than the new so that the colour graduated towards the center, the stigma uncoiling to reveal itself in all its bright red glory.
"Oh Peter.....it's beautiful," breathed Wendy, her hands clasped in front of her as a waft of heady perfume washed over them. Just as suddenly she heard a buzz and a huge dragonfly hovered over the plant, its wide wings and long body whipping around the head of the plant, the one was soon joined by others that all clustered to sample the sweet nectar beading on the head of the stigma.
Peter rose to his feet, pulling Wendy up beside him. "We have to go now, there'll be more insects coming, it stays open for an hour or so, but by then it'll be black with them."
Wendy cast a last glance back at the glorious flower, now surrounded by a flock of dragonflies, the glade redolent with its scent. Peter led her out of through the mossy hummocks and along a faint path under the trees.
"Where are we going now?" Wendy asked, staring up to see the last of the sunset fade from the sky above.
"I want to go and see the pirates."
"But we just left them?"
"Not those......Hook's pirates, or what's left of them. Smee might know who that woman was."
"Smee's still alive?"
"Yes, he and some of the surviving pirates had a camp on the shore near the Indian village."
Tink, who'd seen the Moon Lily open more times than she cared to remember, darted about their heads, tinkling away to Peter who largely ignored her. The forest was alive with the sound of birds settling for the night, a slight breeze rustling the branches as the first stars peeped through the clouds. When they reached a low hill, Peter took her hand and they flew to the top, setting down in the long grass to look over the land beyond. Sloping down the other side, the hill lead to a small bay, the outline of half-a-dozen misshapen huts visible in the evening twilight. Several lights could be seen bobbing between the huts and also inside them. Wendy could also see a small row-boat moving towards the beach, a light on a pole dangling from the stern.
"Peter?"
"Hmmmmm?"
"Hook's pirates....they don't......um.....they won't try to kill us, will they?"
"Nah....once Hook was gone, they gave up wanting to wreak havoc, they just wanted to fish and drink. They even scuttled the Jolly Roger so they wouldn't have to sail her anymore."
"Did you give it back to them?"
"No.....but what use do I have for a ship...." Peter shrugged, "I left it in a bay and they found it.....sailed it here and let it sink."
Wendy could see the sharp spear of the masts still pointing to the sky, although now canted to the side with the ship settled in the sand, a dark hulk in the middle of the bay.
"Come on......if we're lucky, Mister Smee will have some of his fish stew made," Peter laughed as Wendy pulled a face. "You wait, he makes the best fish stew on this island."
Unconvinced, Wendy let Peter pull her to her feet. Slowly they flew down the hill towards the shore, Peter putting them down some distance away, his caution raising fears in Wendy that the pirates weren't as safe as Peter said. They were approaching one of the shacks, a light beaming out of an uncovered window, smoke rising from the small chimney as they crept around the side.
Stealthily, so as not to alarm Wendy, Peter pulled his knife from his belt, hiding it against his leg, but at the ready. On reaching the front, Peter looked about before reaching up to rap on the plank door.
"Who-o-o is it?" A voice quavered from inside.
"It is I.....Peter Pan, come to pay a pirate a visit!"
A second later the door creaked open and Smee's wizened face with the ever present pinz-nez peered out into the dusk.
"What are you bothering me at this time of night for boy?"
"I brought you a visitor Smee," Peter announced, drawing Wendy forward.
Not at all sure of her reception, Wendy bobbed a nervous curtsy, regarding Hook's first mate warily.
"Well I never.....Red Handed Jill....what a pleasure.....do come in miss...." Smee stood back from the door, waving Wendy inside. With Peter close behind her, Wendy stepped across the threshold and into the tiny front room. A fire burned merrily in the tiny grate under a blackened pot, the smell of fish strong in the confined space.
"I was just cookin' some stew.......would you fancy a bowl?" Smee asked, waving his guests to the few rickety chairs cluttering the space. Peter immediately said yes, and Wendy, out of politeness, asked for only a little. Smee bustled around, filling small wooden bowls from the pot and handing them to his guests before taking one for himself and settling in a cushioned armchair beside the fire.
They ate for a few moments before Smee fixed his rheumy eyes back on Wendy and gave her a quick appraisal.
"You've grown some, Miss Wendy.....you were not more than a child the last time we met,"
"I'm nearly fifteen," Wendy told him, taking another small spoonful of the fish stew, her tastebuds approving its savoury flavour. "This is delicious Mister Smee,"
"I was cook to the Captain for more years than I care to remember, so I acquired a certain amount of culinary skill, you might say."
"How do you find life on shore?" Wendy asked, noting from the corner of her eye that Peter was now holding his bowl up to his face, licking the dregs of gravy out.
"Ah well.....a sailor misses the sea, but an old sailor takes comfort in a warm house and a dry bed, so I makes the best of it and try not to pine for the open ocean."
Putting his bowl down, peter wiped his mouth before leaning forward to put his questions to the old pirate.
"There's a new ship anchored down the coast,"
"A new ship? What's her flag?"
"No flag......it has black sails with a crescent moon on them. The Captain is a woman."
Smee stared at Peter, his food forgotten.
"Oh my gawd!"
"Smee?"
"The Moonshadow.....she's here....ohh!" To their dismay, Smee lurched to his feet, dropping his bowl before hurrying to the door and flinging it open. "JENKS!" He bellowed before turning back to his startled visitors.
"You'd best be going Peter Pan and take your young lady with ya, you don't want to be here when Captain Moon and her crew arrive, as surely they will."
"Captain Moon?"
Smee grimaced and winced, as if even hearing the feared name was enough to conjure the Captain into the room with them.
"If you thought James Hook was enough to give you nightmares, Captain Moon is the nightmare. Don't attempt to approach her or her crew, they will gut you before you can open your mouth....pay heed, don't go near them!" Smee almost shouted the last, pushing Wendy towards the door in his haste to get them gone.
"I'm not afraid of this Captain Moon.....she's only a woman!" Peter scoffed, taking up his familiar stance with his fists on his hips. Smee only shook his head.
"Don't be a fool boy.....you have something to live for.....don't let
her looks deceive you.....Captain Moon is truly to be feared...heed my words...for the sake of Miss Wendy......don't go near that ship!"
Perplexed and thoroughly alarmed, Wendy turned to leave, Peter behind her still not convinced. Outside Smee's house they almost bumped into the other pirates who were starting to gather outside. They eyed the two youngsters with wariness, one or two managing to lift a smile and doff a hat as Wendy passed them, but for the most part they were ignored.
Hurrying away, Peter cast a glance over his shoulder, seeing Smee talking to the huddle of men, his glasses reflecting the light from a lantern as he fought to buckle an ancient cutlass around his ample middle.
After a short walk Peter took hold of Wendy's hand and they flew up into the sky, skimming over the treetops. Above them the stars shone down serenely, the moon just starting to peep over the far horizon, bathing the sea in its cold glow.
"Where are we going now Peter?" Wendy asked, her voice quavering as she tried to take in Smee's warning about the newcomers.
"Somewhere safe.....I need to think,"
Flashing her a grin, Peter speeded up, Tink's ball of light hard pressed to follow as they flew over Neverland's sleeping forests.
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Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Three - First Contact
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TinkerBell flitted above the trees, her glow dipping and diving among the branches as she approached the edge of the forest. She was glad that Peter was back, she was not glad that he wasn't alone. Since the Darling children had returned to their world, taking along the last of the Lost Boys, Neverland had been a quiet, and relatively uneventful place. The pirates had settled into a peaceful routine, occasionally carousing with their former protagonist, the Indians, who also traded goods with the small group of ex-buccaneers. For the most part, the pirates stayed on the shore, near the remains of the Jolly Roger, the hulk firmly settled on the sandy bottom of one of the many lagoons along the coastline. It was within an easy walk of the Indian village and the two disparate groups managed to exist peaceably side-by-side in the years since Hooks watery demise. The fairies had kept largely to themselves, their woods once more their own, with only the occasional party of humans tramping through the overgrown trails to disturb the peace. Of Peter, TinkerBell was the only one to see him inbetween his frequent trips back and forth from London, her fits of bad temper at his flitting about falling on deaf ears as Peter continued, to Tinkerbells way of thinking, to moon after the dratted Wendy girl. Tink had also noticed that Peter wasn't entirely the same, either in face or form but she wasn't unduly concerned, having lived around boys most of her fairy life and seen them at nearly all stages from babies to young men, Peter's growth spurt was nothing unusual to her way of thinking. What she wasn't happy about was that Peter had brought the Wendy creature back to Neverland. Tink only hoped it was a temporary and short lived visit - very short lived, if Tink had anything to say about it.
Darting out from the shelter of the trees, TinkerBell pulled up short, her wing-beats holding her suspended in the air as she stared at the ship anchored in the bay. It seemed to exude menace, its black painted sides relieved only by a blood red water line, its sails also black, a large white crescent moon painted on the mainsail, the curved image skewered with a stiletto blade. Tink could see crew moving about the decks and up in the rigging, the shouts of the bosun extolling them to greater efforts as they reefed the sails and clambered about the spars on the ratlines. Down against the hull, Tink spotted a couple of dark heads as Mermaids investigated the newcomer to Neverland's shores. A man pouring a slop bucket over the side shouted and pointed at the figures in the water, but before anyone could join him by the rail, the Mermaids had dived out of sight, only waves left to mark their presence. Tink giggled to herself as the crewman tried to explain what he'd seen. From the reactions of the other men, it was clear they didn't believe him, but another figure approached the man at the rail and seemed to be questioning him closely. Tink couldn't see the persons face, but they were tall and thin and the men appeared deferential as the person issued orders. Shrugging, Tink turned to leave the scene, eager to find Peter and tell him about the new arrivals. With a last glimpse over her shoulder, Tink flew back among the trees and disappeared from sight.
On the rail of the Moonshadow, Captain Moon lowered the long telescope she'd held to her eye, hardly daring to believe what she'd just seen. First the crewman had reported seeing what he thought were two mermaids in the water, then a bright ball of light had been spotted at the edge of the forest, apparently floating freely then flying away to be swallowed up by the trees.
"What have you brought us to, James?" Lilliana mused to herself, lowering the telescope and staring at the lush jungle that bordered the crystal lagoon that was to be their berth for the night.
"She's all squared away Cap'n." Mister Surry reported.
"Good.....get the boats lowered, I want to go ashore."
"Aye, Aye sir," Surry turned his back and bellowed at the crew on the deck. "Look alive lads, Cap'n is going ashore, get the boats over the side!"
Ignoring the bustle of men around her, Lilliana stared thoughtfully over the bay, the blue sky with its cargo of cottonwool clouds reflected in the glassy waters below her. She could see shoals of fish darting under the ship, promising good eating and plenty of catches for the Moonshadow's hungry fishing nets. Raucous bird calls from the jungle also indicated a thriving wildlife, enough to supplement the diet of the crew, long starved of fresh meat. Along the bay a waterfall could be seen tumbling down a cliff face, a small rainbow rising from the mist at the base. It was almost idyllic.
Well aware that paradise often hid perils behind its lush greenery and tropical plenty, Captain Moon armed herself to the teeth, her crew as well, so that the jolly boats resembled more of a boarding party than an exploratory jaunt. Lilliana stood in the prow of the lead boat, her booted foot on the rail as her men labored to row the boats as quickly as possible to shore, minimising the possibility of attack by ambush, if an enemy existed. Once they broached the low surf, the Captain leapt out of the boat and waded the few strides needed to get her onto the sand, her men behind her. Once on dry land they spread out in a well rehearsed formation, the Captain at the centre, her men searching the jungle for any sign of an enemy.
Only the drone of insects and the puff of a warm wind greeted them, their keen eyes finding no hidden menace along the tranquil shoreline.
"All clear, Cap'n!"
"Deploy the men, Mister Trent.....and signal the ship."
Content that for the moment they were the only people on the beach, Lilliana relaxed - fractionally. Pulling off her plumed hat, she turned her face up to the warm sun, relishing its heat after the stormy seas and icy chill of only a few days before. A touch on her arm drew her attention. Paolo was standing just behind her, as heavily armed as any of the other men, his teeth bared in a grin as he pointed to something in the jungle. Turning her head, she saw what had caught his interest. A heavily laden banana palm was leaning at an angle from the edge of the forest, its yellow burden almost touching the ground as it groaned under the weight of the ripe fruit.
Receiving a nod from his Captain, Paolo bounded over to the palm and pulled his machete from his belt, slashing the stalk and freeing the massive bundle of banana's. Heaving it onto his shoulders, he carried it back to Lilliana and reverently laid it at her feet. Breaking one off, he lifted it up and presented it to her like it was a gold trophy and she the Conqueror. Only the laughing glint in his eye belied the impression, Captain Moon taking the fruit and grinning back at him before peeling the skin and breaking the fruit in two, handing Paolo one half as he rose to his feet.
"Hmmmmmmmm fresh fruit......a treat Paolo."
Having given the Captain the first of the fruit, Paolo lifted the bunch and carried it to where the other crewmen waited, the men eagerly taking the prize and sharing it between them.
Lilliana brushed her hands together to free them of their sweet stickiness, Paolo coming up to stand beside her as she continued her perusal of the beach and the jungle beyond.
"What do you think.....should we camp here, on the beach...or broach the forest and find somewhere in there?" She pointed towards the dense foliage. Paolo shrugged, lifting his hands, his lips curved in a crooked half smile. Lilliana grimaced wryly, regarding the handsome youth with regret.
"As a cabin boy, you are without peer, but as a counsellor.....you leave a lot to be desired!"
Unfazed, Paolo pointed out the driftwood piled up beyond the high tide line, pantomiming the building of a fire. Then he pointed to the jungle and made motions like insects coming down and biting him on the arm. Lilliana laughed.
"You're probably right, the beach it is then. We can explore the rest tomorrow."
Turning her back on the trees, Captain Moon gave her orders to the crew. With Paolo at her back, she walked down the beach towards the waterfall, leaving her crew to set up the camp on the beach.
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Tink fizzed her way through the forest, finding the clearing with the Stitch bird trees, a quick search of the nearest needed before finding the one with Peter inside. To her disgust he was asleep, curled up with the horrid Wendy girl, the two of them wrapped up together in a tangle of arms and legs, one hardly divisible from the other. Swearing volubly, Tink flew down and buzzed around Peter's head, her tinkling shouts barely discernible above the insects droning in the afternoon sun. Finally she resorted to tugging at the sun bleached curls, Peter reaching up to bat her away after a particularly hard tug.
She chittered at him again, glad when his eyes peeled open and he blinked up at her, grinning sleepily.
"Whatchawant?" He slurred, his eyes closing again, his body snuggling further into the bed and the arms of the girls beside him. Tink stamped her foot in exasperation.
As if just realising where he was and who he was with, Peter opened his eyes again, this time blinking hard to clear them, his body tensing in alarm as he came to the realisation that he was holding Wendy firmly entwined within his arms and legs, hers threaded through his just like vines grown together. Afraid that if Wendy awoke to find him so close, she's want to go home, Peter tried to extricate himself, but found the more he tried to wrest himself out of the tight embrace, the more Wendy snuggled into him, her arms holding him to her. Confounded, Peter gave up, revelling in the feel of her pliant, softly curved body against his.
Tink gave a snort of disgust, darting down this time to grab a handful of Wendy's hair and pulling with spiteful force.
"Tink NO!"
Peter's cry came too late, the fairy darting out of his reach as Wendy awoke with a jerk, her body tensing as she found herself in an intimate embrace with Peter Pan.
Lifting her head, she came nose to nose with an anxious looking Peter, his eyes dark with apprehension. Tink was hovering directly above her head, looking down with glee as Wendy frowned up at the fairy.
"I see Tink is a welcoming as ever."
"Er.......yeah.......um......Wendy?"
"Hmmmmmmm."
"I just woke up too.......I didn't......we didn't...." Peter tailed off, blushing bright crimson when Wendy turned her eyes back to his.
Blinking, Wendy smiled shyly, before gently untangling herself from Peter and clambering out of the bed, taking her time smoothing down her rumpled nightdress before turning to glance at Peter over her shoulder.
"I know we didn't....but it was a nice way to wake up."
Dumbfounded, Peter could only gape at her while he scrambled to get out of the disordered bunk, his blush fading only slightly.
Tink decided that she had had enough of being ignored. Flying down, she nipped Peter on the ear to get his attention, then started to tell him about the strange ship in the bay. Rubbing his ear, Peter listened, occasionally firing questions at the fairy and listening intently to her replies before turning to fill Wendy in on the details.
"Do you want to go and see this ship?" Wendy asked, not at all eager to re-acquaint herself with a ship load of sailors, pirates or otherwise.
"We don't have to meet them.....just spy on the ship," said Peter, a glint in his eye as excitement at the prospect of new blood to torment fired his nerves, his body already tense with expectation. Feeling his tension, Wendy swallowed her misgivings and followed him out of the Stitch bird house, Tink buzzing around their heads. Before they left, Peter took Wendy to the stream that ran not far from the tree, where they ate a belated breakfast of fresh fruit and cool water. Once refreshed, Peter took hold of Wendy's hand and lifted them into the air, Tink flying just ahead, leading the way.
As the trees started to thin, Peter took them up into the canopy, finding a densely foliaged tree with a wide branch where they could set down without being seen from below or beyond. They overlooked a white sandy beach, the tide now well down, exposing the scattering of rocks and coral and leaving behind pools that sparkled like opals in the sun. Further along the beach they saw a group of sailors pitching tents above the high-water mark, other gathering together timber to fuel a fire started downwind of the encampment. Out on the bay the black ship wallowed in the slight swell, her sails now tight against the spars, her anchor chain taught against the outgoing current.
Peter, Wendy and Tink all sat in the fork of the tree, high above the beach. Peter took out his telescope and pointed it towards the ship, raking it from stem to stern before passing it to Wendy who gave it a similar inspection. Tink amused herself with a spiders web, twanging the silken threads to entice the spider out before it realised there was no prey and went back into its hide-e-hole when Tink repeated the game all over again.
"She's not as big as the Jolly Roger, or as heavily armoured." Wendy observed, counting the gun ports.
"Then it won't take so long to dispatch the crew this time, or its Captain," hissed Peter, a grin lighting up his face as he contemplated the fun he'd have with the new arrivals.
Wendy passed the telescope back to him with a grimace at his apparent delight in the prospect of renewed hostilities with an enemy.
Peter leaned forward to train the telescope on the people working on the beach, his gaze roaming over the men, seeing them working diligently to raise the tents and organise the camp for the night. After a few moments that got boring so he swivelled and caught sight of two figures walking back along the beach. As he focused the lens he gave an involuntary gasp, jerking the scope from his eyes, his body tense.
"What is it Peter? What's wrong?"
Tink had given up tormenting the spider and hovered around Peter's head, chittering to him as he remained silent, not answering Wendy's questions.
Raising the glass once more, he focused on the pair on the beach, his brows pulling together in a frown as he watched them saunter back towards the camp. The taller of the pair looked disturbingly like his former enemy, James Hook, but it was only a superficial likeness with the person having long wavy black hair and a broadbrim, plumed hat. Despite the masculine clothes and many armaments secured around her body, Peter easily deduced that it was a woman, her shape and walk unmistakably feminine. She appeared confident and assured as she strode along the sand, but it was when she threw back her head to laugh at something her companion did that afforded Peter the first look at her face. Again he was forced to suck in his breath suddenly before regaining his concentration to take another look at the woman. From a distance it was hard to see many details, but he was sure that she was no youngster, her face carrying too many lines for a youth, but despite that, or maybe because of them she was still beautiful, her face animated and alive, her brows and eyelashes as dark as her hair, her wide mouth a bright slash of scarlet as she laughed again at something. As the pair approached the camp, a man came towards her and Peter saw her stance change from one of relaxed enjoyment to rigid command, her hand coming to rest on the cutlass at her side. The man that approached her was asking her something and she carelessly waved her hand to indicate acceptance before passing him by, her companion-bodyguard by her side.
So this was the Captain on the ship. A woman.
A chair had been set up in the shade of a palm and the woman sat down in it, as if royalty sitting on a throne, while her crew worked around her. Her servant obtained a drink for her and a bowl of food, not eating himself while she ate her fill, oblivious of the men around her.
Wendy had remained quiet during his long observation of the people on the beach, her instincts screaming that something wasn't right but not sure enough to question Peter too closely. When he finally dropped the telescope from his eye, Wendy took it from him and scanned the beach herself.
"It that the Captain, sitting in the chair?" She asked at last, but received only a grunt in reply. "He look's.....strange," she finally offered, only to have Peter snort and snatch the telescope back.
"He's a she!"
"What?"
"Under that hat is a woman. She must be something fierce to have all those men under her rule."
Surprised at Peter's sneering tone, Wendy bridled. "And what if the Captain is a woman? I suppose women can't be pirates and captains the same as men?"
"Don't be silly....."Peter started to retort before remembering that Wendy herself had once nurtured an inclination to become a pirate when she was only a girl, Hook offering her the position of storyteller on his ship, her name to be Red-handed Jill. Now, seeing Wendy's set face, he felt anger well up inside.
"Woman or not, she's Captain to that rabble....which makes her the enemy."
"Oh you're impossible.....you don't know what they're here for, it could be just to resupply the ship and sail away again. They could be quite peaceful."
"You didn't look to closely then....look again. Everyone of those supposedly peaceful men are clothed in a small armories worth of guns, knives and swords. Not exactly a peaceful way to approach an apparently deserted island."
"Well of course they're going to be cautious, who wouldn't be....there could be cannibals....or savages....lurking in the jungle."
"Or Indians, or pirates or Lost Boys....." Peter continued, still scowling down at the beach.
Exasperated, Wendy huffed to herself. "Then what are you going to do?"
"Watch them....see what they do. See if they are as peaceable as you think they are." Settling himself once more, Peter raised the telescope and spied on the people below. Wendy sat with her back to the trunk, her arms folded over her chest as she fumed.
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After an hour, Wendy and Tink were heartily bored, the sun starting to set over the horizon, the beach below now lit with a blazing fire, the ship moored in the bay twinkling with lights as the onboard crew prepared for another night on ship.
Wendy was feeling cramped and uncomfortable. As the sky above her blazed with the colours of sunset, she sighed heavily, drawing Peter's attention away from the camp below.
Seeing her drooping mouth, Peter smiled wryly, collapsing the telescope down and turning towards her.
"Not exactly how I planned to spend your first day in Neverland." He offered in way of apology, his eyes begging her forgiveness.
Too bored to be civil, Wendy sniffed and turned her head away, her chin lifting.
Seeing that his cajoling wasn't working, Peter bit his bottom lip before leaning over, invading her personal space as he always did.
"I'll make it up to you Wendy.....how about I take you to see the opening of the Moon Lily?"
Only slightly mollified, Wendy turned to regard the urchin boy, her lips twitching as she responded to his irrepressible grin.
"Moon Lily?"
"We'll have to hurry....it only opens for a short time, just after sunset. Come with me Wendy....the perfume is delicious."
Biting her lip, Wendy relaxed her stiff shoulders, unable to resist Peter when he used all his wheedling charm. Nodding, she barely had time to get to her feet before Peter grabbed her hand and hauled her off the branch, Wendy almost shrieking as they plummeted out of the tree before leveling off and streaking through the forest. Tink had been taking a nap and was almost left behind, her ball of light darting after the other two, her bell-like voice admonishing Peter for his rude departure without waking her.
They flew through the darkening trees as the sky above them performed its evening change of costume, the clouds painted in every shade of pink and orange, the suns last gift before leaving the sky. At length they arrived in a small glade, the ground covered with raised mounds of moss that looked like huge green boulders. Peter threaded his way through the soft mossy rocks, Wendy close behind. As they reached near the edge of the roughly circular glade Wendy saw a large clump of some plant, its long leaves silvery in colour, at its centre a thick stalk with the withered remains of a flower hanging off it.
Disappointed, Wendy made no comment, sure that it was dead.
To her surprise, Peter didn't appear at all put off by the plants appearance, pulling her down to a low mound, the moss soft and dry like a firm cushion as she sat down beside him.
"Watch......it won't be long now," Peter told her, his voice laced with excitement.
Wendy stared at the strange stalk, convinced it was quite dead. The light around them was fading when she saw the first hint that the withered leaves were very much alive. Before her incredulous gaze, the petals started to grow, expanding and filling, the wrinkles and pleats flattening out and falling away from the centre. Peter was grinning now, darting looks from Wendy's face and open mouth, to the plant slowly unfolding before them. Minutes passed and more of the plant came alive, the first petals now flat and shiny, spread around the base of the flower, the inner folds just starting to unwind, revealing the stamen. Where before the dead-looking leaves had been grey and lifeless, they were now a bright yellow, the older leaves darker than the new so that the colour graduated towards the center, the stigma uncoiling to reveal itself in all its bright red glory.
"Oh Peter.....it's beautiful," breathed Wendy, her hands clasped in front of her as a waft of heady perfume washed over them. Just as suddenly she heard a buzz and a huge dragonfly hovered over the plant, its wide wings and long body whipping around the head of the plant, the one was soon joined by others that all clustered to sample the sweet nectar beading on the head of the stigma.
Peter rose to his feet, pulling Wendy up beside him. "We have to go now, there'll be more insects coming, it stays open for an hour or so, but by then it'll be black with them."
Wendy cast a last glance back at the glorious flower, now surrounded by a flock of dragonflies, the glade redolent with its scent. Peter led her out of through the mossy hummocks and along a faint path under the trees.
"Where are we going now?" Wendy asked, staring up to see the last of the sunset fade from the sky above.
"I want to go and see the pirates."
"But we just left them?"
"Not those......Hook's pirates, or what's left of them. Smee might know who that woman was."
"Smee's still alive?"
"Yes, he and some of the surviving pirates had a camp on the shore near the Indian village."
Tink, who'd seen the Moon Lily open more times than she cared to remember, darted about their heads, tinkling away to Peter who largely ignored her. The forest was alive with the sound of birds settling for the night, a slight breeze rustling the branches as the first stars peeped through the clouds. When they reached a low hill, Peter took her hand and they flew to the top, setting down in the long grass to look over the land beyond. Sloping down the other side, the hill lead to a small bay, the outline of half-a-dozen misshapen huts visible in the evening twilight. Several lights could be seen bobbing between the huts and also inside them. Wendy could also see a small row-boat moving towards the beach, a light on a pole dangling from the stern.
"Peter?"
"Hmmmmm?"
"Hook's pirates....they don't......um.....they won't try to kill us, will they?"
"Nah....once Hook was gone, they gave up wanting to wreak havoc, they just wanted to fish and drink. They even scuttled the Jolly Roger so they wouldn't have to sail her anymore."
"Did you give it back to them?"
"No.....but what use do I have for a ship...." Peter shrugged, "I left it in a bay and they found it.....sailed it here and let it sink."
Wendy could see the sharp spear of the masts still pointing to the sky, although now canted to the side with the ship settled in the sand, a dark hulk in the middle of the bay.
"Come on......if we're lucky, Mister Smee will have some of his fish stew made," Peter laughed as Wendy pulled a face. "You wait, he makes the best fish stew on this island."
Unconvinced, Wendy let Peter pull her to her feet. Slowly they flew down the hill towards the shore, Peter putting them down some distance away, his caution raising fears in Wendy that the pirates weren't as safe as Peter said. They were approaching one of the shacks, a light beaming out of an uncovered window, smoke rising from the small chimney as they crept around the side.
Stealthily, so as not to alarm Wendy, Peter pulled his knife from his belt, hiding it against his leg, but at the ready. On reaching the front, Peter looked about before reaching up to rap on the plank door.
"Who-o-o is it?" A voice quavered from inside.
"It is I.....Peter Pan, come to pay a pirate a visit!"
A second later the door creaked open and Smee's wizened face with the ever present pinz-nez peered out into the dusk.
"What are you bothering me at this time of night for boy?"
"I brought you a visitor Smee," Peter announced, drawing Wendy forward.
Not at all sure of her reception, Wendy bobbed a nervous curtsy, regarding Hook's first mate warily.
"Well I never.....Red Handed Jill....what a pleasure.....do come in miss...." Smee stood back from the door, waving Wendy inside. With Peter close behind her, Wendy stepped across the threshold and into the tiny front room. A fire burned merrily in the tiny grate under a blackened pot, the smell of fish strong in the confined space.
"I was just cookin' some stew.......would you fancy a bowl?" Smee asked, waving his guests to the few rickety chairs cluttering the space. Peter immediately said yes, and Wendy, out of politeness, asked for only a little. Smee bustled around, filling small wooden bowls from the pot and handing them to his guests before taking one for himself and settling in a cushioned armchair beside the fire.
They ate for a few moments before Smee fixed his rheumy eyes back on Wendy and gave her a quick appraisal.
"You've grown some, Miss Wendy.....you were not more than a child the last time we met,"
"I'm nearly fifteen," Wendy told him, taking another small spoonful of the fish stew, her tastebuds approving its savoury flavour. "This is delicious Mister Smee,"
"I was cook to the Captain for more years than I care to remember, so I acquired a certain amount of culinary skill, you might say."
"How do you find life on shore?" Wendy asked, noting from the corner of her eye that Peter was now holding his bowl up to his face, licking the dregs of gravy out.
"Ah well.....a sailor misses the sea, but an old sailor takes comfort in a warm house and a dry bed, so I makes the best of it and try not to pine for the open ocean."
Putting his bowl down, peter wiped his mouth before leaning forward to put his questions to the old pirate.
"There's a new ship anchored down the coast,"
"A new ship? What's her flag?"
"No flag......it has black sails with a crescent moon on them. The Captain is a woman."
Smee stared at Peter, his food forgotten.
"Oh my gawd!"
"Smee?"
"The Moonshadow.....she's here....ohh!" To their dismay, Smee lurched to his feet, dropping his bowl before hurrying to the door and flinging it open. "JENKS!" He bellowed before turning back to his startled visitors.
"You'd best be going Peter Pan and take your young lady with ya, you don't want to be here when Captain Moon and her crew arrive, as surely they will."
"Captain Moon?"
Smee grimaced and winced, as if even hearing the feared name was enough to conjure the Captain into the room with them.
"If you thought James Hook was enough to give you nightmares, Captain Moon is the nightmare. Don't attempt to approach her or her crew, they will gut you before you can open your mouth....pay heed, don't go near them!" Smee almost shouted the last, pushing Wendy towards the door in his haste to get them gone.
"I'm not afraid of this Captain Moon.....she's only a woman!" Peter scoffed, taking up his familiar stance with his fists on his hips. Smee only shook his head.
"Don't be a fool boy.....you have something to live for.....don't let
her looks deceive you.....Captain Moon is truly to be feared...heed my words...for the sake of Miss Wendy......don't go near that ship!"
Perplexed and thoroughly alarmed, Wendy turned to leave, Peter behind her still not convinced. Outside Smee's house they almost bumped into the other pirates who were starting to gather outside. They eyed the two youngsters with wariness, one or two managing to lift a smile and doff a hat as Wendy passed them, but for the most part they were ignored.
Hurrying away, Peter cast a glance over his shoulder, seeing Smee talking to the huddle of men, his glasses reflecting the light from a lantern as he fought to buckle an ancient cutlass around his ample middle.
After a short walk Peter took hold of Wendy's hand and they flew up into the sky, skimming over the treetops. Above them the stars shone down serenely, the moon just starting to peep over the far horizon, bathing the sea in its cold glow.
"Where are we going now Peter?" Wendy asked, her voice quavering as she tried to take in Smee's warning about the newcomers.
"Somewhere safe.....I need to think,"
Flashing her a grin, Peter speeded up, Tink's ball of light hard pressed to follow as they flew over Neverland's sleeping forests.
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