The Lost Boys certainly lived up to their name. They had no idea where they were in about 5 minutes.
"This is ridiculous we've walked by this tree three times already," One boy complained.
"Look I don't know this side of the island alright?" The oldest snapped. He stopped for second and Blue and Tinker Bell flew off to tell him the direction. Karen was on the edge. All she had to do was shake them off and fly away to freedom. Being on the ground again after flying made her hate walking with such a passion that she had never felt before. On they trudged for an hour. Karen noticed that Ann's legs were all scratched up. Karen had only a little bit more protection from the elements because she had capri pants on. But of course they could not protect her from the bugs that followed them everywhere. She noticed her captor for the first time. It was a different boy then 'hair grabber'. He was only 8 or 9 but he had a mighty strong grip on her hands. It seemed unnatural that he should be so strong. He was barefoot as well she noticed. She grimaced for him since her feet were too pampered to be let out of shoes.
"So what's your name?" Karen asked trying to pass the time.
"Pierre," he replied promptly.
"Are you french?" Karen asked bored.
"Ah oui," He responded all though Karen could not see him grin.
"Are you really?" Karen asked trying to be friendly.
"Of course," he answered with a faded accent.
"What are you doing in Neverland then?" Karen accused.
"Well I could ask you the same question mademoiselle," Pierre answered making his accent more obvious.
"I asked you first though," Karen answered.
"That is true. When my parents died Peter came for me and he took me to the Neverland." He answered. "What is your story?" He inquired. Karen bit her lip.
"I guess I sort of ran away," she answered slowly.
"Ah like the lady Wendy," he nodded knowingly.
" Who is that?" Karen asked.
"She was the mother to the lost boys until she decided to grow up and she took the former lost boys home with her," Pierre said.
"Oh," after that they walked in silence. Karen cursed the mosquitoes that decided that she was a good meal since she couldn't swat them away. Blue came back after a while and comforted her and also reminded her to be a good girl so that the lost boys would trust her. Karen scowled at him and he flew away. After a couple hours of bug infested, sore feet agony they finally blind folded them and told them they were almost to their leader. Karen couldn't decide if this was a good thing or not. Her last look was of her sister as she was blindfolded also. They pushed and prodded Karen along until the ground gave way under her. She didn't scream as here sister did but bit the inside of her cheek and gasped as she slid onto solid ground. She heard muttering around and at one point she thought she heard Pierre say something but she wasn't entirely sure.
"Ann?" Karen ventured. Karen heard a moan and a little cry from behind her. She slid backwards until she hit her sister.
"What's going on?" Ann asked. Karen strained her ears but again all she heard was whispering.
"Oh I don't know," Karen answered.
"They would happen to be consulting with their leader," Blue's voice shot through the darkness.
"Nice timing, they are probably boiling the pot now for us," Karen complained. Blue laughed.
"Not if you prove worthy you probably will be accepted as one of them," Blue said. "Don't worry it's easy," he reassured.
"Oh joy," Karen moaned. Suddenly footsteps came closer, rustling and then Karen could see again. Her first look was of a boy who was clad in forest green leaves and such, cleverly made to resemble clothes. He had ruffled hair, green eyes and a boyish grin. Karen guessed that he was probably about Ann's age.
"What are your names?" He demanded. Ann looked up at him and answered for Karen.
"I am Ann, this is my sister Karen and the fairy that travels with us is Blue," Ann said. He looked over at Blue who know flew over to Karen and landed safely a top her head.
"I know who Blue is," the leader said. He looked over at Ann then back at Karen again. "I guess you would be his maker," he remarked off-handily. Karen looked up quizzically at him.h
"How did you know that?" Karen asked. He grinned mischievously.
"You guys look the same," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So are we in or not?" Karen asked changing the topic. He looked both of them over.
"Alright you can be the mother then," he said first pointing to Karen.
"I am definitely not any ones mother," Karen replied in disgust.
"Do you tell stories?" He asked.
"I do," Ann answered from behind Karen.
"Good. Then you will be the mother," He nodded in Ann's direction.
"Fine then," Karen said. Blue flew up into the air.
"Then I suppose we will be going now?" Blue asked tentatively. Peter now directed attention to Blue and cocked his head to one side.
"You may take the older one but the other is to stay with us," He said. Karen immediately looked over at Ann.
"Is that all right with you?" Karen asked. Ann nodded and eyed the leader with interest. Karen turned to go out the door and Blue followed. She looked for a handle but found a rope and she pulled it and the door started to open up. Before she went out Karen turned and looked at the leader.
"What's your name any way?" Karen asked.
"Peter Pan," He said with great pride.
"Where are we going now?" Karen asked as they left the house, but as Karen learned when she stepped outside and looked back that it was a giant tree.
"To go build you a house," Blue said. He started to rise in the air and then beckoned to her. Karen was excited to fly again and at that thought she flew into the air after Blue. They flew up to the top of the trees. Karen shivered. It was near evening and the cold air started to get to her. But they landed soon enough and Karen surveyed the area. It seemed to be just some more forest nothing stood out in particular until she turned completely around and spotted a meadow a little ways off. It was small but it seemed to have this glow effect, and in the middle of it was an ancient looking tree. Around the tree were all kinds of fairies. It was one of the most beautiful things Karen had ever seen. Blue made a bell-like chime and immediately the fairies answered.
"They will help us with building you a house," Blue said grinning. Karen couldn't help but grin back.
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Jim wasn't happy. He had already lost 2 men this week and according to this message he had just lost 6 more. He looked up at the messenger, a boy who wasn't even old enough to shave with big brown eyes that cowered under Jim's glare.
"Look sir, I just brought the message don't do anything rash," the boy asked quivering slightly. Jim cracked his neck and threw the message in the fire. He had been staying on land for a couple of weeks now. It was way longer then he would have liked but urgent business called him away from his ship.
"Sit boy and let me think," Jim demanded. He was easily the youngest captain out of all the fleets. He was barely just 19. But he ruled his ship with an iron fist and he scared the crap out of most people. It was a skill that Jim was proud of.
The boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat and Jim shot him a look that made him immediately sit still. Jim paced the room some more. He needed to find Tag. He needed to go kill Chip and his crew. His ship was losing men fast with out his leadership to other ships. Possible mutiny if he wasn't careful. He only trusted to leave his men this long because of Bill. He cracked his knuckles this time.
"Tell the boys I'm coming home," Jim said. The messenger boy fled.
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"Bed time boys," Ann called out.
"Last one in is a rotten egg!" They all yelled at once. Ann smiled. She loved this role of being mother. The boys adored her, Peter insisted on pretending to be the father and Karen only came to visit for a couple of hours every few days. Pierre went to visit her a lot though which Ann thought was odd. Who would go out of their way to talk to Karen? Ann thought. Of course her sister was probably nicer to Pierre then to her.
"I'm home mother!" Peter announced when he slid down the tunnel. Ann smiled. She liked this game of make belief. "Look who I brought with me," Peter said. Karen and her fairy slid in after Peter. Ann frowned.
"But it's near bed time and you will get the boys riled up," Ann chided. Karen eyed her sister, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Don't worry mother I'll be gone before they know it. Just wanted to know if you wanted to head down to the ocean tommorow?" Karen asked. Ann crossed her arms.
"If you're so eager to go why don't you just head down there by yourself?" Ann asked. Karen rolled her eyes.
"Blue insisted that I shouldn't go alone besides," Karen paused. " Besides Peter thinks it's a good idea," Karen said. Ann felt a blush creep up across her face.
"Yea Ann," Peter added. Tinker Bell chimed her agreement.
"Alright then," Ann said. Karen smiled and turned and walked outside Blue trailing behind her. Tinker Bell chimed something to Peter. Ann could never understand her. But she got her body language most of the time.
"Hmmm?" Peter asked coming out of his daze. She chimed louder this time.
"Oh sure, be back soon," Peter brushed her off. Tinker Bell eyed him with concern for a moment but flew out of the tree with an air of determination. Peter was silent for a bit. Ann watched as he leaned against the side of the tree and gazed into the fire. It was totally unlike him to stop even for a few moments he was so full of life most of the time. Ann knew she had only been here 2 weeks, but whatever irked Tinker Bell was now getting to Ann too.
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Karen was bathed in moonlight the moment she stepped outside. Blue also cast an eerie glow.
"Jeez it feels like we've entered some-" Karen was cut off by the sudden arrival of Tinker Bell. Karen greeted her and Blue did also. She launched into a conversation with Blue, ignoring Karen. She sounded distressed so Karen just waited for her to finish before she asked Blue what was going on.
"Well," Blue paused for a second to avoid being whacked by a branch. "Tinker Bell wants to go back to Earth." Blue said slowly as if not sure what to make of it himself.
"Why?" Karen asked.
"To find Wendy,"
"Who?"
"Wendy Darling. She was the first girl to ever come out here. I suppose Peter had feelings for her so you can imagine how it hurt him when she left to grow up," Blue put it plainly. "He's never really been the same since I guess. But I wouldn't know, I'm younger then you Karen so I never met him before he met Wendy." Blue said. Tinker Bell looked at me and whimpered a low bell-like sound. Blue looked at her greatly pained.
"She needs human help if she wants to accomplish what she needs to. Who do you know that can help us?" Blue asked. Tinker Bell looked gratefully at him.
"Wait, are you going with her too?" Karen asked. Blue nodded sending fairy dust to the ground. Karen bit her lip.
"When will you be back?" Karen asked.
"I don't know," he answered truthfully. Karen bit her lip.
"Try my brother JD then. He will believe you since he's so young but he's a smart kid. He can help you out with what you need," Karen advised.
"Great," said Blue. He flew close to her face and gently fairy dust fell upon her. Karen thought of it as a fairy kiss. Karen smiled up at him and then they flew away. She watched them for while losing track of how long she stood there. Karen hadn't felt so alone in a long time.
The next day they all trooped down to the ocean. Karen's heart wasn't into playing along with any of the adventures. She simply lay contently on the beach and watched the boys and Ann try and capture a stingray without getting electrocuted. It was funny to watch and they stayed there all day.
Karen didn't know if Peter noticed that Tinker Bell was gone but if he did, he didn't ask any questions, which was fine with her. She wouldn't tell him any ways. She didn't know why but she thought it best if kept a secret.
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A/N: Sorry it took me so long to put up another chapter but school took top priority for a while. Thanks to all those people who took the time to review. Constructive criticism is always welcome.