Chapter twelve: The choices we make, the decisions we take
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The odd thing about the Neverland jungle was the fact it was so beautiful yet so frightening. The sun tried it's best to reach every space of the jungle but often missed sections causing a very dramatic coolness between the heated rays that shined through the trees.
Curly had tried to sit down now that he was alone. The twins had gone back to the camp and Nibs had run as fast as he could to try and find Sarah. He doubted Sarah had made it to Ravens town yet but it must be imminent for her to do so. Nibs was fast, but not that fast. Curly's heart was beating at a more than average pace as chilling thoughts entered his mind about Sarah and the twins for that matter. If Peter found out about their little journey today they'd be in for it. Time now seemed to be alive in Neverland and it felt like it was running out. Choices had to be quickly made and Curly hoped to God that they'd be the right choices. With his thoughts he stood up and left the underground.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The jungle had never felt so big to Nibs until now. Sweat dripped from his pours and he physically had to stop for air, his heart beating so fast from running, it felt like it could burst out of his chest at any second. Being the athletic type, running wasn't nasty to Nibs as most would think any strenuous sporty activity was but now he felt differently about it. Nibs fell to his knees, panting harshly. His hands were buried into the dirt of Neverland just to feel earthed and not light headed. The heat pounded around his head and his throat felt like a desert. He scolded himself for stopping and taking a few moments to get himself back together; this was what losers did, they took breaks and they made things longer than they were and Nibs wasn't a loser. The thought then occurred to him, something that Sarah had once said; he was human after all and the breath that he took to recuperate himself didn't feel sinful in his lungs. The thought made him think of her and the energy that he thought he'd ran out of for the time being suddenly soared though his veins and he started running again. Only stopping to scream her name every now and again to no avail.
* * * * * * * * * ** * * *
The twins had made it back to the camp to the same atmosphere as the morning. Younger lost children still appeared to be doing their own thing, only stopping when the twins had arrived into the camp.
Summer caught sight of the twins and rushed over to them trying not to make it seem urgent.
"Well?" She asked.
Both twins looked at each other and looked at her with no words.
"Where is he?"
"Who ?" One of the twins asked.
Summer looked confused but then answered. "Slightly."
"Slightly?" The other twin asked confused.
"Yes Slightly, I thought you went to find him? I saw you going off into the jungle and I assumed you were looking for him? He's been missing for ages now. I've looked briefly around but I can't find him?"
"We haven't been looking for him?" One of the twins said getting an elbow in his rib.
The other twin gave him a cautious look.
"What? Well we haven't. I'm just telling her the truth!"
"What?" Summer asked suspiciously.
"Nothing." The other twin added quickly.
"You see now your just making a bigger hole. Where have you been then?"
"Where's Peter?" Asked the other twin first.
"He's round and about the tribe I think, why? What's wrong? Has something happened?"
"No, not yet anyway. We need to keep him here as long as we can!"
"Why? I don't understand?"
"Summer, listen...." One of the twins started as he dragged her and his twin away.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was odd the way it happened. How he had just appeared from out of nowhere, he must have heard Nibs shout, it was the only way. It was odd how he looked angry but also very calm and quite worried at the same time. It looked like he was desperately looking for someone or something, in a good way. Nibs' quick reflexes made him dive to his side hiding behind some foliage, hoping it was enough to camouflage him from the man who stepped into the Neverland jungle like royalty. He gilded through the trees like a bullet, his tough leather boots shielding his feet from the harsh jungle round. Nibs watched with curiosity as Hook strode past him, a fair distance away mind but still in close encounters. The man looked like he was on a mission, it was clear to be seen. Nibs crouched even further into the bushes until the way looked safe. Hook's shadow could be seen now a fair distance away but still visible. It was clear where he was heading, to the underground; the old camp.
Nibs now felt a horrible feeling go through him, a one he'd felt before but not so dramatic: choice. Was he to carry on and find Sarah or was he to try and rush back to find Curly? Surly Sarah would be ok now that Hook wasn't near her? Was she safe in Ravens town? Oh God the questions confused his mind and Nibs had to take a deep breath to clear his imposing thoughts for a clearer thought process. Curly was back in the Underground and Hook was on his way there. Tinkerbell would be back with Peter so where the fuck was Peter now!? No the question was who was he after, it could be any one of them but now it didn't seem clear any more. Nibs went with his gut reaction and fled to another path leading to the underground, hopefully that would not encounter Hook on his travels.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah was a little scared when she reached the street where she resided. From the view, she could see the Jolly Roger was docked in port and that meant James was home. She was happy at this but a little part of her was extremely frightened. She knew she wasn't a good liar so she couldn't deny that she hadn't been with two lost boys but she hoped to God that it really didn't matter who she'd seen and hoped James wasn't angry. Then the thought occurred to her, why should he be angry it's her choice to see who she wants and if he trusted her he'd let her have her freedom and her friends.
Her room was the same. Nothing had changed. The candles that had once lit the room between herself and Nibs still sat around the room. The feathers from their pillow fight lay in the exact spot they had fallen in except for a couple that had floated near the door.
Sarah sat on the bed, her nighty looking a little grubby than it had when she left the room and her body felt hot and sweaty from the walk. For one of the first times in her life with James, she felt self conscious about the drying sweat on her body and felt the need to bath and be clean and pure, especially for him. The room felt secure to her and being back brought a little smile on her lips. A silence surrounded her and she didn't know whether to get up and wait at the window for something or physically go outside and look for someone. An unsettling feeling entered her stomach and Sarah felt a little sick. She thought James would be back. She thought he'd be waiting for her, hopefully to give her a welcoming kiss and more but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. She felt she could use a strong arm to hold her and comfort her for no reason but there was no one and not for the first time the strong arm belonging to James and his handsome face that she imagined seemed to change faces between James, Nibs and Curly. The most upsetting one was actually Peter who she could see was holding her but when she looked at her own chest and tried to feel her lungs rise, she couldn't see any sign of movement or life in her, that was the worst one.
She thought for another moment and decided to wash herself her down and put on one of her light gowns and wait for James, maybe he was by his ship?
* * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *
Summer had searched frantically for Peter when the twins had explained their ventures for the morning. A whole feeling of apprehension and anxiety flooded the camp as the younger children noticed the worried looks on tribe members faces. The twins and Summer had turned a horrible shade of white when they realised Peter wasn't in the camp and neither was Tinkerbell. Slightly had returned from a morning stroll only to be harassed by the twins and Summer for his 'stupidity' for thinking he could go off for a morning stroll. Soon things were explained and Slightly had the same look of concern as the others.
"So let me get this straight." Slightly, second in command started to speak, holding Summers hand. "Sarah was with Nibs and Curly, who is actually alive and they were in the old underground. Sarah, who was with Hook, am I right? Left to see them while Hook was away but now he's back right? Peter some time ago told Tinkerbell to tell Hook that Sarah was in the underground and this was for?...."
"We don't know? Peter might want to to see her and I can only give you one guess what that would be for....." Summer stated.
"And if Curly is still there or Nibs for that matter ...." Slightly added.
"No Nibs has gone to find Sarah. She had left before we arrived at the camp. Only Curly is there now." The other twin corrected.
"Right. So does that mean Peter is in Ravens town or something?" Slightly asked.
"It must do." Summer answered. "But wouldn't Hook be there and you know maybe save Sarah?"
"Don't be silly, he'll probably kill her." One of the twins answered worried.
"No, no I don't think he would." Slightly stated.
"Well, what should we do then Slightly. What happens now, what happens to the tribe and us?"
Slightly looked apprehensive before he spoke but took a deep breath in.
"For Sarah." He simply said and looking at his knife that lay by his waist.
Both the twins and Summer looked at him then his knife and silently agreed.
"I hate to make a joke out of it but we'll probably not get to kill anyone because Nibs would have got there first!!" One of the twins grinned, a spark of wild, lost boy days, lightening his eyes.
Slightly wanted to smirk but it was dangerous and this time it wasn't a game. He had every faith that Nibs was grown up and could take care of himself but the people he was up against weren't the easiest prey to kill.
"Twins. Get your weapons."
"Got them!" One of the twins said pulling out his own blade.
"Wait what about me, I'm coming with you." Summer spoke up.
Slightly opened his mouth to speak.
"And don't say it's too dangerous, just because I'm a girl." Summer added threateningly to Slightly before he could utter a word then moved away from him, turning her back.
"Summer, no." Slightly softly said.
Summers look was saddened but Slightly didn't see this and spoke again.
"I'm not just going to sit around just because I'm a girl!"
"Summer?"
Summer didn't reply
Again Slightly called her name, taking hold of her hands this time.
"Hannah, please. Look at me."
When Slightly had used her real name, a name that Peter had once taken from her, she looked at him.
"I need you to do something important for me."
Slightly looked sincere and it melted Summers heart.
"I need you to round up everyone and take them to the Indian lands. Find Tiger Lily and John. Tell them what is happening and ask them if the Indian tribe will look after the younger ones for a bit. Tell them it's serious."
Summer looked at her lover and smiled. This was why she loved him, because he was a better leader then Peter. He always thought of others before himself and he always treated her with the respect Peter never offered to any of the girls in the tribe. Summer put one arm around Slightlys neck and placed her hand on his chest over his heart. This was a gesture she found he always admired because it meant a lot to both of them. Summer brought his face down to kiss her and she held him there in the long kiss until she needed to release him.
"I'll see you soon, you promise?" She whispered.
"I promise." Slightly whispered back before picking her up in a hug and releasing her, walking off with the twins.
Summer watched as they walked away and placed her own hand over her heart.
Slightly briefly turned around and did the same motion before he was out of sight.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Curly's memory of the jungle was fairly faded considering the time that he'd spent wandering in it days before. The sun still burnt high and the trees seemed to be fooling him, every now and then moving with a breeze or an animal making him jumpy. There was no point waiting for anyone. Sarah was gone, Nibs had gone after her and the twins had disappeared back to their camp. Deep in his veins, Curly knew something was happening or going to happen. It just didn't seem right to stay alone in the old underground by himself. The battle had begun and the sides were beginning to be chosen. Peter, he knew, would welcome the prospect of another fight between him again, but Curly did not. The horrible thought that filtered his mind at the present was the fact he didn't have any communication now. It had seemed like just a few hours ago, things were starting to look up. A new 'tribe' had seemed to be formed but that reality had turned back into a dream with Sarah's departure. And why was he getting the feeing Sarah actually didn't want to stay with him because of Nibs? Curly dismissed his thoughts and continued on his path he was heading, he wasn't far from the underground but his safety seemed to disappear when the sight of the one person that he didn't know where he would be suddenly seemed to appear from no where.
"Hiya Curly, how you doing?" Peter smiled extremely out of character before laughing at his own put on kindness.
Curly froze.
"Wondering how I found you? I followed you. I've been following you. Knew you'd be in the old underground, I just couldn't think why I hadn't looked for you in there before? Well actually I had but you weren't there."
"I thought you weren't looking for me?"
"I'm looking for everyone Curly and I always find everyone. Tink found Sarah. So why would she be alone in the underground hmm? Then it struck me, my missing members of course, you and Nibs. Where is that back-stabbing, arrogant ass-hole anyway?"
Curly stayed quiet.
Peter laughed, getting annoyed. "You know Curly, it would help if you speak, it would make things quicker on you behalf." The venom in Peter's voice was alarming.
Curly suddenly bolted out of sight back towards the old underground. Peter actually dropped his menace just to register that Curly had vanished from his sight.
Curly wasn't a runner, but he surprised himself at the speed at which his legs carried him away from Peter. In all truthfulness, it was useless to run for Peter because he could fly and it was much faster. The beauty of it was they were in the jungle and Peter could only fly extremely fast in the sky, not where the trees were an obstruction in his path. The sad thing was Curly had run in the direction of the underground and Peter knew this.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Nibs had followed as closely as he could to Hook without getting caught by the man himself. James' stride was long and he made it in good time to the underground or where he thought was the underground.
James made a growl of frustration at not finding, what he thought was the exact location of the den. Nibs knew the man was right in his findings but the obvious lack of being here was grating on him as he seemed to think he wasn't there. The sudden presence of a stumbling body turned his attention as a young curly haired man came into view, gasping for breath.
"Curly!" A voice cried unrecognisable to James. He frowned and turned to the voice who came into view, another young man. The third presence of a young man made him laugh heartily as he thought it was a set up.
Peter noticed Hook standing between the boys and suddenly looked a little confused. His intention had been to track Curly but it seemed everything that was on his mind seemed to come to live, all except one other thing.
"Oh dear, look what we have here. Everyone who has a soft spot for that little whore is standing together. I'd never thought I'd see it!"
"Boy." James roared. "What is the meaning?"
Peter smirked, looking very innocent.
"I don't know?" He simply said hovering off the ground lying horizontally folding his arms smugly.
"What have you done with Sarah?" Nibs asked, directing it at Hook.
Hook turned around to take in account the young man who had been either very brave or very stupid to talk to him.
"I, have not done anything to her, I don't know where she is. I was hoping that maybe one of you three." James looked over to Peter and rolled his eyes. "...you two could tell me where she is." He continued dangerously.
Peter didn't seemed to be nerved by the presence of Captain Hook, but both Curly and Nibs seemed to be, Curly more so than Nibs.
"And that's my cue." Peter sneered a smile towards them. "See you all, I gotta go and find an old acquaintance."
Peter flew off slowly but then turned in mind air towards James.
"Any last words for your precious little jewel James?" He spat before flying off out of the trees laughing.
James paled at this moment closing his lips to a very thin line. He directed his look of now anger towards Nibs.
"She's in Ravens town isn't she?" He asked a hint of defeat in his voice as it seemed Peter had the upper hand on what seemed to be another 'game'.
"She went to look for you." Nibs stated, holding his ground and trying to stand taller than he was, like an animal trying to look more menacing and deadly before a predator.
James registered the truthfulness in his voice but still didn't let his guard down.
"For the record, we're not with Peter any more." Nibs added.
James looked at the young man in front of him. He recognised him but couldn't place a name on him. It was obvious he was a lost boy; he had that 'look' about him – the scruffy one.
"Tell me lost boy, why do you tell me this? In hopes I don't kill you because you're trying to give me information?"
"Possibly."
This wasn't the reply James thought the young man would give him. Maybe he wasn't acting as mean as he usually was, or maybe the lost boy wasn't scarred of the big, bad, grown up any more because he was grown up. It was easily seen the boy wasn't a boy anymore, like Peter himself. Neverland was changing and the proof was in front of James' eyes in the form of a lost boy who wasn't any more. James' attention went to the smaller young man who had composed himself but kept quiet.
"Pan's little fairie came to see me and told me Sarah was with lost boys in the underground. But we all know that little bug is a liar, yet she gave me information that would direct me to Sarah and I wonder now, why was she was with lost boys? I presume you two, am I right?" James spoke still as deadly.
"She came to see me." Curly started to say.
James turned to the voice and registered the young man.
"Peter had wounded me, she came back to....."
"You were the one that let her live?" James guessed.
Curly nodded slowly.
"Then I have to thank you."
"Y-you're welcome." Curly replied, the first thing that came to mind.
Nibs watched as awkwardness filtered the scene. The presence of Hook made you want to bolt and even thought his words seemed to be that of thankfulness and not menace, you just didn't know if he'd turn suddenly.
"What now?" Nibs asked.
James who had started walking off turned to the younger man.
"Anything." James replied casually, receiving and odd look from Nibs before leaving the scene and when out of view, sprinting into a run to the shore where a boat waited for him.
Nibs and Curly looked at each other, a little surprised to say the least.
"He didn't kill us?" Curly muttered out.
"I know." Nibs replied looking in the direction Hook left in.
"I take it he's going to look for Sarah?" Curly added.
"I guess."
"Well, what about us?"
Nibs shrugged, still looking in the direction of Hook.
"We follow. Hook'll make it back before us, but, well? We need to get to Sarah."
"What if Peter has already?" Curly asked worriedly. A sense of heart ache and anger, turning in his heart.
"Hook won't let him live, not this time....." Nibs replied strongly.
"She shouldn't be with him! I'm not gonna lose her to Peter or Hook!" Curly growled in frustration.
Nibs looked at Curly who, from being the quiet type had suddenly felt anger and jealousy spread through his body.
Curly darted into the trees and left Nibs pondering for a second. Nibs shouted at him but Curly had gone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah had walked from her room down her street to the next junction of paths before her. It may have looked odd because she was dressed up so classy and yet she was walking down a street, her beautiful slippers touching the dirt beneath her. Sarah didn't care about this and so got some strange looks from passers by. She didn't look half as good as she hand when she'd been made up but she felt pretty grand in the beautiful gown she was now sporting, a complete contrast to herself a couple of hours ago.
The Jolly Roger wasn't too far away from where she stood now and would only be a short walking distance away. Sarah's hair had roughly been put up in some form of a bun and she even placed some of her jewellery, a present form James, on her body. Closer to the port, the smell of salt and the sea filtered her nostrils. It wasn't a bad smell, but being in the heart of the jungle, smelling the freshness of the trees and earth made the sea smell just not as good and almost unwelcoming.
No one seemed to be considerably close to the ship and Sarah, trying to act confident, strode onto the make shift platform that acted like a bridge to the boat. On setting eyes on the crew who lazily lounged around the deck, a couple of women – if you could call them women; chalk white faces and red circles of blush, sat with them. Sarah suddenly felt as if she shouldn't have been so bold but a question was burning in her mind.
"I need to see the Captain." She stated.
A lot of menacing looks went in her direction as the crew seemed to be upset that they were disturbed from their basking and enjoyment with their women.
Sarah noticed that there seemed to be no sign of Smee and she cursed at this; the prospect of trying to find James even more slim.
A sudden crowing set the crew to a more alert stance, looking in the air to the shadow that flew with grace and hovered by the large sails.
The women who were on the ship watched with interest as the young 'flying' man seemed to provoke an uneasy feeling to the crew.
Sarah lifted her dress and ran back down the bridge, tripping as she did so. Why did she have to come to the ship? This was the only place Peter knew fairly well, if she had only stayed in her room!? She turned her face towards the ship and noticed Peter dealing already and teasing the crew who were useless to catch his speed to fight him. The urge to run anywhere was a good one now and no other thought entered her mind.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The odd thing about the Neverland jungle was the fact it was so beautiful yet so frightening. The sun tried it's best to reach every space of the jungle but often missed sections causing a very dramatic coolness between the heated rays that shined through the trees.
Curly had tried to sit down now that he was alone. The twins had gone back to the camp and Nibs had run as fast as he could to try and find Sarah. He doubted Sarah had made it to Ravens town yet but it must be imminent for her to do so. Nibs was fast, but not that fast. Curly's heart was beating at a more than average pace as chilling thoughts entered his mind about Sarah and the twins for that matter. If Peter found out about their little journey today they'd be in for it. Time now seemed to be alive in Neverland and it felt like it was running out. Choices had to be quickly made and Curly hoped to God that they'd be the right choices. With his thoughts he stood up and left the underground.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The jungle had never felt so big to Nibs until now. Sweat dripped from his pours and he physically had to stop for air, his heart beating so fast from running, it felt like it could burst out of his chest at any second. Being the athletic type, running wasn't nasty to Nibs as most would think any strenuous sporty activity was but now he felt differently about it. Nibs fell to his knees, panting harshly. His hands were buried into the dirt of Neverland just to feel earthed and not light headed. The heat pounded around his head and his throat felt like a desert. He scolded himself for stopping and taking a few moments to get himself back together; this was what losers did, they took breaks and they made things longer than they were and Nibs wasn't a loser. The thought then occurred to him, something that Sarah had once said; he was human after all and the breath that he took to recuperate himself didn't feel sinful in his lungs. The thought made him think of her and the energy that he thought he'd ran out of for the time being suddenly soared though his veins and he started running again. Only stopping to scream her name every now and again to no avail.
* * * * * * * * * ** * * *
The twins had made it back to the camp to the same atmosphere as the morning. Younger lost children still appeared to be doing their own thing, only stopping when the twins had arrived into the camp.
Summer caught sight of the twins and rushed over to them trying not to make it seem urgent.
"Well?" She asked.
Both twins looked at each other and looked at her with no words.
"Where is he?"
"Who ?" One of the twins asked.
Summer looked confused but then answered. "Slightly."
"Slightly?" The other twin asked confused.
"Yes Slightly, I thought you went to find him? I saw you going off into the jungle and I assumed you were looking for him? He's been missing for ages now. I've looked briefly around but I can't find him?"
"We haven't been looking for him?" One of the twins said getting an elbow in his rib.
The other twin gave him a cautious look.
"What? Well we haven't. I'm just telling her the truth!"
"What?" Summer asked suspiciously.
"Nothing." The other twin added quickly.
"You see now your just making a bigger hole. Where have you been then?"
"Where's Peter?" Asked the other twin first.
"He's round and about the tribe I think, why? What's wrong? Has something happened?"
"No, not yet anyway. We need to keep him here as long as we can!"
"Why? I don't understand?"
"Summer, listen...." One of the twins started as he dragged her and his twin away.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was odd the way it happened. How he had just appeared from out of nowhere, he must have heard Nibs shout, it was the only way. It was odd how he looked angry but also very calm and quite worried at the same time. It looked like he was desperately looking for someone or something, in a good way. Nibs' quick reflexes made him dive to his side hiding behind some foliage, hoping it was enough to camouflage him from the man who stepped into the Neverland jungle like royalty. He gilded through the trees like a bullet, his tough leather boots shielding his feet from the harsh jungle round. Nibs watched with curiosity as Hook strode past him, a fair distance away mind but still in close encounters. The man looked like he was on a mission, it was clear to be seen. Nibs crouched even further into the bushes until the way looked safe. Hook's shadow could be seen now a fair distance away but still visible. It was clear where he was heading, to the underground; the old camp.
Nibs now felt a horrible feeling go through him, a one he'd felt before but not so dramatic: choice. Was he to carry on and find Sarah or was he to try and rush back to find Curly? Surly Sarah would be ok now that Hook wasn't near her? Was she safe in Ravens town? Oh God the questions confused his mind and Nibs had to take a deep breath to clear his imposing thoughts for a clearer thought process. Curly was back in the Underground and Hook was on his way there. Tinkerbell would be back with Peter so where the fuck was Peter now!? No the question was who was he after, it could be any one of them but now it didn't seem clear any more. Nibs went with his gut reaction and fled to another path leading to the underground, hopefully that would not encounter Hook on his travels.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah was a little scared when she reached the street where she resided. From the view, she could see the Jolly Roger was docked in port and that meant James was home. She was happy at this but a little part of her was extremely frightened. She knew she wasn't a good liar so she couldn't deny that she hadn't been with two lost boys but she hoped to God that it really didn't matter who she'd seen and hoped James wasn't angry. Then the thought occurred to her, why should he be angry it's her choice to see who she wants and if he trusted her he'd let her have her freedom and her friends.
Her room was the same. Nothing had changed. The candles that had once lit the room between herself and Nibs still sat around the room. The feathers from their pillow fight lay in the exact spot they had fallen in except for a couple that had floated near the door.
Sarah sat on the bed, her nighty looking a little grubby than it had when she left the room and her body felt hot and sweaty from the walk. For one of the first times in her life with James, she felt self conscious about the drying sweat on her body and felt the need to bath and be clean and pure, especially for him. The room felt secure to her and being back brought a little smile on her lips. A silence surrounded her and she didn't know whether to get up and wait at the window for something or physically go outside and look for someone. An unsettling feeling entered her stomach and Sarah felt a little sick. She thought James would be back. She thought he'd be waiting for her, hopefully to give her a welcoming kiss and more but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. She felt she could use a strong arm to hold her and comfort her for no reason but there was no one and not for the first time the strong arm belonging to James and his handsome face that she imagined seemed to change faces between James, Nibs and Curly. The most upsetting one was actually Peter who she could see was holding her but when she looked at her own chest and tried to feel her lungs rise, she couldn't see any sign of movement or life in her, that was the worst one.
She thought for another moment and decided to wash herself her down and put on one of her light gowns and wait for James, maybe he was by his ship?
* * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *
Summer had searched frantically for Peter when the twins had explained their ventures for the morning. A whole feeling of apprehension and anxiety flooded the camp as the younger children noticed the worried looks on tribe members faces. The twins and Summer had turned a horrible shade of white when they realised Peter wasn't in the camp and neither was Tinkerbell. Slightly had returned from a morning stroll only to be harassed by the twins and Summer for his 'stupidity' for thinking he could go off for a morning stroll. Soon things were explained and Slightly had the same look of concern as the others.
"So let me get this straight." Slightly, second in command started to speak, holding Summers hand. "Sarah was with Nibs and Curly, who is actually alive and they were in the old underground. Sarah, who was with Hook, am I right? Left to see them while Hook was away but now he's back right? Peter some time ago told Tinkerbell to tell Hook that Sarah was in the underground and this was for?...."
"We don't know? Peter might want to to see her and I can only give you one guess what that would be for....." Summer stated.
"And if Curly is still there or Nibs for that matter ...." Slightly added.
"No Nibs has gone to find Sarah. She had left before we arrived at the camp. Only Curly is there now." The other twin corrected.
"Right. So does that mean Peter is in Ravens town or something?" Slightly asked.
"It must do." Summer answered. "But wouldn't Hook be there and you know maybe save Sarah?"
"Don't be silly, he'll probably kill her." One of the twins answered worried.
"No, no I don't think he would." Slightly stated.
"Well, what should we do then Slightly. What happens now, what happens to the tribe and us?"
Slightly looked apprehensive before he spoke but took a deep breath in.
"For Sarah." He simply said and looking at his knife that lay by his waist.
Both the twins and Summer looked at him then his knife and silently agreed.
"I hate to make a joke out of it but we'll probably not get to kill anyone because Nibs would have got there first!!" One of the twins grinned, a spark of wild, lost boy days, lightening his eyes.
Slightly wanted to smirk but it was dangerous and this time it wasn't a game. He had every faith that Nibs was grown up and could take care of himself but the people he was up against weren't the easiest prey to kill.
"Twins. Get your weapons."
"Got them!" One of the twins said pulling out his own blade.
"Wait what about me, I'm coming with you." Summer spoke up.
Slightly opened his mouth to speak.
"And don't say it's too dangerous, just because I'm a girl." Summer added threateningly to Slightly before he could utter a word then moved away from him, turning her back.
"Summer, no." Slightly softly said.
Summers look was saddened but Slightly didn't see this and spoke again.
"I'm not just going to sit around just because I'm a girl!"
"Summer?"
Summer didn't reply
Again Slightly called her name, taking hold of her hands this time.
"Hannah, please. Look at me."
When Slightly had used her real name, a name that Peter had once taken from her, she looked at him.
"I need you to do something important for me."
Slightly looked sincere and it melted Summers heart.
"I need you to round up everyone and take them to the Indian lands. Find Tiger Lily and John. Tell them what is happening and ask them if the Indian tribe will look after the younger ones for a bit. Tell them it's serious."
Summer looked at her lover and smiled. This was why she loved him, because he was a better leader then Peter. He always thought of others before himself and he always treated her with the respect Peter never offered to any of the girls in the tribe. Summer put one arm around Slightlys neck and placed her hand on his chest over his heart. This was a gesture she found he always admired because it meant a lot to both of them. Summer brought his face down to kiss her and she held him there in the long kiss until she needed to release him.
"I'll see you soon, you promise?" She whispered.
"I promise." Slightly whispered back before picking her up in a hug and releasing her, walking off with the twins.
Summer watched as they walked away and placed her own hand over her heart.
Slightly briefly turned around and did the same motion before he was out of sight.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Curly's memory of the jungle was fairly faded considering the time that he'd spent wandering in it days before. The sun still burnt high and the trees seemed to be fooling him, every now and then moving with a breeze or an animal making him jumpy. There was no point waiting for anyone. Sarah was gone, Nibs had gone after her and the twins had disappeared back to their camp. Deep in his veins, Curly knew something was happening or going to happen. It just didn't seem right to stay alone in the old underground by himself. The battle had begun and the sides were beginning to be chosen. Peter, he knew, would welcome the prospect of another fight between him again, but Curly did not. The horrible thought that filtered his mind at the present was the fact he didn't have any communication now. It had seemed like just a few hours ago, things were starting to look up. A new 'tribe' had seemed to be formed but that reality had turned back into a dream with Sarah's departure. And why was he getting the feeing Sarah actually didn't want to stay with him because of Nibs? Curly dismissed his thoughts and continued on his path he was heading, he wasn't far from the underground but his safety seemed to disappear when the sight of the one person that he didn't know where he would be suddenly seemed to appear from no where.
"Hiya Curly, how you doing?" Peter smiled extremely out of character before laughing at his own put on kindness.
Curly froze.
"Wondering how I found you? I followed you. I've been following you. Knew you'd be in the old underground, I just couldn't think why I hadn't looked for you in there before? Well actually I had but you weren't there."
"I thought you weren't looking for me?"
"I'm looking for everyone Curly and I always find everyone. Tink found Sarah. So why would she be alone in the underground hmm? Then it struck me, my missing members of course, you and Nibs. Where is that back-stabbing, arrogant ass-hole anyway?"
Curly stayed quiet.
Peter laughed, getting annoyed. "You know Curly, it would help if you speak, it would make things quicker on you behalf." The venom in Peter's voice was alarming.
Curly suddenly bolted out of sight back towards the old underground. Peter actually dropped his menace just to register that Curly had vanished from his sight.
Curly wasn't a runner, but he surprised himself at the speed at which his legs carried him away from Peter. In all truthfulness, it was useless to run for Peter because he could fly and it was much faster. The beauty of it was they were in the jungle and Peter could only fly extremely fast in the sky, not where the trees were an obstruction in his path. The sad thing was Curly had run in the direction of the underground and Peter knew this.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Nibs had followed as closely as he could to Hook without getting caught by the man himself. James' stride was long and he made it in good time to the underground or where he thought was the underground.
James made a growl of frustration at not finding, what he thought was the exact location of the den. Nibs knew the man was right in his findings but the obvious lack of being here was grating on him as he seemed to think he wasn't there. The sudden presence of a stumbling body turned his attention as a young curly haired man came into view, gasping for breath.
"Curly!" A voice cried unrecognisable to James. He frowned and turned to the voice who came into view, another young man. The third presence of a young man made him laugh heartily as he thought it was a set up.
Peter noticed Hook standing between the boys and suddenly looked a little confused. His intention had been to track Curly but it seemed everything that was on his mind seemed to come to live, all except one other thing.
"Oh dear, look what we have here. Everyone who has a soft spot for that little whore is standing together. I'd never thought I'd see it!"
"Boy." James roared. "What is the meaning?"
Peter smirked, looking very innocent.
"I don't know?" He simply said hovering off the ground lying horizontally folding his arms smugly.
"What have you done with Sarah?" Nibs asked, directing it at Hook.
Hook turned around to take in account the young man who had been either very brave or very stupid to talk to him.
"I, have not done anything to her, I don't know where she is. I was hoping that maybe one of you three." James looked over to Peter and rolled his eyes. "...you two could tell me where she is." He continued dangerously.
Peter didn't seemed to be nerved by the presence of Captain Hook, but both Curly and Nibs seemed to be, Curly more so than Nibs.
"And that's my cue." Peter sneered a smile towards them. "See you all, I gotta go and find an old acquaintance."
Peter flew off slowly but then turned in mind air towards James.
"Any last words for your precious little jewel James?" He spat before flying off out of the trees laughing.
James paled at this moment closing his lips to a very thin line. He directed his look of now anger towards Nibs.
"She's in Ravens town isn't she?" He asked a hint of defeat in his voice as it seemed Peter had the upper hand on what seemed to be another 'game'.
"She went to look for you." Nibs stated, holding his ground and trying to stand taller than he was, like an animal trying to look more menacing and deadly before a predator.
James registered the truthfulness in his voice but still didn't let his guard down.
"For the record, we're not with Peter any more." Nibs added.
James looked at the young man in front of him. He recognised him but couldn't place a name on him. It was obvious he was a lost boy; he had that 'look' about him – the scruffy one.
"Tell me lost boy, why do you tell me this? In hopes I don't kill you because you're trying to give me information?"
"Possibly."
This wasn't the reply James thought the young man would give him. Maybe he wasn't acting as mean as he usually was, or maybe the lost boy wasn't scarred of the big, bad, grown up any more because he was grown up. It was easily seen the boy wasn't a boy anymore, like Peter himself. Neverland was changing and the proof was in front of James' eyes in the form of a lost boy who wasn't any more. James' attention went to the smaller young man who had composed himself but kept quiet.
"Pan's little fairie came to see me and told me Sarah was with lost boys in the underground. But we all know that little bug is a liar, yet she gave me information that would direct me to Sarah and I wonder now, why was she was with lost boys? I presume you two, am I right?" James spoke still as deadly.
"She came to see me." Curly started to say.
James turned to the voice and registered the young man.
"Peter had wounded me, she came back to....."
"You were the one that let her live?" James guessed.
Curly nodded slowly.
"Then I have to thank you."
"Y-you're welcome." Curly replied, the first thing that came to mind.
Nibs watched as awkwardness filtered the scene. The presence of Hook made you want to bolt and even thought his words seemed to be that of thankfulness and not menace, you just didn't know if he'd turn suddenly.
"What now?" Nibs asked.
James who had started walking off turned to the younger man.
"Anything." James replied casually, receiving and odd look from Nibs before leaving the scene and when out of view, sprinting into a run to the shore where a boat waited for him.
Nibs and Curly looked at each other, a little surprised to say the least.
"He didn't kill us?" Curly muttered out.
"I know." Nibs replied looking in the direction Hook left in.
"I take it he's going to look for Sarah?" Curly added.
"I guess."
"Well, what about us?"
Nibs shrugged, still looking in the direction of Hook.
"We follow. Hook'll make it back before us, but, well? We need to get to Sarah."
"What if Peter has already?" Curly asked worriedly. A sense of heart ache and anger, turning in his heart.
"Hook won't let him live, not this time....." Nibs replied strongly.
"She shouldn't be with him! I'm not gonna lose her to Peter or Hook!" Curly growled in frustration.
Nibs looked at Curly who, from being the quiet type had suddenly felt anger and jealousy spread through his body.
Curly darted into the trees and left Nibs pondering for a second. Nibs shouted at him but Curly had gone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sarah had walked from her room down her street to the next junction of paths before her. It may have looked odd because she was dressed up so classy and yet she was walking down a street, her beautiful slippers touching the dirt beneath her. Sarah didn't care about this and so got some strange looks from passers by. She didn't look half as good as she hand when she'd been made up but she felt pretty grand in the beautiful gown she was now sporting, a complete contrast to herself a couple of hours ago.
The Jolly Roger wasn't too far away from where she stood now and would only be a short walking distance away. Sarah's hair had roughly been put up in some form of a bun and she even placed some of her jewellery, a present form James, on her body. Closer to the port, the smell of salt and the sea filtered her nostrils. It wasn't a bad smell, but being in the heart of the jungle, smelling the freshness of the trees and earth made the sea smell just not as good and almost unwelcoming.
No one seemed to be considerably close to the ship and Sarah, trying to act confident, strode onto the make shift platform that acted like a bridge to the boat. On setting eyes on the crew who lazily lounged around the deck, a couple of women – if you could call them women; chalk white faces and red circles of blush, sat with them. Sarah suddenly felt as if she shouldn't have been so bold but a question was burning in her mind.
"I need to see the Captain." She stated.
A lot of menacing looks went in her direction as the crew seemed to be upset that they were disturbed from their basking and enjoyment with their women.
Sarah noticed that there seemed to be no sign of Smee and she cursed at this; the prospect of trying to find James even more slim.
A sudden crowing set the crew to a more alert stance, looking in the air to the shadow that flew with grace and hovered by the large sails.
The women who were on the ship watched with interest as the young 'flying' man seemed to provoke an uneasy feeling to the crew.
Sarah lifted her dress and ran back down the bridge, tripping as she did so. Why did she have to come to the ship? This was the only place Peter knew fairly well, if she had only stayed in her room!? She turned her face towards the ship and noticed Peter dealing already and teasing the crew who were useless to catch his speed to fight him. The urge to run anywhere was a good one now and no other thought entered her mind.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *