Chapter nineteen: That night
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from Sarah, other minor characters and some other names of things.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The morning sun shone a couple of rays into the dark entrance of the cave. The older lost boys had taken their own individual shifts of looking out. The atmosphere had suddenly changed the moment Nibs had arrived onto the scene. Younger tribe members seemed more courageous and less frightened of Peter. Nibs in turn had just smiled to them lightly, happily taking his job as look out on his shift, then trying to sleep. It wasn't dreamless and on two occasions, he'd woken up in a cold sweat; Peter had killed Sarah, Peter had killed the tribe, these were the dreams that plagued his mind.
The morning brought a sense of strength to the tribe. The small sunlight was on their side and it made Peter easier to see if he was to approach the tribe.
"I honestly don't know what we're gonna do?" Slightly muttered to Nibs having noticed the approaching clouds in the sky before they'd come inside.
The tribe we all eating a small amount of fruit which had been picked by some of the younger lost boys under Jake's command close by.
"Don't look at me." Nibs mentioned. "Peter wasn't there when I arrived but I imagine he's about." He paused. "Is there any news on Ravens town or Sarah?" He hesitated her name but Slightly gave him a very light smile before reply.
"No. No sign of Curly or Jack either." Slightly gave Nibs a look and Nibs didn't catch it as his attention had turned to John and Lily who approached him.
"Sorry to butt in Slightly...." John started to say.
Slightly gave a gesture for him to carry on.
"Lily and I are going to leave now. The sun is still not at it's brightest so we'll leave before anything drastic or important happens in the Indian tribe, not that there is anything exciting, but hey."
"We also don't want to be caught up in the rain that is to fall." Lily added.
"Thank you." Slightly said standing up. "For everything, taking care of the tribe and all. If there's anything we can do, please say, anything."
"Just take care of yourself, all of you." John gave a look to the now standing Nibs.
"Goodbye both of you." Lily added kissing both young men on their cheeks, the younger girls of the tribe looking over jealously at Lily making close contact with Nibs.
Nibs and Slightly walked them to the entrance and watched them go.
"And so?" Slightly asked turning to the taller boy.
"You're in charge mate, you tell me." Nibs smiled playfully before walking back in.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Peter hadn't moved for a couple of hours. The very small stash of wine and beer that was hidden for the older members of the tribe was lying in a heap by Peter's bed. He lay on his furs still asleep having arrived back from London from an uneventful night of spying on the Darlings old house which now was unrecognisable from when Wendy was still in the nursery.
Tinker bell had given up on his unfit state and headed to where the faeries dwell.
Dark circles lay underneath Peter's eyes and his skin looked worse for wear. A small patch of what seemed to be bile or sick was dried by his mouth and on his chin. His hair was dirty and grubby marks could be seen over his body. In all he didn't look like the Pan he used to be.
It would seem to anyone that this young man, whose adolescent facial hair was growing in, would have not cared about things in life. On the contrary, he was thinking things very slowly and carefully all about life. Thinking about how he'd been back to Ravens town after he'd had his encounter with Sarah but been unable to seek her again. How he was going to seek revenge on those who had upset him or angered him. Thousands of thoughts swirled in his mind and for the first time it seemed like he could think of many things at once without losing one thought.
Peter's stomach growled but his legs disagreed with wanting to move to look for food. This was what tribe members were for, doing things HE wanted. At that moment Peter decided he'd had enough. Slow thinking wasn't the way forward. Violence was the way forward, the way to survive, it always had been and it had always got him what he wanted. Sarah couldn't hide in Ravens town, Hook couldn't always rescue her and the lost tribe couldn't camouflage in the jungle forever.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Morning was pleasant for a while but the clouds started to come in and then out of nowhere, the rain started to pour down heavily. To make it worse, winds had made their way to Neverland and increased the unpleasantness of the weather by mid morning. This was what made most of the Ravens town inhabitants stop from going outside. Businesses and shops were empty and few souls braved it walking to and fro, mainly to pubs.
By the time lunch time had arrived the weather still hadn't changed for the better. Not surprisingly, James had been one of the few souls to brave the rain and head down to his ship. Although this annoyed Sarah, she thought James had wanted to give her space to think about their conversation or maybe guilt had become of him after his words. His face looked at little sad compared to his usual business like manner, but Sarah had not seen the care and concern in his eyes that morning, although it was there, a little.
Sarah sat by one of the open fires, this time in the nearly furnished and cleaned day room. Betty was pottering around in the kitchen and as much as Sarah thought about going there she knew better than to be in the presence of Betty. It seemed that recently Betty had taken a disliking to Sarah and although Sarah felt the same way about her house maid, she suddenly felt lonely.
Other things were looming around Sarah's mind too. The prospect of this baby thing was at the top of her list for starters. She felt betrayed by James at his words at wanting this child that was to arrive imminently, a child that wasn't hers by blood. She felt betrayed by her own body for not having successfully conceived a child, if that was what James wanted and it seemed now it was obvious that he did. She also felt betrayed by fate. Many great things seemed to begin in her life. Coming to Neverland, meeting Peter Pan, having Nav as her first lover and now coming to Ravens town, these were all great things to start. But all these things had gone terribly wrong and it seemed looming that being in Ravens town could be bad idea. It hadn't yet though, but her journey had had some small hitches along the way. Was this baby business going to ruin things? Deep down inside Sarah didn't know if she could have a baby herself. She'd always told herself that she couldn't. Maybe that was because she was frightened she'd fall pregnant with Peter's child again after his rapes. She didn't want to face the violence again. Maybe she'd scared herself about pregnancy that her body had given up on her. In honesty she was frightened at the beginning that she'd fall pregnant with James' child, only in the sense of what she'd heard about him in the olden days. It was obvious and brought to her that not so long ago, he'd not been a parent kind of man. Sarah knew her body and mind were confused; nothing seemed to run smoothly, ever since Peter had suddenly taken interest in her, no earlier, ever since Wendy had died.
Sarah sighed, the rain brining her attention out of her thoughts. The darkness outside was not quite dark but a gloomy, dull shade. The fire crackled and she set some more coal on it, rubbing her chilled hands near, wishing she had someone to join her and tell her things were going to work out her way.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The lost tribe had planned under the guidance of Nibs and Slightly that they'd return back to the camp. Nibs had offered to go and check out the camp with Jake. Slightly would stay with the tribe. Their plan hadn't worked as the weather had been too dissuading. Nibs explained to Slightly that there was no point in returning yet with the weather this bad and said that instead he and Jake would try and attempt to find some dry wood to keep the fires going. Nibs gave a half disheartening look at Slightly about the 'dry' wood in so much rain. Slightly agreed sadly but Nibs had left before he could change his mind and ask Nibs and Jake to stay. Another quick glance at the lost tribe huddled together in the dark and looking sad and miserable told him that he was extremely happy and thankful to have Nibs back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
A few more hours still had the same weather and Sarah, although she was planning to bathe, stayed by her burning fire. James hadn't returned and although half of Sarah's mind wanted to go find him take him into her arms and smile in a wife like manner and say 'yes, let's have that baby!' The other half disagreed and started to ponder on other options. The afternoon turned into the evening with the clouds darkening up the sky dramatically. Betty had been in and left some food for her but Sarah didn't feel hungry, she didn't even feel like moving. The rain had dampened her spirits and mood and the only other thing that she thought she could possibly get up to do was to go to bed and burrow under her pillows until the morning with a few more blankets over her. The idea suddenly became a plan and Sarah first headed towards the kitchen.
"Betty?"
Betty wiped her hands on her apron and looked at Sarah without her usual smile.
"Yes?"
"Err, could you make me a bed pan to warm up my bed?"
Betty pursed her lips and nodded slowly. "After I've finished this mind, shouldn't be too long though, I have some water half boiled."
"Thank you." Sarah turned to leave but surprisingly Betty called to her.
"Are you okay today? You're awfully quiet."
"Yeah I'm ok I guess, just well, it's nothing really."
Betty frowned but decided not to press the issue. In a way, Sarah was glad but it may have helped if Betty had known what Sarah was thinking about. Maybe she did? She was after all like a mother figure to James, maybe he'd told Betty before Sarah? Now she felt betrayed again by the thought.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Night approached and as Sarah had said to herself, she lay in bed wrapped up from the cold and the pain that dared to enter her heart at the affection she would probably have to give to James' child. Eventually she knew if she saw this child, if the mother was willing to part with it, she'd fall in love with it and want to embrace it as her own, the younger the child, the easier it was. Maybe that was James' plan.
The rain had seemed to calm down from its hourly rain pours, but a mild drizzle still sprinkled over the land.
Sarah heard the door go and the sound of muffled voices downstairs. It seemed to go quiet after a minute then footsteps came up the stairs. A small knock at the door acknowledged the person and a little light crept in with the figure that entered.
"Sarah?"
It was James. His voice was soft and concerned with a hint of excitement. The familiar smell of his aftershave and cigars drifted to her senses and part of her wanted to jump straight out of the bed and wrap herself into his jacket and hold him.
"Sarah?" He asked again.
Sarah made a light 'hmm?' noise and turned around to face him.
James made his way over to the bed and sat on the edge. He looked at her for a good few seconds, his eyes bright blue.
"I see the rain hasn't dampened your mood?" Sarah said muffled into the duvet.
"Well, it tried hard. "James said lightly.
Sarah smiled at his light smile and poked her head out of the duvet a little more.
"It's good to see you." Sarah said softly.
James took that as a cue to kiss her lips briefly. Sarah's body melted at the contact and felt her own smile widening at his presence and his mood.
"I think Betty has prepared some food, I went to bed."
James smiled noting and Sarah blushed a little.
"I'll eat soon, would you like to join me? I have some one you should meet."
Sarah's smile vanished and what was going to be a 'yes' was turning into a 'no'.
"What time is it and who's here?" She asked.
"Well the stars are out and Matilda is here." James said the second part with a little hesitation but kept his face looking at Sarah.
Sarah didn't speak but she didn't look angry. She didn't want to show her anger at James and decided she'd have to tell him that either she could conceive tomorrow or that she was leaving him to enjoy his baby with his past whore. Sarah did neither of these things in the end and instead followed James like an obedient dog downstairs.
"I'll just wake up, give me a couple of minutes, I'll be downstairs soon." Sarah smiled politely as James smiled at her again, kissed her forehead, his face filled with a school boy smile of excitement. He closed the door and left.
Sarah's face contorted into a scowl and she grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it across the room before pounding the bed and jumping a little too eagerly into the rest of the pillows, burying her head and moaning in annoyance.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Betty smiled at the woman named Matilda who had sat in the dinning room already and was waiting for the arrival of food.
"Shouldn't be too long, just waiting for the veg." Betty smiled again near the door.
The presence of the stranger was odd to Betty. She didn't look rich or particularly intelligent but her beauty shone like diamonds and with the added bonus of a child, she glowed more brightly than any fire fly or faerie. The white blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder and her dress was simple. She was the kind of person who looked right to be in a rich atmosphere.
"Veg? I don't want veg what do you think this baby needs? I want something like, err, I don't know just something rich and tasty, not chicken I'm off the stuff, but I do like a nice bit of pork, have any love?"
Betty waited a moment before she spoke, obviously weighing up the woman before her for the second time.
Matilda noticed Betty pause, she turned and stood up awkwardly. "Where are my manners? Honestly I think this baby has made me lose more than my figure." She laughed a little too fake, knowing her figure was perfect apart from the bump she carried. "Let's start again, Betty, Isn't it? I'm sorry for my behaviour, it's just I'm a little more than hungry, it's difficult to feed more than one mouth, I'm not used to this."
Matilda pointed at her extremely large bump and smiled again at Betty, rubbing it with sickly affection.
The plan had worked and Betty gave in. "Can I touch it?" Betty asked.
Matilda smiled like an innocence school girl and smiled falsely while Betty let her motherly instincts and broodiness over come her.
"You're very big, not long now I assume?"
Matilda shook her head. "Not long at all I think, but anyway." She added walking away from Betty's hand and sitting down clumsily. "Where is James?"
As if on cue, James walked into the room. His handsome smile, Matilda noted was a little wider after he'd been upstairs.
"Something you like upstairs James?" Matilda asked.
"Sarah's coming down Betty, could you put out another placement and cutlery." James spoke in Betty's direction.
Matilda looked down at her plate and cutlery but quickly dismissed her sneer and stood up making a scene about it and getting James to come over to her assistance.
"Oh thank you." Matilda smiled.
James smiled lightly and took up a stance near a cabinet.
"I'd offer you a drink Matilda but?"
"Oh what's a little wine this far on aye, it's not like I have been drinking?"
James looked at her hard but Matilda kept up her straight gaze on him.
After pouring some drinks and the first course brought out into the dinning room, Sarah made an apprehensive appearance.
Matilda quietly gasped. "Girly? Is that you?"
Sarah looked livid but quickly smiled curtly at Matilda and sat near James who was smiling at her.
"Err, James sorry, this chair is a bit too hard on my back, do you think I can sit next to you?" Matilda winced as she moved in her chair, holding her back.
Sarah looked at James and sat down at the first chair that was nearest the door and now opposite James and Matilda.
"Wine?" James mentioned to Sarah.
"No thank you." Sarah mention, unfolding her napkin and looking anywhere but Matilda and James.
The meal went on like this with very little conversation form Sarah.
Betty had joined the three by request of James and had asked most of the questions that Sarah wanted to know.
Every now and again Matilda would mention something about the pair from the past and Sarah refused to catch James' eye.
Betty was excited. Her motherly love for James was now about to expand onto the baby that was to arrive.
Sarah took the opportunity to look at Matilda while James was recounting a particular heroic and funny story. Matilda smiled girly at his side animating her beautiful face to his words and drinking in his remarkable persona. A couple of times Sarah noted Matilda leaning closer to James, giving Betty daughterly praise and smiles and complementing just about everything. James and Betty seemed to be loving it, Sarah suddenly felt like an outsider again. On a few occasions she hadn't realise how much jealousy over James affected her. Now that they were a couple sharing each others lives and bodies, Sarah had found on occasions James never seemed to notice neither would he care because he loved the attention of the other women. It was a price to pay, this was James Hook. He was a celebrity, he was handsome, he could make people laugh and above all he had a contagious personality that could charm anyone.
More wine was drunk and Matilda forgot about her pregnancy or so it seemed with the amount of alcohol she was in taking.
The night seemed to dawn on and Sarah suddenly stood up.
"I'm really feeling sleepy James, I'll be upstairs. "
"You're not leaving now?"
It also seemed to Sarah that James' drink was starting to affect his thoughts.
Betty had gone into the kitchen and was tidying up.
"Won't you join us for a night cap in the drawing room?" James asked.
"If she doesn't want to, then leave her James, you heard the girl."
In a sober mind, James would have got angry at the comment that came from Matilda's mouth but he dismissed the words and took a drink of his wine, sipping the last drops.
Sarah noticed Matilda's eyes gaze at his lips.
"Good night both of you." Sarah said shortly. She walked to the door but turned back.
"I don't know whether you've both talked about the adoption. I'd personally like to talk to you, tomorrow perhaps? Tell me where you live and I'll come by."
"Oh didn't I mention? James has asked me to stay?"
Sarah took at glance at James who looked at Sarah then back to Matilda.
"Did I?" James asked.
"Yes James, for the baby. You don't think I should go back to my room, stay cold with nothing when the father of the child is here do you?" Matilda paused and rubbed her stomach. She left her hand rest on the lower part and smiled at James sincerely. James instinctively wanted to touch her stomach but declined turning to Sarah's hawk like gaze.
"It's going to be soon you know." She purred again, taking a quick glance at Betty who had entered.
"The fire is lit and the brandy is out James, enjoy." Betty smiled at him.
"I take it Matilda is staying the night, erm, I haven't prepared a bed or anything but there is clean sheets and so on stored. Beggin' your pardon, but the guest room still isn't furnished and all, its well?"
"That's alright Betty I'll just take James' bed, right James? You wouldn't let a pregnant woman suffer would you?"
"Suffer?" Sarah asked exasperated. "That room is good as..."
Sarah was stopped by Betty who touched her on the arm gently.
"Sarah can I have a word in the kitchen?" She asked pleasantly.
The kitchen was very warm and only added to Sarah's boiling blood.
"You know, the things that James used to say about you. I'm surprised, you've lived with children you know what they need."
"So?"
"So, you should know that pregnant women need care, for the child's sake."
"But Betty?" Sarah started to argue.
"Do you really want to displease James?" He's brought Matilda out of the kindness of his heart for you to meet her so you didn't have to go in the rain."
"What!? But I would have..." Sarah argued maddened.
"Now, I'll get some sheets for you and a pillow, you can stay with me in my room. James can be in the guest room. Would you help me change the sheet on your bed?"
Sarah looked at Betty and then to the door.
"Fine, let me just get some things." Sarah mumbled.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You not asleep?" Autumn asked her best friend.
"No, can't." Winter mumbled at her friend. She looked from the corner of her eye in the direction of Slightly, Nibs and Jake who all seemed to be discussing something quietly.
"They're always whispering, they never include us!" Winter stated, her voice quiet but with less control.
"I guess things are starting to become real and important." Autumn relied.
"Autumn, things have always been real, do you not think we're alive or something?"
Autumn was a little taken back by her friend and a couple of the younger girls looked over. Winter looked at them with her dark almond eyes and the younger girls looked away, suddenly interested in the cave walls.
"This isn't right you know. The whole tribe isn't against Peter." Winter stated.
"Yes they are." Autumn replied.
Winter gave a raised eyes brow towards her. "Are you?" It was a threat.
"Err, no, but well, what say do I have in it?"
"You're right, what say do we have? Nothing and I'm sick of it. When Peter takes his revenge it'll be on all of us, he won't know who's on his side? He'll kill me before I get to talk to him with this lot around." Winter nodded with her head in the direction of Slightly and Nibs.
"What do you propose?"
"I want to talk to him."
The girls' conversation had become extremely quiet but people seemed to be too busy with their own conversations to notice.
Autumn paused before she spoke. She looked around the group and they seemed to be moving about a bit. Some boys started talking to Slightly and Jake and a braver girl had called Nibs over to talk, surround by a couple of blushing girls.
"Do you believe the rumours and stories of what Peter's done?" Autumn asked.
"No, ok maybe he's a bit angry sometimes but what do you expect? A leader has to cope with all that falls on his back, in honesty I feel sorry for Peter. He needs some one like me to help him carry the weight of this group." Winter paused looking at Autumn who looked as if she wanted to argue. "Ah, if you're talking about Peter wanting a Wendy or?..."
"No Winter. It's true Peter has a temper but...you've seen the evidence...Sarah."
"Oh honestly Autumn, that bitch deserved what she got. She wasn't reliable in the group and it was obvious she displeased Peter in some way, no points for guessing which. I'm glad she gone, all she did was mope about with a miserable face."
Autumn opened her mouth but another voice spoke quickly very close to Winter's ear.
"I wouldn't say anything about Sarah ever again, not if I'm in ear shot, do you hear me?" Nibs said venomously and quietly.
Winter pursed her lips and tried not to look flustered with her telling off. She tossed her black hair from her shoulder and gave Nibs an evil look.
"I'll talk about anyone, anyway I like." She bite back quietly, not looking at Nibs.
Autumn watched with anxiousness.
"Do you want to say that to my face?" Nibs said a little louder.
A couple of people looked up.
"You don't scare me Nibs, neither do your charms affect me because in my eyes you have none. You're just a sad pathetic loser and a bully, who secretly wants to be the leader of this tribe. You might as well be because you have everyone wrapped around your little finger, well not me and you know what? I hope when Peter comes for us, you're the first to die, painfully and if not then I hope you're alive to hear that Sarah's been killed." Winter spat at the floor.
By this time everyone was looking around at the pair.
Slightly had moved closer with Pitt, the tallest boy of the younger group.
Jake had also moved nearer, trying to hide his smirk at Winter's outburst.
Nibs was fuming.
"You..." He started.
Slightly had moved closer as had Pitt and both boys were ready to grab Nibs and hold him back. Surprisingly Nibs stood grounded.
"What? Not going to hit me?" Winter asked with amusement in her eyes.
"I think I ought to, but I don't hit women, even if they are selfish, revolting and cruel."
"You forgot ugly!" Jake mentioned innocently.
The boys sniggered as did some of the girls.
"That's the difference between Pan and I, Winter." Nibs added saying her name slowly.
Winter looked around scowling at everyone.
"You're all just a bad as each other, you're the people who make Neverland a horrible place, you're the people who have gone against Peter and you'll be the ones to pay the consequences, not me."
Slightly calculated Winter's speech and was getting a little frightened of her next step after her uproar.
Winter looked at everyone and made a bee line for the entrance of the cave, Slightly running after her. Everyone then looked at Nibs who clenched his fist and kicked the cave wall hard. The younger boys looked at each then Pitt walked a step closer to Nibs.
"Shall we go after her, after Slightly?"
"No, stay here." Nibs, not that he was a man of many words but he found he had no more.
Everyone looked defeated from the situation even though it had only been a matter of minutes. Tribe members were looking at Nibs for an answer and others were summing him up in their own minds. Did he want to be leader? Was this why they were hiding in a damp, cold cave, for him to be leader? The younger ones still didn't know the full extent of the stories and neither did some of the older ones for that matter. Conversations sprung up between people, even boys and girls mixed to say what they thought. Pitt retreated back to his group, cautiously avoiding Nibs eyes.
Nibs walked to the entrance but there was no sign of Slightly or Winter.
God how he hated her more that ever at this moment. He knew what this meant now. She'd find Peter; she'd tell him where they were. It was his fault, but was it? He'd argue and say it was someone else's but really everyone would blame him if she managed to get to Peter. Nibs only prayed that Peter was possibly in London or just far away. Nibs had wandered into the opening from the cave. The night air was pleasant and full of dampness as the leaves that caught the water still sprinkled when disturbed.
Winter probably had been true when she'd said that if Peter found them he'd be the first to go or at least Peter would try. Now the tribe were in danger. Thoughts rolled around his mind but were interrupted by Slightly. He looked angry, no he looked furious.
"What in God's name did you do that for!? We now have someone going straight to Peter who'll probably tell him where we are!!!"
"Do you not think I know this already?"
"Then why the fuck did you argue with her!?"
"Because!"
"Because is NOT an answer Nibs!"
"I just told her to say something to my face, that's all!"
"I don't care if you said shit all to her, the point is we are in danger now."
"Haven't we been in danger already or has everything I've done for the tribe just been a big fucking joke?"
"Don't you get smart mouthed with me Nibs, maybe Winter did have a point, you act as if you are the leader around here and you don't take commands."
"What? So maybe I have a couple of ideas for the tribe, so maybe my plans are usually to benefit the tribe? Does that make me instantly leader?"
"I'd watch yourself Nibs or you're going to have more enemies than just Peter and Winter."
"Am I to add you to my list?"
"No, just the rest of the tribe."
Nibs sighed and crossed his arms over his chest before flinging them to his sides and huffing.
"I don't know why I bother Slightly. I risk my life for this tribe, I help feed them, I look after them. I don't have to. I could have left."
"But you didn't and you're still in the tribe. We need every man we can get." Slightly's tone had changed and he walked closer to Nibs.
"I'm sorry about causing this, I just didn't want her to bad mouth Sarah."
"So that's how it started?" Slightly asked interested.
"Yeah." Nibs replied rubbing the back of his neck, his fingers running into his grey brown hair.
Slightly took a deep breath and let the silence come between the two.
"We'll have to move the tribe." Slightly mentioned.
"There is no where to go." Nibs said truthfully. "Is our best bet to find Peter before Winter? We are faster than her."
"No we let her find Peter, it may be a while. In the mean time we have to find somewhere for the tribe anywhere and fast. Winter will tell Peter about this cave..."
Nibs had caught onto where Slightly was heading.
"...And, we stay in the cave and wait for Peter to arrive..."
Slightly nodded, his eyes were deadly.
"We've run around hiding and looking for Peter, it's now time he found us, or at least some of us."
"Who are you thinking?"
"Me."
"No, you're the leader, you have to live, for the sake of the others."
"Everyone says things like that and well maybe these days I'd agree, but, this has to end now Nibs you said it yourself. What kind of life are we going to live if we're in fear of him?"
"Then you know I'll be by your side. If Peter's in a bad mood, we can finish this soon."
"I hope so." Slightly replied running a hand through his black hair that was flattened on his damp forehead.
"Put up a good run did she?" Nibs asked smirking noticing the sticking hair.
"Bloody hell I never even knew a girl could run that fast!?"
"You're faster, you should have caught up."
"I did but she slipped over, I thought I'd let her bid her time in the dark and the mud before she finds Peter."
Both young men smiled at each other before there smiles were cut by the distant crow call.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It's amazing how the tiniest things can get on peoples nerves. Sarah still lay awake fuming in her bed that was now on the new chaise lounge in the cold day room. And the reason? Because her own bed was being slept in by that thing, that sad excuse for a person; Matilda. Sarah had previously been in Betty's warmer room, lying on the floor on a pile of old blankets. The room was silent and a beautiful grand father clock stood still, making no noise, having not been wound up. James only just tolerated the clock which surprisingly wasn't smashed yet. It was still night, heading into the morning hours, not that the clock could tell that but the open curtains let in the little light of the falling stars and Sarah's eyes had now adjusted to the dusky, dark morning.
Even though she wasn't as fond of her new bed in James' house compared to her little 'nest' in her old camp, she felt shunned and rejected from her own space and was beginning to get angry again thinking about it.
It was then that she heard footsteps coming down the stairs, almost in a rushing way, heading past the door of the day room. A couple of minutes the footsteps went back up the stairs and a considerable amount of light was streaming in under the door from the hall.
Sarah got up and wrapped her blanket around her and put on her slippers, taking almost a minute to find them as her feet searched along the cold floorboards.
More light was on when Sarah opened the door and walked towards the kitchen as footsteps were wandering around, again in a rushed motion.
Sarah peaked thought the open gap and Saw Betty's tired state lighting the fire place.
"Are we having another meal?" Sarah asked in a joking way.
Betty jumped at the voice and gave Sarah a stern look for scaring her.
"It isn't a time for joking!" Betty said strictly.
Sarah was taken back and moved out the doorway as Betty pushed past her and went upstairs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from Sarah, other minor characters and some other names of things.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The morning sun shone a couple of rays into the dark entrance of the cave. The older lost boys had taken their own individual shifts of looking out. The atmosphere had suddenly changed the moment Nibs had arrived onto the scene. Younger tribe members seemed more courageous and less frightened of Peter. Nibs in turn had just smiled to them lightly, happily taking his job as look out on his shift, then trying to sleep. It wasn't dreamless and on two occasions, he'd woken up in a cold sweat; Peter had killed Sarah, Peter had killed the tribe, these were the dreams that plagued his mind.
The morning brought a sense of strength to the tribe. The small sunlight was on their side and it made Peter easier to see if he was to approach the tribe.
"I honestly don't know what we're gonna do?" Slightly muttered to Nibs having noticed the approaching clouds in the sky before they'd come inside.
The tribe we all eating a small amount of fruit which had been picked by some of the younger lost boys under Jake's command close by.
"Don't look at me." Nibs mentioned. "Peter wasn't there when I arrived but I imagine he's about." He paused. "Is there any news on Ravens town or Sarah?" He hesitated her name but Slightly gave him a very light smile before reply.
"No. No sign of Curly or Jack either." Slightly gave Nibs a look and Nibs didn't catch it as his attention had turned to John and Lily who approached him.
"Sorry to butt in Slightly...." John started to say.
Slightly gave a gesture for him to carry on.
"Lily and I are going to leave now. The sun is still not at it's brightest so we'll leave before anything drastic or important happens in the Indian tribe, not that there is anything exciting, but hey."
"We also don't want to be caught up in the rain that is to fall." Lily added.
"Thank you." Slightly said standing up. "For everything, taking care of the tribe and all. If there's anything we can do, please say, anything."
"Just take care of yourself, all of you." John gave a look to the now standing Nibs.
"Goodbye both of you." Lily added kissing both young men on their cheeks, the younger girls of the tribe looking over jealously at Lily making close contact with Nibs.
Nibs and Slightly walked them to the entrance and watched them go.
"And so?" Slightly asked turning to the taller boy.
"You're in charge mate, you tell me." Nibs smiled playfully before walking back in.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Peter hadn't moved for a couple of hours. The very small stash of wine and beer that was hidden for the older members of the tribe was lying in a heap by Peter's bed. He lay on his furs still asleep having arrived back from London from an uneventful night of spying on the Darlings old house which now was unrecognisable from when Wendy was still in the nursery.
Tinker bell had given up on his unfit state and headed to where the faeries dwell.
Dark circles lay underneath Peter's eyes and his skin looked worse for wear. A small patch of what seemed to be bile or sick was dried by his mouth and on his chin. His hair was dirty and grubby marks could be seen over his body. In all he didn't look like the Pan he used to be.
It would seem to anyone that this young man, whose adolescent facial hair was growing in, would have not cared about things in life. On the contrary, he was thinking things very slowly and carefully all about life. Thinking about how he'd been back to Ravens town after he'd had his encounter with Sarah but been unable to seek her again. How he was going to seek revenge on those who had upset him or angered him. Thousands of thoughts swirled in his mind and for the first time it seemed like he could think of many things at once without losing one thought.
Peter's stomach growled but his legs disagreed with wanting to move to look for food. This was what tribe members were for, doing things HE wanted. At that moment Peter decided he'd had enough. Slow thinking wasn't the way forward. Violence was the way forward, the way to survive, it always had been and it had always got him what he wanted. Sarah couldn't hide in Ravens town, Hook couldn't always rescue her and the lost tribe couldn't camouflage in the jungle forever.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Morning was pleasant for a while but the clouds started to come in and then out of nowhere, the rain started to pour down heavily. To make it worse, winds had made their way to Neverland and increased the unpleasantness of the weather by mid morning. This was what made most of the Ravens town inhabitants stop from going outside. Businesses and shops were empty and few souls braved it walking to and fro, mainly to pubs.
By the time lunch time had arrived the weather still hadn't changed for the better. Not surprisingly, James had been one of the few souls to brave the rain and head down to his ship. Although this annoyed Sarah, she thought James had wanted to give her space to think about their conversation or maybe guilt had become of him after his words. His face looked at little sad compared to his usual business like manner, but Sarah had not seen the care and concern in his eyes that morning, although it was there, a little.
Sarah sat by one of the open fires, this time in the nearly furnished and cleaned day room. Betty was pottering around in the kitchen and as much as Sarah thought about going there she knew better than to be in the presence of Betty. It seemed that recently Betty had taken a disliking to Sarah and although Sarah felt the same way about her house maid, she suddenly felt lonely.
Other things were looming around Sarah's mind too. The prospect of this baby thing was at the top of her list for starters. She felt betrayed by James at his words at wanting this child that was to arrive imminently, a child that wasn't hers by blood. She felt betrayed by her own body for not having successfully conceived a child, if that was what James wanted and it seemed now it was obvious that he did. She also felt betrayed by fate. Many great things seemed to begin in her life. Coming to Neverland, meeting Peter Pan, having Nav as her first lover and now coming to Ravens town, these were all great things to start. But all these things had gone terribly wrong and it seemed looming that being in Ravens town could be bad idea. It hadn't yet though, but her journey had had some small hitches along the way. Was this baby business going to ruin things? Deep down inside Sarah didn't know if she could have a baby herself. She'd always told herself that she couldn't. Maybe that was because she was frightened she'd fall pregnant with Peter's child again after his rapes. She didn't want to face the violence again. Maybe she'd scared herself about pregnancy that her body had given up on her. In honesty she was frightened at the beginning that she'd fall pregnant with James' child, only in the sense of what she'd heard about him in the olden days. It was obvious and brought to her that not so long ago, he'd not been a parent kind of man. Sarah knew her body and mind were confused; nothing seemed to run smoothly, ever since Peter had suddenly taken interest in her, no earlier, ever since Wendy had died.
Sarah sighed, the rain brining her attention out of her thoughts. The darkness outside was not quite dark but a gloomy, dull shade. The fire crackled and she set some more coal on it, rubbing her chilled hands near, wishing she had someone to join her and tell her things were going to work out her way.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The lost tribe had planned under the guidance of Nibs and Slightly that they'd return back to the camp. Nibs had offered to go and check out the camp with Jake. Slightly would stay with the tribe. Their plan hadn't worked as the weather had been too dissuading. Nibs explained to Slightly that there was no point in returning yet with the weather this bad and said that instead he and Jake would try and attempt to find some dry wood to keep the fires going. Nibs gave a half disheartening look at Slightly about the 'dry' wood in so much rain. Slightly agreed sadly but Nibs had left before he could change his mind and ask Nibs and Jake to stay. Another quick glance at the lost tribe huddled together in the dark and looking sad and miserable told him that he was extremely happy and thankful to have Nibs back.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
A few more hours still had the same weather and Sarah, although she was planning to bathe, stayed by her burning fire. James hadn't returned and although half of Sarah's mind wanted to go find him take him into her arms and smile in a wife like manner and say 'yes, let's have that baby!' The other half disagreed and started to ponder on other options. The afternoon turned into the evening with the clouds darkening up the sky dramatically. Betty had been in and left some food for her but Sarah didn't feel hungry, she didn't even feel like moving. The rain had dampened her spirits and mood and the only other thing that she thought she could possibly get up to do was to go to bed and burrow under her pillows until the morning with a few more blankets over her. The idea suddenly became a plan and Sarah first headed towards the kitchen.
"Betty?"
Betty wiped her hands on her apron and looked at Sarah without her usual smile.
"Yes?"
"Err, could you make me a bed pan to warm up my bed?"
Betty pursed her lips and nodded slowly. "After I've finished this mind, shouldn't be too long though, I have some water half boiled."
"Thank you." Sarah turned to leave but surprisingly Betty called to her.
"Are you okay today? You're awfully quiet."
"Yeah I'm ok I guess, just well, it's nothing really."
Betty frowned but decided not to press the issue. In a way, Sarah was glad but it may have helped if Betty had known what Sarah was thinking about. Maybe she did? She was after all like a mother figure to James, maybe he'd told Betty before Sarah? Now she felt betrayed again by the thought.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Night approached and as Sarah had said to herself, she lay in bed wrapped up from the cold and the pain that dared to enter her heart at the affection she would probably have to give to James' child. Eventually she knew if she saw this child, if the mother was willing to part with it, she'd fall in love with it and want to embrace it as her own, the younger the child, the easier it was. Maybe that was James' plan.
The rain had seemed to calm down from its hourly rain pours, but a mild drizzle still sprinkled over the land.
Sarah heard the door go and the sound of muffled voices downstairs. It seemed to go quiet after a minute then footsteps came up the stairs. A small knock at the door acknowledged the person and a little light crept in with the figure that entered.
"Sarah?"
It was James. His voice was soft and concerned with a hint of excitement. The familiar smell of his aftershave and cigars drifted to her senses and part of her wanted to jump straight out of the bed and wrap herself into his jacket and hold him.
"Sarah?" He asked again.
Sarah made a light 'hmm?' noise and turned around to face him.
James made his way over to the bed and sat on the edge. He looked at her for a good few seconds, his eyes bright blue.
"I see the rain hasn't dampened your mood?" Sarah said muffled into the duvet.
"Well, it tried hard. "James said lightly.
Sarah smiled at his light smile and poked her head out of the duvet a little more.
"It's good to see you." Sarah said softly.
James took that as a cue to kiss her lips briefly. Sarah's body melted at the contact and felt her own smile widening at his presence and his mood.
"I think Betty has prepared some food, I went to bed."
James smiled noting and Sarah blushed a little.
"I'll eat soon, would you like to join me? I have some one you should meet."
Sarah's smile vanished and what was going to be a 'yes' was turning into a 'no'.
"What time is it and who's here?" She asked.
"Well the stars are out and Matilda is here." James said the second part with a little hesitation but kept his face looking at Sarah.
Sarah didn't speak but she didn't look angry. She didn't want to show her anger at James and decided she'd have to tell him that either she could conceive tomorrow or that she was leaving him to enjoy his baby with his past whore. Sarah did neither of these things in the end and instead followed James like an obedient dog downstairs.
"I'll just wake up, give me a couple of minutes, I'll be downstairs soon." Sarah smiled politely as James smiled at her again, kissed her forehead, his face filled with a school boy smile of excitement. He closed the door and left.
Sarah's face contorted into a scowl and she grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it across the room before pounding the bed and jumping a little too eagerly into the rest of the pillows, burying her head and moaning in annoyance.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Betty smiled at the woman named Matilda who had sat in the dinning room already and was waiting for the arrival of food.
"Shouldn't be too long, just waiting for the veg." Betty smiled again near the door.
The presence of the stranger was odd to Betty. She didn't look rich or particularly intelligent but her beauty shone like diamonds and with the added bonus of a child, she glowed more brightly than any fire fly or faerie. The white blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder and her dress was simple. She was the kind of person who looked right to be in a rich atmosphere.
"Veg? I don't want veg what do you think this baby needs? I want something like, err, I don't know just something rich and tasty, not chicken I'm off the stuff, but I do like a nice bit of pork, have any love?"
Betty waited a moment before she spoke, obviously weighing up the woman before her for the second time.
Matilda noticed Betty pause, she turned and stood up awkwardly. "Where are my manners? Honestly I think this baby has made me lose more than my figure." She laughed a little too fake, knowing her figure was perfect apart from the bump she carried. "Let's start again, Betty, Isn't it? I'm sorry for my behaviour, it's just I'm a little more than hungry, it's difficult to feed more than one mouth, I'm not used to this."
Matilda pointed at her extremely large bump and smiled again at Betty, rubbing it with sickly affection.
The plan had worked and Betty gave in. "Can I touch it?" Betty asked.
Matilda smiled like an innocence school girl and smiled falsely while Betty let her motherly instincts and broodiness over come her.
"You're very big, not long now I assume?"
Matilda shook her head. "Not long at all I think, but anyway." She added walking away from Betty's hand and sitting down clumsily. "Where is James?"
As if on cue, James walked into the room. His handsome smile, Matilda noted was a little wider after he'd been upstairs.
"Something you like upstairs James?" Matilda asked.
"Sarah's coming down Betty, could you put out another placement and cutlery." James spoke in Betty's direction.
Matilda looked down at her plate and cutlery but quickly dismissed her sneer and stood up making a scene about it and getting James to come over to her assistance.
"Oh thank you." Matilda smiled.
James smiled lightly and took up a stance near a cabinet.
"I'd offer you a drink Matilda but?"
"Oh what's a little wine this far on aye, it's not like I have been drinking?"
James looked at her hard but Matilda kept up her straight gaze on him.
After pouring some drinks and the first course brought out into the dinning room, Sarah made an apprehensive appearance.
Matilda quietly gasped. "Girly? Is that you?"
Sarah looked livid but quickly smiled curtly at Matilda and sat near James who was smiling at her.
"Err, James sorry, this chair is a bit too hard on my back, do you think I can sit next to you?" Matilda winced as she moved in her chair, holding her back.
Sarah looked at James and sat down at the first chair that was nearest the door and now opposite James and Matilda.
"Wine?" James mentioned to Sarah.
"No thank you." Sarah mention, unfolding her napkin and looking anywhere but Matilda and James.
The meal went on like this with very little conversation form Sarah.
Betty had joined the three by request of James and had asked most of the questions that Sarah wanted to know.
Every now and again Matilda would mention something about the pair from the past and Sarah refused to catch James' eye.
Betty was excited. Her motherly love for James was now about to expand onto the baby that was to arrive.
Sarah took the opportunity to look at Matilda while James was recounting a particular heroic and funny story. Matilda smiled girly at his side animating her beautiful face to his words and drinking in his remarkable persona. A couple of times Sarah noted Matilda leaning closer to James, giving Betty daughterly praise and smiles and complementing just about everything. James and Betty seemed to be loving it, Sarah suddenly felt like an outsider again. On a few occasions she hadn't realise how much jealousy over James affected her. Now that they were a couple sharing each others lives and bodies, Sarah had found on occasions James never seemed to notice neither would he care because he loved the attention of the other women. It was a price to pay, this was James Hook. He was a celebrity, he was handsome, he could make people laugh and above all he had a contagious personality that could charm anyone.
More wine was drunk and Matilda forgot about her pregnancy or so it seemed with the amount of alcohol she was in taking.
The night seemed to dawn on and Sarah suddenly stood up.
"I'm really feeling sleepy James, I'll be upstairs. "
"You're not leaving now?"
It also seemed to Sarah that James' drink was starting to affect his thoughts.
Betty had gone into the kitchen and was tidying up.
"Won't you join us for a night cap in the drawing room?" James asked.
"If she doesn't want to, then leave her James, you heard the girl."
In a sober mind, James would have got angry at the comment that came from Matilda's mouth but he dismissed the words and took a drink of his wine, sipping the last drops.
Sarah noticed Matilda's eyes gaze at his lips.
"Good night both of you." Sarah said shortly. She walked to the door but turned back.
"I don't know whether you've both talked about the adoption. I'd personally like to talk to you, tomorrow perhaps? Tell me where you live and I'll come by."
"Oh didn't I mention? James has asked me to stay?"
Sarah took at glance at James who looked at Sarah then back to Matilda.
"Did I?" James asked.
"Yes James, for the baby. You don't think I should go back to my room, stay cold with nothing when the father of the child is here do you?" Matilda paused and rubbed her stomach. She left her hand rest on the lower part and smiled at James sincerely. James instinctively wanted to touch her stomach but declined turning to Sarah's hawk like gaze.
"It's going to be soon you know." She purred again, taking a quick glance at Betty who had entered.
"The fire is lit and the brandy is out James, enjoy." Betty smiled at him.
"I take it Matilda is staying the night, erm, I haven't prepared a bed or anything but there is clean sheets and so on stored. Beggin' your pardon, but the guest room still isn't furnished and all, its well?"
"That's alright Betty I'll just take James' bed, right James? You wouldn't let a pregnant woman suffer would you?"
"Suffer?" Sarah asked exasperated. "That room is good as..."
Sarah was stopped by Betty who touched her on the arm gently.
"Sarah can I have a word in the kitchen?" She asked pleasantly.
The kitchen was very warm and only added to Sarah's boiling blood.
"You know, the things that James used to say about you. I'm surprised, you've lived with children you know what they need."
"So?"
"So, you should know that pregnant women need care, for the child's sake."
"But Betty?" Sarah started to argue.
"Do you really want to displease James?" He's brought Matilda out of the kindness of his heart for you to meet her so you didn't have to go in the rain."
"What!? But I would have..." Sarah argued maddened.
"Now, I'll get some sheets for you and a pillow, you can stay with me in my room. James can be in the guest room. Would you help me change the sheet on your bed?"
Sarah looked at Betty and then to the door.
"Fine, let me just get some things." Sarah mumbled.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You not asleep?" Autumn asked her best friend.
"No, can't." Winter mumbled at her friend. She looked from the corner of her eye in the direction of Slightly, Nibs and Jake who all seemed to be discussing something quietly.
"They're always whispering, they never include us!" Winter stated, her voice quiet but with less control.
"I guess things are starting to become real and important." Autumn relied.
"Autumn, things have always been real, do you not think we're alive or something?"
Autumn was a little taken back by her friend and a couple of the younger girls looked over. Winter looked at them with her dark almond eyes and the younger girls looked away, suddenly interested in the cave walls.
"This isn't right you know. The whole tribe isn't against Peter." Winter stated.
"Yes they are." Autumn replied.
Winter gave a raised eyes brow towards her. "Are you?" It was a threat.
"Err, no, but well, what say do I have in it?"
"You're right, what say do we have? Nothing and I'm sick of it. When Peter takes his revenge it'll be on all of us, he won't know who's on his side? He'll kill me before I get to talk to him with this lot around." Winter nodded with her head in the direction of Slightly and Nibs.
"What do you propose?"
"I want to talk to him."
The girls' conversation had become extremely quiet but people seemed to be too busy with their own conversations to notice.
Autumn paused before she spoke. She looked around the group and they seemed to be moving about a bit. Some boys started talking to Slightly and Jake and a braver girl had called Nibs over to talk, surround by a couple of blushing girls.
"Do you believe the rumours and stories of what Peter's done?" Autumn asked.
"No, ok maybe he's a bit angry sometimes but what do you expect? A leader has to cope with all that falls on his back, in honesty I feel sorry for Peter. He needs some one like me to help him carry the weight of this group." Winter paused looking at Autumn who looked as if she wanted to argue. "Ah, if you're talking about Peter wanting a Wendy or?..."
"No Winter. It's true Peter has a temper but...you've seen the evidence...Sarah."
"Oh honestly Autumn, that bitch deserved what she got. She wasn't reliable in the group and it was obvious she displeased Peter in some way, no points for guessing which. I'm glad she gone, all she did was mope about with a miserable face."
Autumn opened her mouth but another voice spoke quickly very close to Winter's ear.
"I wouldn't say anything about Sarah ever again, not if I'm in ear shot, do you hear me?" Nibs said venomously and quietly.
Winter pursed her lips and tried not to look flustered with her telling off. She tossed her black hair from her shoulder and gave Nibs an evil look.
"I'll talk about anyone, anyway I like." She bite back quietly, not looking at Nibs.
Autumn watched with anxiousness.
"Do you want to say that to my face?" Nibs said a little louder.
A couple of people looked up.
"You don't scare me Nibs, neither do your charms affect me because in my eyes you have none. You're just a sad pathetic loser and a bully, who secretly wants to be the leader of this tribe. You might as well be because you have everyone wrapped around your little finger, well not me and you know what? I hope when Peter comes for us, you're the first to die, painfully and if not then I hope you're alive to hear that Sarah's been killed." Winter spat at the floor.
By this time everyone was looking around at the pair.
Slightly had moved closer with Pitt, the tallest boy of the younger group.
Jake had also moved nearer, trying to hide his smirk at Winter's outburst.
Nibs was fuming.
"You..." He started.
Slightly had moved closer as had Pitt and both boys were ready to grab Nibs and hold him back. Surprisingly Nibs stood grounded.
"What? Not going to hit me?" Winter asked with amusement in her eyes.
"I think I ought to, but I don't hit women, even if they are selfish, revolting and cruel."
"You forgot ugly!" Jake mentioned innocently.
The boys sniggered as did some of the girls.
"That's the difference between Pan and I, Winter." Nibs added saying her name slowly.
Winter looked around scowling at everyone.
"You're all just a bad as each other, you're the people who make Neverland a horrible place, you're the people who have gone against Peter and you'll be the ones to pay the consequences, not me."
Slightly calculated Winter's speech and was getting a little frightened of her next step after her uproar.
Winter looked at everyone and made a bee line for the entrance of the cave, Slightly running after her. Everyone then looked at Nibs who clenched his fist and kicked the cave wall hard. The younger boys looked at each then Pitt walked a step closer to Nibs.
"Shall we go after her, after Slightly?"
"No, stay here." Nibs, not that he was a man of many words but he found he had no more.
Everyone looked defeated from the situation even though it had only been a matter of minutes. Tribe members were looking at Nibs for an answer and others were summing him up in their own minds. Did he want to be leader? Was this why they were hiding in a damp, cold cave, for him to be leader? The younger ones still didn't know the full extent of the stories and neither did some of the older ones for that matter. Conversations sprung up between people, even boys and girls mixed to say what they thought. Pitt retreated back to his group, cautiously avoiding Nibs eyes.
Nibs walked to the entrance but there was no sign of Slightly or Winter.
God how he hated her more that ever at this moment. He knew what this meant now. She'd find Peter; she'd tell him where they were. It was his fault, but was it? He'd argue and say it was someone else's but really everyone would blame him if she managed to get to Peter. Nibs only prayed that Peter was possibly in London or just far away. Nibs had wandered into the opening from the cave. The night air was pleasant and full of dampness as the leaves that caught the water still sprinkled when disturbed.
Winter probably had been true when she'd said that if Peter found them he'd be the first to go or at least Peter would try. Now the tribe were in danger. Thoughts rolled around his mind but were interrupted by Slightly. He looked angry, no he looked furious.
"What in God's name did you do that for!? We now have someone going straight to Peter who'll probably tell him where we are!!!"
"Do you not think I know this already?"
"Then why the fuck did you argue with her!?"
"Because!"
"Because is NOT an answer Nibs!"
"I just told her to say something to my face, that's all!"
"I don't care if you said shit all to her, the point is we are in danger now."
"Haven't we been in danger already or has everything I've done for the tribe just been a big fucking joke?"
"Don't you get smart mouthed with me Nibs, maybe Winter did have a point, you act as if you are the leader around here and you don't take commands."
"What? So maybe I have a couple of ideas for the tribe, so maybe my plans are usually to benefit the tribe? Does that make me instantly leader?"
"I'd watch yourself Nibs or you're going to have more enemies than just Peter and Winter."
"Am I to add you to my list?"
"No, just the rest of the tribe."
Nibs sighed and crossed his arms over his chest before flinging them to his sides and huffing.
"I don't know why I bother Slightly. I risk my life for this tribe, I help feed them, I look after them. I don't have to. I could have left."
"But you didn't and you're still in the tribe. We need every man we can get." Slightly's tone had changed and he walked closer to Nibs.
"I'm sorry about causing this, I just didn't want her to bad mouth Sarah."
"So that's how it started?" Slightly asked interested.
"Yeah." Nibs replied rubbing the back of his neck, his fingers running into his grey brown hair.
Slightly took a deep breath and let the silence come between the two.
"We'll have to move the tribe." Slightly mentioned.
"There is no where to go." Nibs said truthfully. "Is our best bet to find Peter before Winter? We are faster than her."
"No we let her find Peter, it may be a while. In the mean time we have to find somewhere for the tribe anywhere and fast. Winter will tell Peter about this cave..."
Nibs had caught onto where Slightly was heading.
"...And, we stay in the cave and wait for Peter to arrive..."
Slightly nodded, his eyes were deadly.
"We've run around hiding and looking for Peter, it's now time he found us, or at least some of us."
"Who are you thinking?"
"Me."
"No, you're the leader, you have to live, for the sake of the others."
"Everyone says things like that and well maybe these days I'd agree, but, this has to end now Nibs you said it yourself. What kind of life are we going to live if we're in fear of him?"
"Then you know I'll be by your side. If Peter's in a bad mood, we can finish this soon."
"I hope so." Slightly replied running a hand through his black hair that was flattened on his damp forehead.
"Put up a good run did she?" Nibs asked smirking noticing the sticking hair.
"Bloody hell I never even knew a girl could run that fast!?"
"You're faster, you should have caught up."
"I did but she slipped over, I thought I'd let her bid her time in the dark and the mud before she finds Peter."
Both young men smiled at each other before there smiles were cut by the distant crow call.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It's amazing how the tiniest things can get on peoples nerves. Sarah still lay awake fuming in her bed that was now on the new chaise lounge in the cold day room. And the reason? Because her own bed was being slept in by that thing, that sad excuse for a person; Matilda. Sarah had previously been in Betty's warmer room, lying on the floor on a pile of old blankets. The room was silent and a beautiful grand father clock stood still, making no noise, having not been wound up. James only just tolerated the clock which surprisingly wasn't smashed yet. It was still night, heading into the morning hours, not that the clock could tell that but the open curtains let in the little light of the falling stars and Sarah's eyes had now adjusted to the dusky, dark morning.
Even though she wasn't as fond of her new bed in James' house compared to her little 'nest' in her old camp, she felt shunned and rejected from her own space and was beginning to get angry again thinking about it.
It was then that she heard footsteps coming down the stairs, almost in a rushing way, heading past the door of the day room. A couple of minutes the footsteps went back up the stairs and a considerable amount of light was streaming in under the door from the hall.
Sarah got up and wrapped her blanket around her and put on her slippers, taking almost a minute to find them as her feet searched along the cold floorboards.
More light was on when Sarah opened the door and walked towards the kitchen as footsteps were wandering around, again in a rushed motion.
Sarah peaked thought the open gap and Saw Betty's tired state lighting the fire place.
"Are we having another meal?" Sarah asked in a joking way.
Betty jumped at the voice and gave Sarah a stern look for scaring her.
"It isn't a time for joking!" Betty said strictly.
Sarah was taken back and moved out the doorway as Betty pushed past her and went upstairs.