Chapter 7:
Hook would be lying if he said he was ready for Tala to leave. A delicate, feminine presence was a relief after spending so many days with some less than intelligent, sweaty men. He was going to miss having her around. He had grown used to hearing her soft, gentle breathing from the end of his bed late at night when he couldn't sleep. It made him feel less alone.
The day came sooner than expected. The winds picked up that night, and it carried them all the way to shore. His ship hit sand by dawn, and the time for negotiations had come. Hook dressed elegantly, with his best shirt and pants, complete with his long, jewel adorned coat and captain's hat. He looked like a proper captain.
"You look handsome," her sweet voice floated his way. Hook turned just as she slipped through his cabin door. The crew was about to wake, once the sun was high enough in the sky, so she couldn't stay on deck any longer, not dressed the way she was. Too much of her skin was showing, and Hook didn't trust any of his men, other than Smee, to be decent.
"Presentation is everything, love," he sighed, removing his hat for the moment. He combed back his curly black bangs with his fingers, then shot her a look. "You do realize you must stay aboard the Jolly Roger until negotiations are complete, don't you, Tala?"
"I figured. That is the smart thing to do," she nodded. "Otherwise, I would run back to my family, and you would lose your leverage."
"Then will you be a good girl for me?" He grinned, stepping over to where she stood. He lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger, holding her gaze. Tala never looked away either. She searched his eyes for sincerity, hoping he really would keep to his word as he promised. "I'll leave a few men behind to guard the cabin, so please stay inside of it until I return."
"I will, as long as you keep your promise," she answered calmly.
"As I said," he shrugged his broad shoulders, "I'm a man of my word." He lifted a hand to set it atop her head, then ran his fingers back through her wavy raven locks. "I am glad we have come to understand one another a little better, Tala. I am no longer a villainous wretch in your eyes, and I quite like that."
"You are a man," she smiled, "no more, no less. I do not agree with much of what you and your crew do, but everyone wants to live. Survival is the most noble thing to fight for. My tribe sides with Pan, but perhaps they will understand that our survival matters more than his. Sometimes, living means letting go of prejudices."
"I couldn't agree more," he hummed, walking away from her. Her patted his chest to make sure the little jar that housed Tinkerbell was still around his neck, then pulled open the door. "I'm going to lock the door behind me so no one can come in or out until I return."
"I understand," she nodded. "Be kind to my people, Hook."
"I will, little wolf."
The chief of Tala's tribe was called as soon as the natives noticed the pirates approaching. Hook was grateful that he had been taught their language by an old friend, one who died for being associated with him.
Hook steeled his nerves and stood in the center of their camp with a cocky smirk on his lips. He waited a little impatiently for the chief to reach him, and once he did, Hook removed his hat and bowed gracefully in respect.
"Good morning, Chief."
"What business does your crew possibly have with my people?" The Chief demanded to know in English. Hook straightened his back, dusted his hat, then set it atop his head once again.
"I believe I have something of yours. I've come to negotiate its return." Hook took notice of a small, older woman who stepped forward a little with wide, hopeful eyes. A man beside her caught her arm and held her back. She must have been Tala's mother. He could only assume based on her reaction. "Shall we strike a bargain, Chief?"
"No," the older man answered immediately. "Our tribe does not bargain with filthy pirates."
"Oh?" Hook hummed. "Not even for your precious Tala?"
"Is she alright?" The little woman asked. She was struck, suddenly, by the man beside her. Hook grit his teeth together, then nodded his head.
"She is alive and well," he reassured her. "She wishes very dearly to come home. Will you really not bargain even for her?"
"Tala no longer belongs to this tribe," the chief stated bluntly. The little woman began to cry, and Hook felt sorry for her. She must be missing her daughter, who he took away from her.
"She certainly doesn't belong to me," Hook shook his head. "Who do you suppose she belongs to then?"
"I made a deal," the chief explained. "The price of the deal was one of our best young warriors. I need the men, so I offered Tala. She was the price for the safety of our tribe, and Tala will understand that she has to pay it."
"Excuse me?" Hook nearly snarled. How dare he sell Tala to anyone? Especially while she was in his care, under his protection. "Who in the bloody hell did you sell her off to?"
"The boy. He's found another fairy," Chief told him as he folded his arms over his chest. "He will be immortal once again, when he gets his hands on it. Those years you stole will be delivered upon you tenfold, and you will become dust. That is why I bargained with Tala. Pan will ensure the wealth and survival of our people as he did before."
"You rotten bastard," Hook seethed, drawing his pistol from the back of his belt. He point it directly at the chief. "Was this a trap? Was this meeting meant to get me away from my ship? Away from Tala?"
"Away from the fairy," the chief corrected him.
"You're a bloody idiot if you think I'd leave the fairy aboard the ship. Pan certainly didn't think I would. He went after my crew, after the girl." Hook lowered his weapon slightly, then fired a single bullet into the thigh if the chief. The tribe collectively drew their spears and knives, ready to kill Hook and his crew.
"Leave him!" The chief shouted loudly, in pain. "Pan will have those years back, or he will take them from us. Hook must live."
"Back to the ship!" Hook snapped at his crew. He turned back through the crowd, which parted to let him through. His feet continued to pick up speed until he was running, with everything he had, back to the shore where his ship was docked.
It was a thud on deck that first caught Tala's attention. She raised herself on her toes to look through the tiny window on the Captain's door. When she saw a crew member go down, a knife jutting from his chest, she yanked the door open.
"Tala, lock yourself inside," Smee yelled from the other side of the deck. There was a young man in front of him, pressing a knife to his gut as if he meant to gut him. Like a wolf after its prey, she ran at the man and pounced, knocking him, and the blade, away from poor Mr. Smee.
They collided then hit the deck. The knife bounced free of the young man's hand, and Tala immediately pushed up to scramble for it. She grabbed hold of it just as another hand slammed down over hers. As the man tried to yank the blade from her, Tala only tightened her grip.
"Give it to me!" He cried out much like a child. His long, slender fingers dropped to wrap around her wrist instead. Tala tried to lift herself, but she felt a knee push into her back, pinning her to the wooden deck beneath her body. "Let go!"
The man began to lift and slam her wrist back down over and over again. Pain shot up through her arm, but she didnt let go of the knife. Out of options, Tala resorted to throwing her head back into his with as much force as she could manage, which was enough to knock him off of her.
Tala finally managed to get to her feet, backing up to Smee with the blade held out in front of her defensively. The young man stood, wobbled a little, then reached up to touch his now bloody nose. He grimaced at her.
"You hit hard for a girl."
"Nibs!" Another male voice called. The man turned, then ran over to the source of it.
There he stood, dressed in clothes sewn together with leaves and other plant fibers, so delicate only a fairy could manage it. It was the red feather in his hat that gave him away. It was notorious as a symbol for the one and only Peter Pan.
He was handsome, probably Tala's age or older. It was hard to believe that the sturdy, rugged man had been a boy only months earlier. Even more startling, was the blood splattered against his cheek. Tala braced herself as he turned towards her.
"You must be Tala," he grinned, stepping up to her. She kept her place between him and Smee, keeping the knife in front of her. "You'll be coming with me, Tala."
"No. I'm going home," she replied calmly.
"Home? Silly girl, your home is with us now. You're going to be a Lost Boy." He waved his hand, and the fighting stopped. The few crew members that had been attacked scrambled away from the attackers.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," she refused. "I'm returning to my people. To my family. I have no quarrel with you, Peter Pan."
"You belong to us, Tala. Your chief sold you for peace."
"What?" Tala's eyes widened. The arm that held the knife lowered slightly as she processed his words. "You're lying."
"I'm afraid not. See. I know where to find a fairy now. When I have it, I'll be immortal again. I'll take back all the years Hook stole from me, and I'll be the one that keeps your tribe alive. It's me who keeps your land fertile and your crops growing. I keep death at bay. Your chief understand. I asked for a warrior in exchange for peace, and he gave me you." Pan took a step towards her. "He respects your noble sacrifice for your tribe. You will be missed."
Tala lashed out with the knife, but he was too quick. He caught her wrist, then flung her to the ground with ease.
"Grab her," he ordered the other Lost Boys. Two sets of hands were on her before she could even get up again. Tala struggled as much as she could, but she was only one person and at a serious disadvantage being on her stomach.
Both of her arms were forced behind her back, and her wrists were bound with twine. She cursed at him relentlessly in her native language, hurling every insult she could think of his way.
"Muzzle the girl," Peter commanded. "She's got a sharp tongue." Tala was only silent when a strip of cloth was tied around her head and forced between her teeth to shut her up. Once she was tied, the Lost Boys stood up, leaving her bound on the deck.
"Want me to carry her?" Nibs asked, wiping at the blood he smeared under his nose after she smashed it with her head.
"No," Pan shook his head. "I'll do it. Rally the boys. Let's leave. We got what we came for." Peter bent down, then yanked her up by the arm. With surprising strength, he hoisted her up by the waist and tossed her over his shoulder.
"I think you'll make a good Lost Boy. Once we break you in. Even wolves can be tamed, Tala. Don't be scared, though. It'll be fun." He grinned devilishly. "So much fun."