Ch 6. The World Gets Awfully Heavy Sometimes
Hook's thin lips spread into a wide, dark, smile. Everything was going according to plan. That idiotic girl had served her purpose remarkably well, covering up the true nature of their ship until it was too late. In a few days they would be back in London with a full load of what the natives called their "belief". Hook let out a small condescending chuckle. Belief. How stupid did they think he was? Well soon he would show them. Show them that Hook too could live forever young (relatively speaking). And he would do more than that. He would harvest their "belief" that made eternal youth possible and sell it to the highest bidder. Soon he would be the richest, most powerful man in London at the very least. And no one would ever be able to shove him aside again. Not a foolhardy girl, nor a smug, egotistical, little boy. No one. Hook would matter. He would be important. And he would never be shoved out of the way again.
Tiger Lily was terrified. It was anew feeling for her. She was accustomed to being strong and confident and felt like an idiot being so shaken. Her father would never have been this upset. Well maybe he would have, but he wouldn't have shown it. She revised inside her head. She had to live up to her name. She gave a grim laugh thinking about what her father used to say.d Tiger Lily. Fierce and strong like a tiger, sweet and free like a lily. She was putting her name and her family to shame with this cowardly behavior. But she had seen what the people who had been taken looked like when they finally returned. Hollow and lifeless as if they had been drained of everything that gave them hope, like they were now more of empty husks than people. The man with the claw hand was taking something vital from her people, she knew it. But what? The only word that came to mind was belief, so that's what they called it. When their people came back they were gaunt and their eyes were blank and vacant. In short they were not the people they had been. And meanwhile the island was failing them. Peter had left and the lost boys had become fierce and selfish, ignoring all of their previous territory agreements. The war had weakened both groups but as fate would have it the pirates attacked them first. They tried to gather their former allies but were only able to raise a small ragtag army and that just barely. Fate must really get a kick out of cruel jokes thought Tiger Lily going through the past months events in her mind. Their numbers were dwindling and soon their people would vanish altogether. NO! I won't let that happen! Tiger Lily began a conversation in her mind. Of course not. You're too stubborn for that. Her inner voice replied. A voice which in the months since her father's passing had sounded more and more like him.
"What am I supposed to do Father?" Tiger Lily questioned the sky, "You always taught me to be strong especially in hard times but How am I supposed to be strong when everything around me has collapsed?" the sky gave no answer. Tiger Lily did not cry, but it was hard battle to hold the tears in. But somehow she managed. It was a sign of weakness among her people to shed tears. She did however feel the harsh, bitter hopelessness that consumes those whom imagination and belief have deserted. Then she looked around her at the men women and children who she was supposed to be leading and was filled with a fierce determination to protect these people, many of whom she had known her entire life.
Tiger Lily's plan was simple. Move the remainder of the tribe to the other side of the island and hope that this would give them enough time to find a way off of the island. She had never been off of Neverland, nor had anyone she had ever known. All of their stories and legends came from this place. Everything she knew about where they came from could be summed up in five words: the south side of Neverland. Leaving was terrifying and if they left there was a good chance that they would not make it. But if they stayed they were guaranteed at least one of two things, to lose their belief or to die of starvation because Neverland was dying. "We leave in the morning and hope that staying on the other side of the island will keep those scoundrels away for a time." Tiger Lily spoke with a confidence in her plan that she did not feel.
"We leave it to you, Chief Tiger Lily." She gave a start. She still not accustomed to being called chief despite the fact that she had inherited the title months ago. Suddenly she felt the weight of responsibility push down upon her. At fifteen the weight of an entire people was on her shoulders. If I fail. If my people are wiped out. It will be all my fault. Father, why did you have to leave me alone? I don't know what to do. I need your advice, I need you. The rest of them were putting out their fires and curling up in their sleeping bags to sleep. They look so peaceful. I wish I could join them. Tiger Lily shook herself out of this thinking. I can't let us be surprised I have to stay awake. She lasted maybe ten minutes. A young brave named Shadow Wolf covered her with a blanket.
"Sleep now." He murmured "Let the weight of the world be lifted from your young shoulders." He then took up her post as guard watching over his people, Indigo tinted black in the night. He knew that his leader, though a good then years younger than himself, had wisdom beyond her years. Shadow Wolf trusted her, not only with his life but with the life of their entire tribe. And rightly so.