Ch 7. A Noble Heart

Moira's hand shot up and snatched Tink from mid-flight. Tink was about to protest but Moira pointed at the guard who was just passing over the place where Tink had been. They had been spying for an hour now and had still been unable to fathom what the gargantuan metal objects looming over the beach were. Moira motioned to the jungle and Tink, for once, agreed quickly. Once inside the cover of the olive green trees that swathed in mist, they felt safe enough to discuss their new discoveries. "We have to get those people off of that… that thing." Moira burst out, eyes beginning to flame.

"No." Tink responded calmly.

"What, you think we can just leave them?" Moira huffed indignantly.

"No, I don't. But if we try to free them and fail what do you think Hook will do?

"We can't leave them there! Besides I have a plan."

"You! A plan?" Tink snorted "I thought you said you were Peter's daughter."

"I am!" a furious Moira replied. Tink seemed to have a talent for annoying just about anybody.

"Then what is this so called "plan" of yours?" Tink queried condescendingly.

"I'm going to sneak into camp and free everyone who is imprisoned there." Answered Moira matter of factly.

"Perhaps you are his daughter after all. This is exactly the sort of hare brained scheme that he would come up with. Do you have any idea how hard it is to sneak into a pirate camp?" Moira stuck out her chin defiantly, but shook her head. "Didn't think so. Well it's near impossible."

"But Father…"

"I don't care what Peter did." Think cut her off, "You. Are. Not. Him. Also have you thought what would happen to Neverland if you fail? By bringing you here I have handed you the fate of the land of dreams. That was why I wanted to bring Peter. But now, Neverland's fate quite literally rests in your hands. Don't screw up!"

"So you think we should just leave them there!" Moira snorted derisively.

"For the time being, yes. I do." Tink answered sadly.

"I WILL NOT! You may be able to leave people behind, but I never will!" Moira's anger which had been bubbling under the surface now burst out in a violent, volcanic explosion. Moira had her father's noble heart and the temper of a wild boar, not a good combination near pirates.

"All I'm saying is that the fate of all the future children is on your shoulders. There is no time to find someone else. And if you fail Neverland falls. And if Neverland falls, dreams vanish. Do you really want that to happen?" Moira shook her head, "I know you want to save those poor people, I do too. But if the cost is all the dreams the world has ever, and will ever have? Well no people are worth that." Moira whispered a promise toward the pirate camp then turned back to Tink and said,

"I don't like it, but it's necessary. Let's find the Lost Boys." Tink nodded and set off.

"What's that? It looks like Wendy!" Slightly snatched the telescope away from Tootles' chubby hands. Looking through it he saw a small white shape that from a distance might be taken for a bird. He could feel the excitement building inside him. He had it fixed in his mind that when Wendy came everything would be all right. A smile spread itself across his face. He began to feel, dare he say it, happy. Sure she wasn't flapping her arms like she used to. And it seemed that Tink had forgiven her, judging by the speck of light flying next to her. But it was her. Wendy was back! Slightly allowed himself to sink into the bliss that had been threatening to swallow him. Wendy was here. There would be stories and pockets. They would have decent meals that were not make believe and would be tucked into bed again. True, at thirteen, Slightly was a bit too old to be tucked into bed. But he still remembered. Long after the other boys had forgotten, he remembered what it had been like when Wendy was there. He remembered the warm, loving feeling that had seemed to follow her around like a shadow.

"Slightly." Nibs nudged him gently in the ribs, "Slightly what should we do with her?" Slightly shook his head to clear his vision. To his vast disappointment, he saw, not Wendy, but a small girl in a white night gown, who looked strangely like Peter. Slightly blinked his eyes willing his vision not to be true. Finally, with a heavy heart, he accepted it. Wendy had not come.